EP1029467A1 - Dispenser for a dosed dispense of a product, in particular a solid product - Google Patents

Abstract

The dispenser for a solid cosmetic product (P) comprises a body (2) forming a cylindrical housing (16) containing the product stick. It is open in on end (3) so as to define a product outlet opening (18) in a plane (R). A piston cause axial displacement of the stick inside the housing so that a portion (Q) emerges through the outlet opening. A cutting part (6) rotating around an axis (Y) perpendicular to the plane (R) can transversely section product part emerging from the body.

Description

The present invention relates to a dispenser of a product of substantially solid consistency, in particular of a cosmetic product or dermatological, comprising an organ allowing a dose to be taken determined of product, with a view to its application on an application medium appropriate.

"Application medium" means the dose of product to be apply, any surface on which we can apply topically, in particular the skin, keratin fibers such as the hair, the scalp and mucous membranes.

The products targeted by the present invention are presented, generally in the form of a cylindrical bread having a cross section oval or circular. This kind of product can be obtained, for example by extrusion using a screw extruder.

Solid compositions, capable of being obtained by extrusion, such as those targeted by the present invention are described, for example, in documents EP-A-0 745 378 and EP-A-0 745 379, in the name of the applicant. The compositions described therein are capable of forming a rigid expanded gel, presented, after extrusion, in the form of sticks, breads or solid sausages. They present a low water content, preferably less than 5% and more particularly ranging from 1% to 2% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition. So, these compositions can be stored in the dry state, which makes it possible to include therein active ingredients liable to degrade by oxidation or by hydrolysis. The system gelling agent used also allows these solid products to be very easily rehydratable, after contact with an aqueous medium. Rehydration of product can be carried out, either by immersion of the product in an aqueous medium, either by applying the product to a previously wet support.

In this way, it is possible to reconstitute on the support of application of formulations capable of being easily spread, for make-up or for the care and hygiene of the skin, or else for the care and hygiene of hair and scalp.

By way of examples, mention may be made of foundations, creams, milks, bubble baths, body or hair gels, shampoos, hair conditioners, make-up removing products or products for the gentle exfoliation of the skin.

In addition, the preparation of new types of rigid gels, comprising a matrix consisting of a dehydrated gelled network is described in the WO97 / 17053 and WO97 / 17055, also in the name of the applicant. These gels, obtained by extrusion in the form of bread or solid sausage also, may be partially rehydratable in contact with water, when use. Thus, they allow a good distribution of the product on the support to treat and homogeneously release a cosmetic agent or dermatologically active, possibly present in the gel.

It has long been known to use dispensers for the packaging and application of disintegrable products in the form of solid bread and, by way of example, mention may be made of deodorant sticks, sticks of lipstick, or beard soaps.

These known dispensers include a container with a cylindrical body. open at one of its ends, a support movable axially in translation in this body and carrying the product bread, and a mechanism allowing to carry the product out of the body, for its application. Help of such a conventional dispenser, these products are applied directly to the skin or respectively on the lips, where they are deposited by disintegration in a relatively thin layer.

The substantially solid products, preferentially targeted by the present invention have a rigidity such that their application, so direct, by disintegration on an application support is not possible.

Furthermore, we know from document US-A-4,513,501, a device for store and cut into dosed slices a product such as a piece of butter. This device comprises a body in which the product is housed, open to one of its ends to form an outlet. Means are provided for cause the metered output of the product, through the open end of the body. A cutting line is slidably mounted on the edges defining said orifice. output, operable by the user using a lever arm mechanism, mounted pivoting around an axis perpendicular to the product outlet axis, to section a slice of product.

This device has the following drawbacks. To maintain the cutting line sliding on the edges of the outlet, a mechanism is provided elastic spring support, relatively complicated and bulky. For this reason, the lever arm is articulated using sliding pivots, requiring a precise actuation of the lever arm, in a plane perpendicular to the axis of lever arm pivot. Any actuation outside this plan, will lead inevitably at the spacing of the cutting line from the edges of the outlet orifice, causing improper and incorrectly dosed sectioning of the product.

