U.S. patent application number 11/517282 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-08 for packaging and dispenser device comprising an endpiece, and a flexible pouch fastened to the endpiece.
This patent application is currently assigned to L'OREAL. Invention is credited to Vincent De Laforcade.
Application Number | 20070051746 11/517282 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37829117 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070051746 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
De Laforcade; Vincent |
March 8, 2007 |
Packaging and dispenser device comprising an endpiece, and a
flexible pouch fastened to the endpiece
Abstract
A packaging and dispenser device may include: a flexible pouch
including a top edge, and a dispenser endpiece onto which the pouch
is fastened. The dispenser endpiece may include: a tubular body
including an axis, and defining at least one inlet orifice and a
dispenser orifice; and two fins that are substantially diametrally
opposite, and that are situated on either side of the tubular body.
Each fin may include at least one tapering portion that includes
two downwardly-converging opposite faces. Each fin may include,
over at least a fraction of its length, a projection forming an
abutment for the top edge of the pouch.
Inventors: |
De Laforcade; Vincent;
(Rambouillet, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLIFF & BERRIDGE, PLC
P.O. BOX 19928
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22320
US
|
Assignee: |
L'OREAL
Paris
FR
|
Family ID: |
37829117 |
Appl. No.: |
11/517282 |
Filed: |
September 8, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60719964 |
Sep 26, 2005 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
222/107 ;
222/572 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/5883 20130101;
B65D 2575/583 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/107 ;
222/572 |
International
Class: |
B65D 35/00 20060101
B65D035/00; B65D 5/72 20060101 B65D005/72 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 8, 2005 |
FR |
05 52714 |
Claims
1. A packaging and dispenser device comprising: a flexible pouch
comprising a top edge, and a dispenser endpiece onto which the
pouch is fastened, the dispenser endpiece comprising: a tubular
body including an axis, and defining at least one inlet orifice and
a dispenser orifice; and two fins that are substantially
diametrally opposite, and that are situated on either side of the
tubular body, each fin including at least one tapering portion that
includes two downwardly-converging opposite faces, wherein each fin
includes over at least a fraction of a length thereof a projection
forming an abutment for the top edge of the pouch.
2. A device according to claim 1, the projection comprising a rib
that extends over at least a fraction of a top edge of the
fins.
3. A device according to claim 1, wherein each of the fins includes
at least one oblique portion including a longitudinal axis that
extends obliquely relative to the axis of the tubular body.
4. A device according to claim 1, wherein each of the fins includes
at least one perpendicular portion including a longitudinal axis
that extends perpendicularly relative to the axis of the tubular
body.
5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the pouch comprises two
opposite walls that are heat-sealed together, and that define an
inside space for containing a composition, the fins being isolated
from the inside space over at least a fraction of their length by a
zone in which the walls of the pouch are heat-sealed together.
6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the fins are isolated
from the inside space over an entire length thereof by the zone in
which the walls of the pouch are heat-sealed together.
7. A device according to claim 5, wherein the zone extends
underlying a longitudinal bottom edge of each of the fins.
8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the fins generally extend
downward.
9. A device according to claim 1, wherein each fin includes at
least one portion comprising two opposite faces that downwardly
converge along a direction parallel to the axis of the tubular
body.
10. A device according to claim 1, wherein each fin includes, over
at least a fraction of a top edge thereof, two ribs.
11. A device according to claim 10, wherein each rib defines a
shoulder with a corresponding face of the fin.
12. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one fin extends
in a radial direction over a distance that is greater than 10
mm.
13. A device according to claim 1, wherein each of the fins
includes an end portion that tapers away from the tubular body of
the endpiece.
14. A device according to claim 1, wherein the tubular body
includes a collar.
15. A device according to claim 14, wherein distal ends of the fins
are further from the axis of the tubular body than is the
collar.
16. A device according to claim 14, wherein the body includes a
threaded neck that extends between the collar and the dispenser
orifice.
17. A device according to claim 1, further comprising rounded
junctions between the fins and the tubular body, beside the inlet
orifice.
18. A device according to claim 14, wherein the collar includes at
least one flat that is substantially parallel to the fins.
