Abstract:
A process and/or apparatus for organizing a plurality of articles utilized in hair removal waxing procedures. The plurality of articles utilized in hair removal procedures may comprise bottles of pre-wax cleanser, cooling gel, and other sundry accessories. The process may comprise steps such as forming a one-piece organizing container and/or providing sidewalls for the one piece organizing container with a sloping portion and/or mounting a tape roll dispenser within the one piece organizing container and within the sloping portion of the sidewalls such that the tape roll is easily accessible. Other steps may comprise providing different sized compartments within the one piece organizing container for receiving the plurality of bottles, sundry articles such as cotton and alcohol, and tools such as scissors and tweezers. A preferred embodiment includes forming handles on the one piece organizing container which comprise lips or indentations.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to the field of hair removal waxing and, more specifically, to a hair removal waxing product organizer.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Background  
         [0004]     Many beauty salons and/or day spas offer hair removal waxing treatments at various stations in their facility. The waxing procedures require a wax melting pot and numerous articles and products which must be on hand for use as required. It is necessary for beauticians to gather the required products and accessories for waxing, and take those products to the selected station in the salon where they will be used. It is time consuming to locate all the necessary components for waxing and have them in one place when needed. It is also difficult to inventory the supplies that are available and those that need to be re-ordered. The waxing products frequently become disorganized, while several people are moving the supplies around the salon at various times during the day. Items are lost or misplaced and it is time consuming to locate the items. General efficiency in performing the procedures is low. There are frequently several loose items that need to be carried at one time. As a general rule, some articles may be found in one part of the salon, while other articles will be in another area. When several beauticians are giving waxing treatments at the same time, the problem becomes more confusing. Having to organize the items each time they are used also wastes time.  
         [0005]     Those of skill in the art will appreciate the present invention which provides solutions for the above and other problems.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     An object of the invention is to provide a self-contained hair removal waxing product organizer.  
         [0007]     Another object of the invention is to provide an improved overall experience in the salon.  
         [0008]     Yet another object of the invention is to provide for improved efficiency of the operator.  
         [0009]     Another possible object of the invention is to prevent spillage of the waxing products.  
         [0010]     Another possible object of the invention is to organize many different sized accessories and sundry articles needed for hair removal in one container.  
         [0011]     A further possible object of the invention is to provide an organizer that is portable and lightweight.  
         [0012]     An advantage of the invention is that it saves time in retrieving each item as needed, and reduces clutter.  
         [0013]     Another advantage of the invention is that it reduces the time required for the waxing procedure and/or permits an operator to complete more waxing procedures within a given time.  
         [0014]     Yet another advantage of the invention is improved quality of the waxing procedure because the products are readily available and the operator does not have to search for them.  
         [0015]     Still another advantage of the invention is improved replacement of components because they can be more easily inventoried.  
         [0016]     A further advantage of the invention is that it allows all products to be in one place where needed rather than spread all over the salon.  
         [0017]     Yet another advantage of the invention is that it allows for easier and faster clean-up.  
         [0018]     Still yet another advantage of the invention is less waste of products due to more efficient handling.  
         [0019]     Another advantage of the invention is that it allows one-hand removal of tape for application with the wax.  
         [0020]     Another advantage of the invention is that it provides for a compact container for sale to beauty supply distributors to custom fit their sizes of products.  
         [0021]     A further advantage of the invention is that it is easy to carry the various products and articles to different areas of the salon.  
         [0022]     Yet another advantage of the invention is that it help keeps the salon neat and tidy. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. However, it will be understood that above-listed objectives of the invention and the brief description hereinafter are intended only as an aid in quickly understanding certain aspects of the invention, is not intended to limit the invention in any way, and therefore does not form a comprehensive or restrictive list of objectives, and/or features, and/or advantages. Moreover, the scope of this patent is not intended to be limited to its literal terms but instead embraces all equivalents to the claims described.  
         [0023]     In accordance with one possible preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a hair removal waxing product organizer for organizing a plurality of articles utilized in hair removal procedures. The plurality of articles utilized in hair removal procedures may comprise one or more of pre-wax cleanser, cooling gel, and/or many other sundry accessories. The hair removal waxing product organizer may comprise one or more elements such as, for instance, a lightweight and portable organizing container. The container may comprise sidewalls with sloping portions. The sloping sidewalls preferably permit easy viewing of the plurality of articles contained therein. In one possible embodiment, a spindle support and/or socket for receiving the spindle may be formed within the organizing container. A spindle may be mounted in the spindle support and the spindle may be operable for carrying an unwindable dispensing tape roll. A plurality of different sized receptacles may be formed within the container for receiving most common sizes of the plurality of articles utilized in hair removal procedures. In one possible embodiment, the plurality of differently sized receptacles may be open at a top portion thereof for easy accessibility. In another possible embodiment, a receptacle/compartment used to hold cotton may have a lid containing a hole in it, from which cotton may be dispensed.  
