EP0822148A1 - Container for storing, mixing two products, and distributing the mixture - Google Patents

Abstract

The system (1) for the packaging of two separate components (A,B), their mixing and subsequent dispensing comprises a container (2) with two compartments (4,5). A removable plug (8) separates the two compartments before use. The container has a dispensing ferrule (18) and a rotating operating part (17) able to prevent, in its initial position, opening of the ferrule. An axially movable coupling (20) causes rotation of the operating part to act on the plug and give communication between the compartments. The coupling has the shape of a tubular skirt fixed to the dispensing ferrule. The skirt screws on the container and is connected by a sliding channel to the operating part.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for separate packaging of two components, mixing and distribution of the mixture thus obtained.

We already know many devices to store separately two components which are to be mixed extemporaneously during from the first use.

We know from US 4,936,446 a device comprising a container formed by the assembly of a bottle having a neck and a bellows. The latter is snapped at its lower end on the neck of the bottle and it has a tip at the other end of distribution. The neck of the bottle is closed by a removable cap and the bottle and the bellows can thus separately contain two components to be mixed when using the device for the first time. The dispensing nozzle is screwed into a threaded hole of a rotary actuator engaged on the neck of the bottle and intended to exert an action on the cap to put the two compartments when using the device for the first time. A closure cap is screwed onto the dispensing tip for shut it off. The actuator is shaped so as to prevent gripping by the user of this closure cap while the actuator has not been rotated to cause a displacement of the cap and the communication between the bottle and the bellows. The displacement of the plug is accompanied by an elongation of the bellows and the emergence of the closure cap out of the body maneuver, which makes it possible to open the tip of distribution. Such a device is relatively constructed complex and expensive. In particular, the bellows can be difficult to achieve, especially if it is intended to contain a component whose nature limits the choice of usable materials to realize the bellows as well as the manufacturing techniques that can be implemented.

The object of the invention is to propose a new device for separate packaging of two components, mixing and distribution of the mixture obtained, which is relatively easy and not very costly to manufacture and suitable for packaging a irritant or corrosive component.

It achieves this by proposing a device of the type comprising a container with two compartments, a removable cap to separate said compartments before first use, a mouthpiece distribution, a rotary actuator capable of prohibiting, in an initial position, the opening of the nozzle and means of coupling to transform the rotation of the operating member into a action on the cap to make the two communicate compartments, characterized in that said coupling means comprise a coupling member movable axially both by relative to the container and relative to the operating member.

Thus, it is no longer necessary thanks to the invention of make one of the compartments in the form of a bellows which deforms axially when the plug is moved. The manufacture of device is simplified and the choice of manufacturing techniques and materials that can be used is extensive.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, said coupling means comprise a slide-type connection between the coupling member and one of the container and the maneuver.

Advantageously, the coupling member is presented under the shape of a tubular skirt made in one piece with the end piece distribution.

Advantageously, said tubular skirt cooperates by screwing with the container and by a slide-type connection with the organ maneuver.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, said cap is made by molding in one piece with a rod drive integral with said coupling member.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, said actuator is externally in the form of a cap snapping onto the body of the container, and preferably extending to the lower compartment.

The assembly of the device can be carried out simply, the cap being placed inside the container then the organ coupling added together with the distribution nozzle under the shape of a single piece in which the rod snaps plug drive. The actuator can then be lowered by a simple translational movement on the organ of coupling until it clicks into place on the container body.

Alternatively, the coupling member and the rod are made in one piece by molding, are put in place inside the container then the dispensing tip is fixed by snap-fastening on the drive rod.

Advantageously, said cap snaps onto a flange formed at the end of the upper compartment of the container which is adjacent to said constriction.

Advantageously, the container comprises a body made of a in one piece and with a constriction serving as seat for the audit cap before mixing the components.

Preferably, the container body is produced by injection blowing in PVC or by coextrusion blowing in a multilayer PE / EVOH / PE.

Preferably, the container is, before filling, open to two ends.

