U.S. patent number 3,698,453 [Application Number 05/098,359] was granted by the patent office on 1972-10-17 for device for storing two liquids separately and dispensing them simultaneously under pressure.
This patent grant is currently assigned to L'Oreal. Invention is credited to Yves Hardouin, Bruno Morane, Charles Paoletti.
United States Patent |
3,698,453 |
Morane , et al. |
October 17, 1972 |
DEVICE FOR STORING TWO LIQUIDS SEPARATELY AND DISPENSING THEM
SIMULTANEOUSLY UNDER PRESSURE
Abstract
Storage and dispensing device comprises a storage container for
holding one liquid under pressure and a dispensing container in
which another liquid is stored. The two containers are connected by
a connecting tube along which one of the containers is axially
slidable. Such sliding movement opens valves on both containers, so
that liquid from the pressurized storage container is driven into
the dispensing container, which is then separated from the tube and
storage container and used as a dispenser.
Inventors: |
Morane; Bruno (Paris,
FR), Paoletti; Charles (Aulnay-Sous-Bois,
FR), Hardouin; Yves (Survilliers, FR) |
Assignee: |
L'Oreal (Paris,
FR)
|
Family
ID: |
9060777 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/098,359 |
Filed: |
December 15, 1970 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/349; 222/136;
222/153.11; 141/20 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
83/682 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
83/14 (20060101); B65d 083/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;141/20,348,349
;222/135,136,153 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Reeves; Robert B.
Assistant Examiner: Kocovsky; Thomas E.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In combination with a pair of storage containers for storing
separately two products which are to be dispensed simultaneously,
each of said containers being provided with a valve having an
externally projecting outlet tube which opens said valve when
depressed, and each being provided with an external abutment, the
improved means for connecting said containers which comprises:
a rigid cylindrical connecting member having snap fastening means
at one end thereof shaped and dimensioned to snap over the abutment
means on one of said containers, and removable fastening means at
the other end of said connecting member for detachably engaging the
abutment means on the other of said containers, said connecting
member serving to hold said containers in a fixed position relative
to each other when said fastening means are in engagement with said
abutments, but to permit said containers to be forced toward each
other along the axis of said connecting member when said removable
fastening means is detached, and
a transfer spigot slidably mounted inside the connecting member
between said containers, said spigot simultaneously engaging the
outlet tubes of the two valves of the two containers and defining a
duct bringing said outlet tubes into communication with each other
when said containers occupy said fixed position, said spigot being
dimensioned to depress said outlet tubes and thereby open said
valves when said containers are forced toward each other.
2. The combination claimed in claim 1 in which one of said
containers is a storage container holding one of said products
under the pressure of a pressurizing gas and the other is a
dispensing container holding the other product under a pressure
less than that in said storage container.
3. Device as claimed in claim 2 essentially characterized by the
fact that the spigot is conical in shape with its base toward the
dispensing container.
4. Device as claimed in claim 2 in which the part of the spigot
near the storage container is provided with a projection adapted to
abut the wall of said storage container after movement of the
spigot for a limited distance within the connecting member.
5. Device as claimed in claim 2 in which the pressurizing gas in
the storage container is nitrogen.
6. Device as claimed in claim 2 in which the storage container
holds an oxidation hair dye whereas the dispensing container holds
a liquid oxidizing composition.
7. Device as claimed in claim 2 in which the storage container
holds, in addition to the liquid to be dispensed a certain quantity
of a liquefied gas other than the insoluble pressurizing gas, and
the dispensing container holds the liquid to be dispensed under
atmospheric pressure.
8. Device as claimed in claim 2, in which the storage container
holds only one of the liquid products to be dispensed and an
insoluble non-liquefied pressurized gas and the dispensing chamber
holds a flexible fluid-tight bag attached to the valve of said
dispensing container, said bag holding the other product to be
dispensed, but having an inner volume sufficient to also contain
the products initially held in the storage container, said flexible
bag being subjected to an external pressure inside the dispensing
container due to a pressurizing gas.
