CN1367658A - Method for treating and preventing finger disorders - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for preventing or treating finger ailments. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved method for dispensing and applying nail and cuticle treatment compositions.

Description

Ways to treat and prevent finger problems

Field of Invention

The invention relates to a method for preventing or treating finger troubles. More specifically, the present invention relates to improved methods of dispensing and applying nail and cuticle treatment compositions.

Background of the Invention

A wide variety of finger or nail treatments currently exist on the market. Such nail treatments range from purely grooming to almost exclusively medicinal. Ideally, this finger or nail treatment should be cosmetic and medicinal at the same time. However, this dual purpose is often difficult to achieve in a single coating process. For example, grooming nail treatments often require non-pharmaceutical ingredients, such as film-forming polymers or pigments, that are not intended to coat the epidermis or adjacent skin and often have adverse effects on these finger areas (eg, promote dryness) .

Medicinal nail treatments help smooth and soften the nail surface. Specifically, this treatment nourishes and softens the cuticle and surrounding skin tissue while reducing the brittleness of the nail itself. This is especially important for people with dry and brittle nails.

Additionally, the application of the finger or nail treatment should be both convenient and controllable. The user should maintain control over the amount of treatment applied for efficacy and aesthetics (ie smooth and even application). This ease of use and control also avoids messy over-application of the treatment composition and helps improve the user's comfort with using the treatment method. The present inventors have discovered that the method of the present invention improves the dispensing of finger or nail treatment compositions, thereby improving convenience, aesthetics, and user compliance with such treatments.

Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide new and improved methods of treating or preventing finger disorders, particularly nail and cuticle disorders.

Another aspect is to provide a method of moistening, smoothing and softening the surface of the nail and the surface of the skin and tissue surrounding the nail.

In yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of wetting, smoothing and softening the surface of the nail and the surface of the skin and tissue surrounding the nail comprising applying a finger or nail treatment composition using an improved applicator.

Invention Summary

The present invention relates to the method for processing or preventing finger trouble, comprises the following steps:

A) Provide a dispensing device for dispensing a finger treatment composition comprising:

i) a housing defining a chamber having a dispensing end and an actuating end, said dispensing end having an application zone and said chamber having an interior surface, said application zone providing a release of the finger treatment composition smooth and even surface distribution;

ii) a piston located in said chamber, said piston being movable within said chamber, said piston having a top side facing said dispensing end of said housing, and having an advancing mechanism facing away from said top side, said piston's said top side defines a variable volume region of said chamber between said chamber and said top side of said piston, wherein said variable volume region is used to store said nail and cuticle treatment composition; and

iii) An adjuster, movably installed on the above-mentioned casing, and movably cooperates with the above-mentioned inner surface at the above-mentioned actuating end of the above-mentioned casing, and the above-mentioned adjuster cooperates with the above-mentioned advancing mechanism, and is used to make the above-mentioned piston move toward the above-mentioned end direction forward;

wherein the device is pre-filled with a finger treatment composition, the finger treatment composition comprising from about 1.0% to about 99% oily ingredients, and wherein the composition comprises less than 1.0% film-forming polymer; and

B) Dispensing the finger treatment composition from the dispensing device onto the fingers or nails.

Brief description of the attached drawings

Although the technical description ends with the claims, pointing out and clearly applying for the patent scope of the present invention, it is believed that from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the present invention will be better understood, and the same numbering in the figure indicates complete Identical components, where:

Fig. 1 is the perspective view of a preferred embodiment of dispensing device of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the dispensing device shown in Figure 1 without the cap; and

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the dispensing device of Figure 1 with the cap installed, with another embodiment of the product lifter.

A. Dispensing device

Referring to the drawings, generally indicated at 10 is a finger treatment dispensing device for dispensing finger treatment compositions such as fluids, creams, semisolids, gels, ointments, liquids, and the like. The dispensing device 10 includes in part a regulator, generally indicated at 51, which may be a rotatable handwheel, movably connected to a housing 20, which is connected to an applicator generally indicated at 80 . The adjuster may be any mechanism suitable for advancing the piston. For example, push button or push ratchet advancement mechanisms are suitable alternatives. A cap 14 having a closed end 17 and an open end 18 is also optionally provided. Cap 14 is removably connected to dispensing device 10, for example by means of a friction fit with applicator 80.

