EP1044893B1 - Device for the extemporaneous mixture of at least two products, of which one is a powder - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1 for the extemporaneous mixing of at at least two products which, in particular for reasons of stability, cannot be mixed only at the time of use. As an example, we can cite certain hair coloring products, obtained from the mixture of a dye and an oxidant. As another example, mention may be made of mixtures, one component of which is vitamin C, especially in the form of a powder.

We know, in particular from patent FR-A-2 129 079, a mixer consisting of a first tank with a dispensing orifice, a second tank cylindrical contiguous, by one of its ends, to the first tank and closed to its two ends by removable walls which are liable to be pierced by a beveled tube, movable between a position in which it is located the outside of the two tanks and a position in which it crosses longitudinally the second tank and opens into the first tank in thus putting the two tanks into communication. Such a container may contain separately a first product, for example a liquid, in the first tank, and a second product, for example a powder, in the second reservoir.

Also known from patent FR-A-2 722 765, a mixer allowing the storage of at least two products, mixing of these products and distribution of the mixture thus obtained. The mixer described in this document is the same type as described above. However, the moving part intended for allow the communication of the two tanks has a wall transverse which constitutes the bottom of the second tank, and is located, when the part mobile is in its first position, at a distance from the mouth of the second reservoir substantially equal to or greater than the stroke of said part mobile. Thus, when moving the moving part in its second position, the volume of the second tank is reduced to zero, so that both products contained in the respective tanks mix well, whatever the orientation of the container. The transverse wall of the moving part is flat and is surrounded by a beveled edge, the upper end of which is in a plane inclined to a plane perpendicular to the direction of moving part.

All these devices are not without disadvantages, especially when it it involves conditioning a sensitive powder, in particular oxygen. Indeed, for these oxygen sensitive products, it is necessary to reduce the air volume formed above the volume of powder. With a design as described previously, the removal of the separation between the two tanks is only done not quickly, which can cause significant compaction of the powder, before the separation means can be removed. It then forms blocks of powder whose solubility is less than that of a loose powder. Therefore, the the quality of the mixture may prove to be insufficient.

In addition, if the axial height of the skirt forming the beveled edge is increased by so as to reduce the time required to remove the separation between the two volumes, then the volume available for the powder is reduced accordingly.

Other mixing devices, presenting drawbacks of the same order as those discussed above, are described in patent FR 1,542,467, as well as in patent application FR-A-2 239 390.

It is therefore one of the objects of the invention to provide a device for the extemporaneous mixture of at least two products, one of which may be a powder, and which comprises separation means which on the one hand ensure, in the position of storage, good separation of the products in their respective tanks, and which on the other hand, can be cleared quickly.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device suitable for mixing of two products, one of which in particular is in powder form, and in which the volume available for the powder is improved compared to the devices conventional.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a device adapted to the mixture of two products, one of which is in powder form, and which appreciably limits the risks of compacting the powder during removing the separation means between the two tanks.

Other objects will appear in the detailed description which follows.

According to the invention, these objects are achieved by producing a device for mixing extemporaneous of at least two products and for the distribution of the mixture via at at least one dispensing orifice, said device comprising a first container containing a first product, and a second container containing a second product, said first and second containers being separated in leaktight manner by a removable shutter, said device comprising a flexible finger, coupled to a operating member, and capable, in response to an actuation of said maneuver, to come into engagement with said shutter and to flex elastically until it is in the stop position against a stop carried by said shutter, said flexible finger forming in said abutment position, a flying buttress able to cause expulsion of the shutter, to allow mixing of said first and second products.

The fact that the finger is flexible allows it to be reduced in volume compared to to the volume it would occupy if it were to be rigid. The volume available for powder is then larger. The mounting of the finger so as to making the mixture, making it make a flying buttress, allows the expulsion of the shutter even if it is hung very securely, and this, very quickly, which avoids, in the case where the second product is a powder, compact the powder before expelling the shutter.

Advantageously, said flexible finger is engaged with said shutter in an area between a peripheral catching edge of the shutter on the device, and an annular border forming said stop, said border annular being concentric with said peripheral edge. Such a configuration is particularly advantageous in that it further reduces the time required upon expulsion from the obturation organ. Such expulsion is also permitted whatever the angular position of the flexible finger relative to the shutter.

Preferably, the flexible finger is engaged with the shutter according to a rotary movement with axial component towards the shutter, in particular helical.

