WO2002049604A1

WO2002049604A1 - Wet wipe

Info

Publication number: WO2002049604A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/034388
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shuhei Tanaka
Original assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
Priority date: 2000-12-18
Filing date: 2000-12-18
Publication date: 2002-06-27
Also published as: AU2001224380A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to wet wipes comprising: one or more layers of a water-insoluble substrate; and an aqueous liquid composition comprising: a chitosan component selected from the group consisting of chitosan, salts of chitosan, and mixtures thereof; a salicylic acid component selected from the group consisting of salicylic acid, and mixtures thereof; and water. The wet wipes of the present invention can provide skin care benefits such as moisturized feel, reduce sticky feeling during/after application, and prevent increase of germ/bacteria and forming of mold/mildew during storage.

Description

WET WIPE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to wet wipes comprising one or more layers of a water-insoluble substrate and an aqueous liquid composition comprising a chitosan component, a salicylic acid component, and water.

BACKGROUND

Wet wipes for skin cleansing and refreshing are well known commercially and readily available to consumers. Wet wipes typically comprise paper or non- woven fabric sheets which are wetted with an aqueous solution of water soluble or water dispersible ingredients. However, because such wet wipes or paper-cloths are packed and stored in a wet condition, germ and/or bacteria are likely to increase, and mold and/or mildew are likely to form in wet wipes and in a container of the wet wipes during storage. Thus, there is a need for preventing increase of germ/bacteria and forming of mold/mildew in wet wipes during storage. Further, there is a need for wet wipes providing skin care benefits such as moisturized feel, smoothness, and skin exfoliation effect, in addition to providing skin cleansing and refreshing benefits.

A variety of approaches have been developed to prevent increase of germ/bacteria and forming of mold/mildew in wet wipes during storage. A variety of approaches have also been developed to provide skin care benefits. For example, chitosan is contained in an aqueous solution for some wet wipes, being expected to provide, for example, anti-bacterial efficacy and mildness to the skin (disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open H 10-165327), or skin care benefits (disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open H10-192185). However, it has been found that; mold and/or mildew are likely to form, especially when wet wipes are comprised by an aqueous solution containing a chitosan component. Furthermore, it has also been found that; when a chitosan component is contained in an aqueous solution for wet wipes, such wet wipes leave the skin with sticky feeling during/after application. Based on the foregoing, there remains a desire to provide wet wipes which provide skin care benefits such as moisturized feel, reduce sticky feeling during/after application, and prevent increase of germ/bacteria and forming of mold/mildew during storage. None of the existing art provides all of the advantages and benefits of the present invention.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a wet wipe comprising: (a) one or more layers of a water-insoluble substrate; and (b) an aqueous liquid composition comprising:

(i) a chitosan component selected from the group consisting of chitosan, salts of chitosan, and mixtures thereof; (ii) a salicylic acid component selected from the group consisting of salicylic acid, salts of salicylic acid, derivatives of salicylic acid, and mixtures thereof; and

(iii) water.

The present invention also relates to method of using the disclosed wipes. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become evident to those skilled in the art from a reading of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the specification concludes with claims which particularly point out and distinctly claim the invention, it is believed the present invention will be better understood from the following description. All cited references are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Citation of any reference is not an admission regarding any determination as to its availability as prior art to the claimed invention.

Herein, "comprising" means that other steps and other ingredients which do not affect the end result can be added. This term encompasses the terms "consisting of and "consisting essentially of.

All percentages, parts and ratios are based upon the total weight of the compositions of the present invention, unless otherwise specified. All such weights as they pertain to listed ingredients are based on the active level and, therefore, do not include carriers or by-products that may be included in commercially available materials.

The aspects and embodiments of the present invention set forth in this document have many advantages. For example, the wet wipes of the present invention provide skin care benefits such as moisturized feel, reduce sticky feeling during/after application, and prevent increase of germ/bacteria and forming of mold/mildew during storage. The wet wipes of the present invention may further provide other benefits such as skin exfoliation and preventing malodor.

The essential and additional components used to prepare the wet wipes of the present invention, as well as the process for preparing and using them, are described in detail as follows:

WATER-INSOLUBLE SUBSTRATE

The wet wipes of the present invention comprise a water-insoluble substrate. By "water insoluble", it is meant that the substrate does not dissolve in or readily break apart upon immersion in water. The water-insoluble substrate is the implement or vehicle for delivering the aqueous liquid composition to surfaces in need of cleansing and/or refreshing (e.g., skin).

A wide variety of materials can be used as the substrate. The following nonlimiting characteristics are desirable: (i) sufficient wet strength for use, (ii) sufficient abrasivity, (iii) sufficient loft and porosity, (iv) sufficient thickness, and

(v) appropriate size.

