Wet wipe dispensing system

• US 7,497,351 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2006
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Amundson, John David, Abuto, Frank P., Joseph, Wael R., Clare, Timothy P., McDonald, Duane Lyle, Foley, Edward John, Schmidt, Paul R., Winder, Eric Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Waggoner; Timothy R
• Application Number:
  US11/420,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20070278242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 221/96, 221/150.R, 221/150.A, 221/150.HC, 221/135
• US Class Current: 221/96
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/421 dispensing from the top of the dispenser A47K10/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/328 by spraying
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3293 combined with wipe warming devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0098 ways of manufacturing heating or cooling devices for therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0292 using latent heat produced or absorbed during phase change of materials, e.g. of super-cooled solutions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/032 using oxygen from the air, e.g. pocket-stoves
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/023 the latent heat storage material being enclosed in granular particles or dispersed in a porous, fibrous or cellular structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to wet wipe dispensing systems for dispensing wet wipes capable of changing temperature upon use. In one embodiment, the dispensing system includes a wet wipe container and a lotion container that is held in assembly with the wet wipe container that contains a lotion that is kept separate from the wet wipes until the wet wipe is dispensed from the wet wipe container. The lotion includes a microencapsulated delivery vehicle that contains a temperature change agent that is capable of generating a temperature change upon contact with an aqueous solution. Once the wet wipe is dispensed from the system, an applicating device can apply the lotion to the wet wipe to facilitate contact between the temperature change agent in the microencapsulated delivery vehicle and the aqueous solution of the wet wipe.

Claims

1. A dispensing system for dispensing wet wipes capable of providing a temperature change upon use, the dispensing system comprising:

a wet wipe container having an internal compartment for containing wet wipes;

a wet wipe disposed in the internal compartment of the wet wipe container, the wet wipe comprising an aqueous solution, the wet wipe container being configured to permit removal of the wet wipe from the internal compartment;

a lotion container having an internal compartment separate from the internal compartment of the wet wipe container;

a lotion contained within the internal compartment of the lotion container free from contact with the wet wipe disposed in the internal compartment of the wet wipe container, the lotion comprising a temperature change agent capable of changing the temperature of the wet wipe upon contact with the aqueous solution; and

a lotion dispenser operable to dispense lotion from the lotion container to the wet wipe after removing the wet wipe from the wet wipe container to thereby facilitate contact between the temperature change agent and the aqueous solution of the wet wipe.

2. The dispensing system set forth in claim 1 wherein the lotion container is held in assembly with the wet wipe container.

3. The dispensing system set forth in claim 2 wherein the lotion container is releasably attached to the wet wipe container.

4. The dispensing system set forth in claim 2 wherein the lotion container is formed integrally with the wet wipe container.

5. The dispensing system set forth in claim 1 wherein the lotion dispenser comprises a pump mechanism in fluid communication with the internal compartment of the lotion container, the pump mechanism being operable to draw lotion from the internal compartment of the lotion container and deliver the lotion out of the lotion container for dispensing onto the wet wipe.

6. The dispensing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lotion comprises a heating agent.

7. The dispensing system set forth in claim 1 wherein the lotion comprises microencapsulated delivery vehicles comprising a heating agent.

8. The dispensing system set forth in claim 7 wherein the microencapsulated delivery vehicles comprise a core composition surrounded by an encapsulation layer, the core composition comprising a matrix material and a heating agent, and wherein the microencapsulated heat delivery vehicles have a diameter of from about 5 micrometers to about 5000 micrometers.

9. The dispensing system set forth in claim 8 wherein the matrix material is selected from the group consisting of mineral oil, isopropyl myristate, silicones, copolymers such as block copolymers, waxes, butters, exotic oils, dimethicone, thermoionic gels, plant oils, animal oils, and combinations thereof.

10. The dispensing system set forth in claim 7 wherein the heating agent is selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, zeolites, aluminum chloride, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, sodium carbonate, sodium sulfate, sodium acetate, metals, slaked lime, quick lime, glycols, and combinations thereof.

