EP0925738B1 - Container for storing a product, especially for hair care, with regard to its application to a substrate - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a container, suitable for packaging and optionally (in the case of a composition resulting from a mixture) at the preparation of a composition, with a view to its application on a support particular. The present invention is particularly suitable for conditioning and preparation of compositions, such as those used in the field of hair coloring, in particular those used for strand by strand coloring of hair. Other applications may however be considered.

In the field of hair application, the compositions used are usually prepared in a bowl or bowl with a free edge a wide opening. The preparation is done by mixing, using a spatula or any other suitable organ, the various constituents entering in the composition. Typically, it is an oxidant and a cream coloring. The mixture obtained is often of relatively high viscosity. Experience shows that the difficulty in applying the composition to hair is a major source for consumers dissatisfaction. The problems relate in particular to the difficulty of ensuring spinning and precise dosing of the product on the applicator. Such an operation spinning the applicator is usually done by rubbing the applicator against the edge of the bowl. Such a method mainly suffers from two drawbacks : it is tedious, and involves for a multi-sided applicator, making pass each of the faces successively over the edge of the bowl; in addition the spin is of variable quality, depending on the force exerted by the user on the applicator, when she wipes it on the edge of the bowl. The result then an application whose characteristics, in particular in terms of quantity of product applied, are variable. This is of course not satisfactory.

Spinning devices with substantially the same disadvantages are described in documents US-A-3,298,561 and FR-A-1,043,614. devices described in these two documents suffer from a drawback major, mainly related to the lack of means capable of guiding the applicator in engagement with the spin edge. Spinning is hazardous and little reproducible. In addition, spinning requires several passages of the applicator in engagement with the wringing edge in order to wring out the whole of the effective part of the applicator. Finally, with some of the modes of embodiments described therein, the wringing member interferes substantially bringing the applicator into contact with the product to be withdrawn.

It is therefore one of the objects of the invention to provide a resolving container in whole or in part, the problems mentioned above with reference to the devices conventional.

It is in particular an object of the invention to provide a container comprising means capable of ensuring rapid and reproducible spinning an applicator.

It is another object of the invention to provide a design container simple, and economical to make.

Other objects of the invention will appear in detail in the description which follows.

According to the invention, these objects are achieved by producing a container comprising a hollow body with a free edge delimiting an opening for sampling, by means of an applicator, of a composition contained inside said body, and means for wringing out the applicator and dosing the amount of composition taken off, said wiping means being constituted by a wiping edge forming an open curve above said opening, and shaped so that, when the applicator is removed from the container, along a path predetermined, said applicator is put in wringing contact, at least two opposite points of its cross section, with said wiping edge, means being provided to allow guiding of the applicator according to said predetermined path.

The applicator used in combination with the container according to the present invention, generally comprises a handle to allow its gripping. The cross section of the applicator can be defined as section of the applicator, perpendicular to an axis of the handle.

Thus, the wiping of the applicator is done above the opening of the container, which avoids soiling the edges of the container. In addition, the applicator passes through the wringer along a predetermined path, which allows to obtain a uniform and reproducible dosage. With each sample, the applicator is wrung in the same way and keeps essentially the same amount of product. The wringing of the applicator, in any case of its part effective, is obtained quickly, by a single pass against the edge spin.

According to a first embodiment, the wringing means are constituted a planar element, one edge of which is held above said opening, said edge having a cut-out delimiting the wringing edge. Advantageously, the wringing edge is disposed above the opening only before application of the composition, so that it does not interfere not the preparation of the composition, when the latter results from a mixture of two or more components. Advantageously, the spin edge can be removed from the spin position.

Advantageously, said wringing edge is maintained above said opening by folding of the planar element above said opening, said flat element forming a single piece with the container. To this end, provision is made advantageously, at the level of the fold line, a zone of least thickness forming a film hinge to facilitate folding.

More specifically, the container according to the invention can be formed of a single piece, obtained by thermoforming a sheet of material thermoplastic, chosen in particular from polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polystyrenes, polyvinyl chlorides, polyethylenes terephthalates, polystyrenes. Thermoforming technology is good known, and consists in softening by heat a plastic sheet, at the deform by application against a mold, and to cool it in position until stiffening thereof.

Advantageously, means are provided for maintaining said planar element in the folded position above said opening.