Referring to Figure 2, in which a vertical cross-sectional view of dispensing device 10 can be seen, housing 20 is hollow and elongated and has an axis extending along its length. Housing 20 has a chamber 21 therein and includes a dispensing end 24 open to an actuating end 26 having an inner surface 28 . Preferably, inner surface 28 is cylindrical. Cylindrical as used herein refers to a three-dimensional shape that is elongated and has a generally circular cross-section. Preferably, the inner surface 28 extends from the actuating end 26 of the housing 20 to the dispensing end 24 . The cross-sectional shape of the chamber 21 can alternatively be various shapes, such as ellipse, rectangle, prolate, irregular and so on. At the actuating end 26 , the inner surface 28 includes a lip 30 and at least one detent area 32 . The detent zone 32 includes a substantially localized groove, depression or protrusion in the inner surface 28 . The inner surface 28 may include a plurality of detent zones 32 that are preferably radially spaced along the inner surface 28 . The lip 30 is preferably located adjacent to and behind a radially spaced detent zone 32 . The dispensing end 24 may include a first reduced diameter region 23 of reduced or reduced cross-section through which the article passes during dispensing. Preferably, the first diameter reducing area 23 is truncated cone. Additionally, the dispensing end 24 of the housing 20 has an outer surface 34 including a rib 36 . The outer surface 34 is preferably cylindrical. Housing 20 is preferably constructed of a material such as nylon, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), or more preferably, such as The material composition is polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) with ABS, or preferably, a rubber-modified acrylonitrile copolymer commercially available from BP Chemicals under the trade name BAREX.TM.210 can be used.

A piston 40 is located within the chamber 21 of the housing 20 . This piston 40 is preferably limited to axial or translational movement within the chamber 21 and preferably does not rotate relative to the inner surface 28 . The piston 40 has a top side 42 facing the dispensing end 24 of the housing 20 and a bottom side 44 facing away from the top side 42 . When the piston 40 moves axially within the chamber 21 , the top side 42 of the piston 40 forms a variable volume region 22 within the chamber 21 . This variable volume area 22 is used to store the products to be dispensed from the dispensing device 10 . In a preferred embodiment, the top side 42 of the piston 40 is provided with an upper sealing edge 43 which is sealingly engaged with the inner surface 28 . The bottom side 44 of the piston 40 can also be provided with a lower sealing lip 45 which is in sealing engagement with the inner surface 28 . An upper sealing lip 43 and a lower sealing lip 45 extend radially outward from a top side 42 and a bottom side 44 of the piston 40 , respectively. Preferably, upper lip 43 and lower lip 45 prevent product stored in variable volume region 22 from leaking through piston 40 towards actuating end 26 of housing 20 or any other portion of chamber 21. The sealing fit and friction between the upper lip 43 and the lower lip 45 and the inner surface 28 prevents the piston 40 from rotating. Therefore, the piston 40 is generally limited to moving motion. These frictional forces can be increased or decreased by varying the amount of surface contact between the upper bead 43 or the lower bead 45 and the inner surface 28 .

As shown, housing 20 is preferably cylindrical with a generally circular cross-section. Alternatively, housing 20 may have a generally elliptical cross-section or even an irregular cross-section. If the chamber 21 in the housing 20 is of non-circular cross-section, the profile or cross-sectional shape of the chamber 21 further prevents rotation of the piston 40 since the piston 40 preferably has the same profile as the chamber 21. The piston 40 is preferably constructed of fluorinated high density polyethylene (HDPE), although many other flexible polymers could be used.

As shown, the piston 40 also has a threaded rod 46 extending from the piston away from the top side 42 . Thus, the screw 46 extends from the bottom side 44 of the piston 40 towards the actuating end 26 of the housing 20 . Preferably the screw 46 is made of acetal. The upper end 47 of the screw 46 is fixedly connected to the bottom side 44 of the piston 40 . The screw 46 and the piston 40 thus move integrally, the movement being limited to axial movement. The combination of the piston 40 and the screw 46 forms a product lifter 48 whose function is to move the product out of the variable volume region 22 of the chamber 21 in the housing 20 . As shown in FIG. 3 , the product lifter 48 may be a single piece including the screw 46 integrally formed with the piston 40 . In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 2, the piston 40 and screw 46 may be separate components. In order to limit the axial stroke of the product lifter 48 , at the other end facing away from the upper end 47 of the screw rod 46 , a screw stopper 49 can be provided on the screw rod 46 . It is also possible to limit the amount of travel of the product lifter 48 by simply bottoming out the product lifter 48 or the piston 40 in the variable volume region 22 of the chamber 21 . Other alternative methods of limiting the axial travel can be used, for example, the screw 46 can be partially threaded, the screw 46 or the piston 40 can be made shorter or longer, the piston 40 can have a protrusion on the top side 42, and the Various other methods are known in the art of axial travel of similar members.

As shown in FIG. 2 , when the regulator is a handwheel, an actuator 50 with a screw hole 52 is provided on the handwheel 51 . Preferably, screw hole 52 is concentric with actuator 50 . Actuator 50 engages inner surface 28 on actuating end 26 of housing 20 and is adapted to rotate relative to housing 20 in only one direction, namely in the forward direction. As the threads on the screw 46 cooperate with the screw holes 52, the cooperation of the screw 46 and the screw holes 52 causes the piston 40 to advance toward the dispensing end 24 of the housing 20 when the actuator 50 is rotated, thereby dispensing the product from the dispensing device 10.