         [0024]     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a process for organizing a plurality of articles utilized in hair removal procedures. The process may comprise one or more steps such as, for instance, forming a one-piece organizing container and/or providing sidewalls for the one-piece organizing container wherein the sidewalls are sloping and/or comprise at least with a sloping portion. Other steps may comprise mounting a tape roll dispenser within the one piece organizing container and within the sloping portion of the sidewalls such that the tape roll is easily accessible. Additional steps may comprise providing different sized compartments within the one piece organizing container for receiving the plurality of articles.  
         [0025]     This summary is not intended to in any way be a limitation with respect to the features of the invention as claimed. The elements discussed above can be more readily observed and understood in the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and in the claims.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0026]     The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements may be given the same or analogous reference numbers.  
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one possible embodiment of the invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is an elevational front view, partially with hidden lines, showing a lightweight and portable organizing container in accord with one possible embodiment of the invention.  
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is a top view, partially with hidden lines, showing the organizing container of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view, partially with hidden lines, showing the organizing container of  FIG. 2 .  
     
    
       [0031]     While the present invention will be described in connection with presently preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents included within the spirit of the invention.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0032]     Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.  
         [0033]     In accord with the present invention, an organizing container is provided, which holds many components, products, and accessories used in hair removal waxing procedures. These articles may typically comprise pre-wax cleanser, a tape roll, cooling gel, mirror, applicator sticks, powder, soothing cream, witch hazel, scissors, tweezers, eyelash brush, paper wraps, baby oil, rubbing alcohol, cotton swabs and/or cotton rolls. It will be appreciated that these relatively small and various shaped items can be easily misplaced and/or lost. The various containers of fluids, creams, bottles, and tubes utilized may be spilled or stepped on whereupon the result must be cleaned up. It will be appreciated that it is also difficult and time consuming to transport items such as these from one location to another in a salon. The present invention provides a neat and tidy solution for this difficult problem.  
         [0034]     Referring now to the drawings and turning first to  FIG. 1 , there is shown one possible embodiment of organizing container  10  in accord with the invention.  FIGS. 2, 3  and  4  show another possible embodiment of organizing container  10 A in accord with the invention. In this specification, common components of organizing container  10 A will utilize the same element numbers.  
         [0035]     In one possible embodiment of the present invention, sidewalls  12  may be utilized as part of organizing container  10  and  10 A. Sidewalls  12  may be flat, rounded, or the like as desired. In one embodiment, the dimensions of wax product organizing container  10  and  10 A may be substantially rectangular and approximately 8-24 inches in length and 8-24 inches in width. In one embodiment, for instance, container  10  and  10 A may be about 12 inches in length and about 14Δ width. Other general shapes of the wax product organizing container may be round, elliptical and/or any other suitable shape.  
         [0036]     In one preferred embodiment, wax product organizing container  10  or  10 A is comprised of a pliable plastic or rubber or vinyl preferably with similar pliability characteristics as Tupperware®. Preferably, the wax product organizing container is not comprised of a hard or brittle plastic like acrylic, although if desired, the wax product organizing container could be made of hard materials. Wax product organizing container  10  and  10 A may be of one piece construction utilizing a mold and/or may be comprised of components that are glued or otherwise secured together.  
         [0037]     It will be appreciated that wax product organizing container  10  and  10 A is lightweight and easily portable. To improve accessibility to the components therein, preferably wax product organizing container  10  and  10 A is built without a handle on top that would impede access and visibility to the components. However, if desired a top handle could be utilized but would preferably be moveable to away from the top when not being used. In the present invention, side handles  62  are preferably used as discussed hereinafter. In any case, wax product organizing container  10  and/or  10 A is easy to carry to different areas of the salon.  
         [0038]     In one possible embodiment, sidewalls  12  comprise sloping portion  14  which may extend from rear to front as shown in wax product organizing container  10  or may extend over only a portion of sidewall  12  as shown in wax product organizing container  10 A most clearly in  FIG. 4 . In  FIG. 4 , sloping portion  14 A extends from and interconnects rear flat pedestal portion  16  to front flat pedestal portion  18 . Sloping portions  14  and/or  14 A are highly useful to permit easy viewing and location and access to the many components in the organizer container.  
         [0039]     The slope of portion  14  shown in  FIG. 1  is approximately thirty degrees while the slope of the intermediate portion  14 A shown in  FIG. 4  is approximately forty-five degrees. In general, the slope may range from about twenty degrees to about seventy degrees. It will be appreciated that short items are generally kept towards the front and longer items are kept towards the back of wax product organizing container  10  and/or container  10 A.  
