U.S. patent application number 11/231984 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-22 for products, packagings, displays, and methods relating to hair coloring.
Invention is credited to Laura Azaria, Celine Brucker, Carol Hamilton, Victoria Lerner, Kathy Roher.
Application Number | 20070062956 11/231984 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37883037 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070062956 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Roher; Kathy ; et
al. |
March 22, 2007 |
Products, packagings, displays, and methods relating to hair
coloring
Abstract
Products, packagings, display, and methods relating to hair
coloring are disclosed. In some examples, a packaging for a hair
coloring product includes a reflective portion configured to
provide a reflection of a subject's hair color so as to permit the
subject to compare the reflection of the subject's hair color to at
least one representation of hair color. Certain examples may
include multiple representations of hair after treatment with
differing hair coloring products.
Inventors: |
Roher; Kathy; (Hartsdale,
NY) ; Hamilton; Carol; (New York, NY) ;
Brucker; Celine; (New York, NY) ; Azaria; Laura;
(Brooklyn, NY) ; Lerner; Victoria; (New York,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FINNEGAN, HENDERSON, FARABOW, GARRETT & DUNNER;LLP
901 NEW YORK AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20001-4413
US
|
Family ID: |
37883037 |
Appl. No.: |
11/231984 |
Filed: |
September 22, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/520 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 2200/25 20130101;
B65D 5/02 20130101; A45D 44/005 20130101; B65D 2201/00 20130101;
B65D 2203/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/520 |
International
Class: |
B65D 1/24 20060101
B65D001/24 |
Claims
1. A packaging for a hair coloring product, comprising: at least
one wall defining an interior of the packaging, wherein at least
one part of the packaging visible to a subject viewing an exterior
of the packaging comprises at least one representation of hair
color and at least one reflective portion adjacent to the at least
one representation of hair color, the at least one reflective
portion being configured to provide a reflection of the subject's
hair color so as to permit the subject to compare the reflection of
the subject's hair color to the at least one representation of hair
color.
2. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the packaging comprises a box,
and wherein the at least one part of the packaging comprises an
exterior of the box.
3. The packaging of claim 2, wherein the box comprises a flap
movable between a closed position closing an opening leading to the
interior and an open position permitting access to the interior via
the opening, and wherein the flap comprises at least one of the
representation of hair color and the reflective portion.
4. The packaging of claim 3, wherein the flap comprises both the
representation of hair color and the reflective portion.
5. The packaging of claim 4, wherein the at least one
representation of hair color comprises one representation of hair
color before treatment with the hair coloring product and another
representation of hair color after treatment with the hair coloring
product.
6. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the at least one
representation of hair color comprises one representation of hair
color before treatment with the hair coloring product and another
representation of hair color after treatment with the hair coloring
product.
7. The packaging of claim 1, further comprising a prompt arranged
to prompt the subject to view the reflection of the subject's hair
color.
8. The packaging of claim 7, wherein the prompt is further arranged
to prompt the subject to compare the reflection of the subject's
hair color to the representation of hair color.
9. The packaging of claim 7, wherein the packaging comprises the
prompt.
10. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the reflective portion
comprises a reflective, metallized film.
11. The packaging of claim 10, wherein the reflective, metallized
film comprises an adhesive adhering the reflective, metallized film
to a surface of the at least one wall.
12. A packaged hair coloring product, comprising: the packaging of
claim 1; and a hair coloring product contained in the interior of
the packaging.
13. The packaged hair coloring product of claim 12, wherein the
hair coloring product comprises at least one of a hair dye and at
least one component of a hair dye.
14. The packaged hair coloring product of claim 13, wherein the
hair coloring product further comprises a hair conditioner and a
pair of gloves.
15. The packaged hair coloring product of claim 13, wherein the
hair coloring product further comprises at least one of a hair
lightener and at least one component of a hair lightener.
16. The packaged hair coloring product of claim 12, wherein the
hair coloring product comprises at least one of a hair lightener
and at least one component of a hair lightener.
17. A method of facilitating selection of a hair coloring product,
the method comprising: viewing a reflection of hair color provided
by the reflective portion of the packaging of claim 1; and
comparing the reflection of hair color to the at least one
representation of hair color.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one representation
of hair color comprises a representation of hair color before
treatment with the hair coloring product.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one representation
of hair color comprises a representation of hair color after
treatment with the hair coloring product.
20. The method of claim 17, further comprising selecting a hair
coloring product based at least partially on the comparing.
21. A packaging for a hair coloring product, comprising: at least
one wall defining an interior of the packaging, wherein at least
one part of the packaging visible to a subject viewing an exterior
of the packaging comprises a plurality of differing representations
of hair color, wherein at least one of the representations
comprises a representation of hair color after treatment with a
hair coloring product contained in the packaging, and wherein at
least one other of the representations comprises a representation
of hair color after treatment with a hair coloring product other
than the hair coloring product contained in the packaging.
22. The packaging of claim 21, wherein the representation of hair
color after treatment with a hair coloring product contained in the
packaging is a first representation, wherein the hair coloring
product contained in the packaging is a first hair coloring
product, and wherein said at least one of the other representations
comprises a second representation of hair color after treatment
with a second hair coloring product differing from the first hair
coloring product, and a third representation of hair color after
treatment with a third hair coloring product differing from the
first and second hair coloring products.
