Dispensing – Plural sources – compartment – containers and/or spaced jacket
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-19
2003-04-08
Jacyna, J. Casimer (Department: 3751)
Dispensing
Plural sources, compartment, containers and/or spaced jacket
C222S478000, C222S482000, C206S219000, C206S221000, C206S568000, C215SDIG008
Reexamination Certificate
active
06543645
ABSTRACT:
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates, in general, to a device for the mixing of at least two products to form a mixture and for dispensing the mixture obtained. More particularly, the present invention could be embodied in the form of a device for preparing and applying a hair dye product obtained by mixing an oxidizing agent and a dye. The present invention also relates to sampling one of the two products, and a method for sampling one of the two products.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally, in the area of hair dyeing, the devices used for macking such mixtures include a structure having a first reservoir (generally formed by the upper part of the device) containing the oxidizing agent, and a second reservoir (generally formed by the lower part of the device) containing the dye. The first reservoir generally has an orifice equipped with a dispensing tip to allow localized application of the mixture produced. Before the mixing of the two products is performed, the two reservoirs are isolated from one another in a sealed manner by means of a shutter. The shutter may be disengaged automatically by use of an operating member. The device may be obtained by assembling two separate reservoirs made of identical or different materials. Alternatively, the two reservoirs may be molded to form a single piece.
In the area of hair dyeing, it is desirable for the user to be able to perform a strand test so as to make sure that the dye product is not harmful upon contact with her skin. Generally, this may be performed on a small area of the scalp. The conventional design of this type of device, where the dye is located in a second reservoir underneath a first reservoir containing the oxidizing agent, prevents the possibility of withdrawing such a test dose. In particular, the conventional device does not have a directly accessible opening in the second reservoir. In addition, if the dye is located in a reservoir capable of being accessed directly via the dispensing tip, a frangible member (e.g., a break away tab) on the dispensing tip sometimes needs to be removed in order to remove the dye product alone. Hence, often times, a small bottle containing a small amount of the dye product is packaged with the dye device. This small bottle, aside from the additional space it takes up in the final packing of the device, increases the overall cost of the final packaged assembly.
SUMMARY
Therefore, one aspect of the invention relates to a mixing device that makes it possible to solve all or some of the problems discussed hereinabove with reference to the conventional devices.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a mixing device with two superposed compartments that allows a sample to be withdrawn.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a device that allows such a sample to be withdrawn, and which is simple and economical to produce.
Still other aspects of the invention will become apparent in the detailed description which follows. It should be understood that the invention could still be practiced without having one or more of the aspects or features described herein.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a device is provided for mixing at least two products to form a mixture. The device may include a first compartment configured to contain a first product, a second compartment configured to contain a second product, and a sealing arrangement isolating the first compartment from the second compartment when the device is in a storage position. The first compartment may include a dispensing orifice capable of dispensing a mixture of the first product and the second product. The sealing arrangement may be actuatable to place the first compartment and the second compartment in flow communication with one another and thereby enable mixing of the first product and the second product to form the mixture. The second compartment may include a sampling orifice to enable the withdrawal of a sample of the second product from the second compartment prior to the mixing of the first product and the second product. The device may be used to provide extemporaneous mixing of the at least two products.
The sampling orifice for withdrawing the sample may be an orifice distinct from a second orifice in the second compartment. The second orifice may form part of the sealing arrangement which allows the two products to be placed in contact with each other (i.e., an orifice through which the mixing of the products can occur). The second orifice of the second compartment may be generally inaccessible for withdrawal of a sample because of the irreversible mounting of the first compartment with respect to the second compartment. The second orifice may also be inaccessible because the first compartment and second compartment may have been produced as a single piece.
The sampling orifice for withdrawing the sample may be arranged so that the sampling orifice is above the free surface of the product contained in the second compartment. The relative positioning of the sampling orifice can be arranged for various positions of the device, for example, a head-down or a head-up position.
In another aspect, the device may further include a removable closure configured to close the sampling orifice. There are many different types of closures that could be used; for example, the removable closure may be a screw cap.
In yet another aspect, the device may further include at least one passage through which at least one of the first product and the second product passes to enable the mixing of the products. In this aspect, the sampling orifice may be separate from the passage.
In another aspect, the second compartment may be located below the first compartment.
In another aspect, the first and second compartments may be coupled to one another, and the device may be configured such that the sample of the second product may be withdrawn via the sampling orifice while the first compartment and second compartment are coupled to one another.
In still another aspect, the device has a longitudinal axis, and the sampling orifice is along a second axis separate from the longitudinal axis. For example, the second axis may be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. Alternatively, the second axis may define an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, for example, about a 45° angle. The sampling orifice for withdrawing the sample may also be formed along the axis or off the axis of the device, in the bottom of the second compartment. The sample may then be removed when the device has been inverted to a head-down position.
In a further aspect, the device may be configured to permit assembly of the first compartment and the second compartment to one another while substantially preventing disassembly of the first and second compartments. For example, the first compartment and the second compartment may be assembled by screw-fastening or snap-fastening. With such an arrangement, the device may be irreversibly assembled.
In yet another aspect, each of the first compartment and the second compartment may be formed of a single piece of material. For example, the first compartment and the second compartment may be formed of a thermoplastic material. Alternatively, at least one of the first compartment and the second compartment may be formed of glass. The other of the first compartment and the second compartment may be formed of thermoplastic material.
In still another aspect, the first compartment and the second compartment may be formed together as a single piece.
In another aspect, the device may have a longitudinal axis, and the first compartment and the second compartment may be aligned along the longitudinal axis.
In a further aspect, the device may include an adapter configured to be in flow communication with the dispensing orifice to dispense the mixture.
In yet another aspect, the device may include an applicator member configured to pass through the sampling orifice to withdraw the sample.
In another aspect, the device may include an applicator member provided on the closure. Additio
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Jacyna J. Casimer
L'Oreal
LandOfFree
Device and method for sampling and mixing products does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device and method for sampling and mixing products, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device and method for sampling and mixing products will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3022861