TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to soaps and sunscreen, and in particular, soap with sunscreen properties.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun are known for causing sun burns and skin cancer. To protect against sunburns and skin cancer, sunscreen is applied to the skin before excessive exposure to the sun. Sunscreen can be applied as a spray or as a cream or oil. Sprays are convenient in that the user’s hands are not left greasy or oily; however, when the wind blows, the spray can travel to those nearby. In addition, the amount applied may not be sufficient. Furthermore, there can be environmental issues depending on the nature of the spray.

[0003] Creams and lotions do not have the disadvantages of sprays, but the user’s hands can be left creamy or oily, and therefore, users may wish to wash their hands after applying the sunscreen, especially if they intend on eating shortly thereafter. When at the beach, lake, river, mountains, and the like, a convenient location for washing hands may not be available. In addition, because creams and oils require application by hand, the user is likely to need to squeeze the sunscreen container multiple times resulting in the sunscreen container becoming creamy and oily. Furthermore, as the amount of sunscreen in the container comes to an end, squeezing the sunscreen container can create a mess as users tend to accidentally squirt sunscreen on the floor or walls.

[0004] For the foregoing reasons there is a need for another vehicle for applying sunscreen that will not interfere with others, is easy to apply, easy to clean up, and does not create a mess.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention is directed to new mode for sunscreen application, namely, in the form of soap. The soap of the present application is a protective soap bar that does more than cleanse the skin. It is a cleansing agent and protectant in one product. While ordinary soaps can strip skin of essential nutrients, the soap of the present application has mild cleansers to care for skin as it cleans and protects from UV damage, which could lead to cancer and premature aging of the skin. The protective ingredients of the soap of the present application leaves the face and body feeling soft, smooth and more radiant than ordinary soap, while adding a necessary layer of UV protection and moisture.

[0006] In one aspect of the present invention, soap can be mixed with zinc oxide. In another aspect of the present invention, the soap can be mixed with titanium dioxide. In another aspect of the present invention, the soap is melted and re-formulated with the zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. In another aspect of the present invention, a tint can be added to the formulation to match the color of a user’s skin. In another aspect of the present invention, a fragrance can be added to the formulation.

[0007] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0008] The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently-preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0009] The invention of the present application is a sunscreen soap that provides sunscreen protection. As such, the sunscreen soap comprises a soap and a sunscreen compound incorporated into the soap. The soap can be any type of soap, preferably, a glycerin based soap. The soap can be in the form of a bar of soap or liquid soap. Preferably, the soap is a bar of soap. In the preferred embodiment, the soap can comprise glycerin in an amount of about 0.6 percent to about 1.3 percent by weight of the total composition. Preferably, glycerin is present in an amount of about 0.8 percent to about 1.0 percent of the total composition.

[0010] The sunscreen compound can be any compound, organic or inorganic (e.g. , mineral) that protects against the harmful rays of the sun by, for example, absorbing harmful UV rays or reflecting harmful UV rays, or a combination of both. For example, the sunscreen compound can be an organic chemical that absorbs ultraviolet light or an inorganic compound that reflects the UV rays of the sun. [0011] Examples of sunscreen compounds that can be used in the present invention include p-amino benzoic acid, padimate O, phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid, cinoxate, dioxybenzone, oxybenzone, homosalate, menthyl anthranilate, octocrylene, octyl methoxycinnamate, octyl salicylate, sulisobenzone, trolamine salicylate, avobenzone, ecamsule (such as that sold under the tradename Mexoryl®), titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol (such as that sold under the tradename Parsol®), bemotrizinol (such as that sold under the tradename Tinosorb® S), bisoctrizole (such as that sold under the tradename Tinosorb® M), tris-biphenyl triazine (such as that sold under the tradename Tinosorb® A2B), octyl methoxycinnamate (such as that sold under the tradename Tinosorb® OMC), bisdisulizole disodium (such as that sold under the tradename Neo Heliopan®), benzophenone-9, diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate, ethylhexyl triazone, iscotrizinol (such as that sold under the tradename Uvasorb®), polysilicone (such as that sold under the tradename Parsol® SLX), and amiloxate, and the like.

[0012] In the preferred embodiment, the sunscreen compound is titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. The titanium dioxide and zinc oxide can be nanoscale titanium oxide or nanoscale zinc oxide. The sunscreen soap can comprise the sunscreen compound at about 0.05 percent to about 15 percent by weight of the total composition of the soap. Preferably, the sunscreen soap comprises sunscreen compound at about 1 percent to about 12 percent by weight of the total composition of the soap. More preferably, the sunscreen soap comprises sunscreen compound at about 5 percent to about 10 percent by weight of the total composition of the soap.