23. The packaging of claim 22, wherein each of the first, second,
and third hair coloring products is selected from a hair coloring
product providing cooler hair color, a hair coloring product
providing natural hair color, and a hair coloring product providing
warmer hair color.
24. The packaging of claim 23, wherein each of the hair coloring
product providing cooler hair color, the hair coloring product
providing natural hair color, and the hair coloring product
providing warmer hair color is a hair coloring product for coloring
the same starting hair color.
25. The packaging of claim 22, wherein said at least one of the
other representations further comprises a fourth representation of
hair color after treatment with a fourth hair coloring product
differing from the first, second, and third hair coloring products
and providing red hair color.
26. The packaging of claim 21, wherein the packaging comprises a
box, and wherein the at least one part of the packaging comprises
an exterior of the box.
27. The packaging of claim 26, wherein a single wall of the box
comprises the plurality of differing representations of hair
color.
28. A packaged hair coloring product, comprising: the packaging of
claim 21; and the hair coloring product contained in the interior
of the packaging.
29. The packaged hair coloring product of claim 28, wherein the
hair coloring product contained in the interior of the packaging
comprises at least one of a hair dye and at least one component of
a hair dye.
30. The packaged hair coloring product of claim 28, wherein the
hair coloring product contained in the interior of the packaging
comprises at least one of a hair lightener and at least one
component of a hair lightener.
31. A plurality of packaged hair coloring products, comprising: a
first packaged hair coloring product comprising a first packaging,
and a first hair coloring product contained in an interior of the
first packaging; and a second packaged hair coloring product
comprising a second packaging, and a second hair coloring product
contained in an interior of the second packaging, the second hair
coloring product differing from the first hair coloring product;
wherein each of the first packaging and the second packaging is a
packaging according to claim 21, wherein the first packaging
comprises a representation of hair color after treatment with the
second hair coloring product, and wherein the second packaging
comprises a representation of hair color after treatment with the
first hair coloring product.
32. The plurality of packaged hair coloring products of claim 31,
wherein each of the first and second hair coloring products is a
hair coloring product for coloring the same starting hair
color.
33. The plurality of packaged hair coloring products of claim 32,
wherein each of the first packaging and the second packaging
comprises a substantially identical representation of hair color
before hair coloring treatment.
34. The plurality of packaged hair coloring products of claim 31,
further comprising a third packaged hair coloring product
comprising a third packaging, and a third hair coloring product
contained in an interior of the third packaging, the third hair
coloring product differing from the first and second hair coloring
products; wherein the first packaging further comprises a
representation of hair color after treatment with the third hair
coloring product, wherein the second packaging further comprises a
representation of hair color after treatment with the third hair
coloring product, and wherein the third packaging comprises a
representation of hair color after treatment with the first hair
coloring product, and a representation of hair color after
treatment with the second hair coloring product.
35. The plurality of packaged hair coloring products of claim 34,
wherein the first hair coloring product is a hair coloring product
providing cooler hair color, wherein the second hair coloring
product is a hair coloring product providing natural hair color,
and wherein the third hair coloring product is a hair coloring
product providing warmer hair color.
36. The plurality of packaged hair coloring products of claim 35,
wherein each of the first, second, and third hair coloring products
is a hair coloring product for coloring the same starting hair
color.
37. The plurality of packaged hair coloring products of claim 34,
wherein one of the first, second, and third hair coloring products
is a hair coloring product providing red hair color.
38. A method of facilitating selection of a hair coloring product,
the method comprising: viewing the representations of the packaging
of claim 21; selecting, based on the viewing, at least one of the
hair coloring product contained in the packaging and the hair
coloring product other than the hair coloring product contained in
the packaging.
39. A display relating to hair coloring products, the display
comprising: a representation of a starting hair color; a first
representation of the starting hair color after treatment with a
first hair coloring product, wherein the first representation is a
cooler color as compared to the starting hair color; a second
representation of the starting hair color after treatment with a
second hair coloring product, wherein the second representation is
a natural color as compared to the starting hair color; and a third
representation of the starting hair color after treatment with a
third hair coloring product, wherein the third representation is a
warmer color as compared to the starting hair color.
40. The display of claim 39, further comprising a fourth
representation of the starting hair color after treatment with a
fourth hair coloring product, wherein the fourth representation is
a red hair color as compared to the starting hair color.
41. The display of claim 39, further comprising a plurality of
differing starting hair color representations, and respective
first, second, and third after treatment representations for each
of the starting hair color representations.
42. The display of claim 39, wherein the display is part of a
packaging for a hair coloring product.
43. The display of claim 39, wherein the display is located at a
point of sale for the hair coloring products.
44. The display of claim 39, wherein the display is at least part
of a printed chart.
45. The display of claim 39, wherein the first, second, and third
representations comprise representations that are part of one or
more product packagings.
46. The display of claim 39, wherein the first, second, and third
representations comprise at least one of dyed strands of hair and
dyed strands of simulated hair.
47. The display of claim 46, wherein the display further comprises
a mirror.
