U.S. patent application number 13/303939 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-23 for ultrasound hair dyeing method.
This patent application is currently assigned to BACOUSTICS, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Eilaz Babaev. Invention is credited to Eilaz Babaev.
Application Number | 20130125916 13/303939 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48425603 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130125916 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Babaev; Eilaz |
May 23, 2013 |
Ultrasound Hair Dyeing Method
Abstract
A method of coloring hair utilizing ultrasound waves to generate
and apply to hair a spray containing a hair dye is disclosed.
Depending on the components of the dye, the effect of the
ultrasound upon the components of the dye may reduce the oxidants
and/or alkaline agents required to achieve the desired coloring of
hair. Utilizing the ultrasound waves the dye is applied to hair and
deposited within the spaces of hair's cuticle. Cavitations induced
within the dye within the spaces of the cuticle then force the dye
into the hair's cortex.
Inventors: |
Babaev; Eilaz; (Minnetonka,
MN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Babaev; Eilaz |
Minnetonka |
MN |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
BACOUSTICS, LLC
Minnetonka
MN
|
Family ID: |
48425603 |
Appl. No.: |
13/303939 |
Filed: |
November 23, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/208 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61K 8/22 20130101; A61K
2800/82 20130101; A61Q 5/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/208 |
International
Class: |
D06P 5/20 20060101
D06P005/20 |
Claims
1. A method of dyeing hair comprising: a. generating a spray
containing a coloring agent by delivering the coloring agent to a
surface of an ultrasound horn emitting ultrasound waves; b.
depositing the coloring agent in spaces within the cuticle of the
strand of hair by utilizing the ultrasound waves to apply the spray
containing the coloring agent to the hair; and c. forcing the
coloring agent within the spaces within the cuticle into the cortex
of the strand of hair by generating cavitations within the applied
coloring agent.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein, the surface of the horn emitting
ultrasound waves emits longitudinal waves.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising, placing the hair
within the far field of the ultrasound waves.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising, exposing the applied
coloring agent to the near field of the ultrasound waves.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein, exposing the applied coloring
agent to the near field changes the number of electrons of the
coloring agent.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein, exposing the applied coloring
agent to the near field generates radicals of the coloring
agent.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising, placing the hair
within the near field of the ultrasound waves while applying the
spray containing the coloring agent to the hair.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising, exposing the hair to
focused ultrasound waves.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein, the cavitations within the
applied coloring agent are generated by exposing the applied
coloring agent to focused ultrasound waves.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein, the longitudinal waves have a
frequency between approximately 15 kHz and 40 MHz.
11. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a spray
containing a base by delivering the base to a surface of an
ultrasound horn emitting ultrasound waves and depositing the base
in spaces within the cuticle of a strand of hair by utilizing the
ultrasound waves to apply the spray containing the base to the
hair.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising, forcing the base
within the spaces within the cuticle into the cortex of the strand
of hair by generating cavitations within the applied base and
coloring agent.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein, the coloring agent is a
coupler.
14. The method of claim 11 further comprising, exposing the applied
base to the near field of the ultrasound waves.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein, exposing the applied base to
the near field changes the number of electrons of the base.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein, exposing the applied base to
the near field generates radicals of the radicals.
17. The method of claim 11 further comprising, placing the hair
within the near field of the ultrasound waves while applying the
spray containing the base to the hair.
18. The method of claim 12 wherein, the cavitations within the
applied base are generated by exposing the applied base to focused
ultrasound waves.
19. The method of claim 1 further comprising, applying an alkaline
agent to the strand of hair.
20. The method of claim 1 further comprising, applying an oxidant
to the strand of hair.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The method relates a method of coloring hair utilizing
ultrasound waves to generate and apply to hair a spray containing a
hair dye.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Hair, at least the portion generally seen, is composed of
dead cells forming the outer cuticle and inner cortex. The dead
cells forming the cuticle are flat in structure, covering and
protecting the cortex much like singles covering a roof. The dead
cells forming the cortex are densely packed with keratin bundles
and contain the pigment giving hair its color. The cells of the
cuticle are devoid of pigment. Coloring hair, accordingly, requires
replacing, lessening, supplementing and/or masking the pigment
within the cortex with a new pigment to provide the desired color.
This requires absorption of the new pigment by the hair to be
colored.
