Container comprising alcoholic compositions with visible active ingredients

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to at least partially transparent compositions intended for human or animal use and to the packaging of such compositions. One embodiment of the present invention relates to an at least partially transparent container containing an at least partially transparent aqueous alcoholic composition. The container comprises at least one polarizer that makes liquid crystals present in the composition visible.

1 . A container that is at least partially transparent comprising an at least partially transparent aqueous alcoholic composition, at least a part of a surface of the container is covered by at least one polarizer, and the composition comprises food grade crystals. 
     
     
         2 . Container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the container is made from a material selected from the group consisting of glass and plastics. 
     
     
         3 . Container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one polarizer is attached to an outer surface of the container. 
     
     
         4 . Container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one polarizer is an integral component of the container wall. 
     
     
         5 . Container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one polarizer is selected from the group consisting of absorptive polarizers, linear polarizers and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . Container in accordance with  claim 1  comprising more than one polarizer, wherein the directions of the polarizers differ from each other. 
     
     
         7 . Container in accordance with  claim 1  comprising an even number of polarizers, wherein the angle between the directions of polarizers located opposite to one another is identical for all polarizer pairs, whereas neighboring polarizers differ in direction. 
     
     
         8 . Container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the food grade liquid crystals are fibril assemblies. 
     
     
         9 . Container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the food grade liquid crystals comprise at least 0.04 mg/ml of the composition and have average dimensions of at least 400 nm in the a longest dimension. 
     
     
         10 . Container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the food grade liquid crystals are selected from the group consisting of thermotropic liquid crystals, lyotropic liquid crystals and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . Container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the food grade liquid crystals are present in a lyotropic liquid crystal phase selected from the group consisting of the discontinuous cubic phase, the hexagonal phase, the lamellar phase, the bicontinuous cubic phase, the reverse hexagonal columnar phase, the inverse cubic phase, or-and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . Container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the container and the composition together have a degree of transparency of at least 75% for at least a fraction of visible light. 
     
     
         13 . Container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least partially transparent composition is present in a liquid or gel form. 
     
     
         14 . Container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the food grade liquid crystals are present in a thermotropic liquid crystal phase selected from the group consisting of the nematic phase, the smectic phases, the chiral phases, the blue phases, the discotic phases, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . Container in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the fraction of visible light comprises violet light with a wavelength of 380-450 nm, blue light with a wavelength of 450-495 nm, green light with a wavelength of 495-570 nm, yellow light with a wavelength of 570-590 nm, orange light with a wavelength of 590-620 nm, and red light with a wavelength of 620-750 nm. 
     
     
         16 . Container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least partially transparent composition is selected from the group of consisting of alcoholic beverages, perfumes, eau de parfum, eau de toilette, after shaves, perfumes, eau de colognes, and skin care compositions.