WO2003048654A1

WO2003048654A1 - Self-heating or cooling product pouch

Info

Publication number: WO2003048654A1
Application number: PCT/US2002/037965
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yan Xiong; James Dephillips
Original assignee: Tempra Technology, Inc.
Priority date: 2001-11-29
Filing date: 2002-11-27
Publication date: 2003-06-12
Also published as: AU2002359493A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to disposable packages (1) for moist personal care products (17).

Description

Self-Heating or Cooling Product Pouch

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to disposable packages for moist personal care products.

BACKGROUND

Personal care products such as makeup remover often are applied either damp or wet as a liquid or cream. Single-use amounts may be packaged, alone or with an applicator such as a towelette, in a sealed, moisture-proof bag or pouch. It may be desirable, however, to utilize such a product at a temperature other than ambient, either hot or cold, which currently available single-use packaging does not provide.

SUMMARY

This invention comprises a self-heating or self-cooling openable pouch suitable for delivery of single-use quantities of personal care products. The package is suitable for moist products, by which we mean liquids or wet or damp liquid-containing products, for example, a moist towelette containing makeup remover or a cold-compress container. The liquids may be water, a water-based solvent, or a non-aqueous liquid.

The pouch of this invention comprises a top sheet and a bottom sheet that are sealed about their edges such that at least one edge is easily openable for access to the inner contents of the pouch. In a preferred embodiment the top sheet and bottom sheet comprise a single sheet folded back upon itself and sealed along the tliree non-fold edges to create the pouch. The sheet material may be conventional for product-containing pouches, for example, impermeable polymeric film that is heat sealable along the edges. Impermeability may be imparted by conventional means to prevent leakage and evaporation, typically by including a metal foil barrier. On the internal face of one sheet is a user-activatable heater or cooler. Ingredients of the heater or cooler are stored in separate compartments separated by a frangible seal. The user compromises the frangible seal, and the consequent mixing of ingredients is either exothermic, generating heat, or endothermic, generating cold. Ingredients for portable heat generation and cold generation are well known.

Product to be delivered is placed inside the pouch but separated from the heater or cooler. In certain preferred embodiments the product comprises one or a few towelettes moistened with a personal care product.

The pouch according to this invention is economical to manufacture, easy to activate, and readily openable for product access.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of this invention showing the interior of the pouch.

FIG. 2 is top view of the pouch shown in FIG. 1 in its closed configuration. FIG. 3 is a perspective of the pouch shown in FIG. 1 partially folded and containing a moist product.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a product pouch according to this invention.

Pouch 1 comprises sheet 2. which we denote the bottom sheet for ease of reference, and a top sheet 3. In this embodiment sheets 2, 3 comprise a single sheet of barrier film foldable along fold line 4. Inner faces 5. 6 of sheets 2. 3 are visible in this top view of open pouch 1.

Integral with face 5 of bottom sheet 2 is activatable heater or cooler 7, which contains ingredient compartment 8,9 separated by frangible seal 10. Disposed within compartments 8,9 are ingredients which, if mixed, interact exothermically (heater) or endothermically (cooler). Compartments 8,9 are formed from bottom sheet 2 and a single enclosure sheet placed over the heating or cooling ingredients and sealed to inner face 5. Circumferential seal 12 permanently seals heater or cooler 7 from the contents of pouch 1. Frangible seal 10 connects two points across circumferential seal 12 and divides heater or cooler 7 into compartments 8,9. Heater or cooler 7 could comprise a separate inner pouch affixed to face 5, but we prefer that face 5 forms part of the enclosure of heater or cooler 7. In either case, the enclosure for heater or cooler 7 permanently contains the heating or cooling ingredients so as to prevent their coming into contact with the product before or after they are mixed. Frangible seal 10 can be comprised by the user to begin the heating or cooling process.

Pouch 1 can be sized as desired. A preferred size for a towelette-containing pouch is to stall with a single sheet, that includes both sheet 2 and sheet 3, that is approximately 10.75 inches by 4.75 inches.

