DEVICE FOR SEPARATELY DISPENSING MATERIALS FOR USE TOGETHER ON HUMAN SKIN
20190166976 ยท 2019-06-06
Inventors
Cpc classification
A61Q17/04
HUMAN NECESSITIES
B65D51/28
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
A61K2800/45
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A45D34/06
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A45D34/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A45D2200/055
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A45D34/04
HUMAN NECESSITIES
B65D51/18
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
A61M35/003
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
A45D34/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61M35/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A45D34/04
HUMAN NECESSITIES
B65D51/18
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D51/28
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
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.
Claims
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; 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 dispensible from said container; a middle section hinged to said base, said middle section serving as a first flip-top lid for said container; and a top section hinged to said middle section, said middle section and said top section cooperating to define a secondary chamber for containing a secondary material, and said top section serving as a second flip-top lid for said secondary chamber.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein: said primary chamber contains a primary material and said primary material is a sunscreen; and said secondary chamber contains a secondary material and said secondary material is a UV indicator for use with said sunscreen to indicate effectiveness of said sunscreen.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein said secondary chamber contains an applicator for applying said secondary material to human skin.
4. The device of claim 3 wherein said applicator is a stamp.
5. The device of claim 2 wherein said sunscreen is a fluid and said UV indicator is a fluid.
6. The device of claim 2 wherein said sunscreen is selected from the group consisting of cream, lotion, gel, liquid and balm.
7. The device of claim 2 wherein said UV indicator is an ink.
8. The device of claim 2 wherein said UV indicator comprises a photochromic material that changes color upon exposure to UV radiation.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein said base comprises a nozzle having an aperture via which said primary material is dispensible from said primary chamber.
10. The device of claim 1 wherein said container is a flexible tube or a bottle.
11. The device of claim 1 wherein said container is made of plastic or metal, and said double flip-top cap is made of plastic.
12. 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.
13. The device of claim 1, further comprising: an ink well recess disposed in the middle section, the ink well recess sized and shaped to include a secondary material.
14. A device for containing and separately dispensing two materials for use on human skin comprises: a container defining a primary chamber for containing a primary material, said container comprising an opening; 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 primary material is dispensible from said container; a middle section removeably attached to said base to close off and provide access to said primary chamber; a top section removeably attached to said middle section to close off or provide access to a secondary chamber defined by said top section and said middle section, said secondary chamber for containing a secondary material.
15. The device of claim 14 wherein said middle section is removeably attached to said base by a snap-fit or screw thread fastening mechanism, and said top section is removeably attached to said middle section by a snap-fit or screw thread fastening mechanism.
16. The device of claim 14 wherein: said primary chamber contains a primary material and said primary material is a sunscreen; and said secondary chamber contains a secondary material and said secondary material is a UV indicator for use with said sunscreen to indicate effectiveness of said sunscreen.
17. The device of claim 14 wherein said secondary chamber contains an applicator for applying said secondary material to human skin.
18. The device of claim 17 wherein said applicator is a stamp.
19. The device of claim 16 wherein said sunscreen is a fluid and said UV indicator is a fluid.
20. The device of claim 19 wherein said sunscreen is selected from the group consisting of cream, lotion, gel, liquid and balm.
21. The device of claim 19 wherein said UV indicator is an ink.
22. The device of claim 19 wherein said UV indicator comprises a photochromic material that changes color upon exposure to UV radiation.
23. The device of claim 14 wherein said base comprises a nozzle having an aperture via which said primary material is dispensible from said primary chamber.
24. The device of claim 14 wherein said container is a flexible tube or a bottle.
25. The device of claim 14 wherein said container is made of plastic or metal, and said dual cap assembly is made of plastic.
26. The device of claim 14, further comprising: an ink well recess disposed in the middle section, the ink well recess sized and shaped to include the secondary material.
27. A device for containing and separately dispensing two materials for use on human skin comprises a primary chamber containing a sunscreen and a secondary chamber containing a UV indicator for use with said sunscreen to indicate effectiveness of said sunscreen.
