Bioluminescent novelty items

• US 5,876,995 A
• Filed: 11/25/1996
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Biolume, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bruce Boyce
• Inventors: Bryan, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Prouty, Rebecca E.
• Application Number:
  US08/757,046
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 426/262, 426/268, 426/590, 426/592, 426/656, 426/383, 426/422, 426/66, 426/104, 426/250, 426/540, 435/189, 530/350
• US Class Current: 435/189
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/366 containing microorganisms, enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/50 characterised by shape, structure or physical form, e.g. products with supported structure
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/363 containing microorganisms, enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/44 characterised by shape, structure or physical form liquid products, solid products in the form of powders, flakes or granules for making liquid products A23G9/52
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/00 Accessory food factors for animal feeding-stuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/189 Enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/80 for aquatic animals, e.g. fish, crustaceans or molluscs
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 17/00 Food-from-the-sea products; Fish products; Fish meal; Fish-egg substitutes; Preparation or treatment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 17/30 Fish eggs, e.g. caviar; Fish-egg substitutes
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/38 Other non-alcoholic beverages drinks from legumes A23L11/60
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/58 Colouring agents
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 29/06 Enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 29/065 Microorganisms addition of bacteria for nutritional purposes A23L33/135
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 10/30 Encapsulation of particles, e.g. foodstuff additives
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2300/21 Genetic modification
• CPC Class Codes: A24D 3/14 of organic materials as additive of ion exchange materials A24D3/12
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/00 Containers or accessories specially adapted for handling liquid toiletry or cosmetic substances, e.g. perfumes
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/434 Luminescent, Fluorescent; Optical brighteners; Photosensitizers
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/64 Proteins; Peptides; Derivatives or degradation products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 11/00 : Preparations for care of the teeth, of the oral cavity or of dentures; Dentifrices, e.g. toothpastes; Mouth rinses
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/00 : Preparations for care of the skin
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0408 : with arrangements for mixing two or more liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2416 : characterised by the means for producing or supplying the atomising fluid, e.g. air hoses, air pumps, gas containers, compressors, fans, ventilators, their drives
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2472 : comprising several containers
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0833 : comprising a compressed gas container, e.g. a nitrogen cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/00553 : with means allowing the stock of material to consist of at least two different components
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/43595 : from coelenteratae, e.g. medusae
• CPC Class Codes: C12C 12/004 : Genetically modified microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: C12C 12/006 : Yeasts processes for seeding C12C11/02
• CPC Class Codes: C12G 1/06 : Preparation of sparkling wine; Impregnation of wine with carbon dioxide methods for reducing the alcohol content after fermentation C12H3/00; methods for increasing the alcohol content after fermentation C12H6/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8212 : Colour markers, e.g. beta-glucoronidase [GUS], green fluorescent protein [GFP], carotenoid
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/0069 : acting on single donors with incorporation of molecular oxygen, i.e. oxygenases (1.13)
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/0071 : acting on paired donors with incorporation of molecular oxygen (1.14)
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 2/00 : Non-electric light sources using luminescence using excitation by radioactivity G21H3/02, H01J65/06, H01J65/08; using excitation by an external electromagnetic field or by external corpuscular radiation H01J65/04; Light sources using electrochemiluminescence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 2/06 : using chemiluminescence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/00 : Lighting devices intended for fixed installation F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0028 : Decorative household equipment, e.g. plant holders or food dummies
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/02 : for fountains
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 : for swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 9/004 : the piston movement being mechanically coupled to the trigger movement, e.g. the piston being part of the trigger
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/818 : Alternative feeds for fish, e.g. in aquacultures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 493/955 : Decoration article

Abstract

Systems and apparatus for generating bioluminescence, and combinations of these systems and apparatus with inanimate articles of manufacture to produce novelty items are provided. These novelty items, which are articles of manufacture, are designed for entertainment, recreation and amusement, and include toys, paints, slimy play material, textiles, particularly clothing, bubbles in bubble making toys and other toys that produce bubbles, balloons, personal items, such as bath powders, body lotions, gels, powders and creams, toothpastes and other dentifrices, soaps, body paints, and bubble bath, foods, such as gelatins, icings and frostings, beverages such as beer, wine, champagne, soft drinks, and glowing ice, fountains, including liquid "fireworks" and other such jets or sprays or aerosols of compositions that are solutions, mixtures, suspensions, powders, pastes, particles or other suitable formulation. Cartridges for charging and/or recharging the novelty items with bioluminescence generating systems are also provided.

