Color coordinator device

A color coordinator device for use in the selection of personal cosmetic colors and the like having predetermined relation to the skin and eye colors of the user. The device includes a shield member defining a pocket and having a generally radial viewing opening formed therein, and a color coordinator disc rotatable within the pocket and having quadrant shaped groupings of color samples thereon representing different shades or tones of primary skin colors which may be brought into view through the viewing opening. The color coordinator disc has arcuate bands of color sample segments representing colors compatible with the corresponding skin tone colors and exposed with the skin tone colors for suggested cosmetic purposes such as eye shadow, blush, hair tint, lips and nail polish. Arcuate segmental portions of the color coordinator disc are adapted for removal from the disc, and a light filter may be provided to overlie the exposed color samples. The opposite side of the color coordinator disc preferably has a plurality of color samples thereon having color coordination with the various groups of skin tone shades on the primary side of the color coordinator disc, and provide selected colors or products for non-cosmetic accessories or uses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to devices for assisting in the 
selection of colors and the like, and more particularly to a novel color 
coordinator device which facilitates the selection of colors for personal 
cosmetic purposes and for environmental accessories in relation to 
relatively constant characteristics of the user such as skin and eye 
colors. 
It is a common practice in matters of personal grooming, particularly as 
they relate to the personal grooming habits of women, to select colors for 
cosmetic purposes and accessory items which are believed to be most 
compatible with the particular user and the "look" sought to be obtained. 
With the state of modern fashions, the selection of colors for personal 
cosmetic purposes as well as accessory items, such as clothing or other 
environmental items, is often difficult due to the great variety of colors 
which may be selected, some of which are less compatible with the user 
than others. While professional personal grooming services are available 
to assist women in the selection of cosmetics and the like, such services 
are unavailable to many women due to lack of scheduling opportunity and/or 
financial constraints. 
In view of the foregoing, a need exists for a relatively simple and 
inexpensive device which will facilitate the selection of colors best 
suited for individual personal and environmental purposes. The present 
invention is directed to this need and provides a color coordinator device 
which enables an individual to select complimentary colors for personal 
cosmetic and environmental accessories. The color coordinator device in 
accordance with the present invention is based on the classical law of 
colors which holds that large areas dictate the consonant harmony of 
colors and small areas dictate the complimentary or contrasting color 
harmony. The invention is based on color selection in relation to the 
color of the user's skin, representing the largest area, and the color of 
the user's eyes, representing the smallest area, as the two relatively 
constant factors which dictate harmonious color selection. These two 
factors, i.e., skin and eye color, are particularly desirable as the basis 
for color selection for personal and environmental purposes for the reason 
that they follow the classic law of color selection which traditionally 
dictates the colors of cosmetics and accessory items. Moreover, they are 
the least likely colors to be permanently changed by chemical or cosmetic 
means. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a novel 
color coordinator device for use in selecting personal and environmental 
colors, and which is relatively inexpensive and uncomplicated in its use. 
A more particular object of the present invention is to provide a novel 
color coordinator device which facilitates the selection of colors for 
personal grooming, such as eye shadow, blush or rouge, hair, nails and 
lips based upon the major color tone of the user's skin and the color of 
the user's eyes. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel color 
coordinator device which facilitates the selection of both personal 
grooming colors for cosmetic purposes as well as the selection of colors 
for accessory items, all of which are based upon the primary skin tone 
color of the user and the color of the user's eyes. 
In accordance with one feature of the invention, a color coordinator disc 
is provided having an outer peripheral band of color segments arranged in 
predetermined groupings, such as quadrant arrays, with each grouping being 
representative of a predominant skin color classification such that the 
user's skin color is a constant factor in determining the consonant 
harmony of colors selected for the larger facial areas, such as hair and 
cheek areas, and having various concentric bands of different but 
compatible color samples thereon which facilitate selection of color 
shades for cosmetic eye shadow, rouge, lips and nails, the disc being 
substantially covered by a shield member having a viewing opening 
operative to expose a selected group of skin color shade samples and 
thereby simultaneously exposing the color compatible accessory colors from 
which the user may select accessory colors. 
Further objects, advantages and features of the invention will become 
apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction 
with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate 
like elements throughout the several views.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings, a color coordinator device constructed in 
accordance with the present invention is indicated generally at 10. The 
color coordinator device 10 finds particular application in facilitating 
the selection of colors for personal cosmetic purposes, and, preferably, 
also facilitates color selection for environmental accessories in relation 
to relatively constant characteristics of the user such as skin and eye 
colors. 