In use, the handwheel 51 is preferably a unitary single piece including both the actuator 50 and the gripping area 54 . Thus, the handwheel 51 includes an actuator 50 with a screw hole 52 and has a gripping area 54 connected to the actuator 50 . Gripping area 54 extends from actuating end 26 of housing 20 and preferably has a grooved or knurled surface to facilitate gripping of handwheel 51 by a user. Preferably, a cavity 59 extends axially through the gripping region 54 of the handwheel 51 to provide access to the threaded bore 52 . Preferably, the screw hole 52 is smaller than the stopper 49 of the screw, and the cavity 59 allows the stopper 49 of the screw to pass through. Actuator 50 includes a slot 56 which engages or is captured by lip 30 on inner surface 28 on actuating end 26 of housing 20 so that actuator 50 can rotate but cannot move axially relative to inner surface 28. sports. This configuration allows rotation of the hand wheel 51 while preventing axial movement of the hand wheel 51 . The handwheel 51 is preferably formed into a single piece by injection molding, such as MAGNUM.TM.9015 ABS from DOW Chemical Company, or PP homopolymer or copolymer with calcium carbide filler, the filler The degree of filling is from about 5% to about 40% by weight.

The actuator 50 on the handwheel 51 preferably also includes at least one resilient arm 58 projecting radially outwardly from the actuator 50 and capable of being inclined radially toward the inner surface 28 . Resilience here refers to the property of the resilient arm 58 which forces it back to its original position by virtue of deflection from its original position. Resilient arm 58 can be better seen with reference to FIG. 4, which shows an overall cross-section of dispensing device 10 taken along line 4-4 of FIG. The resilient arms 58 cooperate with the detents 32 on the inner surface 28 so that the actuator 50 can rotate in the forward direction but not in the opposite direction. Actuator 50 preferably has at least two resilient arms 58 . Preferably, the elastic arm 58 is angled outwardly and radially towards the inner surface 28, so that when the hand wheel 51 is rotated in the forward direction, the elastic arm 58 cooperates with the braking zone 32 and is flexed inwardly by the braking zone 32 . When the hand wheel 51 rotates in the forward direction, the cooperation between the screw rod 46 and the screw hole 52 makes the piston 40 move toward the dispensing end 24 . Any attempt to rotate the handwheel 51 in the opposite direction is restrained and the resilient arm 58 rests against the detent area 32, preventing rotation of the handwheel 51 in the opposite direction. Since the hand wheel 51 is constrained to rotate only in the forward direction, the product lifter 48 is only allowed to move in one direction. Thus, the dispensing device 10 has a one-way nature.

To dispense articles from the dispensing device 10 in a controlled manner, the user turns the hand wheel 51 . Preferably, the detent areas 32 are spaced radially about the inner surface 28, and the resilient arms 58 engage and disengage the detent areas 32 when the handwheel 51 is rotated in the forward direction. Each engagement of the resilient arm 58 with the detent zone 32 provides some increment of movement of the piston 40 and thus of the article lifter 48 . The radial spacing between detent zones 32 can be varied to provide more or less axial movement of piston 40 per rotational increment. For example, the detent zones 32 may be evenly spaced around the inner surface 28, irregularly spaced, or even intermittently spaced at varying distances. Incremental movement of the piston 40 controls the amount of product dispensed from the variable volume zone 22, dispensing an incremental volume of product, thus achieving an increase in product dose. This dosage increase assists the user in dispensing a precise or regular amount of product and helps avoid messy or wasteful over-dispensing.

One advantage of this configuration is that an audible sound is produced when the hand wheel 51 is turned in the forward direction. This click is produced when the resilient arm 58 rebounds from the detent area 32 and contacts the inner surface 28 of the housing 20 during rotation of the actuator 50 . In addition, a tactile signal is generated when the handwheel 51 is turned in the forward direction. As the resilient arms 58 flex inwardly and press against the inner surface 28 between each detent zone 32 creating tension, a sense of intermittent resistance to rotation is created. This tension is released as the resilient arm 58 springs outward toward and into the braking zone 32 . For example, turning the hand wheel 51 a certain number of clicks to achieve a dose increase, the number of clicks may be specified to provide a precise dose of product.