19. A device according to claim 14, wherein the collar includes two
diametrally opposite flats that are substantially parallel to the
fins.
20. A device according to claim 1, wherein the fins are
substantially rectilinear.
21. A device according to claim 1, wherein each fin includes a
downwardly-directed bend.
22. A device according to claim 1, wherein the pouch is heat-sealed
on the endpiece.
23. A device according to claim 22, wherein the pouch comprises two
opposite main walls that are heat-sealed on the fins.
24. A device according to claim 1, wherein longitudinal edges of
the pouch are further from the axis of the tubular body than are
distal ends of the fins.
25. A device according to claim 1, wherein longitudinal edges of
the pouch are closer to the axis of the tubular body than are
distal ends of the fins.
26. A device according to claim 1, wherein the pouch comprises a
composite sheet.
27. A device according to claim 1, wherein the pouch comprises a
metal layer.
28. A device according to claim 1, wherein the pouch contains a
composition that must not be exposed to air during storage.
29. A device according to claim 1, wherein the pouch contains a
hair colorant.
30. A device according to claim 1, wherein the
downwardly-converging faces of each fin extend over a major
fraction of the tapering portion.
31. A device according to claim 1, wherein the
downwardly-converging faces extend over substantially an entire
height of the tapering portion.
32. An endpiece for a packaging and applicator device as defined in
claim 1.
33. A packaging and dispenser device comprising: a flexible pouch,
and a dispenser endpiece onto which the pouch is fastened, the
dispenser endpiece comprising: a tubular body including an axis,
and defining at least one inlet orifice and a dispenser orifice;
and two fins that are substantially diametrally opposite, and that
are situated on either side of the tubular body, each fin
comprising at least one portion including a longitudinal axis that
extends obliquely relative to the axis of the tubular body, the at
least one portion including two opposite faces that converge along
a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and away from
the dispenser orifice.
34. A packaging and dispenser device comprising: a flexible pouch,
and a dispenser endpiece onto which the pouch is fastened, the
dispenser endpiece comprising: a tubular body including an axis,
and defining at least one inlet orifice and a dispenser orifice;
and two fins that are substantially diametrally opposite, and that
are situated on either side of the tubular body, each fin
comprising at least one portion including a longitudinal axis that
extends obliquely relative to the axis of the tubular body, the at
least one portion including two opposite faces that converge along
a direction parallel to the axis of the tubular body and away from
the dispenser orifice.
35. A packaging and dispenser device comprising: a flexible pouch,
and an endpiece onto which the pouch is fastened, the endpiece
comprising: a tubular body including an axis, and defining at least
one inlet orifice and a dispenser orifice, and two fins that are
substantially diametrally opposite, and that are situated on either
side of the tubular body, each fin comprising a longitudinal top
edge and a longitudinal bottom edge and at least a portion that
includes two opposite faces converging from the longitudinal top
edge toward the longitudinal bottom edge, the pouch comprising two
opposite walls that are heat-sealed together, and that define an
inside space for containing a composition, the fins being isolated
from the inside space of the pouch over at least fraction of a
length thereof by a zone in which the walls are heat-sealed
together.
Description
[0001] This non provisional application claims the benefit of
French Application No. 05 52714 filed on Sep. 8, 2005 and U.S.
Provisional application Ser. No. 60/719,964 filed on Sep. 26, 2005,
the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
[0002] The present invention relates to a packaging and dispenser
device comprising an endpiece made of plastics material, and to a
flexible pouch fastened to the endpiece.
BACKGROUND
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,466 discloses an example of an endpiece
comprising a tubular body, a collar, and below said collar, two
diametrally-opposite fins presenting constant thickness in the
axial direction, and tapering in the radial direction.
[0004] When the endpiece includes a threaded neck in order to
receive a cap, the consumer must grip the cap with one hand, and
the pouch with the other, and turn one relative to the other in
order to unscrew the cap.
[0005] Since the pouch is not rigid, twisting occurs below the cap,
which twisting deforms the pouch giving it an unattractive twisted
appearance, and makes the device awkward to use.
[0006] One solution for remedying that problem can consist in
making, below the collar, a wide hollow portion of lenticular
cross-section, the opposite walls of the flexible pouch being
fastened to the long sides of the wide hollow portion.
