GB2442795A

GB2442795A - Foil packs and dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2442795A
Application number: GB0620120A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Went
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-10-11
Filing date: 2006-10-11
Publication date: 2008-04-16
Also published as: GB0620120D0

Abstract

The dispenser comprises of a top lid, which is sprung in the open position by a spring around the shaft. The main base is supported at an angle. The foil pack is placed into the front of the dispenser as shown. The lid is then pushed shut until the tacky material makes contact with the foil. Now by letting the top lid up smoothly by the spring action the first foil is picked up, opened and slid partially forward out off the specially designed pack towards the operator ready for use.

Description

FOIL DISPENSER SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the dispensing of a single metal foil (J)aper or plastic film) from a purpose made package containing a predetermined number of foils made to order. Each simple operation of the dispenser will present each single foil, opened, in the correct orientation, for immediate use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The cosmetic industry performs hundreds of thousands of hair highlight procedures each year. The procedure requires that a hair stylist first group together a lock of hair intended to be coloured. The stylist then places around each grouped lock of hair a trimmed piece of metal foil and applies a colouring solution to the lock.

Depending on the customer's desired look, this may be completed by varying the colour concentrates applied to specific areas of the customer's hair.

Aluminium foil is used in the hair Industry for highlighting (tinting) hair. Foil is supplied to the industry in both sheets and/or roll formats. Ultimately foil rolls need to be converted into sheets such that they can be placed into the hair for such highlighting techniques. The conversion of roll foil typically occurs with some form of dispensing mechanism.

Currently, the process of colouring or highlighting hair is labour intensive and time consuming. The foil is thin and malleable and can be easily folded about the lock of hair. The stylist repeats this procedure until the desired amount of hair has been treated. Since both of the stylist's hands are occupied, to facilitate the colouring process, the stylist typically uses pre-cut pieces of metallic foil that have been trimmed to the appropriate lengths for the customer's hair.

To produce the pre-cut foil pieces, the stylist typically must trim the metallic foil from commercially available rolled material before beginning the colouring process.

Importantly, the stylist must correctly estimate the appropriate number and sizes of foil pieces needed to carry the colouring process through to completion. This sacrifices the stylist's ability to customize the size of the foil pieces for each particular application. In other instances, some salons hire assistants dedicated to tearing foil by hand during the colouring process. The preferred foil is aluminium and only 0.0005" which makes it very difficult to handle and keep flat. The above measures for pre-cutting foil are inefficient, expensive, and/or time consuming.

Thus, there is a need for an efficient and reliable way of providing the trimmed foil pieces for use in colouring and highlighting hair. There is also a need for a way of enabling a stylist to have customized sizes of the foil pieces to hand, as they are needed.

Dispensers hold foil rolls in place while the user pulls the loose end of foil such that the foil roll begins to unwind. Most dispensers have some type of cutting mechanism, such as a serrated edge that is used to cut or tear the foil into sheets of vaiying length, All of these still require some more folding or handling. There are many foil packs and dispensers but none of them present the operator with a single foil, which is easy to remove and completely ready to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the identified problems by providing a dispenser coupled together with a specially designed pack of plain, folded or folded and scored ready to use foils. The object to this invention is to present a foil to the operator's finger tips ready to use without any further work.

This device consists of foils in a pack designed to fit the dispenser. The dispenser, fitted with non-slip feet, sits on any worktop or surface and with a simple hand operation the dispenser picks the pre-folded foil, opens it in the correct orientation, and presents it to the operator's finger tips for immediate use.

The dispenser and foil pack can also be made to fix to ones belt or salon chair. The dispenser complete with foil pack can also be closed for storage or transported without damage to the foils remaining.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows side view of the dispenser with foil pack in place Figure 2 shows side view of the dispenser with the first foil picked from the pack Figure 3 shows the dispenser with a foil pack ready for use.

Figure 4 shows the dispenser with the first foil picked from the pack Figure 5 is of the special foil pack holder Figure 6 is how the foils will sit in the pack

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE iNVENTION

As shown in figure 3 the dispenser comprises of a top lid 2, which is sprung in the open position by a spring 9 around the shall 3. The main base I which may vary in length is supported at an angle by supports, this minimizes the ability for additional foils to inadvertently come out of the dispenser when the top foil is picked. The foil pack 4 is placed into the front of the dispenser as shown, and by means of a fold down lip on the foil container or clip the foil pack is located in the right position. The top lid 2 is then pushed shut until the pressure sensitive material 7 (which is backed onto a rubber pad 8 attached to the top lid 2) makes contact with the foil 5 from the pack.

Now by allowing the top lid 2, to return smoothly by the action of spring 9, the top most foil is picked up, opened and slid partially forward by means of the dispenser action and the specially designed pack 4 towards the operator ready for use as shown in figure 4.

Figure 4 shows the design of the special pack, which holds the pre-folded foils and allows the separation opening and sliding forward movement of the foil ready for use.

Claims

I. A portable dispenser comprising of a housing, a pack or stack of material secured in said housing which in one single hand operation will pick and deliver a single pre-cut and folded foil from a pack or stack to the operator for immediate use without any further operation.
2. A portable dispenser according to claim i, in which the top part of the dispenser is held open between 20 or 45 degrees by means of a torsion spring or bar.
3. A portable dispenser according to claim 1, in which the means of picking a single foil at each operation using pressure sensitive adhesive material.
4. A portable dispenser according to claim I, in which the housing can be shut and held closed for transporting of said dispenser and material.
5. A portable dispenser according to claim 1, in which a package system which will hold a number of pre-cut and folded foils of specific length so arranged to fit the above dispenser in claim 1 to facilitate the retrieval of a single foil open and ready for instant use.
6. A portable dispenser according to claim 1, in which the stand angles the dispenser at an angle to ensure that said packed or stacked material stays in the correct position.