Prior art

The U.S. Patent 12214225, titled "Methods for fixing hair and skin," was published on February 4, 2025, from an application filed on August 21, 2024. Its earliest priority date is August 1, 2013. The patent describes compositions, kits, and methods for repairing damaged disulfide bonds in hair or on the skin by using binding agents that form covalent bonds with free thiols. This treatment aims to provide long-lasting conditioning, improved appearance, increased dry strength, ease of combing, less hair breakage, and decreased frizz.

Without the specific claims of US12214225, it is not possible to definitively state which claims are potentially anticipated under 35 U.S.C. § 102. However, based on the problem statements and discussions of existing technologies within the US12214225 patent text, several cited patent documents are identified as relevant prior art. These documents generally relate to hair conditioning or styling processes and are discussed by US12214225 in the context of their limitations, which US12214225 aims to overcome.

Below are the most relevant patent citations, along with their details and potential areas of anticipation:

Most Relevant Prior Art for US12214225

1. U.S. Pat. No. 5,656,265 to Bailey et al.

   • Full Citation: US 5,656,265 B1, "Hair styling conditioning process," issued August 12, 1997.
   • Publication/Filing Date: The patent was granted on August 12, 1997, from an application filed on June 29, 1995.
   • Brief Description: This patent discloses a hair styling conditioning process used after treating hair with a reducing agent. The process involves contacting the hair with a compound having an electrophilic group and at least one hydrophobic group. The electrophilic groups react with thiol groups to provide hydrophobic groups on the hair.
   • Potential Anticipation (under 35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent directly addresses the treatment of hair with reducing agents and the subsequent reaction with thiol groups. US12214225 distinguishes itself by stating that "these conditioners do not bind the free thiols in hair together." Therefore, US 5,656,265 potentially anticipates methods of conditioning hair after a reducing treatment using electrophilic compounds that react with thiols to modify hair properties, but may lack the specific "binding together" of free thiols to form new, stable covalent bonds as described in US12214225. It could anticipate methods involving a compound with an electrophilic group for post-reduction hair treatment.

2. International Published Application WO 93/08787 to King et al.

   • Full Citation: WO 1993/008787 A1, "Shampoo compositions containing cationic guar polymer," published May 13, 1993.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Published May 13, 1993, with a priority date of November 6, 1991.
   • Brief Description: This application describes the use of cationic polymers, specifically cationic guar gum polymers, to form coacervates that provide conditioning benefits to hair when incorporated in shampoo compositions.
   • Potential Anticipation (under 35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference potentially anticipates compositions and methods for conditioning hair using cationic polymers. US12214225 differentiates itself by noting that "these conditioners do not bind the free thiols in hair." Thus, while the general concept of hair conditioning compositions is present, the specific mechanism of repairing disulfide bonds via thiol binding agents might not be anticipated.

3. International Published Application WO 95/01152 to Napolione et al.

   • Full Citation: WO 1995/001152 A1, "Shampoo compositions with improved wet conditioning benefits," published January 12, 1995.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Published January 12, 1995, with a priority date of July 2, 1993.
   • Brief Description: This application also relates to the use of cationic polymers to provide conditioning benefits to hair, similar to WO 93/08787. It focuses on shampoo compositions with improved wet conditioning benefits.
   • Potential Anticipation (under 35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to WO 93/08787, this reference potentially anticipates compositions and methods for hair conditioning, particularly in shampoos, using cationic polymers for wet hair benefits. However, US12214225 highlights the inability of such conditioners to bind free thiols in hair and their lack of satisfactory dry hair smooth feel.

4. U.S. Pat. No. 6,706,258 to Gallagher et al.

   • Full Citation: US 6,706,258 B1, "Shampoo compositions containing an amphoteric surfactant," issued March 16, 2004.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Granted March 16, 2004, from an application filed on April 19, 2002.
   • Brief Description: This patent generally discloses surfactants utilized in shampoo compositions.
   • Potential Anticipation (under 35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent might generally anticipate formulations for shampoos and the inclusion of various surfactants. However, it is cited in US12214225 as a general reference for known shampoo surfactant materials, not for the core inventive concept of repairing disulfide bonds with specific binding agents. It would likely anticipate the use of specific surfactant types in shampoo formulations.

5. U.S. Pat. No. 7,598,213 to Geary et al.

   • Full Citation: US 7,598,213 B2, "Shampoo compositions with improved conditioning performance," issued October 6, 2009.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Granted October 6, 2009, from an application filed on November 16, 2007.
   • Brief Description: This patent also discusses surfactants and shampoo compositions, particularly those with improved conditioning performance.
   • Potential Anticipation (under 35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US 6,706,258, this patent likely anticipates general aspects of shampoo compositions and conditioning agents. It is cited in US12214225 as a general reference for known shampoo surfactant materials, and less likely for the unique bond-repairing chemistry. It could anticipate methods for improving conditioning performance in shampoos.