Nonlimiting examples of suitable insoluble substrates which meet the above criteria include nonwoven substrates, woven substrates, hydroentangled substrates, air entangled substrates, natural sponges, synthetic sponges, polymeric netted meshes, and the like. Preferred embodiments employ nonwoven substrates since they are economical and readily available in a variety of materials. By "nonwoven", it is meant that the layer is comprised of fibers which are not woven into a fabric but rather are formed into a sheet, mat, or pad layer. The fibers can either be random (i.e., randomly aligned) or they can be carded (i.e., combed to be oriented in primarily one direction). Furthermore, the nonwoven substrate can be composed of a combination of layers of random and carded fibers.

Nonwoven substrates may be comprised of a variety of materials both natural and synthetic. By "natural", it is meant that the materials are derived from plants, animals, insects or byproducts of plants, animals, and insects. By

"synthetic", it is meant that the materials are obtained primarily from various man- made materials or from natural materials which have been further altered. The conventional base starting material is usually a fibrous web comprising any of the common synthetic or natural textile-length fibers, or mixtures thereof.

Nonlimiting examples of natural materials useful in the present invention are silk fibers, keratin fibers and cellulosic fibers. Nonlimiting examples of keratin fibers include those selected from the group consisting of wool fibers, camel hair fibers, and the like. Nonlimiting examples of cellulosic fibers include those selected from the group consisting of wood pulp fibers, cotton fibers, hemp fibers, jute fibers, flax fibers, and mixtures thereof. Nonlimiting examples of synthetic materials useful in the present invention include those selected from the group consisting of acetate fibers, acrylic fibers, cellulose' ester fibers, modacrylic fibers, polyamide fibers, polyester fibers, polyolefin fibers, polyvinyl alcohol fibers, rayon fibers, polyurethane foam, and mixtures thereof. Examples of some of these synthetic materials include acrylics such as acrilan, creslan, and the acrylonitrile-based fiber, orlon; cellulose ester fibers such as cellulose acetate, arnel, and acele; polyamides such as nylons (e.g., nylon 6, nylon 66, nylon 610, and the like); polyesters such as fortrel, kodel, and the polyethylene terephthalate fiber, dacron; polyolefins such as polypropylene, polyethylene; polyvinyl acetate fibers; polyurethane foams and mixtures thereof. These and other suitable fibers and the nonwoven materials prepared therefrom are generally described in Riedel, "Nonwoven Bonding Methods and Materials," Nonwoven World (1987); The Encyclopedia Americana, vol. 11 , pp. 147-153, and vol. 26, pp. 566-581 (1984); U.S. Patent No. 4,891 ,227, to Thaman et al., issued January 2, 1990; and U.S. Patent No. 4,891 ,228 which are all incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

Nonwoven substrates made from natural materials consist of webs or sheets commonly formed on a fine wire screen from a liquid suspension of the fibers. See C.A. Hampel et al., The Encyclopedia of Chemistry, third edition, 1973, pp. 793-795 (1973); The Encyclopedia Americana, vol. 21, pp. 376-383 (1984); and G.A. Smook, Handbook of Pulp and Paper Technologies, Technical Association for the Pulp and Paper Industry (1986); which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

Substrates made from natural materials useful in the present invention can be obtained from a wide variety of commercial sources. Nonlimiting examples of suitable commercially available paper layers useful herein include AirtexR an embossed airlaid cellulosic layer having a base weight of about 71 gsy (grams per square yard), i.e., about 85 gsm (grams per square meter), available from James River, Green Bay, Wl; and WalkisoftR an embossed airlaid cellulosic having a base weight of about 75 gsy (about 90 gsm), available from Walkisoft U.S.A., Mount Holly, NC. Methods of making nonwoven substrates are well known in the art.

Generally, these nonwoven substrates can be made by air-laying, water-laying, meltblowing, coforming, spunbonding, or carding processes in which the fibers or filaments are first cut to desired lengths from long strands, passed into a water or air stream, and then deposited onto a screen through which the fiber-laden air or water is passed. The resulting layer, regardless of its method of production or composition, is then subjected to at least one of several types of bonding operations to anchor the individual fibers together to form a self-sustaining web. In the present invention the nonwoven layer can be prepared by a variety of processes including hydroentanglement, thermally bonding or thermo-bonding, and combinations of these processes. Moreover, the substrates of the present invention can consist of a single layer or multiple layers. In addition, a multilayered substrate can include films and other nonfibrous materials. Processes for preparing hydroentangled webs are well known in the art. See, for example, Evans; U.S. Patent 3,485,786; issued December 23, 1969; Kalwarres; U.S. Patent 2,862,251 and Griswold; U.S. Patent 3,025,585, all of which describe hydroentangling procedures generally and all of which are herein incorporated by reference. See also U.S. Patent 5,674,591 ; James et al; issued October 7, 1997 which specifically describes a hydroentangling process, including the apparatus used in said process, which can be used to prepare the patterned web. U.S. Patent 5,674,591 is incorporated herein in its entirety.

