WO2000058172A1

WO2000058172A1 - Multiple fragrance kit and method of making personalized perfume

Info

Publication number: WO2000058172A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/000283
Authority: WO
Inventors: Scott Freeman; Faith Freeman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-03-29
Filing date: 2000-01-06
Publication date: 2000-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 2001-09-29
Also published as: US20020036155A1; AU2492800A

Abstract

A multiple fragrance kit (10) for enabling a user to create their own personalized perfume. The kit comprises at least two scents (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d and 20e) disposed within a container. The scents are formed from pressed perfume powder (22) and each have a unique scent. The user can blend their own perfume by mixing the different scents together on the user's wrist and then applying the desired fragrance to the user's body. The fragrance kit additionally comprises a recipe card (32) showing the proper proportions of scents to mix together to achieve certain fragrances.

Description

MULTIPLE FRAGRANCE KIT AND METHOD OF MAKING PERSONALIZED PERFUME

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS (Not Applicable)

STATEMENT RE : FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

(Not Applicable)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to perfume and more particularly to a kit that allows a user to make their own personalized perfume.

Perfume is typically sold to consumers in a pre- mixed form. In this respect, the consumer must purchase a bottle of perfume that has already been made with a scent created by a master perfumer. The consumer can only choose from pre-mixed scents and does not have the option of designing their own personalized fragrance. The master perfumer makes the perfume by mixing many different fragrances together. The final product sold is what the master perfumer decides is the correct combination of fragrances. As such, the user of the perfume can only choose from pre-mixed solutions and does not have the opportunity to mix the different fragrances together.

The present invention addresses the deficiencies of the above mentioned perfumes by providing a do-it- yourself perfume kit. In this respect, the present invention provides the user a set of scents that can be blended together to achieve a desired fragrance. The scents are provided in powdered form that can be easily transported and blended together.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a multiple fragrance kit. The kit comprises a container having a platform which defines at least two receptacle. Additionally, the kit includes at least two non-liquid scents disposed within respective ones of the receptacles . Each of the scents comprises a pressed perfume powder of a prescribed fragrance disposed within a scent pot which is sized and configured to be insertable into and frictionally retainable within a respective one of the receptacles. Each scent pot is removably attachable to the container in order for quick and easy replacement .

Additionally, the container may include a movable lid which provides access into the interior of the container. The lid is movable between an open position whereat the scents are exposed and a closed position whereat the scents are covered. A recipe card that provides blending instructions may be disposed on the lid. Preferably, the recipe card is affixed to an interior surface of the lid such that when the lid is opened to access the scents, the card is viewable.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for a user to make personalized perfume with the multiple fragrance kit. The method begins by placing the user's finger in a first scent. Then, the first scent is applied to the user's wrist with the user's finger. Next the user's finger is placed in a second scent which will be blended with the first scent on the user's wrist. Once the desired blended scent is achieved, then the user will apply the blended scent to the user's body. It will be recognized that the user can additionally blend multiple scents together on the user's wrist to achieve the desired blended scent . BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These as well as other features of the present invention, will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a multiple fragrance kit constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the kit shown in Figure 1 with the cover opened; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a multiple fragrance kit constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the kit shown in Figure 3 with the cover opened; and Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views showing the manner in which a multiple fragrance kit constructed in accordance with the present invention is used to blend and apply fragrances.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and not for purposes of limiting the same, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a multiple fragrance kit 10 constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the kit 10 includes a generally rectangular container 12 that is used to accommodate multiple scents 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, and 20e as seen in Figure 2. The container 12 has a lid 14 that is movable between a closed position (as shown in Figure 1) and an open position (as shown in Figure 2) . The lid 14 is hinged to one side of the container 12 such that the lid 14 can rotate upwardly to allow access into an interior compartment 16 of container 12. The lid 14 further has a clasp portion 18 integrally formed thereon for retaining the lid 14 in the closed position as seen in Figure 1. The clasp 18 is formed to bind against the front of the container 12 when the lid 14 is in the closed position to prevent the lid 14 from inadvertently opening. In a first embodiment of the present invention, the container 12 is sized and configured to retain five scents 20a - 20e. The interior compartment 16 includes a platform 26 having multiple circular receptacles 28 formed therein. Each receptacle 28 is sized and configured to securely receive a respective one of the multiple scents 20a - 20e. Specifically, each scent 20a - 20e is disposed within a respective cylindrical scent pot 24 that is sized slightly larger than each receptacle 28. Therefore, each scent pot 24 can be frictionally retained by platform 26 when a respective scent pot 24 is placed within a respective one of the receptacles 28.

