FR2768412A1 - MICROWAVE HEATING CONTAINER FOR THERMAL MELT MATERIAL - Google Patents

Abstract

A microwave heating vessel for fusible material includes a horizontal microwave impervious but wax permeable horizontal grid (32, 56) separating a microwave transparent upper heating chamber (30, 54). waves and a lower storage chamber (20, 58/60) designed to be impermeable to microwaves. The upper heating chamber (30, 54) initially contains wax and the storage chamber (20, 58/60) is initially empty.

Description

MICROWAVE HEATING CONTAINER

FOR THERMOFUSIBLE MATERIAL

  The present invention relates to a microwave heating container of hot-melt material, in particular depilatory wax, making it possible to transport this material to bring it into a microwave oven, to heat the material in the oven up to the melt, then return and pour the melted material into a dispenser that can be held by hand, such as a roller dispenser

  allowing the wax to be spread in a continuous strip of constant thickness.

  We know fusible wax refills for hair removal whose container is

  suitable for being placed directly in the enclosure of a microwave oven.

  The advantage of microwave heating is its ability to heat directly at the heart of the material so that the total melting of a wax bar or a volume of wax granules can be obtained very quickly in comparison with heating by conduction in a tank or a tank one or more walls of which are equipped with electric heating resistors. Indeed, it is known that the wax has a low thermal conductivity making the heat very difficult to pass from the

  periphery at the heart of the wax bread or the volume of granules.

  However, the microwave heating mode proves to be tricky in practice for users who often underestimate the power and the heating time when programming the oven. Either the wax is only partially melted requiring heating to be restarted, or, more seriously, the temperature reached by the wax is significantly higher than the temperature admissible by the

  skin, or even excessive at the risk of causing burns.

  The object of the present invention is a microwave heating container for fusible material which avoids the aforementioned drawbacks, in particular which prevents overheating of the molten wax whatever the settings of the

  oven, and this while preserving the speed of this heating means.

  These objects are achieved by a container because it comprises a means of separation impermeable to microwaves but permeable to wax in the molten state, separating a heating chamber transparent to microwaves and

  a storage chamber intended to be impermeable to microwaves.

  Thus, the wax initially located in a heating chamber can pass as it melts through the separation means to pass into a storage chamber where it is no longer heated, which prevents it from reaching a temperature excessive. So even if the power of the oven and / or the heating time are exaggerated, the molten wax remains at a temperature close to its melting point. The wax thus pre-melted is then poured into a dispenser, the tank of which is maintained by a regulation loop at a

  temperature just necessary to maintain the melting state.

  One could envisage a container comprising two chambers side by side a microwave-permeable heating chamber entirely filled with a wax bar and an initially empty microwave-impermeable storage chamber, these chambers being separated by a vertical wall. the lower edge of which includes one or more non-return valves which can only be crossed by molten wax. To force the flow of wax in the liquid state from one chamber to another, it would for example be advisable for the storage chamber to be initially at a pressure below atmospheric pressure. However, preferably, the separation means are a horizontal grid of microwave absorbing or reflecting material separating an upper heating chamber initially containing the wax and a

  lower storage initially empty.

  Then, the transfer of the wax in the molten state from one chamber to the other is carried out simply by gravitation. The container thus has a simple structure,

easy to make and reliable.

  Preferably, the grid is then made of metal and the size of its meshes is calculated so as to absorb or reflect microwaves, for example

about 1.5 mm side mesh.

  This metal separation grid, while being easy to produce, thus has a dual function: of filtering the molten wax with respect to the wax

  still solid, and separate molten wax protection.

  According to a first embodiment, the container comprises a base permeable to microwaves, the lower half of which is lined inside or outside with a material impermeable to microwaves, container in the middle

  from which a separation grid is installed.

  Alternatively, the container has a microwave permeable base in which a first lower cup made of a material impermeable to microwaves is installed, then, fitted into the first, a second upper microwave permeable cup whose bottom is consisting of a grid

of seperation.

  This construction, either in one piece or removable, has the advantage of being reusable many times after cleaning. With a removable separation grid, this container can become "normal" again, that is to say that it can also be used for other uses than that of heating and

handling of depilatory wax.

