EP1219202A1

EP1219202A1 - Dispenser for cosmetic products with promotional multimedia capabilities

Info

Publication number: EP1219202A1
Application number: EP00204629A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Reinier Frans Karel Van Assen
Original assignee: ASSEN REINIER FRANS KAREL VAN
Current assignee: ASSEN REINIER FRANS KAREL VAN
Priority date: 2000-12-19
Filing date: 2000-12-19
Publication date: 2002-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 2020-12-19
Also published as: DE60018088D1; DE60018088T2; ES2237384T3; ATE288691T1; EP1219202B1

Abstract

Device for dispensing doses of a cosmetic product like a perfume, eau de toilette, lotion, cream, shampoo, skin oil or the like. This device comprises electronic means suitable for presenting audible, visual or audiovisual messages to users of the device and to persons in the direct vicinity of the device, to commercially promote the cosmetic product and/or the product brand and/or the product manufacturer.

This device can also comprise electronic means to provide appropriate electronic signals to control certain functions of the device. These electronic means could be suitable for storing said audible, visual or audiovisual messages in electronic form.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

The invention relates to a device for dispensing doses of a cosmetic product like a perfume, eau de toilette, lotion, cream, shampoo, skin oil or the like. More particularly the invention relates to a device for dispensing a cosmetic product which comprises electronic means suitable for presenting an audible, visual or audiovisual message to users of the device and to persons in the direct vicinity of the device, to commercially promote the cosmetic product and/or the product brand and/or the product manufacturer.

2. Brief description of the prior art

At present the market for cosmetic products is highly competitive and manufacturers devote large budgets to the development and marketing of new product lines. To overcome the fact that, for instance, the preference for a specific perfume scent is inherently personal the cosmetics industry aims at creating marketing "life-style" images around their products which should appeal to an entire group of potential buyers that can or want to identify with this life-style. These marketing "life-style" images are mainly conveyed to the public by media advertizing campaigns. These however do not bring potential buyers into direct contact with the actual product scent or feel. This can be an important drawback for effective promotion of a cosmetic product.
Traditionally perfumes are promoted to the public with the use of promotional shop displays with a number of test spray bottles. People can usually handle these bottles themselves to apply a dose of the perfume and experience its scent. This approach has however proven to be impractical because of the high risk of the bottles being stolen and the risks of damage to clothing or even personal health when people are using such spray bottles in an often crowded shopping space. The display for testing spray cosmetics described in US Patent document 5,829,642 seeks to remedy some of these drawbacks by placing the actual test bottle behind a panel to make it unaccessible to a user. By pressing a lever one can actuate a dispensing mechanism and receive a dose of perfume. To provide the public with a visual impression of the actual product, a dummy bottle is placed in front of said panel and attached to it. Because of its construction the use of this spray cosmetics testing device is however mainly limited to use in shop displays. The device is unsuitable for use as an unattended stand-alone unit. In addition to this comes the fact that this traditional kind of testing and promotion of mainly perfumes is not suitable for pasty or oily cosmetic substances like creams, skin oils or shampoos because it is impracticable to apply these products in a shop for obvious reasons.
An effective way to bring the public into contact with the actual cosmetic product is to bring the product to public locations where there is a need for it and where the product can be used and tested in a more or less private manner. Such locations are for instance rest rooms and locker rooms in hotels, saunas, health and fitness clubs etcetera. Cosmetic products like creams, shampoos and skin oils for professional use in these environments are often sold in bottles, jars or other disposable containers. These low-cost containers are often produced in large quantities and offer poor possibilities for effective promotion of the product line or for conveying a marketing life-style image to a user. The use of dispensers can be a remedy to some of these drawbacks. From the prior art a large number of dispensers for cosmetic products is known. For instance the US Patent document 5,941,426 describes a refillable liquid dispensing device that can be used with only one hand. This kind of dispensing devices is however mainly suited for domestic and simple professional uses, because these devices generally are not theft and vandalism resistant and thus not suited for use in unattended public places. Most known dispensers that are specifically suited for heavy use at locations where there is a considerable risk of theft or vandalism, are simple robust constructions that look unappealing and lack possibilities for effectively promoting the product to be dispensed and for creating the right incentive for a user to buy and use the product afterwards.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to solve the above stated problems with the prior art. This is accomplished by providing a device for dispensing doses of a cosmetic product like a perfume, eau de toilette, lotion, cream, shampoo, skin oil or the like, which comprises electronic means suitable for presenting an audible, visual or audiovisual message to users of the device and to persons in the direct vicinity of the device, to commercially promote the cosmetic product and/or the product brand and/or the product manufacturer. Preferably the device according to the invention comprises electronic means to provide appropriate electronic signals to control certain functions of the device. For this purpose a microcontroller could be used. An EEPROM (Electrical Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) could be used to store said audible, visual or audiovisual messages in electronic form.
In a preferred embodiment the device according to the invention comprises:

