The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 19, 1999
Filed:
Jun. 06, 1997
Peter Worthington Hamilton, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Kenneth Stephen McGuire, Wyoming, OH (US);
Richard Tweddell, III, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Geneva Gail Otten, Cincinnati, OH (US);
The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a selectively-activatible sheet material for dispensing and dispersing a substance onto a target surface. The sheet material comprises a three-dimensional sheet of material having a first side and a second side. The said first side has a plurality of hollow protrusions extending outwardly therefrom and separated from one another by valleys, while the second side has a plurality of depressions corresponding with the hollow protrusions. A substance adheres to and partially fills a location protected from external contact comprising the valleys and/or the depressions. The sheet material may be selectively activated by deforming the hollow protrusions to deliver the substance to a target surface, the substance having an effective viscosity upon activation which permits the substance to be liberated from its protected location and dispensed onto the target surface. Suitable substances include cleansing agents, medicinal agents, emollients, lubricants, colorants, preservatives, protectants, condiments, adhesives, fragrances, anti-perspirants, deodorants, and combinations thereof. The present invention also includes such materials having two or more substances of diverse composition, and substances which undergo a decrease in effective viscosity upon activation (such as shear-thinning substances) are particularly preferred. Additional layers of porous material may also be employed on the opposite side of the substance from the sheet material such that the substance may be dispensed through the porous material. Porous materials may provide additional beneficial interaction with the substance, including enhanced distribution and dispersal.