[0013] In some embodiments, a tint can be added to change the color of the soap. For example, the tint can be natural mineral pigment in burnt umber, light yellow ochre, natural umber cpr, and the like, in any variations, to achieve any shade of skin. As such, the user can select the soap bar that most closely matches the user’s skin tone to hide the fact that the user is wearing sunscreen. With typical sunscreen, oftentimes white patches and streaks are left on the user when the sunscreen is not rubbed in well. The tint can be present in the sunscreen soap in an amount from about 0.1 percent to about 2.0 percent by weight. Preferably, the tint can be present in the sunscreen soap in an amount from about 0.3 percent to about 1.5 percent by weight. More preferably the tint can be present in the sunscreen soap in an amount from about 0.5 percent to about 1.0 percent.

[0014] In some embodiments, a fragrance can be added to make the user smell nice. The fragrance can be any type of fragrance, preferably, in liquid form, that can be mixed in with the soap. The fragrance can be present in the sunscreen soap in an amount from about 0.1 percent to about 2.0 percent by weight. Preferably, the fragrance can be present in the sunscreen soap in an amount from about 0.3 percent to about 1.5 percent by weight. More preferably the fragrance can be present in the sunscreen soap in an amount from about 0.5 percent to about 1.0 percent by weight.

[0015] To manufacture the sunscreen soap of the present invention, a bar of soap can be heated until it melts into a liquefied form. Once the soap bar is melted, the sunscreen compound can be added to the liquefied soap and mixed into a sunscreen soap solution. The sunscreen soap solution can be poured into a mold and cooled to harden into a sunscreen soap bar. In some embodiments, before cooling, a tint and/or a fragrance can be added.

[0016] In some embodiments, rather than starting with a solid soap bar, the sunscreen compound can be added during the soap manufacturing process. As such, in another embodiment, an oil can be mixed with an alkali and a sunscreen compound to create a pre-soap solution. Saponification can proceed in the presence of the sunscreen compound to form the sunscreen soap, i.e., soap containing the sunscreen compound. To accelerate the saponification process, heat can be added to the pre-soap solution. In some embodiments, a tint and/or fragrance can be added to the pre-soap solution.

[0017] In some embodiments, the oil may be in solid or semi-solid form. In such case, heat should be applied to melt the oil into liquid form before the alkali is added to the oil.

[0018] By way of example only, about a pound of a glycerin based soap bar can be heated to melt the soap bar. About 0.0652 pound of zinc oxide can be added slowly to form a sunscreen soap solution until evenly blended. The sunscreen soap solution can be poured into a mold, such as a silicone mold, until the sunscreen soap solution cools and hardens into a soap bar, and then bathe or wash the skin or hair with warm or cold water as desired. Optionally, about 0.00781 pound of any approved liquid fragrance added before the sunscreen soap solution cools into the sunscreen soap bar. Optionally, a tint can be added to the sunscreen soap solution to change the color of the soap bar. For example, about 0.00607 pound of natural mineral pigment in burnt umber, light yellow ochre, natural umber cpr, in any variation, can be added to achieve any shade of skin tone.

[0019] Preferably, organic ingredients can used. Using these combinations any combination of a scented or fragrance-free soap bar ranging from white sunscreen soap to any shade of tan to brown color for a spectrum of sun protection custom tailored to any skin tone.

[0020] In use, the user can take a shower, bath, or wash the area of interest with the sunscreen soap. As such, the user can wet the area of the skin to be protected, preferably with warm or cool water, and lather the skin with the sunscreen soap. The user can lather the skin for at least approximately 5 seconds. Preferably, the user lathers the skin with the sunscreen soap for at least approximately 10 seconds. More preferably, the user lathers the skin with the sunscreen soap for at least approximately 20 seconds or more. Once the skin is lathered the user can allow the soap to remain on the skin for additional time up to 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds or more. In preferred embodiments, the soap can be left on the skin for about 1 minute to about 5 minutes, or any time period therebetween. The user can then rinse the skin with water or pat the skin dry. A residue will remain on the skin which provides sun protection.

[0021] In some embodiment, UV protection varies with application, but has been tested to have a sun protection factor (SPF) between about SPF 10 to about SPF 45 depending on length of washing time, water-temperature and composition. Tap and thermal water in ideal conditions can offer up to an SPF of about 50, while unfiltered ocean water is considerably less. The user should avoid scrubbing, with any water source which could cause irritation.

[0022] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims appended hereto.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY [0023] This invention may be industrially applied to the development, manufacture, and use of soaps containing sunscreen components so that when a user washes with the soap, the user automatically or inherently applies sunscreen to the user’s body while washing.