EP1491110A1 - Storing and dispensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The container (1) has a body (10), and an applicator part (22) with an outlet opening to distribute a hair coloring product contained at interior of the container. A side of the body is configured such that, while the container rests by the side on a horizontal plane surface, a reduction in the quantity of the product causes a back and forth movement of the container without allowing the product to flow through the opening.

Description

The present invention relates to devices for packaging and dispensing cosmetic products, including care products.

Patent FR 2 736 331 describes a container equipped with a pump and tilting around an equilibrium position as a function of its degree of filling.

Patent FR 2 163 809 describes relatively unstable aerosol bottles, the degree of inclination of which depends on the quantity of product which they contain.

The invention relates more particularly but not exclusively to devices for coloring locks of hair.

When a person wishes to color locks of a color different from the rest of the hair, he must take care not to deposit the coloring product only at selected locations and remain attentive to the positioning of the locks already colored. The gesture of coloring the locks frequently leads him to put in an emergency and to take back the container which contains the coloring product. This person can hardly, given the context, pay close attention to the way in which the container containing the coloring product is rested and there is with conventional containers of generally cylindrical shape a risk of accidental overturning.

However, coloring products are likely to strongly stain the supports on which they could be accidentally sprayed.

It is therefore advisable to avoid any accidental spillage or projection of product.

In addition, the coloring products are often relatively viscous, which delays the exit of the product each time the user uses the container again after having put it down. This increases the duration and the difficulty of the treatment.

Finally, the coloring products can comprise two components to be mixed extemporaneously, in particular an oxidant and a dye. With conventional containers, these components can be relatively difficult to mix.

There is therefore a need to benefit from a container which can be rested after use without having to pay special attention to this operation and which limits the risk of accidental flow of product.

There is still a need to benefit from a container which avoids the user, by picking up the container after having placed it, from having to wait too long before being able to distribute the product again.

There is also a need to have a container that is relatively simple to manufacture and cost compatible with large-scale marketing.

The invention aims to meet all or part of these needs.

According to a first of its aspects, the invention relates to a container comprising at least one outlet orifice making it possible to distribute a product contained inside, in particular a product for coloring the hair, this container having a first face configured to so that, when the container rests by this first face on a horizontal flat surface, a reduction in the quantity of product in the container causes it to tip over without the product being able to flow through said orifice.

According to another of its aspects, the invention relates to a container comprising an applicator part provided with at least one outlet orifice making it possible to distribute a product contained inside, in particular a product for coloring the hair, this container having a first face configured in such a way that, when the container rests by this first face on a horizontal flat surface, a reduction in the quantity of product in the container causes it to tip over without the product being able to s' flow through said orifice.

The container may advantageously include an applicator part, intended to come into contact with a surface to be treated during use.

Preferably, the first face is configured so that the tilting of the container tends to move the outlet orifice downward.

Thus, a certain quantity of product can remain, inside the container, in the vicinity of the outlet orifice when the container is rested, which reduces the time necessary for the product to reach the outlet orifice at the time of use. The treatment of the hair can thus be carried out more quickly, with greater precision or more comfortably.

In a particular implementation of the invention, the container is configured so that, when it rests by the first face on the horizontal flat surface and that it contains the product to be dispensed, the center of gravity of the assembly is moves to the outlet when the amount of product in the container decreases. The container can also be arranged in such a way that, when it rests on the horizontal face on the first face and contains the product to be dispensed, it rocks around axes instantaneous rotation geometries parallel to each other and to this surface when the quantity of product in the container decreases.

Furthermore, when the container rests by the first face on the horizontal flat surface, any quantity of product contained in the container can unequivocally provide a corresponding stable equilibrium position. Thus, the container can be arranged so that whatever the degree of filling of the container, it remains in stable equilibrium.

The container can be made without ballast, that is to say without added mass, which allows manufacturing at a relatively low cost.

In a particular implementation of the invention, the container comprises a body whose width is equal, to within 25%, to its length, better to within 15%. Such a form can facilitate the mixing of several components introduced into the container, in particular an oxidant and a dye.

The container may include a body and a dispensing head, which may include the applicator portion. The body can be elongated along a longitudinal axis and the dispensing head can extend along an axis forming a non-zero angle with the longitudinal axis. The angle between the axis of the dispensing head and the longitudinal axis of the container body can in particular be between 10 and 30 °, for example between 15 and 25 °.

The container may have a neck, on which the dispensing head is fixed, for example by screwing or snap-fastening. The dispensing head can thus include a mounting part arranged to be fixed by screwing on the neck, alternatively by snap-fastening. The neck and the body of the container can be made in one piece by plastic molding, in particular in PE, PP, and in general polyolefins, polyamide, polyester or PVC.

