WO2024155989A1

WO2024155989A1 - Apparatus and method for dispensing using an actuatable container

Info

Publication number: WO2024155989A1
Application number: PCT/US2024/012392
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jon Austin LUBOW; Brendon Thomas Jackson; Caio Cesar Rodrigues Mucchiani; Marlo Leigh Kravetsky; Louis John LUBOW
Original assignee: Thrivo Technologies Inc.
Priority date: 2023-01-20
Filing date: 2024-01-22
Publication date: 2024-07-25

Abstract

The disclosure pertains to an actuatable container comprising a top portion and a bottom portion configured to be selectively coupled to the top portion. When coupled, the bottom portion and the top portion are substantially sealed therebetween. The top portion has at a first end thereof, an outflow valve and a coupling mechanism to selectively couple said outflow valve to a vessel. The outflow valve is configured to selectively dispense a substance contained within said vessel. The bottom portion has an inlet valve to facilitate the pressurization of the interior of the actuatable container.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING USING AN ACTUATABLE CONTAINER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The disclosure pertains to an apparatus and method for dispensing liquids or other substances out of an actuatable container. More particularly, the disclosure pertains to an apparatus and method for dispensing liquids or other substances out of an actuatable container through applied internal or external forces from secondary containers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] There are limited options for refillable pressurized dispensing apparatus. There are some devices that allow for aerosol dispensing which have an outer rigid canister and internal bag, which contains the contents for dispensing. This bag cannot be removed, and the entire canister cannot be repressurized as there is no access to the interior of the canister once it is filled. This device is not designed for reuse and to dispense from consumer packaging. This device is designed for one use and is disposed once the contents are exhausted. There remains a need for a refillable pressurized canister. In particular, there is a need for a refillable pressurized canister which is configured to cooperated with commercial packaging.

[0003] One field in which such a reusable pressurized canister would be helpful, is in hair color. For example, in automated hair colour dispensing apparatuses such as that disclosed in United States Patent Application Number 16/242,408, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, pressurized canisters are used to facilitate dispensing of hair color.

Currently, the hair color dispensing machine requires either special pressurized canister containing hair color, or the salon is required to manually squeeze the hair colour into a custom canister designed for use with the particular dispensing machine. Manually filling custom canisters is inaccurate, messy, and wasteful. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] One embodiment pertains to an actuatable container comprising a top portion and a bottom portion configured to be selectively coupled to the top portion. When coupled, the bottom portion and the top portion are substantially sealed therebetween. The top portion has at a first end thereof, an outflow valve and a coupling mechanism to selectively couple said outflow valve to a vessel. The outflow valve is configured to selectively dispense a substance contained within said vessel. The bottom portion has an inlet valve to facilitate the pressurization of the interior of the actuatable container.

[0005] In a further embodiment the inlet valve is a Schrader valve.

[0006] In yet a further embodiment the inlet valve is a two-way valve.

[0007] In yet a further embodiment, the actuatable container further comprises a flow rate sensor coupled to the outflow valve to measure the amount of substance dispensed.

[0008] In yet a further embodiment container is configured to communicate with an external computing system to track the amount of substance dispensed or remaining in the container.

[0009] In yet a further embodiment the bottom portion has a bottom surface which is concave.

[0010] In yet a further embodiment, the actuatable container further comprises a safety coupling mechanism to couple said top portion to said bottom portion.

[0011] In yet a further embodiment, the safety coupling mechanism is automatically engaged upon pressurization of the canister.

[0012] In yet a further embodiment, the coupling mechanism is configured for coupling a non-rigid tube to the top portion.

[0013] In yet a further embodiment, the coupling mechanism is a screw mechanism sized to mate with standard hair colour tubes.

[0014] Another embodiment pertains to an apparatus for creating color solution comprising a memory unit from which is obtained color shade solution values corresponding to respectively different color shade solutions and color shade quantity values corresponding to respectively different amounts of the respective color shade solutions, a mapping unit for mapping each of the received color shade solution values to respectively different physical locations where the respective color shade solutions are stored in respectively different containers and wherein the containers are the actuatable container of claim 1, an actuator for releasing into a mixing container more than one of the respective color shade solutions in the respective amounts from the respectively different actuatable containers based on the received color shade solution values and the received color shade quantity values and the mapping, and at least one further actuator or motor that when energized moves at least one of the different actuatable containers containing the respectively different color shade solutions and the mixing container towards each other based on the mapping in order to combine ones of the respectively different color shade solutions that correspond to ones of the color shade solution values obtained from the memory.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The features of the invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein:

