Apparatus and method for custom cosmetic dispensing

• US 6,672,341 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2002
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• 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: Hanselman, Dave, Bodiker, Thomas C. II, Jobe, Richard T., Foley, Jim, OʼMeara, Timothy E., Bartholomew, Julie R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US10/246,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20030062379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 222/144, 141/2, 141/9, 141/18, 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: 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 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 33/848 using data, i.e. barcodes, 3D codes or similar type of tagging information, as instruction or identification codes for controlling the dispensing and mixing operations
• 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: B65B 25/00 Packaging other articles presenting special problems bundling B65B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/04 Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
• 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 retail point-of-sale custom cosmetic formulation dispenser, comprising:

a) a ingredient carrier that is mounted for translation about at least one axis;

b) a plurality of syringe dispensing containers each including a luer tip and being filled with a different ingredient for a custom cosmetic formulation, and each being mounted to the ingredient carrier;

c) an actuator for dispensing the ingredients from the containers;

d) a holder for receiving and holding a package into which the custom cosmetic is to be dispensed; and

e) a housing for substantially enclosing the plurality of containers and the ingredient carrier, and being configured to permit viewing by a retail customer of a dispensing step performed by the machine at the retail point of sale.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holder includes a chuck.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator is adapted for dispensing one ingredient at a time from the containers.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an actuator is provided for each of the containers.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a transparent panel.

31. A method of dispensing a custom cosmetic formulation at a retail point of sale, comprising providing an apparatus according to claim 1 and dispensing a formulation from the apparatus.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the package includes a mixing arm that is incorporated with the package applicator tip for mixing upon tip installation.

37. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ingredients for a custom cosmetic formulation comprise lip gloss ingredients.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the package held by the holder includes an applicator and is configured to receive dispensed lip gloss ingredients.

39. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the package held by the holder includes a container portion, an applicator portion and a closure.

40. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a computer system having Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) for communicating with the dispensing device.

6. A retail point-of-sale custom cosmetic formulation dispenser, comprising:

a) a ingredient carrier that is mounted for translation about at least one axis;

b) a plurality of containers each filled with a different ingredient for a custom cosmetic formulation, and each being mounted to the ingredient carrier;

c) an actuator for dispensing the ingredients from the containers, wherein the actuator includes a push rod that is slidingly mounted in a frame and has a free end for depressing a plunger;

d) a holder for receiving and holding a package into which the custom cosmetic is to be dispensed; and

e) a housing for substantially enclosing the plurality of containers and the ingredient carrier, and being configured to permit viewing by a retail customer of a dispensing step performed by the machine at the retail point of sale.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the actuator further comprises at least one sensor for detecting the relative position of the push rod.

8. A retail point-of-sale custom cosmetic formulation dispenser, comprising:

an ingredient carrier that is mounted for translation about at least one axis;

b) a plurality of containers each filled with a different ingredient for a custom cosmetic formulation, and each being mounted to the ingredient carrier;

c) an actuator for dispensing the ingredients from the containers;

d) a holder for receiving and holding a package into which the custom cosmetic is to be dispensed;

e) a housing for substantially enclosing the plurality of containers and the ingredient carrier, and being configured to permit viewing by a retail customer of a dispensing step performed by the machine at the retail point of sale; and

f) a track for transferring a cosmetic package within the housing.

9. A retail point-of-sale custom cosmetic formulation dispenser, comprising:

a) an ingredient carrier that is mounted for translation about at least one axis;

b) a plurality of containers each filled with a different ingredient for a custom cosmetic formulation, and each being mounted to the ingredient carrier, wherein at least two of the containers include cellulose-based nail polish ingredients;

c) an actuator for dispensing the ingredients from the containers;

d) a holder for receiving and holding a package into which the custom cosmetic is to be dispensed; and

e) a housing for substantially enclosing the plurality of containers and the ingredient carrier, and being configured to permit viewing by a retail customer of a dispensing step performed by the machine at the retail point of sale.

