Abstract:
Disclosed is ZAP-RTA, a Root Touch up Applicator is a push button operated apparatus that directs and deposits color chemical on to the roots of hair. The process is safe fast and effortless. Its&#39; tapered Parting Pen, parts hair precisely while color is being deposited on to the scalp when the pump button is pressed down and the Blending ball blends the chemical onto the scalp. ZAP-RTA is comprised of a piston pump system, one-way valves, spring, inlet and outlet nozzles. The body contains the reservoir, piston-pump cylinder, 2 one-way valves and inlet and outlet nozzles. The barrel is tapered to help part hair and contains an opening that directs the outflow of hair color downward. Just behind outflow opening is the Blender Ball attached to help blend the color chemical closer to the scalp.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This document claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Prov. Pat. App. Ser. No. 62/389,834 filed Mar. 11, 2016. That document is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC AND INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE OF THE MATERIAL ON THE COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR 
       [0005]    Reserved for a later date, if necessary. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Field of Invention 
         [0007]    The disclosed subject matter is in the field of human hair dye applicators. In particular, the subject matter of this document may be an apparatus and related methods for applying dye or other coloring medium to human hair roots. 
         [0008]    Background of the Invention 
         [0009]    Many humans elect to dye their hair a different color than the hair&#39;s natural color. As dyed hair continues to grow, the root becomes conspicuous because it displays the hair&#39;s natural color rather than the color of the dye. So, it is often necessary to dye the hair root to the same color as the rest of the hair. 
         [0010]    Anyone can dye his or her own hair or visit a salon for professional hair dye applications. Either way, application of hair color or dye to the roots of hair can be very time consuming and tedious. At salons, hair color specialists apply hair color to roots by parting the hair, applying dye or hair color along the seam, and repeating the process over the scalp. This process is two handed and involves using a paintbrush to apply color to the roots one stroke at a time. Similar processes can be done at home. Salons can save time and increase profits with the use of an automated root touch up applicator (ZAP-RTA) that deposits color with just a press of a button which triggers color to be deposited right on the roots. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Until this disclosure, there has never been a simple, automatic apparatus to help with the tedious and time consuming process of coloring roots of hair and (ZAP-RTA) is the first easy to use invention to help in this process. In one embodiment, the automatic apparatus comprises: a main body defined by a shell; a detachable hair coloring reservoir or liquid container removably coupled to the body; a reorientatable brush-tipped nozzle coupled to and extending from the shell of the main body; a button-operated and battery-powered pump situated within the shell of the main body, wherein the button for operating the battery powered pump is on the shell, and wherein the battery for powering the battery powered pump is located within the shell of the main body; an input tube in fluid communication with the pump and the hair coloring reservoir or liquid container; an output tube in fluid communication with the pump and the nozzle; wherein the pump is configured when operated to draw fluid (a) through the input tube from the hair coloring reservoir or fluid container, (b) through the output tube, and (c) out of the brush-tipped nozzle. In one embodiment, the pump need not be battery operated and may instead be pump action, where the button is a piston for a piston pump and depressing the button repeatedly creates a pumping action over the input and output tubes. 
         [0012]    In one mode of operation, a color mixture may be poured in through an inlet opening to fill the hair coloring reservoir or liquid container (i.e., a reservoir area). The brush-tipped nozzle or hair-parting pointer may be placed at any part of hair of a human surrounding the human&#39;s face and may be used to part said hair neatly. By pushing the pump button, the button compresses causing a pumping action so that the hair coloring flows up to the outlet nozzle and out of the brushed tip. In a preferred embodiment, the inlet and output tubes are coupled to the pump via a one-way valve so that hair coloring does not move from the nozzle into the hair coloring reservoir or fluid containers. Suitably, such valves may be located between the reservoir and pump and between the pump and nozzle. In some embodiments, the one-way valves are tinny rubber balls that rest inside a seal, where the balls are spring loaded and when the button is pressed the valve located in the out flow valve moves to an open position where the valve located in the reservoir is pushed shut ensuring the chemical to flow in one direction. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    Other objectives of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the invention has been shown and described. The manner in which these objectives and other desirable characteristics can be obtained is explained in the following description and attached figures in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an apparatus  1000  for applying dye or other coloring medium to human hair roots; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the apparatus  1000  for applying dye or other coloring medium to human hair roots; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is an x-ray perspective view of the apparatus  1000  for applying dye or other coloring medium to human hair roots; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is an x-ray left-side view of the apparatus  1000  for applying dye or other coloring medium to human hair roots; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is an x-ray rear view of the apparatus  1000  for applying dye or other coloring medium to human hair roots; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is an x-ray right side view of the apparatus  1000  for applying dye or other coloring medium to human hair roots; and, 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is an x-ray environmental view of the apparatus  1000  for applying dye or other coloring medium to human hair roots. 
