Patent Grant
7028869
The present invention relates to a device for packaging at least one product, such as a cosmetic product. For example, the invention relates to a device for the extemporaneous mixing of at least two products in order to create a composition, for example, a cosmetic composition for use in the field hair coloring.
Other uses for the invention may, however, be envisioned. For example, the device may include a receptacle containing a product such that the product may be distributed in response to a pressure applied to the wall(s) of the receptacle and/or by a manually operated pump associated with the device. With devices of this type, it may be desirable, for example, with certain products having a strong propensity for drying and/or oxidation upon contact with the air, to ensure that there is a substantially sealed closure of a distribution hole of the device so that any residual product located upstream of the distribution hole remains substantially sealed from the air.
In some areas, for example, such as in the field of hair coloring, the preparation of many coloring compositions may involve the extemporaneous mixing of, for example, two or more products (e.g., a colorant, an oxidant, and/or possibly a fragrance) which, for reasons, for example, of stability, must be kept separate from each other until the moment of use of the coloring composition. For example, at least one of the products may be in the form of a powder.
In the field of hair coloring, there has been a relatively recent appearance of mixing devices that may allow, in a more or less automatic manner, the separate packaging of two products and their extemporaneous mixing to form a coloring composition at its time of use. For example, a device of this type is described in French patent application FR-A-2 708 913. Such systems are costly, however, and very often they may be relatively complicated to produce. Furthermore, it may often be difficult to achieve a sufficient seal between the two compartments that contain each of the products. In addition, it may sometimes be difficult to find materials that are compatible with the compositions to be packaged due to, for example, the very aggressive nature of at least some of those compositions.
There are also systems that function in a-more “manual” manner in which each of the products to be mixed is packaged in its own packaging, for example, in the form of a tube or sachet. In order to perform the mixing, the user pours the contents of one package into the other, or the contents of the two packages into a third receptacle, within which the mixing is may be carried out.
All of these operations may be tedious, and there may be a high risk of the user becoming soiled during the handling of the products. There may also be a high risk of the user failing to apply the correct dosage and/or being tempted to use the quantities necessary for a single application for two or more applications. Such incorrect dosages may result in the hair coloring not being in accordance with expectations.
European patent application no. 0 606 429 describes a mixing system having two chambers isolated from each other by a first rubber piston which, in response to pressure applied by a second piston, may be pushed from a first position in which it isolates the two products to a second position in which it delimits, in combination with an internal surface of a necked area separating the two chambers, a passage able to allow the two products to come into contact with each other. The disadvantages of such a structure may be numerous. For example, the structure may not be well suited for the mixing of non-liquid products, for example, products in the form of powders. Furthermore, it may be limited to the preparation of relatively small volumes, and it may not be very comfortable to use, for example, because of the large amount of pressure that may need to be applied to force the rubber piston to deform and engage in a portion whose transverse cross-section is of a different form from the form of the piston.
One subject of the invention relates to creating a packaging device, for example, for the extemporaneous mixing of at least two products that may solve, completely or partly, at least one of the aforementioned problems. For example, one subject of the invention relates to creating a device that may be relatively simple to use and that may be produced at a relatively low cost. Another subject of the invention relates to creating a device that may substantially limit the risk of misuse, and that, as a result, may substantially reduce the risks of obtaining a product whose properties do not conform to expectations.
Although the present invention may obviate one or more of the above-mentioned needs, it should be understood that some aspects of the invention might not necessarily obviate one or more of those needs.
In the following description, certain aspects and embodiments 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. It should also be understood that these aspects and embodiments are merely exemplary.
In one aspect, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention includes a device for packaging at least one product. The device may include at least one compartment for containing at least one product, at least one passage, and at least one component. The at least one component may be at least partially elastically compressible and disposed in the at least one passage. The device may include a pressurization portion configured to generate, in response to a manual activation, a fluid pressurization applied to the at least one component. The device may be configured so that the fluid pressurization is applied to the at least one component in at least two opposing directions so as to cause a reduction in volume of the at least one component and at least partial opening of the passage.
The term “fluid” is used in a broad sense, and refers to, but is not limited to mean “hydraulic” (e.g., in a substantially liquid state) and/or “pneumatic” (e.g., air or other substance in a substantially gaseous state).
According to another aspect, the passage may be situated upstream of a discharge hole of the device, and may, other than during product distribution phases, be kept closed in a substantially sealed manner, for example, in order to substantially prevent any residual product located upstream of the discharge hole from drying and/or oxidizing upon contact with the air.