Such holding means may include one or more means hanging on a rim of the container (or on a side edge corresponding to the planar element), and able to cooperate with means correspondents provided on a corresponding lateral edge of the planar element (or on a rim of the container). Typically, clips are used, suitable for coming snap by elastic deformation into corresponding holes.

Advantageously also, the wringing edge has a bottom and a opening located substantially opposite the bottom, the guide means being consisting of an inclined wall of said hollow body, a lower end of said inclined wall being adjacent to the bottom of the container, the upper end of the inclined wall being positioned substantially in alignment with the bottom from the spin edge, guiding the applicator in the spin means by sliding the applicator, when it is removed from the container, over said inclined wall.

As an indication, said inclined wall may form an angle with the bottom of the body hollow, between 30 ° and 60 °, and preferably around 45 °.

According to a preferred embodiment, the applicator comprises a rigid to semi-rigid arrangement, especially of bristles or teeth. Guidance of the applicator provided according to the present invention makes it possible in particular to avoid any product splash when removing the applicator. Such splashes are inevitable, when the free end of the teeth or bristles is not positioned correctly in relation to the spin edge.

The distance between the upper end and the lower end of the wall inclined is preferably at least equal to the length of the diagonal of a side section of the applicator. Thus, the applicator is guided over its entire length in the wringer, with its face opposite the inclined wall, perfectly wrung out.

According to a particular embodiment, said wiping edge forms substantially a U. This shape is given only for information, and depends well to a large extent sure of the type and shape of the applicator.

The applicator may consist of a brush, a comb, or a paintbrush, or a mixed applicator composed in particular of an arrangement of bristles and teeth.

The product can be a hair application product, in particular a product for coloring.

• les figures 1A-1C illustrent un mode de réalisation possible d'un applicateur utilisé avantageusement en combinaison avec le récipient selon l'invention;
• les figures 2 et 3A-3C représentent différentes vues d'un mode de réalisation préféré du récipient selon l'invention ;et
• les figures 4A-4B illustrent l'utilisation du récipient illustré en référence aux figures 2 et 3A-3C, en combinaison avec un applicateur similaire à celui discuté en référence aux figures 1A-1C.

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:

• Figures 1A-1C illustrate a possible embodiment of an applicator advantageously used in combination with the container according to the invention;
• FIGS. 2 and 3A-3C represent different views of a preferred embodiment of the container according to the invention; and
• Figures 4A-4B illustrate the use of the container illustrated with reference to Figures 2 and 3A-3C, in combination with an applicator similar to that discussed with reference to Figures 1A-1C.

Figures 1A-1C to which reference is now made show schematically, an embodiment of an applicator 1 can be used in combination with the container according to the invention. It is clear that the container according to the invention can be used with any other type of applicator, in particular, a paint brush, a brush, etc.

Like a pair of pliers, it is made up of two parts 2, 3: one 2 carrying the application means 4, the other 3 articulated on the first (around of an axis A) so as to fold over it, and to trap the drill bit process, so as to maintain it in application contact with the means of application 4.

The device has an X axis. The application means are arranged on the end free from part 2. These application means consist of two rows teeth 5, each of the rows being situated on either side of the X axis, and extending parallel to said axis. The teeth have a length between 5 mm and 20 mm, and preferably between 10 mm and 15 mm. The applicator as well defined has mainly three faces: two side faces, and one face end located opposite the handle. Between application means 4 and the axis of articulation A, a recess or guide groove 6 is provided, suitable for receive a boss 7 provided on a corresponding portion of the second part 3. Thus, passing from the open position to the closed position, the boss 7, of convex profile, enters groove 6, thus guiding the folding movement from part 3 to part 2.

Part 3 (at least at the level of its part intended to come opposite the application means) is slightly less wide than the spacing between the two rows of teeth 5, so that, by folding part 2 over part 3, the portion 13, facing the teeth 5, engages between the rows of teeth 5, thus allowing to lock a lock of hair between the two parts 2, 3 of the device. This portion 13 defines reception means, capable of maintain the wick in application contact with the teeth 5 of the device. Of means 9, arranged adjacent to the receiving means 13, between said receiving means and the boss 7 perform a dual function. These means form on the one hand a shoulder 10 capable of preventing a wick, taken in a manner described in more detail later, to slide in direction of hinge A. These means also form a stop 11 or flat suitable for limiting the engagement of the portion 13 between the rows of teeth 5. Typically, this stop is arranged so as to allow a height 5 to 10 mm of engagement, thus leaving a free height between the teeth, of the order of 5 to 7 mm. This height is sufficient to allow to slide the device along the wick, when the latter is arranged between the teeth 5 of the device 1.