       
    
    
       [0021]    In the figure, the below listed components are denoted by the counterpart reference numerals:
   Brush— 1     Brush fixer— 2     Nozzle— 3     Bump— 4     Folding Unit Back Shell— 5     Seal Ring # 1 — 6     Sear Ring # 2 — 7     Output Connector— 8     Folding Unit Upper Shell— 9     Wearproof cap— 10     Folding unit Fixer— 11     Unit Upper Shell— 12     Rechargeable Battery— 13     PCB— 14     Pump— 15     Button— 16     Light Transmitting Ring— 17     Unit Back Shell— 18     Seal Ring # 3 — 19     Input Connector— 20     Gilded Ring— 21     USB-PCB— 22     Liquid Container Connector— 23     Seal Ring # 4 — 24     Seal Ring # 5 — 25     Liquid Container— 26     Hair coloring input tube— 27     Hair coloring output tube— 28     
 
         [0050]    It is to be noted, however, that the appended figures illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments that will be appreciated by those reasonably skilled in the relevant arts. Also, figures are not necessarily made to scale but are representative. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0051]    Disclosed is a simple and automatic apparatus to help with the tedious and time consuming process of coloring roots of hair. In one embodiment, the automatic apparatus comprises: a main body; a detachable liquid container removably coupled to the main body; a reorientatable brush-tipped nozzle coupled to and extending from the shell of the main body; a button-operated and battery-powered pump situated within the shell of the main body for moving hair dye via tubing from the liquid container out of the brush-tip of the nozzle. The more detailed description of the disclosed apparatus is provided below in connection with  FIGS. 1 through 7 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an apparatus  1000  for applying dye or other coloring medium to human hair roots.  FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the apparatus  1000  for applying dye or other coloring medium to human hair roots. As shown in these figures, the apparatus  1000  comprises: a main body defined by a shell, where the shell is defined by an upper shell  12  and a back shell  18 ; a gilded ring  21  with a liquid container connector  23  for removably coupling a detachable hair coloring reservoir or liquid container  26  to the body (upper shell  12  and back shell  18 ); a reorientatable brush-tipped  1  nozzle  3  coupled to and extending from the upper shell  12  of the main body, where the brush-tipped nozzle  1  includes a brush fixer  2 , a nozzle  3 , a folding or pivoting unit (back shell  5 , front shell  9 ), where the nozzle  3  is coupled to the brush fixer  2  via a bump  4 , and where the pivoting unit (back shell  5 , front shell  9 ) are pivotally coupled to the front shell  12  of the main body; a button-operated and battery-powered pump  15  situated within the shell (front shell  12 , back shell  18 ) of the main body, wherein the button  16  for operating the battery powered pump  15  is on the back shell  18 , and wherein the rechargeable battery  13  for powering the battery powered pump  15  is located within the shell  12 / 18  of the main body; an input tube  27  (not shown until later figures) in fluid communication with the pump  15  and the hair coloring reservoir or liquid container  26 ; an output tube  28  (not shown until later figures) in fluid communication with the pump  15  and the nozzle  3 ; wherein the pump  15  is configured when operated to draw fluid (a) through the input tube  27  (not shown until the later figures) from the hair coloring reservoir or fluid container  26 , (b) through the output tube  28  (not shown until the later figures), and (c) out of the brush-tipped  2  nozzle  3 . In one embodiment, the pump is an electrical or battery operated φ27*69.5 pump, but the pump need not be battery operated and may instead be pump action, where the button  16  is a piston for a piston pump and depressing the button  16  repeatedly creates a pumping action over the input and output tubes. 
         [0053]    Still referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , fluid communication from container  26 , the input tube  27  (not shown until later figures), the pump  15 , the output tube  28  (not shown until the later figures), the nozzle  3 , and brush  1  may suitably be accomplished as follows: first, the brush  1  may be coupled to the brush holder  2 ; second, the brush holder  2  may be coupled to the nozzle  3  via the bump  4 ; third, the nozzle  3  may be coupled to the folding unit  5 / 9  via threads an a seal ring # 1   6  so that the connection may be substantially fluid tight; fourth, the folding unit  5 / 9  may be coupled to an output connector  8  via a seal ring # 2  so that the connection may be substantially fluid tight; fifth, the output tube  28  (not shown) may be coupled to output connector  8  with a wearproof cap so that the connection does not degrade overtime; sixth, the output tube  28  (not shown until later figures) may be coupled to the output of the pump  15 ; seventh, the input of the pump  15  may be coupled to the input connector  20  with a seal ring # 3   19  so that the connection is substantially fluid tight; eighth, the input tube  27  (not shown until later figures) may be coupled to the input connector  20 ; ninth, the input tube  27  (not shown until the later figures) may be passed through a seal ring # 4   24  of the container connector  23  and into the container  26 ; finally, the container  26  may feature a seal ring # 5  so that the coupling of the container to the shell  12 / 18  is substantially fluid tight. 