According to yet another aspect, the at least one compartment may include a first compartment and a second compartment, wherein the first compartment is configured to contain a first product, and the second compartment is configured to contain a second product and to be disposed at least partially on top of the first compartment, wherein the at least one component forms a separating component configured to move from a first position in which the first separating component substantially isolates the first product from the second product, to a second position in which contact of the first product and the second product with one another is enabled. The device may be configured so that movement of the separating component from the first position to the second position results, in response to a balancing of pressures between the first compartment and the second compartment, from a reduction in volume of the first separating component in response to the pressurization generated inside at least one of the first compartment and the second compartment. For example, the separating component may be configured such that it substantially ensures the physical separation of the two products. On the other hand, it may allow a substantial balancing of the pressures to take place.
In, practice, the lower the level of the seal that may be required to substantially ensure the physical separation of the two products, the lower the pressurization that may need to be generated, which may result in a relatively more comfortable operation for the user. For example, at least the product contained in the second compartment may be optionally in the form of a powder resting on the separating component when, for example, the second compartment is disposed above the first compartment. The other product may be, for example, in liquid form. As a result of such an exemplary configuration of the device, the creation of a mixture of products may be extremely simple to achieve. For example, as the fluid pressure is applied in a more or less uniform manner across substantially the entire free surface area of the separating component, a slight pressurization may be sufficient to cause the movement of the separating component from the first position to the second position.
This, however, may not be the case with the types of systems such as those disclosed in European patent application no. EP 0 606 429, in which a separating plug may be forced to move in response to a pressure applied in a unilateral manner. The pressure may be transmitted via the product located between the separating plug and a pressure piston. Such pressure being applied to the, product, which may be sandwiched between the plug and the pressure piston, may be harmful to the product, for example, when the product is in powder form.
According to another aspect, the passage may define an axis, and the reduction in volume of the at least one component may result in at least a reduction in the surface area of at least a portion of the at least one component that is transverse to the axis of the passage. Furthermore, the reduction in volume of the at least one component may result in at least a reduction of at least a portion of the at least one component along its full axial height. For example, in the first position, the separating component may be of sufficiently large diameter (e.g., when the separating component is substantially circular) to remain in position by light clamping, despite the weight of any second product arranged on top of it. In response to the pressure being applied in a multidirectional manner, the separating component may compress in substantially all directions, for example, radially with respect to its axis. As a result of this, it may no longer be lightly clamped in the passage and, under the effect of its weight along with the weight of any second product, it may drop with the latter into the first receptacle. The two products may then come into contact with one another. For example, in exemplary embodiments having a separating component with a substantially circular transverse cross-section, a reduction in diameter of a few tenths of a millimeter may be sufficient to obtain this result.
According to some exemplary embodiments, as the pressure that is applied to the separating component is more or less uniform across substantially its entire exterior surface, a slight reduction may also be noticed in the axial height of the separating component. In such a case, the reduction in volume may be multidirectional when, for example, the separating component is made from a material that is configured to retract under the effect of pressurization and thereby reduce in volume.
According to still another aspect, the device may be configured such that the movement of the separating component from the first position to the second position results from a pressurization generated in the first compartment when the first compartment is located below the second compartment, and wherein the device may be configured such that the level of the first product in the first compartment is such that the passage of the separating component from the first position to the second position takes place before the first product comes into contact with the separating component.
According to another aspect, the pressure being applied to the separating component may be pneumatic.
In still another aspect, the pressurization may be applied to one compartment that may be disposed on top of another compartment. In exemplary embodiments in which the product contained in the one compartment on top of the other compartment is a liquid having a density that is greater than the density of the material forming the separating component, then, in response to the pressurization, the separating component may reduce in volume until it is no longer held in a position where it substantially isolates the two compartments from each other. It may then rise to the surface of the liquid in the one compartment as the liquid mixes with the product contained in the other compartment. For example, in such an exemplary embodiment, the pressure that is applied to the separating component may be a hydraulic pressure.
According to another aspect, the at least one component may include an external surface area, and at least a portion of the external surface area may be substantially impermeable. The term “impermeable” is used in a broad sense, and refers to, but is not limited to mean impermeable to the pressurization fluid, for example, to air.
In still another aspect, the at least one component may at least partially include an alveolar material having closed cells. For example, the alveolar material may include at least one material selected from polyethylenes, polyesters, and polyurethane foams.
