Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
  • B65D83/04—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills
  • B65D83/0409—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills the dispensing means being adapted for delivering one article, or a single dose, upon each actuation
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D40/00—Casings or accessories specially adapted for storing or handling solid or pasty toiletry or cosmetic substances, e.g. shaving soaps or lipsticks

Definitions

• the present invention relates to devices for dispensing a product in the form of beads. It aims in particular the distribution of cosmetics, toiletries, perfume, or care in the form of beads.
• cosmetic products include all products for the make-up of the skin, lips or superficial body growths. Toiletries include shower gels, bath products, and body milks. The perfumes designate in particular all the fragrant or odorous compositions intended for a bodily application. Care products include products intended to be applied to the human or animal body to treat or prevent a pathology.
• solid or semi-solid refers to a soft or pasty product, having a consistency allowing it to retain substantially its shape when stored. These products can thus be stored in the form of soft beads.
• this form of storage and distribution makes it possible to provide a precisely calibrated dose of product, and / or good preservation of the product before use, and / or ease of handling and use by the user .
• a body application cream may be dehydrated to obtain a product of consistency sufficiently thick to be shaped into beads, and crushed by the user upon application. This makes the dosing and application of the product very easy, especially without risk of loss or dripping of the product.
• said product may be encapsulated in a spherical shell, which is broken or dissolved during use (application to the skin, dissolution in water, etc.).
• the cosmetic field there are known products supplied to the user in pots, in the form of beads or capsules. The user must recover the balls or capsules in the pot using a spatula, a spoon, or by hand. This is not very ergonomic and may cause problems of integrity and cleanliness of the remaining beads or capsules.
• homeopathic products are commonly in the form of granules, that is to say beads of 1 mm to 6 mm in diameter.
• granules that is to say beads of 1 mm to 6 mm in diameter.
• flasks for homeopathic granules which are closed by a turntable leaving a slightly larger orifice size than that of a granule.
• These devices are imperfect because the granules can get stuck behind the orifice or be distributed on the contrary in too many numbers.
• the use of this type of dispenser is particularly incompatible for the distribution of soft beads that have a particular tendency to get stuck together behind the dispensing orifice.
• the present invention aims to solve at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks.
• the invention thus aims to propose a device for dispensing beads of a cosmetic, toilet, perfume, or care product in the form of beads, for dispensing one by one said beads without breaking them or deforming them. , offering an ergonomic operation and preserving the cleanliness of the balls before distribution.
• the invention thus relates to a device for dispensing a cosmetic, toilet, perfume or care product, in the form of beads.
• the device comprises a main reservoir body, said main body having an elongated shape and having a first end having a closed bottom and a second open end opposite said first end.
• the device comprises:
• a central axis extending longitudinally in the main body
• a helical ramp comprising a track wrapping around the central axis, said central axis being rotatable with respect to said helical ramp,
• a pusher interposed in the helical ramp said pusher being connected to the central axis fixedly in rotation and free in translation along said central shaft, so that a relative rotation of the central axis vis-à-vis said helical ramp causes a displacement of said pusher along the track of the helical ramp, and
• An actuator mounted at the second end of the main body, and for driving the relative rotation of the central axis vis-à-vis the helical ramp.
• Such a dispenser provides a mechanism for the dispensing of product beads in a desired quantity, for example individually. This allows the maintenance of the stored logs in a closed volume, therefore keep them clean and without risk of being soiled during the distribution of one or more beads, and, where appropriate, to avoid drying.
• the use of a helical ramp advantageously makes it possible to organize the storage of the balls in the main body by maximizing their quantity while limiting or eliminating the risk of jamming the balls in the device.
• the helical ramp also makes it possible to determine the order of distribution of the balls.
• the balls successively distributed can have different compositions. For example, it is possible to alternate the distribution of beads having a certain composition with the distribution of beads having another composition.
• the helical ramp can be mounted fixed in rotation vis-à-vis the main body.
• the device may further include an indexing mechanism configured such that actuation of the actuator causes rotation of the central axis relative to the helical ramp by a predefined angle.
