Single phase color change agents

• US 20050049157A1
• Filed: 08/29/2003
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Jaeho, MacDonald, John Gavin, Wei, Ning, Yang, Kaiyuan, Huang, Yanbin
• Granted Patent: US 7,651,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 510/130
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/0042 Reducing agents
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/221 Mono, di- or trisaccharides or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/40 Dyes ; Pigments

Abstract

There is provided a color change composition that remains stable in a single phase and that contains an indicator that produces an observable color change after a period of time to show that sufficient cleaning has been done or to indicate the thoroughness of the cleaning. This use indicating color change is useful for, for example, in soap for teaching children to wash their hands for a sufficient period of time. This composition may be added to many different base materials to indicate time of use or as a way to introduce enjoyment to the activity.

Claims

1. ) A color change composition comprising a base material and an indicator that initiates an observable color change upon reaction with oxygen, and wherein said indicator and base material form a single phase.

2. ) The composition of claim 1 wherein said composition changes color in from a finite time to at most about 5 minutes.

3. ) The composition of claim 2 wherein said composition changes color in from about 1 second and about 120 seconds.

4. ) The composition of claim 2 wherein said composition changes color in from about 5 seconds to about 45 seconds.

5. ) The composition of claim 2 wherein said composition changes in color in between about 15 and 35 seconds.

6. ) The composition of claim 2 wherein said composition changes color in about 10 seconds.

7. ) The composition of claim 1 wherein said indicator is redox dye and a reducing agent.

8. ) The composition of claim 7 wherein said reducing agent is a sugar.

9. ) The composition of claim 8 wherein said sugar is selected from the group consisting of glucose, fructose, galactose and xylose and said sugar is present in an amount between about 0.1 and 2.0 weight percent.

10. ) The composition of claim 7 wherein said reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of hydroquinone, ascorbic acid, cysteine, dithionite, ferric ion, copper ion, silver ion, chlorine, phenols, permanganate ion, glucothione, iodine, iron protoporyphyrin complexes and iron-sulfur proteins and is present in an amount between about 0.1 and 2.0 weight percent.

11. ) The composition of claim 7 wherein said redox dye is selected from the group consisting of Food Blue 1, 2 and Food Green 3 and mixtures thereof, and wherein said dye is present in an amount between about 0.001 and 0.5 weight percent.

12. ) The composition of claim 7 wherein said redox dye is selected from the group consisting of Basic Blue 17, resazurin, FD&

C Green No.3,1,9-dimethyl methylene blue saframine O and mixtures thereof, and wherein said dye is present in an amount between about 0.001 and 0.5 weight percent.

13. ) The composition of claim 7 wherein said indicator is indigo carmine, ascorbic acid and cysteine.

14. ) The composition of claim 1 wherein said indicator comprises reactants and a pH sensitive dye, wherein said reactants react with oxygen to produce a change in pH and said change in pH causes a pH sensitive dye to produce a change in color.

15. ) The composition of claim 14 further comprising a catalyst.

16. ) The composition of claim 14 wherein said pH sensitive dye is selected from the group consisting of carminic acid, bromocresol green, chrysoidin, methyl red/Na salt, alizarin red S H₂O, cochineal, chlorphenol red, bromocresol purple, 4-nitrophenol, alizarin, nitrazine yellow, bromothymol blue, brilliant yellow, neutral red, rosolic acid, phenol red, 3-nitrophenol, orange 11 and mixtures thereof.

17. ) The composition of claim 14 wherein said indicator further comprises a pH buffer.

18. ) The composition of claim 17 wherein said pH buffer includes sodium laureth sulfate.

19. ) The composition of claim 1 wherein said base material comprises water and a surfactant.

21. ) The composition of claim 1 wherein said base material is selected from the group consisting of liquid soap, skin lotion, sunscreen, shampoos, gels, bar soaps, toothpastes, mouthwashes, hard surface cleaners and medical disinfectants.

20. ) The composition of claim 20 further comprising an ingredient selected form the group consisting of oils, detergents, emulsifiers, film formers, waxes, perfumes, preservatives, emollients, solvents, thickeners, humectants, chelating agents, stabilizers and pH adjusters,

22. ) A color change composition comprising a base material and an indicator that initiates an observable color change upon reaction with oxygen, wherein said indicator comprises a reducing agent and a redox dye in a ratio of at least about 2 to 1.

23. ) The color change composition of claim 22 wherein said redox dye and said reducing agent are in a ratio of at least about 5 to 1.

24. ) The color change composition of claim 22 wherein said redox dye and said reducing agent are in a ratio or at least 10 to 1.

25. ) A color change system comprising a dispenser having a storage chamber and a dispensing opening in liquid communication with said storage chamber, a cleaning composition within said storage chamber, said cleaning composition comprising a single phase mixture of a surfactant, a reactant and a dye, wherein said cleaning composition changes color after being dispensed from said dispenser.

26. ) The color change system of claim 25 wherein said cleaning composition further includes water.

27. ) The color change system of claim 25 wherein said reactant is a reducing agent which is selected from the group consisting of glucose, galactose, xylose, and mixtures thereof.

28. ) The color change system of claim 25 wherein said dye is selected from the group consisting of redox dyes and pH sensitive dyes and mixtures thereof.

29. ) The system of claim 28 wherein said dye is a redox dye selected from the classes consisting of thiazine, oxazines, azine and indigo dyes.

30. ) The system of claim 28 wherein said reactant reacts with oxygen to produce a change in pH and said change in pH causes said dye to produce a change in color.

31. ) The system of claim 30 wherein said dye is a pH sensitive dye selected from the group consisting of carminic acid, bromocresol green, chrysoidin, methyl red/Na salt, alizarin red S H₂O, cochineal, chlorphenol red, bromocresol purple, 4-nitrophenol, alizarin, nitrazine yellow, bromothymol blue, brilliant yellow, neutral red, rosolic acid, phenol red, 3-nitrophenol, orange II and mixtures thereof.

32. ) The system of claim 30 wherein said indicator further comprises a pH buffer.

33. ) The system of claim 32 wherein said pH buffer includes sodium laureth sulfate.

34. ) The system of claim 28 further comprising a catalyst.

35. ) A method of developing a hygiene habit comprising the steps of:

dispensing a soap and a color change composition in a single phase into a user'"'"'s hands, rubbing the hands together until a color change detectible to said user is detected, and;

rinsing the hands with water until said composition is removed from the hands, wherein said composition contains an indicator that provides said color change after a period of time after dispensing said composition into the hands has passed.

36. ) The method of claim 35 wherein said composition changes in from a finite time to at most 5 minutes.

37. ) The method of claim 36 wherein said composition changes in between about 25 and 35 seconds.