[0016] Figure 1 is a front view of the actuatable container;

[0017] Figure 2 is a cross section of the actuatable container;

[0018] Figure 3 is a cross section of the actuatable container with a vessel coupled therein;

[0019] Figure 4 is a front view of the actuatable container with a flow rate sensor;

[0020] Figure 5 is a cross section of the actuatable container with a concave bottom with a vessel coupled therein;

[0021] Figure 6 is a front view of the actuatable container coupled with a pressurization apparatus;

[0022] Figure 7 is a flow chart of the method of assembly and pressurization of the canister; [0023] Figure 8 is perspective view of a hair color dispensing apparatus containing the actuatable container;

[0024] Figure 9 is perspective view of a second hair color dispensing apparatus containing the actuatable container;

[0025] Figure 10 is perspective view of a hair color dispensing apparatus with partial cut out to show the actuatable containers therein; and

[0026] Figure 11 is a perspective view of an example actuator assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Figure 1 depicts a front view of the actuatable container 2. In a preferred embodiment, the container is comprised of two sections, a top portion 4 and a bottom portion 6. The top portion 4 and bottom porting 6 are configured to be connected by a connecting mechanism 8. While figures 2 and 3 show the connecting mechanism 8 to be a screw mechanism, it can be appreciated that other mechanisms would be known to a person skilled in the art. In one embodiment, the connecting mechanism is two-part connector with the first connector part 10 coupled with the top portion 4 and the second connector part 12 coupled to the bottom portion 6.

[0028] In one embodiment, the top portion 4 is a rigid or semi-rigid cylinder 14 with an opening on one or both ends. While the preferred shape is a cylinder, it can be appreciated that other elongated shapes could also be used. One end of the cylinder is configured with a cap 16. This cap 16 can be separate from, integrated with, or otherwise coupled to a valve 18 or alternative mechanism for regulating the flow of a substance. The valve 18 works in combination with nozzle 17 to selectively dispense a substance. In one embodiment the valve is an aerosol style valve, however alternative valve styles would be known to a person skilled in the art. Alternatively, a simple mechanism can be used to turn on and off or similarly modulate the flow of any containable substance.

[0029] The valve 18 is configured to be coupled to a vessel (shown as 22 in figure 3) by means of an attachment arrangement 20. The attachment arrangement 20 can be integrally formed with the valve structure 16 or otherwise coupled thereto. For example, the attachment arrangement 20 could be, but not limited to, a threading, a latch, magnetic, adhesion, friction fit, or any other type of attachment that creates a firm and generally sealed bond between the separate vessel and the valve 16 to not create substantial leakage of the contained substance. In one embodiment, a pointed tip is incorporated into the attachment arrangement 20 to pierce any kind of foil seal closing the opening of the package.

[0030] The actuatable container 2 can be configured to accommodate various styles of vessels 22. In one embodiment, the vessel 22 is a non-rigid style tube. However other examples of vessels 22 include, but are not limited to semi-rigid or non-rigid style containers, collapsible tubes, bottles, bags, etc.

[0031] The top portion 4 of the actuatable container is detachably coupled to the bottom portion 6 with a cap 26 or other suitable mechanism for closing the cylinder 14. In one embodiment the bottom portion 6 and cap 26 are integrally formed. As stated above, a connecting mechanism 8 is preferably a screw mechanism, however it can be appreciated that the tube 14 can be coupled to the bottom portion 6 in a plethora of ways including but not limited to, threaded, latched, friction fit, pressure fit, magnetic, etc. The attachment method is generally sealed to avoid leakage of any substance contained within the cylinder 14. The bottom portion 6 further comprises an inlet valve 24 for allowing pressurized gases to be pumped into the cylinder 14 when the top portion and bottom portion are coupled. While many styles of inlet valves could be used, in the preferred embodiment, a Schrader-style valve is used. In one embodiment, the inlet valve 24 can be a two-way valve, both letting pressurized gas into the cylinder or allowing an actuated release of pressure from the cylinder. In this embodiment the pressure is only released under controlled conditions, for example, a force being applied for pressure relief, under actuator control, when the proper pressure conditions are met, or upon electromechanical valve release. While this valve is shown to extend outwardly from the bottom portion 6, it can be appreciated that in another embodiment, the valve could be flush with the bottom portion 6 or the bottom could be a concave bottom 60 to allow for the valve 24 to extend outwardly from the concave bottom 60. This allows the canister to stand upright and accommodate an outwardly extending valve (see shown in Figure 5).

