Abstract:
A cosmetic container and packaged hair treatment composition comprising a receptacle having at least one opening and containing the hair treatment composition, an applicator for applying the hair treatment composition in the receptacle to the hair, which is attachable to the at least one opening of the receptacle, the applicator containing an internal channel feeding into at least one internal chambers having at least one external outlet surrounded by tines, a method for applying highlights to the hair using the package.

Description:
This application claims priority from provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/397,472, filed Jul. 19, 2002. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The invention is in the field of containers for cosmetic products and particularly cosmetic containers and applicators, which are used to apply cosmetic materials such as conditioner, hair dye, bleach, and highlights to the hair. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   There are a variety of cosmetic applicators that are currently used to apply cosmetic ingredients to hair but there are many deficiencies in such applicators. For example, when it comes to highlighting the hair, there have been no improvements in the age old methods. If the process is done in the salon, the beauty operator simply selects the strands of hair desired for treatment and spreads them on small pieces of metal foil throughout the hair. This process relies on the judgment and skill of the beautician, and is time consuming. 
   The at-home highlighting kits contain a plastic cap similar to a bathing cap, having perforations throughout. The individual puts the cap on her head then extracts strands of hair through the perforations in the cap by pulling them through with a device similar to a crochet hook. This is also time consuming and laborious. 
   There are a variety of devices such as combs and other types of applicators that enable application of highlights to hair, but they are mostly used as an aid by the beautician, who must still exercise skill and judgment as to the pattern of highlights. 
   Accordingly, there is a need for a cosmetic container and applicator that facilitates application of color to hair, more particularly applying highlights to hair. 
   It is an object of the invention to provide a cosmetic applicator and storage container that is very consumer friendly and can be used to apply highlights to hair. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide a cosmetic applicator and storage container that enables application of salon quality highlights to hair by individuals who are not trained beauticians. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide a cosmetic applicator and storage container that is inexpensive to make and applies an even distribution of the highlighting composition to the hair that is treated. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide a cosmetic applicator and storage container that can simply be stroked through the hair in the manner of a comb and will provide even and effective distribution of the highlighting composition. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is directed to a packaged hair treatment composition comprising:
         (a) a receptacle having at least one opening and containing the hair treatment composition,   (b) an applicator for applying the hair treatment composition in the receptacle to the hair, which is attachable to the at least one opening of the receptacle, said applicator containing an internal channel feeding into at least one internal chamber having at least one external outlet surrounded by tines.       

   The invention is further directed to a method for applying highlights to hair with a composition comprised of a mixture of persulfate salts and an aqueous based oxidizing agent comprising:
         (a) storing the persulfate salts in a container comprised of a receptacle having at least one opening.   (b) adding the aqueous based oxidizing agent to the receptacle,   (c) affixing to the receptacle an applicator which has an internal channel which feeds into at least one internal chamber having at least one external outlet surrounded by tines,   (d) distributing the hair color composition onto select strands of hair by combing the tines through the hair while the hair color composition flows out of the receptacle and through the applicator onto the hair.       

   The invention is further directed to a cosmetic container comprising:
         (a) a receptacle for containing a cosmetic product having at least one opening,   (b) an applicator for application of the cosmetic contained in the receptacle and attachable to the at least one opening of the receptacle, said applicator containing a channel for permitting flow of the cosmetic from the receptacle through the applicator, said channel feeding into at least one internal chamber having at least one outlet surrounded by tines operable to distribute the cosmetic in the receptacle onto the desired surface upon contact therewith.       

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1 : is a front view of the cosmetic container of the invention comprising a receptacle and an applicator. 
       FIG. 2 : is a side view of the cosmetic container of the invention. 
       FIG. 3 : is a top plan view of the cosmetic container of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4 : is a front perspective view of the cosmetic container of the invention. 
       FIG. 5 : is an exploded view of the cosmetic container of the invention. 
       FIG. 6 : is a side cutaway view of the cosmetic container of the invention. 
       FIG. 7A : is a top plan view of the applicator in the open position. 
       FIG. 7B : is a side plan view of the applicator in the open position. 
       FIG. 7C : is a bottom plan view of the applicator in the open position. 
       FIG. 7D : is a top perspective view of the applicator in the open position. 
       FIG. 7E : is a perspective view of the applicator in the closed position. 
