EP0872430B1 - Thermoplastic tray for instant mixing of at least two products - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a thermoplastic tray according to the preamble of claim 1 for the extemporaneous mixing of two products A and B. The invention is very particularly suitable for the mixture of hair coloring products comprising a dye and an oxidant.

In the field of hair coloring, a dye and an oxidant are used, which are packaged separately so as not to affect their properties, and which are mixed just before use. For products, especially of liquid consistency, there are two-compartment type mixers isolated by a removable cap. Actuating means are provided to, before use, cause the plug to be expelled, so as to allow the dye and the oxidant to be mixed. Such devices are described in particular in European patent EP-A-0 333 541 or in US patent 1 275 315. These devices are often complex and relatively high cost. Furthermore, such devices are particularly unsuitable when one and / or the other of the components are in the form of a cream or powder.

Still in the field of hair coloring, it is known to package such products, inside two separate compartments. Before use, the user takes the first compartment, uncaps it, then, after uncapping the second, pours the contents of the first into the second, and mixes it, using a spatula for example. Generally, the two compartments are completely separate from each other, that is to say not integral with one another. One of the problems with this type of product is the handling of the container, the contents of which must be added to the contents of the other container. Indeed, due to the highly unstable nature of the products, in particular in contact with air, it is necessary to fill them to the maximum, so as to substantially eliminate any volume of air between the free surface of the product and the seal. After opening, handling becomes very delicate because of the risk of dropping part of the product. Furthermore, when the contents of the first container are poured into the second, in particular when it is a liquid product, if the shape of the edge of the first container is not chosen in an adequate manner, it can occur during pouring, a so-called "teapot" effect resulting in an untimely flow of liquid along the edge of the first container, which, unless special precautions are taken, will flow out of the second container. Part of the product will therefore be lost permanently, which, in addition to the waste and pollution aspects of the environment, may cause less good quality coloring due to the modification of the respective dosages of dye and oxidant.

In a completely different field, namely the food sector, it is known to produce a type box comprising a bottom on which a cover is hinged. Such a box is described in French patent application FR-A-2 731 412. The hinge described for the production of this box is so rigid that it only allows a simple pivot movement between the cover and the background. In reality, the only function of the lid being to removably close the opening of the receptacle, the only movement necessary to achieve this function is precisely a pivot movement, insofar as the lid, in the open position, has its bottom raised relative to the bottom of the receptacle containing the product. A joint allowing movement with other components, would not satisfactorily provide this closing and opening function. On the other hand, such an articulation zone, by reason of the only pivoting movement that it allows, could in no case be used for the articulation of a first container with a second, the content of which must be poured into the first container.

Document GB-A-1 053 868 describes a structure with two compartments connected by a hinge pin. In use, the second compartment is tilted relative to the first around said axis so as to pour the contents of the second into the first. Due to the structure of the joint, in particular if the second compartment contains a liquid arriving substantially close to its opening, then a non-negligible part of the product is lost in the transfer, and contaminates the device.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide a container for the extemporaneous mixing of two products, and solving all or part of the problems mentioned in the preceding part.

It is in particular an object of the invention to provide a mixing device, by transferring the contents of a first container into a second container, and this, by simple manipulations, reproducible, and not likely to cause losses. of product.

It is another object of the invention to provide an economical packaging to be produced, in particular, through the use of modern industrial techniques, such as in particular, thermoforming or thin-walled injection.

Still other objects will appear in detail in the description which follows.

According to the invention, these objects are achieved by producing a thermoplastic tray for the extemporaneous mixing of at least two products A and B, said tray comprising a thermoplastic body forming at least two compartments, a first compartment containing product A, a second compartment containing product B, each of the compartments having an opening delimited by a peripheral edge, and removably closed by appropriate means, the two compartments being interconnected by at least one articulation zone, characterized in that said zone articulation allows to bring above the opening of the first compartment, at least a portion of the peripheral edge of the second compartment, by a movement substantially parallel to itself of the latter, then to tilt the second compartment, so as to pour product B in the first compartment, in order to mix the two products.

