EP0659365B1 - Device for preparing, in a metered manner, a cosmetic product and dispensing this product - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for prepare in a metered manner, and distribute a cosmetic product, in particular a product for coloring or bleaching hair, obtained by mixing, just before use, two liquid, creamy or gel constituents.

In what follows, we will mainly refer to coloring products but it is understood that the explanations data also apply to bleaching products.

The correct use of coloring products, more often formed by mixing two constituents, the oxidant and the dye, is largely dependent on the quality with which is mixes the two components just before applying to the hair.

These two constituents are by nature and very different structure.

The oxidant, which is generally liquid or creamy, does not poses no particular conservation problem and is often packaged in multidoses in plastic bottles, especially in polyethylene.

The dye which is generally liquid, cream or in gel, is very sensitive to oxidation by ambient air, affected by ultraviolet rays and is particularly reactive with respect to metals and metallic salts.

The dye is therefore usually packaged in airtight containers, protected from light and air, especially in the form of a single-use tube, usually in aluminum, internally coated with varnish or film protective multi-layer.

It has also been proposed to decrease the costs of is to use multidose cans, in particular aerosol type fitted with a valve distribution mechanism.

When the dye is very liquid, the mixture of dye and oxidant can be done in a walled container transparent, provided with graduations, into which we first pour oxidant then dye, each to a graduation predetermined to obtain a dosed mixture.

However, particular problems arise if the dye is in the form of a cream or gel. If indeed, we pour into the mixing container the dye first before the oxidant, the mixing is bad and it is not possible to carry out a dosage by simple level reading.

If we put the dye in the oxidant, the dye lower density floats on the oxidant like an iceberg and there are significant measurement errors, of the order of 10%, which may have harmful consequences on the result of the color obtained on the hair.

It has therefore been proposed in FR-A-2 429 038 to use a transparent container for mixing the constituents, provided with graduations on its wall, and comprising in its bottom a self-closing valve by which successively introduced the constituents, namely the oxidant and the dye, each up to a determined graduation.

Such a container however has in particular the disadvantage that the presence, permanently of a valve in the bottom of the container results in great difficulty in cleaning the products remaining after use.

It is very important to be able to avoid any mixing dyes to avoid unpleasant surprises the result obtained, especially when you go from a very dark to a very light coloration on two consecutive hair.

The realization of the valve is also complex because it is essential that it can only work in the direction of the entry of the constituents from the outside to the inside of the container mixing, so that the valve must be arranged to be closed positively and not just passively, without having metallic components or not having components metallic only if these are coated with a coating, in particular a protective varnish.

European patent EP-B-0 089 064 discloses a device for transferring a liquid for perms of a reservoir in one dose vial.

The dose vial has a cap at one end screwed through which the liquid is distributed and at the other end a valve through which filling takes place.

This device is not suitable for the preparation of dosed and to the mixture of two constituents just before use.

The present invention proposes to produce a device for preparing in a metered manner, and dispensing a cosmetic product, in particular a coloring or bleaching of hair obtained by mixing just before using two liquid constituents, creamy or gel, which is either particularly simple, economical construction and avoids disadvantages mentioned above.

The device according to the invention is characterized essentially by the fact that it includes a cylindrical body transparent, flexible wall, open at both ends and provided at said ends of identical external threads, and two removable end caps with internal threads identical each formed on a cylindrical skirt with a cap respective, said internal threads being able to cooperate each with any of the body's external threads, the wall of said body being provided with at least one series of graduations, and preferably two series of graduations formed head to tail on the length of the body, one of the caps having a means of distribution of the cosmetic product prepared in the device, the other cap having an orifice provided with a non-metallic valve with automatic closing through which one of the constituents of the cosmetic product can be introduced into the body of the device after the other constituent has been previously introduced into said body by the opposite end before repositioning on said opposite end of said cap provided with the dispensing means.

The term “flexible wall” according to the invention means a wall which while being relatively rigid, can be deformed under the effect external support in order to expel the product resulting from the mixture.