48. The display of claim 39, wherein the display is configured to
group together respective first, second, and third hair coloring
products associated with the same starting hair color.
49. A method of facilitating selection of a hair coloring product,
the method comprising: viewing the representations of the display
of claim 39; and selecting, based on the appearance of the first
representation, the second representation, and the third
representation, at least one of the first hair coloring product,
the second hair color product, and the third hair coloring
product.
50. A method of marketing hair coloring products, the method
comprising: providing the display of claim 39 at a point of sale
for the first, second, and third hair coloring products.
51. A plurality of hair coloring products, comprising: a plurality
of hair coloring product groups, each of the hair coloring product
groups comprising a first hair coloring product, a second hair
coloring product, and a third hair coloring product, wherein each
of the hair coloring product groups is associated with a respective
starting hair color, wherein the first hair coloring product is a
hair coloring product for treating the starting hair color to
provide a cooler color as compared to the starting hair color,
wherein the second hair coloring product is a hair coloring product
for treating the starting hair color to provide a natural hair
color as compared to the starting hair color, and wherein the third
hair coloring product is a hair coloring product for treating the
starting hair color to provide a warmer hair color as compared to
the starting hair color.
52. The plurality of hair coloring products of claim 51, wherein at
least some of the hair coloring product groups further comprise a
fourth hair coloring product for treating the starting hair color
to provide a red hair color as compared to the starting hair
color.
53. The plurality of hair coloring products of claim 51, wherein
each of the hair coloring products is packaged in respective
packaging including respective representations of hair color after
treatment with each of the products of a product group.
54. The plurality of hair coloring products of claim 51, wherein a
separate product group is associated with each of the following
starting hair colors: light to medium blonde, medium to dark
blonde, dark blonde, light brown, medium brown, dark brown, and
darkest brown/black.
55. The plurality of hair coloring products of claim 51, wherein no
more than four hair coloring products are associated with each of
the starting hair colors.
56. A method of facilitating selection of at least one of the hair
coloring products of claim 51, the method comprising: viewing
respective representations of hair color, each of the
representations being associated a respective hair coloring product
of one of the hair coloring product groups; and selecting, based on
the appearance of the representations, at least one of the first
hair coloring product, the second hair color product, and the third
hair coloring product.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to hair coloring
products. In particular, some aspects of the invention relate to
hair coloring products, packagings, displays, and related
methods.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Hair coloring products include both hair dyes (e.g.,
substances that act to darken hair color) and hair lighteners
(e.g., substances, such as bleaches and at least some highlighters,
that act to lighten hair color). Several such products are
currently available on the market. They are marketed by a variety
of different companies under several different brands and product
names. Even for a single product name, an array of several
individual products are often provided in order to have a separate,
respective product intended to treat a particular current hair
color and/or to result in a particular finished hair color. For
example, for a single product name, a separate product may be
provided to change the color of blonde hair to brown and/or the
color of brown hair to black, and separate additional products may
be provided for different starting colors and/or resulting
colors.
[0005] To aid consumers in selecting a product, some existing
packaging arrangements for hair coloring products include one or
more pictures. In some examples, such pictures include both a
picture of a suggested, existing hair color prior to use of the
hair coloring product and a picture of a resulting hair color
following use of the hair coloring product. Sometimes the packaging
may include multiple pairs of pictures illustrating different
existing hair colors and the respective resulting hair colors that
might result from using the product in the packaging. While
pictures on packaging are helpful in giving consumers an idea of a
hair color that might be attained by using a particular hair
coloring product, there are drawbacks to some existing approaches.
For example, in certain instances, consumers might not have a good
understanding of their existing hair color (e.g., if the consumer
colors their hair often and/or if the individual's hair color
changes due to aging (e.g., graying of the hair) and/or due to sun
exposure), which may sometimes result in selecting a hair coloring
product intended to be used for an existing hair color other than
the actual, existing hair color of the consumer. In some instances,
even when the consumer might have a reasonable understanding of
their existing hair color, the consumer may have difficulty
appreciating the extent of coloration that a particular product
might cause to their existing hair coloring.
[0006] Lack of adequate product information is sometimes another
factor contributing to consumer confusion. For example, in many
existing arrangements, a consumer with a particular existing hair
color might not be able to accurately determine all of the hair
coloring products suitable for treating their hair without
inspecting the packaging of each hair coloring product at a point
of sale and making individual determinations of whether each
product is suitable for changing their existing hair color.
[0007] A further challenge relates to the current arrangements of
many hair coloring products. In particular, many hair coloring
product lines are positioned to deliver somewhat radical and
drastic changes in the degree of hair coloration, rather than
subtle, more subdued variations that are sometimes desired by
consumers (e.g., when the desire is primarily to change the
appearance of grey hair without significantly altering the overall
hair color).
[0008] For these and other reasons, there is a need for alternative
approaches that may at least partially overcome one or more of the
above-outlined drawbacks and/or limitations of current
arrangements.
[0009] Although the present invention may obviate one or more of
the above-mentioned drawbacks, it should be understood that some
aspects of the invention might not necessarily obviate one or more
of those drawbacks.
