EP1040773A1 - Portable dispenser for packaging and dispensing colored cosmetic products - Google Patents

Abstract

Portable distributor with at least two reservoirs (2, 3) contains different colored products (A, B) operated to allow the products to be distributed in proportions chosen by the user and a mixing chamber (42) in which the products can mix. There is a agitator (11) in the mixing chamber which is operated to allow the user to see the color of the mixture before taking it out The mixing chamber has at least one transparent wall (8). The agitator has a control shaft and is movable axially along the axis of the shaft as well as in rotation about the shaft. The distributor contains a piston (9) to distribute the product contained i the mixing chamber. The piston is movable relative to the reservoirs. The piston has first and second resting positions which al it to engage with the agitator after mixing to use the displacement of the agitator to move the piston. The agitator has a pierc disk (12) and the mixing chamber is connected to a distribution nozzle with a valve which opens when the volume in the mixing chamber reduces. The distributor contains a valve which is at least two-way, connecting to the two reservoirs in its two positio A third position isolates the mixing chambers from the reservoirs. The outlet nozzle valve only opens when the valve is in its t position and the volume in the mixing chamber reduces. Each reservoir contains a piston to send the product to the mixing chambe and the mixing chamber and reservoirs are contained in a box which is at least partially transparent. A cover can be removed to allow the reservoirs to be filled. The pistons in the reservoirs are moved by increasing pressure on one side, using a blower wh can exert pressure on all the pistons at the same time.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of packaging devices and distribution of colored cosmetic products, in particular foundations.

There is a need to have a portable dispenser which allows the user to achieve himself a desired shade by mixing products having different colors, contained in respective tanks inside the dispenser.

The dispenser according to the invention is of the type comprising at least two tanks arranged to enable the products they contain to be distributed in proportions chosen by the user and a mixing chamber inside which the products contained in the tanks are distributed and can mix, and characterized by the fact that the products contained in the tanks have colors different, by the fact that it comprises at least one mobile agitator in the mixing and by the fact that the latter is arranged to allow the user observe the color of the mixture obtained before taking it.

Thanks to the invention, the user can distribute in the mixing chamber a certain quantity of the products contained in the tanks and homogenize the content of the mixing chamber by means of the agitator.

The color of the mixture obtained being visible from the outside, the user can at any moment add a new quantity of one of the products contained in the tanks to change the color of the mixture if it is not suitable.

A dispenser, comprising at least two reservoirs arranged to dispense the products contained therein in selected proportions and a room of mixture inside which the products distributed by the tanks mix, is known for example from US patent 4,893,729. This dispenser is intended to contain sun products and is not suitable for distributing products with shades different, the user being unable on the one hand to observe the color of the mixture obtained on leaving the distributor and on the other hand the latter not comprising an agitator allowing to homogenize the contents of the mixing chamber before it is sampled.

In a particular embodiment, the mixing chamber is delimited at at least partially by a wall made of a transparent material. So, the user can easily see the color of the mixture through this wall and adjust if necessary.

In a particular embodiment, the agitator comprises a control rod. This control rod can be actuated by the user in order to homogenize the contents of the mixing chamber.

Advantageously, the agitator is axially movable along the axis of the rod. aforementioned command and is also movable in rotation about the axis of this rod of ordered.

In a particular embodiment, the distributor comprises a piston allowing to dispense the product contained in the mixing chamber. This piston can be mobile relative to the tank and it can be provided with first attachment means, the agitator being provided with second attachment means arranged to cooperate with said first attachment means to allow coupling of the agitator and the piston after mixing the products in the mixing chamber and using the displacement of the agitator to drive the piston and distribute the mixture. The coupling of the agitator and the piston can be carried out for example thanks to the fact that the agitator is movable in rotation about the axis of the control rod.

The aforementioned first attachment means can be in the form lugs having an enlarged body and head and the aforementioned second attachment means may be in the form of lights each comprising at one end a opening of sufficient size to allow passage of the head of a lug when the agitator is moved axially and a narrow opening in which the body the lug can engage after the agitator has been rotated around its axis, this narrow opening being narrower than the head of the lug in order to allow to couple the agitator and the piston and to be able to cause the piston to move axially jointly with the agitator.

Advantageously, the agitator comprises a perforated disc.

In a particular embodiment, the mixing chamber communicates with a dispensing nozzle fitted with a calibrated valve to open when the volume of the mixing chamber decreases.

In a particular embodiment, the distributor includes a valve at least two ways, able to take a first position in which the mixture communicates with one of the tanks and a second position in which the mixing chamber communicates with another tank, as well as a third position in which the mixing chamber is isolated from the tanks.