[0005] Providing a somewhat permanent coloring to hair that can
survive repeated washing requires a chemical reaction often
involving an oxidant to catalyze an oxidation reaction of
components of the utilized dye and alkaline agent to provide the
appropriate basic conditions. The alkaline agent may also raise the
cells of the cuticle or otherwise open spaces within the cuticle to
provide absorption of the dye's components into the hair. In the
typical reaction, a primary intermediate of the dye is oxidized by
the oxidant to form a diimine or similar compound. The diimine then
reacts with a coupler of the dye to form a diimine-coupler complex.
The coupler of the complex is then oxidized to give the dye its
final pigment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The oxidants or alkaline agents generally utilized to
achieve a consistent and somewhat permanent application of hair dye
are often damaging to the hair. They can also be unpleasant to work
with due to, among other things, their tendency to irritate the
skin. Despite their propensity to damage hair and irritate the
skin, they are used to achieve a hair coloring possessing the
desired consistency and uniformity. A method of coloring hair
utilizing ultrasound waves to generate and apply to hair a spray
containing a hair dye is disclosed. Depending on the components of
the dye, the effect of the ultrasound upon the components of the
dye may reduce the oxidants and/or alkaline agents required to
achieve the desired coloring of hair.
[0007] In one embodiment, delivering a dye to a surface of an
ultrasound horn emitting ultrasound waves generates a spray.
Utilizing the ultrasound waves the dye is applied to hair and
deposited within the spaces of hair's cuticle. Ultrasound induced
cavitations within the dye in the spaces of the cuticle then forces
the dye into the hair's cortex. It is possible the ultrasound
energy inducing cavitations within the applied dye is carried by
the same waves that apply the dye to the hair. Accordingly, in one
possible embodiment an ultrasound horn may be utilized to create a
dye spray, apply the spray, and force the dye into the hair.
[0008] The ultrasound horn employed may be any structure capable of
transmitting ultrasonic vibrations received from a transducer and
having a surface emitting ultrasound waves when vibrated. The
emitted ultrasound waves may be longitudinal waves, radial waves,
bending waves and/or any combination thereof. Preferably, the horn
is composed in whole or part of a metal such as, but not limited
to, steel, aluminum, titanium and/or alloys thereof. It is also
preferable that the horn, or a larger structure of which the horn
is a part, be capable of vibrating in resonance with the ultrasound
vibrations received from the transducer.
[0009] A vibrating ultrasound horn may be utilized to generate a
spray of dye by delivering the dye to a surface of the horn
emitting longitudinal waves. When vibrated, the wave emitting
surface of the horn expands and contracts. Delivering a dye to the
wave emitting surface of the horn causes the surface of the horn to
strike the dye during expansion of the surface. Striking the dye,
the surface of the horn emits, or induces, vibrations within the
dye thereby increasing the kinetic energy of the dye. The increased
kinetic energy of the dye causes it be atomized into a spray.
[0010] Various means may be utilized to deliver the dye to the wave
emitting surface of the ultrasound horn. For example, the dye could
be delivered to the surface through a channel extending at least
partially through the horn and opening within the wave emitting
surface. In combination or the alternative, the dye could be
dripped onto and/or in close proximity to the wave emitting surface
of the horn. It is also possible that the dye could be delivered to
the wave emitting surface of the horn by being deposited upon a
side of the horn and carried forward to the surface by the
vibrations of the horn and/or the vacuum created by atomization of
the dye at the surface. Other means of delivering the dye to the
wave emitting surface readily recognizable to those skilled in the
art may also be employed.
[0011] In addition to atomizing the dye delivered to the wave
emitting surface of the horn, the emitted ultrasound waves may also
be utilized to deposit the dye into spaces within the cuticles of
the hair. When the horn is vibrated the wave emitting surface of
the horn expands and contracts. When expanding it strikes the air
and/or atomized dye about the wave emitting surface inducing an
ultrasonic wave within those medium. The motion of the resulting
wave causes the medium to travel away from the wave emitting
surface, towards the hair to be colored. Upon reaching the hair,
the small droplets of the atomized dye fill the spaces within the
cuticles of the hair. If sufficiently small, the droplets of
atomized dye may fill the spaces within the cuticle be landing
directly within the space. It is also possible that the applied dye
may fill the spaces within the cuticle by being drawn into the
cuticle. A small droplet size may increase the ability of the
atomized dye to be drawn into the cuticle. In combination or the
alternation, the charge and/or electron distribution of the dye may
increase the ability of the dye to be drawn into the cuticle.