  In particular, the possibility of dismantling the separating grid makes it possible to heat, by microwave, with caution, a wax unfortunately

  cooled in the lower storage chamber.

  In the latter alternative, the base container may have a vertical chimney starting from the bottom where it is in correspondence with an outlet opening of the lower bucket and ending, at the edge

  top of the base container, into a spout.

  This chimney constitutes a kind of third chamber where the wax can be slightly warmed to compensate for any losses in the second

  room, but especially to allow easy handling of the melted wax.

  The basic container and / or the lower cup are usefully made of a resistant and heat-conductive material so that they can be placed on

  an electric heating plate to melt the wax residue.

  According to a second embodiment, the container is in the form of a single-use bag made of microwave-permeable material comprising an intermediate grid for separation between an upper cell thus forming the heating chamber initially containing wax and an initially empty lower cell capable of being inserted into a secondary container impermeable to microwaves to constitute the storage chamber. There is thus simply produced a container for handling and heating depilatory wax in two parts, the first of which, possibly flexible, can advantageously constitute a packaging for the sale of a portion of wax and the second of which is presented as a bucket preferably rigid in order to be reusable, that is to say a usual bucket apart from the fact that it is waterproof

in the microwave.

  Advantageously, the upper edge of the upper cell is extended in the form of a handling tab having a hooking orifice allowing the bag to be suspended from a bar of a display stand. Thus, once the wax has passed from one alveolus to the other following its melting, the sachet can be securely grasped by the upper tab to transport it and bring the lower alveolus containing the molten wax opposite a wax dispenser

for transfer thereof.

  Usefully, the lower cell has a funnel shape or the like oriented downwards ending in an initially closed pouring duct and

  suitable for being opened by breaking or cutting.

  The lower socket can thus be positioned in the cradle of the roll of a wax dispenser from which the roller has been temporarily removed, thus allowing easy transfer of the hot wax from the heating container into this dispenser, and this minimizing the risk overflowing hot wax. For example, the end of the duct may have a predetermined breaking line in the form of a fine bonding or a series of punctures, this line breaking easily as soon as the lower cell is manually compressed after having inserted its lower duct in the mouth of the

distributor.

  The invention will be better understood from the study of embodiments taken on a non-limiting basis and illustrated in the appended figures in which: - Figures la and lb are views in vertical section of a first embodiment of a container according to the invention, respectively before and after the melting of part of the depilatory wax, and - Figures 2a, 2b, 2c illustrate in vertical section a second embodiment of a container, according to the invention respectively in separate rooms,

  assembled and when pouring the melted wax into a dispenser.

  In Figures 1 is illustrated a first embodiment of a container 1

  specially designed to heat and melt wax 5 by the action of micro-

  waves emitted inside an oven.

  As illustrated, this heating container 1 comprises a base container 10 of general shape in a truncated cone oriented downwards and equipped with a handle 12. Preferably, this base container 10 is made of a transparent and permeable material. microwave, such as plastic. In known manner, this handle can be a simple hook starting from the upper edge or a loop secured to a vertical generator. This base container 10 has, diametrically opposite the handle 12, a vertical semi-tubular chimney 14 forming an inwardly oriented groove starting from the bottom of the container and ending in an upper edge in the form of a pouring spout 16 If desired, it is conceivable that this chimney 14 is completely tubular, that is to say having a partition wall with the interior of the base container 10, provided that a passage orifice 15 is arranged in l lower end, close to the bottom of the container 10. More particularly according to the invention, this container 1 has two chambers

  superimposed 20 and 30 separated by a median horizontal grid 32.

  The chamber 20 is here produced in the form of a cup 21 made of a material

  impermeable to microwaves such as a metal such as aluminum.

  The bucket is also in the form of a truncated cone of external dimensions conforming to those internal of the lower half of the base container 10 where it is installed. The lower edge of the cup 22 further comprises a lateral orifice 22 constituting an outlet passage in communication with the chimney 14, the

  if necessary through the passage orifice 15.

