Patent Grant
10667592
The present invention can be used in many fields. However, the current embodiments generally are in the field of coloring hair, and more particularly is in the field of portable, disposable devices for coloring hair re-growth, particularly hair roots, and/or adding highlights and streaks, and methods for coloring hair using such devices.
The invention is an integrated at least two Component system which creates at least one New Mixture and then enables the application of said at least one New Mixture onto at least one Surface.
This system contains at least one first Component in a first sealed container and at least one second Component in a second sealed container that is contained within the first Component in the first sealed container. This system enables the mixing of these Components to produce a New Mixture, and then enables the application of this New Mixture to be applied on at least one Surface, and is accomplished via several embodiments described herein.
In at least one embodiment an integrated at least two Component system for applying a substance to at least one Surface is comprised of: (A) an outer container made from a flexible material and having a closed bottom and sides and an open top, and the outer container contains at least one first Component; (B) at least one breakable ampoule can be contained within the outer container, and the at least one breakable Ampoule can contain at least one second Component, and whereupon the rupturing, breaking, crushing, and/or squeezing of at least one breakable Ampoule can allow the mixing of at least one first Component with at least one second Component to form a New Mixture; (C) a rotatable applicator valve assembly comprising: a) an applicator subassembly for applying, the New Mixture comprising: i) an applicator nozzle outer first end containing an applicator tip enabling the New Mixture to pass from the interior of the rotatable applicator valve assembly through the applicator tip to the exterior ambient; ii) an applicator nozzle inner second end containing a rotatable first valve cylindrical plate containing a rotatable first valve cylindrical plate hole; b) a stationary second valve cylindrical plate attached to the open top while permitting rotation of the applicator subassembly, and the stationary second valve cylindrical plate contains a stationary second valve cylindrical plate hole, and the rotatable first valve cylindrical plate is capable of rotating when the applicator subassembly is rotated, and the rotatable first valve cylindrical plate hole is capable of aligning at a first aligning angle with the stationary second valve cylindrical plate hole producing a valve open position and allowing the New Mixture to pass from the interior of the outer container into the interior of the rotatable applicator valve assembly when external pressure and/or manual force is applied to the outer container and/or when pressure increases sufficiently within the interior of the outer container, and when the rotatable first valve cylindrical plate hole is not aligned with the stationary second valve cylindrical plate hole the New Mixture is blocked in at least one closed position and prevented from passing from the interior of the outer container into the interior of the rotatable applicator valve assembly; (D) a filter contained within the outer container or the rotatable applicator and valve assembly, and the filter is capable of preventing particulate material from passing from the outer container into the rotatable applicator valve assembly.
The filter can be at least one of in whole or in part made from foam, rubber, plastic, metal, screening, mesh, ceramic, cotton, fiberous material.
The applicator tip can be at least one of a brush, foam, sponge, a comb, hose, a nozzle, a membrane permitting material transfer and/or diffusion, a tube or series of tubes.
The invention can also have at least one mixing ball and/or at least one other object or solid object within the interior of the outer container.
The invention can include at least one additional product and/or hair care product contained in the outer container and/or in at least one ampoule.
Applied external pressure and/or manual force and/or mixing can be generated by the act of squeezing, grasping, shaking, and/or other applied pressure, force, mixing the outer container using at least one hand, finger, or other body part alone or in connection with use of at least one tool or other physical object.
The opening at top of the at least one outer container may contain integral screw threads capable of mating with complimentary screw threads on attachable devices including but not limited to an attachable and removable rotatable applicator valve assembly to enable the rotatable applicator valve to attach to the open top.
The valve in at least one open position and/or at least one closed position can be designated and/or defined by at least one mechanical detent produced at the mating Surfaces of the rotatable first valve cylindrical plate and the stationary second valve cylindrical plate.
The Ampoule may further comprise of at least one of a breakable sealed glass container, a housing, at least one breakaway membrane, at least one puncturing and/or piercing edge and/or tooth to puncture at least one breakaway membrane when external pressure and/or manual force is applied to at least one location to the outer container.