[0012] Imparting a charge or otherwise changing the number and/or
distribution of the electrons of the dye or its components may
occur as a result of the dye being exposed to the near field of the
emitted ultrasound during atomization of the dye of at the wave
emitting surface of the horn. The resulting change in the electrons
of the components of the dye may generate radicals, oxidize, reduce
and/or create ions of all or some of the dye's components.
Accordingly, the near field may lessen or reduce the need for
oxidants to achieve the desired coloring of hair. It may thus be
beneficial to place the hair within the near field of the
ultrasound waves while applying the spray containing the coloring
agent to the hair.
[0013] The wave emitting surface of the ultrasound horn may be
configured to include a lens focusing the emitted longitudinal
waves. As with light, it is possible to focus acoustics waves.
Devices permitting a focusing of acoustic waves are generally
referred to as lens. A lens within the wave emitting surface of the
horn permits the concentration of ultrasound energy carried by
ultrasound waves emitted about at least one point at a distant from
the wave emitting surface. The lens releases low frequency
ultrasonic vibrations by expanding and contracting when induced to
vibrate. When the lens expands it strikes the air and/or atomized
dye about the lens inducing an ultrasonic wave within those medium.
As this wave travels away from the lens it carries ultrasonic
energy into the medium. Due to the configuration of the lens the
ultrasonic energy emitted will be concentrated about points
positioned at the intersection of lines radiating from the surface
of the lens.
[0014] For example, if the wave emitting surface of the ultrasound
horn contained a concave parabolic configuration the lens provide
by the parabolic concave would focus the ultrasonic waves, and
consequently the energy they carry, towards a point represented by
the focus of the parabola. It is also possible to focus the waves
and concentrate the carried energy about a line or ring positioned
at a distant from the wave emitting surface of the horn. For
instance, if the emitting surface of the horn contained an inner
convex portion within concave portion the waves and carried energy
would be focused about a ring positioned at distance from the from
the wave emitting surface defined by the intersection of the
trajectory of the emitted waves. Other possible lens configurations
and focusing patterns are possible and may be employed when
practicing the invention.
[0015] Exposing the hair to focused ultrasound waves may increase
absorption of the components of the dye deposited within space of
the hair's cuticle. Ultrasound energy carried by the emitted waves
to the dye deposited within the cuticle will generate cavitations
within the cuticle and/or increase the permeability of the cuticle.
Typically, alkaline agents, such as, but not limited ammonia, are
utilized to increase the permeability of the hair. Accordingly, the
emitted ultrasound waves reaching the hair may lessen or reduce the
need for alkaline agents to achieve the desired coloring of hair.
Exposing the hair to concentrated ultrasound energy increases the
amount of cavitations generated and/or permeability of hair. The
hair may be exposed to focus ultrasound waves simply by placing the
hair in or near the region about which the ultrasound waves are
focused by the lens.
[0016] The dye applied to the hair may contain a coloring agent
capable of changing the observed color of the hair. The coloring
agent may change the observed color by providing a pigment to hair
that penetrates the cuticle or otherwise is absorbed by the hair.
In combination or the alternative, the coloring agent may change
the observed color of the hair be lessening, reducing and/or
otherwise removing the hair's observed pigment. The coloring agent
of the dye may include an aniline derivative and/or other coupler
that may be oxidized to provide a final pigment. In combination or
the alternative, the coloring agent may provide a final a pigment
without undergoing oxidation and/or other chemical modification.
The dye applied may further contain a base capable of reacting with
the coloring agent to create a dye directly or through a subsequent
chemical reaction such as oxidation of the coloring agent. In
combination or the alternative, the base may be capable of
oxidizing to form a diimine. The base and coloring agent components
of the dye may be applied to the hair simultaneously or
sequentially. Additionally, the dye may contain an alkaline agent
such as, but not limited to, ammonia, ethanolamine and/or sodium
carbonate. The alkaline agent of the dye may, but need not, be
applied to the hair simultaneously with the coloring agent and/or
base. The alkaline agent may also be applied to the hair prior to
and/or after the application of the base and/or coloring agent. The
dye may also contain an oxidant such as, but not limited to,
hydrogen peroxide. The oxidant of the dye may, but need not, be
applied to the hair simultaneously with the coloring agent and/or
base. The oxidant may also be applied to the hair prior to and/or
after the application of the base and/or coloring agent.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The present invention will be shown and described with
reference to the drawings of preferred embodiments and clearly
understood in its details. Like elements of the various embodiments
depicted within the figures are equivalently numbered.
