PROCEDURE AND DEVICE FOR THE APPLICATION OF COSMETIC PRODUCTS AT CONTROLLED TEMPERATURES

PROCEDE ET DISPOSITIF POUR L'APPLICATION DE PRODUITS COSMETIQUES A TEMPERATURE REGULEE

English Abstract

Procedure for heating a cosmetic preparation to a predetermined temperature at
the moment of application, without the use of sources of heat external to the
preparation package, in which the preparation is inserted into a container
whose walls are in contact with, or form an integral part of, a second
container in which are separately contained the two or more components which,
being mixed in suitable proportions, develop the heat necessary to raise the
temperature of the cosmetic preparation to that required, the said components
whose mixing generates heat being contained in separate compartments delimited
by walls made of material easily ruptured to allow their mixing.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé permettant de chauffer une préparation cosmétique à une température prédéterminée au moment de son application, et ce sans utiliser une quelconque source de chaleur extérieure à l'emballage de ladite préparation. Selon ce procédé, on insère tout d'abord la préparation dans un récipient dont les parois sont en contact avec un second récipient ou font partie intégrante de celui-ci, ce second récipient contenant séparément les deux constituants ou plus qui, mélangés dans des proportions adéquates, génèrent la chaleur nécessaire pour augmenter autant que nécessaire la température de ladite préparation cosmétique. Ces constituants, dont le mélange génère de la chaleur, sont contenus dans des compartiments séparés délimités par des parois fabriquées dans un matériau susceptible de rompre facilement, ce qui permet le mélange des constituants susmentionnés.

Claims

CLAIMS
1. A device for heating a preparation to a predetermined temperature at the
moment of use, without the use of sources of heat external to the preparation
package, wherein the preparation is inserted into a container, the container
being completely enclosed in a further container containing anhydrous calcium
chloride and providing a bag which contains water, the rupture of the bag
causing
the mixing of the components and the heating of the container containing the
preparation characterized in that the preparation is a cosmetic preparation 2
contained into a receptacle or ampoule 1 to which is fixed an elongated
tubular
element 3, closed at its extremity which forms the dispenser, the ampoule 1
being
completely enclosed in a container 5 from which the closed extremity of
dispenser
3 protrudes, the container 5 containing anhydrous calcium chloride and
providing separate bags, 7 and 8, which contain water, the rupture of the said
bags
7, 8 causing the mixing of the components and the heating of the ampoule 1
containing the cosmetic preparation, the extremity of the dispenser being
removable to allow the cosmetic preparation to be dispensed at the desired
temperature.
2. Device according to Claim 1 characterized in that the dispenser 3 has at
its
extremity a peripheral canula 4 to facilitate the removal of the terminal
part.
3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ampoule 1 is
made
of a compressible material to facilitate the delivery of the cosmetic
preparation
through the dispenser tube 3 by means of light pressure on the walls of the
said
ampoule 1.
4. Process for heating a preparation to a predetermined temperature at the
moment of use without the use of sources of heat external to the preparation
package, by using a device as defined in claims 1 to 4, characterized in that
the
amount of components to be mixed, their relative proportions and the number of
bags 7, 8 are chosen on the basis of the treating temperatures desired.
1



5. Process according to Claim 4, characterized in that the cosmetic
preparation is
selected from the group comprising: anti-cellulite preparations, gels against
vaginal dryness, cleansing facial masks, hair lotions, anti-wrinkling oil,
products of
thermal-spring origin and thermal-spring type synthesis products.
2


6
CLAIMS
1. Procedure for heating a cosmetic preparation to a predetermined temperature
at the
moment of application, without the use of sources of heat external to the
preparation
package, characterized by the cosmetic preparation being inserted into a
container
whose external walls are in contact with, or constitute an integral part of, a
second~
container in which are separately contained two or more components which;
being
mixed in suitable proportions, develop the heat to warm the cosmetic
preparation to
the desired temperature, the said components being kept separated in
compartments
delimited by walls which are easily ruptured to allow their mixture.
2. Procedure according to Claim 1, characterized by the cosmetic preparation
being
selected from among anti-cellulite preparations, gels against vaginal dryness,
cleansing facial masks, hair lotions, anti-wrinkling oil, products of thermal-
spring
origin and thermal-spring type synthesis products.
3. Procedure according to Claim 1 and/or 2, characterized by the components
which
are mixed to develop the heat necessary to raise the temperature of the
cosmetic
preparation being anhydrous calcium chloride and water.
4. Procedure according to one or more of Claims 1 to 3, characterized by the
quantities
of components selected and their relative proportions being chosen on the
basis of
the treatment temperature desired.
5. Device for the realization of the procedure according to one or more of
Claims 1 to
4 , characterized by comprising a receptacle or ampoule 1 containing the
cosmetic
preparation 2 to which is fixed an elongated tubular element 3, closed at its
extremity which forms the dispenser, the ampoule 1 being completely enclosed
in a
container 5 from which the closed extremity of dispenser 3 protrudes, the
container
containing anhydrous calcium chloride and providing separate bags, 7 and 8,
which contain water, the rupture of the said bags causing the mixing of the
components and the heating of the ampoule containing the cosmetic preparation,
the
extremity of the dispenser being removed to allow the cosmetic preparation to
be
dispensed at the desired temperature.
6. Device according to Claim 5, characterized by the anhydrous calcium
chloride being
in the container 5 and the water being present in the bags 7 and 8.




