Bioluminescent novelty items

• US 6,113,886 A
• Filed: 11/22/1999
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• 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): Wax, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US09/447,208
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 435/189, 510/119, 510/135, 510/392, 510/481, 424/49, 424/63, 424/64, 424/69, 424/70.1, 424/70.6, 424/70.7, 424/78.02, 424/94.4
• US Class Current: 424/49
• 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

Novelty items that are combinations of articles of manufacture with bioluminescence generating systems and/or fluorescent proteins are provided. These novelty items, which are articles of manufacture, are designed for entertainment, recreation and amusement, and include toys, personal items, such as cosmetics, bath powders, body lotions, gels, powders and creams, toothpastes and other dentifrices, soaps, body paints, and bubble bath, fountains, including liquid "fireworks" and other such jets or sprays or aerosols of compositions that are solutions, mixtures, suspensions, powders, pastes, particles or other formulations.

Claims

1. A combination, comprising:

a) an article of manufacture; and

b) one or more components of a bioluminescence generating system and/or a fluorescent protein, whereby the combination is a novelty item selected from among personal care items, dentifrices, soaps, body paints and powders, and bubble baths.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the article of manufacture is selected from among bath powders, body lotions, gels, body powders, body creams, toothpastes, mouthwashes, soaps, body paints, and cosmetics.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the combination comprises a luciferase.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the combination comprises a luciferin.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein the combination comprises a luciferin and a luciferase.

6. The combination of claim 1 that comprises a fluorescent protein.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein the fluorescent protein is a green fluorescent protein, a blue fluorescent protein or a phycobiliprotein.

8. The combination of claim 1 that is a cosmetic, wherein the cosmetic contains a fluorescent protein.

9. The combination of claim 1 that is for application to the nails, hair, skin or lips.

10. The combination of claim 1 that is a cosmetic.

11. The combination of claim 10, comprising a delivery vehicle that comprises least one component of the bioluminescence generating system.

12. The combination of claim 1 that is nail polish, powder or hair gel.

13. The combination of claim 11, wherein a component is a luciferase.

14. The combination of claim 11, wherein a component is a luciferin.

15. The combination of claim 11, wherein the components comprise a luciferin and a luciferase.

16. The combination of claim 11, wherein the vehicle is a liposome.

17. The combination of claim 11, wherein the vehicle is a gelatin capsule.

18. The combination of claim 11, wherein the vehicle comprises micronized particles of the component(s).

19. The combination of claim 11, wherein the vehicle is a time release vehicle.

20. The combination of claim 11, wherein the vehicle is water soluble.

21. The combination of claim 1, wherein the a component of the system is selected from among components of an insect system, a coelenterate system, a ctenophore system, a bacterial system, a mollusk system, a crustacea system, a fish system, an annelid system, and an earthworm system.

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

23. The combination of claim 1, wherein a component of the system is selected from components of Renilla Cavarnularia, Ptilosarcus, Stylatula, Acanthoptilum, and Parazoanthus systems.

24. The combination of claim 1, wherein a component of the system is selected Chiroteuthis, Eucleoteuthis, Onychoteuthis, Watasenia;

cuttlefish, Sepiolina, Oplophorus, Sergestes, and Gnathophausia;

Argyropelecus, Yarella, Diaphus, and Neoscopelus systems.

25. The combination of claim 1, wherein the bioluminescence generating system comprises a component from a coelenterate.

26. The combination of claim 10, wherein the bioluminescence generating system comprises a component from a coelenterate.

27. The combination of claim 10, wherein a component of the bioluminescence generating system is selected from among components of Aequorea, Vargula, Renilla, Obelin, Porichthys, Odontosyllis, Aristostomias, Oplophorus, Gaussia, firefly, bacterial, Mnemiopsis, Beroe Gonadostomias, Gaussia, Halisturia, Vampire squid, Glyphus, Mycotophid, Vinciguerria, Howella, Florenciella, Chaudiodus, Melanocostus Sea Pens, mollusc, mushroom, fish, insect, ctenophore and annelid systems.

28. The combination of claim 10, wherein a component of the system is selected from components of Renilla Cavarnularia, Ptilosarcus, Stylatula, Acanthoptilum, and Parazoanthus systems.

29. The combination of claim 10, wherein the a component of the system is selected from components of Chiroteuthis, Eucleoteuthis, Onychoteuthis, Watasenia;

cuttlefish, Sepiolina, Oplophorus, Sergestes, and Gnathophausia;

Argyropelecus, Yarella, Diaphus, and Neoscopelus systems.

30. The combination of claim 10, wherein a component of the system is selected from among components of Aequorea, Vargula, Renilla, Obelin, Porichthys, Aristostomias, Odontosyllis, Oplophorus, Gaussia, firefly and bacterial systems.