IP Library Granted Patent US 8,231,689
Granted Patent B2
US 8,231,689 · App. 12/946,335 · Granted Jul 31, 2012

Coloring composition containing an aromatic compound and an initiator

Assignees: Warner Babcock Institute For Green Chemistry, LLC; John Masters Organic Hair Care, Inc.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,231,689
App. No.
12/946,335
Granted
Jul 31, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A natural coloring composition for coloring materials, and methods of its use. The coloring composition comprises a natural precursor aromatic ring molecule such as L-DOPA that is oxidatively oligomerized or polymerized in the presence of an activator, such as a salt or an enzyme, to form colored compounds that dye a material. The natural coloring composition can also include a buffer, colorant, stabilizer, and/or thickening agent, and can comprise one or two inactive solutions that are combined to form an active coloring composition.

Claims (25)

1. A coloring composition comprising:

a first solution comprising L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (“L-DOPA”);

a second solution comprising an initiator; and

an organic colorant in either of said first or second solutions, wherein said organic colorant is selected from the group consisting of curcumin, lawsone, emodin, jugalone, plumbagin, methionine, glutamine and combinations thereof;

wherein said first and second solutions are combined by a user to form a third solution wherein said L-DOPA is oxidized in the presence of said initiator to form a color polymer together with said organic colorant.

2. The coloring composition of claim 1 , wherein said initiator is a salt.

3. The coloring composition of claim 2 , wherein said salt is selected from the group consisting of potassium hexacyanoferrate, potassium bicarbonate, and combinations thereof.

4. The coloring composition of claim 1 , wherein said initiator is a protein.

5. The coloring composition of claim 4 , wherein said protein is an enzyme.

6. The coloring composition of claim 1 , wherein said enzyme is horseradish peroxidase.

7. The coloring composition of claim 1 , wherein said coloring composition comprises only organic compounds.

8. The coloring composition of claim 1 , further comprising a buffer.

9. The coloring composition of claim 8 , wherein said buffer is a phosphate buffer.

10. The coloring composition of claim 1 , further comprising a thickening agent.

11. The coloring composition of claim 1 , further comprising a stabilizer.

12. A method for dyeing a material, the method comprising the step of contacting the material with the coloring composition of claim 1 .

13. The method of claim 12 , where said material is a keratin material.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said keratin material is hair.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of leaving said coloring composition in contact with said material for 1 to 60 minutes.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of pre-treating said material with a first pre-treatment solution.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:

optionally rinsing said material; and

optionally drying said material.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of:

combining said aromatic compound and said initiator at the time of use.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2022
From: SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION
To: JOHN MASTERS ORGANICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060577/0466 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 5, 2016
From: JOHN MASTERS ORGANICS, INC.
To: SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 040529/0892 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 27, 2010
From: WARNER, JOHN C.; STOLER, EMILY J.
To: JOHN MASTERS ORGANIC HAIR CARE, INC.; WARNER BABCOCK INSTITUTE FOR GREEN CHEMISTRY, LLC
Reel/Frame 025537/0309 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 61261287 · Nov 13, 2009
Provisional Application 61261290 · Nov 13, 2009
Related Publication 20110113570A1 · May 19, 2011