SUMMARY
[0010] In the following description, certain aspects and
embodiments of the present invention will become evident. It should
be understood that the invention, in its broadest sense, could be
practiced without having one or more features of these aspects and
embodiments. In other words, these aspects and embodiments are
merely exemplary.
[0011] One aspect of the invention relates to a packaging for a
hair coloring product. The packaging may include at least one wall
defining an interior of the packaging. At least one part of the
packaging visible to a subject viewing an exterior of the packaging
may include at least one representation of hair color and at least
one reflective portion adjacent to the at least one representation
of hair color. The reflective portion may be configured to provide
a reflection of the subject's hair color so as to permit the
subject to compare the reflection of the subject's hair color to
the at least one representation of hair color.
[0012] In some examples, the representation of hair color may
include a representation of hair color before treatment with the
hair coloring product and/or a representation of hair color after
treatment with the hair coloring product. (As used herein, the term
"and/or" and the symbol "/" have the same meaning and are used
interchangeably; e.g., the expression ash/beige means ash and/or
beige.)
[0013] According to a further aspect, a method of facilitating
selection of a hair coloring product may include viewing a
reflection of hair color provided by the reflective portion of the
packaging and comparing the reflection of hair color to the at
least one representation of hair color. In some examples, the
method may further include selecting a hair coloring product based
at least partially on the comparing.
[0014] Another aspect may relate to a packaging for a hair coloring
product, including at least one wall defining an interior of the
packaging. At least one part of the packaging visible to a subject
viewing an exterior of the packaging may include a plurality of
differing representations of hair color. At least one of the
representations may include a representation of hair color after
treatment with a hair coloring product contained in the packaging,
and at least one other of the representations may include a
representation of hair color after treatment with a hair coloring
product other than the hair coloring product contained in the
packaging.
[0015] In some examples, the representation of hair color after
treatment with a hair coloring product contained in the packaging
may be a first representation, the hair coloring product contained
in the packaging may be a first hair coloring product, and said at
least one of the other representations may include both a second
representation of hair color after treatment with a second hair
coloring product differing from the first hair coloring product,
and a third representation of hair color after treatment with a
third hair coloring product differing from the first and second
hair coloring products. For example, the hair coloring products may
be selected from a hair coloring product providing cooler hair
color, a hair coloring product providing natural hair color, a hair
coloring product providing warmer hair color, and/or a hair
coloring product providing red hair color (e.g., for the same
starting hair color).
[0016] According to another aspect, one or more packaged hair
coloring products each may include the packaging and a respective
hair coloring product contained in the interior of the
packaging.
[0017] Yet another aspect may relate to a plurality of packaged
hair coloring products. The plurality may include a first packaged
hair coloring product including a first packaging, and a first hair
coloring product contained in an interior of the first packaging.
The plurality may further include a second packaged hair coloring
product including a second packaging, and a second hair coloring
product contained in an interior of the second packaging, the
second hair coloring product differing from the first hair coloring
product. The first packaging may include a representation of hair
color after treatment with the second hair coloring product, and
the second packaging may include a representation of hair color
after treatment with the first hair coloring product. Some examples
may further include a third packaged hair coloring product, which
may include a third packaging including both a representation of
hair color after treatment with the first hair coloring product,
and a representation of hair color after treatment with the second
hair coloring product.
[0018] One more aspect may relate to a method of facilitating
selection of a hair coloring product. The method may include
viewing the representations of the packaging and selecting, based
on the viewing, a hair coloring product contained in the packaging
and/or a hair coloring product other than the hair coloring product
contained in the packaging.
[0019] An additional aspect may include a display relating to hair
coloring products. The display may include a representation of a
starting hair color and a first representation of the starting hair
color after treatment with a first hair coloring product. The first
representation may be a cooler color as compared to the starting
hair color. The display may also include a second representation of
the starting hair color after treatment with a second hair coloring
product, wherein the second representation may be a natural color
as compared to the starting hair color. In addition, the display
may include a third representation of the starting hair color after
treatment with a third hair coloring product, wherein the third
representation may be a warmer color as compared to the starting
hair color. Some examples may further include a fourth
representation of the starting hair color after treatment with a
fourth hair coloring product, wherein the fourth representation may
be a red hair color as compared to the starting hair color.
[0020] One more aspect may relate to a method of facilitating
selection of a hair coloring product. The method may include
viewing the representations of the display, and selecting, based on
the appearance of the first representation, the second
representation, and the third representation, the first hair
coloring product, the second hair color product, and/or the third
hair coloring product.
[0021] Yet another aspect may relate to a method of marketing hair
coloring products. The method may include providing the display at
a point of sale for the first, second, and third hair coloring
products.
[0022] One further aspect may relate to a plurality of hair
coloring products, which may include a plurality of hair coloring
product groups. Each of the hair coloring product groups may
include a first hair coloring product, a second hair coloring
product, and a third hair coloring product, and each of the hair
coloring product groups may be associated with a respective
starting hair color. The first hair coloring product may be a hair
coloring product for treating the starting hair color to provide a
cooler color as compared to the starting hair color. The second
hair coloring product may be a hair coloring product for treating
the starting hair color to provide a natural hair color as compared
to the starting hair color. And the third hair coloring product is
a hair coloring product for treating the starting hair color to
provide a warmer hair color as compared to the starting hair
color.