One method for applying a New Mixture to at least one Surface is comprised of the following steps: A) squeezing the outer container to break an Ampoule contained within the outer container; B) squeezing and massaging the outer container to mix the second Component contained within the Ampoule with the first Component contained within the outer container to create the New Mixture; C) rotating a rotatable applicator valve assembly from at least one closed position to an open position to allow the New Mixture to flow out of the rotatable applicator valve assembly into the applicator tip contained within the rotatable applicator valve assembly. D) squeezing the outer container to force the New Mixture out of the outer container into the applicator tip, and applying the New Mixture to a chosen Surface or hair area; E) if there is any New Mixture remaining in the outer container, the rotatable applicator valve assembly can be rotated from the open position to at least one closed position to prevent any New Mixture from exiting and/or leaking out of the rotatable applicator valve assembly.
In at least one second embodiment the filter(s) are secured around the Ampoule(s). The invention can be an integrated at least two Component system for applying a substance to at least one Surface comprising: (A) an outer container made from a flexible material and having a closed bottom and sides and an open top, and the outer container can contain at least one first Component; (B) at least one breakable Ampoule contained within the outer container, wherein at least one breakable Ampoule contains at least one second Component, whereupon the rupturing and/or breaking and/or crushing and/or squeezing of at least one breakable Ampoule allows mixing of at least one first Component with at least one second Component to form at least one New Mixture; (C) a rotatable applicator valve assembly comprising: a) an applicator subassembly for applying the New Mixture comprising: i) an applicator nozzle outer first end containing an applicator tip enabling the New Mixture to pass from the interior of the rotatable applicator valve assembly through the applicator tip to the exterior ambient; ii) an applicator nozzle inner second end containing a rotatable first valve cylindrical plate containing a rotatable first valve cylindrical plate hole; b) a stationary second valve cylindrical plate attached to the open top while permitting rotation of the applicator subassembly, and the stationary second valve cylindrical plate contains a stationary second valve cylindrical plate hole, and the rotatable first valve cylindrical plate being capable of rotating when the applicator subassembly is rotated, and the rotatable first valve cylindrical plate hole is capable of aligning at a first angle with the stationary second valve cylindrical plate hole to produce a valve open position and thus allowing the New Mixture to pass from the interior of the outer container into the interior of the rotatable applicator valve assembly when external pressure and/or manual force is applied to the outer container and/or when pressure increases sufficiently within the interior of the outer container, and when the rotatable first valve cylindrical plate hole is not aligned with the stationary second valve cylindrical plate hole the New Mixture is blocked in at least one closed position and prevented from passing from the interior of the outer container into the interior of the rotatable applicator valve assembly; (D) a filter surrounding and/or encasing the at least one breakable Ampoule, and the filter is capable of preventing particulate material from passing from the outer container into the rotatable applicator valve assembly.
The filter can be at least one of in whole or in part foam, rubber, plastic, metal, screening, mesh, cotton, ceramic, fiberous material.
The applicator tip can be at least one of a brush, foam, sponge, a comb, a nozzle, a membrane permitting material transfer and/or diffusion, a tube or and/or series of tubes.
At least one mixing ball and/or solid object can be contained within the interior of the outer container.
The invention can also have at least one additional hair care product contained in the outer container and/or in at least one breakable Ampoule.
The external pressure and/or manual force and/or mixing can be generated by the act of squeezing and/or shaking the outer container with at least one human hand, finger or other area, and/or tool.
The open top can contain integral screw threads capable of mating with complimentary screw threads on the rotatable applicator valve to enable the rotatable applicator valve (or other device) to attach to the open top.
The valve open position and/or at least one dosed position can be designated and/or defined by at least one mechanical detent produced at the mating Surfaces of or between the rotatable first valve cylindrical plate and the stationary second valve cylindrical plate.
The Ampoule can further comprise of at least one of a breakable sealed glass container, a housing, at least one breakaway membrane, at least one puncturing and/or piercing edge and/or tooth to puncture said at least one breakaway membrane when said external pressure and/or manual force is applied to at least one location to the outer container.
A method for the second embodiment described above for applying a New Mixture to at least one Surface can comprise the following steps: A) squeezing the outer container to break an Ampoule contained within the outer container; B) squeezing and massaging the outer container to mix the second Component contained within the Ampoule with the first Component contained within the outer container to create the New Mixture; D) rotating a rotatable applicator valve assembly from a at least one closed position to an open position to allow the New Mixture to flow out of the rotatable applicator valve assembly into the applicator tip contained within the rotatable applicator valve assembly. D) squeezing the outer container to force the New Mixture out of the outer container into the applicator tip, and applying the New Mixture to at least one Surface and/or chosen hair area; E) if there is any New Mixture remaining in the outer container, rotating the rotatable applicator valve assembly from the open position to at least one closed position to prevent any New Mixture from exiting and/or leaking out of the rotatable applicator valve assembly.
