Composition and method for producing colored bubbles

• US 20060004110A1
• Filed: 06/13/2005
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crayola LLC (Hallmark Cards Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: C2C Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Sabnis, Ram W., Kehoe, Timothy D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,910,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 516/10
• 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 substantially uniformly colored bubbles 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 substantially uniformly colored bubble, comprising:

water;

a surfactant; and

a colorant, wherein the bubble is substantially uniformly colored.

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. The substantially uniformly 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 substantially uniformly 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 substantially uniformly 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 substantially uniformly 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.

13. A method to prepare a solution for a substantially uniformly colored bubble solution, 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.

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

C dye, food dye, a polymeric dye, a fluorescent 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 solution for a substantially uniformly colored bubble solution, 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.

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

C dye, food dye, a polymeric dye, a fluorescent 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.

28. A kit for producing substantially uniformly colored bubbles comprising;

a container that contains water;

a surfactant; and

a colorant, wherein the solution produces a bubble that comprises a substantially uniformly colored bubble.

29. A kit for producing substantially uniformly colored bubbles comprising:

a container that contains water, a surfactant and a colorant, wherein the solution produces a bubbles that comprises a substantially uniformly colored bubble, wherein the surfactant is a mixture of a polyether and an alkyl metal sulfate and the colorant is an acid dye.