WO2010123419A1

WO2010123419A1 - Packaged wipe or hygiene tissue

Info

Publication number: WO2010123419A1
Application number: PCT/SE2009/050403
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ulla Forsgren Brusk; Bo Runeman; Carina Hedlund
Original assignee: Sca Hygiene Products Ab
Priority date: 2009-04-20
Filing date: 2009-04-20
Publication date: 2010-10-28

Abstract

A packaged wipe (12) individually enclosed in a wrap (11), wherein the wipe is attached to an inner surface of the wrap, and the wrap can be opened to allow use of the wipe while still attached to the wrap, and avoiding smearing the fingers with the additive The wipe is folded or crumpled thus comprising a plurality of folds or crumples and the wipe has first and second opposed outer edges (12a, 12b), wherein the wipe is attached to the inner surface of the wrap (11) at or close to both of said first and second opposed outer edges, while a major part of the rest of the wipe is unattached to the wrap. The wipe in its flat unfolded or uncrumpled position has a surface area (a2) and a periphery (p2), wherein the surface area (a2) of the wipe exceeds the surface area (a1) of the wrap in opened position and the wipe is attached to the inner surface (11a) of the wrap in a way so that upon opening the wrap the periphery (p2) of the wipe will not extend outside the periphery (p1) of the wrap as seen in the plane of the opened wrap.

Description

PACKAGED WIPE OR HYGIENE TISSUE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention refers to a packaged wipe or hygiene tissue containing an additive for cleaning purposes and/or for transferring a substance to the skin or other surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wipes and hygiene tissue impregnated with an additive for cleaning purposes and/or for transferring a substance to the skin or other surfaces, are used in many applications, for example in personal care and for general cleaning purposes. They are for example used for hand wiping, for baby care when changing diaper, for feminine care and incontinence care. The additive may be a liquid mainly intended for cleaning purposes but the additive may also contain a substance intended to be transferred to the skin or other surface that is treated with the wipe. Examples of such substances are skincare agents, moisturizers, anti-microbial substances, odour-control agents, perfumes and lactic acid producing bacteria.

Such wipes and hygiene tissue are generally packaged either individually in a sealed package that can be torn open by the user, or a dispenser containing a large number of wipes that may be dispensed through a dispenser opening in the dispenser. In any of these cases the wipe contacts the user^'s skin when the user removes the wipe from the package.

In some cases it is desirable that the additive contained in the wipe or hygiene tissue is a lipid substance, such as an oil, a wax or a fat. This is for example the case when the active substance is lactic-acid producing bacteria, which rapidly loose viability under moist conditions and therefore should be protected from moisture during transport and storage.

Distributing the lactic-acid producing bacteria in a lipid phase has proved to increase the viability considerably. A further advantage of the lipid phase is that it is gentle to the sensitive urogenital area. A disadvantage however is, especially when lipid phase is distributed to the entire wipe, that the hands will get messy, which is undesired.

WO 02/10033 discloses a wipe packaging comprising a flexible sheet material sealed around a pre-moistened wipe, wherein the sheet material includes a fin allowing the user to grasp the fin and open the package without touching the wipe. The pre-moistened wipe is adhered to the inner surface of the flexible sheet material to allow use of the wipe while holding the fin.

US 4,427,111 discloses an integral package and fluid applying device including an absorbent pad containing a fluid like alcohol, which is contained in an package of fluid impermeable material. The pad is attached to the inside of the package, so that upon opening of the package the wipe is used while grasping the package. The pad may be of fixed size or may be capable of unfolding.

US 5,487,932 discloses a combined package and fluid applicator device for viscous fluids comprising a pad containing the viscous fluid and which is contained in and attached to the inside of a package of fluid impermeable material. The package can be torn open and the pad used while grasping the package.

