Apparatus and method for custom cosmetic dispensing

• US 6,615,881 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2002
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cosmetic Technologies Incorporated (Knowlton Development Corporation Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IMX Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Bartholomew, Julie R., Hanselman, Dave, Bodiker, Thomas C. II, Jobe, Richard T., Foley, Jim, OʼMeara, Timothy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US10/253,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20030060925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 222/144, 141/2, 141/18, 141/9, 141/100-104
• US Class Current: 141/18
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/04 Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/00 Other cosmetic or toiletry articles, e.g. for hairdressers' rooms
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/21 Mixing of ingredients for cosmetic or perfume compositions
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/84 Mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g. paint tins
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/846 using stored recipes for determining the composition of the mixture to be produced, i.e. for determining the amounts of the basic components to be dispensed from the component receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/20 Measuring; Control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/714 for feeding predetermined amounts B01F35/88 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7174 using pistons, plungers or syringes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/52 about horizontal axes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/70 in which the articles are formed in the apparatus from components, blanks, or material constituents
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/06 with selective dispensing of different fluids or materials or mixtures thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/18 for washing or drying persons

Abstract

Improved custom cosmetic formulation dispensing system including ingredients reservoirs for syringe dispensing. The ingredients reservoirs are carried by a translatable carrier to bring the respective reservoirs into dispensing alignment with a package, into which a preselected amount of the ingredient is dispensed.

Claims

1. A custom cosmetic dispensing method, comprising the steps of:

a) providing, at retail point of sale, a plurality of liquid cosmetic ingredients in a plurality of dispensing containers, each of the plurality of dispensing containers being moveable for providing the plurality of cosmetic ingredients to a first package and a second package, each of the plurality of dispensing containers configured as a syringe;

b) actuating at least two of the plurality of dispensing containers for dispensing at least two of the plurality of cosmetic ingredients into the first package thereby forming a first cosmetic formulation in the first package; and

c) actuating at least two of the plurality of dispensing containers for dispensing at least two of the plurality of cosmetic ingredients into the second package thereby forming a second cosmetic formulation in the second package.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein both of the first cosmetic formulation and the second cosmetic formulation are lip glosses.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein both of the first cosmetic formulation and the second cosmetic formulation are nail polishes.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of dispensing containers are actuated manually.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of dispensing containers are actuated automatically.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the dispensing of the plurality of cosmetic ingredients is at least partially controlled by computer software.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least two of the plurality of ingredients that are dispensed into the first package and the second package are dispensed in predetermined metered quantities.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

elevating the temperature of the plurality of cosmetic ingredients prior to forming the first cosmetic formulation and the second cosmetic formulation.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the first package includes a container portion defining a barrel for receiving and storing a cosmetic formulation.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first package includes an advanceable plunger and a rotatable end plug for advancing the plunger.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the first package also includes a rotatable member for mixing the first cosmetic formulation.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the first package includes an applicator portion.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the first package includes a closure and the container portion and the closure are separate components.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the first package includes a closure and the container portion and the closure are provide as a single integrated component.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the first package includes a tip in fluid communication with the first cosmetic formulation.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of dispensing containers includes a funnel through which the plurality of ingredients are dispensed.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein each of the plurality of dispensing containers includes a plunger having a thick portion and a thinner portion for assisting in dispensing the plurality of cosmetic ingredients in metered quantities.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein each of the plurality of dispensing containers includes a luer tip.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of dispensing containers includes a plunger and each plunger is actuatable by a single actuator.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the dispensing containers are disposed about a wheel and the wheel is rotatable for moving the plurality of dispensing containers.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein a single common actuator is disposed in a central portion of the wheel and the single actuator depresses a plunger of each of the at least two of the dispensing containers in response to computer commands thereby dispensing the at least two of the plurality of cosmetic ingredients into the first package.

22. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing the first package containing the first cosmetic formulation to a first individual;

providing an information storage medium to the first individual, the medium storing amounts of the at least two of the plurality of cosmetic ingredients the form the first cosmetic formulation and the information storage medium being transportable by the first individual away from the retail point of sale.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the information storage medium is selected from the group consisting of a CD, a DVD, a diskette, a memory card, a chip and a transponder.

24. A custom cosmetic dispensing method, comprising the steps of:

a) providing, at retail point of sale, a plurality of liquid cosmetic ingredients in a plurality of dispensing containers, each of the plurality of dispensing containers being moveable for providing the plurality of cosmetic ingredients to a first package and a second package, each of the plurality of dispensing containers configured as a syringe;

b) actuating at least two of the plurality of dispensing containers with an automated system for dispensing at least two of the plurality of cosmetic ingredients into the first package thereby forming a first cosmetic formulation in the first package, the first cosmetic formulation being a lip gloss, the first package including an advanceable plunger; and

c) actuating at least two of the plurality of dispensing containers with an automated system for dispensing at least two of the plurality of cosmetic ingredients into the second package thereby forming a second cosmetic formulation in the second package.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the first package includes a container portion defining a barrel for receiving and storing a cosmetic formulation.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the first package includes an advanceable plunger and a rotatable end plug for advancing the plunger.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the first package also includes a rotatable member for mixing the first cosmetic formulation.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the first package includes an applicator portion.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the first package includes a closure and the container portion and the closure are separate components.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein the first package includes a closure and the container portion and the closure are provide as a single integrated component.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein the first package includes a tip in fluid communication with the first cosmetic formulation.

32. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

elevating the temperature of at least a portion of the first package prior to or during dispensing of the at least two of the plurality of cosmetic ingredients into the first package for controlling the viscosity of the at least two of the plurality of cosmetic ingredients.

33. A custom cosmetic dispensing method, comprising the steps of:

a) providing, at retail point of sale, a plurality of liquid cosmetic ingredients in a plurality of dispensing containers, each of the plurality of dispensing containers being moveable for providing the plurality of cosmetic ingredients to a first package and a second package, each of the plurality of dispensing containers configured as a syringe;

b) actuating at least two of the plurality of dispensing containers with an automated system for dispensing at least two of the plurality of cosmetic ingredients into the first package thereby forming a first cosmetic formulation in the first package, the first cosmetic formulation being a hand or foot cosmetic; and

c) actuating at least two of the plurality of dispensing containers with an automated system for dispensing at least two of the plurality of cosmetic ingredients into the second package thereby forming a second cosmetic formulation in the second package.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the first cosmetic formulation is a nail polish.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the plurality of cosmetic ingredients include at least one cellulose based material.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein the plurality of cosmetic ingredients are acrylic based.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein the plurality of cosmetic ingredients are water based.