Patent Application
20250000226
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In an aspect, the present disclosure is directed to, among other things, representative embodiments of a formula delivery appliance. In one example, the formula delivery appliance is a hair coloring appliance having a consumable assembly. The embodiments described herein relate generally to hair and scalp treatment appliances. The consumable assembly of the appliance may be configured to incorporate various components of the hair and scalp treatment appliance, a portion of which may be consumed and then replaced by a user. In this regard, the consumable assembly may include one or more formulation delivery packets, nozzles, manifold chambers, distribution heads, and the like. The formula delivery appliance may also include a degassing feature that vents gases from the consumable assembly when mounted to a delivery device.
In accordance with one embodiment described herein, a formulation delivery appliance includes a container having an aperture and being configured to retain a volume of formulation. The delivery appliance further includes an elongate engagement element having a channel extending therethrough and being configured to be at least partially received by the aperture of the container when the container is mounted to the engagement element. A vent aperture is formed in the engagement element and provides fluid communication between the channel and an area outside of the engagement element when the container is disengaged from the engagement element. The vent aperture is sealed, and the channel receives a flow of formulation from the container when the container is mounted to the engagement element.
In accordance with any of the embodiments described herein, the container further includes a membrane covering the aperture of the container when the container is in a sealed condition.
In accordance with any of the embodiments described herein, the engagement element ruptures the membrane as the container is mounted to the engagement element, wherein piercing the membrane changes the container from a sealed condition to an unsealed condition.
In accordance with any of the embodiments described herein, the vent aperture is in fluid communication with the formulation when the engagement element is at least partially received within the aperture of the container.
In accordance with any of the embodiments described herein, the vent aperture is unsealed as the engagement element ruptures the membrane.
In accordance with any of the embodiments described herein, the container includes an end fitting defining the aperture.
In accordance with any of the embodiments described herein, the container further includes a sealing member in sealing engagement with the end fitting, the sealing member having a passageway extending therethrough and being in fluid communication with an interior portion of the container and with the aperture defined by the end fitting.
In accordance with any of the embodiments described herein, the engagement element sealingly engages the sealing member of the container when the container is mounted to the engagement element.
In accordance with any of the embodiments described herein, the sealing member seals the vent aperture when the container is mounted to the engagement element.
In accordance with any of the embodiments described herein, an engagement sealing member is mounted to the engagement element, the engagement sealing member providing sealing engagement between the engagement element and the end fitting when the container is mounted to the engagement element.
In accordance with any of the embodiments described herein, the engagement sealing member is an O-ring.
In accordance with any of the embodiments described herein, the formulation is selected from the group consisting of permanent hair dye, semi-permanent hair dye, developer, conditioner, hair growth treatment, ROGAINE®, hair protein treatment, disulfide bond repairing hair treatment, OLAPLEX®, fluid hair treatment, and fluid scalp treatment.
In accordance with any of the embodiments described herein, the formulation delivery appliance further includes a second container configured to retain a volume of a second formulation and a second elongate engagement element configured to be at least partially received by the second container. The formulation delivery appliance further includes a manifold configured to receive the first and second formulations from the first and second containers, respectively.
In accordance with any of the embodiments described herein, the formulation delivery appliance further includes a head assembly configured to receive a mixture of the first and second formulations from the manifold and to dispense the mixture to at least one of a user's hair and scalp.
In accordance with other embodiments described herein, a formulation delivery appliance includes a first container having a first aperture and being configured to contain a volume of a first formulation and a first elongate engagement element having a first channel extending therethrough and being configured to be at least partially received by the first aperture of the first container when the first container is mounted to the first engagement element. A first vent aperture is formed in the first engagement element and provides fluid communication between the first channel and an area outside of the first engagement element when the first container is disengaged from the first engagement element. The first vent aperture is sealed, and the first channel receives a flow of the first formulation from the first container when the first container is mounted to the first engagement element. The formulation delivery appliance further includes a pump in fluid communication with the first channel of the first engagement element to withdraw the first formulation from the first fluid container. The formulation delivery appliance further includes a head in fluid communication with the pump, the head being configured to discharge the first formulation.
