System and device for mixing cosmetics

Abstract

A device to mix a small volume of a viscous liquid and pigment such as a cosmetic is provided. The device is made of a motor or motor / gearbox to provide rotation of magnet arms; magnet arms to contain and position magnets during use / rotation; a magnet or pair of magnets positioned on opposite sides of the motor rotation axis; a means to secure and manipulate a cosmetics container and ferrous metal (or otherwise magnetic) inclusions within the container, preferably of a linear extruded shape.

Description

SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR MIXING COSMETICS

[0001] Background of the Invention

[0002] Field of the invention. The embodiments herein generally relate to a mixing device, and more particularly, relate to the device for mixing cosmetics.

[0003] Description of the related art. Consumer cosmetic ingredients are typically combined in batch sizes that are large relative to the container volume used by the end consumer. The ability to mix cosmetics in smaller volumes is an advantage when consumers desire a wide range of specific features such as color. The ability to mix small batches of cosmetics in an amount that approximates a volume appropriate for a single end-user is an advantage. Direct mechanical agitation by mixing blades is a well-known method but creates some undesirable effects. Direct mixing creates a potential for contamination of surrounding equipment due to drips or splatter, as well as contamination between products in a small-batch scenario. Eliminating contamination by cleaning the mixing elements creates a low-value process as well as waste byproducts. Single use mixing elements create consumable costs and disposal and / or environmental costs. The existing stainless-steel mixing / agitation balls provided inside nail polish bottles are well known, and are found in almost all of these consumer products. Hand mixing colored pigments into solution during initial color creation is very time-consuming and physically taxing using the shaking method. Agitating the spherical inclusions using magnets driven rotationally around the bottle is more practical. However, round balls do not scrape the inside walls of the glass bottle sufficiently to remove all traces of unmixed pigment and the point contact is slow compared to the line contact of cylindrical inclusions. Additionally, the applicator brush can absorb unmixed ingredients during the creation of a multi-ingredient product, then deposit them on a user (fingernail for example) in a way that reveals “streaking” or other undesirable color inconsistencies. By using the linear inclusions to directly agitate the ingredient(s) inside the brush bristles, more complete mixing can be achieved. This bristle agitation requires that inclusions be motivated to move within the center-axis region of the bottle. This is difficult with typical magnetic mixing practice, where inclusion(s) are biased towards the outside of a container by a single magnet. Therefore, a need exists, therefore, for a device for mixing small volume of cosmetics, particularly if an applicator brush is included in the cosmetic bottle needed.

[0004] Brief Summary of the invention. In view of the foregoing, an embodiment herein provides a system for mixing cosmetics.

[0005] The inventive subject matter includes a mixing device made of a motor to provide rotation of a plurality of magnet arms; the plurality of magnet arms are configured to contain and to position magnets during mixing; an at least one magnet positioned on opposite sides of a motor rotation axis; a means to secure and manipulate a cosmetics container between the plurality of magnet arms, such as a pneumatic gripper to hold the cap or a recede area to retain the bottle and a plurality of ferromagnetic metal inclusions within the cosmetic container.

[0006] Another aspect of the inventive subject matter is a system for mixing a viscous liquid and a pigment, such as a cosmetic. This system includes: a mixing assembly made of a motor configured to drive one or more magnets in the one or more rotating arm, wherein the one or more magnets include a north pole and a south pole; a bottle with a mixing a viscous liquid and a pigment ; an applicator made of a cap and a bristle brush, wherein the cap is configured to reversibly connect to the bottle; a plurality of ferromagnetic metal inclusions within the container, wherein when in operation, the motor rotates one or more magnets in one or more rotating arms around the bottle, wherein the magnetic inclusion rotates inside the bottle to mix the cosmetic and to facilitate the formation of a bridge between the magnet.

[0007] Another aspect of the inventive subject matter includes a method for mixing cosmetics, wherein the method includes the steps of: connecting a bottle of cosmetic with an applicator made of a cap and a bristle brush; wherein the bottle is made of a plurality of ferromagnetic metal inclusions within the cosmetic container; driving one or more magnet in the one or more rotating arm using a motor, wherein the one or more magnet having a north pole and south pole; rotating one or more magnets in one or more rotating arms around the bottle when the motor turns on; and rotating the inclusion inside the bottle to mix the ingredients, wherein the inclusion rotates when the plurality of magnet rotates outside the bottle wherein the magnetic inclusion rotates inside the bottle to mix the cosmetic and to facilitate the formation of a bridge magnetic inclusion between the magnet and contacting the bristle with the bridge of magnetic inclusion to distribute a pigment in the brush to the liquid in the bottle to facilitate mixing.