The need remains to develop a wipe or hygiene tissue, especially for personal hygiene, such as in the urogenital area of wearers of absorbent articles, which allows a relatively large area of the wipe or tissue to be exposed and used without touching the wipe with the fingers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a packaged wipe comprising a wrap having opposed portions positioned in generally flat overlying relation to each other, seal means sealing said opposed portions to each other along a seal line forming a cavity enclosing an individual wipe. The wipe is attached to an inner surface of the wrap, wherein the seal means are arranged to allow opening along at least a part of said seal line to expose the wipe and to allow use thereof while still attached to the wrap. The wrap in its opened position has a surface area a1 and a periphery p1. The wipe is folded or crumpled thus comprising a plurality of folds or crumples and the wipe has first and second opposed outer edges, wherein the wipe is attached to the inner surface of the wrap at or close to both of said first and second opposed outer edges, while a major part of the rest of the wipe is unattached to the wrap. The wipe has in its flat unfolded or uncrumpled position a surface area a2 and a periphery p2, wherein the surface area of the flat unfolded or uncrumpled wipe is larger than the surface area a1 of the opened wrap, and the wipe is attached to the inner surface of the wrap in a way so that upon opening the wrap the periphery of the unfolded or uncrumpled wipe will not extend outside the periphery of the wrap as seen in the plane of the opened wrap.

It is herewith understood that the wipe will not unfold or uncrumple to a completely flat condition when opening the wrap, but that the attachment of the wipe to the wrap is such that when opening the wrap the wipe may not unfold or uncrumple in such a way that its periphery will extend outside the periphery of the opened wrap.

In one embodiment the opposed portions of the wrap upon opening of the seal means are unfolded along a fold line.

In a further embodiment the first and second opposed edges of the wipe are attached to opposite opposed portions of the wrap. Alternatively the first and second opposed edges of the wipe are attached to the same of said opposed portions of the wrap.

In one aspect of the invention the wipe is folded in an accordion-like manner thus comprising a plurality of folds extending substantially in parallel.

In a further aspect of the invention the wipe has first and second outer panels extending between a respective outer edge of the wipe located essentially in the direction of the accordion-like folds and a nearest fold, and that the wipe is attached to the inner surface of the wrap at both of said outer panels in at least part thereof at or adjacent the respective outer edge.

In a still further aspect the folds of the wipe are oriented essentially in parallel to the fold line of the wrap.

Alternatively the folds of the wipe are oriented essentially transversely or diagonally to the fold line of the wrap.

In one embodiment of the invention the wipe is attached to the wrap in attachment zones the total area of which is not more than 30%, preferably not more than 20%, and more preferably not more than 10% of the total area of the wipe. In a further embodiment the wipe is attached to the inner surface of the wrap at a distance from the respective outer edge that does not exceed 25%, preferably does not exceed 15%, of the distance between said outer edges.

In one aspect of the invention said wipe is intended for personal care purposes and that the additive is adapted for cleaning the skin and/or urogenital area and/or comprises an active substance chosen from: a skincare agent, a moisturizer, an anti-microbial substance, an odour-control agent, a perfume, a lactic acid producing bacteria, a probiotic bacteria, a prebiotic, a supernatant from probiotic bacteria, a pain release agent, an anti- itching agent and/or a cooling agent.

In a further aspect said active substance is distributed in a lipid phase, such as an oil, a wax or fat.

DEFINITIONS

The term "wipe" denotes any device for wiping, and in particular intended to personal hygiene for wiping skin, but also to wipes for cleaning and/or polishing objects and surfaces in general. The invention mainly refers to disposable wipes, which means wipes that are not intended to be laundered or otherwise restored or reused after use.

The wipe comprises a "carrier material" which denotes any material adapted as a wiping material. Suitable carrier materials for wipes are porous materials capable of holding an additive in its structure and which also have capacity to absorb substances which should be removed from the skin. Examples of suitable porous materials are fibrous webs made of natural or synthetic fiber or combinations thereof. Examples of fibres include cellulose, regenerated cellulose (viscose, rayon, lyocell etc.), cotton, bamboo, polyester, polyolefin fibers and mixtures thereof. Other types of porous carrier materials in wipes are foams, nets etc.