[0023] In at least some exemplary embodiments, a somewhat focused
and possibly "limited" number of respective hair coloring products
(e.g., no more than four products) may be associated with one or
more of the starting hair colors (e.g., all of the starting hair
colors). At least some such embodiments may facilitate selecting
one or more of the products based on a starting hair color (e.g.,
by better enabling a consumer to select products from only a group
of products associated with a particular starting hair color).
Several alternatives are also possible.
[0024] Aside from the structural and procedural arrangements set
forth above, the invention could include a number of other
arrangements such as those explained hereinafter. It is to be
understood that both the foregoing description and the following
description are exemplary only.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute
a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary
embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain
some principles of the invention. In the drawings,
[0026] FIG. 1 is a partially schematic, perspective view of an
exemplary embodiment of a packaging for a hair coloring
product;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a partially schematic top view of the packaging of
FIG. 1;
[0028] FIG. 3 is a partially schematic back view of the packaging
of FIG. 1, including an exemplary display that includes
representations;
[0029] FIG. 4 is a partially schematic view of an exemplary
packaged hair coloring product including the packaging of FIG.
1;
[0030] FIG. 5 is a partially schematic front view of an exemplary
display in the form of a unit having a plurality of packaged hair
coloring products at least similar to the product of FIG. 4;
[0031] FIG. 6 is a partially schematic plan view of an exemplary
display in the form of a color match bar of the unit of FIG. 5;
[0032] FIG. 7 is a partially schematic plan view of an exemplary
display in the form of a chart including representations of hair
colored with the products shown in FIG. 5;
[0033] FIG. 8 shows a portion of an exemplary packaging for one of
the products associated with the display of FIG. 5; and
[0034] FIG. 9 shows a portion of an exemplary packaging for another
of the products associated with the display of FIG. 5.
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0035] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary
embodiments of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference
numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to
the same or like parts.
[0036] FIGS. 1 and 4 depict an embodiment of a packaged hair
coloring product 100 including a packaging 10. The packaging 10
includes one or more walls 12 defining a packaging interior 14
partially shown in FIG. 4. The walls 12 may be formed of a variety
of different materials, such as carton board, cardboard, paper,
plastic, and/or any other material.
[0037] In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 4, the packaging
10 may be in the form of a box including a top flap 16 movable
between an open position (shown in FIG. 4) permitting access to the
interior 14 via an opening 18 of the packaging 10, and a closed
position (shown in FIG. 1) closing the opening 18 leading to the
interior 14. Several alternative packaging arrangements other than
boxes and/or boxes having an opening and closable flap are also
possible. For example, the packaging could be in any type of
container form.
[0038] As shown in the example of FIG. 4, the hair coloring product
contained in the packaging 10 may include one or more components,
such as containers 40, 42, an applicator tip 44 configured to be
connected to at least one of the containers 40, 42, a tube 45, a
pair of gloves 46, and an insert 48 including instructions for
using the hair coloring product to treat hair. One or more of the
containers 40, 42 may contain a hair dye, one or more components of
a hair dye (e.g., a color component and/or a developer component),
a hair lightener, and/or one or more components of a hair
lightener, and the tube 45 may contain a hair conditioner. In one
example having one or more of containers 40, 42 containing a hair
dye or component(s) of a hair dye, the hair dye may in a form that
lacks any ammonia (e.g., a color component may lack any ammonia).
Many alternative components and forms of products are also
possible. For example, one or more alternative applicators, such as
a brush and/or comb, may be provided.
[0039] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, one or more parts of the
packaging 10 visible to a subject viewing an exterior of the
packaging 10 may include one or more representations of hair color
20, 22 and at least one reflective portion 24. Each of the
representations of hair color 20, 22 may include a depiction (e.g.,
drawing, photograph, and/or other printed image) simulating hair
and hair color. For example, the representation 20 may be a
representation of hair color before treatment with a hair coloring
product contained in the packaging 10 (in other words, a
representation of a starting hair color before using the product),
and the representation 22 may be a representation of hair color
after treatment with the hair coloring product contained in the
packaging 10.
[0040] Although the representations 20 and 22 shown in FIGS. 1 and
4 depict a colored hair simulation, it should be understood that
alternative arrangements are possible. For example, the
representations 20 and 22 may merely show a depiction of a
simulation of hair color without showing a simulation of hair. In
accordance with the meaning of the term "representation" as used
herein, a mere text identifier does not correspond to a
representation (e.g., a textual list of terms describing colors
such as dark brown, golden brown, etc. and having no depictions of
such colors would not correspond to representations).
[0041] The reflective portion 24 may be located adjacent to the
representation(s) 20, 22 (e.g., in close proximity to one or more
of the representations 20, 22 and/or touching one or more the
representations 20, 22). The reflective portion 24 may be
configured to provide a subject (e.g., a consumer contemplating
purchase of a hair coloring product) with a reflection of the
subject's hair color so as to permit the subject to compare the
reflection of the subject's hair color to the representation(s) of
hair color 20, 22.
