Proximity Sensor

Abstract

A proximity sensor attachment for a hair dryer for facilitating application of an aerosolized cosmetic composition, such as a hair dye, to hair of an individual. A hair dryer that includes a proximity sensor attachment. A method of using the proximity sensor attachment and/or a hair dryer that includes the proximity sensor attachment attached thereto for applying an aerosolized cosmetic composition. Computational device-implemented variations of devices and methods.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . An attachment for a hair dryer, the attachment comprising a proximity sensor operably connected to circuitry and configured to transmit data that corresponds to a distance between the attachment and a portion of a body of an individual to the circuitry;
 wherein the circuitry is configured to control, based on data received from the proximity sensor, operation of the attachment, the hair dryer, or both, to apply and cure a cosmetic composition to the portion of the body of the individual.   
     
     
         2 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment is configured for physical attachment to the hair dryer. 
     
     
         3 . The attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the attachment is an after-market addition to the hair dryer. 
     
     
         4 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the aerosolized cosmetic composition is for application to hair of an individual. 
     
     
         5 . The attachment of  claim 4 , wherein the aerosolized cosmetic composition includes a hair dye that is curable with hot air of the hair dryer, wherein the attachment includes an ion generator for generation of ions in the hair dye prior to application to hair of the individual. 
     
     
         6 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the cosmetic composition is selectable based at least in part on a natural strand color, a strand density, a strand thickness, a strand length, one or more artificial strand colors, or any combination thereof, of hair of the individual. 
     
     
         7 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to compute a hair dryer blower level, a hair dryer blower temperature, and/or an applicator spray level based at least in part on data received from the proximity sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The attachment of  claim 7 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:
 activate an applicator of the attachment for application of an aerosolized cosmetic composition to the portion of the body of the individual; and   activate a blower of the hair dryer; wherein the hair dryer blows air based at least in part on the hair dryer blower level, the hair dryer blower temperature, and/or the applicator spray level.   
     
     
         9 . A hair dryer system comprising the attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment is attached or is attachable to a hair dryer of the hair dryer system. 
     
     
         10 . A method for applying an aerosolized cosmetic composition to a portion of a body of an individual, the method comprising:
 detecting, with a proximity sensor of an attachment for a hair dryer, the portion of the body, and transmitting, from the proximity sensor, data that corresponds to a distance between the attachment and the portion of the body of the individual to circuitry of the attachment and/or the hair dryer, wherein the attachment is attachable to the hair dryer;   computing, with the circuitry, one or more parameter values for operation of the attachment, the hair dryer, or both, to apply and cure a cosmetic composition to the portion of the body of the individual; and   applying, with an applicator of the attachment, an aerosolized cosmetic composition to the portion of the body of the individual, and activating a blower of the hair dryer, wherein the applicator applies and the hair dryer blows air based at least in part on the one or more parameter values.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the attachment is attached to the hair dryer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a detection area of the proximity sensor, a spray area of the applicator of the attachment, and a portion of the hot air blown by the hair dryer coincide with the portion of the body. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the aerosolized cosmetic composition is for application to hair of the individual. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the aerosolized cosmetic composition includes a hair dye that is curable with hot air of the hair dryer. 
     
     
         15 . A computational device comprising circuitry configured to perform all or part of the method of  claim 10 .