Device for diffusing one or several fluid product doses, and device for applying a temporary adhesive tattoo using same

A device for diffusing one or several fluid product doses, each dose being contained in a sealed reserve defined by an envelope made of a flexible and ductile material, such that a collapsing pressure applied on the reserve causes the envelope to burst open releasing the product contained in the reserve. The envelope is locally provided with at least a weakened zone forming a pre-opening, so as to cause the envelope to burst open at the pre-opening, thereby channelling the product through the pre-opening in a predetermined direction.

The present invention relates to a device for delivering one or more doses
 of a fluid product, such as a liquid, creamy, gelatinous or gaseous
 product, as well as to a device for the application of an adhesive
 temporary tattoo using the aforementioned delivery device. The delivery
 device of the invention applies especially to the delivery of a
 pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, hygiene, perfumery and household-cleaning
 product.
 In the field of perfumery and cosmetics, it is common practice to
 distribute free samples to the public which contain a small dose of
 products, in order to promote the product and to satisfy the public's
 craze for this type of sample. These product samples are generally
 packaged in small bottles or sachets which are provided with a removable
 stopper, with a spray device, with a tearable tab or with a breaking line
 for delivering the product. These delivery means have a relatively high
 manufacturing cost given that they are used only once, they are difficult
 to handle and, furthermore, run the risk of injuring the user.
 A known device of this kind comprises a plastic package or a blister pack
 defining one or more cavities containing a generally liquid product, the
 package or the blister pack having a tab intended to be broken by bending,
 in order to gain access to the cavity.
 Another known device comprises a first moulded plastic film defining a
 cavity for housing the product therein and a second film closing off the
 said cavity, it being possible to remove or tear the said second film in
 order to gain access to the cavity.
 Blister packs of this type are also used for packaging medicines in the
 form of tablets or capsules, as well as for packaging soft contact lenses.
 Also known, in the food field, are tearable plastic sachets intended to
 contain a dose of tomato sauce or salad dressing.
 In the hotel industry, such sachets are also used to provide customers with
 independent doses of shampoo or liquid soap.
 It will also be noted that such a device can be used for containing
 deodorizing doses for diffusing a perfumed gaseous product contained in a
 sachet or bottle into the ambient air. It will be noted that the device of
 the invention may be inserted into a magazine.
 Document FR-A-2,632,936 describes a device for delivering a liquid or
 semi-liquid cosmetic product, this device consisting of a relatively thin
 film of plastic which defines a small sealed volume in which a product
 dose is packaged, this dose being able to be released by crushing the said
 volume by pressing it with one's fingers. However, this plastic film of
 generally spherical shape bursts in one's fingers when it is being
 crushed, making its use unpleasant for the user who will have his or her
 fingers impregnated with product.
 The object of the invention is to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks
 and to provide a device for delivering one or more doses of a fluid
 product, which is simple to use, inexpensive to manufacture, effective in
 operation, compact and lighter in weight and which minimizes product
 wastage during delivery.
 For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a device for delivering
 one or more doses of a fluid product, each dose being contained in a
 sealed reserve which is defined by an envelope at least partially made of
 a deformable flexible material, so that a crushing pressure exerted on the
 reserve causes the envelope to burst in order to release the product
 contained in the reserve, characterized in that the envelope is provided
 locally with at least one region of weakness forming a pre-aperture, so as
 to cause the envelope to burst instantly at the pre-aperture, the flow of
 product thus being channelled by the pre-aperture in a predetermined
 orientation. By virtue of the invention, the product is no longer
 delivered directly in contact with one's fingers, thereby avoiding one's
 fingers getting dirty and eliminating the risk of injury. Furthermore,
 since the flow of product is directed in a selected orientation, it is
 possible to optimize the use of the product to be delivered, without
 unnecessary product wastage. Since the product is delivered simply by
 pressing on the device, its use will be facilitated and speeded up.
 Advantageously, the envelope comprises two films made of a plastic or the
 like, which are hermetically bonded to each other, for example by adhesive
 bonding or heat sealing, in a peripheral region in order to define,
 between the two films, the reserve containing the product.