The color coordinator device 10 includes a shield or mask member, indicated 
generally at 12, which also serves as a holder and includes front and rear 
panels or plates 14 and 16 which are preferably made of a relatively 
lightweight sheet material, such as a relatively thin plastic or 
paperboard material. In the illustrated embodiment, the panels or plates 
14 and 16 are connected along an integral fold edge 17 and have generally 
semi-circular edge configurations opposite the fold edge 17 except for 
quadrant or 90.degree. pie-shaped openings formed therein, as defined 
between radial edge lines 18a,b and 20a,b, respectively. The quadrant 
shaped openings thus defined are formed so as to lie in superimposed 
relation to each other. If desired, the front and rear panels 14 and 16 
may be formed as circular panels having approximately one-half or 
180.degree. of their peripheral edges radially extended to establish 
mutually abutting edges which may be suitably affixed to each other. 
The panels 14 and 16 define a pocket or cavity therebetween in which is 
rotatably supported a circular color coordinator disc, indicated generally 
at 26. The disc 26 has a larger diameter than the diameter of arcuate 
portions of panels 14 and 16 and is rotatably supported by and between the 
panels through a pivot pin 28 which extends through a suitable aperture 
centrally of disc 26. In this manner, the circular color coordinator disc 
26 may be readily rotated about its center axis on the pivot pin 28 
relative to the shield or mask member 12 so as to expose selected surface 
areas of the coordinator disc within the quadrant shaped viewing openings 
in panels 14 and 16. The color coordinator disc 26 is also preferably made 
of a relatively thin lightweight material suitable to enable forming or 
support of color samples thereon, to be described, and of sufficient 
strength to maintain a generally flat condition and facilitate rotation 
relative to the shield member 12. 
Referring particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5, taken in conjunction with FIG. 1, 
the color coordinator disc 26 has a generally planar surface 26a which, 
when the coordinator disc is mounted between the panels 14 and 16, is 
partially exposed through the viewing opening defined between the radial 
edges 18a,b. In the illustrated embodiment, the surface 26a is divided 
into four quadrants or 90.degree. pie-shaped segments, indicated generally 
at 30, 32, 34 and 36, established between diametral lines 38 and 40 which 
intersect at right angles to each other at the center of the circular 
disc. The quadrants 30, 32, 34 and 36 are generally similar in that each 
quadrant contains a plurality of predetermined coordinated color samples 
which are color coordinated in their respective quadrant areas and relate 
to predetermined characteristics of the human body such as skin and eye 
color. 
To this end, the surface 26a of the color coordinator disc 26 has a first 
outer annular band, indicated generally at 42 in FIG. 5, adjacent its 
outer peripheral edge which, for purposes of illustration, is shown in 
FIG. 4 as comprising four arcuate shaped quadrant portions 42a-d each of 
which corresponds to and lies in an associated one of the quadrant areas 
30, 32, 34 and 36, respectively. Each of the arcuate portions 42a-d of the 
outer band 42 represents one of four major or primary color categories 
into which the human skin may be classified such as red, yellow, blue and 
black. Taking quadrant 30 as being representative of the four quadrants 
30, 32, 34 and 36, and referring to FIG. 5, the corresponding arcuate 
portion 42a of band 42 is divided into a plurality of substantially equal 
size generally trapezoidal shaped segments which, in the illustrated 
embodiment, comprise seven segments 44a-g each of which has a different 
color sample thereon representative of one tone or shade of the 
corresponding primary skin color category associated with quadrant 30, 
such as yellow. 
The surface 26a of the color coordinator disc 26 has a second annular band, 
indicated generally at 50, disposed radially inwardly from and 
substantially concentric with the outer band 42, the band 50 being 
similarly divided into four 90.degree. arcuate shaped portions 
corresponding to and lying within corresponding ones of the quadrant 
shaped segments 30, 32, 34 and 36. Each 90.degree. arcuate portion of the 
annular band 50 is in turn divided into three substantially equal size 
segments, such as indicated at 50a, 50b and 50c within the quadrant 30, 
each of the segments 50a-c being of generally trapezoidal shape and having 
an arcuate extent of approximately 30.degree.. Each segment 50a-c 
corresponds to and identifies a predetermined eye color which is generally 
associated with the corresponding skin shades or tones within color 
segments 44a-g in the corresponding quadrant 30. The eye colors are 
preferably denoted by indicia or eye shaped representations colored to 
visually identify the particular eye color, such as blue, hazel, brown, 
etc. 