9. Device as claimed in claim 2 in which the storage and dispensing
containers are generally cylindrical in form and each has at one
end a conical portion supporting a cap in which its valve is
mounted, said cap being crimped to the end of the lateral wall of
the container.
10. Device as claimed in claim 9, in which the connecting member is
slidable with respect to the dispensing container and rests on the
conical portion of the storage container.
Description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is often necessary to make simultaneous use of two compositions
which are incompatible during storage. In order to facilitate such
use it is desirable to be able to dispense both of these products
from a single container.
It is accordingly necessary either to separate the two products
inside the dispensing container and mix them at the moment of use,
or store the two products in two separate containers and introduce
the contents of one into the other just before they are dispensed.
This problem is particularly important in connection with the
packaging and dispensing under pressure of oxidation dyes for the
hair. The use of these dyes requires that, at the moment of use,
the dye be mixed with a suitable oxidizing composition. It is clear
that the oxidizing composition cannot be stored while mixed with
the dyeing composition without resulting in deterioration of the
dye before it is applied.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a device
comprising two containers each holding one of the two compositions
to be simultaneously dispensed. This device permits the contents of
one of the containers to be transferred to the other just before
they are dispensed and to then dispense the mixture of these two
compositions from the other container under pressure.
The present invention accordingly relates to a new article of
manufacture which consists of a device for storing and dispensing
two liquid products which are separately stored and simultaneously
dispensed under pressure, essentially characterized by the fact
that it comprises, firstly, a storage container holding one of the
liquid products under pressure of a non-reactive gas which is
substantially insoluble in said product. This container is closed
at its upper end by a valve which is opened by depressing an outlet
tube, said valve being provided with a depending tube which extends
downwardly into the container almost to the wall thereof opposite
the valve. The device comprises secondly, a dispensing container
holding a liquid product which may or may not be under pressure,
which container is closed by a valve which is opened by the
depression or lateral inclination of its outlet tube. This valve
may or may not be provided with a depending tube which extends
almost to the wall of the container opposite the valve. The
pressure in this container is always lower than that inside the
storage container. The device comprises thirdly, a connecting
member, to one end of which the dispensing container is attached
and to the other end of which the storage container is attached.
The connecting member is adapted to permit one of the containers to
slide relative to the other along the axis of the connecting
member. The device also comprises, fourthly, a spigot positioned
inside the said connecting member between the dispensing container
and the storage container, said spout being adapted to fit the
outlet tubes of the two valves of the two containers and comprising
a passageway connecting said two outlet tubes.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention one end of the spigot is
conical in shape and fits over the outlet tube of the valve on the
dispensing container, with the base of the cone positioned near
that container. The spigot is provided, near the storage container,
with a projection adapted to abut the wall of said storage
container after movement of the spigot. The storage and dispensing
containers are generally cylindrical in shape and provided at one
end with a narrowing conical portion supporting a cap on which the
corresponding valve is mounted. This cap is crimped to the end of
the cylindrical side wall of the container. In the case of
cylindrical containers the connecting member is cylindrical and
fits around the dispensing container and rests on the conical
portion of the storage container. A removable safety ring is
positioned between the connecting member and the dispensing
container to prevent possible movement of the container inside the
connecting member. The pressurizing gas in the storage container is
nitrogen. The storage container contains an oxidation dye for the
hair, whereas the dispensing container holds a liquid oxidizing
composition.
In a first variation of this embodiment the storage container
holds, in addition to the liquid product to be used, a certain
quantity of liquefied gas other than the insoluble non-liquefied
pressurizing gas such as nitrogen. In this case the dispensing
container holding the liquid product to be dispensed is not
pressurized.
When the user desires to utilize the device according to the
invention he removes the safety strip which prevents movement of
the dispensing container with respect to the connecting member and
urges the dispensing container along the axis of the connecting
member, the storage container being held stationary at the lower
part of the device. By this action the two valves of the two
containers are simultaneously opened. The insoluble non-liquefied
pressurizing gas in the storage container then ejects the product
stored in the storage container through the depending tube and the
valve of the storage container into the passageway in the spigot so
that it penetrates into the dispensing container through its open
valve. The initial pressure of the insoluble non-liquefied
pressurizing gas is adjusted so that when the storage container is
completely emptied of its liquid contents, the residual pressure of
this gas is substantially equal to the vapor tension of the
liquefied gas initially enclosed in the storage container. As this
moment the user releases his pressure on the dispensing container
and extracts the container and its transfer spout from the
connecting member. The dispensing container then holds a mixture of
the two liquid products initially stored separately and also
contains the liquefied gas for ejecting this mixture.
