U.S. patent application number 14/943078 was filed with the patent office on 2016-03-10 for hair treatment process providing dispersed colors by light diffraction.
The applicant listed for this patent is Los Alamos National Security LLC, The Procter & Gamble Company. Invention is credited to Bruce Carvell LAMARTINE, E. Bruce ORLER, Shuangqi SONG, Richard Matthew Charles SUTTON.
Application Number | 20160067529 14/943078 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50543702 |
Filed Date | 2016-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160067529 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SUTTON; Richard Matthew Charles ;
et al. |
March 10, 2016 |
Hair Treatment Process Providing Dispersed Colors by Light
Diffraction
Abstract
A hair treatment process for providing dispersed colors by light
diffraction including (a) coating the hair with a material
comprising a polymer, (b) pressing the hair with a pressing device
including one or more surfaces, and (c) forming a secondary
nanostructured surface pattern on the hair that is complementary to
the primary nanostructured surface pattern on the one or more
surfaces of the pressing device. The secondary nanostructured
surface pattern diffracts light into dispersed colors that are
visible on the hair. The section of the hair is pressed with the
pressing device for from about 1 to 55 seconds. The polymer has a
glass transition temperature from about 55.degree. C. to about
90.degree. C. The one or more surfaces include a primary
nanostructured surface pattern.
Inventors: |
SUTTON; Richard Matthew
Charles; (Cincinnati, OH) ; LAMARTINE; Bruce
Carvell; (Los Alamos, NM) ; ORLER; E. Bruce;
(Blacksburg, VA) ; SONG; Shuangqi; (Houston,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
The Procter & Gamble Company
Los Alamos National Security LLC |
Cincinnati
Los Alamos |
OH
NM |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50543702 |
Appl. No.: |
14/943078 |
Filed: |
November 17, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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14229414 |
Mar 28, 2014 |
9216144 |
|
|
14943078 |
|
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61806044 |
Mar 28, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
132/208 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61K 8/87 20130101; A45D
19/0008 20130101; A61K 8/18 20130101; A61K 2800/437 20130101; A61Q
5/065 20130101; A61K 8/8152 20130101; A61Q 5/10 20130101; A61K 8/85
20130101; A45D 19/00 20130101; A61K 2800/49 20130101; A45D
2019/0091 20130101; A61K 8/8129 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61Q 5/10 20060101
A61Q005/10; A45D 19/00 20060101 A45D019/00; A61K 8/81 20060101
A61K008/81 |
Goverment Interests
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERAL RIGHTS
[0001] This invention was made with government support under
Contract No. DE-AC52-06NA25396 awarded by the U.S. Department of
Energy. The government has certain rights in the invention.
Claims
1. A hair treatment process for providing dispersed colors by light
diffraction comprising: a. coating the hair with a material
comprising a polymer; b. pressing a section of the hair with a
pressing device comprising a heating block comprising a surface,
wherein the surface comprises a primary nanostructured surface
pattern; and c. forming a secondary nanostructured surface pattern
on the section of the hair that is complementary to the primary
nanostructured surface pattern on the surface of the heating block;
wherein the secondary nanostructured surface pattern diffracts
light into dispersed colors that are visible on the section of the
hair; and wherein the section of the hair is pressed with the
pressing device for from about 1 to about 55 seconds.
2. The hair treatment process of claim 1, wherein the material is
aqueous.
3. The hair treatment process of claim 1, wherein the material
comprises a plasticizer.
4. The hair treatment process of claim 1, wherein the material
comprises a surfactant.
5. The hair treatment process of claim 1, wherein the polymer has a
glass transition temperature of from about 55.degree. C. to about
90.degree. C.
6. The hair treatment process of claim 1, wherein the polymer is
selected from the group consisting of poly-lactic acid polymers,
acrylate polymers, polyvinyl alcohol polymers, polyurethanes,
copolymers thereof, and combinations thereof.
7. The hair treatment process of claim 1, wherein the section of
the hair is pressed with the pressing device at a pressure of from
about 3 psi to about 7 psi.
8. The hair treatment process of claim 1, wherein the section of
the hair is pressed with the pressing device at a temperature above
the glass transition temperature of the polymer.