In the case where the cosmetic product is a product of hair coloring, the oxidant is first introduced into the container by the end to be closed by the cap provided with the dispensing means and, after replacing said cap, introduced through the automatic closing valve provided on the other cap, the dye from a container thereof.

We understand that, thanks to the fact that the two caps of the device according to the invention can be removed by simple unscrewing the cylindrical body, cleaning the components of the device is particularly easy, each of the components can be cleaned individually, the cylindrical body being for its part easily cleaned with a simple brush.

Advantageously, the self-closing valve is of the type having a domed membrane convex towards inside the device body when the cap with said valve is screwed onto it, said membrane comprising at minus a slot provided in the vicinity of the top of the dome and delimited by edges capable of coming into contact with one another to produce a watertight closure at rest and able to move apart to allow passage of a product supplied under pressure on the side of the wall concave outer surface of the dome-shaped membrane.

The dome-shaped membrane is attached to the cap by means of support ensuring positive closure from the slot.

Such a membrane valve is for example described in FR-A-2 666 308 from the applicant company which presents it as a valve out of a container, not as an inlet valve as in the present invention.

When a valve of this type is provided, it is advantageous to use to introduce the constituent, such as dye, to be introduced through this valve, a tip connection, having a dome-shaped protrusion arranged to apply in correspondence of shapes against the surface concave outer surface of the dome-shaped membrane.

The connection end piece can in particular be connected, by example by a film hinge, either on the cap fitted with the valve automatic closure, preferably in the container of the constituent to be introduced through the self-closing valve.

The connection piece is internally shaped to be able to receive the dispensing end of the container constituent to be introduced, this end possibly being, in the practical, the hollow operating rod of a distribution valve an aerosol can.

Alternatively, the connection piece can be mounted at remains on the dispensing end of said container.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe longitudinale du dispositif, selon la présente invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe d'un embout de raccordement utilisable avec le dispositif de la figure 1, et
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe illustrant l'embout de raccordement de la figure 2 mis en place sur le dispositif illustré à la figure 1.

In order to better understand the invention, we will now describe by way of nonlimiting example an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

• FIG. 1 is a view in longitudinal section of the device according to the present invention,
• FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a connection end piece usable with the device of FIG. 1, and
• FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the connection nozzle of FIG. 2 put in place on the device illustrated in FIG. 1.

The device according to the invention comprises a body elongated cylindrical 1 made of transparent plastic, for example made of polyethylene or polypropylene, open at both ends 2, 3, said body comprising at said ends, on the face exterior of its wall, identical threads between them 4 and respectively 5.

The body also has two series of graduations symmetrical arranged head to tail 6 and 7.

The device according to the invention comprises for closing off selectively the open ends 2, 3 of the body 1 two caps end 8 and 9.

Both end caps have skirts identical cylindrical 10 and 11 respectively, provided with threads identical exterior 12 and 13 able to cooperate with threads 4 and 5 made on the wall of the body 1.

Thanks to this configuration, the cap 8 which is illustrated in Figure 1 placed on the end 2 of the body cylindrical 1 can be placed on the end 3 and likewise, the end cap 9 can be fitted at end 2.

The end cap 8 is provided with a cannula distribution 14 on which a cover or a closure cap (not shown).

The bottom wall 15 of the cap 9 has a cavity annular recess 16 and a central orifice 17.

The orifice 17 is closed internally by a valve with automatic closure constituted by a dome-shaped membrane 18 convex towards the inside of the device body, said membrane comprising at least one slot 19 in the vicinity of the top of the dome.

The membrane 18 is fixed to the cap 9 by through an annular piece 20 slammed on the bottom wall of the cap.

Illustrated in FIG. 2 is a connection end piece intended to be placed in the end cap 13 for introduce a constituent of the mixture into the body 1 through the diaphragm valve 18.