This valve can be, in a particular embodiment, in the form a cover which can rotate relative to the body of the aforementioned case.

Advantageously, the mixing chamber communicates permanently with the dispensing nozzle, the latter being fitted with a valve which opens only when the volume of the mixing chamber decreases and the aforementioned valve is in his third position.

In a particular embodiment, the tanks are fitted with pistons allowing to distribute the products in the mixing chamber.

Advantageously, the tanks and the mixing chamber are located in a housing whose body is made at least partially in a transparent material, this which allows the user to see the color of the mixture before taking it.

In a particular embodiment, the mixing chamber is delimited by a dispensing head slidably mounted relative to a piston, the latter being fixed relative to the tank. This dispensing head can be lifted during filling from the mixing chamber, and be moved in reverse to dispense the contents of the mixing chamber.

In a particular embodiment, the tanks each have a piston immobilized by friction, the friction forces being sufficient to prevent the piston from not move in the tank when the volume of the mixing chamber decreases for distribute the resulting mixture.

In a particular embodiment, the distributor comprises a member for pressurization to activate to create an overpressure on the outside of the pistons contained in the tanks in order to cause their advancement. This organ of pressurization may include a bellows and a valve for pumping air. The dispenser may also include a flow restricting member allowing introduce an adjustable pressure drop between the pressurizing member and the face outside of a piston, in order to modify its forward speed in the tank during actuation of the pressurization member. This flow restrictor can have a rotating disc crossed by holes of increasing sections allowing introduce different pressure drops. The pressurization member is advantageously arranged to be able to simultaneously apply an overpressure to the outer face of all pistons in the tanks.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective, avec arrachement partiel, d'un distributeur conforme à un premier exemple de mise en oeuvre de l'invention,
• les figures 2 à 4 illustrent l'accouplement de l'agitateur et du piston,
• la figure 5 illustre le remplissage de la chambre de mélange avec un premier produit,
• la figure 6 illustre la poursuite du remplissage de la chambre de mélange avec un second produit,
• la figure 7 illustre l'homogénéisation du contenu de la chambre de mélange au moyen de l'agitateur,
• la figure 8 illustre la distribution du mélange obtenu,
• la figure 9 est une vue schématique en perspective, avec arrachement partiel, d'un distributeur conforme à un deuxième exemple de mise en oeuvre de l'invention,
• la figure 10 représente le distributeur dans sa position initiale,
• la figure 11 représente le distributeur après remplissage de la chambre de mélange,
• la figure 12 représente le distributeur lors de l'homogénéisation du contenu de la chambre de mélange,
• la figure 13 représente le distributeur lors de la distribution du contenu de la chambre de mélange, et
• la figure 14 est une vue de face de l'organe restricteur d'écoulement.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge on reading the detailed description which follows, of nonlimiting exemplary embodiments of the invention, and on examining the appended drawing in which:

• FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view, partially broken away, of a dispenser according to a first example of implementation of the invention,
• FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate the coupling of the agitator and the piston,
• FIG. 5 illustrates the filling of the mixing chamber with a first product,
• FIG. 6 illustrates the continued filling of the mixing chamber with a second product,
• FIG. 7 illustrates the homogenization of the contents of the mixing chamber by means of the agitator,
• FIG. 8 illustrates the distribution of the mixture obtained,
• FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view, partially broken away, of a dispenser according to a second example of implementation of the invention,
• FIG. 10 represents the dispenser in its initial position,
• FIG. 11 represents the dispenser after filling of the mixing chamber,
• FIG. 12 represents the dispenser during the homogenization of the contents of the mixing chamber,
• FIG. 13 represents the dispenser during the dispensing of the contents of the mixing chamber, and
• Figure 14 is a front view of the flow restrictor.

The distributor 1 shown schematically in Figure 1 has two cylindrical tanks 2, 3 contained inside a casing 4 of elongated shape, of axis longitudinal X.

The housing 4 comprises a cylindrical body 5 of revolution around the axis X, made in the embodiment described in a transparent plastic material, closed in the lower part by a bottom plate 6 and in the upper part by a rotary cover 7.

The distributor 1 further comprises between the tanks 2 and 3, a wall cylindrical 8 of axis X, made of a transparent plastic material, delimiting a mixing chamber 42, the usefulness of which will be specified below.

A piston 9 is mounted with a possibility of sealed sliding inside of the cylindrical wall 8. The latter is closed at its upper end by a wall perpendicular to the X axis, crossed in its center by an opening 30 of the X axis which opens tightly on the underside 20 of the cover 7.

