FR2760436A1 - Multi compartment sachet, e.g. for cosmetic or pharmaceutical products - Google Patents

Abstract

Sachet (1), comprises two layers of a supple material joined along adhesive or weld lines (2, 3, 4, 5) to form a series of separate compartments (6, 7, 8, 9) each containing at least one product. The compartments are positioned side by side and they have primary ends (16, 17, 18, 19) designed to be opened e.g. by cutting, spaced relative to one another in an angular or axial direction. The compartments have second ends (11, 12, 13, 14) that lie in the same line. Preferably where the compartments of the sachet lie at an angle to one another the angle is 2-45 (5-30) deg . Where they are offset axially the distance between their primary ends is 5-30 (5-15) mm. The material from which the sachet is made is, for example, a complex of PVC and polyvinylidene chloride, or paper, polyethylene, aluminium and polyethylene.

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging in the form of a multi-compartment sachet, and intended to contain a product of liquid to creamy or powdery consistency. The invention is very particularly suitable for the packaging of cosmetic products, in particular for the packaging of hair coloring products. Applications in other fields can however be envisaged (pharmacy, food, household, glues, etc.).

In the home coloring market, there are several known dosage forms under which, there is at least one of the products that are the dye and the oxidant, which form the two main constituents of the coloring products. Typically such products can be in the form of a cream, gel, liquid, powder, or tablet.

 It is known to package such products, using devices of the "two in one" or "all in one" type. Such devices generally consist of kits, making it possible, more or less automatically, to carry out the extemporaneous mixing of the dye and the oxidant. Such devices, although satisfactory by the result they provide, have the disadvantage of being relatively high cost, which makes them completely unsuitable for certain markets, especially the markets of developing countries. development. The behavioral analysis of these markets mainly reveals two modes of use of such coloring kits: the "normal" and "complete" use of the kit, with a view to coloring all of the hair; and the partial and "sequential" use (in general, in four installments) of the content, for retouching, to treat only the roots or revive the color.

The parameters of the problem are manifold. Due to the highly oxidizable nature of the dye, it is necessary that the unused coloring product is isolated from ambient air in order to keep the properties of the dye intact. Furthermore, the technology used must be simple and unsophisticated in order to be able to be implemented in the country of the market concerned, in particular for reasons of import taxation. Finally, such packaging must combine both ease of use and low cost.

Today, coloring products, especially for such markets, are mainly of two types. According to a first mode of packaging, the dye is contained in a glass bottle, with a stopper, roughly graduated, and containing the quantity of coloring powder necessary for a global application. The contents of the bottle can be used partially by means of graduations, allowing to measure the quantity of powder withdrawn. The precision of the dosage remains however very approximate. Furthermore, the dye can, on first use, oxidize on contact with air, thus substantially affecting the properties of the unused powder. Such product degradation can substantially affect the brand image of the company marketing such a product.

According to a second packaging method, the coloring powder is contained in a single sachet. Although inexpensive, this solution has the disadvantage of not allowing the dosage of the amount of product taken.

In addition, the conservation of the formula, after sampling only part of the content, is very precarious.

From a completely different perspective, namely for the purpose of making a mixture, US-A-2 125 318 describes a package consisting of two pockets, mounted in parallel inside a single open envelope, allowing the simultaneous cutting of the two pockets, and the distribution of the two products stored separately. Under no circumstances can such a device solve the problems mentioned above.

Also, does the need remain for a packaging, simple, economical, easy to use, and which allows the total or partial use of its content, while allowing to precisely dose the quantity of product used, and keeping the properties of the unused product intact.

Other objects of the invention will appear in detail in the description which follows.

According to the invention, these objects are achieved by producing a sachet of axis A, consisting of a blank made of flexible material, two faces of which are laminated one on the other, along lines of bonding or welding delimiting a plurality of compartments isolated from each other, and containing at least one product, said compartments being arranged side by side over at least part of their length, each of the compartments having a first end, characterized in that said first ends are spaced between them, axially, and / or angularly with respect to the axis A, and / or are able to be offset with respect to a plane of the bag. The bonding lines can be made by bonding, by means of an adhesive, by ultrasonic welding, by heat sealing, or by any other suitable means. The compartments can be opened "simultaneously" by cutting or tearing, along a line located inside an area where the compartments are side by side, or sequentially by opening at the level of said compartments. first individualizable ends.

