MXPA01001689A - Device for applying product to hair and method of using same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for applying a product to hair. The device may include a dispensing head configured to be coupled to a container. The dispensing head may include an applicator member and a screen. The applicator member may include at least one tooth configured to be placed in contact with hair and moved with respect thereto. The applicator member may also include a duct extending in the at least one tooth along an axial length of the at least one tooth. The duct may be capable of being placed in flow communication with the container. The applicator member may also include an outlet orifice for the duct. The outlet orifice can be oriented to provide outlet flow of product in a direction transverse to an axis of the at least one tooth. The screen may be arranged such that the screen and the at least one tooth define a volume. The volume may be configured to be capable of receiving the product dispensed from the outlet orifice and of having the hair pass through the volume when the applicator member is moved along the hair. Also provided is a method of applying a product to hair.

Description

DEVICE FOR PACKAGING AND THE APPLICATION OF A HAIR COMPOSITION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for packaging and applying a hair composition, in particular coloring or care. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Within the field of hair coloring, a number of new formulas currently appear. These new formulas, increasingly, have the form of foam, and are characterized by a strong density of coloration. The presentation in foam form of these compositions prevents the use of classic applicators, such as brushes, or such application systems that are often known as "mixers", which form a unit, suitable on the one hand for mixing automatic mode two or more components (in particular a dye and an oxidant) that enter into the composition of such coloring products, and on the other hand, to apply the composition in a localized manner REF «: 126717 on the hair. In addition, when the composition is in the form of a foam, the application system must be compatible with a packaging of the composition in the form of an aerosol. The strong density of the coloration is equally problematic in that it can produce spots on the scalp, which obviously harms the aesthetics sought by the consumers. In patent FR 2 776 629, an application system is described that can equip an aerosol container. The application system is of the type comprising a brush provided with teeth implanted on an application face destined to be located in front of the scalp, and in the center of which discharge orifices of the product emerge. Although in many aspects it is satisfactory, such an applicator may suffer, in certain cases, from an insufficiency to apply the product in depth in the hair. In addition, applicators of the type having several teeth, traversed by a product guide channel, which opens either axially, between the teeth, substantially in the plane of the application member, have been commercialized, particularly in Japan. In this latter configuration, the exit orifices are oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction of displacement of the application member in the hair. With these applicators, the product is widely in contact with the scalp, which, from the stage point of view, poses problems, given the stain character of these coloration products. It is therefore one of the objects of the invention to realize a packaging and application system that solves all or part of the problems described, with reference to ordinary devices. In particular, it is an object of the invention to realize a system for applying a hair composition, which allows the product to be applied in depth on the hair, and which significantly reduces the formation of spots on the scalp. Another object of the invention is to provide a system for packaging and applying a hair product that is both simple and inexpensive to make. Still another object of the invention is to provide a system for packaging and applying a hair product that is both practical and simple to use. Other objects will appear in the detailed description that follows.

Description of the Invention According to the invention, these objects are achieved by making a device for packaging and applying a composition to the hair, in particular a coloring composition in the form of a foam, the device comprising at least one container containing the composition, and a dispensing head coupled to the container, said dispensing head comprising an application member formed at least by a tooth intended, for the application of the composition, to be placed in contact with the hair and displaced longitudinally with respect to the latter.at least one tooth remains of the application member traversed axially by a channel apt to be placed in communication with the container, and opening transversely to the axis of the corresponding tooth, by an exit orifice, the distribution head further comprising means that they form a screen, arranged in such a way that they define with the tooth or with the teeth of the application member a volume in which the orifice or the exit orifices flow into or out, said volume being able to retain said composition, and to be traversed in depth by the hair disposed between said teeth, when the application member is moved along the hair. Although foam constitutes the preferred galenic form, the composition may have a different shape, in particular gel or cream. Furthermore, it is also not necessarily a coloring composition. As an example, we could cite a product for hair care and that could have an irritating or dirty action on the scalp. The organ that forms the screen thus allows to retain in a localized way the applicable product, in an area in which the hair will be able to pass in depth, and consequently, to be imbibed in an important way. Therefore, and in the first place, the foam imbibes the hair from the root. The excess product leaves the hair and is located between the application organ and the organ that forms the screen, thus making it possible to impregnate the hair from its surface. In addition, the organ that forms the screen prevents the user or user from getting dirty with the product. The characteristic according to which the orifice or the exit orifices end transversely to the axis of the teeth, imposes that the exit orifices are carried out at a distance from the free end of the teeth, the minimum distance corresponding to the thickness of material required at the end of the tooth. tooth to prevent the channel from flowing axially, as in certain devices of the prior art. Advantageously, the exit orifices are apt to be substantially oriented in the direction of displacement of the application member with respect to the hair during the application of the composition. Thus, by orienting the outlet orifices substantially in the direction of movement of the application member with respect to the hair, and keeping the end of the teeth substantially supported on the scalp, the product is kept at a distance from the latter, which avoids To stain it in an important way. In addition, the hair can be embedded in depth and not only on the surface as with certain ordinary devices. Ideally, in the application, the best results are obtained by orienting as much as possible the holes in the geometric axis of the displacement of the application member in relation to the hair. In practice, good results are obtained with an orientation of the outlet holes comprised in a cone centered in the direction of movement, and whose opening at the apex, is at most 45, and preferably, at most 30 °, the vertex of the cone being oriented preferably towards the root of the hair. Advantageously, the applicator member comprises a plurality of teeth, and defines a first face, destined to effect the application of the composition, to be turned in the direction of the scalp, and a second face oriented opposite to the first, with said orifice opening. exit holes on the second face. In general, the face intended to be turned in the direction of the scalp, will be the farthest side of the container. Such faces can be flat or bulging in a similar way to the skull. In the application of the composition on the hair, the displacement of the device is such that the first and second faces move substantially parallel to themselves. In this displacement, like a comb, the teeth separate the hair into strands, and slide along them, while applying the product. The displacement takes place from the root of the hair, up to the tip, the container moving sensibly for it parallel to the surface of the skull. Preferably, the device according to the invention comprises distribution means, to allow, in response to a drive command, the output of the composition from the container. The distribution means, designed to allow the output of the product under pressure, are advantageously constituted by a valve, of the aerosol valve, insertion or tilting type.

