Photochromic tanning and sunscreen lotion

• US 6,361,763 B1
• Filed: 03/27/2000
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George H. Carroll
• Original Assignee: George H. Carroll
• Inventors: Carroll, George H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dees, Jose' G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lamm, Marina
• Application Number:
  US09/535,179
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 424/401, 424/59, 424/60
• US Class Current: 424/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/412 Microsized, i.e. having sizes between 0.1 and 100 microns
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/438 Thermochromatic; Photochromic; Phototropic
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/11 Encapsulated compositions
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/27 Zinc; Compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/34 Alcohols
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/466 containing sulfonic acid derivatives; Salts
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/49 containing heterocyclic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 17/04 Topical preparations for affording protection against sunlight or other radiation; Topical sun tanning preparations

Abstract

A photochromic tanning and sunscreen lotion having photochromic compounds that change color upon exposure to sunlight or other sources of ultraviolet radiation (UV) to create the appearance of a tanned skin, and which also form a shield against UV radiation to thereby provide an effective sunscreen.

Claims

1. A photochromic tanning lotion for application to the skin of a person to protect the skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation, and to temporarily impart a color simulating a natural tan, comprising:

one or more photochromic compounds mixed in an appropriate amount in the lotion for application to the skin, said photochromic compound undergoing a photochemical transformation from colorless to the color of naturally tanned skin when exposed to ultraviolet radiation, and also forming a UV block, to thereby produce the appearance of a natural tan upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation while at the same time protecting the user from UV radiation.

2. A photochromic tanning lotion as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the photochromic compounds are micro-encapsulated to prevent exposure of the compounds to ultraviolet radiation until they are rubbed onto the skin of a person, whereupon the micro-encapsulation is breached so that the compounds are exposed and are subject to ultraviolet radiation.

3. A photochromic tanning lotion as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

the photochromic compounds are selected from the group consisting of spiropyrans and spiroxazine photochromic family of compounds.

4. A photochromic tanning lotion as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

the spiropyrans or spiroxazine compounds are added to the formulation in a proportion of about 0.1 to about 1.0 percent by weight.

5. A photochromic tanning lotion as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

two or more spiropyrans or spiroxazine compounds are mixed in the lotion to obtain different color hues.

6. A photochromic tanning lotion as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

a stabilizer is added to the composition to reduce oxidation processes and thereby extend the useful life of the photochromic compound.

7. A photochromic tanning lotion as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

the stabilizer is a light stabilizer of polymers.

8. A photochromic tanning lotion as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

two or more photochromic compounds are mixed in the lotion to obtain different color hues.

9. A photochromic tanning lotion as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

a stabilizer is added to the composition to reduce oxidation processes and thereby extend the useful life of the photochromic compound.

10. A photochromic tanning lotion as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the photochromic compounds are added to the formulation in a proportion of about 0.1 to about 1.0 percent by weight.

11. A photochromic tanning lotion as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

at least one sunscreen active is in the lotion in an appropriate amount to absorb and/or block ultraviolet rays to protect the skin of the person to whom the lotion has been applied from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation.

12. A photochromic tanning lotion as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

the sunscreen actives are selected from the group consisting of aminobenzenic acid, avobenzone, cinoxate, dioxybenzone, homosalate, menthyl anthronilate, octocrylene, octyl methoxycinnamate, octyl salicylate, oxybenzone, padimate, phenylbenzinadazole sulfonic acid, sulisbenzone, trolamine salicylate and zinc oxide.