FR2789980A1 - DISPENSER ALLOWING, IN DOSAGE, THE DISPENSING OF A PRODUCT, ESPECIALLY SOLID - Google Patents

Abstract

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 bread 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 bread product (P) inside the housing (16), so as to make a portion (Q) emerge therefrom through said outlet orifice, - a cutting member (6), capable of cutting said portion (Q) transversely of product emerging from said body, characterized in that said cutting member (6) is mounted movable in rotation about an axis (Y) perpendicular to said plane (R).

Description

DISTRIBUTOR ALLOWING, IN A DOSED WAY, THE DISTRIBUTION

OF A PRODUCT, ESPECIALLY SOLID

  The present invention relates to a dispenser of a product of substantially solid consistency, in particular of a cosmetic or dermatological product, comprising a member making it possible to withdraw a determined dose of product, with a view to its application on an appropriate application support. The term "application medium" means the dose of product to be applied, any surface on which a topical application can be made, in particular the skin, keratin fibers such as the hair, the scalp.

and mucous membranes.

  The products covered by the present invention are generally in the form of a cylindrical bread having an oval or circular section. 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 have 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. Thus, these compositions can be stored in the dry state, which makes it possible to include therein active agents liable to be degraded by oxidation or by hydrolysis. The gelling system used also allows these solid products to be very easily rehydratable, after being brought into contact with an aqueous medium. The product can be rehydrated, 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 application support 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 the

hair and scalp.

  By way of examples, mention may be made of foundations, creams, milks, foam baths, body or hair gels, shampoos, hair conditioners, make-up removal products or products for

  the gentle exfoliation of the skin.

  Furthermore, 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, can be partially rehydratable in contact with water, at the time of use. Thus, they allow a good distribution of the product on the support to be treated and a homogeneous release of a cosmetic or

  dermatologically active, possibly present in the gel.

  It has long been known to use dispensers for packaging and applying disintegrable products in the form of solid bread and, by way of example, deodorant sticks, sticks of

  lipstick, or beard soaps.

  These known dispensers comprise 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 roll, and a mechanism allowing the product to exit from the body, in view of its application. Using such a conventional dispenser, these products are applied directly to the skin or respectively to the lips, where they are deposited by disintegration in one

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, document US-A-4,513,501 discloses 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 at one of its ends to form an outlet orifice. 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 outlet, actuatable by the user using a lever arm mechanism, mounted pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the product outlet axis , for

section a slice of product.

  This device has the following drawbacks. To keep the cutting line sliding on the edges of the outlet orifice, there is provided an elastic spring-retaining mechanism, relatively complicated and bulky. For this reason, the lever arm is articulated using sliding pivots, requiring precise actuation of the lever arm, in a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis of the lever arm. Any actuation outside this plane, will inevitably lead to the separation of the cutting wire 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 perform. This device also has an external shape provided with numerous non-aligned portions, and is therefore difficult to clean. In addition, such a device is not possible for a product intended to be transported in a handbag. Such an external form, from an aesthetic or practical point of view, cannot be used, in particular, for the packaging of a cosmetic product. Also, is it an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser for dispensing a dose of product, not having the drawbacks 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 is to provide 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 provide a dispenser allowing, from a loaf of substantially solid product, the withdrawal of a dose of product, with a view to the application of said dose,

  especially on the skin or hair of an individual.

  It is yet another object of the invention to provide a dispenser allowing precise and reproducible dosing of said dose of product to

apply on the support.

  Yet another object of the invention consists of a distributor, the manufacture and assembly of which are simple to carry out and which has an advantageous cost price. Another object of the invention is to provide a distributor whose

  handling by the user is simple to perform.

  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 bread and open in 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 cutting transversely said portion of product emerging from said body, characterized in that said cutting member is mounted so as to be able to rotate about a

Y axis perpendicular to said plane.

  Preferably, said cutting member moves in rotation about said axis Y, and this substantially in a plane perpendicular to the axis X. It is understood, that said plane can be inclined relative to the axis X. Advantageously, said cutting member is provided with a blade, mounted for rotation, on a peripheral edge of the body surrounding said outlet orifice. According to an interesting aspect of the invention, the cutting member is of section substantially identical to the section of said peripheral edge, so

  to, in a rest position, be able to superimpose on said peripheral edge.

  This arrangement has the advantage that neither the output of the product, nor its implementation are hindered by said cutting member. Preferably, the cutting member consists of an "annular" member with an internal section slightly larger than the section of the orifice.

  outlet, 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 bread to pass through. 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" member. By this arrangement the risk of injury to the user is reduced, compared to a blade made on an edge

outside of the "annular" organ.

  The cutting member may further comprise a gripping element, allowing either the indexed positioning of the cutting member in the rest position, or its rotation around said axis Y. Preferably, this gripping element is located on the cutting member, on the side opposite to said axis Y. According to one embodiment, in the rest position, the gripping element 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. 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, at least the body of the dispenser is made of a transparent or translucent material, allowing the product to be viewed. Advantageously, the protective cover is produced by

the same material.

  The body may advantageously include graduations or marks, making it possible to identify the axial position of the piston in said housing of the body. Where appropriate, the piston may include means allowing an indexed rise of the piston cooperating with complementary means carried by the wall of the housing and making it possible to distribute a constant dose of product. To this end, said means allowing the indexed rise of the piston may include a conventional system with notches cooperating with an elastic ratchet, or else a screw system, usually used in

piston distributors.

