FR3060541A1 - DEVICE FOR PACKAGING AND DISPENSING A PRODUCT, ESPECIALLY COSMETIC - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (1) for packaging and dispensing a product, in particular a cosmetic product, comprising: - a container (10) containing the product, - a dispensing head (20) fixed to the container, comprising: a body provided with at least one product inlet and at least one dispensing orifice; ○ a movable part (30,31) having a product accumulation chamber (31) movable manually relative to the body at least between a product loading position where the product can flow from the container to the chamber through the inlet port, and a dispensing position where the movable part closes the inlet port and where the chamber communicates with the dispensing orifice.

Description

© Publication number: 3,060,541 (to be used only for reproduction orders) © National registration number: 16 62831 ® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

COURBEVOIE © Int Cl ⁸ : B 65 D 47/00 (2017.01), B 65 D 83/00, A45D 34/04, 40/26

A1 PATENT APPLICATION

©) Date of filing: 20.12.16. (© Priority: (© Applicant (s): L'OREAL Société anonyme— FR. @ Inventor (s): BAUDELOT CAMILLE. ®) Date of public availability of the request: 06.22.18 Bulletin 18/25. ©) List of documents cited in the preliminary search report: See the end of this booklet (© References to other related national documents: (® Holder (s): L'OREAL Société anonyme. ©) Extension request (s): © Agent (s): CABINET NONY.

(ri4) DEVICE FOR PACKAGING AND DISPENSING A PRODUCT, ESPECIALLY COSMETIC.

FR 3,060,541 - A1 (ri /) The present invention relates to a device (1) for packaging and dispensing a product, in particular a cosmetic product, comprising:

- A container (10) containing the product,

- a dispensing head (20) fixed to the container, comprising:

O a body provided with at least one product inlet orifice and at least one dispensing orifice,

O a mobile part (30,31) having a product accumulation chamber (31), manually movable relative to the body at least between a product loading position where the product can flow from the container to the chamber through the inlet orifice, and a dispensing position where the movable part closes the inlet orifice and where the chamber communicates with the dispensing orifice.

The present invention relates to devices for packaging and dispensing a fluid product, in particular a pulverulent product.

For certain uses, it may be desirable to be able to dose the quantity of product taken from a container.

Packaging and application devices have already been proposed allowing metered distribution.

Applications CA 2062956, LR 2777867 and LR2627750 disclose devices suitable for the metered distribution of a liquid taken from the bottom of the container by a dip tube; however, these devices are not suitable for dosing a powdery substance.

Application CA 2032494 discloses a device comprising a dispensing head having a metering chamber equipped at the outlet orifice with a normally closed valve and on which the user can act to dispense the contents of the metering chamber.

Application LR 2641760 describes a container equipped with a removable dosing cap provided with an internal baffle for distributing granules in a limited manner. Such a device is ill-suited to dispensing a finely divided powdery product.

DE 2939124 discloses a machine on a frame, for distributing granules, comprising a hopper and a mechanism for transporting doses driven via an industrial electric geared motor.

There therefore remains a need to benefit from a packaging and distribution device making it possible to distribute a dose of a fluid product, in particular a pulverulent product, in a relatively simple and economical manner.

The invention achieves this objective thanks to a device for packaging and distributing a product, comprising:

- A container containing the product,

- a dispensing head fixed on the container, comprising:

o a body provided with at least one product inlet orifice and at least one dispensing orifice, o a movable part having a product accumulation chamber, also called dosing chamber, manually movable relative to the body at less between a product loading position where the product can flow from the container to the chamber through the inlet port, and a dispensing position where the movable part closes the inlet port and where the chamber communicates with the dispensing orifice.

The movable part can be manually driven relative to the body, for example with one hand, while the other hand holds the container.

The invention provides a particularly attractive and effective means for the consumer to dispense a predefined dose of the product contained in the container.

According to other advantageous characteristics of the invention, considered in isolation or in combination:

the movable part can be moved in rotation between the loading and dispensing positions, in particular around an axis of rotation perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the container, the rotational travel of the movable part between the loading and dispensing positions being preferably between 30 and 120 °;

- the movable part closes the dispensing orifice when it is in the loading position;

- The body is provided with an opening, in particular in the form of a slot, traversed by an actuating member of the movable part, the loading and dispensing positions being preferably defined by abutment of the actuating member against an edge of the opening;

- The chamber is defined at least in part by a wall which is sufficiently transparent to allow the level of product to appear therein;

- the body has an annular part inside which the movable part moves; the movable part is for example fixed by snap-fastening in this fixed annular part;

- The chamber is at least partially delimited by a tubular wall, in particular a tubular wall with an axis coincident with a longitudinal axis of the container when the movable part is in the loading position;

- The mobile part includes an annular part, in particular of axis coinciding with an axis of rotation of the mobile part when the latter is mobile in rotation;

- The chamber is defined at least partially by a tubular wall extending in a diametrical direction inside the movable annular part;

