Hair dye touch-up dispenser and method of using the same

Abstract

A two-container dispenser for storing, mixing and dispensing hair dye for touch up applications. The dispenser retains and separates two hair dye components until they are to be mixed immediately prior to application of the dye. The two containers are permanently secured together via a valve assembly. When the valve assembly is in a closed position, the interior chambers and therefore the contents of the containers remain separated. When the valve assembly is opened by rotating one of the containers through 90 degrees, the two interior chambers are placed into fluid communication with each other and the contents can flow between the containers to form a hair dye mixture. The connections between the first and second containers and the valve assembly are such that all three remain secured together when the valve assembly is moved between the closed and open positions.

1 . A dispenser for holding, mixing and dispensing hair dye, said dispenser comprising:
 a first container having a first interior chamber that is adapted to retain a first component of the hair dye therein;   a second container having a second interior chamber that is adapted to retain a second component of the hair dye therein;   a valve assembly comprising a valve body and a valve seat, said valve body being permanently connected to the first container and the valve seat being permanently connected to the second container; said valve seat being movable relative to the body between a closed position, where the first and second interior chambers are separated from each other; and an open position where the first and second interior chambers are in fluid communication with each other; and wherein the valve seat is movable between the open and closed positions without separating either of the first and second containers from the valve assembly.   
   
   
       2 . The dispenser as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly is movable through an arc to move between the open and closed positions. 
   
   
       3 . The dispenser as defined in  claim 1 ; wherein the valve body comprises:
 a housing having:
 a first end; 
 a second end remote from the first end; 
 a bore extending between the first and second ends; 
 a transverse wall disposed within the bore and extending across the same and substantially at right angles thereto; 
 a pair of opposed apertures defined within the transverse wall; and 
 a post extending outwardly from a first surface of the transverse wall and toward the first end of the housing. 
   
   
   
       4 . The dispenser as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the valve body further comprises at least one recess formed in the first surface of the transverse wall and positioned intermediate the apertures. 
   
   
       5 . The dispenser as defined in  claim 4 , further comprising a gasket having a hole defined therein that is complementary sized and positioned to receive the body of the valve body therethrough; whereby a first surface of the gasket abuts the first surface of the transverse wall of the valve body. 
   
   
       6 . The dispenser as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the gasket further includes at least one detent extending outwardly away from the first surface thereof, said at least one detent being complementary shaped and positioned to be received in the at least one recess formed in the transverse wall. 
   
   
       7 . The dispenser as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the gasket is positioned between the valve body and the valve seat; and a second surface of the gasket abuts the valve seat. 
   
   
       8 . The dispenser as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the valve seat further defines a hole therein that is complementary positioned and configured to receive the post from the valve body therethrough; and
 wherein said valve seat is rotatable about a longitudinal axis extending through said post.   
   
   
       9 . The dispenser as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the valve seat further includes a pair of apertures that are complementary in shape to the apertures in the valve body; and when the valve assembly in the open position, the apertures in the valve body are aligned with the apertures in the valve seat; and when the valve assembly is in the closed position the apertures in the valve seat are not aligned with the apertures in the valve body. 
   
   
       10 . The dispenser as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the gasket further comprises a pair of regions extending upwardly away from the second surface of the gasket; and wherein each region is received in one of the apertures in the valve seat when the valve assembly is in the closed position. 
   
   
       11 . The dispenser as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the valve assembly further comprises a locking member that is positioned between the valve seat and the second container; and wherein said locking member defines a hole through which the post from the valve body is received. 
   
   
       12 . The dispenser as defined in  claim 11 , wherein an outermost portion of the post includes at least one straight side; and the hole in the locking member includes at least one straight side, and when the locking member is engaged with the post, the two straight sides abut each other and substantially prevent rotation of the locking member around the post. 
   
   
       13 . The dispenser as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the locking member comprises a pair of wings, each wing extending outwardly away from a region surrounding the hole in the locking member; and when the valve assembly is in the closed position, the wings are aligned with the apertures in the valve seat; and when the valve assembly is in the open position, the wings are not aligned with the apertures in the valve seat. 
   
   
       14 . The dispenser as defined in  claim 2  wherein:
 the first container has an upper end that is provided with a plurality of externally disposed first threads;   the second container has an upper end that is provided with a plurality of externally disposed second threads and a lower end that is provided with a plurality of externally disposed third threads;   a first end of the valve body is provided with a plurality of internally disposed fourth threads that threadably engage the first threads; and   a second end of the valve seat is provided with a plurality of internally disposed fifth threads that threadably engage the third threads on the second container.   
   
   
       15 . The dispenser as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the first and second threads are oriented in a substantially counter-clockwise direction movement of the second container. 
   
   
       16 . The dispenser as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising an applicator that is engageable with the second container; whereby the second container is disposed between the applicator and the valve assembly. 
   
   
       17 . The dispenser as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the applicator comprises:
 an applicator body having an inner end and an outer end;
 a plurality of internally disposed sixth threads formed on an interior surface of the inner end of the applicator body; said sixth threads being threadably engageable with the second threads on the second container; and 
 a plurality of bristles extending outwardly away from the outer end of the applicator body. 
   
   
   
       18 . The dispenser as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the outer end of the applicator body defines a dispensing hole that is disposed among the bristles; and wherein the dispensing hole is in fluid communication with the second interior chamber when the applicator and second container are engaged with each other. 
   
   
       19 . The dispenser as defined in  claim 18 , further comprising a tapered pin that is selectively removable from the dispensing hole. 
   
   
       20 . A method of storing, mixing and dispensing permanent hair dye for touch-up applications using a single dispenser; said method comprising the steps of:
 storing a first component of the hair dye in a first interior chamber of a first container of the dispenser;   storing a second component of the hair dye in a second interior chamber of a second container of the dispenser; wherein the second container is permanently linked to the first container via a valve assembly; and when the valve assembly is in a closed position, the first interior chamber is separated from the second interior chamber and the first component is therefore separated from the second component;   rotating the second container to move the valve assembly from a closed position to an open position where the first and second interior cavities are in fluid communication with each other;   shaking the dispenser to move the first and second components between the first and second interior cavities and to thereby form a hair dye mixture;   inverting the dispenser to allow the hair dye mixture to flow through a hole in an applicator that is in fluid communication with the second interior chamber of the second container; and   applying the hair dye mixture to the hair.