Dispensing article

Abstract

An article including a first exterior layer; a second exterior layer; and a cell layer having at least one cell containing an active material wherein at least one layer is an apertured film and the cell layer is disposed between the two exterior layers. Typically the article is useful for cleaning or treating surfaces including skin, metal, wood, glass, and plastics.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A cleansing article comprising: 
 a first exterior layer;    a second exterior layer;    and a cell layer having a plurality of cells containing an active material, wherein at least one of the exterior layers is an apertured film and the cell layer is disposed between the first exterior layer and the second exterior layer, and wherein said apertured film is made from a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, metallocene polyethylene, blends thereof, and copolymers thereof.    
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer has a vinyl acetate content of, based upon the total weight of the copolymer, from about 9 percent to about 28 percent.  
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the exterior layers contains an anti-bacterial agent.  
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the aperatured film has an open area of no more than about 45%.  
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cell is comprised of a cell film selected from water insoluble films, water soluble films, oil insoluble films, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 5  wherein the water insoluble film is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidine chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl chloride copolymers, ethylene vinyl alcohol, and blends and copolymers thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 5  wherein the water insoluble film has a moisutre vapor permeability of from about 10 g/m 2 /24 hr/day to about 50 g/m 2 /24 hr/day.  
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 5  wherein the thickness of the cell film is from about 0.5 mil to about 3.0 mil.  
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the at least one cell contains an active material that is prevented from escaping unless either pressure is applied or is dipped in a liquid which dissolves or disperses out the active material.  
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 9  wherein the at least one cell contains an active material that is prevented from escaping unless pressure is applied.  
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the active material is selected from the group consisting of moisturizers, bubble bath compositions, cleansers; toners; astringents; conditioners; sunscreens; shaving foams; tanning agents; anti-acne agents; anti-aging agents; anti-irritant agents; perfumes/fragrances; moisturizers and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 11  wherein the active material is selected from cleansers, moisturizers, conditioners, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 1  further comprising a core layer.  
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 13  wherein the core layer is a material selected from non-wovens, wovens, sponges, open-celled foam selected from a natural and/or a synthetic source, extruded plastic scrim, polymeric films, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 1  further comprising a hanging means.  
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 15  wherein the hanging means is selected from straps, handles, knobs, hooks, a character figure, hooks and loops, magnets, plastics, rubbers, synthetic elastics, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 1  wherein a sensory device is located in the article in locations that correspond to the at least one cell.  
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 17  wherein the sensory device is a gas enclosed in a film.  
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first exterior layer has a first end and the second exterior layer has a second end, and the first exterior layer and the second exterior layer are removably attached along the first end and second end.  
     
     
         20 . The article of  claim 19  wherein a second cell layer may be inserted into the article when the active material in the first cell layer is expended.  
     
     
         21 . A method of dispensing active materials comprised of permitting the active material contained in the cells of the article of  claim 1  to escape in a given order.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the cells are serially arranged.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the cells are disposed on top of each other.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the active material is permitted to escape by applying pressure to the cell.  
     
     
         25 . A process comprising: 
 permitting the active material in at least one cell of the article of  claim 1  to escape; and    appying the article to a desired surface.    
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 26  wherein the article is applied to a desired surface in the presence of water.