Nonwoven substrates made from synthetic materials useful in the present invention can also be obtained from a wide variety of commercial sources. Nonlimiting examples of suitable nonwoven layer materials useful herein include NovohefR 149-616, a thermo-bonded grid patterned material containing about 100% polypropylene, and having a basis weight of about 50 gsy (about 60 gsm), available from Veratec, Inc., Walpole, MA; NovonefR 149-801 , a thermo-bonded grid patterned material containing about 69% rayon, about 25% polypropylene, and about 6% cotton, and having a basis weight of about 75 gsy (about 90 gsm), available from Veratec, Inc. Walpole, MA; Novonet^ 149-191, a thermo-bonded grid patterned material containing about 69% rayon, about 25% polypropylene, and about 6% cotton, and having a basis weight of about 100 gsy (about 120 gsm), available from Veratec, Inc. Walpole, MA; Keybak^ 951V, a dry formed apertured material, containing about 75% rayon, about 25% acrylic fibers, and having a basis weight of about 43 gsy (about 51 gsm), available from PGI/Chicopee, Dayton, NJ; Keybak^R 1368, an apertured material, containing about 75% rayon, about 25% polyester, and having a basis weight of about 39 gsy (about 47 gsm), available from PGI/Chicopee, Dayton, NJ.

Alternatively, the water insoluble substrate can be a polymeric mesh sponge as described in U.S. Patent 5,650,384, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The polymeric sponge comprises a plurality of plies of an extruded tubular netting mesh prepared from a strong flexible polymer, such as addition polymers of olefin monomers and polyamides of polycarboxylic acids. Although these polymeric sponges are designed to be used in conjunction with a liquid cleanser, these types of sponges can be used as the water insoluble substrate in the present invention. The substrate can be made into a wide variety of shapes and forms including flat pads, thick pads, thin sheets, ball-shaped implements, irregularly shaped implements, and having sizes ranging from a surface area of about a square inch (about 6.45 cm²) to about hundreds of square inches (about hundreds of 6.45 cm²). The exact size will depend upon the desired use and product characteristics. Especially convenient are square, circular, rectangular, or oval pads having a surface area of from about 1 in² (about 6.45 cm²) to about 144 in² (about 928.8 cm²), preferably from about 10 in² (about 64.5 cm²) to about 120 in² (about 744 cm²), and more preferably from about 30 in² (about 193.5 cm²) to about 80 in² (about 516 cm²), and a thickness of from about 1 mil (=0.001 inch, i.e., about 0.0254 mm) to about 500 mil (about 10.16 mm), preferably from about 5 mil (about 0.1255 mm) to about 250 mil (about 6.125 mm), and more preferably from about 10 mil (about 0.245 mm) to about 100 mil (about 2.45 mm). Fluid-entangled, nonwoven, flexible substrate Among the water-insoluble substrate described hereinbefore, fluid- entangled (hydroentangled), nonwoven, flexible substrates are preferably used in the present invention, in view of providing softness, strength while being used, and cloth-like texture. Any fluid-entangled, nonwoven, flexible substrate that is known or is otherwise suitable for application to the skin can be used in the wet wipes of the present invention. Fluid-entangled, nonwoven, flexible substrates and the fluid entangling techniques for making them are well known in the substrate arts, preferred examples of such substrates and fluid entangling techniques being described in U.S. Patents 5,142,752 (Greenway et al.) and U.S. Patents 5,281 ,461 (Greenway et al.), which patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. These preferred fluid-entangled, nonwoven, flexible substrates comprise a symmetrical array of entangled staple fibers including a lattice structure of spaced parallel machine direction oriented rows of criss-crossing fibrous bands, and spaced cross-direction oriented fibrous bands, said machine direction fibrous bands and said cross-direction fibrous bands intersecting at dense fiber nodes, said symmetrical array of fibers having a ratio in the range of 1/1 to 4/1 ; wherein said symmetrical array of fibers is fluid entangled by discrete streams of focused fluid energy which have a confluence corresponding to said symmetrical array. More preferably, the machine direction fibrous bands and the criss-crossing fibrous bands further comprise connecting interstitial fiber components which substantially occupy interstitial spaces defined by said fibrous bands, such that the fabric has a non-apertured textile-like finish. These substrates are preferably a blend of polyester and rayon or cotton fibers and have a weight in the range of 40-120 gsy (grams per square yard), i.e., 48-144 gsm (grams per square meter). These preferred substrates are typically prepared by using an apparatus and related process for entangling a fibrous web which employs columnar fluid jets to eject a continuous curtain of fluid in an entangling station. The web is advanced through an entangling station on a conveyor which supports an entangling member having a symmetrical pattern of void areas. Baffle members disposed in the void areas are provided which include radiused curvatures and define apertures having a frusto-conical configuration. Dynamic forces in the fluid curtain impact the web in discrete and controlled patterns determined by the baffling members to enhance efficient energy transfer and web entanglement. Textile-like fabrics having a uniform, non- apertured, surface cover are obtained by coaction of fluid curtain and baffle structures.