Each of the 30.degree. arcuate segments 50a-c further has a plurality of 
substantially equal size trapezoidal shaped sub-segments associated 
therewith, which lie in a double row annular band indicated generally at 
52 in FIG. 5. Each 30.degree. arcuate segment of annular band 52 is 
divided into a plurality of substantially equal size segments, such as 
indicated at 52a-j in the 30.degree. arcuate area corresponding to area 
50a. Each segment 52a-j is of a different color representative of various 
eye shadow colors compatible with the eye color in the corresponding eye 
color segment, such as 50a, and which are compatible with the 
corresponding skin color tones in the associated quadrant 30. 
The color coordinator disc 26 has a further annular band, indicated 
generally at 56, formed thereon disposed radially inwardly from and 
substantially concentric with the double row annular eye shadow color band 
52, the band 56 being similarly defined by 90.degree. arcuate portions 
lying within the four quadrants 30, 32, 34 and 36. Each 90.degree. arcuate 
portion of the annular band 56 is divided into a plurality of 
substantially equal size generally trapezoidal shaped segments, such as 
indicated at 56a-g in FIG. 5, each of which displays or has color indicia 
thereon representing a different color of hair tinting which is compatible 
in color harmony with the associated skin color tones displayed on the 
corresponding quadrant portion of the outer band 42. 
Another annular band, indicated generally at 60, is formed on the color 
coordinator disc 26 radially inwardly from and substantially concentric 
with annular band 56. Annular band 60 is also made up of four 90.degree. 
arcuate portions each of which lies in a corresponding one of the 
quadrants 30, 32, 34 and 36 of the color coordinator disc. Each of the 
90.degree. arcuate portions of band 60 is in turn divided into a plurality 
of substantially identical size generally trapezoidal shaped segments, 
there being four such segments in each 90.degree. arcuate portion of the 
band 60, as indicated at 60a-d in FIG. 5. Each of the segments 60a-d bears 
indicia or data thereon relating to a blush and/or rouge color compatible 
in color harmony with the skin color shades or tones on the portion of the 
band 42 within the corresponding quadrant of the color coordinator disc 
26, the various blush/rouge color samples being suggestive for possible 
tinting of hair in conjunction with cosmetic make-up and the like. 
The color coordinator disc 26 has an inner annular band formed thereon, 
indicated generally at 64, which is disposed radially inwardly from and 
substantially concentric with the annular band 60 and which also includes 
a 90.degree. arcuate portion in each of the four quadrants of the color 
coordinator disc. In the illustrated embodiment, each quadrant portion of 
band 64 depicts a plurality of fingernail-shaped or generally oval-shaped 
areas, four of which are indicated at 64a-d, on which different colors are 
displayed as suggestions for fingernail and/or lip color cosmetics 
compatible with the corresponding skin color tones or shades shown on the 
portion of the outer band 42 within the corresponding quadrant of the 
color coordinator disc. Alternatively, each quadrant portion of the 
annular band 64 may be divided into a plurality of substantially identical 
size generally trapezoidal shaped segments, each having different color 
indicia or data thereon representative of a suggested nail polish and/or 
lip color. 
With the color coordinator disc 26 as thus described positioned between and 
rotatable relative to the panels 14 and 16 of the mask member 12, the 
color coordinator disc may be rotated to a position exposing the basic 
skin color tones or shades corresponding to the primary skin color 
category of the user. The color coordinator disc may be positioned to 
expose the proper grouping of skin color shades by comparing, preferably 
in direct daylight, the various color samples on the outer band 42 with 
the back of the user's hand or with the user's face skin without make-up 
thereon. By identifying the skin color sample in the band 42 closest to 
the user's skin and exposing it and the corresponding quadrant area of the 
coordinator disc within the quadrant shaped viewing opening in panel 14, 
the color coordinator disc is in proper position to present a particular 
range of colors for various cosmetic purposes which are highly 
complimentary to the user's skin tone. Thus, after properly positioning 
the color coordinator disc, the user may select an eye shadow color from 
the various color samples, such as 52a-j, corresponding to the eye color 
in the one of the three exposed segment areas 50a,b or c which is closest 
to the color of the user's eye. The user may also select a hair tinting 
color from any of the color samples in the exposed color areas 56a-g of 
band 56, a rouge and/or blush color from any of the exposed color sample 
segments 60a-d, and a nail polish and/or lip color from any of the exposed 
color samples in band 64. 
The color coordinator device 10 preferably has a plurality of selectively 
positioned color samples on the rear surface 26b of the color coordinator 
disc 26 opposite the surface 26a on which the aforedescribed personal 
cosmetic color samples are presented. With particular reference to FIG. 6, 
taken in conjunction with FIG. 2, the side 26b of disc 26 is also 
preferably divided into four substantially equal quadrants or 90.degree. 
pie-shaped segments by the diametral lines 38 and 40 in similar fashion to 
and in corresponding position of the four quadrants defined on surface 
26a. 