  The upper chamber 30 is materialized by an upper cup 31 open on its upper face, with walls preferably made of a material permeable to microwaves, or even transparent, but the bottom of which is constituted by the separation grid 32. The external dimensions of this cup 31 correspond to the internal dimensions of the upper half of the container of

base 10.

  The originality of the invention resides in this grid which is dimensioned as a function of the characteristics of the wax 5 so that it retains this wax in the solid state in the heating chamber 30 because, for example, that its meshes are smaller than the diameter of the wax granules; but that they allow the wax 5 'to pass into the lower chamber 20 once in the fluid state following melting by heating. Above all, the material and the dimensions of the mesh of this grid 32 are established so that they are also impermeable to microwaves therefore making the whole of the lower chamber 20 also impermeable to microwaves. This grid 32 can be a metal grid made of wire and meshes of the order of 1 to 3mm, preferably 1.5mm. For reasons of rigidity, this metal microwave barrier grid can be attached to the upper or lower face of a

  plastic grid with identical mesh.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 1, the bucket 31 has on its lower periphery a circular groove 33 making it possible to fit the grid 32 in the

  upper edge of lower bucket 21.

  If the container 1 has been illustrated here in a frustoconical shape, it is easy to modify the shape of the constituent parts to give this container

  1 a cylindrical, even oval or even polygonal shape.

  The container 1 described above is used in the following manner.

  The user pours wax 5 into the chamber 30 through the top opening, this wax therefore resting on the upper face of the grid 32. The whole of the

  container 1 containing the wax 5 is then placed in the enclosure of a micro-

  waves and the user sets the emission power and the heating time to

  sufficient values to cause all of the wax to melt.

  When portions of wax reach their melting point, they pass through the meshes of the grid 32 constituting the bottom of the heating chamber 30. Once located at the bottom of the storage chamber 20 as illustrated in FIG. 1b, liquid wax no longer receives microwave energy which prevents it from rising to an excessive or even dangerous temperature. This

  protection continues even if all of the initial wax 5 is melted.

  When the programmed heating time has elapsed, or following the shutdown of the oven by the user noting through the transparent walls of the heating chamber 30 that all of the wax has melted, the user can grasp the container 1 by the handle 12 for transferring the molten wax into its dispensing device such as a roller dispenser. In particular, when the user tilts the container 1, the molten wax passes through the outlet orifice 22 of the outlet of the lower cup 20 to enter the chimney 14 to

  reach, in a controlled manner, the spout 16.

  If a new quantity of molten wax proves necessary, it then suffices to pour it into the upper heating chamber 30 and to replace the container 1 in a microwave oven. Usefully, the base container 10 and the lower cup 21 are also resistant and conductive to heat so that they can be placed on a hot plate, such as for example an electric plate, in order to remelt any possible solidified wax residue through outlet ports 22

and passing 15.

  In FIGS. 2 is illustrated a second embodiment according to the invention of a container in two parts comprising on the one hand a single-use sachet and on the other hand a double secondary container 60 and 64 designed to receive the

lower part of the bag 50.

  The bag 50 is permeable to microwaves and, preferably, is made of transparent flexible plastic. As illustrated, this bag 50 comprises two cells separated by an intermediate grid 56: an upper cell 54 initially containing wax 5 and constituting a heating chamber and a lower cell 58 initially empty which, once inserted in the secondary container 60, as illustrated in FIG. 2b, constitutes a storage chamber. This bag 50 can have a substantially tubular middle part, in particular at the level of the intermediate grid 56. The upper part of the cell 54 can gradually shrink in a line extending by a plastic strip constituting a handling tongue 52 having an orifice hooking 51. The lower part of the cell 58 can narrow down like a funnel to finish in the form of a pouring conduit 59 initially blocked. Usefully, the end of this conduit 59 has a weak point of rupture such as a thin line of glue or a line of punctures. In correspondence, the secondary container 60 is in the form of a standard cup of generally slightly frustoconical shape equipped at its upper edge with a handle 62. In particular, the internal face of this cup comprises a part 64 opaque to microwaves . The diameter of the upper inlet opening of this secondary container 60 corresponds substantially to the

  diameter of the bag 50 at the intermediate grid 56.