A third embodiment of the invention can have a puncture flexible vessel (or Ampoule) and lance system. An integrated at least two Component system for applying a substance to at least one Surface can comprise: (A) an outer container made from a flexible material and having a closed bottom and sides and an open top, and the outer container can contain at least one first Component; (B) a rotatable applicator valve assembly comprising: a) an applicator subassembly for applying a New Mixture comprising: i) an applicator nozzle outer first end containing an applicator tip enabling the New Mixture to pass from the interior of the rotatable applicator valve assembly through the applicator tip to the exterior ambient; an applicator nozzle inner second end containing a rotatable first valve cylindrical plate containing a rotatable first valve cylindrical plate hole; b) a stationary second valve cylindrical plate attached to the open top while permitting rotation of the applicator subassembly, and the stationary second valve cylindrical plate can contain a second valve cylindrical plate hole, the rotatable first valve cylindrical plate being capable of rotating when the applicator subassembly is rotated, and the rotatable first valve cylindrical plate hole is capable of aligning at a first aligning angle with the stationary second valve cylindrical plate hole producing a valve open position to allow the New Mixture to pass from the interior of the outer container into the interior of the rotatable applicator valve assembly when external pressure and/or manual force is applied to the outer container and/or when pressure increases sufficiently within the interior of the outer container, and when the rotatable first valve cylindrical plate hole is not aligned with the stationary second valve cylindrical plate hole the New Mixture is blocked and prevented from passing from the interior of the outer container into the interior of the rotatable applicator valve assembly;
In this embodiment there are two possible second Component dispensing systems, the first second Component dispensing system being (C1) a flexible vessel with a rupture membrane affixed to one end, and the flexible vessel is contained within the outer container and affixed to the stationary second valve cylindrical plate, and the flexible vessel contains at least one second Component, whereupon the rupturing of the rupture membrane allows mixing of at east one second Component with at least one first Component to form the New Mixture, and the rupture membrane can be ruptured via the axial movement of a puncture lance caused to axially translate as a result of the rotation of the rotatable first valve cylindrical plate relative to the stationary second valve cylindrical plate using a lead screw and a rotation-arresting spline, and the rupturing occurring at a rupture position at a second aligning angle, and the second aligning angle being in at least one valve closed position to prevent material from entering the rotatable applicator valve assembly, and a mixing position at a third aligning angle between the rotatable first valve cylindrical plate relative to the stationary second valve cylindrical plate and the third aligning angle being in at least one valve closed position to prevent material from entering the rotatable applicator valve assembly and retraction of the puncture lance to allow free passage of at least one second Component from the flexible vessel into the interior of the outer container.
The second second Component dispensing system being (C2) a rigid containment and release vessel comprising an inner rotating cylinder with an inner rotating cylinder interior compartment and a shaft attachment to the rotatable first valve cylindrical plate and an outer stationary cylinder affixed to the stationary second valve cylindrical plate, and the outer stationary cylinder can contain at least two outer release slots; the inner rotating cylinder can contain at least two inner release slots; the rigid containment and release vessel can be contained below the stationary second valve cylindrical plate and within the the outer container; and the rigid containment and release vessel can contain within the inner rotating cylinder interior compartment at least one second Component, the rigid containment and release vessel being capable of being set to at least one closed position at a second aligning angle wherein at least one second Component contained within the inner rotating cylinder interior compartment cannot escape the inner rotating cylinder interior compartment and at least one first Component and/or the New Mixture contained within the outer container cannot enter the rotatable applicator valve assembly and the rigid containment and release vessel being capable of being set to a mixing position at a third aligning angle wherein at least two outer release slots and at least two inner release slots are aligned and at least one second Component can pass out of the inner rotating cylinder interior compartment and mix with at least one first Component contained within the outer container when external pressure and/or massaging and/or squeezing and/or manual force is applied to the outer container to create the New Mixture and the New Mixture is contained within the outer container and cannot enter the rotatable applicator valve assembly and the rigid containment and release vessel being capable of being set to a valve open position at a first aligning angle wherein at least two outer release slots and at least two inner release slots are aligned and at least one second Component can pass out of the inner rotating cylinder interior compartment and mix with at least one first Component contained within the outer container to create and/or continue to create the New Mixture and the New Mixture contained within the outer container and can enter the rotatable applicator valve assembly when external pressure and/or massaging and/or squeezing and/or manual force is applied to the outer container and/or when pressure increases sufficiently within the interior of the outer container.
