Gravity Fed Shaving Lather Generating And Dispensing System And Method Of Operation Thereof

Abstract

A novel and useful gravity fed shaving lather generator apparatus incorporating a body having a cavity and an inlet port, a removable mixture cartridge comprising a reservoir for containing a fluid, an outlet port extension coupled to the reservoir and configured to be releasably coupled to the inlet port, and a first valve for selectively controlling flow of the fluid from the outlet port extension. The lather generator is situated within the cavity of the body and defines a cylindrical cavity with first and second openings. A cylindrical lather generating screw (LGS) is situated within the cylindrical cavity and configured to generate a lather from the fluid. A motor coupled to the LGS is configured to rotate the LGS within the cylindrical cavity of the lather generator to drive the LGS to output the generated lather at the second opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shaving lather generator apparatus, comprising:
 a body having a cavity and an inlet port;   a removable mixture cartridge comprising a reservoir for containing a fluid, an outlet port extension coupled to the reservoir and configured to be releasably coupled to the inlet port, and a first valve for selectively controlling flow of the fluid from the outlet port extension;   a lather generator situated within the cavity of the body and defining a cylindrical cavity with first and second openings;   a cylindrical lather generating screw (LGS) situated within the cylindrical cavity and configured to generate a lather from the fluid; and   a motor coupled to the LGS and configured to rotate the LGS within the cylindrical cavity of the lather generator to drive the LGS to output the generated lather at the second opening.   
     
     
         2 . The lather generating system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second valve coupled to the inlet port and the first opening and configured to selectively control the flow of the fluid from the inlet port to the first opening. 
     
     
         3 . The lather generating system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator configured to open the first valve when the outlet port extension is coupled to the inlet port. 
     
     
         4 . The lather generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises a second cavity, wherein the inlet port is situated in the second cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The lather generating system according to  claim 4 , wherein the second cavity is further configured to receive at least a portion of the removable mixture cartridge. 
     
     
         6 . The lather generating system according to  claim 3 , wherein the body further comprises a second cavity, wherein when the outlet port extension is coupled to the inlet port, at least a portion of the removable mixture cartridge is situated in the second cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The lather generating system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a coupler to releasably couple the outlet port extension to the inlet port. 
     
     
         8 . The lather generating system according to  claim 7 , wherein the coupler further comprises a latch which may extend from an inner wall of the inlet port. 
     
     
         9 . The lather generating system according to  claim 8 , wherein the coupler further comprises a notch situated on the outlet port extension and is configured to engage the latch. 
     
     
         10 . The lather generating system of  claim 1 , further comprising a coupler configured to couple the removable mixture cartridge relative to the body. 
     
     
         11 . The lather generating system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member configured to bias the mixture cartridge away from the body. 
     
     
         12 . The lather generating system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a carrier situated within the cavity of the body and configured to slideably receive the lather generator. 
     
     
         13 . The lather generating system according to  claim 2 , further comprising a second actuator to selectively control the second valve to control the flow of the fluid from the inlet port to the first opening. 
     
     
         14 . A shaving lather generator apparatus, comprising:
 a body having a cavity and an inlet port configured to couple to an outlet port of a mixture cartridge having a first valve and a reservoir for containing a fluid;   a lather generator situated within the cavity of the body and defining a cylindrical cavity with first and second openings;   a cylindrical lather generating screw (LGS) situated within the cylindrical cavity and configured to generate a lather from the fluid, the lather being output via the second opening of the lather generator;   a motor coupled to the LGS and configured to rotate the LGS within the cylindrical cavity;   a second valve situated between, and coupled to, the inlet port and the first opening, and configured to selectively control the flow of the fluid from the inlet port to the first opening; and   first and second actuators, the first actuator configured to selectively control the first valve, and the second actuator configured to selectively control the second valve.   
     
     
         15 . The lather generating system according to  claim 14 , further comprising a controller configured to control the second actuator to selectively open the second valve. 
     
     
         16 . The lather generating system according to  claim 15 , further comprising at least one sensor configured to provide sensor information to the controller. 
     
     
         17 . The lather generating system according to  claim 16 , wherein the controller controls at least one of the motor and the second actuator based, at least in part, upon an analysis of sensor information. 
     
     
         18 . The lather generating system according to  claim 14 , further comprising the mixture cartridge having the first valve and the reservoir for containing the fluid, the mixture cartridge being configured to be coupled to the inlet port. 
     
     
         19 . A lather generating device, comprising:
 a body comprising:
 an opening configured to receive at least a portion of a mixture cartridge; 
 a fluid receiving port situated in the opening and configured to receive a fluid from the mixture cartridge; 
   a lather generator configured to receive the fluid from the fluid receiving port and generate a lather therefrom, the lather generator comprising a lather generating screw situated within an inner cavity thereof;   a controller configured to determine whether a heater mode is active; and   a heater configured to heat the lather generator, wherein the controller is configured to engage the heater when it is determined that the heater mode is active.   
     
     
         20 . The lather generating device according to  claim 19 , further comprising a motor configured to rotate the lather generating screw under the control of the controller.