[0008] The method includes a plurality of stationary cartridges, each of the plurality of stationary cartridges being configured to separately contain at least one cosmetic additive required to form a custom cosmetic product, a mixing assembly includes a motor configured to drive a one or more magnets in the one or more arms,wherein the one or more magnets includes a north pole and south pole, a capping includes a bristle brush, a bottle is connected with the capping and the bristle brush is placed inside the bottle, an inclusion is placed inside the bottle to directly agitate the ingredients. In some embodiments, wherein when in operation, the motor turns on to rotates one or more magnets in the one or more arm around the bottle .In some embodiments, wherein the inclusion rotates inside the bottle to mix the ingredients. In some embodiments, wherein the inclusion rotates when the plurality of magnets rotates outside the bottle.

[0009] The inventive subject matter includes a method for facilitate mixing a volume of a viscous liquid and a pigment. The steps of this method include connecting a bottle of viscous liquid and the pigment with an applicator is made of a cap and a bristle brush; wherein the bottle further includes of a plurality of ferromagnetic metal inclusions of a linear shape; applying a magnetic field to facilitate the formation of a horizontal bridge of the plurality of inclusions; contacting the bristle brush with the bridge of a plurality of inclusions to facilitate mixing by distributing the pigment in the bristle brush to the viscous liquid in the bottle. The inventive method further includes the steps of adding a sufficient number of inclusions to allow the horizontal bridge of the plurality of inclusions to contact the inside surface of the bottle with the inclusions to remove pigment from the inside surface of the bottle to facilitate mixing the viscous liquid and the pigment. The inventive method further includes the steps of raising the bottle to position the bridge of a plurality of inclusions along the bottom of the bottle to facilitate mixing the viscous liquid and the pigment. The inventive method further includes the steps of lowering the magnetic field to position the bridge of a plurality of inclusions along the bottom of the bottle to facilitate mixing the viscous liquid and the pigment.

[0010] The inventive subject matter includes a method to distribute a pigment in a viscous liquid. The method includes the steps of: connecting a bottle of the viscous liquid and the pigment with an applicator comprised of a cap and a bristle brush; wherein the bottle is comprised of a plurality of inclusions; driving one or more magnets in the one or more rotating arm using a motor, wherein the one or more magnets made of a north pole and a south pole; applying a magnetic field to facilitate the formation of a horizontal bridge of the plurality of inclusions; contacting the bristle brush with the bridge of a plurality of inclusions to facilitate mixing by distributing the pigment in the bristle brush to the viscous liquid in the bottle.

[0011] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

[0012] Brief Description of the Drawings The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a device for the mixing of a small volume of cosmetics according to an embodiment herein;

[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a process of inclusion according to an embodiment herein;

[0015] FIG. 3A illustrates a process of moving a bottle vertically according to an embodiment herein;

[0016] FIG. 3B illustrates a process of moving a bottle vertically according to an embodiment herein;

[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates an inclusion align with a magnetic field to create bridge according to an embodiment herein; and

[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates moving a bottle vertically to agitate ingredients in the bristle brush according to an embodiment herein.

[0019] Detailed Description of the Invention The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.

[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 for the mixing a small volume of cosmetics according to an embodiment herein. The system 100 includes a cap 102, a bottle 104, that can be reversibly positioned in a mixing device. The cap 102 has an integrated bristle brush 106 that mixes the cosmetics inside the bottle 104. A bristle brush 106 is made for example of stiff, natural, or synthetic bristles attached to a handle or base of a cap 102.

[0021] The mixing device includes: one or more rotating arms 110, and a motor 112. The one or more rotating arm 110 includes a magnet 108. An at least one magnet 108 is positioned on opposite sides of a motor rotation axis from another magnet 108. A means to secure and manipulate a cosmetics container. In the one embodiment a bottle 104 is securely held in the device by the cap 102 using a pneumatic gripper.

[0022] In one embodiment, the one or more rotating arm 110 are configured to rotate horizontally around bottle 104. The rotating one or more arm 110 with magnet 108 may be used in magnetic levitation systems. The levitation and rotational movement without physical contact are achieved by placing magnet 108 on one or more rotating arm 110 and using opposing magnetic fields from a fixed surface. The motor 112 is connected to one or more rotating arm 110 to rotate one or more rotating arm 110. In some embodiments, the container is a glass bottle 104.