An applicator 80 may be attached to the dispensing end 24 of the housing 20 in fluid communication with the variable volume region 22 of the chamber 21 such that the product is dispensed through the applicator 80 . Applicator 80 is hollow and includes ferrule 82 and application zone 84 . Applicator 80 is preferably constructed of a plastic such as PP, PE, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), nylon, or even polyester such as HYTREL.TM.5526 available from DuPont Corporation. A ferrule 82 is located at the other end of the application zone 84 and is connected to the dispensing end 24 of the housing 20 . Ferrule 82 includes an inner surface 85 having a flange 89 . Flange edge 89 cooperates with rib 36 on dispensing end 24 to form a snap fit 79 between ferrule 82 and dispensing end 24 thereby attaching applicator 80 to housing 20 . The application zone 84 of the applicator 80 has at least one aperture 86 for dispensing the product through the applicator 80 . Preferably, hole 86 may have a diameter of from about 0.25 mm (0.01 inch) to about 5 mm (0.2 inch).

Referring again to FIG. 2, a preferred embodiment is shown in which the application zone 84 has an aperture 86 through which the fibrous bristles 72 protrude. Fibrous bristles 72 of this type may be conical, and preferably fibrous bristles 72 have a thickness or diameter of from about 0.1 mm (0.004 inches) to about 0.05 mm (0.002 inches). These fibrous bristles 72 can be made of various materials, but are preferably made of a plastic such as nylon, more preferably polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). The amount by which the fibrous bristles 72 protrude beyond the application zone 84 can be readily varied by varying the length of the fibrous bristles 72 or the thickness of adjacent portions. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2 , an inner shoulder 88 and a platform catch 95 are formed in the applicator 80 . Preferably, the platform catch 95 is axially spaced toward the bore 86 and is also spaced radially inward from the inner shoulder 88 in a stepped manner. The platform latch 95 is in the form of four inwardly projecting struts equally spaced apart. Alternatively, the platform catch 95 may be any radially inward protrusion. A transition piece 90 having a radially extending edge 96 is positioned within the dispensing end 24 of the housing 20 such that the edge 96 is captured between the inner shoulder 88 and the dispensing end 24 of the housing 20 . Preferably, edge 96 divides transition member 90 into an upper transition region 97 and a lower transition region 93 . Transition piece 90 may be constructed of fluorinated HDPE or some other flexible polymer. Transition piece 90 has a channel 92 which fluidly communicates bore 86 and fibrous bristles 72 with variable volume region 22 of chamber 21 . Similar to the first reduced diameter region 23 , a second reduced diameter region 25 may be located in the channel 92 to reduce or reduce the cross section through which the product passes during dispensing, thereby reducing the flow area through the channel 92 . Preferably, transition piece 90 is positioned such that it protrudes through ferrule 82 into application zone 84 of applicator 80 . Alternatively, transition piece 90 having channel 92 may protrude through applicator 80 and outside of application zone 84 . In the preferred embodiment, an annular platform 94 having a central opening is secured to the fibrous bristles 72 forming the tip 74 . An upper transition region 97 of transition piece 90 extends through an opening in annular platform 94 . The annular platform 94 is captured between the edge 96 of the transition piece 90 and the platform catch 95 such that the annular platform 94 defines the position of the fibrous bristles 72 of the brush tip 74 relative to the opening 86 in the application zone 84 .

Referring again to FIG. 3, an optional cap 14 is shown mounted on the applicator 80 of the dispensing device 10, thereby sealingly closing the aperture 86 and application area 84 of the applicator 80. As shown in FIG. Preferably, the closed end 17 of the cap 14 is spaced from and does not contact the applicator 80 . As shown in Figure 1, the cap 14 is removable. An applicator rib 16 is provided on the applicator 80 and a cap locking rib 19 is provided inside the cap 14 . The cap locking ribs 19 can be in the form of intermittent or continuous protrusions. Applicator ribs 16 cooperate with cap locking ribs 19 to removably secure cap 14 to applicator 80 when cap 14 is attached to applicator 80 . To attach and position cap 14 on applicator 80 , open end 18 ( FIG. 1 ) mates with applicator 80 such that applicator rib 16 mates with cap locking rib 19 . Thus, the user can simply snap the cap 14 in place on the applicator 80 when the dispensing device 10 is not in use, and also easily remove the cap 14 for access to the applicator 80 . In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the cap locking ribs 19 or applicator ribs 16 deform slightly and then return to their normal position to ensure that the cap 14 remains in place until the user removes the cap 14 for dispensing the product . The inside of the cap 14 is also provided with a sealing lip 15 which is positioned in alignment with the sealing surface 81 on the applicator 80 . The sealing flange 15 on the cap 14 cooperates with the sealing surface 81 of the applicator 80, providing the sealing fit of the cap 14 and the applicator 80, so that when the cap 14 is installed on the applicator 80, the seal between the cap 14 and the applicator 80 An airtight seal is created between the applicators 80 . Thus, cap 14 sealingly engages collar 82 on applicator 80, preventing any product held within variable volume region 22 of dispensing device 10 from escaping or from drying out. Preferably, the exterior of cap 14 maintains a smooth or flush profile between applicator 80 and housing 20 when the cap is in the installed position.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, assembly of the dispensing device is easily accomplished by screwing the product lifter 48 onto the handwheel 51. The threaded rod 46 is mated to the threaded hole 52 in a manner that allows the bottom side 44 of the piston 40 to be connected to the upper end 47 of the threaded rod 46 if desired. The product lifter 48 and handwheel 51 are then inserted into the actuating end 26 of the housing 20 so that the groove 56 cooperates with the lip 30, thereby rotatably connecting and positioning the handwheel 51 while also positioning the piston 40 in the chamber 21. Inside, a variable volume region 22 is formed. Care should be taken during assembly to position the spring arm 58 to properly engage the detent area 32 to avoid loading or slipping of the spring arm 58 . The variable volume region 22 can then be filled with product. If desired, transition piece 90 can be placed into dispensing end 24 of housing 20, and brush tip 74 can be attached to transition piece 90, if desired. Applicator 80 may be attached to dispensing end 24 over transition piece 90, capturing brush tip 74 when installed. Cap 14 may also be removably attached to applicator 80 .