[0007] Such a solution presents the drawback of leaving a certain
amount of composition inside the wide hollow portion that is
difficult to extract from the pouch.
[0008] In addition, the plastics material of the endpiece presents
a certain amount of permeability to air, and the relatively large
exchange area can degrade preservation of the composition contained
in the pouch.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,167 discloses an endpiece that also
includes two diametrally-opposite fins tapering in the radial
direction. Such an endpiece does not solve, in entirely
satisfactory manner, the problem of gas exchange through the
plastics material of the endpiece, and it makes it difficult to
empty the pouch completely because of the possibility of
composition accumulating below the endpiece.
[0010] US 2003/0172950 describes an endpiece including two fins
provided with recesses for achieving a saving in material.
SUMMARY
[0011] Consequently, there exists a need to benefit from a
packaging and dispenser device in which the endpiece is easy to
fasten to the pouch with a relative accurate positioning, which is
easy to use, for example when unscrewing the cap, and which also
provides satisfactory emptying of the pouch, as well as good
preservation from air, when the composition contained in said pouch
is sensitive to oxidizing.
[0012] In one of its aspects, the invention provides a packaging
and dispenser device comprising a flexible pouch, and a dispenser
endpiece onto which the pouch is fastened, the dispenser endpiece
comprising: [0013] a tubular body having an axis, and defining at
least one inlet orifice and a dispenser orifice; and [0014] two
fins that are substantially diametrally opposite, and that are
situated on either side of the body, each fin having at least one
axially-tapering portion that tapers in the axial direction going
away from the dispenser orifice. The fins may include, over at
least a fraction of their length, i.e. along their longitudinal
axis, downwardly-converging opposite faces, said faces possibly
extending over a major fraction of the height of said portion, or
indeed over substantially the entire height of the fins.
[0015] The fins may also include over at least a fraction of their
length at least one projection forming on abutment for a top edge
of the pouch. The pouch may thus easily be fastened in a relative
accurate way to the endpiece. This projection may define a shoulder
or an edge with at least one of the faces of the fins or with both
of them and may include one or several ribs extending over at least
a portion of the top edge of the fins.
[0016] In addition, tapering the fins reduces gas exchange through
the endpiece, as well as the volume of composition likely to remain
trapped in the device at the end of its life.
[0017] The fins may comprise longitudinal top and bottom edges and
at least a portion presenting two opposite faces converging from
the top edge towards the bottom edge.
[0018] In another of its aspects, the invention also provides a
packaging and dispenser device comprising a flexible pouch, and an
endpiece onto which the pouch is fastened, the endpiece comprising
a tubular body, and two diametrally-opposite fins extending from
the tubular body, the pouch comprising two opposite walls that are
heat-sealed together, and that define an inside space for
containing the composition, in which device the fins are isolated
from the inside space of the pouch over at least a fraction of
their length by means of a zone in which the walls are heat-sealed
together.
[0019] The heat-sealing zone isolates the inside space from the
plastics material of the endpiece, thereby making it possible to
reduce the gas exchange through the plastics material of the
endpiece, and improves the emptying of the pouch.
[0020] The fins may advantageously be isolated from the inside
space over their entire length by a zone in which the walls of the
pouch are heat-sealed together. Said zone may extend underlying the
longitudinal bottom edge of the fins.
[0021] The endpiece is thus in contact with the composition only in
the central portion of the body, the fins being completely
integrated in the heat-sealing of the walls of the tube.
[0022] Each of the fins may include at least one oblique portion
having a longitudinal axis extending obliquely relative to the axis
of the tubular body.
[0023] In another exemplary embodiment, each of the fins may
include at least one perpendicular portion having a longitudinal
axis extending perpendicularly relative to the axis of the tubular
body. At least one of the longitudinal top edge, longitudinal
bottom edge or both of them may include a portion extending
perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body.
[0024] When the device is observed with the axis of the body of the
vertical endpiece and the dispenser orifice at the top, the fins
may generally extend downwards.
[0025] The fins may include a portion comprising
downwardly-converging opposite faces converging along a direction
parallel to the axis of the tubular body.
