Point-of-sale body powder dispensing system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A custom powder dispensing method for use at a retail purchase site, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a computer controlled automated powder dispensing apparatus including a plurality of containers storing different powder ingredients, wherein;
1) at least one powder ingredient is a powdered natural product;
2) at least one powder ingredient is a vitamin; and
3) at least one powder ingredient is a naturally occurring pigment;
b) inputting a custom powder formulation selection into the apparatus;
c) retrieving ingredients proportion information associated with the selection from a database of the computer of the apparatus;
d) outputting the ingredients proportion information associated with the selection so that a controller will dispense the appropriate predetermined proportion of the ingredients onto a receptacle;
e) rotating the powder dispensing apparatus so that one of a plurality of dispensing assemblies is aligned with the receptacle;
f) dispensing powder ingredients into the receptacle from the one of the plurality of dispensing assemblies, in a preselected amount according to the ingredients proportion information from the outputting step, at the retail purchase site, wherein at least one of the dispensed ingredients is the vitamin;
g) placing a receptacle onto a mounting stage that is translatable;
h) mixing the dispensed powder ingredients;
i) repeating at least steps (b)-(h) for a different selection at the retail purchase site;
j) packaging the dispensed mixed powder ingredients;
k) monitoring inventory of ingredients using the computer;
l) notifying an operator of a reduction in the inventory via an internet system so that an operator is not needed to monitor inventory.
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Abstract
A user interactive custom cosmetic powder color and effects dispensing system and method of doing business.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A custom powder dispensing method for use at a retail purchase site, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a computer controlled automated powder dispensing apparatus including a plurality of containers storing different powder ingredients, wherein; 1) at least one powder ingredient is a powdered natural product; 2) at least one powder ingredient is a vitamin; and 3) at least one powder ingredient is a naturally occurring pigment; b) inputting a custom powder formulation selection into the apparatus; c) retrieving ingredients proportion information associated with the selection from a database of the computer of the apparatus; d) outputting the ingredients proportion information associated with the selection so that a controller will dispense the appropriate predetermined proportion of the ingredients onto a receptacle; e) rotating the powder dispensing apparatus so that one of a plurality of dispensing assemblies is aligned with the receptacle; f) dispensing powder ingredients into the receptacle from the one of the plurality of dispensing assemblies, in a preselected amount according to the ingredients proportion information from the outputting step, at the retail purchase site, wherein at least one of the dispensed ingredients is the vitamin; g) placing a receptacle onto a mounting stage that is translatable; h) mixing the dispensed powder ingredients; i) repeating at least steps (b)-(h) for a different selection at the retail purchase site; j) packaging the dispensed mixed powder ingredients; k) monitoring inventory of ingredients using the computer; l) notifying an operator of a reduction in the inventory via an internet system so that an operator is not needed to monitor inventory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A custom powder dispensing method for use at a retail purchase site, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a computer controlled automated powder dispensing apparatus including a plurality of containers storing different powder ingredients, wherein; 1) at least one powder ingredient is a powdered natural product; 2) at least one powder ingredient is a vitamin; 3) at least one powder ingredient is a naturally occurring mineral based pigment; (b) locating a user'"'"'s face and various regions of the users body by the computer'"'"'s software by scanning a region for a pattern of color or tone changes associated with the user'"'"'s skin complexion; (c) responding to the user'"'"'s movement by providing real time image of the user'"'"'s face and the various regions of the user'"'"'s body on a viewing screen, (d) storing the image of the user'"'"'s face and the various regions of the user'"'"'s body in the computer'"'"'s memory so that the user may have free use of the face and the various regions of the user'"'"'s body part while experimenting with different color choices; (e) delivering information to the specific color choices selected by the user by the computer; (f) inputting a custom powder formulation selection into the apparatus; (g) retrieving ingredients proportion information associated with the selection from a database of the computer of the apparatus; (h) outputting the ingredients proportion information associated with the selection so that a controller will dispense the appropriate predetermined proportion of the ingredients onto a receptacle; (i) rotating the powder dispensing apparatus so that one of a plurality of dispensing assemblies is aligned with the receptacle; (j) dispensing powder ingredients into the receptacle from the one of the plurality of dispensing assemblies, in a preselected amount according to the ingredients proportion information from the outputting step, at the retail purchase site, wherein at least one of the dispensed ingredients is the vitamin; (k) placing a receptacle onto a mounting stage that is translatable; (l) mixing the dispensed powder ingredients; (m) repeating at least steps (b)-(l) for a different selection at the retail purchase site; (n) packaging the dispensed mixed powder ingredients; (o) accepting payment through a debit system, over the internet, or credit card; (p) monitoring inventory of ingredients using the computer; (q) notifying an operator of a reduction in the inventory via an internet system so that the operator is not needed to monitor inventory; (r) providing the packaged dispensed mixed powder ingredients to a user by shipping to the user.
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Specification