Abstract:
The portable dispenser has individual supply chambers that communicate with a mixing chamber. Each of the supply chambers has a doser to move fluid compositions from the supply chamber to the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber has a mixer to allow it to form a homogeneous mix of the individual compositions. An applicator is used to output the homogeneous mix.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/245,549 filed Nov. 3, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a dispenser and, more particularly, to a portable dispenser which forms a homogeneous mixture from individual fluid compositions. The portable dispenser of the present invention is especially applicable to personal care products such as toothpaste, shampoos and cosmetics. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Portable dispensers which form a mixture from individual fluid compositions are known, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,594. Portable dispensers for cosmetic compositions are also known, however, they do not have the ability to form mixtures from individual cosmetic compositions. 
     Consumers want the ability to formulate their own personal care products on-the-spot and there is a need for a portable dispenser which can formulate personal care products on-the-spot. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A portable, lightweight dispenser has now been discovered which allows for on-the-spot mixing and dispensing of individual fluid compositions. The present invention allows two or more different individual, fluid compositions to be mixed to form a homogeneous fluid mixture which can then be dispensed and used immediately by the consumer. This dispenser is especially useful for personal care products. 
     Broadly, the present invention relates to a portable dispenser which comprises: 
     (a) an elongated shell wherein the shell has a top and a bottom end; 
     (b) two or more supply chambers housed in said shell and abutting the bottom end of said shell; 
     (c) two or more individual compatible fluid compositions, one of each of said individual fluid compositions housed in one of each of said supply chambers; 
     (d) one mixing chamber housed in said shell at said top end of said shell, said mixing chamber in fluid communication with each of said supply chambers, and said mixing chamber being accessible from outside said shell through the top end of said shell; 
     (e) two or more dosage means, one associated with each of said supply chambers, for individually measuring out a set amount of said individual compositions and moving said measured amount of said individual compositions to said mixing chamber; and 
     (f) a mixing means associated with said mixing chamber for mixing the individual compositions and forming a homogeneous fluid mixture. 
     Suitable fluid mixtures which can be formed using the present invention include fluid personal care products such as cosmetics, dentifrices, hand and body creams and lotions, soaps and shampoos, hand and hair conditioners, hair gels and styling preparations, suntan lotions and sun screens, deodorants, perfumes, shaving creams, and hair dyes or colors. Cosmetics which can be formulated with the present invention include lipstick, eye shadow, facial foundation, eyeliner, and fingernail polish. As pointed out, both the individual composition and the mixture formed from the compositions must be in a fluid form. 
     The term fluid as used in the written description and claims means a gas, liquid or solid which can flow between the supply chamber and the mixing chamber and be mixed in the mixing chamber to form a homogeneous fluid mixture. The fluid must have viscosity to allow it to flow from the supply chamber into the mixing chamber. Thus, certain powders can be employed because they readily flow and can be mixed. Certain waxes flow when subjected to pressure and can also be mixed. 
     The amount of each individual composition dosed into the mixing chamber can be determined by the user since each supply chamber has its own dosage means and the dosage means are controlled by the user. Each supply chamber has a dosage means associated therewith that allows the user to determine the amount of each composition to add to the mixing chamber. Each dosage means is separately and individually controlled and are not interconnected. Thus, the user must specifically add the amount of each individual composition each time they decide to formulate the mixture. This provides greater flexibility to the user. The individual can make their own determination of how much to add, or they can use a chart which shows the amount of each individual composition to add to the mixing chamber to form a predetermined mixture. Such a chart could be available in printed form or over the Internet. 
     The chambers are separately loaded with the individual compositions and the user is able to change the supply chambers either as they become empty or as they choose in order to use different individual compositions and increase their choices of the mixtures. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other aspects of the present invention may be more fully understood by reference to one or more of the following drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of the dispenser of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the dispenser taken through lines  2 — 2  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the dispenser taken through lines  3 — 3  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the dispenser having four supply chambers; 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the dispenser with ten (10) supply chambers; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the dispenser with a shut-off plate positioned between the mixing chamber and the supply chamber; 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of FIG. 6 taken along lines  7 — 7 ; 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-section of another embodiment of the dispenser of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a top view of the dispenser taken along lines  9 — 9  of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a side view of the dispenser with a replaceable, donut-shaped supply chamber; 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of the dispenser taken along lines  11 — 11  of FIG. 10; and 
     FIG. 12 is a side view of the dispenser with removable supply chambers and a shell as a frame. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning to FIG. 1, the dispenser of the present invention has a hard elongated shell  10  housing three supply chambers  12 . Inside each supply chamber  12  is fluid composition  14 . The top of each supply chamber is in fluid communication with mixing chamber  16 . Housed on top of mixing chamber  16  is screw top  18 . Screw top  18  is removed to provide access to the homogeneous fluid mixture in mixing chamber  16 . 
