Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for shaping a top surface of a product, such as an antiperspirant or deodorant product, to have a compound-curved shape. The apparatus includes at least one cutting blade which moves inward and outward in a second direction while the product passes by in a first direction perpendicular to the second direction, such that the cutting blade cuts the top surface of the product to have a desired profile in the first direction. The cutting blade itself can have a desired profile along a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions, to impart to the top surface of the product a desired profile in the third direction. A plurality of cutting blades can be used, to incrementally remove product material to form a final shaped product surface. The product cut off in forming the shaped surface can be reclaimed for re-use.

Abstract: Described is a dispensing package for a flowable viscous product which can relieve residual pressure on the product in the package, so as to avoid product weeping out of the package. The package uses an elevator to force product out of the package, the elevator including resilient structure to spring-bias the elevator in a direction away from the product outlet of the package. After dispensing the desired amount of product, this spring bias retracts the elevator so as to relieve residual pressure. Also described is structure for moving the elevator which provides both axial movement and reciprocating axial movement, without creating difficulty for the consumer to cause elevator movement between the first and second portions.

Abstract: Disclosed are clear, soap-gelled cosmetic (e.g., deodorant) stick compositions, containing alcohol and water, and including a combination of anionic (e.g., sodium laureth-13 carboxylate) and non-ionic (e.g., Ceteareth-55) surfactants as a clarifying agent. The non-ionic surfactants preferably include ethoxylated alcohols, and preferably have an HLB.gtoreq.24. The compositions can include various cosmetically active materials, including deodorant active materials (fragrance, Triclosan, etc.). The compositions have superior clarity and maintain superior clarity over extended periods of time, have improved (smoother) glide over the skin and a smoother surface, exhibit reduced syneresis in K-resin and polypropylene dispensing packages, and are easy to manufacture and have high gelling temperatures.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a clear cosmetic stick composition (e.g., a clear deodorant stick composition) gelled with a soap gelling agent and containing alcohol and water, the composition further containing alkoxylate materials selected from alkoxylate homopolymers and/or dimethicone copolyols as clarifying agents. Illustrative clarifying agents include C14-15 Pareth-2.25, C14-15 Pareth-13, Ceteareth-55, PPG-10 Cetyl Ether, PEG-6 Lauramide, and dimethicone copolyols with ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide side chains. The stick composition having the clarifying agents of the present invention has improved clarity and maintains clarity for extended periods of time, and has improved pliability while maintaining rigidity of the stick product.

Abstract: Disclosed is a clear cosmetic stick composition (e.g., a clear deodorant solid stick) having a base of polyhydric alcohol (e.g., propylene glycol) and/or monohydric alcohol (e.g., ethanol), and water, and gelled with sodium salt of saturated fatty acids of C.sub.12 -C.sub.22, and further including sodium chloride and stearyl alcohol. Inclusion of both sodium chloride and stearyl alcohol reduces crystal formation in the composition, thereby improving clarity and appearance of the composition.

Abstract: Disclosed are basic aluminum antiperspirant materials having univalent complex oxoanions (e.g., nitrate); methods of making such materials; antiperspirant compositions containing such basic aluminum materials, another antiperspirant active material (e.g., a basic zirconium halide salt), and optionally a neutral amino acid; and methods of making such compositions. Size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography chromatograms of the disclosed basic aluminum materials have a peak 4 relative area of at least 25%, a peak 3 relative area of less than 60%, the sum of the peaks 3 and 4 being at least 50%; and less than 10% of the chromatographic peaks eluting at peaks 1 and 2. The disclosed basic aluminum materials have less than 25% of the aluminum in the form of Al.sup.b polyhydroxyaquoaluminum, and have a .sup.27 Al NMR spectrum in which the area of the 71.5-73.5 ppm resonance line includes more than 50% of the combined areas of the 62.5-63.5 ppm and 71.5-73.

Abstract: Described is a fragrancing composition having fragrancing components that are not activated until, e.g., application to the skin of a human. The composition is alkaline or (if anhydrous) capable of producing an alkaline pH when in contact with water, prior to application, and includes (1) a vehicle such that when the composition is in contact with water, prior to application, the composition is at an alkaline pH; and (2) at least one potential fragrance that is at least one compound having little or no odor in the alkaline composition but which, e.g., is hydrolyzed in a lower pH environment to produce compounds having a relatively strong aroma. Upon application of the alkaline composition to the skin surface, the strong buffering capacity of the skin (the surface of which has a normal pH of 5.5-7.0) neutralizes alkalinity of the composition (lowers pH) so as to restore normal skin surface pH; the potential fragrance is then hydrolyzed at the lower pH to release the compound having relatively strong aroma.