The neck may include a relief allowing the angular positioning of the dispensing head in a predetermined orientation relative to the body of the container, in particular in the case where the dispensing head is fixed by snap-fastening on the neck.

The applicator part can be arranged, in an exemplary implementation of the invention, for combing the hair, and can comprise at least one tooth oriented substantially parallel to an axis of the dispensing head. The applicator part may in particular comprise at least one row of teeth, for example two rows of substantially parallel teeth. The outlet orifice can open out between these rows of teeth. In alternatively, at least one tooth may be hollow and the outlet orifice may open at the end of this tooth or in the vicinity of this end.

The applicator part may comprise at least one row of teeth, for example two, the axis of the row extending in a direction substantially parallel to the horizontal flat surface, when the container rests on the latter by the first face.

The applicator part can be produced for example by injection of plastic material, for example PE, PP, and in general polyolefins, polyamide, polyester, PVC, polymethyl methacrylate, etc.

The applicator part may also include something other than teeth, in particular tufts of hair or a foam.

The first face can be convex outward. The container may comprise, on a second face opposite to the first, at least one recess, in particular a recess located substantially in the center of the second face. The second face may have a generally convex shape towards the outside, apart from said recess.

The wall of the container defining the first face may have a constant thickness.

The capacity of the container can be for example between 10 and 500 ml, being for example approximately 150 ml.

The subject of the invention is also, independently or in combination with the above, a container comprising at least one outlet orifice for dispensing a product contained inside, in particular a product for coloring the hair, this container having a first face and a second face opposite the first, the first face being configured so that, when the container rests by this first face on a horizontal flat surface, a reduction in the quantity of product in the container causes a tilting of the latter in that the product cannot flow through said outlet orifice, the second face opposite to the first comprising at least one recess, in particular a recess located substantially in the center of said second face.

The subject of the invention is also, independently or in combination with the above, a container comprising at least one outlet orifice making it possible to distribute a product contained inside, in particular a product for coloring the hair, the container having a first face configured so that, when the container rests by this first face on a horizontal flat surface, a reduction in the quantity of product in the container causes the container to tilt without the product being able to s '' flow through said outlet, a given amount of product, contained in the container, defining in a one-to-one manner a corresponding stable equilibrium position.

The subject of the invention is also, independently or in combination with the above, a container comprising at least one outlet orifice making it possible to distribute a product contained inside, in particular a product for coloring the hair, this container having a first face configured so that, when the container rests by this first face on a horizontal flat surface, a reduction in the quantity of product in the container causes the container to tilt without the product being able to flow out through said outlet. The container may comprise an elongated body along a longitudinal axis and a dispensing head extending along an axis forming a non-zero angle with the longitudinal axis of the body.

The subject of the invention is also, independently or in combination with the above, a container comprising at least one outlet orifice making it possible to distribute a product contained inside, in particular a product for coloring the hair, this container having a first face configured so that, when the container rests by this first face on a horizontal flat surface, a reduction in the quantity of product in the container causes the container to tilt without the product being able to flow out through said outlet, said container being configured so that manual pressure on the latter reduces its internal volume and allows the distribution of said product by means of the outlet.

The subject of the invention is also, independently or in combination with the above, a container comprising at least one outlet orifice making it possible to distribute a product contained inside, in particular a product for coloring the hair, this container having a first face configured so that, when the container rests by this first face on the horizontal surface, a reduction in the quantity of product in the container causes the container to tilt without the product being able to flow through of said outlet, said container being free of ballast and being configured in such a way that the level of said product is essentially parallel to said horizontal flat surface when the container rests on this horizontal flat surface by means of its first face.

• la figure 1 représente, en perspective et de manière schématique, un exemple de récipient réalisé conformément à l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue de dessus selon la flèche II de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 représente isolément, en élévation avec coupe longitudinale partielle, le récipient de la figure 1 sans la tête de distribution,
• la figure 4 représente une vue schématique selon la flèche IV de la figure 1 de la tête de distribution du récipient de la figure 1,
• les figures 5 à 7 illustrent le basculement du récipient au fur et à mesure de son vidage, et
• la figure 8 représente isolément, en élévation avec une coupe longitudinale partielle, un récipient selon une variante de réalisation.

The present invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, of nonlimiting examples of implementation thereof, and on examining the appended drawing, in which:

• FIG. 1 represents, in perspective and schematically, an example of a container produced in accordance with the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a top view according to arrow II in FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 represents in isolation, in elevation with partial longitudinal section, the container of FIG. 1 without the dispensing head,
• FIG. 4 represents a schematic view according to arrow IV of FIG. 1 of the dispensing head of the container of FIG. 1,
• FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate the tilting of the container as it is emptied, and
• Figure 8 shows in isolation, in elevation with a partial longitudinal section, a container according to an alternative embodiment.