     Each supply chamber  12  is equipped with rod  20  which extends from screw cap  22  at the bottom of chamber  12  to fixed cap  24  at the top of chamber  12 . Fixed cap  24  allows rod  20  to rotate thereon. Rod  20  is threaded and movable base  26  has a negative thread which allows movable base  26  to move upwards and downwards by means of rotating screw cap  22 . At the top of each chamber  12  are holes  28  which extend through to mixing chamber  16 . The holes allow fluid composition  14  to move from chamber  12  to mixing chamber  16 . 
     In order to mix the individual fluid compositions in mixing chamber  16 , mixing shaft  30  is affixed to stir bar  32 , which is housed in mixing chamber  16 . At the other end of mixing shaft  30  is actuator button  34 . Mixing shaft  30  is held in place by support plate  36 . Housed between support plate  36  and actuator button  34  is a coil spring  38 . Mixing shaft  30  is threaded such that when actuator button  34  is pressed upward, it causes stir bar  32  to rotate in one direction. When the actuator button is released, coil spring  38  causes actuator button  34  to move downward and for stir bar  32  to be rotated in the opposite direction. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3 , and  4 , shell  10  is cylindrical in shape and supply chambers  12  are cylindrical in shape but have a slanted top which mates with the bottom of mixing chamber  16 . As shown in FIG. 5, the interior of shell  10  can be divided into two or more compartments and these compartments can be used as supply chambers  12 . 
     The number of supply chambers can vary, FIG. 2 illustrates three (3) supply chambers, FIG. 4 illustrates four (4) supply chambers, while FIG. 5 illustrates ten (10) supply chambers. As will be discussed later, FIG. 8 illustrates two (2) supply chambers. The preferred number of supply chambers will depend upon the intended purpose of the dispenser. When the color of the final mix is critical, it is preferred to employ at least three (3) supply chambers. 
     Screw cap  22  is preferably a thumb wheel with numbers mounted on the outside from 0 to 10 and evenly spaced thereon. By having the numerical designation on the outside, the user can control the amount of each of the cosmetic compositions added to mixing chamber  16 . Since rod  20  is threaded and movable base  26  has a negative thread thereon, the rotation of screw cap  22  causes the movable base  26  to move upward and push cosmetic composition  14  through holes  28  into mixing chamber  16 . 
     Removing screw top  18  from mixing chamber  16  opens the top of mixing chamber  16  and allows access to the homogeneous fluid mixture contained in mixing chamber  16 . The user can then employ a finger or other applicator for removing the mixture from the mixing chamber. 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 1, screw top  18  can house an applicator such as a brush or a paddle which is used to apply the cosmetic to the user. Such an applicator can be housed on a telescoping pole that resides inside top  18  when not in use or can be on a pole that causes the applicator to extend down into mixing chamber  16 . Alternatively, a lip on the top of mixing chamber  16  can be used to prevent the applicator from extending downward into the mixing chamber during periods of non-use. 
     In an alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the dispenser is equipped with plate  40  that is positioned in the bottom of mixing chamber  16 . Plate  40  is rotatable in the bottom of mixing chamber  16 . Plate  40  rotates in order to close holes  28 . Plate  40  has a series of holes  42  which align with holes  28  in the bottom of mixing chamber  16 . As shown in FIG. 7, holes  42  are out of alignment with holes  28 . By rotating lever  44 , the holes  42  are aligned with holes  28  and allow fluid composition  14  to flow from supply chambers  12  into mixing chamber  16 . When lever  44  is rotated such that holes  42  do not align with holes  28 , then no fluid composition  14  can flow between the two chambers. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of another preferred embodiment for the dispenser of the present invention while FIG. 9 is a top view taken along lines  9 — 9  of FIG.  8 . In the embodiment in FIGS. 8 and 9, there are two supply chambers  12 . As shown in FIG. 9, the bottom portion of shell  10  is divided in half into two supply chambers  12 . Each supply chamber has movable base  26  which forces the fluid contents of supply chambers  12  upward into mixing chamber  16  in the same manner as described above. Plate  40  is positioned in mixing chamber  16  and rotates by means of lever  44  about shaft  30  to open fluid communication between supply chambers  12  and mixing chamber  16  by way of holes  28  and  42 , not shown. 
