EP0443741A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Formulating device for cosmetically functional cosmetic products
Assignee: Revlon Consumer Products LLC
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Filing: 1991-02-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-02-04
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is directed to an apparatus for formulating a custom mixed cosmetic product at the point of sale in response to specific input criteria. The apparatus includes a plurality of containers (12) for storing a plurality of cosmetically functional mixtures. The cosmetically functional mixtures are adapated to combine to form a cosmetic product. An input means (14) is provided for entering into a computer (16) the specific input criteria that is representative of a customer's need. The computer outputs a series of instruction sets in response to the specific input criteria to a dispensing means (18). The dispensing means automatically and sequentially dispenses the plurality of cosmetically functional mixtures into a formulation receptacle (20) in response to the instruction sets. The plurality Of cosmetically functional mixtures combine in the recepatcle (20) to form a custom mixed formulation of cosmetic product at the point of sale.
Inventors
- 👤 Gustave J. Klein
- 👤 Jose Fajarnes Pano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:52
CPC Classifications
A; A45; A45D; A45D44/00; A45D44/005; B; B01; B01F; B01F33/00; B01F33/80; B01F33/84; B01F33/844; B01F33/8442; B44; B44D; B44D3/00; B44D3/003; G; G07; G07F; G07F13/00; G07F13/06; G07F17/00; G07F17/18; B01F2101/00; B01F2101/21; B01F2101/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
An apparatus for formulating a custom mixed cosmetic product at the point of sale in response to specific input criteria, said apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of cosmetically functional mixtures, each mixture of said plurality of mixtures being in a separate container said mixtures being adapted to combine to form a cosmetic product; (b) input means for entering specific input criteria representative of a customer's need at the point of sale; (c) computing means for outputting a series of instruction sets in response to said specific input criteria; and (d) dispensing means for automatically dispensing each of said cosmetically functional mixtures sequentially from their respective containers into a formulation receptacle in response to said instruction sets, said plurality of cosmetically functional mixtures combining in said receptacle to thereby form a custom mixed formulation of a cosmetic product at the point of sale.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said dispensing means includes means for sequentially dispensing each of said cosmetically functional mixtures by weight.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said dispensing means includes means for sensing the weight of each of said cosmetically functional mixtures dispensed into said formulation receptacle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said dispensing means includes valve means for individually controlling the dispensing of each of said cosmetically functional mixtures from their respective containers into said formulation receptacle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said computing means includes means for outputting said series of instruction sets to include the weight of each of said cosmetically functional mixtures to be dispensed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said computing means includes control means for sequentially sending control signals, in response to said instruction sets, to said valve means and to said weight sensing means to control the sequential dispensing of said plurality of cosmetically functional mixtures.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said computing means includes means for selecting prestored weights of said plurality of cosmetically functional mixtures to be dispensed by said dispensing means in response to a first group of said specific input criteria.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said computing means includes means for selecting a quantity factor in response to a second group of said specific input criteria and means for multiplying said prestored weights by said quantity factor to dispense custom weights of said plurality of cosmetically functional mixtures necessary to prepare said custom mixed formulation, said plurality of cosmetically functional mixtures combining in said receptacle to form a permanent hair waving product to be applied for a fixed predetermined time and temperature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said computing means includes means for outputting said series of instruction sets in response to said custom weights of said plurality of cosmetically functional mixtures.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said computing means includes means for selecting to dispense one of said custom weights or a portion of said custom weights of said plurality of cosmetically functional mixtures.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
135 words
An apparatus for formulating a custom mixed cosmetic product at the point of sale in response to specific input criteria, said apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of containers for storing a plurality of chemically active solutions, said solutions being adapted to interact to form a cosmetic product; (b) input means for entering specific input criteria representative of a customer's need at the point of sale; (c) computing means for outputting a series of instruction sets in response to said specific input criteria; and (d) dispensing means for automatically and sequentially dispensing said plurality of chemically active solutions into a formulation receptacle in response to said instruction sets, said plurality of chemically active solutions interacting in said receptacle to thereby form a plurality of custom mixed formulations of a cosmetic product at the point of sale.