The term "additive" denotes any substance, for example solid or liquid, that is added to the carrier material of the wipe. The additive may be adapted for cleaning purposes and/or to transfer a substance to the skin or other surface. The term "lipid" denotes any water-insoluble organic molecule with a fatty character. Suitable lipids for the preferred embodiments of the present invention include petroleum- derived lipids, synthetic lipids, and animal-and plant-derived lipids.

"Probiotics" in the present context relates to living microorganisms that can confer a health benefit when administered in adequate amounts to a host.

"Probiotics" in the present context relates to a substance that promotes a balanced microflora by selectively stimulating, for the host, beneficial microorganisms when administered in adequate amounts to said host. Examples are nutrition for probiotic bacteria, substances that promote adhesion to the host for probiotic bacteria, pH- regulating substances and extracellular product from probiotic bacteria.

The term "supernatant" refers to extracellular products secreted in cultures of probiotic bacteria. The supernatant is obtained from the bacterial cell cultures e.g. by filtration, centrifugation, or both of these.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will in the following be described with reference to some embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1a is a plan view of a packaged wipe contained in its wrap.

Fig. 1 b is a plan view of the wrap alone in an opened unfolded position.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the packaged wrap taken along the line N-Il.

Fig. 3 shows the wipe in a flat unfolded position. Fig. 4a is a perspective exploded view of the wipe and the wrap according to a first embodiment.

Fig. 4 b-c are schematic perspective views illustrating a user opening the packaged wipe in Fig. 1 and 4a.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a user opening a packaged wipe according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 6a is a perspective exploded view of the wipe and the wrap according to a third embodiment.

Fig. 6 b-c are perspective views illustrating a user opening a packaged wipe according to

Fig. 6a. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Fig. 1 and 2 the packaged wipe 10 comprises a wrap 1 1 enclosing an individual wipe 12. The wrap 11 has opposed portions 13, 14 positioned in generally flat overlying relation to each other and seal means 15 sealing said opposed portions to each other along a seal line forming a cavity enclosing an individual wipe 12.

The wipe 12 is folded or crumpled thus comprising a plurality of folds 16 or crumples and is attached to an inner surface 1 1a of the wrap. The seal means 15 is arranged to allow opening along at least a part of said seal line to expose the wipe 12 and to allow use of the wipe while still attached to the wrap 1 1. The opposed portions 13, 14 of the wrap 1 1 are upon opening of the seal means 15 unfolded along a fold line 18. The seal means 15 may either extend around the entire circumference of the wrap 1 1 as shown in the drawings, or be absent along the fold line 18. In case seal means 15 are present adjacent the fold line 18, a finger grip will be formed as illustrated in the drawings. The opposed portions 13 and 14 of the wrap 11 may either be formed from a pair of separate members or be formed from the same member that is folded along the fold line.

The wrap 1 1 has in its opened position a length 11 , a width w1 and a surface area a1 , which for a rectangular wrap is equal to 11 x w1. The periphery of the wrap is denoted with p1. The wipe has, as illustrated in Fig. 3, in a flat unfolded or uncrumpled position a length I2, a width w2 and a surface area a2, which for a rectangular wipe is equal to I2 x w2. The wipe has a periphery p2. The surface area a2 of the wipe is larger than the surface area a1 of the opened wrap.

The wipe 12 has first and second opposed outer edges 12 a and 12 b and is attached to the inner surface 11 a of the wrap 11 at or close to both of said first and second opposed outer edges 12a and 12b, while a major part of the rest of the wipe is unattached to the wrap. The attachment zones are indicated with the numeral 17. The term "close to" in this respect refers to a distance from the respective outer edge 12a or 12b that does not exceed 25%, preferably does not exceed 15%, of the distance between said outer edges 12a and 12b. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3 the distance between the outer edges 12a and 12b corresponds to the length I2.

The wipe 12 is attached to the wrap 1 1 in at least two attachment zones 17 located at or close to two opposite side edges of the wipe. The wipe may of course be attached to the wrap also in several zones. When the wrap is opened the wipe is unfolded or uncrumpled to expose a large area for use, however its dimensions and manner of being attached to the wrap should be such that the periphery p2 of the unfolded or uncrumpled wipe will not extend outside the periphery p1 of the wrap as seen in the plane of the opened wrap, i.e. in a plan view from above. It is herewith understood that the wipe will not be unfolded or uncrumpled to a completely flat condition.