 In a first embodiment, the pre-aperture consists of a prescoring of the
 envelope, preferably in the general form of a cross. In another
 embodiment, the pre-aperture consists of a region of smaller thickness,
 preferably by local deformation of the envelope.
 In yet another embodiment, the peripheral bonding region comprises locally
 a weakened heat-sealing region forming the aforementioned pre-aperture,
 while the rest of the peripheral bonding region is a definitive
 heat-sealing weld. Advantageously, the weakened heat-sealing region is
 defined between a peripheral portion in the form of a tab of one of the
 films and a corresponding portion of the other film, the said portions
 being superposed and extending some considerable distance away from the
 peripheral edge of the reserve.
 In a first variant, the aforementioned tab projects into the reserve and is
 heat sealed in a detachable manner to a corresponding portion of the other
 film, which has an orifice for delivering the product to the outside when
 the tab becomes detached under the effect of the pressure of crushing the
 reserve.
 In another variant, the tab projects outside the reserve and is heat sealed
 in a detachable manner to a corresponding portion of the other film, apart
 from two lateral edges of the tab which are heat sealed in a definitive
 manner to the other film in order to define at least one prechannel for
 opening the reserve.
 In a first embodiment, the distal end edge of the tab is welded in a
 detachable manner in order to define at least one prechannel which can be
 opened at the end in order to expel the product. In this case, the tab may
 be extended beyond the corresponding portion of the other film, so as to
 be able to fold over and fasten in a detachable manner the projecting
 portion of the tab to the other film, in order to isolate the passage for
 expelling the product, before its use, from external contaminants.
 In another embodiment, the distal end edge of the tab is heat sealed in a
 definitive manner to the other film, in order to define at least one
 closed prechannel, and at least one orifice is made through the tab and/or
 the corresponding portion of the other film in order to expel the product
 when the weakened heat-sealing weld becomes detached under the effect of
 the pressure exerted on the reserve.
 According to another characteristic, each expulsion orifice may include a
 projecting end-piece in order to define a nozzle for spraying the product.
 According to yet another characteristic, each orifice may be covered with a
 protective film, which can be moved aside under the effect of the pressure
 of the product leaving via the orifice, so as to isolate the orifice from
 external contaminants before use.
 Advantageously, the expulsion orifice may consist of a plurality of
 micro-orifices, arranged for example in the form of a star, in order to
 spray the product when it is expelled.
 According to yet another characteristic, the tab includes at least one
 intermediate line of definitive welding to the other film between its
 definitively heat-sealed lateral edges, the said intermediate line of
 welding being approximately parallel to the said lateral edges in order to
 define a plurality of prechannels for delivering the product.
 In one particular embodiment of the device, the reserve is in the general
 form of a hollow bubble containing the product to be delivered.
 In another embodiment, the two films forming the reserve are more or less
 plane and are superposed, at least one of them including an outwardly
 domed region, obtained for example by a moulding, in order to define with
 the other film the aforementioned reserve, the peripheral region of the
 films around the said domed region extending approximately in the same
 plane in order to define a peripheral surface for supporting and gripping
 the device.
 In a variant, the two films include a common line of bending which passes
 right in line with the pre-aperture of the reserve, so that by exerting
 pressure on the peripheral surface for supporting the device, on either
 side of the common line of bending, the reserve is crushed by being
 pinched between the two folded-over parts of the device, thereby causing
 the product to be delivered via the pre-aperture located on the edge of
 the dihedron formed by the two folded-over parts of the device.
 According to another characteristic, the film which is provided with a
 pre-aperture includes, on its external face, a layer of material forming
 an applicator pad which is hermetically bonded to the periphery of the
 said support surface, so as to impregnate the applicator pad with the
 product via the pre-aperture when the reserve is burst, the applicator pad
 serving to apply the product to any chosen surface, it being possible for
 the applicator to be an absorbent paper or a spongy or cottony textile
 material. In this case, an intercalar free space may be provided between
 the applicator pad and the facing film in order to allow the product
 released by the reserve to spread out uniformly over the entire surface of
 the applicator pad.
