Dispensing – Processes of dispensing
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-07
2003-08-26
Kaufman, Joseph A. (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Processes of dispensing
C222S081000, C222S094000, C222S145500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06609634
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a device and related methods for the separate storage and joint dispensing of two products that are to be mixed together only at the time of use. At least one of the products may be in the form of a liquid, or in a more viscous form, such as in the form of a cream or of a paste, for example. Such a device may be used, although not exclusively, in the field of cosmetics, and particularly in the field of hair coloration, for example. The dispensing device also may be useful in other fields requiring the mixing of two products only upon use, such as in the field of two-part adhesives, for example.
BACKGROUND
In the field of hair coloration, some formulations are prepared from the extemporaneous mixing of a coloring part and an oxidizing part. The coloring part may itself be prepared from the extemporaneous mixing of two components, one of which may generally be in the form of a cream and the other of which, also known as a “booster”, may be in liquid form.
Many conventional devices are designed for carrying out a more or less automatic extemporaneous mixing of two components intended for preparing a composition, particularly a hair composition. Such devices may be well-suited to handling liquid components. They generally are less suitable when one of the components is in the form of a cream.
Preparing the coloring part of the hair coloring formulation referenced above may require close adherence to precise respective dosages of the two components from which it is prepared. If such dosages are not adhered to, there may be a significant impact on the color obtained. One solution, therefore, may be to provide the consumer with only the amount needed for a single use. In this case, the consumer empties the entire contents of each of the containers containing each of the compounds. The respective dosages may thus be adhered to. However, there may be a need for coloring kits that can be used in several stages, without thereby increasing the number of packages, which, from an economical point of view and from an environmental-protection point of view, may be undesirable.
An optional aspect of the invention may be to produce a device which, in a unit assembly, makes it possible to separately store two products with a view to extemporaneously mixing them during dispensing and wherein the dispensing may be broken down into several stages, with the two products being kept separate in the device throughout the life of the products.
Another optional aspect of the present invention may be to provide a device that may make it possible for the two products to be dispensed in relatively precise respective dosages that can be substantially repeated upon each use.
A further optional aspect of the invention may be to produce a device which is both economical to produce and/or simple to use.
Other optional aspects will become apparent in the description which follows.
The inventive devices and methods of dispensing that will be described herein may optionally solve some or all of the problems discussed above with reference to conventional dispensing devices and methods. It should be understood that the invention could be practiced without performing one or more of the optional aspects and/or advantages described above.
SUMMARY
According to an optional aspect of the invention, a dispensing device comprises a first container defining a first reservoir configured to hold a first product and a second container at least partially surrounding the first container. The first container and the second container may define therebetween a second reservoir configured to hold a second product. The device may further comprise an outlet configured to permit flow of the first product and the second product from the device, and a flow control member moveable from a first position in which the flow control member prevents flow of the first product from the first reservoir, to a second position in which the flow control member permits flow of the first product from the first reservoir. A closure may be configured to be placed in a storage position in which the closure prevents flow of product through the outlet and prevents flow of the first product from the first reservoir.
Optionally, in the storage position, the closure may be configured to prevent flow communication between the first reservoir and the second reservoir. The first reservoir and the second reservoir may also be in flow communication with each other when the closure is moved from the storage position and the flow control member is in the second position.
According to yet another optional aspect of the invention, a dispensing device comprises a first container defining a first reservoir configured to hold a first product and a second container at least partially surrounding the first container. The first container and the second container may define therebetween a second reservoir configured to hold a second product. The dispensing device may further comprise an outlet configured to permit flow of the first product and the second product from the device and a flow control member moveable from a first position in which the flow control member prevents flow communication between the first reservoir and the second reservoir, to a second position in which the flow control member permits flow communication between the first reservoir and the second reservoir. A closure may be configured to be placed in a storage position in which the closure prevents flow of product through the outlet and prevents flow communication between the first reservoir and the second reservoir.
Optionally, flow communication between the first reservoir and the second reservoir may be prevented when one of the closure is in the storage position and the flow control member is in the first position. Also optionally, in the storage position, the closure may be configured to prevent flow of the first product from the first reservoir.
Movement of the closure to the storage position at least prior to a first use of the device for dispensing the first and second products optionally places the flow control member in the second position. Also optionally, when the closure is in the storage position, the closure may be configured to prevent flow of the first product via the flow control member when the flow control member is in the second position.
Movement of the closure to and from the storage position may be reversible. The dispensing device, according to another optional aspect of the invention, comprises an opening associated with the first container for flowing the first product from the first reservoir. The flow control member may be configured to close the opening in the first position. Optionally, the flow control member comprises a solid portion configured to close the opening when the flow control member is in the first position. As another option, the flow control member defines at least one passage, the at least one passage providing flow communication between the first reservoir and the second reservoir when the flow control member is in the second position. The flow control member also optionally comprises an annular rim configured to abut a free edge of the first container defining the opening when the flow control member is in the second position.
The dispensing device may further comprise an opening associated with the first container for flowing the first product from the first reservoir. The opening may be disposed at an axial position differing from the axial position of the outlet.
At least prior to a first use of the device for dispensing the first and second products, the closure may optionally be spaced from the flow control member. The opening optionally may be configured to be closed at least partially by the closure when the closure is in the storage position. The closure may include a stopper portion configured to plug the opening and a skirt portion surrounding the stopper portion. The skirt portion optionally covers the outlet when the closure is in the storage position. Also as an option, the skirt port
Bourjal Laure
De Laforcade Vincent
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner LLP
Kaufman Joseph A.
L'Oreal (S.A.)
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