The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 06, 1993
Filed:
Mar. 25, 1991
John M Pawelek, Hamden, CT (US);
Seth J Orlow, Long Island City, NY (US);
Yale University, New Haven, CT (US);
Abstract
A melanin that is soluble in an aqueous solution at a pH of at least 5 to 9 at a temperature of 0 to 100.degree. C. The melanin is further characterized by being capable of being filtered through at least a 0.45 micron size filter. Still further, the melanin is characterized by having a molecular weight of greater than 10,000 kilodaltons. The melanin is useful for providing a naturally-appearing tan to mammalian skin and hair. Such melanin can be produced by combining dopachrome and 5,6-dihydroxyindole (or allowing dopachrome to spontaneously form 5,6-dihydroxyindole) and an appropriate enzyme or by combining 5,6-dihydroxyindole and 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid or by incubating 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid alone. The melanin is also useful for providing a sun-screen to mammalian skin and hair, to treat post-inflammatory hypo- and hyperpigmentation, to tint glass and plastic, to protect industrial materials against ultraviolet damage, and as a coloring agent in foodstuffs such as coffee, tea, soda, whiskey and liquors.