US 5,972,987 A · Method for removing nits from hair

Abstract

A method for removing lice eggs from the hair of an infested human or animal using a nit-visualizing composition. The composition involves the use of certain dyes which have an affinity to the surface of nits, to thereby enable a second individual to more easily see and remove the eggs during a combing or other removal process. To effectuate this purpose, a colored material is dispersed within a water- or alcohol-based solvent and, in one embodiment, a liquefied propellant as well. The composition is applied to the hair of the infested human or animal, and then removed after drying by a process of brushing or washing. However, the colored material which adsorbs to the chitinous exoskeleton and binding cement of the lice eggs remains on the nits, thereby facilitating visual identification and removal of the lice eggs from hair.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A method for identifying and removing lice eggs from the hair of an infested human or animal comprising the steps of:

applying a nit-visualizing composition to the hair of the infested human or animal, said nit-visualizing composition comprising:
a solvent which represents about 85% to about 99.9% of said nit-visualizing composition by weight;
and
a colored material dispersed in said solvent, said colored material capable of being adsorbed to the chitinous exoskeleton and binding cement of lice eggs thereby facilitating visual identification and removal of the lice eggs from hair, and wherein said colored material may be removed from the hair without removing said colored material from the chitinous exoskeleton and binding cement of the lice eggs;
and
removing the identified lice eggs from the hair of the infested human.

3 more elements

A method for removing lice eggs from the hair of an infested human or animal, said method comprising the steps of:

applying a nit-visualizing composition to the hair of the infested human or animal by means of a pressurized spray container, said nit-visualizing composition comprising, under pressure:
a liquefied propellant representing about 10% to about 90% by weight of said nit-visualizing composition;
a solvent, said solvent and said liquefied propellant together representing about 85% to about 99.9% by weight of said nit-visualizing composition;
a lubricant;
a plasticizer;
a polymer;
a fragrance;
and
a colored material dispersed in said liquefied propellant and said solvent, said colored material representing about 0.001% to about 0.50% by weight of said nit-visualizing composition, said colored material capable of being adsorbed to the chitinous exoskeleton and binding cement of lice eggs thereby facilitating visual identification and removal of the lice eggs from hair, and wherein said colored material may be removed from the hair of said human or animal without removing said colored material from the chitinous exoskeleton and binding cement of the lice eggs;
removing said nit-visualizing composition from the hair of the infested human or animal;
identifying the lice eggs in the hair of the infested human or animal;
and
removing the identified lice eggs from the hair of the infested human or animal.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for removing nits from hair

Life of this patent

Method for removing nits from hair

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23