The tattoo industry has become highly creative, with tattoo artists constantly creating new and unique designs. The present application is directed to a system for allowing tattoo and/or permanent makeup artists to create unique and customized tattoo inks or permanent makeup inks to expand their scope of expression.
A system and devices are disclosed herein which includes a mixing station for customizable tattoo inks. As used herein, “tattoo ink” or “ink” refers to inks or dyes for coloring the skin, and includes, but is not limited to, tattoo inks and inks or dyes for permanent makeup. A mixing station generally comprises a workbench such as a table area, and a plurality of ink containers. The ink containers comprise user-activated dispensers, each user-activated dispenser configured to dispense ink in a preselected amount related to a single activation of the dispenser. The ink containers preferably contain tattoo inks of different colors. An input device is configured to receive a color input from a user, a first ink container from the plurality of ink containers comprising a first colored ink, and a first mixing mechanism configured to mitigate settlement of the first colored ink or otherwise agitate the ink. A second ink container from the plurality of ink containers includes a second colored ink, and a second mixing mechanism is configured to mitigate settlement of the second colored ink or otherwise agitate the ink.
Also disclosed is a mixing container configured to receive at least the first colored ink from the first container in an amount as selected by a user activating the user-activated dispenser a selected number of times, and the second colored ink from the second container in an amount as selected by a user activating the user-activated dispenser a selected number of times, and to store a custom ink. The mixing container may also comprise a mixing mechanism which may be the same as or different than the first mixing mechanism and the second mixing mechanism.
The drawings described below are for illustration purposes only. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Like reference characters shown in the figures designate the same parts in the various embodiments.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of the present invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
The system and devices disclosed herein may enable the creation of a customized ink color while using a mixing station. The mixing station may include multiple ink containers, which contain different ink colors. The ink containers may be configured such that they include a user-activated dispenser that dispenses ink into a mixing container. The user-activated dispenser may dispense a preselected amount of ink per single activation of the dispenser. The user-activated dispenser may be any applicable dispenser that dispenses ink from an ink container, based on user provided input. A user may provide color input using an input device such as a button, knob, touch screen input, dial, lever, mouse, keyboard, switch or the like. Ink containers may include a mixing mechanism that mitigates settlement of the ink within the ink containers. The mixing mechanism may be, for example, a mixer (either mechanical or electric), a blender, a rod, a plate, a ball bearing, or any other component that mitigates settlement and/or agitates the ink. The mixing mechanism may move constantly or at intervals, to prevent settlement of the ink and/or to provide even mixing.
A mixing container may receive at least two colored inks from at least two ink containers such that the two colored inks mix to produce a custom ink color. As an example, a user may select 3 pump at a first ink container to dispense 3 ml of a first color and may also select 1 pump at a second ink container to dispense 1 ml of a second color. A mixing container may receive the 3 pumps of the first color and 1 pump of the second container to produce a custom ink with a 3:1 ratio of the first color in to the second color ink. The mixing container may also include a mixing mechanism configured to prevent settlement of the ink within the mixing container.
As further disclosed herein, a label 131 may be generated and may include a custom color and other indicia for the custom ink and/or a custom formula for the custom ink within the mixing container 130. The label (e.g., printout) may be printed at the mixing station 1000 or may be provided to the user via an alternative mode such as via email or via transmission to a printer separate from mixing station 1000. According to an implementation, the custom color, other indicia, and/or custom formula may be transmitted via an electronic transmission and may be stored and/or associated with a user profile.
According to an implementation, a user may input a desired custom color via an input device, such as the input device 240 of
According to implementations of the disclosed subject matter, a mixing station, such as the mixing station 1000 of
The ink containers 300, 310, and 320 may be mounted or placed on a work surface 3100. The ink containers 300, 310, and 320 may each contain a different ink color. For example, ink container 300 may include red ink, ink container 310 may include green ink, and ink container 320 may include blue ink. Each of the ink containers 300, 310, and 320 may include a mixing mechanism 301, 311, and 321 respectively. As shown, the mixing mechanisms 301, 311, and 321 may be located inside the ink containers 300, 310, and 320 and may rotate in the direction shown in
Interaction with an input device 440 may cause ink to dispense from one or more of the ink containers 400, 410, and 420. For example, a user may input a ratio of 3:2:4 corresponding to 3 parts red, 2 parts green, and 4 parts blue via the input device 440. Based on the user input, a signal or other indication may be provided to ink container 400 to dispense 3 ml (or other applicable quantity that results in the user input ratio) of red ink, a signal or other indication may be provided to the ink container 410 to dispense 2 ml (or other applicable quantity that results in the user input ration) of green ink, and a signal or other indication may be provided to the ink container 420 to dispense 4 ml (or other applicable quantity that results in the user input ration) of blue ink. The ink dispensed by each of the ink containers 400, 410, and 420 may be dispensed and may traverse via paths 402, 412, and 422 respectively. Each of the paths 402, 412, and 422 may end at mixing container 430 such that the ink dispensed from the ink containers 400, 410, and 420 is dispensed into mixing container 430 via paths 402, 412, and 422, respectively. The red, green, and blue ink with a respective ratio of 3:2:4 may mix inside the mixing container 430 to produce a custom ink color. A mixing mechanism 431 may be included inside the mixing container 430 and may enable periodic mixing of the custom ink inside of the mixing container 430. For example, the mixing mechanism 431 may move when the mixing container 430 is moved or shaken, and may prevent the ink inside the mixing container 430 from settling.