9. The hair treatment process of claim 1, wherein the primary
nanostructured surface pattern is selected from the group
consisting of sawtooth patterns, spiral patterns, ring patterns,
Archimedean patterns, ellipsoidal patterns, patterns comprising
hyperbolic rings, patterns comprising parabolic rings, and
combinations thereof.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Provided is a process for providing dispersed colors by
light diffraction comprising coating the hair with a polymer and
pressing the hair with one or more surfaces comprising a
nanostructured surface pattern.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Almost all hair coloring methods use colorants (dyes, for
example) that change the color of the hair and produce a single
color from the treated hair. Coloring methods include methods for
permanent coloring and methods for temporary coloring.
[0004] Permanent coloring methods typically use ammonia to open up
a hair cuticle so that colorants may be deposited on the underlying
hair cortex. Peroxide is used to drive formation of new color and
to remove existing natural and artificial pigments.
[0005] Temporary methods also use colorants such as acidic dyes
that do not significantly penetrate the cuticle. Temporary methods
also don't use ammonia. Shampooing eventually washes out temporary
colorants and the hair's natural pigment is retained. Ground silica
suspended in a polymer has also been used to create a temporary
iridescent effect.
[0006] Fiber coloration with little or no colorants occurs in
nature. Peacock feathers, for example, are known to have little or
no pigmentation. The striking colors in peacock feathers are
produced primarily from diffraction of incident light from
nanometer scale branches of the peacock feathers. Such an effect is
desired for human hair.
[0007] Based on the forgoing, there is a need for a hair treatment
process for providing dispersed colors by light diffraction on
human hair.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] According to an embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a hair treatment process for providing dispersed colors by
light diffraction comprising (a) coating the hair with a material
comprising a polymer, wherein the polymer has a glass transition
temperature from about 55.degree. C. to about 90.degree. C.; (b)
pressing the hair with a pressing device comprising one or more
surfaces, wherein the one or more surfaces each comprise a primary
nanostructured surface pattern; and (c) forming a secondary
nanostructured surface pattern on the hair that is complementary to
the primary nanostructured surface pattern on the one or more
surfaces of the pressing device; wherein the secondary
nanostructured surface pattern diffracts light into dispersed
colors that are visible on the hair; and wherein the section of the
hair is pressed with the pressing device for from about 1 to 55
seconds.
[0009] According to another embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a hair treatment process for providing dispersed colors by
light diffraction comprising (a) coating the hair with a material
comprising a polymer, wherein the polymer has a glass transition
temperature from about 55.degree. C. to about 90.degree. C.; (b)
pressing a section of the hair with a pressing device comprising
two or more surfaces, wherein the two or more surfaces each
comprise a primary nanostructured surface pattern; and (c) forming
a secondary nanostructured surface pattern on the section of the
hair that is complementary to the primary nanostructured surface
patterns on the two or more surfaces of the pressing device;
wherein the secondary nanostructured surface pattern diffracts
light into dispersed colors that are visible on the section of the
hair.
[0010] According to yet another embodiment of the invention, there
is provided a hair treatment process for providing dispersed colors
by light diffraction comprising (a) coating the hair with a
material comprising a polymer, wherein the polymer has a glass
transition temperature from about 55.degree. C. to about 90.degree.
C.; (b) pressing the hair with a pressing device comprising one or
more surfaces, wherein the one or more surfaces each comprise a
primary nanostructured surface pattern; and (c) forming a secondary
nanostructured surface pattern on the hair that is complementary to
the primary nanostructured surface pattern on the one or more
surfaces of the pressing device; wherein the secondary
nanostructured surface pattern diffracts light into dispersed
colors that are visible on the hair; and wherein the press does not
comprise a heating element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
form a part of the specification, illustrate the embodiments of the
present invention and, together with the description, serve to
explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a sketch of hot-pressing a sample of
fluid-coated hair according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 2a shows a sketch of details of magnified fluid-coated
hair prior to hot pressing, and FIG. 2b shows a sketch of the hair
after hot pressing to form film with a nanostructured pattern that
diffracts polychromatic light, producing dispersed colors.
[0014] FIG. 3 shows a sketch of a sawtooth pattern that was formed
in film coated hair that was shown to form dispersed colored light
upon interaction with sunlight and theatrical light.
