FR2569666A1 - Device enabling at least two products to be kept separate from one another, and to be mixed subsequently, particularly at the time of use - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises a container 1 closed by a cover 6. The container delimits a first compartment 5 for a product L, while the cover 6 delimits another compartment 7 for another product S. An intermediate part 9 is locked in rotation on the neck 2 of the container. This part 9 comprises means capable of tearing a film 8 which closes the compartment 7 of the cover. Means of connecting 19 with the cover 6 are provided on this part 9. The pushing-in of the cover 6 on the intermediate part 9 is partial during storage whereas, at the time of use, a complete pushing-in is carried out in such a way as to cause the tearing-off of the film 8 by the means T.

Description

DEVICE FOR STORING, SEPARATE FROM ONE ANOTHER,
AT LEAST TWO PRODUCTS AND MAKING THEIR MIXTURE
SUBSEQUENTLY, ESPECIALLY AT THE TIME OF USE.

 The invention relates to a device making it possible to keep, separated from one another, at least two products and to carry out their mixing subsequently, in particular at the time of use, device of the type of those comprising a container. closed by a cover, the container delimiting a first compartment for one of the products, while the cover delimits another compartment intended to receive another product, and to be closed by a film or the like.

 It is known that, generally, the product contained in the compartment of the container is a liquid product, while the product contained in the compartment of the lid is a solid or liquid product.

 Such devices are used in many fields, in particular in the field of dyes, in particular for dyeing the hair.

 The object of the invention is, above all, to provide a device of simple and robust construction and which makes it possible to maintain a good seal during storage. It is further desired that the mixing operation can be carried out in a safe and rapid manner, while maintaining a good seal between the interior of the container and the exterior.

 According to the invention, a device allowing two products to be kept separate from one another and to be mixed subsequently, in particular at the time of use, of the kind defined above, is characterized by the fact that it comprises an intermediate piece blocked in rotation on the neck of the container and provided between the container and the cover, this piece comprising means suitable for tearing the film for closing the compartment provided in the cover and means for connecting with the cover , the depression of said cover on the intermediate piece being partial during storage, while at the time of use, a complete depression is carried out so as to cause, by the above means capable of tearing, the tearing of the film and releasing the product contained in the cover compartment for mixing the two products.

 Advantageously, the connecting means between the intermediate piece and the cover comprise a thread provided on the piece and on which the cover can be screwed, the screwing being partial during storage, while at the time of use, the screwing complete allows to generate a combined movement of translation and rotation of the cover relative to the intermediate piece, for tearing off the film.

 The means suitable for tearing the film generally comprise at least one tooth carried by the said part, situated radially towards the interior of the container and projecting longitudinally in the direction of the compartment of the cover.

 Advantageously, two diametrically opposite teeth are provided on the intermediate piece. The position of these teeth, in the radial direction, is preferably chosen such that these teeth, when they enter the compartment of the cover, are substantially tangent to the interior surface of the wall of this compartment.

 The side wall of the cover may include a clean tamper-evident band which comes to bear, in the axial direction, against a stopper linked to the container so as to prevent the cover from being completely pushed in on the intermediate piece, this band having to be torn off. to allow the penetration to complete and tear the film for mixing the products.

 In the case where the product intended to be placed in the compartment of the lid is a solid product, in particular a powder, advantageously, this solid product, in particular constituted by a pellet, is placed in a hermetically sealed shell, itself put subsequently in place in the compartment of the cover, itself then closed by the film, the means for tearing the film also ensuring the tearing of the shell containing the solid product.

 The intermediate piece may include a sealing skirt engaging inside the neck of the container so as to cooperate with the internal surface of the upper part of this neck to ensure sealing while the cover also has an internal skirt. suitable for cooperating, by its outer surface, with the inner surface of a ring belonging to the intermediate piece.