Any input device described herein can be, for example, a computer, notebook, tablet, iPad, or other electronic device. The input devices or a hard-copy form may also be used and provided at a mixing station, allowing a user to track the quantities, types, ratios, and other information related to the ink mix used or selected by that customers. In this manner, the customer can track the various inks used and has a record of the amounts and types of ink used. The input devices are preferably provided with software (such as an application) that will create a user profile for a specific user, and store information about the user (such as demographic information) and the user's ink preferences, mixing history and/or saved ink mixes. In this manner, a user can track, for example, favorite ink mixes for later use, or to be experimented with at another time. A user can also enter custom names for their ink mixes, to be saved by the system.
According to implementations of the disclosed subject matter, ink containers such as the ink containers 100, 110, and 120 of
The ink inside different ink containers may be different colors. As an example, different ink containers may contain different base colored ink. The ink contained in the ink containers may be suitable for tattoos and may include, for example, carbon, antimony, arsenic, beryllium, calcium, lithium, selenium, and sulphur. The ink may include iron oxides (rust), metal salts, or plastics. Heavy metals used for colors may include, for example, mercury (red); lead (yellow, green, white); cadmium (red, orange, yellow); nickel (black); zinc (yellow, white); chromium (green); cobalt (blue); aluminium (green, violet); titanium (white); copper (blue, green); iron (brown, red, black); and barium (white). Metal oxides used include ferrocyanide and ferricyanide (yellow, red, green, blue). Organic chemicals used include azo-chemicals (orange, brown, yellow, green, violet) and naptha-derived chemicals (red). Carbon (soot or ash) is also used for black. Other elements used as pigments include antimony, arsenic, beryllium, calcium, lithium, selenium, and sulphur. The ink may contain one or more lighting agents such as, for example, lead or titanium.
According to implementations of the disclosed subject matter, a user-activated dispenser may be any applicable dispenser that dispenses ink from an ink container to a mixing container. As shown in the example mixing station 1000 of
Increments of a pre-selected amount of ink may be dispensed when an input device is receives a color input form a user. The pre-selected amount of ink may correspond to a specific quantity such as, for example, a number of millimeters. As an example, a user may press a button 103 of
According to implementations disclosed herein, a mixing mechanism may be used to prevent ink inside an ink container and/or a mixing container from settling. A mixing mechanism may be any applicable mechanism that mitigates the settling of ink. A mixing mechanism may be one or more rods, bars, ball bearing, spheres, pebbles, mesh, mechanical component, electronic component, chemical, compound, or the like that mitigates the settlement of an ink.
A mixing mechanism may be in constant motion inside an ink container. For example, a mixing mechanism 101 such as a rod of
A mixing mechanism may be powered using a battery or via an electrical connection. For example, an ink container may include a battery that powers the movement of a mixing mechanism. Alternatively or in addition, an electrical connection may provide current to a mixing mechanism such that the mixing mechanism operates using the current. One or more ink containers as well as the mixing container may include a mixing mechanism. Mixing mechanisms for different ink containers and/or the mixing container may be the same or may be different than each other, or a combination thereof. For example, the ink containers at a mixing station may include battery powered mixing containers that rotate constantly inside of an ink container. The mixing container may have one or more pellets inside it which move when the mixing container is physically moved.
According to an implementation of the disclosed subject matter, a sterile environment may be maintained within ink containers, activated dispensers, and/or mixing containers. A sterile environment may be necessary to protect the ink from contamination from microorganisms.
According to an implementation of the disclosed subject matter, an ink container may contain a thinning solution and/or a thickening solution. The thinning solution and/or thickening solution may modify the consistency of a custom ink, such that if thinning solution and/or thickening solution are mixed with one or more inks, in a mixing container, the resulting custom ink's consistency is determined, at least in party, by the thinning and/or thickening solution. A desired consistency may be obtained as a result of thinning and/or thickening solution. As an example, the ink container 100 of
According to an implementation, an amount of thinning solution and/or thickening solution may be determined based on the user selected colored ink. Notably, the system may determine an optimal amount of thinning solution and/or thickening solution based on properties of the selected inks to maintain an optimal viscosity based on the ink selection.
According to an implementation, a mixing container may be sealed after colored ink is deposited into the mixing container. The mixing container may be configured such that a sealing mechanism is provided along with the mixing container for sealing the mixing container. For example, the mixing container may include flap, which is covered by non-stick tape. Removal of the non-stick tape may convert the flap to become adhesive such that the flap seals the opening in a mixing container to seal close the mixing container.