[0015] FIGS. 4a through 4e show nanopatterns including a spiral,
parabola, and hyperbola that were milled into blanks to make
embodiment heating blocks that were imprinted into polymer films
that form dispersed colored light from incident polychromatic light
such as sunlight and theatrical light.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] To achieve the foregoing and other objects, and in
accordance with the purposes of the present invention, as embodied
and broadly described herein, the present invention provides a hair
treatment process. The process involves coating hair with a
polymer-containing material of a suitable soluble (and/or
dispersible) polymer and inserting the coated hair into a pressing
device capable of both transforming the material into a film and
forming on a surface of the film a nanostructured pattern suitable
for producing colors by light diffraction. In an embodiment, the
hair is cleaned and dried before coating the hair with the
material. The material may optionally include a plasticizer.
Optionally, the material includes a surfactant. The material-coated
hair may be pressed under conditions suitable for forming a
secondary nanostructured surface pattern on the hair that is
complementary to the primary nanostructured surface pattern on the
one or more surfaces of the pressing device. The hair and film may
be cooled and then removed from the pressing device. Exposure of
the coated hair to incident polychromatic light (e.g. sunlight,
theatrical light) results in dispersed colored light from light
diffracted from the film. In an embodiment, the material may be a
fluid. In an embodiment, the polymer has a glass transition
temperature from about 55.degree. C. to about 90.degree. C. In an
embodiment, the hair may be pressed for from about 1 to 55 seconds,
alternatively for from about 1 to about 50 seconds, alternatively
for from about 1 to about 45 seconds, alternatively for from about
1 to about 40 seconds, alternatively for from about 1 to about 30
seconds, and alternatively for from about 1 to about 15
seconds.
[0017] The invention is also concerned with a pressing device for
treating hair. In an embodiment, the pressing device may be a
heating iron. The pressing device may include all of the elements
of a conventional heating iron with the exception of one or more
heating blocks that have been configured with a primary
nanostructured surface pattern suitable for forming a complementary
secondary nanostructured pattern in a flexible film formed when a
sample of hair coated with a material including a polymer with a
glass transition temperature of from about 55 degrees Celsius to
about 90 degrees Celsius is hot pressed using the heating block. In
an embodiment, the invention may also be a pressing device as
described above without a heating element. In an embodiment, the
pressing device may have two surfaces each comprising a
nanostructured surface pattern.
[0018] Hair treated by the provided method becomes coated with a
polymer film that diffracts light to produce dispersed colored
light. In an embodiment, a color spectrum results from light
diffraction from a secondary nanostructured surface pattern
imprinted onto a polymer film coated onto the hair. The
nano-pattern is formed by coating the hair with a fluid that
includes a polymer and hot pressing the fluid-coated hair under a
few pounds per square inch (psi) pressure using a hot press that
includes one or more suitably modified heating blocks each
comprising a primary nanostructured surface pattern capable of
forming a secondary nanostructured surface pattern on the hair. In
an embodiment, the method may provide a temporary coloration effect
because the polymer may be shampooed out of the hair. In an
embodiment, the method may provide a permanent or semi-permanent
coloration effect. In an embodiment, the coloration effect may be
removed by using heat.
[0019] The primary nanostructured surface pattern can be
incorporated into one or more surfaces of a handheld device similar
to a common hair flatiron. The primary nanostructured surface
pattern may be suitably configured to provide a secondary
nanostructured surface pattern in film coated hair to produce a
rainbow of colors. The primary nanostructured surface pattern may
be suitably configured to produce directionally specific images in
the polymer coated hair.
[0020] In an embodiment, the hair treatment process as described
may be used to impart highlighting effects on the hair by treating
individual hair strands. In an embodiment, the hair treatment
process may be applied to other hair-like materials that may be
secured to the hair or scalp as a hair extension or by any other
means suitable for giving the desired nanostructured effects.
[0021] The net effect of applying the method to hair may be that
when the hair changes position relative to a dominant light source,
such as sunlight or theatrical lights, the hair color and any
images incorporated into the hair change as well.
[0022] Different nano-patterned blocks may be used for different
multiple color or image effects in the treated hair.
