FIELD

The present technology is directed to a light wand that produces light through bioluminescence. More specifically, it is a light wand comprising an agar-based casing with a pair of capsules therein that result in bioluminescence upon hydrating, and later, dissolution of the agar-based casing.

BACKGROUND

Glow Sticks are sold at many events, such as music festivals. It is estimated that 100 million of these glow sticks are sold a year, all of which end up in the garbage, creating unnecessary waste. Further, these festivals impact directly on the festival environment, not just through garbage being left at the site, but through damage to the turf.

An example of a glow stick is disclosed United States Patent 3,774,022. The invention relates to a packaged luminescent material, and more particularly to a combined package of a chemiluminescent agent as the "fuel," and an activating agent therefor, wherein the fuel and activating agent are maintained in close association but separated from each other by a barrier medium to prevent interaction before the same is desired. When the barrier medium is ruptured, or otherwise broken down, either deliberately or unintentionally, a reaction occurs between the chemiluminescent agent and the activating agent with the emission of visible light, without, however, the generation of any appreciable amount of heat. It is recommended that the outer material be glass or a plastic such as polyethylene, ethyl cellulose, vinylidene chloride. The material used is to be impermeable to water, moisture vapor and air. The chemicals used in the light wand and the outer material in which the chemicals are held are all non-biodegradable and are not recyclable. They create garbage at the site if they are dropped.

Biodegradable containers have been known for many years. An example of a biodegradable container is disclosed in United States Patent 5,180,765, which discloses environmentally biodegradable compositions of poly(lactic acid) plasticized with lactic acid, D-lactide, L-lactide, meso D, L-lactide, racemic D, L-lactide, oligomers of lactic acid, oligomers of lactide, derivatives of oligomers of lactic acid, or various mixtures thereof; the compositions are suitable replacements of thermoplastic polymer compositions; the compositions are useful for pliable films and other packaging applications conventionally served by polyethylene and other nondegradable thermoplastics; homopolymers or copolymers of D-lactic acid, L-lactic acid, D-lactide, L-lactide, meso D, L-lactide, and/or racemic D, L-lactide having properties similar to other known polymers may be prepared by varying the ratios of monomer and polymerization conditions, the amount and type of plasticizer in the polymer and process conditions; additives and subsequent treatment are also used to modify properties. While these containers are biodegradable, they do not degrade quickly.

More recently, United States Patent Application 20160324207 discloses an edible material that may be made of liquid, sugar, and one or more hydrocolloids. The edible material may be used to form edible cups, containers, and the like and may be capable of holding hot or cold liquids for extended periods of time and have an extended shelf life. The composition forming the edible material may further be suitable for 3D printing 3D edible applications.

Bioluminescence has been used as a research tool and more recently, in novelty items. United States Patent 6,436,682 discloses isolated and purified nucleic acid molecules that encode a luciferase from Renilla mulleri, Gaussia and Pleuromamma, and the proteins encoded thereby are provided. Isolated and purified nucleic acids encoding green fluorescent proteins from the genus Renilla and Ptilosarcus, and the green fluorescent proteins encoded thereby are also provided. Compositions and combinations comprising the green fluorescent proteins and/or the luciferase are further provided. These are used in diagnostics, high throughput screening and novelty items.

What is needed is a biodegradable light wand that utilizes bioluminescence as the light source and which contributes to environmental remediation. It would be preferable if the outer shell of the light wand degraded quickly, for example, within a day of having been exposed to fluid. It would be of further advantage if the light wand included a cap that could be retained by the user as a souvenir. It would be further preferable if the light wand included a dried plug of mycelium- inoculated substrate. It would be more preferable if the dried plug included other biologicals, including seeds and prebiotic agents, such as biochar. It would be more preferable if the cap was releasably sealed to the shell with beeswax.

SUMMARY

The present technology is a biodegradable light wand that utilizes bioluminescence as the light source, which when expended, contributes to environmental remediation. The outer shell of the light wand is made from a natural hydrocolloidal material, which, when exposed to fluid, swells and degrades quickly, for example, within a day. It is compostable. The light wand includes a cap that can be retained by the user as a souvenir. The light wand includes a dried plug of mycelium- inoculated substrate, which upon hydration, begins to grow. The plug further includes other biologicals, including seeds and prebiotic agents, such as biochar. These biologicals contribute to site remediation. The cap is releasably sealed to the shell with beeswax.

