Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Preparations characterized by special physical form – Cosmetic – antiperspirant – dentifrice
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-13
2002-09-24
Page, Thurman K. (Department: 1615)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Preparations characterized by special physical form
Cosmetic, antiperspirant, dentifrice
C424S070100, C424S070110, C424S070210, C514S852000, C514S880000, C514S881000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06455058
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to the field of hair and scalp treatments.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The following is intended to provide a background of the inventive composition and method of this patent; however, this discussion is not intended to suggest that the information set forth is prior art.
In today's hair care market, there continues to be a long-felt need for hair care products effective to facilitate the prevention of hair damage and also to repair damaged hair. There are many different products in the market and most of them target specific problems. Since most people have an accelerated life pace, they are looking for multi-functional products that can simplify their daily routine.
Pre-shampooing hair treatment or conditioning formulas are different from regular conditioners or conditioning rinses. In general they have stronger conditioning ingredients that are substantive to hair and will be left on the hair after shampooing. Upon rinsing the treated hair, the conditioning ingredients will be deposited on hair evenly to give hair softness and/or smoothness of feel, luster, body as well as manageability. For example, polyethylenimine (PEI) has been used in pre-shampooing condition treatments for this purpose. In comparison, regular conditioners or conditioning rinses generally do not leave a deposit on the hair for an appreciable length of time after rinsing, because of the small molecular weight of the conditioning ingredients.
Water-soluble cationic surfactants and PEI are cationic conditioning ingredients. Water-soluble cationic surfactants are widely used in after shampooing conditioners or conditioning rinses. In contrast, PEI has not been a widely used ingredient in after shampooing conditioners or conditioning rinses. If PEI is used in after shampooing conditioners or conditioning rinses, two problems are usually encountered: (1) over build-up of cationic polymer and (2) the hair has an unpleasant after-feel. When PEI is used in a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment, shampooing will remove the PEI polymer and cationic surfactants that have less affinity for the hair so there is less build-up. The leftover PEI polymer is evenly distributed on the hair and therefore leaves the hair soft and smooth with increased luster and manageability. Since PEI is a cross-linking polymer with a very high cationic charge density, it will coat the hair shaft very well, which will help repair split-ends as well as other chemical and mechanical damage to the hair. In addition, the cationic polymer can form stronger hydrogen bonds with hair and water in order to help balance the moisture content of hair.
PEI however is incompatible with many anionic surfactants in shampoo formulations in the normal pH range of shampoo, namely, 2 to 9. Indeed, mixing PEI with sodium lauryl sulfate forms a precipitate in the pH range of 2 to 9.
There are a number of chemicals useful as anti-dandruff agents. For example, zinc pyrithione and salicylic acid have been approved by the Federal Drug Administration for use as an anti-dandruff, anti-seborrheic dermatitis, and anti-psoriasis, ingredient in shampoos and skin care products for over the counter applications. There are various shampoos and body wash products in the market containing salicylic acid that target scalp and skin problems.
It is apparent that if one could use an anti-dandruff agent such as salicylic acid in the regular formula of conditioning rinses or leave-in conditioners as a scalp treatment ingredient, these products would have dual functions: (1) scalp treatment and (2) hair conditioning. Unfortunately, an agent such as salicylic acid is incompatible with cationic ingredients in conditioning rinses or in leave-in conditioners. Therefore, the most popular treatment compositions combine salicylic acid and anionic surfactants in cleansing formulations or use salicylic acid in emulsions.
Thus there exists a long felt, but unsolved need, for a composition for both hair and scalp treatment.
SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention solves the foregoing need. The inventive composition utilizes, preferably, polyethylenimine (PEI) and an anti-dandruff agent in one formula so as to have both hair and scalp treatment functions. In general, the anti-dandruff agents are those that are incompatible with cationic ingredients in conditioning rinses or in leave-in conditioners. Preferably, the anti-dandruff agents are selected from the group consisting of salicylic acid, zinc pyrithione and mixtures thereof. The combination of PEI and the anti-dandruff agent can be incorporated into both the aqueous phase and the anhydrous phase.
In general, the inventive composition is composed of two major ingredients: polyethylenimine and/or its derivatives and mixtures thereof (individually and collectively “PEI”) and the foregoing anti-dandruff agents, preferably salicylic acid. Preferably, the composition includes: polyethylenimine in the amount of about 0.01% to about 8.0% and the anti-dandruff agent in the amount of about 0.01% to about 7.0% by total weight of the composition.
PEI are molecules with the units [(CH
2
CH
2
NH)
n
] of ethylenimine ranging from preferably 7 to 14,000 units with a corresponding molecular weight in the range of 300 to 602,000. Polyethylenimine has a three-dimensional cross-linking structure and is able to “wrap” or “coat” hair to form an even film. To activate the conditioning function of polyethylenimine, neutralization is needed and the following three neutralizers are preferred: lactic acid, glycolic acid and benzoic acid. The amount of these acids depends upon the amount of polyethylenimine and the molecular weight of these three acids.
Preferably, the anti-dandruff agent is in the amount of about 0.01% to about 8.0% by total weight of the composition. In the composition of the present invention, this agent is neutralized to the pH range for regular cosmetic products with organic amines before mixing it with neutralized PEI. The amount of organic amines depends upon the amount of the agent and also the molecular weight of the organic amines.
Amphoteric surfactants (for example, alkyl betaines, alkylamido betaines, acylamphoglycinate and acylamphoproplonates) can also be used in the inventive composition. The amount of amphoteric surfactants preferably ranges from about 0.01% to about 12.0% of the total weight of the composition. Other ingredients can include preservatives, fragrance, de-ionized water and/or other organic solvents.
The effective preferable pH range of the inventive composition is in the range of about 2 to about 9 for aqueous based formulas. To exert the self-heating “hot oil” function, lower molecular weight glycols and/or polyethylene glycols are used as solvents to replace deionized water. Examples of these glycols include propylene glycol, glycerin, polyethylene glycol 4-12, polypropylene glycol 7-15 and tripropylene glycol methyl ether. The ratio of PEI and anti-dandruff agents as well as all neutralization ingredients are kept the same as in the aqueous formula.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. It is to be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not limitation. Many changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The inventive treatment composition contains a highly cationic polyethylenimine (PEI), a very effective hair conditioning ingredient, generally in the amount of about 0.01% to about 8.0%, preferably in the amount of about 0.10% to about 6.0%, and more preferably in the amount of about 0.5% to about 5.0%, by total weight of the composition, and an anti-dandruff agent, generally in the amount of about 0.01% to abo
Nguyen Carolina
Parr James W.
Sun Ziming
Travaline Darcy
Amitee Cosmetics, Inc.
Jeffer Mangels Butler & Marmaro LLP
Page Thurman K.
Tran S.
LandOfFree
Composition and method for hair and scalp treatment does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Composition and method for hair and scalp treatment, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Composition and method for hair and scalp treatment will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2871869