In yet another aspect, the separating component may be configured to float to the surface of a mixture of the first product and second product. For example, in a second position, the separating component may float to the surface of the mixture, so that, for example, the separating component does not substantially disturb distribution of the mixture.
According to a further aspect, the passage may define an axis, and the passage may be located between the first compartment and the second compartment, wherein the separating component may be disposed inside the passage and may be, prior to the pressurization, held in the first position via partial compression in at least one direction transverse to the axis of the passage and also in contact with an internal surface of the passage. Despite any slight compression of the separating component, the air may pass between the lateral surface of the separating component and the internal surface of the passage, thereby allowing substantial balancing of the pressures to be achieved. For example, when the pressures have been substantially balanced, the pressure of the first compartment and that of the second compartment may be more or less identical and each may have an excess pressure in relation to the initial pressure of these compartments. The separating component arranged between these two compartments may, as a result, be compressed in at least two substantially opposite directions. For example, the pressure may be at least applied to two substantially opposing faces of the separating component that is contact with the internal surface of the passage.
According to yet another aspect, the at least one compartment may include at least one wall that may be elastically deformable and that may be configured to generate the pressurization in response to a pressure applied at least one of laterally and axially to the at least one wall. For example, according to one aspect, at least a portion of the at least one compartment may include a bellows, and the pressure applied may be, for example, axial.
According to still a further aspect, the compartment in which the pressurization is generated may be substantially defined by a receptacle having elastically compressible walls, and the pressure may be applied, for example, transverse to the axis.
In yet another aspect, the first compartment may include a first receptacle and the second compartment may include a second receptacle, wherein the second receptacle may be configured to be mounted to the first receptacle via at least one of threading and snap-fastening.
In still another aspect, the second receptacle may include an opening substantially isolated from the second product by the separating component when the separating component is located in the first position. For example, the opening may be substantially closed off in a movable manner via a closure member that may include at least one of a stopper and a screw closure prior to mounting the second receptacle to the first receptacle.
According to a further aspect, a fixing portion may be configured to retain the separating component in a fixed position prior to mounting the second receptacle to the first receptacle. For example, the fixing portion may include a stopper portion, and an axial stop located alongside the separating component and substantially opposite the stopper portion. For example, as the stopper is placed on the second receptacle, it may substantially axially immobilize the separating component, and once the stopper is removed, for example, at the time of positioning the second receptacle on top of the first, the second product may be substantially retained inside the second receptacle by the separating component.
According to a further aspect, the second compartment may include an element forming an application tip configured to mix the products. For example, the second compartment may be configured to communicate with a distribution hole that, prior to mixing the products, may be substantially closed off via a closure component. The closure component may include, for example, a self-breaking element.
In still another aspect, the separating component may be a first separating component, and the device may further include a third compartment configured to be disposed at least partially on top of the second compartment and to contain a third product. The first product, the second product, and the third product may be substantially isolated in pairs, respectively, via the first separating component and a second separating component. The first separating component and the second separating component may each be configured to move from a first position in which they substantially isolate in pairs the first product, the second product, and the third product, to a second position in which the first, second, and third products are brought into contact with each other. The movement of the first separating component and the second separating component from the first position to the second position may result in responsive balancing of the pressures between the first compartment and the second compartment and between the second compartment and the third compartment, caused by a multidirectional reduction in volume of the first separating component and the second separating component in response to a pressurization generated inside at least one of the first compartment, the second compartment, and the third compartment.
The mixing may be carried out, for example, by positioning the device so that the second compartment is on top of the first compartment, and the third compartment on top of the second compartment, and by pressurizing, for example, the first compartment.
The second and third products may be packaged separately from one another in the same receptacle, for example, in an applicator tip.
According to yet another aspect, the device may include a first product contained in the first compartment and a second product contained in the second compartment, wherein the pressurization is generated in one of the first compartment and the second compartment, and wherein the product contained in the other of the first compartment and the second compartment includes a product in powder form.
In still a further aspect, the first compartment may contain a first product including a product in liquid form and the second compartment may contain a second product including a product in powder form. For example, the first product and the second product may include at least one of a cosmetic product and a care product. For example, the first product may include a coloring oxidant and the second product may include a colorant. In another aspect, the device may include a third compartment containing a third product and a second separating component, wherein the second separating component substantially isolates the third product from the first product and the second product prior to pressurization of at least one of the first compartment, the second compartment, and the third compartment. The third product may be, for example, a fragrancing composition that may in the form of a powder.
