Cleansing bar containing discrete elements

• US 20040033915A1
• Filed: 08/14/2002
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Burwell, David, Aleles, Margaret, Ip, Raymond
• Granted Patent: US 6,818,603 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 510/141
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/28 Rubbing or scrubbing compositions; Peeling or abrasive compositions; Containing exfoliants
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/027 Fibers; Fibrils
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/8152 Homopolymers or copolymers of esters, e.g. (meth)acrylic acid esters; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/8158 Homopolymers or copolymers of amides or imides, e.g. (meth) acrylamide; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 15/00 Anti-perspirants or body deodorants deodorisation of air A61L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/00 Preparations for care of the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/10 Washing or bathing preparations
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/006 containing mainly surfactants, but no builders, e.g. syndet bar
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/048 Soap or detergent bars or cakes with an inner core consisting of insoluble material floating soaps C11D17/02
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 9/22 Organic compounds , e.g. vitamins

Abstract

The present invention relates to cleansing bars including: a) a cleansing composition; and b) a plurality of discrete elements having a length to diameter ratio of from about 50 to 1 to about 100,000 to 1. The cleansing bars according to the invention have good grippability, exfoliating and cleansing properties and are capable of providing a significant amount of lather in a relatively short period of time. The invention also relates to methods of making and using the cleansing bar described above.

Claims

1. A cleansing bar comprising:

a) a cleansing composition; and

b) a plurality of discrete elements having a length to diameter ratio of from about 50 to 1 to about 100,000 to 1.

2. The cleansing bar according to claim 1, wherein the cleansing composition comprises fatty acid soaps, synthetic detergents, and mixtures thereof.

3. The cleansing bar according to claim 1, wherein the discrete elements have a length to diameter ratio of from about 100 to 1 to about 25,000 to 1.

4. The cleansing bar according to claim 3, wherein the discrete elements have a length to diameter ratio of from about 500 to 1 to about 5,000 to 1.

5. The cleansing bar according to claim 1, wherein the discrete elements have a length ranging from about 0.125 to about 5.0 inches.

6. The cleansing bar according to claim 5, wherein the length of the discrete elements range from about 0.5 to about 3.0.

7. The cleansing bar according to claim 1, wherein the discrete elements intertwine and/or entangle during use.

8. The cleansing bar according to claim 7, wherein the length to diameter ratio is from about 100 to 1 to about 100,000 to 1.

9. The cleansing bar according to claim 1, wherein the amount of discrete elements ranges from about 0.01 percent to about 20 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the cleansing bar.

10. The cleansing bar according to claim 9, wherein the amount of discrete elements ranges from about 0.5 to about 5.0 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the cleansing bar.

11. The cleansing bar according to claim 1, wherein the discrete elements are fibers having a denier of from about 0.025 to about 25.

12. The cleansing bar according to claim 11, wherein the fibers have a denier of from about 3 to about 9.

13. The cleansing bar according to claim 11, wherein the fibers are selected from polyester, polyolefin, polyamide, rayon, cotton, hemp, wool, and combinations thereof.

14. The cleansing bar according to claim 13, wherein the fibers are selected from nylon fibers, polyester fibers, and mixtures thereof.

15. The cleansing bar according to claim 1, wherein the discrete elements are water-soluble.

16. The cleansing bar according to claim 15, wherein the discrete elements are selected from polyethylene oxide fibers, polyethylene oxide-propylene blend fibers, polylactic acid fibers, polysaccharide fibers, polyvinyl alcohol fibers, and mixtures thereof.

17. The cleansing bar according to claim 1, wherein the discrete elements are superabsorbent polymers.

18. The cleansing bar according to claim 1, further comprising a personal care ingredient.

19. The cleansing bar according to claim 18, wherein said personal care ingredient is incorporated into the discrete elements, coated onto the discrete elements, or is a mixture thereof.

20. The cleansing bar according to claim 18, wherein the personal care ingredient is selected from the group consisting of a skin care ingredient, a hair care ingredient, a deodorant, an antiperspirant, and mixtures thereof.

23. A method for cleaning a surface comprising the steps of (a) wetting the cleansing bar of claim 1 with water;

(b) applying agitation to the wet cleansing bar, wherein the amount of water and agitation are sufficient to create a lather on the cleansing bar, and (c) applying said lathering cleansing bar to the surface to be cleaned.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein said surface is selected from hair, skin, and mixtures thereof.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said surface is a hard surface or a fabric.

21. A method for improving the characteristics of a cleansing bar, said method comprising the step of incorporating discrete elements into said cleansing bar, wherein said discrete elements have a length to diameter ratio of from about 50 to 1 to about 100,000 to 1.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein said characteristics are selected from grippability, lather production, cleansing ability, and exfoliating ability.

26. A method for preparing a cleansing bar comprising a cleansing composition and discrete elements, the method comprising (a) preparing a mixture of the cleansing composition and the discrete elements;

(b) applying agitation to the cleansing composition-discrete element mixture sufficient to evenly distribute the discrete elements among the cleansing composition; and

(c) extruding the cleansing composition-discrete element mixture of step (b) into bar form;

wherein said discrete elements having a length to diameter ratio of from about 50 to 1 to about 100,000 to 1.

27. A method for preparing a cleansing bar comprising a cleansing composition and discrete elements, the method comprising (a) heating the cleansing composition to a temperature sufficient to melt the cleansing composition;

(b) mixing discrete elements with the melting cleansing composition of step (a);

(c) pouring the cleansing composition-discrete element mixture of step (b) into a mold; and

(d) allowing the molded mixture to cool;

wherein said discrete elements having a length to diameter ratio of from about 50 to 1 to about 100,000 to 1.