Topical preparation warming device
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to devices that pre-warm topical preparation intended for application to skin. Specifically, the present invention relates to devices that pre-warm a premeasured amount of a topical preparation from a larger source without warming the full source.
1. A warming device comprising:
(a) a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side extending from the top surface to the bottom surface and a receptacle disposed therein and extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, the receptacle having a top surface orifice and a bottom surface orifice;
(b) heating elements disposed within the housing and substantially surrounding the receptacle;
(c) an electrical connection in the form of a plurality of prongs associated with the first side surface for selective coupling to an external electrical power source, the electrical connection being pivotable between a first position extending substantially perpendicular from the first side for insertion into an electrical socket and a second position, substantially parallel to the first side; and
(d) a bottom surface orifice cover mechanically connected to the electrical connection, and movable between a first position, corresponding to the first position of the electrical connection, wherein the cover occludes the bottom surface orifice and a second position, corresponding to the second position of the electrical connection, wherein the cover is displaced from the bottom surface orifice.
2. The warming device of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle provides a generally conical void.
3. The warming device of claim 1 , further comprising a light mounted on the housing arranged and configured to provide information to a user.
4. The warming device of claim 1 , further comprising a power switch to energize the heating elements.
5. A kit comprising:
(a) a warming device comprising:
(i) a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side extending from the top surface to the bottom surface and a receptacle disposed therein and extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, the receptacle having a top surface orifice and a bottom surface orifice;
(ii) heating elements disposed within the housing and substantially surrounding the receptacle;
(iii) an electrical connection in the form of a plurality of prongs associated with the first side surface for selective coupling to an external electrical power source, the electrical connection being pivotable between a first position extending substantially perpendicular from the first side for insertion into an electrical socket and a second position, substantially parallel to the first side; and
(iv) a bottom surface orifice cover mechanically connected to the electrical connection, and movable between a first position, corresponding to the first position of the electrical connection, wherein the cover occludes the bottom surface orifice and a second position, corresponding to the second position of the electrical connection, wherein the cover is displaced from the bottom surface orifice; and
(b) a container comprising:
(i) a main body comprising a reservoir for a topical preparation; and
(ii) a dispensing tip arranged and configured for engaging the receptacle.
6. The kit of claim 5 wherein the receptacle provides a generally conical void, and the dispensing tip is generally conical.
7. The kit of claim 5 further comprising a light mounted on the housing arranged and configured to provide information to a user.
8. The kit of claim 5 further comprising a power switch to energize the heating elements.
9. A method of heating a topical preparation contained in a reservoir of a container having a dispensing tip employing a warming device having a housing containing an electrical heater operatively connected to an electrical connection, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) inserting the dispensing tip of the container into a receptacle disposed in the housing of the warming device, the receptacle extending from a top surface of the housing to the bottom surface thereof and having a bottom surface orifice arranged and configured to permit the dispensing of an amount of the topical preparation from the dispensing tip of the container;
(b) inserting an electrical connection in the form of a plurality of prongs into an external electrical power source, the electrical connection being pivotable between a first position extending substantially perpendicular from a first side of the housing for insertion into an electrical socket and a second position, substantially parallel to the first side of the housing, whereby the electrical heater warms the topical preparation associated with the dispensing tip of the container;
(c) removing the electrical connection of the warming device from the electrical socket, and pivoting the electrical connection to the second position, wherein a cover that is mechanically connected to the electrical connection, and movable between a first position, corresponding to the first position of the electrical connection and occluding the bottom surface orifice, moves to a second position, displaced from the bottom surface orifice; and
(d) dispensing a desired amount of warmed topical preparation from the dispensing tip of the container.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the electrical heater warms the topical preparation associated with the dispensing tip of the container for less than 20 minutes.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the electrical heater warms the topical preparation associated with the dispensing tip of the container for less than 5 minutes.