Abstract: Disclosed are basic aluminum antiperspirant materials having univalent complex oxoanions (e.g., nitrate); methods of making such materials; antiperspirant compositions containing such basic aluminum materials, another antiperspirant active material (e.g., a basic zirconium halide salt), and optionally a neutral amino acid: and methods of making such compositions. Size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography chromatograms of the disclosed basic aluminum materials have a peak 4 relative area of at least 25%, a peak 3 relative area of less than 60%, the sum of the peaks 3 and 4 being at least 50%; and less than 10% of the chromatographic peaks eluting at peaks 1 and 2. The disclosed basic aluminum materials have less than 25% of the aluminum in the form of Al.sup.b polyhydroxyaquoaluminum, and have a .sup.27 Al NMR spectrum in which the area of the 71.5-73.5 ppm resonance line includes more than 50% of the combined areas of the 62.5-63.5 ppm and 71.5-73.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stick or gel composition, which can be clear or translucent, for combatting body malodor (e.g., an antiperspirant composition). The composition contains an antiperspirant active material (e.g., an antiperspirant active metal salt, such as aluminum chlorohydrate) and a polyamide gelling agent, and also contains a solvent system for the antiperspirant active material and polyamide, which dissolves the gelling agent and from which the gelling agent can be gelled. The solvent system is glycol-free, and includes a non-ionic surfactant (e.g., laureth-4) and a polar solvent (including water)). Use of the glycol-free solvent system achieves a gelled composition that has reduced levels of tack (is substantially tack-free) and has cosmetically acceptable properties. The composition can further include an opaque wax (e.g.

Abstract: A colored, soap-gelled composition, comprising an alcohol, a soap in an amount effective to gel the composition, an alkali metal bicarbonate, and an inorganic pigment. Whereas alkali metal bicarbonate deodorant compositions colored with FD & C or D & C colorants do not exhibit stable color for extended periods of time, the compositions of the present invention, using inorganic pigments, exhibit stable color for extended periods, even under accelerated, e.g., high temperature, conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed are basic aluminum antiperspirant materials having univalent complex oxoanions (e.g., nitrate); methods of making such materials; antiperspirant compositions containing such basic aluminum materials, another antiperspirant active material (e.g., a basic zirconium halide salt), and optionally a neutral amino acid; and methods of making such compositions. Size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography chromatograms of the disclosed basic aluminum materials have a peak 4 relative area of at least 25%, a peak 3 relative area of less than 60%, the sum of the peaks 3 and 4 being at least 50%; and less than 10% of the chromatographic peaks eluting at peaks 1 and 2. The disclosed basic aluminum materials have less than 25% of the aluminum in the form of Al.sup.b polyhydroxyaquoaluminum, and have a .sup.27 Al NMR spectrum in which the area of the 71.5-73.5 ppm resonance line includes more than 50% of the combined areas of the 62.5-63.5 ppm and 71.5-73.

Abstract: Described is a dispensing package for a flowable viscous product which can relieve residual pressure on the product in the package, so as to avoid product weeping out of the package. The package uses an elevator to force product out of the package, the elevator including resilient structure to spring-bias the elevator in a direction away from the product outlet of the package. After dispensing the desired amount of product, this spring bias retracts the elevator so as to relieve residual pressure. Also described is structure for moving the elevator which provides both axial movement and reciprocating axial movement, without creating difficulty for the consumer to cause elevator movement between the first and second portions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a low residue antiperspirant solid stick composition containing, in addition to an antiperspirant active material, volatile and non-volatile silicone materials, dimethicone copolyol and high-melting-point and low-melting-point waxes. The composition not only has low visible (white) residue after application and after drying, but also has good cosmetic properties, superior antiperspirancy and is easy to manufacture.