In addition, this device is made from a relatively large number of parts, of complicated conformation, and whose assembly is not easy to carry out. This device also has an external shape provided with many non-aligned portions, and is therefore difficult to clean. Moreover, such a device cannot be envisaged for a product intended to be transported in a handbag. Such an exterior shape, from an aesthetic point of view or practical, cannot be used, in particular, for packaging a product cosmetic.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser allowing the distribution of a dose of product, not having the disadvantages of the above device. More particularly, the invention relates to a cutting member, mobile in rotation about an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the edges of the outlet.

Another object of the invention consists in providing a distributor, allowing the distribution and application of new consistency products appreciably solid, difficult to break up.

It is in particular an object of the invention to propose a dispenser allowing, from a bread of substantially solid product, the taking a dose of product, with a view to applying said dose, especially on the skin or hair of an individual.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a distributor allowing a precise and reproducible dosage of said dose of product to be applied on the support.

Yet another object of the invention consists of a dispenser whose manufacturing and assembly are simple to perform and have a cost price advantageous.

Another object of the invention is to provide a distributor whose handling by the user is simple to perform.

• un corps formant un logement cylindrique d'axe X, ledit logement contenant ledit pain de produit et ouvert en au moins une première extrémité, de manière à définir un orifice de sortie du produit se situant sensiblement dans un plan,
• des moyens pour provoquer le déplacement axial de pain de produit à l'intérieur du logement, de manière à en faire émerger une portion au travers dudit orifice de sortie,
• un organe de coupe, apte à sectionner transversalement ladite portion de produit émergeant dudit corps, ledit pain de produit, lors de son déplacement axial à l'intérieur du logement, se déplaçant par rapport audit organe de coupe.

Also, the present invention relates to a dispenser of a product, presented in the form of a substantially solid bread, comprising:

• a body forming a cylindrical housing of axis X, said housing containing said product bar and open at at least one first end, so as to define a product outlet orifice lying substantially in a plane,
• means for causing the axial displacement of the product roll inside the housing, so as to make a portion of it emerge through said outlet orifice,
• a cutting member, capable of transversely cutting said portion of product emerging from said body, said product roll, during its axial movement inside the housing, moving relative to said cutting member.

According to the invention, said cutting member is mounted movable in rotation around an axis Y perpendicular to said plane.

Preferably, said product is intended to be applied on a support of application, especially on the skin.

Preferably, said cutting member rotates around of said Y axis, and this substantially in a plane perpendicular to the X axis. It is indeed it is understood that said plane can be inclined relative to the X axis.

Advantageously, said cutting member is provided with a blade, mounted in rotation, on a peripheral edge of the body surrounding said orifice exit.

According to an interesting aspect of the invention, the cutting member is section substantially identical to the section of said peripheral edge, so that, in a rest position, being able to superimpose on said peripheral edge. This arrangement has the advantage that neither the output of the product nor its implementation place are hampered by said cutting member.

Preferably, the cutting member consists of an "annular" member with an inner section slightly larger than the section of the outlet orifice, the product leaving the body thus passing through said "annular" member.
Within the meaning of the present invention, said "annular" member may have a section other than circular, in particular oval or polygonal, the main thing being that it consists of a structure crossed by an orifice capable of allowing the passage of the bread produced through, said orifice being delimited by an internal edge of said structure.

Advantageously, the blade of the cutting member is produced on the internal edge of the "annular" organ. By this provision the risk of injury of the user are reduced, compared to a blade carried on an edge outside of the "annular" organ.

The cutting member may further include a gripping, allowing either the indexed positioning of the cutting member in the rest position, ie its rotation around said axis Y.

Preferably, this gripping element is located on the section, on the side opposite to said axis Y.

According to one embodiment, in the rest position, the element of gripping is removably housed in a notch located on the peripheral edge of the body, to ensure, in this position, a locking temporary cutting member.

The dispenser body has a second open end. At through this end can be mounted, axially movable in the housing, a piston supporting said product roll.

According to a first preferred variant embodiment, the dispenser is shaped so that the product can be pulled out by the user, by pressing the piston.

According to another variant, the exit of the product is caused by a mechanism able to push the piston axially, indexed.