11. The dispensing system set forth in claim 7 wherein the microencapsulated delivery vehicles comprise a substantially fluid-impervious microencapsulated delivery vehicle comprising a core composition, an encapsulation layer surrounding the core composition, and a moisture protective layer surrounding the encapsulation layer, wherein the core composition comprises a matrix material and a heating agent, and wherein the microencapsulated delivery vehicle has a diameter of from about 5 micrometers to about 5000 micrometers.

12. The dispensing system set forth in claim 7 wherein the microencapsulated delivery vehicles comprise a stabilized substantially fluid-impervious microencapsulated delivery vehicle comprising a core composition, an encapsulation layer surrounding the core composition, a moisture protective layer surrounding the encapsulation layer, and a fugitive layer surrounding the moisture protective layer, wherein the core composition comprises a matrix material and a heating agent, and wherein the microencapsulated delivery vehicle has a diameter of from about 5 micrometers to about 5000 micrometers.

13. The dispensing system set forth in claim 1 wherein the temperature change agent is a heating agent selected from the group consisting of magnesium chloride and calcium chloride.

14. The dispensing system set forth in claim 8 wherein the matrix material is mineral oil.

15. The dispensing system set forth in claim 1 where the lotion dispenser is arranged relative to the wet wipe container to dispense lotion from the lotion container onto the wet wipe while the wet wipe is disposed at least in part within the internal compartment of the wet wipe container.

16. The dispensing system set forth in claim 15 wherein the lotion dispenser is configured to deliver the lotion uniformly generally lengthwise across at least a portion of the wet wipe.

17. The dispensing system set forth in claim 15 wherein the wet wipe container has a closure for closing the wet wipe container, the closure being operable between a closed position and an open position in which the at least one wet wipe is removable from the wet wipe container, and a securement mechanism capable of releasably securing the closure in its closed position, the securement mechanism being operatively connected to the lotion dispenser such that operation of the lotion dispenser to deliver lotion onto the wet wipe releases the closure from its closed position to permit movement of the closure to its open position.

18. The dispensing system set forth in claim 15 wherein the wet wipe container has a closure for closing the wet wipe container, the closure being operable between a closed position and an open position in which the wet wipe is removable from the wet wipe container, and a securement mechanism capable of releasably securing the closure in its closed position and being operable to release the closure from its closed position for movement of the closure to its open position, the lotion dispenser being operatively connected to the securement mechanism such that operation of the securement mechanism to release the closure from its closed position operates the lotion dispenser to deliver lotion onto the wet wipe.

19. The dispensing system set forth in claim 1 wherein the lotion comprises a cooling agent.

20. The dispensing system set forth in claim 1 wherein the lotion comprises microencapsulated delivery vehicles comprising a cooling agent.

21. A process for producing a wet wipe capable of providing a temperature change upon use, the process comprising:

storing a wet wipe in a wet wipe container, the wet wipe comprising an aqueous solution;

storing lotion in a lotion container such that the lotion is free from contact with the wet wipe, the lotion comprising a temperature change agent capable of changing the temperature of the wet wipe upon contact with the aqueous solution; and

dispensing lotion from the lotion container onto the wet wipe.

22. The process set forth in claim 21 further comprising the step of removing the wet wipe from the wet wipe container prior to the step of dispensing lotion from the lotion container onto the wet wipe.

23. The process set forth in claim 21 wherein the lotion dispensing step comprises operating a pump mechanism in communication with the lotion container to draw lotion from the lotion container and to dispense the lotion onto the wet wipe.

24. The process set forth in claim 21 wherein the lotion comprises microencapsulated delivery vehicles comprising a heating agent, the process further comprising, subsequent to the step of dispensing the lotion onto the wet wipe, the step of rupturing the microencapsulated delivery vehicles to facilitate contact between the heating agent and the aqueous solution of the wet wipe to thereby generate heat to warm the wet wipe.

25. The process set forth in claim 21 wherein lotion dispensing step comprises dispensing lotion onto the wet wipe while the wet wipe is at least in part within the wet wipe container, the process further comprising the step of removing the wet wipe from the wet wipe container after dispensing lotion onto the wet wipe.