The container 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular comprises a body 10 and a dispensing head 20.

The body 10 is shown in Figure 3. As can be seen in this figure, the body 10 has a generally flattened and elongated shape along a longitudinal axis X. The body 10 has, at a longitudinal end, an opening which opens out in a neck 11 of axis Y. The neck 11 is connected to a shoulder 16 of the body 10, which generally extends substantially perpendicular to the axis Y. The latter forms an angle α with the longitudinal axis X. The angle α is for example close to 22 ° in the example considered.

The body 10 has upper and lower two opposite main faces, namely a first face 12 on which the container rests when not in use, and a second face 13 opposite the first.

The wall of the container which defines the first face 12 may have a constant thickness, as illustrated.

In the example considered, the container 1 has a shape which is symmetrical with respect to a median plane which contains the axes X and Y. The body 10 is generally flattened along a plane perpendicular to this median plane.

The second face 13 comprises, in its central region, a recess 14 defining a support area for the user, as will be explained below.

In the embodiment considered, the body 10 of the container 1 is made in one piece with the neck 11, by molding plastic material, for example by an injection blow molding technique.

The wall of the body 10 is flexible, and after each pressure exerted on the body 10 to dispense the product, it can resume, thanks to the elasticity of its wall, its initial shape.

The dispensing head 20 can be produced and assembled with the rest of the container 1 in multiple ways.

In the example considered, the dispensing head 20 comprises a mounting part 21 which allows its fixing in a predetermined position on the neck 11, this mounting part 21 being for example in the form of a skirt provided internally with an invisible thread coming to be screwed on a thread 15 of the neck 11.

The dispensing head 20 also comprises an applicator part 22 which, in the example considered, comprises two rows of teeth 23 and 24, these rows of teeth extending as illustrated in FIG. 4 parallel to an axis Z. The latter is perpendicular to the axis Y of the neck 11, once the dispensing head 20 fixed thereon.

The applicator part 22 further comprises, arranged on either side of the rows 23 and 24 of teeth, two end teeth 25 which each have a generally flattened shape in a direction perpendicular to the axis Z, and whose bases lie substantially along a median plane of symmetry M for the applicator part 22, this plane containing the axis Z.

In the example considered, each row 23 or 24 of teeth has ten, but it is not beyond the scope of the present invention when the number of teeth is different or when the teeth are replaced by application elements of a different nature. , for example tufts of hair.

An orifice 26 allowing the product to exit opens out between the rows 23 and 24 of teeth, this orifice 26 being produced through the wall 27 of the applicator part 22 on which the teeth connect. It is not beyond the scope of the present invention if the dispensing head has more than one orifice. In a variant not illustrated, at least one product outlet orifice opens near the end or at the end of at least one tooth, the latter being hollow.

According to one aspect of the invention, the first face 12 is configured in such a way that, the container 1 being placed on a horizontal flat surface S, the orifice 26 moves downward as the emptying of the container, as illustrated in Figures 5 to 7.

The level of the product in the container 1 has been shown in these figures by a line N.

In FIG. 5, the container 1 is full and the center of gravity of the assembly constituted by the container and the liquid that it contains is relatively distant from the dispensing head 20. The latter is oriented substantially at 45 ° towards the high with respect to the surface S. In FIG. 6, the quantity of product is less and, due to the shape given to the container and in particular to the first face 12, the center of gravity has moved closer to the head distribution 20. The equilibrium position of the empty container is different from the equilibrium position of the full container and the orientation of the container varies depending on the degree of filling.

The first face 12 is arranged so as to allow the container 1 to tilt on the surface S under the effect of the torque generated by the displacement of the center of gravity, which allows the container to reach whatever its degree of filling a stable equilibrium position.

The first face 12 may for example have a quasi-spherical shape, without a flat.

The distance, inside the container, between the portions of the wall of the body 10 which respectively define the first 12 and second 13 faces, measured perpendicular to the axis X in the median plane of symmetry of the container, tends to decrease when we approach the end of the body 10 which is opposite the neck 11, past the recess 14.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, after an additional emptying of the container.

The downward tilting of the outlet orifice 26 makes it possible to maintain a certain quantity of product in and / or near the dispensing head 20.

Thus, the user, when he presses on the second face 13 by pressing in the recess 14, can expel the product without having to wait too long for the product to flow by gravity towards the outlet orifice 26.

The use of the container is facilitated.

In addition, the first face 12 is arranged so that, whatever the equilibrium position of the container 1 which rests by this first face 12 on the horizontal flat surface S, the level N of the product in the container remains below outlet 26.

It will also be noted on examining FIGS. 5 and 7 that, in the example considered, the axis Z remains oriented substantially parallel to the horizontal flat surface S, during the tilting of the container.