The dispenser may include a removable protective cover, suitable for styling said cutting member.

According to another preferred embodiment, the body at least of the dispenser is made of a transparent or translucent material, allowing the product visualization. Advantageously, the protective cover is produced by the same material.

The body may advantageously have graduations or marks, making it possible to mark the axial position of the piston in said housing of the body.

If necessary, the piston may include means allowing a indexed rise of the piston cooperating with additional means carried through the wall of the housing and ensuring the distribution of a dose product constant. To this end, said means allowing the indexed rise of the piston may include a conventional notch system cooperating with a ratchet elastic, or a screw system, usually used in dispensers with piston.

The invention also relates to the use of a dispenser such as defined above, for a substantially solid product, in the form of a rigid gel and, if necessary, rehydratable.

The dispenser which has just been described can be used, in particular, for the packaging and distribution of hardly disintegrable cosmetic products, in particular of viscoelastic texture or in the form of a rigid gel. This kind of products is obtained, in particular by extrusion. According to an interesting aspect of the invention, for filling the distributor with product, the body of the distributor can be arranged in front of an extruder, so that the distributor housing is exactly in line with the die, the section of the die and the section of the housing being, of course, substantially identical. In this way, the extruded tube can be introduced directly into the distributor and can be cut to the desired length. After mounting the piston and the closing cover on the respective ends of the body, the product is sheltered from ambient air, and can be marketed in this form.

• la figure 1 représente une vue en élévation d'un distributeur conforme à l'invention, ledit distributeur étant rempli d'un produit P ;
• la figure 2 représente une vue en élévation du distributeur de la figure 1, le produit P étant en cours de distribution ;
• les figures 3 à 5 montrent une vue partielle en élévation du distributeur de la figure 2, illustrant différentes phases de sectionnement d'une dose Q de produit ;
• la figure 6 représente une vue en élévation du distributeur de la figure 1, en fin de sectionnement de la dose Q de produit ; et
• la figure 7 représente une vue partielle agrandie, en élévation, du distributeur de l'invention, illustrant des moyens de positionnement indexé de l'organe de coupe.

To better understand the object of the invention, we will now describe, by way of purely illustrative and in no way limitative, an embodiment of the invention, shown in the accompanying drawing.
On this drawing :

• Figure 1 shows an elevational view of a dispenser according to the invention, said dispenser being filled with a product P;
• Figure 2 shows an elevational view of the dispenser of Figure 1, the product P being dispensed;
• Figures 3 to 5 show a partial elevational view of the dispenser of Figure 2, illustrating different phases of sectioning a dose Q of product;
• Figure 6 shows an elevational view of the dispenser of Figure 1, at the end of sectioning the dose Q of product; and
• FIG. 7 represents an enlarged partial view, in elevation, of the dispenser of the invention, illustrating means of indexed positioning of the cutting member.

FIG. 1 shows a distributor 1 conforming to a particular example of embodiment of the invention.

This distributor 1 comprises a cylindrical body 3, of axis X and having a circular or oval cross section. Of course, the invention is not limited to this particular shape of the cross section.

The cylindrical body 3 is open at its upper ends 3 and lower 5 and has, in the vicinity of the upper end 3, a wall 7 of reduced thickness to constitute the seat of a closure cover 4. The body 2 is traversed from top to bottom by a cylindrical housing 16, intended to receive a bread of product P, of substantially solid or pasty consistency.

The distributor 1 also includes a piston 20, the cross section of which right corresponds precisely to the internal section of the cylindrical housing 16. The piston 20 can move axially, in translation, in housing 16 and serves support for product P bread. Near the lower end 5 of the body 2, the internal wall of the housing 16 can be provided with a bead (not shown), so as to prevent the inadvertent exit of the piston 20.

According to the embodiment considered, the body 2 and the cover of closure 4 are made of a transparent or translucent material. Of this way, the axial position of the piston 20 can be identified by the user and his axial movement can be precisely controlled. For this purpose, the surface exterior may include marks or graduations 9, making it possible to follow visually moving the piston, and thus ensuring the output of a dose of very precise and reproducible product.

