Abstract:
A countertop apparatus dispenses hair coloring, developers and bleach in specified quantities and mixes them, substantially reducing the manual labor involved in performing such tasks. A housing has an upstanding back wall and a bottom wall. A plurality of hair color tube stations is mounted on a forward side of the back wall and a hair color tube squeezing device is positioned at each hair color tube station. The hair color tube squeezing device includes a pair of confronting rollers that engage the trailing end of an inverted hair color tube. A plurality of developer reservoirs and a bleach hopper are also mounted to the apparatus. First and second mixing bowls receive and mix hair coloring and developer at first and second stations, and a third mixing bowl receives and mixes bleach and developer at a third station. Operation of the apparatus is keypad-controlled.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates, generally, to dispensing and mixing devices. More particularly, it relates to a machine that dispenses and mixes coloring agents, developers, and bleaching agents in measured amounts. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Hair coloring is sold in tubes that are initially hand-squeezed from the bottom. As the tube empties, the squeezing action is performed closer and closer to the outlet of the tube. The quantity is typically measured in ounces. Most hair-coloring jobs require an admixture of colors. Moreover, the colors must be mixed with a developer and in some cases a bleach is added as well. Accordingly, the tube-squeezing process is followed by a mixing process which is conventionally performed by hand. 
         [0005]    Many people who work with hair color tubes, developers and the like may develop debilitating sprains, tendonitis, bursitis, or other injuries. There is a need, therefore, for a machine that performs the functions of tube squeezing and mixing. 
         [0006]    However, in view of the prior art taken as a whole at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill how the identified needs could be fulfilled. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The long-standing but heretofore unfulfilled need for an improved method of dispensing and mixing hair coloring, developers, and bleach is now met by a new, useful, and non-obvious invention. The inventive structure is a novel countertop apparatus that performs the functions of dispensing hair coloring, developers and bleach in specified quantities and mixing the same, thereby substantially reducing the manual labor involved in performing such tasks. 
         [0008]    The novel apparatus includes a housing having an upstanding back wall and a bottom wall extending forwardly from a lower end of the back wall. At least one hair color tube station is mounted on a forward side of the back wall and a hair color tube squeezing means is positioned at each hair color tube station. Each hair color tube squeezing means is adapted to engage a trailing end of an inverted hair color tube. 
         [0009]    A hair color dispenser control means controls each hair color tube squeezing means so that a preselected quantity of a preselected hair coloring is squeezed from each tube. 
         [0010]    At least one reservoir is mounted to the apparatus and is adapted to hold a developer. A developer dispenser is positioned at a discharge end of each reservoir, and a developer dispenser control means controls the developer dispenser so that a preselected quantity of a preselected developer is dispensed from each reservoir. 
         [0011]    At least one mixing bowl is positioned forwardly of the back wall below a discharge end of each hair color tube and the discharge end of each reservoir. A mixing means for mixing hair color and developer is provided with each mixing bowl. 
         [0012]    The hair color tube squeezing means includes a pair of confronting rollers that engage the trailing end of a hair color tube. 
         [0013]    In a first embodiment, each developer reservoir is mounted on a rearward side of the upstanding back wall and an opening is formed in the upstanding back wall for each reservoir so that a discharge end of each reservoir extends through an opening and is positioned forwardly of the upstanding back wall. 
         [0014]    In a second embodiment, each developer reservoir is mounted forwardly of the upstanding back wall so no opening is formed in the upstanding back wall. 
         [0015]    In both embodiments, each hair color tube squeezing means includes a motor for effecting counter-rotation of each pair of confronting rollers to accomplish squeezing of each hair color tube. The control means controls operation of each motor so that a preselected measured amount of hair color is squeezed from each hair color tube. 
         [0016]    More particularly, the novel apparatus includes a first station dedicated to light colors. The first station includes a plurality of hair color tube stations, a plurality of tube squeezing means, a plurality of developer reservoirs, and a first mixing bowl. 
         [0017]    The apparatus further includes a second station dedicated to regular colors. The second station includes a plurality of hair color tube stations, a plurality of hair color tube squeezing means, a plurality of developer reservoirs, and a second mixing bowl. 
