Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-26
2004-05-04
Boyer, Charles (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C510S124000, C510S504000, C424S070100, C424S070280
Reexamination Certificate
active
06730641
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to cosmetic hair conditioning compositions. In particular, the present invention relates to an aqueous hair conditioning composition that preferably imparts a silky wet feel to hair and inhibits fly-away at low relative humidity (RH) when applied as a rinse off conditioner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As is well known, many consumers apply a rinse-off conditioner to hair after shampooing. In this respect, hair shampoos generally contain surfactants that often leave the hair undesirably harsh, dull, and dry. In addition, shampooed hair often becomes tangled when wet and/or dry such that combing and brushing of the hair is hampered. Furthermore, especially in low humidity environments (e.g., an RH below 35% such as can be found in cold winter climates), the hair frequently exhibits poor electrostatic properties such that it is susceptible to “fly-away.” Thus, to address the conditioning properties of the hair, both in the wet and dry states, conditioner is applied to render the hair more manageable, to minimize fly away, static charge, and tangling of the hair, as well as to soften hair and facilitate combing.
There is a continuing need for improved hair conditioning compositions, particularly low cost alternatives. Typically, hair conditioning formulations contain, as an active ingredient, a quaternary ammonium compound in which the molecular structure includes a nitrogen joined to four organic groups (i.e., the cation) and a negatively charged acid radical (i.e., the anion). Some quaternary ammonium compounds provide desirable antistatic properties in dry hair but suffer from poor application properties and do not provide the hair with a smooth, silky, aesthetically pleasing feel in wet hair. Other quaternary ammonium compounds provide a smooth, silky feel to wet hair and can be applied with ease, but do not provide sufficient antistatic properties to dry hair. Conventional hair conditioners often include other ingredients, such as, for example, a polyoxyethylene stearate ether like polyoxyethylene (21) stearyl ether (steareth 21) or a polyoxythylene cetearyl ether like polyexethylene (20) cetearyl ether (ceteareth 20), silicone derivates, and/or an amidoamine. Such ingredients tend to add significant cost to the end product because they are expensive raw materials.
As an example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,956 to Noe discloses a hair-treating composition that includes a water-soluble quaternary ammonium compound, an oil-soluble, water-dispersible quaternary ammonium compound, an acid-neutralized amidoamine compound, and a low molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane compound. According to Noe, the amidoamine is included in the hair for the purpose of imparting the hair with improved physical and cosmetic properties. However, because the amidoamine is an expensive, raw material, it adds significant manufacturing expense such that the compositions of Noe are directed to the more expensive, or premium, hair conditioning market and are ill-suited for the lower cost, or value, hair conditioning market.
Despite the availability of the foregoing approaches, it will be appreciated that there exists a need in the art for a hair conditioning composition that is relatively inexpensive, and that preferably imparts a silky wet feel to hair and inhibits fly-away at low relative humidity when applied as a rinse off conditioner. It is an object of the present invention to satisfy these needs. These and other advantages of the invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an aqueous hair conditioning composition. In accordance with the present invention, it has been found that the inventive hair conditioning composition including the blend of two particular quaternary ammonium chlorides, namely, stearalkonium chloride and cetrimonium chloride, imparts to hair a silky wet feel and inhibits fly-away at low relative humidity when applied as a rinse off conditioner. In addition, the hair conditioner of the invention preferably exhibits suitable application properties such that it can be applied readily to wet hair.
Thus, in one aspect, the present invention provides a hair conditioning composition that is essentially free of amidoamines and which comprises water, stearalkonium chloride, and cetrimonium chloride.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a hair conditioning composition that comprises cetrimonium chloride and stearalkonium chloride in a ratio (by weight) of cetrimonium chloride to stearalkonium chloride of from about 0.65 to about 2. The composition also includes water and a fatty alcohol.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a hair conditioning composition comprising cetrimonium chloride and stearalkonium chloride, wherein the combined amount of cetrimonium chloride and stearalkonium chloride is at most about 1% by weight of the composition. The composition also includes water and a fatty alcohol or a blend of fatty alcohols.
In still another aspect, the present invention provides a hair conditioning composition consisting essentially of from about 90 wt % to about 96 wt % water; at least about 0.25 wt % stearalkonium chloride; at least about 0.35 wt % cetrimonium chloride; from about 2.5 wt % to about 4 wt % of a fatty alcohol or a blend of fatty alcohols; from 0 wt % to about 1 wt % of a non-ionic emulsifier; from 0 wt % to about 4 wt % of a thickener; from 0 wt % to about 1 wt % of a fragrance; and from 0 wt % to about 1 wt % of a preservative.
The present invention also provides a method of conditioning hair. The method comprises applying a composition according to any aspect of the invention to the hair, and rinsing the hair with water.
The combination of cetrimonium chloride and stearalkonium chloride, in accordance with the present invention, provides the hair conditioning composition with improved conditioning properties, without requiring expensive additives such as an amidoamine and/or an ethoxylated emulsifier, such as a polyoxyethylene glycol ether of stearyl alcohol (e.g., steareth 21) or a polyoxthylene glycol ether of cetearyl alcohol (e.g., ceteareth 20), which are commonly found in conventional hair conditioners. As such, if desired, the present invention advantageously can allow for providing a less expensive alternative to many premium products that include such expensive raw materials. Furthermore, the cetrimonium chloride and stearalkonium chloride surprisingly can be present in relatively small combined quantities (e.g., 1% by weight of the composition or less) while still providing the desired conditioning properties, thereby further reducing the manufacturing cost and, therefore, the cost passed on to the consumer.
The present invention may be best understood with reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is predicated, at least in part, on the surprising and unexpected discovery that a hair conditioning composition comprising a particular combination of quaternary ammonium compounds, that is, cetrimonium chloride and stearalkonium chloride, exhibits improved conditioning properties. In this respect, the combination of cetrimonium chloride and stearalkonium chloride synergistically confers improved conditioning properties to hair such as, for example, ease of application, silky wet feel, and inhibition of fly-away at low relative humidity (e.g. as low as 34%). The hair conditioner according to the invention can be used as a rinse off conditioner or a leave-in conditioner, but in preferred embodiments, takes the form of a rinse off conditioner.
Because of the improved conditioning properties exhibited by the combination of cetrimonium chloride and stearalkonium chloride, pursuant to the present invention, other conditioning additives are not required and can be excluded, if desired. For example, in some embodiments, the inventive hair conditioning composition is e
Bauer Kari L.
Verboom Gilles M.
Alberto-Culver Company
Boyer Charles
Leydig , Voit & Mayer, Ltd.
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