Advantageously, the shutter has a concave profile, in particular conical, able to favor the flexing of the finger towards the stop, which further contributes to facilitating the expulsion of the shutter.

a) le premier récipient contenant le premier produit, et comportant une première ouverture destinée à être mise en communication avec ledit orifice de distribution, et une seconde ouverture;

b) un élément intermédiaire monté fixement sur la seconde ouverture dudit premier récipient, ledit élément intermédiaire comprenant une première jupe, sur un bord libre de laquelle est montée ledit obturateur, ladite première jupe délimitant en partie ledit second récipient; et

c) l'organe de manoeuvre dont une paroi forme un fond mobile pour ledit second récipient, ladite paroi portant ledit doigt flexible dont une extrémité libre est destinée à être mise en engagement avec ledit obturateur, ledit organe de manoeuvre comportant des moyens de couplage montés en engagement sur au moins une rampe, notamment hélicoïdale, formée par l'élément intermédiaire, de manière à, en réponse à une rotation de l'organe de manoeuvre par rapport à l'élément intermédiaire, entraíner le doigt flexible en direction de l'obturateur pour en provoquer l'expulsion, et le déplacement axial du fond mobile à l'intérieur de ladite jupe, de sorte que le mélange réalisé soit contenu sensiblement à l'intérieur du premier récipient.

According to a specific embodiment, the device according to the invention comprises:

a) the first container containing the first product, and comprising a first opening intended to be placed in communication with said dispensing orifice, and a second opening;

b) an intermediate element fixedly mounted on the second opening of said first container, said intermediate element comprising a first skirt, on a free edge of which is mounted said shutter, said first skirt partly defining said second container; and

c) the operating member, one wall of which forms a movable bottom for said second container, said wall carrying said flexible finger, one free end of which is intended to be engaged with said shutter, said operating member comprising coupling means mounted in engagement on at least one ramp, in particular helical, formed by the intermediate element, so as, in response to a rotation of the operating member relative to the intermediate element, cause the flexible finger in the direction of shutter to cause expulsion, and the axial displacement of the movable bottom inside said skirt, so that the mixture produced is contained substantially inside the first container.

Preferably, the shutter is force-fitted inside the free edge of said first skirt. This type of mounting ensures sufficient retention of the shutter on the skirt delimiting the second container, even in the presence of an overpressure, linked in particular to a rise in temperature inside the device.

The ramp (s) formed by the intermediate element can (can) be formed by a second skirt, concentric with the first, and of diameter interior greater than the exterior diameter of the first skirt. The first and second skirts advantageously define an annular groove, in particular in U-shaped, capable of receiving the free edge of the container, delimiting said second opening, and to allow the attachment of the intermediate element on the first container. The attachment of the intermediate element to the upper container can be achieved in particular by breakdown. Preferably, in the mounted position of the intermediate element on the first container, the end of the skirt carrying the shutter is engaged inside said neck delimiting the second opening.

Preferably, said flexible finger consists of a skirt portion located in the vicinity of a peripheral edge of the wall forming said movable bottom. Such a skirt portion has a thickness which can be of the order of a millimeter, this which gives it the required flexibility characteristics. Flexible finger extends preferably over an axial height substantially equal to the axial height of said first skirt. This feature allows the expulsion of the shutter in a very short time, i.e. requiring only a very low angular rotation of the actuator relative to the element without significantly reducing the volume available for powder.

Preferably, the expulsion of the shutter is obtained after a rotation of an angle less than 360 ° of the operating member with respect to the element intermediate, and preferably between 90 ° and 180 °.

More preferably, said skirt portion extends over an angular sector between 20 ° and 90 °, and preferably between 45 ° and 70 °.

According to an advantageous embodiment, a pump is mounted in said first opening to allow distribution of the mixture under pressure through said dispensing orifice. The pump can be screwed onto a neck of the first container, delimiting said first opening. A dip tube can be connected to the pump, and extend substantially to the bottom of the first container, means being provided to prevent the dip tube does not interfere with the expulsion of the shutter. Alternatively, the distribution of mixing can be carried out without dip tube, in head-down position device.

The different parts of the device can be obtained each from molding of a thermoplastic material, such as polyethylene or polypropylene. However, one of the containers, in particular the upper container, can be produced glass, depending on the product to be packaged there.

The device according to the invention is particularly suitable for the production of a mixture with a particularly cosmetic action, said first product consisting a liquid, said second product consisting of a powder, in particular of vitamin C.

• la figure 1 représente une vue éclatée d'un mode de réalisation du dispositif de mélange selon l'invention ; et
• les figures 2A-2C représentent les différentes étapes de la réalisation d'un mélange au moyen du dispositif représenté à la figure 1.

The invention consists, apart from the arrangements set out above, of a certain number of other arrangements which will be explained below, with reference to nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, described with reference to the appended figures, among which:

• Figure 1 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the mixing device according to the invention; and
• FIGS. 2A-2C represent the different stages of producing a mixture by means of the device shown in FIG. 1.

