MXPA99005707A - Improvements in or relating to packaging - Google Patents

Abstract

An epilatory wax container or a device, for example an applicator, for use in conjunction with said container includes a thermochromic material. The colour change of the thermochromic material provides an indication that the wax in the container is at an appropriate temperature for application to the body.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATIVE TO PACKAGING FIELD DB THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the removal of undesirable hair from the body, and in particular, to the removal of undesirable hair from the human body by means of a wax compound. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various methods of hair removal are known, For example, hair can be shaved from the body or removed by tweezers or other instruments that pluck the hairs from the skin, such as devices that include curved and rotating coil springs, and the like. In addition, chemical depilatory preparations and waxes have been designed for the purpose of removing hair. Conventional depilatory preparations, which • they often contain sulfur-containing chemicals, acting to weaken the structure of the hair to such an extent that removing the cream from the skin breaks the hair at the level of the skin and therefore removes it. Alternatively, the wax can be applied to the skin and then removed with the hair incorporated in it. Each of these methods has concurrent disadvantages. Shaving offers only temporary relief because the hair roots are still present and the hair will grow back after a very short period. Also, there is a danger of cutting the skin when shaving. Chemical depilatory preparations are usually P137 / 99MX have an unpleasant smell and the use of waxes and spiral spring devices can cause some discomfort. Currently, waxes are increasing in popularity. Depilatory waxes are generally supplied as solid substances that melt before use. The melted substance is applied to the skin, where it cools and then sheds it along with the undesirable hair. Often, a tool such as a spatula or mixer is provided with the wax compound to apply the compound on the skin. The wax compounds can be heated conveniently in the container in which they are provided, for example by means of a microwave oven or in a hot water bath (so-called "water bath"). However, a specific problem occurs with said wax compounds in order to ensure that the wax is heated to the correct temperature for application to the skin. If the wax is not hot enough, it can not melt completely and its effectiveness decreases. More seriously, if the wax is too hot, it causes burns to the skin. Therefore, it would be convenient to provide a means by which it is ensured that the wax is at the correct temperature before it is applied to the skin.

P1373 / 99MX Since the advent of thermochromic substances, indicator strips containing thermochromic substances have been applied on the outside of the containers to indicate the temperature. For example, thermochromic liquid crystal inks have been used on labels located on the outer surface of the container. However, the color change of the ink on the label does not accurately reflect the actual temperature of the contents of the container. For example, if the container is heated in a water bath, the container label changes as a consequence of the water temperature, and not due to the temperature of the contents of the container. In addition, thermochromic liquid crystal compounds change color at a precise temperature. Consequently, an ink that changes color at an essentially exact temperature must be chosen, for example at 50 ° C or at 60 ° C. However, the prior art systems are not ideal for use in a wax container whereby it is indicated whether the wax is at a temperature suitable for application to the skin. This is because the wax can be used safely and effectively in a reasonably wide temperature range, for example, between about 44 ° C and 58 ° C. Therefore, it is preferable to be able to determine if the temperature of the P1373 / 99MX wax is within a wide predetermined temperature range, instead of determining whether the wax is at a specific temperature. It has now been established that if a more intimate relationship between the thermochromic substance and the wax is ensured, a more reliable indication of the temperature of the wax will be provided. Furthermore, in contrast to most prior art systems in which the color change of the thermochromic substance occurs at one to two degrees Celsius, by means of the present invention, it is possible to provide a visual indication that the The temperature of the wax is within a wide range of temperature; Within said wide range of temperature the wax can be used without danger. Therefore, the danger of burning the skin disappears. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a container for a depilatory wax compound and / or a device for use therewith, wherein the container and / or the device includes a thermochromic substance which it adapts to the color change in a predetermined temperature range when it comes into contact with a melting or melting depilatory wax compound. According to a second aspect of the invention, an apparatus for removal is provided P1373 / 99MX body hair that includes a container for a depilatory wax compound, whose wax is adapted to melt to heat, and a device for use together with it, which is adapted to come into contact with the wax compound melting or already melted, wherein the device includes a thermochromic substance configured to change color at a predetermined temperature range when it comes into contact with the melting or melting wax composition. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device includes an applicator configured to apply the melted wax to the skin. According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for removing hair from the body, which includes the steps of providing a container for depilatory wax, in which the container and / or the device configured for use with the same adapts to the color change at a predetermined temperature range upon contact with a melting or melted wax compound; heating the wax until the container and / or the device changes color; Apply the wax to the body and remove the wax along with the unwanted hair. In the sense in which it is used in the present specification, the term "wax" generally refers to any compound used to remove hair P1373 / 99MX of the body, which is initially heated and then applied to the body, in general, in already melted form; it is allowed to solidify essentially and is removed from the body along with the undesirable hair. Therefore, the term includes both true waxes and other substances suitable for depilation, such as, for example, compounds based on resins or compounds based on sugars, in particular glucose. The temperature range within which the container or device changes color is selected based on the properties (particularly the melting point) of the specific wax used. However, the most important indication is that the wax is not too hot and therefore does not burn the skin. Because the waxes should not be applied to the skin at temperatures in excess of about 60 ° C, the container or device should therefore show a color change below that temperature. The choice of the thermochromic substance used in the container for the depilatory wax or the device for use therewith, in accordance with the present invention, is not particularly limited, although in fact the thermochromic substance must change color within an appropriate temperature range. You can use the wax safely and P1373 / 99MX effectively between about 44 ° C and 58 ° C. Above about 58 ° C, the wax is too hot and can burn the skin. Below about 44 ° C, the wax becomes too viscous and is difficult to spread. Therefore, the thermochromic substances used in accordance with the present invention change color within a temperature range of about 40 ° C and 60 ° C. A more preferred thermochromic substance for use in accordance with the present invention changes color between 44 ° C and 58 ° C, such that the color intensity of the thermochromic substance begins to decrease to 44 ° C and is found in its minimum intensity at 58 ° C. Therefore, during the total color change of the thermochromic substance, the wax is at an appropriate temperature for application in the body. However, it will be noted that thermochromic substances that change color at other time intervals are also suitable. temperature within the temperature range of 40 ° C and 60 ° C. For example, a thermochromic substance that changes color between 40 ° C and 50 ° C can be selected, since during the complete color change, the wax can be used safely. In addition, the thermochromic substance must be compatible with the material of the container or device and must not be filtered from the container or device to the already melted wax.

