The presently disclosed subject matter relates generally to a device that can be used to apply a product to a surface, such as a user's scalp. The presently disclosed subject matter further includes methods of making and using the device.
Different hair types require different maintenance regimens. For example, African American hair tends to be courser and dryer compared to the hair of other ethnicities. In addition, when chemical treatments such as relaxers, straighteners, waves, dyes, and the like are applied, the scalp can become even more dry and irritated. Further, the use of heated combs, brushes, curlers, rollers, and the like can worsen the dryness of a user's scalp and/or hair. As a result, textured hair often requires daily moisturizing and/or oiling. The cosmetics industry has developed many products (e.g., oil, tonic, moisturizer) that can be applied to the user's hair and scalp to combat dryness. Frequently, the product is directly sprayed onto the user's scalp and is then rubbed in. However, this method is often messy and inconvenient, requiring cleanup of the user's hands and surroundings. Alternatively, a container with a spout can be used to deliver a product to the scalp or skin. However, the product often runs off the scalp before it can be rubbed in. In addition, the product is frequently absorbed by the user's hair as well as the scalp. As a result, the hair follicles often become greasy and heavy with product (e.g., the product sits on the hair follicles). It would therefore be beneficial to provide a device that enables a user to add one or more products to their scalp, without adding excess product to the user's hair.
In some embodiments, the presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a dispensing device. Particularly, the device is defined by a housing comprising an exterior surface, an interior, a top face, and a bottom face, wherein the bottom face comprises a series of openings. The device includes a reservoir positioned within the housing interior, wherein the reservoir has an internal volume. The device further includes a plurality of hollow applicators in fluid connection with the reservoir, wherein the hollow applicators are actuated between a first position within the interior of the housing and a second position wherein at least a portion of the applicators extend through the series of openings on the bottom face of the housing. The device comprises a handle attached to the top face of the housing, wherein the handle includes an aperture in fluid connection with the reservoir.
In some embodiments, the housing contact surface is about horizontal, concave, or convex relative to a support surface.
In some embodiments, the device further includes one or more accessories positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the housing.
In some embodiments, the device comprises a product positioned within the reservoir.
In some embodiments, the product is selected from coconut oil, argan oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, castor oil, marula oil, tea tree oil, rosemary oil, sunflower oil, olive oil, avocado oil, monoi oil, grapeseed oil, peppermint oil, glycerin, shea butter, aloe vera, fragrances, vitamins, or combination thereof.
In some embodiments, each applicator includes an inlet end, an outlet end, and a channel therebetween.
In some embodiments, each applicator has a length of about 0.1-1 inches and a diameter of about 0.01-0.25 inches.
In some embodiments, the applicators are vertical, angled, or combinations thereof relative to the bottom face of the housing.
In some embodiments, the applicators are alternated between vertical and angled positions.
In some embodiments, the housing interior comprises a spring-biased hinge that actuates the activators from the first position to the second position.
In some embodiments, the device comprises a lever positioned on the exterior surface of the housing, wherein the initiating the lever actuates the activators between the first and second positions.
In some embodiments, the presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a method of dispensing a product to a surface. Particularly, the method comprises positioning a dispensing device adjacent to a surface upon which the product is to be dispensed. The device is defined by a housing comprising an exterior surface, an interior, a top face, and a bottom face, wherein the bottom face comprises a series of openings. The device includes a reservoir positioned within the housing interior, wherein the reservoir has a volume of product to be dispensed. The device further includes a plurality of hollow applicators in fluid connection with the reservoir, wherein the hollow applicators are actuated between a first position within the interior of the housing and a second position wherein at least a portion of the applicators extend through the series of openings on the bottom face of the housing. The device comprises a handle attached to the top face of the housing, wherein the handle includes an aperture in fluid connection with the reservoir. The method includes actuating the hollow applicators from the first position to the second position to initiate the flow of product from the reservoir through the hollow applicators to be dispensed from the device. The method further includes actuating the applicators from the second position to the first position when the dispensing is completed to thereby store the applicators within the interior of the housing.
In some embodiments, the surface is a user's scalp.
In some embodiments, the method includes positioning one or more accessories adjacent to the bottom surface of the housing.
In some embodiments, the activators can actuate between the first and second positions multiple times.
The previous summary and the following detailed descriptions are to be read in view of the drawings, which illustrate some (but not all) embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.
