Device for dispensing a preparation, with automatic or semi-automatic adjustment of the properties of the preparation by means of an integrated sensor of the surroundings

• US 8,688,268 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2009
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Samain, Henri, Grollier, Jean-Francois, Candau, Didier
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US13/119,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20110288680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: 700/233, 700/239
• US Class Current: 700/233
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/058 Means for mixing different substances prior to application
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/005 for selecting or displaying personal cosmetic colours or hairstyle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/84 Mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g. paint tins
• 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

Abstract

A cosmetic or dermatological system includes a packaging and dispenser device containing one or more compositions from which the dispensed preparation is prepared, a surroundings sensor that is suitable for delivering at least information associated with a physical magnitude of the surrounding environment of the device, an adjustment system that is coupled to or suitable for coupling to the packaging and dispenser device, and that enables at least one characteristic of the dispensed preparation to be varied, and a processor for automatically controlling the adjustment system as a function of data delivered by the surroundings sensor or for informing the user, as a function of the data, about an action to be exerted on the adjustment system.

Claims

1. A cosmetic or dermatological system, comprising:

a packaging and dispenser device containing one or more starting compositions from which a preparation to be dispensed is prepared;

a surroundings sensor configured to provide information associated with a physical magnitude of an environment surrounding the system;

an adjustment system that is coupled to or configured for coupling to the packaging and dispenser device, and that enables at least one characteristic of the preparation to be varied; and

a processor for automatically controlling the adjustment system based on the information and/or for informing a user about an action to be exerted on the adjustment system based on the information.

2. The system according to claim 1, the system being configured to automatically vary the at least one characteristic of the preparation based on a function of the information provided by the surroundings sensor.

3. The system according to claim 1, the system being configured to vary the concentration of at least one active agent in the preparation based on a function of the data provided by the surroundings sensor.

4. The system according to claim 1, the packaging and dispenser device having a first reservoir containing a first composition and a second reservoir containing a second composition, the first and second compositions for mixing together to form the preparation, the adjustment system acting based on a function of at least data provided by the surroundings sensor, to modify the ratio of one composition relative to the other in the preparation.

5. The system according to claim 1, the device having two reservoirs, each of the two reservoirs containing different compositions, the adjustment system being configured to cause dispensing of one of the compositions selectively.

6. The system according to claim 4, at least one of the first and second compositions containing a sun protection filter.

7. The system according to claim 1, the physical magnitude comprising at least one of an intensity of UV radiation, a temperature, and a pressure of the atmosphere.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein energy for dispensing the preparation is provided by the user exerting an action on the packaging and dispenser device.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the action comprises pressing on a wall of the packaging and dispenser device.

10. The system according to claim 1, the packaging and dispenser device comprising one or more removable reservoirs, each of the one or more removable reservoirs containing one or more compositions.

11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface enabling the user to provide an input, the input comprising at least one of a skin type, a hair type, an age, and an activity, wherein the adjustment system is manipulated based on the input.

12. The system according to claim 1, the adjustment system comprising a pinch valve.

13. The system according to claim 1, the adjustment system comprising at least one rotary cam and/or eccentric wheel.

14. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an activation chamber configured to expose a deactivated active agent to a stimulus so as to cause the deactivated agent to pass into an activated state.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment system is configured to maintain an adjustment following dispensing of the preparation.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the adjustment is maintained until additional information from the surroundings sensor is received by the processor.

17. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a closure cap.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the closure cap is configured to substantially cover at least a top portion of the packaging and dispenser device.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein the closure cap is configured to actuate a switch.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein actuation of the switch causes a signal to be sent to the processor indicating a cap open or a cap closed status.

21. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a system status indicator.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the system status indicator comprises an LED.

23. The system according to claim 21, wherein the system status indicator is configured to indicate at least one of the following statuses, a ready to dispense status, an obtaining surroundings data status, and a composition level low status.

24. The system according to claim 4, wherein the first and second reservoirs comprise a flexible or supple material.

25. The system according to claim 4, wherein the first and second reservoirs are formed by a container having at least one internal dividing wall.

26. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to determine an adjustment based on a linear relationship with a voltage provided by the surroundings sensor.

27. The system according to claim 1, wherein the packaging and dispenser device comprises a head unit and a body unit.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein the head unit is at least one of detachable and reusable.

29. The system according to claim 27, wherein the body unit comprises the one or more starting compositions.

30. The system according to claim 27, wherein the head unit comprises at least one of the adjustment system and the processor.

31. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the system and the packaging and dispenser device is hand held.

32. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a measurement actuator.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein the measurement actuator is configured to cause operation of at least one of the processor and the surroundings sensor to obtain the information.

34. A method of dispensing a cosmetic or a skin product using the system according to claim 1, the method comprising:

automatically or semi-automatically modifying characteristics of the adjustment system, based on the information.

35. The method according to claim 34, further comprising opening a closure cap and/or actuating a valve to cause operation of at least one of the surroundings sensor and the processor.

36. A cosmetic or dermatological system comprising:

a handheld packaging and dispenser device containing one or more starting compositions from which a preparation to be dispensed is prepared;

a surroundings sensor configured to provide information associated with a physical magnitude of an environment surrounding the system;

an adjustment system that is coupled to or configured for coupling to the packaging and dispenser device, and that enables at least one characteristic of the preparation to be varied; and

a processor configured to automatically manipulate the adjustment system based on the information and/or for informing a user about an action to be exerted on the adjustment system based on the information.

37. The system according to claim 36, wherein the one or more starting compositions comprise a first composition having a first sun protection factor, and a second composition having a second sun protection factor.

38. The system according to claim 37, wherein the first sun protection factor is 10 and the second sun protection factor is 50.

39. The system according to claim 37, further comprising a body characteristic sensor and/or a user interface configured to receive information about a body characteristic.

40. The system according to claim 39, wherein the body characteristic comprises at least one of a skin color, a hair color, and a skin moisture level.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the processor is further configured to manipulate the adjustment system based on data from the body characteristic sensor.