P1373 / 99MX Suitable thermochromic substances are for example among those described in U.S. Patent No. 4,717,710 which is incorporated herein by reference. The thermochromic substances used according to the present invention change color over a wide temperature range, for example in a temperature range of about 5 to 20 ° C, and more preferably, in a temperature range of about 8 to 15. ° C. For example, as mentioned above, a preferred thermochromic substance for use in accordance with the present invention changes color between 44 ° C and 58 ° C, ie in a temperature range of 14 ° C. However, many other thermochromic substances according to the present invention are used which change color at different temperature ranges, as long as they show a color change within an appropriate temperature range thereby providing an indication that the The wax in the container is at a temperature appropriate for application to the skin. The choice of the material of the wax container or of the device for use therewith is not especially limited, provided that the material is resistant to the temperatures employed in melting the wax. In addition, the material of the container or P1373 / 99MX device must be compatible with the thermochromic substance chosen. Also, if it is desired that the thermochromic substance be included in a device configured to be used as a mixing medium, the material of the device must have the appropriate mechanical and chemical properties, that is, it must be rigid enough to be used as a effective mixer. For example, the container for the depilatory wax can be made of plastic material and the device for use therewith can be made of wood or plastic material. According to a first embodiment of the present, the container for the wax includes a thermochromic substance. Suitably, the container for the wax includes the thermochromic substance in its lid. After the container has been heated and inverted so that the melted wax is in direct contact with the lid, the lid of the container changes color in a temperature range defined according to the temperature of the wax inside the container. According to a second embodiment of the invention, the thermochromic substance is included in one or more of the walls of the container itself. In a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, one or more of the walls and / or the lid of the container contains a resin concentrate.