Alternatively, it is also possible to start by placing the housing 20 upside down so that the actuating end 26 faces upwards, and then place the piston 40 into the chamber 21 of the housing 20 through the actuating end 26 so that the bottom side 44 faces upwards. Then the handle wheel 51 is inserted into the actuating end 26 of the housing 20, the upper end 47 of the screw rod 46 can be connected with the bottom side 44 of the piston 40 through the cavity 59, and the screw hole 52 of the hand wheel 51 can be matched simultaneously. While the dispensing device 10 described herein may be used to dispense, for example, fluids, flowable materials, semi-solids, or liquids, finger treatment compositions that do not contain film formers and/or pigments are primarily dispensed. When the dispensing device 10 is used to dispense and apply a finger or nail treatment composition, a uniform film is obtained.

While particular forms and embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, various modifications may be made to the dispensing device 10 without departing from the teachings of the invention. For example, various connections between components may be made by methods other than snapping the components together, including screwing, gluing, welding, and the like. The names used in the description of the present invention are used in a descriptive sense only and not as names of limitation. All equivalents of the names are contemplated to be within the scope of the appended claims. Other suitable embodiments can be found in US Patent Nos. 5,851,079; 5,827,002 and 5,830,640, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference for completeness. A particularly preferred dispensing device is the UC18C pen of Mitsubishi Pencil Kabushki Kaisha. A more detailed description of the UC18C pen can be found in PCT Application No. PCT/JP99/01450, incorporated herein by reference for completeness. B. Finger Treatment Composites

The finger or nail treatment compositions of the present invention may comprise, comprise or consist essentially of the essential ingredients and limitations of the invention described herein, as well as any additional or optional ingredients, ingredients or limitations described herein.

Unless otherwise specified, all percentages, parts and ratios are based on the total weight of the special treatment compositions of the present invention. All such weights as they pertain to listed ingredients are based on the active level and, therefore, do not include carriers or by-products that may be included in purchased materials, unless otherwise specified.

The term "finger or nail" as used herein means the nail and the area of the finger surrounding the nail, including the epidermis and surrounding skin tissue.

The term "finger problems" as used herein includes, but is not limited to, brittle nails, dry nails, peeling nails, torn nails, cracked skin, dry skin, peeling skin, gray skin, incrusted skin, and nail barbs.

The phrase "safe and effective amount" as used herein means an amount of the compound or composition sufficient to appreciably introduce a positive effect, preferably a moisturizing and softening effect, more preferably a visual reduction in dryness, independently comprising The various effects published here are not limited, but the amount is low enough to avoid serious side effects, that is, within the normal judgment range of the skilled artisan, to provide a reasonable effect to risk ratio.

The words "treating" or "treating and/or preventing" are used herein to mean the treatment of nail or perinail skin disorders in mammals, including:

(i) prevent the disease, that is, prevent the symptoms of the disease from developing;

(ii) arresting the disorder, that is, inhibiting the development of symptoms;

(iii) Alleviation of a disease, that is, causing the symptoms to subside.

The finger treatment compositions of the present invention, including their essential and optional ingredients, are described in detail below.