10. A retail point-of-sale custom cosmetic formulation dispenser, comprising:

a) an ingredient carrier that is mounted for translation about at least one axis;

b) a plurality of containers each filled with a different ingredient for a custom cosmetic formulation, and each being mounted to the ingredient carrier, wherein at least two of the containers include cellulose-based nail polish ingredients;

c) an actuator for dispensing the ingredients from the containers, wherein the actuator is adapted for dispensing one ingredient at a time from the containers;

d) a holder for receiving and holding a package into which the custom cosmetic is to be dispensed; and

e) a housing for substantially enclosing the plurality of containers and the ingredient carrier, and being configured to permit viewing by a retail customer of a dispensing step performed by the machine at the retail point of sale.

11. A retail point-of-sale custom cosmetic formulation dispenser, comprising:

a) a rotatable structure having an outer peripheral portion and being mounted for rotation in a generally vertical plane about a generally horizontal axis;

b) a plurality of syringe barrels for containing ingredients for a custom cosmetic formulation, and being mounted generally in a spoke pattern on the outer peripheral portion of the rotatable structure;

c) an actuator mounted in a central area of the rotatable structure for advancing a plunger within at least one of the syringe barrels for dispensing the ingredients therefrom through a nozzle; and

d) at least one motor for driving the rotatable structure, the actuator or a combination thereof.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least two of the containers include cellulose-based nail polish ingredients.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an enclosure having a transparent panel.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a holder for a package into which the ingredients are dispensed.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a plunger is included within each syringe barrel.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plunger is associated with the actuator.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the actuator includes a push rod that is slidingly mounted in a frame and has a free end for depressing the plunger.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the actuator further comprises at least one sensor for detecting the relative position of the push rod.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the actuator is adapted for dispensing one ingredient at a time from the containers.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a holder, including a chuck, for receiving and holding a package into which the custom cosmetic is to be dispensed.

33. A method of dispensing a custom cosmetic formulation at a retail point of sale, comprising providing an apparatus according to claim 11 and dispensing a formulation from the apparatus.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the package includes a mixing arm that is incorporated with the package applicator tip for mixing upon tip installation.

41. The method of claim 11, wherein the ingredients for a custom cosmetic formulation comprise lip gloss ingredients.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising a package including applicator for receiving dispensed lip gloss ingredients.

43. The method of claim 11, further comprising a package having a container portion, an applicator portion and a closure for receiving the dispensed ingredients.

44. The method of claim 11, further comprising a computer system having a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) for communicating with the dispensing device.

21. A retail point-of-sale custom cosmetic formulation dispenser, comprising:

a) a frame;

b) a belt driven rotary translatable wheel having a central hole therein for defining an outer peripheral portion having a plurality of radially disposed mounting brackets attached thereto, the wheel being mounted to the frame for rotation in a generally vertical plane about a generally horizontal axis;

c) a plurality of syringe barrels, each having a plunger and a nozzle and a longitudinal axis, and being adapted for containing ingredients for a custom cosmetic formulation, the syringe barrels being mounted on the mounting brackets on the outer peripheral portion so that the longitudinal axis of the barrels are generally radially disposed;

d) an actuator disposed at least partially within the central hole of the dial plate, the actuator including a push rod that is slidingly mounted in a mounting bracket and having a free end for depressing a plunger within at least one of the syringe barrels for dispensing the ingredients therefrom through a nozzle;

e) at least one motor for driving the dial plate, the actuator or a combination thereof; and

f) panels removably attached to the frame for substantially enclosing the plurality of syringe barrels and the wheel, and being configured to include a transparent portion to permit viewing by a retail customer of a dispensing step performed by the machine at a retail point of sale.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a capping device.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a track for transferring a cosmetic package within the frame.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the actuator further comprises at least one sensor for detecting the relative position of the push rod.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein at least one of the syringe barrels includes particulated sparkle effect.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein at least two of the syringe barrels include cellulose-based nail polish ingredients.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein at least two of the syringe barrels include lip gloss ingredients.

28. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a shaker mechanism.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the package into which the ingredients are dispensed has a rounded outer surface for permitting it to roll.

30. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the barrels are dimensioned for holding about 4 to about 32 ounces (0.1 to about 1 liter) of ingredients.

35. A method of dispensing a custom cosmetic formulation at a retail point of sale, comprising providing an apparatus according to claim 21 and dispensing a formulation from the apparatus.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the package includes a mixing arm that is incorporated with the package applicator tip for mixing upon tip installation.