Nail polish color selection system

• US 7,822,504 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2008
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cosmetic Technologies Incorporated (Knowlton Development Corporation Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cosmetic Technologies Incorporated (Knowlton Development Corporation Inc.)
• Inventors: Hines, Charles P. Jr., Bartholomew, Julie R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US12/132,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20080234860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 700231-244
• US Class Current: 700/239
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 29/00 Manicuring or pedicuring implements
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 29/11 Polishing devices for nails
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/005 for selecting or displaying personal cosmetic colours or hairstyle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/60 with a vibrating receptacle B01F31/10, B01F31/20, B01F31/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/8442 using a computer for controlling information and converting it in a formula and a set of operation instructions, e.g. on the point of sale
• 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: B05B 15/50 Arrangements for cleaning; Arrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage; Arrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/302 using electrical or electro-mechanical means B67D7/307 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/74 Devices for mixing two or more different liquids to be transferred coin-freed apparatus G07F13/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/18 for washing or drying persons

Abstract

A user interactive custom nail polish color and effects dispensing system and method of doing business, including for both point of sale and remote (e.g., via internet) transactions.

Claims

1. A custom liquid cosmetic dispensing system, comprising:

a) an electronically controlled automated cosmetic dispenser, which carries a plurity of ingredients containers, for dispensing of liquid cosmetic formulation ingredients selectively from said containers into a package of less than about 100 ml, through a package opening on the order of less than about 25 mm, to create a custom cosmetic formulation, at a retail point-of-sale;

b) means for dispensing said ingredients into said package, said means including at least one moistened nozzle tip;

c) interface means for interacting with a retail customer to select a custom liquid cosmetic formulation, the interface means including means for displaying user-inputted or computer stored images to aid in selection;

d) a computer for electronically retrieving recipe information about said selection for dispensing to achieve said custom liquid cosmetic formulation to said dispenser based upon information about the selection contained within a database of the computer; and

e) a housing for said dispenser that includes a support surface upon which said package rests during dispensing, wherein the housing contains the computer and also includes a mixer mounted to or otherwise associated with it;

wherein the custom liquid cosmetic dispensing system is integrated into a single pod.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mixer is a vibratory shaker.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for dispensing includes a plunger that is actuated to advance ingredients through the at least one nozzle tip.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the means for dispensing includes a plunger that is actuated to advance ingredients through the at least one nozzle tip.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the ingredients containers include ingredients that a packaged into the contained at a remote location, and include a removable cap or lid is applied over the opening at such location that is removed at the point of dispensing.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the ingredients containers include ingredients that a packaged into the contained at a remote location, and include a removable cap or lid is applied over the opening at such location that is removed at the point of dispensing.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the ingredients containers include ingredients that a packaged into the contained at a remote location, and include a removable cap or lid is applied over the opening at such location that is removed at the point of dispensing.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the ingredients containers include ingredients that a packaged into the contained at a remote location, and include a removable cap or lid is applied over the opening at such location that is removed at the point of dispensing.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for moistening a nozzle tip.

10. The system of claim 2, further comprising means for moistening a nozzle tip.

11. The system of claim 3, further comprising means for moistening a nozzle tip.

12. The system of claim 4, further comprising means for moistening a nozzle tip.

13. The system of claim 5, further comprising means for moistening a nozzle tip.

14. The system of claim 2, wherein the pod is a prefabricated unit that includes wiring for power supply or supply of other utilities, and the pod also includes a cash register, a packaging station, a display station, an application station, or a combination thereof.

15. The system of claim 3, wherein the pod is a prefabricated unit that includes wiring for power supply or supply of other utilities, and the pod also includes a cash register, a packaging station, a display station, an application station, or a combination thereof.

16. The system of claim 4, wherein the pod is a prefabricated unit that includes wiring for power supply or supply of other utilities, and the pod also includes a cash register, a packaging station, a display station, an application station, or a combination thereof.

17. A method of dispensing cosmetics at a retail point of sale, comprising the steps of 1) dispensing ingredients into a package of less than about 100 ml, through a package opening on the order of less than about 25 mm, to create a custom liquid cosmetic formulation, at a retail point-of-sale, through a custom liquid cosmetic dispensing system, comprising:

a) an electronically controlled automated cosmetic dispenser, which carries a plurality of ingredients containers, for dispensing of liquid cosmetic formulation ingredients selectively from said containers;

b) means for dispensing said ingredients into said package, said means including at least one moistened nozzle tip;

c) at least one interface for interacting with a retail customer to select a custom liquid cosmetic formulation;

d) a computer for electronically retrieving recipe information about said selection for dispensing to achieve said custom liquid cosmetic formulation and for electronically communicating information about a retail customer selection from said interface to said dispenser based upon information about the selection contained within a database of the computer; and

e) a housing for said dispenser that includes a support surface upon which said package rests during dispensing, that also includes a mixer mounted to or otherwise associated with it;

     2) mixing the dispensed ingredients with the mixer; and

repeating steps

     1) and

     2) for a different custom liquid cosmetic formulation.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the housing contains the computer, and the custom liquid cosmetic dispensing system is integrated into a single pod.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising a step of accessing a remote computer.