 This intermediate piece can comprise a sort of tray whose mean plane is substantially orthogonal to the axis of the device, this tray being mounted against the open end of the container and being provided with through holes allowing the cammunication between the volumes located on the and on the other side of the tray, the teeth for tearing the capsule being provided on this tray which is provided with a clean peripheral skirt to be clipped onto the neck of the container, this skirt being provided with anti-rotation notches capable of cooperating with additional notches provided on the neck; the sealing skirt, integral with the plate, is located radially inside the peripheral skirt while projecting from the ree side relative to the plate.

The ring capable of cooperating with the skirt of the cover projects from the side of the plate opposite to that of the sealing skirt; this ring is provided externally with the thread intended to cooperate with the internal thread of the cover
The cover compartment is advantageously delimited by a cylindrical wall fixed to the bottom of the cover and projecting therefrom - towards the container, this wall being preferably coaxial with the container; said wall may be provided, towards the inside, with fins or the like constituting ribs capable of cooperating with corresponding grooves formed in the shell containing the solid product, to ensure that the shell is prevented from rotating relative to the cover.

 A pouring nozzle is advantageously provided on the cover, this nozzle opening in the space located radially outside the wall defining the compartment of the cover.

 Advantageously, when the compartment of the cover is intended to contain a liquid product, this compartment is closed by a capsule-piston seal carrier, said compartment being provided, at its end opposite to that of the capsule, with an opening equipped with a removable plug serving firstly for filling the cover compartment and, subsequently, for the passage of the mixture of products1 when it has been produced.

 The intermediate piece can come to cover internally and externally the neck of the container, the external part of the intermediate part being provided with an external thread suitable for cooperating with the internal thread of the plug. This outer part of the intermediate piece is clipped onto the neck and is provided with anti-rotation notches cooperating with corresponding notches provided on the neck.

 The invention consists, apart from the arrangements set out above, of certain other arrangements which will be more explicitly discussed below in connection with particular embodiments described with reference to the attached drawings, but which are in no way limiting. .

 Figure 1 of these drawings shows in longitudinal section a device according to the invention in the storage position.

 Figure 2 shows the device of Figure 1 in the use position, the tamper-evident ring having been torn off and the cover being fully depressed.

 Figure 3 is a section along line III-III of Figure 1.

 Figure 4 is a section along line IV-IV of Figure 2.

 Figure 5 shows, in section, an alternative embodiment of a device according to the invention for the storage of two liquid products.

 Figure 6, finally, shows the device of Figure 5 in the position of use.

 Referring to the drawings, in particular to FIGS. 1 to 4, one can see a device D making it possible to keep separated from one another a liquid product L and a solid product S and to effect their mixing later, in particular at the time of use.

 The device D comprises a container 1 constituted by a bottle, in particular of plastic material in particular of polyethylene. This bottle 1 has a neck 2, of slightly smaller diameter, provided externally, on its cylindrical wall, with a peripheral rib 3 for clipping, for example with triangular section. Above this rib 3 are provided, on the external wall of the neck, anti-rotation notches 4 formed for example by a set of ribs and grooves oriented parallel to the axis of the bottle 1. This container delimits a first compartment 5 for liquid L.

The container 1 is closed by a cover 6, of the sorting capsule, which delimits another compartment 7 intended to receive the other product S and to be closed by a film 8 or the like
The device comprises an intermediate piece 9 blocked in rotation on the neck 2 of the bottle, and provided between the latter and the cover 6.

 This intermediate piece 9 comprises a sort of plate 10, the mean plane of which is substantially orthogonal to the axis of the device. This tray is mounted against the open end of the container 1 and is provided with through holes 11, distributed in a ring (see FIG. 3) allowing communication between the volumes located on either side of the tray. The plate 10 comprises, on one side, a sealing skirt 12 with a slightly frustoconical outer surface suitable for engaging in the neck 2 of the bottle so as to cooperate with the internal surface 13 of the upper part of this neck to ensure sealing.

 The plate 10 is further provided with a peripheral skirt 14 comprising, on its internal cylindrical surface, a profile 15 complementary to the rib 3 of the neck 2, so that said skirt can be clipped, by this profile 15, onto the neck 2. The internal cylindrical surface of this skirt 14 is also provided, in the vicinity of the plate 3, with anti-rotation notches 16 complementary to the notches 4, and suitable for cooperating with these.