The two openings in the container body facilitate share its realization by blowing injection or blowing coextrusion and allow on the other hand to control with great precision the internal diameter of the throttle through which the compartments communicate. This makes it easier to obtain the tightness of the closure of this constriction by the cap during storage separate from components. In addition, this seal can be tested before filling the compartments, which can advantageously be made through the respective openings of the container body without risk of contamination of one component by the other.

Preferably, the dispensing nozzle is closed by a internally threaded cap.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the device comprises at least one relief placed on the path of the dispensing nozzle and whose elastic crossing by this causes the emission of a noise indicating to the user that the dispensing nozzle is at the end of its travel.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the cap has a shaped shoulder to bear axially against the throttle by which the two compartments communicate. Preferably, when the operating member is in its initial position, the drive rod is compressed axially and it is advantageously shaped so that it can be deform elastically under the effect of this compression. We improve again in this way the tightness of the compartment closure in which the coupling member extends before the first use.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique, en coupe axiale, d'un dispositif conforme à un premier exemple de réalisation, avant mélange des composants,
• la figure 2 illustre un détail de réalisation de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une section transversale selon le trait de coupe III-III de la figure 2,
• la figure 4 représente le dispositif correspondant à la figure 1 après mélange des composants,
• la figure 5 est une vue schématique, en coupe axiale, d'un dispositif conforme à un deuxième exemple de réalisation de l'invention,
• la figure 6 représente un détail de réalisation de la figure 5,
• la figure 7 montre le dispositif de la figure 5 après mélange des composants, et
• la figure 8 est une vue schématique, en coupe axiale, d'un dispositif conforme à un troisième exemple de réalisation de l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the detailed description which follows, of nonlimiting exemplary embodiments of the invention, and on examining the appended drawing in which:

• FIG. 1 is a schematic view, in axial section, of a device according to a first embodiment, before mixing of the components,
• FIG. 2 illustrates a detail of embodiment of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a cross section along the section line III-III in FIG. 2,
• FIG. 4 represents the device corresponding to FIG. 1 after mixing the components,
• FIG. 5 is a schematic view, in axial section, of a device according to a second embodiment of the invention,
• FIG. 6 represents a detail of embodiment of FIG. 5,
• FIG. 7 shows the device of FIG. 5 after mixing the components, and
• Figure 8 is a schematic view, in axial section, of a device according to a third embodiment of the invention.

There is shown in Figures 1 to 4 a device 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention.

This device 1 comprises an elongated container body 2 and having a throttle 3 establishing communication between a lower compartment 4 and an upper compartment 5.

In the embodiment described, the body 2 has a generally symmetrical shape of revolution around its axis longitudinal X.

Collars 6 and 7 externally threaded are respectively formed at the lower and upper axial ends of the body 2.

The body 2 is advantageously produced by injection blowing in a plastic chemically compatible with components to be conditioned. As an indication, if one of the components is thioglycolic acid, used to make body 2 is advantageously made of PVC or a PE / EVOH / PE multilayer.

Cols 6 and 7 define openings allowing the introduction into the body 2 of two components A and B to be stored separately until first use. In the example particular embodiment described, components A and B are two liquids.

A plug 8 is placed in the constriction 3 to separate the compartments 4 and 5 until first use, and has a sealing lip 9 fitting tightly against the surface radially internal 10 of the throttle 3.

The internal diameter of the throttle 3 can be controlled precisely when body 2 is manufactured by injection blowing or blowing coextrusion, which facilitates obtaining a tight fitting of the plug 8 in the throttle 3.

Note that due to the relatively simple shape of the body 2 it is relatively easy to control the thickness of its wall, this which is not the case with the bellows of the above-mentioned prior device. he would also be difficult to make this bellows with a material multilayer. The use of these allows to combine with the both chemical resistance and mechanical resistance while allowing also benefit from an improved aesthetic appearance if necessary.

The plug 8 is integral with a hollow drive rod 11 having a lower part perforated laterally by means of slots 12 distributed angularly around the longitudinal axis X. The drive rod 11 has a cylindrical upper part 30 of revolution.

