Device and method for applying liquid body care products, especially sun protection emulsions

Abstract

A device for applying body care products onto the skin of a human body has at least one supply container for receiving a body care product. At least one spray nozzle arrangement is provided for dispensing the body care product in the direction onto the human body. A control device is provided that controls dispensing of the body care product as a function of a position of the skin to be treated with the body care product relative to the spray nozzle arrangement. A directed and uniform application of the body care product without spraying the body car product onto articles of clothing or the head and hair of the user is possible.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for applying body care products onto the skin of a human body, the device comprising: 
 at least one supply container for receiving a body care product;    at least one spray nozzle arrangement for dispensing the body care product in the direction onto the human body;    a control device configured to control dispensing of the body care product as a function of a position of the skin to be treated with the body care product relative to the at least one spray nozzle arrangement.    
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control device comprises a receiver arrangement for receiving signals originating from the skin to be treated, wherein the signals are selected from the group consisting of ultrasound signals, electromagnetic signals, light signals, or heat radiation signals.  
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the control device comprises an evaluation circuit for evaluating the signals originating from the skin, wherein, based on results of the evaluation of the signals originating from the skin, control signals for the spray nozzle arrangement are generated.  
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the evaluation circuit determines a distance between the receiver arrangement and a location from where the signals originate.  
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the evaluation circuit determines surface properties of a location from where the signals originate.  
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the surface property is the color of the location.  
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the receiver arrangement comprises an ultrasound sensor, a photo diode, or an ultrasound sensor and a photo diode.  
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the control device has a sender for emitting signals in the direction toward the human body, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of an ultrasound sensor, a sensor for emitting electromagnetic signals, and a sensor for emitting light.  
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the sender is configured to emit signals in a single adjustable spatial direction.  
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the sender is pivotably supported about a horizontally extending axis.  
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the sender and the receiver arrangement are pivotable together.  
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the spray nozzle arrangement has at least one moveable spray nozzle.  
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the spray nozzle is pivotable about at least one predetermined axis.  
     
     
         14 . Device according to  claim 12 , wherein the spray nozzle is pivotal together with at least one of the sender and the receiver arrangement.  
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein the sender is configured to emit a signal which propagates along an envelope of the spray cone of the body care product dispensed by the spray nozzle.  
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 15 , wherein the signal propagates along the upper edge of the envelope.  
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the sender is configured to emit signals propagating in a vertical plane intercepting the human body adjacent to the head in the shoulder area when the human body is in a predetermined position which is determined by markings.  
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 12 , comprising a drive device for moving the spray nozzle wherein the drive device is controlled by the control device.  
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein the drive device comprises a motor, a gearbox, a coupling, and a drive axle, wherein the motor is connected via the gearbox and the coupling to the drive axle and the drive axle is connected to the spray nozzle.  
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein the drive device further comprises a lever mechanism connected to the drive axle of the motor and having at least one lever connected with the spray nozzle, wherein the drive axle extends parallel to a pivot axis about which the spray nozzle is pivoted and wherein the lever extends transversely to the drive axle.  
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein the spray nozzle arrangement comprises at least one pressure line for supplying a pressurized carrier medium and further comprises a supply device for the liquid body care product opening into the pressure line in the vicinity of the spray nozzle.  
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein the supply device has at least two first supply lines connected to at least two of the supply containers for selectively supplying care products to the spray nozzle.  
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 22 , wherein the supply device further comprises a common chamber and a second supply line, wherein the first supply lines open into the common chamber and wherein the body care product is removed from the common chamber by means of the second supply line opening into the pressure line.  
     
     
         24 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein the supply device comprises a secondary pressure line for supplying a pressurized medium into the common chamber.  
     
     
         25 . The device according to  claim 22 , wherein the pressure line has a first section, parallel to the pivot axis of the spray nozzle, and a second section connected thereto fluid-tightly and provided with the spray nozzle at the end remote from the first section and movable relative to the first section, wherein the drive device is coupled to the second section.  
     
     
         26 . The device according to  claim 22 , wherein at least one of the first supply lines has a first section, parallel to the pivot axis of the spray nozzle, and a second section connected thereto fluid-tightly and provided with the spray nozzle at the end remote from the first section and movable relative to the first section, wherein the drive device is coupled to the second section.  
     
     
         27 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein the second section has a curved portion for deflecting the carrier medium by an angle of approximately 90°.  
     
     
         28 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein the spray nozzle arrangement has two holding elements extending approximately perpendicularly to the first section, wherein the second section is arranged between the two holding elements and wherein one of the holding elements is penetrated by the pressure line and the other one of the holding elements by a drive element of the drive device.  
     
     
         29 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the spray nozzle arrangement has at least one pressure device configured to convey the body care product via at least one connecting line from the at least one supply container to the spray nozzle.  
     
     
         30 . The device according to  claim 29 , wherein the pressure device is a piston pump.  
     
     
         31 . The device according to  claim 1 , comprising a booth in which the spray nozzle arrangement is arranged at least partially.  
     
     
         32 . The device according to  claim 31 , wherein the booth comprises a turntable having a motoric drive and rotatable about a vertical axis.  
     
     
         33 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the spray nozzle arrangement has at least two spray nozzles arranged atop one another and pivotably supported.  
     
     
         34 . The device according to  claim 1 , comprising a motor-driven stirring device for at least one of the supply containers.  
     
     
         35 . A spray nozzle arrangement for a device according to  claim 1 , comprising at least one spray nozzle moveable by a control device as a function of a position of the skin to be treated with the body care product relative to the at least one spray nozzle.  
     
     
         36 . A method for applying liquid body care products onto the skin of a user by a device comprising at least one supply container for receiving a body care product, at least one spray nozzle arrangement for dispensing the body care product in the direction onto the human body, and a control device configured to control dispensing of the body care product as a function of a position of the skin to be treated with the body care product relative to the at least one spray nozzle arrangement, wherein the method comprises the steps of: 
 determining a position of the skin to be treated with the body care product; and    subsequently dispensing the body care product in the direction toward the user wherein dispensing is controlled as a function of the position of the skin to be treated determined in the step of determining.