The idea is that when the wrap is opened the wipe should remain attached to the wrap at said opposite side edges and should not extend outside the periphery of the wrap. This is important especially when the wipe is impregnated with an additive which preferably should not be transferred to the user^'s fingers, for example a lipid substance, like an oil, fat or wax. The user should be able to hold the opened wrap with the fingers and use the unfolded or uncrumpled wipe without smearing the fingers with the additive.

The attached zones should preferably amount to not more than 30%, more preferably not more than 20%, and most preferably not more than 10% of the total area of the wipe 12, in order to allow the wipe to be unfolded or uncrumpled to increase its exposed area.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4a-c the wipe is folded in an accordion-like manner with the folds 16 oriented essentially in parallel with the fold line 18 of the wrap 11. The accordion-like folded wipe can be defined to comprise a plurality of panels extending between adjacent folds 16 and between the respective outer edge 12a and b and the nearest fold 16. Thus the wipe comprises first and second outer panels 19 and 20 extending between the respective outer edge 12a and b of the wipe located essentially in the direction of the accordion-like folds and a nearest fold 16. The wipe is attached to the inner surface of the wrap at both of said outer panels 19, 20 in at least part thereof at or close to the respective outer edge 12a and b. Preferably the wipe is attached to the wrap along a continuous or discontinuous line extending essentially the entire width of the wipe.

The rest of the wipe is unattached to the wrap, so that the entire part of the wipe extending between the attachment zones 17 at the edges 12a and b is free from the wrap.

Fig. 4b and c illustrates in sequential steps a user opening the wrapped wipe and unfolding it to be ready for use.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 5 differs from the one in Fig. 4a-c in that the wipe 12 is attached to the wrap also in other attachment zones 17 in addition to the zones along the edges 12a and b, namely at folds located adjacent the fold line 18 of the wrap 11. The wipe will then unfold in a leaf-like manner presenting a plurality of individual surfaces that can be used for wiping.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 6a-c differs from the one in Fig. 4a-c in that the wipe is contained in the wrap with the folds 16 of the wipe oriented essentially transversely to the fold line 18 of the wrap. The edges 12a and b of the wipe are also oriented and attached to the wrap essentially transversely to the fold line 18 of the wrap 11. When opening and unfolding the wrap 11 the wipe will unfold in a fan-shaped configuration as illustrated in Fig. 6b and c. It would also be possible to orient the folded wipe in another optional way, for example diagonally with respect to the wrap.

There are of course other numerous ways of attaching the wipe to the wrap than has been illustrated in the drawings and described above. In all the examples shown and described the attached opposed edges 12a and b of the wipe are attached to opposite portions 13 and 14 respectively of the wrap 1 1 located on opposite sides of the fold line 18. It would however be possible to attach the opposed outer edges 12a and b of the wipe to the same portion 13 or 14 respectively of the wrap.

The carrier material used in the wipe should be chosen so that it can hold the additive in its porous structure and, if desired, release it to the skin or other surface when the wipe is used. It shall preferably also be capable to absorb substances that have been wiped off. Examples of suitable carrier materials are fibrous materials such as tissue paper, airlaid tissue and different type of nonwoven materials. Examples of nonwoven materials are hydroentangled webs, spunbond, meltblown, thermobonded webs etc. Further examples of carrier materials are foams and nets.

Fibres that are useful in fibrous carrier materials are pulp fibres, cotton fibres, bamboo fibres and other natural fibres, regenerated cellulose fibres such as viscose, lyocell, polyolefin fibres, like polyethylene and polypropylene, polyester and mixtures thereof.

For a so called wet wipe a suitable fiber composition may be a mixture of viscose fibers and polyester fibers, for example 70 wt% viscose fibers and 30 wt% polyester. A common fiber composition in other type of wipes is a mixture of pulp fibers and synthetic fibers, for example polypropylene.

A suitable basis weight for the carrier material (excluding the additive) of a personal hygiene wipe is between 30 and 70 g/m², preferably between 40 and 50 g/m².