       FIG. 7F : depicts use of the cosmetic applicator and storage container to apply cosmetic, particularly hair bleach, to select strands of hair. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  depicts the cosmetic container of the invention which comprises a receptacle  1  and applicator  2 . The receptacle  1  may be made from a variety of materials including glass, plastic, etc. but plastic is generally preferred because it is inexpensive and will not break. The types of plastics, or thermoplastic materials, may vary depending on the type of cosmetic to be contained within the receptacle. Generally suitable are polyethylene, polypropylene, ABS, styrene, and so on. The receptacle has at least one opening  1 A. 
   The applicator  2  is removable from the receptacle  1  (see  FIG. 5 ), and contains engaging means  3  (see  FIG. 6 ) that are designed to mate with engaging means  4  on the receptacle  1  to permit the applicator  2  to be affixed securely to the receptacle so that the cosmetic material  5 E found within the receptacle  1  flows through the one opening  1 A into and through the applicator  2  such that the cosmetic material  5 E will be dispensed onto the hair. The engaging means  4  on the receptacle  1  and the engaging means  3  on the applicator are most preferably screw threads. When the applicator  2  is engaged to the receptacle and used to apply cosmetic material  5 E to the hair as depicted in  FIG. 7F , the cosmetic material  5 E found within the receptacle  1  flows through the at least one opening  1 A, through the interior of the applicator  2 , and out the outlets  20  (see  FIG. 3 ). The cosmetic material  5 E that flows out of outlets  20  is deposited onto the hair using tines  21 . Tines  21  extend beyond outlets  20 . 
   Because successful highlighting of hair using the cosmetic container of the invention requires that both the amount and distribution of the highlighting composition be correct, the interior of the applicator has certain configurations that optimize the flow and dose of the cosmetic material  5 E found within the receptacle  1  when the applicator  2  is used to apply the cosmetic material  5 E to the hair. To facilitate molding, the applicator is molded in one flat piece as depicted in  FIGS. 7A , B, and C. The flat piece in general comprises a base  5  and two side walls  8 A and  8 B which fold up and engage about the base portion to form the applicator as depicted in  FIG. 7E . The interior portions of the sidewalls  8 A and  8 B, when engaged, provide at least one, preferably a plurality of channels which channel the amount and flow of the cosmetic material  5 E through the interior of the applicator in the most optimal manner to achieve the end result of a natural, yet polished, salon quality highlights. 
   The interior of the applicator is best illustrated in  FIGS. 7A , B, C, and D which illustrate the applicator when it is in the open position. The applicator comprises a base  5  and two side walls  8 A and  8 B. Generally the base  5  is in the form of a cap for the receptacle  1  but which has an opening in the form of a channel  7  to permit the cosmetic material in the receptacle  1  to pass therethrough. 
   More particularly, the base  5  has an inner surface  5 A and an outer surface  5 B. The inner surface  5 A of the bottom portion  6  of the base  5  has engaging means  3  that permit the bottom portion  6  of the base  5  to be affixed securely to the engaging means  4  on the receptacle  1 . The outer surface  5 B of the base  5  forms a circumferential wall  5 C and a shoulder  5 D. The base  5  has a top portion  7 A containing a channel  7  that permits flow of the cosmetic material  5 E found within the receptacle  1  from the receptacle  1  into the interior of the applicator  2 . The channel  7  has circumferential side walls  17 AA forming the external surface thereof 
   Attached to the base  5  bottom portion  6  are two side walls  8 A and  8 B which are preferably attached to the base by living hinges  9 . Sidewalls  8 A and  8 B have an internal surface  8 C which forms the interior portion of the applicator  2 , and an external surface  8 D which forms the exterior surface of applicator  2 . 
   The internal surface  8 C of side walls  8 A and  8 B each have a carved out portion  10 A and  10 B on side walls  8 A and  8 B respectively, formed by circumferential outer walls  11 A and  11 B respectively. When side walls  8 A and  8 B are engaged, the carved out portions  10 A and  10 B form a compartment that houses the base  5 . Each of circumferential outer walls  11 A and  11 B have a perimeter such that when the applicator  2  is closed by joining side walls  8 A and  8 B, circumferential outer walls  11 A and  11 B join to form one complete wall to completely surround circumferential wall  5 C that is found on the outer surface  5 B of the base  5  when the side walls  8 A and  8 B are in the closed position. 