 Advantageously, a protective film which can be moved aside and is bonded to
 one of the edges of the applicator pad on its external face may be
 provided, in order to cover the pad and isolate it from any external
 element that might damage and/or contaminate it.
 Preferably, the pre-aperture is located on one of the films, approximately
 at the centre of the reserve.
 The reserve may contain a liquid, creamy, gelatinous or gaseous product.
 A second subject of the invention relates to a device for applying an
 adhesive temporary tattoo.
 A device is known, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,353, for the transfer printing
 of a ticket bearing an ink, using a wet sponge or a spray applied to the
 skin. However, such a device requires the use of a wet sponge or of
 another equivalent instrument, thereby complicating the use.
 Document DE-A-19606839 describes a device comprising an auxiliary support,
 a layer of contact adhesive and a transfer layer between the support and
 the layer of adhesive, the said transfer layer containing a binder which
 adheres more strongly to the adhesive layer than to the support, the
 transfer layer and/or the layer of adhesive having, on the one hand, fine
 hollow particles containing water and, on the other hand, a solid alcohol
 soluble in water, so that pressure exerted on the support causes the
 microparticles to burst in order to apply the said transfer layer to a
 surface. However, such a device requires the manufacture of microspheres
 in an opaque polymer layer, the said opaque polymer layer being intended
 to be transferred to the surface, thereby complicating the manufacture and
 increasing the production costs.
 The second object of the invention is to eliminate the aforementioned
 drawbacks of the prior devices for an adhesive temporary tattoo and to
 provide a device for applying the adhesive temporary tattoo which is
 simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which allows the adhesive
 temporary tattoo to be instantly applied to any chosen surface.
 For this purpose, the second subject of the invention is a device for
 applying an adhesive temporary tattoo using the delivery device defined
 above, characterized in that an ink for the adhesive temporary tattoo is
 positioned on the external face of the applicator pad so that pressure
 exerted by the user on the reserve causes the envelope to burst via the
 pre-aperture, which in turn moistens the applicator pad and instantly
 transfers the adhesive temporary tattoo onto the chosen surface.
 Advantageously, the device includes a protective film which can be moved
 aside and is bonded to one of the edges of the applicator pad on its
 external face, in order to cover the ink for the adhesive temporary tattoo
 and to isolate it from external elements that might contaminate and/or
 damage it. The protective film may be provided on its external face with a
 layer of adhesive material covered by a peelable protective film so as to
 make it possible to transfer the tattoo already applied to a surface, onto
 the said layer of adhesive material after having peeled the protective
 film and to apply the said tattoo again to another surface.
 According to another characteristic, the device includes an additional film
 hermetically bonded to the periphery of the support surface, on the
 opposite side from the pre-aperture, so as to define a volume of air
 between the said additional film and the reserve, the said additional film
 having locally a peripheral weakened-bonding region so that crushing
 pressure exerted on the said additional film causes, successively or
 simultaneously, the audible bursting of the volume of air in the
 weakened-bonding region and the bursting of the reserve via the
 pre-aperture.

FIG. 1 shows, in section, an approximately plane first film 1 to which is
 applied a second film 2 having a peripheral region 2a which is adhesively
 bonded or heat sealed to a corresponding peripheral region of the film 1
 and an outwardly domed central region 2b, for example obtained by
 moulding, so as to define, between the said domed central region 2b and
 the facing film 1, a closed space 3 defining a reserve for a product to be
 delivered. Indicated by the hatched lines is the adhesive-bonding or
 heat-sealing region 4. The lower film 1 furthermore has, at its centre, a
 pre-aperture defined by a prescoring in the form of a cross 5 in order for
 the product to be delivered to the outside. FIG. 1A shows that the
 peripheral region 2a of the film 2 is hatched in order to indicate the
 location of the adhesive bonding or of the heat sealing 4. The general
 shape of the device is approximately rectangular, whereas the reserve 3
 has an elliptical general shape seen from above.
 The peripheral region 2a of the film 2 forms with the corresponding portion
 of the film 1 an annular support serving especially for gripping the
 device.
 Referring now to FIG. 2, this shows that a layer of material 6 forming an
 applicator pad is peripherally fastened to the external surface of the
 film 1, by means of a weld bead or bead of adhesive 7, the said bead
 defining an intercalar space 8 between the pre-aperture 5 of the film 1
 and the internal facing surface of the applicator pad 6. This applicator
 pad 6 may be an absorbent paper or a spongy or cottony textile material.
 The purpose of the intercalar space 8 is to allow the product contained in
 the reserve 3 and leaving via the pre-aperture 5 to be delivered over
 approximately the entire internal surface of the applicator pad 6, in
 order to allow it to be impregnated with product in an approximately
 uniform manner. Thus, the product may be applied to any chosen surface by
 means of the external surface of the applicator pad 6. Of course, the
 bonded regions 4 and 7 are hermetically sealed with respect to the product
 to be delivered.
 FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment in which the upper film 12 has a
 slight downwardly concave shape and the film 11 more or less follows the
 shape of the film 12, apart from the central portion lla which is
 downwardly domed and provided at its centre with the pre-aperture 15. The
 reserve 13 here therefore faces downwards, unlike in FIG. 1 where the
 reserve 3 faced upwards.
 The films 11 and 12 are connected around their periphery 12a to an
 applicator pad 16 via a peripheral weld bead 17 or bead of adhesive (see
 FIG. 3A). The applicator pad 16 is connected via a transverse edge to a
 tab 19a of a transparent flexible protective film 19 which is intended to
 cover the external surface of the applicator pad 16 in order to isolate it
 from the outside and protect it from any contamination and/or
 deterioration.
 FIG. 3 shows that the intercalar space 18 provided between the reserve 13
 and the applicator pad 16 is significantly greater than the intercalar
 space 8 in FIG. 2, since here the domed surface lla of the reserve faces
 the applicator pad.
 In the variant in FIG. 4, the upper film 22 also has a rectangular shape
 with a central portion 22b approximately in the form of an outwardly domed
 spherical cap and a plane peripheral region 22a. The central portion 22b
 of the film 22 defines, with the lower film (not illustrated), a reserve
 23.
 The lower film includes an inwardly curved tab 21a which is adhesively
 bonded or heat sealed, as indicated by the hatched region 25, to the
 internal surface of the domed portion 22b of the film 22. This tab 21a is
 hermetically fastened by detachable spots of adhesive or a weakened
 heat-sealed weld to the portion 22b of the film 22, in order to allow this
 tab 21a to be detached when pressure is exerted on the reserve 23. When
 the tab 21a is detached, the product can diffuse towards the outside via
 an orifice 25a made through the portion 22b of the film 22, right in line
 with the tab 21a. Before pressure is exerted on the reserve 23, the
 orifice 25a is hermetically sealed by the weakened bonding 25 to the tab
 21a.
 As a variant, it would be possible to provide the orifice 25a on the lower
 film and the tab 21a on the upper film 22, without departing from the
 scope of the invention.
 The only edge of the tab 21a which is not detachable is that which is
 common to the peripheral edge of the portion 22b of the film 22 which is
 heat sealed in a definitive manner to the lower film.
 In the variant in FIG. 6, the upper film 32 also has a central portion 32b
 in the form of a spherical cap and a surrounding plane portion 32a. The
 reserve 33 is defined between the domed central portion 32b of the film 32
 and the facing internal surface of the lower plane film 31 (see FIG. 6A).
 The pre-aperture region 35 (shown hatched) is defined here by a tab 32c
 forming part of the peripheral portion 32a of the film 32, the said tab
 32c extending from a peripheral edge of the central portion 32b and being
 heat sealed in a definitive manner by all its sides to the lower film 31,
 apart from its edge 35b common to the peripheral edge of the central
 portion 32b, which edge 35b is connected by a weakened weld to the lower
 film 31. The tab 32c is also connected by a weakened heat-sealing weld 35,
 over its entire surface, to the lower film 31, for the reason explained
 below. An orifice 35a is made through the tab 32c in order to allow the
 product to be delivered to the outside when the internal edge 35b and the
 entire internal surface 35 of the tab 32c is detached from the lower film
 31 under the effect of pressure exerted on the reserve 33. The
 pre-aperture region 35 thus forms a prechannel for expelling the fluid,
 which prechannel, under the effect of the pressure, expands into a channel
 by detaching the weakened weld, thereby allowing the fluid contained in
 the reserve 33 to pass through the channel into the expulsion orifice 35a.
 In FIG. 7, the two films 131 and 132 do not have a plane peripheral region
 but are connected to each other only by their common peripheral edges. In
 other words, the film 132 has a general shape in the form of a spherical
 cap and the film 131 has a shape approximately in the form of a flat disc.
 The film 132 furthermore includes a tab 132a which projects outwards and
 which is superposed on a corresponding tab 131a which projects to the
 outside of the film 131. The tab 132a has an orifice or a projecting spray
 nozzle 135a for the product contained in the reserve 133, the tabs 131a
 and 132a being bonded by a weakened weld, apart from their external edges
 which are mutually welded in a definitive manner.
 FIG. 5 shows the same device as in FIG. 4, except that here it does not
 include a plane peripheral surface surrounding the reserve 123. The upper
 film 122 has a general shape in the form of a spherical cap, in a similar
 manner to the film 132 in FIG. 7. Near its peripheral edge, the film 122
 has an orifice 125a which is closed off by an internal tab 121a of the
 lower film (not illustrated) with a weakened weld 125. The operation of
 the device in FIG. 5 is identical to that in FIG. 4.
 As a variant, the element 22b, 122, 32b and 132 in FIGS. 4 to 7,
 respectively, may consist of a rigid shell replacing the moulded flexible
 film, thereby allowing the device to be inserted between the sheets of a
 journal or magazine by placing it via the film 21, 121, 31 and 131 on a
 sheet using a detachable adhesive. Thus, there is no risk of the device
 bursting under the effect of the pressure of the magazine, when
 transporting and storing it, and the device can be detached in order to
 reposition it on another support or another chosen surface or in order to
 make it burst by exerting pressure on the flexible plane film.
 In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the reserve 143 has a
 spherical general shape obtained by joining two hemispherical films 141
 and 142 together along their common equatorial edge 143a. The films 141
 and 142 each have a respective tab 141a and 142a which are superposed and
 project outwards. These tabs 141a and 142a are bonded to each other along
 their entire sides by a permanent weld, apart from their internal edge
 145b and their facing surface 145 which are bonded by a weakened weld, as
 indicated in the hatched region. The tab 142a and/or the tab 141a have an
 orifice 145a emerging in the weakened weld region 145 in order to allow
 the product contained in the reserve 143 to be ejected when the weakened
 weld region 145 has been detached, forming an ejection channel 145' as
 illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 9A. This is because, under the effect of a
 compressive force exerted on each film, as illustrated by the arrows P in
 FIG. 9A, the weakened weld region 145 becomes detached, forming the
 channel 145', thereby allowing the fluid to be ejected via the orifice
 145a as indicated by the arrow F.
 Of course, the tab 141a and/or 142a may have several product ejection
 orifices, as illustrated in FIG. 11. In this figure, several orifices 146
 arranged in the form of a star emerge in the weakened weld region 145 in
 order to produce a spraying effect or microjets of the product contained
 in the reserve 143.
 In FIG. 9, an small additional protective film 149 is adhesively bonded, in
 a detachable manner, or bonded by a weakened heat-sealing weld to the
 orifice 145a in order to cover it and isolate it from external
 contaminants or deteriorating agents, especially for hygiene regions.
 In FIGS. 10 and 10A, the elements which are identical or similar to those
 illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 bear the same reference numbers increased by
 ten. The variant in FIG. 10 differs from the embodiment in FIGS. 8 and 9
 principally by the fact that the tabs 152a and 151a here have a circular
 general shape instead of the approximately rectangular shape in FIGS. 8
 and 9, and by the fact that the expulsion orifice 155a here is in the form
 of a outwardly projecting nozzle instead of the simple orifice 145a in
 FIGS. 8 and 9.
 In FIGS. 12 and 13, the elements which are identical or similar to those
 illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 bear the same reference numbers increased by
 twenty. The variant in FIGS. 12 and 13 differs from the embodiment in
 FIGS. 8 and 9 essentially by the fact that the orifice for expelling the
 fluid consists here of the distal edge 165a of the weakened weld region
 165 between the tabs 162a and 161a. Consequently, when pressure P is
 exerted on the reserve 163 the tabs 161a and 162a become detached,
 defining a discharge channel 165', which emerges on the outside at the tip
 165a, in order to eject the product as indicated by the arrow F. Unlike
 the embodiment in FIGS. 8 and 9 the fluid F in FIGS. 12 and 13 is
 delivered to the outside without being sprayed. This is quite suitable,
 for example, for a creamy, gelatinous or pasty product.
 The distal expulsion orifice 165a in FIG. 13 is covered by an extension 169
 of the tab 162a so as to be able to fold over and fasten, in a detachable
 manner the projecting portion of the tab to the other film in order to
 isolate it from external contaminants and/or deteriorating agents,
 especially for hygiene reasons. Under the effect of the pressurized fluid
 ejected via the open channel 165', the extension 169 of the tab 162a
 becomes detached, as illustrated in FIG. 13A, and also contributes to
 orientating the flow of product F in a defined direction. The extension
 169 could also serve as an applicator.
 In FIGS. 14 and 15, the elements which are identical or similar to those of
 the embodiment in FIGS. 12 and 13 bear the same reference numbers
 increased by ten. The variant in FIGS. 14 and 15 differs essentially from
 the embodiment in FIGS. 12 and 13 by the fact that the device in FIGS. 14
 and 15 has an intermediate line of permanent welding 175b in the weakened
 weld region 175, the said intermediate line of permanent welding 175b
 extending between the lateral edges of the tabs 171a and 172a and parallel
 to the latter, so as to define two narrower parallel channels 175'
 emerging on the outside at the distal end 175a, so as to obtain two
 separate jets of fluid F. Of course, several intermediate lines of
 permanent welding could be provided in order to obtain several jets of
 fluid.
 In another embodiment of FIG. 2 illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17, the device
 has an upper film 42, a circular central portion 42b of which is outwardly
 domed and joined to a surrounding plane peripheral portion 42a, and a
 square-shaped plane lower film 41 which is permanently fastened to the
 peripheral plane portion 42a of the film 42. The film 41 has, right in
 line with the domed circular portion 42b of the film 42, a prescoring in
 the form of a cross 45, preferably at the center of the said circular
 portion 42b. The reserve 43 is defined between the domed portion 42b and
 the subjacent lower film 41. The film 41 and the plane peripheral region
 42a of the film 42 furthermore have a common line of bending 43a which
 extends over their entire length and passes through the pre-aperture 45,
 thereby dividing the device into two foldable parts. Thus, by exerting
 pressure with one's fingers D (see FIG. 17) on each foldable part of the
 device, the reserve 43 is compressed between the two folded parts of the
 device, thereby causing the reserve to burst via the pre-aperture in order
 to eject the product in the direction of the arrow F towards a chosen
 surface S. Under these conditions, the user no longer acts directly on the
 reserve 43 but on the peripheral parts of the films 41 and 42.
 In FIG. 17A, an applicator pad 46 is fastened to the external face of the
 film 41 in a manner similar to the embodiment in FIG. 2. Thus, the fluid
 leaving via the pre-aperture 45 will be able to impregnate the applicator
 pad 46.
 In FIGS. 18, 18a and 18b, the device consists of a hollow bubble 200
 defining, on the inside, a reserve of 203 for the product to be dispensed,
 the said bubble 200 having locally an outwardly domed deformation 205 of
 smaller thickness, in order to constitute a weakened region of
 pre-aperture by bursting. Of course, the bubble 200 could be obtained by
 joining two heat-sealed hemispherical films together in a definitive
 manner along their common equatorial edge.
 Compressing the bubble 200 with one's fingers D causes the weakened region
 205 to burst, in order to eject the product in the direction of the arrow
 F.