Essential Ingredients Oily Ingredients

The essential ingredient of the present invention is an oily ingredient. Examples of suitable oily ingredients include fats and oils, waxes, hydrocarbons, higher fatty acids, higher alcohols, esters, essential oils and silicone oils. Examples of fats and oils include natural fats and oils such as soybean oil, bran oil (rice bran oil), jojoba oil, avocado oil, almond oil, olive oil, cocoa butter, safflower oil, sunflower oil, sesame oil, almond oil (almond oil), castor oil, palm oil, mink oil, tallow, and lard; hardened oils obtained from the hydrogenation of these natural fats and oils; and synthetic triglycerides such as trimyristin and tri(2-ethylglyceryl) hexanoic acid). Examples of waxes include carnauba wax, spermaceti, beeswax and lanolin. Examples of hydrocarbons include liquid paraffin, petrolatum, paraffin microcrystalline wax, ozokerite, squalane and pristane. Examples of higher fatty acids include lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, behenic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, lanolin fatty acid, and isostearic acid. Examples of higher alcohols include lauryl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, lanolin alcohol, cholesterol and 2-hexyldecanol. Examples of esters include cetyl caprylate, glyceryl tricaprylate, myristyl lactic acid, cetyl lactic acid, isopropyl myristate, myristyl myristate, octyldodecyl myristate butter, isopropyl palmitate, isopropyl adipate, butyl stearate, decyl oleate, cholestenyl isostearate and polyoxyethylene (POE) sorbitan fatty acid ester. Examples of essential oils include peppermint oil, jasmine oil, camphor oil, hinoki oil, orange peel oil, rye oil, turpentine oil, cinnamon oil, bergamot oil, orange oil, calamus oil, pine oil, lavender oil, Bay leaf oil, clove oil, Japanese cedar oil, rose oil, eucalyptus oil, lemon oil, thyme oil, peppermint oil, sage oil, menthol, cineole, eugenol, citral, citronellal, borneol , Linalool, Geraniol, Camphor, Thymol, Spilanthol, Pinene, Limonene and Terpene Blend. Examples of silicone oils include dimethylpolysiloxane. These oily ingredients may be used alone or in combination of two or more. In the present invention, glyceryl myristate, glyceryl tris (2-ethylhexanoic acid), lanolin, liquid paraffin, petrolatum, paraffin microcrystalline wax, squalane, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitate Acid, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Isostearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Oleyl Alcohol, Cholesteryl Alcohol, Cetyl Caprylate, Glyceryl Tricaprylate, Isopropyl Myristyl, Octyldodecyl Myristyl Ester, Cholesteryl Isostearic Acid, POE Sorbitan Fatty Acid Ester, Peppermint Oil, Orange Peel Oil, Cinnamon Oil, Rose Oil, Menthol, Eucalyptol, Eugenol, Lemon Aldehydes, Citronellal, Geranial, Pinene, Limonene, and Dimethicone.

The oily component preferably comprises from about 1% to about 99%, more preferably from about 50% to about 95%, most preferably from about 75% to about 90%, of the finger treatment composition. Essentially free of film formers

The finger treatment compositions of the present invention are preferably substantially free of film formers. Generally, the term "substantially free" as used herein means that the film former is present in an amount of about 1% or less, more preferably about 0.5% or less, most preferably about 0.1% or less, even more preferably 0% or not greater than 0.05%.

Typical film formers include (but are not limited to): acrylamide/sodium acrylate copolymers; ammonium acrylate copolymers; Peru balsam; polyurethanes and polyurethane derivatives such as aliphatic polyester polyurethanes; cellulose gums; Cellulose esters such as nitrocellulose), ethylene maleic anhydride copolymer; hydroxyethyl cellulose; hydroxypropyl cellulose; polyacrylamide; polyethylene; polyvinyl alcohol; PVM/MA copolymer (polyvinyl methyl base ether maleic anhydride); PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone); maleic anhydride copolymers such as PA-18 from Gulf Technologies; PVP/hexadecene copolymers such as Ganex V-216 from GAF ; Propylene propenyl salt copolymer; and so on. Additional examples of film formers can be found in US Patent No. 5,639,447, incorporated herein by reference for completeness.

Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the film formers have an adverse effect on the epidermis and the skin tissue surrounding the nail. The inventors have found that film-forming polymers leave the skin feeling dry and itchy. The present invention directly improves the feel of the skin (ie, softens and moisturizes the skin) and improves the overall appearance of the skin (ie, evens out skin tone and reduces the "gray" appearance of the skin). basically no coloring

The finger treatment compositions of the present invention are preferably substantially free of pigments. Generally, the term "substantially free" as used herein means that such coloring ingredients or pigments are present in an amount of about 0.1% or less, more preferably about 0.075% or less, most preferably 0% or not more than about 0.05% .

Typical pigments include, but are not limited to, organic and inorganic pigments and dyes. Organic pigments are generally various aromatic types, including azo, indigo, triphenylmethane, anthraquinone, and xanthine dyes, designed as D&C and FD&C blue, brown, green, orange, red, yellow, etc. Organic pigments generally consist of insoluble metal salts of qualified color additives, called lakes. Inorganic pigments include iron oxide, ultramarine blue, and chromium or chromium hydroxide pigments, and mixtures thereof.

Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the pigment has an adverse effect on the health of the cuticle and skin tissue surrounding the nail, as perceived by the user. Users typically avoid applying pigment to these areas of skin in order to maintain the healthy and youthful appearance of these areas.