28. A method of dispensing two materials for application to human skin comprises: obtaining a device having a container defining a primary chamber containing sunscreen and a double flip-top cap mounted to said container, said double flip-top cap comprising: a base via which said double flip-top cap is mounted to said container; a middle section hinged to said base; a top section hinged to said middle section, said top section and said middle section cooperating to define a secondary chamber containing a UV indicator; said method further comprising: flipping open said hinged top section of said double flip-top cap to provide access to said secondary chamber; dispensing and applying a quantity of said UV indicator from said secondary chamber 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 sunscreen from said primary chamber via said base and applying it over said UV indicator applied to said first portion of skin and to a second portion of the skin of said user; closing said hinged middle section of said double flip-top cap.
29. A method of dispensing two materials for application to human skin comprises: obtaining a device comprising a container defining a primary chamber containing sunscreen and a dual cap assembly mounted to said container, said dual cap assembly comprising: a base via which said dual cap assembly is mounted to said container; a middle section removeably attached to said base; a top section removeably attached to said middle section, said top section and said middle section cooperating to define a secondary chamber containing a UV indicator; said method further comprising: separating said top section of said dual cap assembly from said middle section to provide access to said secondary chamber; dispensing and applying a quantity of said UV indicator from said secondary chamber to a first portion of the skin of a user; re-attaching said top section of said dual cap assembly to close off said secondary chamber; 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 applied to said first portion of skin and to a second portion of the skin of said user; re-attaching said middle section of said dual cap assembly to said base to close off said primary chamber.
30. A method of dispensing two materials for application to human skin comprises: obtaining a device having a primary chamber containing a sunscreen and a secondary chamber containing a UV indicator; opening said secondary chamber; dispensing and applying a quantity of said UV indicator from said secondary chamber to a first portion of the skin of a user; closing said secondary chamber; opening said primary chamber; dispensing a quantity of sunscreen from said primary container and applying it over said UV indicator applied on said first portion of skin, and to a second portion of the skin of said user; and closing said primary chamber.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016]
[0017]
[0018]
[0019]
[0020]
[0021]
[0022]
[0023]
[0024]
[0025]
[0026]
[0027] Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] As used herein, the term sunscreen includes materials sold for use on human skin to reduce exposure of the skin to UV radiation and protect exposed skin from sunburn, for example, by absorbing, scattering and/or blocking UV radiation. Sunscreens include fluids such as creams, lotions, liquids, gels, sprays and balms, and include solids such as powders.
[0029] As used herein, the term UV indicator refers to materials comprising one or more types of photochromic molecules that change color when exposed to UV radiation. The color change is preferably reversible, but in some embodiments is irreversible. UV indicators can include fluids such as solutions, suspensions, inks or gels comprising photochromic molecules, or solids such as powders comprising photochromic molecules.
[0030] Referring to
[0031] Double flip-top cap 12 comprises a base 32 via which it is mounted to container 14 and via which sunscreen 58 is dispensed. A middle section 30 of cap 12 is hinged to base 32 and serves as a flip-top lid or closure for container 14 for closing off and providing access to the primary chamber. A top section 24 of cap 12 is hinged to middle section 30. Middle section 30 and top section 24 cooperate to define a secondary chamber containing an indicator (as shown in further detail in reference to
[0032] A primary material, such as sunscreen 58 can be dispensed from within container 14 via base 32 when middle section 30, serving as a flip-top lid, is opened. When middle section is in a closed position, as shown in
[0033]
[0034]
[0035]
[0036] In some embodiments the stamp and/or ink pad are readily removable so that they can be replaced or refilled. In some embodiments recesses 48 and 54 are different sizes or depths, and in some embodiments there is a recess in only one of the top section 24 or middle section 30.
[0037] A gasket or other suitable sealing mechanism (not shown) can be used to substantially seal secondary chamber 56 when top section 24 is in a closed position with respect to middle section 30, so that secondary material (such as a UV indicator) does not leak from secondary chamber 56, and so that there is less tendency for stamp 50 and/or an ink pad (if present) in the secondary chamber to dry out.
