EP1557371B1 - Kit comprising two containers and an applicator - Google Patents

Abstract

The kit has two containers (2, 3) with respective coloring oxidizer and colorant (A, B). An applicator (4) has an inner channel (5) with smaller section, through which the colorant circulates for mixing with the oxidizer. The applicator has an extended part (14) including a widened portion connected to a coupling part. The part (14) has an applying part that includes embossments with succession of teeth.

Description

The present invention relates to devices for packaging and applying a liquid product, for example a product for coloring the hair resulting from the mixing of a first and a second substance packaged separately.

The request for Japanese Patent JP 2002-179118 discloses a packaging and application device comprising an applicator and a container in which is disposed a cap separating two compartments for storing two substances to be mixed extemporaneously. The cap can be moved out of a closed position when mixing the two substances. Such a device has a relatively complex structure.

The US Patent 4,573,506 discloses other devices for separately conditioning two products to be mixed extemporaneously. These devices are not intended for use in cosmetics of the mixture, for example on the hair.

We also know from patents GB 7071 , US 2,926,374 , US 3,178,755 , US 4,690,579 and US 5,345,981 various packaging and application devices comprising a container containing the supply of product to be applied and an applicator provided with an internal channel in communication with a secondary reservoir for taking product from the container. Such devices can increase the autonomy of the applicator but are not suitable for packaging two products to mix extemporaneously.

The PAVENIK patent US 5,307,847 a A subject of the invention is an applicator comprising a bottle containing a product and a deformable cap. The cap defines a compartment for receiving a supply of product through a closable orifice allowing it to communicate with the bottle when the orifice is open. An applicator element is attached to the end of a hollow rod connected to the cap compartment, so that the applicator element can be supplied with product during the application, when the cap is separated from the cap. bottle. The application element is a brush or a foam. On the other hand, the stem channel can not be closed.

The international application DORR WO 03/059118 relates to a cleaning device comprising a container containing a product to be applied, a tube placed at the outlet of the container and a brush formed of a metal support fixed in the tube and maintaining bristles. The bristles are not monolithically molded with the applicator, and the applicator can not take a shutter configuration.

There is a need to benefit from a packaging and application device allowing the separate packaging of two products and their extemporaneous mixing and the application of the mixture obtained by means of an applicator, for example an applicator configured to apply the mixture. on the hair.

• un premier récipient contenant une première substance,
• un deuxième récipient contenant une deuxième substance, différente de la première substance,
• un applicateur avec lequel les deux récipients peuvent être solidarisés, cet applicateur comportant au moins une partie allongée pouvant s'engager dans l'un des récipients et traversée par un canal par lequel la substance contenue dans l'un des récipients peut circuler pour se mélanger avec la substance contenue dans l'autre récipient, la première substance étant un liquide ou une poudre et la deuxième substance étant un liquide.

According to a first of its aspects, the invention thus relates to a packaging and application kit comprising:

• a first container containing a first substance,
• a second container containing a second substance, different from the first substance,
• an applicator with which the two containers can be secured, this applicator comprising at least one elongated part engageable in one of the containers and through which a channel through which the substance contained in one of the containers can circulate to mix with the substance contained in the other container, the first substance being a liquid or a powder and the second substance being a liquid.

The invention makes it possible to use, for applying the mixture, the assembly formed by one of the containers and the applicator, this assembly having a reduced weight relative to the total weight of the kit. In addition, the kit is relatively simple to manufacture and use.

The first substance may be in particular a hair dye.

The second substance can be a hair coloring oxidant.

The container intended to be connected to the applicator during the application is preferably made with a flexible, elastically deformable wall, which allows the user to create inside it an overpressure to expel out of the container the product contained inside or to collect the mixture between two uses.

The two containers may, where appropriate, each comprise a flexible wall, elastically deformable.

The applicator can be made with different shapes, depending on the intended application. In particular, in the case where the first and second substances are intended for the treatment of the hair, the applicator may comprise an application part made with at least one relief, for example a succession of teeth or bristles.

The aforementioned channel of the applicator can lead to one end of the elongated portion.

Alternatively or additionally, this channel can lead to at least one lateral orifice of the application part, this lateral orifice being for example located between two teeth or bristles when the application part comprises at least one succession of teeth or bristles allowing to comb the hair.

The applicator may comprise at least one sealing member configured to apply sealingly to at least one of the containers.

At least one of the containers may comprise a neck and the applicator may comprise at least one sealing lip arranged to be applied on the radially inner surface of this neck.