Said peripheral edge portion of the second compartment is brought above the opening of the first compartment by a movement having a horizontal component and a vertical component, said second compartment advantageously has a side wall of which a portion, adjacent to said articulation zone , is inclined so as to give more amplitude to said horizontal component. This characteristic also makes it easier to remove the tray from the mold, if necessary.

As an indication, the angle formed by said side wall can be between 5 ° and 45 °, and preferably between 5 ° and 20 °.

Preferably, the peripheral edge surrounding said openings forms a surface, substantially parallel to a plane of the bottom of said first and second compartments, and has, opposite the articulation zone, a first edge adjacent to the opening which it delimits, and a second edge adjacent to said articulation zone, said articulation zone making it possible to bring at least the second edge above the opening of the first compartment. This surface surrounding the openings of the first and second compartments can be advantageously used for welding (thermal or other) or for bonding a cover capable of sealingly and removably sealing said openings. Still other closing means can be used according to the invention.

According to a first embodiment, the first compartment is of axis X, the second compartment is of axis Y, said articulation zone comprising two axes of articulation, oriented perpendicular to a plane passing through the axes X and Y, and separated from a rigid to semi-rigid zone of sufficient width to be able to bring, above the opening of the first compartment, said peripheral edge portion of the second compartment, by a movement substantially parallel to itself of the latter. This embodiment is very particularly advantageous in that it offers good guidance and good reproducibility of the movement of the compartment, the contents of which are to be poured into the other compartment. Such joints can be arranged so as to allow or facilitate folding, or pivoting, rather in one direction than in the other. In this case, the preferential direction of folding or pivoting of the two articulation axes can be the same or opposite.

By way of example, the two joints consist of film hinges, which constitutes a particularly economical embodiment of the joint zone used according to the present invention.

Other types of articulation can however be used. As a variant, the articulation zone consists of a drop-down hinge. Such a drop-down hinge may consist of a flexible zone between the two compartments, that is to say of a zone whose width and flexibility of the material constituting it, allow on the one hand a movement parallel to itself of the compartment the content of which must be poured into the other, until a section of its peripheral edge is at least partly above the opening of the mixing compartment, and on the other hand a tilting movement to allow pouring the product into the mixing compartment. By way of illustration, such a flexible zone is formed in the form of a structure with undulations or folds oriented perpendicular to a plane passing through the axes X and Y of the first, respectively, of the second compartment.

According to another variant of the invention, the tray comprises two articulation zones formed by two bands located on either side of a plane passing through the axes X and Y of the first, respectively, of the second compartment. Advantageously, each of the bands is connected to the first compartment by a first attachment line, and to the second compartment by a second attachment line, said attachment lines being arranged opposite the respective lateral edges of said first and second compartments. This characteristic offers greater latitude, in particular in the horizontal component of the movement of the compartment whose content is to be poured into the other, and moreover makes it possible to substantially reduce the overall dimensions of the assembly.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the first compartment comprises hooking means (of the snap-on bead type) capable of cooperating with complementary means (of the groove type) carried by the other compartment, so as to allow hooking mutual of the two compartments, when one is in the folded position on the other, thus achieving a compact structure forming both primary and secondary packaging of the assembly. It is for this purpose, mount (by gluing or welding) the bottom of each of the compartments, individually, on a respective support, cardboard or plastic for example, acting as a protective element, and support labeling or marking for certain technical and / or commercial information. In the folded position, the boxes respectively supporting each of the compartments are located opposite one another. This characteristic is particularly advantageous from a cost point of view.

Such a tray according to the invention can be produced by thermoforming, or by thin-walled injection. It can be made of a material chosen from polyethylenes (PE), polypropylenes (PP), polyvinyl chlorides (PVC), polystyrenes (PS), or in a complex of the PE / ethylene-copolymer type. vinyl alcohol (EVOH) / PE, or PP / EVOH / PP.

Said products can be hair products. In particular, product A can be an oxidant, and product B a dye. One and / or the other of these products can be in the form of powder, cream, gel, liquid, or any other galenical form.