P1373 / 99MX thermochromic, which is adapted to change color in a temperature range between approximately 40 ° C and 60 ° C. When the resin concentrate is included in one or more of the walls of the container itself, preferably the resin concentrate is present in an amount of 5 to 15%, more preferably, of about 10% of the total weight of the container polymer . Similarly, when the resin concentrate is included in the lid of the container, preferably the resin concentrate is present in an amount of 5 to 15%, more preferably 10% by weight of the container lid. For example, the color of the bottle or jar of the wax and / or its lid may be red when the container is at low temperature, although the intensity of this color may begin to decrease to about 40 ° C and the container may have a complete loss of color at approximately 50 ° C. When the thermochromic substance is only incorporated in the lid of a wax container, it will be necessary to invert the container after heating, in such a way that the melted wax is in contact with the part of the container containing the thermochromic substance. Then, according to the color of the lid of the container, the consumer will know if the wax is too hot or not for its application on the skin. According to a more preferred embodiment of P1373 / 99MX the invention, the thermochromic substance is included in a separate device configured for use in conjunction with a depilatory wax container. Preferably, the device includes an applicator. The placator can be, for example, a wooden spatula. Alternatively, the applicator may include a spatula made of plastic material, especially polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene or polycarbonate. The spatula that includes the thermochromic substance can then be immersed intermittently into the wax to see if the spatula changes color and the temperature of the wax is tested. If the wax is at an appropriate temperature for application to the body, the melted wax can be applied to the skin using the spatula. Alternatively, the wax can be heated while mixing it continuously with the spatula. If the color change of the spatula indicates that the wax is too hot to apply without risk to the skin, the wax is allowed to cool until the color of the spatula indicates that the wax was cooled to a temperature appropriate for its use. job. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the depilatory wax can be used with a conventional spatula and the device for use in conjunction with the depilatory wax container, according to the present invention, can include a P1373 / 99MX additional component, for example, an independent mixing medium or an indicator such as a plastic tester to immerse it in the wax. Alternatively, the device can be placed in the melted wax in the container. For example, in another embodiment of the invention, the device may comprise a strip of material, for example a piece of cardboard that includes the thermochromic substance such as ink, and is therefore sensitive to heat and changes color in a predetermined temperature interval. The device can be placed intermittently on top of the wax or left to rest continuously on the wax as it waxes, until a color change is observed. The device can also be submerged in the wax after heating it. In another preferred variation of the invention, the device comprises a wooden spatula, in which a printing ink containing a thermochromic substance is printed. Therefore, the spatula may initially have a legend or a pictorial design, for example, printed on it. The wax is most preferably used between about 45 ° C and 56 ° C, at whose temperature it is properly spread over the body and does not burn the skin. Therefore, a thermochromic substance can be suitably incorporated into the printing ink in the P1373 / 99MX spatula, which begins to lose its color at approximately 44 ° C and is completely colorless at approximately 58 ° C. Consequently, the spatula impression will begin to gradually disappear according to the rise in temperature and disappear completely at 58 ° C, although the consumer probably stops observing the writing at a temperature slightly below 58 ° C due to the coating of the spatula with the wax compound. When the impression has completely disappeared, the consumer receives a clear indication that the wax is too hot to be applied to the skin and should be cooled slightly, that is, until the impression reappears on the spatula. While the consumer can observe the impression, the wax can be used safely. A printing ink containing the thermochromic substance can also be applied to the cap or to the sides of the container. In another variation of the invention, the device comprises a plastic spatula incorporating the thermochromic substance. Preferably, the resin concentrate is present in an amount of 5 to 15% of the total weight of the spatula polymer. Most preferably, the resin concentrate is present in an amount of about 10% of the total weight of the polymer. The spatula shows a color P1373 / 99MX at low temperature, but the intensity of this color decreases as the temperature rises until the spatula has a different color at a predetermined temperature. For example, the spatula may contain a thermochromic resin concentrate that is initially blue, but begins to lose its bluish coloration at about 44 ° C and becomes completely colorless at 58 ° C. In use, when the spatula reaches 58 ° C, the thermochromic substance loses its blue color completely and the spatula turns white. Therefore, when the spatula is colorless, there is a clear indication to the consumer that the wax is too hot and should cool slightly, that is, until the spatula recovers some of its bluish coloration. In addition, the consumer will know that the wax can be used safely provided the spatula is blue, even if the intensity of the blue color is low. The spatula gradually loses its blue color in a temperature range of approximately 44 ° C and 58 ° C, during which time the wax is at an appropriate temperature for application on the body. The spatula is suitably manufactured by injection molding or bi-injection molding. If the spatula is manufactured by bi-injection molding, it is possible to incorporate the thermochromic substance into a certain area of the spatula. For example, you can P1373 / 99MX incorporate the thermochromic substance only in a small section (for example, 1 cm by 1 cm) of the spatula. In this case, only this panel will experience the color change according to the temperature of the wax, so as to provide the necessary indication that the wax is at an appropriate temperature for its application in the body. The container for depilatory wax is suitably made of plastic material. If the thermochromic substance is incorporated in the lid of the container, it is suitably made by means of injection molding or bi-injection molding. If the lid is made by bi-injection molding, the thermochromic substance can be incorporated in only one portion of the lid, as mentioned above. When the thermochromic substance is incorporated into the container itself, it is suitably manufactured by means of extrusion or injection molding of insufflated air. For example, the container can be made by blow molding by mono-extrusion (in which case the container contains only a plastic material) or by blow molding by co-extrusion (in which case the container comprises-different layers of plastic material). If the container is made by insufflation molding P1373 / 99MX air by co-extrusion, the thermochromic pigment can be incorporated in only one of the layers of the plastic material. It is also known how to provide a wax container consisting of a bottle with an applicator provided at one end, to allow the wax to discharge directly from the container onto the wearer's skin. In use, the bottle is subjected to high temperature and the container is inverted in such a way that the melted wax flows out of the container through the outlet of the applicator and is applied to the skin. According to a further embodiment of the invention, preferably, the thermochromic substance is included in the applicator, or in a part thereof. Before using the wax, the container is inverted so that the wax flows out of the container through the outlet of the applicator device. If the color change of the thermochromic substance in the applicator indicates that the wax is too hot for application to the skin, the consumer knows that the wax should be cooled slightly before use. It will also be readily appreciated that the container or device may include more than one thermochromic substance, if appropriate. Therefore, the container or device changes from a first color to a second color approximately at the melting point of the wax and from a second color to a color.