Selected ingredients

The finger treatment composition of the present invention may contain additional cosmetics, which are commonly used in such formulations, such as preservatives; such as biotin, vitamin _B5 and its derivatives (such as pantothenic acid), vitamin _B3 and its derivatives ( such as niacinamide). Vitamin E and its derivatives (such as tocopheryl nicotinate), phospholipids, alpha hydroxy acids (such as glycolic acid, lactic acid), beta hydroxy acids (such as salicylic acid), vitamin A and its derivatives (such as retinoic acid and retinoic acid esters), vitamin C and vitamin D; bactericides; perfumes; barrier agents; thickeners; surface active substances; emulsifiers; plasticizers; humectants and/or humectants; Fats and waxes other than the published essential ingredients; or other conventional ingredients of cosmetics such as alcohols, polyols or water; membrane stabilizers; electrolytes; organic solvents or silicon derivatives. These and other suitable optional ingredients are described in detail in U.S. Pat. Sex is incorporated here by reference.

When water soluble materials are added to the finger treatment compositions of the present invention, the compositions may be in the form of aqueous oil or oil in water emulsions. Preferably, the emulsion is an aqueous oily solvent. Methods of treating and/or preventing finger disorders

A method of treating and preventing finger disorders comprises topically applying to the fingers, especially the nails, a safe and effective amount of the finger treatment compositions of the present invention. The amount of composition applied, the number of applications and the duration of application will vary widely depending on the degree of treatment desired, eg, in terms of the rate of progression of finger disorders and other symptoms.

In a preferred embodiment, the composition is applied chronically to the fingers, in particular to the nails. "Chronic topical application" means continuous topical application of the composition over a substantial period of the life of the subject, preferably for at least about a week, more preferably at least about a month, even more preferably at least About three months, even better at least about six months, and better at least about one year. Although effects may be obtained after respective maximum periods of use (eg, five, ten or twenty years), long-term application is preferably extended throughout the life of the subject. Typical application is on the order of about once per day for this extended period, but the rate of application can vary from about once per week to about three times per day or more.

The compositions of the present invention may be employed in a wide range of amounts to provide finger and/or nail look and/or feel effects. Typically the amount of composition of the invention per application is calculated as (mg of composition)/(cm ² of skin and nails), from about 0.1 mg/cm ² to about 100 mg/cm ² . A particularly useful application level is about 10 mg/cm ² .

The methods of the present invention are preferably applied in the form of oily compositions, or compositions such as oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsions, which are intended to be left on the skin to obtain certain cosmetic, preventive and therapeutic or Other effects (i.e. a "leave" composition). After application of the composition to the skin, it is preferably left on the skin for a period of at least about 15 minutes, more preferably at least about 30 minutes, even more preferably at least about 1 hour, most preferably at least several hours, such as up to 12 hours.

Example

Methods of use comprising dispensing devices and finger treatment compositions of the present invention are illustrated in the following non-limiting examples. Other modifications can be made by skilled artisans without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The methods exemplified by the dispensing device and finger treatment composition of the present invention provide improved wettability and user compliance with the finger treatment composition.

All exemplified compositions can be prepared using conventional formulation and mixing techniques. The listed ingredient amounts are percent by weight and include minor materials such as diluents, fillers, and the like. Therefore, listed formulations include the listed ingredients and any minor materials associated with those ingredients.

Example I

A method of treating finger conditions employs a dispensing device to apply a finger treatment composition in the form of the following oily composition.

Sunflower Oil 25%

Safflower Oil 25%

Soybean Oil 25%

Olive oil 20%

Vitamin E Tocopherol 2%

A small amount (preservatives, etc.) 3%

Add the above ingredients to a stainless steel container and mix thoroughly using conventional mixing techniques. The finger treatment oil is then filled into the dispensing device and applied to the fingers, particularly the nails and cuticles, using the dispensing device.

Example II

A method of treating finger conditions employs a dispensing device to apply the following finger treatment composition in the form of an aqueous oil emulsion.

Sunflower Oil 23%

Safflower Oil 23%

Soybean Oil 25%

Cetyl dimethyl copolyol (emulsifier) 0.5%

Water 10%

Glycerin 10%

Niacinamide 2%

A small amount (preservatives, etc.) 4.5%

In a stainless steel vessel with a heat source, combine the oils (sunflower, safflower, and soybean) and emulsifier and heat to 150F with stirring. In a separate stainless steel container, add the water, glycerin, niacinamide, and preservative with stirring and mix until homogeneous. The oil and water mixture are then mixed together and cooled to room temperature with stirring. The finger treatment emulsion is then filled into the dispensing device and applied to the fingers, particularly the nails and cuticles, using the dispensing device.

