Fibrous Skin Cleaning Substrate with Hydrobonding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fibrous skin cleaning substrates face a significant reduction in mechanical strength when moistened, leading to potential disintegration under stretching stresses, and the formation of pills during friction, which compromises their effectiveness and durability.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a fibrous substrate with a low water content cleansing composition activated by water and mechanical action, containing surfactants, humectants like glycerin, and a gelling agent, which increases surface resistance and maintains mechanical strength post-wetting, while minimizing pill formation through hydrobonding and specific composition ratios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the fibrous substrate is moistened to activate the cleansing composition, then the cleaning composition can be activated and applied to skin, but the mechanical strength of the substrate significantly reduces leading to potential disintegration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactivation of cleansing compositionVSAvoidmechanical strength of substrate
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the water content in the cleansing composition (25-45% water by weight) and the amount of composition applied to the substrate (0.1-1.2 g per gram of substrate). This optimization ensures the substrate remains sufficiently moistened for activation while maintaining mechanical strength to prevent disintegration during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the substrate undergoes mechanical action and friction during use, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but pill formation increases and surface resistance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidpill formation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the composition parameters including surfactant concentration (15-35%), humectant content (55-75%), and gelling agent amount (<0.2%) to create a cleansing composition that provides effective cleaning through mechanical action while minimizing pill formation on the substrate surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the substrate is made thicker to maintain hand comfort when wet, then durability is improved, but the article weight and volume increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedurability of substrateVSAvoidweight of article
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the substrate weight (150-250 g/m²) and thickness parameters to achieve sufficient durability and hand comfort when wet, while avoiding excessive weight and volume. The optimized composition application (0.1-1.2 g per gram of substrate) further enhances durability without significantly increasing weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 method enhances the fibrous substrate's mechanical strength and resistance to friction, preventing disintegration and reducing pill formation, resulting in a more effective and durable skin cleaning article.

Implementation Method 1

a humectant such as glycerin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrogen bonding: Van der Waals Force

Implementation Method 2

an aqueous lotion comprising at least one surfactant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurfactant action: Surfactant

Implementation Method 3

Treatment of the fiber web by mechanical means, preferably by means of water jets using a hydrobonding process, which entangles the fibers in thickness and surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrobonding: Van der Waals Force

Data Source

PatentEP2396088B1Item for cleaning the skin
Publication Date: 2018.12.19 ESSITY OPERATIONS FRANCE SAS
  • EP2396088B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2396088B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2396088B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an item for cleaning the skin including a fibrous substrate and a cleaning composition activated by wetting with water followed by a mechanical action aimed at obtaining a cleaning foam. The item is characterised in that the substrate is a buffer made up of cotton fibres linked by water jets, with grammage between 100 and 300 g/m2, and the cleaning composition includes at least one surface-active agent and one moisturiser such as glycerine, the amount of water on the substrate being less than 25 wt% of the item, and the item including 0.1 to 1.2 grams of the active ingredient of said composition per gram of substrate.