[0018] FIG. 1 depicts one possible embodiment of the present
invention in which the base and coloring agent components of a dye
are simultaneously applied to the hair.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The flow chart in FIG. 1 depicts one possible embodiment,
process 100, of the present invention. As indicated by Boxes 101
and 102, the embodiment begins by first wetting and rinsing hair,
which may assist in removing elements from the hair that may
adversely react with the dye and/or interfere with its application.
The method continues, Box 103, by applying an alkaline agent and
oxidant to the hair. Application of the alkaline and oxidant at
this stage in the depicted embodiment bleaches the hair. The
applied oxidant and/or alkaline agent may also stabilize ions,
radicals, oxidized derivatives and/or reduced derivatives of the
subsequently applied base and/or coloring agent generated by
exposure to the near field of the longitudinal waves emitted from
the utilized ultrasound horn. Accordingly, in alternatives
embodiments the oxidant and/or alkaline agent may be applied
subsequent to and/or simultaneously with the application of the
base and/or coloring agent.
[0020] Process 100 continues, Boxes 104 and 105, with generating a
spray containing a base and a coloring agent by delivering the base
and coloring agent to a surface of an ultrasound horn emitting
longitudinal waves having a frequency of approximate 15 kHz to 40
MHz. During generation of the spray the base and coloring agent to
be applied to the hair are exposed to the near field of the
ultrasound waves changing the number of electrons of the coloring
agent and/or base as to generate a free radical, Boxes 106 and 107.
Generating radicals of the base and/or coloring may catalyze or
otherwise induce reaction of the two with one other and/or
oxidation. This may be preferred when the coloring agent is a
coupler of the base that is oxidized to give the final pigment. As
to increase the amount of radicals of the base and/or coloring
agent generated within the near field reaching the hair before
decaying, the hair is placed within the near field, Box 108. The
base and coloring agent are then deposited within the cuticle of
the strand of hair by utilizing the longitudinal waves emitted from
the utilized horn to apply the spray containing the base and
coloring agent to the hair, Boxes 109 and 110.
[0021] After the base and coloring agent have been applied to the
hair, process 100 continues by placing the hair within the far
field of the ultrasound waves and exposing the hair to focused
ultrasound waves, Box 111. Exposing the hair to focused ultrasound
waves may increase the permeability of the hair by further opening
spaces within the cuticle. Once deposited within the spaces of the
cuticle the base and coloring are forced into the cortex of the
strand of hair by generating cavitations within the applied base
and coloring agent, Boxes 112 and 113. Exposing the hair to focused
ultrasound waves may increase the amount of cavitations generated
within the base and/or coloring agent. Process 100 may then
conclude with a second rinsing of the hair, Box 114, to remove any
applied alkaline agent, oxidant and/or components of the dye not
absorbed by the hair.
[0022] Within process 100 the base and coloring agent are applied
to the hair simultaneously. Likewise, cavitations are
simultaneously generated in the applied base and coloring agent. In
alternative embodiments the coloring agent and base may be applied
sequentially with application of the base preceding the coloring
agent or application of the coloring agent preceding the base. If
applied sequentially, the hair may be placed within the near field
of the ultrasound waves emitted from the horn during the
application of the first component and/or during the application of
the second component of the dye. Similarly, cavitations may be
generated in the first applied component of the dye prior to and/or
after the application of the second component to the hair. In
further alternative embodiments, the dye may not include a base
component.
[0023] Though specific embodiments have been illustrated and
described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill
in the art that any arrangement, combination, and/or sequence that
is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for
the specific embodiment shown and/or described. It is to be
understood that the above description is intended to be
illustrative and not restrictive. Combinations of the above
embodiments and other embodiments and/or sequences will be apparent
to individuals possessing skill in the art upon review of the
present disclosure.
[0024] The mechanisms of operation presented herein are strictly
theoretical and are not meant in any way to limit the scope of this
disclosure and/or the accompanying claims.
[0025] It should also be appreciated that elements described with
singular articles such as "a", "an", and/or "the" and/or otherwise
described singularly may be used in plurality. Likewise, it should
be appreciated that elements described in plurality may be used
singularly.
[0026] The scope of the claimed apparatus and methods should be
determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the
full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
* * * * *