[0042] Comparing the hair color reflection to the "before"
representation 20 may assist the subject in evaluating whether the
subject's current hair color is suitable for use with the hair
coloring product. In contrast, comparing the hair color reflection
to the "after" representation 22 may assist the subject in
evaluating the degree of hair color change that might occur if the
subject were to use the hair coloring product.
[0043] In some embodiments, the reflective portion 24 may be
configured to provide much less than a true mirror image of the
subject's hair, e.g., a substantially accurate reflection of hair
color without necessarily providing a substantially accurate image
reflection. In some examples, the reflective portion 24 may include
a reflective, metallized film having an adhesive adhering the film
to a wall surface of the packaging 10. For example, the reflective
portion 24 may be in the form of a reflective, metallized film that
comprises polyester (e.g., Mylar) material and includes an adhesive
back. Some exemplary metallized film examples may have one or more
of the following features: a thickness ranging from 2 ml to 4 ml
(e.g., 4 ml), a rigidity sufficient to maintain the film relatively
flat and smooth (e.g., to minimize distortions in the reflection),
and a flexibility to permit some flexing of the film (e.g., to
permit flexing of the film when a wall surface to which it is
mounted has some flexibility).
[0044] For some alternative embodiments, the reflective portion 24
may be configured to provide a reflection in the form of a true
mirror image or a substantially true mirror image of a subject's
hair.
[0045] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 4, the exterior of the flap
16 includes the representations of hair color 20, 22 and the
reflective portion 24. Alternatively (or additionally), one or more
of the representations 20, 22 and/or reflective portion 24 may be
located on parts of the exterior of the packaging 10 other than the
flap 16 (e.g., on front, rear, and/or other side face(s)). For
example, as shown in FIG. 1, the front side face of the packaging
10 may include a "before" representation 20a having the same hair
color and general appearance as that of the "before" representation
20, and the front face may also include an "after" representation
22a having the same hair color and general appearance as that of
the "after" representation 22. To show one more example, FIG. 3
illustrates a back side face of the packaging 10 including a
display that includes "before" and "after" representations 20b and
22b having the same hair color and general appearance as the
"before" representations 20, 20a and "after" representations 22,
22a, respectively. Alternative and additional arrangements are also
possible.
[0046] In some examples (not shown), one or more of the
representations 20, 20a, 20b, 22, 22a, 22b and/or reflective
portion 24 might not even be located on the exterior of the
packaging (e.g. in exemplary arrangements having packaging that
includes windows and/or substantially transparent material
permitting viewing of the inside of the packaging). Further, some
examples might not include either the before representation 20 (and
20a, 20b) or the after representation 22 (and 22a, 22b).
[0047] Additional information may be included on one of more parts
of the packaging 10 to facilitate selection of a particular hair
coloring product. As shown in FIG. 3, the packaging 10 may include
a prompt 26 arranged to prompt a subject to view a reflection of
the subject's hair color in the reflective portion 24, and possibly
also arranged to prompt the subject to compare the reflection of
the subject's hair color to one or more of the representations 20,
20a, 20b, 22, 22a, 22b. In the example of FIG. 3, the prompt 26
includes text prompting a subject to use the reflective portion 20
as a guide to compare the subject's natural and current hair color
to the "before" representation 20, 20a, and/or 20b, and the text is
located adjacent to the "before" representation 20b. Alternative
(or additional) prompt arrangements are possible.
[0048] The packaging 10 may also include information about hair
coloring products other than the hair coloring product contained in
the packaging 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the packaging 10
may include one or more representations 30, 32, and 34 of hair
color after treatment with a hair coloring product other than the
hair coloring product contained in the packaging 10. In the example
of FIGS. 1-4, the packaging 10 is shown in the exemplary form of a
packaging intended to contain a hair coloring product identified by
an identifier "6N" (see the "6N" in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4), and the
representations 30, 32, and 34 are representations of hair color
after treatment with differing hair coloring products identified by
6C, 6W, and 6R, respectively.
[0049] In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, each of the hair
coloring products (e.g., 6N, 6C, 6W, 6R) corresponding to the
representations 22b, 30, 32, 34 may be a hair coloring product for
coloring the same starting hair color (e.g., light brown color). A
number (e.g., 6) in respective identifiers for each of the products
may provide an indication of the starting hair color for the
product (e.g., the number "6" identifies that the product is for
coloring starting hair color 6, which in this example is light
brown). For example, the number in the identifier may reflect the
level of the starting hair color.
[0050] Letters (e.g., C, N, W, R) in the product identifiers may
provide a designation of the resulting hair color (e.g., the color
tone of the resulting hair color) after treating the starting hair
color with the particular product. In the example shown in the
drawings, the letter "C" in a product identifier designates a hair
coloring product providing cooler hair color (i.e., adding
ash/beige tones to minimize red/orange tones), the letter "N" in a
product identifier designates a hair coloring product providing
natural hair color (i.e., substantially maintaining the natural
tones of the hair color (e.g., changing the appearance of grey hair
without significantly altering the overall hair color)), the letter
"W" in a product identifier designates a hair coloring product
providing warmer hair color (i.e., adding gold tones and enhancing
warmth in the hair), and the letter "R" in a product identifier
designates a hair coloring product providing red hair color (i.e.,
adding shear red tones to the hair). Accordingly, when the number
"6" corresponds to a starting hair color that is light brown, the
product 6C may be a product that changes a light brown starting
hair color to a cooler hair color, the product 6N may be a product
that changes such a starting hair color to a natural hair color,
the product 6W may be a product that changes such a starting hair
color to a warmer hair color, etc. In some examples, having at
least a cooler hair color, natural hair color, warmer hair color
may permit a subject to color their hair in a manner that enables
the hair to stay at least close to its natural color while subtly
enhancing the hair color without radical change.