         [0018]    The apparatus further includes a bleaching station. The bleaching station includes a hopper adapted to hold bleach, a plurality of developer reservoirs, and a third mixing bowl. A bleach dispenser means is positioned at a discharge end of the bleach hopper, and a bleach dispenser control means controls the bleach dispenser so that a preselected quantity of bleach is dispensed from the hopper. 
         [0019]    A first keypad enables a user to program the hair color dispenser control means and the developer dispenser control means of the first station so that a user may preselect any combination and quantity of hair colors and developers to be dispensed into the first mixing bowl. 
         [0020]    A second keypad enables a user to program the hair color dispenser control means and the developer dispenser control means of the second station so that a user may preselect any combination and quantity of hair colors and developers to be dispensed into the second mixing bowl. 
         [0021]    A third keypad enables a user to program the developer dispenser control means and the bleach dispenser control means of the third station so that a user may preselect any combination and quantity of developers and bleach to be dispensed into the third mixing bowl. 
         [0022]    Alternatively, all three keypads may be combined into one keypad that includes the functions of the first, second, and third keypads. 
         [0023]    The primary object of the invention is to reduce the labor required to dispense hair coloring from hair color tubes, dispense liquid developers, and dispense powdered bleach into a mixing bowl, and mixing the same manually. 
         [0024]    A closely related object is to provide an easy-to-operate apparatus that performs the dispensing and mixing tasks with a minimal amount of human intervention. 
         [0025]    Another important object is to provide the apparatus in a compact form so that it may sit atop a countertop. 
         [0026]    These and other important objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become clear as this description proceeds. 
         [0027]    The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts that will be exemplified in the description set forth hereinafter and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of the novel apparatus; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4A  is a view like that of  FIG. 3  but depicting an embodiment where the developers are positioned forwardly of the rear wall of the apparatus; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4A  is a view like that of  FIG. 4A  but depicting an embodiment where a partitioned tank for holding developer fluid is positioned forwardly of the rear wall of the apparatus; 
           [0034]      FIG. 5A  is a view of a first keypad; 
           [0035]      FIG. 5B  is a view of a second keypad; 
           [0036]      FIG. 5C  is a view of a third keypad; and 
           [0037]      FIG. 5D  is a view of a fourth keypad. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0038]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , it will there be seen that an illustrative embodiment of the invention is denoted as a whole by the reference numeral  10 . 
         [0039]    Apparatus  10  is made mostly of plastic parts and has a size similar to that of a coffee maker so that it may be kept on a countertop. In a first embodiment, it includes a vertical back wall  10   a  and a horizontal bottom wall  10   b . In  FIG. 1 , it appears that there are three (3) coplanar back walls  10   a  but there is but one (1) wall provided with dividing or partition markings just to indicate the different sections of the apparatus. 
         [0040]    As depicted in the front elevational view of  FIG. 1 , machine  10  preferably includes seven (7) hair color stations, denoted  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c ,  12   d ,  12   e ,  12   f , and  12   g , adapted to hold hair color tubes  14  in an inverted configuration, i.e., with the caps of the respective tubes at the bottom of their respective stations and with the thin trailing ends of said tubes at the top of their respective stations. The viscosity of the hair coloring is high so that it does not drain from its tube when the cap is removed and the tube is inverted. Thus, the cap of each tube is removed prior to inserting it into its associated station. 
         [0041]    The thin trailing end of each tube  14  is engaged by a pair of confronting rollers, collectively denoted  16 , when the tube is properly positioned within its station. A small motor, not depicted to avoid cluttering the drawings, is adapted to cause rotation of said rollers upon receipt of a signal as more fully set forth hereinafter. 
         [0042]    Each hair coloring tube  14  is mounted forwardly of vertical back wall  10   a  of apparatus  10 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 2  depicts a hair color tube  14  having its thin trailing end engaged by confronting rollers  16 . When the rollers counter-rotate as indicated by the rotation arrows in  FIG. 2 , tube  14  is squeezed as it travels upwardly and hair coloring is dispensed from its leading end into a mixing bowl as disclosed hereinafter. 