Other known techniques for making fluid-entangled, nonwoven, flexible substrates are described, for example in U.S. Patent 3,485,786 (Evans); U.S. Patent 2,862,251 (Kalwarres); and U.S. Patent 3,025,585 (Griswald), which descriptions are incorporated herein by reference. Other suitable methods of making fluid-entangled substrates are described in U.S. Patent 5,674,591 (James et al.) which specifically describes a hydroentangling process, including the apparatus used in said process, which can be used to prepare a patterned web, which description is incorporated herein by reference.

The term "fluid-entangled" as used herein is an art recognized term which refers generally to the manufacturing process for entangling a fibrous web by using a fluid jet on a fibrous web to obtain the desired fiber and void configuration within the resulting fluid-entangled substrate, to thereby produce an art recognized, fluid-entangled, nonwoven, flexible substrate.

The term "flexible" as used herein is likewise an art recognized term which refers generally to thin, soft substrates having a substrate thickness of not more than about 2 cm, preferably no more than about 5mm, and that readily conform to the contour of the applied surface during application. On the other hand, in view of providing cloth-like texture, the substrate has a thickness of preferably more than 0.2mm, more preferably more than 0.5mm.

The nonwoven, flexible substrate preferably has an average size (e.g., area) of not more than about 650 cm², more preferably from about 90 cm² to about 550cm², still preferably from about 275cm² to about 475cm², and can be manufactured in any suitable shape, typically as a square, rectangular, circular or oval shape, or variation thereof, more typically as a square or rectangular shape. It has been found that many consumers briefly apply the wet wipes to the desired area of the skin using one hand, typically their dominant hand, and that the wet wipes are more efficiently used when the surface area of the nonwoven, flexible substrate correlates with or is similar to the surface area of the dominant hand that applies the wet wipe to the skin.

The fluid-entangled, nonwoven, flexible substrate may be derived from or comprised of a variety of materials both natural and synthetic. Among these materials, preferred is a synthetic materials such as rayon, polyester, and mixtures thereof, more preferred is a mixture of rayon and polyester in view of providing cloth-like texture, still preferred is a mixture comprising from about 30% to about 50% of rayon and from about 50% to about 70% of polyester, in view of providing cloth-like texture.

The fluid-entangled, nonwoven, flexible substrate component described herein is preferably a patterned substrate in view of providing softness and strength. More preferably, V-groove patterned fluid-entangled, nonwoven, flexible substrate is used in the present invention in view of providing improved wiping performance such as trapping dirt and germ into the substrate from the skin in addition to providing softness and strength. Examples of patterned substrate include mechanical embossed substrates, apertured substrates, and three-dimensional patterned substrates, the latter of which is more preferred herein. Mechanical embossing in the art typically involves the application of force to a web through rigid members, such as protrusions on the periphery of a roll, to create areas of high density in the substrate, without changing the basis weight of the high density areas. Aperturing substrates to provide contour is likewise well known in the art and typically involves the creation of a network of fiber bundles around a series of holes or apertures. Three dimensional substrating is described in PCT Patent Publication WO 99/25318, published May 27, 1999, which description is incorporated herein by reference. These three- dimensional substrates comprise a pattern having a plurality of discrete, raised fibrous regions, wherein the raised fibrous regions have a density which is substantially the same as the density of the base surface, and wherein the raised fibrous regions are joined to said base surface by a fibrous transition region.

The fluid-entangled, nonwoven, flexible substrates made from synthetic materials useful in the present invention can also be obtained from a wide variety of commercial sources. Nonlimiting examples of suitable fluid-entangled, nonwoven, flexible substrate materials useful herein include KF-28, a V-groove patterned hydroentangled non-woven substrate having a basis weight of about 60 gsm (grams per square meters), comprising about 55% polyester and about 45% rayon (fiber's length: 50mm), available from Kuraflex in Japan; BBA Nubtex, a patterned hydroentangled material containing about 70% rayon and 30% polyester, and having a basis weight of about 57 gsy (grams per square yard), i.e., about 68 gsm (grams per square meter), available from BBA Nonwovens, Bethune, S.C.; PGI Miratec Herringbone, a patterned hydroentangled material containing about 30% rayon and 70% polyester, and having a basis weight of about 56 gsy (about 67 gsm), available from PGI/Chicopee, Dayton N.J.; PGI Miratec Starburst, a patterned hydroentangled material containing about 30% rayon and 70% polyester, and having a basis weight of about 56 gsy (about 67 gsm), available from PGI/Chicopee, Dayton N.J.; HEF Nubtex^R 149-801 , a nubbed, apertured hydroentangled material, containing about 100% polyester, and having a basis weight of about 70 gsy (about 84gsm), available from

