Patent Application
20240239996
The present invention generally relates to embellishments, and, more particularly, to composition and method for forming decorative beads.
Embellishments, such as beads are frequently used to decorate items such as jewelry, clothes, homes, etc. The beads are generally made of synthetic materials such as petroleum plastics and synthetic resins. These materials are not readily biodegradable and may deposit as microplastics causing environmental pollution. Further, beads are generally strung or woven, or embroidered by hand to create a simple beadwork project/pattern. Complex beadwork may take weeks of meticulous work with specialized tools and equipment. However, bead weaving is a time-consuming process and requires a high degree of precision to make knots while inserting strings through the beads.
Therefore, there is a need for an alternate raw material to form the beads, and a method to weave the beads. Few existing patent application attempts to address the problems cited in the background as prior art over the presently disclosed subject matter and are explained as follows.
U.S. Ser. No. 11/331,639 assigned to Vera Tchakalova et al. entitled “hydrogel beads” discloses a method for preparing crystalline hydrogel beads. The beads are made of a three-dimensional network of biopolymer chains and an aqueous phase/solution that fills the space between macromolecules. The method involves mixing a continuous phase comprising water and a biopolymer and an internal phase comprising an oil phase and a hydrophobic active ingredient, to form a dispersion.
US20080138416 assigned to Francis Rauh et al. entitled “Method and systems for using biopolymer-based beads and hydrogels” disclose a method and system for using biopolymer-based beads and hydrogel composition. The composition comprising of biopolymers such as alginates and cell attachment peptides. The biopolymer bead includes a bead core of a surface geometry that is spherical, elliptical, and round in shape. The core includes a chitosan film and peptides which are dispersed with alginate polymers. However, the existing prior arts lack to provide an effective composition and method to form and weave biodegradable beads.
Therefore, there is a need for a composition and method to form biodegradable beads. Further, there is a need for a method to weave the beads without intense physical labor.
The present invention discloses a composition and method of forming beads. The composition comprises low methoxyl pectin, sodium alginate, glycerin, and nano z coating. The composition further optionally comprises at least one coloring agent. The coloring agent is selected from the group including natural dye, cellulose nanocrystals, photochromic powder, and green fluorescent protein. In one embodiment, the composition comprises of at least one coloring agent mixed with water totaling to about 200 ml. In another embodiment, the composition comprises low methoxyl pectin of about 3 g, sodium alginate of about 3 g, glycerin of about 5 ml, and nano z coating of about 10 ml.
In one embodiment, the method of forming beads is disclosed. At one step, a first homogenous mixture is formed by mixing low methoxyl pectin, alginate powder, glycerin, and nano z coating liquid. The method of forming the first mixture involves the steps of: using a blender at stir mode for a period of about 10 seconds, and mixing low methoxyl pectin and alginate powder using the blender at stir mode for a period of about 40 seconds; adding and mixing glycerin to a mixture of the pectin and alginate powder at stir mode for a period of about 10 seconds; blending a mixture of glycerin, low methoxyl pectin and alginate powder for a period of about 30 seconds with an interval for a period of about 5 secs for a predefined number of times to form the homogeneous mixture, and adding and mixing nano z coating liquid to the homogeneous mixture at the stir mode for a period of 10 seconds.
At another step, the bubbles from the first mixture are removed by keeping the first mixture at rest for a predefined period. At yet another step, calcium chloride is mixed water to form 3% calcium chloride solution (also referred as a second mixture. At yet another step, the first mixture is added to the second mixture in drops to form instant sodium alginate-pectin beads. The formed beads are in moist condition.
At yet another step, the beads are woven in moist condition. The method of weaving the beads in moist conditions comprises the steps of: folding a string having a first end and a second end at the middle to form two halves of string; stringing at least four beads through the first end of the string, wherein the beads are in moist condition; passing the second end of the string through a fourth bead so that the fourth bead has at least two strings passing through and forms a closed loop of beads; forming a plurality of closed loop of beads, and drying the beads to shrink the beads and create a negative space between the beads, wherein the negative space forms a mesh-like appearance to the plurality of loop of beads.
At yet another step, the beads are woven using a mold. The mold is composed of a first mold section and a second mold section. The first mold section comprises a plurality of spaced-apart first grooves and the second mold section comprises a plurality of spaced-apart second grooves. The position of the second grooves aligns with the position of the first grooves and defines an enclosure when the second mold section is assembled over the first mold section. The mold further comprises at least one long hollow section formed along the length of the mold that connects the plurality of enclosures. The method of weaving beads using the mold comprises the steps of: providing the mold; passing the string through the hollow section to position the string at the enclosure of the mold, filling the enclosure or cavities with the first homogeneous mixture, and filling the enclosure with the second mixture such that the second mixture encloses the first mixture to form and mold a succession of instant sodium alginate-pectin beads on the string. In one embodiment, the enclosure is coated with nano z coating. The nano z coating repels the first homogenous mixture from the surface of the enclosure to form the spherical bead around the string.
At yet another step, at least one sheet made of alginate-pectin material is formed. The method of forming the sheet comprises the steps of: pouring the first homogenous mixture on a flat surface; spraying the second mixture over the first homogenous mixture on the flat surface to solidify the homogenous mixture; removing the excess second mixture from the first homogeneous mixture, by tapping or dabbing the solidified, homogenous mixture with a paper towel to absorb any excess liquid, and drying the first homogenous mixture to form the sheet made of alginate-pectin material.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present innovation will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating specific embodiments of the innovation, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the innovation will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the innovation, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the innovation, exemplary constructions of the innovation are shown in the drawings. However, the innovation is not limited to the specific methods and structures disclosed herein. The description of a method step or a structure referenced by a numeral in a drawing is applicable to the description of that method step or structure shown by that same numeral in any subsequent drawing herein.