The mixing device 1 shown in exploded view in FIG. 1, as well as on the operating views 2A-2C, includes an upper bottle 2 of which the upper end forms a neck 3, a free edge of which defines an opening 4 in which is screwed a pump 5 surmounted by a push button 6. The push button 6 has a channel in communication with the pump, and opening onto the outside, via a dispensing orifice 7. The end of the bottle 2, opposite the upper end also forms a neck 8 with a free edge defines an opening 9. The neck 8 has on its outer surface, in the vicinity from its free edge a bead 10, capable of cooperating by snap-fastening with a bead corresponding 11 provided on the inner surface of the outer skirt 12 of a intermediate element 13 which will now be discussed in detail.

The intermediate element 13 has an internal skirt 14, concentric with the outer skirt 12, and of outer diameter such that it can engage tightly inside the neck 8 of the upper container 2. The skirt 14 is open at both ends. The upper end 16 of the skirt 14 is engaged in the neck of the container 2 so as to be located substantially at the level of a shoulder 15 formed by the container 2. On the upper end 16 of the skirt, a removable shutter 20 is forcibly mounted, cup-shaped, the bottom 21 is cone-shaped. The top of the cone is turned towards the container 2.

The shutter 20 has a lateral edge 22 forcibly mounted inside the skirt 14. A thin bead 50, and intended to cooperate with a groove corresponding 51 provided on the internal surface of the internal skirt 14, can possibly be used to reinforce the hold of the shutter 20 on the element intermediate 13. In the vicinity of the top of the cone, the bottom 21 of the shutter has, on the side opposite to the container 2, an annular flange 23, the function will be explained in more detail later. The radius of the flange 23 is equal to approximately 1/3 of the maximum radius of the shutter 20. The flange 23 is centered on the axis of the device according to the invention.

The skirt 14 is connected to the outer skirt 12 by spaced bridges of material regularly over the entire periphery of the device. With such a provision, skirts 12 and 14 form a U-shaped groove, 29, intended to receive the edge fixedly free from the neck 8 of the container 2. In the vicinity of its lower end, the skirt 14 has on its outer surface a groove 24, suitable as will be seen by the following receiving a rib 25 formed by an operating member 30, so as to block the operating member 30 in the high position by relative to the intermediate element 13.

The outer skirt 12 of the intermediate element 13 has two grooves helical 26, in which are intended to come into engagement of the pins 27, 28 formed on the internal surface of the operating member 30.

The operating member 30 comprises a covering skirt 31 whose surface inner door, near its free edge, the two pins 27, 28, intended for come into engagement with the helical grooves 26 of the intermediate element 13. The operating member 30 also includes an inner skirt 32 of which one end is closed by a bottom 33, located slightly above the level of the free edge of the covering skirt 31. The bottom 33 is intended to engage sealingly inside the internal skirt 14 of the intermediate element 13, so as to form a movable bottom for the container 40, delimited by the skirt 14, the movable bottom 33, and the removable shutter 20.

The movable bottom 33 carries, in the vicinity of its periphery, on its surface turned to inside the container 40, a skirt portion 41, forming a flexible finger, and of which the free end 42 is located, in the storage position, just below the removable shutter 20, in a radial position located between the edge attachment 22 and the annular flange 23. The angular width of the portion of skirt 41 is of the order of 60 °.

The inner skirt 32, defines in the vicinity of its lower end, in combination with an annular edge 43, a U-shaped groove, 44, intended, as will be seen in detail later, to receive the lower free edge of the skirt 14 of the intermediate element 13. The rib 25 intended to come into engagement with the groove 24 of the intermediate element 13 is formed on the inner surface of the annular border 43.

The device 1 is shown in the mounted position in FIG. 2A. the recipient upper 2 contains a liquid L. This position corresponds to a position called storage. The lower container 40 contains a powder P. In this position of storage, the bottom 33 of the container 40 is located near the lower end of the skirt 14. The flexible finger 41 at its free end 42 located just below shutter 20, the latter being force-fitted inside the skirt 14 of so as to seal the liquid L from the powder P. The pins 27 and 28 of the operating member 30 are in engagement with the grooves 26 of the intermediate element, in the vicinity of their respective lower ends.

For the purpose of mixing liquid L and powder P, the user rotates the operating member 30 relative to the element intermediate 13, which is mounted in a fixed angular position on the container 2. This doing so, the pins 27 and 28 are guided in the helical grooves corresponding 26, which causes the axial displacement of the movable bottom 33, as well as the flexible finger 41 in the direction of the shutter 20. Almost instantaneous, the free end 42 of the flexible finger 41 comes into engagement with the inner surface of the shutter, and flexes elastically towards the annular flange 23, until said end 42 abuts against the flange 23. In this position, illustrated in FIG. 2B, the flexible finger 41 is curved, and exerts sufficient force to cause expulsion of the shutter 20.