In order to facilitate removal of a scent 20a - 20e after the perfume powder 22 has been consumed, the platform 26 includes cutouts 30 formed adjacent to each of the receptacles 28. Each cutout 30 is generally rectangularly shaped and is sized to receive a bobby pin or paper clip. To remove a scent pot 24 from a respective receptacle 28, the bobby pin or paper clip is placed within the cutout 30 adjacent to the scent pot 24 that is to be removed. The bobby pin or paper clip is then used to disengage the frictional retention between the scent pot 24 and platform 26 by prying or popping out the scent pot 24 from receptacle 28. Each scent 20a - 20e is formed from a different pressed perfume powder 22. Depending on the type of perfume powder 22 used, each scent 20a - 20e will have a different fragrance. For example, perfume powders 22 such as floral, citrus, wood, musk and herbal are all fragrances that are possible for scents 20a - 20e. It is contemplated that the powder 22 is talc based (i.e., talcum powder) and colored to distinguish the different scents 20a - 20e from one another. As will be recognized to those of ordinary skill in the art, the number of scents can vary and container 12 can be sized accordingly. Since each scent 20a - 20e retained by container 12 is different, it is possible to mix multiple scents 20a - 20e together to obtain a desired fragrance. In order to facilitate such mixing, the kit 10 is provided with a recipe card 32 affixed to an interior surface of lid 14. The card 32 is therefore visible while the lid 14 is in an open position and provides instructions on how to blend the different scents 20a - 20e together in order to obtain a desired fragrance.

Figures 1 and 2 show the first embodiment of the multiple fragrance kit 10 as containing five scents 20a - 20e. As such, the first embodiment is a multiple fragrance kit 10 is intended for home use. However, Figures 3 and 4 show a compact fragrance kit 110 constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The compact fragrance kit 110 is configured to be smaller than the first embodiment of fragrance kit 10 such that compact kit 110 can be placed within a pocket or purse of the user. As such, the compact kit 110 comprises a container 112 sized and configured to retain only two different scents 20a,

20b. Therefore, the container 112 has a platform 126 with two receptacles 128 and respective cutouts 130 formed therein. The container 112 has a lid 114 that has an closed position as seen in Figure 3 and an open position as seen in Figure 4 that allows access into an interior compartment 116. The lid 114 is formed with an integral clasp 118 to retain the lid 114 in the closed position as seen in Figure 3. The compact kit 110 is designed to be portable and therefore the user will place within the two receptacles 128 the two scents 20a, 20b that the user wishes to take with them. The scents 20a, 20b can be taken from the non-compact fragrance kit 10 or be purchased individually. In order to facilitate mixing of the scents 20a and 20b, the compact kit 110 may additionally comprise a recipe card 132 affixed to an interior surface of the lid 114. The recipe card 132 gives directions on the proper method of mixing the scents 20a, 20b to achieve the desired blended fragrance.

The multiple fragrance kit 10 and compact kit 110 are both designed for a user to blend their own personalized fragrance or perfume. As such, the user will typically create a personalized fragrance by applying a small amount of a first scent 20b to the user's fingertip 40 as seen in Figure 5. Next, the user will apply the first scent 20b to the underside of the user's wrist 42 as seen in Figure 6. In order to create the personalized perfume, the user will then apply a second scent 20a to the user's fingertip 40. The second scent 20a will be blended on the user's wrist 42 with the first scent 20b by the user's fingertip 40 as shown by Figure 6. The user can additionally blend the other scents 20c - 20e on the user's wrist by the same method. Once the user has created the desired fragrance on their wrist 42, the user can then apply the blended scent to their body at desired locations. As will be recognized, the above method of application can additionally be accomplished using a brush instead of the user's fingertip 40. The recipe card 32 aids in blending scents 20a - 20e together by indicating the proper proportions of each scent 20a - 20e that should be mixed. Of course, the above-mentioned blending procedure can be used with the compact fragrance kit 110 whereby only two scents 20a and 20b are used in creating the personalized fragrance . Additional modifications and improvements of the present invention may also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art such as using containers 12 and 112 that have different configurations and can contain more or less scents. Thus, the particular combination of parts described and illustrated herein is intended to represent only certain embodiments of the present invention, and is not intended to serve as limitations of alternative devices within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A multiple fragrance kit comprising: a container having a platform which defines at least two receptacles; and at least two non-liquid scents disposed within respective ones of the receptacles.