In accordance with any of the embodiments described herein, the formulation delivery appliance further includes a second container having a second aperture and being configured to contain a volume of a second formulation. A second elongate engagement element has a second channel extending therethrough and is configured to be at least partially received by the second aperture of the second container when the second container is mounted to the second engagement element. A manifold is configured to mix the first and second formulations received from the pump and to provide a mixture of the first and second formulations to the head.
In accordance with any of the embodiments described herein, a second vent aperture is formed in the second engagement element and provides fluid communication between the second channel and an area outside of the second engagement element when the second container is disengaged from the second engagement element. The second vent aperture is sealed, and the second channel receives a flow of the second formulation from the second container when the second container is mounted to the first second engagement element.
In accordance with any of the embodiments described herein, the first formulation is a hair dye, and the second formulation is a developer.
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description provides several examples that relate generally to hair and scalp treatment applicators and formulation delivery appliances. Application of a wide variety of treatment formulations to human hair and scalp tissue is a common practice. In some instances, it is beneficial for the treatment formulation to be applied to a targeted portion of the hair or scalp tissue. In one example, applying a treatment formulation to a portion of the hair near the scalp may be desired, for instance, when applying a coloring dye to roots of hair during a color maintenance procedure. In another example, applying a treatment formulation directly to the scalp tissue, while minimizing contact with the hair, may be desired.
Existing systems for the application of hair and scalp treatment formulations have been widely used. In one example, hair coloring kits are generally used to change the appearance of the hair color or to blend gray hairs, among other uses. Existing hair coloring systems may utilize two or more components that are packaged separately and then mixed on demand by the system to provide a treatment formulation that is applied to the hair. In some examples, these components are stored separately within sealed containers prior to being mounted within the application systems. When the containers are mounted within the application system, the containers are ruptured so that the components stored therein can be extracted, mixed together, and applied by the user.
Examples of treatment formulations applied by the embodiments herein include but are not limited to: permanent hair dye; semi-permanent hair dye; developer; conditioner; hair growth treatment, such as minoxidil manufactured under the trade name ROGAINE®; hair protein treatment; disulfide bond repairing hair treatment, such as OLAPLEX®; fluid hair treatment; fluid scalp treatment, and the like. Although any hair and scalp treatment formulation is suitably applied using the embodiments of the appliance described herein, the present disclosure generally refers to hair coloring formulation as the example of treatment formulation applied by the appliance described below. However, it should be appreciated that any of the listed hair and scalp treatment formulations are interchangeable with the coloring formulation described herein.
The following discussion provides examples of systems, apparatuses, and/or appliances of a formula delivery device that is configured to apply treatment formulation to a targeted area of the hair and/or scalp. The appliance of the present disclosure generally includes a delivery device configured to be grasped by the hand of a user, and a head having a plurality of nozzles from which the coloring formulation is discharged. In some embodiments, the head may further include a plurality of standoff protrusions near the nozzles to space the orifice of the nozzle away from the scalp during use. In other embodiments, the nozzles may move during use, for example, by reciprocating or oscillating motion, such that the nozzles can deliver more thorough coverage of the treatment formulation.
Examples of the above-described systems are disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 11,470,940, (“the '940 patent”), issued to Grez, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety. The '940 patent teaches the application of air coloring formulations that typically includes at least one dye and a separate developer that must be mixed in controlled proportions for effective and predictable results. As used in the '940 patent and in the present application, the term “coloring formulation” refers generally to any of the dye, developer, formulation, fluid, or any mixture thereof.
Some components of the coloring formulation are known to generate gas over time. As a result, a sealed container filled with coloring formulation can be at least partially filled with gas that is produced between the time at which the container is initially sealed and the time at which the coloring formulation is used. The mix ratio of a coloring formulation can be important to the safety and effectiveness of a hair coloration systems, and gas produced by the coloring formulation when sealed in the container can affect this ratio. In known embodiments, an apparatus can be initially operated to dispense coloring formulation along with any built-up gas prior to applying the coloring formulation to the hair. However, such configurations waste coloring formulation.
By use of the embodiments of the present disclosure, gases that have built up in sealed containers of coloring formulations are evacuated when the containers are initially connected to the apparatus. As such, the desired mix ratio of the coloring formulation automatically maintained without wasting coloring formulation.