         [0040]     In other words, sloping portions  14  and  14 A permit the waxing products to be staggered for easy visibility. In the embodiment of wax product organizing container  10 A, the maximum height is approximately nine inches at pedestal  16  and sloping portion  14 A angles down to about six inches at pedestal  18 .  
         [0041]     In one possible embodiment, waxing organizer container  10  and/or  10 A comprises built-in sliding drawer  20 . Drawer  20  is preferably sized for smaller accessories and may be in the range of about two inches in height. Drawer  20  may be conveniently positioned at a bottom portion of the wax product organizing container  10  and/or  10 A. In one embodiment, drawer  20  fits under tape roll  22 , when tape roll  22  is full.  
         [0042]     Tape roll  22  may be mounted on spindle  24 . In one possible embodiment, spindle  24  may be a spring-loaded telescoping spindle that is compressed and then snaps into sockets  28  or the like on either side thereof, to thereby secure spindle  24  in position within wax product organizing container  10  and/or  10 A. Socket  28  may be built into sidewall  26 , which may be secured with wax product organizing container  10 , or otherwise formed as desired. Other types of mountings may also be utilized for spindle  24 . Front cutting edge  65  may be provided in the general vicinity of tape end  64  for easily cutting tape from tape roll  22  with only one hand to thereby make the waxing operation more efficient and quick. In one possible embodiment, spindle  24  is sized to hold at least 3½Δ tape roll.  
         [0043]     Wax product organizing container  10  and/or  10 A preferably comprises numerous different sized compartments. The various compartments within wax product organizing container  10  and/or  10 A may be labeled for easy sorting. In one possible embodiment, round sockets  36 , best shown in  FIG. 3 , may be utilized for bottles  32 ,  34 , and  36 , shown in  FIG. 2 . In another possible embodiment, a suitable compartment  46 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , may be utilized for bottles, tubes, and/or the like. The embodiment of  FIG. 1  includes two rear compartments  42  and  46  which extend along the entire width of wax product organizing container  10 . Rear compartment  42  may include the longer items such as mirrors, scissors, combs, and the like, as desired.  
         [0044]     Various other sized compartments may be utilized. For instance, medium sized compartment  44  may be utilized for cotton balls, rolls of cotton, or the like as desired. In another possible embodiment, compartment  44  that is used to hold cotton may have a lid containing a hole in it, from which cotton may be dispensed. The lid may be hinged as shown or may have latches or friction fit or otherwise be mounted on compartment  44  so that cotton balls or the like may be removed from the hole in the lid. It would also be possible to leave the lid open for direct access to the contents therein if desired. The lid could also be unattached to compartment  44 , and could be a separate component that is set aside while the cotton is being dispensed. The lid could be a standard lid and removable in a way that standard lids are removed. Smaller compartments such as compartments  40  and  48  may be utilized for smaller items as indicated. The compartments may be rectangular but could also be shaped as desired. For instance, in  FIG. 3 , compartment  50  and  54  are round with square compartment  52  therebetween. In this manner, product companies may utilize specially shaped bottles and components which mate to the particular compartment to thereby make sorting and placement of the components quick and easy.  FIG. 3  shows a different arrangement of compartments whereby compartments  56  are utilized adjacent a larger round compartment. Accordingly, it will be understood that the present invention can be utilized to hold many different shaped and size hair removal waxing components.  
         [0045]     In one possible embodiment, feet  60  or other elements may be utilized to provide secure positioning of wax product organizing container  10  and/or  10 A. Feet  60  may be comprised of material having a high coefficient of friction to thereby prevent sliding of wax product organizing container  10  or  10 A during operation. For instance, during operation the operator may pull waxing paper of roll  22  and cut it with only one hand.  
         [0046]     Handles  62  are preferably indentations or cut-outs within sidewalls  12 . Handles  62  may thereby define an inwardly oriented lip portion which is smoothly shaped and which can be easily grasped. Handles  62  could extend outwardly if desired although in one preferred embodiment, handles comprising indentations permits multiple organizers  10  or  10 A to fit closely together for storing or shipping, thereby more efficiently utilizing space.  
         [0047]     In summary, the present invention organizes products necessary for wax-related hair removal and containerizes waxing products. In one preferred embodiment, wax product organizing container  10  and/or  10 A holds accessories for hair removal all in one wax product organizing container except for the wax melting pots which may preferably be kept at the stations where they are utilized. Wax product organizing container  10  and/or  10 A is portable and lightweight. The use of the present invention saves time in getting each item as needed and even reduces the time required for the waxing procedure. The present invention improves the overall customer and operator experience in the salon.  
         [0048]     While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.