In one embodiment, a biodegradable light wand is provided, the light wand including: a light transmitting tube comprising a first port, a second port and a sidewall therebetween to define a bore; a first bioluminescence tablet which comprises a light producing enzyme and a second bioluminescence tablet which comprises a bioluminescence-generating system, both housed in the bore; a bio-plug in the first port, the bio-plug sized to seal the first port, the bio-plug comprising a fungal mycelium and a substrate; and a cap, the cap sized to seal the second port, the cap releasably located in the second port.

In the light wand, the tube may be compostable.

In the light wand, the tube may comprise a natural hydrocolloid.

In the light wand, the bio-plug may further comprise a plurality of seeds.

In the light wand, the plurality of seeds may be grass seeds.

The biodegradable light wand may further comprise a beeswax seal for sealing the bio-plug in the first port of the tube.

In the light wand, the cap may be metallic.

In the light wand, the cap may include a logo. In the light wand, the cap may include a concavity and a biodegradable seal over the concavity.

In the light wand, the concavity may house a plurality of seeds.

In the light wand, the plurality of seeds may be grass seeds.

In the light wand, the cap may include a stalk with an aperture therethrough.

The biodegradable light wand may further comprise a strap, the strap retained by the aperture. In the light wand, the cap may be a second bio-plug.

The biodegradable light wand may further comprise a plurality of anthocyanin microcapsules in the bore.

In the light wand, the tube may further comprise at least one plant-based pigment.

The biodegradable light wand may further comprise a fluid which is housed in the bore.

The biodegradable light wand may further comprise a water-proof, friable shell which is housed in the bore and which houses the first and the second bioluminescent tablet.

In another embodiment, a kit is provided, the kit including: a biodegradable, light transmitting tube, the tube having first port, a second port and a sidewall therebetween to define a bore, a first bioluminescence tablet which comprises a light producing enzyme and a second bioluminescence tablet which comprises a bioluminescence-generating system, both housed in the bore, a bio-plug in the first port, the bio-plug sized to seal the first port, the bio-plug comprising a fungal mycelium and a substrate, and a cap, the cap sized to seal the second port, the cap releasably located in the second port; a biodegradable vessel with a releasable closure; a fluid which is in the biodegradable vessel, the fluid including at least one plant-based pigment; and instructions.

In the kit, the tube may comprise a natural hydrocolloid.

In another embodiment, a biodegradable container for use with a light source is provided, the container including: a light transmitting tube, the tube comprising a first port, a second port and a sidewall therebetween, to define a bore; a bio-plug in the first port, the bio-plug sized to seal the first port, the bio-plug comprising a fungal mycelium and a substrate; and a cap, the cap sized to seal the second port, the cap releasably located in the second port.

In the biodegradable container, the container may be compostable.

In the biodegradable container, the tube may comprise a natural hydrocolloid.

In the biodegradable container, the bio-plug may further comprise a plurality of seeds.

In the biodegradable container, the plurality of seeds may be grass seeds.

The biodegradable container may further comprise a beeswax seal for sealing the bio-plug in the first port of the tube.

In the biodegradable container, the cap may be metallic.

In the biodegradable container, the cap may include a logo.

In the biodegradable container, the cap may include a concavity and a biodegradable seal over the concavity.

In the biodegradable container, the concavity may house a plurality of seeds.

In the biodegradable container, the plurality of seeds ay be grass seeds.

In the biodegradable container, the cap may include a stalk with an aperture therethrough.

The biodegradable container may further comprise a strap, the strap retained by the aperture.

In the biodegradable container, the cap may be a second bio-plug.

FIGURES

Figure 1 is a schematic of the light wand of the present technology.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view through line 2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top view of the bio-plug of the light wand of Figure 1.

Figure 4A is a side view of the cap of the light wand of Figure 1; Figure 4B is a longitudinal sectional view of the cap of the light wand of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the light wand of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the light wand of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a schematic of the kit of the present technology.

DESCRIPTION

Except as otherwise expressly provided, the following rules of interpretation apply to this specification (written description and claims): (a) all words used herein shall be construed to be of such gender or number (singular or plural) as the circumstances require; (b) the singular terms "a", "an", and "the", as used in the specification and the appended claims include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise; (c) the antecedent term "about" applied to a recited range or value denotes an approximation within the deviation in the range or value known or expected in the art from the measurements method; (d) the words "herein", "hereby", "hereof", "hereto", "hereinbefore", and "hereinafter", and words of similar import, refer to this specification in its entirety and not to any particular paragraph, claim or other subdivision, unless otherwise specified; (e) descriptive headings are for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any part of the specification; and (f) "or" and "any" are not exclusive and "include" and "including" are not limiting. Further, the terms "comprising," "having," "including," and "containing" are to be construed as open ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted.

Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. Where a specific range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is included therein. All smaller sub ranges are also included. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges are also included therein, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the relevant art. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used, the acceptable methods and materials are now described.

Definitions:

Natural hydrocolloid - in the context of the present technology, a natural hydrocolloid one that is derived from living organisms and is a substance that can gel when combined with water and is defined as a type of mechanical mixture where one substance is dispersed evenly throughout a water-containing liquid. Many hydrocolloids can change their physical behavior and characteristics with the addition or elimination of heat and have the ability to thicken and form gels at low concentrations. Hydrocolloids are generally polysaccharides (complex sugars), and when dissolved in water, forms a layer of water with restricted movement as a result of the water being attracted to the sugar molecules. This restriction of water movement gives hydrocolloids their ability to gel. Different hydrocolloids have different physical properties and different chemical properties such as molecular size, charge, and the distribution and composition of different side chains along the main sugar chain. These differences result in different gelling behaviors. Types of natural hydrocolloids include agar, pectin, carrageenan, gelatin, corn starch, gellan gum, guar gum, gum arabic, isomalt, konjac, lecithin, locust bean gum, maltodextrin, methylcellulose, sodium alginate, xanthan gum, and tapioca. The preferred hydrocolloid is agar.

Natural syrup - in the context of the present technology, a natural syrup is plant-derived and has a dynamic viscosity above 1000 cps at room temperature. According to certain embodiments, the syrup has a dynamic viscosity above 100 cps at room temperature.

Detailed Description:

A light wand, generally referred to as 10 is shown in Figure 1. It has a tube 12 which is about 6 inches long and ½ inch in diameter, a plug 14 in a first port 16, a cap 18 in a second port 20 and contains paired bioluminescence tablets 22 in the bore 24. Also housed in the bore 24 are anthocyanin microcapsules 25. A leather strap 26 is attached to the light wand 10. The tube 12 is made from a water-based liquid, syrup, sugar, and agar. It is compostable. The tube 12 is made from a pre-process (i.e. the starting material prior to beginning the process of making the edible material) mixture of about 25%-50% by weight and all ranges therebetween, syrup, about 25%-45% by weight and all ranges therebetween, sugar, and about 0.5%-5% by weight, and all ranges therebetween, agar and the rest water. In addition to or as an alternative to anthocyanin microcapsules 25, the water-based liquid is preferably a plant-based juice, or includes a plant-based juice, for example, but not limited to beet juice to provide red light, carrot juice to provide yellow light and combinations of juices to provide other colours of light. As would be known to one skilled in the art, it is the plant pigments that impart the colour. Plant concentrates may also be used to provide the pigment.

During the process of making the tube 12, water may be lost to evaporation (e.g., by cooking/boiling and/or by natural or forced drying). Therefore, the water content by weight in the post-cooking form of the tube 12 may be less than the pre-process water content by weight. In some embodiments, up to 35% of the pre-process water amount (i.e., the water portion of the water-based liquid) is lost. In some embodiments, from about 15%-30% of the pre-process water amount is lost. In some embodiments, from about 20%-28% of the pre-process water amount is lost. In some embodiments, from 22%-25% of the pre-process water amount is lost. The post- cooking water loss described above reflects the final water content of the tube 12.

The anthocyanin microcapsules 25 are a mixture of anthocyanins and maltodextrin, which is then freeze-dried to produce a matrix of maltodextrin and anthocyanin (Degradation kinetics of anthocyanins in freeze-dried microencapsulates from lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium Alton) and prediction of shelf-life, Giovana Bonat Celli, Rojin Dibazar, Amyl Ghanem & Marianne Su-Ling Brooks Journal Drying Technology An International Journal

Volume 34, 2016 - Issue lOPages 1175-1184 Published online: 22 Jun 2016 https://doi.org/10.1080/07373937.2015.1099546.)

The tube 12, in an alternative embodiment, may be made from one or more of nitrocellulose and bacterial cellulose. It is compostable. As shown in Figure 2, the sidewall 28 of the tube 12 is about l/16 ^th inch to about l/8 ^th inch in width. This width was determined, through experimentation, to provide: sufficient resiliency to resist being crushed or punctured; a sufficient long life span once exposed to fluid for a user to use, for example, 12 hours; and a sufficiently short life span once exposed to fluid to swell and lose shape, for example about 24 to about 48 hours. The tube is manufactured as a length of tubing that is cut to the desired length, which in the preferred embodiment is 6 inches.