  This embodiment is sold on the one hand in the form of a starting assembly comprising a container 60 and one or more sachets 50, and on the other hand in the form of individual sachets 50 hung on the bar of a display stand through orifice 51. In particular, the volume of wax 5 contained in a bag 50 corresponds substantially to that of an internal tank 72

  belonging to a distributor 70 as illustrated in FIG. 2c.

  Thus, when the user wishes to prepare a quantity of molten wax, she places the bag 50 in the container 60 as illustrated in FIG. 2b and places this assembly in the enclosure of a microwave oven. As the wax is heated by microwave radiation, the molten part passes through the intermediate grid 56 to fall into the cell 58 where it is protected from any additional heating by the part 64 of the container 60 and

by grid 56.

  Once all of the wax 5 has melted in 5 ′ as observed by observation from the outside through the oven porthole and the transparent plastic constituting the bag 50, the user stops the heating and takes the assembly out while holding it by the handle 62. It can then grasp the bag 50 by the upper tongue 52 to bring the pouring duct 59 into the cradle 74 of the dispenser 70 whose roller has been moved apart as illustrated in FIG. 2c. It then performs an opening of the pouring conduit 59, either by cutting using a tool not shown, or by applying pressure to the lower cell 58 to force the breaking of points of weakness. The molten wax 5 ′ can then be transferred to the tank 72 of the distributor 70 where it is maintained at a melting temperature

  by an electric resistance 73 for regulated heating.

  A first advantage of this second embodiment is that it makes it possible to market the wax in a predetermined quantity corresponding precisely to the content of the tank of a dispenser, so that only a just sufficient quantity is melted at each operation. In addition, it only requires the possession of a simple secondary container which can also be used for other common uses. Usefully, this double secondary container is made of a resistant material and good heat conductor allowing it to be placed on a

heating plate.

  A second advantage of this second embodiment is that it allows

  each time place a clean set in the microwave.

  As can be seen from this presentation, the container according to the invention allows wax to be melted in the microwave without danger of

burns for the user.

  Many improvements can be made in terms of form,

  constructive dimensions of this container.

Claims (10)

  1. Microwave heating container for fusible material, characterized   in that it comprises a separation means (32,56) impermeable to micro-   waves but permeable to wax in the molten state, separating a heating chamber (30,54) transparent to microwaves and a storage chamber   (20, 58/60) intended to be impermeable to microwaves.   2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the separation means are a horizontal grid (32,56) of material absorbing or reflecting microwaves separating an upper heating chamber (30,54) initially containing the wax and a lower storage chamber (20.58 / 60) initially empty.   3. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the grid (32,56) is made of metal and the size of its meshes is calculated so as to absorb or reflect microwaves, for example meshes of about 1 , 5 mm side.   4. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a base permeable to microwaves, the lower half of which is lined inside or outside with a material impermeable to microwaves, container   in the middle of which is installed a horizontal separation grid.   5. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a base container (10) permeable to microwaves in which is installed a first lower cup (21) made of a material impermeable to microwaves, then, fitted in the first, a second upper bucket (31) permeable to   microwave, the bottom of which is constituted by a separation grid (32).   6. Container according to claim 5, characterized in that the base container (10) has a vertical chimney (14) starting from the bottom where it is in correspondence with an outlet opening (22) of the lower cup (21), and ending, at the upper edge of the base container, in a pouring spout (16). 7. Container according to claim 5, characterized in that the base container (10) and / or the lower cup (20) are made of a resistant and heat-conductive material. 8. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that it is in the form of a sachet (50) of material permeable to microwaves comprising an intermediate grid of separation (56) between an upper cell (54) forming thus the heating chamber initially containing wax (5) and a lower cell (58) initially empty capable of being inserted in a secondary container (60) impermeable to microwaves for constitute the storage chamber.   9. Container according to claim 8, characterized in that the upper edge of the upper cell (54) extends in the form of a   handling tongue (52) having a hooking orifice (51).   10. Container according to claim 8, characterized in that the lower cell (58) has the shape of a funnel or the like oriented downwards ending in a pouring conduit (59) initially closed and capable of being opened by rupture or cutting,