Nail polish color selection system
View Patent ↗A user interactive custom nail polish color and effects dispensing system and method of doing business, including for both point of sale and remote (e.g., via internet) transactions.
1. A custom liquid cosmetic dispensing system, comprising:
a) an electronically controlled automated cosmetic dispenser, which carries a plurity of ingredients containers, for dispensing of liquid cosmetic formulation ingredients selectively from said containers into a package of less than about 100 ml, through a package opening on the order of less than about 25 mm, to create a custom cosmetic formulation, at a retail point-of-sale;
b) means for dispensing said ingredients into said package, said means including at least one moistened nozzle tip;
c) interface means for interacting with a retail customer to select a custom liquid cosmetic formulation, the interface means including means for displaying user-inputted or computer stored images to aid in selection;
d) a computer for electronically retrieving recipe information about said selection for dispensing to achieve said custom liquid cosmetic formulation to said dispenser based upon information about the selection contained within a database of the computer; and
e) a housing for said dispenser that includes a support surface upon which said package rests during dispensing, wherein the housing contains the computer and also includes a mixer mounted to or otherwise associated with it; wherein the custom liquid cosmetic dispensing system is integrated into a single pod.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mixer is a vibratory shaker.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the means for dispensing includes a plunger that is actuated to advance ingredients through the at least one nozzle tip.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the means for dispensing includes a plunger that is actuated to advance ingredients through the at least one nozzle tip.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ingredients containers include ingredients that a packaged into the contained at a remote location, and include a removable cap or lid is applied over the opening at such location that is removed at the point of dispensing.
6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the ingredients containers include ingredients that a packaged into the contained at a remote location, and include a removable cap or lid is applied over the opening at such location that is removed at the point of dispensing.
7. The system of claim 3 , wherein the ingredients containers include ingredients that a packaged into the contained at a remote location, and include a removable cap or lid is applied over the opening at such location that is removed at the point of dispensing.
8. The system of claim 4 , wherein the ingredients containers include ingredients that a packaged into the contained at a remote location, and include a removable cap or lid is applied over the opening at such location that is removed at the point of dispensing.
9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising means for moistening a nozzle tip.
10. The system of claim 2 , further comprising means for moistening a nozzle tip.
11. The system of claim 3 , further comprising means for moistening a nozzle tip.
12. The system of claim 4 , further comprising means for moistening a nozzle tip.
13. The system of claim 5 , further comprising means for moistening a nozzle tip.
14. The system of claim 2 , wherein the pod is a prefabricated unit that includes wiring for power supply or supply of other utilities, and the pod also includes a cash register, a packaging station, a display station, an application station, or a combination thereof.
15. The system of claim 3 , wherein the pod is a prefabricated unit that includes wiring for power supply or supply of other utilities, and the pod also includes a cash register, a packaging station, a display station, an application station, or a combination thereof.
16. The system of claim 4 , wherein the pod is a prefabricated unit that includes wiring for power supply or supply of other utilities, and the pod also includes a cash register, a packaging station, a display station, an application station, or a combination thereof.
17. A method of dispensing cosmetics at a retail point of sale, comprising the steps of 1) dispensing ingredients into a package of less than about 100 ml, through a package opening on the order of less than about 25 mm, to create a custom liquid cosmetic formulation, at a retail point-of-sale, through a custom liquid cosmetic dispensing system, comprising:
a) an electronically controlled automated cosmetic dispenser, which carries a plurality of ingredients containers, for dispensing of liquid cosmetic formulation ingredients selectively from said containers;
b) means for dispensing said ingredients into said package, said means including at least one moistened nozzle tip;
c) at least one interface for interacting with a retail customer to select a custom liquid cosmetic formulation;
d) a computer for electronically retrieving recipe information about said selection for dispensing to achieve said custom liquid cosmetic formulation and for electronically communicating information about a retail customer selection from said interface to said dispenser based upon information about the selection contained within a database of the computer; and
e) a housing for said dispenser that includes a support surface upon which said package rests during dispensing, that also includes a mixer mounted to or otherwise associated with it; 2) mixing the dispensed ingredients with the mixer; and repeating steps 1) and 2) for a different custom liquid cosmetic formulation.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the housing contains the computer, and the custom liquid cosmetic dispensing system is integrated into a single pod.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising a step of accessing a remote computer.