Suitable wrap materials are relatively vapour impermeable to prevent drying out of the wipe and are able to form a peelable seal. Examples of wrap materials are different types of polymeric materials, for example polypropylene and laminates of polymeric materials and aluminium foil. For wipes containing certain kinds of moisture sensitive additives, such as lactic acid producing bacteria and other probiotic bacteria, the wrap should have a high degree of vapour impermeability.

The wipe may be attached to the wrap either by heat-sealing or by adhesive.

The wrap may of course have any optional shape such as rectangular, polygonal, oval, round etc. The shape of the wipe may also vary to be adapted to the shape of the wrap.

Claims

1. A packaged wipe containing an additive for cleaning and/or transferring a substance to the skin or other surface, said packaged wipe comprising a wrap (1 1 ) having opposed portions (13, 14) positioned in generally flat overlying relation to each other, seal means sealing said opposed portions to each other along a seal line (15) forming a cavity enclosing an individual wipe (12), said wipe being attached to an inner surface (1 1a) of the wrap, wherein the seal means are arranged to allow opening along at least a part of said seal line (15) to expose the wipe and to allow use thereof while still attached to the wrap, wherein said wrap (11 ) in its opened position has a surface area (a1 ) and a periphery (p1 ), characterized in that the wipe (12) is folded or crumpled thus comprising a plurality of folds or crumples (16), said wipe has first and second opposed outer edges (12a, 12b), and that the wipe is attached to the inner surface of the wrap at or close to both of said first and second opposed outer edges, while a major part of the rest of the wipe is unattached to the wrap, said wipe in a flat unfolded or uncrumpled position has a surface area (a2) and a periphery (p2), wherein the surface area (a2) of the flat unfolded or uncrumpled wipe is larger than the surface area (a1) of the opened wrap (1 1 ), and the wipe is attached to the inner surface (1 1a) of the wrap in a way so that upon opening the wrap the periphery (p2) of the unfolded or uncrumpled wipe will not extend outside the periphery (p1 ) of the wrap as seen in the plane of the opened wrap.

2. Wipe as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the opposed portions (13,

14) of the wrap (1 1 ) upon opening of the seal means are unfolded along a fold line (18).

3. Wipe as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first and second opposed edges (12a, 12b) of the wipe (12) are attached to opposite opposed portions (13, 14) of the wrap.

4. Wipe as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wipe is folded in an accordion-like manner thus comprising a plurality of folds (16) extending substantially in parallel.

5. Wipe as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the wipe has first and second outer panels (19, 20) extending between a respective outer edge (12a, 12b) of the wipe located essentially in the direction of the accordion-like folds and a nearest fold (16), and that the wipe is attached to the inner surface (11a) of the wrap (1 1 ) at both of said outer panels in at least part thereof at or adjacent the respective outer edge.

6. Wipe as claimed in claim 2 and any of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the folds (16) of the wipe (12) are oriented essentially in parallel to the fold line

(18) of the wrap.

7. Wipe as claimed in claim 2 and any of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the folds (16) of the accordion-like folded wipe (12) are oriented essentially transversely or diagonally to the fold line (18) of the wrap.

8. Wipe as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wipe (12) is attached to the wrap (11 ) in attachment zones (17) the total area of which is not more than 30%, preferably not more than 20%, and more preferably not more than 10% of the total area of the wipe (12).

9. Wipe as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the wipe is attached to the inner surface of the wrap at a distance from the respective outer edge (12a, 12b) that does not exceed 25%, preferably does not exceed 15%, of the distance between said outer edges.

10. Wipe as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said wipe is intended for personal care purposes and that the additive is adapted for cleaning the skin and/or urogenital area and/or comprises an active substance chosen from: a skincare agent, a moisturizer, an anti-microbial substance, an odour-control agent, a perfume, a probiotic bacteria, a prebiotic, a supernatant from probiotic bacteria, a pain release agent, an anti-itching agent and/or a cooling agent.

1. Wipe as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that said active substance is distributed in a lipid phase, such as an oil, a wax or fat.