Abstract: Disclosed is a gel or stick composition for reduction of body malodor, containing active deodorant and/or antiperspirant ingredients, a polyamide gelling agent and a solvent system for the polyamide gelling agent. The polyamide gelling agent has good stability, even in the presence of acidic antiperspirant metal salts, and can provide a clear deodorant or antiperspirant gel or stick. The composition has good pay-off characteristics and application properties, and good structural integrity. Moreover, the composition can be formulated so as not to leave any undesirable residue, such as a white residue left after applying conventional antiperspirant sticks.

Abstract: Disclosed is a package for a solid stick product (e.g., antiperspirant or deodorant product), wherein the product is completely exposed on a retaining member so as not to require an elevating mechanism. The package has three components: a cover, the retaining member and a handle. The handle is removably connected to the retaining member, so that upon using up the product on the retaining member the handle can be removed and attached to another retaining member filled with product (which is, e.g., sold as a refill assembly). Molten product is filled through a fill hole in the retaining member into a cavity defined between the retaining member and cover; the retaining member has bosses for anchoring the product on the retaining member, and has vent channels extending between the bosses and the fill hole to displace trapped air from the bosses when filling the cavity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a clear, antiperspirant material-containing, gel stick composition, containing an acidic antiperspirant material (e.g., an aluminum salt) and gelled with dibenzylidene sorbitol, the composition including a guanidine compound (for example, guanidine carbonate or aminoguanidine bicarbonate) as a stabilizing agent to reduce degradation of the gel and of the dibenzylidene sorbitol gelling agent. Also disclosed are continuous processes for forming the gel stick composition, wherein degradation of the dibenzylidene sorbitol gelling agent in the presence of the antiperspirant material is reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed is a clear, crystal-free, soap-gelled cosmetic stick composition. The composition includes a soap gelling agent (e.g., sodium stearate); at least two aliphatic polyhydric alcohols that are solvents for the soap gelling agent and that have a relatively small molecular weight and a relatively large molecular weight (e.g., propylene glycol and dipropylene glycol), respectively; a propoxylated ether that is a further solvent for the soap gelling agent, such as a propoxylated butyl ether (e.g., PPG-14 butyl ether); water; and a clarifying agent. The clarifying agent is a mixture of (a) a propoxylated fatty alcohol, such as a propoxylated myristyl ether (e.g., PPG-3 myristyl ether), and (b) a water-soluble, N-substituted aliphatic fatty acid amide surfactant (e.g., a combination of cocamide DEA and cocoyl sarcosine). The stick composition has improved surface aesthetics and improved payout, and has less pullaway from the container.

Abstract: Disclosed are transparent, clear cosmetic stick compositions of the type gelled with soaps such as sodium salts of saturated fatty acids, and containing an alcohol (e.g., propylene glycol) and water. The compositions include sodium salts of methyl carboxy derivatives of ethoxylated lauryl alcohol (e.g., sodium laureth-13 carboxylate) to improve transparency and clarity of the stick compositions. The soap gelling agent can be a mixture of sodium salts of fatty acids (e.g., saturated fatty acids) of carbon chain length C.sub.12 -C.sub.22. The stick compositions can include deodorant active materials (such as fragrances, bacteriostats, bacteriocides, etc.) so as to provide transparent, clear deodorant stick compositions for application to axillary regions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a clear, transparent cosmetic solid stick composition containing an alcohol such as propylene glycol, and water, and gelled with a soap such as sodium stearate. The composition also includes an Eumulgin compound, such as Eumulgin L (PPG-2-Ceteareth-9), to provide the solid cosmetic stick composition with clarity and transparency, which clarity and transparency is maintained over an extended period of time. The composition can also include both sodium chloride and stearyl alcohol, to increase the melting point of the composition. Deodorant active materials can be included in the composition to provide clear, transparent deodorant solid sticks.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for shaping a top surface of a product, such as an antiperspirant or deodorant product, to have a compound-curved shape. The apparatus includes at least one cutting blade which moves inward and outward in a second direction while the product passes by in a first direction perpendicular to the second direction, such that the cutting blade cuts the top surface of the product to have a desired profile in the first direction. The cutting blade itself can have a desired profile along a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions, to impart to the top surface of the product a desired profile in the third direction. A plurality of cutting blades can be used, to incrementally remove product material to form a final shaped product surface. The product cut off in forming the shaped surface can be reclaimed for re-use.