Hair colorant dispenser

• US 6,976,494 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: J.W. Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: J.W. Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Dumas, Debra, Wayne, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Willatt, Stephanie L.
• Application Number:
  US10/282,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20040079383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 132/208, 132/221, 132317-318, 132/74.5, 132/108, 401/133, 401/134, 222/129, 222/81, 222 83- 835, 222 85- 86, 222/145.1, 206/222, 215/DIG.8
• US Class Current: 132/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/20 Halogens; Compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/442 substituted by amido group(s)
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/463 containing sulfuric acid derivatives, e.g. sodium lauryl sulfate
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/737 Galactomannans, e.g. guar; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 5/12 Preparations containing hair conditioners

Abstract

A disposable, solution-mixing hair colorant dispenser: tubular rear segment including first reservoir having rupturable front end; tubular middle segment including second reservoir having rupturable rear and front ends; tubular front segment including rear end and forward-projecting porous applicator. Rupturing member near adjacent ends of first and second reservoirs for rupturing both when first and second segments are engaged. Rupturing member near front end of second reservoir for rupturing same when second and third segments are engaged. Alternative rupturing members: double-ended between first and second reservoirs and single-ended attached to third segment; double-ended within second reservoir; single-ended within first reservoir and single-ended attached to third segment. Segments threaded for endwise engagement to seal segments and rupture reservoirs. Fluids mixed and dispensed through applicator.

Claims

1. A hair colorant mixing and dispensing apparatus, comprising endwise serially sealingly engageable first, second and third tubular segments, a double-ended rupturing member disposed between said first and second segments, and a single-ended rupturing member disposed between said second and third segments;

said first segment defining an interior including a first reservoir;

said second segment defining an interior including a second reservoir;

said third segment defining an interior including an applicator communicating with said interior;

said double-ended rupturing member including a tubular connector adapted for sliding and stabilizing endwise internal engagement with said first and second segments;

said double-ended rupturing member including front and rear punches, each of said punches including a cutting edge, including a base formed on said rupturing member, a point, and a plurality of perforations between said base and said point, said punches being adapted for rupturing one of said first and second segments, each of said punches including a stop including a plurality of lateral projections located between said base and said point, said lateral projections being adapted for holding open a ruptured one of said first and second segments;

said first and second segments when so engaged defining a range of relative longitudinal displacement including first and second relative positions;

engagement in said first position, said second position, and all intermediate positions forming a seal between proximate ends of said segments to prevent fluid leakage therefrom

engagement in said second position resulting in the compression of said double-ended rupturing member between said first and second segments, thereby rupturing proximate ends of said segments and holding said ruptured ends open for facilitating the passage of fluid;

said single-ended rupturing member including a tubular connector adapted for sliding and stabilizing endwise internal engagement with at least one of said second and third segments;

said single-ended rupturing member including a rear punch, said rear punch including a cutting edge, including a base formed on said rupturing member, a point, and a plurality of perforations between said base and said point, said punches being adapted for rupturing said second segment, said rear punch including a stop including a plurality of lateral projections located between said base and said point, said lateral projections being adapted for holding open said ruptured second segment;

said second and third segments when so engaged defining a range of relative longitudinal displacement including first and second relative positions;

engagement in said first position, said second position, and all intermediate positions forming a seal between proximate ends of said segments to prevent fluid leakage therefrom

engagement in said second position resulting in the compression of said single-ended rupturing member between said second and third segments, thereby rupturing said second segment proximate said third segment and holding said ruptured second segment open.

2. A hair colorant mixing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said applicator comprises a porous wick.

3. A hair colorant mixing and dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said punches comprises a plurality of base members joined distally to form a common cutting edge and to define at least two fluid passages around said plurality of base members.

4. A hair colorant mixing and dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said third segment has a front end surface in which said applicator is mounted and said second segment has a front end surface adapted to engage said front end surface of said third segment, and aid third segment is mountable on said front end of said second segment in a backwards orientation such that said applicator is disposed adjacent said front end surface of said second segment.

5. A hair colorant mixing and dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

said rear end surface of said third segment is engageable with said front end surface of said second segment in a fluidly sealed and secured configuration wherein said second rupturing means ruptures said front end surface of said second segment; and

said front end surface of said third segment is engageable with said front end surface of said second segment in a secured configuration wherein sufficient clearance exists for said applicator to be disposed forward of said front end surface of said second segment.