Device for separately dispensing materials for use together on human skin
Methods and devices are provided for containing and separately dispensing a sunscreen and a UV indicator for use with the sunscreen to indicate effectiveness thereof. A flexible tube or container defines a primary chamber containing sunscreen therein and has a double flip-top cap mounted thereon. The double flip-top cap comprises a base mounted to the flexible tube and via which the sunscreen is dispensed. A middle section of the cap is hinged to the base and provides access to the primary chamber. A top section of the cap is hinged to the middle section. The middle section and top section cooperate to define a secondary chamber containing the UV indicator, with the top section providing access to the secondary chamber. The secondary chamber can contain a pre-inked stamp, or a stamp and ink pad impregnated with the UV indicator. The UV indicator is applied to one or more small regions of the skin under the sunscreen, and changes color to indicate effectiveness of the sunscreen.
1 . A device for containing and separately dispensing two materials for use on human skin, the device comprising:
a container defining a primary chamber for containing a primary material, said container comprising an opening; and
a double flip-top cap mounted to said container over said opening, said double flip-top cap comprising:
a base via which said double flip-top cap is mounted to said container and via which said primary material is dispensed from said container;
a middle section hinged to said base, said middle section serving as a first flip-top lid for said container and defining a middle section recess including an upper rim, the middle section recess containing a secondary material and in fluid communication with a stamp, wherein the stamp is impregnated or soaked with the secondary material, and wherein an upper portion of the stamp protrudes outwardly from the upper rim of the middle section recess exposing a defined extent of the stamp providing a metered quantity of the secondary material when the stamp is pressed onto the skin, pressure applied by the stamp on the skin being limited by contacting the skin with the upper rim of the middle section; and
a top section hinged to said middle section, said top section defining a recess that fits over and accommodates the stamp, and said top section serving as a second flip-top lid for said stamp.
2 . The device of claim 1 wherein said base comprises a nozzle having an aperture via which said primary material is dispensed from said primary chamber.
3 . The device of claim 1 wherein said container is a flexible tube or a bottle.
4 . The device of claim 1 wherein said container is made of plastic or metal, and said double flip-top cap is made of plastic.
5 . The device of claim 1 wherein said middle section is hinged to said base by a first flexible hinge and said top section is hinged to said middle section by a second flexible hinge, said first and second flexible hinges being located on circumferentially opposite sides of said middle section so as to substantially prevent opening of said first and second flip-top lids simultaneously.
6 . A device for containing and separately dispensing two materials for use together on human skin comprising:
a container defining a primary chamber for containing a sunscreen, said container comprising an opening; and
a dual cap assembly mounted to said container over said opening, said dual cap assembly comprising:
a base via which said dual cap assembly is mounted to said container and via which said sunscreen is dispensed from said container;
a middle section removably attached to said base to close off and provide access to said primary chamber, said middle section defining a middle section recess containing a UV indicator ink in fluid communication with a stamp, wherein the stamp is impregnated or soaked with the UV indicator ink, and wherein an upper portion of the stamp protrudes outwardly from the middle section recess exposing a defined extent of the stamp providing a metered quantity of the UV indicator ink when the stamp is pressed onto the skin, pressure applied by the stamp on the skin being limited by contacting the skin with the upper rim of the middle section; and
a top section removably attached to said middle section to close off or provide access to the stamp, the top section defining a recess that fits over and accommodates the stamp.
7 . The device of claim 6 wherein said middle section is removably attached to said base by a snap-fit or screw thread fastening mechanism, and said top section is removably attached to said middle section by a snap-fit or screw thread fastening mechanism.
8 . The device of claim 6 wherein said base comprises a nozzle having an aperture via which said sunscreen is dispensed from said primary chamber.
9 . The device of claim 6 wherein said container is a flexible tube or a bottle.
10 . The device of claims 6 wherein said container is made of plastic or metal, and said dual cap assembly is made of plastic.
11 . A method of dispensing two materials for application to human skin using a device as claimed in claim 1 , said method comprising:
flipping open said hinged top section of said double flip-top cap to provide access to said stamp;
dispensing and applying a quantity of said secondary material from said stamp to a first portion of the skin of a user;
closing said hinged top section of said double flip-top cap;
flipping open said hinged middle section of said double flip-top cap to provide access to said primary chamber;
dispensing a quantity of primary material from said primary chamber via said base and applying it over said secondary material applied to said first portion of skin and to a second portion of the skin of said user; and
closing said hinged middle section of said double flip-top cap.
12 . A method of dispensing two materials for application to human skin using a device as claimed in claim 6 , said method comprising:
separating said top section of said dual cap assembly from said middle section to provide access to said stamp;
dispensing and applying a quantity of said UV indicator ink from said stamp to a first portion of the skin of a user;
re-attaching said top section of said dual cap assembly to close off access to said stamp;
separating said middle section of said dual cap assembly from said base to provide access to said primary chamber;
dispensing a quantity of sunscreen from said primary chamber via said base and applying it over said UV indicator ink applied to said first portion of skin and to a second portion of the skin of said user; and
re-attaching said middle section of said dual cap assembly to said base to close off said primary chamber.
13 . The device of claim 1 wherein said primary material is a sunscreen and said secondary material is a UV indicator ink.