- The chamber has an elongated shape along a longitudinal axis, being open at one end and closed at the opposite end by an end wall, the latter providing space with an area opposite the movable annular part;

- The metering chamber is at least partially delimited by a cylindrical wall, in particular of axis coinciding with the axis of rotation of the mobile part when the latter is mobile in rotation;

- The cylindrical wall is in contact at its periphery with the body of the dispensing head; as a variant, the metering chamber is delimited at least partially by a wall forming with the body of the dispensing head a quasi-annular space;

- The device comprises a means making it possible to modify the volume of the metering chamber, in particular an endpiece fixed in an adjustable manner on the body of the metering chamber or an endpiece chosen from several modifying differently the volume of the metering chamber; this nozzle can serve, if necessary, as an actuating member for moving the movable part relative to the body of the dispensing head;

- the container counteracts a powdery product;

- the device is portable, and can be held with one hand;

- the container is only opened at its end equipped with the dispensing head, the movable part being able to assume a position where it closes the container. In particular, the container may have at the top a neck on which the dispensing head is mounted.

The subject of the invention is also a method of distributing a product using a device according to the invention, comprising the steps consisting in:

- Position the mobile part in the filling position of the dosing chamber,

- fill the dosing chamber with the desired quantity of product,

- manually move the mobile part in distribution configuration,

- evacuate the contents of the dosing chamber.

The filling of the dosing chamber can be done by gravity, as can its emptying. Where appropriate, the user acts on an element making it possible to modify the internal volume of the metering chamber, such as a nozzle mounted on a wall at least partially delimiting the metering chamber.

The mobile part can be moved alternately between the filling and emptying positions.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, examples of non-limiting implementation thereof, and on examining the appended drawing, in which:

- Figure 1 shows schematically, in elevation, an example of a device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 represents in perspective the dispensing head of the device of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 represents the dispensing head in the product dispensing configuration,

FIG. 4 is a section along IV-IV of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a section along V-V in FIG. 3,

FIGS. 6A and 6B show a variant of the dispensing head allowing adjustment of the dispensed dose, and

- Figures 7 to 9 are views similar to Figure 1, other alternative embodiments.

The packaging and dispensing device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 comprises a container 10 containing the product to be dispensed and a dispensing head 20 fixed on the container 10.

The container 10 is of longitudinal axis X and comprises for example in the upper part a neck on which the head 20 is fixed, by screwing or snapping or otherwise.

The head 20 comprises a body 21 which comprises a mounting skirt 23 and a fixed annular part 25.

The mounting skirt 23 is used to fix the head 20 on the container 10. Alternatively, the head mounting skirt 20 is hidden by an outer skirt which serves to dress the neck of the container.

The body 21 has an inlet orifice 26 which is for example of axis X as illustrated in FIG. 5, and opens onto the interior space of the container, containing the product to be dispensed.

The head 20 comprises a movable annular part 30 which is disposed inside the fixed annular part 25 and which can rotate relative to the latter around an axis of rotation Y perpendicular to the axis X in the example considered. .

The movable annular part 30 carries a metering chamber 31 which extends over a diameter over a distance corresponding to approximately% of the internal diameter of the movable annular part 30 in the example illustrated.

The metering chamber 31 is in the form of a tubular body, closed at its free end by a dome 32.

The fixed annular part 25 has a slot 27 through which extends an actuating member 33 molded with the mobile annular part 30, allowing a user to rotate the mobile part 30 relative to the fixed part 25, between two positions extremes in which the actuating member 33 abuts against a corresponding end of the slot 27, namely a loading position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a dispensing position shown in FIG. 3.

In the dispensing position, the metering chamber 21 is aligned with a dispensing orifice 28 formed in the fixed annular part 25.

The fixed 25 and mobile 30 parts can cooperate so as to allow rotation around the Y axis of the mobile part 30 while having the mobile part 30 retained in the fixed part 25. For this purpose, the fixed and mobile parts can have cooperating reliefs, for example one or more annular ribs 38 snapped into one or more corresponding annular grooves 29, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

The product contained in the container 10 is for example a powdery cosmetic product, for example a hair care product.

Preferably, the entire mobile part 30 is made of a transparent plastic material, which allows the user to view the filling and emptying of the metering chamber. As a variant, only the metering chamber is made at least partially from a transparent plastic material.

To use the device 1, the user begins by positioning the opening of the metering chamber 31 opposite the intake orifice 26, as illustrated in FIG. 1, then turns the container 10 over, so that the product flows by gravity into the metering chamber 31.

Then, still having the container 10 held upside down, the user turns the movable part 30 with his fingers relative to the fixed part to close the orifice 26.

In the example considered, the dispensing orifice 28 is oriented along a Z axis which makes an alpha angle of approximately 60 ° with the X axis, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Thus, the user can close the inlet 26 by turning the movable part about halfway, or about 30 °. The metering chamber 31 is then closed by the fixed annular part 25.

