Dispenser for cosmetic products with promotional multimedia capabilities

Abstract: Device for dispensing doses of a cosmetic product like a perfume, eau de toilette, lotion, cream, shampoo, skin oil or the like. This device comprises electronic means suitable for presenting audible, visual or audiovisual messages to users of the device and to persons in the direct vicinity of the device, to commercially promote the cosmetic product and/or the product brand and/or the product manufacturer. This device can also comprise electronic means to provide appropriate electronic signals to control certain functions of the device. These electronic means could be suitable for storing said audible, visual or audiovisual messages in electronic form.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention The invention relates to a device for dispensing doses of a cosmetic product like a perfume, eau de toilette, lotion, cream, shampoo, skin oil or the like, which device comprises electronic means suitable for presenting at least audible messages for promoting the product to users of the device and to persons in the direct vicinity of the device. A device of this type is known from US-A-5.221.025, but this specific device comprises electronic means for emitting sound signals, that comprise synthesized voice messages, e.g. speech synthesis in order to announce that a refill needs changing that the assembly is wrong, to make advertising announcements, or to verify dosage of a product. This gives little promotional communication with the public, so that the promotional results are mediocre. The object of the invention is to provide a device of the type in the preamble in which the communication with the public is improved so that the promotion of the product is improved as well. This object is reached by the invention in that said device at least comprises electronic means suitable for presenting messages including visual or audiovisual messages. These visual or audiovisual messages are suitable for commercially promoting the cosmetic product and/or the product brand and/or the product manufacturer. According to a first embodiment the electronic display screen is of the LCD type. According to a second embodiment the electronic display screen is of the TFT type. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described in more detail according to preferred but non-limiting embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention; FIG. 1B is a front view of a first preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention; FIG. 1C is a side view of a first preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention; FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention; FIG. 2B is a side view of a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention; FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the device according to the present invention; FIG. 3B is a side view of a third embodiment of the device according to the present invention. It should be noted that in the accompanying drawings identical or similar parts have been given the same numerical reference. MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG.1A there is shown a first preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention comprising a cover 1 shielding the inner parts of the device and protecting the device against unauthorized access and vandalism. Said cover 1 can be attached to a back-plate with side-walls 2 and locked into place with the use of a locking mechanism (not shown) operable by a key that is to be inserted in keyhole 3. At the lower end cover 1 contains an opening of suitable width to enable a user to operate a lever 5 which actuates the device to dispense a dose of a cosmetic product into the users hand through an outlet or nozzle 4. Cover 1 further comprises a transparent area 6 behind which an electronic display screen is located. The transparent part 6 of cover 1 is made of a material of sufficient strength and thickness to protect said display screen from vandalism and other outside influences that may damage the screen. FIG. 2A shows a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention. In this embodiment the device is mounted on a support 7 by attaching back-plate 2 of the device to back-plate 8 of the support. This attachment can be accomplished with means or techniques known to a skilled professional and should prevent separation of the device from the support by an unauthorized person. The support 7 is manufactured of a suitable material and has a sufficient weight to provide a construction that is mechanically stable under normal usage conditions. FIG. 3A shows an embodiment of the device according to the present invention in which the transparent area 6 of cover 1 is flat instead of curved. In some cases this can be advantageous to the image quality of the electronic display screen that is located behind said transparent area 6. Although FIG. 3A and 3B show the device according to the invention mounted on a support it should be clear to the reader that this is not a limiting feature and that, for instance, attachment to a wall is equally possible. In addition to this it should be noted that a parameter like the curvature or angle of area 6 of cover 1 can be modified to provide optimum image quality of the electronic display screen under different usage conditions, but is in no way limiting to application of the device according to the present invention. Preferably the device according to the invention comprises electronic means to provide appropriate electronic signals to control certain functions of the device. For this purpose a microcontroller could be used. An EEPROM (Electrical Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) could be used to store said audible, visual or audiovisual messages in electronic form. This display screen is preferably suitable for displaying static or moving images and could be successfully implemented in the form of a LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or TFT (Thin Film Transistor) screen, although every screen of a suitable type can be used. Furthermore it is an object of the invention to provide a modular device that can be converted to dispense a different product by simply exchanging the internal unit of the device. This provides to manufacturers of cosmetic products a uniform way of letting the public experience different products of their product line. The device according to the invention can be equipped with electronic means that can detect the presence of a user's hand in a specific zone in the direct vicinity of said outlet or nozzle of the device. Upon this detection said electronic means actuate the device to dispense a dose of said cosmetic product. In yet another embodiment of the device according to the invention the device comprises means able to detect insertion of a predetermined payment unit, after which the device is enabled to dispense a dose of said cosmetic product. Said payment unit could be a coin, but also an electronic medium like a chipcard.

Claims: Device for dispensing doses of a cosmetic product like a perfume, eau de toilette, lotion, cream, shampoo, skin oil or the like, which device comprises electronic means suitable for presenting audible messages for promoting the product to users of the device and to persons in the direct vicinity of the device, characterized by the fact that said device comprises electronic means suitable for presenting messages including visual or audiovisual messages. Device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the device comprises electronic means to provide appropriate electronic signals to control certain functions of the device. Device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the display device comprises electronic means suitable for storing said visual or audiovisual messages in electronic form. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device comprises a display screen which is of the Liquid Crystal Display type. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the said display screen is of the Thin Film Transistor type. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the device comprises a back-plate (2); an internal unit that can be attached to said back-plate (2), comprising at least a suitable container for the cosmetic product to be dispensed, an outlet or nozzle (4) to transport said cosmetic product to the exterior of the device, means connecting said container to said outlet or nozzle (4) enabling passage of predefined doses of the cosmetic product and means by which a user can actuate the device to dispense a dose of the cosmetic product; a cover (1) attachable to said back-plate (2), shielding the internal unit and protecting it against unauthorized access and vandalism, with suitable openings to enable a user of the device to reach said actuating means and said outlet or nozzle (4). Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said back-plate can be attached to a wall with the use of commonly known means of attachment. Device according to one or more of the claims 1-4, characterized by the fact that the device is provided with a support (7) at the lower end so that it can stand alone. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the device can be converted from a dispenser for one cosmetic product to a dispenser for another cosmetic product possibly with different physical characteristics by removing said cover and exchanging said modular internal unit. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the device is actuated to dispense a dose of said cosmetic product by electronic detection of the presence of a user's hand in a specific zone in the direct vicinity of said outlet or nozzle. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the placements of said actuating means and said outlet or nozzle enable delivery of a dose of the cosmetic product in a downward direction in or onto the hand of a user. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said electronic display screen is suitable for displaying static or moving images. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the device comprises means able to detect insertion of a predetermined payment unit, after which the device is enabled to dispense a dose of said cosmetic product. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said payment unit is a chipcard. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the device comprises electronic means to detect a predefined condition in its vicinity to which it reacts by switching off or on (part of) its electronic functions with the aim to conserve energy and extend battery usage.

Inventors: VAN ASSEN REINIER FRANS KAREL, VAN ASSEN, REINIER FRANS KAREL
Applicants: VAN ASSEN REINIER FRANS KAREL, VAN ASSEN, REINIER FRANS KAREL
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A45D34
IPC codes: G09F5, A45D44, G09F27, A47K5, A45D34