26. The process set forth in claim 25 wherein the step of storing lotion in a lotion container comprises storing the lotion in a lotion container that is held in assembly with the wet wipe container.

27. The process set forth in claim 25 where the wet wipe container has a closure for closing the wet wipe container, the closure being operable between a closed position and an open position in which the at least one wet wipe is removable from the wet wipe container, and a securement mechanism capable of releasably securing the closure in its closed position, the step of storing a wet wipe in a wet wipe container comprising storing a wet wipe in a wet wipe container with the closure of the wet wipe container in its closed position, the process further comprising, prior to the lotion dispensing step, the step of releasing the securement mechanism and moving the closure to its open position.

28. The process set forth in claim 27 wherein the lotion dispensing step comprises operating a lotion dispenser in communication with the lotion container to dispense lotion onto the wet wipe.

29. The process set forth in claim 27 wherein the lotion dispenser is operatively connected to the securement mechanism by an actuator, the step of releasing the securement mechanism comprising actuating the actuator a first amount to release the securement mechanism, the lotion dispenser operating step comprising operating the actuator a second amount different from the first amount to dispense lotion from the lotion container.

30. The process set forth in claim 21 wherein the lotion comprises a heating agent.

31. The process set forth in claim 21 wherein the lotion comprises a cooling agent.

32. The process set forth in claim 31 wherein the cooling agent is microencapsulated.

33. A dispensing system for dispensing wet wipes capable of providing a temperature change upon use, the dispensing system comprising:

a wet wipe container having an internal compartment for containing wet wipes, the wet wipe container comprising a closure for closing the wet wipe container, the closure being operable between a closed position and an open position in which the at least one wet wipe is removable from the wet wipe container, and a securement mechanism capable of releasably securing the closure in its closed position, the securement mechanism being operatively connected to the lotion dispenser such that operation of the lotion dispenser to deliver lotion onto the wet wipe releases the closure from its closed position to permit movement of the closure to its open position;

a wet wipe disposed in the internal compartment of the wet wipe container, the wet wipe comprising an aqueous solution, the wet wipe container being configured to permit removal of the wet wipe from the internal compartment;

a lotion container having an internal compartment separate from the internal compartment of the wet wipe container;

a lotion contained within the internal compartment of the lotion container free from contact with the wet wipe disposed in the internal compartment of the wet wipe container, the lotion comprising a temperature change agent capable of changing the temperature of the wet wipe upon contact with the aqueous solution; and

a lotion dispenser arranged relative to the wet wipe container to dispense lotion from the lotion container onto the wet wipe after removing the wet wipe from the wet wipe container and while the wet wipe is disposed at least in part within the internal compartment of the wet wipe container to thereby facilitate contact between the temperature change agent and the aqueous solution of the wet wipe.

34. A dispensing system for dispensing wet wipes capable of providing a temperature change upon use, the dispensing system comprising:

a wet wipe container having an internal compartment for containing wet wipes, the wet wipe container comprising a closure for closing the wet wipe container, the closure being operable between a closed position and an open position in which the wet wipe is removable from the wet wipe container, and a securement mechanism capable of releasably securing the closure in its closed position and being operable to release the closure from its closed position for movement of the closure to its open position, the lotion dispenser being operatively connected to the securement mechanism such that operation of the securement mechanism to release the closure from its closed position operates the lotion dispenser to deliver lotion onto the wet wipe;

a wet wipe disposed in the internal compartment of the wet wipe container, the wet wipe comprising an aqueous solution, the wet wipe container being configured to permit removal of the wet wipe from the internal compartment;

a lotion container having an internal compartment separate from the internal compartment of the wet wipe container;

a lotion contained within the internal compartment of the lotion container free from contact with the wet wipe disposed in the internal compartment of the wet wipe container, the lotion comprising a temperature change agent capable of changing the temperature of the wet wipe upon contact with the aqueous solution; and

a lotion dispenser arranged relative to the wet wipe container to dispense lotion from the lotion container onto the wet wipe after removing the wet wipe from the wet wipe container and while the wet wipe is disposed at least in part within the internal compartment of the wet wipe container to thereby facilitate contact between the temperature change agent and the aqueous solution of the wet wipe.