Patent ID: 6015547
Filing Date: 2000-01-18
Classification: A61K,A61Q,C11D

Abstract:
A storage clarity-stable aqueous or aqueous/alcoholic solution of zinc ions in the presence of at least one of bicarbonate and carbonate ions comprising:(a) a zinc salt of a first anion which salt is selected from the group consisting of(i) salts of zinc with one or more of said first anion, including mixed first anion salts thereof, said first anion being selected from the group consisting of(1) chloride, sulfate, monophosphate, pyrophosphate, metaphosphate, tripolyphosphate, tettametaphosphate, orthophosphate, and(2) organic carboxylic acid anions selected from the group consisting of gluconate, tartrate, fumarate, maleate, malonate, malate, lactate, citrate, EDTA, citraconate, citramalate, stearate, oleate, laurate, octoate ascorbate, picolinate, and orotate, and(ii) salts of mixed alkali metal zinc or mixed magnesium zinc with said first anion;(b) a salt of a first metal and a second anion; said first metal being selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and magnesium; and said second anion being selected from the group consisting of(i) carboxylic acids selected from the group consisting of tartrate, funarate, maleate, malonate, malate, citraconate, citramalate, lactate, citrate, and EDTA, and(ii) phosphates selected from the group consisting of pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate;(c) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal bicarbonates, alkali metal carbonates, magnesium bicaarbonate, and magnesium carbonate;(d) a solvent therefor, said solvent comprising:(i) a major proportion of water;(ii) optionally a minor amount of a lower alkyl monohydric alcohol; and(iii) optionally a minor amount of a humectant having at least 3 hydroxy groups;(e) optionally one or more acceptable antibacterial agents;(f) optionally one or more acceptable viscosity enhancers;(g) optionally one or more sweeteners;(h) optionally one of more flavors;(i) optionally one or more colors; and(j) optionally one or more acceptable fragrances;said zinc salt being present in an amount A sufficient to yield a zinc ion concentration of from about 0.01 to about 2 weight %;said salt of said second anion present in an amount B, which in combination with any of said second anion present from other components of said solution, is sufficient to provide a total second anion concentration of at least 1.2 equivalents per equivalent of zinc ion;said compound being present in an amount of C equivalents, which is no greater than the sum of(a) (6).times.(the number of equivalents of said pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate); and(b) {(3.sup.(n-1))/(2.sup.m)}.times.(the number of equivalents of said second anions which are carboxylic acids), where n is the number of carboxyl groups and m is the number of basic nitrogens;whereby the interaction of solubilized zinc ions and solubilized bicarbonate and carbonate ions to form insoluble zinc carbonate(s) is substantially reduced relative to that which would occur in the same formulation in the absence of said second anion in the amounts set forth above.