The lower compartment 4 is closed, after filling with component B, by means of an end portion 13 having a tubular skirt 14 shaped to be screwed onto the neck 6 and a lip sealing 15 shaped to fit tightly inside the neck 6. The part 13 has at its periphery a skirt 16 shaped to extend down the side wall of the body 2, so to improve the aesthetics of the device 1. The skirt 14 includes notches which cooperate with projections formed at the base of the neck 6 of so as to make the part inevitable by a user end 13.

An operating member 17 is rotatably mounted on the body 2 to allow the user to move the plug 8 in order to mix components A and B, as will be explained below.

The mixture M obtained can leave the body 2 by means of a distribution nozzle 18 defining an outlet channel 19. This end piece 18 is connected below, via a wall transverse 26, to a coupling member 20 shaped to transform a rotation of the operating member 17 in a displacement of the plug 8 along the longitudinal axis X.

In the embodiment described, the end piece 18 and the member coupling 20 are made with the wall 26 in one piece by plastic molding and define an annular groove 21 for snapping on the upper end of the rod 11 which is thus secured to the body of coupling 20.

More particularly, with reference to FIG. 2, the rod 11 is provided at its upper end with a bead annular 22 defining a shoulder 23 against which comes support, at the end of the insertion of the bead 22 in the groove 21, a complementary shoulder 24 of the coupling member 20 forming radially projecting inward. The annular bead 22 has a radially outer surface 28 converging upwards and a radially internal surface 27 diverging upward, fitting against an annular lip sealing 25 projecting downwards on the transverse wall 26.

The neck 7 is provided at its upper end with a bead annular 29 projecting radially inwards, intended for apply tightly against the upper part 30 of the drive rod 11 when the plug 8 is moved upwards. When the plug 8 is in its initial position, the bead annular 29 is housed in an annular groove 31 formed on the radially outer surface of the upper part 30 of the rod 11.

The coupling member 20 is in the form of a skirt tubular provided on its radially outer surface with ribs axial 32 and on its radially internal surface of shaped threads to engage the thread of the neck 7. The ribs 32 are engaged in grooves 33 of corresponding shape made on the radially internal face of an internal tubular skirt 34 of the operating member 17, as shown more particularly on Figure 3. The skirt 34 is connected to the internal face of a wall of the operating member constituting a cap 35, the surface of which external serves as a gripping surface for the user. The hairdo 35 is crossed at its top by an orifice 36 for the passage of the dispensing end piece 18 and has a bottom edge 37 radially projecting inwardly and serving to retain the operating member 17 on the body 2 of the container. This ledge 37 abuts against a shoulder 38 formed at the lower end of the wall of the body 2 laterally delimiting the compartment upper 5. The cap 35 comes to bear axially at its end free 39 against the upper end of the wall of the body 2 laterally delimiting the lower compartment 4. Thus, the organ maneuver 17 can rotate freely on the body 2 around the axis X while being immobilized axially on the body 2.

The assembly of the device 1 is carried out as follows.

We start by installing the plug 8 inside the body 2 by introducing it through the opening of the neck 7. The tightness of the separation of compartments 4 and 5 is advantageously tested at this stage of manufacturing. Then the lower compartment is filled with component B through the neck opening 6 and then the end piece 13 is screwed onto the latter. Component A can then be introduced into the upper compartment 5 through the opening of the neck 7, and gain through the lateral slots 12 of the drive rod 11 the entire upper compartment. After filling the latter, the dispensing nozzle 18 is screwed with the coupling member 20 on the neck 7, until the latching of the annular bead 22 in the groove 21.

The operating member 17 can then be lowered, after having positioned the grooves 33 opposite the upper end of the ribs 32, on the coupling member 20 and on the compartment upper body 2 by a simple translational movement towards the low until elastic crossing by the annular bead 37 of the shoulder 38 and the abutment of the cap 35 on the body 2.

Note that during the separate storage of components A and B the cap 40 does not emerge sufficiently through the orifice 36 to be able to be entered by a user.

Thus, it is impossible to unscrew the closure cap 40 to distribute only component A, and we avoid any possibility for the user to access the unmixed component A.

