The Procter Gamble Company

Lyle B Tuthill

Richard M Girardot

Gene Michael Altonen

Charles G Yeazell

Curtis Bobby Motley

H Norman Reiboldt

William P Dirksing

John P Grooms

Richard G Bausch

Eric J Grosgogeat

John W Leikhim

Dutro Blocksom

Lewis Allen Rupe

An applicator for applying and distributing a substance onto a target surface. The applicator comprises a substantially planar sheet of compressible, conformable material having opposed first and second surfaces and an interior region between the first and second surfaces. The sheet of material has a thickness between the first and second surfaces which decreases when the sheet of material is subjected to an externally-applied force in a direction substantially normal to the first surface. The applicator further includes at least one discrete reservoir extending inwardly of the first surface into the interior of the sheet of material which is at least partially filled with a substance and at least one discrete aperture formed in the first surface which is in fluid communication with the reservoir. Compression of the sheet of material via an externally-applied force substantially normal to the first surface expresses product from the aperture and translational motion of the first surface relative to a target surface applies and distributes the product onto the target surface. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of apertures are associated with corresponding reservoirs forming a delivery zone near one end of a hand-held applicator, and the sheet material is preferably resilient both in compression and in bending to conform to irregular target surfaces. A wide variety of substances are contemplated, including particularly antiperspirant/deodorant products. Other embodiments include a single reservoir feeding a plurality of apertures.

Anti-perspirant/deodorant applicator

Applicator for applying and distributing a substance onto a target surface. The applicator comprises a substantially planar sheet of compressible, conformable material having opposed first and second surfaces and an interior region between said first and second surfaces. The sheet of material has a thickness between the first and second surfaces which decreases when the sheet of material is subjected to an externally-applied force in a direction substantially normal to the first surface. The applicator further includes at least one discrete reservoir extending inwardly of the first surface into the interior of the sheet of material which is at least partially filled with a substance and at least one discrete aperture formed in the first surface which is in fluid communication with the reservoir. Compression of the sheet of material via an externally-applied force substantially normal to said first surface expresses product from the aperture and translational motion of the first surface relative to a target surface applies and distributes said product onto the target surface. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of apertures are associated with corresponding reservoirs forming a delivery zone near one end of a hand-held applicator, and the sheet material is preferably resilient both in compression and in bending to conform to irregular target surfaces. A wide variety of substances are contemplated, including particularly antiperspirant/deodorant products. Other embodiments include a single reservoir feeding a plurality of apertures.

Applicator for applying and distributing substances to target surfaces

An improved washing implement which exhibits superior softness, while also retaining good resiliency and durability, is made from at least one piece of open cell polymer mesh. To achieve the improved softness, resiliency, and durability of the improved washing implement an improved open cell mesh is provided which is softer and sufficiently resilient as a result of its controlled material and cell structure parameters. In preferred embodiments, the controlled physical parameters of the open cell mesh include basis weight, cell count, node count, node length and node diameter. Optimizing the physical parameters of the mesh also results in a washing implement that absorbs and delivers increased amounts of water and cleansing product to the surface being cleaned.

Washing implement comprising an improved open cell mesh

An improved washing implement which exhibits superior softness, while also retaining good resiliency, is made from at least one piece of open cell polymer mesh. To achieve the improved softness and resiliency of the improved washing implement an improved open cell mesh is provided which is softer and sufficiently resilient as a result of its controlled cell structure parameters. In preferred embodiments, the controlled physical parameters of the open cell mesh include basis weight, cell count, node count, node length and node diameter.

Disclosed is an improved open cell mesh which exhibits superior softness, while also retaining acceptable resiliency, as a result of controlling cell structure parameters. In preferred embodiments, physically measurable parameters of the open cell mesh, and more particularly the cell structure, are controlled within pre-defined ranges. The controlled physical parameters of the subject open cell mesh include basis weight, cell count, node count, node length, node thickness, and node width. Additionally, there is provided a method of testing the mesh's resistance to an applied load, which is a predictive indicator of softness and resiliency.

Open cell mesh and method for characterizing a mesh

An improved washing implement which exhibits superior softness, while also retaining good resiliency. To achieve the improved softness and resiliency of the improved washing implement an improved open cell mesh is provided which is softer and sufficiently resilient as a result of its controlled cell structure parameters. In preferred embodiments, the controlled physical parameters of the open cell mesh include basis weight, cell count, node count, node length and node diameter. Additionally there is provided a method of testing the mesh's resistance to an applied load, which provides an additional parameter for characterizing the mesh of the present invention.

A personal cleansing implement is made from a hydrophobic piece of tubular scrim. The piece of tubular scrim is gathered along a longitudinal axis thereof to form circumferential pleats. The circumferential pleats are permanently fixed in a gathered condition by bonding together a top surface and a bottom surface of them adjacent to their perimeter while they are maintained in the gathered condition. The tubular scrim have properties which result in a consumer preferred softness in the personal cleansing implement. The properties of the tubular scrim comprise a node width ranging from 0.18 mm to 0.56 mm; a strand length ranging from 1.78 mm to 3.68 mm; and a repeat unit average weight ranging from 1.0.times.10.sup.-4 gm to 3.4.times.10.sup.-4 gm. The tubular scrim is preferably made substantially of low density polyethylene.

Personal cleansing implement made of stretched scrim providing softness

A personal cleansing implement comprises a tubular piece of hydrophobic diamond-mesh scrim, which is stretched to expand the diamond mesh, gathered along a longitudinal axis of the tubular piece of scrim to form circumferential pleats, and heat set in an expanded and pleated condition to form a substantially rectangular resilient batt. Top and bottom surfaces of the batt are bonded together adjacent the perimeter of the batt by a bonding means. Thread stitching or intermittent thermobonding are the preferred bonding means. Ultrasonic bonding is most preferred. A tether loop is connected to the implement for hanging it from a support during drying.

Implement for personal cleansing and method of construction

Dispensing closure

Highly alkaline thickened aqueous liquid hypohalite compositions containing either mineral oil, water insoluble saturated fatty acid esters, water insoluble ethers, and mixtures thereof, preferably thickened with a clay, preferably thixotropic, and containing an alkali metal silicate which can be used in a process for cleaning kitchen utensils having baked-on soils comprising the steps of treating a soiled utensil surface with the thickened alkaline hypohalite composition and then covering the treated soiled utensil surface with an excess of water at a temperature of more than about 100.degree. F. The compositions containing clay, an alkali metal silicate and the mineral oil, water insoluble ester and ethers, etc. are particularly stable, provide good corrosion protection to metals, are milder to skin than the same alkaline hypohalite compositions without the mineral oil, etc. Preferred compositions containing the silicate and saturated fatty acid esters do not leave a residue of dried product which is difficult to remove.

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Indian Hill, OH, United States of America

Lyle B Tuthill