US3675821A

US3675821A - Apparatus for dispensing two fluids simultaneously

Info

Publication number: US3675821A
Application number: US12174A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bruno Morane; Charles Paoletti; Gilles Terrasse
Original assignee: LOreal SA
Current assignee: LOreal SA
Priority date: 1969-02-21
Filing date: 1970-02-18
Publication date: 1972-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-11
Also published as: DE2007199A1; FR2032202A5; DE2007199B2; BE745345A; GB1284216A

Abstract

Container for storing separately two fluids which are to be dispensed simultaneously, which comprises an outer jacket carrying a dispensing valve having two inlets, an inner tube connected to one of said inlets, piston means for simultaneously reducing the volume of both the tube, and the annular space between the tube and jacket, and means for introducing pressure fluid to actuate the piston. The inner tube may be longitudinally collapsible, the piston may be adapted to slit the tube longitudinally as it advances, or the piston may be divided into parts which slide axially upward both inside the tube and outside it.

Description

United States Patent Morane et al. [45] Jul 11 1972 s4] APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING TWO 3,327,906 6/1967 Gomann ..222/3s9 FLUIDS SIMULTANEOUSLY 1,158,904 11/1915 Dunbar.... ..222/399 X 3,217,936 11/1965 Abplanalp ..222/402.18 X 1 g f gi g ge"? 3,296,803 l/1967 Kroekel ..222/3s9 u ay ous ois; errase, I11 La Barre, all of France FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [73] Assignee: L'Oreal, Paris, France 560,891 7/1958 Canada ..222/ 137 [22] 1970 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves [21] Appl. No.: 12,174 Assistant Examiner-Francis]. Bartuska Attomey-Holcombe, Wetherill & Brisebois [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Feb. 21, 1969 France "69114480 Container for stoflng Separately two fluids which are to be dispensed simultaneously, which comprises an outer jacket t l ..222/s0, 222/l3Zi6272d2/513g; carrying a dispensing valve having two inlets, an inner tube [58] Field ofs h 222/137 389 94 386 387 connected to one of said inlets, piston means for simultane- 326 80 ously reducing the volume of both the tube, and the annular 5 space between the tube and jacket, and means for introducing pressure fluid to actuate the piston. The inner tube may be longitudinally collapsible, the piston may be adapted to slit the [56] References Cited tube longitudinally as it advances, or the piston may be di- UNITED STATES PATENTS vided into parts which slide axially upward both inside the tube and outside it. 3,007,611 11/196] Coolidge ..222/l37 2,925,937 2/1960 Schmidt et a1. ..222/389 X 21 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PNENTEDJUL 11 m2 sum 1 OF 2 B-MORAHE C PAOLETT\ RRA89E ELMLMMWM Is 'PATENTEnJuLn m2 7 2 SHEET 20? 2 no.2 no.3

lnverfi'ors B. MORANE PAOLET'U G Teaaassz APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING TWO FLUIDS SIMULTANEOUSLY SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the cosmetic industry, the pharmaceutical industry, and in the packaging of cleansing products, it is often necessary to use two products simultaneously which are capable of reacting with each other when brought into contact. It is obvious that it is impossible to permit such contact during storage, since in that case the action which must take place at the moment of use would take place during storage. Such products are therefore commonly packaged in separate containers, but this has the disadvantage of making it necessary for the user to open at least two containers simultaneously.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a method of packaging and distributing two fluids under pressure which are to be simultaneously dispensed as a mixture and which must be separately packaged, as well as a container suitable for use in carrying out this process.

The method of packaging and dispensing according to the invention is essentially characterized by the fact that it utilizes a container comprising a dispensing valve having two fluid passageways and positioned at the top of a closed outer jacket. One of the passageways in the valve leads to the outlet of an inner container having rigid lateral walls, the bottom of which is formed by part of a first movable piston member. One of the fluids to be dispensed is introduced into this inner container. A second movable piston is positioned at the bottom of the outer jacket and slidable therein. This second piston is mechanically connected to the first piston. The second fluid, which is to be dispensed simultaneously with the first fluid, is introduced into the outer jacket above the piston at the bottom of said jacket. Pressure is exerted against at least one of these pistons to an extent sufficient to displace it in the direction of the dispensing valve and the mixture is dispensed through said valve in response to the pressure applied to the fluid by the two pistons.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide as a new article of manufacture a container or carrying out the process according to the invention. In a first embodiment, the container according to the invention comprises a cylindrical outer jacket carrying at its upper end a dispensing valve having two fluid passageways therein. At its lower end is a base provided with means permitting the introduction of a pressurizing gas into the jacket. The device also comprises a cylindrical tube the outlet of which is attached to one of the passageways in said valve. The base of this tube is open. Finally, the device comprises a double piston having a central portion which is slidable inside the tube and an annular portion which is slidable inside the outer jacket and outside the tube. These two piston members are mechanically connected to each other.