 The sealing skirt 12 is located radially inside the peripheral skirt 14.

 The plate 10 is provided, on the side opposite to the skirts 12 and 14, with a ring 17, cylindrical, with a diameter slightly smaller than that of the skirt 14, so that this ring is set back, radially, relative to said skirt.

 A shoulder 18 marks the start of the transition zone between the skirt 14 and the ring 17. This ring is provided with an external thread 19 capable of cooperating with an internal thread 20 of the cover 6.

 The part 9 comprises means T suitable for tearing the film 8 for closing the compartment 7. These means T advantageously comprise two teeth such as 21 carried by the plate 10, located radially towards the inside of the bottle 1, and protruding longitudinally in direction of compartment 7 of the cover. The teeth 21, which have come from moldings with the plate 10, are made of the same material, in particular a plastic material such as polypropylene. The cross section of the teeth 21 is substantially triangular, so as to present an acute angle on the side of the compartment. The teeth 21, as visible in FIG. 3, extend only over a fraction of the circumference and are separated from each other by free spaces 22. A hole P is provided in the center of the plate 10.

 The compartment 7 of the cover is delimited by a cylindrical wall 23 fixed against the bottom of the cover and opening towards the bottle 1. The wall 23 is preferably coaxial with the cover and has a diameter much smaller than the outside diameter of the cover. The wall 23 is advantageously provided, towards the inside with fins 24 or the like, extending along generators and projecting radially inwards; these fins 24 are distributed regularly over the entire circumference.

 The solid product S, in particular formed by a powder, can be packaged in the form of a pellet and placed in a plastic shell or cup 25, formed under vacuum. This shell 25 has, on its outer wall, recesses 26 capable of cooperating with the fins 24 to block the shell 25 in rotation relative to the cover 6. The shell 25, thermoformed, is closed in a perfectly sealed manner by the film 8, especially aluminum. The retention of the shell 25 in the compartment 7, during storage, can be ensured by the mechanical tightening of the fins 24 in the recesses 26 and by the periphery of the film 8 which can extend beyond the outline of the crowd and be sealed on the edge of the wall 23.

 The position of the teeth 21, in the radial direction 1 is chosen so that these teeth, when they enter the compartment 7 of the cover, are substantially tangent, through their external surface 21a, to the internal surface of the wall 23 of the compartment .

 The cover 6 comprises an internal skirt 27, cylindrical, extending towards the bottle and situated, radially, between the external cylindrical wall of the cover 6 and the wall 23. This skirt 27 is capable of cooperating, by its external surface, with the inner surface of the ring 17, to establish a seal. A pouring nozzle 28 is provided on the cover to project from the side opposite to the bottle 1; this pouring nozzle opens into the annular space 29 between the skirt 27 and the wall 23. The pouring nozzle 28 is closed by a self-tearing nose 30. This nose is torn off at the time of use.

 As shown in Figure 1, during storage, the depression of the cover 6 on the intermediate piece 9 is partial, so that there is a distance h, in the axial direction, between the film 8 and the upper edge of the teeth 21, which are located far from this film.

 Maintaining this distance h is advantageously established by a tamper-evident band 31, the upper edge of which is attached to this wall by a thin cord 32, extending along the entire circumference of the band and the cover. The strip 31 comes to bear, at its end remote from the cord 32, against the shoulder 18 forming an axial stop. The width B of the strip 32 is chosen so that the desired distance h is obtained when the strip 32 is in abutment against the shoulder 18.

 The operation of such a device, when it is desired to mix the two products L and S, with a view to using the mixture, is as follows.

 We start by detaching the strip 31 so as to free the space between the lower edge of the outer wall of the cover 6 and the shoulder 18.

 Complete screwing of the cover 6 is carried out on the intermediate piece 9, which makes it possible to generate a combined translational and rotational movement of the cover 6 and of the film 8 relative to the intermediate piece 9 and to the teeth 21.

 When the axial depression of the cover 6 has caused the removal of the distance between the teeth 21 and the film 8, the teeth cause the tearing of the film. This tearing takes place all the more easily when the cover and the film 8 rotate relative to the teeth 21.

