Dispensing – Plural sources – compartment – containers and/or spaced jacket – With discharge assistant for each source
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-19
2004-04-20
Derakshani, Philippe (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Plural sources, compartment, containers and/or spaced jacket
With discharge assistant for each source
C222S402130
Reexamination Certificate
active
06722532
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to devices for dispensing two different fluid substances, such as two different hair dye components, from separate containers in which they are contained, so that the contents of the two containers are simultaneously dispensed. The present invention further relates to such devices that also mix the contents of the containers as they are being dispensed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Numerous devices are known that enable the fluid contents of two separate containers to be dispensed simultaneously and mixed as they are dispensed. For instance, French patent application No. FR-A-2 732 245 describes a dispenser unit comprising a housing and a pushbutton that is depressed to cause the contents of two separate containers to be dispensed. Each container includes a valve that has a hollow stem that is depressed by the pushbutton so as to open the valve and cause the container contents to be dispensed through the stem.
A difficulty with certain known dispenser units is that, because of relatively loose manufacturing tolerances for the containers, the stems may have top ends that are not situated at exactly the same height. This can result in the contents of the two containers not being dispensed simultaneously because the shorter stem may not be sufficiently depressed to open its valve.
There also exists a need for a dispenser unit that is easily modified so that a large number of its component parts can be commonly used with various containers holding different types of contents, thus making it possible to benefit from economies of scale in the manufacture of dispensers.
Other dispenser units have also been proposed, but they are not entirely satisfactory for various reasons. By way of example, mention can be made of U.S. Pat. No. 3,236,457; German patent application DE 100 09 233 A1; European patent application Nos. EP-A-0 313 414; EP-A-0 427 609; and EP-A 0 243 667; British patent No. GB 1 163 978; and French patent application Nos. FR-A-2 598 392 and FR-A-1 413 164.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the above-noted needs and achieves other advantages, by providing a dispenser unit that comprises a housing structured and arranged to receive a pair of containers, an actuator such as a lever or pushbutton movably connected to the housing, and a fluid-conducting member mounted inside the housing and formed separately from and non-rigidly connected to the actuator. The containers can be pressurized and provided with valves that are opened by actuating hollow stems through which the container contents are dispensed, or unpressurized and provided with pumps that are operated by depressing the stems. The housing receives the ends of the containers from which the hollow stems project. The fluid-conducting member has two portions that receive the stems of the containers. When the stems are actuated, the contents in the containers are simultaneously dispensed into at least one passage formed in the fluid-conducting member. The actuator is structured and arranged so that driving it toward a dispensing position causes the fluid-conducting member to actuate the stems to initiate simultaneous dispensing of the container contents. The actuator includes an internal channel through which the container contents flow when being dispensed.
The invention enables satisfactory operation to be achieved in spite of any difference in height between the top ends of the two container stems.
In addition, the way in which the container contents are delivered to the actuator, i.e., whether they are delivered in a mixed state or separately, is easily modified merely by changing the structure of the fluid-conducting member. When the container contents must be mixed together before being dispensed, the actuator can include a flow deflector to promote mixing of the contents so that the mixture is more homogeneous.
In a preferred embodiment, the actuator is formed as a lever pivotally connected to the housing of the unit. Alternatively, the actuator can be a pushbutton that translates in the housing when depressed.
The fluid-conducting member advantageously includes an outlet duct through which the container contents exit in the mixed or separate state, and the actuator advantageously includes a bell-mouth or socket suitable for receiving the outlet duct. The outlet duct and bell-mouth advantageously form a loose connection that is not leakproof when the actuator is not depressed. The connection becomes fluid tight only when the actuator is depressed, thus making it possible to reduce the risks of jamming and of unintended operation.
The outlet duct preferably can be received in the bell-mouth of the actuator so that the fluid-conducting member can pivot about at least one axis relative to the actuator, and preferably about two perpendicular axes, without destroying the fluid-tight connection between the fluid-conducting member and actuator during dispensing of the container contents. Such an arrangement makes it possible to use relatively large manufacturing tolerances for the top ends of the stems.
In a particular embodiment, the housing of the dispenser unit includes internal tabs suitable for snap-fastening on collars formed on the containers.
In a particular embodiment, the actuator is snap-fastened on the housing. More particularly, the dispenser unit can include a slot and the actuator can have a catch at one end suitable for snap-fastening in the slot. The slot is advantageously located close to a wall of the housing against which the actuator abuts when moved in a direction opposite to the direction causing dispensing to take place, such that the actuator is prevented from moving farther in the opposite direction. This arrangement prevents the user from lifting the actuator far enough to gain access to the fluid-conducting member.
When the actuator is pivotally mounted, it is advantageously generally &Ggr;-shaped when viewed in the direction of the pivot axis.
The actuator can be rigid. Preferably, the actuator can have at least one stiffening rib on an inner side, in which case the housing of the dispenser unit can include a recess enabling the stiffening rib to be received when the actuator is moved towards its dispensing position.
The actuator can include a fixing element for receiving a fitted dispenser endpiece. The dispenser endpiece can be fixed on the actuator by screw engagement. In another embodiment, the dispenser endpiece can be fixed on the actuator by snap-fastening, leaving it free to rotate about an axis.
The dispenser endpiece can be straight or bent, depending on whether dispensing is performed with the unit head-down or head-up. The free end of the dispenser endpiece can be chamfered or tapered, to enable it to penetrate more easily into the hair and part the hair.
In a particular embodiment, the fluid-conducting member includes an elongate tubular portion at least one end of which is closed by a nozzle piece whose outlet orifice is closed. The use of a nozzle piece for closing the elongate tubular portion makes it possible to take advantage of the wide availability of low-cost nozzle pieces, thus making it possible to avoid manufacturing a special plug. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid-conducting member has at least one longitudinal stiffening rib formed on the elongate tubular portion.
The dispenser unit can have at least one locking element that is movable between a locking position and a dispensing position, and serving, when in the locking position, to prevent the actuator from moving far enough to cause dispensing to take place. Such a locking element serves to avoid any risk of the container contents being dispensed accidentally while the dispenser is being transported.
In a particular embodiment, the locking element can turn relative to the actuator, being secured to or formed on the dispenser endpiece and being suitable for bearing against the housing of the dispenser unit when in the locking position.
The housing of the dispenser unit can have closure elements fitted to its top portion after the fluid-conducting member has b
Dalsant Giuseppe
Lasserre Pierre-Andre
Sanchez Marcel
Derakshani Philippe
L'Oreal
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