# US 10,945,515 B2 · Personal care device with audible feedback

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- Number: US 10,945,515 B2
- Document ID: US10945515B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/006,944
- Filed: 2018-06-13
- Published: 2018-12-20
- Granted: 2021-03-16
- Earliest claimed: 2017-06-16
- Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Applicants: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Inventors: Stephan James Andreas Meschkat; Thomas Elliot Rabe; Rebecca Ashley Kolakoski; Brian Lee Floyd; Faiz Feisal Sherman; Paul Vernon
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945515B2

## CPC

- A45D 44/005: {for selecting or displaying personal cosmetic colours or hairstyle}
- A45D 19/00: Devices for washing the hair or the scalp; Similar devices for colouring the hair
- A61B 5/0036: {including treatment, e.g., using an implantable medical device, ablating, ventilating}
- A61B 5/0037: {Performing a preliminary scan, e.g. a prescan for identifying a region of interest}
- A61B 5/0077: {Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens}
- A61B 5/444: {Evaluating skin marks, e.g. mole, nevi, tumour, scar}
- A61B 5/445: {Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore}
- A61B 5/4839: {combined with drug delivery}
- A61B 5/7415: {Sound rendering of measured values, e.g. by pitch or volume variation (A61B5/741 takes precedence)}
- B41J 3/407: for marking on special material
- G06T 7/0012: {Biomedical image inspection}
- A45D 19/0066: {Coloring or bleaching}
- A45D 19/16: Surface treatment of hair by steam, oil, or the like
- A45D 33/02: with dispensing means, e.g. sprinkling means
- A45D 40/26: Appliances specially adapted for applying pasty paint, e.g. using roller, using a ball
- A45D 2044/007: {Devices for determining the condition of hair or skin or for selecting the appropriate cosmetic or hair treatment}
- A45D 2200/054: Means for supplying liquid to the outlet of the container
- A45D 2200/10: Details of applicators
- A45D 2200/1072: Eyeliners
- B41J 2203/011: Inspecting the shape or condition, e.g. wrinkled or warped, of a medium to be printed before printing on it
- G06T 2207/30088: Skin; Dermal
- A45D: HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT (wigs, toupees or the like A41G3/00, A41G5/00; hairdressers' chairs A47C1/04; hair cutting appliances, razors B26B); EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A personal care device for modifying a keratinous surface having a sensor, a treatment element adapted to deposit a personal care composition, a feedback element, and a processor. The feedback element can be activated during deposition of the personal care composition. The personal care device can analyze a keratinous surface, identify keratinous imperfections, and then modify the keratinous imperfection by depositing a personal care composition. The feedback element can be intermittently activated during deposition and can emit a feedback signal that corresponds to the deposition of the personal care composition to alert the user as to how the personal care device is working and/or when the modification process is complete.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A personal care device for modifying a keratinous surface comprising
a. a sensor; wherein the sensor is a camera
b. a treatment element comprising one or more nozzles and a cartridge containing a personal care composition;
c. a feedback element; and
d. a processor;
wherein the sensor is operatively associated with the processor;
wherein the processor is operatively associated with the treatment element and the feedback element;
wherein the feedback element is activated during deposition of the personal care composition;
wherein the feedback element emits a feedback signal when activated and the feedback signal corresponds to the rate of deposition of the personal care composition.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The personal care device of claim 1 wherein the feedback signal is selected from an auditory signal, a vibratory signal, a visual signal, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The personal care device of claim 2 wherein the feedback signal is an auditory signal and the auditory signal comprises a sound property that varies based on the rate of deposition and wherein the sound property is selected from volume, pitch, tone, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The personal care device of claim 1 wherein the feedback element is activated and emits a feedback signal for every 0.005 μl to 0.05 μl of the personal care composition deposited.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The personal care device of claim 1 wherein the feedback element is activated and emits a feedback signal for every 50 to 500 droplets of the personal care composition deposited.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The personal care device of claim 1 wherein the personal care device is a thermal inkjet printer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A method of modifying a keratinous surface comprising the steps of
a. identifying an area of keratinous surface comprising a keratinous imperfection;
b. providing the personal care device of claim 1;
c. contacting the personal care device with the area of keratinous surface and moving the personal care device over the area of keratinous surface;
d. taking an image of the keratinous surface adjacent to the one or more nozzles;
e. identifying the keratinous imperfection;
f. depositing the personal care composition onto the keratinous imperfection;
g. intermittently providing a feedback signal to alert the user that the personal care composition is deposited.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein the personal care device is moved over the area of keratinous surface at a stroke rate of about 0.5 to about 1.5 inches per second.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein the personal care device is moved across the skin at a modification speed and wherein when the modification speed is greater than about 1.5 inches per second the feedback signal is not emitted.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein the personal care device is moved over the area of keratinous surface until a feedback signal is emitted at a rate of less than about 5 signals per inch.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The personal care device of claim 1 wherein the feedback element is intermittently activated during the personal care composition deposition.

### Claim 12 (depends on 2)

The personal care device of claim 2 wherein the feedback signal intensity decreases as the rate of deposition decreases.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The personal care device of claim 1 wherein the processor intermittently activates the feedback element when the one or more nozzles deposit the personal care composition.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The personal care device of claim 1 wherein the camera is capable of taking images of the keratinous surface.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The personal care device of claim 14 wherein the processor analyzes the images of the keratinous surface to identify a keratinous imperfection.