 If the shell 25 was itself closed by a plastic veil in addition to the sealing film 8, the tearing and the opening of the shell would be ensured by the teeth 21.

 The possible axial insertion of the cover 6 corresponds substantially to the width B until the cover 6 comes by its lower edge, in abutment against the shoulder 18. The width B is significantly greater than h, for example at least two times equal to h so that the tearing of the film 8 is largely assured.

The solid product S falls into the liquid product
L and the mixture can be favored by shaking the bottle 1, the interior volume of which is sealed against the exterior.

 When the mixing has been carried out, one can tear the nose 30 of the pouring nozzle 28 and pour the desired quantity of mixture by inverting the bottle so that the nozzle 28 is inclined downwards.

 The packaging of the products L and S, and the preparation of the device D for storage are carried out as follows.

 We start by filling the bottle 1, not equipped with the part 9 and the cover 6, with the quantity of liquid L provided.

 Next, the intermediate part 9 is clipped onto the neck 2 of the bottle by engaging the skirt 14 around this neck so that the clipping rib 3 engages in the complementary profile 15, while the anti-notches rotation 4 of the neck 2 cooperate with the anti-rotation notches 16 of the part 9, which is not equipped with the cover 6.

 Is placed in the compartment 7 of the cover 6, the thermoformed shell 25 containing the pellet of solid product S, the shell 25 and the compartment 7 are sealed in a perfectly sealed manner by a film 8, in particular of aluminum.

 The cover 6, fitted with the pad, is then screwed onto the ring 17 of the part 9 until the strip 31 comes to bear against the shoulder 18.

 The device D is particularly simple from the industrial point of view since it is not necessary to provide for heat sealing on the bottle 1. The seals are provided by cylindrical skirts with slight tightening, in an efficient manner.

 Referring now to Figures 5 and 6 which illustrate a variant D1 embodiment of the device for keeping, separated from each other, two liquid products L1, L2. A specific example of application is that in which the liquid Li is a dye while the liquid L2 is an oxidant, the mixture of these two liquids being used for dyeing the hair.

 The elements of the device D1 of FIGS. 5 and 6, playing roles similar to elements already described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, will be designated by numerical references equal to the sum of the number 100 and the numerical reference used in the figures 1 to 4.

 The description of these elements will not be repeated or will be repeated only briefly.

 The cover 106 consists of a cylindrical skirt 33 carrying, on its inner surface, the thread 120. A crown 34, the plane of which is orthogonal to the axis of the skirt 33, separates the thread 120 from the upper part of the skirt 33. An annular groove 35 is provided at the junction of the crown 34 and of the skirt 33 on the side opposite to the thread 120. The cover 106 further comprises a container 36 formed by a bottle, made of plastic, in particular in PVC, having a shape of revolution corresponding to the succession of several cylindrical zones of decreasing diameter, in the direction of the bottle 101, as visible in FIGS. 4 and 5. The compartment 107 is formed by the interior volume of the container 36.

 The upper part 37 of the container 36 is frustoconical and ends in a tube 38, forming an opening, provided with an external thread.

 An applicator tip 39 is inserted with sufficient tightening to establish the seal 1 in the tubing 38. The part of this tip 39 located outside of the tubing, is slightly frustoconical. A sealed closure capsule 40, comprising an appendage 41 capable of entering the opening of the end piece 39, is screwed onto the external thread of the tube 38.

 The container 36 has a first cylindrical zone 42 which is connected by a bead 43 to the large base of the frustoconical part 37. This part 42 is delimited, on the other side, by a bead 44 projecting slightly outwards in the radial direction. The external diameter of the zone 42 is equal to the internal diameter of the skirt 33 and the distance between the beads 43, 44 is such that when the bead 44 is engaged in the groove 35, the bead 43 is in abutment against the upper edge of the skirt 33.

 A cylindrical zone 45 of smaller diameter follows the zone 42 to which it is connected by a transverse annular zone 46. This zone 46 bears against the crown 34.