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, while the interior of the cylinder 14 is at a higher pressure than the ambient environment, a safety mechanism is activated to latch or otherwise secure the top portion 4 to the bottom portion 6. The safety mechanism prevents the intended or unintended separation of the top portion 4 and bottom portion 6 while the actuatable container 2 is holding pressure. The use of a safety mechanism avoids potentially releasing the pressure in a sudden manner or causing, among other things, loss of effectiveness of the dispensing of the contents, or the unintended acceleration of loose components of the apparatus causing them to become projectiles. In the preferred embodiment the safety mechanism will unlock or unsecure when a user (or an automated process) releases the pressure back to the atmospheric pressure through a generally accepted pressure relief technique, such as releasing, opening, or actuating the valve used to input the pressurized gases. Alternatively, the pressure relief can be achieved using a dedicated relief valve, a controlled slow relief out of a carefully determined separation between the top portion 4 and bottom portion 6 (still mechanically attached), a mechanical or electronically activated pulling out of the cylinder through the valve.

[0033] When in use, a user disconnects the bottom portion 6 from the top portion 4, couples their chosen vessel 22 to the top portion 4 via the attachment arrangement 20 and then couples the bottom portion 6 back to the top portion 4 (see figure. 7) The user then pressurizes the actuatable container 2, preferably using compressed gas, through the inlet valve 24. As shown in Figure 6, in one embodiment, the canister inflow pressurization valve is mated to a valve attachment 66 of a pump 68. The valve attachment 66, in one embodiment, is configured at one end of a hose 70 which is coupled to a pump 68 at the second end thereof. Alternatively, the valve attachment is integrated into a canister docking station which is also coupled to a pump or a compressed gas vessel. The pump or compressed gas vessel pressurizes the canister with pressurized gas to a pressure as needed based on the viscosity of the liquid within the vessel 22 and the desired flow rate. The pressurization pump or compressed gas vessel, in a preferred embodiment, includes a pressure meter and/or pressure sensors to pressurize the canister to a specific PSI target. In a further embodiment, the pressure is held at that target pressure while the valve attachment is mated to the canister. Additionally, the pressurization device or an alternative tool known to a person skilled in the art, further acts to depressurize the canisters. Depressurizing of a canister would be utilized for one of at least, but not limited to, two reasons; 1) to replace the enclosed vessel 22 with a new full vessel 22 by allowing for the canister to be opened in a safe and easy manner, and 2) to immediately cease or slow the dispensing/outflow of the contents when an outflow check value is utilized on the canister. [0034] The pressure surrounds the vessel 22 and pressurized the same such that when the valve 18 is activated the contents of the vessel 22 are dispensed. When the contents of the interior container have been exhausted, the higher pressure inside the canister 2 is released, and the bottom portion 6 can be separated from the top portion 4. The empty interior container is then replaced with a full one, and the top portion 4 and bottom portion 6 are reattached. Then an amount of pressurized gas or other substance is once again added to the interior of actuatable container 2, which locks the top portion 4 and bottom portion 6 together. The replaced new vessel 22 is then ready for disbursement and the cycle can repeat again.

[0035] In a further embodiment, the actuatable container can be configured with some type of "tag." The tag may take various forms including, but not limited to, RFID, an optical form such as a barcode or a smart chip for connection to a processing unit. The tag (physical, optical, electrical, etc.) can be used to indicate if an actuatable container 2 and the contents thereof is permissible for a given use. It could be further used to indicate the contents of the vessel 22 inserted therein.

[0036] In another embodiment, the valve 18 of the canister includes a flow rate sensor 52 (shown in Figure 4). In a preferred embodiment, the flow rate sensor 52 is configured to measure the amount of product dispensed from the canister. The canister is then configured to connect with a program or application on a computer or mobile device to track the amount of product remaining in the canister. As can be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, the program or application can be integrated with an ordering platform to automatically order more product when the contents of the canister reach a predetermined level.

[0037] In yet a further embodiment, the canister 2 includes an internal scale. Each time the canister is placed upright on a surface, the scale measures the weight of the canister. The weight is then communicated to a program or application on a computer or mobile device. Using the known weight of the canister, the program or application can calculate the weight of the product left in the canister. The program or application can be further integrated with an ordering platform to automatically order more product when the contents of the canister reach a predetermined weight level.

[0038] As can be appreciated from the above disclosure, the canister can be used as a stand alone dispensing mechanism for many products contained in disposable packaging. For example, any products that come in deformable tubes, such as makeup, toothpaste, hair colour, lotions, food pastes, construction materials (such as adhesives, paints, etc.) or any other product packaged in deformable packaging, preferably tubes. However, in the preferred embodiment, the canisters are adapted for use with hair care products, particularly custom hair color dispensing apparatuses, as discussed below.