     In FIG. 8, shell  10  in the area of mixing chamber  16  has flexible side walls  50  to allow the homogeneous mixture formed in mixing chamber  16  to be squeezed out of mixing chamber  16  and through outlet  52  covered by screw top  54 . 
     Flexible side walls  50  return to their original shape after being pressed inward. 
     Stirring bar  32  is depicted as a single bar extending horizontally out from shaft  30 . Stirring bar  32  can be in any shape and size so long as it does not interfere with the contraction of side walls  50  and the squeezing of the mixture out of mixing chamber  16 . 
     Screw top  54  is removed to allow for the mixture to exit mixing chamber  16 . In the case of toothpaste, shampoo, and soap, outlet  52  is a single hole having a diameter equal to outlet  52 . In the case of deodorant, outlet  52  is divided into a plurality of holes to provide a reduced flow of deodorant through outlet  52  and to provide a broad surface area with which to apply the deodorant. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the top of each of the supply chambers is shaped so as to fit against the base of the mixing chamber and to allow for fluid communication between the supply chamber and the mixing chamber. Alternatively, supply chambers  12  can be separate from shell  10  and completely removable from the interior of shell  10 . When supply chambers  12  are removable from shell  10 , hole  28  can be a pipe which lances the top of the removable supply chamber, see FIG.  10 . Such a pipe allows for fluid communication between the removable supply chamber and the mixing chamber. 
     Additionally, when the supply chambers are removable, the dosage means can either be built into the supply chamber, or rod  20  is telescoping with movable base  26  abutting the top of rod  20  such that as rod  20  is elongated, base  26  moves upward forcing fluid composition out into mixing chamber  16 . As another alternative, the supply chamber has a hole extending downward the entire length of the supply chamber in which rod  20  resides and rod  20 , screw cap  22  and movable base  26  are removable. In such an embodiment, supply chamber  12  has a donut-shaped cross-section. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates a side view of the dispenser with a removable supply chamber  62  having a hole  60  therethrough while FIG. 11 is a top view of the dispenser of FIG. 10 taken along lines  11 — 11 . From above, supply chamber  62  has a donut-shaped cross-section because of hole  60  in the middle through which shaft  20  resides. In FIG. 10, holes  28  are illustrated as hollow lances which puncture the top of replaceable supply chamber  62 . Stir bar  32  is illustrated as a double-blade paddle. 
     As shown in FIG. 10, rod  20  is removably connected to fixed cap  24  by a hook-and-eye arrangement such that rod  20 , along with movable base  26  and screw cap  22 , are removed from the dispenser to allow removable supply chamber to be inserted therein. Then, rod  20 , movable base  26 , and screw cap  22  are inserted into hole  60  and the top of rod  20  attached to fixed cap  24  such that rod  20 , screw cap  22  and movable base  26  are suspended from fixed cap  24 . The bottom of removable supply chamber  62  has a break-away base  64  and collapsible inner wall  66 . Outer wall  68  is rigid and forms a good seal with movable base  26 . The hook-and-eye arrangement allows rod  20  to be held stationary while movable base  26  compresses the fluid in chamber  62 . 
     Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12, rod  20  along with screw cap  22  and movable base  26 , are removable while fixed cap  24  is not. In this embodiment, removable supply chamber  72  has a break-away base  74 , rigid side walls  76  and a puncturable top  78 . Break-away base  74  is also able to be punctured by end  80  of rod  20 . Holes  28  are hollow lances which puncture top  78  and provide fluid communication between the contents of supply chamber  72  and mixing chamber  16 . Rod  20  has a pointed key end  80  which mates with a slot in fixed cap  24  in a conventional manner and which is pointed to lance through bottom  74 . Fixed cap  24  is also pointed to allow it to puncture top  78  and cap  24  and end  80  mate in a key-slot manner so as to fix rod  20  and maintain rod  20  in an axially fixed manner to allow rod  20  to rotate and movable base  26  to move upward forcing fluid composition  14  through hollow lance  28  and into mixing chamber  16 . 
     In the base of shell  10 , there is trap door  82  which is hinged to the side wall of shell  10  and which has a slot  84  for rod  20  to reside in. Slot  84  extends to one of the edges of trap door  82  to allow rod  20  to be placed therein when trap door  82  is shut. 
     Other arrangements for the connection between rod  20  and fixed cap  24  can be used. Also, a tight seal is necessary between movable base  26  and side walls  76 . 