The first tablet of the paired bioluminescence tablets 22 is composed of a light generating enzyme and the second tablet of the paired bioluminescence tablets 22 is composed of a bioluminescence-generating system. In the preferred embodiment the paired bioluminescence tablets are a luciferase-luciferin pair. The paired bioluminescence tablets 22 are provided with a suitable carrier, cofactors and the like as would be known to one skilled in the art. The paired bioluminescence tables 22 are preferably ReLume ^® from Biotoy ^® https://www.biotov.com/en/tovs/.

As shown in Figure 3, the plug 14 is a bio-plug. The preferred plug 14 is composed of a fungal mycelium 30 and a substrate 32, for example, but not limited wood chips (including all varieties of wood), coffee chaff, straw, rice husks and grain. The preferred fungus is Ganoderma mycelium. Other fungal mycelium that can be used include, for example, but not limited to Ganoderma lucidum, Ganoderma tsugae, Pleurotus, Glomus intraradices, Glomus mosseae, Glomus aggregatum, Glomus etunicatus, Glomus mosseae, Rhizopogon luteolus, Glomus aggregatum, Rhizopogon amylopogon Glomus etunicatum, Rhizopogon fulvigleba, Glomus deserticola, Pisolithus tinctorius, Glomus monosporum, Suillus granulatus, Glomus clarum, Laccaria bicolor, Paraglomus brasilianum, Laccaria laccata, Gigaspora margarita, Scleroderma cepa, and Scleroderma citrinum. The plug 14 further contains seeds 34, for example, but not limited to, grass seed, as this provides remediation of the grass at the event. The plug 14 has a beeswax layer 36 around the circumference 38 to provide a natural product water-proof seal. The plug 14 is sized to fit snugly in the first port 16 of the tube 12.

The cap 18 is sized to fit snugly in the second port end 20 of the tube 12. As shown in Figure 4A, the cap includes an aperture 48 on a stalk 50. The leather strap 26 is attached to the aperture 48. The cap 18 is preferably a metal such as pewter and is designed to be a souvenir. It may, include a logo 52 specific to an event. As shown in Figure 4B, the cap 18 further includes a concavity 54. Seeds 34 are housed in the concavity 54. The mouth 56 of the concavity 54 is sealed with a natural hydrocolloid seal 58. The seal depth is selected to allow the hydrocolloid to be easily ruptured, or punctured. The preferred seed 34 is grass seed, as this provides further remediation of the grass at the event.

In an alternative embodiment shown in Figure 5, the paired bioluminescence tablets 22 are encased in a water-proof, friable shell 102 and the bore 24 of the light wand 10 retains both the water-proof shell 102 and fluid 104. The fluid may include at least one plant-based pigment. It is contemplated that a combination of pigment in the tube 12 and pigment in the fluid 104 may contribute to the colour of light emitted.

In an alternative embodiment, the tube 12 is composed of the non-hydrocolloidal SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast).

In an alternative embodiment shown in Figure 6, the cap is a second plug 110, the plug again being a bio-plug.

As shown in Figure 7, the light wand 10 may be provided as a kit, generally referred to as 200. The kit 200 includes a plurality of light wands 10, a plant-based pigment coloured fluid 202, which is retained in a biodegradable, non-water soluble vessel 204 with a releasable closure 206 and instructions 208.

In an alternative embodiment, the tube 12 is a biodegradable plastic polymer.

In use, a user removes the cap of the light wand and pours water or other suitable fluid, for example a buffer, or a fluid that includes at least one plant-based pigment into the bore, as needed. In the alternative embodiment, the user shakes the light wand until the water-proof shell is broken. The user then recaps the light wand as needed and gently agitates the fluids to allow for dissolution of the tablets. The bioluminescence is emitted through the tube. The colour of the light will depend upon the colour of the pigment in the tube and/or in the fluid, if there is any pigment added to the tube or the fluid. Once the bioluminescence is expended, the tube continues to absorb the fluid, becoming distended and distorted. The user may remove the cap if it is metal, or, if it is a second bio-plug, may leave the light wand intact. The bio-plug absorbs the fluid and the mycelium begin to grow and the seeds begin to germinate.

While example embodiments have been described in connection with what is presently considered to be an example of a possible most practical and/or suitable embodiment, it is to be understood that the descriptions are not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the example embodiment. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific example embodiments specifically described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed in the scope of the claims, if appended hereto or subsequently filed.