Nail polish remover

• US 20040142830A1
• Filed: 01/07/2004
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northern Technologies International Corporation
• Original Assignee: React-NTI, LLC
• Inventors: Tavares, Bruce Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 6,998,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 510/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/37 Esters of carboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/922 of vegetable origin
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 3/04 Nail coating removers

Abstract

A nail polish remover is formulated from a combination of solvents derived from naturally occurring materials, which combination consists essentially of a (i) a major proportion by weight (“by wt”) of esters of fatty acids having from 16 to 18 carbon atoms wherein the content of linoleic acid ester in the source vegetable oil is less than 60%, and (ii) a minor proportion by weight of a lower (C₁-C₅) alkyl lactate. The nail polish remover is highly effective yet has good skin conditioning properties, is non-toxic and non-flammable. A visible residue several micrometers thick provides a desirable gloss on the cleaned nails unless it is washed off.

Claims

1. A nail polish remover consisting essentially of (i) a major proportion by weight (“

by wt”

) of esters of fatty acids having from 16 to 18 carbon atoms wherein the content of linoleic acid ester in the source vegetable oil is less than 60%, and (ii) a minor proportion by weight of a lower (C₁-C₅) alkyl lactate.

2. The nail polish remover of claim 1 wherein the a major proportion by wt of the fatty acid esters have at least two double bonds, and though the C₁₆-C₁₈ fatty acid esters may contain contaminant higher fatty acid esters outside the C₁₆-C₁₈ range, and wherein contaminant higher fatty acid esters acids having from 12 to 14 carbon atoms and from 20 -24 carbon atoms are together present in an amount less than 10% by wt of all the higher fatty acid esters.

3. The nail polish remover of claim 2 including from 5 to 10% by wt of a naturally occurring wax selected from the group consisting of candelilla wax, berry wax, beeswax, soy wax, carnauba wax, and montan wax.

4. The nail polish remover of claim 2 including from 0 to 1% by wt of a cosmetic enhancer selected from the group consisting of a color additive and a fragrance.

5. The nail polish remover of claim 2 remaining as a visible residue on a finger nail, the residue having a thickness in the range from about 2 μ

m to 5 μ

m thick.