Point of sale cosmetic station

• US 7,174,310 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2002
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cosmetic Technologies Incorporated (Knowlton Development Corporation Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cosmetic Technologies Incorporated (Knowlton Development Corporation Inc.)
• Inventors: Deines, Amy Green, Bartholomew, Julie R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Cuong
• Application Number:
  US10/274,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20030090176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 700/233, 700/239, 700/231, 700/213, 356/402, 705/16, 705 26- 27, 222/144, 222/52, 222/23, 221/9, 221/13, 221/24, 186/35, 186/36, 186/52, 186/59, 194/350, 194/353, 312/101
• US Class Current: 705/26.5
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/005 for selecting or displaying personal cosmetic colours or hairstyle
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/02 Furniture or other equipment specially adapted for hairdressers' rooms and not covered elsewhere hairdressers' chairs A47C1/04
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 10/02 for self-service type systems, e.g. supermarkets A47F10/06 takes precedence; hand-carts B62B; baskets B65D
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/08 in the form of a spray
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus

Abstract

A system for cosmetics point of sale display, including a station at which cosmetics may be displayed, dispensed, packaged or applied.

Claims

1. A system for dispensing cosmetics at a retail point of sale comprising:

a first component that includes a housing for a delivery system comprising an automated cosmetic dispenser that includes (i) at least one panel including a window for allowing viewing of translating components of an automated cosmetic dispenser during dispensing operation, (ii) a plurality of ingredients containers, (iii) a computer for operating the automated cosmetic dispenser, and (iv) a mixer viewable through the at least one panel, and

a second component that includes at least one first input device in signaling communication with the computer for enabling a user to select a custom cosmetic formulation, wherein a user input device is disposed adjacent to the dispensing device and is facing generally in the same direction as the window of the at least one panel.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the ingredients containers are disposed about a substantially vertically disposed rotatable structure.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising an output device for encoding a medium with information about a customer'"'"'s formulation selection.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the medium is a passkey.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a spectrophotometer.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second components comprise modular components.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said modular components adjoin each other and each include an outer wall portion, an inner wall portion and upper surface bridging said outer wall portion with said inner wall portion.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the upper surface of said modular components includes at least two different heights with respect to a floor supporting the system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the upper surface of one of the modular components include a height between about 2 to 4 feet from the floor and the upper surface of the other component includes a height between about 5 to 10 feet from the floor.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said upper surface of said first component disposed higher than said upper surface of said second component.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein said upper surface of said first component further comprises a gradual reduction in height from said outer wall portion along said upper surface to form a continuous curve.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein said upper surface of said housing further comprises a plurality of steps forming a reduction in height from said outer wall portion along said upper surface to form a stepped curve.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein said upper surfaces of said first component and said second component comprise a parabolic shaped form.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said automated cosmetic dispenser includes a syringe dispenser.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said system includes an application station for applying a dispensed cosmetic to a retailer customer.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one second input device.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the panel is openable for allowing access to interior component of the housing.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein said mixer is a vibratory shaker.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second components include at least two different heights relative to a floor portion supporting the system.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the ingredients containers are arranged in generally side-by-side linear relationship for viewing behind an at least partially transparent panel.