GB2229700A - Packaging for hair products etc - Google Patents

Abstract

A closed container (40) of flexible material impermeable to two components of a hair product that require mixing before use contains charges (42, 44) of those two components separated within the container (40) by internal mutual contact of said flexible material imposed by means (46) engaging the container (40) from its outside and removable to enable separation of said mutual contact and permit mixing of the charges before opening the container. The engaging means (46) may comprise a C-section outer member (34) that grips an inner member with the flexible material held therebetween. The container can be loaded with the charges either from opposite ends or from the same end. The hair product may comprise bleaching powder and liquid, or exothermic permanent wave solutions, neutralizers, stabilizers, conditioners. <IMAGE>

Description

PACKAGING FOR HAIR PRODUCTS ETC This invention relates to packaging applicable to bleaching and other products for treating hair.

Customarily, hairdressers prepare bleach from powder and liquid in a messy and wasteful manner.

Normally, a charge of powder is put into a bowl and liquid poured in afterwards, often resulting in splashing over the rim of the bowl and generally involving use of more materials than strictly necessary.

It is one object of this invention to obviate or mitigate such problems.

According to one aspect of this invention, a closed container of flexible (preferably transparent) material (preferably film) impermeable to bleaching powder and liquid has a charge of said powder and a charge of said liquid separated by means removable to permit admixing of said powder and said liquid within the container prior to opening the container and discharging its contents.

In one embodiment the container is of tubular form with seals at both ends in the manner of an elongate sachet. A suitable separating means comprise an engager extending across the width of the container spaced from both of the sealed ends and holding a fold of the container.

A preferred engager comprises a generally C-shaped outer member or sleeve with convergent confronting free edges and an elongate inner member capable of sliding into the sleeve from one or other end so that it cooperates with the sleeve to grip contacting container layers folding about the inner member within the sleeve, say within a clearance between the inner member and the outer member or sleeve.

Alternatives include snap-fitting outer onto inner or inner into outer members trapping a fold of the container, even a single member clamping about the container fold (through an inner member then captive is generally to be preferred for obvious reasons).

The resulting packaged product conveniently folds about the separating device in a compact way and is readily handled by the separating device even hung thereby for storage purposes.

Loading may be either with one end sealed followed by charging bleaching liquid, attaching the separating device, then charging bleaching liquid and powder separately from opposite opens ends after attachment of the separating means and before sealing both ends.

Another hairdresser's product that is available in two parts to be mixed for use comprises a certain type of permanent wave solution, both basically liquids and for admixture to give an exothermic effect at least when applied to a customer's hair. It is specifically proposed herein that such a two-liquid system be made available in a single container hereof with the liquids separated until use, whereupon the separator hereof is removed and the two liquids admixed, usually if not essentially before opening the container itself.

Exothermic permanent wave products have an advantage at least in terms of customer comfort as the applied mixed liquid does not feel cold to the customer, indeed heat is generated as would be expected from the term "exothermic". It is believed that other hair products, such as permanent wave neutralisers, and stabilisers, conditioners etc could be equally susceptible of two-part exothermic embodiment, especially utilising the present invention for one-part presentation, and whether as two liquids or two creams or a liquid and a cream.

Accordingly another aspect of this invention concerns a closed container having contents of different types to cooperate usefully when admixed but kept separate by a removable engager for the container, particularly where at least one content' component is flowable, whether of powdrous, liquid or cream constitution, and further particularly where the product is for application to hair.

A general aspect of this invention comprises a closed container of flexible material impermeable to two components of a product that require mixing before use, the container having therein charges of those two components separated within the container by internal mutual contact of said flexible material imposed by means engaging the container from its outside and removable to enable separation of said mutual contact and permit mixing of the charges before opening the container.

A general method aspect of this invention comprises a method of loading two-component product into an elongate container of flexible material impervious to those components and mutually open at both ends, comprising the steps of associating externally with said elongate container medially of its length removable means for securing localised mutual contact of said flexible material, loading charges of the two components from opposite ends of the container respectively, and sealing both ends to form a closed container with said charges separated by said localised mutual contact.

Another general method aspect of this invention comprises a method of loading two-component product into an elongate container of flexible material impervious to those components and initially open at one end, comprising the steps of loading a charge of one component from said open end, associating externally with said elongate contact radially of its length and beyond space occupied by said charge removable means for securing localised mutual contact of said flexible material, loading a charge of the other component from said open end to occupy space between that open end and said removable means, and sealing said open end of the container to form a closed container with said charges separated by said localised material contact.

One embodiment of this invention will now be specifically described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a useful front view of a tubular packaging; Figure 2 shows inner and outer members of a separating device; Figure 3 is an enlarged section of the members of the separating device; and Figure 4 shows a folded package.

In the drawing, referring first to Figure 1, tubular packaging 10 comprises transparent polythene sheet of basically elongate rectangular shape folded on itself lengthwise at 12 and with confronting side edges sealed to each other at 14. One end, the lower in Figure 1, is shown sealed at 16A leaving its other end, the upper in Figure 1, open but later to be sealed at 16B. A fold position is indicated at 18 to be formed in a separating device 20 then creating chambers 22A and 22B.

Bleaching liquid is first loaded into the tubular packaging 10 through its open end, effectively into the chamber 22A above the end seal 16A. Then, the separating device 20 is fitted and forms a fold at the position 18, effectively clenching opposed relevant surfaces of the polythene sheet against each other within that fold. Bleaching powder is then loaded into the tubular packaging 10 also through its open end, effectively into the chamber 22B above the fitted separating device 20 and fold at 18 imposed thereby.

The open end of the tubular packaging 10 is then sealed at 16B.

Such loading and sealing procedure can be facilitated by applying bleaching liquid through a tube 36 that extends below the fold position 18 to avoid contact between the liquid and the interior of the tubular packing.

An alternative loading and sealing procedure is for both ends of the tubular package 10 to be open and to fit the separating device first, then fold the tubular packaging 10 at 18 and fill bleaching liquid and powder through separate open ends of the tubular packaging 10, subsequently sealing at 16A and 16B.

Obviously, that would be done with the packaging tube inserted compared with the folded package as it is shown at 40 in Figure 4, i.e. with bleaching liquid containing part 42 and bleaching powder containing part 44 plus a hanging hook 46.

A preferred separating device 20, see Figure 2 and 3, comprises an outer C-section member or sleeve 22 with confronting free edges 24A, 24B, and an inner member 26 that, in cross-section, is medially wasted by notches 28A, 28B to present upper and lower parts 30A and 30B.

The upper part 30B of the inner member 26 fits inside the outer member 22 and is shown with a small clearance 32 between confronting outer and inner surfaces respectively but with free edges 24A, 24B lightly gripping in the notches 28A, 28B due to resilience of the outer member 22. The clearance 32 is preferably not greater than twice the thickness of the sheet of the tubular packaging 10, and may be less, even nonexistent, relying solely on resilient spreading of the outer member 22 to obtain accommodation for the tubular packaging material folding about the inner member 26 within the outer member 22. The members 22,26 are conveniently extrusions.

With such a device 20, the hanging hook 46 may be of a C-section part 34 fitting about the outer member 22, possibly also a short section of another extrusion.

The flat side seal 14 of the tubular packaging 10 can assist in filling the separating device 20 from that side. If preferred, there can be another seal at the other side of the packaging 10. Alternatively the packaging 10 can be a seamless tube with only end closures.

It will be appreciated that the package 40 hereof will keep bleaching powder and bleaching liquid separate until the separating device 20 is removed, whereupon they can be mixed together in an effectively one-chamber container until thoroughly admixed. Only then is the package opened, typically by cutting off an and or a corner using scissors, though a tear formation could be provided if preferred or desired.

A particularly compact, efficient and clean-in-use package results for hair bleaching preparations, whether only for professional hairdressers or further for direct sales to end users for home hair treatment purpose.

It should be evident that the package just described with reference to the accompanying drawings is equally readily applicable to other products, including hairdressers' products, of a two-part type, for example exothermic permanent wave products basically requiring admixture of two liquids. By extension, exothermic, neutralisers, stabilisers, conditioners, etc for hair are equally viable and advantageous if packaged as herein. Indeed, the same applies to other hair-care or hair-treatment products that are or can usefully be of a two-part type.

There may, of course, be other uses for a package hereof in the admixing of powder and liquid, or of two liquids, or creams, that need to be kept separate before admixing for use.

Claims (12)

1. A closed container of flexible material impermeable to two components of a product that require mixing before use, the container having therein charges of those two components separated within the container by internal mutual contact of said flexible material imposed by means engaging the container from its outside and removable to enable separation of said mutual contact and permit mixing of the charges before opening the container.

2. A closed container according to claim 1, wherein said mutual contact defines charge containing chambers at opposite ends of an elongate said container.

3. A closed container according to claim 2, wherein the container is generally tubular with seals at both ends.

4. A closed container according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the elongate container is of substantially constant cross-section along its length.

5. A closed container according to any preceding claim, wherein the engaging means comprises an engager extending fully across the flexible material and holding a fold of that material.

6. A method of loading two-component product into an elongate container of flexible material impervious to those components and mutually open at both ends, comprising the steps of associating externally with said elongate container medially of its length removable means for securing localised mutual contact of said flexible material, loading charges of the two components from opposite ends of the container respectively, and sealing both ends to form a closed container with said charges separated by said localised mutual contact.

7. A method of loading two-component product into an elongate container of flexible material impervious to those components and initially open at one end, comprising the steps of loading a charge of one component from said open end, associating externally with said elongate contact radially of its length and beyond space occupied by said charge removable means for securing localised mutual contact of said flexible material, loading a charge of the other component from said open end to occupy space between that open end and said removable means, and sealing said open end of the container to form a closed container with said charges separated by said localised material contact.

8. A closed container containing separated charges of two components of a product when made by a method according to claim 6 or claim 7.

9. A container or method according to any preceding claim, wherein the components are bleaching powder and liquid for admixing to make a bleaching product for hair.

10. A container as method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the components are two liquids for admixing to make a permanent wave product for hair.

11. A container substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

12. A method of loading a container with two components of a product substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.