Advantageously, each of the compartments comprises a second end, opposite the first, said second ends being substantially aligned with one another. This arrangement makes it possible, when the user wishes to use the entire contents of the sachet, to simultaneously open all of the compartments (by cutting or tearing) at said second end. Such a mode of use is particularly simple and easy to explain by clear indications, corresponding at the level of each of the ends. The term "simultaneous" in particular translates the fact that the opening can be achieved by a single scissor blow, in the case of an opening by cutting.

According to a first embodiment, the compartments are arranged over a substantial part of their length, in a fan shape around the axis of the bag, so that said first ends are separated by an angular space relative to the axis A of the bag. . Thus, the first ends of two adjacent compartments are non-contiguous and separated by an angular space, thus achieving an individualization of said first ends, which can be cut or torn easily, independently of the first end of the adjacent compartment or compartments.

Advantageously, said compartments are, in the vicinity of said second ends, oriented substantially parallel to the axis A of the bag, said second ends being contiguous and aligned along an axis perpendicular to axis A. The simultaneous opening of all the compartments can be carried out in a simple manner by cutting or tearing in the vicinity of the second ends.

The angle defined by the angular space between the first ends of two adjacent compartments can vary between 2 "and 45, and preferably between 5 and 30. Although preferably identical for all the angular spaces, this angle can vary from one angular space to another.

According to a second embodiment, the bag has a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, said compartments are aligned along the axis of the bag, said compartments being of axial length, increasing between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge, so that said first ends are offset axially, said second ends being aligned along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the bag. This arrangement allows, for example, in the case of sequential use of the contents of the sachet, to impose an order to open the compartments. This characteristic is particularly advantageous, when the compartments do not contain the same product, or contain the same product, but with a different volume or concentration.

Said first ends can be offset two by two, by an axial distance varying between 5 mm and 30 mm, and preferably between 5 mm and 15 mm.

Advantageously, one of the lateral edges of the bag has an inclined portion, said first ends being substantially aligned, parallel to said inclined portion. This characteristic makes it possible to simplify the manufacture of such a bag, and to optimize the design of the bag.

According to a third embodiment, said first ends are separated in pairs by a cutting line, in the vicinity of said first ends, and opening onto a corresponding edge of the bag, so as to allow said first ends to be moved individually relative to a plan of the bag.

Advantageously, the bag is of substantially rectangular shape, said compartments being substantially parallel to each other and oriented parallel to the axis of the bag, said first ends being aligned along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the bag, a cutout, substantially parallel to the axis of the bag, being produced between two adjacent compartments, in the vicinity of said first ends, so as to be able to offset, relative to said plane, and this by folding, each of said first ends, relative to the first end of the compartment or compartments adjacent. This embodiment, by virtue of its substantially rectangular shape, makes it possible to limit the falls of sheet material, used to make the sachet, thereby reducing the cost of the sachet.

The cuts can have a length of between 5 mm and 40 mm, and preferably between 10 mm and 25 mm.

Advantageously, the product is identical in all the compartments. The product can be a hair coloring product in the form of a liquid, a cream, a gel, or a powder. Alternatively, the product is of a different nature and / or concentration in each of the compartments. Alternatively again, the volume of product is variable depending on the compartments.

The opening at the first and / or second openings can be done by cutting, using scissors for example, or by tearing. In the latter case, a primer (notch type) can be produced in the vicinity of the first and / or second ends so as to promote opening. Also for this purpose, pre-cutting lines or lines of weakness can be made in the vicinity of the openings to be made. The material used to make the sachet is chosen according to the content of the sachet. It must be compatible with the product contained in the sachet, and be impermeable, in particular to air, so as to keep the properties of the product intact. For example, the bag can be produced in the form of a multi-layer structure of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) / polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) type, or paper / polyethylene / aluminum / polyethylene. Still other materials can be used.

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:
- Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the bag according to the invention;
- Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the bag according to the invention; and
- Figures 3A-3B illustrate a third embodiment of the bag according to the invention.