[0038]
[0039] A method of use of device 10 having double flip-top cap 12 such as shown in
[0040] The double flip-top cap as shown above has two hinged sections. Other suitable mechanisms may be used for removeably attaching or fastening various sections of a cap assembly to one another. The cap can comprise snap-fit, push-on or screw-on sections or a combination of attachment mechanisms. For example, in some embodiments one or both hinges 34 and 36 are omitted, and middle section 30 removeably snap-fits to base 32 and/or top section 24 removeably snap-fits to middle section 30 (such as shown in
[0041] Thus, double flip-top cap 12 illustrated in
[0042] Some alternative embodiments of devices for storing and separately dispensing a sunscreen and a UV indicator are illustrated in
[0043] In the embodiment shown in
[0044] In the embodiment shown in
[0045]
[0046]
[0047]
[0048] In this embodiment of the double flip-top cap 1112, a self-inking UV applicator 1150, e.g., a foam stamp, is positioned in the recess 1148 of the middle section 1130, with an upper portion protruding outwardly from the recess 1148 of the middle section 1130 and into the recess 1154 of the top section 1124. A lower side of the self-inking UV applicator 1150 is positioned adjacent to the ink well recess 1144 and is in fluid communication with the ink well recess 1144. Providing an ink well recess 1144 in fluid communication with the UV applicator 1150 allows the UV applicator 1150 to become re-saturated between uses and provides a metered volume of ink. The metered volume of ink material generally results in a relatively consistent thickness of the ink layer deposited on the skin of the user, which positively contributes to a perceived depth of color change when the UV indicator ink, e.g., photochromic dye, is exposed to UV radiation. For example, the protrusion of the UV applicator 1150 above a rim of the middle section 1130 can result, upon re-saturation of the UV applicator 1150 and a standardized compression of the UV applicator 1150, in deposition of approximately similar amounts of ink.
[0049] Moreover, the positioning of the self-inking UV applicator 1150 adjacent to the ink well recess 1144 and in fluid communication with the UV indicator ink disposed therein allows for re-saturation of the self-inking UV applicator 1150. For instance, the ink well recess 1144 and the self-inking UV applicator are sized and shaped to allow capillary forces to pull or draw the UV indicator ink disposed in the ink well recess 1144 toward the self-inking UV applicator 1150 to re-saturate the UV applicator 1150. In some instances, the re-saturation of the UV applicator 1150 via capillary forces can work in tandem with gravitational forces. For instance, when a device having the double flip-top cap 1112 coupled to a container is positioned with an exterior surface of the top section 1124 facing or abutting a horizontal or an inclined surface, the gravitational forces along with the capillary forces can direct or draw the UV indicator ink toward the UV applicator 1150 and re-saturate the UV applicator 1150. In some instances, when the device is positioned on a horizontal or an inclined surface such that a right side or a left side of the device is facing or abutting the horizontal or the inclined surface, the gravitational forces along with the capillary forces can direct or draw the UV indicator ink toward the UV applicator 1150 and re-saturate the UV applicator 1150. Again, providing the ink well recess 1144 and positioning the ink well recess 1144 adjacent to the UV applicator 1150 in this manner advantageously allows for re-saturation of the UV applicator 1150 which, in conjunction with the UV applicator 1150 extending above the rim of the middle section 1130 and compressed a standardized amount when pressed against the user's skin (contact with the upper rim of middle section 1130 with the user's skin determining the amount of compression), allows for a relatively consistent metering of the ink layer deposited on the skin of the user between uses and through the lifecycle of the device.
[0050] Moreover, the self-inking UV applicator 1150 described above can be provided in a wide variety of devices. For example, the device 614 illustrated in
[0051]
[0052] Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
[0053] The various implementations, examples, and embodiments described above can be combined to provide further implementations, examples, and embodiments respectively. To the extent that they are not inconsistent with the specific teachings and definitions herein, all of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet are incorporated herein by reference, including but not limited to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/338,235 filed May 18, 2016.