Single use hair coloring appliance

Abstract

The appliance includes a receptacle for hair formulation. A brushhead member is attached to the receptacle and is in fluid communication therewith, wherein color formulation in the receptacle is moved to the brushhead and the brushhead moved back and forth by a pump and motor mechanism. The receptacle and the brushhead are structurally sized and adapted for a singlue use and to be disposable thereafter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A single-use disposable hair coloring appliance, comprising
 a receptacle assembly for a hair color formulation, the receptacle assembly having a portal member capable of receiving the hair color formulation from a source of the hair color formulation;   a brushhead/dispenser member attached to the receptacle and in fluid communication therewith;   wherein the hair color formulation in the receptacle is directed to the brushhead/dispenser by a user operating on the receptacle or by a pump operating on the receptacle, wherein the combination of the receptacle assembly and the brushhead/dispenser currently is structurally sized and adapted for a single use coloring event and further is disposable by the user after a single use.   
     
     
         2 . The appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the receptacle is sized for one hair coloring event. 
     
     
         3 . The appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the brushhead includes a plurality of tines having openings at distal ends thereof, wherein the color formulation moves from the receptacle assembly in operation through the tines into the hair. 
     
     
         4 . The appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the tines are regularly spaced. 
     
     
         5 . The appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the brushhead includes a plurality of tines, having openings along the lengths thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The appliance of  claim 3 , including bristle tufts located between the tines, or nearby the tines, the bristle tufts extending beyond the tines, acting as a standoff for the tines from the scalp. 
     
     
         7 . The appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the color formulation is premixed. 
     
     
         8 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle assembly includes a flexible housing so that a user, upon application of a squeeze force to the housing, forces color formulation therein into the brushhead member. 
     
     
         9 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the source of the hair color formulation is a packet assembly, comprising at least one packet of hair color, one or no packets of a developer, a mixer assembly and an interface member for connecting the packet assembly with the receptacle assembly, the interface member including a valve for controlling the movement of color formulation into the receptacle. 
     
     
         10 . The appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the packet assembly includes two or more packets of different color formulations, and one packet of developer material, wherein the developer material and the color formulation material flow from the mixer assembly into the source of color formulation. 
     
     
         11 . The appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the appliance includes a filler element for receiving color formulation from an external source. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the brushhead/dispenser is moved in a lateral direction back and forth and wherein the distance of lateral movement is greater than one half the distance between adjacent tines but no greater than twice the distance between adjacent tines. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The appliance of  claim 18 , including a sealing member for preventing leakage of color formulation as the brushhead is moved back and forth. 
     
     
         18 . A single-use disposable hair color appliance, comprising
 a receptacle for a hair color formulation;   a brushhead with extending formulation dispensing elements to contact a users hair, the brushhead attached to the receptacle and in fluid communication therewith;   a motor and pump mechanism coupled to the receptacle and the brushhead for moving the brushhead back and forth and for moving hair color formulation in the receptacle into the brushhead; and   an openable housing containing the receptacle, the brushhead and the motor and pump mechanism, which are removable from the housing.   
     
     
         19 . The appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the motor and pump mechanism is coupled to the brushhead by a crank and connecting rod members.