This type of device may advantageously comprise a valve having an axial passageway and a lateral or peripheral passageway. The height of the two pistons is preferably the same, and is substantially equal to the height of the tube. The two piston bodies are fastened together by a base plate. A chamber containing a pressurizing gas may be provided between the base plate and the bottom of the outer jacket, which bottom is provided with a pin adapted to perforate the wall of the chamber.

In another embodiment of the invention the two piston members are connected together near their bottoms by blades extending across the annular space which separates them. In this case the height of the two piston bodies is preferably the same, but is not the same as that of the tube. At least one of the two piston members may advantageously carry, in the annular space which receives the lower part of the outer wall of the tube, annular sealing members adapted to maintain a fluidtight seal between the upper and lower faces of the piston. The rigid lateral wall of the tube is so thin that it can be cut by the blades connecting the two parts of the piston together when the pressure exerted by conventional pressurizing gases is applied to the lower surface of the two piston members.

Another embodiment of the invention comprises an outer jacket equipped at its upper end with a dispensing valve having two fluid passageways and, at its lower end with a base which carries means permitting the introduction of a pressurizing gas into the jacket. This embodiment also comprises a tube having an outlet connected to one of the passageways in the valve and a piston positioned between the lower end of the tube and the base of the outer jacket, which piston is slidable in sealing contact with the outer jacket and comprises a central portion having a seat which constitutes the bottom of the tube.

This second type of device may advantageously comprise a valve having an axial passageway and a lateral or peripheral passageway. The tube may be cylindrical and bottomless and fastened to the axial passageway in the dispensing valve. This tube may be made of a thin aluminum sheet material which may be accordion pleated by the piston. Alternatively, the tube may be made of a sheet of plastic material which is already accordion pleated. A chamber holding a liquefied pressurizing gas is positioned between the lower surface of the piston and the base of the outer jacket. The container is equipped with a pin adapted to perforate the wall of the chamber and which may be actuated from outside the jacket by the user.

In this embodiment it has been found that good results are obtained by using tubes of thin aluminum sheet material such as those conventionally used for packaging cosmetic products or toothpaste. The seat in the piston serving as the base of the tube is then circular and coaxial with the outer jacket. It is clear that, when the piston moves upward in response to the pressure of the pressurizing gas toward the dispensing valve, the tube is pleated in a regular manner beginning at one end of the tube. This regularity in pleating may be facilitated by slightly scoring the surface of the tube perpendicularly of its axis. An overall bending of the tube, which would result in the isolation of part of the product contained therein, may be avoided by providing, inside the outer jacket, in the annular space between the jacket and tube, at least one supporting ring made, for example, of a synthetic resin foam. This supporting ring may advantageously slide inside the outer jacket.

In the two embodiments which have been described the pressurizing gas for collapsing the tube inside the outer jacket is initially included in a chamber at the lower end of the outer jacket. It is obvious that any suitable known means for providing this pressurizing gas may be used. In particular, the pressurizing gas may not be initially enclosed inside the outer jacket, but may be introduced from an independent cartridge through a valve placed in the bottom of the outer jacket. The pressurizing gas may also be contained in a cartridge mounted on the lower surface of the piston or pistons in the container according to the invention. The base of the outer jacket will then be equipped with a pin long enough to permit its point to perforate the wall of the cartridge holding the pressurizing gas when the user desires to open the container.