It is thus possible to condition thanks to the device according to the invention a corrosive or irritant component such as acid thioglycolic, safely.

To use the device, the user rotates the maneuver 17 and drives the coupling member 20 via ribs 32 engaging in grooves 33.

The threads of the neck 7 and of the coupling member 20 are shaped so that the rotation of the coupling member 20 is accompanied by an upward movement of the latter sufficient to move the plug 8 out of the constriction 3. The ribs 32 slide during the raising of the coupling member 20 in the associated grooves 33 of the operating member 17. The coupling 20 is accompanied in its axial displacement by the rod 11 and after a sufficient stroke of the coupling 20 upwards, the plug 8 releases the constriction 3 and allows the flow of component A contained in the compartment upper 5 to the lower compartment 4, for mixing with component B. Note that the displacement of the rod 11 and the dispensing tip 18 caused a increase in volume inside the container, which is advantageous when the mixture of components A and B is accompanied increase in volume, heat generation or gas release, as this limits overpressure in the container when opening.

At the end of the rotation stroke of the operating member 17, the coupling member 20 has moved up a distance sufficient for the closure cap 40 to become accessible to the user, who can unscrew it to take the mixture.

It is advantageous that the opening of the dispensing nozzle is carried out by means of a screw cap as this allows gradually evacuate residual overpressure, if necessary inside the container. Of course, we can without leaving the part of the invention, replace the cap 40 with a nozzle self-breaking came from training with the end piece 18. However, in this case it may be more difficult to get an outlet free of burrs likely to modify the direction of the jet of product leaving the nozzle.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show a device 1 ' according to a second embodiment of the invention. This device has identical or functionally elements analogous to those of the previous embodiment example, which we have assigned the same reference signs and whose description will not not included in detail.

The device 1 'has a container body 2' which differs of body 2 mainly by the presence of staves 41 formed on the radially external surface of the wall laterally delimiting the upper compartment 5. These ranges 41 have at their end lower a boss 42 serving to retain the annular bead 37 of the operating member 17 '. The latter differs from the organ of maneuver 17 previously described mainly by the presence, on the outer surface of the cap 35 ′, of ribs 43 making it easier its rotational drive by the user and by the presence, at in the vicinity of the orifice 36, of tongues 44, the crossing of which, by a flange 45 formed on the dispensing nozzle 18 ′, causes a noise to be heard indicating to the user that he has sufficiently turned the operating member 17 '.

Preferably, the tabs 44 have at their end lower a tooth that can be crossed elastically by the flange 45 in its upward movement but preventing the return towards the bottom of the 18 'distribution nozzle. So it is impossible the user to return the plug 8 to its initial position after first use.

The collar 45 advantageously has recesses not shown allowing a drop of product flowing over the upper end of the nozzle 18 'to gain the interior of the operating member and not to flow on its external surface. The comfort in use is thus increased.

The plug 8 'is integral with a drive rod 11' which has at its upper end an annular bead 22 ', fixed by snapping into a groove 21 '. The 18 'distribution nozzle and the coupling member 20 'are made in one piece with a transverse wall 26 ′ and forms the abovementioned groove 21 ′. The rod 11 'has a perforated lower part by means of side slots 12 'and a cylindrical upper part 30' of revolution, extending axially from the upper end of the slots 12 'to the flange 22'. Unlike the bead 22 described above, the bead 22 'has an upper face plane and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X, as shown in Figure 6. This upper face bears against the wall 26 '. The annular bead 22 'is retained in the groove 21 'by snap-fastening by means of a shoulder 24', similar to the shoulder 24 previously described. The wall 26 'carries on its face lower sealing lip 25 'applying to the surface radially internal to the annular bead 22 '.

The upper part 30 'of the drive rod 11' does not has no annular groove 31 for receiving the bead annular 29, unlike the exemplary embodiment previously described.

The plug 8 'is connected to the drive rod 11' in forming a shoulder 46, coming axially to rest on a shoulder 47 formed by the throttle 3.

