Thin Depilatory Substrate Resolving Handleability and Conformability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing substrate-based depilatory compositions face challenges in achieving a balance between ease of handling and conformability to the body surface, with flexible substrates collapsing during application and excessively rigid ones failing to conform properly, leading to poor hair removal efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A depilatory article featuring a water-impermeable substrate with a thickness of 80 µm to 12 µm, made from materials like polyolefins, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyvinylchloride, providing a balance between handleability and conformability, and a depilatory composition with a high water content to prevent drying and irritation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible substrate is used to provide conformability to the body surface, then the depilatory article can adapt to the body contour, but the substrate collapses during handling and application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the substrate thickness within the range of 80 µm to 12 µm. This specific thickness parameter provides sufficient rigidity to maintain structural integrity during handling while remaining flexible enough to conform to body contours, thereby resolving the contradiction between handleability and conformability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining a water-impermeable substrate (made from materials like polyolefins, PET, or PVC) with a depilatory composition layer. This composite structure allows the substrate to provide mechanical support and conformability while the coating layer delivers the depilatory function, addressing both handling and application requirements.
2Ease of operation
If an excessively rigid substrate is used to improve handleability, then the depilatory article is easy to handle and place, but it lacks the capability to conform to the body surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction through parameter changes by optimizing the substrate thickness to fall within the specific range of 80 µm to 12 µm. This controlled thickness ensures the substrate is rigid enough for easy handling yet flexible enough to conform to body contours, eliminating the need for excessively rigid materials.
3Reliability
If a water-impermeable substrate is used to prevent drying of the depilatory composition, then the composition is protected from evaporation, but the substrate may cause irritation to the skin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully selecting substrate materials with specific properties. The substrate thickness is controlled to 80 µm to 12 µm, and materials such as polyolefins, PET, or PVC are chosen for their water-impermeable properties while maintaining skin compatibility, thus preventing drying without causing irritation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining a water-impermeable substrate with a depilatory composition that has high water content (at least 70% by weight). This composite structure protects the composition from evaporation while the formulation itself, containing moisturizing agents and skin conditioners, prevents skin irritation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures effective hair removal by maintaining contact between the depilatory composition and the skin, preventing drying and irritation, while allowing for easy application and conformability, thus improving the overall hair removal process.
Implementation Method 1
a water impermeable substrate and a depilatory composition disposed on the water impermeable substrate
Implementation Method 2
Such compositions may comprise reducing agents to degrade keratin in the hair and thus weaken the hair strands
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A depilatory article comprising a water impermeable substrate and a depilatory composition disposed on the water impermeable substrate, forming a coated region of the water impermeable substrate, wherein the water impermeable substrate has a thickness of from 80 µm to 12 µm, preferably 50 µm to 15 µm, more preferably 40 µm to 16 µm, even more preferably 30 µm to 17 µm, and wherein said water impermeable substrate comprises a material selected from polyolefins, polyethylene terephthalate (PET); polyvinylchloride (PVC); polyamide (PA); polyurethane; polychloropene; polysulfone; polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE); polyvinyl acetate (PVA); polystyrene; polyphenylene oxide (PPO); acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS); ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVA); natural rubber, latex, nylon, nitrile, silicone and thermo plastic elastomers (TPE) or mixtures thereof, preferably a polyolefin or mixtures thereof and more preferably a polyethylene or mixtures thereof.