Veratec, Inc. Walpole, MA; Duralace^R 1236, an apertured, hydroentangled material, containing about 100% rayon, and having a basis weight from about 40 gsy (about 48 gsm) to about 115 gsy (about 138 gsm), available from PGI/Chicopee, Dayton, NJ; Duralace^R 5904, an apertured, hydroentangled material, containing about 100% polyester, and having a basis weight from about 40 gsy (about 48 gsm) to about 115 gsy (about 138 gsm), available from PGI/Chicopee, Dayton, NJ; Sontara 8877, an apertured hydroentangled material, containing about 50% Nylon and about 50% Pulp, and having a basis weight of about 68 gsm, available from Dupont Chemical Corp. AQUEOUS LIQUID COMPOSITION The wet wipes of the present invention comprise an aqueous liquid composition in addition to the water-insoluble substrate described hereinbefore. The wet wipe of the present invention comprises an aqueous liquid composition that impregnates, coats or is otherwise in contact with the water-insoluble substrate described hereinbefore. The amount of aqueous liquid composition associated with any individual wet wipe will vary depending upon the desired characteristics of the finished wet wipe product, but should be at least an amount sufficient to result in deposition of at least some of the aqueous liquid composition onto the skin during application. To that desired end, the aqueous liquid composition will therefore preferably represent from about 50% to about 400%, more preferably from about 100% to about 300%, by weight of the water-insoluble substrate.

The wet wipes of the present invention are preferably saturated with the aqueous liquid composition such that the water-insoluble substrate remains saturated with the aqueous liquid composition. The term "saturated," as used herein means the substrate comprises an aqueous liquid composition such that the aqueous liquid composition preferably is comprised in an amount of from about 100% to about 400%, more preferably from about 150% to about 350%, still preferably from about 200% to about 300% by weight of the substrate. By the phrase "remains saturated with the aqueous liquid composition," as used herein means that the substrate is not dried during the interval between the saturation of the wipe with the aqueous liquid composition and application of the wipe to a surface (e.g., skin).

The aqueous liquid composition can be a solution, suspension, dispersion, emulsion or other liquid or fluid form. Preferably, the aqueous liquid composition used for the wet wipe of the present invention has a pH of from about 3.0 to about 5.0, more preferably from about 3.0 to about 4.0 in view of providing both chitosan component's and salicylic acid component's benefits effectively.

The aqueous liquid compositions used for the wet wipe of the present invention preferably have a viscosity in the range of from about 1 to about 1000, more preferably from about 5 to about 200 centipoise as measured by a

Brookfield Digital Viscometer, Model DV-II+ Version 3.2 according to the operating instructions set forth in Manual No. M/92-161-H895.

The aqueous liquid composition used for the wet wipe of the present invention comprises (i) a chitosan component selected from the group consisting of chitosan, salts of chitosan, and mixtures thereof; (ii) a salicylic acid component selected from the group consisting of salicylic acid, salts of salicylic acid, derivatives of salicylic acid, and mixtures thereof; and (iii) water.

Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that the combination of the chitosan component and the salicylic acid component can provide skin care benefits such as moisturized feel, while reducing sticky feeling during/after application. It is also believed that the combination of the chitosan component and the salicylic acid component can prevent increase of germ/bacteria and forming of mold/mildew during storage, without the use of additional antimicrobials and/or antibacterials. (i) Chitosan component

The aqueous liquid composition used for the wet wipe of the present invention comprises a chitosan component selected from the group consisting of chitosan, salts of chitosan, and mixtures thereof.

Without intending to be limited by theory, the chitosan component is believed to provide skin care benefits such as moisturized feel, and prevent increase of germ/bacteria, due to cationic amines contained in its polymer structure. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is also believed that chitosan component may prevent malodor.