Claims (10)

1. A method of dispensing and applying a nail and cuticle treatment composition for treating or preventing finger disorders, the method comprising the steps of: A) Provide a dispensing device for dispensing a finger treatment composition comprising: i) a housing defining a chamber having a dispensing end and an actuating end, said dispensing end having an application zone and said chamber having an interior surface, said application zone providing a release of the finger treatment composition smooth and even surface distribution; ii) a piston located in said chamber, said piston being movable within said chamber, said piston having a top side facing said dispensing end of said housing, and having an advancing mechanism facing away from said top side, said piston's said top side defines a variable volume region of said chamber between said chamber and said top side of said piston, wherein said variable volume region is used to store said nail and cuticle treatment composition; and iii) An adjuster, movably installed on the above-mentioned casing, and movably cooperates with the above-mentioned inner surface at the above-mentioned actuating end of the above-mentioned casing, and the above-mentioned adjuster cooperates with the above-mentioned advancing mechanism, and is used to make the above-mentioned piston move toward the above-mentioned end direction forward; wherein the device is pre-filled with a finger treatment composition, the finger treatment composition comprising from about 1.0% to about 99% oily ingredients, and wherein the composition comprises less than 1.0% film-forming polymer; and B) Dispensing the finger treatment composition from the dispensing device onto the fingers or nails. 2. A method of dispensing and applying a nail and cuticle treatment composition for treating or preventing finger disorders, the method comprising the steps of: A) Provide a dispensing device for dispensing a finger treatment composition comprising: i) a housing defining a chamber having a dispensing end and an actuating end, said dispensing end having an application zone and said chamber having an interior surface, said application zone providing a release of the finger treatment composition smooth and even surface distribution; ii) a piston located in said chamber, said piston being movable within said chamber, said piston having a top side facing said dispensing end of said housing, and having an advancing mechanism facing away from said top side, said piston's said top side defines a variable volume region of said chamber between said chamber and said top side of said piston, wherein said variable volume region is used to store said nail and cuticle treatment composition; and iii) An adjuster, movably installed on the above-mentioned casing, and movably cooperates with the above-mentioned inner surface at the above-mentioned actuating end of the above-mentioned casing, and the above-mentioned adjuster cooperates with the above-mentioned advancing mechanism, and is used to make the above-mentioned piston move toward the above-mentioned end direction forward; wherein the device is pre-filled with a finger treatment composition, the finger treatment composition comprising from about 1.0% to about 99% oily ingredients, and wherein the composition contains less than 0.1% pigment; and B) Dispensing the finger treatment composition from the dispensing device onto the fingers or nails. 3. A method of dispensing and applying a nail and cuticle treatment composition for treating or preventing finger disorders, the method comprising the steps of: A) Provide a dispensing device for dispensing a finger treatment composition comprising: i) a housing defining a chamber having a dispensing end and an actuating end, said dispensing end having an application zone and said chamber having an interior surface, said application zone providing a release of the finger treatment composition smooth and even surface distribution; ii) a piston located in said chamber, said piston being movable within said chamber, said piston having a top side facing said dispensing end of said housing, and having an advancing mechanism facing away from said top side, said piston's said top side defines a variable volume region of said chamber between said chamber and said top side of said piston, wherein said variable volume region is used to store said nail and cuticle treatment composition; and iii) An adjuster, movably installed on the above-mentioned casing, and movably cooperates with the above-mentioned inner surface at the above-mentioned actuating end of the above-mentioned casing, and the above-mentioned adjuster cooperates with the above-mentioned advancing mechanism, and is used to make the above-mentioned piston move toward the above-mentioned end direction forward; wherein the device is pre-filled with a finger treatment composition, the finger treatment composition comprising from about 1.0% to about 99% oily ingredients, and wherein the composition comprises less than 1.0% film-forming polymer and less than 0.1% pigment; and B) Dispensing the finger treatment composition from the dispensing device onto the fingers or nails. 4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner surface further comprises at least one braking zone. 5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjuster further comprises at least one resilient arm projecting outwardly and cooperating with the detent zone such that the adjuster is movable in the forward direction but not in the opposite direction. 6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the piston has a top side facing the dispensing end of the housing, and has a screw rod protruding from the piston facing away from the top side, wherein the adjuster is a and the handwheel of the actuator, the actuator is fitted on the above-mentioned actuating end of the casing with the above-mentioned inner surface, and is suitable for rotating relative to the casing in only one direction, the actuator has a screw hole, and the screw rod is matched with the screw hole , so that the piston advances toward the dispensing end when the actuator is rotated, thereby dispensing the aforementioned product. 7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjuster further includes a lip such that said actuator is rotatable relative to the inner surface but not axially movable. 8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator is integrally formed as a single piece of thermoplastic material. 9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing device further comprises an applicator connected to the dispensing end of the housing in liquid communication with the above-mentioned variable volume region of the above-mentioned chamber, wherein through the above-mentioned applicator The dispenser dispenses the finger to handle the composition. 10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the finger treatment composition further comprises a skin care active.

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