Technology

Through the years, a variety of devices have been developed to co-dispense aerosolized products comprised of two liquid components that must be kept apart prior to dispensing. Garnering a great amount of industry interest during the mid-sixties and early-seventies, the earliest of such devices depended on unique valving that co-dispensed product from two separated sources within the same aerosol can. One source was the can itself, from which liquid was dispensed via a conventional dip-tube, as per a conventional aerosol. The other source was a pouch (or mini-container) affixed to the valve housing, rendering its liquid contents directly available for dispensing. Liquid from each source was then co-dispensed at a pre-determined ratio, upon actuation of the aerosol valve. One of the significant failings of these systems was their inability to maintain this pre-determined dispensing ratio throughout the functional life of the unit. This had the potential to lead to product failure and to cause consumer irritation. For some formulations, it was also very difficult to prevent cross contamination of the two liquids within the unit. Due to these issues and a variety of other considerations, these dispensing systems are no longer commercially available.

More modern attempts at co-dispensing aerosols have been based on the simultaneous dispensing of two separate aerosol units through a device that combines the dispensed product into a single stream. Prior to the development of the MixTek system, the ingredients were co-dispensed but not co-mixed. Such co-mixing, or homogenization, is essential for the functionality of products, such as oxidation hair dyes, where functionality is achieved only when the two component formulations have chemically reacted. Furthermore, less than optimal mixing will likely result in less than optimal hair dye performance. The MixTek system successfully addresses this issue, and is dispensing a homogeneous stream even when the two components are of gel or cream viscosity (e.g., 5,000 cps).

THE MIXTEK SYSTEM:

The MixTek system is designed to co-mix and dispense aerosolized product components that must be kept apart, and then mixed thoroughly immediately before use (e.g., hair colors, certain pharmaceuticals, exothermic products [shave creams/gels, hair skin moisturizers, permanent waves], and epoxy resins/paints/adhesives). The system consists of four main components: the base (optional), the head-bottom, the mixing nozzle and the head-top. When assembled, the two aerosol components are housed in the base, and their contents are dispensed via a sophisticated baffling system in the mixing nozzle. Gentle pressure on the ergonomically designed resilient actuator integrated into the head-top accurately releases the desired amount of the contents from both aerosol cans into the baffled mixing chamber, where they are thoroughly mixed. The resultant homogenous mixture then proceeds through the applicator nozzle where it is dispensed directly onto/into the intended substrate.

The system provides a great number of technological, marketing and consumer benefits, including the following:

• Dramatically improved convenience, and cleanliness, of product usage.
• Improved product appeal and user friendliness.
• Provides reason for being for new market entries.
• Provide value added, upscale, imagery
• Allows development of previously unachievable products.
• Is capable of variable dispensing ratios
• Can handle thin liquids, foams, post-foam, gels, creams

The ability to insert replacement cartridges within the head leaves open the options of marketing the system as follows:

• Disposable: Use once and discard.
• Semi-Disposable: The unit is sold with X number of replacement cartridges.
• Permanent: The unit is marketed as an appliance, with cartridges provided with replacement product or sold separately.

Various product examples include:

• Permanent hair dyes
• Hair lighteners
• Epoxy adhesives
• Urethane coatings
• Self-heating shave foams
• Self-heating permanent waves
• Self-heating windshield de-icers
• Immediate tan, self-tanners
• Multiple pharmaceutical products
• Multiple industrial products

Why MixTek?

1. CONVENIENCE:

The MixTek System eliminates the mess and inconvenience of measuring, transferring and thoroughly mixing product components. No measuring, vessels, stirrers, mixing, errors or clean up. Simply depress the actuator. Consumers are predisposed towards products that are more convenient and foolproof, and are willing to pay a premium for these features.

2. DIRECT PRODUCT APPLICATION:

The MixTek System is ergonomically designed for direct application of the co-mixed product directly where intended. There's no intermediate mixing vessel, bucket, or applicator bottle . . . and there's no stress. Accurately co-mixed product is effortless and immediately applied exactly where it is to function.

3. PRODUCT CONSISTENCY:

Product components dispensed by The MixTek System are mixed within seconds of application, on a continual basis, and remain consistent from beginning to end. This is to be contrasted with conventional methods where product is mixed on a batch basis. Here, material used at the middle and end of the process will have reacted together for a longer period of time than material used at the beginning.

4. REUSE:

And because components are sealed in air tight aerosol containers there's no need to discard partially used product. Instead, it's ready for touch up application whenever needed.

5. VERSATILITY

The MixTek System is readily adjustable to meet the specific requirements of most applications, and a team of experts stands ready to provide technical assistance.

• Product Viscosity: thin liquid to heavy gels or creams (excess of 100,000cps)
• Mixing Ratio: readily adjustable to accommodate most requirements
• Liquid, Foam, Post-Foam, Spray: versions exist and are can be further customized
• Propellant: can employ a variety of propellant utilizing conventional or barrier pack aerosol systems
6. CONSUMER IMPACT

A significant portion of retail consumers avoid usage of certain types of products that require measurement and mixing of components prior to usage due to both lack of desire to learn how to perform the required steps, and fear of failed results. This is particularly true in areas where products are to be applied to the body (e.g., hair dyes, lighteners or self-tanners) or create virtually irreversible results (use of epoxy adhesives). Such fears are allayed by use of The MixTek System where the apprehension creating factors are eliminated. The result is replacement of product intimidation by product purchase. In addition to The Systems functional and convenience related benefits, its elegant ergonomic design clearly provides instant Product Differentiation and imparts the images of Quality, and High Value.

• The Product Differentiation generated by use of The MixTek System can justify new product entry into well developed and already crowded, but lucrative, market areas. It is easy to anticipate the functional, convenience and aesthetic benefits contributed by The MixTek System to be prime purchase motivators.
• The physical characteristics of The MixTek System virtually speak quality and high value. As a result, the consumer anticipates products containing The MixTek System to warrant a higher price point.

Patents

MIXTEK PATENT PORTFOLIO

U.S. Patent No.6,168,335
Venable Ref: 39619-185729
Issued: January 2, 2001
Serial No.: 09/135,942
Filed: August 18, 1998
Title: APPLICATOR AND DISPENSING DEVICE USING SAME Inventors: Christopher Mears, Richard Gray, Lawrence Levine and Harvey Levine
Scope: (See issued claims)
Covers the basic Mixtek System and its use. The system is defined as a dispensing device for use atop a plurality of independently valved containers. The device includes a mixing chamber with an inlet for accepting the components from the containers, a mixing chamber with a tortuous flow path that can be sinuous or spiral, and a dispensing port. Claims include the use of a tined applicator.

U.S. National Stage based on PCT/US99/18738
Venable Ref: 39619-185731
Serial No.: 09/763,089
Filed: February 16, 2001
Title: APPLICATOR AND DISPENSING DEVICE USING SAME
based on PCT/US99/18738 filed August 18,1999
Inventors: Christopher Mears, Richard Gray, Lawrence Levine and Harvey Levine Scope: (See published claims for PCT/US99/18738)
An improvement in the basic Mixtek device that includes "baffle mixing stations," which are obstructions in the flow path within the missing chamber.

EP National Stage based on PCT/US99/18738
Venable Ref: 39619-192210
European Application No. 99942270.2
Publication No. EP 1 105 021
Filed: February 16, 2001
Title: APPLICATOR AND DISPENSING DEVICE USING SAME
Inventors: Christopher Mears; Richard Gray; Harvey Levine and Lawrence Levine
Scope: See U.S. Application No. 09/763,089
The European application covers the basic Mixtek System as well.