Removable cartridge with one-way valve

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for storing and dispensing a cosmetic fluid, comprising: a body including a nozzle disposed at a first end of the body and an opening disposed at a second end of the body, the body being configured to hold a volume of a fluid; a one-way valve attached to the nozzle configured to allow a flow of the fluid in a first direction from a first end to a second end of the one-way valve, and preventing flow of the fluid in a second substantially opposite direction; and a piston, wherein the opening is configured to receive the piston; the piston forms a fluid seal with sidewalls of the body; the piston is configured to be translated along a length of the body from the second end of the body to the first end of the body; and the translation of the piston displaces and ejects a predetermined volume of fluid through the one-way valve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for storing and dispensing a cosmetic fluid, comprising:
 a body including a nozzle disposed at a first end of the body and an opening disposed at a second end of the body, the body being configured to hold a volume of a fluid;   a one-way valve attached to the nozzle configured to allow a flow of the fluid in a first direction from a first end to a second end of the one-way valve, and preventing flow of the fluid in a second substantially opposite direction; and   a piston, wherein
 the opening is configured to receive the piston; 
 the piston forms a fluid seal with sidewalls of the body; 
 the piston is configured to be translated along a length of the body from the second end of the body to the first end of the body; and 
 the translation of the piston displaces and ejects a predetermined volume of fluid through the one-way valve. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the nozzle includes a luer lock connection;   the luer lock connection includes an annular locking skirt with an internal surface that is threaded;   an outer surface of the one-way valve is threaded with a threading complementary to the threading of the internal surface of the annular locking skirt of the luer lock connection; and   the threaded outer surface of the one-way valve is configured to twistably engage the threaded internal surface of the annular locking skirt of the luer lock connection.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one-way valve is a duckbill valve. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a material of the one-way valve is silicone. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a material of the one-way valve is a natural or synthetic rubber. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one-way valve is fabricated as a single piece by a heat molding process. 
     
     
         7 . A system configured to provide a cosmetic composition to a user, comprising:
 an apparatus configured to hold a plurality of cartridges which contain a respective plurality of cosmetic compositions and to dispense at least one cosmetic composition into an output container; and   at least one of the plurality of cartridges,   wherein the at least one of the plurality of the cartridges includes
 a body including a nozzle disposed at a first end of the body and an opening disposed at a second end of the body, the body being configured to hold a volume of a respective one of the plurality of cosmetic compositions, 
 a one-way valve attached to the nozzle configured to allow a flow of the composition in a first direction from a first end to a second end of the one-way valve, and preventing flow of the composition in a second substantially opposite direction, and 
 a piston, 
   wherein,   the opening is configured to receive the piston,   the piston forms a fluid seal with sidewalls of the body,   the apparatus includes a plunger that is configured to translate the piston along a length of the body from the second end of the body to the first end of the body, an   the translation of the piston displaces and ejects a predetermined volume of fluid through the one-way valve.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the apparatus is configured to replace at least one of the plurality of cartridges in response to the apparatus determining at least one of the plurality of cartridges is empty.