The piston 9 is crossed in its center, as can be seen in Figure 2 more particularly, by an opening 10 of axis X allowing the passage of a rod of control 11, the upper end of which is integral with an agitator comprising a openwork disc 12, the role of which will be explained later. Non-sealing means shown are provided to ensure the sealed crossing of the piston 9 by the rod command 11.

In the example described, the length of the control rod 11 is greater than that of the body 5 of the housing 4 and the lower part of the control rod 11 crosses the bottom plate 6 thanks to an opening 13.

The control rod 11 is provided at its lower end with a head 15 facilitating its gripping by the user.

Pistons 17 and 18 are respectively mounted with sealed sliding in tanks 2 and 3.

In the example of embodiment described, the tanks 2 and 3 are fixed to their lower end on the bottom plate 6 and have at their upper end walls perpendicular to the X axis, crossed by respective openings 21 and 22 which open tightly on the underside 20 of the cover 7.

Vents 23 and 24 are made through the bottom plate 6 to balance the pressure inside the tanks 2 and 3 on the side of the underside of the pistons 17 and 18.

The cylindrical wall 8 is secured to support means, not shown in a concern for clarity of the drawing, which keep it stationary in the housing 4.

The cover 7 has on its outer face a dispensing nozzle 26 of axis X provided with an elastomer valve 27, the latter being closed at rest and opening when the pressure of the product contained in the mixing chamber 42 is greater than a predetermined value.

The distribution nozzle 26 communicates via a channel 29 leading to the aforementioned opening 30 with the mixing chamber 42.

An inner channel 31, opening at one end into the channel 29 and at the other end on the underside 20 of the cover 7, allows communication selectively openings 21 or 22 of tanks 2 and 3 with the mixing chamber 42, as will be explained later.

The perforated disc 12 of the agitator has numerous holes 33 such as we can see it on figure 2, intended to brew the contents of the mixing chamber when the control rod 11 is moved axially.

The perforated disc 12 also includes two symmetrical lights 34 one relative to each other relative to the X axis, intended to cooperate with lugs 35 projecting from the upper face of the piston 9, these lugs 35 having the general shape a nail head with a cylindrical body 36 and a head 37 of larger diameter than the body 36.

The control rod 11 is of circular section and the user can train the perforated disc 12 rotating around the X axis.

The lights 34 each have a larger circular opening 38 diameter as the head 37 of the lugs 35, this opening 38 connecting to an opening oblong 39 whose opposite edges are arcs of circles centered on the X axis and are separated by a distance greater than the diameter of the body 36 of the lugs 35 but less the outside diameter of the head 37.

FIG. 3 shows the heads 37 of the pins engaged through the circular openings 38.

The height of the body 36 of the lugs 35 is slightly greater than the thickness of the perforated disc 12, so that after having engaged the lugs 35 in the openings circular 38, the user can by turning the control rod 11 engage the oblong openings 39 on the bodies 36 of the lugs and thus axially securing the piston 9 and the agitator, as illustrated in figure 4.

To use the dispenser 1, the user begins by filling the chamber with mixture 42 for example with the product B contained in the tank 3, the cover 7 being positioned relative to the body 5 of the housing 4 so that the channel 31 connects the reservoir 3 and the interior of the cylindrical wall 8 above piston 9, as shown in Figure 5.

Product B is sucked into mixing chamber 42 by pulling on the rod command 11.

After removing a desired amount of product B, the user turns 180 ° the cover 7 around the X axis as illustrated in Figure 6 to put in communication the tank 2 and the mixing chamber 42 via the channel 31.

The user can then aspirate into the mixing chamber 42 the quantity desired product A.

Once the mixing chamber 42 has been filled, the user can homogenize its content by making small back-and-forth movements with the control rod 11, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

The user can view the color of the mixture obtained at any time. the fact that the body 5 of the housing and the cylindrical wall 8 are made of materials transparent.

If the user realizes that the shade is not the desired one, he can for example add a small amount of product B or product A as appropriate by positioning adequately the cover 7 then by pulling on the control rod 11 to suck the additional quantity of product into the mixing chamber 42.

To dispense the mixture when the desired color is obtained, the user positions the cover 7 in an intermediate position in which the tanks 2 and 3 are isolated from the channel 29, the openings 21 and 22 then being closed by the face bottom 20 of cover 7.

The user couples the perforated disc 12 and the piston 9 by proceeding as illustrated in figures 3 and 4.