Among the suitable pressurizing gases are butane, trichlorofloromethane, dichlorodifluoromethane, and dichlorotetrafluoroethane. It will be appreciated that one of the essential advantages of containers and of the method of storage according to the invention is to provide simple means making it possible to store two fluids which are to be dispensed separately, and to dispense these two fluids simultaneously in proportions which depend on the diameters of the passages in the valve, which proportions remain constant if the precaution has been taken to completely fill the tube and outer jacket with fluid above their respective pistons. The device also insures the progressive dispensing of the entire volume of fluids stored in the container, which progressive dispensing is rendered possible by the fact that the simultaneous distribution of the two fluids is carried out while the fluids still within the container are still separated from each other. This last advantage is particularly important since it makes it possible to package together two fluids which must react with each other when said fluids are dispensed even when the distribution thereof must be carried out at spaced successive intervals of time. In order that the invention may be better understood, several embodiments thereof will now be described, purely by way of illustration, with reference to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic axial section showing a container according to to the invention provided with two piston members connected by a base plate;

FIG. 2 is a schematic axial section of a container according to the invention comprising two piston members connected by blades near their lower ends; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic axial section showing a container according to the invention equipped with a single piston adapted to axially collapse a tube positioned within the outer jacket of the container.

Referring now to FIG. 1, it will be seen that reference numeral 1 indicates the outer jacket of the container according to the invention. The jacket 1 carries at its upper end a valve 2 of a conventional type provided with an axial passageway and a lateral passageway. Reference numeral 4 indicates the base of the jacket 1. This base carries a central valve 5 through which a liquefied pressurizing gas 6 contained in an independent cartridge 7 may be injected into the jacket 1.

The axial passageway in the valve 2 is connected to neck 3 of a container 8. This container is a tube made of thin aluminum sheet material about 0.2 mm thick. The tube is 120 mm in length and 25 mm in diameter. The diameter of the jacket 1 is about 100 mm and the cylindrical portion of the jacket 1 is about 240 mm long. The tube 8 is bottomless.

Inside the jacket 2 is an annular piston 9 which slides between the jacket 1 and the tube 8 in sealing contact with both. Inside the tube 8 is a slidable piston 10 which is in sealing contact with the tube. The pistons 9 and 10 are separated by an annular space 11 and connected at their lower ends by a base plate 12. Annular seals 13 are provided on opposite sides of the wall of the tube 8 in the annular space 11. The tube 8 is completely filled with a liquid product 14. The jacket 1 is completely filled above the piston 9 with a liquid product 15. When the container according to the invention is to be used for the first time, the user introduces the end of the outlet tube of the cartridge 7 into the valve 5 and thus injects pressurizing gas 6 into the jacket 1 between the base 4 and the plate 12. The

liquids

14 and 15 are thus placed under pressure inside the jacket by the pistons 9 and 10. When the user then presses the push button controlling the valve 2, the passageways in the valve connected to the

products

14 and 15 are opened and the two products are simultaneously dispensed while the pistons 9 and 10, connected by the base plate 12, move upwardly in the direction of the valve 2. The user may stop the distribution at any time but the

products

14 and 15 nevertheless remain separate inside the container according to the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 2, which illustrates the second embodiment of the container according to the invention, it will be seen that this embodiment likewise has an outer jacket 1 and a dispensing valve 2 at the top of this jacket. The valve 2 has the same characteristics as the valve described in the case of the first embodiment. The outer jacket 1 has a base 4 surmounted by an inner wall 16 fixed to the base and the envelope by crimping. The wall 16 and the base 4 define therebetween a chamber holding a pressurizing gas 6. The base 4 is provided with a pin 17 which is movable from outside the container, the end of which pin is adapted to perforate the wall 16.

The axial passageway in the valve 2 is connected to the neck 3 of a container 8 consisting of a tube similar to the one described in connection with the first embodiment of the invention. The walls of this tube are 0.2 mm thick. The diameter of the tube is 25 mm. The tube is about 150 mm long. The cylindrical part of the jacket 1 is about 180 mm long.

In the space between the outer jacket 1 and the tube 8 is an annular piston 19, which is adapted to slide in sealing contact with the inside of the outer jacket 1. Inside the tube 8 is a piston which is slidable in sealing contact with the inner surface of said tube. The pistons 19 and 20 are connected at their lower ends, that is to say the ends nearest the wall 16, by blades 21 extending across the annular space 22 which separates the pistons 19 and 20. At their upper ends the pistons 19 and 20 carry two annular sealing members 23 and 24 on opposite sides of each other inside the annular space 22, which sealing members grip the wall of the bottomless tube 8 therebetween. Above the piston 20 the tube 8 is completely filled with a liquid 14 and above the piston 19 the outer jacket 1 is completely filled with a liquid 15.