According to an implementation, a label may be generated based on the custom colored ink. The label may be configured to affix to a mixing container or may be a standalone label such as a pamphlet or other tangible item. The label may include the custom formula for the custom colored ink inside the mixing container. Alternatively or in addition, the label may include a name for the ink inside the mixing container. Alternatively or in addition, the label may include user provided content such as, for example, the user's name, a logo, an image, text, or the like. An input device or other component may provide the custom formula or other content to be included in the label. For example, a user may input a custom color via the input device 240 of
According to an implementation, a user may select amounts of different colored inks via an input (e.g., button press) and a representative sample of the different colored inks mixed together may be provided to the user prior to the actual amount of ink is dispensed. The representative sample may be a digital sample or a physical sample, For example, the user may select three different colored inks to be dispensed. The user may be provided a representation of the three colors mixed based on the proportions provided by the user via, for example, a monitor. According to this implementation, the user may be able to visualize the mixed colors via the display, prior to committing to the mixed color and prior to the system dispensing the three colors. Further, a display or a three-dimensional representation (e.g., a hologram) may be provided to display the mixed color. For example, a the representation of the mixed color may be provided overlaid on a body part so that a user can visualize the mixed color as a tattoo prior to committing to the mixed color. The mixed color may be provided to the user in the shape of a tattoo. According to an implementation, the shape of a tattoo may be determined based on the user's profile (e.g., tattoos or body parts previously provided by the user).
According to an implementation, a user profile may be created and information related to the user profile may be stored locally or at a remote location (e.g., a server or database). The user profile may be include user information such as the user's username, password, address, email, etc., and/or may include current or previous custom color formulations. For example, a user may create a custom color and the amount/ratios of two or more inks and/or thickening or thinning agent amounts related to that custom color may be stored in the users profile such that the system or the user may be provided access to them at a current or future time. For example, the user may be provided a custom color stored at a previous time. The user may then chose to modify that custom color by adjusting a first color to be more prominent. A new custom color may be stored in the user's profile based on the adjustment.
In various alternatives, the processor 502 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a CPU and GPU located on the same die, or one or more processor cores, wherein each processor core can be a CPU or a GPU. In various alternatives, the memory 504 is located on the same die as the processor 502, or is located separately from the processor 502. The memory 504 includes a volatile or non-volatile memory, for example, random access memory (RAM), dynamic RAM, or a cache.
The storage 506 includes a fixed or removable storage, for example, without limitation, a hard disk drive, a solid state drive, an optical disk, or a flash drive. The input devices 508 include, without limitation, a keyboard, a keypad, a touch screen, a touch pad, a detector, a microphone, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a biometric scanner, an eye gaze sensor 530, or a network connection (e.g., a wireless local area network card for transmission and/or reception of wireless IEEE 802 signals). The output devices 510 include, without limitation, color sample, a display, a speaker, a printer, a haptic feedback device, one or more lights, an antenna, or a network connection (e.g., a wireless local area network card for transmission and/or reception of wireless IEEE 802 signals).
The input driver 512 and output driver 514 include one or more hardware, software, and/or firmware components that are configured to interface with and drive input devices 508 and output devices 150, respectively. The input driver 512 communicates with the processor 502 and the input devices 508, and permits the processor 502 to receive input from the input devices 508. The output driver 514 communicates with the processor 502 and the output devices 150, and permits the processor 502 to send output to the output devices 150. The output driver 514 includes an accelerated processing device (“APD”) 511 which is coupled to a display device 518. In some implementations, display device 518 includes a desktop monitor or television screen. In some implementations display device 518 includes a head-mounted display device (“HMD”), which includes screens for providing stereoscopic vision to a user. In some implementations the HMD also includes an eye gaze sensor for determining the direction in which the eye of a user is looking.
The amount of a given color may be provided to the user via the input device 600. As shown in
A user may finalize the inputs including the name field 602, custom ink color name field 604, and color selections by selecting the submit button 650. The input device 600 may be an input device 508 of
The output devices 510 (e.g., ink containers) may output colored ink in accordance with the techniques, systems, and devices disclosed herein, based on the color selections input by a user via interactive device 600. The colored ink output by the output devices 510 (e.g., ink containers) may be mixed within a mixing container (e.g., mixing container 130, 230, or 330 of
The figures provided herein are provided as an example only. At least some of the elements discussed with respect to these figures can be arranged in different order, combined, and/or altogether omitted. It will be understood that the provision of the examples described herein, as well as clauses phrased as “such as,” “e.g.”, “including”, “in some aspects,” “in some implementations,” and the like should not be interpreted as limiting the disclosed subject matter to the specific examples.
Having described the invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that, given the present disclosure, modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit of the inventive concepts described herein. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific embodiments illustrated and described.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62830103 | Apr 2019 | US |