Preferably, the length of the drive rod 11 'is chosen so that it is compressed axially when the plug 8 'rests by the shoulder 46 on the shoulder 47 and that the annular bead 22 'is snapped into the groove 21' and rests against the upper end edge 48 of the neck 7.

The drive rod 11 'is advantageously shaped so that under the effect of this axial compression, its wall at level of the lateral slots 12 'tends to deform elastically radially inward. Maintaining the rod 11 'drive with slight axial compression during storage makes it possible to further improve the tightness of the closure of the compartment 5 during storage.

The device is filled, assembled and used in the same way as the device 1 previously described.

FIG. 8 shows a 1 "device in which the drive rod 11 "is made by molding in one piece with the 20 "coupling member.

The 18 "dispensing end piece is snapped onto a annular rib 50 extending upward the drive rod 11 ".

Of course, the invention is not limited to the example of realization which has just been described.

In particular, the coupling member can be produced differently, by replacing the slide-type link between the coupling member and the operating member by a screw connection and replacing the screw connection between the coupling member and the container body by a slide-type link.

Claims (18)

Device (1; 1 '; 1 ") for separate packaging of two components (A, B), their mixture and the distribution of the mixture (M) thus obtained, comprising a container (2; 2 ') with two compartments (4,5), a removable cap (8; 8 ') for separating said compartments before first use, a dispensing tip (18; 18 '; 18 "), a rotary actuator (17; 17') capable of prohibit, in an initial position, the opening of the nozzle and coupling means for transforming the rotation of the maneuver in one action on the cap to communicate two compartments, characterized in that said means of coupling include a movable coupling member (20; 20 '; 20 ") axially both with respect to the container (2; 2 ') and with respect to the operating member (17; 17 '). Device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said coupling means comprise a connection of the type slide between the coupling member (20; 20 '; 20 ") and one of the container (2; 2 ') and the operating member (17; 17'). Device according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said coupling member (20; 20 '; 20 ") is present in the form of a tubular skirt integral with the end piece distribution (18; 18 '; 18 "). Device according to claim 3, characterized by causes said tubular skirt to cooperate by screwing with the container and by a connection of the slide type with the operating member. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said plug (8; 8 ') is produced by molding in one piece with a drive rod (11; 11 ') integral with said coupling member (20; 20 '). Device according to claim 5, characterized by fact that said drive rod (11; 11 ') is secured by latching with said coupling member and by the fact that the dispensing nozzle and the coupling member are made of a in one piece by molding. Device according to claim 5, characterized by the coupling member (20 ") is made in one piece with the drive rod (11 ") by molding and by the fact that the end piece distribution (18 ") is secured by snap-fastening with the rod training. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that when the operating member is in its initial position, the drive rod (11 ') is compressed axially and by the fact that it is shaped so as to be able to deform elastically under the effect of this compression. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the drive rod is hollow and has a cylindrical upper part of revolution. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said container comprises a body (2; 2 ') made in one piece and having a constriction (3) serving as a seat for said plug (8; 8 ') before the components are mixed. Device according to claim 10, characterized by causes said body of the container (2; 2 ') to be produced by injection blowing, preferably PVC. Device according to claim 10, characterized by causes said body of the container (2; 2 ') to be produced by coextrusion blowing, and preferably by blowing a PE / EVOH / PE coextruded. Device according to any one of Claims 10 to 12, characterized in that said plug (8 ') has a shoulder (46) shaped to axially bear against the throttle (3) by which the two compartments communicate. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the said container is before its filling open at two ends. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that said operating member is presented externally in the form of a cap (35; 35 ') coming snap onto the container. Device according to claim 15, characterized by causes said cap (35; 35 ') to snap onto a flange (38; 42) formed at the end of the upper compartment of the container which is adjacent to said constriction. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that said dispensing nozzle (18; 18 '; 18 ") is closed by an internally threaded cap (40). Device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that it comprises at least one relief (44) placed on the path of the dispensing nozzle and the elastic crossing by this one causes the emission of a noise indicating to the user that the dispensing nozzle is at the end of race.

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