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said input means includes a keyboard means and a display means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said computing means includes means for outputting said series of instruction sets in response to specific input criteria determined at the point of sale in response to a plurality of specific inquiries displayed on said display means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said computing means includes means for outputting said series of instruction sets in response to a specific custom formulation code entered into said input means at the point of sale.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said selecting means includes means for selecting prestored amounts of said plurality of chemically active solutions to be dispensed by said dispensing means in response to a first group of specific input criteria.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said computing means includes means for selecting a quantity factor in response to a second group of specific input criteria, and means for multiplying said pre-stored amounts by said quantity factor to dispense custom amounts of said plurality of chemically active solutions necessary to prepare said custom mixed formulation, said plurality of chemically active solutions interacting in said receptacle to form a permanent hair waving product to be applied for a fixed predetermined time and temperature.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said computing means includes means for selecting to dispense one of said custom amounts or a portion of said custom amounts of said plurality of chemically active solutions.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
159 words
An apparatus for formulating a custom mixed cosmetic product at the point of sale in response to specific input criteria, said apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of cosmetically functional mixtures, each solution of said plurality of solutions being in a separate container, said solutions being adapted to interact to form a cosmetic product; (b) input means for entering specific input criteria representative of a customer's need at the point of sale; (c) computing means for selecting one of a plurality of custom formulations of cosmetic product in response to said input criteria and for outputting a series of instruction sets unique to the selected formulation; and (d) dispensing means for automatically dispensing said plurality of cosmetically functional mixtures sequentially from their respective containers into a formulation receptacle in response to said instruction sets, said plurality of cosmetically functional mixtures interacting in said receptacle to thereby form a custom mixed formulation of a cosmetic product at the point of sale.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said computing means includes a first look up table stored in memory, said first look up table having a plurality of sets of amounts of said plurality of cosmetically functional mixtures, each set of amounts being defined by a unique combination of a first group of specific input criteria.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said computer means includes a second look up table stored in memory, said second look up table having a plurality of quantity factors, each quantity factor being defined by a unique combination of a second group of specific input criteria.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
102 words
The apparatus of claim 20 where said computing means includes (a) means for selecting one of said sets of amounts in response to specific input criteria of said first group entered at the point of sale, (b) means for selecting one of said quantity factors in response to specific input criteria of said second group entered at the point of sale, and (c) means for multiplying the amounts in said selected set of amounts by said selected quantity factors to determine custom amounts of said cosmetically functional mixtures to be dispensed to prepare said custom mixed formulation at the point of sale.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said first group of specific input criteria includes combinations of hair damage criteria, hair porosity criteria and hair diameter criteria.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said look up table includes 36 sets, said 36 sets being defined by 4 hair damage criteria, 3 hair porosity criteria and 3 hair diameter criteria.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said second group of specific input criteria includes combinations of hair density criteria and hair length criteria.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said second look up table includes 9 quantity factors, said 9 factors being defined by 3 hair density criteria and 3 hair length criteria.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said first and second look up tables include amounts and quantity factors of said plurality of cosmetically functional mixtures, which when dispensed into said receptacle will interact to form a permanent hair waving product to be applied for a fixed predetermined time and temperature.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
143 words
An apparatus for formulating a custom mixed cosmetic product at the point of sale in response to specific input criteria, said apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of buffered chemically active solutions, each solution of said plurality of solutions being in a separate container said solutions being adapted to interact to form a cosmetic product; (b) input means for entering specific input criteria representative of a customer's need at the point of sale; (c) computing means for outputting a series of instruction sets in response to said specific input criteria; and (d) dispensing means for automatically dispensing each of said chemically active solutions sequentially from their respective containers into a formulation receptacle in response to said instruction sets, said plurality of chemically active solutions interacting in said receptacle to thereby form a custom mixed formulation of a cosmetic product at the point of sale.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein each of said plurality of solutions comprises at least one buffering agent and at least one active agent.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein each of said solutions has a unique predetermined proportion of buffering agent(s) to active agent(s), such that each of said plurality of custom mixed formulations has a unique combination of buffering agent(s) and active agent(s) which interact to provide each said custom formulation with a unique chemical activity level.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said plurality of solutions comprises 4 solutions in accordance with the following table for forming a plurality of permanent hair waving custom mixed formulations:
Claim 31
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for formulating a custom mixed cosmetic product at the point of sale in response to specific input criteria, said apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of cosmetically functional mixtures, each solution of said plurality of solutions being in a separate container, each said container having a unique interlocking means for interlocking with a dispensing means; (b) input means for entering specific input criteria representative of a customer's need at the point of sale; (c) computing means for outputting a series of instruction sets in response to said specific input criteria; and (d) dispensing means for automatically dispensing each of said cosmetically functional mixtures sequentially from their respective containers into a formulation receptacle in response to said instruction sets, said plurality of cosmetically functional mixtures combining in said receptacle to thereby form a custom mixed formulation of a cosmetic product at the point of sale.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said interlocking means comprises a uniquely shaped interlocking cap means for each said container, each said uniquely shaped interlocking cap means mating with a corresponding uniquely shaped female container receiving means in said dispensing means, each of said uniquely shaped female container receiving means being located at a preselected position in said dispensing means.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for formulating a custom mixed cosmetic product at the point of sale from a plurality of cosmetically functional mixtures, each mixture of said plurality of mixtures being in a separate container, said mixtures being adapted to combine to form a cosmetic product, said method comprising the steps of: (a) entering specific input criteria representative of a customer's need at the point of sale into a computing means; (b) selecting one of a plurality of custom formulations of cosmetic product stored in said computer means in response to said input criteria and outputting from said computer means a series of instruction sets unique to the selected formulation; and (c) automatically dispensing cosmetically functional mixtures sequentially from their respective containers into a formulation receptacle in response to said instruction sets, said plurality of cosmetically functional mixtures combining in said receptacle to thereby form a custom mixed formulation of a cosmetic product at the point of sale.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
179 words
The method of claim 33 wherein said computing means includes a first look up table stored in memory having a plurality of sets of amounts of said plurality of cosmetically functional mixtures, each set of amounts being defined by a unique combination of a first group of specific input criteria, and wherein said computing means includes a second look up table stored in memory having a plurality of quantity factors, each quantity factor being defined by a unique combination of a second group of specific input criteria, and wherein said selecting step includes (a) selecting one of said sets of amounts in response to specific input criteria of said first group entered at the point of sale, (b) selecting one of said quantity factors in response to specific input criteria of said second group entered at the point of sale, and (c) multiplying the amounts in said selected set of amounts by said selected quantity factors to determine custom amounts of said cosmetically functional mixtures to be dispensed to prepare said custom mixed formulation at the point of sale.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for formulating a custom mixed permanent wave solution at the point of sale from a plurality of chemically active solutions, comprising the steps of: (a) determining at the point of sale a customer's hair damage, porosity, diameter, density and length to define a set of input criteria; (b) entering said input criteria into a computing means to determine the weight of each of said plurality of solutions necessary to prepare said custom mixed permanent wave solution and deriving therefrom a series of instruction sets; (c) automatically and sequentially dispensing said plurality of chemically active solutions into a formulation receptacle in response to said instruction sets, said plurality of chemically active solutions interacting in said receptacle to form said custom mixed permanent wave solution at the point of sale; and (d) applying said custom mixed permanent wave solution at a fixed time and temperature to said customer.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of formulating a cosmetic product at a point of sale for the product, said method comprising: (a) determining a plurality of sets of criteria which defines sets of customer needs for a cosmetic product; (b) defining a plurality of preset formulations, each formulation being responsive to a set of individual customer needs; (c) comparing said plurality of preset formulations against statistical averages of said customer needs; (d) preparing a plurality of stock solutions that may be subsequently blended to form said preset formulations in view of said statistical distributions such that each of said plurality of stock solutions is consumed at substantially the same rate; (e) dispensing said stock solutions at the point of sale to prepare a specific one of said present formulations in response to a specific set of customer needs.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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