Dispensing – Processes of dispensing
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-10
2002-08-06
Kaufman, Joseph A. (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Processes of dispensing
C222S136000, C222S145100, C222S145500, C222S321700, C222S481500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06427870
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a product and selectively varying the concentration of the product over at least a portion of the period of use of the device. The product being dispensed preferably is in the form of a flowable substance and may be of very liquid to less liquid consistency, such as in the form of a cream or of an emulsion.
In the field of cosmetics in particular, it is known to package compositions containing either a homogenous phase or a number of separate phases in a container. In the latter instance, typically after the container has been shaken, the separate phases mix together to form a mixture having substantially constant predetermined concentrations of respective compositions forming the mixture. The concentrations of each of the compositions in the mixture are defined by the initial amounts of the respective compositions disposed in the container. Upon each use of the container to mix and dispense the mixture, the dispensed mixture has the same concentrations of the respective compositions.
In the field of cosmetics, and in other fields such as pharmacy or dermatology, or cleaning and the like, it may be desirable to vary the concentration of the respective compositions, or active ingredients, in a product being dispensed. For example, it may be desired to vary the concentration of an active ingredient in a substantially linear manner, from the start to the end of the treatment for which the product is used. In one example, such variation in concentration may be desired when using sunscreens wherein, in the first days of exposure the protection offered by the sunscreen may be maximal, or even total, and may then decrease gradually after a person has been exposed to the sun for few days. A similar characteristic may be desired for the use of products containing self-tanning ingredients. In using these products, the user may desire a very subtle skin coloring effect during the first use or first few uses, followed by an increasingly pronounced skin coloring effect after a number of uses. Another example of a product in which it may be desirable to vary the concentration over time is a thinning product, which may have an increasingly powerful thinning action as the product is used. Yet another example includes certain treatments for the skin or for the scalp, which, because of the aggressive action of some ingredients they contain, may require application at gradually increasing or decreasing concentrations, before being stabilized at a final substantially constant concentration, so that treatment can be pursued with maximum effectiveness. Other related products that may be optimally utilized in varied concentrations over a time period of application include hair dyes and teeth whiteners.
Such application of products in varying concentrations also may be useful in numerous fields and for numerous uses other than cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and dermatological uses. For example, it may be desirable to provide cleaning solutions, shoe polishes, and clothing dyes having varied concentrations over a time period of use of the product.
Conventional techniques for changing the concentration of a product include providing separate packages for each of the different desired concentrations. The numbers of packages required to span a large spectrum of concentration levels may hinder wide-scale personal use of this type of varied-concentration treatment. Furthermore, a system of separate packages for each discrete concentration allows for only a limited number of different concentrations.
Nonetheless, in the context of such a process for dispensing a composition with variable concentration, it may be desirable to be able, at any time throughout the period of use of the dispenser, for example, at the start of treatment, to be able, for a certain length of time, to keep the concentration of the product being dispensed at a set value. For example, a relatively high concentration of an active ingredient may be desirable in the context of an attacking treatment. In dermatology, a skin treatment based on cortisone generally has a first stage in which a high cortisone concentration is applied. After a few days, depending on the type and severity of the affliction, or depending on the patient's skin type, it may be desirable for the cortisone concentration to be reduced gradually until it reaches a baseline value at the end of the treatment, which value may be relatively much lower than that of the attack stage.
For other types of applications, after a certain time period of dispensing either a gradually increasing or decreasing concentration of effective ingredient, it may be desired to revert back to a substantially constant concentration, and then, optionally, to resume again to a variable-concentration cycle.
One of the optional objects of the present invention is to provide a dispenser which allows the dispensing of a product with the concentration of at least one compound contained in the product varying over the course of use of the dispenser, and which at any moment, such as at the start of treatment or sometime thereafter, and for a length of time chosen as desired, for example as a function of the nature of the product and of the circumstances of the treatment surrounding the application, allows the concentration of various active ingredients or of a particular compound in the product to be stabilized at a substantially constant value.
Another optional object of the invention is to provide a device in which such a variation in concentration is substantially linear, at least over part of the period of use of the dispenser.
Yet another optional object of the invention is to provide such a dispensing device for dispensing a product in varying concentrations such that the concentration of one or more active ingredients or of a particular composition either increases or decreases over a period of use of the dispenser.
Yet another optional object of the invention is to provide a reliable dispensing device having a relatively simple structure that is economical to produce. Optionally, the dispenser may be molded as a single piece.
Otheroptional objects still will become apparent in the detailed description which follows.
The dispenser and methods of dispensing described herein may optionally solve some or all of the problems discussed above with reference to conventional dispensers. It should be understood that the invention could be practiced without performing one or more of the optional objects and/or advantages described above. Certain other optional aspects of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description which follows.
According to an optional embodiment of the invention, a device for dispensing a composition, optionally a cosmetic, pharmaceutical or dermatological composition, comprises a first chamber, or container, containing the composition to be dispensed, a means, capable in response to an actuation command, for dispensing a given volume of the contents from the first chamber, a means for selectively allowing and preventing a flow of air into the first chamber in response to the dispensing of the volume of contents, a second container, or chamber, containing a modifying composition, and a means, in response to reduced pressure in the first chamber, for passing a volume of the modifying composition from the second chamber toward the first chamber. The means for passing a volume of the modifying composition optionally may be in the form of a siphon duct configured to place the first chamber and second chamber in flow communication with each other.
In the case of a composition in the first chamber having a low viscosity, the volume of modifying composition from the second chamber may automatically mix with the composition contained in the first chamber. For a composition of higher viscosity, the device may be shaked in order to improve the homogenization of the product that is to be dispensed.
When the dispensing of a dose from the first chamber is compensated for by a corresponding volume of air intake to the first
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Kaufman Joseph A.
L'Oreal (S.A.)
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