In the absence of product contained in the container, the latter tends to rest on the surface S with the axis Y of the neck 11 almost horizontal.

To use the container 1, the user separates the dispensing head 20 from the body 10 if necessary, in order to be able to introduce into the container 1 the components to be mixed in order to obtain the coloring product, for example an oxidant and the corresponding dye, which were packaged separately. The user can then put the dispensing head 20 in place on the neck 11.

The flat shape of the container promotes mixing of the components.

Then, the user can distribute the coloring product by pressing in the recess 14, so as to bring the first 12 and second 13 faces together. When the user rests the container 1 after treating a wick, it tends to keep a certain amount of product near the outlet orifice 26, as explained above.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the example of implementation which has just been described.

Various modifications can be made, in particular to the shape of the body 10 of the container and to that of the applicator part 22. The latter can be fixed to the container other than by screwing or be made in one piece with the body of the container.

For example, there is shown in Figure 8 a container 10 whose neck 11 has an annular bead 15 which allows the snap-fastening of the dispensing head 20, and a relief 17 which is located in the example considered between the bead 15 and the shoulder 16, this relief 17 being for example in the form of a rib extending parallel to the axis Y. The relief 17 is intended to cooperate with an internal relief, not apparent on the drawing of the dispensing head 20, so that the latter is fixed to the body 10 with a particular orientation.

Throughout the description, including the claims, the expression “comprising a” should be understood as being synonymous with “comprising at least one”, unless otherwise specified.

Claims (26)

Container (1) comprising an applicator part (22) provided with at least one outlet orifice (26) for dispensing a product (P) contained inside, in particular a product for coloring the hair, container characterized by causes it to have a first face (12) configured so that, when the container rests by this first face on a flat horizontal surface (S), a reduction in the quantity of product in the container causes the product to tip over without the product being able to flow through said outlet orifice. Container according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first face is configured so that the tilting of the container in response to a decrease in the quantity of product contained inside tends to move the outlet orifice downwards (26). Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is configured so that, when it rests by the first face (12) on the horizontal flat surface (S) and that it contains the product to be dispensed, the center of gravity of the assembly moves towards the outlet orifice (26) when the quantity of product in the container decreases. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is arranged in such a way that, when it rests by the first face (12) on the horizontal flat surface (S) and that it contains the product to be dispensed, it switches around instantaneous geometric axes of rotation parallel to each other and to this surface when the quantity of product in the container decreases. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container is configured in such a way that, when it rests by the first face on the horizontal flat surface (S), any quantity of product, contained in the container , unequivocally defines a corresponding stable equilibrium position. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container is arranged so that whatever the degree of filling of the container, it remains in stable equilibrium. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first face is defined by a wall having a constant thickness. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it does not contain ballast. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a body (10) whose width is equal, to within 25%, to its length, better to within 15%. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a body (10) and a dispensing head (20). Container according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the body (10) is elongated along a longitudinal axis (X) and in that the dispensing head (20) extends along an axis (Y) forming an angle ( α) not zero with the longitudinal axis (X). Container according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the angle (α) between the axis (Y) of the dispensing head (20) and the longitudinal axis (X) of the body (10) of the container is between 10 and 30 °, preferably between 15 and 25 °. Container according to one of claims 11 and 12, characterized in that it comprises a neck (11) on which the dispensing head (20) is fixed. Container according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the dispensing head (20) has a mounting part (21) arranged to be screwed onto the neck (11). Container according to any one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the dispensing head (20) has a mounting part (21) arranged to be snapped onto the neck (11) and in that the neck (11) has a relief (17) allowing angular positioning of the dispensing head (20) in a predetermined orientation relative to the body (10) of the container. Container according to any one of Claims 10 to 15, characterized in that the applicator part (22) is arranged on the dispensing head (20). Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the applicator part (22) is arranged for combing the hair. Container according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the applicator part comprises at least one tooth oriented substantially parallel to an axis of the dispensing head. Container according to either of Claims 17 and 18, characterized in that the applicator part (22) comprises at least one row of teeth, in particular two rows (23, 24) of substantially parallel teeth. Container according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the outlet orifice (26) opens between the rows of teeth. Container according to any one of Claims 17 to 20, characterized in that the applicator part (22) comprises at least one row of teeth, this row extending in a direction (Z) substantially parallel to the flat horizontal surface ( S) when the container rests on the first face (12) thereon. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first face (12) is convex towards the outside. Container according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises, on a second face (13) opposite the first, at least one recess, in particular a recess (14) located substantially in the center of the second face. Container according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the second face (13) has a generally convex outward shape, apart from said recess (14). Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it contains a product for coloring the hair. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its capacity is between 10 and 500 ml, in particular 150 ml.

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