         [0044]    Returning to  FIG. 1 , colors  12   a ,  12   b , and  12   c  are preferably grouped separately from the other colors but such separate grouping is not a requirement of the invention. These first three (3) colors are known in the industry as “low light” colors because they are used to darken the color of hair. The other four (4) colors are stronger and although the other four (4) colors are commonly mixed with one another in a multitude of combinations, they are never mixed with any of the three (3) low light colors. 
         [0045]    First mixing bowl  20  is positioned below the three (3) low light colors and second mixing bowl  22  is positioned below the four (4) permanent colors, both of said bowls being supported by horizontal bottom wall  10   b . When hair coloring is dispensed from a tube by operation of rollers  16 , it falls under the influence of gravity into its associated bowl. The distance is relatively short and the hair coloring is highly viscous as aforesaid so no substantial splashing occurs. 
         [0046]    A third mixing bowl  24  is positioned below discharge chute or dispenser  26   a  of bleach hopper  26  which is also positioned on the front side of vertical back wall  10   a  of apparatus  10 . Bleach is provided in powder form so hopper  26  has a small dispenser at the bottom that is closed by a retractable plate or other suitable valve means having a normally closed position. The valve means is under the control of a small motor so that the powder may be dispensed in measured quantities. 
         [0047]    Reference numerals  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c ,  30   d ,  30   e ,  30   f , and  30   g  respectively indicate reservoirs for holding liquid developers of increasing strength. Each of said developers is associated with a hair coloring tube  14  as depicted. 
         [0048]    Reference numerals  30   h ,  30   i ,  30   j , and  30   k  indicate reservoirs for holding liquid developers having the same potency as the developers denoted  30   d ,  30   e ,  30   f , and  30   g , respectively. Specifically, a developer having a potency of 1.9 is stored in first reservoir  30   a , a developer having a potency of 5.0 is stored in second reservoir  30   b , a developer having a potency greater than 5.0 but less than 10.0 is stored in third reservoir  30   c , a developer having a potency of 10.0 is stored in fourth reservoir  30   d , a developer having a potency of 20.0 is stored in fifth reservoir  30   e , a developer having a potency of 30.0 is stored in sixth reservoir  30   f , a developer having a potency of 40.0 is stored in seventh reservoir  30   g , a developer having a potency of 10.0 is stored in eighth reservoir  30   h , a developer having a potency of 20.0 is stored in ninth reservoir  30   i , a developer having a potency of 30.0 is stored in tenth reservoir  30   j , and a developer having a potency of 40.0 is stored in eleventh reservoir  30   k.    
         [0049]    Each reservoir is externally threaded at its uppermost end and capped by a large internally threaded cap  31   a - k . Note that in this first embodiment, all of the developer reservoirs are mounted behind vertical back wall  10   a.    
         [0050]    The lower end of each reservoir has gradual bends formed therein so that each lower end is positioned over its associated mixing bowl, near the center thereof. Accordingly, back wall  10   a  of apparatus  10  has openings formed therein through which the respective lowermost ends of said reservoirs extend, as perhaps best understood by comparing  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 . One of the horizontal brackets  17  for holding hair color tubes  14  is also depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0051]    Each reservoir lower end includes a developer dispenser that includes a normally closed valve means. A small motor controls the opening and closing of the valve means so that measured amounts of developer are released by gravity feed into a mixing bowl from each reservoir upon demand. The technology for metering rather precise amounts of liquids from reservoirs by gravity feed is quite advanced so it need not be repeated here. 
         [0052]    An agitator is provided for each mixing bowl. Each agitator may be of conventional, overhead mounting where a vertical shaft depends from an overhead motor and extends downwardly into a mixing bowl. However, such an agitator would have to be removably mounted so that it could be removed when its mixing bowl is being charged with coloring and developer as will be the case with first and second mixing bowls  20 ,  22 , or with developer and bleach as will be the case with third mixing bowl  24 . 
         [0053]    However, it is more convenient to use a magnetically-operated agitator that sits in its mixing bowl and is rotated by a rotating magnet positioned below bottom wall  10   b . Such magnetically-operated agitators are commonly known as stirbars and may be ordered at www.stirbars.com. A stirbar  20   a  is depicted in dotted lines in  FIG. 1  inside first mixing bowl  20 , a stirbar  22   a  is similarly depicted in second mixing bowl  22 , and a stirbar  24   a  is similarly depicted in mixing bowl  24 . 
