Materials and methods utilizing a temporary visual indicator

• US 6,139,821 A
• Filed: 07/27/1999
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IPA
• Original Assignee: IPA
• Inventors: Fuerst, Ronnie S., Melker, Richard J., Batich, Christopher D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dodson, Shelley A.
• Application Number:
  US09/362,164
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 424/59, 424/60, 424/78.02, 424/400, 424/401, 514/470
• US Class Current: 424/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/45 Colour indicators, e.g. pH- or Redox indicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 6/20 Protective coatings for natural or artificial teeth, e.g. sealings, dye coatings or varnish
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 6/65 Dyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/046 Aerosols; Foams
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/4973 with oxygen as the only hetero atom
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 17/04 Topical preparations for affording protection against sunlight or other radiation; Topical sun tanning preparations
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 7/00 Features of coating compositions, not provided for in group C09D5/00 driers C09F9/00; Processes for incorporating ingredients in coating compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/40 Dyes ; Pigments
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/221 for investigating pH value
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/13 Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1352 Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1397 Single layer [continuous layer]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249995 Constituent is in liquid form
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249997 Encapsulated liquid

Abstract

This invention relates to novel compositions containing temporary visual indicators and methods for using these compositions. Specifically, this invention relates to a sunscreen composition containing an indicator that is visible when the substance is applied to the skin, but becomes invisible shortly after application. The continued presence of the indicator allows the indicator to be reactivated temporarily to the visible form so that a user can verify the presence of the sunscreen. The visible indicator ensures that the sunscreen is applied evenly and completely to the area to be protected, but becomes invisible so as not to interfere with the action of the sunscreen or discolor the skin.

Claims

1. A sunscreen composition for application to human skin, comprising:

a compound for protecting the skin from solar radiation;

a temporary visual indicator that provides an intense non-white appearance when applied to the skin, the composition disappearing through evaporation in less than about two minutes; and

a base selected for its rate of evaporation on the skin.

2. A sunscreen composition for application to human skin, comprising:

a compound for protecting the skin from solar radiation;

a volatile base for adjusting the pH of the composition, the base evaporating once applied to the skin; and

a temporary visual indicator that provides a non-white appearance when applied to the skin, the composition disappearing during evaporation of the base.

3. A composition according to claim 2, wherein the evaporation occurs between about fifteen seconds and two minutes.

4. A sunscreen composition for application to human skin, the composition having a pH suitable for application to the skin, comprising:

a compound for protecting the skin from solar radiation;

a temporary visual indicator that provides a highly visible, intense non-white color when applied to the skin, the pH changing after application to the skin whereby the visual indicator changes to a second color after a period of time between about fifteen seconds and two minutes; and

a volatile base for adjusting the composition to the pH.

5. A sunscreen composition for application to human skin, the composition having a pH suitable for application to the skin, comprising:

a compound for protecting the skin from solar radiation;

a volatile base for adjusting the composition to the pH, the base evaporating once applied to the skin; and

a temporary visual indicator that provides a highly visible, intense red, blue, yellow, purple, green or fluorescent non-white color when applied to the skin, the pH changing after application to the skin through evaporation of the base whereby the visual indicator changes to a second color after a period of time between about fifteen seconds and two minutes.

6. A sunscreen composition for application to human skin, the composition having a pH suitable for application to the skin, comprising:

a compound for protecting the skin from solar radiation;

a volatile base for adjusting the composition to the pH, the base evaporating once applied to the skin; and

a bright temporary visual indicator that provides an intense non-white color when applied to the skin, the pH changing after application to the skin through evaporation of the base whereby the composition disappears after a period of time between about fifteen seconds and two minutes.

7. A composition for application to human skin, comprising a sunscreen compound and at least one water-soluble dye that imparts an intense non-white color to the sunscreen composition, the composition evaporating after application on the skin and becoming invisible.

8. A composition according to claim 7, further comprising a volatile base for adjusting the composition to a pH suitable for human skin, prior to application thereon, and for evaporating at a desired rate after application such that the composition changes color.

9. A composition according to claim 7, further comprising a volatile base for adjusting the composition to a pH suitable for human skin, prior to application thereon, and for evaporating at a desired rate after application such that the composition becomes invisible.

10. A composition according to claim 7, wherein the dye comprises a temporary visual indicator.

11. A composition according to claim 7, wherein the dye comprises thymol blue.

12. A composition according to claim 7, wherein the dye comprises bromthymol blue.

13. A composition according to claim 7, further comprising a base which evaporates after application, thereby modifying the pH of the composition.

14. A composition according to claim 7, wherein the dye is responsive to changes in pH to change color.

15. A method of applying sunscreen composition to ensure uniform application and coverage to skin, comprising the steps of:

providing a water soluble dye that is easily visible to human eye because of its brightness and intensity and contrast; and

applying the composition and the dye to the skin to ensure that the sunscreen composition is applied evenly and uniformly, the dye becoming colorless through evaporation after application to the skin.

16. A composition for application to human skin, comprising a sunscreen compound and at least one water-soluble dye that imparts a non-white color to the sunscreen composition, the composition becoming invisible after application on the skin.

17. A composition according to claim 16, further comprising a volatile base for adjusting the composition to a pH suitable for human skin, prior to application thereon, and for evaporating at a desired rate after application such that the composition changes color.

18. A composition according to claim 16, further comprising a volatile base for adjusting the composition to a pH suitable for human skin, prior to application thereon, and for evaporating at a desired rate after application such that the composition becomes invisible.

19. A composition according to claim 16, wherein the dye comprises a temporary visual indicator.

20. A composition according to claim 16, wherein the dye comprises thymol blue.

21. A composition according to claim 16, wherein the dye comprises bromthymol blue.

22. A composition according to claim 16, wherein the dye comprises phenolphthalein.

23. A composition according to claim 16, further comprising a base which evaporates after application, thereby modifying the pH of the composition.