7

7. Device according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized by the dispenser 3 having
at
its extremity a peripheral canula 4 to facilitate the removal of the terminal
part.

8. Device according to Claim 5 and/or 6, characterized by the ampoule 1 being
made
of a compressible material to facilitate the delivery of the cosmetic
preparation
through the dispenser tube 3 by means of light pressure on the walls of the
said
ampoule 1.

Description

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Descn_,ption
"PROCEDURE AND DEVICE FOR THE APPLICATION OF COSMETIC
PRODUCTS AT CONTROLLED TEMPERATURES"
Technical field
The present invention relates to a procedure for bringing a cosmetic product
to a
controlled temperature for a predetermined period for the purpose of improving
its
application. The invention also relates to devices to achieve the
aforementioned
procedure.
Background art
1o It is known that temperature variations have a significant influence on the
level of
activity of a cosmetic preparation. It is also known that the structure of the
skin and its
ability to modify its reactions because of a buffer effect have always been
influenced
by the gradient between ambient temperature and body temperature. The skin
reacts to
contact with hotter substances by pronounced vasodilatation and in general
with
appreciable hyperemia. The application of a hot product provokes hyperemia and
consequent dilatation of the skin surface, thus facilitating the entry and
absorption of the
cosmetic substance contained in the product.
The hot application of cosmetic product requires the availability of a source
of heat to
warm up the cosmetic preparation and accurate control of the treatment
temperature.
2o Application at too high a temperature or for much longer than prescribed
may cause
damage to the treated part. On the other hand, the use of too low a
temperature may not
give the expected results.
The problem of the temperature of application does not arise when treatment
takes place
in specialized centers, but it considerably limits the achievement of good
results when
treatment is carried out personally or in small ill-equipped centers.
It would be highly advantageous to have a procedure for the application of
cosmetic
products at a controlled temperature which could be maintained for a
predetermined
period and which does not require apparatus for heating or temperature
control.
Disclosure of invention
The first objective of the present invention is the creation of a simple
and:'low-cost
procedure for heating cosmetic products at the moment of application to a
predetermined temperature without using heat sources external to the product
package.



US-A-5 628' 304 discloses a method for heating comestible item to a
predetermined
temperature at the moment of use, without the use of sources of heat external
to
the comestible item package. The comestible item is inserted into a container
50
whose external walls are in contact with a second container in which are
separately
contained two components which, when mixed develop the heat to warm the
comestible item to the desired temperature, the component being kept separated
in -
compartments 20,30 delimited by a wall 70 which is easily ruptured to allow
their
mixture.
JP-A-04 031271 discloses the heating of a cosmetic composition by using an
exothermic composition which is retained . in a receiving body made of a gas-
permeable material and inserted in a bag body formed by a gas-impermeable
material and which reacts with oxygen to produce heat.
.: .
s -_
la
~- ~ ~r ~ °rf ~ AMENDED SHEET



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The second objective of the present invention is a device which contains the
dose of cosmetic preparation and allows the said dose to be raised to the
required
temperature in a simple operation.
The procedure according to the present invention consists of holding the
cosmetic
preparation in a container whose outer walls are in contact with, or form an
integral part
of, a second container in which there are two or more separated compounds
which,_
when mixed in suitable proportions, develop the heat necessary to raise the
temperature
of the cosmetic preparation to that required. The components which generate
heat when
mixed are in individual compartments separated by walls made from an easily
ruptured
to material.
The components which constitute the self heating mixture are well known and
comprise
salts or anhydride compounds which develop heat when mixed with water, vwhich
is
usually the second component. The preferred components are anhydrous calcium
chloride and water.
The cosmetic preparations which can be used according to the procedure of the
present
invention are all those whose action is favored by their deep absorption due
to
vasodilatation. Thus anti-cellulite preparations, gels to prevent vaginal '
dryness,
cleansing facial masks, hair lotions, and anti-wrinkling oils are
advantageously used.
It is also possible to use products of thermal-bath type or origin, such as
mud-packs or
2o water, which recreate thermal-bath ambiance and conditions when applied
hot.
The temperatures to which the cosmetic preparations must be raised according
to the
present invention, vary between 37°C and 65°C depending on the
cosmetic preparation
involved, the sensitivity of the person undergoing the treatment, and the type
of
treatment. It is possible to produce packs of the same product which can be
heated to
different temperatures by varying the relative proportions and the quantities
of'the
components of the heating mixture. It is also possible to specify application
at different
times after the initiation of the heating process, thus enabling different
temperatures of
application to be used.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a device which can be
3o advantageously used in the above applications.
The device according to the present invention consists of a receptacle or
ampoule
containing the cosmetic preparation to which is attached a long tubular
element closed
at its extremity which constitutes the dispenser. The ampoule is completely
enclosed in



