Moist cleansing, skin care or cosmetic article

#The invention relates to cleansing, care or cosmetic articles in which a liquid composition is retained by a substrate to provide a moist wipe article. The article is particularly advantageous as a personal care/cleansing article, however other uses are also possible.

#Discussion of the Background

#Cleansing or personal care wipes have been known for many years. Such articles have been available as either wet wipes or dry wipes. Wet wipes are typically saturated or nearly saturated with a liquid composition, so that, when needed, the user can remove the article from a package and cleanse the skin with the article. Typically, wet wipes contain large amounts of a liquid composition, for example, with the liquid composition approximately three times the weight of the substrate. In addition, the substrate is typically a very thin substrate. However, with such a large amount of the liquid composition, particularly with a thin substrate, the substrate does not retain the liquid well and the liquid will settle from the substrate over time. As a result, the liquid composition is wasted as it settles from the substrate during storage. Moreover, the settled liquid can be inconvenient, for example, if the container should spill. In addition, if an antimicrobial or preservative substance is used, either an excessive amount of that substance must be provided to ensure sufficient antimicrobial/preservative properties despite settling, or alternatively, there is a risk that portions of the substrates from which the composition has settled will not be sufficiently protected. In addition, particularly where a group of wet wipes are packaged together, the product is inconsistent, because certain substrates can have more liquid than others.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a wipe according to the invention; and

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example of a package containing a plurality of wipes according to the invention.

#In a preferred form of the invention, a liquid composition is held by a substrate to form a moist wipe article or product. Preferably, the article differs from conventional dry wipes in that it is neither dry nor substantially dry, and the article also differs from wet wipes in that it has a lower water or liquid content as compared with conventional wet wipe products.

#Various substrates can be used according to the invention. In a presently preferred form, the substrate is a nonwoven substrate, preferably an apertured nonwoven substrate. However, other types of substrates could also be used, including nonwoven or woven cloth materials, foams, or sponges, and the substrates can include natural or synthetic materials or combinations of the foregoing. Preferably, the substrate (or at least one substrate layer) is formed of at least 30% hydrophilic fibers, more preferably at least 50% hydrophilic fibers.

#The substrate can be a single layer substrate, or it can be formed of two or more layers. If, for example, the substrate is a multilayer substrate, the substrate could include both pervious and impervious layers, in which case at least one pervious layer is preferably formed of at least 30% hydrophilic fibers (more preferably at least 50%). As should be apparent, where the substrate is formed of multiple layers, the various layers can be the same or different. The substrates can also be of various forms or shapes, for example, with the substrate a rectangular or washcloth-like shape, or alternatively, the substrate can be in the form of a glove, mitt or mitten. Obviously, a wide variety of additional shapes are possible, such as oval, circular, etc.