Title:  Method, apparatus, and composition for automatically coating the human body

United States Patent:  6,251,374

Assignee:  Laughlin Products, Inc. (Grapevine, TX)

Filed:  September 18, 2000

In a system for coating human skin, a chemical composition, such as a cosmetic or medical formulation, is uniformly coated over the entire body or selected parts of the body of the person being coated. The system includes atomization of the coating composition, containment of the atomized spray, and residual recovery which together yield a novel method for applying chemical compositions. An improved self-tanning composition is useful in conjunction with the system is also disclosed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a system for automatically coating the human body, including a method of and apparatus for uniformly and rapidly coating all or selected parts of the human body. The system includes apparatus which atomizes (also referred to as aerosolization, nebulization, mist generation, fog generation or spray generation) a chemical composition and deposits it uniformly over all or selected parts of the human body. It is not necessary for the individual receiving the treatment nor anyone else to manually apply any of the formulation. Also, a containment system is provided which restrains and collects residue from the application process. The system can optionally recycle the materials used.

There are several major advantages resulting from the use of the invention:

Uniform application minimizes or eliminates streaking,

No assistant is required for applying the composition,

The entire skin surface receives the same exposure to the composition, so the uniformity of the coating is greatly enhanced over manual application,

The optimal formulation for atomization is very simple, and does not require the addition of components which may inhibit the efficacy of the applied material,

The application time can be as quick as a few seconds, and complete drying can occur in just a few minutes,

The containment system drastically reduces the unwanted environmental impact,

Multiple applications can be used to better control the amount of material applied per unit area, and additional substances can be applied in separate applications.

The invention may be practiced utilizing a unitary construction including both a coating chamber and apparatus for coating a person situated within the coating chamber. A door provides ingress to and egress from the coating chamber which is provided with vertically disposed arrays of spray discharging nozzles situated at spaced apart points around the periphery of the chamber. A blower circulates air through the coating chamber to effect drying following the coating procedure and to aid in containment of excess spray. An air compressor supplies liquid for coating and compressed air for spraying the coating liquid to the nozzles situated within the coating chamber.

The present invention further comprises an improved self-tanning composition. The improved self-tanning composition is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with the method and apparatus hereof.

Claim 1 of 1 Claim

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