In order to dispense the mixture the user presses with two fingers
on the spigot so as to force the outlet tube of the valve on the
dispensing container inwardly or so as to swing said tube and
thereby open this valve. When the valve is opened the mixture is
ejected by the vapor pressure of the liquefied gas enclosed in the
dispensing container. It should be noted that the product thus
ejected is in the form of a foam since the liquefied gas is mixed
with the two products to be dispensed.
In a second embodiment, the storage container holds only one of the
liquid products to be dispensed, together with an insoluble
non-liquefied pressurizing gas such as nitrogen. On the contrary,
the dispensing container holds a flexible bag which is sealed fluid
tight to the valve of said container. This bag holds the other
product to be dispensed, but has an inner volume large enough to
also hold the product to be dispensed which is enclosed in the
storage container. The flexible bag is subjected within the
dispensing container to the external pressure of a pressurizing gas
such as a liquefied gas. In this case the device is operated by
removing the safety strip which prevents movement of the dispensing
container with respect to the connecting member and by moving the
dispensing container along the connecting member to depress the
outlet tubes of the two valves on the two containers. This brings
the interior of the two containers into communication through the
passageway in the spigot. The insoluble non-liquefied pressurizing
gas in the storage container then forces the liquid product in the
storage container out thereof through the depending tube and its
valve so that this product is driven into the flexible bag in the
dispensing container. The initial pressure of the pressurizing gas
enclosed in the storage container is such that when said container
is emptied of its liquid contents it is substantially equal to the
vapor tension of the liquefied pressurizing gas inside the
dispensing container. The user then releases the dispensing
container and removes said container with its spigot from the
connecting member. The contents are then dispensed as before by
pressing on the spigot to depress or incline the outlet tube of the
valve of the dispensing container. It should, however, be noted
that, in this case, the mixture of two products which are ejected
from the dispensing container is in the form of a non-foaming
liquid, since the pressurizing gas is separated from this mixture
by the wall of the flexible bag. It is obvious that if the wall of
the flexible bag is slightly permeable to the liquefied
pressurizing gas used, the mixture ejected may be slightly
foamy.
It should be emphasized that, in this device, the spigot is used
not only to transfer a product from one container to the other, but
also to dispense the mixture of the two products which are to be
dispensed simultaneously. A suitable insoluble pressurizing gas is
non-liquefied nitrogen and a suitable liquefied pressurizing gas is
butane or one of the chloro-fluorinated hydrocarbons conventionally
used for this purpose.
In order that the invention may be better understood, two
embodiments thereof will now be described, purely by way of
illustration and example, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, on which:
FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a first
embodiment of the device according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a detail view in axial section of the valve of the
dispensing container shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a detail view in axial section showing the valve of the
storage container of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 4 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a second
embodiment of a component of the device according to the invention,
which may be used to replace the dispensing container shown in FIG.
1.
Referring now to the drawings and especially to FIGS. 1 to 3, it
will be seen that reference numeral 1 indicates the storage
container which is positioned at the bottom of the device according
to the invention. The container 1 is substantially cylindrical in
shape and comprises at its upper end a conical portion 2 to which a
cap 3 is crimped. This cap carries a central valve 4 for the
container 1. The valve 4 is a conventional valve of the type which
operates by depression. It comprises an outlet tube 5 mounted on
the central projection 6 of a movable member 7 biassed by the
helical spring 8.
One end of the spring 8 bears on the movable member 7 and its other
on the outer cup 9 of the valve 4. The outer cup 9 is generally
cylindrical and its interior is in communication with the inside of
the storage container 1 through an orifice 10 and a depending tube
11. The removable member 7 is biassed by the spring 8 against a
sealing ring 12.
