Portion-taker device including a measuring scoop

The present invention provides a portion-taker device for taking a substance, the device including at least one measuring scoop, which scoop comprises:

The present invention relates both to a portion-taker device including a measuring scoop, and to a packaging and dispensing kit including at least one substance from which portions are to be taken by means of such a device.

BACKGROUND

International patent application WO 2004/069017 discloses an ice cream scoop comprising a rigid annular frame and a bottom in the form of a cap made of a flexible material. The ice cream contained in the scoop can be expelled by deforming the flexible bottom with a finger.

Application EP 1 371 314 A1 describes a scoop of structure analogous to that described in application WO 2004/069017, together with a lever acting on the flexible bottom.

Application EP 1 516 539 A1 also discloses an ice cream scoop comprising two elements that are pivotally mounted relative to each other, a spring being interposed between the two elements to space them apart. One of the elements includes a frame at one end, and the other element includes a cup designed to co-operate with the frame to form a cavity for taking ice cream.

Each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,392,806, 2,756,698, and 4,161,381 discloses an ice cream scoop comprising a cup provided with a bottom tongue of rounded shape and capable of pivoting to expel the ice cream.U.S. Pat. No. 2,660,784 describes a measuring scoop having a portion-taking cavity with a pivoting tongue in the bottom thereof. The tongue is provided with a spring-forming portion and it serves to expel the substance.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,039 describes a device for taking a portion of a foodstuff, the device comprising a scoop with a plate placed in the bottom thereof to expel its content.

Patent application US 2005/160807 describes a device having a handle and a measuring scoop including a portion-taking cavity having, in its bottom, a plate that is capable of pivoting under the action of a pressbutton situated on the handle.

Patent application JP 07 286885 describes a scoop having a structure close to that described in application US 2005/160807. It describes two variants: in the first variant, the user turns an element on the handle that is also secured to the bottom of the cavity; in the second variant the user moves a pushbutton on the handle, thereby driving a belt that exerts thrust on the bottom of the cavity.

Patent application DE 197 36 078 describes a measuring device comprising a measuring receptacle and a side wall that is movable relative to the measuring receptacle.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,521 describes a device for taking a foodstuff, the device having a scoop at one of its ends and a measuring scoop at each other end. The foodstuff can travel inside the handle from one end of the device to the other.

Known devices for taking and extracting a ball of ice cream are not necessarily suitable for non-food substances of different consistency and stickiness, and in addition they do not set out to measure accurately. Furthermore, at least some of those devices can be a relatively expensive to make.

Also, in the field of hair-care products, and in particular for coloring or bleaching, bleaching pastes, in particular those obtained by high-pressure extrusion, are occupying an increasing market share, replacing formulations that are more liquid.

These pastes, which are normally used mixed with a developer in predefined proportions, can present consistency that is quite firm, with a tendency to adhere easily to the walls of scoops used for taking them, which is harmful for measurement accuracy and complicates the mixing operation.

SUMMARY

The invention seeks in particular to propose a novel portion-taker device making it easy to take and deliver a measured quantity of a paste, such as a bleaching paste, for example.

In another of its aspects, the invention also seeks to provide a portion-taker device that is capable of being manufactured at a cost that is compatible with it being distributed on a large scale, in particular accompanying hair-care products.

In one of its aspects, the invention provides a portion-taker device for taking a substance, the device including at least one measuring scoop. The scoop comprises:a frame; anda flap mounted to pivot relative to the frame, co-operating with it to define, in a first position, the bottom of a cavity that is used for taking the substance.

The flap may be plane, i.e. it may present a plane surface on each of its faces, one of its faces defining the bottom of the cavity, and its other face being opposite from the cavity.

The flap does not need to have any flexible material at its periphery, in particular in its zones that come into contact with the frame. For example, it does not need to have any sealing gasket at its periphery.

The face of the flap opposite from the cavity may be completely free, and in particular it does not need to be connected to any mechanism. More generally, the flap may be completely free and does not need to include any mechanism.

The flap may pivot relative to the frame, being connected thereto via only one of its sides, the maximum pivot angle possibly being less than or equal to 220°, for example.

The frame may be arranged in such a manner as to enable a user to exert thrust on the flap on its side opposite from the cavity, so as to reduce the volume of the cavity. In particular, the frame may be made in such a manner that the flap can reach a second position in which the volume of the cavity is substantially zero.

The pivot angle of the flap relative to the frame between its first and second positions may, in particular, be less than or equal to about 40°.

The second position of the flap may correspond to a position in which one of the faces of the flap defines the bottom of a cavity of a volume substantially equal to the volume of the cavity defined by the flap in the first position.

The measuring scoop may serve to take a predefined quantity of substance when the flap is in the first position, for example by using the measuring scoop directly to take the substance from inside a receptacle containing the substance, where appropriate with the top edge of the frame being scraped against a receptacle or against a scraper in order to remove excess substance.