Part 3 has an axial length greater than the axial length of part 2. So; the free end 8 of the part 3 forms a point 12, which, in the manner a "comb tail" will be used to take a wick, and the position appropriately with respect to the application means 4 and the means of reception 13.

To use such an applicator, the consumer proceeds in the manner next: After having prepared its coloring composition, the consumer grips the applicator through part 3, keeping the applicator unfolded. She dives the application means 4 in the mixture, so that a quantity sufficient mixture for a wick to be held between and around the teeth 5.

Then, the consumer selects the wick she wants to treat using end 12, using it exactly like the tail of a tail comb, which allows great precision in the choice and selection of the wick, in its width and depth. Stop 9 prevents wicking selected to slide further forward towards hinge A.

After that, the consumer closes the applicator on itself, making it pivot around the axis defined by the film hinge A. In the closed position, the boss 7 enters guide groove 6, to prevent formation an angle of deviation of the respective axes of parts 2 and 3, thus allowing the rows of teeth to position themselves precisely on either side of the means of reception 13. The wick is thus trapped in the delimited space by the surface supporting the teeth 5, the surface 13 facing the teeth, and the teeth 5 themselves. The selected wick is then "drowned" at its root by the coloring product.

Then simply slide the applicator 1 into position closed towards the tip of the wick to soak it in depth, and evenly, from root to tip. This process is repeated as many times that we want.

The container 20 described in Figures 2 and 3A-3B is in the form of a thermoformed tray 21, having a hollow body 26 including an edge upper 22 defines a wide opening 23. A rim 24, adjacent to said edge 22, surrounds said opening 23, and is extended by a part folded towards the bottom 25 forming a foot on three of the faces of the tray 21. The hollow body 26 is delimited by two internal side walls 27, 28, two walls internal end 29, 30, and a bottom 31. The side walls 27, 28 as well that an end wall 29 are substantially vertical, and connected to the bottom 31 by a radiated portion. The other end wall 30 is inclined and forms a angle of the order of 45 ° relative to the bottom 31. The inclined wall 30 is connected to the bottom 31 with a large radius.

On the side opposite to the end wall 29, the flange 24 is connected by a film hinge 35 to a wall 32 which, after thermoforming, is folded over the opening 23. In the folded position, the free edge of the wall 32 arrives substantially in line with the junction zone between the bottom 31 and the end bottom of the end wall 30. The wall 32 is held in position folded over the opening 23 by two clips 33, 34 provided on the flange 24 surrounding the opening 23, and capable of engaging by elastic deformation in holes 41 made on each side of the wall 32. Such an arrangement is illustrated in the detail view of FIG. 3C.

The edge of the wall 32, opposite the film hinge 35 has a cutout 40 U-shaped, dimensioned to the dimensions of the applicator, in particular terms of width and depth, and the edge which delimits it 39 constitutes the applicator spin edge. The bottom 36 of the cutout 40, located at the opposite of the opening 42, is positioned substantially tangentially relative to the upper end 37 of the inclined wall 30 so that, when the applicator is guided on the inclined wall, with the free ends teeth resting on said inclined wall (as shown in FIG. 2), the free ends of the teeth do not snag appreciably against the spin edge 39. Applicator 1 is, albeit slightly shaped different, similar in design to that described with reference in Figures 1A-1C, and therefore requires no description additional. Advantageously, the distance d separating the ends upper 37 and lower 38 of the inclined wall 30 is substantially equal to the length D of the diagonal of the applicator 1 (see FIG. 1B).

During use, illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the user prepares the composition, by making in the tray, in particular by means of a spatula, or the applicator itself, the mixture of the different components constituting it. At this stage, the wall 32 is in the unfolded position (position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3A), so as to give the container the maximum opening. After completion of the mixing, it folds the wall 32 over the opening 23, and hooks it by means of the clips 33, 34. It then dips the applicator in the composition. After charging the applicator with the product, the consumer inserts the handle of applicator 1 into the cutout 40 of the wringer, with the free end of the teeth facing the bottom 31. She then pulls the applicator towards her, so as to remove the applicator from the tray. In doing so, the teeth 5 of the applicator 1 slide on the bottom 31 of the tray 21 (see Figure 4A) and are then guided to the wiper by friction on the inclined plane. The applicator comes out of the tray (FIG. 4B), and is scraped by the wringing edge 39, both on its two lateral faces and on its end face (defined by the free end of the applicator teeth). So that it appears clearly, thus extracting the applicator, that is to say by sliding on the inclined wall 30, in order to pass it through the wringer, the applicator will systematically follow a substantially identical path. Such substantially identical path results in a uniform spin of the applicator, and identical to each pass. The applicator is thus responsible for identical to each sample. After leaving the spin edge 39, the applicator is clean and ready to use. The surplus product falls back from the spin edge 39, in the bottom of the tray.