When the container illustrated in FIG. 2 is to be used for the first time, pressure is exerted on the pin 17, the end 18 of which perforates the wall 16. The pressurizing gas 6 then exerts pressure on the lower surfaces of the pistons 19 and 20, thereby compressing the liquids l4 and 15. Pressure on the push button controlling the valve 2 then results in simultaneous distribution of the liquids l4 and 15 because the two passageways in the valve in communication with these liquids are then opened. The pistons 19 and 20 then move upwardly, that is to say in the direction of the valve 2, as a consequence of the pressure exerted by the pressurizing gas. The blades 21, which connect the two pistons together, cut the walls of the tube 8 as they go, so as to permit the pistons 19 and 20 to rise without requiring the pistons to be very thick and strong, as was the case in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. In addition to the particular advantage which has just been pointed out, the advantages of this embodiment are the same as those in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that this embodiment also comprises an outer jacket 1 carrying at its upper end a dispensing valve 2 having the same characteristics as in the two previously described embodiments. At the lower end of the jacket 1 is a base 4 carrying a pin 17 at its center.

The axial passageway in the valve 2 is connected to the neck .3 of a tube 8 having exactly the same characteristics as the tubes described in the embodiment of FIG. 1. The lower end of the tube 8 rests on a piston 25 which is provided with a central seat 26, the inner diameter of which is equal to the outer diameter of the tube 8. The piston 25 is provided with a seat in its lower surface which holds a cartridge 27 containing a pressurizing gas 6. The end 18 of the pin 17 is adapted to perforate the wall of the cartridge 27.

In the annular space between the outer jacket 1 and the tube 8 is a supporting ring 28 made of a rigid plastic foam material. The supporting ring 28 is provided with holes 29 which pass all the way through it. This ring is slidable inside the jacket 1 around the tube 8. It is positioned about half way between the ends of the jacket 1, while the piston 25 is originally positioned near the base 4 of this jacket. The jacket 1 is completely filled with liquid 15 and the tube 8 completely filled with the liquid 14.

When the container illustrated in FIG. 3 is to be used for the first time, pressure is exerted on the pin 17 so that its end perforates the wall of the cartridge 27. The pressurizing gas 6 then exerts pressure on the lower surface of the piston 25 so that the tube and the liquids l4 and 15 are subjected to compression. When the dispensing valve 2 is actuated the passageways leading to the

liquids

14 and 15 in the outer jacket 1 and the tube 8 are opened. The tube 8 is then subjected to a compressive force acting along its longitudinal axis. This force is applied by the piston 25 and the tube 8 is accordion pleated, beginning at the end near the neck 3. The piston 25 then rises slowly while expelling to the exterior of the device both a part of the liquid 14 in the tube 8, the height of which decreases, and a part of the liquid 15. When the user ceases to press upon the dispensing valve 2 the different components of the container remain in the position which they reached in the course of the dispensing step, so that the liquids l4 and 15 remain separated. Subsequent dispensing of the desired mixture results from simple actuation of the valve 2. The accordion pleating of the tube 8 takes place regularly and the radial expansion of the tube in response to the force applied to its base by the piston 25 is prevented by the presence of the ring 28. When the piston 25 reaches the ring 28 it pushes the ring upward since this ring is mounted to slide within the jacket 1. It will be appreciated that almost all of the products 14 and packaged in the container may be thus dispensed.

It will be further appreciated that the embodiments which have just been described have been given purely by way of illustration, and may be modified as to detail without thereby departing from the basic principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Container for storing separately two fluids which are to be dispensed simultaneously, which container comprises an outer jacket, a mixing and dispensing valve at the upper end of said jacket, said valve having two fluid passageways therein leading to a common outlet, a base at the lower end of said jacket, a central tube within said jacket having one end connected to one of said passageways, while the other passageway opens into said jacket outside said tube, piston means slidably mounted in said jacket between the end of said tube remote from said valve and said jacket base to form a chamber therebetween, said piston means comprising a central portion which closes the bottom of said tube and an annular outer portion which seals the space between said tube and jacket, said portions being mechanically connected together within said jacket and both in communication with said chamber, and means for releasing a third fluid under pressure into said chamber to drive said piston means toward the upper end of said jacket.