The invention makes it possible to eject substantially all of the substance contained in the cavity as filled in this way, by causing the flap to pivot from the first position to the second position. Once the flap is in the second position, the user can scrape the top edge of the frame again, where appropriate, in order to empty the scoop substantially completely.

The opening through which the substance is placed in the cavity, and the opening through which the substance is ejected from the cavity are the same.

The invention thus makes it easy to take and deliver a relatively accurate quantity of substance, without making it very difficult to clean the measuring scoop. This is advantageous in the field of hair care, whenever the paste being taken needs to be mixed extemporaneously with a developer or with some other compound in well-defined proportions; however the invention can find other applications in the fields of cosmetics or pharmacy, amongst others.

Since the substance contained in the cavity can be extracted manually by pressing a finger against the flap, it is possible, in at least some embodiments, for the device of the invention to present a structure that is relatively simple and inexpensive to make, unlike more complex devices that include a resilient return member such as a spring or a hinged lever, for example.

Furthermore, the user can cause the flap to pivot without coming directly into contact with the substance contained in the cavity, thus reducing any risk of dirtying and/or polluting the substance with impurities transported by the fingers.

Preferably, the flap presents a face facing the cavity that is substantially plane, thus making it easier to scrape once it is in the second position, e.g. by making contact with the rim of a receptacle or with a scraper.

In an embodiment of the invention, the flap pivots relative to the frame about a pivot axis, and the frame presents at least a portion of its inside surface that is circularly symmetrical, e.g. being in the form of a cylindrical sector, having a generator line parallel to the pivot axis and a circularly arcuate director line centered on the pivot axis. The flap may pivot without any resilient return action, continuing to occupy the position in which the user leaves it, however in a variant, the flap may be subjected to a certain amount of resilient return action, e.g. associated with the way in which the hinge is made.

Advantageously, when it is between its first and second positions, the flap occupies substantially the entire inside section of the frame, thereby reducing the risk of failing to eject any traces of substance adhering to the frame.

In an embodiment of the invention, the flap presents a free edge having at least a portion that presses against the frame when the flap is between its first and second positions. By way of example, this portion extends along at least the distal edge of the flap that is remote from the above-mentioned pivot axis. Where appropriate, the free edge of the flap may also include two side portions bearing against the frame when the flap is between the first and second positions.

The shape of the flap may be substantially polygonal, for example being rectangular, square, triangular, trapezoidal, or circular, amongst others, the frame presenting a shape that matches the shape of the flap.

When the device includes a handle, the pivot axis of the flap may be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

The top edge of the frame that constitutes the leading edge may be situated in a plane, and the handle may be generally flat in said plane.

The flap may be connected to the handle by a film hinge. The flap can thus be made by being molded integrally with at least one of the frame and the handle of the device. The flap and at least a portion of the frame may be made of a plastics material, in particular a polyolefin, e.g. polypropylene.

In an embodiment of the invention, the frame has an opening, thus enabling the user to press directly against the flap on the face thereof that is opposite from the cavity, by pressing through the opening in the frame.

The frame may be made of a single material, in particular of a material that is relatively rigid such as polypropylene. Where appropriate, the measuring scoop may be made entirely of a single material, in particular a thermoplastic material, e.g. polypropylene. The scoop can thus be made without any elastomer, which can be advantageous for certain substances that are rich in solvents, for example certain bleaching pastes that can turn out to be incompatible with numerous elastomers.

In another embodiment of the invention, the frame includes an elastically deformable membrane that may close the bottom.

In order to cause the flap to pivot from the first position towards the second position, the user then exerts thrust against the flap via the membrane, which can further reduce any risk of contact between one or more of the user's fingers and the substance contained in the cavity.

The flap may also be arranged to pivot beyond of the second position, so as to make it easier to clean the measuring scoop.

The frame may include at least two cheeks, which may be substantially parallel, and the elastically deformable membrane may define at least the bottom portion of each of the cheeks. This can enable the user to exert thrust on the flap over a greater distance.

The frame may include a rigid top portion so as to form a leading edge that guarantees satisfactory penetration of the scoop into the substance that is to be taken.

The elastically deformable membrane may be made by overmolding a material, in particular an elastomer, onto the rigid portion of the frame. By way of example, the membrane may be made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), EPDM, Santoprene®, or rubber, this list not being limiting.

Catches in relief may be provided at the interface between the elastically deformable membrane and the rigid portion of the frame in order to improve retention of the membrane on said portion.

In use, the angular travel of the flap may be as great as 90° or more.

In an embodiment of the invention, the frame is arranged in such a manner that, on passing from the first position to the second position, the flap can pivot through an angle lying in the range 30° to 50°, for example close to 40°.

Advantageously, the frame includes at least a first abutment against which the flap bears when it is in one of the first and second positions.

In particular, the frame may have an abutment for holding the flap stationary in the first position while the substance is being taken. By way of example, this abutment can be made on the inside surface of the distal wall of the frame, remote from the pivot axis.

A second abutment may serve to prevent the flap from going beyond the second position, away from the first position. The flap may be held in place in the second position against said abutment by a finger, e.g. when the scoop is scraped against the rim of a receptacle.