The device thus produced is simple and suitable for use. Its cost is very low for maximum user comfort.

In the illustrated embodiments, the spin edge is located on a end of the container (in other words, on a small side of the tray). According to another embodiment, the wiping edge can be arranged on one of the long sides of the tray. So, in the case of an applicator in accordance with that described with reference to FIGS. 1A-1C, the applicator can be passed into the wringer in the folded position, the handle being disposed under the inclined wall. In this configuration, in fact, this face of the tray does not has no foot, which allows the passage of the applicator handle under the inclined wall. In addition, the inclined wall occupies substantially the entire width of the tray so as not to hinder the introduction of the handle under this wall.

In the foregoing detailed description, reference has been made to modes of preferred embodiments of the invention. It is obvious that variants may exist there. be made without departing from the invention as claimed below.

Claims (13)

1. Container (20) comprising a hollow body (26), one edge (22) of which delimits an opening (23) for withdrawing, using an applicator (1), a composition (P) contained inside the said body, and means (39, 40) for wringing out the applicator (1) and metering the amount of composition withdrawn, the said wringing-out means (32, 39, 40) consisting of a wringing-out edge (39) forming an open curve over the said opening (23) and shaped in such a way that as the applicator is pulled out of the container, along a predetermined path, the said applicator (1) is brought into wringing-out contact, at least at two opposed points of its transverse section, with the said wringing-out edge (39), means (30) being provided to allow the applicator (1) to be guided along the said predetermined path.
2. Container according to Claim 1, characterized in that the wringing-out edge (39) is set in place over the opening (23) before the composition (P) is applied.
3. Container according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the wringing-out means (32, 39, 40) consist of a flat element (32), one edge of which is held over the said opening, the said edge having a cutout (40) delimiting the said wringing-out edge (39).
4. Container according to Claim 3, characterized in that the said wringing-out edge (39) is held over the said opening by folding the flat element (32) over the said opening (23), the said flat element (32) forming a single piece with the container.
5. Container according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it is formed of a single piece obtained by thermoforming a sheet of a thermoplastic, chosen, in particular, from among polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polystyrenes, polyvinyl chlorides, polyethylene terephthalates and polystyrenes.
6. Container according to Claim 4, characterized in that it further comprises means (33, 34, 41) for holding the said flat element in the folded position over the said opening.
7. Container according to Claim 6, characterized in that the said holding means comprise one or more catching means (33, 34) provided on a rim (22) of the container (or on a corresponding lateral edge of the flat element (32)), and capable of interacting with corresponding means (41) provided on a corresponding lateral edge of the flat element (32) (or on a rim of the container).
8. Container according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the said wringing-out edge (39) comprises a closed end (36) and an opening (42) which is substantially opposite the closed end (36), the guide means consisting of an inclined wall (30) of the said hollow body, a lower end (38) of the said inclined wall being adjacent to the bottom (31) of the container, the upper end (37) of the inclined wall being positioned more or less at a tangent to the closed end (36) of the wringing-out edge (39), the applicator being guided through the wringing-out means by making this applicator (1) slide along the said inclined wall (30) as it is pulled out of the container.
9. Container according to Claim 8, characterized in that the said inclined wall (30) forms an angle of between 30° and 60°, and preferably close to 45°, with the bottom (31) of the hollow body.
10. Container according to Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the distance d between the upper end (37) and the lower end (38) of the inclined wall (30) is at least equal to the length D of the diagonal of a lateral section of the applicator (1).
11. Container according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the said wringing-out edge (39) is substantially U-shaped.
12. Assembly comprising a container (20) containing a composition and an applicator (1) for applying the said composition, in the form of a brush, a comb or a paintbrush, characterized in that the container is in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 11.
13. Use of a container according to any one of Claims 1 to 11 for packaging a composition to be applied to the hair, especially a dye composition.

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