Sheets 2 and 3 are preferably foil barrier film having a heat-sealable layer forming inner faces 5,6. Conventional sealing means may be used in the construction of the various seals of the pouch, including gluing and heat sealing. Construction of permanent seals and frangible seals between film sheets is well known.

FIG. 2 shows pouch 1 in its closed configuration having product (see Fig. 3) disposed therein. Top sheet 3 has been folded along fold line 4 so as to lie atop bottom sheet 2, which includes heater or cooler 7. Closed pouch 1 includes user-openable frangible seal 13 at one end to provide access to the interior of the pouch and the product. Closed pouch 1 further includes side seals 14, 15. Side seals may be permanent seals, or either or both may be frangible, • depending on how one desires the pouch to be opened. If the product is, for example, a moist towelette, side seals 14. 15 may be frangible. On the other hand, if the product is a cream or liquid, side seals are preferably permanent. Pouch 1 as shown in Fig. 2 also contains end seal 16 adjacent fold line 4. Seal 16 is a permanent seal that is required if sheets 2, 3 are separate sheets and optional, but preferred, if sheets 2. 3 comprise a single, folded sheet. As shown in Fig. 2, end seal 13 is placed slightly inside the periphery of sheets 2, 3 so as to provide unsealed edges 18 for gripping to open frangible seal 13 by peeling or bursting, as desired. Fig. 3 shows pouch 1 after opening. Product 17, in this case a folded moist towelette, is visible and readily accessible. In the particular embodiment shown in Fig. 3, side seals 14, 15 (Fig. 2) are frangible and have been opened, along with end seal 13. The preferred embodiment shown in Figs. 1 -3 is a pouch that lies flat when opened with the heater beneath the product. A pouch according to this invention is suitable for personal care products such as, for example, one or a few moist towelettes containing makeup remover, oil, hair removing wax or after-shave lotion. When provided with frangible side seals, the pouch is easily openable such that the product lies flat on bottom sheet 2.^' Providing the pouch with permanent side seals results in an opened pouch from which lotion or other liquid product can be poured, from which cream can be squeezed and from which solid product can be slipped out.

Heating compositions are well known in the art. Our presently preferred compositions utilize potassium permanganate as the oxidizer and ethylene glycol as the fuel. Such compositions are described, for example, in United States Patent No. 5,035,230, United States Patent No. 5,984,593, and published patent application WO 99/41554. Cold-generating mixtures are also well known in the ait. including those which engender an endothermic chemical reaction and those which engender an endothermic physical reaction such as a negative heat of dilution. Our presently preferred cooler comprises ammonium nitrate and water, utilizing a negative heat of dilution. Useful compositions are described, for example, in United States Patent No. 3,804,077 and published patent application WO 00/06063. In order to improve the uniformity of heating across the surface of the product, we prefer that the heating or cooling ingredients include a gelling agent. To use the product, a user first compromises the frangible heater seal. After allowing time for heating or cooling, the user then opens the pouch and extracts the heated or cooled product.

A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A pouch suitable for personal care products comprising: an impermeable top sheet; an impermeable bottom sheet; a contained, user-activatable single use, disposable heater or cooler integral with said bottom sheet and between said top and bottom sheets; sealing means peripherally securing said top and bottom sheets, wherein at least a portion of said sealing means is user openable.

2. A pouch according to claim 1, wherein said top and bottom sheets comprise a single folded film sheet.

3. A pouch according to any of claims 1 and 2 including unsealed edges of said bottom and top sheets adjacent said openable portion.

4. A pouch according to any of claims 1-3 containing at least one moistened towelette.

5. A pouch according to any of claims 1-4 wherein said top and bottom sheets comprise heat-sealable barrier film.

6. A pouch according to any of claims 1-5 wherein said heater or cooler comprises a chamber formed by heat sealing an enclosure sheet along its periphery to said bottom sheet, said chamber being divided into two compartments by a frangible seal compromisable by user without opening said pouch.