The surface 26b of the color coordinator disc 26 has a plurality of annular 
concentric bands formed thereon so as to establish a plurality of radially 
adjacent 90.degree. arcuate strips or areas in each quadrant. Each such 
90.degree. arcuate strip or area is subdivided into a plurality of 
substantially equal size generally trapezoidal shaped segment areas such 
that each quadrant of the circular surface 26b has substantially the same 
number of trapezoidal segment areas formed thereon. The various 
trapezoidal shaped areas within each quadrant of the disc surface 26b have 
color indicia or data thereon having predetermined color compatible 
relation to the skin tone color samples displayed on band 42 within the 
corresponding quadrant areas 42a-d on the opposite side of the color 
coordinator disc. The different color samples present in each quadrant on 
surface 26b of the color coordinator disc 26 represent color shades 
suggested for color coordinator wardrobe or environmental objects or the 
like which are compatible with the general skin color tone or shade of the 
user. 
With the side 26b of the color coordinator disc 26 having a plurality of 
colors thereon which are in color harmony with the skin color tones 
displayed within the corresponding quadrant areas on the opposite surface 
26a of the color coordinator disc, after selecting color shades for 
various personal cosmetic purposes from side 26a, the user may turn the 
color coordinator device over and select colors for wardrobe and accent, 
etc., from the color samples presented within the corresponding quadrant 
shaped viewing opening formed in panel 16. 
As an alternative to presenting only color samples on the side 26b of the 
color coordinator disc 26, other indicia or graphics could be displayed to 
assist in selection of items other than merely colors. For example, at 
least a portion of each quadrant area on surface 26b of the color 
coordinator disc 26 might be divided into discrete areas each of which 
displays indicia thereon indicating a particular type of human 
personality, such as "reserve", "outgoing" and/or "outdoor type" 
personality, and a particular type of item or product, such as a 
particular model of automobile, which is suggested as being particularly 
compatible with the corresponding personality category. Other suggested 
products, such as jewelry, etc., and/or color suggestions could also be 
provided on the surface 26b so as to suggest products or color samples 
which are coordinated with or have predetermined contrast with the 
particular personalities or with the various major skin color groupings on 
side 26a of the color coordinator disc 26. 
Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, another feature of the color coordinator 
device 10 is the provision of score lines along the diametral lines 38 and 
40 on the color coordinator disc 26 so that the score lines extend 
radially from the center of the disc outwardly to the outermost edge of 
the circular disc. Such score lines may be formed as continuous or 
intermittent score lines and define lines of weakness or tear lines which 
enable the user to readily remove a selected one of the quadrants of the 
color coordinator disc which corresponds to the primary color category of 
the user's skin. By removing the selected quadrant shaped portion from the 
color coordinator disc 26, the user may more easily carry the pertinent 
portion of the color coordinator disc on his or her person for easy access 
and reference as needed. 
Another feature of the color coordinator device 10 lies in the provision of 
a filter element, indicated at 70 in FIG. 1, for use in accommodating the 
device to varying light conditions. In the illustrated embodiment, the 
filter element 70 has a quadrant or generally 90.degree. arcuate segment 
configuration and is rotatably mounted on the pivot pin 28 between panel 
14 and the color disc surface 26a. The filter element has an outer 
peripheral margin 70a which extends radially outwardly from the 
semi-circular shaped portion of panel 14 and is movable from a position 
substantially underlying the panel 14 of the shield member 12 to a 
position overlying the exposed surface portion of the color coordinator 
disc 26. It will be understood that the panels 14 and 16 are not secured 
together except along fold edge 17 so that the filter element 70 is free 
to be rotated therebetween. The filter 70 is made of a suitable material 
having light filtering characteristics which, when the filter directly 
overlies the disc surface 26a, are capable of filtering the underlying 
color samples so as to provide a true color representation even though the 
color coordinator device may be employed in intense direct sunlight. The 
filter element 70 could, for example, comprise a plastic type filter of 
conventional filter material, such as employed in photographic light 
filters, having one or more color filter areas. 
While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated 
and described, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be 
made therein without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. 
For example, the color coordinator disc 26 could be rectangular or 
polygonal in plan configuration, with the mask or shield member 12 being 
suitably configured for cooperation with the color coordinate disc so as 
to facilitate operation in similar fashion to the aforedescribed 
embodiment of the color coordinator device 10. 
Various features of the invention are defined in the following claims.