Although the formula delivery device 100 and the other exemplary embodiments are described and illustrated as being used with a plurality of nozzles, it should be appreciated that the formula delivery devices shown and described herein may be used with any suitable formulation applicator configuration and for any suitable use.
As will be described in further detail, an embodiment of the consumable assembly 300 includes two or more formulation containers 308 and 314, the interiors of which are in fluid communication with a pump 190 via a coupler 140. The pump 190 draws formulation from each of the formulation containers 308 and 314 and discharges the formulations to a manifold 210. The formulations are mixed by static mixers as they pass through the manifold 210 and are then discharged through a head 240 to be applied to the hair and/or scalp of a user.
Referring to the cross-sectional views of
The consumable assembly 300 is configured to be removably received within the cavity 118 of the delivery assembly 110 such that the delivery assembly and the consumable assembly cooperate to form the appliance 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 302 of the consumable assembly 300 includes a release button 304 that engages a detent feature 126 formed on the housing 112 of the delivery assembly 110 to releasably secure the consumable assembly to the delivery assembly when the consumable assembly is mounted thereto (see
Still referring to
The use of a developer with the coloring dye formulation provides a more lasting coloring effect, up to about one month. The combination of coloring dye and developer is generally referred to as permanent coloring, while applying a dye without use of the developer results in a semi-permanent coloring, usually lasting about a week. The developer can be used with a single formulation container or with multiple formulation containers.
The first formulation container 308 will now be described with the understanding that the second formulation container 314 is similarly configured and, in some embodiments, contains a second formulation 316 that is different than the first formulation 310 contained with the first formulation container 308. The first formulation container 308 includes a packet 320, i.e., a reservoir, configured to be filled with a first formulation 310. In some embodiments, the packet 320 is a flexible pouch. In some embodiments, the packet is a rigid or semi-rigid container.
As best shown in
A sealing member 328 is positioned between the end fitting 322 and the packet 320. An aperture 330 extends through the sealing member 328 and is sized and configured to receive an engagement element 144 of the coupler 140 in sealing engagement when the consumable assembly 300 is mounted to the delivery assembly 110. As shown in
The delivery assembly 110 will now be described in greater detail. The housing 112 of the delivery assembly 110 is generally configured to house and enclose various components of the delivery assembly 110, which will be described in greater detail below. As shown in
The housing 112 houses various appliance control components, such as one or more of a pump 190 (see
The control button 120 may be configured for activating, deactivating, and controlling features of the appliance 100. In some embodiments, pressing the control button 120 powers on the appliance 100 such that coloring formulation is drawn from the formulation containers 308 and 314 (see
Referring to
As best shown in
For each port 150 on the coupler 140, a formulation tube is attached at one end to the port and at the second end to the pump 190. In this regard, each formulation tube provides fluid communication between one of the ports 150 and an inlet of the pump 190. In the illustrated embodiment, the consumable assembly 300 includes two formulation containers 308 and 314, each having a corresponding aperture 324. The coupler 140 includes two elongate elements 144, each elongate element corresponding to one of apertures 324 the formulation containers 308 and 314. A first formulation tube 170 is mounted at one end to a port 150 of the coupler 140 and at a second end to a first inlet of the pump 190. Similarly, a second formulation tube 172 is mounted at one end to the other port 150 of the coupler 140 and at a second end to a second inlet of the pump 190. As a result, when the consumable assembly 300 is mounted to the delivery assembly 110, the interior of the first formulation container 308 is in sealed fluid communication with the first inlet port of the pump, and the interior of the second formulation container 314 is in sealed fluid communication with the second inlet port of the pump 190.
In other embodiments, the consumable assembly 300 includes any suitable number of formulation containers. For such embodiments, the coupler 140 includes a corresponding number of engagement elements and ports so that each engagement element engages one of the formulation containers, and each port is in fluid communication with an inlet port of the pump 190 through a formulation tube. As a result, the interior of each formulation container is in sealed communication with an inlet port of the pump. In some embodiments, the delivery assembly 100 includes more than one pump, wherein each pump is in sealed fluid communication with the interior of one or more formulation containers through corresponding engagement elements and formulation tubes.