2. Container as claimed in claim 1 in which said central portion of said piston means is divided from the outer portion of said piston means by an annular recess which receives the wall of said tube as said piston means is driven toward the upper end of said jacket.

3. Container as claimed in claim 1 in which said central and outer portions of said piston means are connected by blade means which cut the wall of said tube as said piston means is driven toward the upper end of said outer jacket.

4. Container as claimed in claim 1 in which the walls of said tube are adapted to become pleated as said piston means is driven toward the upper end of said outer jacket.

5. Container as claimed in claim 2 in which the two piston parts are substantially equal in thickness, and said thickness is equal to the length of said tube.

6. Container as claimed in claim 3 in which said two piston parts are connected to a common base.

7. Container for storing separately two fluids which are to be dispensed simultaneously, which container comprises a cylindrical outer jacket, a mixing and dispensing valve at the upper end of said jacket, which valve comprises two fluid passageways leading to a common outlet, a base at the lower end of said jacket, a bottomless coaxial cylindrical tube within said jacket having an outlet attached to one of the passageways in the valve while the other passageway opens into said jacket outside said tube, a two-part piston forming a chamber between the lower ends of said tube and said jacket, said piston comprising a central part slidable within the tube and an annular part slidable between the tube and outer jacket both of which parts are in communication with said chamber, said two piston parts being mechanically connected together within said jacket, and means for releasing a third fluid under pressure into said chamber between said piston and jacket base.

8. Container as claimed in claim 7 comprising a cartridge containing pressurizing gas between said piston and jacket base, and in which said gas releasing means is a pin slidable in said jacket base to a position in which it perforates said cartridge.

9. Container as claimed in claim 7 in which said piston parts are connected by blades bridging the annular space defined therebetween, and the wall of said tube is sufficiently weak to be cut by said blades when said pressurizing is released into said jacket and exerts pressure against said piston.

10. Container as claimed in claim 7 comprising sealing rings between said tube and each of said piston arts.

1 1. Container as claimed in claim 7 in w ich the passageway connected to said tube extends axially of said container, whereas the other passageway in said valve extends transversely thereof.

12. Container as claimed in claim 7 in which said gas releasing means is a valve in the base of said jacket adapted to be connected to a cartridge of pressurizing gas.

13. Container as claimed in claim 7 in which said pressurizing gas is selected from the group consisting of butane, trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorodifluoromethane, and dichlorotetrafluoroethane.

14. Container for storing separately two fluids which are to be dispensed simultaneously, which container comprises a cylindrical outer jacket, a mixing and dispensing valve at the upper end of said jacket, said valve having two fluid passageways therein leading to a common outlet, a base at the lower end of said jacket, a coaxial tube within said jacket having one end connected to one of said passageways, while the other passageway opens into said jacket outside said tube, a piston slidably mounted in said jacket between the end of said tube remote from said valve and said jacket base to form a chamber therebetween, said piston being formed with a central seat which constitutes a bottom for said tube and a peripheral part which forms a seal between said tube and the cylindrical wall of said jacket, with both said seat and peripheral part in communication with said chamber, and means for releasing a third fluid under pressure into said chamber between said piston and jacket base.

15. Container as claimed in claim 14 in which said tube is cylindrical and its walls are made of a thin material adapted to become pleated when pressure is exerted against the bottom of said tube.

16. Container as claimed in claim 15 in which said tube is scored to initiate formation of said pleats.

17. Container as claimed in claim 14 comprising a cartridge of pressurizing fluid between said piston and jacket base, in which said release means is a pin carried by said jacket base and movable to perforate said cartridge.

18. Container as claimed in claim 17 in which said cartridge is carried by the lower wall of said piston.

19. Container as claimed in claim 14 comprising a supporting ring encircling said tube between said piston and the upper end of said jacket, said ring being pierced by orifices.

20. Container as claimed in claim 19 in which said supporting ring is made of a foamed synthetic resin.

21. Container as claimed in claim 20 in which said ring is axially slidable within said jacket on said tube.

Claims

10. Container as claimed in claim 7 comprising sealing rings between said tube and each of said piston parts.

11. Container as claimed in claim 7 in which the passageway connected to said tube extends axially of said container, whereas the other passageway in said valve extends transversely thereof.