Said transparent material is chosen, for example, from styrenic materials, such as styrene-acrylonitile copolymers (SAN, ABS), polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonates (PC), cross-linked ethylene copolymers (Surlyn®).

In the embodiment described, the piston 20 has a bottom 21, a side wall 23 and a transverse wall 24, in contact with the bread product P.

The wall of reduced thickness 7 ends in an annular surface 8, defining an outlet orifice 18 for the product. Generally, the annular surface 8 is located in a plane R perpendicular to the axis X. It is understood that said plane R can be tilted with respect to the X axis.

On the annular surface 8 is arranged, pivotally about an axis Y, a cutting member 6. This cutting member has an annular shape, similar to the shape of the annular surface 8. According to the embodiment considered , the Y axis is parallel to the X axis. In the rest position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cutting member 6 nowhere exceeds the contours of the annular surface 8. Thus, the closing of the body to be ensured by the installation of the cover 4 on the wall of reduced thickness 7, without being hindered by the presence of the cutting member 6. Furthermore, in this rest position, the product can be removed axially out of the housing 16, without being hindered by the cutting member. Indeed, the internal edge 22 of the cutting member 6 has a section slightly greater than the section of the outlet orifice 18. As symbolized in FIG. 2 by the arrow F ₁ , the product is removed by pressing axially on the bottom 21 of the piston 20. Thanks to the graduations 9, the quantity of product Q emerging from the outlet orifice 18 (according to arrow F ₂ ), can be dosed exactly.

The pivoting of the cutting member 6 around the axis Y is ensured by a joint 24, materialized by a rivet passing through a hole made in the cutting member 6. The rivet is driven into the wall of reduced thickness 7 along the Y axis.

The cutting member 6 comprises a gripping tab 12 used to its rotation around the Y axis, by the user. This grip tab is located on the periphery of the cutting member, diametrically opposite to the rivet 24. Furthermore, the gripping tab 12 is folded in the direction of the piston at an angle of approximately 45 °, so as to be housed, in the rest position A, in a recess 15. This recess 15 is dimensioned so that the user can lift tab 12, to, as we will see later, perform the unlocking of the cutting member 6.

Furthermore, the internal edge 10 of the cutting member 6 can be a beveled edge, the cutting face of said edge 10 being located opposite the annular surface 8.

The cutting member 6 can be made of metal or hard plastic. he may have a thickness which can range from approximately 0.3 mm to approximately 3 mm. This cutter is advantageously made of stainless steel, polyacrylo-butadiene / styrene (ABS) or polyacetal (POM), possibly treated by electroplating.

To collect the desired dose of product Q, the user removes the cover 4 and raises the product P by pressing with a finger on the bottom of the piston 20. Thanks to the transparency of the body 2 and the presence of the graduations 9, he can perfectly master the dosage of the outgoing Q product. After performing the unlocking of the cutting member 6, which will be described below with reference to FIG. 7, the user pivots the cutting member 6 around the articulation 24 (FIG. 1), in the direction of arrow F ₃ , as shown in FIG. 3. To carry out this pivoting, he uses the gripping tab 12. In FIG. 3, it can be seen that the cutting blade 10 begins to enter the product. By continuing the pivoting movement in the direction of arrow F ₃ , as shown successively in FIGS. 4 and 5, a slice of product Q is sectioned, ready for use (see FIG. 6). When the cutting blade 10 has passed through the entire product roll, the cutting member is in position B shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. After removal of the washer Q, the user reposition the cutting member 6 in the rest position A.

Figure 7 shows an arrangement allowing the locking of the cutting member in the rest position A. For this purpose, in the vicinity of the recess 15, an inclined notch (or notch) 14 is formed on the annular surface 8. This notch is capable of receiving the gripping tab 12, and thus to prohibit any pivoting movement of the cutting member 6.

To carry out the unlocking of the cutting member, with a view to cut a slice of product Q, the user slightly raises the tab 12, to place it at the level of the annular surface 8. Then, it pushes the tab 12 to right or left to induce the rotational movement of the cutting member 6 towards position B.