[0023] The hair treatment method may form a composite of hair and
polymer-containing film and may create a nanostructured pattern in
the film that produces dispersed colored light. Non-limiting
examples of suitable polymers useful with this invention are
soluble and/or dispersible in water or alcohol, do not damage the
hair, and have a glass transition temperature (Tg) in a range such
that a film can be formed when a fluid including polymer is coated
onto the hair, then hot-pressed and converted into a film with a
nanostructured pattern that diffracts light into dispersed colored
light. The temperatures used for hot pressing the solution-coated
hair should be above the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the
polymer. In an embodiment, the pressing temperature may be 20 to 30
degrees higher than the glass transition temperature of the
polymer. The fluid and polymer therein should flow to conform to
the nanostructured features of the nanostructured block of the hot
pressing device. A suitable range for Tg of the polymer is a range
from about 55 degrees Celsius to about 90 degrees Celsius. In an
embodiment, the glass transition temperature of the polymer may not
be above the temperature at which the hair may be noticeably
damaged or burned.
[0024] Suitable polymers with a Tg from about 55 degrees Celsius to
about 90 degrees Celsius include, but are not limited to, a
poly-lactic acid, a polyvinyl alcohol, acrylic acids, acrylates,
polyurethanes, copolymers thereof, and mixtures thereof.
[0025] In an embodiment, the material may be a polymer-containing
solution. In an embodiment, the material may be a
polymer-containing suspension. In an embodiment, the material may
be a polymer-containing dispersion, such as a polymer-containing
emulsion. In an embodiment, the material may be particles that are
electrostatically attracted to the hair that melt under heat. The
polymer-containing material may include a plasticizer. The
polymer-containing material may include a surfactant. The
polymer-containing material may include an emulsifier. These
additional components may be optional components of the material so
that it is suitable for coating the hair and for the subsequent
heating that transforms the material into a film with a surface
imprinted with a secondary nanostructured surface pattern capable
of diffracting incident light into dispersed colors that are
visible on the film-coated hair.
[0026] The film-coated hair after heat treatment may be thought of
as a composite of the hair and the polymer-containing film that
diffracts incident polychromatic light into dispersed colors. The
polymer-containing material may include a liquid selected from the
group consisting of water (providing an aqueous polymer-containing
solution), alcohol (e.g. ethanol), and mixtures thereof.
[0027] No dyes may be required for the hair treatment process
because the color results may be from diffraction of light and not
from any dye. In an embodiment, the color results can be removed by
wetting or shampooing the treated hair--suitable polymers may be
polymers that are removable from the hair by wetting or shampooing.
These include, but are not limited to, polymers such as polyvinyl
alcohol and acrylates that are soluble and/or dispersible. In an
embodiment, the color results may be removed by reheating the
hair.
[0028] An embodiment device for treating hair may include a
standard hair press with a thermal block comprising a primary
nanostructured surface inserted into the hair press. After forming
a composite of the hair with the polymer, the composite may be
treated using the hair iron by hot pressing. The result of the
treatment is a thin film composite of hair and polymer that
diffracts light to produce color. In an embodiment, the composite
may be treated with a pressing device that does not comprise a
heating element.
[0029] An embodiment nano-patterned thermal block may be prepared
using any known method and device for such as, but not limited to,
focused ion beam (FIB), photonic lithography, e-beam lithography,
tool machining, ruling engines, diamond turning devices, and any
other method or device that can produce nanometer scale
features.
[0030] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment sketch of hot pressing a sample
of polymer-coated hair. It should be noted that the heating block
20 comprising the primary nanostructured surface 22 may be on both
surfaces of the hot press 10 closest to the hair sample 24. The hot
press 10 includes press jaws 12 and heating element 14 for heating
the jaws 12. As FIG. 1 shows, adjacent each of jaws 12 is a platen
16. Adjacent one of platens 16 is a backing layer 18 such as a
layer of a heat-resistant commercially available polymer such as
but not limited to TEFLON. Adjacent the backing layer 18 is heating
block 20 configured with a primary nanopatterned surface pattern 22
facing polymer-coated hair sample 24. The fluid-coated hair sample
24 is coated with the polymer-containing fluid that may optionally
include one or more of a plasticizer, a surfactant, and an
emulsifier. The fluid may be a dispersion containing a polymer, a
plasticizer, a surfactant, and an emulsifier. Backing layer 26
(e.g. aluminum foil) adjacent sample 24 and platen 16, which is
adjacent press jaw 12. FIG. 1 shows force being applied to jaws 12
in order to press the jaws 12 together, which squeezes together all
elements in between the jaws (i.e. platens 16, backing layer 18,
heating block 20 with surface 22, sample 24, and backing layer 26)
while an electric current is sent to heating element 14, which
heats the jaws 12 and makes the pressing a hot pressing. Enough
current is sent to heat the device to a temperature suitable for
forming a film imprinted with the nanopatterned surface 22 of
heating block 20. As the sample of coated hair 24 is hot-pressed, a
film forms with a surface imprinted with a nanopattern that
complements the nanopatterned surface 22 facing the sample. The
pressing may be continued for a suitable time, pressure, and
temperature until the fluid that coats the hair conforms to the
nanopatterned surface 22 so that a film having this nanopatterned
surface may be formed that will diffract incident polychromatic
light into dispersed colors of light. After the hot pressing, the
pressing force is discontinued. The pressed sample may be removed
from the hot press and allowed to cool.
