System for assisting customers in selecting an optimum color cosmetic product

• US 6,437,866 B1
• Filed: 04/05/2000
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FD Management, Inc. (Elizabeth Arden (Financing), Inc.)
• Original Assignee: FD Management, Inc. (Elizabeth Arden (Financing), Inc.)
• Inventors: Flynn, Madeline
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, F. L.
• Application Number:
  US09/543,711
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 356/319, 356/326, 356/328, 356/402
• US Class Current: 356/402
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2044/007 Devices for determining the condition of hair or skin or for selecting the appropriate cosmetic or hair treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/005 for selecting or displaying personal cosmetic colours or hairstyle
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/463 Colour matching
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/50 using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/001 Texturing; Colouring; Generation of texture or colour inpainting G06T5/77

Abstract

A method and system is provided for selecting a facial color cosmetic scheme. Apparatus employed for the system includes a computer module with a color monitor screen, a spectrophotometer for measuring a customer'"'"'s skin color and a device for transferring the measured color information from the spectrophotometer to the computer module for entry into a program allowing visualization of a model face with skin color matched to that of the customer. The method includes measuring via spectrophotometer a customer'"'"'s facial color, transmitting information on that color to the module for display on the model face appearing in the monitor, allowing the customer to select at least one color for an area of the face to be covered by a cosmetic product, and then displaying the visualized model face with the selected color. The system and method allow a customer to visualize the color combination without the necessity of using the actual color cosmetic on their own face for evaluation purposes.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a facial color cosmetic scheme, the method comprising:

(i) providing a computer module including a color monitor screen and a spectrophotometer;

(ii) measuring a customer'"'"'s facial color with the spectrophotometer;

(iii) transmitting information on the measured facial color to the computer module for display of that color on a model face generated on the monitor screen;

(iv) allowing the customer to select at least one area of the face to be colored with a color cosmetic product; and

(v) colorizing the area of the model face with the selected color.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of printing in color on paper the displayed model face via a printer.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein areas of the face to be colorized are those selected from the group consisting of the lips, eyelashes, eyelid, cheeks and combinations thereof.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein a program operated by the computer module stores information on a vendor'"'"'s products which will achieve the selected color when placed upon the selected area of the face.

5. A system for selecting a facial color cosmetic scheme, the system comprising:

(i) a computer module connected with a color monitor screen;

(ii) a spectrophotometer for measuring skin color;

(iii) a mechanism for transfer of facial color data obtained from measurements with the spectrophotometer over to the computer module and transmission onto the monitor screen; and

(iv) an interactive program displayed on the monitor screen allowing a customer to select at least one color for application to an area of a model face appearing on the monitor screen.