• les figures 1A et 1B illustrent un premier mode de réalisation de la barquette selon l'invention;
• les figures 2A et 2B illustrent l'utilisation d'une barquette conforme aux figures 1A et 1B, pour le mélange de deux produits A et B;
• les figures 3A-3B et 4A-4C, illustrent diverses variantes de la zone d'articulation reliant les deux compartiments de la barquette selon l'invention; et
• la figure 5 illustre une vue de dessus d'un autre mode de réalisation de la barquette selon l'invention.

The invention consists, apart from the arrangements set out above, of a certain number of other arrangements which will be explained below, with reference to nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, described with reference to the appended figures, among which:

• Figures 1A and 1B illustrate a first embodiment of the tray according to the invention;
• Figures 2A and 2B illustrate the use of a tray according to Figures 1A and 1B, for the mixture of two products A and B;
• FIGS. 3A-3B and 4A-4C illustrate various variants of the articulation zone connecting the two compartments of the tray according to the invention; and
• Figure 5 illustrates a top view of another embodiment of the tray according to the invention.

Figure 1A to which reference is now made, illustrates a sectional view of a first embodiment of a tray 1 according to the invention. This comprises a body 2, produced by thermoforming, or thin-walled injection, of materials such as polyethylenes (PE), polypropylenes (PP), polyvinyl chlorides (PVC), polystyrenes (PS), or from a PE / ethylene / vinyl alcohol (EVOH) / PE, or PP / EVOH / PP type complex. The body 2 defines two compartments 3 and 4, intended to contain a product A, respectively B. The compartment 3 of axis X, has a bottom 5, an opening 8, and side walls 6, slightly inclined relative to the axis X. The side walls 6 form, in the vicinity of the bottom 5, a recess 7 so that the section of the compartment 3 in the vicinity of the bottom 5 is smaller than the section of the compartment 3 in the vicinity of the opening. This recess allows in particular to facilitate the gripping of the tray by its bottom. The opening 8 of the compartment 3 is delimited by a peripheral edge 9, forming a surface substantially parallel to the bottom 5, in particular allowing the sealing (by gluing, welding, or other) of a seal 10. The compartment 4, d axis Y, has a bottom 11, an opening 12, and side walls 13, slightly inclined relative to the axis Y. The opening 12 of compartment 4 is delimited by a peripheral edge 14, forming a surface substantially parallel to the bottom 11, making it possible in particular to carry out the sealing (by gluing, welding, or other) of a cover 15.

The two compartments 3 and 4 are interconnected by an articulation zone 16, connecting the two compartments by their respective ends, and having two articulation axes C and D oriented substantially perpendicular to the plane passing through the axes X and Y. Thus connected, the two compartments are arranged end to end, and have their respective bottoms located substantially in the same plane. The two articulation axes are separated by a rigid or semi-rigid portion 17. In this embodiment, the articulation axes consist of a hinge films, formed from thinner areas. A top view of the tray shown in section in Figure 1, is shown in Figure 1B.

Figures 2A and 2B illustrate the operation and use of the tray according to the invention. In FIG. 2A, after uncapping the two compartments 3 and 4, the compartment 4 is raised by a movement substantially parallel to itself, in position such that the peripheral edge portion 14, facing the articulation zone 16, ie located above the opening 8 of compartment 3. Such a movement is permitted by a double folding or pivoting of the articulation zone, on the one hand around the axis C and on the other hand around the axis D, which double folding allows a movement having both a horizontal and vertical component. Thus, the edge of the compartment 4 can be brought above the opening 8 of the compartment 3, while keeping the compartment 4 substantially horizontal. The horizontal component of the movement is increased by the inclination of the wall 13 of the compartment 4. Typically, the angle of inclination of the wall can be between 5 ° and 45 °, and preferably between 5 ° and 20 ° . Such an inclination also facilitates demolding of the tray. The vertical component depends to a large extent on the width of the area 17 located between the two articulation axes C, D. Typically, this area 17 can have a width of between 5 mm and 40 mm, and preferably between 10 mm and 30 mm.