To dispense the dose of product contained in the metering chamber 31, the user brings the opening of the latter facing the dispensing orifice 28, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The dispensing orifice 28 being oriented upwards when the X axis is vertical, the product contained in the metering chamber 31 does not flow from the latter until the container 10 is inclined downward. to cause the product to leave by gravity the metering chamber 31 by flowing through the orifice 28.

In the example of FIGS. 1 to 5, the actuating member 33 is located in the extension of the metering chamber 31 but the two are separated by a space 60, as shown in FIG. 1 in particular.

In the variant illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the metering chamber 31 is connected to the actuating member 33. The latter can be in the form of a nozzle which is removably fixed to the tubular body of the metering chamber 31, being for example screwed to the end thereof.

The endpiece 33 is movable relative to the tubular body of the metering chamber 31, between a position where the endpiece is screwed to the maximum to minimize the internal volume of the metering chamber used to receive the product, and a position where the tip is unscrewed to the maximum, to maximize the internal volume of the dosing chamber.

Thus, by more or less screwing the end piece 33, the user can adjust the internal volume of the metering chamber and the dose of product dispensed.

In a variant, there are several different end pieces for the same tubular body of the metering chamber which, when mounted on the tubular body of the metering chamber, penetrate more or less into it respectively or extend it more or less, so that the accumulated dose can be varied by choosing the corresponding tip.

In the variant illustrated in FIG. 7, the movable part 30 is actuated by maneuvering the metering member 31, which extends diametrically inside the movable part 30.

In this variant, the fixed annular part 25 no longer includes the slot 27 and the angular travel of the mobile part 30 can be carried out without being limited, over 360 °.

In a variant not illustrated, the metering member is partitioned internally, for example at a quarter or a third of its length, to define two compartments of different internal volumes, making it possible to selectively distribute two different doses according to the compartment that is charge.

The variant of FIG. 8 differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5 by the shape of the metering member, which is no longer entirely tubular with an axis extending along a diameter of the movable part, but partially tubular , with a neck 31a extending along a diameter and opening onto a cylindrical chamber 31b, of axis coinciding with the axis of rotation of the movable part 30, which defines most of the internal volume of the metering member.

The operation is also similar to that of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5.

In the variant of FIG. 8, the chamber 31b defines an annular space with the fixed annular part 25, this space being crossed by the neck 31a.

In the variant of FIG. 9, this space is reduced to nothing and the neck 31a removed. The internal volume of the metering chamber occupies substantially all of the space inside the movable annular part 30.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described.

The invention is thus not limited to the distribution of a cosmetic, make-up or care product, and applies to the distribution of any fluid product, preferably powdery.

The dispensing head can be provided with a dispensing cannula, if necessary, connecting at its base to the fixed annular part and defining at its free end the dispensing orifice.

The dispensing head may include marks making it easier to adjust the position of the movable part relative to the fixed part, for example along the slot 27. These marks can be associated, where appropriate, with one or more hard points, the crossing is felt by the user when he operates the moving part.

The dosing chamber may have graduations or indications concerning its filling level.

Where appropriate, the metering chamber is removably attached to the movable part; it is then possible to propose for the same movable part of the dispensing head several sizes of metering chambers, corresponding to different respective doses.

Claims (11)

1. Device (1) for packaging and distributing a product, in particular a cosmetic, comprising: - A container (10) containing the product, - a dispensing head (20) fixed to the container, comprising: o a body provided with at least one orifice (26) for admitting the product and at least one dispensing orifice (28), o a movable part (30, 31) having a chamber (31) for accumulating product, manually movable relative to the body at least between a product loading position where the product can flow from the container to the chamber through the inlet port, and a dispensing position where the movable part closes the inlet port and where the chamber communicates with the distribution port. 2. Device according to claim 1, the movable part being movable in rotation between the loading and distribution positions, in particular around an axis of rotation (Y) perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (X) of the container, the stroke in rotation of the movable part between the loading and distribution positions preferably being between 30 and 120 °. 3. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, the movable part (30,31) closing the dispensing orifice (28) when it is in the loading position. 4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the body (21) being provided with an opening (27) traversed by an actuating member (33) of the movable part, the loading and distribution positions being preferably defined by abutment of the actuating member against an edge of the opening. 5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the chamber being defined at least in part by a wall (31) sufficiently transparent to reveal the level of product therein. 6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the body (21) comprising an annular part (25) inside which the movable part (30,31) moves. 7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the chamber being delimited at least partially by a tubular wall (31), in particular a tubular wall of axis coinciding with a longitudinal axis (X) of the container when the movable part is in loading position. 8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the movable part comprising an annular part (30), in particular of axis coinciding with an axis of 5 rotation (Y) of the movable part when the latter is movable in rotation. 9. Device according to claims 2, 7 and 8, the chamber being defined at least partially by a tubular wall (31) extending in a diametrical direction inside the movable annular part (30). 10. A method of distributing a product using a device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps consisting in: - Position the mobile part (30) in the filling position of the chamber (31), - fill the chamber (31) with the desired quantity of product, - manually moving the mobile part (30) in the distribution configuration, 15 - evacuate the contents of the chamber (31). 2/3