         [0054]    Still referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , electrical communication from the USB charging port  22  plus printed circuit board (PCB)  22 , to the battery  23 , the pump  15 , lighting ring  17 , and button  16  may be accomplished as follows: first, the USB charging port and PCB  22  may be provided into the gilded ring  21 ; second, the battery  13  may be electrically coupled to the USB charging port and PCB  22 ; third, the battery may be electrically coupled to the printed circuit board (PCB)  14  of the apparatus  1000 ; the pump  15  and button  16  may be electrically coupled to the PCB  14  so that depression of the button  16  initiates or terminates operation of the pump  15 ; finally, the lighting ring  17  to indicate may be electrically coupled to the PCB  14 . 
         [0055]    The parts list may be as follows:
   1 count silicone brush— 1     1 count polypropylene brush fixer— 2     1 count Acrylonitril Butadiene Styrene (ABS) nozzle— 3     1 count ABS bump— 4     1 count ABS folding unit back shell— 5     1 count silicone fifty-five degree seal ring # 1 — 6     1 count silicone fifty-five degree seal ring # 2 — 7     1 count ABS output connector— 8     1 count ABS folding unit upper shell— 9     1 count 303 stainless steel wearproof cap— 10     1 count Polyoxymethylene folding unit fixer— 11     1 count ABS unit upper shell— 12     1 count 18650 li-ion rechargeable battery— 13     1 count PCB— 14     1 count φ27*69.5 Pump— 15     1 count ABS button— 16     1 count Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) light transmitting ring— 17     1 count ABS unit back shell— 18     1 count silicone sixty degree seal ring # 3 — 19     1 count ABS input connector— 20     1 count ABS chroming gilded ring— 21     1 count USB-PCB— 22     1 count ABS liquid container connector— 23     1 count silicone sixty degree seal ring # 4 — 24     1 count silicone sixty degree seal ring # 5 — 25     1 count high density polyethylene (HDPE) Liquid Container— 26     1 count standard tubing hair coloring input tube— 27     1 count standard tubing hair coloring output tube— 28     
 
         [0084]      FIG. 3  is an x-ray perspective view of the apparatus  1000  for applying dye or other coloring medium to human hair roots.  FIG. 4  is an x-ray left-side view of the apparatus  1000  for applying dye or other coloring medium to human hair roots.  FIG. 5  is an x-ray rear view of the apparatus  1000  for applying dye or other coloring medium to human hair roots.  FIG. 6  is an x-ray right side view of the apparatus  1000  for applying dye or other coloring medium to human hair roots.  FIG. 7  is an x-ray environmental view of the apparatus  1000  for applying dye or other coloring medium to human hair roots. These figures illustrate use or operation of the disclosed apparatus  1000 . 
         [0085]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 through 7 , in one mode of operation, a color mixture may be poured in through an inlet opening of the container  26  to fill the hair coloring reservoir  26  or liquid container (i.e., a reservoir area). The brush-tipped  1  nozzle  3  or hair-parting pointer may be placed at any part of hair of a human surrounding the human&#39;s face and may be used to part said hair neatly. By pushing the pump button  16 , the button compresses causing a pumping action so that the hair coloring flows up to the outlet nozzle and out the brushed tip  2 . In a preferred embodiment, the inlet and output tubes are coupled to the pump  15  via a one way valve (not shown) so that hair coloring does not move from the nozzle into the hair coloring reservoir or fluid containers. Suitably, such valves may be located between the reservoir and pump and between pump and nozzle. In some embodiments, the one-way valves are tinny rubber balls that rest inside a seal, where the balls are spring loaded and when the button is pressed the valve located in the our flow valve moves to open position where the valve located in the reservoir is pushed shut ensuring the chemical to flow one direction. 
         [0086]    Although the method and apparatus is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead might be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosed method and apparatus, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus the breadth and scope of the claimed invention should not be limited by any of the above-described embodiments. 
         [0087]    Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open-ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like, the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof, the terms “a” or “an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more,” or the like, and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that might be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future. 
         [0088]    The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases might be absent. The use of the term “assembly” does not imply that the components or functionality described or claimed as part of the module are all configured in a common package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of a module, whether control logic or other components, might be combined in a single package or separately maintained and might further be distributed across multiple locations. 
         [0089]    Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described in terms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations. As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their various alternatives might be implemented without confinement to the illustrated examples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying description should not be construed as mandating a particular architecture or configuration. 
         [0090]    All original claims submitted with this specification are incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein.