Compositions – Compositions for enhancing the appearance of consumer...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-13
2004-03-09
Green, Anthony J. (Department: 1755)
Compositions
Compositions for enhancing the appearance of consumer...
C424S076100, C424S076200, C424S076210, C424S076800, C510S513000, C512S007000, C422S005000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06702951
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to substances for suppressing scents. More particularly, this invention is directed to liquid formulations applied to articles of attire, footwear, and equipment to prevent a person's scent from emanating therefrom.
2. Background of the Invention
It is unavoidable that persons generate and give off odors (or scents). These odors may originate from sources such as natural body secretions (perspiration, oils), bacteria residing on the skin, and clothing worn by the individual.
Many animals, such as bear, deer, elk, and fox, have highly developed abilities to detect a person in proximity by sensing the person's odor. Therefore, persons hunting and observing these animals, in addition to visual camouflage, often attempt to prevent these animals from sensing odors characteristic of humans. To this end, several liquid and cream formulations are applied to the user's skin for masking or camouflaging the person's scent. Other substances are applied during bathing to temporarily remove the user's scent. Liquid formulations are also applied to garments worn by these persons to reduce odors. These liquid formulations have been proven to be effective in preventing the user's body odor from being detected by game. These liquid formulations typically contain ingredients for preventing or minimizing formation of odor causing chemical compounds. However, a liquid formulation suitable to be applied to clothing, footwear, and equipment with longer lasting and even more effective odor-suppressing properties would be even more desirable. There then is a need for a long lasting, odor-suppressing liquid formulation, which can be applied to apparel worn when hunting or observing animals and which can suppress odors caused by chemical compounds already present.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention substantially meets the aforementioned needs of the industry by providing a liquid formulation suitable to be applied to an article of apparel, the article of apparel to be worn by, or to be in close contact with, a person hunting or observing game or otherwise used to prevent game from sensing the user's scent. The present liquid formulation may also be advantageously applied to articles of equipment and with beneficial effects similar to those effects encountered when used on articles of apparel. When the present liquid formulation is applied to textiles and other materials used in making apparel, game animals are much less likely to detect the user. One way in which these odors are suppressed is by adsorbing odor-producing substances. Moreover, the liquid formulation of this invention may contain a substance which inhibits odiferous substance formation.
One embodiment of the present scent-adsorbing liquid formulation includes an alkali metal carbonate or bicarbonate salt, and a particulate, odor-adsorbing agent such as activated carbon. In another embodiment, a preservative may be included. The preservative may include a substance with antimicrobial activity. A nonionic surfactant, such as an alkylaryl polyether alcohol, may also be present in an amount sufficient to allow the preservative to be incorporated into the formulation as a solution, suspension, or emulsion and/or to allow for better coverage when applied to the article of apparel. The liquid formulation may further include a base, such as an alkali metal hydroxide, in an amount sufficient to provide a formulation pH between about 9 and 11. An alkaline pH may be advantageous in promoting penetration or coverage of the substance being treated, in retarding formation of some odiferous substances per se, and in providing an environment in which the preservatives are most effective in inhibiting bacterial (or generally microfloral) growth and development.
It is one feature that the present liquid formulation suppresses odors otherwise emanating from users by providing an adsorptive agent, such as particulate activated carbon. The liquid formulation is applied to an article of attire or other object worn by, or in close contact with, the user. The adsorptive agent adsorbs odiferous substances given off by the user which otherwise become airborne and would be detected by animals.
It is a second feature of this invention that some embodiments of the present liquid formulation may also inhibit or retard generation of odiferous substances by containing a preservative, such as an antimicrobial agent. The preservative, when applied to an item of apparel or an article to be in close contact with a user, stops or inhibits microflora (such as bacteria) from producing odiferous substances, which might otherwise be detected by animals.
It is a third feature of this invention that the present liquid formulation can be applied to garments worn by a user while hunting or observing game animals. When garments to which the present liquid formulation is applied are worn, the likelihood of being scented by the game animals is minimized. Stated otherwise, the likelihood of game animals moving into near proximity with the wearer of apparel treated by the present liquid formulation is maximized because of eliminated or greatly reduced odors emanating from the wearer.
Additional objects, advantages, and features of various embodiments of this invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art. The objects and advantages of various embodiments of this invention may be realized and attained by persons of ordinary skill in the art by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the description below.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a substantially liquid formulation suitable to be applied to fabrics or other articles of apparel, footwear, and items of equipment. These articles, when the present liquid formulation has been applied thereto, effectively prevent game animals from detecting a wearer's body odor or scent.
The term “substantially liquid formulation” is contemplated to describe formulations which may contain nonliquid ingredients, but can nonetheless be applied by methods used to apply other liquids after the nonliquid ingredients are suspended, e.g., by agitation. One such method of application is by using a spray bottle.
The present invention may include an odor-adsorbing material, the odor-adsorbing material suspendable (or otherwise included) in an aqueous solution (or emulsion). The present formulation may also include one or more preservatives (to include one or more antimicrobial formulations), an alkali metal carbonate or bicarbonate, one or more surfactants, and/or an alkali metal hydroxide. Powdered activated carbon may be advantageously suspended in this liquid formulation. Optionally, a dye is included. Unless otherwise specified, ingredient proportions are stated in percent by weight of the final product.
Preservatives
Suitable preservatives for use in the present formulation include:
1. Alkali metal salts of C
2
-C
6
carboxylic acids, e.g., sodium propionate (Niacet Corporation).
2. Derivatives of imidazoles, e.g., imidazolidinyl urea (Tristad 1U, Tri-K Industries).
3. Mixtures of esterified phenols and phenol derivatives, e.g., methylparaben, propylparaben, and diazolidinyl urea (Germaben 2, Sutton Labs).
4. Organic sulfur compounds.
a. 3-isothiazolones and salts formed by reactions with acids such as hydrochloric, nitric, and sulfuric acids; e.g., 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; 2-n-butyl-3-isothiazolone; 2-benzyl-3-isothiazolone; 2-phenyl-3-isothiazolone, 2-methyl-4,5-dichloroisothiazolone; 5-chloro-2-methyl-3-isothiazolone; 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; and mixtures thereof. An exemplary broad spectrum 3-isothiazolone preservative is available as Kathon® CG by Rohm and Haas Company.
b. Sodium pyrithione and mixtures of organic sulfur compounds.
5. Halogenated compounds.
a. 5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane (e.g., Bronidox L® from Henkel).
b. 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, (e.g.,
Green Anthony J.
Patterson, Thuente, Skaar and Christensen, P.A.
Robinson Laboratories, Inc.
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