Example Application

[0039] This method and apparatus are particularly advantageous for use with hair care apparatuses such as that disclosed in United States Patent Application Number 16/242,408 (incorporated by reference herein) and described above. The integration of the actuatable container 2 into a custom hair color dispensing machine would simplify reloading of the color dispensing machine. The use of actuatable container 2 would allow for the salon to simply insert the pre-packaged tubes of hair products into the machine directly, eliminating the need for custom hair color packaging or manually fdling the canisters of the hair color dispensing machine.

[0040] Figure 8 depicts an exemplary apparatus 30 (as disclosed in United States Patent Application Number 16/242,408) for dispensing custom hair dye solution. The apparatus 30 comprises a plurality of actuatable containers 2, each containing hair dye solution or other substances used in hair care.

[0041] In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 8, actuatable container 2 are arranged in a matrix configuration, both next to each other and above each other in rack 36. Each actuatable container 2 includes a respectively different hair dye solution. Mixing bowl 34 is moved to certain ones of the actuatable containers 2, desired amounts of each actuatable container 2 are dispensed into the mixing bowl 34, and when all desired hair dye solutions (and optionally developer) have been dispensed into mixing bowl 34, the contents of mixing bowl are mixed and provided to a stylist, or, for example, the contents of mixing bowl are provided to a stylist for mixing (or further mixing). In one embodiment, mixing bowl 34 thus moves along horizontal rails 38 and vertical rails 32 so that it is in the vicinity of those actuatable containers 2 from which hair dye solution is to be dispensed.

[0042] In this embodiment, the actuatable container 2 is positioned in the rack 36 such that the nozzle 17 is positioned to facilitate dispensing into the mixing bowl 34. Using this method, the packaging from the manufacturer of the coloring will be inserted into the unpressurized actuatable container and screwed into the dispensing nozzle of the hair color dispensing machine. The other half of the canister will be screwed onto the front section that houses the nozzle and the now screwed on tube of color. Both halves would seal together and allow it to be pressurized. In one embodiment, air pump 33 is coupled to the canisters to pressurize the canister. This pressure would evenly crush the vessel 22 on the inside of the actuatable container 2 when the dispensing valve is actuated allowing a controllable flow of the hair coloring to be dispensed. When the vessel 22 on the inside of the actuatable container 2 has been exhausted, the operator can unscrew the two halves of the actuatable container 2 revealing the empty vessel 22 on the inside which can be removed and replaced with a full vessel 22.

[0043] In this embodiment, the actuatable container 2 function is twofold; one is to act as a storage device for the hair color and allow it to be dispensed evenly and second is to monitor the amount of color in the actuatable container at any time. The storage and dispensing functions will be accomplished through a combination of pressurized air and check valves.

[0044] Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the use of the canister in another hair colour dispensing apparatus 47. This embodiment utilizes a rotational design to position the canisters 49 above a mixing bowl 48 for dispensing. As depicted in Figure 10, canisters containing hair colour are mounted in a concentric pattern. Rotational motor 50 spins the canisters to position the canister containing the desired colour above the mixing bowl 48.

[0045] Figure 11 illustrates a dispensing apparatus 40 which could be integrated into any apparatus for dispensing. The dispensing apparatus 40 is configured to facilitate the contents of any actuatable container 2 to be dispensed into mixing bowl 34. In one exemplary embodiment, shown in Figure 11, the dispensing apparatus is an actuator assembly 40 which, when positioned adjacent to any actuatable container 2, applies pressure on the canister's valve 18 or nozzle 17, causing the valve to open and thus causing any hair dye solution stored in the actuatable container 2 under pressure to be dispensed into the mixing bowl 34. The actuator assembly 40 may be, for example one or more motorized linear actuators. Figure 11 illustrates linear actuators 42 on both side of pressing mechanism 44 that when pressed against the nozzle 17 of actuatable container 2 causes the contents of actuatable container 2 to be released under pressure. Pressing mechanism 44 includes opening 46 through which the contents of actuatable container 2 are released. Thus, energizing the motorized linear actuators 42 (or the two on both sides of the pressing mechanism shown in Figure 11) causes the pressing mechanism 44 to move toward the canister's valve, thus depressing the valve and permitting the contents of actuatable container 2 to discharge through opening 46. In another exemplary embodiment, the apparatus shown in Figure 11 provides pressurized gas (such as pressurized air). In this embodiment, a conduit is moved into position so that it engages gas inlet 24 (as shown in Figure 1), and after engaging gas inlet 24, pressurized gas is released into actuatable container 2 to cause hair dye solution to flow out of actuatable container 2 and into mixing bowl 34.