The salts of chitosan useful herein include salts comprising organic acids and chitosan, and salts comprising inorganic acids and chitosan, preferred are salts comprising organic acids and chitosan in view of water solubility. The inorganic acid useful herein includes, for example, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, and mixtures thereof. The organic acid useful herein includes, for example, lactic acid, citric acid, ascobic acid, acetic acid, glutamic acid, adipic acid, glycolic acid, maleic acid, malic acid, nicotinic acid, tartaric acid, oxalic acid, benzoic acid, succinic acid, malonic acid, gluconic acid, and mixtures thereof. Among these organic acids, preferred are lactic acid, citric acid, ascobic acid, acetic acid, glutamic acid, and mixtures thereof, in view of water solubility of salts and mildness to the skin, and more preferred are lactic acid, in view of better water solubility of salts and better mildness to the skin. When chitosan is used as the chitosan component of the present invention, an acid is preferably contained together with the chitosan in the aqueous liquid composition in view of supporting chitosan's water solubility. The acids useful herein are the same as the acids for chitosan salts described above. Thus, the acids include organic acids and inorganic acids, preferred are organic acids, more preferred are lactic acid, citric acid, ascobic acid, acetic acid, glutamic acid, and mixtures thereof, still preferred is lactic acid in view of better water solubility of salts and better mildness to the skin. The acids are contained in the aqueous liquid composition at a level of preferably from about 0.1% to about 2.0%, more preferably from about 0.2% to about 1.5%, still preferably from about 0.3% to about 1.0% by weight of the aqueous liquid composition.

Among these chitosan components, preferred are water soluble chitosan components such as water soluble salts of chitosan in view of water solubility, more preferred are water soluble salts comprising chitosan and organic acids such as lactic acid and acetic acid in view of water solubility and mildness to the skin, and highly preferred is chitosan lactate in view of better water solubility and better mildness to the skin.

The chitosan component is contained in the aqueous liquid composition at a level of preferably from about 0.01% to about 5%, more preferably from about 0.05% to about 3%, still preferably from about 0.1 % to about 2% by weight of the aqueous liquid composition. (ii) Salicylic acid component

The aqueous liquid composition used for the wet wipe of the present invention comprises a salicylic acid component selected from the group consisting of salicylic acid, salts of salicylic acid, derivatives of salicylic acid, and mixtures thereof.

Without intending to be limited by theory, the salicylic acid component is believed to reduce sticky feeling during/after application, and prevent increase of germ/bacteria and forming of mold/mildew during storage. Without intending to be limited by theory, the salicylic acid component is believed to reduce sticky feeling during/after application, especially during application compared to other acidic components such as benzoic acid. Without intending to be limited by theory, the salicylic acid component is also believed to provide an improved preservative benefit in a low pH, and reduced odor, compared to other acidic components such as benzoic acid. In a highly preferred embodiment, the salicylic acid component is salicylic acid which provides benefits such as skin exfoliation.

The salts of salicylic acid useful herein includes, for example, sodium salicylate. The derivatives of salicylic acid useful herein includes, for example, methyl salicylate, ethyl salicylate, acetyl salicylic acid.

Among these salicylic acid components, preferred is salicylic acid in view of providing reduced sticky feeling, preventing forming of mold/mildew, providing skin exfoliation benefit, and providing cool feeling to the skin.

The salicylic acid component is contained in the aqueous liquid composition at a level of preferably from about 0.01% to about 2%, more preferably from about 0.03% to about 1%, still preferably from about 0.05% to about 0.5% by weight of the aqueous liquid composition. (iii) Water

The aqueous liquid composition used for the wet wipe of the present invention also comprises preferably from about 3% to about 99.8%, more preferably from about 5% to about 99.8%, still preferably from about 10% to about 99.8%, by weight of water. ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS

The wet wipes of the present invention may further comprise one or more additional ingredients which may modify the physical, chemical, cosmetic or aesthetic characteristics of the compositions or serve as additional "active" components when deposited on the skin. The compositions may also further comprise additional inert ingredients. These additional components may be associated with either the aqueous liquid composition, the water-insoluble substrate, or both, but be preferably incorporated into the aqueous liquid composition. Additional ingredients include any material known or otherwise suitable for use in personal care compositions, including substrate-containing personal care compositions such as wet wipes, provided that such additional materials are compatible with the essential materials described herein, or do not otherwise unduly impair product performance. Nonlimiting examples of additional ingredients suitable for use in the wet wipes include: antioxidants; absorbents; abrasives; anticaking agents; binders; biological actives; bulking agents; buffering agents; chelating agents such as EDTA; cosmetic astringents; chemical additives; colorants; cosmetic biocides; deodorants; dyes and pigments; drying agents; denaturants; drug astringents; emollients; external analgesics; essential oils; film formers; fragrances; humectants; opacifying agents; pH buffering agents; perfumes; preservatives; propellants; sensates; soothing agents; skin active agents; skin bleaching agents; sunscreening agents; skin soothing agents; skin healing agents; vitamins such as vitamin B6; complexed and uncomplexed cyclodextrins; and other similar materials. The aqueous liquid composition can contain antimicrobials (antibacterial) as an additional ingredient, while the aqueous liquid composition can prevent increase of germ/bacteria and forming of mold/mildew without containing antimicrobials (antibacterial), due to the combination of the chitosan component and the salicylic acid component. Sensates

The aqueous liquid composition of the present invention can contain sensates, while the composition may provide cool feeling without sensate due to salicylic acid component. Sensates for use herein include any sensate that is known or otherwise effective for use on the skin as a sensate material, nonlimiting examples of which include camphor, menthol, and other similar materials. Additional sensates are present at concentrations ranging preferably from about 0.01% to about 5%, more preferably from about 0.05% to about 2%, still preferably from about 0.05% to 1 %, by weight of the aqueous liquid component of the wet wipe. Other liguid carriers

The aqueous liquid composition used for the wet wipe of the present invention may contain other liquid carriers in addition to water. The aqueous liquid composition can contain ethanol which is described hereinafter as an liquid carrier and also a sensate, while the aqueous liquid composition can provide reduced sticky feeling without ethanol due to salicylic acid component.

Nonlimiting examples of such other liquid carriers suitable for use herein include C1-C8 monohydric alcohols, C2-C20 dihydric or polyhydric alcohol; alkyl ethers of all such alcohols; polyoxylated polyols such as propylene glycols and polyethethylene glycols having from 2 to 30 repeating alkoxylate (e.g., ethoxylate or propoxylate) groups; polyglycerols having from 2 to 16 repeating glycerol moieties; derivatives and combinations thereof. Nonlimiting examples of suitable alcohol carrier liquids include propylene glycol, hexylene glycol, dipropylene glycol; tripropylene glycol; glycerin; propylene glycol methyl ether; dipropylene glycol methyl ether; ethanol, n-propanol, n- butanol, t-butanol, 2-methoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethanol, ethylene glycol, isopropanol, isobutanol, 1 ,2-butylene glycol, 2,3-butylene glycol, tirmethylene glycol, 1 ,3-butanediol, 1 ,4-butanediol, propylene glycol monoisostearate, PPG-3 myristyl ether, PEG-4, PEG-8, 1 ,2-pentanediol, PPG-14 butylether, dimethyl isosorbide, and combinations thereof. Other similar carrier liquids for use in the aqueous carrier herein are described, for example, in U.S. Patent 4,781 ,917 (Luebbe et al.), U.S. Patent 5,643,558 (Provancal et al.), U.S. Patent 4,816,261 (Luebbe et al.), which descriptions are incorporated herein by reference.

Other nonlimiting examples of suitable carrier liquids for use herein include volatile and nonvolatile silicones such as those described in U.S. Patent U.S. Patent 5,891,424 (Bretzler et al.), which description is incorporated herein by reference. Nonlimiting examples of volatile silicone liquids include cyclomethicones such having from 3 to 7 silicone atoms (e.g., cyclohexasiloxane, cyclopentasiloxane, cyclotetrasiloxane) and short chain linear polydimethylsiloxanes. Nonlimiting examples of nonvolatile silicones include polydimethylsiloxanes and derivatives thereof. Surfactants

The wet wipes may further comprise a low level of surfactant, but is preferably substantially free of conventional anionic, nonionic, amphoteric, and/or zwitterionic surfactants. In this context, the term "substantially free" means that the wet wipes preferably contain less than 3%, more preferably less than 1 %, still preferably zero percent, of such conventional surfactants by weight of the aqueous carrier. Drying agents

Drying agents can be employed in the aqueous liquid compositions employed herein to boost the drying rate of the liquid composition once it applied to the skin via rubbing the wipe product on the skin. Some aqueous compositions can give a sticky impression when they are applied to the skin, especially during the time it takes for the composition to dry. It has been found that fast-drying compositions provide a softer, smoother skin feel, with less stickiness. The aqueous liquid composition can contain drying agents, while the aqueous liquid composition can provide reduced stickiness without drying agents due to salicylic acid component. Suitable drying agents include isoparaffin, alcohols and combinations thereof. A mixture of isoparaffin and ethanol is especially preferred. Drying agents can be included in the aqueous liquid compositions at a level ranging preferably from about 1 % to about 60%, more preferably from about 3% to about 40%, still preferably from about 5% to about 20% by weight of the aqueous liquid composition. PREPARATION OF WIPES