 FIGS. 19A to H illustrate various shapes for the reserve and the
 surrounding support. In FIGS. 19A to D, the support has, seen from above,
 an approximately square shape while the reserve has circular, square,
 triangular and irregular shape, respectively. In FIG. 19E to G, the
 support has a circular shape while the reserves have a circular, square
 and triangular shape, respectively. In FIG. 19H, the support has a
 triangular shape and the reserve has a circular shape. However, the
 respective shapes of the support and of the reserve may vary in any
 manner, without departing from the scope of the invention.
 Referring now to FIGS. 20 and 21, two particular embodiments of a device
 for applying an adhesive temporary tattoo will be described.
 FIG. 20 is identical to FIG. 3, apart from a layer of ink 20 for an
 adhesive temporary tattoo, which ink is deposited on the external surface
 of the applicator pad 16. When pressure is exerted on the film 12 in order
 to crush the reserve 13, the pre-aperture 15 bursts, thereby releasing the
 liquid into the intermediate space 18. The ejected liquid then spreads out
 uniformly over the entire internal surface of the absorbent pad 16, the
 latter, once wetted, allowing patterns formed by the ink 20 to be
 transferred onto any chosen surface.
 The protective film 19 makes it possible to isolate the adhesive
 transfer-printing ink 20 from any external deteriorating agent.
 In the variant in FIG. 21, the elements which are identical or similar to
 those illustrated in FIG. 2 bear the same reference numbers increased by
 one hundred. The hatched region 104 indicates the permanent bonding
 between the peripheral region 102a of the film 102 and the lower film 101.
 In a similar manner to FIG. 20, a layer of adhesive transfer-printing ink
 110 is positioned on the external surface of the absorbent pad 106 and a
 protective film 109 is fastened by a tab 109a to a transverse edge of the
 absorbent pad 106, in order to act as a point of hingeing to the flexible
 film 109, which may for example be a transparent film. This protective
 film 109 is intended to cover the ink 110, and it has, on its lower face,
 an adhesive layer against which a peelable protective film 109b is
 pressed. Once the pattern consisting of the ink 110 has been transferred
 to a given surface, the temporary protective film 109b may be removed from
 the protective film 109, and this protective film 109 may be pressed via
 its face having the adhesive layer against the printed pattern, in order
 to immediately remove this pattern from the surface where it was applied
 and allow it to be repositioned on another surface.
 The device in FIG. 21 furthermore includes an additional plastic film 111,
 of outwardly convex general shape, the peripheral edge llla of which is
 permanently welded at 112 to the upper face of the film 102, a region of
 the said peripheral edge 111a being connected by a weakened weld 112a to
 the film 102, in order to allow a volume of air 113 lying between the
 films 111 and 112 to burst when pressure is exerted on the additional film
 111.
 When the device in FIG. 21 is used, the protective film 109 with its film
 109b is firstly moved aside, the layer of ink 110 is applied against the
 surface where it has to be transferred and pressure is exerted on the film
 111, thereby causing the volume of air 113 instantly to burst via the
 weakened weld 112a and then causing the reserve of liquid 103 to be
 crushed, which reserve in turn bursts via the pre-aperture 105, thereby
 wetting the applicator pad 106 and thus releasing the adhesive
 transfer-printing ink 110 onto the chosen surface.
 It will be noted that the films used in the device of the invention are not
 necessarily made of plastic, but could be made of metal or of composite
 materials.
 In certain embodiments, the plane support which surrounds the reserve can
 be used for printing information or patterns. The device may be designed
 to be overall transparent, opaque or coloured.
 Although all the devices illustrated have only a single reserve, several
 identical or different reserves could be provided on the same device.
 The pre-aperture region will be determined so as to burst above a certain
 resistance threshold which is high enough to guarantee the integrity of
 the reserve throughout its transportation and storage and which is
 sufficiently low to be able to be reached by manual pressure.
 Yet another advantage of the invention is that it can be used with only one
 hand.
 The support of the device may also be pierced in order to be able to be
 suspended from a hooking means, for the purpose of its sale.
 Although the invention has been described in relation to several particular
 embodiments, it is quite obvious that it is in no way limited thereto and
 that it comprises all the technical equivalents of the means described as
 well as their combinations, provided that these combinations fall within
 the scope of the invention.