Claims

1. A combination, comprising:

an article of manufacture; and

one or more components of a bioluminescence generating system selected from luciferases and luciferins, wherein;

a luciferase is an enzyme or photoprotein that promotes a bioluminescent reaction;

a luciferin is a substrate for the luciferase;

the combination is a novelty item; and

the article of manufacture is a beverage.

2. The combination of claim 1, further comprising means for delivering the remaining components of the bioluminescence generating system not present in the combination.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the delivering means is selected from among a wand, a sponge, a spray bottle, an eyedropper, a matrix material coated with the remaining components, and a bladder or pellet containing the remaining components.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the component(s) of the bioluminescence generating system is encapsulated in a vacuole or an endosome.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein the system is selected from among Aequorea, Vargula, Renilla, Obelin, Porichthys, Odontosyllis, Oplophorus, Aristostomias, Gaussia, firefly, and bacterial systems.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein the system is selected from among Aequorea, Vargula, Renilla, Obelin, Porichthys, Odontosyllis, Aristostomias, Oplophorus, Gaussia, firefly, bacterial, Mnemiopsis, Beroe Gonadostomias, Halisturia, Vampire squid, Glyphus, Mycotophid, Vinciguerria, Howella, Florenciella, Chaudiodus, Melanocostus Sea Pens, mollusc, mushroom, fish, insect, ctenophore and annelid systems.

7. The combination of claim 1, comprising all components of the system except an activator that is required to initiate bioluminescence.

8. The combination of claim 1, wherein the bioluminescence generating system comprises a luciferase, luciferin and an activator.

9. The combination of claim 1, wherein the bioluminescence generating system comprises a luciferase.

10. The combination of claim 1, wherein the bioluminescence generating system comprises a luciferin.

11. The combination of claim 1, wherein the bioluminescence generating system comprises luciferase and a luciferin.

12. The combination of claim 1, wherein the article of manufacture is selected from among soft drinks, beer, wine, champagne, juice, soft drinks, ice cubes and ice.

13. The combination of claim 1, wherein the system is selected from among Aequorea, Vargula, Renilla, Obelin, Porichthys, Odontosyllis, Oplophorus, Aristostomias, firefly and glow worm systems.

14. The combination of claim 1, further comprising a pellet that contains one or more of the bioluminescence-generating reagents.

15. The combination of claim 1, wherein the system is selected from among Aequorea, Vargula, Renilla, Obelin, Porichthys, Odontosyllis, Oplophorus, Aristostomias, Gaussia, firefly, and bacterial systems.

16. The beverage of claim 1, selected from among beer, wine, champagne, sodas, juices, and other soft drinks.

17. A food, comprising one or more components selected from luciferases and luciferins of a bioluminescence generating system, wherein:

a luciferase is an enzyme or photoprotein that promotes a bioluminescent reaction;

a luciferin is a substrate for the luciferase; and

the food is a novelty item.

18. The food of claim 17 that is a beverage.

19. The food of claim 17, wherein the system is selected from among Aequorea, Vargula, Renilla, Obelin, Porichthys, Odontosyllis, Oplophorus, Aristostomias, firefly and glow worm systems.

20. The food of claim 17, wherein the components of the bioluminescence generating system are a luciferase, a luciferin or a luciferase and a luciferin.

