AU706320B2 - Hair removal - Google Patents

Description

2 HAIR REMOVAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to cosmetic treatment of the human body for removal of hair.

A common hair removal cosmetic treatment involves application of hot wax to an area of body skin to be treated so as to form a coating in which the hairs to be removed are embedded. The wax is allowed to cool so that it sets to a degree sufficient to enable the coating to be peeled away from the skin and to take with it the embedded hair.

The application of hot wax to the human skin requires considerable care to avoid burning. Even if burning is avoided, there are many people with sensitive skin who eooe suffer adverse reaction from the application of hot wax.

And the treatment may not be possible for people suffering from skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION By the present invention it is possible to produce a material which can be used to remove body hair and which can be applied to the body substantially at body temperature so avoiding the risk of burning or aggravating the skin of the person undergoing the treatment.

According to the invention there is provided a method of producing a material suitable for application to the human body for the purpose of removing body hair, comprising mixing together a major proportion by weight of invert sugar syrup and a minor proportion by weight of glucose syrup, stirring and heating the mixture to raise it to a staff/hlley/keepspecpM6478.CAP.SHR 22.6 3 maximum temperature more than 100 0 C so as to produce a coherent flowable material which will set to a solid on cooling, flowing the material into a mould or container and causing or allowing the material to cool in the mould or container to form a solid body, the combination of the conditions of the maximum temperature and proportions of invert sugar syrup and glucose being such that the solid body so formed is capable of being converted by the application of heat and physical kneading to a pliable material which can be applied to human skin to adhere to body hair growing from the skin and to remove the hair.

Preferably the proportion of invert sugar syrup in the mixture is in the range 80% to 90% by weight and the proportion of the glucose syrup is in the range 10% to by weight.

S" Preferably further the glucose syrup has a specific gravity in the range 38 0 B6 to 45OB6. More specifically it is preferred that the glucose syrup have a specific gravity of the order of 41OB6.

The mixture may be heated to temperature in the range 115OC to 120 0 c.

Preferably the mixture is heated to said temperature at such a rate as to avoid any burning of the product during the heating process.

25 The invention also provides a method of removing hair from a human body comprising working a body of material produced in accordance with the above defined method so as to produce a pliable ball of the material, pressing the pliable ball of material against an area of skin to be treated whereby to cause the material to conform to the skin surface and to adhere to hair growing from the skin staff/hlley/ke /speci'PM6478.CAP.SHEER 22.6 4 and pulling the material away to remove the hair from the skin.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED

EMBODIMENT

A preferred method in accordance with the invention uses as raw material 100 parts by volume of invert sugar syrup and parts of glucose syrup 41 0 B6. Invert sugar syrup contains a mixture of dextrose and levulose in equal parts produced by the action of an acid on sucrose. Both of these raw materials are available in commercial quantities from Australian manufacturers.

This formulation gives the ratio of sugars, namely dextrose, levulose, sucrose, maltodextrose and dextrins to achieve several purposes. Firstly it is important to achieve the degree of adhesion necessary in the final product to adhere to the skin and to the hair growing from the skin to extent that the hair will be removed when the material is pulled away. Secondly, it is necessary to S. ensure that the mixture has the correct viscosity both in the hot and cold conditions and when worked into the pliable condition for application.

*S.

Thirdly, it is important that the final material have an extended shelf life.

The formulation of 100 parts of invert sugar syrup and parts glucose syrup 41 0 B6 enables the above criteria to be satisfied. This corresponds to proportions of about 83% and 17% respectively by weight. These are optimum proportions but satisfactory results can be achieved with proportions of invert sugar syrup in the range 80% to by weight and proportions of glucose syrup in the range to 20% by weight.

staff/hlley/keeplspeciPM6478.CAP.SHEEER 22.6 5 In the preferred method both raw materials are weighed into a steam jacketed stirring pan. The pan may be any size but is typically of about 150 litres capacity. Heat is applied whilst stirring to blend the materials and reduce the water content of the mix. Heat is applied to increase the temperature of the mix to more than 100 0 C and preferably to 118 0 C so as to produce a coherent highly viscous material which is flowable in the heated state but which will set on cooling. Care must be taken to ensure burning of the product does not occur during the final stages of the process as the viscosity increases. Samples are taken regularly to test for the solids content and the total reducing sugar content of the mixture. Preferably the solids content should be 89 to 90% and the total reducing sugar content should be 85 to The speed of heating is important to minimise darkening of :the product while maintaining the correct total reducing •sugar content. The longer the cooking time, the more the 7. total reducing sugar content is increased and better 20 control is achieved by applying the heat in a fast even manner over the surface of the stirring pan together with adequate methods of steam removal from the system as are known in the art. This allows the initial solids content of 76% to be increased to 89 to 90% as quickly as possible, minimising the increase in total reducing sugar content over the cooking time.