2. The kit of claim 1 wherein the container further comprises a lid movable between an open position whereat the scents are exposed and a closed position whereat the scents are covered.

3. The kit of claim 2 wherein the kit further comprises a recipe card attached to the lid and viewable when the lid is in the open position.

4. The kit of claim 1 wherein each of the scents comprises: a scent pot which is sized and configured to be insertable into and frictionally retainable within a respective one of the receptacles; and a pressed perfume powder of a prescribed fragrance disposed within the scent pot.

5. A method of making personalized perfume by a user from a kit having a container with a platform that defines at least two receptacles and at least two non- liquid scents disposed within respective ones of the receptacles, the method comprising the steps of: a) placing the user's finger in a first one of the scents; b) applying the first one of the scents to the user's wrist with the user's finger; c) placing the user's finger in a second one of the scents; d) blending the second one of the scents with the first one of the scents on the user's wrist to create a blended scent; and e) applying the blended scent to the user's body.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the kit includes at least five scents and step (d) comprises repeatedly blending other ones of the scents on the user's wrist to obtain the desired personalized perfume .

AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 19 May 2000 (19.05.00); original claims 2 and 3 amended; original claims 1 and 4-6 cancelled; new claims 7-13 added (2 pages)]

1 . Canceled .

2. (Amended) The kit of claim 7 wherein the container further comprises a lid movable between an open position whereat the scents are exposed and a closed position whereat the scents are covered.

3. (Amended) The kit of claim 7 wherein the kit further comprises a recipe card attached to the lid and viewable when the lid is in the open position. 4. Canceled.

5. Canceled.

6. Canceled.

7. (New) A multiple fragrance kit comprising: a container; a stage disposed within the container; at least two receptacles formed within the stage; and at least two scent pots fictionally retained within respective ones of the receptacles, each of the scent pots containing a pressed perfume powder; wherein the at least two receptacles are sized smaller than the scent pots in order to fictionally retain the scent pots within the stage.

8. (New) The kit of claim 7 wherein the at least two receptacles are generally circular and the at least two scent pots are generally circular.

9. (New) The kit of claim 8 wherein the diameter of each of the receptacles is slightly smaller than the diameter of a respective scent pot.

10. (New) A method of making personalized perfume by a user with a kit having at least two scent pots containing respective first and second pressed perfume, and at least two receptacles sized smaller than the scent pots, the method comprising the steps of: a) inserting a desired first scent pot into a respective one of the receptacles such that the first scent pot is fictionally retained within the receptacle; b) inserting a desired second scent pot into a respective one of the receptacles such that the second scent pot is fictionally retained within the receptacle ; c) placing the user's finger in the first pressed perfume powder of the first scent pot; d) applying the first pressed perfume powder to the user's wrist with the user's finger; e) placing the user's finger in the second pressed perfume powder of the second scent pot ; f) blending the second pressed perfume powder with the first pressed perfume powder on the user's wrist to create a blended scent; and g) applying the blended scent to the user's body.

11. (New) The method of claim 10 wherein the kit includes at least five scent pots each having a respective pressed perfume powder and step (f) comprises blending other ones of the pressed perfume powder from the scent pots on the user's wrist to obtain the desired personalized perfume.

12. (New) The method of claim 10 wherein the kit includes at least five scent pots and the container has five receptacles and step (b) further comprises inserting each scent pot into a respective container one of the receptacles .

13. (New) The method of claim 10 wherein each of the scent pots has an outer diameter and each of the receptacles has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the receptacle in order to fictionally retain each of the scent pots within the container.