As an alternative, a manually operated pump is used. Also as an alternative, the pressure output of the product is obtained by manually pressing the flexible walls of a container containing the composition, the distribution means being then formed by an opening of the container, through which the product is ejected, in response at a pressure applied on the walls of the container. Advantageously, said orifice or said outlet orifices are formed in the vicinity of a free end of the tooth or corresponding teeth of the application member. Thus, while remaining at a distance from the free end, it is possible to soak the hair in all its thickness, and not only on the surface. Preferably, two teeth at least of the application member are crossed by an axial channel, means being provided between the container and the teeth of the application member, for distributing the product leaving the container towards each of the teeth comprising a channel. Also preferably, all the teeth of the application member are traversed by such a channel, thus making as many exit holes as there are teeth. The application is more homogeneous, and on a larger surface at the same time. By way of indication, we will say that said orifice or said outlet orifices are formed at a distance comprised between 0.5 and 10 mm, and preferably between 1 mm and 5 mm, of the free end of the corresponding tooth. The screen-forming means may be of a width that is substantially identical, or even greater, than the width of the application member. They may be flat or slightly concave on the side of the second face of the application member. They may be bordered laterally by flanges extending perpendicularly to the median plane in which the screen-forming member extends. The presence of such ridges allows laterally limiting the diffusion of the product that has passed through the thickness of the hair. Advantageously, the median plane of the screen-forming member forms an angle between 0 and 25 ° with the axis of the container or containers, and preferably between 0 and 10 °.