According to yet another aspect, a device for extemporaneous mixing, of at least two products may include a first compartment containing at least one first product, a second compartment containing at least one second product and being configured to be disposed at least partially on top of the first compartment, and at least one separating component configured to move from a first position in which the separating component substantially isolates the first product from the second product, to a second position in which contact of the first product and the second product with one another is enabled. The device may be configured so that movement of the separating component from the first position to the second position results from a pressurization generated in one of the first compartment and the second compartment. The device may be configured so that the first separating component, when moved from the first position to the second position, is displaced toward the one of the first compartment and the second compartment in which the pressurization is generated.
According to another aspect, the device may be configured so that movement of the separating component from the first position to the second position results, in response to a balancing of pressures between the first compartment and the second compartment, from a reduction in volume of the separating component in response to the pressurization generated inside at least one of the first compartment and the second compartment.
In yet another aspect, the device may include a passage in which the separating component is disposed, wherein the reduction in volume of the separating component results in a reduction in the surface area of at least a portion of the separating component that is transverse to an axis of the passage.
According to a further aspect, a device for packaging at least one product may include at least one compartment configured to contain at least one product and to be associated with a pressurization portion, at least one passage configured to be in flow communication with the compartment and the pressurization portion, and at least one component being at least partially elastically compressible and being disposed in the at least one passage. The device may be configured so that at least one dimension of the component becomes reduced in response to pressurization generated by the pressurization portion so as to enable movement of the component from a first position located in the passage to a second position located remote from the passage and the compartment.
In still another aspect, the at least one compartment may include a first compartment configured to contain a first product and a second compartment configured to contain a second product. The component may form a separating component substantially isolating the first product from the second product when the component is in the first position.
In yet another aspect, the device may include a third compartment configured to be arranged at least partially on top of the first compartment and to contain a third product, wherein the first product, the second product, and the third product are substantially isolated in pairs, respectively, via the component and a second component.
According to still another aspect, the at least one dimension may be in a direction transverse to an axis of the passage.
In still another aspect, a method of mixing at least two products to form a cosmetic composition may include providing a device for packaging at least one product, and generating a pressurization in at least one of a first compartment and a second compartment of the device. For example, the cosmetic composition may be configured to color hair.
The term “providing” is used in a broad sense, and refers to, but is not limited to, making available for use, enabling usage, giving, supplying, obtaining, getting a hold of, acquiring, purchasing, manufacturing, selling, distributing, possessing, making ready for use, and/or placing in a position ready for use.
According to yet another aspect, a method of extemporaneously mixing at least two products may include providing a device for packaging at least one product, and generating a pressurization in at least one of a first compartment and a second compartment.
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.
The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain some principles of the invention. In the drawings,
Reference will now be made in detail to some possible embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
The end of the receptacle 2 substantially opposite to the base 3 may terminate in a neck 5 (e.g., a threaded neck) that substantially defines an opening 6. The receptacle 2 may be formed via, for example, extrusion blow-molding of polyethylene and/or polypropylene.
In a storage and/or transport position of the device 1, the receptacle 2 may be closed by a stopper 7 whose internal surface may include a thread configured to cooperate with a thread of the neck 5 (e.g., when the neck 5 includes a thread). The stopper 7 may include a sealing skirt 8.
The device 1 may include an applicator tip 10, which may include a hollow element having an elongated form, and a portion 11 that may substantially define a transverse cross-section that progressively reduces in the-direction of an opening 19 having, for example, a relatively small cross-section, which may be closed by a closure structure 40, for example, a self-breaking tip.
In the vicinity of an end opposite the closure structure 40, the applicator tip 10 may include a first portion 13 (e.g., a cylindrical portion), which may define a diameter that is greater than the greatest diameter of the portion 11 (e.g., when the portion 11 is substantially cylindrical in cross-section), and which may be separated from the portion 11 by a shoulder 14.
Near the first portion 13 and substantially opposite the portion 11, the applicator tip 10 may form a second portion 15 (e.g., a cylindrical portion) having, for example, an internal diameter that is greater than an internal diameter of the first portion 13 (e.g., when cylindrical). A free edge of the second portion 15 may substantially define an opening 45 for the applicator tip 10, and the second portion 15 may separated from the first portion 13 by a shoulder 16. The internal surface of the second portion 15 may include, for example, a thread 17. Inside the second portion 15, a sealing skirt 18 may be formed that extends axially from the shoulder 16 in the direction of the end of the tip 10 and substantially opposite the closure structure 40.