It may be desirable for air to escape from the container within which the elongate portion extends to facilitate flow of the substance contained in the other container. The applicator can thus be fixed in an unsealed manner on the container in which the elongate portion extends.

As a variant, the applicator may comprise, where appropriate, a sealing surface formed for example by a portion of the elongated portion of the applicator, this portion being arranged to be applied on an inner surface of the container to the inside which the elongated part extends.

The applicator may comprise a first tubular skirt, threaded internally, arranged to receive the first container and a second tubular skirt, threaded internally, arranged to receive the second container.

The applicator channel, through which the substance contained in one of the containers can reach the other container, can be made with an inner section sufficiently small to prevent leakage of this substance when the assembly constituted by the applicator and one of the containers is not yet mounted on the other container.

• Des bouchons peuvent être agencés pour fermer de manière étanche les premier et second récipients en l'absence de l'applicateur.
• L'applicateur agencé pour se fixer sur les deux récipients afin d'établir une communication entre les récipients, peut comporter au moins une succession de reliefs sur son pourtour extérieur, par exemple réalisés par moulage de matière de façon monolithique avec l'applicateur, notamment au moins une succession de dents ou poils réalisés par moulage de matière de façon monolithique avec l'applicateur.

The applicator may comprise a breakable lid before the first use, closing the aforementioned channel at one end.

• Caps may be arranged to seal the first and second containers in the absence of the applicator.
• The applicator arranged to be fixed on the two receptacles in order to establish a communication between the receptacles may comprise at least one succession of reliefs on its outer periphery, for example made by molding material monolithically with the applicator, in particular at least one succession of teeth or bristles made by molding material monolithically with the applicator.

The applicator channel may be closed at one end by closure means arranged to move from a closure configuration to an open configuration allowing the two containers to communicate with each other in response to an action exerted by the user.

The closure means may be configured to change configuration by bearing against the bottom of the first container when the applicator is engaged therein. The closure means may comprise a pin connected to the elongate portion of the applicator by a frangible zone. The sealing means can be made monolithically by molding plastic material with the applicator.

• la figure 1 représente en perspective, de manière schématique, avec arrachement partiel, un exemple de dispositif de conditionnement et d'application réalisé conformément à l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une coupe longitudinale schématique du dispositif de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 représente en coupe longitudinale l'ensemble constitué par l'applicateur et le récipient servant d'organe de préhension,
• la figure 4 représente de manière schématique un exemple de kit de conditionnement et d'application réalisé conformément à l'invention,
• la figure 5 illustre l'utilisation du kit de la figure 4,
• les figures 6 à 8 représentent trois exemples de kits conformes à l'invention,
• la figure 9 représente à échelle agrandie le détail IX de la figure 8, et
• la figure 10 est une coupe longitudinale partielle et schématique d'une variante de réalisation de l'applicateur.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description, non-limiting examples of implementation thereof, and on examining the appended drawing, in which:

• the figure 1 represents in perspective, schematically, partially broken away, an exemplary packaging and application device produced according to the invention,
• the figure 2 is a schematic longitudinal section of the device of the figure 1 ,
• the figure 3 represents in longitudinal section the assembly constituted by the applicator and the container serving as a gripping member,
• the figure 4 schematically represents an example of a packaging and application kit made according to the invention,
• the figure 5 illustrates the use of the kit of the figure 4 ,
• the Figures 6 to 8 represent three examples of kits according to the invention,
• the figure 9 represents on an enlarged scale detail IX of the figure 8 , and
• the figure 10 is a partial and schematic longitudinal section of an alternative embodiment of the applicator.

The device 1 for packaging and application represented in the Figures 1 and 2 comprises a first container 2, a second container 3 superimposed on the first along a longitudinal axis X and an applicator 4 having an inner channel 5 through which the two containers 2 and 3 can communicate.

The device 1 comes from the assembly of the kit represented in FIG. figure 4 , wherein the first container 2, which contains a first substance A, is closed by an individual cap 8. The second container 3, which contains a second substance B, is also closed by an individual cap 7. The applicator 4 can be initially separated from containers 2 and 3, as seen on figure 4 .

The individual plugs 7 and 8 each comprise an internally threaded mounting skirt 9 and a sealing lip 10. This is arranged to seal on the radially inner surface of the neck 11 of the container 2 with respect to the plug 8 and the neck 12 of the container 3 with respect to the plug 7.