Figure 1 to which reference is now made, illustrates a first embodiment of the bag 1 according to the invention. The sachet is produced by laminating two faces of a waterproof flexible blank, of material or of a complex of materials, compatible with the packaged product. The faces are laminated in the vicinity of their periphery so as to define a peripheral edge 2. Intermediate weld lines 3, 4, 5 are produced so as to define, inside the peripheral edge 2, four compartments 6, 7, 8 , 9 isolated from each other. In the vicinity of the end 10 of the bag, the compartments are of constant width and are arranged substantially parallel to the axis A of the bag.

The corresponding ends 11, 12, 13, 14 of the compartments are substantially aligned along a line perpendicular to the axis A of the bag. Over the rest of the length of the bag, the compartments 6, 7, 8, 9 are of increasing width towards the end 15 of the bag, so as to form a fan-shaped structure, the weld lines 3, 4, 5 being of substantially constant width. The ends 16, 17, 18, 19 of the compartments 6, 7, 8, 9 are then of decreasing width in the direction of the end 15 of the bag, so as to have a pointed, truncated profile. Thus, the ends 16, 17, 18, 19 are separated from one another by a space 20, 21, 22, delimited by an angle a which can range from 2 "to 45, and preferably, from 5 to 30. Thus individualized, the ends 16, 17, 18, 19 are free from one another and can in particular be moved individually relative to the plane of the bag.

Thus, when the user wishes to use the overall content of the bag, she cuts it over its entire width in the vicinity of the end 10 of the bag, along the line 23, by means of scissors for example. In the case of a liquid or a cream, the product is delivered by extrusion, by exerting a pressure on the sachet, directed from the end 15 towards the end 10. On the other hand, if it wishes to use only the content of one, two or three sachets, it opens the corresponding compartments, by cutting the ends 16, 17, 18, 19 individually along the lines 24, 25, 26, 27. The opening of the compartments individually is facilitated by the presence of angular zones (without material) 20, 21, 22 between the ends 16,17,18,19 of the compartments 6, 7, 8, 9, which angular zones allow the cutting of one end of a compartment , without cutting off the end of the adjacent compartment (s). Furthermore, the cut-out portion of the end of the compartment whose contents have been used does not remain attached to the bag, as would be the case if the ends 16, 17, 18, 19 were not individualized.

As will be seen in more detail with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 3, a similar result can be obtained, by carrying out a simple cut in the vicinity of the ends 16, 17, 18, 19, said cuts being oriented along the lines. intermediate welds 3, 4, 5, substantially halfway between two adjacent compartments, and opening onto the edge 34 of the bag. Thus, to use the contents of a single compartment, the user folds the free end of the corresponding compartment relative to the plane of the bag. The free end is thus offset from the plane of the bag and from the ends of the other compartments, which are substantially in the plane of the bag.

The end of the compartment thus isolated, can be cut, with a scissor blow for example, without affecting the other compartments. The cut-out portion of the compartment whose contents have been used does not remain attached to the bag.

Regarding the manufacture of such a bag, two sheets of weldable material are welded on itself. All the welds are made simultaneously except for those located near the end 15. The product is introduced (in the form of powder, liquid, gel, or cream) by means of dosing rods, which the 'are introduced into the orifices delimited by the ends 16, 17, 18, 19. After filling the compartments, the dosing rods are removed, and the welds are made at the ends 16, 17, 18, 19.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the sachet is produced by laminating two faces of a flexible, sealed blank, made of a material or a complex of materials, compatible with the packaged product. The faces are laminated in the vicinity of their periphery so as to define a peripheral edge 2. Intermediate weld lines 3, 4, 5 are produced so as to define, inside the peripheral edge 2, four compartments 6, 7, 8 , 9 isolated from each other. The compartments 6, 7, 8, 9 are substantially parallel to each other, and oriented along the axis A of the bag. The ends 11, 12, 13, 14 of the compartments are substantially aligned along a line parallel to the cutting line 23, and perpendicular to the axis of the bag. The compartments 6, 7, 8, 9 are of increasing height between the lateral edge 28 of the bag and the opposite edge 29, so that the ends 16, 17, 18, 19 opposite the ends 11, 12, 13, 14 are offset two by two, axially, by a height h. Typically, the height h between the ends of two adjacent compartments can vary between 5 mm and 30 mm, and preferably between 5 mm and 15 mm. Preferably, the height of the compartments varies from one edge to the other, in a linear fashion, so that the ends 16, 17, 18, 19, are aligned in an oblique line with respect to the axis A of the bag 1 The oblique line forms an angle of approximately 45 "with respect to the axis of the bag. At this point, the edge of the bag has an inclined portion 33, parallel to the line along which the ends 16, 17, 18, 19 of the compartments are aligned This configuration, compared with the embodiment of FIG. 1, makes it possible to reduce to a certain extent, the scraps of materials used for the manufacture of the sachet.