         [0054]    Another alternative is to provide an auxiliary mixing station  28  at one end of novel apparatus  10 . Auxiliary mixing station  28  includes a motor having an output shaft connected to a gear box or speed reducing means that is connected to shaft  29   a  of a mixing head  29 . Auxiliary mixing bowl  32  is supported by bottom wall  10   b . The auxiliary mixing station could also be provided with a stir bar in lieu of the motor, the mixing head, and the parts related thereto. 
         [0055]    Instead of positioning the developer reservoirs behind vertical back wall  12   a , said developer reservoirs can be placed in front of vertical back wall  10   a , thereby eliminating the need to have openings in said vertical back wall. This embodiment, depicted in  FIG. 4A  in side elevational view, requires top wall  10   c  to support developers  30   a - k  and vertical brackets  17   a  for holding rollers  16 . Horizontal brackets  17  and vertical brackets  17   a  are not depicted in  FIG. 1  to avoid cluttering the drawing. 
         [0056]      FIG. 4A  also depicts a conventional agitator  19  mounted to the free end of shaft  19   a . Said shaft  19   a  is snap fit or otherwise releasably secured to coupler  21  that is mounted to the free end of output shaft  23  of motor  25 . An agitator  19  and its associated parts may be provided with each of the three mixing bowls. 
         [0057]      FIG. 4B  depicts a variation of reservoir tubes  30   a - k . Although the lower, discharge end of each reservoir retains a tubular shape, the upper end thereof is provided in the form of a tank that includes back wall  10   a  and hinged lid  10   d . Lid  10   d  eliminates the need for caps  31   a - k , although it should be understood that each individual reservoir is partitioned from its contiguous reservoirs and individual hinged lids are within the scope of this invention. 
         [0058]    Reference numeral  40  in  FIG. 5A  denotes a keypad that includes the numbers 0-9 and operations such as start, stop, decimal point (.), color  1  (C 1 ), color  2  (C 2 ), color  3  (C 3 ), color  4  (C 4 ), color  5  (C 5 ), color  6  (C 6 ), color  7  (C 7 ), developer  1  (D 1 ), developer  2  (D 2 ), developer  3  (D 3 ), developer  4  (D 4 ), developer  5  (D 5 ), developer  6  (D 6 ), developer  7  (D 7 ), developer  8  (D 8 ), developer  9  (D 9 ), developer  10  (D 10 ), and developer  11  (D 11 ), first mixer (M 1 ), second mixer (M 2 ), third mixer (M 3 ), auxiliary mixer (AM) and bleach (B). 
         [0059]    Keypad  40  can be positioned at any convenient location on vertical back wall  10   a  but that wall may be relatively inaccessible. Accordingly, the preferred location of keypad  40  is bottom wall  10   d  which is an extension of bottom wall  10   b  as depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0060]    As an alternative to one large keypad for the entire machine, a separate keypad could be provided for each of the three sections of the machine. Thus, a keypad associated with the low light section of the machine, depicted in  FIG. 5B , includes the numbers 0-9 and operations such as start, stop, decimal point (.), color  1  (C 1 ), color  2  (C 2 ), color  3  (C 3 ), developer  1  (D 1 ), developer  2  (D 2 ), developer  3  (D 3 ), and first mixer (M 1 ). 
         [0061]    A keypad associated with the middle section of the machine, depicted in  FIG. 5C , includes the numbers 0-9 and operations such as start, stop, decimal point (.), color  4  (C 4 ), color  5  (C 5 ), color  6  (C 6 ), color  7  (C 7 ), developer  4  (D 4 ), developer  5  (D 5 ), developer  6  (D 6 ), developer  7  (D 7 ), and second mixer (M 2 ). 
         [0062]    A keypad associated with the bleach section of the machine, depicted in  FIG. 5D , includes the numbers 0-9 and operations such as start, stop, decimal point (.), developer  8  (D 8 ), developer  9  (D 9 ), developer  10  (D 10 ), and developer  11  (D 11 ), bleach (B), and third mixer (M 3 ). 
         [0063]    A keypad associated with the auxiliary mixer section of the machine would include operations such as start, stop, and third mixer (M 3 ). 