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates a process of mixing with magnetic elements according to an embodiment herein. The magnet 208 is attached to one or more rotating arm 212 that are aligned North facing and South facing magnets on the arms. In some embodiments, the inclusion 204 that are themselves magnetic or have magnetic properties are attracted to the magnetic field. The north poles of inclusion 204 may be drawn toward the south poles of magnet 208, and the south poles of inclusion 204 may be drawn toward the north poles of magnet 208. The movement of the north pole and south pole may cause the inclusion 204 to move toward the magnet 208 and align with the magnetic field lines. The inclusion 204 that are small and free to move may align themselves with the magnetic field. The north poles of the inclusion 204 will align with the direction of the field lines, while the south poles will align in the opposite direction. The alignment may create a visible effect, especially when the inclusion 204 are suspended in a liquid or a medium that allows them to move freely. In one embodiment, the metallic inclusion 204 is linear to scrape the inside walls of the container. In some embodiments, the metallic inclusion 204 is present inside the glass bottle 206. The motor 216 turns the one or more rotating arm 212 to spin the magnet208 around the bottle 206. The inclusion 204 used here is a linear extruded shape, meaning a volume of constant cross-section. This linear shape is readily and economically manufactured in a number of different sizes and cross-sectional shapes in materials (typically metals) that are relevant to this invention. Fundamental to the functionality of the subject matter is the linear contact that such inclusions make with a container inside wall(s).

[0024] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B illustrates a process of moving a bottle 304 vertically according to an embodiment herein. The bottle 304 is moved vertically to mix all the content in the bottle 304. The bottle 304 is moved vertically when one or more rotating arm 312 spin the magnet 308 around the bottle 304. In some embodiments, the magnet 308 is attached to one or more rotating arm 312. The bottle 304 in a high position causes inclusions 306 to mix the lower portion of the container and the bottle 304 in the low position causes inclusions 306 to mix the upper portion of the container. In some embodiments, the mixing of cosmetics by using magnet 308 stimulates the movement of metallic elements.

[0025] An inclusion 306 includes a linear extruded shape and a volume of constant cross-section. In some embodiments, the linear shape is readily and economically manufactured in a number of different sizes and cross-sectional shapes in metal. The linear contact that such inclusion 306 makes with a container inside walls. By magnetically motivating the inclusion 306 such that they scrape the inside walls, and the product container is left without any visible evidence of un-mixed ingredients.

[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates an inclusion align with a magnetic field to create a bridge according to an embodiment herein. The bottle 402 includes inclusion 404 which rotates inside bottle 402 when magnet 406 with the north pole and south pole rotates. The inclusion 404 aligns with the magnetic field to create the bridge that impinges bristles of the brush an also scrapes the inside surface the bottle 402 to facilitate mixing of the pigment and the viscous liquid. The one or more rotating arm 410 includes one or more magnet 406. The one or more magnets 406 are placed north and south to create the magnetic field which rotates the inclusion 404 inside the bottle 402. The one or more rotating arm 410 rotates when motor 412 is powered ON. The one or more magnet 406 in the one or more rotating arm 410 create a magnetic field which makes inclusion 404 to rotate. The bottle 402 can be raised to allow the inclusion404 to contact the flat bottom surface of the bottle to facilitate mixing of the pigment and the viscous liquid.

[0027] The linear inclusion 404 directly agitates the ingredient inside the bristles brush 408, so that more complete mixing can be achieved. The bristle 408 agitation requires that inclusion 404 be motivated to move within the center-axis region of the bottle 402. This is difficult with typical magnetic mixing practice, where inclusion 404 is biased towards the outside of a container by a single magnet. The north pole and south pole magnet 406 are positioned on opposite sides of the container. The positioning of magnets 406 encourages the inclusion 404 within the container to form a bridge between the magnet 406. The magnet 406 can be moved relative to the container, including while the container and brush are rotating. The bridge can therefore be maneuvered in such a manner that the bristles of a brush are directly agitated. This accomplishes the mixing of the ingredients within the brush bristles 408.

[0028] As the external spinning magnet position brings the inclusions 404 higher into the volume of the bottle 402, the cylindrical shaped inclusions will also form a bridge across the bottle inner volume, which agitates pigments that may be trapped in the bristles. While this "bridge" is occurring, there are inclusions at the extreme ends of the bridge that are still scraping the walls (due to the randomness of this process they are not axially aligned). The quantity of inclusions in one embodiment is 5. The quantity of inclusion is selected is selected based on the size of the bottle such that they cannot all "fit" if stretched across the bottle cross section and some inclusions contact the inner surface of the bottle. The outer portion of the bridge lay substantially flat against the inner wall of the bottle.