A description of embodiments of the present innovation will now be given with reference to the Figures. It is expected that the present innovation may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.
The present invention discloses a composition and method for forming beads. The composition comprises low methoxyl pectin, sodium alginate, glycerin, and nano z coating. The composition further comprises a combination of coloring agent and water. In one embodiment, the composition comprises low methoxyl pectin of about 3 g, sodium alginate of about 3 g, glycerin of about 5 ml, nano z coating of about 10 ml, dye of about 200 ml and a combination of coloring agent and water totaling of about 200 ml.
The composition further comprises at least one coloring agent. In one embodiment, the coloring agent comprises a natural dye. The natural dye, includes but is not limited to, charcoal, cochineal, turmeric, and green and blue spirulina algae. In another embodiment, the coloring agent comprises cellulose nanocrystals. The cellulose nanocrystals are made by upcycling textile waste. For example, the textile waste includes, but is not limited to, cotton-based fabrics, and denim-based fabrics. The beads are coated with cellulose nanocrystal powder to provide a naturally iridescent shine, which creates an interactive experience for the user. In yet another embodiment, the coloring agent comprises of a green fluorescent protein. The green fluorescent protein is extracted from a protein isolated from jellyfish. The green fluorescent protein is encapsulated within the beads to make them appear bioluminescent under the UV light. In yet another embodiment, the coloring agent comprises at least 3% of the photochromic powder. The photochromic powder causes the beads to change color upon interacting with sunlight and to glow in the dark environment. The beads could be used to replace exfoliants/microbeads in cosmetics. Optionally, the composition further includes collagen derived from gelatin, vitamins, and probiotic bacteria to provide benefits to the wearer.
The mixture is blended until the pectin and alginate powder are fully dissolved to form a homogenous solution. In this example, the mixture is blended at least 8 times. Further, the blender is changed to stir mode, and nano Z coating liquid is added and mixed to the mixture of glycerin, low methoxyl pectin, and alginate powder using the blender at stir mode for a period of about, for example, 10 seconds. The nano Z coating liquid makes the first mixture water-resistant. The mixture comprises of bubbles with a cloudy appearance. Thus, at step 104, the first mixture is kept at rest for a predefined period of time, which enables the bubbles to dissolve, and the formation of a clear and translucent first mixture. Further, the water from the mixture also evaporates while the mixture is at rest, for example, within a period of about 9 hours at room temperature. In an example, the mixture could be stored in a container having a number of pores on the lid to facilitate the evaporation of water. The evaporation of water from the first mixture helps to reduce the shrinkage of beads.
At step 106, 3% calcium chloride and water are mixed to form a second mixture. The calcium chloride of about 3 percent and water at room temperature is stirred for a predefined number of times, for example, 87 times. The second mixture is stirred gently for a predefined number of times, for example, 60 times, and the pace is gradually increased for the last 27 stirs.
At step 108, the first mixture is added in drops to the second mixture to form instant sodium alginate-pectin beads. The sodium alginate provides structure to the beads and the low methoxyl pectin provides both structure and shine to the beads. The calcium chloride provides effective results for the spherification process. In another embodiment, calcium acetate, calcium carbonate, and calcium gluconate could be used in the reverse spherification process. The beads are disposed in an enclosed vessel and shaken for a time period of about, for example, 6 hours to form perfect circular beads. For example, the enclosed vessel may be a drum. The perfect circular beads could be used to replace exfoliants/microbeads in cosmetics. The beads could be loaded with vitamins, collegian, or probiotic bacteria to provide health benefits to the user when they rub the alginate-pectin exfoliants against their skin. Optionally, at least one coloring agent is added to the enclosed vessel along with the beads. In one embodiment, the coloring agent is cellulose nanocrystals. The cellulose nanocrystals provide an iridescent color to the beads without the use of any toxic chemicals.
Referring to
The mold 400 further comprises a hollow section 410 extending along an entire length of the mold 400. The hollow section 410 connects the plurality of enclosures. The hollow section 410 is provided to receive the string therein. The mold 400 further comprises of latches to secure the string at each end of the mold 400 and for creating tension to the string. The hollow section 410 is formed at the second mold section 404. Further, the enclosures are coated with nano z coating and left at rest for at least about 24 hours before using the mold 400.
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Advantageously, the present invention provides biodegradable and renewable beads. The beads could be used to replace exfoliants/microbeads in cosmetics. Furthermore, the beads could be loaded with vitamins, collegian, or probiotic bacteria to provide health benefits to the user when they rub the alginate-pectin exfoliants against their skin. Further, the beads of the present invention are made of natural ingredients, which is healing to produces, consumers, and the environment. Further, the beads of the present invention are lightweight and could be formed in number of colors serving as ideal replacements for exfoliants used in cosmetics. The beads also have bioluminescence characteristics to create interactive experience. Further, the present invention eliminates physical hazards to the workers by making the production, embroidery, and weaving method more time and labor efficient.
Preferred embodiments of this innovation are described herein, including the best mode known to the innovators for carrying out the innovation. It should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the innovation.
The foregoing description comprises illustrative embodiments of the present innovation. Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present innovation, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the disclosures within this document are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present innovation. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other embodiments of the innovation will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this innovation pertains having the benefit of the teachings in the foregoing descriptions. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used only in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present innovation is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein.