The pump 190 is driven by a suitable motor (not shown) and is configured to draw coloring formulations 310 and 316 from formulation containers 308 and 314, respectively, through formulation tubes 170 and 172, respectively. In some embodiments, the pump 190 includes a number of discharge ports corresponding to the number of inlets. Each discharge port is in fluid communication with a corresponding inlet port on the manifold 210. In the illustrated embodiment, a first discharge port (not shown) discharges the first formulation component 310 received from the first formulation container 308 to a first manifold inlet port 214 of the manifold 210, and a second discharge port (not shown) discharges the second formulation component 316 received from the second formulation container 314 to a manifold second inlet port 216 of the manifold. In this regard, (referring to
In some embodiments, a peristaltic pump 190 is used. In this regard, one advantage of a peristaltic-type pump is that the pump is self-priming. However, in other embodiments, any suitable pump, or series of pumps, is used to draw the coloring formulation from the formulation containers 308 and 314 to the manifold 210.
Referring now to
In an embodiment, the manifold 210 includes a housing 212 that has a first mixing chamber 218 arranged in seriatim with a second mixing chamber 222. The first mixing chamber 218 receives coloring formulations 310 and 316 from the pump through the first and second inlet ports 214 and 216, respectively. A static mixer 220 is disposed within the first mixing chamber 218 and mixes the coloring formulations 310 and 316 as they travel through the first mixing chamber. The coloring formulations 310 and 316 next move through the second mixing chamber 222 and are further mixed by a second static mixer 224 disposed therein. The mixed coloring formulations 310 and 316 then move through distribution channels 226 that distribute the mixture to the nozzles 242 of the head 240.
The head 240 has a plurality of elongate nozzles 242 extending from the manifold 210. Each elongate nozzle 242 includes a channel 244 extending therethrough and configured to discharge coloring formulation received from the manifold 210 out through one or more outlet apertures 246 in the end of the nozzle 242 when the appliance 100 is being used. In some embodiments, the nozzles 242 are arranged in one or more rows along a portion of the housing 112 of the delivery assembly 110, generally in a direction along the length of the appliance 100, as shown in the (
In some embodiments, the nozzles 242 have a length between about 0.5 cm and about 4.0 cm from the manifold 210 to the end of the nozzles 242 at the outlet apertures 246. In other embodiments, the nozzles 242 have a length between about 1.4 cm and about 1.8 cm from the manifold 210 to the end of the nozzles 242 at the outlet apertures 246. In other embodiments, the nozzles 242 have a length of about 1.6 cm from the manifold 210 to the end of the nozzles 242 at the outlet apertures 246. In further embodiments, any length of nozzle is suitably used.
In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of standoff protrusions 248 extend outwardly substantially in the direction of the nozzles 242 from the housing 112 in one or more rows. In this regard, substantially in the direction of the nozzles 242 refers to within an angle of about 25 degrees of the direction along the length of the nozzles 242. In the depicted embodiment, first and second rows of protrusions 248 are positioned along each side of a single row of elongate nozzles 242. In some embodiments, the standoff protrusions 248 may be disposed at an angle relative to the plurality of nozzles 242. (For example, see FIG. 4 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/339,551, which is incorporated by reference herein.)
In some embodiments, each of the standoff protrusions 248 has a length (measuring between housing 112 to an end of the standoff protrusion 248) such that the end of the standoff protrusion 248 and the outlet apertures 246 of the nozzles 242 are substantially coplanar. In other embodiments, the standoff protrusions 248 have a length (from the housing 112 to the end of the standoff protrusion 248) such that the standoff protrusions 248 are longer than a length of the nozzles 242 (measuring between the housing 112 to an end of the nozzles 242). In this regard, during use, the standoff protrusions 248 would contact an application surface, such as a localized portion of the scalp, and space the outlet aperture 246 of the nozzles 242 away from the application surface to provide a gap for discharge of the coloring formulation through the outlet aperture 246. In embodiments in which the standoff protrusions 248 are longer than the plurality of nozzles 242, the standoff protrusions 248 are between about 0.1 mm and 5.0 mm longer than the length of each of the plurality of nozzles 242. In other embodiments, the standoff protrusions 248 are between about 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm longer than the length of each of the plurality of nozzles 242. In other embodiments, the standoff protrusions 248 are about 1.0 mm longer than the length of each of the plurality of nozzles 242.