[0029] FIG. 5 illustrates moving a bottle 502 vertically to agitate ingredients in the bristle brush 504 according to an embodiment herein, the bottle 502 is moved vertically by using external means in order to agitate the ingredients in the bristle brush 504. In some embodiments, the mixing of ingredients may become embedded within the bristles of a typical a brush cap. The device can be used for mixing a small volume of viscous liquid such a nail polish. Nail polish bottles range in size from .2 oz to 0.54 oz. A full-sized bottles typically hold . 5 oz. of nail polish. The method includes a plurality of stationary cartridges, each of the plurality of stationary cartridges being configured to separately contain at least one cosmetic additive required to form a custom cosmetic product, a mixing assembly includes a motor configured to drive a one or more magnet in the one or more rotating arm, wherein the one or more magnetincludes a north pole and south pole, a capping includes a bristle brush, a bottle is connected with the capping and the bristle brush is placed inside the bottle, an inclusion is placed inside the bottle to directly agitate the ingredients. The motor turns ON to rotate one or more magnet in the one or more rotating arm around the bottle, the inclusion rotates inside the bottle to mix the ingredients, and the inclusion rotates when the plurality of magnet rotates outside the bottle.

[0030] While the invention has been described with reference to preferred and example embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications, additions, and deletions are within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

What is Claimed:

1. A method for facilitate mixing a volume of a viscous liquid and a pigment, wherein the method comprises: connecting a bottle of said viscous liquid and the pigment with an applicator comprised of a cap and a bristle brush; wherein said bottle further includes of a plurality of ferromagnetic metal inclusions, applying a magnetic field to facilitate the formation of a horizontal bridge of the plurality of inclusions; contacting the bristle brush with the bridge of a plurality of inclusions to facilitate mixing by distributing the pigment in the bristle brush to the viscous liquid in the bottle.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding a sufficient number of inclusions to allow the horizontal bridge of the plurality of inclusions to contact the inside surface of the bottle to remove pigment from the inside surface of the bottle to facilitate mixing the viscous liquid and the pigment.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising raising the bottle to position the bridge of a plurality of inclusions along the bottom of the bottle to facilitate mixing the viscous liquid and the pigment.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising lowering the magnetic field to position the bridge of a plurality of inclusions along the bottom of the bottle to facilitate mixing the viscous liquid and the pigment.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the viscous liquid and the pigment are a cosmetic.

6. A method to distribute a pigment in a viscous liquid comprising the steps of: connecting a bottle of the viscous liquid and the pigment with an applicator comprised of a cap and a bristle brush; wherein said bottle is comprised of a plurality of inclusions; driving one or more magnets in the one or more rotating arm using a motor, wherein the one or more magnets made of a north pole and a south pole; applying a magnetic field to facilitate the formation of a horizontal bridge of the plurality of inclusions; contacting the bristle brush with the bridge of a plurality of inclusions to facilitate mixing by distributing the pigment in the bristle brush to the viscous liquid in the bottle.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the inclusions are comprised of a linear extruded shape.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the inclusions are comprised of a ferrous metal.

9. A mixing device comprising: a motor to provide rotation of a plurality of magnet arms; said plurality of magnet arms configured to contain and to position magnets during mixing; an at least one magnet positioned on opposite sides of a motor rotation axis; a means to secure and manipulate a cosmetics container between said plurality of magnet arms; and a plurality of inclusions within the cosmetic container, wherein the inclusions are comprised of a linear extruded shape.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the inclusions are comprised of a ferrous metal.11.A system for mixing a small volume of a viscous liquid and a pigment, wherein the system comprises: a mixing assembly comprising: a motor configured to drive one or more magnets in the one or more rotating arm, wherein the one or more magnets comprise a north pole and a south pole; a bottle containing the viscous liquid and the pigment; an applicator comprised of a cap and a bristle brush, wherein the cap is configured to reversibly connect to the bottle; a plurality of inclusions within the container, wherein when in operation, the motor rotates one or more magnets in one or more rotating arms around the bottle, wherein the magnetic inclusion rotates inside the bottle to mix the cosmetic and to facilitate the formation of a bridge between the magnets.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the inclusions are comprised of a linear extruded shape.

13. The system of claim 11 , the magnetic inclusions are comprised of a ferrous metal.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the viscous liquid is a cosmetic.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the cosmetic is nail polish.

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