The wet wipe articles of the present invention are manufactured by adding onto or impregnating into a water insoluble substrate an aqueous liquid composition. Techniques for coating or impregnating the water insoluble substrate are well known in the art and are not elaborated on here. For example, the aqueous liquid composition of the present invention can be coated on the selected substrate by spraying, printing, splashing, dipping, soaking, coating, flood coating, spray coating or metered dosing the substrate with the aqueous liquid. Many other techniques or variations can be used to accomplish this combination. After the coating or impregnating process, the aqueous liquid composition is preferably comprised in an about of from about 100% to about 400%, more preferably from about 150% to about 350%, still preferably from about 200% to about 300% by weight of the water-insoluble substrate. Prior to or after impregnation of the aqueous liquid composition into the substrate, the substrate may be folded into stacks. The substrate is then typically packaged in any of the moisture and vapor impermeable packages known in the art. METHOD OF USING THE WET WIPES The wet wipe is applied to the desired area of the skin, preferably to rough or shaven skin, more preferably to male facial skin, to release or deposit an effective amount of the aqueous liquid on the skin or to otherwise provide the desired effect on the area of application. •

The method of the present invention is directed to the application of the wet wipe described herein. The methods of the present invention are especially effective in providing any one or more of benefits such as cleansing, skin moisturizing, deposition of skin active agents or other materials, deposition of skin deodorizing agents, skin refreshment, skin deodorizing, fragrance application, or combinations thereof. The cleansing benefit can include the removal from skin of dirt, oil, cosmetics, environmental odors, body odors, or any other undesirable material that can be removed by such application. Preferably, the wet wipes of the present invention are directed to a method of cleansing and/or refreshing the desired area of the skin.

The wet wipes of the present invention can also be applied immediately before application to the skin, e.g., within about 15 minutes of application.

The amount of aqueous liquid delivered from the wipe and frequency of application can vary widely, depending upon individual needs, and the benefit desired. The wet wipe, especially when used to provide refreshment, can be applied one to several times a day, preferably one to three times per day.

EXAMPLES

The following examples further describe and demonstrate the preferred embodiments within the scope of the present invention. The examples are given solely for the purpose of illustration and are not to be construed as limitations of the present invention since many variations thereof are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Ingredients are identified by chemical name, or otherwise defined below.

Water-insoluble substrate (Examples 1-5)

The following is an example of a water-insoluble substrate used in the present invention. KF-28, a V-groove patterned hydroentangled non-woven substrate having a basis weight of about 60 gsm (grams per square meters), comprising about 55% polyester and about 45% rayon (fiber's length: 50mm), available from Kuraflex in

Japan.

Com ositions Exam les 1-5

Method of preparation

In a suitable vessel, if included, an acid is added to water, and then chitosan component is also added to water and agitated at room temperature to form chitosan component solution. Then, other components such as salicylic acid components, disodium EDTA, alcohol, and Vitamin B6 are added to the solution at room temperature, and mixed to form an aqueous liquid composition. The aqueous liquid composition is then applied onto the substrate.

The embodiments disclosed and represented by the previous examples have many advantages. For example, the wet wipes of the present invention can provide skin care benefits such as moisturized feel, reduce sticky feeling during/after application, and prevent increase of germ/bacteria and forming of mold/mildew during storage. The wet wipes of the present invention may further provide other benefits such as skin exfoliation and preventing malodor. The embodiments disclosed and represented by the previous examples is suitable for, for example, cleansing and/or refreshing the skin.

It is understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested to one skilled in the art without departing from its spirit and scope.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A wet wipe comprising:

(a) one or more layers of a water-insoluble substrate; and

(b) an aqueous liquid composition comprising:

(i) a chitosan component selected from the group consisting of chitosan, salts of chitosan, and mixtures thereof;

(ii) a salicylic acid component selected from the group consisting of salicylic acid, salts of salicylic acid, derivatives of salicylic acid, and mixtures thereof; and

(iii) water.

2. The wet wipe according to Claim 1 , wherein the chitosan component is the salt of chitosan which comprises chitosan and an organic acid.

3. The wet wipe according to Claim 2, wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, citric acid, ascobic acid, acetic acid, glutamic acid, and mixtures thereof.

4. The wet wipe according to Claim 1 , wherein the chitosan component is chitosan, and wherein the aqueous liquid composition further comprises an organic acid selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, citric acid, ascobic acid, acetic acid, glutamic acid, and mixtures thereof.

5. The wet wipe according to Claim 1 , wherein the salicylic acid component is salicylic acid.

6. The wet wipe according to Claim 1 , wherein the aqueous liquid composition comprises by weight of the aqueous liquid composition:

(i) from about 0.01% to about 5% of the chitosan component; and (ii) from about 0.01% to about 2% of the salicylic acid component.

7. The wet wipe according to Claim 1 , wherein the aqueous liquid composition has a pH of from about 3.0 to about 5.0.

8. A method of cleansing and/or refreshing skin by administering to the skin in need of cleansing and/or refreshing a wet wipe comprising:

(a) one or more layers of a water-insoluble substrate; and (b) an aqueous liquid composition comprising:

(iii) water.