When product P is a rigid styling gel, the user can place the portion taken Q directly on the hair, still wet after washing. It performs a light massage to quickly disperse the dose of product Q, allowing the homogeneous spreading of said product over the whole of the hair.

According to an alternative mode of use, the dose of product Q is hydrated by passing through wet hands, then the hydrated product and recovered on the hands, is spread over the hair passing the hands through the hair wet. The hair can then be shaped and then dried.

A similar mode of use is also suitable for the application a rigid shower gel, applicable as a detergent foaming.

In the case of a foaming bath product, the hydration of the dose of product Q and its dissolution takes place directly in the bath water.

When product P is a foundation or blush, the dose of product Q is advantageously applied to the face previously wet the water. After complete rehydration of the Q dose, the foundation can be spread, homogeneously.

A circular or oval cutting member, as described above, has the advantage that the cutting blade is inside, not outside where it could injure the user.

Of course, it is not going beyond the ambit of the invention to use, by in addition, a means for translating the piston like a ratchet device or any other similar mechanism, for example a screw mechanism, capable of ensure the piston thrust in determined increments.

Claims (19)

Distributor (1) of a product (P), presented in the form of a substantially solid bread, comprising: a body (2) forming a cylindrical housing (16) of axis (X), containing said product roll and open at at least one of its ends (3), so as to define an outlet orifice (18) for the product lying substantially in a plane (R), means (20) for causing the axial displacement of the product roll (P) inside the housing (16), so as to make a portion (Q) emerge through said outlet orifice, a cutting member (6), capable of cutting transversely said portion (Q) of product emerging from said body, said product roll (P), during its axial movement inside the housing (16), moving relative to said cutting member (6), characterized in that said cutting member (6) is mounted movable in rotation about an axis (Y) perpendicular to said plane (R). Dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that said product (P) is intended to be applied on an application support. Dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said cutting member (6) rotates about said axis (Y) in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis (X). Dispenser according to claim 3, characterized in that said cutting member (6) is provided with a blade (10) rotatably mounted on an edge device (8) of the body (2) surrounding said outlet orifice (18). Distributor according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cutting member (6) is of substantially identical section to the section of said peripheral edge (8), so that, in a rest position (A), being able to overlap substantially on said peripheral edge (8). Distributor according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cutting member (6) consists of an "annular" member of internal section slightly larger than the section of the outlet orifice (18). Dispenser according to Claims 4 and 6, characterized in that said blade (10) is formed by an inner edge of said annular member (6). Distributor according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the cutting member further comprises an element for grip (12), allowing either the indexed positioning of the cutting member (6) in said rest position (A), ie its rotation around the axis (Y). Dispenser according to claim 8, characterized in that the gripping element (12) is located on the cutting member (6), on the side opposite to the joint (24). Distributor according to Claims 4, 8 and 9, characterized in in the rest position (A), the gripping element (12) is housed, so removable, in a notch (14) located on the peripheral edge (8) of the body (2), to ensure, in this position, a locking of the cutting member (6). Distributor according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the body has a second open end (5), at the through which is mounted, axially movable in the housing (16), a piston (20) supporting the product bread (P). Dispenser according to claim 11, characterized in that it is shaped so that the exit of the product (Q) can be caused by the user, by pressing the piston (20). Dispenser according to claim 11, characterized in that the product exit (Q) is caused by a mechanism able to push axially the piston, indexed. Distributor according to any one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it comprises a removable protective cover, suitable for styling said cutting member (6). Distributor according to any one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that at least the body (2) of the dispenser is made in one transparent or translucent material, allowing the visualization of the product. Distributor according to any one of Claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the body has graduations or marks, allowing to locate the axial position of the piston (20) in the housing (16). Distributor according to any one of Claims 11 to 16, characterized in that the piston (20) comprises means able to cooperate with complementary means carried by the wall of the housing (16) to allow an indexed rise of the piston and ensuring the distribution of a constant dose of product (Q). Dispenser according to the preceding claim, characterized in that that said means allowing an indexed rise of the piston include a notch system (17). Use of a dispenser according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that said product (P) is a gel rigid, rehydratable.

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