[0031] FIG. 2a shows a "before pressing" sketch of details of
magnified polymer-coated hair prior to hot pressing, and FIG. 2b
shows an "after-pressing" sketch of the hair after hot pressing to
form film with a secondary nanostructured surface pattern that
diffracts light. The sketches are cross-sectional views. FIG. 2a
shows individual strands from the hair sample coated with the
polymer-containing material. The hair shafts 1 are each coated with
the polymer-containing fluid 2. There is space in between
individual strands of coated hair. A result of hot pressing may be
a film that binds the individual hairs into a composite (FIG. 2b).
As FIG. 2b shows, surface portions of the polymer film may be
imprinted from the heating block surface 22 with a secondary
nanostructured surface pattern 3 that diffracts incident
polychromatic light into dispersed colors.
[0032] In an embodiment, a nanopatterned heating block 22 with a
sawtooth pattern may be prepared and used to prepare a diffractive
film from fluid-coated hair. A metal block with a sawtooth pattern
may be prepared using a scribe machine to mill a sawtooth pattern
into a metal blank. A soda-lime glass casting of the patterned
metal may then be used as the heating block. The hair sample may be
human hair that has been cleaned and dried. The hair sample may be
hot pressed at a pressure of about 3-7 psi at a temperature above
the glass transition temperature of the polymer. The result is a
composite film including hair and polymer. The heating press
comprising a surface comprising a primary nanostructured surface
pattern may imprint a complementary sawtooth secondary
nanostructured surface pattern into the film, shown in FIG. 3. This
pressed sample may be demonstrated to form dispersed colors of
light from polychromatic sunlight and theatrical light incident
upon the sawtooth-patterned surface of the film.
[0033] A variety of other nano-patterned thermal blocks may be
prepared using a focused ion beam (FIB). FIB pattern generator
control files may be written for this purpose of forming
nanopatterns suitable for light diffraction of incident
polychromatic light.
[0034] FIGS. 4a through 4e show several primary nanostructured
surface patterns that may be prepared and may be imprinted into a
surface of a polymer film that is not coated onto hair. FIG. 4a
shows a spiral pattern with a circular envelope that may be milled
to form a patterned block using the pattern generator control file
SpieqarcRounded2@1.str. FIG. 4b shows a nanopattern of concentric
parabolic rings that may be made using the pattern generator
control file ParabExactArc10.str. FIG. 4c shows a nanopattern of
concentric hyperbolic rings that may be made using the pattern
generator control file HyperpbExactarc10.str. FIG. 4d shows a
moth-eye pattern of rectangular pits with different pitch in
vertical and horizontal directions that may be made using the
pattern generator control file Smotheye2@30.str. FIG. 4e shows a
spiral with an elliptical envelope that may be made using the
pattern generator control file ConcentricEllipsesEqArcFlat10.str.
Each of the nanopatterns may be milled into a metal blank to
produce a nanopatterned heating block that may be imprinted into a
polymer film that diffracts incident polychromatic light into
dispersed colors. Hair provided with these types of films with
these nanopatterns may diffract incident polychromatic light into
dispersed colors.
[0035] A description of how FIB has been used for milling
three-dimensional features on nanometer scale into media such as
metal can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,773,116 and U.S. Pat. No.
5,721,687, both incorporated by reference. U.S. Pat. No. 6,583,933,
incorporated by reference, also describes milling using a FIB to
form aggregates of pits of low symmetry that produce directional
diffraction gratings with blaze emphasizing a particular arbitrary
spectral range.