The tip, designated overall by 21, has a dome-shaped protrusion 22, arranged, as illustrated in the figure 3, to engage in the orifice 17 of the end cap 9 and apply in correspondence of shapes against the external surface concave dome-shaped membrane 18.

Internally, the connection piece has a cylindrical conduit 23 opening into the center of the protrusion dome shape 22. The conduit 23 communicates with an interior cavity 24 comprising at least one recessed bearing surface 25 arranged in such a way that when a valve operating rod of a container such as an aerosol can, not shown, is introduced into the connection end piece 21 as far as the conduit 23, the bearing surface 25 constitutes a stop allowing relative displacement of said rod maneuver relative to the container body and the expulsion of the product contained by the slot 19 of the membrane 18.

The device according to the invention can be used from the following way to prepare a product for coloring hair.

Starting from the position illustrated in Figure 1, the user, after having removed by unscrewing the cap 8 pours to the through opening 2, oxidizing it to the required level while marking on the series of graduations 6.

For the introduction of the dye, the user approaches then from the device the container (not shown) on which is mounted by a film hinge the connecting piece 21. After having introduces the connection piece into the cap 13 as illustrated in Figure 3, the dispensing rod of the dye container being engaged in the conduit 23 of the connection end piece 21, the user moves the device slightly down according to the invention for actuating the valve of the dye container and release this which passes through the conduit 23 and then opens the membrane 18 and enters the body 1 of the device.

Due to the surface contact between the protuberance of the tip and the membrane, no amount of dye is deposited on outside the device.

The level of oxidant present in the body of the device goes up and as soon as the required level is reached, the user releases the downward pressure on the device to stop the supply of dye.

The membrane then closes and the user can mix the two constituents by stirring, after having screwed on again the nozzle 8 on the thread 4 of the body 1.

Once the mixing is done, the user turns the device and expels the mixture formed through the cannula 14 in pressing the wall of the body 1.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, it is obvious that it is not there in no way limited and that we can bring it different variants and modifications without departing from its framework.

Claims (4)

1. Device for preparing, in a metered manner, a cosmetic product and dispensing this product, particularly a product for dyeing and bleaching hair, which is obtained by mixing, just prior to use, two constituents which are liquid, creamy or in gel form, comprising a body with a transparent wall equipped with at least one series of graduations, characterized in that the said body (1) is cylindrical with a flexible wall open at its two ends (2, 3), and in that the device comprises, at the said ends, identical external screw threads (4, 5) and two removable end caps (8, 9) equipped with identical internal screw threads (12, 13) which are each formed on a cylindrical skirt (10, 11) of a respective cap, each of the said internal screw threads being capable of interacting with either of the external screw threads of the body, the said graduations are preferably of two series of graduations formed head-to-tail (6, 7) over the length of the body, one of the caps (8) including a means (14) for dispensing the cosmetic product prepared in the device, the other cap (9) including an orifice (17) equipped with a non-metallic valve (18) with automatic closure through which one of the constituents of the cosmetic product may be introduced into the body of the device after the other constituent has previously been introduced into the said body via the opposite end (2) before the said cap (8) equipped with the dispensing means (14) has been replaced on the said opposite end.
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the valve with automatic closure comprises a membrane (18) in the form of a dome which is convex towards the inside of the body (1) of the device when the cap including the said valve is screwed onto the latter, the said membrane including at least one slot (19) provided in the vicinity of the top of the dome and delimited by edges which are capable of coming into contact with each other in order to produce a leaktight closure at rest and capable of separating to allow the passage of a product fed under pressure from the concave outer-wall side of the dome-shaped membrane.
3. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the membrane (18) in the shape of a dome is fastened onto the corresponding cap (9) by means of bearing means (20) providing a positive closure of the slot (19) of the membrane.
4. Device according to either of Claims 2 or 3, characterized in that it includes a connecting end-piece (21) including a dome-shaped protuberance (22) arranged so as to be applied, with correspondence of shapes, against the concave outer surface of the dome-shaped membrane (18).

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