Anti-microbial hand towel with time-delay chromatic transfer indicator and absorbency rate delay

• US 9,603,360 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2014
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Luu, Phuong Van, Awofeso, Anthony O., Yardley, Craig D., Yeh, Kang Chang, Janda, Bruce W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barham, Bethany
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRAZIER, BARBARA S
• Application Number:
  US14/522,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20150056148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators, characterised by their forms, or by their non-active ingredients or by their methods of application , e.g. seed treatment or sequential application; Substances for reducing the noxious effect of the active ingredients to organisms other than pests
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/34 Shaped forms, e.g. sheets, not provided for in any other sub-group of this main group
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/45 Colour indicators, e.g. pH- or Redox indicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/075 Ethers or acetals
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/14 Quaternary ammonium compounds, e.g. edrophonium, choline betaines A61K31/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 33/32 Manganese; Compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/0208 Tissues; Wipes; Patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/068 Microemulsions
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 17/005 Antimicrobial preparations
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 21/28 Colorants ; Pigments or opacifying agents
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 21/36 Biocidal agents, e.g. fungicidal, bactericidal, insecticidal agents

Abstract

A disposable paper towel with an anti-microbial lotion and is provided with a chromatic transfer indicator which undergoes a delayed, visually perceptible color change at a predetermined time after the towel is wetted. An anti-microbial lotion on the towel increases water absorbency times (WAR) to further promote lotion transfer to the skin and increase lotion transfer effectiveness.

Claims

1. An anti-microbial paper towel with a chromatic transfer indicator comprising:

a) a cellulosic web;

b) a transferable lotion composition comprising an emollient and an anti-microbial agent, the lotion composition being immobilized on the cellulosic web in a semi-solid or solid form and selected and applied in amounts such that it imparts a water absorption rate delay of at least about 25% to the cellulosic web,

wherein the transferable lotion composition is selected from lotion compositions which are transferable upon contact with water or lotion compositions which are transferable upon application of heat;

c) a pH-sensitive transfer indicator disposed on the web at a plurality of discrete indicator locations; and

d) a water soluble indicator triggering agent disposed on the web at a plurality of discrete triggering agent locations which are apart from the pH-sensitive transfer indicator locations, wherein the water soluble indicator triggering agent is a non-toxic organic acid, inorganic acid, or a buffer solution;

wherein the pH-sensitive transfer indicator and indicator triggering agent are selected and applied to the web such that the pH-sensitive transfer indicator undergoes a visually perceivable color change upon contact of the towel with water after a characteristic time delay of at least about 5 seconds, wherein the initiation of said color change is determined by a wicking time of the indicator triggering agent.

2. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 1, wherein the pH-sensitive transfer indicator and the indicator triggering agent are selected such that the pH-sensitive transfer indicator undergoes a visually perceivable color change upon contact with water after a characteristic time delay of at least about 10 seconds.

3. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 1, wherein the pH-sensitive transfer indicator and the indicator triggering agent are selected such that the pH-sensitive transfer indicator undergoes a visually perceivable color change upon contact with water after a characteristic time delay of at least about 15 seconds.

4. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 1, wherein the pH-sensitive transfer indicator and the indicator triggering agent are selected such that the pH-sensitive transfer indicator undergoes a visually perceivable color change upon contact with water after a characteristic time delay of at least about 20 seconds.

5. An anti-microbial paper towel comprising:

a) a cellulosic towel web;

b) a lotion emulsion including an anti-microbial agent disposed on the web, the lotion emulsion including a polar emollient and a non-polar emollient as well as a surfactant composition comprising a nonionic surfactant, wherein the lotion emulsion is substantially liquid at room temperature, the emollients and surfactant composition are selected such that the lotion emulsion is immobilized on the web in a semi-solid or solid state and selected and applied in amounts such that it imparts a water absorption rate delay of at least about 25% to the cellulosic web, wherein further the lotion emulsion is capable of forming an aqueous gel upon contact with water;

c) a pH-sensitive transfer indicator disposed on the web at a plurality of discrete indicator locations; and

d) a water soluble indicator triggering agent disposed on the web at a plurality of discrete triggering agent locations which are apart from the pH-sensitive transfer indicator locations, wherein the water soluble indicator triggering agent is a non-toxic organic acid, inorganic acid, or a buffer solution;

wherein the pH-sensitive transfer indicator undergoes a gradual color change upon contact of the cellulosic towel web with water to indicate effective transfer of the lotion, wherein the initiation of said color change is determined by a wicking time of the indicator triggering agent.

6. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 5, wherein the lotion emulsion comprises polar emollient in an amount of from about 2% to about 40% by weight of the lotion emulsion.

7. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 5, wherein the lotion emulsion comprises a polar polyhydroxy emollient selected from propylene glycol, glycol, glycerol, diethylene glycol, methylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol and sorbitol.

8. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 7, wherein the polar emollient is propylene glycol.

9. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 5, wherein the lotion emulsion comprises non-polar emollient in the amount of from about 10% to about 40% by weight of the lotion emulsion.

10. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 5, wherein the lotion emulsion comprises a non-polar emollient selected from aromatic or linear esters, Guerbet ester, mineral oil, squalane, liquid paraffin, and mixtures thereof.

11. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 10, wherein the non-polar emollient is isopropyl myristate.

12. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 10, wherein the non-polar emollient is C₁₂-C₁₅ alkyl benzoate ester.

13. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 10, wherein the non-polar emollient is tri-octyldodecyl-citrate.

14. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 10, wherein the non-polar emollient is a mixture of C₁₂-C₁₅ alkyl benzoate ester and carnation oil.

15. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 5, wherein the surfactant composition comprises non-ionic surfactant including a fatty alcohol in the amount of from about 40% to about 70% by weight of the lotion emulsion.

16. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 5, wherein the surfactant composition comprises a non-ionic surfactant selected from PEG-20 methyl glucose sesquistearate, PPG-20 methyl glucose ether, PPG-20 methyl glucose ether distearate, PEG-20 methyl glucose distearate, PEG-120 methyl glucose dioleate, ethoxylated methyl glucose having from about 10 to about 20 repeating ethoxy units, a mixture thereof and the like.

17. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 16, wherein the non-ionic surfactant comprises PEG-20 methyl glucose sesquistearate.

18. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 17, wherein the non-ionic surfactant comprises PEG-20 methyl glucose distearate.

19. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 5, wherein the surfactant composition comprises a co-surfactant in the amount of from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of the lotion emulsion.

20. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 19, wherein the surfactant composition comprises a co-surfactant selected from C₁₂-C₁₈ fatty alcohols, behenyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, iso-cetyl alcohol, and iso-stearyl alcohol.

21. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 19, wherein the co-surfactant is myristyl alcohol.

22. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 19, wherein the co-surfactant is a mixture of cetyl alcohol (C₁₆) and stearyl alcohol (C₁₈).

23. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 5, wherein the lotion emulsion is substantially waterless.

24. An anti-microbial paper towel comprising:

a) a cellulosic towel web;

b) a transferable lotion composition disposed on the web comprising an emollient, an anti-microbial agent, and a retention/release agent such that the lotion has a Δ

H above about 37°

C. of more than about 10 calories/gram, a total heat of melting of above about 25 calories/gram, and an onset of melting temperature of at least about 30°

C., the transferable lotion applied in amounts such that it imparts a water absorption rate delay of at least about 25% to the cellulosic web;

c) a pH-sensitive transfer indicator disposed on the web at a plurality of discrete indicator locations; and

d) a water soluble indicator triggering agent disposed on the web at a plurality of discrete triggering agent locations apart from the pH-sensitive transfer indicator wherein the water soluble indicator triggering agent is a non-toxic organic acid, inorganic acid, or a buffer solution;

wherein the pH-sensitive transfer indicator undergoes a gradual color change upon contact of the cellulosic towel web with water to indicate effective transfer of the lotion, wherein the initiation of said color change is determined by a wicking time of the indicator triggering agent.

25. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 24, wherein the lotion composition further comprises a surfactant composition in the amount of from about 10% to about 15% by weight of the lotion composition.

26. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 24, wherein the lotion composition further comprises a surfactant selected from methyl glucoside sesquistearate, ethoxylated methyl glucoside sesquistearate containing 20 moles of oxyethylene units, or combinations thereof.

27. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 25, wherein the surfactant comprises a mixture of PEG-20 methyl glucose sesquistearate and methyl glucose sesquistearate.

28. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 24, wherein the lotion composition comprises an emollient in the amount of from about 5% to about 75% by weight of the lotion composition.

29. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 28, wherein the emollient comprises an aromatic ester emollient, a fatty alcohol ester of a non-fatty organic acid emollient, or mixtures thereof.

30. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 29, wherein the aromatic ester emollient is a benzoate ester emollient selected from C₁₂-C₁₅ alkyl benzoate, stearyl benzoate, octyl dodecyl benzoate, isostearyl benzoate, methyl gluceth-20 benzoate, stearyl ether benzoate, poloxamer 182 dibenzoate, poloxamer 105 benzoate, or mixtures thereof.

31. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 29, wherein the fatty alcohol ester of a non-fatty organic acid emollient comprises C₁₂-C₁₅ octanoate.

32. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 29, wherein the emollient is a mixture of C₁₂-C₁₅ alkyl benzoate.

33. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 24, wherein the lotion composition comprises a retention/release agent in the amount of from about 25% to about 95% by weight of the lotion composition.

34. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 24, wherein the retention/release agent comprises a C₁₂-C₁₈ fatty alcohol.

35. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 34, wherein the fatty alcohol is selected from dodecanol, tridecanol, tetradecanol, pentadecanol, hexadecanol, heptadecanol, octadecanol, or mixtures thereof.

36. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 34, wherein the fatty alcohol is a mixture of cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol.

37. The anti-microbial paper towel according to claim 24, wherein the lotion composition is substantially waterless.