The presently disclosed subject matter is introduced with sufficient details to provide an understanding of one or more particular embodiments of broader inventive subject matters. The descriptions expound upon and exemplify features of those embodiments without limiting the inventive subject matters to the explicitly described embodiments and features. Considerations in view of these descriptions will likely give rise to additional and similar embodiments and features without departing from the scope of the presently disclosed subject matter.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the presently disclosed subject matter pertains. Although any methods, devices, and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the presently disclosed subject matter, representative methods, devices, and materials are now described.
Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms “a”, “an”, and “the” refer to “one or more” when used in the subject specification, including the claims. Thus, for example, reference to “a device” can include a plurality of such devices, and so forth.
Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of components, conditions, and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the instant specification and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the presently disclosed subject matter.
As used herein, the term “about”, when referring to a value or to an amount of mass, weight, time, volume, concentration, and/or percentage can encompass variations of, in some embodiments+/−20%, in some embodiments+/−10%, in some embodiments+/−5%, in some embodiments+/−1%, in some embodiments+/−0.5%, and in some embodiments +/−0.1%, from the specified amount, as such variations are appropriate in the disclosed packages and methods.
The presently disclosed subject matter is generally directed to a device that enables a user to add a product to the scalp, while also reducing or eliminating the excess product deposited on the user's hair. For example,
The top surface of the housing includes neck 60 that cooperates with handle 25 to allow a user to easily grip the device. In some embodiments, the neck acts as passageway to allow product to be deposited into the internal reservoir via the handle (i.e., the handle can be removed or adjusted to expose an opening in the neck). The neck also is sized and shaped to allow a user's fingers to rest between the handle and the top surface of the housing. In this way, a user can comfortably grip and use the disclosed device.
Housing 10 can be constructed from any desired material, such as (but not limited to) plastic, rubber, silicon, metal (e.g., stainless steel, copper, and the like), wood, ceramics, and the like.
As set forth above, the bottom surface of the housing comprises contact surface 15 that directly contacts a user's scalp and/or hair when the device in use. The contact surface can be smooth or textured (e.g., includes bumps, ridges, or other elements that are believed to assist in the even application of product). In some embodiments, the contact surface is approximately horizontal relative to a support surface (e.g., a table), as shown in
As described in detail below, a plurality of applicators 35 extend through the contact surface when lever 30 is activated to dispense a product onto the user's scalp. The term “lever” broadly refers to any element that can be initiated to effect movement of the applicators. The lever can have any desired shape (e.g., button, rods, grooves). Thus, contact surface 15 can include a series of openings 65 that allow the applicators to travel from the housing interior to the exterior of the device, as shown in
In some embodiments, contact surface 15 can cooperate with one or more accessories 16 that can be added or removed by the user, as shown in
As set forth above, the interior of the housing includes reservoir 20 that is sized and shaped to house a product. One embodiment of reservoir 20 is illustrated in
In addition, the reservoir is also in fluid connection with each applicator, as described below. Thus, the reservoir can include a series of outlets in fluid connection with a pathway that extends to the series of applicators. In this way, product exits the reservoir and is dispensed onto the scalp of the user via applicators 35.
The term “product” refers to any element that can be added to a user's scalp to produce a beneficial effect. For example, product 75 can include (but is not limited to), one or more oils (e.g., coconut oil, argan oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, castor oil, marula oil, tea tree oil, rosemary oil, sunflower oil, olive oil, avocado oil, monoi oil, grapeseed oil, peppermint oil, etc.), conditioners (glycerin, shea butter, aloe vera, etc.), leave in conditioners, fragrances, vitamins (Vitamin A, etc.), and the like. Further, the product can include one or more additives, such as preservatives, colorants, thickeners, binders, emulsifiers, antioxidants, pH adjusters, UV filters, and the like.
Optionally, the interior of the housing can include heater 76 that functions to heat product 75 housed within the reservoir, as shown in
Reservoir 20 can be constructed from any desired material, such as (but not limited to) rubber, plastic, metal, silicone, elastic material, or combinations thereof.
A series of applicators 35 are in fluid communication with reservoir 20 to dispense product 75 to a user's scalp. The term “applicator” broadly refers to any element that can be used dispense product 75. Each applicator includes inlet end 80 and exit end 81, as shown in
Applicator 35 can have a tubular or conical shape within interior channel 76, as shown in the figures. However, it should be appreciated that applicators 35 can be configured in any desired shape.