When the user wishes to use the overall content of the sachet, she cuts it over the entire width of the sachet, along line 23. Alternatively, she can make such a cut in the vicinity of the ends 16, 17, 18, 19, along a line substantially parallel to the oblique line along which extend said ends 16, 17, 18, 19, the emptying being effected, in the case of a liquid or a cream, by pressing on the bag, towards the opening line.

Alternatively again, if the four compartments contain the same volume of product, the simultaneous cutting of the four compartments can be carried out by cutting the entire width of the bag, along line 24, after having taken care beforehand, to expel the contents compartments 6, 7, 8, in the direction of the respective ends 11, 12, 13, so that substantially all of the product is contained on the same side of the line 24.

On the other hand, if the user wishes to use only the contents of a compartment, she cuts the end 16 of compartment 6, along the cutting line 27. During the next use, to use the contents of compartment 7 , it cuts the bag over its entire width, along the cutting line 26. To then use the contents of compartment 8, it cuts the bag over its entire width, along the cutting line 25, and so on up to compartment 9.

Advantageously, and as mentioned above, although of variable volume, the four compartments can contain the same volume of product.

With such a configuration, if the user wishes to use the contents of two compartments 6 and 7 simultaneously, she cuts the bag over its entire width, along line 26, after having previously expelled the contents of compartment 6, in the direction of the end 11. The same applies if it wishes to use the contents of the compartments 6, 7, 8 at one time. This configuration therefore offers great simplicity and flexibility in using the contents of the sachet.

In the embodiment of Figure 3A, the bag 1 is rectangular. According to this embodiment, the ends 16, 17, 18, 19 are individualized by a cut 30, 31, 32, separating in pairs, the ends 16, 17, 18, 19 of the compartments 6, 7, 8, 9. Preferably, the cutouts 30, 31, 32 are made only in the vicinity of the end 15, so as not to appreciably affect the integrity of the sachet. They extend parallel to the axis A of the bag, approximately halfway between two adjacent bags, and open on the edge 34 of the bag. Typically, the axial height of the cut can vary between 5 mm and 40 mm, and preferably between 10 mm and 25 mm. The compartments 6, 7, 8, 9 are of substantially identical width and height. The ends 11, 12, 13, 14 are aligned perpendicular to the axis A, along a line parallel to the cutting line 23.

So when the user wishes to use the overall content of the bag, she cuts the bag over its entire width, along line 23, thus simultaneously opening the four compartments. Alternatively, it can make the same simultaneous opening, by cutting in the vicinity of the end 15, the ends 16, 17, 18, 19 of the compartments 6, 7, 8, 9 being, in the "rest" position substantially aligned in the plan of the bag.

If it wishes to use the contents of a single compartment, it suffices, as shown in FIG. 3B, to lift, for example, the end 17 of compartment 7, so as to offset it relative to the plane of the bag. This is then individualized at the ends of the other compartments, and can be cut without affecting the other compartments. In the same way as for the previous embodiment, it can realize the simultaneous opening of two, or three compartments simultaneously, by shifting the ends of the compartments of which it wants to use the contents, relative to the ends of the compartments of which it does not wish not use the content. This embodiment described in FIGS. 3A and 3B is particularly advantageous in that, by virtue of its rectangular shape, its manufacture does not cause substantially any fall. In addition, its packaging in an external package is simpler, more compact, and more economical.

In the embodiments which have just been described, the opening is carried out by cutting the bag. It is obvious that this cutting can also be carried out by tearing. To this end, primers, of the notch type, pre-cut or weak lines can be provided at the first and / or second ends, so as to favor the opening of the compartments. All these means are well known, and therefore do not require any further detailed description.

Signs or other meaningful indications may appear on the bag so as to indicate to the user, the place or places where the cuts are to be made. A different product can be packaged in each compartment, for example with variable concentration, or with variable quantity. This offers the possibility of using the contents of the sachet in the form of a "cure", with a variable and programmed concentration of active ingredient. With this in mind, a bag of the type shown in FIG. 2 will preferably be used, because its configuration requires the use of the contents of each of the compartments in a precise order, that is to say in the order of most big to the smallest. Likewise, the bag may have a number of compartments other than four. In practice, the invention applies to any sachet comprising at least two compartments.

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 spirit of the invention as claimed below.

Claims (15)

1. - Bag (1) of axis A, consisting of a blank of flexible material, two faces of which are laminated one on the other, along bonding or welding lines (2, 3, 4, 5) delimiting a plurality of compartments (6, 7, 8, 9) isolated from each other, and containing at least one product, said compartments being arranged side by side over at least part of their length, each of the compartments comprising a first end (16, 17, 18, 19), characterized in that said first ends (16, 17, 18, 19) are spaced apart, axially, and / or angularly with respect to the axis A, and / or are able to be offset relative to a plane of the bag (1). 2. - Bag according to claim 1 characterized in that each of the compartments (15,17,18,19) comprises a second end (11, 12, 13, 14), said second ends being substantially aligned with each other. 3. - Bag according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the compartments (6, 7, 8, 9) are arranged over a substantial part of their length, fan-shaped around the axis A of the bag, so that said first ends (16, 17, 18, 19) are separated from each other by an angular space (20, 21, 22), relative to the axis A of the bag. 4. - Bag according to claim 3 characterized in that said compartments (6, 7, 8, 9) are, in the vicinity of said second ends (11, 12, 13, 14), oriented substantially parallel to the axis A of the bag , said second ends being aligned along a line perpendicular to axis A. 5. - Bag according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said angular space is delimited by an angle a varying between 2 "and 45, and preferably, between 5 and 30". 6. - Bag according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the bag has a first side edge (28) and a second side edge (29), said compartments (6, 7, 8, 9) are substantially parallel to each other and oriented along the axis of the bag, said compartments being of axial length, increasing between the first lateral edge (28) and the second lateral edge (29), so that said first ends (16,17,18,19) are offset axially. 7. - Bag according to claim 6 characterized in that said first ends (16, 17, 18, 19) are offset two by two, by an axial distance h varying between 5 mm and 30 mm and preferably between 5 mm and 15 mm. 8. - Bag according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that one of the lateral edges (28) of the bag has an inclined portion (33), said first ends (16, 17, 18, 19) being substantially aligned, parallel to said inclined portion. 9. - Bag according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said first ends (16,17,18,19) are separated in pairs by a cutting line (30, 31, 32) in the vicinity of said first ends, and opening onto a corresponding edge (34) of the bag, so as to allow the individual first ends to be offset with respect to a plane of the bag 10. - Bag according to claim 9, characterized in that the bag is of substantially rectangular shape, said compartments (6, 7, 8, 9) being substantially parallel to each other and oriented parallel to the axis of the bag, said first ends (16, 17, 18, 19) being aligned along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the bag , a cutout (30, 31, 32), substantially parallel to the axis of the bag, being produced between two adjacent compartments (6, 7, 8, 9), in the vicinity of said first ends (16, 17, 18, 19) , so that you can wedge, relative to said plane, each of said first ends relative to the first end of the adjacent compartments. 11. - Bag according to claim 9 or 10 characterized in that the cutouts (30, 31, 32) have a length between 5 mm and 40 mm, and preferably between 10 mm and 25 mm. 12. - Bag according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the opening of the compartments is carried out by cutting or tearing at said first and / or second ends. 13. - Bag according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said blank made of flexible material consists of a complex of polyvinyl chloride / polyvinylidene chloride type, or paper / polyethylene / aluminum / polyethylene, etc. 14. - Bag according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that said product is identical in all compartments. 15. - Bag according to any one of claims 1 to 13 characterized in that each of the compartments contains a product of different nature, and / or volume, and / or concentration. 16. - Bag according to claim 14 or 15 characterized in that the product is a hair coloring product in the form of a liquid, a cream, a gel, or a powder.