The filter can be at least one of in whole or in part foam, rubber, plastic, metal, screening, mesh, cotton, ceramic, fiberous material.
The applicator tip can be at least one of a brush, foam, sponge, a comb, a nozzle, a membrane permitting material transfer and/or diffusion, a tube or and/or series of tubes.
The outer container can have at least one mixing ball and/or solid object with the interior of the outer container.
The invention can have at least one additional hair care product contained in the outer container and/or in or on at least one portion of the invention.
Mixing can occur through the application of external pressure and/or manual force and/or mixing can occur by the act of squeezing and/or shaking the outer container with at least one human hand.
The open top can contain integral screw threads capable of mating with complimentary screw threads on the rotatable applicator valve to enable the rotatable applicator valve to attach to the open top.
The valve open position and/or the rupture position can occur at a second aligning angle and/or mixing position at a third aligning angle can be designated and/or defined by at least one mechanical detent produced at the mating Surfaces of the rotatable first valve cylindrical plate and the stationary second valve cylindrical plate.
A method for the above described embodiment employing the first second Component dispensing system for applying a New Mixture to at least one Surface can comprise the following steps: A1) rotating a rotatable applicator valve assembly from at least one closed position to a rupture position at a second aligning angle to rupture a rupture membrane on a flexible vessel; B1) rotating the rotatable applicator valve assembly from the rupture position at a second aligning angle to a mixing position at a third aligning angle; C1) squeezing and/or massaging and/or shaking the outer container to mix the second Component contained within the flexible vessel with the first Component contained within the outer container to create the New Mixture; D1) rotating the rotatable applicator valve assembly from the mixing position at a third aligning angle to a valve open position at a first aligning angle to allow the New Mixture to flow out of the outer container and/or the rotatable applicator valve assembly into the applicator tip contained within the rotatable applicator valve assembly; E1) squeezing the outer container to force the New Mixture out of the outer container into the applicator tip, and applying the New Mixture to at least one Surface and/or chosen hair area; F1) if there is any New Mixture remaining in the outer container, rotating the rotatable applicator valve assembly from the valve open position at a first aligning angle to any closed position to prevent the New Mixture from exiting and/or leaking out of the rotatable applicator valve assembly; or employing the second second Component dispensing system for applying a New Mixture to at least one Surface, a method can comprise the following steps A2) rotating a rotatable applicator valve assembly from at least one closed position to a mixing position at a second aligning angle; B2) squeezing and/or massaging and/or shaking the outer container to mix the second Component contained within a rigid vessel with the first Component contained within the outer container to create the New Mixture; D2) rotating the rotatable applicator valve assembly from the mixing position at a third aligning angle to a valve open position at a first aligning angle to allow the New Mixture to flow out of the outer container and/or the rotatable applicator valve assembly into the applicator tip contained within the rotatable applicator valve assembly; E2) squeezing the outer container to force the New Mixture out of the outer container into the applicator tip, and applying the New Mixture to at least one Surface and/or chosen hair area; F2) if there is any New Mixture remaining in the outer container, rotating the rotatable applicator valve assembly from the valve open position at a first aligning angle to any closed position to prevent the New Mixture from exiting and/or leaking out of the rotatable applicator valve assembly.
Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention should not be limited to the described preferred embodiments. Rather, various changes and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
All of the material in this patent document issue subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and other countries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all other copyright rights whatsoever are reserved.