[0051] Alternative hair coloring products arrangements,
identifiers, and/or types of hair colors are also possible. For
example, the product identifiers could be in many different forms
(e.g., alternative numbers, letters, symbols, or other designations
could be used to identify products and/or starting/resulting hair
colors).
[0052] Combining one or more of the "after" representations 22,
22a, 22b along with one or more of the "after" representations 30,
32, 34 for product(s) other than the product contained in the
packaging 10 may facilitate selecting one or more of the products
(e.g., by providing a somewhat focused and possibly "limited"
identification of particular hair coloring products intended for a
particular starting hair color). For example, a subject having an
existing hair color corresponding to the hair color represented by
the "before.revreaction. representation 20, 20a, 20b may view one
or more of the "after" representations 22b, 30, 32, 34 that
correspond to that existing hair color, and then, based on such
viewing, select one or more of the products corresponding to those
representations. Such a process may possibly avoid the need for the
subject to consult packaging of other products and/or avoid the
need to further consider products that are not for coloring the
subject's existing hair color and/or products that do not provide a
resulting color desired by the subject.
[0053] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary display in the form of a
unit 200 including the packaged hair coloring product 100 of FIGS.
1-4 and numerous additional packaged hair coloring products 100a,
100b similar to the product 100. The packaged hair coloring
products may be arranged on the unit 200 to group together hair
coloring products for treating the same starting hair color. For
example, the unit 200 may include a plurality of shelves, wherein
each of the hair coloring products on a particular shelf is a hair
coloring product for coloring the same starting hair color. To
illustrate one example, each of the hair coloring products 6C, 6N,
6W, 6R for treating a starting hair color of light brown, may be
arranged on the same shelf 200. To show another example, each of
the hair coloring products 9C, 9N, 9W for treating a starting hair
color of light to medium blond may be arranged on the same shelf of
the unit 200. Similar product arrangements may be provided for
other groups of products for treating the same starting hair
color.
[0054] In the example of FIG. 5, a total of seven shelves may be
provided. The lower-most shelf may include products 3C, 3N, 3W for
treating darkest brown/black starting hair color 3, the shelf above
that may include products 4C, 4N, 4W, and 4R (see FIG. 7, discussed
below, which shows exemplary identifiers and "after"
representations for all of the products shown in FIG. 5) for
treating dark brown hair color 4, the shelf above that may include
products 5C, 5N, 5W, 5R for treating medium brown starting hair
color 5, the shelf above that may include products 6C, 6N, 6W, 6R
for treating light brown hair color 6, the shelf above that may
include products 7C, 7N, 7W for treating dark blonde starting hair
color 7, the shelf above that may include products 8C, 8N, 8W for
treating medium to dark blonde starting hair color 8, and the
upper-most shelf may include products 9C, 9N, 9W for treating light
to medium blond hair color 9.
[0055] Although no red ("R") product is illustrated for starting
colors 3, 7, 8, and 9, it should be understood that one or more
such products may be provided. Furthermore, it should be understood
that many other different products and hair colors could be
substituted in place of (or added in addition to) one or more the
products shown in FIG. 5.
[0056] To facilitate designating the groups of hair coloring
products, the display unit 200 may include additional
representations of starting hair colors associated with each of the
shelves. For example, adjacent the shelf including the hair
coloring products 6C, 6N, 6W, 6R, the display unit 200 may include
a representation 20c having a hair color and appearance like the
"before" representation 20, 20a, 20b discussed above in connection
with FIGS. 1 and 3. Similarly, respective "before" representations
may be provided adjacent to each of the other shelves (e.g., a
representation of starting hair color darkest brown/black 3 may be
adjacent to the bottom-most shelf, etc.)
[0057] Although the display unit 200 of FIG. 5 includes separate
shelves for grouping together each of the products for treating the
same starting hair color, it should be understood that several
alternative arrangements are possible. For example, an alternative
display may group products together according to similar "after"
treatment colors, e.g., all of the cooler products (identified with
"C") may be placed on one shelf, all of the natural products
(identified with "N") may be placed on the same shelf, etc. In
other examples, the products might be grouped in other arrangements
(e.g., without using shelves) or possibly not even grouped
together.
[0058] In the example shown in FIG. 5, the hair coloring products
100, 100a, 100b associated with the display 200 may be packaged in
respective packagings that are configured substantially similar to
one another. The packaging for each of the products for treating
the same starting hair color may include the same "before"
representations. For example, the packaging for each of the
products 6C, 6W, 6R have "before" representations identical to the
"before" representations 20, 20a, 20b of the product packaging 10
shown in FIGS. 1-3 for product 6N, and like arrangements are
provided for the products associated with other starting
colors.