As shown in FIG. 2C, the product L mixes with the powder P. preferably, the shutter 20 is expelled after a rotation about ¼ of a turn of the operating member 30. After expulsion of the shutter 20, the flexible finger 41 straightens by elastic return. Continuing the rotation of the operating member 30 relative to the intermediate element 13, the bottom mobile 33 of container 40 continues to rise towards container 2, and this until the rib 25 of the operating member 30 comes into engagement with the groove 24 of the intermediate element 13. In this position, the bottom 33 is substantially at the level of the shoulder 15 of the container. The container 40 is substantially zero volume. The rotation in the opposite direction of the operating member 30 relative to the intermediate element 13 is made impossible by the blocking produced by the cooperation between the groove 24 and the rib 25.

The user optionally shakes the device 1, so as to homogenize the mixed. Then, it turns it over, and activates pump 5 using the button pusher 6. The liquid is then distributed via the orifice 7.

In the foregoing detailed description, reference has been made to modes of preferred embodiments of the invention. Obviously there may be variations made without departing from the invention as claimed below.

Claims (14)

1. Device (1) for the extemporaneous mixing of at least two products (P, L) and for dispensing the mixture via at least one dispensing orifice (7), the said device (1) including a first container (2) containing a first product (L), and a second container (40) containing a second product (P), the said first and second containers (2, 40) being separated in sealed fashion by a removable stopper (20), the said device (1) comprising a finger (41), characterized in that the finger is flexible and coupled to an operating member (30) and capable, in response to actuation of the said operating member (30), of engaging with the said stopper (20) and flexing elastically into a position of abutment against a stop (23) borne by the said stopper (20), the said flexible finger (41) in this abutment position forming a buttress-like prop capable of expelling the stopper (20) so as to allow the said first (L) and second (P) products to be mixed.
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said flexible finger (41) is brought into engagement with the said stopper (20) in a region located between a peripheral edge (22) of the stopper (20) for catching on the device, and an annular rim (23) forming the said stop, the said annular rim (23) being concentric with the said peripheral edge (22).
3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that the flexible finger (41) is brought into engagement with the stopper (20) with a rotary movement with an axial component, particularly a helical movement, in the direction of the stopper (20).
4. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the stopper (20) has a concave, particularly a conical, profile, capable of encouraging the finger (41) to flex towards the stop (23).
5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises:

   a) the first container (2) containing the first product (L) and including a first opening (4) intended to be placed in communication with the said dispensing orifice (7), and a second opening (9);

   b) an intermediate element (13) mounted fixedly on the second opening (9) of the said first container (2), the said intermediate element (13) having a first skirt (14), on a free edge (16) of which the said stopper (20) is mounted, the said first skirt (14) partially delimiting the said second container (40); and

   c) the operating member (30), one wall (33) of which forms a moving end wall for the said second container (40), the said wall (33) bearing the said flexible finger (41), a free end (42) of which is intended to be brought into engagement with the said stopper (20), the said operating member (30) including coupling means (27, 28) mounted in engagement on at least one ramp (26), particularly a helical ramp, formed by the intermediate element (13) so that, in response to a rotation of the operating member (30) with respect to the intermediate element (13), the flexible finger (41) can be carried along towards the stopper (20) to cause its expulsion, and the axial movement of the moving end wall (33) inside the said first skirt (14) so that the mixture produced is contained more or less inside the first container (2).
6. Device according to Claim 5, characterized in that the stopper (20) is force-fitted inside the free edge (16) of the said first skirt (14).
7. Device according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the ramp (or ramps) (26) formed by the intermediate element (13) is (are) formed by a second skirt (12), concentric with the first (14), and with an inside diameter that is greater than the outside diameter of the first skirt (14).
8. Device according to any one of Claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the said first (14) and second (12) skirts define an annular groove (29) capable of taking the free edge of a neck (8) formed by the first container (2), delimiting the said second opening (9), and of allowing the intermediate element (13) to catch on the first container (2).
9. Device according to any one of Claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the said flexible finger (41) consists of a skirt portion located near a peripheral edge of the wall that forms the said moving end wall (33).
10. Device according to any one of Claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the flexible finger (41) extends over an axial height roughly equal to the axial height of the said first skirt (14).
11. Device according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the said skirt portion extends over an angular sector of between 20° and 90°, preferably between 45° and 70°.
12. Device according to any one of Claims 5 to 11, characterized in that the stopper (20) is expelled after the operating member (30) has been rotated through an angle smaller than 360° with respect to the intermediate element (13), and preferably through an angle of between 90° and 180°.
13. Device according to any one of Claims 5 to 12, characterized in that a pump (5) is mounted in the said first opening (4) so as to allow the mixture to be dispensed under pressure through the said dispensing orifice (7).
14. Use of a device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, for producing a mixture with particularly a cosmetic action, the said first product consisting of a liquid (L), the said second product consisting of a powder (P).

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