POINT-OF-SALE BODY POWDER DISPENSING SYSTEM

• US 20080047972A1
• Filed: 08/23/2006
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cosmetic Technologies Incorporated (Knowlton Development Corporation Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cosmetic Technologies Incorporated (Knowlton Development Corporation Inc.)
• Inventors: Hines, Charles P., Bartholomew, Julie R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,636,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/005 for selecting or displaying personal cosmetic colours or hairstyle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/21 Mixing of ingredients for cosmetic or perfume compositions
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/60 Mixing solids with solids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/841 with component receptacles fixed in a circular configuration on a horizontal table, e.g. the table being able to be indexed about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/844 with means for customizing the mixture on the point of sale, e.g. by sensing, receiving or analysing information about the characteristics of the mixture to be made
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/24 for fluent solid material

Abstract

A user interactive custom cosmetic powder color and effects dispensing system and method of doing business.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A custom powder dispensing method for use at a retail purchase site, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a computer controlled automated powder dispensing apparatus including a plurality of containers storing different powder ingredients, wherein;

1) at least one powder ingredient is a powdered natural product; and

2) at least one powder ingredient is a vitamin;

b) inputting a custom powder formulation selection into the apparatus;

c) retrieving ingredients proportion information associated with the selection from a database of the computer of the apparatus;

d) dispensing powder ingredients into a receptacle from the apparatus, in a preselected amount according to the ingredients proportion information, at the retail purchase site, wherein at least one of the dispensed ingredients is the vitamin;

e) mixing the dispensed powder ingredients; and

f) repeating at least steps (b)-(e) for a different selection at the retail purchase site.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising a step of monitoring inventory of ingredients using the computer.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one powdered natural product is dispensed during dispensing step (d).

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the at least one powdered natural product is selected from rice powder, corn starch, wheat flour, oat flour, wheat bran, oat bran, barley, aloe vera, silk, ginger, arrowroot, dry flour tapioca, calendula, or birch bark extract.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising a step of slurry mixing and then drying the ingredients.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one powdered natural product is dispensed during dispensing step (d).

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the at least one powdered natural product is selected from rice powder, corn starch, wheat flour, oat flour, wheat bran, oat bran, barley, aloe vera, silk, ginger, arrowroot, dry flour tapioca, calendula, or birch bark extract.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the vitamin dispensed is Vitamin E.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the vitamin dispensed is Vitamin A.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein the vitamin dispensed is Vitamin C.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the vitamin dispensed is Vitamin E.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the vitamin dispensed is Vitamin A.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the vitamin dispensed is Vitamin C.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the vitamin dispensed is Vitamin E.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein the vitamin dispensed is Vitamin A.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the vitamin dispensed is Vitamin C.

37. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one of the powder ingredients includes a wet powder.

38. The method of claim 21, wherein the dispensing step (d) is performed using a metering device capable of metering in continuously variable amounts.

39. The method of claim 26, wherein the dispensing step (d) is performed using a metering device capable of metering in continuously variable amounts.

40. The method of claim 22, further comprising a step of slurry mixing and then drying the ingredients.