Nail polish remover

A nail polish remover composition comprising aliphatic dibasic esters and alkali refined soybean oil. Preferably, the composition may further include a thickener to make the composition a non-pourable gel. The composition may further include fragrances and color additives for final product aesthetics.

BACKGROUND
 1. Field of the Invention
 The invention relates to nail polish removers and, more particularly, to
 nail polish removers having good polish dissolving and removal
 characteristics, skin conditioning properties, low volatility, low
 flammability, low odor, in addition to being easy to clean up.
 2. Background of the Related Art
 Finger and toe nail polishes are typically lacquers. Nail polish removal
 requires a composition that dissolves dried lacquer. Many compositions are
 known which are useful in removing laquer from fingernails or toenails.
 These compositions depend upon the solvent action of acetone or other
 solvents to soften or dissolve the laquer. Acetone is a flammable and
 toxic substance that rapidly evaporates and emits a characteristic odor.
 Acetone is also toxic, penetrates skin and can leave a difficult to remove
 white residue on the cleaned nail. The other solvents used, including but
 not limited to ethyl acetate, and combinations including ethylene and/or
 propylene carbonate or diethers and diesters, have certain undesirable
 effects similar to that of acetone.
 Numerous attempts have been made to develop polish removers that avoid the
 problems of known removers and there is still a need for improved nail
 polish removers.
 An object of the invention is to provide a nail polish remover that has
 improved polish removal characteristics, skin conditioning properties, low
 volatility, low flammability, low odor, in addition to being easy to clean
 up.
 A further object of the invention is to provide a nail polish removing
 composition that is a non-pourable gel.
 These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent
 through the detailed description of the invention that follows hereunder.
 BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The invention relates to a nail polish remover composition in which
 aliphatic dibasic esters and alkali refined soybean oil are mixed to
 produce a base to which other ingredients including but not limited to
 thickeners, fragrances and color additives can be added and in which the
 final composition has improved nail polish removal characteristics, skin
 conditioning properties, low volatility, low flammability, low odor, in
 addition to being easy to clean up.

DESCRIPTION
 The composition of the present invention is preferably used as a nail
 polish remover.
 The easy to use, easy to make composition is made by mixing generally
 soybean oil and aliphatic dibasic esters. Fragrances and/or color
 additives can be added to the nail polish remover composition for product
 aesthetics. The nail polish remover composition may be further modified by
 the addition of a thickener to create a non-pourable gel.
 Soybean oil has skin conditioning properties that tend to alleviate the
 drying effect that solvents have on the skin, nail and cuticle of the
 user. Suitable soybean oils are those derived from alkali refined single
 or double pressed soybeans having carbon-hydrogen chain lengths in the
 range of between eight and twenty-two carbon atoms, C.sub.8-C.sub.22.
 Aliphatic dibasic ester is a clear, colorless liquid produced from dibasic
 acids. Suitable aliphatic dibasic esters include mixtures of refined
 dimethyl esters of adipic acid, glutaric acid, and succinic acid. The
 suitable aliphatic dibasic esters have strong and selective solvency, good
 stability, low vapor pressure, low toxicity and relatively non-facile skin
 penetration. The suitable aliphatic dibasic esters have the following
 formula: CH300C(CH2)n-COOCH3, where n=2, 3 and 4. Especially suitable is a
 mixture of 55-65% dimethyl glutarate, 10-25% dimethyl adipate and 15-25%
 dimethyl succinate available commercially from E. I. du Pont de Nemours
 and Company.
 Suitable thickeners include hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. Especially
 suitable is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose available commercially from The
 DOW Chemical Company.
 Suitable color additives, such as FD&C Red #3 Powder No. 07007, may be
 added to the nail polish remover composition for product aesthetics. FD&C
 Red #3 Powder No. 07007 is available commercially from Prime Ingredient
 Systems, Inc. of Saddle Brook, N.J.
 Suitable fragrances, such as Odor Modifier #10131.OS Apricot, may be added
 to the nail polish remover composition for product aesthetics. Odor
 Modifier #10131.OS Apricot is available commercially from Odor Control
 Co., Inc. of Scottsdale, Ariz.
 The improved nail polish remover composition consists of a mixture, by
 weight proportion, of between about 70% and about 99% of a mixture of
 aliphatic dibasic esters, and between about 1% and about 30% alkali
 refined soybean oil.
 In an alternative embodiment, thickener is added to the nail polish remover
 composition, by weight proportion, in an amount from 0 to about 10%, to
 produce a non-pourable nail polish remover gel with a kinematic velocity
 of greater than 50,000 centipoise.
 Optionally, there may be color additives added to the nail polish remover
 composition, by weight proportion, in an amount from 0 to about 1%.
 Optionally, there may be fragrances added to the nail polish remover
 composition, by weight proportion, in an amount from 0 to about 1%.
 The nail polish remover composition of the present invention has low
 flammability, i.e., a flash point of greater than 212 degrees Fahrenheut,
 an evaporation rate that is between 200 and 1,200 times slower than that
 of acetone and is only a level 1 fire hazard.
 The nail polish remover composition of the present invention is not a
 hazardous substance under federal environmental law and is not subject to
 federal toxic release reporting requirements. The composition is also not
 subject to California's Proposition 65.
 One particularly suitable composition is identified below:

Ingredient % by Weight Ranges
 Aliphatic dibasic ester 92.49% 70-99%
 Alkali refined soybean oil 5.00% 1-30%
 Thickener 1.50% 0-10%
 FD&C Red #3 Powder No. 07007 0.01% 0-1%
 Odor Modifier #10131.OS Apricot 1.00% 0-1%
 Although said suitable composition represents a preferred composition,
 other compositions within the ranges set out above can be used.