Applicator

• US 7,055,528 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2003
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alpine Pharmaceuticals
• Original Assignee: Alpine Pharmaceuticals
• Inventors: Youcef-Toumi, Kamal, Shah, Manzoor A., Alvarado, Pablo Valdivia Y
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Willatt, Stephanie L.
• Application Number:
  US10/401,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20040187883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 132/108, 132/109, 132/112, 132/113, 132/114, 132/147, 433/80, 401/270, 401/282, 401/289, 401/188.R, 222/144.5, 222134-137, 222/333, 222/192
• US Class Current: 132/109
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 19/026 having brush or comb applicators A45D24/22 take precedence; brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances A46B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 19/028 having applicators other than brushes or combs, e.g. rollers, balls or sponges
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/058 Means for mixing different substances prior to application
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 24/24 with provision for free supply; using wicks
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 24/28 with piston pump or other types of pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/002 pressurised at moment of use manually or by powered means
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1046 Brush used for applying cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/21 Mixing of ingredients for cosmetic or perfume compositions
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/2305 Mixers of the two-component package type, i.e. where at least two components are separately stored, and are mixed in the moment of application
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/434 Mixing tubes comprising cylindrical or conical inserts provided with grooves or protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/4341 the insert being provided with helical grooves
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/5011 portable during use, e.g. hand-held

Abstract

A dye applicator including a head with a cavity (reservoir) and a plurality of bristles in the form of pins each covered with a sponge sleeve extending into the cavity and moistened with a catalyzed dye in the cavity by capillary action. A handle is connected to the head and includes a first container for receiving a dye compound, a second container for receiving a catalyst compound, a pump for each container, and a mixing chamber with a threaded compartment connected to the head cavity on one end, connected to the first container on the other end, and connected to the second container by a manifold for distributing the catalyst throughout the threaded compartment of the mixing chamber. A solenoid is positioned to actuate both pumps to deliver the dye and the catalyst separately to the mixing chamber and to deliver the mixed catalyzed dye to the head cavity. A selector switch allows a task to be selected and a processor, responsive to the selector switch and having an output connected to the solenoid, is configured to control the number of solenoid cycles based on the position of the selector for precise application of the dye based on the task selected.

Claims

1. A dye applicator comprising:

a head with a cavity and a plurality of bristles in the form of pins each covered with a sponge sleeve extending into the cavity and moistened with a catalyzed dye in the cavity by capillary action; and

a handle connected to the head, the handle including;

a first container for receiving a dye compound,

a second container for receiving a catalyst compound,

a pump for each container,

a mixing chamber with a threaded compartment connected to the head cavity on one end, connected to the first container on the other end, and connected to the second container by a manifold for distributing the catalyst throughout the threaded compartment,

a solenoid positioned to actuate both pumps to deliver the dye and the catalyst separately to the mixing chamber and to deliver the mixed catalyzed dye to the head cavity,

a selector switch for selecting a task, and

a processor, responsive to the selector switch and having an output connected to the solenoid, the processor configured to control the number of solenoid cycles based on the state of the selector for precise application of the dye based on the task selected.

2. The applicator of claim 1 in which the selector switch is on the handle and the first and second containers, the pumps, the mixing chamber, the solenoid, and the processor are all inside the handle.

3. The applicator of claim 1 further including a power source for the solenoid and the processor.

4. The applicator of claim 3 in which the power source is a pair of batteries in a compartment in the handle.

5. The applicator of claim 1 in which the handle is round.

6. The applicator of claim 1 in which the head is substantially flat and includes an array of bristles extending from one surface thereof.

7. The applicator of claim 1 in which the head is round and includes a single row of bristles.

8. The applicator of claim 1 in which the head is round and includes multiple spaced rows of bristles.

9. The applicator of claim 1 further including a one way valve on the handle for flushing the applicator.

10. The applicator of claim 1 in which the head is connected to the handle by a snap-fit to interchange different heads with the same handle.

11. The applicator of claim 1 in which the selector switch includes a potentiometer and a rolling knob for adjusting the voltage output by the potentiometer based on the position of the rolling knob.

12. An applicator comprising:

a head with a cavity and a plurality of bristles moistened with a substance in the cavity by capillary action; and

a handle connected to the head, the handle including;

a selector mechanism for selecting a task,

an actuator subsystem for delivering the substance to the cavity, and

a processor responsive to the selector mechanism and having an output connected the actuator subsystem to control delivery of the substance to the head cavity based on the state of the selector mechanism.

13. The applicator of claim 12 in which the handle further includes first and second containers connected to a mixing chamber connected to the cavity in the head.

14. The applicator of claim 13 in which the actuator subsystem includes a pump for each container and a solenoid for activating both pumps.

15. The applicator of claim 14 in which the solenoid is connected to the processor and the processor is programmed to control the number of solenoid cycles based on the state of the selector mechanism.

16. The applicator of claim 13 in which the mixing chamber includes a threaded compartment connected to the head cavity on one end, connected to the first container on the other end, and connected to the second container by a manifold to distribute a compound in the second container throughout the threaded compartment.

17. The applicator of claim 12 in which the bristles include a pin and a sponge sleeve about the pin.

18. The applicator of claim 12 in which the head is substantially flat and includes an array of bristles on one surface thereof.

19. The applicator of claim 12 in which the head is round and includes a single row of bristles.

20. The applicator of claim 12 in which the head is round and includes multiple spaced rows of bristles.

21. The applicator of claim 12 further including a one way valve for flushing the applicator.

22. The applicator of claim 12 in which the head is connected to the handle via a snap-fit to interchange different heads with the same handle.

23. The applicator of claim 12 in which the selector switch includes a potentiometer and a rolling knob for adjusting the voltage output by the potentiometer based on the position of the rolling knob.

24. An applicator comprising:

a plurality of bristles moistened with a substance by capillary action;

a selector mechanism for selecting a task;

an actuator subsystem for delivering a substance to the bristles; and

a control subsystem responsive to the selector mechanism and having an output connected to the actuator subsystem to control the delivery of the substance based on the state of the selector mechanism.

25. A fluidic mixing and delivery subsystem for an applicator, the subsystem comprising:

a first container for receiving a dye compound;

a second container for receiving a catalyst compound;

a mixing chamber connected to the first and second containers;

a pumping subsystem;

an actuator which activates the pumping subsystem to deliver dye and the catalyst to the mixing chamber for mixing;

a processor configured to control actuation cycles of the actuator; and

a head with a reservoir therein connected to the mixing chamber and a plurality of highly porous members extending therein moistened with the mixed catalyzed dye by capillary action.