Abstract: Disclosed is a cosmetic soap-gelled solid stick composition, which maintains its shape and aesthetic properties even when stored at high temperatures for long periods of time. The composition includes at least one alcohol (monohydric and/or polyhydric), water, and a soap gelling agent, the alcohol being a solvent for the soap gelling agent, the soap gelling agent being alkali metal (e.g., sodium) salts of fatty acids having C.sub.12 -C.sub.22 carbon chain length. At least 65% by weight, of the total weight of the soap gelling agent, are alkali metal salts of fatty acids having C.sub.20 -C.sub.22 carbon chain length.

Abstract: A toothbrush having a novel bristle configuration and trim pattern is described. The bristles of the tufts are of varying lengths and are so arranged to form a concave shape resembling the shape of a rubber prophy cup used by dentists and hygienists for polishing teeth. The individual bristles are of varying length and so placed into or mounted in the head to yield tufts having the same concave shape but without the requirement for trimming the bristle ends. In a variant construction, the upper ends of a number of tufts are so contoured, either by trimming or by insertion of various length bristles, that each tuft upper end has a surface which is a portion of a larger concave surface. Thus in one type of arrangement each tuft has its own prophy brush shape at its upper end. In another type of arrangement there is only one prophy brush shape for the entire head, each tuft making its own partial contribution to the single prophy shape.

Abstract: A toothbrush handling device for handling of toothbrushes during the manufacturing process. The device is a rigid toothbrush holder with fixed dimensions which is easily transported in a conveyor type apparatus. The holder is formed with a generally toothbrush-shaped portion and terminates in at least one cavity suitable to hold at least the head portion of the toothbrush such that the bristles do not contact any interior surface of the cavity. If only one cavity is present, it is large enough to permit a gripping mechanism to grasp a portion of the brush to permit the insertion of the brush into or the removal of the brush from the transport device. Also, if more than one cavity is present, the cavities are separated by a supporting wall. The device enables improved and easier handling of the toothbrushes during manufacturing and processing, and protects the bristles from damage during those processes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a clear cosmetic gel composition in the form of a water-in-oil emulsion, and methods of forming and of using the composition. The composition has a water-based phase containing water, a cosmetically active ingredient, and at least one coupling agent; and an oil-based phase containing a material having a refractive index in the range of 1.40-1.50, silicone fluids and an alkoxylated, alkyl substituted siloxane surface active agent (e.g., dimethicone copolyol). The composition has a refractive index in a range of 1.4026 to 1.4150. Where the cosmetically active ingredient is an antiperspirant active ingredient, the composition can be an antiperspirant gel (e.g., soft gel) composition. In the refractive index range of the present invention, increased amounts of, e.g., antiperspirant active ingredient, and other high-refractive-index materials providing cosmetic benefits, can be incorporated in the water and oil phases of the composition while still achieving a clear composition.

Abstract: A toothbrush having a bristle-bearing head divided into at least two sections is disclosed. The free end section, when unstressed, is normally biased to assume an angle of about 15.degree. with respect to the other, to thereby define an articulated head. The two sections of the head have facing ends joined by a thin bridge or hinge section integral with the two head sections, the bridge or hinge forming a groove between adjacent head sections. The upper surface of the bridge section is substantially flush with the upper surface of the head (opposite to the bristle-bearing surface). The space between the two facing ends is filled with a soft elastomer of about 5 to about 30, preferably about 13 to about 30 Shore A hardness. This hinge construction defines an articulated head of limited flex motion, wherein, when utilized by the average adult brusher, who applies an average brushing force of 0.5 pounds, flexes to a substantially flattened position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a solid cosmetic composition (e.g., a cream composition) containing an active cosmetic material (e.g., a deodorant active, an antiperspirant active, a sunscreen, an insect repellent and/or an anti-fungal agent) and a silicone gel material. The silicone gel material includes (a) a volatile silicone material and (b) an organopolysiloxane material as a gelling agent, able to form a gel after being mixed with the volatile silicone material. The organopolysiloxane material can be a reaction product of a vinyl-terminated siloxane polymer and a hydride cross-linking agent. The composition can be formed by mixing the active cosmetic material and silicone gel material at ambient temperature. The compositions do not need particulate or clay thickeners or waxy gelling agents.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cosmetic composition (solid or liquid, for example, including sticks and gels) containing an antiperspirant active aluminum-containing material, such as aluminum chlorohydrate, in a solvent therefor, and also containing poly(ethenylformamide) as a thickening agent of the composition. This composition can be an antiperspirant composition, where it contains an antiperspirant effective amount of the antiperspirant active aluminum-containing material, and can be applied to axillary regions of a human to reduce perspiration therefrom. Ammonium acetate can also be incorporated in the composition, to firm up the composition. The composition can be in the form of a gel, dispensed by extruding the gel through pores or slots in the top of a dispensing container. The composition can be clear and transparent, without the need of refractive index matching to achieve clarity.

Abstract: Mild aqueous detergent, e.g., shampoo, compositions are disclosed based on a mixture comprising anionic surfactant and amphoteric surfactant, such as betaines, present in the composition at a level of from about 0.75 to 1.25 parts by weight per part by weight of anionic surfactant. The compositions also contain one or a mixture of therapeutic agents such as climbazole or a mixture of climbazole and one or more co-therapeutics such as salicylic acid. The combination of mild surfactant system and therapeutic agent serve to prevent or treat mild skin disorders such as scalp itch and scalp irritation when applied to the scalp as a shampoo. Shampoo compositions also preferably contain one or more conditioning agents and suitable suspending agents.

Abstract: Methods and machines are disclosed to attach tufts of individual bristles to a toothbrush with a resiliently flexible head, wherein the flexible head may be segmented with joints connecting adjacent segments or it may be angled or curved or combinations thereof, and to then trim such tufts of individual bristles to a desired length--or lengths in the case of brushes with multi-level tufts--and to then round the free ends of the individual bristles in each such tuft. The disclosed method and apparatus require only the modification of conventional toothbrush tufting machines having tuft insertion tools that travel in a defined direction and the modification of conventional trimming machines and methods.

Abstract: Disclosed are antiperspirant stick compositions that exhibit substantially no visible residue (whitening) upon application to the skin or after drying. The compositions include both emollients that are silicone materials and emollients that are not silicone materials, these materials having a refractive index of at least 1.4460, in addition to including a vehicle (for example, cyclomethicone), a gelling agent (for example, stearyl alcohol and hydrogenated castor oil) and the active antiperspirant material (for example, particulate antiperspirant metal salts). These compositions reduce the necessity of using expensive silicone materials, while still achieving antiperspirant compositions with substantially no visible residue.