a back-plate;
an internal unit that can be attached to said back-plate, comprising at least a suitable container for the cosmetic product to be dispensed, an outlet or nozzle to transport said cosmetic product to the exterior of the device, means connecting said container to said outlet or nozzle enabling passage of predefined doses of the cosmetic product and means by which a user can actuate the device to dispense a dose of the cosmetic product;
a cover attachable tot said back-plate, shielding the internal unit and protecting it against unauthorized access and vandalism, with suitable openings to enable a user of the device to reach said actuating means and said outlet or nozzle. The cover could preferably be attached to the back-plate by employing a locking mechanism operated by a key.

According to a first embodiment said back-plate of the device can be attached to a wall with the use of commonly known means of attachment.
In another embodiment the device according to the present invention is provided with a support at the lower end so that the device can stand alone.
Furthermore it is an object of the invention to provide a modular device that can be converted to dispense a different product by simply exchanging the internal unit of the device. This provides to manufacturers of cosmetic products a uniform way of letting the public experience different products of their product line.
The device according to the invention can be equipped with electronic means that can detect the presence of a user's hand in a specific zone in the direct vicinity of said outlet or nozzle of the device. Upon this detection said electronic means actuate the device to dispense a dose of said cosmetic product.
Preferably the placement of said outlet or nozzle of the device and the placement of said actuating means enable delivery of doses of the cosmetic product in a downward direction, in or onto the hand of a user. In this way the risks of damage to clothing or, for instance, the eyes of a user or another person in the vicinity of the device, are minimized.
Said cover of the device may comprise an area that is transparent for light and located at a position that is visible to a user of the device. Behind this transparent area a promotional picture could be placed, or for instance an electronic display screen. When said promotional picture is itself transparent, the device according to the invention preferably comprises an internal light source. This light source can be placed behind said transparent area of the device cover to create an appealing visual effect and draw attention to the cosmetic product.
In another embodiment of the device according to the invention an electronic display screen is attached in or on said cover of the device, at a position that is visible to a user of the device. This display screen is preferably suitable for displaying static or moving images and could be succesfully implemented in the form of a L.C.D. (Liquid Crystal Display) or T.F.T. (Thin Film Transistor) screen, although every screen of a suitable type can be used.
In yet another embodiment of the device according to the invention the device comprises means able to detect insertion of a predetermined payment unit, after which the device is enabled to dispense a dose of said cosmetic product. Said payment unit could be a coin, but also an electronic medium like a chipcard.
To supply electricity to electronic means in or attached to the device, the device according to the present invention is preferably equipped with a battery of suitable type.
Electronic means in or attached to the device according to the invention are to be sufficiently shielded from a user to prevent electric shock or electrocution and shall comply with at least the minimum required local safety standards.
To conserve energy and extend battery usage the device according to the present invention may comprise electronic means to detect a predefined condition in its vicinity, to which it reacts by switching off or on (part of) its electronic functions. Said condition in the vicinity of the device could be for instance the switching off of lights in the room where the device is located, or the fact that the device has not been used for a specific period of time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail according to preferred but non-limiting embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention;
FIG. 1B is a front view of a first preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention;
FIG. 1C is a side view of a first preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention;
FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention;
FIG. 2B is a side view of a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention;
FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the device according to the present invention;
FIG. 3B is a side view of a third embodiment of the device according to the present invention.
It should be noted that in the accompanying drawings identical or similar parts have been given the same numerical reference.

MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG.1A there is shown a first preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention comprising a cover 1 shielding the inner parts of the device and protecting the device against unauthorized access and vandalism. Said cover 1 can be attached to a back-plate with side-walls 2 and locked into place with the use of a locking mechanism (not shown) operatable by a key that is to be inserted in keyhole 3. At the lower end cover 1 contains an opening of suitable width to enable a user to operate a lever 5 which actuates the device to dispense a dose of a cosmetic product into the user's hand through an outlet or nozzle 4. Cover 1 further comprises a transparent area 6 behind which an electronic display screen is located. The transparent part 6 of cover 1 is made of a material of sufficient strength and thickness to protect said display screen from vandalism and other outside influences that may damage the screen.
FIG. 2A shows a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention. In this embodiment the device is mounted on a support 7 by attaching back-plate 2 of the device to back-plate 8 of the support. This attachment can be accomplished with means or techniques known to a skilled professional and should prevent separation of the device from the support by an unauthorized person. The support 7 is manufactured of a suitable material and has a sufficient weight to provide a construction that is mechanically stable under normal usage conditions.
FIG. 3A shows an embodiment of the device according to the present invention in which the transparent area 6 of cover 1 is flat instead of curved. In some cases this can be advantageous to the image quality of the electronic display screen that is located behind said transparent area 6. Although FIG. 3A and 3B show the device according to the invention mounted on a support it should be clear to the reader that this is not a limiting feature and that, for instance, attachment to a wall is equally possible. In addition to this it should be noted that a parameter like the curvature or angle of area 6 of cover 1 can be modified to provide optimum image quality of the electronic display screen under different usage conditions, but is in no way limiting to application of the device according to the present invention.

Claims

Device for dispensing doses of a cosmetic product like a perfume, eau de toilette, lotion, cream, shampoo, skin oil or the like, characterized by the fact that said device comprises electronic means suitable for presenting audible, visual or audiovisual messages to users of the device and to persons in the direct vicinity of the device, to commercially promote the cosmetic product and/or the product brand and/or the product manufacturer.
Device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the device comprises electronic means to provide appropriate electronic signals to control certain functions of the device.
Device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the device comprises electronic means suitable for storing said audible, visual or audiovisual messages in electronic form.
Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the device comprises

a back-plate;

an internal unit that can be attached to said back-plate, comprising at least a suitable container for the cosmetic product to be dispensed, an outlet or nozzle to transport said cosmetic product to the exterior of the device, means connecting said container to said outlet or nozzle enabling passage of predefined doses of the cosmetic product and means by which a user can actuate the device to dispense a dose of the cosmetic product;

a cover attachable tot said back-plate, shielding the internal unit and protecting it against unauthorized access and vandalism, with suitable openings to enable a user of the device to reach said actuating means and said outlet or nozzle.
Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said back-plate can be attached to a wall with the use of commonly known means of attachment.
Device according to one or more of the claims 1-4, characterized by the fact that the device is provided with a support at the lower end so that it can stand alone.
Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the device can be converted from a dispenser for one cosmetic product to a dispenser for another cosmetic product by removing said cover and exchanging said modular internal unit.
Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the device is actuated to dispense a dose of said cosmetic product by electronic detection of the presence of a user's hand in a specific zone in the direct vicinity of said outlet or nozzle.
Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the placements of said actuating means and said outlet or nozzle enable delivery of a dose of the cosmetic product in a downward direction in or onto the hand of a user.
Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said cover comprises an area that is transparent for light and located at a position that is visible to a user of the device.
Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the device comprises an internal light source.
Device according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that an electronic display screen is attached in or on said cover at a position that is visible to a user of the device.
Device according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that said electronic display screen is suitable for displaying static or moving images.
Device according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that said display screen is of the L.C.D. (Liquid Cristal Display) type.
Device according to claim 12, chatracterized by the fact that said display screen is of the T.F.T. (Thin Film Transistor Type).
Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the device comprises means able to detect insertion of a predetermined payment unit, after which the device is enabled to dispense a dose of said cosmetic product.
Device according to claim 16, characterized by the fact that said payment unit is a chipcard.
Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the device comprises a battery to supply electricity to electronic means in or attached to the device.
Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that any electronic means in or attached to the device are sufficiently shielded from a user to prevent electric shock or electrocution and to comply with at least the minimum required local safety standards.
Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the device comprises electronic means to detect a predefined condition in its vicinity to which it reacts by switching off or on (part of) its electronic functions with the aim to conserve energy and extend battery usage.