• the actuator may comprise a push button, movable between a relaxed position and a depressed position, the device further comprising a return spring tending to return said push button to the released position, the indexing mechanism comprising in addition to a cam system transforming a pressure followed by a release of the push button in rotation of the predefined angle of the central axis.
• the push button can be linked to the central axis, the spring being a compression spring interposed between the bottom of the main body and a support plane of the central axis.
• the indexing mechanism may for example comprise a first toothed crown facing a second toothed crown, said first and second toothed crowns being rigidly connected to the central axis, the device further comprising at least one pin rigidly connected to the body main and interposed between said first and second toothed crowns, said first and second notched crowns forming cam for the at least one pin for which they define a peripheral path, a pressure followed by a release of the pushbutton causing the progression of the pin in said path by rotation of said first and second notched crowns and corollary of the central axis.
• the first and second toothed crowns can in particular be configured so that the push button has a stable intermediate position, and so that the pushbutton, being actuated from said intermediate position, successively adopts:
• the actuator is a push button
• the latter may comprise a delivery opening and the device may further comprise a hatch which closes the delivery opening except in the released position of the push button in which the delivery opening is disengaged.
• the central axis may have a straight prismatic shape, the pusher having a ring of inner shape corresponding to a clearance near a base of the prism defining the central axis, so as to be able to slide freely along said central axis.
• the invention also relates to an assembly comprising a device as described above, and beads of a cosmetic product, toilet, perfume or care, stored on the track of the helical ramp, the pitch of said helical ramp and the width of its track being each greater than the diameter of a ball but less than twice the diameter of a ball, so that said balls are positioned one behind the other on said track of the helical ramp.
• FIG. 1 shows a general view of a device according to one embodiment of the invention
• Figure 2 shows the device of Figure 1 in a sectional view
• Figure 3 shows the device of Figures 1 and 2 filled with product beads, in a partially cutaway view showing the internal structure of the device;
• FIG. 4 represents a detailed view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrating in particular a pusher implemented in this exemplary embodiment
• FIG. 5 represents a detailed view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrating an exemplary indexing mechanism implemented in this exemplary embodiment
• FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrating in particular a spring implemented in this exemplary embodiment
• FIG. 7 represents a detailed view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrating in particular the delivery of a product ball by this device;
• FIG. 8 shows a detail view of the device of Figures 1 and 2, illustrating in particular a hatch implemented in this exemplary embodiment.
• Figure 1 shows a device for dispensing a product in the form of beads. This device is particularly suitable for dispensing beads of a cosmetic product, toilet, perfume or care.
• the device comprises a main body 1 intended essentially for the storage of the product balls, and comprising a mechanism for dispensing said balls, visible in FIG. 2.
• the main body 1 has an elongated shape. A first end of the main body 1 is closed by a bottom January 1.
• the second end comprises an actuator whose implementation allows the delivery of product balls, one by one.
• the actuator is, in the embodiment shown here, a push button 2 which has a delivery opening 21 allowing the passage and therefore the distribution of a product ball.
• the push button 2 has at least two positions, namely:
• the push button 2 of the device shown has, thanks to the indexing mechanism which will be described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, a third so-called intermediate position, in which the push button is partially pressed into the body. principal 1, as shown in Figure 3.
• This intermediate position constitutes the stable equilibrium position (in the absence of new pressure exerted on the push button) in which it is expected that the push button is maintained between each use of the device for dispensing one or more product balls .
• the delivery opening 21 is released only when the push button is in the released position. Thus, only the relaxed position allows the delivery of a ball. In the depressed or intermediate position, the delivery opening 21 is retracted into the main body. If necessary, it is further closed by a hatch as described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.
• the main body 1 and the push button 2 have a substantially square base. This corresponds to mainly aesthetic concerns, the main body 1 and / or the push button may have for example a circular base (main body 1 cylindrical), oval, hexagonal, etc.
• FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the device of Figure 1, to see its internal mechanism.
• the dispensing device comprises a helical ramp 3.
• the helical ramp 3 forms a track 31 on which the product beads B can be stored.
• the helical ramp 3 is shaped (or, in correspondence, the balls for the device are shaped) so that the balls are placed one behind the other on said track.
• the parameters defining the geometry of the ramp and which are in particular shaped for this purpose are the pitch P of the helix formed by the helical ramp 3 and the width L of the track 31. These dimensions are chosen so as to allow a ball to roll freely in the ramp, without allowing the ball to exchange its position on the ramp with another ball or two balls of the same diameter or at least substantially the same diameter do not overlap in the height of the device (along the axis of extension of the main body 1) or in the width (at the same level of the spiral ramp 3).
• the pitch P of the helix formed by the helical ramp must be greater than the diameter of a ball, and considering that the thickness of the track must being very small relative to the pitch P, this pitch P may be less than twice the diameter of a ball B.
• the width L of the track 31 must be greater than the diameter of a ball B and less than twice the diameter of a B ball.
• the diameter of the product beads B can be between 3 mm and
• the diameter of the beads may be of the order of 5 mm.
• the diameter of each ball is substantially identical.
• FIG. 3 illustrates a device according to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, filled with balls. This makes it possible to limit or avoid any risk of jamming the balls together in the device. This configuration also makes it possible to maximize the number of beads B that can be stored, taking into account the aforementioned requirement to avoid blocking the balls in the device.
• a pusher 4 is formed in the ramp.
• the pusher 4 comprises a cleat 41 interposed in the helical ramp.
• the cleat 41 is positioned in contact with the ball B closest to the bottom 1 1 of the main body 1, which is also the last ball that will be distributed when the device is completely emptied.
• the pusher rises towards the second end of the main body, or corollary of the dispensing opening, along the track 31 of the helical ramp 3, each time a user actuates the actuator (for example the push button 2) of the device.
• the pusher 4 pushes the ball bearing on the cleat 41, which pushes the ball with which it is itself in contact, and so on. All the balls B present in the device thus go up along the helical ramp 3, and the ball furthest from the pusher is brought opposite the delivery opening, in order to be given to the user.
• the pusher 4 is connected to a central axis 5 of the device.
• the pusher 4 is fixed in rotation with respect to the central axis 5, but free in translation along this central axis 5.
• the pusher 4 is in sliding connection on the central axis 5
• This connection allows the raising of the pusher 4 along the helical ramp 3 under the effect of a rotation of the central axis 5.
• the slide connection can be achieved by a central axis 5 in the form of a right prism, c ' that is to say a rod or a tube of polygonal section (square, triangular, hexagonal, octagonal), or a rod or a tube of any non-circular section, the pusher comprising a ring 42 having an inner section corresponding to the section of the central axis, with a clearance close allowing the sliding of the ring 42 and therefore of the pusher 4 along the central axis 5.
• the rotation of the central axis is controlled by the actuator of the device, namely the push button 2 in the embodiment shown.
• the device comprises a mechanism adapted to transform the translational movement of the push button 2 into rotation of the central axis 5.
• FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate in particular the mechanism implemented in the exemplary embodiment represented here.
• the helical ramp can be rotatable. with respect to the main body while the axis is fixed in rotation with respect to said main body, which causes a movement of the identical pusher along the track 31 of the helical ramp 3.
• FIG. 5 is a detailed view of an indexing mechanism between the movement of the actuator, that is to say the push button 2, and the central axis 5.
• the means represented in FIG. 5 form an indexing mechanism 6, which ensures that each pressure followed by a release of the push button 2 is reflected in a rotation of the central axis 5 at a determined angle.
• This angle which also corresponds to the angle described by the pusher 4 and in particular the cleat 41 on the track 31 of the helical ramp 3, must be adapted to the diameter of the balls B to be dispensed, or, in correspondence, the diameter of the balls. must be adapted to the angle of rotation each time the push button is pressed 2.
• a predefined number of pressures for example one or two, as in the example shown here, must advance the balls of the equivalent of a place on the ramp 31, that is to say advancing the balls of the equivalent of a ball diameter linearly on said track, so that a ball considered takes the place of the ball that pushes towards the delivery opening.
• the order in which said balls will be delivered is determined.
• the balls successively distributed can have different compositions.
• the combination of different active ingredients may also be of interest for skincare products.
• the simplest delivery sequence can be (the balls being numbered in their order of distribution): # 1 ball of formula A, # 2 ball of formula B, ball # 3 of formula A, and so on.
• the indexing mechanism 6 comprises a first toothed ring 61 and a second toothed ring 62.
• the first and second toothed crowns 61, 62 each comprise indentations, and are positioned one opposite the other. They define a peripheral path for a pin 12 which is rigidly connected to the main body.
• the device comprises in the example shown two pins 12, which ensures better guidance. Four or more pawns could be used.
• the indexing mechanism 6 is positioned in the main body 1, near its bottom January 1. In particular, the indexing mechanism 6 is positioned between the bottom 1 1 and the helical ramp 3.
• the indexing mechanism 6 is rigidly connected to the central axis. It can be formed in one piece with said central axis 5.
• the push button 2 when pressed, causes a translation of the central axis 5 and the helical ramp 4 in the main body 1, towards the bottom 1 1 of said main body 1. Indeed, the push button 2 bears on one end 51 of the central axis 5.
• the push button 2 is also supported on one end 32 of the helical ramp 3.
• the release of the push button 2 causes a translation in the opposite direction of the assembly formed by the central axis and the helical ramp 4, under the effect of the compression spring 7, visible in detail in particular in Figure 6.
• the spring 7 is interposed between the bottom 1 1 and a bearing surface 52 of the central axis 5.
• Retaining means 13 are formed on the inner surface of the main body 1 of the bottom 1 1 to maintain the compression spring 7.
• the teeth of the first toothed ring 61 and the second toothed ring 62 form cams for the pin 12 (or for each pin 12), which they guide the path. Since the peg 12 is fixed with respect to the main body 1, the interaction between the teeth of the first toothed crown 61 or the second toothed ring 62 with the peg 12 causes the rotation of the toothed crown in interaction with the peg. 12.
• the pin 12 (or each pin 12) will travel the path formed by the indexing mechanism 6 by taking the trajectory represented by a dashed line in FIG. 5, and successively taking the positions described in FIG. -after.
• the pin 12 is in a first position P1, bearing on a recess 63 formed in the teeth of the second toothed ring 62. This support prevents the central axis 5 and corollary the helical ramp 3 to go up in the main body 1, despite the action of the compression spring 7 which is partially compressed and thus exerts a force on the central axis 5.
• the first position P1 of the pin 12 corresponds to a intermediate position of the pushbutton 2.
• the assembly formed by the helical ramp 4 and the central axis 5 comprising the indexing mechanism 6 descends to the bottom 1 1 of the main body 1.
• the pin comes into contact with an inclined surface 64 of a tooth of the first toothed ring 61 facing said recess 63, causing the rotation of said toothed ring and therefore of the central axis 5 until the pin 12 arrives in a second position P2, where it abuts in a vertex 65 formed by the teeth of the first toothed ring 61.
• the second position P2 of the pin 12 corresponds to a depressed position of the push button 2, that is to say the "abutment" position of said push button when pressed by the user. In the depressed position, the push button 2 can typically be completely retracted into the main body 1.
• the depressed position of the push button 2 is unstable: the release of the pressure on the push button 2 causes said push button to leave this depressed position, and the pin 12 leaves the second position P2, under the effect of the return force. 7.
• the complete release of the push button 2 thus brings the pin 12 into a third position P3, corresponding to the relaxed position of the push button 2.
• the push button is in the most output position of the body. principal 1 that he may adopt.
• the compression spring 7 is said to be released (although a residual restoring force can be maintained in this position to prevent any play in translation at the push button).
• the pin 12 has passed under the second toothed ring 62, via a space formed between the teeth of said second toothed ring 62.
• a new pressure exerted by the user on the push button 2 makes iron the pin 12 by said space between the teeth of the second toothed ring 62.
• the pin comes into contact with an inclined surface 64 of a tooth of the first ring gear. view of said space between the teeth of the second ring which causes the rotation of said notched ring and therefore of the central axis 5 until the pin 12 arrives in a fourth position P4, where it abuts in a vertex 65 formed by the teeth of the first toothed ring 61.
• the push button is in the depressed position.
• the fourth position P4 differs from the second position P2 in that the pin is facing a tooth of the second toothed ring 62 and not a gap between the teeth of said toothed ring 62.
• the position of the push button is nevertheless identical or substantially identical, in abutment .
• the pin 12 intercepts a guide surface 66 of the second ring gear 62. Due to this interaction, the second ring gear 62 and thus the main axis rotates until the pin 12 arrives in a hollow 63, and finds a first position P1 (but on the next tooth of the second ring 62 compared to its initial position described above).
• the inclined surface 64 and the guiding surface 66 form cams for the pin 12 (or pins 12) which they guide, ultimately causing the central shaft 5 to rotate.
• the angle formed between two spaces between the teeth of the second toothed ring 62 corresponds to the angle that will describe the pusher 4 following two pressures and two releases of the push button 2 (a first pressure followed by a first release to return the push button to the intermediate position following the delivery of a product ball, the intermediate position being the desired position of the device when not in use, and a second pressure followed by a second release for delivery a new product ball).
• This angle must therefore be adapted to the diameter of the ball, so as to push the balls along the track 31 by a distance substantially equal to the diameter of a ball B.
• Figure 7 illustrates the delivery of a ball B by the device.
• the push button has a delivery opening 21.
• the delivery opening 21 of a ball B is released only when the push button is in the released position. In the depressed and intermediate positions, the delivery opening 21 is entirely retracted into the main body 1, that is to say it is located in the main body below the level of its second end (end opposite to the first end having the bottom 1 1).
• the pushbutton 2 is presented in the relaxed position in FIG. 7. Concomitantly with release of the push button 2, the ball B to be delivered was pushed towards the delivery opening 21 by advancing all the other balls stored in the device, under the action of the pusher 4. In particular, the ball B to be delivered is transferred from the helical ramp 3 into the push button 2, opposite the delivery opening, by guides 22.
• the guides 22 can also form a helicoid portion in the push button 2 .
• FIG. 8 represents in particular a hatch 8 whose function is to close with a certain degree of tightness the delivery opening 21 when the push button is in the intermediate position (position in which the device is kept between the delivery of two balls) .
• a certain airtightness is desirable in order to preserve the moisture of the balls when they are stored in the device.
• the product beads, especially cream or lipstick should generally be kept in a certain range of humidity so as not to dry. This would impair the comfort of their use, and could also reduce their size, which is undesirable.
• the hatch 8 thus has a width adapted to complete sealing of the delivery opening 21. It may be formed of a plastic material having a flexibility adapted to provide the desired airtightness.
• the hatch 8 slides in front of the delivery opening 21.
• the hatch is provided with flexible elements 81, allowing the hatch 8 to slightly sink into the main body 1 towards the bottom 1 1, while providing a certain restoring force when the door is thus moved.
• the device may have alternative or additional characteristics while remaining within the scope of the invention.
• the actuator implemented to cause the delivery of a ball may be different something that a push button.
• a rotary wheel, indexed by a notching system can be used.
• Other types of springs than a spiral compression spring may be employed to return the actuator (eg the push button) to a predefined position.
• the main body 1 may have various geometries, and consist essentially of plastic, metal, glass, or wood. It is the same with the mechanism internal to the main body.
• the invention thus developed offers a device for the delivery of beads of a product, in particular a cosmetic product, toilet, perfume or care, allowing the unitary delivery of the balls without risk of blockage or risk of dirtying others balls stored in the device.
• This device is also very easy to use.
• the device can be aesthetically rewarding and the mode of distribution of the product beads, especially when this delivery takes place at the top of the device, is attractive to the user.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=60182718

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (5)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 2017
  • 2017-08-09 FR FR1757615A patent/FR3070039B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2018
  • 2018-08-07 CN CN201880051339.0A patent/CN111032533B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2018-08-07 WO PCT/FR2018/052028 patent/WO2019030452A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2018-08-07 US US16/635,431 patent/US11180307B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2018-08-07 JP JP2020507097A patent/JP7203819B2/ja active Active
  • 2018-08-07 KR KR1020207006413A patent/KR102595719B1/ko active Active
  • 2018-08-07 EP EP18762379.8A patent/EP3665103B1/de active Active

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events