Composition and method for producing colored bubbles

• US 7,910,531 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2005
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Crayola LLC (Hallmark Cards Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: C2C Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Sabnis, Ram W., Kehoe, Timothy D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cano; Milton I
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASDJODI, MOHAMMAD REZA
• Application Number:
  US11/150,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20060004110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,108 Days
• Field of Search: 510/100, 510/135, 510/510, 252/545, 524/253
• US Class Current: 510/100
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/146 Sulfuric acid esters
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/523 Carboxylic alkylolamides, or dialkylolamides, or hydroxycarboxylic amides (R1-CO-NR2R3), where R1, R2 or R3 contain one hydroxy group per alkyl group
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/652 Mixtures of anionic compounds with carboxylic amides or alkylol amides
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/90 Betaines
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/94 Mixtures with anionic, cationic or non-ionic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 11/0094 Process for making liquid detergent compositions, e.g. slurries, pastes or gels
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/2065 Polyhydric alcohols
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/40 Dyes ; Pigments

Abstract

Compositions and methods for producing colored bubbles, having a single color uniformly dispersed in the film, are described. The composition comprises at least one surfactant mixed with at least one colorant, the colorant forming at least approximately 10% of the composition. The surfactant, or surface-active agent, forms the bubble while the colorant, or pigment, provides the color. Generally, the composition may comprise 10-99% colorant to produce varying degrees of opacity. In addition, glycerin, fragrance, propylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate, potassium hydroxide, or other additives may be included.

Claims

1. A thin film forming a colored bubble comprising:

a colored bubble having a single color uniformly dispersed in the thin film, comprising;

water;

a surfactant; and

a colorant, wherein the colorant is uniformly dispersed in the thin film; and

wherein the bubble is uniformly colored by the colorant.

2. The colored bubble of claim 1, wherein the colorant is an acid dye, FD&

C dye, food dye, a polymeric dye, a pigment, or a combination thereof.

3. The colored bubble of claim 2, wherein the surfactant is a polyether, an alkyl metal sulfate, a betaine, an alkanolamide or a combination thereof.

4. The colored bubble of claim 3, wherein the polyether surfactant is a cellulose ether surfactant.

5. The colored bubble of claim 3, wherein the alkyl metal sulfate is sodium lauryl sulfate.

6. The colored bubble of claim 3, wherein the surfactant is a combination of a polyether surfactant and an alkyl metal sulfate.

7. The colored bubble of claim 6, wherein the polyether surfactant is a cellulose ether surfactant and the alkyl metal sulfate is sodium lauryl sulfate.

8. The colored bubble of claim 3, wherein the surfactant is a combination of an alkyl metal sulfate, a betaine and an alkanolamide.

9. The colored bubble of claim 2, wherein the colorant is an acid dye and the surfactant is a combination of a polyether surfactant and an alkyl metal sulfate.

10. The colored bubble of claim 2, wherein the colorant is a pigment and the surfactant is a combination of a polyether surfactant and an alkyl metal sulfate.

11. The colored bubble of claim 2, wherein the colorant is an acid dye and the surfactant is a combination of an alkyl metal sulfate and an alkanolamide.

12. The colored bubble of claim 2, wherein the colorant is a pigment and the surfactant is a combination of an alkyl metal sulfate and an alkanolamide.

28. The colored bubble of claim 1 wherein a solution for forming the thin film comprises:

2%-20% of a colorant by weight;

2%-20% of a surfactant by weight; and

water;

wherein the solution allows for the formation of a colored bubble having a single color uniformly dispersed in the thin film.

29. The colored bubble of claim 28, wherein the colorant is a washable ink or a washable pigment.

30. The colored bubble of claim 28, wherein the surfactant is sodium lauryl sulfate or an anionic/amphoteric surfactant.

31. The colored bubble of claim 28, wherein the water is deionized water.

32. The colored bubble of claim 28, wherein the colorant is a washable ink or a washable pigment, the surfactant is sodium lauryl sulfate or an anionic/amphoteric surfactant and the water is deionized water.

33. The colored bubble of claim 28, wherein the surfactant is an anionic/amphoteric blend.

13. A method to prepare a thin film forming bubble solution for a colored bubble having a single color uniformly dispersed in the thin film, comprising the steps of:

heating a mixture of glycerin, colorant and water to a temperature below about 60°

C.;

cooling the mixture;

adding a surfactant to the cooled mixture; and

preparing a colored bubble solution.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the colorant is an acid dye, FD&

C dye, food dye, a polymeric dye, a pigment, or a combination thereof.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the surfactant is a polyether, an alkyl metal sulfate, or a combination thereof.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the polyether surfactant is a cellulose ether surfactant.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the alkyl metal sulfate is sodium lauryl sulfate.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the surfactant is a combination of a polyether surfactant and an alkyl metal sulfate.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the polyether surfactant is a cellulose ether surfactant and the alkyl metal sulfate is sodium lauryl sulfate.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the mixture of glycerin, colorant and water are heated for less than 30 minutes.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the colorant is an acid dye, FD&

C dye, food dye, a polymeric dye or a combination thereof.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the surfactant is a combination of a polyether surfactant and an alkyl metal sulfate.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the polyether surfactant is a cellulosic ether surfactant and the alkyl metal sulfate is sodium lauryl sulfate.

24. A method to prepare a thin film forming bubble solution for a colored bubble having a single color uniformly dispersed in the thin film, comprising the steps of:

combining glycerin, colorant, water, an alkanolamide and an alkyl metal sulfate to form a mixture; and

heating the mixture to a temperature below about 60°

C.;

wherein a colored bubble having a color provided by the colorant uniformly dispersed in the bubble is formed therefrom.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the colorant is an acid dye, FD&

C dye, food dye, a polymeric dye, a pigment, or a combination thereof.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the surfactant is an alkanolamide and at least an alkyl metal sulfate.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the surfactant further comprises sodium trideceyl sulfate, water, PEG 80 sorbitant laurate, cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium lauroamphoacetate, PEG 150 distearate, sodium laureth-13 carboxylate, glycerin, citric acid, tetrasodium EDTA and quaternium-15.