Thus, when the user pushes the control rod 11, the piston 9 accompanies the movement of the perforated disc 12 and the contents of the mixing chamber 42 is compressed.

The valve 27 then opens under the pressure of the product contained in the chamber of mixture 42, as illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 shows a distributor 50 conforming to a second example of implementation of the invention.

This distributor 50 comprises two cylindrical tanks 51 and 52 containing respectively products A and B having different shades. Respective pistons 53 and 54 can slide in leaktight manner in the tanks 51 and 52.

The distributor 50 comprises a housing 55 inside which are fixed the tanks 51 and 52, this housing 55 comprising a cylindrical body 56 of revolution around the X axis.

The tanks 51 and 52 open at the top, by conduits 58 and 59 respectively, in a mixing chamber 60.

This mixing chamber 60 is delimited below by a piston 61 on which slides in sealed manner the tubular skirt 63 of a dispensing head 62. The tubular skirt 63 is symmetrical in revolution about the X axis and is closed at its upper end by a front wall 65, extending perpendicular to the axis X.

The piston 61 is fixed relative to the body 56 of the housing 55, thanks to support means not shown for the sake of clarity of the drawing.

The conduits 58 and 59 pass through the piston 61 in a sealed manner and open out on the upper face of the piston 61 in the mixing chamber 60.

The tubular skirt 63 has on its inner surface an annular rib 64 serving to limit the displacement stroke of the dispensing head 62 upwards, by abutment against the lower edge of the piston 61.

The upper wall 65 of the dispensing head 62 is surmounted by a distribution nozzle 66 closed at rest by a valve 67, the interior of this nozzle 66 communicating with the mixing chamber 60 by a channel 69 of axis X.

An agitator comprising a perforated disc 70 which has a plurality of perforations 79 is movable relative to the dispensing head 62, this perforated disc 70 able to move axially between the front wall 65 and the piston 61.

The agitator further comprises a control rod 71 passing through so sealing the piston 61, provided at its lower end with a head 72 intended to facilitate gripped by the user and secured at its upper end to the perforated disc 70.

In the example described, the tanks 51 and 52 are joined but spare between them an axial passage 74 for the control rod 71.

Various means of training can be used to advance the pistons 53 and 54 in the corresponding tanks 51 and 52 in order to distribute the products A and B in the mixing chamber 60.

In the example illustrated, a pressurization member is used comprising a bellows 80 and a valve not shown.

The interior of the bellows 80 communicates via conduits respectively 81 and 82 with the spaces 85 and 86 defined inside the tanks 51 and 52 under pistons 53 and 54.

An adjustment member 87 in the form of a rotary wheel around a Y axis parallel to the X axis is intended to create a pressure drop and make advance the piston 53 more or less relative to the piston 54 in order to distribute the product A in a greater or lesser proportion compared to product B when filling the mixing chamber 60.

The wheel 87 is provided as can be seen in Figure 14 with a plurality of flow restricting orifices 88a, 88b, 88c and 88d, of sections increasing, making it possible to introduce a greater or lesser pressure drop between the tank 51 and the bellows 80, or even isolate the latter from the tank 51.

The control rod 71 passes tightly through the bellows 80.

To dispense products A and B in mixing chamber 60, the user actuates the bellows 80 by pressing several times on its underside 90, in order to pump air and create a suppression inside the tanks 51 and 52 under the pistons 53 and 54.

Under the effect of the overpressure created by the actuation of the bellows 80, the pistons 53 and 54 go back up inside the tanks 51 and 52.

The rise of the piston 53 is more or less important depending on the positioning of the wheel 87.

The filling of the mixing chamber 60 is accompanied by a lifting of the dispensing head 62 from its initial low position shown in the figure 10.

Once the desired quantity of products A and B distributed in the room 60, the user can actuate the control rod 71 to move the perforated disc 70 inside the mixing chamber 60 and homogenize its content.

The valve 67 is arranged in such a way that it does not open during the ascent. distribution head 62 under the effect of the arrival of products A and B in the chamber mix 60.

If the user realizes that the mixture obtained does not have the desired color, it can change the setting of dial 87 and dispense a new quantity more or less important of product A or B in order to correct the shade.

A second wheel (not shown) can be provided to introduce a more or less large pressure drop in the path of the air reaching the reservoir 52, or even isolate the reservoir 52 from the bellows 80.

To dispense the mixture, the user presses on the dispensing head 62 to move it down as shown in Figure 13. During this operation, the valve 67 opens under the pressure of the product, the pistons 53 and 54 being mounted with sufficient friction inside the tanks 51 and 52 not to move when the dispensing head 62 is pressed.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments which have just been described.