The substance A is for example a coloring oxidant and the substance B a dye intended to be mixed with the substance A at the time of use.

The second container 3 comprises a flexible wall, elastically deformable, on which the user can press to reduce its internal volume.

The applicator 4 comprises an elongated portion 14 of axis X, provided with an enlarged portion 20 which is connected to a coupling portion 13, which makes it possible to secure the receptacles 2 and 3. The elongate portion 14 has a lower portion 15. The latter has for example, as illustrated, reliefs 16 made monolithically with the elongate portion 14. The reliefs 16 are constituted for example by a succession of teeth.

The coupling portion 13 comprises a first tubular skirt 18 of axis X, threaded internally, arranged to screw on the neck 11 of the first container 2 and a second tubular skirt 19 of axis X also, arranged to screw on the neck 12 of the second container 3.

The skirts 18 and 19 may, where appropriate, have different inside diameters, in order to avoid the risk of inverting containers 2 and 3 during the assembly of the device 1. The coupling part 13 also comprises sealing for sealing its fastening on the container 3.

These sealing means consist, in the example considered, by an annular sealing lip 22 arranged to be applied on the inner surface of the neck 12.

In a non-illustrated variant, the outer surface 21 of the widened portion is sealingly applied to the lower surface of the neck 11.

In the example considered, the channel 5 opens at the lower end of the elongated portion 14 through an orifice 25, which may be located for example at a distance relatively close to the bottom 26 of the first container 2, as seen on the figure 2 .

To mix substances A and B, the user can proceed as follows.

It removes the caps 7 and 8 then screws the applicator 4 on the second container 3 and finally introduces the assembly 30 formed by the applicator 4 and the second container 3 in the first container 2, as illustrated in FIG. figure 5 .

The section of the channel 5 is small enough to avoid a significant leakage of the substance A during this operation, better avoid any flow.

The user can then press several times the flexible wall of the container 3 to expel the substance A contained inside the first container 2 and stir the resulting mixture. Whenever the user stops exerting pressure on the wall of the second container 3, it resumes elastically its initial shape. The presence of the reliefs 16 may contribute to the homogenization of the mixture M under the effect of the turbulence created in the first container 2 by the variation of the internal volume of the second container 3. The non-completely airtight fastening of the skirt 18 on the neck 11 and the clearance between the enlarged portion 20 and the neck 11 can facilitate the departure of the air contained in the container 2 during its filling by the substance contained in the container 3.

The mixture M can be dispensed by again separating the assembly 30 from the first container 2, as illustrated in FIG. figure 3 . The container 3 then serves as a gripping member. The mixture M can be applied to the hair by pressing the wall of the second container 3 and the reliefs 16 can be used to distribute the product on the hair, the hair being engageable between them.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described and various modifications can be made to the containers and the applicator.

For example, as shown in figure 6 , the kit may comprise a plug 33 arranged to attach to the skirt 19 of the applicator 4, the latter being proposed to the user already in place on the first container 2. The plug 33 may comprise a central shutter 34 arranged for close the channel 5 of the applicator. To mix the substances A and B, the user can for example remove the plugs 7 and 33 and then screw the skirt 19 on the neck 12 of the second container 3.

The kit may also include, as illustrated in figure 7 , a shutter 36 fixed to the end of the elongated portion 14 of the applicator 4 to close the channel 5. As in the previous example, the applicator 4 can be proposed to the user already in place on the first container 2. To mix the substances A and B, the user can remove the cap 7 and screw the skirt 19 on the neck 12 of the second container 3. During this operation, the shutter 36 is still in place at the end of the applicator 4, which prevents any risk of flow of the substance A out of the first container 2. Once the second container assembled on the coupling portion 13, the user can exert pressure on the wall of the second container 3 to cause the expulsion of the shutter 36 and allow the substances A and B to mix.

In the example of Figures 8 and 9 , the kit comprises the container 2 containing the substance A, closed by the cap 8, and the container 3 containing the substance B, closed by the applicator 4, the latter being provided at its free end with a sealing means 40 that was also represented at the figure 9 .

This sealing means 40 comprises, for example, as illustrated, a cap comprising a pin 21 connected by a preferential annular zone of rupture 42 to a flange 43 projecting radially inwards at one end of the channel 5. The cap is advantageously made monolithically with the elongated portion 14 of the applicator 4, by plastic molding.

