Apparatus and method for custom cosmetic dispensing

• US 6,883,561 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2003
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• 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, O'Meara, Timothy E., Jobe, Richard T., Foley, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US10/716,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20040108015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 141/2, 141/18, 141/9, 141100-104, 222/144, 700231-233, 700/239, 700/285
• 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 custom cosmetic dispensing method, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of cosmetic ingredients in a plurality of dispensing containers each having a removable cap, and being positioned on a motor-driven translatable structure and housed in a computer controlled custom cosmetic dispensing apparatus at a retail point of sale; and

b) actuating with at least one motor driven actuator controlled by the computer, at least two of the plurality of dispensing containers contained in a common housing for dispensing to a dispensing site at least two of the plurality of cosmetic ingredients to form at least one cosmetic formulation for at least one individual.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising

a radiofrequency identification system to retrieve information about the formulation.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing information about the formulation for subsequent retrieval by the individual.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the cosmetic formulation is a liquid cosmetic formulation.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the cosmetic is a lip gloss.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuating step includes depressing a plunger within at least two of the containers with a motor driven actuator for dispensing through a luer tip associated with the containers.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising rotating the translatable structure to bring the at least two ingredients containers in alignment with the actuator.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the information is stored on a medium that can be carried away by the individual.

10. The method of claim 4, further comprising using a radiofrequency identification device to retrieve the stored information.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing a color choice presented by the user with a spectrophotometer.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the cosmetic formulation is a liquid cosmetic formulation.

13. The method of claim 2, further comprising analyzing a color choice presented by the user with a spectrophotometer.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the cosmetic is a facial cosmetic.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the cosmetic is a nail polish.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the cosmetic is selected from lip gloss, eye gel, cheek gel, creams, lotions, perfumes, or body powders.

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

a) providing a plurality of cosmetic ingredients in a plurality of dispensing containers of dispensing apparatus, each of the plurality of dispensing containers being translatable for providing the plurality of cosmetic ingredients to at least one empty package, each of the plurality of dispensing containers configured as a syringe with a depressable plunger;

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

c) securing a cap to package.

14. The method of claim 3, wherein the cosmetic formulation is a lip gloss.

15. The method of claim 3, wherein the cosmetic formulation is a nail polish.

16. The method of claim 3, further comprising storing information about the formulation using a radiofrequency identification system that is transportable by an individual away from the retail point of sale.

17. The method of claim 3, wherein the cosmetic formulation is a lip gloss and the method further comprises storing information about the formulation using a radio frequency identification system that is transportable by an individual away from the retail point of sale.

18. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of dispensing containers each contain a luer tip and are mounted on a rotatable structure for dispensing to a fixed location dispensing site.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the cap securing step is performed by the apparatus.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of packages include a brush applicator.

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

a) providing a plurality of liquid cosmetic ingredients in a plurality of dispensing containers each being in fluid communications with a nozzle disposed about an axis and selectively aligned into dispensing position with a package by a motor-driven translatable structure, wherein the dispensing containers are housed in a computer controlled custom cosmetic dispensing apparatus at a retail point of sale;

b) actuating with at least one motor driven actuator controlled by the computer to bring at least two nozzles in alignment with an ingredient package;

c) actuating with at least two of the plurality of dispensing containers contained in a common housing for dispensing into the package at least two of the plurality of liquid cosmetic ingredients to form at least one liquid cosmetic formulation, wherein the dispensing of liquids cosmetic ingredients is viewable by a retail customer at the retail point of sale;

d) storing the information about the formulation on a medium for subsequent retrieval; and

e) mixing the formulation within the ingredient package.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the liquid cosmetic formulation is a lip gloss.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the liquid cosmetic formulation is a nail polish.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the cosmetic is selected from lip gloss, eye gel, cheek gel, creams, lotions, perfumes, or body powders.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising a radiofrequency identification system to retrieve information about the formulation.

29. The dispenser of claim 27, further comprising a housing including a transparent panel for substantially enclosing the plurality of dispensing containers and being configured to permit viewing by a retail customer of the dispensing of the cosmetic ingredients at a retail point of sale.

30. The dispenser of claim 29, further comprising a container holder for allowing removal and replacement of the plurality of containers.

31. The dispenser of claim 30, further comprising a holder for receiving and holding the package into which the cosmetic ingredients is to be dispensed into.

32. The dispenser of claim 31, wherein the package is partially transparent for viewing contents.

33. The dispenser of claim 32, further comprising a user interface for selecting a customized cosmetic based upon a combination of one or more of the liquid cosmetic ingredients, wherein upon selection of the customized cosmetic the computer forms the alignment between one or more nozzles and the package and dispenses cosmetic ingredients into the package to form a customized cosmetic formulation.

34. The dispenser of claim 33, wherein the nozzles are radially disposed about the axis.

35. The dispenser of claim 34, wherein actuating with the dispensing containers includes the use of pumps, screw drives or syringe dispensers.

36. The dispenser of claim 35, further comprising the step of relocating the filled package within the apparatus after dispensing to effectuate delivery of a filled package to the retail customer by use of a motor driven platform.