[0036] A mastering process similar to that used for CDROM
replication may be used to prepare nano-patterned heating blocks
after first preparing a master block. To prepare the master block,
a mill pattern may be written for a FIB milling device and applied
to a master blank to convert the master blank into a master for the
heating block. The master blank may be a metal blank made from a
metal such as nickel, titanium, aluminum, tungsten, silicon, and
the like. The master block may be used to prepare the primary
nanostructured surface pattern on the heating block. Heating blocks
may be made of, for example, soda lime glass.
[0037] It is envisioned that a commercially available pressing
device such as a heating hair iron may be modified according to an
embodiment of this invention by replacing one or more heating
blocks in a commercially available hair iron with one or more
heating blocks suitably configured with a surface comprising a
primary nanostructured surface pattern such as the aforementioned
sawtooth nanopattern or some other nanopattern such as a
nanopattern shown in FIG. 4. A nano-patterned heating block
prepared by FIB milling, or by some other process for creating
suitable nanopatterns, may be used to modify one or more heating
blocks of the commercially available heating device. Alternatively,
a blank heating block adapted to fit into the commercially
available heating iron may be milled with a primary nanostructured
surface pattern suitable for heating solution-coated hair and
imprinting a complimentary secondary nanostructured surface pattern
into the resulting film. It is envisioned that a commercially
available heating iron, may be modified to produce a pressing
device that may be used to treat fluid-coated hair according to the
aforementioned process for providing hair with a film imprinted
with a secondary nanostructured surface pattern that would diffract
incident polychromatic light into dispersed colors. This way, a
person could treat their own hair or another person's hair
according to an embodiment of this invention and provide their own
hair or another person's hair with a nanopattern-imprinted
polymer-containing film that diffracts polychromatic light such as
sunlight or theatrical light into dispersed colored light.
[0038] The method of the invention may be demonstrated using human
hair and commercially-available polymer-containing fluids known by
the commercial name KOLLICOAT MAE 100P. These fluids are
dispersions that are reported to include a 1:1 copolymer of
methacrylic acid and ethyl acrylate. They have been reported to
also include sodium laurate and polysorbate 80, which are a
surfactant and emulsifier derived from polyethoxylated sorbitan and
oleic acid. In an embodiment, samples of human hair may be mixed
with the KOLLICOAT MAE 100P. In one embodiment, an 18% by weight
dispersion of KOLLICOAT MAE 100P in water may be used to prepare a
hair-polymer film composite having a thickness of 13 micrometers.
In another embodiment, a 4.2% by weight dispersion of KOLLICOAT MAE
100P in ethanol with 10% triethyl citrate plasticizer may be used
to prepare a hair-polymer film composite having a thickness of 3-4
micrometers. Each of the films after hot pressing with a
nanopatterned heating block may diffract polychromatic light into
dispersed colors.
[0039] It should be understood that the invention is not to be
limited to using any particular polymer-containing material with
any particular added components of plasticizers, surfactants,
emulsifiers, and the like, and that any polymer-containing material
suitable for forming a film on the hair after hot pressing or
pressing to conform to a suitable primary nanostructured surface
pattern on a pressing device is within the scope of this
invention.
[0040] The invention is not limited to any particular nanopattern.
Patterns may be produced according to fashion whim. Suitable
nanopatterns are any that are capable of diffracting polychromatic
light into dispersed colors of light.
[0041] An embodiment of the treatment may provide color images that
appear momentarily as the hair moves on the head. Movement of the
head results in changing the relationship between the film-coated
hair and someone looking at the hair. A person looking at the hair
detects the dispersed colors, which appear when the angle of
reflection of the incident light permits the viewer to observe the
dispersion of the colors.
[0042] This hair treatment process may provide a means for
arbitrary directional control of color reflected from illuminated
hair, and for embedding local iridescent color regions into hair
using suitable nanopatterns that diffract light into dispersed
colors.
[0043] The foregoing description of the invention has been
presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not
intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise
form disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are
possible in light of the above teaching.
[0044] The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best
explain the principles of the invention and its practical
application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best
utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It
is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the
claims appended hereto.
[0045] The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be
understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values
recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension
is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension
disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm."
[0046] Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced
or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise
limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it
is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed
herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other
reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such
invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of
a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of
the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning
or definition assigned to that term in this document shall
govern.
[0047] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those
skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can
be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims
all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of
this invention.
* * * * *