[0026] The fins may or may not be substantially rectilinear, e.g.
each fin may include a downwardly-directed bend.
[0027] Over at least a fraction of its top edge, each fin may
further include two opposite ribs. The top edge of the pouch may
come to bear substantially against the underside(s) of the
rib(s).
[0028] At least one fin may extend in the radial direction over a
distance that is greater than 10 millimeters (mm), so as to make it
easier to unscrew a cap that is mounted on the endpiece.
[0029] Each of the fins may include an end portion that tapers away
from the tubular body.
[0030] The body may include a collar. The distal ends of the fins
may be further from the axis of the body than is the collar.
[0031] The collar may include at least one flat that is
substantially parallel to the fins, and in particular two
diametrally-opposite flats that are substantially parallel to the
fins.
[0032] The body may include a threaded neck extending between the
collar and the dispenser orifice, so as to receive a closure
cap.
[0033] The device may include rounded junctions between the fins
and the tubular body, beside the inlet orifice.
[0034] The pouch may advantageously be heat-sealed on the endpiece,
and it may comprise two opposite main walls that are heat-sealed on
the fins.
[0035] The main walls may advantageously be heat-sealed together
along at least a fraction of the length of the fins, and below said
fins.
[0036] The longitudinal edges of the pouch may be further from the
axis of the body than are the distal ends of the fins. In a
variant, the longitudinal edges of the pouch may be closer to the
axis of the body than are the distal ends of the fins.
[0037] In another of its aspect, the invention provides a packaging
and dispenser device comprising a flexible pouch, and an endpiece
onto which the pouch is fastened, the endpiece comprising a tubular
body having an axis, and defining at least one inlet orifice and a
dispenser orifice, and two fins that are substantially diametrally
opposite, and that are situated on either side of the body, each
fin comprising a longitudinal top edge and longitudinal bottom
edge, and at least a portion presenting two opposite faces
converging from the longitudinal top edge towards the longitudinal
bottom edge, the pouch comprising two opposite walls that are
heat-sealed together, and that define an inside space for
containing the composition, in which device the fins are isolated
from the inside space of the pouch over at least a fraction of
their length, or over their entire length by a zone in which in the
walls are heat-sealed together.
[0038] In another of its aspect, the invention also provides a
packaging and dispenser device comprising a flexible pouch, and an
endpiece onto which the pouch is fastened, the endpiece comprising
a tubular body having an axis, and defining at least one inlet
orifice and a dispenser orifice, and two fins that are
substantially diametrally opposite, and that are situated on either
side of the body, each fin comprising at least one portion having a
longitudinal axis extending obliquely relative to the axis of the
tubular body, this portion presenting two opposite faces converging
downwards, along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis
of said portion.
[0039] In another of its aspect, the invention also provides a
packaging and dispenser device comprising a flexible pouch, and an
endpiece onto which the pouch is fastened, the endpiece comprising
a tubular body having an axis, and defining at least one inlet
orifice and a dispenser orifice, and two fins that are
substantially diametrally opposite, and that are situated on either
side of the body, each fin comprising at least one portion having a
longitudinal axis extending obliquely relative to the axis of the
tubular body, this portion presenting two opposite faces converging
downwards, along a direction parallel to the axis of the tubular
body.
[0040] By way of example, the pouch is made from a heat-sealable
composite sheet, that may include a metal layer.
[0041] By way of example, the pouch contains a composition that
must not be exposed to air during storage, for example a cosmetic
or dermatologic composition. Such a cosmetic composition is for
instance a hair colorant.
[0042] The invention may also provide an endpiece for a packaging
and applicator device as defined above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0043] The invention can be better understood on reading the
following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments thereof,
and on examining the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0044] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view in elevation showing an
example of a device made in accordance with the invention;
[0045] FIG. 2 is a section on II-II of FIG. 1;
[0046] Figure 3 is a diagrammatic cross-section on III-III of FIG.