The storage container 1 holds 60 cm.sup.3 of an oxidation hair dye
to which reference numeral 13 has been assigned. About 6 cm.sup.3
of liquefied butane has been added to this dyeing composition. The
inside of the container 1 is pressurized by the nitrogen filling
the space 14 in said container which remains free above the space
occupied by the composition 13. This nitrogen is at a pressure of
about six bars. The total inner capacity of the storage container 1
is about 100 cm.sup.3. On the storage container 1 is mounted a
connecting member 15 consisting of a cylindrical sleeve, the lower
part 15a of which fits onto the conical part 2 of the container 1.
The lower part 15a of the connecting member 15 is snapped onto the
container 1 along the edge of the cap 3 which carries the valve 4.
The flanges 16 provide sufficient stiffness to enable the part 15a
to hold tightly.
At the upper end of the connecting member 15 is a removable safety
strip 17 comprising radial flanges 18. The safety strip 17
externally grips the connecting member 15 to which it is attached
by a ring 19. At the upper end of the safety strip 17 is another
ring 20 which cooperates with a groove 21 in the outer wall of the
dispensing container 22.
The dispensing container 22 is substantially cylindrical in shape
and comprises a substantially conical portion 23 which leads to a
neck 24, to the end of which a valve 25 is attached. The valve 25
comprises an outlet tube 26 which is axially pierced by a central
passageway 27. The base of the tube 26 consists of a cylindrical
member 28 which carries radial flanges 29. The cylindrical member
28 is positioned within a cup 30, an annular space 31 being
provided between the member 28 and the cup 30, which space
communicates with the axial passageway 27 through radial ports 32.
The cup 30 is biassed by a leaf spring 33 against the sealing ring
34 at the top of the cup. The device comprising the cup 30 and the
cylindrical member 28 is enclosed within the outer cup 35 of the
valve, which outer cup communicates with the inside of the
container 22 through an orifice 36 and a depending tube 37. The
dispensing container 22 has an inner volume of about 150 cm.sup.3
and contains 60 cm.sup.3 of 6 percent hydrogen peroxide. The
dispensing container 22 is not pressurized.
Between the dispensing container 22 and the storage container 1,
inside the connecting member constituted by the cylindrical sleeve
15, is a transfer spigot 38. The spigot 38 is generally conical in
shape. It is provided with a bore 39 into which the outlet tube 26
of valve 25 is inserted. The base of the cone which constitutes the
transfer spigot 38 is near the dispensing container and the summit
of the cone is near the storage container 1. At the summit of the
cone is a seat 40 adapted to receive the outlet tube 5 of the valve
4. The transfer spigot 38 also carries near the summit of the cone
a projection 41 adapted to limit the path of travel of the spigot
38 inside the connecting member 15. An inner passageway 42 connects
the seats 39 and 40 of the transfer spigot 38. Guide ribs 43 are
provided inside the cylindrical sleeve which constitutes the
connecting member 15 so as to insure proper translational movement
of the transfer spigot 38 therein.
When the user wants to put the device which has just been described
into operation, he tears off the safety strip 17, which permits the
dispensing container to slide freely inside the connecting member
15. He then presses on the dispensing container 22 so as to cause
translation of that container and the transfer spigot 38 within the
connecting member 15. This translation simultaneously depresses the
outlet tubes 5 and 40 of the two valves 4 and 25 respectively. The
depression of the outlet tube 5 compresses the spring 8 and the
member 7, thus bringing the inner passageway 42 and the outlet tube
5 into communication with the inside of the outer cup 9 and
consequently with the inside of the container 1 through the
depending tube 11 and the orifice 10. The depression of the outlet
tube 26 causes depression of the leaf spring 33, bringing the
annular space 31 into communication with the inside of the outer
cup 35 and consequently bringing the axial passageway 27 into
communication with the inside of the container 22 through the
orifices 36 and the depending tube 37. It follows that when the
user presses on the dispensing container 22 this opens the two
valves 25 and 4 and connects the interiors of the storage container
1 and the dispensing container 22 through the passageway 42. The
pressure of the nitrogen inside the base portion 14 of the storage
container drives the oxidation dye 13 mixed with the liquefied
butane into the container 22 so that the composition 13 is mixed
with the hydrogen peroxide in the dispensing container 22.