Further, the applicator channel can be configured with any desired width 37 at inlet and outlet ends 80, 81 as shown in
As shown in
The applicators can be formed from any desired material, such as (but not limited to) plastic, fabric, rubber, silicone, polyurethane, and the like. Thus, the applicators can be rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible. The term “rigid” refers to the characteristic of being unable to substantially bend or change shape without breaking. The term “semi-rigid” refers to the characteristic of being rigid to some degree, but not inflexible. The term “flexible” refers to the characteristic of easily changing shape without breaking.
Housing 10 can include any number of applicators, such as about 1-500. Thus, the housing can include at least about (or no more than about) 1, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 275, 300, 325, 350, 375, 400, 425, 450, 475, or 500 applicators.
The applicators can be vertically positioned as shown in
Each applicator is in fluid communication with the reservoir using any conventional mechanism (e.g., tubing). In this way, product 75 can travel from the reservoir interior through applicator exit 81 (i.e., adjacent to the user's scalp).
Applicators 35 can be moved through openings 65 of the housing contact surface when lever 30 is actuated. Thus, the applicators can alternate between a first position and a second position. Particularly, the applicator first position can be a storage position, where the applicators are housed within the housing interior, as shown in
Movement of the applicators from the first position to the second position can be accomplished using any desired mechanism, such as (but not limited to) the use of a spring-biased hinge 85 that is moved via lever 30. Specifically, lever 30 can be actuated to move the applicators from the first position to the second position. Upon manual compression of lever 30, the actuators at least partially move to the exterior of the device, passing through contact face 15. Product is also drawn from the internal reservoir and is routed (e.g., via a fluid pathway) to applicators 35. In this way, product 75 is dispensed. When the lever is released, the activators are repositioned to the first position within the device interior and the flow of product from the internal reservoir ceases.
The housing also cooperates with handle 25, allowing a user to easily operate and use the device. Handle 25 can have any desired size and/or shape, as illustrated in the representative handle of
In some embodiments, handle 25 can include closure 90 that can be used to add or remove product from reservoir 20. For example, the closure can be configured as an opening, a port, or any other suitable element. The closure can be operably connected to internal reservoir 20 via tubing 61 as described above. Specifically, product can be added to the device via handle closure 90 and can travel via neck 60 to reach the reservoir. In this way, device 5 can be reused as desired by the user, such as when the product needs to be refilled or replaced with another product. Desirably, closure 90 can be sealed to prevent product from leaking from the device when not in use, as well as to keep dirt, dust, and other materials from entering the device interior.
Handle 25 can be attached to neck 60 of the housing using standard techniques. For example, the handle can be permanently attached to the housing using adhesives, welding, thermoforming, and the like. Alternatively, the handle can be releasably attached to the housing using mechanical closures (e.g., clips, fasteners, screws, screw threads, bolts, and the like), snap-fit closure, pressure-fit closure, magnets, and the like.
Device 5 and any of the associated components (e.g., reservoir 20, handle 25, applicators 35) can be constructed using any suitable mechanism. For example, compression molding, welding, thermoforming, injection molding, and similar techniques can be used. In some embodiments, the device can be formed as a unitary piece (e.g., a single piece). In other embodiments, one or more elements can be permanently or releasably joined together using adhesive, welding, magnets, screws, bolts, and the like.
In use, device 5 can be used to add a desired amount of product to a user's scalp. As set forth in the schematic of
It should be appreciated device 5 is suitable for use with humans, such as to deposit product 75 on a human scalp. However, the presently disclosed subject matter is not limited and can also be effectively used on animals (e.g., dogs, cats, and the like) to treat dry skin and other dermatological conditions.
Device 5 offers many advantages over prior art designs. For example, device applicator 5 precisely deposits product 75 to a desired location, such as the user's scalp without extending to other areas. As a result, the device reduces waste of product 75.
In addition, the device receptacle is configured to store an amount of product 75 until a user desires to use it.
Device 5 is portable, allowing a user to easily carry it from one location to another in a pocket, purse, bag, etc.
Further, device 5 can be easily used by a wide variety of users, including children and the elderly.
The disclosed device uniformly dispenses product 75 allowing for even coverage to a particular area, such as a user's scalp.
Because product 75 is precisely and accurately dispensed to the user's scalp, the health of the user's hair is improved, while also promoting hair growth and retention. Further, the device allows for maximum penetration of the product.
The device can be easily refilled and reused once the reservoir becomes empty. In this way, waste is further reduced.
While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/147,525, filed Feb. 9, 2021, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63147525 | Feb 2021 | US |