[0046] In a further exemplary embodiment, each actuatable container 2 (or one or more canisters 32) include some form of identification which may be used to determine whether actuatable container 2 may be used as a source of hair dye solution. As described above, the actuatable container 2 is given a "tag" such as RFID, or an optical form such as a barcode. Alternatively, the tag can be in a mechanical form, such that the mechanical shape needs to be a certain shape for actuatable container 2 to be considered a permissible source of hair dye solution. In the embodiment shown, for example, in Figure 8, each actuatable container 2 is stored in a respectively different location. One or more of those locations may include an exemplary apparatus which can evaluate the tag on the actuatable container 2 stored therein and subsequently determine whether the tag indicates that dispensing of hair dye solution from actuatable container 2 is permitted. Thus, for example, at each location where a different actuatable container 2 is included, there may be some type of sensor (e.g., an optical sensor) which evaluates a marking on actuatable container 2 and determines whether the marking indicates that the use of the contents of actuatable container 2 is permissible.

[0047] As outlined above, the tag can also be used to indicate the contents of actuatable container 2. In this matter, if it is desired to obtain hair dye solution of a specific color/shade from an actuatable container 2, the tag enables identification of where such a canister may be located.

[0048] To keeping track of how much color is currently in each actuatable container 2 and allowing certain actuatable container 2s to be stored in a rack from which the hair dye solutions are dispensed, a smart chip may be embedded into the latching mechanism that locks the actuatable container 2 into the rack. On the mount for each actuatable container 2 inside the rack there will be contacts to read the chip when the locking mechanism is fully engaged and the actuatable container 2 is in place. The mechanism that holds the actuatable container 2 in place may be for example, a plastic set of rails with a female rail on the actuatable container 2 and the male on the rack in the machine. The chip would be on the underside of the actuatable container 2 tucked up above the rails. To insert an actuatable container 2 into the rack, the user would depress a small tab on the front underside of the actuatable container 2 then slide the female rail into the male rail until the actuatable container 2 cannot be inserted any further and the user would then release the tab.

[0049] Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments, various modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as outlined in the claims appended hereto. The entire disclosures of all references recited above are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An actuatable container comprising: a top portion a bottom portion configured to be selectively coupled to the top portion; wherein, when coupled the bottom portion and the top portion are substantially sealed therebetween; said top portion having at a first end thereof, an outflow valve and a coupling mechanism to selectively couple said outflow valve to a vessel; said valve configured to selectively dispense a substance contained within said vessel; said bottom portion having an inlet valve to facilitate the pressurization of the interior of said actuatable container.

2. The actuatable container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inlet valve is a Schrader valve.

3. The actuatable container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inlet valve is a two-way valve.

4. The actuatable container as claimed in claims 1 further comprising a flow rate sensor coupled to the outflow valve to measure the amount of substance dispensed.

5. The actuatable container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container is configured to communicate with an external computing system to track the amount of substance dispensed or remaining in the container.

6. The actuatable container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bottom portion has a bottom surface which is concave.

7. The actuatable container as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a safety coupling mechanism to couple said top portion to said bottom portion.

8. The actuatable container as claimed in claim 8 wherein the safety coupling mechanism is automatically engaged upon pressurization of the canister. 9. The actuatable container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the coupling mechanism is configured for coupling a non-rigid tube to the top portion.

10. The actuatable container as claimed in claim 9 wherein the coupling mechanism is a screw mechanism sized to mate with standard hair colour tubes.

14. Apparatus for creating color solution, said apparatus comprising: a) a memory unit from which is obtained color shade solution values corresponding to respectively different color shade solutions and color shade quantity values corresponding to respectively different amounts of said respective color shade solutions; b) a mapping unit for mapping each of said received color shade solution values to respectively different physical locations where said respective color shade solutions are stored in respectively different containers and wherein the containers are the actuatable container of claim 1; c) an actuator for releasing into a mixing container more than one of said respective color shade solutions in said respective amounts from said respectively different actuatable containers based on said received color shade solution values and said received color shade quantity values and said mapping; and d) at least one further actuator or motor that when energized moves at least one of: a. said different actuatable containers containing said respectively different color shade solutions; and b. said mixing container towards each other based on said mapping in order to combine ones of said respectively different color shade solutions that correspond to ones of said color shade solution values obtained from said memory.