Abstract:
A hair colorant device capable of separately housing two volatile hair colorant solutions. The hair colorant device has two compartments used to store, introduce and mix the hair colorant solutions. When combined the two hair colorant solutions may be applied to a person&#39;s hair.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a self-contained apparatus made for transporting, mixing and dispensing solutions for hair coloring, more particularly to an apparatus having at least two compartments containing solutions, capable of introducing the solutions to one another within the compartment and dispensing the mixture to a person&#39;s hair. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   The process of coloring a person&#39;s hair often requires the preparation of an unstable mixture of two or more solutions and applying the mixture to the person&#39;s hair prior to the mixture loosing effectiveness. Instrumental in attaining a favorable outcome and not damaging a person&#39;s hair is the consistency of the mixture, and time allotted between mixing the solutions and application to the person&#39;s hair. Common practice in hair coloring involves opening the two or more solutions, mixing the solutions in a container, and often transferring the mixture to an application friendly container prior to application to a person&#39;s hair. Often the mixing containers can only be used one time due to the volatility of the solutions. This process is often repeated several times in one coloring session due to the short effective time of the mixture, leading to wasted time, effort, containers, as well as creating a mess. 
   The present invention recognizes and addresses the particular need for an efficient, inexpensive alternative that can be safely used by professional hair dressers as well as the general public. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a disposable hair colorant apparatus capable of housing volatile hair colorant solutions independently for an extended period of time, until they are applied to a person&#39;s hair. The invention provides a self-contained means by which to introduce and mix the volatile solutions with one another at the time the hair colorant is to be applied, and an application means for introducing the mixture to a person&#39;s hair. 
   In accordance with the present invention, a first component comprises an end cap, and a first solution housing. The end cap has a protrusion devise attached at one end, the protrusion device has a sharp edge designed to rupture a frangible membrane. The first solution housing contains a collapsible bulbous tubular body, preferably of an accordion type collapsible structure, designed to subside when forcibly engaged causing the protrusion device to rupture the frangible membrane. The first solution housing contains a hair colorant solution and is attached to the end cap. The attachment point contains a sealing means designed to prevent the solutions from leaking. 
   The second compartment comprises a diaphragm means containing a frangible membrane, a second solution housing for containing a hair colorant solution, attached to the diaphragm means, and an applicator attached to the second solution housing. The attachment point contains a sealing means designed to prevent the solutions from leaking. The applicator contains an applicator tip, preferably of porous wick material, and a twist-top stop valve mechanism which regulates the flow of liquid from the first solution housing and second solution housing to the applicator tip. The stop valve device contains a sealing means used to prevent the leakage of solution. The applicator features a cap devise used to protect and keep hygienic the applicator tip during shipment and prior to use. 
   When force is applied to the end cap of the hair colorant applicator the collapsible bulbous tubular body subsides, causing the protrusion device to rupture the frangible membrane. The primary function of the frangible membrane is to keep separate the volatile solutions. Upon rupture of the frangible membrane the solutions interact creating an active mixture. The mixture is fed through the applicator to the applicator tip where it is introduced to the individual&#39;s hair. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hair colorant applicator in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a hair colorant applicator with each of the five segments separated; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross sectional side view of a hair colorant applicator in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional side view of a hair colorant applicator in accordance with the present invention, with the first solution housing compressed. 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the hair colorant applicator&#39;s second solution housing and applicator detailing the functional stop valve device. 
   

   The descriptions which follow are to be understood as illustrative and exemplary of specific structures, aspects and features within the broad scope of the present invention and not as limiting of such broad scope. Like numbers refer to similar features of like elements throughout. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The invention will now be described with reference to  FIG. 1 , which illustrates the hair colorant hair colorant applicator  30  in a perspective view, depicting the end cap  32 , first solution housing  34 , diaphragm means  36 , second solution housing  38 , and applicator  66  of the invention. 
   With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , the hair colorant applicator  30  comprises the end cap  32  attached to the first solution housing  34 . The first solution housing  34  is attached to the diaphragm means  36  which is attached to the second solution housing  38 . The second solution housing  38  is attached to the applicator  66 . 
     FIG. 2 , is a disassembled perspective view of the hair colorant applicator  30  depicting the end cap  32  comprising an internally threaded end cap proximal end  42 , a protrusion device  40  attached to the end cap  32  and an end cap seal  70 . The first solution housing  34  has a collapsible bulbous body  44  and an externally threaded first solution housing distal end  46  and an externally threaded first solution housing proximal end  48 . The externally threaded first solution housing distal end  46  is matted to the internally threaded end cap proximal end  42  to attach the end cap  32  to the first solution housing  34 . The end cap seal  70  is configured between the end cap  32  and first solution housing  34  to create an impermeable seal. The diaphragm means  36  has a thin frangible membrane  50 , shown in  FIG. 3 , capable of being ruptured by the protrusion device  40 . The diaphragm means  36  has internally threaded diaphragm means distal end  52  and internally threaded diaphragm means proximal end  54 . The internally threaded diaphragm means distal end  52  is matted to the externally threaded first solution housing proximal end  48  to attach the first solution housing  34  to the diaphragm means  36 . A first solution seal  72  is configured between the first solution housing  34  and the diaphragm means  36  to create an impermeable seal. 
   The second solution housing  38  has an externally threaded second solution housing distal end  56  and an externally threaded second solution housing proximal end  58 . The externally threaded second solution housing distal end  56  is mated to the internally threaded diaphragm means proximal end  54  to attach the diaphragm means  36  to the second solution housing  38 . A Second solution housing seal  74  is configured between the diaphragm means  36  and second solution housing  38  to create an impermeable seal. The applicator  66  has an applicator tip  68  and an internally threaded applicator distal end  60  mated to the externally threaded second solution housing proximal end  58  to attach the second solution housing  38  to the applicator  66 . 