[0059] Each packaging of a group of products for treating the same
starting hair color may include "after" representations for each
product in the group. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the
packaging of the product 6C includes an "after" representation 30a
for the product 6C as well as "after" representations 22c, 32, 34
for the products 6N, 6W, 6R, respectively. To illustrate another
example, as shown in FIG. 9, the packaging of the product 6W
includes an "after" representation 32a for the product 6W in
addition to also including "after" representations 30, 22C, 34 for
the products 6C, 6N, 6R, respectively. A similar arrangement may be
provided for the packaging of the product 6W. In addition, for each
of the other groups of products for treating the same starting hair
color (e.g., the group of products 3C, 3N, 3W, etc.) the packagings
may be configured in an analogous manner. Alternative arrangements
are also possible.
[0060] The product packagings may arranged on the display unit 200
of FIG. 5 so that the front face of each packaging is visible when
viewing the front of the display unit 200. Each product packaging
may include a respective 37 after" representation like the "after"
representation 22a of FIG. 1 so that "after" representations of
each of the products may be viewed when looking at the front of the
unit 200.
[0061] To facilitate marketing the products, the unit 200 may be
located at a point of sale for the hair coloring products. For
example, the unit 200 may be located in a cosmetics store, hair
salon, department store, drug store, grocery store, convenience
store, or any other location where hair products might be sold.
[0062] The unit 200 may further include a display in the form of a
color match bar 300 shown in FIG. 6. The color match bar may
include "before" representations and "after" representations for
each of the products associated with the display. For example, the
color match bar 300 may include a "before" representation 20d
having the same hair color as the "before" representations 20, 20a,
20b, 20c, as well as other "before" representations for other
starting colors. In addition, the color match bar 300 may include
"after" representations in the form of strands of hair and/or
strands of simulated hair dyed to have a respective color
representing the hair color provided by the respective products.
For example, strands of representation 30b may have substantially
the same color as that of the representations 30 and 30a; strands
of representation 22d may have substantially the same color as that
of the representations 22, 22a, 22b, 22c; strands of representation
32b may have substantially the same color as that of the
representations 32, 32a; and strands of representation 34a may have
substantially the same color as representation 34. Analogous
arrangements may be provided for strands of other
representations.
[0063] The color match bar 300 may include a mirror 310. In
addition, the color match bar 300 may be configured so that each
hair strand representation and/or group of hair strand
representations of the same starting hair color (e.g., the group of
representations 22d, 30b, 32b, 34a) may be moved adjacent to the
mirror 310 so as to permit a subject to simultaneously view a
reflection of the subject's hair along with a reflection of one or
more of the hair strand representations so as to facilitate
selection of a hair coloring product.
[0064] FIG. 7 illustrates another display in the form of an
exemplary printed chart 400 including both "before" representations
420 and "after" representation 422 for each of the products shown
in FIG. 5. The chart 400 could be displayed at a point of sale for
the products. Additionally (or alternatively), the chart 400 could
be inserted within the packaging of the products and/or or
distributed though any known marketing means (e.g., via
advertisement in magazines, newspapers, journals, flyers, etc; via
signs, banners, etc.). Alternative chart arrangements are also
possible.
[0065] As shown in FIG. 7, the exemplary arrangement of products
shown in FIG. 5 includes seven different grouping of products, and
each grouping has respective products for coloring one of seven
starting hair colors. Other arrangements are possible. To
illustrate one exemplary alternative, products could be grouped for
a greater number of starting colors. For example, rather than
having a single grouping of products for starting color 3 of
darkest brown/black, one grouping of products could be provided for
darkest brown starting color and another grouping of products could
be provided for black starting color; and/or rather than having a
single product grouping for starting color 9 of medium to light
blond hair color, one or more respective product groupings for
respective starting hair colors of light blonde, very light blonde,
and lightest blonde could be provided.
[0066] FIG. 7 also illustrates that the exemplary arrangement of
products shown in FIG. 5 has a relatively focused and possibly
limited number of hair coloring products for each group of products
for a particular starting hair color. For example, each of the
product groups has no more than four products for a particular
starting hair color, and the product groups for certain starting
colors (e.g., 3, 7, 8, and 9) may have no more than three products.
(Several alternative arrangements (e.g., having more or less
products per grouping are also possible.) In at least some
exemplary arrangements, providing a somewhat focused and possibly
"limited" number of hair coloring products associated with a
starting hair color may facilitate selecting one or more of the
products based on a starting hair color (e.g., by better enabling a
consumer to select products from only a group of products
associated with a particular starting hair color).
[0067] In the examples shown in the drawings, each of the products
is labeled with the same product name (i.e., NATURAL MATCH) and the
same brand name (i.e., "L'OREAL"). It should be understand that the
invention is not so limited. For example, the products may be
products having one or more differing product names and/or brand
names.
[0068] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made to the structures and
methodologies described herein. Thus, it should be understood that
the invention is not limited to the subject matter discussed in the
specification. Rather, the present invention is intended to cover
modifications and variations.
* * * * *