Also preferably, the teeth of the application member are formed substantially in a plane, which forms an appreciable angle with respect to the median plane of said screen-forming means, said volume being formed between the application member and the screen-forming means. Such an angle may be between 10 and 60 °, and preferably between 20 and 50 °. The angle can be established depending on the type of hair on which the product should be applied. The plane constituted by the application member forms an angle of less than 90 ° with the geometrical axis of the container or containers, and preferably between 30 and 60 °. Such angles facilitate the postures for the application, while ensuring a good orientation of the flow or flows of the composition applicable in relation to the hair and the scalp. According to a specific embodiment, a first end of the means forming the screen is attached to the application member in the vicinity of the ends of the teeth, opposite their free ends, a second end being opposite the first separated from the first end. at a distance substantially equal to the length of the teeth of the application member. The coupling between the application member and the screen-forming means can be of fixed or variable angular position, by means of an articulation axis, in order to be able to vary the angle formed by one with respect to the others at will. The application member can itself be mounted in a fixed angular position, or variable in relation to the container, by means of an articulation axis, in such a way that the user can vary the orientation of the teeth, independently or not of the organ that forms the screen , thus allowing adapting the overall configuration of the device to its own anatomy or to a preferred posture, or also to the configuration of a particular area of the hair where the product should be applied. Preferably, the composition is contained under pressure in the interior of at least one container on which there is a distribution valve, the distribution head further comprising means that form a support surface, to allow the actuation of the valve. distribution and output of the product under % vt pressure. In practice, the composition can be contained directly in the same container, in particular aerosol, and distributed directly from this single container. As an alternative, in particular for dyeing products with two components (a dye and an oxidant), it is possible to provide a device in which two aerosol containers (one containing the dye, the other containing the oxidant), are attached. Both aerosol containers can be joined by a single distribution head, a part of which will form a push button for the simultaneous actuation of the two valves. At the outlet of their respective container, the two products are mixed in a suitable zone. The mixture is then directed to a single application organ, similar to the one just described. The means forming the support surface can be obtained by molding with the application member and the screen forming means. In fact, the dispensing head formed by the fixing means on the container or the containers, by the connecting means with the rod or the valve rods, the actuating surface of the valve or valves, the application member, the means that form screen, can be obtained by molding a single and single piece. For this, molding techniques are used that combine the injection of the plastic material, in particular of a polypropylene, and of blowing a gas under pressure, to define the hollow parts of the piece, mainly the channel or channels of the organ of application. In the hypothesis that less expensive molds are preferred, the distribution head is made in two or more parts, and can then be assembled following known assembly techniques, taking care to ensure the necessary tightness between the different pieces thus assembled. The device according to the invention can be used for the packaging and application of a hair coloring composition, in particular with two components, one of which is a dye and the other an oxidant or a hair care composition. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The invention consists, apart from the provisions that are set forth, in a number of other provisions that will be detailed below, with respect to non-limiting embodiments, described with reference to the attached figures, among which: Figures 1-3 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the packaging and application device according to the invention; and Figure 4 illustrates the use of the device according to Figures 1-3 for the application of a hair coloring composition. The device 1 shown in FIGS. 1-3 comprises an aerosol container 2, of axis X, particularly made of aluminum or tin. The container 2 carries a valve 3 on the outside of which a valve rod 4 emerges. The valve can, in a completely classical manner, although not shown in detail, be formed by a valve body inside which an organ is arranged. closing, coupled to the valve rod 4. The closing member, in rest position, will be in sealed support on a sealing gasket The sealing is broken when a lateral or axial pressure is applied on a push button. Traction means return to the closed position of the valve when the actuating pressure ceases. On the valve stem 4, an axial skirt 15 of a dispensing head 10 has been press-fitted, which will be described in detail below. The valve 3 may be of the insertion or vasculation type. The distribution head comprises a body (or clamp) 11 intended for fixing (for example under pressure) the head 10 on the edge of a bowl carrying the valve 3. The clamp could also be screwed onto the container. The clamp 11 is joined by a film 12 which constitutes a hinge to a constituent part of the push button 13. The push button 13 comprises a support surface 14 intended for the actuation of the valve by insertion, exerting a pressure substantially following the geometric axis X of the container 2. The axial skirt 15 coupled on the valve rod 4 forms an integral part of the push button 13, and opens into a radial channel 16. At its end opposite the axial skirt 15 , the radial channel 16 opens into a distributor 17, intended to distribute the product across the width of an application member 20, which will be the object of a detailed description. The application member 20 comprises a plurality of teeth 21-26, spaced regularly and arranged in a plane that forms an angle of approximately 60 ° with the geometric axis X of the container 2. The spacing of the teeth may be of the order of a few millimeters . The teeth 21-26 extend over a length of about 5 cm, and have a slightly decreasing outer section in the direction of their free end. Thus arranged, the teeth define a first face 50 (farthest from the container), intended to be turned in the direction of the scalp (see Figure 4), and a face, called "application" 51, opposite face 50. In the application, the face 50 can form an angle between 20 and 90 ° with the scalp, and preferably between 20 and 60 °. The teeth are traversed longitudinally by a channel 30 extending from the distributor 17, with which it communicates, until the vicinity of the free end 31 of the teeth 21-26. At this end, the channel 30 opens onto the face 51, through an outlet hole 32, oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of the teeth 21-26. Thus, the outlet holes 32 are formed as close as possible to the free end of the teeth 21-26 without, however, leading to the axis of the teeth. Typically, the outlet holes 32 are formed approximately 1 mm from the free end 31 of the teeth 21-26. The outlet holes 32 open on the face 51, perpendicular to the axis of the teeth, or at an angle other than 90 °, the essential thing being that the liquid routed through the teeth is directed from the side of the volume delimited in part by the teeth 21-26 and an organ forming screen 40, which will be described in detail below. Preferably, each of the outlet orifices is centered in a plane passing through the geometric axis of the tooth in which it opens, and perpendicular to the median plane through which the application member extends. The application member 20 also comprises a screen-forming member 40 of a width slightly larger than the width on which the teeth 21-26 extend. The organ 40 has a slightly concave shape (concavity oriented in the direction of the teeth) and comprises an end 41 adjacent to the distributor 17, and an end 42, opposite the end 41. The distance separating the ends 41 and 42 corresponds substantially to the length of the teeth 21-26. The screen forming member 40 extends in a median plane, forming with the plane containing the teeth 21-26 an angle α of approximately 45 °. The distribution head 10 can be obtained using molding techniques that combine the injection of the plastic material, in particular of a polypropylene (PP), a polyethylene (PE), a polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or a polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and the blowing of a pressurized gas to define the hollow parts of the piece, particularly the channels 30 of the application member 20. In practice, illustrated schematically in Figure 4, the user places the end 31 of the teeth 21- 26 sensibly in support on the scalp C. Prints a downward movement to the container 2, holding the latter sensibly in a position parallel to the surface of the skull (as illustrated by arrow F). With such a movement, the exit holes 32 are oriented substantially in the geometric axis of the movement. When performing this movement, it operates valve 4, pushing in the surface 14 of the push button 13, which causes the foam to exit through the valve stem 4, the axial skirt 15 and the radial channel 16. The foam then flows into the distributor 17, where it is distributed evenly towards each of the teeth 21-26. The foam passes through the channels 30 and opens out through the outlet holes 32 on the face 51 of the application member. The foam P, which emerges from the holes 32, imbibes the hair interspersed between the teeth, from the root. Due to the orientation of the holes, that is, opposite to the root of the hair, the product is not directed on the scalp, which limits the formation of spots on the latter. The excess foam comes back out of the hair and lodges between the teeth 21-26 of the application member 20 and the screen forming element 40, which allows the impregnation of the hair from its surface. This results in an application on the hair, both in depth and on the surface.