   Further to  FIG. 2 , the second solution housing  38  has an opening  62  at the proximal end. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the opening  62  is sealed by rotating the applicator  66  allowing the externally threaded second solution housing proximal end  58  to thread onto the internally threaded applicator distal end  60 . An applicator seal  76  is configured between the second solution housing  38  and applicator  66  to create an impermeable seal when the applicator  66  is rotated to its closed position. 
     FIG. 3 , is a cross-sectional view of the hair colorant applicator  30  before any pressure is applied to the end cap  32 , thus depicting the collapsible bulbous tubular body  44  at rest. The end cap  32  has an internally threaded end cap proximal end  42  and a protrusion device  40  attached to end cap  32 . The first solution housing  34  has a collapsible bulbous tubular body  44 , an externally threaded first solution housing distal end  46  and an externally threaded first solution housing proximal end  48 . The externally threaded first solution housing distal end  46  is threaded to the end cap proximal end  42  sealing the end cap  32  to the first solution housing  34  which has the protrusion device  40  resting near the frangible membrane  50 . The diaphragm means  36  has an internally threaded diaphragm means distal end  52  and an internally threaded diaphragm means proximal end  54 . The internally threaded diaphragm means distal end  52  is threaded to the externally threaded first solution housing proximal end  48  sealing the first solution housing  34  to the diaphragm means  36 . 
   The second solution housing  38  has an externally threaded second solution housing distal end  56  and an externally threaded second solution housing proximal end  58 . The externally threaded second solution housing distal end  56  is attached to the internally threaded diaphragm means proximal end  54  sealing the diaphragm means  36  to the second solution housing  38 . 
   The applicator  66  has an applicator tip  68 , and an internally threaded applicator distal end  60  attached to the externally threaded second solution housing proximal end  58  sealing the second solution housing  38  to the applicator  66 . 
     FIG. 3  depicts the first tubular housing  34  before any pressure is applied to the collapsible bulbous tubular body  44 . The second solution housing  38 , functions to independently retain a second hair coloring solution before any pressure is applied to the collapsible bulbous tubular body  44   
     FIG. 4 , shows a cross-sectional view of the hair colorant applicator  30  seen in  FIG. 3 , after pressure is applied to the end cap  32 . The pressure applied to the end cap  32  compresses the collapsible bulbous tubular body  44  which forces the protrusion device  40  to rupture the frangible membrane  50 . By rupturing the frangible membrane, the independent hair coloring solutions found in the first solution housing  34  and the second solution housing  38 , are forcibly introduced to each other creating a mixture. 
     FIG. 5 , is a expanded view of the hair colorant applicator&#39;s  30  second solution housing  38  and applicator  66  detailing the externally threaded second solution housing proximal end  58 , internally threaded applicator distal end  60 , and the applicator seal  76 . The opening  62  and functional stop valve device  64  work in unison to control the flow of solution through the opening  62  to the applicator  66 . 
   Further to  FIG. 5 , the complementing externally threaded second solution housing  38  having a proximal end  58  and the internally threaded applicator  66  having a distal end  60  may be rotated with respect to each other to thereby urge the stop valve  64 , against the opening  62  restricting the passage of fluid. The housing  38  and applicator  66  may be rotated with respect to each other in the opposite direction to open the stop valve device  64  releasing the solution to the applicator  66 . The applicator seal  76  is configured between the second solution housing  38  and applicator  66  to create an impermeable seal when the applicator  66  is rotated to its sealed position. 
   In the operation of the invention, the hair colorant applicator  30  is at rest in the state depicted in  FIG. 3 , where the collapsible bulbous tubular body  44  has not subsided because force has not been applied to the end cap  32 . As  FIG. 3  shows, the protrusion device  40  rests near the frangible membrane  50 , which is intact. The purpose of the frangible membrane  50  is to keep separate the volatile solutions found in said first solution housing  34  and second solution housing  38 . 
   To initiate use of the hair colorant hair colorant applicator  30 , ample pressure is applied to the end cap  32  of the hair colorant applicator  30 , causing the collapsible bulbous tubular body  44  to subside. As the collapsible bulbous tubular body  44  subsides, the protrusion device  40  is thrusted forward through the frangible membrane  50 .  FIG. 4  shows the frangible membrane  50  ruptured by the protrusion device  40 . Rupturing the frangible membrane  50  causes the solutions found in the first solution housing  34  and second solution housing  38  to be introduced to one another and combine to form a mixture. The mixture is now active and ready to be applied to a person&#39;s hair. The applicator  66  is adjusted to allow for the flow of the mixture to the applicator tip  68 , where it is introduced to the person&#39;s hair. Upon completion or pause of the application of the mixture to a person&#39;s hair, the applicator  66  may be adjusted to cease the flow of the mixture to the applicator tip  68 . 
   Optionally pressure may be applied and released upon the end cap  32  several times to facilitating the mixing of the solutions in the first solution housing  34  and second solution housing  38 . Optionally, the hair colorant applicator  30  may be inverted several times to facilitate the mixing of the solutions. 
   While the foregoing detailed description has described several embodiments of a hair colorant applicator  30  in accordance with the present invention, it is to be understood that the above description is illustrative only and not limiting of the disclosed invention. Indeed, it will be appreciated that the embodiments discussed above and the virtually infinite embodiments that are not mentioned could easily be within the scope and spirit of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is to be limited only by the claims as set forth below.