The plurality of nozzles 242 extend from a surface of the manifold housing 212 such that portions of the hair of a user pass between the plurality of nozzles 242 as the user passes the appliance 100 over the surface, e.g., the scalp. In some embodiments, the plurality of nozzles 242 is configured to reciprocate by reciprocation of the manifold 210 along the direction of the row of the plurality of nozzles 242. In this regard, the manifold housing 212 translates with respect to the housing 112 so that the coloring formulation to cover areas of the surface between each of the nozzles 242 as the appliance 100 is passed over the surface in a direction perpendicular to the row of the plurality of nozzles 242. As a result, the full surface below the plurality of nozzles 242 can be covered by the coloring formulation without having to overlap passes of the appliance 100 on the surface. In other embodiments, the nozzles 242 of the appliance are configured to oscillate, reciprocate along the length of the nozzles 242, vibrate, or remain stationary during use. Embodiments of reciprocating heads are described in '940 patent.
As noted above, in some embodiments, an energy source, (e.g., a heat source, not shown) may be added to any location in the path of the coloring formulation flow to raise the temperature of the formulation, or it may be added to the appliance 100 such that the heat is transferred to the application surface, e.g., the scalp. In this regard, for certain formulations, it may be beneficial in either user comfort, formulation efficacy, or both, to apply the formulation to the user at an elevated temperature, or to heat the application surface. In these embodiments, the heat source is configured to deliver energy to the formulation or the application surface. In some embodiments, the energy source is an ultraviolet radiation source configured to illuminate the plurality of nozzles 242 to transfer ultraviolet radiation to the application surface, such as to hair roots and/or scalp tissue. In other embodiments, the energy source is a heat source configured to heat the formulation prior to discharge from the plurality of outlet nozzles 242.
As previously discussed, some coloring formulations produce gas over time. As a result, a sealed formulation container filled with coloring formulations can be partially filled with unwanted gas when the consumable assembly 300 is initially mounted to the delivery assembly 110. Even embodiments of containers having a two-way breathable membrane, as described above, can accumulate gas within the containers. As will now be described with reference to
Referring now to
Referring now to
The detailed description set forth above in connection with the appended drawings, where like numerals reference like elements, are intended as a description of various embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to represent the only embodiments. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided merely as an example or illustration and should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The illustrative examples provided herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Similarly, any steps described herein may be interchangeable with other steps, or combinations of steps, in order to achieve the same or a substantially similar result.
In the foregoing description, specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, however, that the embodiments disclosed herein may be practiced without embodying all of the specific details. In some instances, well-known process steps have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure various aspects of the present disclosure. Further, it will be appreciated that embodiments of the present disclosure may employ any combination of features described herein.
The present application may include references to directions, such as “forward,” “rearward,” “front,” “back,” “upward,” “downward,” “right hand,” “left hand,” “lateral,” “medial,” “in,” “out,” “extended,” “advanced,” “retracted,” “proximal,” “distal,” “central,” etc. These references, and other similar references in the present application, are only to assist in helping describe and understand the particular embodiment and are not intended to limit the present disclosure to these directions or locations.
The present application may also reference quantities and numbers. Unless specifically stated, such quantities and numbers are not to be considered restrictive, but exemplary of the possible quantities or numbers associated with the present application. Also in this regard, the present application may use the term “plurality” to reference a quantity or number. In this regard, the term “plurality” is meant to be any number that is more than one, for example, two, three, four, five, etc. The term “about,” “approximately,” etc., means plus or minus 5% of the stated value.
The principles, representative embodiments, and modes of operation of the present disclosure have been described in the foregoing description. However, aspects of the present disclosure, which are intended to be protected, are not to be construed as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Further, the embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. It will be appreciated that variations and changes may be made by others, and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such variations, changes, and equivalents fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as claimed.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2309584 | Sep 2023 | FR | national |
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 63/511,252, filed Jun. 30, 2023. This application also claims priority to French Application No. 2309584, filed Sep. 12, 2023. The entire disclosures of both applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63511252 | Jun 2023 | US |