  The invention also relates to the use of a dispenser 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 cosmetic products which are difficult to disintegrate, in particular of viscoelastic texture or in the form of a rigid gel. This kind of product 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 opposite an extruder, so that the housing of the distributor is located exactly in the extension of the die, the section of the die and the section of the housing being, of course, substantially identical. In this way, the extruded rod 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 protected from

  ambient air, and can be marketed in this form.

  To better understand the object of the invention, we will now describe, by way of purely illustrative and in no way limitative, a method of

  embodiment of the invention, shown in the accompanying drawing.

  In 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 - Figure 7 shows an enlarged partial view, in elevation, of the dispenser of the invention, illustrating indexed positioning means of

the cutting member.

  FIG. 1 shows a distributor 1 conforming to a

  particular example of embodiment of the invention.

  This dispenser 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 3 and lower 5 ends 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 crossed from top to bottom by a cylindrical housing 16, intended to receive a

  bread of product P, of substantially solid or pasty consistency.

  The dispenser 1 also includes a piston 20, the cross section of which corresponds precisely to the internal section of the cylindrical housing 16. The piston 20 can move axially, in translation, in the housing 16 and serves as a support for the bread of product P. 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 closure cover 4 are made of a transparent or translucent material. In this way, the axial position of the piston 20 can be identified by the user and its axial movement can be controlled precisely. To this end, the external surface may include marks or graduations 9, making it possible to visually follow the movement of the piston, and thus to ensure 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), crosslinked 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 product roll 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 situated in a plane R perpendicular to the axis X. It is understood that said plane R can be inclined relative to the axis X. On the annular surface 8 is pivotally disposed around of a Y axis, 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 body is closed to be ensured by the establishment 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 from the housing 16, without being hindered by the member cutting. 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 F1, 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 F2), can be dosed exactly.

  The pivoting of the cutting member 6 around the axis Y is ensured by an articulation 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 for its rotation around the Y axis, by the user. This gripping 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 about 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 the tab 12, to, as will be seen later, perform the

  unlocking of the cutting member 6.

  Furthermore, the internal edge 10 of the cutting member 6 may 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. It can have a thickness which can range from approximately 0.3 mm to approximately 3 mm. This

  The cutting member is advantageously made of stainless steel, poly-

  acrylo-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, it can perfectly control the dosage of the outgoing product Q. After performing the unlocking of the cutting member 6, which will be described later in connection with FIG. 7, the user pivots the cutting member 6 around the articulation 24 (FIG. 1), in the direction of arrow F3, as shown in FIG. 3. To effect 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 F3, as shown successively in Figures 4 and 5, a slice of product Q is sectioned, ready for use (see Figure 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. FIG. 7 shows an arrangement allowing the cutting member to be locked 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 suitable for 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 cutting off a slice of product Q, the user lifts the tab 12 slightly, to place it at the level of the annular surface 8. Then, it pushes the tab 12 to the right or to the left to induce the rotational movement of the cutting member 6 towards the position B. When the product P is a rigid styling gel, the user can place the sampled portion 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 distributed over the hair by 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 of a rigid shower gel, applicable in the form of a

foaming wash.

  In the case of a foaming product for the bath, 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 a blush, the dose of product Q is advantageously applied to the face previously wet with 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 located inside, and not at

  outside where it could injure the user.

  Of course, it is not going beyond the ambit of the invention by using, in addition, a means for translating the piston such as a ratchet device or any other similar mechanism, for example a screw mechanism, capable of

  ensure the piston thrust in determined increments.

Claims (15)

CLAIMS.   1 - 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 bread of product 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 bread product (P) inside the housing (16), so as to make a portion (Q) emerge therefrom through said outlet orifice, - a cutting member (6), capable of cutting said portion (Q) transversely of product emerging from said body, characterized in that said cutting member (6) is mounted to rotate about   an axis (Y) perpendicular to said plane (R).   2 - Distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that said cutting member (6) moves in rotation about said axis (Y) in a plane   substantially perpendicular to the axis (X).   3 - Distributor according to claim 2, characterized in that said cutting member (6) is provided with a blade (10) mounted in rotation, on an edge   device (8) of the body (2) surrounding said outlet orifice (18).   4 - Distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized in that the cutting member (6) is of section substantially identical 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 4,   characterized in that the cutting member (6) consists of an "annular" member with an internal section slightly larger than the section of the outlet orifice (18).   6 - Distributor according to claims 3 and 5, characterized in that   said blade (10) is formed by an inner edge of said annular member (6).   7 - Distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized in that the cutting member further comprises a gripping element (12), allowing either the indexed positioning of the cutting member   (6) in said rest position (A), ie its rotation around the axis (Y).   8 - Distributor according to claim 7, characterized in that the gripping element (12) is located on the cutting member (6), on the opposite side at the joint (24).   9 - Distributor according to claims 3, 7 and 8, characterized in that   in the rest position (A), the gripping element (12) is removably housed 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 9,   characterized in that the body has a second open end (5), through which is mounted, axially movable in the housing (16), a piston   (20) supporting the product bread (P).   11 - Distributor according to claim 10, 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).   12 - Dispenser according to claim 10, characterized in that the exit of the product (Q) is caused by a mechanism capable of pushing axially the piston, indexed.   13 - Distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 12,   characterized in that it comprises a removable protective cover, suitable for styling said cutting member (6).   14 - Distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 13,   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 10 to 12,   characterized in that the body has graduations or marks, allowing   to locate the axial position of the piston (20) in the housing (16).   16 - Distributor according to any one of claims 10 to 15,   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 ensure the distribution of a dose product constant (Q).   17 - Distributor according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said means allowing an indexed rise of the piston comprise a notch system (17).   18 - Use of a dispenser according to any one of the   previous claims, characterized in that said product (P) is a gel rigid, rehydratable.