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a container from which protrudes the closed extremity of the dispenser. The
container comprises a plurality of separate compartments or bags which contain
water
or the heating agent, generally anhydrous calcium chloride. The rupture of the
bags
causes the components to mix and heat the ampoule containing the cosmetic
preparation. It is sufficient to cut the extremity of the dispenser to deliver
the cosmetic
preparation at the desired temperature. The relative quantities of water and
calcium
chloride can be measured to give a range of treatment temperatures. By dosing
the
quantities of calcium chloride in the plurality of bags, a range of heating
levels of the
preparation can be obtained with a single package.
1o Brief description of the drawine
The advantages of the procedure according to the invention and the method of
implementing it will be better understood from the examples of application
which
follow and which are by way of example only and should not be considered
limiting in
any way.
To describe in detail the preferred method of implementing the procedure
according to
the invention, the single attached drawing shows a prospective view, partly in
section,
of a device for the application of a heated cosmetic preparation.
Figure 1 indicates the ampoule 1 containing the cosmetic preparation 2
equipped with a
tubular dispenser 3 which presents a peripheral canula 4 at its extremity to
permit the
2o removal of the terminal part at the moment of application of the cosmetic
preparation.
The ampoule 1, made of deformable material, is inserted into a container 5
which
contains granules of anhydrous calcium chloride 6. Inside the container 5 are
two bags
7 and 8 which contain water and which are separated from the area in which the
granules of calcium chloride 6 are contained by the impermeable walls of the
bags. The
impermeable walls of the bags may be ruptured (from the outside) by applying
manual
pressure to weakened zones 9. The rupture of the bag or bags (7, 8) causes
contact
between the calcium chloride 6 and the water, with the heat of hydration being
given
ofd After shaking the container 5 for a specified time, the preparation 2
inside the
ampoule 1 reaches the predetermined temperature and is ready for application.
For this
3o purpose, the extremity of the tubular dispenser 3 is removed by cutting the
tubular
element in the region of the peripheral canula 4, permitting the cosmetic
preparation to
be squeezed out by slight pressure applied to the ampoule 1.



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Applications of cosmetic preparations have been carried out using the device
as
described above and the results compared with similar applications carried out
at
ambient temperature:
Trial N°.1
TREATMENT OF CELLULITE
An anti-cellulite oil-type product was applied with ten-minute massage to both
legs of
ten patients for 16 days at ambient temperature. A statistical evaluation was
conducted
of the regression of the cellulite situation to compare it with the results
obtained by the
application of the same preparation at 50°C.
Io The results showed acceleration of regression, which could be defined as:
1. achieving the same results in reduced periods of time, from 20% to 30% less
depending on the cases, (i.e. the same level of results after only 10/12 days
of
application).
2. at least 10% of an increase in the final result for the same period of
standard
treatment of 15 days.
Angiographic measurement by ultrasound scan showed
1. significant increase in hyperemia from the stimulus and activation of the
superficial
and intra-dermal circulation.
2. increase in circulatory activity and in lymphatic duct activity at the deep
deiinal
level because of the impact of the active agents of the preparation reaching,
such
levels.
Trial N°. 2
TREATMENT OF VAGINAL DRYNESS
Gel application at ambient temperature and at 38°C. to prevent vaginal
dryness was
studied in five cases.
The problem of application of preparations to mucosal areas which are
particularly
3o sensitive to temperature variations occurs again in the case of vaginal
dryness. There
was an unexpected vasoconstictive reaction to contact with the mucosa by the
gel at a
lower temperature than the area treated, with consequent difficult and limited
absorption, and reduced benefit.



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The ability to apply the gel at temperatures much closer to body temperature
has meant
the elimination of the vasoconstrictive phenomenon, showing objective
improvement in
the situation in shorter time and for longer periods.

Representative Drawing