In FIG. 2B, after having brought the edge of the compartment 4 above the compartment 3, the compartment 4 is tilted, by pivoting about the axis D. Thus, the product B pours into the compartment 3, so as to be mixed with product A. Depending on the dosage form of the product, accessories can be provided, of spatula type, to promote the emptying of compartment 4 into compartment 3, and to facilitate mixing of the two products.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3A, the compartments A and B are connected by two articulation zones 16, 16 ′ made up of two flexible strips 18, 19, located on either side of the plane passing through the axes X and Y of the compartments 3 and 4. In this embodiment the flexible bands 18, 19 converge in the direction of compartment 4, with respect to the plane passing through the axes X and Y. Each of the bands is arranged so as to allow the movement described with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B. This configuration, due to the small relative width of the strips (typically, of the order of 5 mm), their small thickness, and the intrinsic flexibility of the material, has the advantage of allowing such movement without axis of fixed joint, as in the embodiments of FIGS. 1A-1B and 2A-2B. This produces a drop-down hinge, which allows on the one hand, to bring the edge of compartment 4 above compartment 3, while keeping compartment 4 in a substantially horizontal position, and on the other hand to tilt compartment 4 so as to pour its contents into compartment 3.

The articulation zone of FIG. 3B conforms to what has been described with reference to FIGS. 1A-1B and 2A-2B, that is to say, consisting of a single strip, of width greater than the width of the bands of Figure 3A. This configuration gives greater torsional rigidity than the configuration in FIG. 3A. Furthermore, because of the fixed articulation axes C, D, the movement of the compartment 4 is better guided, thus limiting the risks of loss of product B, during the displacement of the compartment 4. Finally, this articulation zone larger width acts as a screen when pouring the contents of compartment 4 into compartment 3, so as to avoid, in the case where product B is of relatively liquid consistency, the "teapot" effect mentioned in the introductory part of the description.

FIGS. 4A to 4C illustrate various variants of the articulation zone 16. In the embodiment of FIG. 4A, the articulation zone consists of two film hinges, produced by molding or by stamping, and separated by a rigid or semi-rigid zone 17. In this embodiment, the film hinges are in the preferred direction of folding around their respective axis. In this mode of realization the two film hinges have the same direction of pivoting or preferential folding around the axis C, respectively D.

In FIG. 4B, the zone 16 separates two articulations, formed of two folds or corrugations 21, 22, obtained by molding with the tray. The folds are oriented perpendicular to the plane passing through the axes X and Y of the compartments 3 and 4, and are turned opposite each other, allowing preferential folding in a first direction around the axis C, and in an opposite direction around the axis D. Thus, one plays on the one hand on the ease of folding around each of the axes C, D, and one favors, by elastic return, the return of the compartment 4 in its position after mixing its contents with that of compartment 3.

In FIG. 4C, the articulation zone is produced by a zone with corrugations 20, produced by molding with the tray 1. The number of plies is variable depending on the width of the zone 16, and according to the desired flexibility . Such a configuration makes it possible to give more flexibility to the approach movement of compartment 4 on compartment 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the tray according to the invention, and which constitutes a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 3A. According to this embodiment, compartment 3 and compartment 4 are connected by two articulation zones 16 and 16 ', each consisting of a narrow band 18, 19 respectively (typically of the order of 5 mm) and whose attachment lines on each of the compartments 3, 4 are located opposite the lateral edges of each of the compartments, unlike the embodiment of FIG. 3A where the attachment lines were located on the ends of the compartments. In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment lines are located substantially in the middle of the respective lateral edges of each of the compartments 3 and 4. Each of the bands has substantially in the vicinity of its attachment lines, two joints C, D, constituted film hinges for example. As indicated in the embodiment of FIG. 3A, the fixed articulation axes C, D, are not essential if the bands 18 and 19 are sufficiently narrow and sufficiently flexible. In the same way as for the other embodiments, the compartment 4 is brought above the compartment 3, by pivoting on the one hand around the axis C, and on the other hand around the axis D, so to keep the compartment 4 substantially horizontal. The contents of compartment 4 are then poured into compartment 3 by tilting compartment 4 around the axis D. This configuration is particularly advantageous in that it allows greater latitude, in particular in the horizontal component of the approach movement. of compartment 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the edge of the compartment, the contents of which are to be poured, can be brought substantially to the center of the mixing compartment, thus promoting the pouring of product B into compartment 3. Furthermore, it allows a significant reduction in the size of the tray.