     The walls of shell  10  and the walls of supply chamber  12  and mixing chamber  16  can be one and the same. Alternatively, shell  10  need not have a solid wall but can be a frame which houses the various components. Where shell  10  is a frame, the mixing chamber and supply chambers need to have solid walls because of the fluid nature of the components that they house. In the situation where supply chamber  12  is removable, removable supply chamber  12  will have its own solid walls and that portion of shell  10  adjacent supply chamber  12  can be a frame without solid walls. 
     For cosmetic compositions, the dispenser is preferably small. A preferred outside diameter of the shell is 3 cm. The stir bar has a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the mixing chamber, for example, 2.7 cm. This allows clearance for the rotation of the stir bar in the mixing chamber. The preferred diameter of each of the supply chambers is 0.7 cm and a height of approximately 3 cm. 
     The dispenser of the present invention can be used in a number of areas. The following are a number of examples where the dispenser can be used. 
     Cosmetics 
     The dispenser of the present invention can be used for mixing different colored cosmetic compositions to arrive at a desired color. For example, lipstick is sold in a myriad of colors. In accordance with the present invention, two or more, and preferably three or four, different colored fluid cosmetic compositions are loaded into the individual supply chambers and then metered out to the mixing chamber based on the final color that the user wants. 
     The color of the cosmetic compositions are preferably the primary colors, i.e. blue, red, and green, or red, yellow, and blue. This allows the user to form any number of shades or colors of a cosmetic composition. Alternatively, the cosmetic composition can have more uniform colors such as a bright red, a rose, and a deep red, which would allow for more subtle color combinations of the cosmetic composition. 
     Since each one of the supply chambers has an associated dosage means, the user either chooses based on a color chart or based on their own eye (empirically), the amount of each of the cosmetic composition to add to the mixing chamber. 
     Once the proper dosage has been added to the mixing chamber, a mixing means, which is associated with the mixing chamber, is employed to form a homogeneous mixture. The individual compositions must be compatible so that when they are mixed, a homogeneous mixture is formed. 
     The cosmetic compositions are compatible in that they are all of the same type of cosmetic composition, the only difference being the color. Thus, for example, each of the supply chambers can house a different colored lipstick. Because the supply chamber has a dosage means, the appropriate amount of each cosmetic composition is then dosed into the mixing chamber and, when the mixing means mixes the individual cosmetic compositions, they form a homogeneous colored mixture. 
     Thus, the present invention produces any desired colored cosmetic by adjusting the amount of the individual cosmetic composition of different colors that is dosed into the mixing chamber. 
     In an alternative embodiment, a fourth supply chamber can be employed in the present invention wherein the fourth composition comprises a cosmetic enhancer which is also dosed in and added to the mixing chamber and subsequently mixed in with the other individual cosmetic compositions to form a homogeneous cosmetic mixture. These cosmetic enhancers will depend, to a certain extent, on the type of cosmetic composition that is in the supply chambers. For example, for a nail polish, nail hardener or sparkle is contained in the fourth chamber. For facial foundation or lipstick, a moisturizer or sun block can be included as a cosmetic enhancer. Obviously, moisturizer or sun block can be combined into one and included in the fourth chamber. Furthermore, a perfume or scented fluid can be included in the fourth chamber to add a scent to the final cosmetic composition. 
     For lipstick, eye shadow, facial foundation, the user can use their finger to apply the mix. The user unscrews the dispenser port and uses their finger to apply the mix. For nail polish, a specific applicator is housed in the cap and is employed to paint the mixture onto the nails. 
     Personal Hygiene 
     The dispenser of the present invention can also be used for mixing different personal hygiene compositions to arrive at the desired mixture. In this case, each one of the supply chambers houses a different individual fluid composition that is added to the mixing chamber so as to form the desired mixture. For example, different suntan lotions having different blocking or prevention factor (conventionally referred to as Sun Protection Factor or SPF) ratings can be used along with a moisturizer or different scented fluids. For toothpaste, one chamber can have a cleaning composition, the second chamber a whitening composition, and the third chamber a flavor such as mint, regular, bubble gum. The shampoo can have the base soap in one chamber, fragrance such as pine, lilac, rose, in the second chamber, and the third chamber houses a conditioner. For hand soap, the three chambers can hold scent, base soap, and a hand conditioner. For deodorant, the chambers can house a deodorant base, a fragrance, and a skin softener. For hand lotion, the chambers can contain a base, a skin softener, and a scent. These are just examples of the types of individual compositions that can be employed to form the homogeneous mixture. 
     The dispenser port will vary depending on the type of composition. For most of the personal hygiene products, a squeeze spout is employed. 
     It will be understood that the claims are intended to cover all changes and modifications of the preferred embodiments of the invention herein chosen for the purpose of illustration which do not constitute a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.