         [0064]    Prior to use of machine  10 , a user positions preselected hair color tubes  1 - 7  in each station  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c ,  12   d ,  12   e ,  12   f , and  12   g  with the respective trailing ends  14   a  thereof in registration with their associated rollers  16 . The caps are removed from each tube and they are inverted as depicted. Liquid developer reservoirs  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c ,  30   d ,  30   e ,  30   f ,  30   g ,  30   h ,  30   i ,  30   j , and  30   k  are then filled with developer liquids having a potency of 1.9, 5.0, 5.1-9.9, 10.0, 20.0, 30.0, 40.0, 10.0. 20.0, 30.0, and 40.0, respectively. Bleach hopper  26  is filled with bleach in powder form. 
         [0065]    As an example of how machine  10  is used, a hypothetical case will be considered. Suppose a customer has some hair that the customer believes is too light in color so that customer would like to have that hair darkened slightly. The customer wants to change the color of some hair, and bleach some hair as well. The user of machine  10  must of course be familiar with low light hair coloring and how to mix it with developers, regular hair coloring and how to mix it with developers, and the bleaching process. In this hypothetical case, the user determines that 0.5 ounces of the first low light color should be mixed with 1.0 ounce of a developer having a potency of 1.9 and that 1.5 ounces of the second low light color should be mixed with 1.5 ounces of developer having a potency of 5.0. The keypad sequence is therefore: C 1 , 0.5, D 1 , 1.0, C 2 , 1.5, D 2 , 1.5, M 1 , Start, Stop. The time between pressing the “Start” and “Stop” keypads is determined by the efficiency of the stirbar or conventional agitator. 
         [0066]    The user than performs a similar sequence for the regular hair coloring job and for the bleaching job. In a hypothetical case, the sequence for the regular hair-coloring, which involves only colors  3 - 6 , the keypad sequence might be: C 3 , 2.5, D 3 , 2.0, C 4 , 1.5, D 4 , 1.5, C 6 , 0.5, D 6  1.0, M 2 , Start, Stop. Note that the fifth color is not used in this example; any one color or any combination of said colors  3 - 6  and their associated developers may be used in the regular hair-coloring process. For the bleaching process, the keypad sequence might be: B, 1.5, C 4 , 1.0, D 9 , 0.5, C 5 , 1.0, D 11 , 1.0, M 3 , Start, Stop. 
         [0067]    Operations involving auxiliary mixer (AM)  28  would work in the same way. After charging the desired combination of colors, developers, or bleach into a mixing bowl, that bowl would be placed into the auxiliary mixing station and the AM button on the keypad would be pushed, followed by the start button and the stop button when the mixing is finished. 
         [0068]    Although this disclosure has not expressly identified the motors and sensors that will be required to accomplish the objects of this invention, it is believed that those of ordinary skill in the mechanical arts can select the motors and sensors that are required. For example, hair coloring is typically sold in six ounce (6 oz) tubes. The tubes are narrow at the end and wide at the mouth, like a common tube of toothpaste. There are several approaches to dispensing a preselected amount of coloring from a tube. A pressure transducer could be mounted below a mixing bowl so that when the desired amount of coloring has been deposited into the mixing bowl, the pressure transducer sends a signal to stop the motor that is causing the confronting rollers to rotate and squeeze the tube. In the alternative, experimentation could determine how many rotations of the rollers are needed to dispense half an ounce of coloring and the motor associated with each roller could be programmed to cause the correct amount of rotations when the keypad is used in the manner disclosed. Such would eliminate the need to weigh the mixing bowl as coloring is charged into it. Similar known technology could be used to discharge by gravity feed the correct amounts of liquid developer from their respective reservoirs. For both the liquid developers and the powdered bleach, level sensors could be employed to stop a motor when a detected level drops to a predetermined level, for example. Photoelectric sensors could also be employed. Again, those of ordinary skill in the art could select the most economical and suitable control mechanisms for accomplishing the objects of this invention without undergoing undue experimentation because the art of dispensing measured amounts of liquids and powders is well-developed. Moreover, adapting such well-known controls to keypad activation is also well within the ordinary skill of workers in the art. 
         [0069]    It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
         [0070]    It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.