21. The food of claim 17, wherein the bioluminescence generating system is selected from among Aequorea, Vargula, Renilla, Obelin, Porichthys, Odontosyllis, Aristostomias, Oplophorus, Gaussia, firefly, bacterial, Mnemiopsis, Beroe Gonadostomias, Halisturia, Vampire squid, Glyphus, Mycotophid, Vinciguerria, Howella, Florenciella, Chaudiodus, Melanocostus Sea Pens, mollusc, mushroom, fish, insect, ctenophore and annelid systems.

22. The food of claim 17, wherein the system is selected from among Aequorea, Vargula, Renilla, Obelin, Porichthys, Odontosyllis, Oplophorus, Aristostomias, Gaussia, firefly, and bacterial systems.

23. The food of claim 17, selected from among gelatins, ice creams, sorbets, ices, frostings, cakes, sauces, dessert toppings, cookies, biscuits, puddings, and candies.

24. A combination, comprising:

an article of manufacture; and

a bioluminescence generating system, whereby the combination is an edible novelty item, and wherein the article of manufacture is selected from among gelatins, icings, frostings, beer, wine, champagne, soft drinks and ice.

25. A combination, comprising:

an article of manufacture; and

one or more components of a bioluminescence generating system selected from luciferases and luciferins, wherein;

a luciferase is an enzyme or photoprotein that promotes a bioluminescent reaction;

a luciferin is a substrate for the luciferase;

the combination is a novelty item; and

the article of manufacture is a food.

26. The combination of claim 25, further comprising means for delivering the remaining components of the bioluminescence generating system not present in the combination.

27. The combination of claim 25, further comprising a pellet that contains one or more of the bioluminescence-generating reagents.

28. A combination, comprising:

an article of manufacture; and

a fluorescent protein, whereby the combination is a novelty item, wherein the article of manufacture is food.

29. The combination of claim 28, wherein the food is a beverage.

30. The combination of claim 29, wherein the beverage is a soft drink.

31. The combination of claim 28, further comprising one or more components of a bioluminescence generating system.

32. The combination of claim 29, wherein the beverage further comprises one or more components of a bioluminescence generating system.

33. The combination of claim 29, wherein the fluorescent protein is encapsulated in a time-releasing vehicle.

34. The combination of claim 32, wherein the fluorescent protein is encapsulated in a time-releasing vehicle.

35. The combination of claim 32, wherein one or more components of the bioluminescence generating system is encapsulated in a time-releasing vehicle.

36. The beverage of claim 29 that is an alcoholic beverage.

37. The combination of claim 28 that comprises one or more fluorescent proteins selected from selected from a green fluorescent protein, blue fluorescent protein, and phycobiliprotein.

38. The combination of claim 31, further comprising means for delivering the remaining components of the bioluminescence generating system not present in the combination.

39. The combination of claim 38, wherein the delivering means is selected from among a wand, a sponge, a spray bottle, an eyedropper, a matrix material coated with the remaining components, and a bladder or pellet containing the remaining components.

40. The combination of claim 31, wherein the system is selected from among Aequorea, Vargula, Renilla, Obelin, Porichthys, Odontosyllis, Oplophorus, Aristostomias, Gaussia, firefly, and bacterial systems.

41. The combination of claim 31, further comprising a pellet that contains one or more of the bioluminescence-generating reagents.

42. The combination of claim 31, wherein the system is selected from among Aequorea, Vargula, Renilla, Obelin, Porichthys, Odontosyllis, Oplophorus, Aristostomias, Gaussia, firefly, bacterial, Mnemiopsis, Beroe Gonadostomias, Halisturia, Vampire squid, Glyphus, Mycotophid, Vinciguerria, Howella, Florenciella, Chaudiodus, Melanocostus Sea Pens, mollusc, mushroom, fish, insect, ctenophore and annelid systems.

43. A method of producing a glowing beverage, comprising:

adding the components of a bioluminescence generating system to a beverage, whereby the beverage glows.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising adding a fluorescent protein.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein one or more bioluminescence generating component is encapsulated in a time-releasing vehicle.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the fluorescent protein is encapsulated in a time-releasing vehicle.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein one or more bioluminescence generating components and the fluorescent protein are encapsulated in a time-releasing vehicle.