Advantageously, as is the case in the example shown on the Figures 8 and 9 , the closure means 40 are arranged to automatically switch from a closure configuration to an open configuration allowing the substance B to mix with the substance A, when the elongated portion 14 of the applicator 4 is introduced into the container 2. This configuration change can be obtained for example by cooperation between the closure means 40 and the bottom of the container 2 in which the applicator 4 is introduced.

In the example of Figures 8 and 9 , the pin 41 thus bears against the bottom of the container 2 before the end of the screwing of the skirt 18 on the neck 11 of the container 2 and the annular zone 42 breakable breaks, which has the consequence that at the end of the screwing of the applicator, the pin 41 is raised in the channel 5. This allows the substance B to flow in the gap that exists in the channel 5 around the pin 41. The diameter of the annular zone 42 is preferably clearly less than the inside diameter of the channel 5.

Of course, the shutter means 40 could be made otherwise.

In non-illustrated variants, the closure means 40 comprise a shutter attached to the elongated portion 14 of the applicator 4 and held thereon, for example by snapping, friction, gluing or welding. The shutter is for example a heat-sealed cover at the end of the elongated portion 14 that the user can remove or drill before the introduction of the applicator 4 in the container 2. If necessary, the bottom of the latter could be provided with a pin that would perforate the aforementioned operculum.

The portion of the applicator for the application can be made in different ways and in the variant illustrated in FIG. figure 10 , the channel 5 opens through lateral orifices 38 between the reliefs 16. These may for example be constituted by a succession of teeth or bristles, each of these reliefs extending on the outer periphery of the elongate portion. By "outer periphery" is meant a region of the elongate portion extending about the X axis. The reliefs 16, particularly the teeth or bristles, may each extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X.

All orifices 38 may open, if necessary, on the same side of the applicator. The reliefs 16 may possibly not be made in one piece with the elongated portion 14 by molding of material.

Throughout the description, including the claims, the phrase "having one" should be understood as being synonymous with "having at least one", unless the opposite is specified.

Claims (18)

1. A packaging and applicator kit comprising:

   - a first receptacle containing a first substance;

   - a second receptacle containing a second substance that is different from the first substance;

   - an applicator to which both receptacles can be secured, said applicator comprising at least an elongate portion, said portion being capable of engaging in one of the receptacles and having a through channel through which the substance contained in one of the receptacles can flow for mixing with the substance contained in the other receptacle, wherein the first substance is a liquid or a powder and wherein the second substance is a liquid.
2. A kit according to claim 1, comprising:

   stoppers arranged to close the first receptacle and the second receptacle in leaktight manner, in the absence of the applicator.
3. A kit according to claim 1 or 2, the applicator comprising at least a succession of projections on its outer periphery, in particular at least one succession of teeth or bristles, that are molded integrally with the applicator.
4. A kit according to any preceding claim, the channel being closed at one end by closure means arranged to move away from a closed configuration to an open configuration, thereby enabling the receptacles to communicate with each other, in response to an action exerted by the user.
5. A kit according to claim 1, wherein the first substance is a liquid, in particular a hair dye.
6. A kit according to claim 1, wherein the second substance is a hair coloring oxidant.
7. A kit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least one of both receptacles is made in a flexible and elastically-deformable wall.
8. A kit according to claim 7, wherein at least the receptacle, which is secured to the applicator during application of the mixture, has a flexible and elastically-deformable wall.
9. A kit according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein both receptacles each have a flexible and elastically-deformable wall.
10. A kit according to claim 1, wherein the applicator has an applicator portion made with at least one projection, in particular a succession of teeth or of bristles.
11. A kit according to claim 1, wherein the channel opens out at one end of the elongate portion.
12. A kit according to claim 1, wherein the channel opens out on the outside through at least one side hole, said at least one outside hole being in particular situated between two teeth or two bristles.
13. A kit according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the applicator includes at least one sealing member configured to be pressed in leaktight manner against one of the receptacles.
14. A kit according to claim 13, wherein the applicator is arranged to be fastened to the receptacle in which the elongate portion extends, in a manner that is not completely airtight.
15. A kit according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the applicator includes both a first tubular skirt that has an inside thread and that is arranged to receive the first receptacle, and a second tubular skirt that has an inside thread and that is arranged to receive the second receptacle.
16. A kit according to claim 4, wherein the closure means are configured to change the configuration by bearing against the bottom of the first receptacle when the applicator is engaged therein.
17. A kit according to claim 16, wherein the closure means comprises a spike connected to the elongate portion by a breakable zone.
18. A kit according to claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the closure means are made integrally with the applicator by molding a material.

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