 Another cylindrical area 47 of smaller diameter, follows the area 45 to which it is connected by an annular shoulder 48. This area 47 is provided on its outer surface, at its end facing the bottle 101, with a bead 49. A piston capsule 5C, forming a seal holder, is clipped tightly around the area 47. The capsule 50 consists, for example, of a ring of plastic material such as polypropylene, clipped onto the zone 47 and provided with a sealing lip 51 towards the shoulder 48. On the ring 50a is sealed, in particular by high frequency, an alupolyethylene complex, which gives a perfect seal at the bottom of the bottle 36 and which constitutes the film 108 .

 The intermediate piece 109 covers internally and externally the neck 102 of the container, in the manner of a clamp.

 The external part 52 of the part 109 forms a sort of cylindrical skirt and is provided, on its external surface, with the thread 119. This part 52 comprises, on its internal surface, the complementary profile 115 suitable for cooperating with the clipping rib 103 provided around the neck of the bottle.

 The anti-rotation notches 104 are provided at the base of the neck to cooperate with complementary notches provided on the inner surface of the part 52.

 Part 53 of part 109, located inside neck 2 extends substantially along the entire length of this neck. This part 53 has, towards the top of the neck, an additional thickness 54 which bears, in leaktight manner, against the internal wall of the neck. A crown 55 whose plane is orthogonal to the axis of the bottle, extends the lower end of the part 53 radially inward; the teeth 121 are provided on the internal edge of this crown 55 which delimits an opening P.

 The sealing lip 51 of the capsule 50 is pressed against the internal surface of the zone 53.

The capsule 50 may also include a bead 56 at its end opposite the lip 51, which bead 56 also bears against the internal surface of the part 53.

 The external surface of the part 45 bears with a slight tightening against the internal surface of the part 53.

 We find the tamper-evident band 131 which comes to bear against a shoulder 118 formed at the connection of the neck 102 and the bottle body 101.

 The packaging of the liquid products L1, L2 is carried out as follows.

 We first consider the packaging of the dye L7 in the PVC container 36.

 First of all, the seal-holder piston-cap 50 is clipped onto the part 47 of the bottle 36.

The film 108 of the capsule 50 is sealed on the ring 50g by passing under a high frequency ramp.

 The bottom of the bottle 36 now being closed in a leaktight manner, this bottle is filled by the tube 38, stripped of the end piece 39.

 The end piece 39 is then put in place by pushing it into the tubing 38. The end cap 40 is then screwed in to seal the end piece 39.

 The container 36 is then mounted in the skirt 33, by engaging the bead 44 in the groove 35.

 The oxidant L2 is now conditioned in the polyethylene bottle 101. For this we fill this bottle with liquid L2. Then, the part 109 is placed on the neck 102 by clipping, the profile 115 coming to engage on the clipping rib 103.

 The cover 106 formed by the union of the skirt 33 and the container 36 is then screwed onto the intermediate piece 109 until the tamper-evident ring 131 abuts against the shoulder 118.

 At the time of use, as already explained previously, the tamper-evident band 131 is torn off and the screwing of the cover 106 is completed on the part 109. During this movement, the teeth 121 will cut the film 108 from the capsule piston 50 and the dye L1 will descend into the oxidizer L2.

 Shake to mix the two liquids well, then unscrew the upper capsule 40 for direct application to the hair.

 Seals are ensured in excellent conditions. The high frequency sealing of an aluminum-polyethylene complex 108 gives a perfect seal at the bottom of the bottle 36. The piston-cap 50 provides an excellent seal against an internal surface of the part 53.