A rigid containment and release vessel 40 is constructed from an inner rotating cylinder 41 and an outer stationary cylinder 46. The outer stationary cylinder 46 is connected to stationary second valve cylindrical plate 28 and remains in a fixed position relative to the outer container 20 shown in
Inner rotating cylinder 41 has within the cylinder wall a pair of slots IRCslot142 and IRCslot243, and these slots can either align or misalign with slots OSCslot147 and OSCslot248 located within the cylinder wall of outer stationary cylinder 46. When the slots are aligned, the second Component 24 can pass through the slots and mix with first Component 25 located within outer container 20. In this embodiment there are two simultaneous valve functions occurring: the passage or blockage of material between the inner rotating cylinder interior compartment 44 and the outer container 20 (depending on the orientation of slots IRCslot142 and IRCslot243 with slots OSCslot147 and OSCslot243) and the passage or blockage of material between the inner compartment 20 and the rotatable applicator valve assembly 21 (depending upon the relative positions of the rotatable first valve cylindrical plate hole 27 and the stationary second valve cylindrical plate hole 29. Both valves are operated simultaneously via the movement of rotatable first valve cylindrical plate 26 relative to stationary second valve cylindrical plate 28. The three valve positions are elucidated as follows:
At least one closed position at a second aligning angle 60, which could be considered the shipping position, shows slots IRCslot142 and IRCslot243 located on inner rotating cylinder 41 in a misaligned position relative to slots OSCslot147 and OSCslot248 located on outer stationary cylinder 46, thus keeping second Component 24 trapped within the inner rotating cylinder interior compartment 44. Simultaneously, rotatable first valve cylindrical plate hole 27 on rotatable first valve cylindrical plate 26 is misaligned with stationary second valve cylindrical plate hole 29 located on stationary second valve cylindrical plate 28, thus preventing any material or New Mixture 33 from entering the rotatable applicator valve assembly 21.
Next is shown mixing position at a third aligning angle 61, where IRCslot142 is aligned with OSCslot147 and IRCslot243 is aligned with OSCslot248 and thus second Component 24 can now pass freely between the slots and can mix with first Component 25 to create New Mixture 33, which can occur via the manual action of or force applied and/or squeezing and/or shaking of the outer container 20. During this mixing function there is misalignment between rotatable first valve cylindrical plate hole 27 and stationary second valve cylindrical plate hole 29, and thus no New Mixture 33 can pass through these two holes and enter the rotatable applicator valve assembly 21.
Once mixing is complete, the rotatable applicator valve assembly 21 can be rotated to valve open position at a first aligning angle 62. In this position, because the rotatable first valve cylindrical plate 26 has rotated 180 degrees, IRCslot142 is aligned with OSCslot248 and IRCslot243 is aligned with OSCslot147, so the inner rotating cylinder interior compartment 44 is still open and residual concentration of the second Component 24 can continue to me mixed with the first Component 25 and New Mixture 33 can fill outer container 20. And in this position rotatable first valve cylindrical plate hole 27 is aligned with stationary second valve cylindrical plate hole 29 and New Mixture can pass from the outer container 20 into the rotatable applicator valve assembly 21, the applicator tip 22, and New Mixture 33 can be applied to a Surface which can be hair or any other Surface.
Ampoule—a sealed glass or plastic capsule or vessel containing a liquid, usually of certain measured quantity ready for use.
Component: A component can be at least one of in whole or in part a solid, liquid, gas, suspension, colorant, hair colorant, dye, ink, fluorescing material, adhesive, cement, glue, plastic, sculpting material to build up a surface three-dimensionally, plaster, rubber and/or synthetic rubber, a cleaning solution, medication, medicine, mixture, element, compound, formula, a catalyst, hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, a binder, accelerant, coagulant, and/or other known or unknown catalyst.
At least one first component: can be at least one component.
At least one second component: can be at least one component.
New Mixture: A new mixture can be a coloring mixture, a hair coloring mixture, semi-permanent hair coloring mixture, permanent hair coloring mixture, at least one first component mixed with at least one second component.
Surface: At least one surface is hair and/or a portion thereof, any surface and/or a portion thereof upon which a mixture and/or new mixture and/or component and/or material can be applied Substance: A substance is at least one of at least one component, a mixture, a new mixture.
As used herein, the term “and/or,” when used in a list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be employed by itself, or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be employed. For example, if a device is described as containing components A, B, and/or C, the composition can contain A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7631645 | Gayton | Dec 2009 | B2 |
| 20100202246 | Huck | Aug 2010 | A1 |
| 20170056904 | Brugger | Mar 2017 | A1 |
| 20180132999 | Perouse | May 2018 | A1 |
| 20180256233 | Vogt | Sep 2018 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20190116954 A1 | Apr 2019 | US |
