Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Electrostatic type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-18
2001-11-06
Scherbel, David A. (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Electrostatic type
C239S691000, C239S704000, C239S706000, C239S708000, C239S692000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311903
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electrostatic spraying apparatus, and more specifically to electrostatic spraying apparatus for spraying cosmetic products.
2. Background Information
Traditionally most skin care or cosmetic products, such as lotions, perfumes, and make-up, for example, have been applied by a limited number of methods. For example, frequently they are simply applied by the hand of the user, who would spread or rub the product onto the skin with the fingers or with the aid of an application pad. These products are also frequently sold in pump sprays or pre-pressurized aerosol containers, so as to have the product atomized and sprayed with the aid of a propellant gas.
More recently, electrostatic spraying devices have been developed for the application of personal care products, such as skin care and cosmetic products. However, many of these more recent apparatus can still be bulky and/or require bench top equipment and external electrical wiring, which can make them cumbersome or hard to use.
Typically, the known application methods and apparatus have a number of drawbacks. For example, frequently these methods and devices are unable to deliver a desired target product flow rate with great accuracy and precision, thus resulting in uneven coverage and wasted product. These drawbacks can be particularly troublesome when applying cosmetics, such as foundation, for example. Applying too much foundation in an uneven manner can result in both excessive wasted amounts of potentially expensive cosmetics, as well as an unsatisfactory and unattractive final appearance of the skin to which the foundation is applied. For example, when all the skin is covered the natural skin tones cannot show through, and the user can feel like she is wearing a mask. Consequently, known application processes and products frequently make it difficult to adequately conceal skin flaws and yet create a finished “look” which is both natural in appearance and long lasting.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to create a hand-held, self-contained electrostatic spraying device which is easy to use.
Another object of the present invention is to create an electrostatic spraying device that provides a precise essentially constant flow rate of product, to provide uniformity and ease of application, as well as to conserve product usage.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable cartridge to be used in the electrostatic spraying device, which disposable cartridge is configured to hold a supply of product suitable for electrostatic spraying, and is easy and convenient to use.
Another object of the present invention is to create an electrostatic spraying device that permits the application of a cosmetic foundation product in substantially uniformly spaced droplets so as to create a desirable appearance or “look” for foundation users, such that the foundation conceals skin flaws, yet appears natural.
Another object of the present invention is to create a hand-held, self-contained electrostatic spraying device which is easy to use which eliminates the need for bench top equipment and external electrical wiring.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These objects can be achieved by an electrostatic spraying device which is designed to be a hand-held, self-contained, battery operated electrostatic spraying device, with a disposable cartridge.
The electrostatic spraying device can comprise a housing configured to be held by the hand of a user, a disposable cartridge configured to contain a supply of product, such as a cosmetic product, and a nozzle for spraying the product onto the skin of the recipient. An electrode for electrostatically charging the product can be disposed to charge the product prior to its dispersal. The device can also be configured for moving the product from the supply of product, past the electrode, and to a dispersal point. A self-contained power supply arrangement can also be disposed within the housing to provide electrical power for the device.
The electrostatic spraying device is preferably designed in size and weight to be easily held and operated by the hand of the user. Further, the device is preferably self-contained such that essentially all of necessary components, such as the product supply and power supply, can be contained within the housing of the device. Therefore, preferably no external, potentially bulky or cumbersome, sources for product or power are required. This permits the electrostatic spraying device to be portable, since it can be used in virtually any location, and can be easily transported by the user from one location to another.
The housing of the device can include a gripping area substantially contoured to the shape of a user's hand. This gripping area can be contoured such that the device can be easily used by an individual applying product to him- or herself, or by an individual applying product to another person, such as in a salon setting, for example.
In at least one preferred embodiment the disposable cartridge can contain a reservoir configured to contain the supply of product to be electrostatically sprayed. The disposable cartridge can be designed to be removed by the user from the electrostatic spraying device, and discarded upon depletion of the product therein. A new cartridge can then be inserted into the device to refill the product supply.
In one embodiment, the nozzle from which the product is dispersed can also be a part of the disposable cartridge. By having the nozzle as part of the disposable cartridge, a new clean nozzle is provided every time the cartridge is replaced, thereby resulting in less clogging of the nozzle, and thus necessitating less or no cleaning of the nozzle by the user. The electrode which charges the product can also be part of the disposable cartridge.
The disposable cartridge can also include an insulator for insulating the supply of product from electrostatic charge. In one embodiment, the nozzle, the electrode and the insulator can together forming a single integrated part. This single part can be formed, for example, by two shot molding.
The electrostatic spraying device can also have a motor arrangement having a speed in the range 1.1 to 6.6 revolutions per minute. In one embodiment of the electrostatic spraying device, the device can have two speed settings, thus, for example, providing a product dispensing rate from about 0.05 milliliters of product per minute to about 0.5 milliliters of product per minute.
In one embodiment, apparatus for moving the product from the product supply to a point of dispersal can include a motor and a gearbox, with a driver configured to engage with an actuator on the disposable cartridge. The cartridge can have a piston arrangement slidably mounted within its casing, connected to the actuator, wherein upon actuation of the motor, a piston is configured to pressurize the product in the casing and thereby move the product from the casing, past the electrode, into the nozzle, and then out of the electrostatic spraying device. In one embodiment, the piston can be connected to a piston rod, wherein the piston rod comprises a threaded portion having a pitch thread from about 0.016 inch to about 0.025 inch.
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patent: 5268166 (199
Gaw Chinto Benjamin
Huang Chow-Chi
Khan Ayub Ibrahim
Leppla Jeffrey Keith
Evans Robin O.
Oney, Jr. Jack L.
Scherbel David A.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
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