Exfoliating Wipe With Microbead Projections For Gentle Skin Cell Removal
Solution Overview
Problem
Current cleansing and make-up remover towelettes either provide harsh exfoliation or are insufficiently effective, and they fail to efficiently trap exfoliated human skin cells.
Innovation Solution
A wipe article featuring a water-insoluble substrate with an array of projections formed from microbeads on one surface, providing mild exfoliation and effective debris removal, where the projections are made of materials different from the substrate and are designed to trap skin cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional abrasive wipes are used to provide exfoliation, then skin cell removal is achieved, but the exfoliation becomes too harsh and causes skin irritation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the abrasive elements by using microbeads with specific size ranges (1-10 microns) and controlling their distribution density (5-50 beads per projection, 1-20 projections per cm²). This parameter optimization allows effective exfoliation while reducing skin irritation compared to conventional abrasive wipes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating discrete projections with microbeads at specific locations on the substrate rather than uniform abrasion. The projections are spaced 2-5 mm apart with controlled density, providing localized gentle exfoliation zones that avoid overwhelming the skin with excessive abrasive action.
2Productivity
If conventional wipes are used for cleansing, then basic cleaning is achieved, but they fail to efficiently trap and remove exfoliated skin cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs nesting by placing multiple microbeads (at least 20 per projection) within each projection structure, with projections themselves arranged on the substrate. This nested arrangement creates a hierarchical trapping system where microbeads trap skin cells within projections, and projections collect debris across the wipe surface, significantly improving debris removal efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses replicated projection structures distributed across the substrate surface (at least 2 projections per cm²). Each projection serves as a copying unit with identical microbead composition and structure, creating multiple identical trapping sites that collectively enhance skin cell capture and removal capability.
3Ease of manufacture
If projections are made from the same material as the substrate, then manufacturing is simplified, but the projections fail to provide adequate contrast for avoiding sensitive areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the projections differ from the substrate in material composition, color, or texture. This differentiation allows users to visually or tactilely identify the projections and avoid applying excessive pressure on sensitive areas of the skin, while the projections themselves provide the exfoliating function.
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 wipe article achieves gentle yet effective exfoliation and clean removal of skin debris, with the microbead projections ensuring deep penetration of skin benefit agents and avoiding sensitive areas.
Implementation Method 1
a wipe article which achieves gentle exfoliation
Implementation Method 2
efficiently trap the exfoliated human skin cells
Data Source
AI summary
A wipe article is provided for cleansing and providing gentle exfoliation. The article is a water-insoluble substrate laden with a fluid cosmetic composition that includes a skin benefit agent delivered in a carrier. The substrate is a woven or non-woven fibrous web with first and second major surfaces, at least one of the major surfaces having formed thereon an array of projections, the array including from at least 2 to about 20 projections per cm2. Each projection is formed of a material different than that of the substrate and is raised from the substrate at a highest point thereof a distance from 100 to 2,000 micron. The projections are formed of at least 20 microbeads per projection.