P1373 / 99 X third color when the wax is too hot. For example, two thermochromic substances can be incorporated in the wax container or in the device for use therewith, so that a color is observed when the wax is not hot enough, a second color is observed when the wax is at The correct temperature for use and a third color is observed when the wax is too hot to use. The depilatory wax compositions present in the container of the present invention are used in a conventional manner to remove undesirable hair from the human body. A container of a suitable wax is provided and heated by known means, for example, by placing the container in a microwave oven, a hot water bath or in a specially designed heating unit which could form part of a device that it comprises the container in question and, for example, a heating sleeve. When the wax in the container reaches the desired temperature - indicated by the expected color change - the wax composition is ready for use. The wax is then applied in its melted state to the areas of the body in which it is desired to remove the hair. The wax solidifies easily and can be removed together with the undesirable hair. It should be understood that many modifications, additions and omissions can be made, in addition to those expressly described, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

P1373 / 99MX

Claims (12)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, claimed as property contained in the following CLAIMS t 1. An apparatus for hair removal from the body comprising: a) a container which contains a depilatory wax composition; b) an applicator to be used in the application of the depilatory composition; and c) a thermochromic substance configured to change color between 40 and 60 ° C when it comes into contact with a wax composition that is melting or already melted, the thermochromic substance is incorporated into the container and / or incorporated into the applicator .
2. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thermochromic substance changes color between 44 ° C and 58 ° C.
3. 3. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the depilatory wax comprises a sugar-based compound.
4. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the thermochromic substance is incorporated in the lid or inside the container wall, preferably in the lid P1373 / 99MX of the container.
5. 5. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein thermochromic substance is incorporated in the applicator.
6. 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the applicator is preferably a spatula made of wood or plastic material.
7. 7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the thermochromic substance is incorporated only in a portion of the spatula.
8. An apparatus according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the applicator is made of a plastic material that incorporates, in an amount of about 5% to 15%, a thermochromic substance in the form of a resin concentrate, in where the spatula exhibits a color at a temperature below 44 ° C and, as the temperature rises above 44 ° C, it gradually begins to lose additional color until all color is lost at a temperature of about 58 ° C, at that point only the underlying color of the spatula remains visible.
9. 9. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the applicator is made of wood on which a legend or a pictorial design is printed using a printing ink that includes the thermoplastic material, wherein the ink of P1373 / 99MX printing begins to lose its color at approximately 44 ° C and, with the increase in temperature, it gradually loses additional color until the ink becomes essentially invisible at approximately 58 ° C.
10. A method for removing hair from the body, which includes the steps of i) providing a depilatory wax container and an applicator, wherein the container and / or the applicator adapted to be used together with the container are configured to change color above a temperature that varies from 40 to 60 ° C, when they come into contact with a wax compound that is melting or is already melting; ii) heating the wax until the container and / or applicator change color; iii) apply the wax to the body; and iv) remove the wax along with the undesirable hair.
11. 11. A container containing a depilatory wax compound on the lid or inside a wall of the thermochromic substance, which is configured to change color between 40 and 60 ° C when it is incorporated and comes in contact with a compound of Wax that is melting or is already melted.
12. 12. An applicator to be used in the P1373 / 99MX application of a depilatory composition, where a thermochromic substance is incorporated, which is configured to change color between 40 and 60 ° C when it comes in contact with a wax compound that is melting or is already melted. P1373 / 99MX