In the foregoing detailed description, reference has been made to preferred embodiments of the invention. It is obvious that variants can be made without departing from the invention as claimed below.

Claims (18)

1. Thermoplastic tray (1) for mixing, at the time of use, at least two products A and B, the said tray including a thermoplastic body (2) forming at least two compartments (3, 4), a first compartment (3) containing the product A and a second compartment (4) containing the product B, each of the compartments having an. opening (8, 12) that is delimited by a peripheral edge (9, 14) and can be closed off in a removable manner by appropriate means (10, 15), the two compartments being connected together via at least one articulation zone (16, 16'), characterized in that the said articulation zone (16, 16') makes it possible to bring at least a portion of the peripheral edge (14) of the second compartment (4) on top of the opening (8) of the first compartment (3), by moving the second compartment (4) substantially parallel to the first compartment (3) in a movement having both a horizontal component and a vertical component, and then tilting the second compartment (4) so as to pour the product B into the first compartment (3) in order to mix the two products therein.
2. Tray according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said second compartment (4) has a lateral wall (13), of which at least a portion adjacent to the said articulation zone (16) is inclined so as to give the said horizontal component greater amplitude.
3. Tray according to Claim 2, characterized in that the said portion is inclined by an angle α of between 5° and 45°, and preferably of between 5° and 20°.
4. Tray according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the peripheral edge (9, 14) delimiting the said openings (8, 12) forms a surface which is substantially parallel to a plane of the base (5, 11) of the said first (3) and second (4) compartments and has, opposite the articulation zone (16), a first edge adjacent to the opening which it surrounds and a second edge adjacent to the said articulation zone (16), the said articulation zone making it possible to bring at least the second edge on top of the opening (8) of the first compartment (3).
5. Tray according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first compartment (3) has an axis X perpendicular to a plane of its opening, the second compartment (4) has an axis Y perpendicular to a plane of its opening, the said articulation zone (16) having two axes of articulation (C, D), either folding or pivoting, which are oriented perpendicularly to a plane passing through the axes X and Y and separated by a rigid to semi-rigid zone (17) which is sufficiently wide to be able to bring the said portion of the peripheral edge of the second compartment (4) on top of the opening (8) of the first compartment (3), with the second compartment (4) in a substantially horizontal position.
6. Tray according to Claim 5, characterized in that the two axes of articulation (C, D) have a preferential folding or pivoting direction, the two axes of articulation having the same preferential direction or opposite directions.
7. Tray according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the two axes of articulation consist of film hinges.
8. Tray according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the articulation zone (16) consists of an unrolling hinge.
9. Tray according to Claim 8, characterized in that the unrolling hinge consists of at least one flexible zone (18, 19, 20) between the two compartments.
10. Tray according to Claim 9, characterized in that the flexible zone has the form of a structure with corrugations or folds (20) which are oriented perpendicularly to a plane passing through the axes X and Y of the first compartment (3) and second compartment (4), respectively.
11. Tray according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two articulation zones (16, 16') formed by two strips (18, 19) located on either side of a plane passing through the axes X and Y of the first compartment and of the second compartment, respectively.
12. Tray according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each of the strips (18, 19) is connected to the first compartment (3) by means of a first attachment line and to the second compartment (4) by means of a second attachment line, the said attachment lines being arranged opposite the respective lateral edges of the said first and second compartments.
13. Tray according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is produced by thermoforming or by thin-wall injection.
14. Tray according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first compartment (3) has fastening means capable of interacting with complementary means borne by the second compartment (4) so as to allow the two compartments to be fastened together when one is in a position in which it is folded over on the other.
15. Tray according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is produced from a material chosen from polyethylenes (PE), polypropylenes (PP), polyvinyl chlorides (PVC), polystyrenes (PS), or from a complex of the PE/ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH)/PE or PP/EVOH/PP type.
16. Tray according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said removable closing-off means comprise a cover (10, 15) which is heat-sealed or glued along the said surface formed by the peripheral edge (9, 14) of the said openings (8, 12).
17. Tray according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said products are hair-care products.
18. Tray according to Claim 16, characterized in that the product A is an oxidizing agent and the product B is a colouring agent.