S•o When the material has reached the correct consistency and analysis, which may be periodically checked using standard laboratory techniques, it is pumped into moulds or containers such as simple plastic pots and it is allowed to cool. On cooling it sets to a hard light brown material which can be distributed and stored for long periods without deterioration.

staff/hleylkee speciPM6478.CAP-SHEER 22.6 6 To use the material it is warmed slightly to a luke warm temperature, either in a water bath or a microwave oven, to soften it sufficiently to enable it to be removed from its container and it is then Physically worked or kneaded by hand. With the above disclosed formulation the material will be converted by the physical working into a pliable putty-like material which is changed to a light caramel colour. A ball of this material is pressed against the area of skin to be treated and the pliability of the material is such that it will conform to the surface of the skin. The material has sufficient adhesion to adhere lightly to the skin but adhere strongly to any body hair growing from the skin to the extent that when the ball is pulled away from the skin the adhered hair will be removed 15 with it.

ooooo o• "The above described material can be worked into a pliable ball of the required consistency and adhesion and applied to the body substantially at body temperature. It enables an effective hair removal treatment without the application 20 of hot material to the skin thereby completely avoiding the risk of burns and minimising aggravation of sensitive skins. The material is relatively cheap to produce and very simple to use.

Modifications may be made to the invention as would be apparent to a person skilled in the art of industrial chemistry. For example, continuous batch processes may be used rather than a steam jacketed stirring pan. Also, the material may be produced using a copper bottomed pan on a stove top with acceptable results; although since the cooking time is longer for such an arrangement, the colour of the material produced is very dark.

staffhley/keep specfPMs478 CAP.SHEER 22.6 7 THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A method of producing a material suitable for application to the human body for the purpose of removing body hair, comprising mixing together a major proportion by weight of invert sugar syrup and a minor proportion by weight of glucose syrup, stirring and heating the mixture to raise it to a maximum temperature more than 100 0 C so as to produce a coherent flowable material which will set to a solid on cooling, flowing the material into a mould or container and causing or allowing the material to cool in the mould or container to form a solid body, the combination of the conditions of the maximum temperature and proportions of invert sugar syrup and glucose being such that the solid body so formed is capable of being converted by the application of heat and physical kneading oo to a pliable material which can be applied to human skin to adhere to body hair growing from the skin and to remove the hair.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the proportion of the invert sugar in the mixture is in the range 80% to 90% by weight and the proportion of the glucose syrup is in the range 10% to 20% by weight.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the glucose syrup has a specific gravity in the range 38 0 B6 to 45 0 B6.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the glucose syrup has a specific gravity of about 41OB.

A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the stirring and heating of the mixture is performed such that the coherent flowable material so produced has a solids content in the range 89% to 90% and a staff/hlley/keegspecvpMr478.CAP.SHEER 22.6

Claims (4)

1. 6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the maximum temperature is in the range 11500C to 1200C.
2. 7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the maximum temperature is about 1180C.
3. 8. A method of removing hair from a human body, comprising working a body of the material produced in accordance with any one of the preceding claims so as to produce a pliable ball of the material, pressing the pliable ball of material against an area of the skin to be treated whereby to cause the material to conform to the skin surface and to adhere to hair growing from the skin, and pulling the material away to remove the hair from the 15 skin. o *o *O oooe *o a DATED THIS 22ND DAY OF JUNE 1995 SHEER TECHNIQUE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys: CFPTT HACK &g C Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia. EG o22-10(2) u'd IVT iC staff/hlley/keep/speci/PM6478CAP.SHEER
4. 22.6 ABSTRACT: A method of producing a material suitable for application to the human body for the purpose of removing body hair, comprising mixing together a major proportion by weight of invert sugar syrup and a minor proportion by weight of glucose syrup, stirring and heating the mixture to raise it to a maximum temperature more than 100 0 C so as to produce a coherent flowable material which will set to a solid on cooling, flowing the material into a mould or container and causing or allowing the material to cool in the mould or container to form a solid body, the combination of the conditions of the maximum temperature and proportions of invert sugar syrup and glucose being such that the solid body so formed is capable of being converted by the application of heat and physical kneading to a pliable material which can be applied to human skin to adhere to body hair growing from the skin and to remove the hair. **e Ca p. Staff/hIley/keep/specwPM6478.CAP.SHER 22.6