When this operation is carried out the user withdraws the
dispensing container 22 from the connecting member 15 and presses
on the spigot 38 so as to depress the tube 26 or swing it slightly
to one side. This action results, as has already been explained, in
the opening of the valve 25, and consequently in the dispensing of
the mixture of the oxidation dye and hydrogen peroxide through the
passageway 42 in the spigot 38. This dispensing is carried out in
response to the vapor pressure of the butane, which has been
introduced into the container 22 as already indicated and, since
the butane is mixed with the liquids, the mixture leaves the
container 22 in the form of a foam. It should be noted that the
spigot 38 serves both to transfer the composition 13 and the
liquefied butane which is associated therewith from the container 1
to the container 22 and to dispense the mixture of compositions in
the container 22. The translational movement of the spigot 38
inside the connecting member 15 is limited by the abutment of the
projection 41 against the cap 3 which carries the valve 4. The
pressure of the nitrogen in the space 14 is so regulated that when
all of the liquid composition has been driven from the container 22
the residual pressure of the nitrogen is substantially equal to the
vapor tension of the liquefied butane.
FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the device according to the
invention. In this embodiment the dispensing container 22 has the
same shape as the one which has been described in connection with
FIG. 1 and also comprises a dispensing valve 25 identical to the
one which has just been described and which is illustrated in FIG.
2. To the outer cup 35 of the valve 25 a flexible bag 44 made, for
example, of plastic material is connected. This bag has a volume of
about 130 cm.sup.3 and its interior is in communication with the
interior of outer cup 35 through a bore 36. When the container 22
is positioned, during storage, on the connecting member 15 with the
safety strip 17 in place, the bag 44 holds 60 cm.sup.3 of 6 percent
hydrogen peroxide and the inside of the container 22 outside the
bag 44 is pressurized by liquefied butane.
In this embodiment the connecting member 15, the spigot 38, and the
storage container 1 are identical to those which have been
described and are illustrated in connection with FIGS. 1 and 3,
except that the storage container 1 does not hold liquefied butane.
The container 22 is also placed at the top of the connecting member
15. When the user wants to place this device in operation he
removes the safety strip 17 and presses on the container 22 as
hereinbefore indicated. This pressure depresses the outlet tubes 5
and 40 of the valves 4 and 25 which, as hereinbefore indicated,
places the interiors of the containers 1 and 2 in communication
with each other through the passageway 42 in the transfer spigot
38. The pressure of the nitrogen enclosed in the space 14 drives
the composition 13 in the storage container into the flexible bag
44 in the container 22, within which the mixture of the composition
13 and hydrogen peroxide takes place. The volume of the bag 44 is
sufficient to permit it to contain both the hydrogen peroxide
initially stored therein and the composition 13 which is introduced
thereinto. When all of the composition 13 has been driven out of
the container 1 the residual pressure of nitrogen is substantially
equal to the vapor tension of the liquefied butane which is exerted
inside the container 22 against the walls of the flexible bag
44.
The user than withdraws the container 22 from the connecting member
15 and presses on the spigot 38 to depress or laterally incline the
outlet tube 26 of the valve 25. This action brings the valve 25
into an open position and, in response to the pressure exerted by
the liquefied butane on the outside of the bag 44, the mixture of
the two liquid products within this bag is evacuated from the
container 22 through the passageway 42 in the spigot 38.
It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the butane which
expels the mixture does not come into direct contact with the
mixture being dispensed, so that the mixture escapes in a liquid
rather than a foam form. If the wall of the bag 44 is slightly
permeable to butane, it is possible to nevertheless produce a light
foam.
The device according to the invention makes it possible to store
two products which may be incompatible separately in a simple and
inexpensive manner, yet nevertheless dispense them simultaneously
under pressure from a single container.
It will of course be appreciated that the embodiments hereinbefore
described have been give purely by way of illustration and example,
and may be modified as to detail without thereby departing from the
basic principles of the invention.
* * * * *