The applicator tip 10 may be formed, for example, via injection of a rigid thermoplastic material, such as, for example, a polyamide, a polystyrene, a polycarbonate, a polypropylene, an acrylic butadiene styrene (ABS), and/or an acyrlonitrile polystyrene (ANS).
Following the introduction of a product (e.g., a coloring powder) into the housing 12 substantially defined by the portion 11 of the applicator tip 10, a block 20 of, for example, closed cell polyurethane foam may be placed inside the first portion 13. The block 20 may be substantially the same height as the first portion 13. Movement for insertion of the block 20 inside the applicator tip 10 may be substantially limited by the presence of the shoulder 14, against which a surface 21 of the block 20 may abut. In exemplary embodiments having, for example, a cylindrical configuration, the at rest diameter of the block 20 may be slightly greater than an internal diameter of the first portion 13, so that the block 20 may be slightly compressed laterally inside the first portion 13. The degree of compression may be sufficient, for example, to allow the block 20 to retain itself within the first portion 13 despite the weight of any product (e.g., powder) in the portion 11 of the applicator tip 10.
During storage and/or transport, the end of the applicator tip 10 may be closed, for example, via a stopper 30 having an exterior surface that may include, for example, a thread 31 configured to cooperate with a thread 17 of the applicator tip 10 (e.g., in embodiments in which the applicator tip 10 includes a thread). A wall 32 (e.g., a substantially transverse wall) of the stopper 30 may be arranged in order to be substantially in contact with the surface 22 of the block 20 (e.g., a foam block) and substantially opposite the surface 21. An exterior wall 33, which may be, for example, substantially concentric to the exterior surface on which a thread 31 may be formed, may allow for ease of handling of the stopper 30.
According to some exemplary embodiments of a device that packages, for example, two liquids, it may be advantageous to provide on an internal surface of the shoulder 14, an annular rib (not shown), in order to reduce the risk of formation, prior to the use of the device, of a liquid film between the lateral surface of the block 20 and the internal surface of the first portion 13. It may also be advantageous to perform the mixing with the device 1 in a substantially inverted orientation, as the material forming the block 20 (e.g., a foam block) may have a lower density than the liquid contained in the receptacle 2.
Other portions of the exemplary embodiment of the device depicted in
The exemplary manner of function of the exemplary device depicted in
The device according to some exemplary embodiments of the invention may be used to apply cosmetic products and/or care products, such as make-up products, dermatological substances, and/or pharmaceutical compositions used for treating and/or changing the appearance and/or scent of keratinous fibers, such as the hair. However, in its broadest aspects, the present invention could be used to package and/or apply many other substances. In addition, although the embodiments shown in the drawings contain multiple products, alternative embodiments, such as those containing only a single product, are also possible.
Furthermore, sizes of various structural parts and materials used to make the above-mentioned parts are illustrative and exemplary only, and one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that these sizes, and materials can be changed to produce different effects or desired characteristics.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure and methodology of the present invention. Thus, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the examples discussed in the specification. Rather, the present invention is intended to cover modifications and variations.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02 08915 | Jul 2002 | FR | national |
| 02 14830 | Nov 2002 | FR | national |
This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/397,659, filed Jul. 23, 2002.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3198194 | Wilburn | Aug 1965 | A |
| 3468458 | Leigh | Sep 1969 | A |
| 3674028 | Ogle | Jul 1972 | A |
| 3796303 | Allet-Coche | Mar 1974 | A |
| 4234083 | Cohen | Nov 1980 | A |
| 4331233 | Braymer, Jr. | May 1982 | A |
| 6189688 | Aneas | Feb 2001 | B1 |
| 6758374 | Albisetti | Jul 2004 | B1 |
| 6866039 | Wright et al. | Mar 2005 | B1 |
| 20020066750 | Albisetti | Jun 2002 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 0 606 429 | Jul 1994 | EP |
| 2 115 572 | Jul 1972 | FR |
| 2 708 913 | Feb 1995 | FR |
| A S63-317468 | Dec 1991 | JP |
| A2001-114326 | Apr 2001 | JP |
| WO 0353812 | Jul 2003 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20040060831 A1 | Apr 2004 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60397659 | Jul 2002 | US |