   Circumferential walls  11 A and  11 B have a shoulder  12 A and  12 B respectively, and a collar  13 A in side wall  8 A and collar  13 B in side wall  8 B. Collars  13 A and  13 B are in the shape of half circles which have an inner surfaces  14 A and  14 B on each sidewall  8 A and  8 B such that inner surfaces  14 A and  14 B, when joined by closing of the applicator, together form a complete circular collar that fits snugly around the outer surface  17 AA of the channel  7  when the applicator  2  is in the closed position. Each collar  13 A and  13 B has two side walls  15 A and  15 B respectively that have a flat surface such that when the applicator  2  is in the closed position, the side walls  15 A mate with corresponding side walls  15 B when the applicator  2  is closed. At the top edge of sidewalls  15 A and  15 B are engaging means. On side wall  15 A the engaging means is a depression  15 C and on the other side is a protrusion  15 D. The depression  15 C and protrusion  15 D are female/male respectively, such that when the sidewalls  15 A and  15 B are closed the male protrusion  15 D engages with the female depression  15 C to close and secure sidewalls  15 A and  15 B together as seen in  FIG. 7E . 
   The channel  7  opens into a first preferential chamber  16 A, which is formed when sidewalls  8 A and  8 B of the applicator are closed. 
   A second preferential chamber  16 B is formed when the applicator is in the closed position because divider  17  is lower on sidewall  8 A than divider  17 B is on side wall  8 B. Accordingly when side walls  8 A and  8 B are closed, divider  17  is lower and closest to the base  5  and divider  17 B is slightly above it, but enough so that the distance between the two dividers  17  and  17 B forms a small chamber. When applicator  2  is closed and the side walls  8 A and  8 B are engaged, divider  17  will form the top surface of first preferential chamber  16 A and second preferential chamber  16 B will be found in the space between divider  17  and divider  17 B. 
   The first preferential chamber  16 A in cross-section, is depicted in  FIG. 7A . Divider  17  separates the first preferential chamber  16 A from second preferential chamber  16 B and divider  17 B separates second preferential chamber  16 B from third chamber  18  (all shown in cross-section in  FIG. 7A ). 
   Placed on side walls  8 A and  8 B in a position so that they will abut the top of channel  7  on either side when side walls  8 A and  8 B are in the closed position, are two sets of ledges  17 A and  17 AB respectively that, together with the channel  7 , form the bottom portion of the first preferential chamber  16 A. 
   Divider  17  does not span the entire width of the applicator  2  interior surface as is seen in  FIG. 7A . Rather, divider  17  is slightly shorter in length than the width of the applicator  2  interior surface to permit passages  19  on either side thereof which interconnect the first preferential chamber  16 A and the second preferential chamber  16 B with the third chamber  18  all of which are formed when the applicator  2  is in the closed position 
   The third chamber  18  has top wall  18 A in side wall  8 A and top wall  18 B in side wall  8 B. Top walls  18 A and  18 B abut when side walls  8 A and  8 B are engaged, and contain outlets  20 . 
   In particular top wall  18 A has three half outlets  20 A and top wall  18 B has three half outlets  20 B such that when side walls  8 A and  8 B are engaged to close applicator  2  half outlets  20 A and  20 B join to form single outlets as is seen in  FIG. 3  which is a top plan view of the applicator  2  in the closed position. 
   The outlets  20  are surrounded by tines  21  which extend beyond outlets  20 . The tines extend beyond the outlets  20  such that the outlets  20  are found in the bore, or at the base of the tines  21  in top walls  18 A and  18 B. 
   In the preferred embodiment of the invention the tines  21  are in three groups of three, for a total of nine, and there are three outlets  20 , where each outlet is found in a position parallel to the second tine  22  in the three groups of three tines formed when the applicator  2  is in the closed position. 
   Tines  21  extend beyond outlets to form comb like projections to facilitate combing of the highlighting composition through the hair strands. 
   When the applicator  2  is in the open position as depicted in  FIG. 7D , each side wall  8 A and  8 B exhibits tines  21 A and  21 B. When the applicator  2  is in the closed position,  21 A and  21 B form separate rows of tines  21  which are parallel to each other extending beyond the top surface formed when top walls  18 A and  18 B are engaged. 
   Separating tines  21 A and  21 B in two places are half platforms  23 A and  23 B. In particular, half platforms  23 A and  23 B are placed in the middle between tines  21 A and  21 B such that when the applicator  2  is closed, the half platforms  23 A and  23 B join to form a full platform  23  which separates outlets  20 . 
   When the applicator  2  is in the closed position the pattern of tines and outlets is three tines  21 , platform  23 , three tines  21 , platform  23 , three tines  21 , as depicted in  FIGS. 7D and 7E . 
   In the top walls  18 A and  18 B, it is desirable to incorporate male/female engagements to facilitate closure of side walls  8 A and  8 B of applicator  2  such that the two side walls  8 A and  8 B are secured at the upper portion of the applicator  2  as well. 
