FR2767796A1 - DEVICE FOR THE SEPARATE CONDITIONING OF TWO COMPONENTS, THEIR MIXTURE AND THE EXTEMPORANEOUS DISTRIBUTION OF THE SAME UNDER PRESSURE OF A PROPELLANT GAS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the separate packaging of two components (A, B) to be mixed extemporaneously and the distribution of the mixture obtained, this device comprising two containers each containing a component before the first use and means for communicating the two containers and cause the components to mix during the first use. It comprises means for, when the two containers are placed in communication, automatically causing the pressurization of the mixture obtained, and a valve (7) allowing the user to control the distribution of the mixture under the pressure thus produced.

Description

- 1 - The present invention relates to a device for packaging

  separated from two components, their mixture and the

  extemporaneous distribution of it.

  Numerous devices of this type are known, comprising two containers for separately storing the components and means for putting the two containers into communication when first used. In certain known devices, at least one of the containers is made of a plastic material which is flexible enough to allow the user to dispense the mixture by pressing on its walls. Other known devices include a movable member allowing the user to create an overpressure inside the containers each time a predetermined dose has to be dispensed.

mixture.

  The object of the present invention is to propose a new device for the separate packaging of two components to be mixed extemporaneously and the distribution of the mixture obtained, which allows

  to further increase the comfort of use.

  It achieves this thanks to the fact that the device comprises means for, when the two containers are placed in communication, automatically causing the pressurization of the mixture obtained, and a valve allowing the user to control the distribution of the

  mixture under the pressure thus produced.

  Thanks to the invention, the mixture is dispensed

  without the need to press the walls of one of the containers.

  In addition, the user can dispense the quantity he wishes by simply actuating the valve for the time necessary, whereas in known devices using a movable member to dispense a predetermined quantity of mixture, the user may have to exert repeated actions on this organ to

  distribute the equivalent amount.

  In a particular embodiment, the means for pressurizing the mixture obtained comprise an effervescent composition which is in the inactive state during the

separate storage of components.

  In a preferred variant of this embodiment, the effervescent composition comprises at least one solid or liquid reagent contained in a housing adjoining one of the containers before

the first use.

  In a particular embodiment, this or these reagents are completely or partially coated with a material soluble in at least one of the components. Preferably, the effervescent composition comprises two solid reagents contained in a housing adjoining one of the containers before the first use, these two reagents coming into reaction on contact with said mixture to release a propellant gas, by

example of CO2.

  Preferably, these reagents are powdery and compacted

in the form of a tablet.

  Other features and advantages of this

  invention will appear on reading the detailed description which will

  follow, of two nonlimiting exemplary embodiments of the invention, and on examining the appended drawing in which: - Figure 1 shows a first example of a device according to the invention, before the components are mixed, - Figure 2 represents the device of FIG. 1 immediately after the mixing of the components, - FIG. 3 represents the device of FIG. 2 during the distribution of the mixture and, - FIG. 4 represents a second example of device

  according to the invention, before the components are mixed.

  The device 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises an upper container 2 and a lower container 3 respectively containing two liquid components A and B to be stored separately and

to mix immediately.

  The upper container 2 has in the lower part a chimney 4, internally threaded and closed at its upper end

  by a removable cover 5, retained by friction in the chimney 4.

  The lower container 3 is provided with an externally threaded neck 6 and adapted to be screwed tightly into the chimney

  4 when using the device 1.

  In Figure 1, there is shown the lower container 3 while it is partially screwed into the chimney 4 of the container

higher 2.

  -3- During storage, the lower container 3 is closed by a closure cap screwed onto the neck 6, which has not been shown.

on the drawing.

  The upper container 2 is equipped at its upper part with a valve 7 known in itself, provided with a dispensing head 8. The device 1 is intended, in the embodiment described, to be used upside down so as to authorize a drain

full of its content.

  The cover 5 has, on its underside, a recess 9 which defines a housing 13 containing an effervescent composition in the example described in the form of a

tablet 10.

  This effervescent composition constitutes means for

ensure pressurization.

  This tablet 10 is coated with a material soluble in the mixture M of components A and B, constituting an envelope 11. This envelope 11 serves to protect the tablet 10 from ambient air,

  and also to make it adhere to the cover 5.

  When at least one of the components A and B is an aqueous solution, the envelope 11 is made of a water-soluble material such

  than for example polyvinyl alcohol.

  Tablet 10 contains two powdered reagents X and Y compacted together in a dehydrated state, so that they do not react

not between them.

  On the other hand, when they dissolve in the mixture M of components A and B, they react to give off a gas, for example CO2. The reagent X is for example citric acid and the

  sodium bicarbonate reagent Y.

  Of course, it is not going beyond the scope of the present invention by using other reagents X and Y, compatible with the chemical nature of the components A and B and the final destination of the mixture M. During the first use, the user screw it

  lower container 3 in upper container 2.

  The neck 6 pushes up on the cover 5 which is thus dislodged from the chimney 4, so that the component A can flow into the lower container 3 and mix with the component B, producing the mixture M. The envelope 11 dissolves on contact with the mixture M and the tablet 11 thus comes into direct contact with the mixture M. The reactants X and Y constituting the tablet 11 dissolve in the mixture M and react to give off a gas G which accumulates above the mixture in the upper container 2 and pressurizes this mixture. FIG. 3 shows the device 1 after the

  complete dissolution of the tablet 10.

  The propellant G present above the mixture M ensures the distribution thereof when the user presses on the dispensing head 8, after having turned the device upside down, as

illustrated in figure 3.

  The propellant is in sufficient quantity to allow the user to dispense the entire mixture M. FIG. 4 shows a device 1 'in accordance with

  a variant implementation of the invention.

  This device 1 'differs from that previously described by the presence of a membrane 12 in the chimney 4, under the cover 5, to isolate the tablet 10 from the outside during the separate storage of the components. This membrane 12 is made of a material and / or with a thickness allowing it to be torn by the neck 6 when this

  the latter is screwed into the chimney 4.

  The presence of the membrane 12 makes it possible to shelter the tablet 10 from the ambient air and to keep it in its housing without it being

  necessary to coat it with a protective envelope 11.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the two examples

  which have just been described.

  In a variant not shown, the reagents X and Y which give off the propellant G can be stored in liquid or solid form separately, one directly with the component A and the other directly with the component B, so that they are in contact with each other only after the mixing of components A and B. This solution is of course only suitable if on the one hand the prolonged storage of component A with the reagent X in solution and on the other hand the prolonged storage of component B with the reagent Y in

solution is possible.

  In another variant not shown, the reagent X is stored directly with one of the components A or B and the reagent Y is in the form of a powder, compacted or not, contained individually in a housing inside the stack 4, like tablet 10. This reagent Y can if necessary be coated with a material soluble in one of the components A or B. In another variant not shown, the reagents X and Y are contained in the solid state in the upper container 2, being isolated from component A by an envelope made of a material insoluble in component A but soluble in component B. When the components are mixed, this envelope dissolves in component B, so that reagents X and Y enter the

  contact with the mixture M and react to release the propellant gas.

  Alternatively, reagents X and Y are similarly contained in the lower container 3, being coated with a material soluble in component A but insoluble in component B. In another variant not shown, one of the reagents X or Y is present, in liquid or solid state, in the upper container 2, being isolated from component A by an envelope insoluble in component A but soluble in component B and the other reagent is present in the container lower 3, either in solution with component B or isolated from the latter by an envelope insoluble in component B but soluble in component A. When mixing components A and B, the envelope containing the reagent X dissolves on contact of the mixture M as well as the envelope

  containing reagent Y if applicable.

  Reagents X and Y then react to release the propellant. Finally, the invention offers an economical means enabling the mixture M to be distributed under the pressure of a propellant gas with a

  increased user comfort compared to known devices.

  As reagents X and Y, any product compatible with the destination of the mixture M can be used, as explained above, these reagents being able to be coated or not, together or in isolation, by any suitable material. The role of one of the reactants X and Y could still be played by one of the components A and B if the chemical nature

of it allows it.

  -6- The propellant G is preferably carbon dioxide, inert vis-à-vis the environment, which has an advantage over propellants flammable or capable of destroying the ozone layer used in some devices known sprayers. The receptacles containing components A and B can be delivered to the user already secured to each other, with means allowing them to communicate by turning one relative to

the other for example.

  Components A and B are for example a dye and an excipient which make it possible to obtain, when mixed, a hair dye. -7-

Claims (11)

  1 - Device for the separate packaging of two components (A, B) to be mixed immediately and the distribution of the mixture (M) obtained, this device comprising two containers each containing a component before first use and means for making the two containers communicate and cause the components to be mixed during the first use, characterized in that it comprises means for, when the two containers are placed in communication, automatically causing the mixture obtained (M) to be pressurized, and a valve (7) allowing the user to control the distribution of the mixture (M) under the pressure thus produced.  2 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for causing the pressurization of the mixture comprises an effervescent composition which is in the inactive state   during separate storage of the two components.   3 - Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said effervescent composition (10) comprises at least one reagent (X; Y) contained in a housing (13) adjoining one of the   containers before first use.   4 - Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the reagent (s) (X, Y) are completely coated or   partially by a material soluble in at least one of the components.   - Device according to one of claims 2, 3 or 4   characterized in that said effervescent composition comprises two solid reagents (X, Y) contained in a housing (13) adjoining one of the containers before the first use, these two reagents   (X, Y) reacting on contact with said mixture to give off a gas.   6 - Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said reagents are powdery and compacted in the form a tablet (10).   7 - Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said tablet (10) is coated with an envelope (11) formed   of a material soluble in at least one of the components (A, B).   8 - Device according to any one of claims 2 to   7, characterized in that said housing (13) is isolated, during the period of separate storage, from component (A) contained in the   adjoining container (2) by a removable cover (5). - 8 -   9 - Device according to any one of claims 2 to   8, characterized in that said housing (13) is isolated, during the period of separate storage of the components, from the outside by a membrane (12) arranged so as to be ruptured when the containers are placed in communication.   - Device according to any one of claims 2 to   9, characterized by the fact that one of the receptacles has an internally threaded chimney (4) and the other receptacle has an externally threaded neck (6) shaped to be tightly screwed into said chimney, and by the fact that the housing (13) is located   in said chimney before first use.   11 - Device according to any one of claims 2 to   4, characterized in that said effervescent composition comprises at least one reagent (X, Y) stored with one of the components (A, B).   12 - Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said effervescent composition comprises two reagents (X, Y) stored in solution each with a component (A, B) and capable of reacting when brought into contact during mixing (M) components to produce gas release.   13 - Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said effervescent composition comprises two solid reagents (X, Y) stored together in one of the containers inside an envelope made of a material insoluble in the component contained in this container but soluble in the component contained in the other container.