One can in particular use other means of drives to move the pistons in tanks containing products with different shades.

We can still use tanks without pistons but with walls deformable, product distribution in the mixing chamber taking place pressing the wall of the tanks, the product then being for example dispensed from each tank to the mixing chamber through a distribution member unidirectional.

Claims (23)

Portable dispenser with at least two tanks (2,3; 51,52) arranged to distribute the products (A; B) which they contain in proportions chosen by the user and a mixing chamber inside which the products contained in the tanks are distributed and can mix, characterized by the fact that the products (A; B) contained in the tanks have colors different, by the fact that it comprises at least one agitator (11, 12; 70, 71) movable in said mixing chamber (42; 60), and by the fact that the latter is arranged for allow the user to observe the color of the mixture obtained before taking it. Dispenser according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the mixing chamber (42; 60) is at least partially delimited by a wall (8; 63) made of a transparent material. Distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the agitator comprises a control rod (11; 71). Distributor according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the agitator (11, 12; 70, 71) is axially movable along the axis (X) of the rod control (11; 71) and movable in rotation about the axis (X) of the control rod (11; 71). Dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that it comprises a piston (9; 62) enabling the product contained in the mixing chamber (42; 60). Distributor according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the piston (9) is movable relative to the tanks (2, 3). Distributor according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the piston (9) is provided with first attachment means (35) and by the fact that the agitator is provided with second attachment means (34), arranged to be able to cooperate with said first attachment means to allow coupling of the agitator (12) and the piston (9) after mixing (42) the products contained in the mixing chamber and use the movement of the agitator to drive the piston (9) and distribute the mixed. Distributor according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first attachment means are in the form of pins (35) having a body (36) and an enlarged head (37), by the fact that the second attachment means have the form of lights (34) each comprising at one end a opening (35) having a size sufficient to allow the passage of the head (37) of a lug (35) when the agitator is moved axially and a narrow opening (39) in which the body (36) of a lug (35) can engage after the agitator has been driven rotating around its X axis, this narrow opening (39) being narrower than the head (37) associated pin to allow coupling of the agitator and the piston and to be able cause the piston to move axially along with the agitator. Distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the agitator comprises a perforated disc (12; 70). Distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mixing chamber communicates with a nozzle distribution (26; 66) equipped with a valve (27; 67) calibrated to open when the volume of the mixing chamber decreases. Distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a valve (7) with at least two channels, capable of take a first position (fig. 5) in which the mixing chamber (42) communicates with one (3) of the tanks and a second position (fig. 6) in which the mixing chamber (42) communicates with another (4) tank, as well as a third position (fig. 8) in which the mixing chamber (42) is isolated from the tanks. Dispenser according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the mixing chamber (42) communicates permanently with the dispensing nozzle (26), the latter being equipped with a valve (27) which opens only when the volume of the mixing chamber decreases and the valve (7) is in its third position. Distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each reservoir (2, 3; 51, 52) is equipped with a piston (17; 18; 53; 54) for dispensing the product in the mixing chamber (42; 60). Distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tanks and the mixing chamber are located in a housing (4; 55) whose body (5; 56) is made at least partially from a material transparent. Distributor according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it has a cover (7) which can rotate relative to the body of the housing (56). Distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the mixing chamber is delimited by a distribution (62) slidably mounted relative to a piston (61), the latter being fixed relative to the reservoirs (51, 52). Distributor according to the preceding claim, characterized in that during filling of the mixing chamber (60), the dispensing head (62) is raises. Distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reservoirs each have a piston (17; 18; 53; 54) immobilized by friction, the friction forces being sufficient to prevent the piston from not move in the tank when the volume of the mixing chamber decreases for distribute the resulting mixture. Distributor according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a pressurization member (80) to be actuated to create an overpressure on the external face of the pistons (53, 54) contained in the tanks in order to cause their advancement. Distributor according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said pressurization member comprises a bellows (80). Dispenser according to either of Claims 19 and 20, characterized in that that it comprises at least one flow restricting member (87) making it possible to introduce an adjustable pressure drop between the pressurization member (80) and the outer face a piston (53) in order to modify its forward speed in the tank during actuation of the pressurization member (80). Distributor according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said flow restrictor member comprises a disc (87) through which openings increasing sections (88a, 88b, 88c, 88d) allowing to introduce different losses of charge. Dispenser according to any one of claims 20 to 22, characterized by the fact that the pressurization member (80) makes it possible to simultaneously apply a overpressure on the external face of all the pistons (53, 54) of the tanks.

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