   Immediately below one or both half platforms  23 A on the inner surface  23 B of top wall  18 A a female engagement  24  may be found. Similarly on the inner surface  25  of top wall  18 B one or more male engagements  26  may be placed. When side walls  8 A and  8 B are closed, female engagement  24  mates with male engagement  26  to further secure top walls  18 A and  18 B together. 
   Preferably, side walls  8 A and  8 B have circular portions  27  and  28  which, when side walls  8 A and  8 B are closed, friction fit together to further secure the two side walls together. The circular portions may also serve as grips to facilitate opening and closing of the applicator  2 . 
   The exterior surface of applicator  2  is best seen in  FIG. 7C  which is a bottom plan view of the applicator in the open position (the opposite of  FIG. 7A ) and  FIG. 7E  which is a perspective view of the applicator in the closed position. The exterior surface shows the tines  21  which have free ends  29  that extend beyond the base portion  30  that is formed when top walls  18 A and  18 B are secured. The cosmetic material  5 E that is dispensed through the applicator  2  flows through outlets  20  onto the base portion  30  and is distributed on the hair by tines  21 A and  21 B. The flow of the cosmetic material  5 E onto base portion enables better distribution of the cosmetic onto all of the tines. In particular, the central placement of outlets  20  on base portion  30  also contributes to even distribution of the cosmetic onto the hair surface. 
   The tines,  21 A and  21 B extend downwardly from the free ends  29  and when they meet base portion, the tines are affixed to the outer surface of applicator  2  to form channels  31  on the external surface thereof. Channels  31  have a depth ranging from about 0.001 to 0.25 inch. Such channels  31  further facilitate the comb through process enabling the cosmetic material  5 E dispensed from the applicator  2  to flow out of outlets  20  downwardly from base portion  30  and into channels  31  where it is distributed therein. When the user strokes applicator  2  through the hair the cosmetic material  5 E in channels  31  deposits in streaks on the hair. 
   This particular arrangement of the outlets, chambers, and channels, as found within the applicator facilitates application of the hair color composition in exactly the right distribution and amount. The liquid product flows from the receptacle  1  through channel  7  into first preferential chamber  16 A, through second preferential chamber  16 B, and into third chamber  18 , and from third chamber  18  through outlets  20 . When the tines  21  of the applicator are stroked through the hair as depicted in  FIG. 7F , the correct amount of hair color or bleach product deposits on the hair as the applicator is combed through the hair strands. 
   Most amazingly, this type of construction reduces the skill required of the consumer. In particular, no matter how unskilled the consumer is in applying the colorant composition it always provides an ultimate end result that is pleasing. This is due to the positioning of the tines, and construction of the preferential chambers and outlets, which regulates the flow and distribution of product to exactly the right level. 
   While preferably the cosmetic container is used to apply highlights to the hair, it may be used to apply other types of hair care products such as conditioner, hair color, and the like. 
   In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the cosmetic container is used to apply highlights in a highlighting procedure. More specifically a bleach composition in the form of particulate persulfate salts is stored in the receptacle. When the consumer desires to bleach the hair, the highlighting composition is prepared by adding an aqueous peroxide based oxidizing agent, which activates the persulfate salts, to the contents of the receptacle and mixing well. The applicator is affixed to the receptacle and the container is used to apply the highlighting composition to the hair by stroking the applicator tines through the hair in the same manner as a comb. The container is held so that the applicator is downward, which facilitates flow of the highlighting composition through the applicator and onto the hair strands. After the hair has been treated with the highlighting composition for the appropriate period of time, it is removed by rinsing with water. 
   In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, after the hair is rinsed with water to remove the highlighting composition, residual oxidizing agent remains on the hair strands that were treated with the highlighting composition. 
   Then the hair is treated with a second colorant composition which is free of oxidizing agent but contains at least one dye operable to color hair in the presence of the residual oxidizing agent on the hair fibers. This second colorant composition is preferably in the form of an aqueous based shampoo having water, a cleansing surfactant (which may be anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic, or amphoteric), and the dye. The second colorant composition is applied to the hair for about 1 to 20 minutes and rinsed off with water. The dye present in the second colorant composition will be activated by the residual oxidizing agent left on the hair strands. This in turn will cause the hair strands treated with the oxidizing agent to become colored. 
   The hair may then be treated with an appropriate coloring or conditioning agent. Suitable bleach compositions and oxidizing agent compositions suitable for use in the claimed product are disclosed in U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/397,346, filed Jul. 19, 2002, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
   While the invention has been described in connection with the 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.