1;
[0047] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the FIG. 1 endpiece in
isolation;
[0048] FIG. 5 is an axial section of the FIG. 4 endpiece;
[0049] FIG. 6 is a side view of the FIG. 4 endpiece;
[0050] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the FIG. 4 endpiece;
[0051] FIG. 8 is a cross-section on VIII-VIII of FIG. 5;
[0052] FIGS. 9 and 11 are diagrammatic and fragmentary views
similar to FIG. 1, showing variant embodiments of the invention;
and
[0053] FIGS. 10 and 12 are sections on X-X and XII-XII
respectively.
MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0054] FIG. 1 shows a packaging and dispenser device 1 comprising a
flexible pouch 2 that is fastened, at its top, to an endpiece
3.
[0055] The pouch 2 comprises two main walls 4 and 5 that are
heat-sealed together at their periphery, and that are heat-sealed
to the endpiece 3, in such as manner as to form an inside space for
containing the composition, the heat-sealing being represented by a
hatched zone in FIG. 1.
[0056] The endpiece is made of plastics material, e.g. of
polyethylene.
[0057] In the embodiment under consideration, the pouch 2 has two
longitudinal edges 6 that extend along a longitudinal axis X, and a
bottom wall 7 that extends substantially perpendicularly to the
axis X, but other shapes are possible.
[0058] As can be seen in FIG. 4, the endpiece 3 comprises a tubular
body 8 of axis Y, the top of the body including a threaded neck 10
that defines a dispenser orifice 11 for the composition.
[0059] The threaded neck 10 can receive a closure cap, not shown,
that screws onto the endpiece.
[0060] The bottom of the body 8 includes a skirt 13 that defines,
at its bottom end, an inlet orifice 14 for the composition.
[0061] The body 8 includes a collar 15 at the base of the threaded
neck 10.
[0062] The endpiece 3 includes two diametrally-opposite fins each
extending from the skirt 13 along a longitudinal axis Z that slopes
downwards in the embodiment under consideration, and that forms,
relative to the longitudinal axis Y of the body 8, a non-zero angle
.alpha., e.g. close to 80.degree., as shown in FIG. 5.
[0063] In a variant, not shown, the angle .alpha. could be equal to
90.degree..
[0064] In the embodiment under consideration, the fins 20 extend in
rectilinear manner along the axis Z, but this could be otherwise,
as described below.
[0065] As shown in FIG. 8, each fin 20 presents, in cross-section,
a thickness e that tapers downwards, and that includes two main
faces 23 that form between them an angle .beta., which, for
example, lies in the range 5.degree. to 10.degree., e.g. about
8.degree.. The main faces 23 are downwardly-converging along a
direction parallel to the axis Y of the body 8.
[0066] Along its top longitudinal edge, each fin 20 includes two
longitudinal ribs 24, each defining a shoulder 25 with the
corresponding face 23 of the fin. With the ribs 24, the top of each
fin thus forms a flat 27 that slopes downwards a little.
[0067] The distance D between the distal ends 30 of the fins 20 is
much greater than the distance d between the opposite ends 31 of
the collar 15 that is situated in the plane of the fins, thereby
enabling the device to be held securely by the user while the cap
is being unscrewed.
[0068] The fins 20 taper at their distal ends 30, as can be seen in
particular in FIGS. 4 and 6, thereby avoiding damaging the walls of
the pouch. For the same purpose, the bottom and top comers 33 and
34 of each fin are rounded at its distal end.
[0069] Rounded junctions 35 are provided between the skirt 13 and
the longitudinal bottom edges 37 of the fins 20.
[0070] In the embodiment under consideration, the collar 15
includes two diametrally-opposite flats 38 that are substantially
parallel to the longitudinal axes Z of the fins 20.
[0071] When the pouch 2 is assembled with the endpiece 3, the walls
4 and 5 of the pouch are heat-sealed on the skirt 13, and on the
opposite faces 23 of the fins 20, as shown in FIG. 2, and they are
also heat-sealed together below said faces in a zone 40, as shown
in FIG. 2, thereby preventing any accumulation of composition under
the endpiece, and also reducing gas exchange through the endpiece.
This zone 40 in which the walls of the pouch are heat-sealed
together extends underlying the longitudinal bottom edge of the
fins.
[0072] The top edges 41 of the walls 4 and 5 advantageously come to
bear against the edge of the undersides of the ribs 24 of the fins
20, and of the collar 15, the axis Y of the endpiece coinciding
with the axis X of the pouch, in the embodiment under
consideration. The ribs 24 may thus form an abutment against which
the top edge of the walls of the pouch may bear.