The user starts again the same operation with the rest of her hair, until it has been treated in its entirety. In the detailed description above, reference has been made to preferred embodiments of the invention. It is evident that variants can be provided without departing from the spirit of the invention as it is claimed below. In particular, within the optics of a tuft coloration, it is possible to provide an application member comprising a single tooth or two teeth, to reduce the application width to the desired width of the tuft. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (18)

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S

1. Device for the packaging and application of a composition on the hair, in particular of a dyeing composition in the form of a foam, characterized in that the device comprises at least one container containing the composition and a dispensing head coupled to the container, comprising said dispensing head an application member formed with at least one tooth intended, for the application of the composition, to come into contact with the hair, and displaced longitudinally with respect thereto, axially traversing a tooth at least of the application member by a channel apt to be placed in communication with the container, and which ends transversely to the axis of the corresponding tooth, by an exit orifice, the distribution head further comprising a screen-forming means, arranged so as to define with the tooth or the teeth of the application organ a volume in which the orifice or the exit orifices, said volume being able to retain said composition and to be traversed in depth by the hair, when the application organ is moved along them.

Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said outlet orifice or holes are apt to be oriented substantially in the direction of displacement of the application member with respect to the hair when the composition is applied.

3. Device according to the claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the application member comprises a plurality of teeth defining said application member a first face, intended to apply the composition, to be turned in the direction of the scalp and a second face opposite the first, leading to said or said outlet holes on the second face.

Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises distribution means, in particular a valve, to allow, in response to a drive command, the output of the composition from the container.

5. Device according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said orifice or said outlet orifices, are formed in the vicinity of a free end of the tooth or corresponding teeth of the application member.

Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that two teeth at least of the application member are traversed by an axial channel, means being provided between the container and the teeth of the application member, to distribute the product that it leaves the container towards each of the teeth, comprising a channel.

Device according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said orifice or said outlet orifices are formed at a distance comprised between 0.5 and 10 mm, and preferably between 1 and 5 mm, of the free end of the corresponding tooth.

Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the screen-forming means have a width that is substantially identical, or even greater, than the width of the application member.

Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the screen-forming means are flat, or slightly concave on the side of the second face of the application member, possibly being bordered with lateral flanges.

Device according to claim 9, characterized in that an average plane of said screen forming means makes an angle with an axis (X) of the container or containers comprised between 0 and 25 °, and preferably between 0 and 10. °.

Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the teeth of the application member are formed substantially in a plane, forming an appreciable angle with respect to the median plane of said screen forming means, said volume being formed between the organ of application and the means that form screen.

Device according to claim 11, characterized in that said angle a is comprised between 10 and 60 °, and preferably between 20 and 50 °.

13. Device according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the plane formed by the application member forms with the axis of the container or containers an angle less than 90 °, and preferably between 30 and 60 °.

Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application member and / or the screen forming means have an angular position adjustable with respect to the axis (X) of the container.

Device according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that a first end of the screen-forming means is connected to the applicator member in the vicinity of the ends of the teeth, opposite their free ends, with a second, opposite end. to the first, separated from the first end by a distance substantially equal to the length of the teeth of the application member.

Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the composition is contained under pressure in the interior of at least one container on which there is a distribution valve, the distribution head also comprising means forming a surface of support, to allow the activation of the distribution valve and the output of the product under pressure.

Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dispensing head is formed by a single piece obtained by molding.

18. Use of a device according to any of the preceding claims, for the packaging and application of a hair coloring composition, in particular with two components, one of which is a dye and the other an oxidant, or a composition for hair care