Claims (12)

 1. Device for keeping, separated from each other, at least two products and for mixing them subsequently, in particular at the time of use, comprising a container closed by a lid, the container delimiting a first compartment for one of the products 1 while the cover delimits another compartment intended to receive another product, and to be closed by a film or the like, characterized in that it comprises an intermediate piece (9,109) locked in rotation on the neck (2, 102) of the container (1, 101) and provided between the container and the cover (6, 106), this part (9, 109) comprising means (T) suitable for tearing the film (8, 108) for closing the compartment (7, 107) provided in the cover and connecting means (19, 119) with the cover (6,106), the depression of the cover on the intermediate piece being partial during storage, while at the time of the use a complete depression is carried out in man ire to cause, by the above means suitable for tearing (T), the tearing of the film (8, 108) and the release of the product (S, L1) contained in the compartment (7, 107) of the cover for the mixture of the two products.  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting means between the intermediate part (9,109) and the cover (6, 106) comprise a thread (19, 119) provided on the part and on which can be screwed the cover, the screwing being partial during storage, while at the time of use, the complete screwing makes it possible to generate a combined movement of translation and rotation of the cover relative to the intermediate piece (9, 109) for tearing off the film (8, 108).  3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means (T) suitable for tearing the film comprise at least one tooth (21, 121) carried by the said part (9, 109) located radially towards inside the container (1, 101) and projecting longitudinally towards the compartment (7, 107) of the cover.  4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that two diametrically opposite teeth (21, 121) are provided on the intermediate piece (9, 109).  5. Device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the position of the teeth (21, 121), in the radial direction, is chosen so that these teeth, when they enter the compartment (7, 107 ) are substantially tangent to the inner surface of the wall t23; 47) of this compartment.  6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side wall of the cover (6, 106) comprises a tamper-evident band (31, 131) capable of coming to bear, in the axial direction, against a stop (18, 118) linked to the container so as to prevent the cover from being fully pushed in (6, 106) on the intermediate piece, this strip (31, 131) having to be torn off in order to allow it to be completely pushed in and torn the film (8, 108) for mixing the products.  7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the cover compartment is in particular intended to contain a sclid product, characterized in that the cover compartment (7) is delimited by a cylindrical wall (23) fixed on the bottom of the cover and projecting therefrom in the direction of the container (1) this wall (23) being able to be provided, towards the inside, with fins (24) or the like constituting ribs capable of cooperating with corresponding grooves formed in a shell (25) containing the solid product to ensure that the shell is prevented from rotating relative to the cover, the sealed closure of the compartment (7) being ensured by a film (8), in particular made of aluminum  8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the intermediate piece (9) comprises a sealing skirt (12) engaging inside the neck (2) of the container so as to cooperate with the internal surface (13) of the upper part of this neck for sealing, while the cover (7) also has an internal skirt (27) capable of cooperating, by its external surface, with the internal surface of a ring ( 17) belonging to the intermediate part (9).  9. Device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the intermediate piece (9) comprises a sort of plate (10) whose mean plane is substantially othogonal to the axis of the device, this plate being mounted against the open end of the container (1) and being provided with through holes (11) allowing communication between the volumes located on either side of the tray, the teeth (21) for tearing the capsule being provided on this tray, which is provided with a peripheral skirt (14) suitable for being clipped onto the neck (2) of the container, this skirt being provided with anti-rotation notches (16} capable of cooperating with complementary notches (4) provided on the neck, the sealing skirt (12), integral with the plate, being located radially inside the peripheral skirt (14) while projecting on the same side relative to the plate, while the ring (17) protrudes from the side of the plate opposite to that of the eta.-heit skirt (12), this ring (17) being provided ie, externally, the thread (19) intended to cooperate with the internal thread of the cover (6)  10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the cover compartment of which is intended to contain a liquid product, characterized in that this compartment (107) is closed by a piston capsule (50) seal carrier, said compartment being provided, at its end opposite to that of the capsule, with an opening (38) equipped with a removable plug (40) serving firstly for filling the compartment (107) with the cover and, subsequently, for passage of the mixture of the product when it has been produced.  11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the intermediate part (109) comes to cover internally and externally the neck (102) of the container, the external part (52) of the intermediate part (109) being provided with a external thread (119) suitable for cooperating with the internal thread of the plug (106), this external part (52) of the intermediate piece being clipped onto the neck (102) and being provided with anti-rotation notches cooperating with corresponding notches ( 104) provided on the neck.  12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the inner part (53) of the intermediate part defines a sealing skirt against which the piston capsule (50) bears.