[0073] The longitudinal edges 6 can be further from the axis X than
are the distal ends 30 of the fins.
[0074] In a variant, as shown in FIG. 9, the fins 20 can extend
beyond the longitudinal edges 6 of the pouch, said fins presenting
a bent shape with a downwardly-sloping proximal portion 44, and a
distal portion 43 that extends substantially parallel to the axis Y
of the endpiece.
[0075] In such a variant, the walls 4 and 5 of the pouch can be
heat-sealed together below the proximal portion 44, and along a
region 46 adjacent to a distal portion 43, on the inside of the
pouch, as shown in FIG. 10.
[0076] Each distal portion 43 advantageously presents a side 45
that tapers towards the axis Y, so as to make it easier to assemble
the walls 4 and 5 in the zone 46.
[0077] The ribs 24 need not extend over the entire length of the
proximal portion 44 of the fins.
[0078] In another variant, shown in FIG. 11, the fins 20 present a
bent shape, but their radially outermost edge is nearer to the axis
Y than are the longitudinal edges 6 of the pouch, thereby making it
possible to assemble the walls 4 and 5 on either side of each
distal portion 43, not only along a zone 46 situated on the inside,
but also along an assembly zone 49 situated on the outside, as can
be seen in FIG. 12.
[0079] The distal portion 43 advantageously presents a shape that
tapers both inwards and outwards, so as to make it easier to
assemble the walls 4 and 5.
[0080] Naturally, the invention is not limited to a particular
shape of pouch, and said pouch could be elongate to a greater or
lesser extent, the terms "pouch" and "tube" being considered as
being synonymous in the present application.
[0081] In all of the embodiments described, the ribs 24 could be
omitted.
[0082] The pouch could be made from various different materials,
and in particular from a composite sheet.
[0083] By way of example, such a sheet could be a multi-layer
laminate comprising: [0084] a metal layer, e.g. made from aluminum,
or from an alloy containing aluminum; [0085] an adhesive agent on
one side of the metal layer, e.g. comprising a copolymer containing
at least 7% by weight of carboxylic and/or carboxylate motifs, the
carboxylic motifs possibly being in the form of acid; and [0086] a
layer of a non-metallic material that is connected to the metal
layer via the adhesive agent, e.g. a thermoplastic material,
preferably polymer, e.g. polyethylene.
[0087] By way of example, the carboxylate motif is an acrylate or
methacrylate motif, e.g. ethyl acrylate. By way of example, the
carboxylic motif is an acrylic or methacrylic acid. The copolymer
could contain at least a second monomer presenting an alkyl motif
having an alkyl chain that contains 2 to 10 carbon atoms.
[0088] By way of example, the adhesive agent is a copolymer of
ethyl acrylate and ethylene, or of acrylic acid and ethylene.
[0089] By way of example, the adhesive agent could contain 7% to
19%, more particularly 8% to 11%, or even 8.5% to 10.5%, and
preferably 9.7% by weight of an acrylic acid, or of an acrylic
ester.
[0090] The composite structure could include a second outer
structure next to the metal layer, this outer structure possibly
being made from a thermoplastic material, in particular polymer,
e.g. polyethylene terephthalate, for defining the outer surface of
the pouch. This outer structure could be secured to the metal layer
by means of a layer of a second adhesive agent, in particular a
polyurethane-based adhesive.
[0091] Other composite-sheet structures are possible.
[0092] The packaging device could contain a cosmetic or
dermatological product such as a hair colorant that must not be
exposed to air during storage. By way of example, the composition
is a composition containing at least one alkaline agent that is
selected, for example, from ammonia, and/or ethanolamine, and/or
sodium silicate, and could, for example, contain at least one
oxidizing base, and possibly at least one coupling agent, and one
or more direct colorants.
[0093] The expression "comprising a" should be understood as being
synonymous with "comprising at least one", unless specified to the
contrary.
[0094] Although the present invention herein has been described
with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood
that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles
and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be
understood that numerous modifications may be made to the
illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *