PAIR OF CAPSULES ASSEMBLED TOGETHER AND RESPECTIVELY COMPRISING TWO DIFFERENT PHASES TO BE MIXED
20200163434 · 2020-05-28
Inventors
Cpc classification
A45D34/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
B65D2221/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
A45D37/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
A45D34/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
Abstract
Disclosed is a pair of capsules assembled together and respectively including two different phases to be mixed in order to obtain a personalized cosmetic product, including: two pouches respectively containing the two different phases and respectively included in the two capsules and interconnected by a communication channel including at least one portion of narrow cross-section relative to the two pouches, this portion of narrow cross-section of the communication channel including two right-angle bends.
Claims
1. Pair of capsules assembled together and respectively comprising two different phases to be mixed in order to obtain a personalized cosmetic product, comprising: two pouches respectively containing the two different phases and respectively included in the two capsules and interconnected by a communication channel comprising at least one portion of narrow cross-section relative to the two pouches, said portion of narrow cross-section of the communication channel comprising two right-angle bends.
2. Pair of capsules according to claim 1, wherein: the two right-angle bends are arranged such that at least part of the portion of narrow cross-section of the communication channel comprising the two right-angle bends forms the three sides of a rectangle.
3. Pair of capsules according to claim 2, wherein: the ratio between the narrow cross-section of the communication channel and the cross-section of one or the other of said pouches is sufficiently small to cause shear of the mixture of formulations which passes through it.
4. Pair of capsules according to claim 1, wherein: the portion of narrow cross-section of the communication channel comprises a male connector part and a female connector part which are respectively part of the two capsules and which fit one inside the other.
5. Pair of capsules according to claim 4, wherein: the male and female connector parts fitted one inside the other are arranged in the intermediate side of the three sides of the rectangle formed by the communication channel, which is orthogonal to the other two sides of the rectangle.
6. Pair of capsules according to claim 4, wherein: one of said bends is arranged at the inner end of the male connector part which is opposite the outer end of the male connector part intended to fit first into the outer end of the female connector part, and the other of said bends is arranged at the inner end of the female connector part which is opposite the outer end of the female connector part intended to fit first into the outer end of the male connector part.
7. Pair of capsules according to claim 4, wherein: the male connector part is a molded plastic hollow tube with a molded plastic flange located opposite the outer end of the male connector part, and the female connector part is a molded plastic hollow tube with a molded plastic flange located opposite the outer end of the female connector part.
8. Pair of capsules according to claim 7, wherein: each of the flanges is welded to a film closing the pouch of the capsule which does not contain said flange.
9. Pair of capsules according to claim 1, wherein each pouch is flattened, one of said pouch's two faces being flat, the other of said pouch's two faces being at least partly convex and flexible to allow expelling the contents of the pouch by mechanical pressure on said pouch.
10. Pair of capsules according to claim 9, wherein: the at least partly convex face of the pouch is formed by a thermoformed shell containing said phase, and the flat face of the pouch is formed by a film covering this shell.
11. Disposable deformable capsule according to claim 10, wherein: one face of the channel is at least partly convex, and the other face of the channel is at least partly flat.
12. Pair of capsules according to claim 11, wherein: the thermoformed shell is multilayer and advantageously comprises an inner layer of polyolefin polymer, and the film is multilayer and advantageously comprises an inner layer of polyolefin polymer.
13. Pair of capsules according to claim 9, wherein the flat faces of the two capsules are arranged face to face.
14. Pair of capsules according to claim 1, wherein the capsules are disposable deformable capsules.
15. Pair of capsules according to claim 1, wherein the capsules are arranged opposite one another.
16. Pair of capsules according to claim 1, wherein the narrow portion of the channel has, for at least part of its length, a cross-section smaller than 10=.sup.2.
17. Pair of capsules according to claim 1, wherein said channel is of constant cross-section along most of the channel's length.
18. Pair of capsules according to claim 17, wherein said channel portion of constant cross-section has a cross-section of between 0.5 and 3 mm.sup.2.
19. Pair of capsules according to claim 1, wherein said channel portion of constant cross-section has a size or diameter which is at most 20% of the size or diameter of the pouch.
20. Pair of capsules according to claim 19, wherein said channel portion of constant cross-section has a size or diameter which is at least 2% of the size or diameter of the pouch.
21. Pair of capsules assembled together and respectively comprising two different phases to be mixed to obtain a personalized cosmetic product, comprising two pouches respectively containing the two different phases and respectively included in the two capsules and interconnected by a communication channel comprising at least one portion of narrow cross-section relative to the two pouches, said portion of narrow cross-section of the communication channel comprising at least two portions parallel to each other and a connection between these two portions.
22. Pair of capsules according to claim 21, wherein the general shape of the connection is substantially perpendicular to the two portions, with two curved connections between said connection and respectively the two portions.
23. Pair of capsules according to claim 21, wherein the connection is substantially perpendicular to the two portions.
24. Capsule comprising only one of the two phases which when mixed form a personalized cosmetic product, comprising a pouch containing said phase and included in said capsule which is intended to be connected, by a communication channel comprising at least one portion of narrow cross-section relative to said pouch, to another capsule in which a pouch contains the other of the two phases of said mixture, part of said portion of narrow cross-section of the communication channel comprising a right-angle bend.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
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[0083] A first capsule 1 comprises a first pouch 11 filled with a first phase of a cosmetic product, a male connector 10, and an outlet passage 3 terminated by an outlet orifice 30.
[0084] A second capsule 2 comprises a second pouch 21 filled with a second phase of a cosmetic product, and a female connector 20.
[0085] Homogenized mixing of the first phase and second phase yields the cosmetic product ready for use by the user. This cosmetic product is for example a cream for the face that is completely devoid of preservatives. The first phase is for example an aqueous phase that is the active complex, while the second phase is for example a fatty phase that is the excipient.
[0086] A shuttle 5 comprises two shells 51 and 52 which rotate about a hinge 57. The first shell 51 comprises a first passage 53 at its center and a first exit guide 55 situated opposite the hinge 57. The second shell 52 comprises a second passage 54 at its center and a second exit guide 56 situated opposite the hinge 57. The shuttle 5 also comprises a heating plate 4 which is attached at the hinge 57, which is pierced at its center by a hole 40 to be traversed by the male connector 10 fitted into the female connector 20, and which comprises a groove 41 intended to receive the outlet passage 3. In place of the passages 53 and 54, the shells 51 and 52 could simply comprise central flexible portions enabling pressure outside the shuttle 5 to be exerted on the pouches 11 and 21 of the capsules 1 and 2.
[0087] When the shuttle 5 is opened, the two shells 51 and 52 move apart from each other and from the heating plate 4, and the two capsules 1 and 2 can be introduced one on each side of the heating plate 4.
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[0089] When the shuttle 5 is opened, the two shells 51 and 52 move apart from each other and from the heating plate 4, and the two capsules 1 and 2 can be introduced one on each side of the heating plate 4, in other words respectively between the first shell 51 and the heating plate 4 and between the second shell 52 and the heating plate 4. This step of inserting the pair of capsules 1 and 2 into the shuttle 5 is performed manually by the user.
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[0091] The capsules 1 and 2 are pressed against the heating plate 4, one on each side of the heating plate 4. The male connector 10 fits into the female connector 20, the assembly consisting of the male connector 10 and female connector 20 passing through the hole 40, the outlet passage 3 being housed in the groove 41, the outlet orifice 30 being outside the groove 41. This step of placing the pair of capsules 1 and 2 in the shuttle 5 is performed manually by the user.
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[0093] The shells 51 and 52 are brought closer to one another until they touch and close together, for example one snap-fitting onto the other. When the shuttle 5 containing the pair of capsules 1 and 2 is closed, the first pouch 11 passes through the first passage 53 to protrude from the shuttle 5, the second pouch 21 passes through the second passage 54 to protrude from the shuttle 5, and the outlet passage 3 passes between the guides 55 and 56 to provide an opening to the outside via its outlet orifice 30. This step of closing the shuttle 5 containing the pair of capsules 1 and 2 is performed manually by the user.
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[0095] The shuttle 5 is inserted into a mixer 6 whose function is to mix together the first and second phases respectively contained in the capsules 1 and 2, homogenizing the mixture so as to form for example an emulsion which will be the final cosmetic product to be directly and immediately consumed by the user. The shuttle 5 is inserted into the mixer 6, specifically into an opening 60 of the mixer 6, the guides 55 and 56 as well as the outlet orifice 30 entering the opening 60 of the mixer 6 first so that they are housed and possibly nested in the bottom of the opening 60. The shuttle 5 is pushed to the bottom of the opening 60 so that it nests in the opening 60 and is held in place within the opening 60 during the entire mixing operation which will then take place. The guides 55 and 56 are closed one over the other and pressed against each other when they are in the bottom of the opening 60 of the mixer 6, which has the effect of clamping the outlet passage 3 upstream of the outlet orifice 30 so that no phase or cosmetic product can leave the space defined by the pair of capsules 1 and 2 and by the communication channel between these capsules 1 and 2, as long as the shuttle 5 is closed and positioned against the bottom of the opening 60 of the mixer 6. It is the closure and the pressure of the guides 55 and 56 against each other, when the shuttle 5 is closed and positioned against the bottom of the opening 60 of the mixer 6, which mechanically causes the clamping of the outlet passage 3 upstream of the outlet orifice 30. This step of inserting the shuttle 5 containing the pair of capsules 1 and 2 into the mixer 6 is performed manually by the user.
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[0098] The mixer 6 receives the shuttle 5 into its opening 60. Opposite the first shell 51, more specifically facing the first pouch 11 protruding from the first passage 53, is a first pressure member 61, for example a piston or pressure finger, whose lateral movement (vertical and downward in
[0099] Opposite the second shell 52, more specifically facing the second pouch 21 protruding from the second passage 54, is a second pressure member 62, for example a piston or pressure finger, whose lateral movement (vertical and upward in
[0100] The first pressure member 61 and the second pressure member 62 are integral with an arm 63. On one side of the shuttle 5, an oblong cam 64 bears against the first pressure member 61 to push it towards the first shell 51 and towards the first pouch 11. On the other side of the shuttle 5, a compressed spring 66 bears against the second pressure member 62 to push it towards the second shell 52 and the second pouch 21. The alternating lateral pressure movements of the pressure members 61 and 62 on their respective capsules 1 and 2 are caused by the rotation of the oblong cam 64 about an axis of rotation 65, in the direction of the circular arrow.
[0101] When the small dimension of the oblong cam 64 is parallel to the center plane of the shuttle 5, the oblong cam 64 presses on the first pressure member 61 which presses on the first pouch 11 to empty its contents into the second pouch 21 through an inter-capsule communication channel not visible in
[0102] When the large dimension of the oblong cam 64 is parallel to the center plane of the shuttle 5, the spring 66 relaxes and pushes the second pressure member 62 which presses on the second pouch 21 to empty its contents into the first pouch 11 through an inter-capsule communication channel not visible in
[0103] During a complete revolution of the oblong cam 64, the arm 63 moves back and forth in translation, the first pressure member 61 first pressing once on the first pouch 11 of the first capsule 1 to empty its contents towards the second pouch 21 of the second capsule 2, the second pressure member 62 then pressing once on the second pouch 21 of the second capsule 2 to empty its contents towards the first pouch 11 of the first capsule 1, and the spring 66 is first compressed once and then relaxes once. This cycle is repeated between 2 and 15 times, preferably between 5 and 10 times, until the mixture of the two phases is properly homogenized, for example well emulsified, so as to form a homogeneous cosmetic product, for example an emulsion, ready for direct and immediate use by the user, the user then applying for example to the facial skin the facial cream thus obtained, which is natural and fresh without preservatives, because the phases are mixed immediately prior to use.
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[0108] The user's hand 7, more specifically one or more fingers 70, for example the thumb, presses simultaneously on each side of the shuttle 5, at the passages 53 and 54 of the shells 51 and 52, on the pouches 11 and 12 of the capsules 1 and 2, to cause the homogenized mixture constituting the ready-to-use cosmetic product 8 to exit through the outlet orifice 30 which is no longer clamped. This ready-to-use cosmetic product 8 exits through the outlet orifice 30, and gravity causes it to fall onto the fingers 72 of the user's other hand 71 which is positioned to receive this cosmetic product 8. With this cosmetic product 8 in his or her hand 71, the user can use it directly and immediately, for example spreading the skincare cream 8 on the face with his or her hand 71.
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[0110] The shells 51 and 52 have been moved apart from each other. The user removes the pair of capsules 1 and 2 from the shuttle 5, after detaching the capsules 1 and 2 from the heating plate 4. The user can then discard this pair of capsules 1 and 2 into a waste receptacle 73, for example a trash can 73.
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[0113] A first capsule 1 comprises a first pouch 11 containing a first phase intended to be mixed with a second phase from a second pouch 21 of a second capsule 2 in order to yield a homogenized mixture, for example an emulsion, forming the ready-to-use cosmetic product directly and immediately usable by the user.
[0114] The first capsule also comprises a first buffer zone 12. The first pouch 11 is separated from the first buffer zone 12 by a first weak frangible weld 14. The assembly consisting of the first pouch 11 and the first buffer zone 12 is surrounded by a first strong weld 15 significantly stronger than the first weak frangible weld 14.
[0115] When the first weak weld 14 is broken by pressure exerted on the first pouch 11, the first phase contained in the first pouch 11 will first flow into the first buffer zone 12 and then into the segment 13 of the inter-capsule communication channel which is continued by a male connector 10 in the direction of the second capsule 2 and by an outlet passage 3 in the direction of an outlet orifice 30.
[0116] All the three-dimensional contours of the first capsule 1 are formed by a thermoformed shell 16. The total length L1 of the first capsule 1 is for example 70.8 mm. The length L2 of the outlet passage 3 is for example 18.15 mm. The total width L3 of the first capsule 1 is for example 36.5 mm.
[0117] The first disposable deformable capsule 1 comprises a predetermined amount of a first phase of a cosmetic product, and also comprises a first pouch 11 containing this first phase of cosmetic product, an outlet orifice 30 leading to outside the first capsule 1, a unobstructed channel including the first buffer zone 12, the segment 13, and the outlet passage 3, and connecting the first pouch 11 to the outlet orifice 30 with a narrowing along part of its length, a first frangible wall 14 separating the first pouch 11 from this unobstructed channel, the entire first phase of cosmetic product filling the entire first pouch 11, rupture of the first frangible wall 14 resulting in at least a portion of the first phase of cosmetic product entering this unobstructed channel, no other frangible wall being located in this unobstructed channel between the first pouch 11 and the outlet orifice 30.
[0118] The first disposable deformable capsule 1 comprises a first pouch 11 containing a predetermined amount of only one of the two phases which when mixed form a ready-to-use cosmetic product, a first empty buffer zone 12 separated from the first pouch 11 by a first frangible wall 14, no cosmetic component being in the first buffer zone 12, and a channel portion including the segment 13 and the outlet passage 3 which leads at one side to the first buffer zone 12 and at the other side to outside the first capsule 1 at the outlet orifice 30.
[0119] Before the first frangible wall 14 is ruptured, the first empty buffer zone 12 is in a completely flattened position in which the walls of the first buffer zone 12 are arranged one against the other.
[0120] After the first frangible wall 14 is ruptured, the first pouch 11 extends into the first buffer zone 12 and thus includes it, increasing the volume of the now-extended first pouch 11.
[0121] Advantageously, the first pouch 11 has a generally convex shape in the plane of the flattened first pouch 11 which is also the plane of
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[0123] A second capsule 2 is similar to the first capsule 1. The second capsule 2 comprises a second pouch 21 containing a second phase intended to be mixed with the first phase from the first pouch 11 of the first capsule 1 in order to yield the homogenized mixture, for example an emulsion, forming the ready-to-use cosmetic product directly and immediately usable by the user.
[0124] The second capsule also comprises a second buffer zone 22. The second pouch 21 is separated from the second buffer zone 22 by a second weak frangible weld 24. The assembly consisting of the second pouch 21 and the second buffer zone 22 is surrounded by a second strong weld 25 significantly stronger than the second weak frangible weld 24.
[0125] When the second weak weld 24 is ruptured by pressure exerted on the second pouch 21, the second phase contained in the second pouch 21 will first flow into the second buffer zone 22 and then into the segment 23 of the inter-capsule communication channel which is continued by a female connector 20 in the direction of the first capsule 1.
[0126] All the three-dimensional contours of the second capsule 2 are formed by a thermoformed shell 16. The second buffer zone 22 has, in the plane of the flattened second pouch 21, a general U-shape with arms 221 and 222 that are thinner towards their ends.
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[0128] The thermoformed shell 16 forms the three-dimensional portions of the capsules 1 and 2. A flat film 17 covers the thermoformed shell 16, both for the first capsule 1 and the second capsule 2. The inter-capsule communication channel comprises a first right-angle bend formed by segment 13 and the male connector 10 fitted into the female connector 20, as well as a second right-angle bend formed by the male connector 10 fitted into the female connector 20 and segment 23. Flow of the mixture between the pouches 11 and 21 follows a path forming the three sides of a rectangle, the first long side comprising the first pouch 11, the first buffer zone 12, and segment 13, the second long side comprising the second pouch 21, the second buffer zone 22, and segment 23, the short side joining said two long sides and comprising the male connector 10 fitted into the female connector 20.
[0129] The pair of capsules 1 and 2 assembled together respectively comprise two different phases to be mixed in order to obtain a personalized cosmetic product, and comprise two pouches 11 and 21 respectively containing the two different phases and respectively included in the two capsules 1 and 2 and interconnected by a communication channel comprising at least one portion of narrow cross-section relative to the two pouches 11 and 21, this narrow portion of the communication channel comprising two right-angle bends, the first bend comprising channel portions 13 and 10 at right angles to each other, the second bend comprising channel portions 23 and 10 at right angles to each other. These two right-angle bends are arranged such that at least part of the narrow portion of the communication channel comprising the two right-angle bends forms the three sides of a rectangle.
[0130] Each disposable deformable capsule 1 or 2 comprises an extended pouch 11 and 12 (or 21 and 22) containing a predetermined amount of only one of the two phases which when mixed form a ready-to-use cosmetic product, and a narrowing which forms a channel leading at one side into the extended pouch 11 and 12 (or 21 and 22) and at the other side to outside the capsule 1 or 2. Each extended pouch 11 and 12 (or 21 and 22) is flattened, one of its two faces being flat, the other of its two faces being at least partly convex and flexible to allow expelling the contents of the extended pouch 11 and 12 (or 21 and 22) by mechanical pressure on said pouch.
[0131] Each extended pouch 11 and 12 (or 21 and 22) comprises two compartments 11 and 12 (or 21 and 22), separated by a frangible wall 14 or 24, the actual pouch 11 or 21, and the adjoining buffer zone 12 or 22 into which the actual pouch 11 or 21 will be able to extend after rupture of the frangible wall 14 or 24. As the phase is only located in the compartment 11 or 21 not opening into this channel 13 or 23, only this compartment 11 or 21 comprising the phase is convex before rupture of the frangible wall 14 or 24. This phase will therefore be well preserved, for example during storage, because the frangible wall 14 or 24 separating the two compartments 11 and 12 (or 21 and 22) of the extended pouch 11 and 12 (or 21 and 22) allows vacuum filling and sealing the phase in the corresponding pouch 11 and 12 (or 21 and 22).
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[0133] The male connector 10 fits into the female connector 20. The male connector 10 and the female connector 20 are made of rigid plastic.
[0134] On the side of the first capsule 1, the male connector 10 has a flange 18 located at its base in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the male connector 10 fitted into the female connector 20. Inside the male connector 10, the narrow channel portion 33 establishes the fluid connection between the channel segment 13 also of narrow cross-section that is part of the first capsule 1 and the channel segment 23 also of narrow cross-section that is part of the second capsule 2. This flange 18 increases the sturdiness of the first right-angle bend of the inter-capsule communication channel.
[0135] On the side of the second capsule 2, the female connector 20 has a flange 28 located at its base in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the male connector 10 fitted into the female connector 20. Inside the male connector 10, the narrow channel portion 33 establishes the fluid connection between the channel segment 13 also of narrow cross-section that is part of the first capsule 1 and the channel segment 23 also of narrow cross-section that is part of the second capsule 2. This flange 28 increases the sturdiness of the second right-angle bend of the inter-capsule communication channel.
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[0137] Channel segment 13 of narrow cross-section, narrow channel portion 33, and channel segment 23 of narrow cross-section all have the same value for the narrow cross-section.
[0138] The width L4 of segment 13 and segment 23 is for example 2.31 mm. The outside diameter D1 of the flanges 18 and 28 is for example 9.30 mm. The inside diameter D2 of the narrow channel portion 33 is for example 1.3 mm. The outside diameter D3 of the female connector 20 is for example 5.30 mm. The height H1 of the male connector 10 and the female connector 20 is for example 4.30 mm. The height H2 of segment 13 and segment 23 is for example 0.75 mm.
[0139] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples and embodiment described and represented, but is suitable for many variants accessible to those skilled in the art.