When appropriate, the above-mentioned abutments can be made so as to be suitable for the flap to go past them when sufficient force is exerted thereon. This can enable the flap to be molded in a configuration other than the configurations taken by the flap on passing from the first position to the second position. In particular, the second abutment can be made with a chamfer that makes it easier to pass from the molding configuration to the first position. The flap may also be made with its distal edge having a chamfer that makes it easier to go past the second abutment.

In an embodiment of the invention, the frame includes one or more portions in relief arranged to generate at least one hard point, informing the user that the flap has gone past or has reached one of the first and second positions.

In an embodiment, the handle is hollow, thereby reducing the cost of materials and contributing to saving the environment.

In particular, the handle may comprise two assembled-together portions, which portions may be connected together by a film hinge. The hinge may be situated on a lateral side of the handle so as to make unmolding thereof easier. In a variant, the film hinge may extend at one of the longitudinal ends of the handle.

The handle may include a coating of a material, in particular of an elastomer, which coating is overmolded on the two portions of the handle in order to keep them together. Under such circumstances, portions in relief may be made on the handle portions in order to contribute to holding them together on a temporary basis. These portions in relief may co-operate so as to enable the handle portions to be snap-fastened together, for example.

The two handle portions may also be secured to each other by any other means, e.g. by adhesive or by heat-sealing.

The measuring scoop may be placed at a first end of the handle of the device, and the handle may also include another measuring scoop at a second end, opposite from the first. The measuring scoops may be different, for example the additional measuring scoop may define a portion-taking cavity of volume that is constant, without a pivoting flap. By way of example, the second scoop may be used for taking a liquid for mixing with the paste that is taken with the first scoop. In a variant, both measuring scoops may present respective pivoting flaps, as described above.

In another of its aspects, the invention also provides a kit comprising:at least one substance, in particular a non-food substance, e.g. a cosmetic; anda portion-taker device as defined above.

By way of example, the substance is a substance for bleaching hair, of pasty consistency, and designed to be mixed extemporaneously with a developer. The substance may be packaged in a jar.

In another of its aspects, the invention also provides a method of fabricating a device as defined above, the method including the following step:molding the flap and at least a portion of the frame, the flap being molded in a configuration in which it extends outside the frame, e.g. partially above the leading edge of the frame.

In the method, the frame can be made together with the handle by molding a material. The handle may comprise two portions that are assembled together after the molding operation.

The method may further include overmolding a membrane of elastomer serving to close the frame and/or to cover at least part of the handle.

In another of its aspects, the invention also provides a method of taking a portion of a substance, in particular a paste, the method comprising the following successive steps:taking the portion of the substance by using a portion-taker device as defined above; andcausing the flap to pivot towards the second position in order to extract the substance from the scoop.

The method may further include the following step:while the flap is in the second position, it is scraped in contact with an article, in particular the rim of a receptacle, in order to remove any substance that may still be present thereon.

In another of its aspects, the invention also provides a device for taking a portion of a substance, the device comprising:a measuring scoop which comprises at least:a frame including a flexible membrane in the form of a cap; anda flap pivotally mounted relative to the frame and capable of co-operating therewith to define a cavity for taking a portion of the substance, the membrane being arranged to enable the user to exert thrust on the flap through the membrane, so as to reduce the volume of the cavity.

MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 to 3show a portion-taker device1comprising a handle2extending along a longitudinal axis X, provided at a first end3with a measuring scoop4, and at another end5with a second measuring scoop6.

The handle2is of ergonomic shape, for example having a central zone11that is wider than its ends3and5.

The scoop4comprises a frame13and a flap14mounted to pivot relative to the frame13about an axis Y perpendicular to the axis X.

In a first angular position, the flap14co-operates with the frame13to define the bottom of a cavity15for use in taking a portion of substance, as shown inFIG. 2.

By way of example, the maximum volume of the cavity15is 15 milliliters (mL).

In the example described, the frame13has two substantially-parallel side cheeks18that are connected at a first end to the handle2, and that are interconnected at a second end opposite to the first end by means of the distal wall19.

The distal wall defines a circularly-symmetrical inside surface20in the form of a cylindrical sector having a generator line parallel to the axis Y, and a circularly arcuate director line centered on the axis Y.

The frame13presents a top edge21defining the leading edge of the scoop4for taking a portion of the substance.

The handle2is generally flat in shape, and the flap14is connected to the handle2via a film hinge16. In the example described, the flap14is substantially rectangular in shape when observed from in front. The top face24of the flap14that faces the cavity15is substantially plane and occupies a substantially the entire inside section of the frame13.

The flap14presents a free edge23that bears against the inside surface20of the frame13when the flap14passes from the first position as shown inFIG. 2to the second position as shown inFIG. 3, in which position the volume of the cavity15is substantially zero, the flap14then coming substantially flush with the leading edge21.

In the example described, and as shown inFIG. 1, the frame13defines an opening27that enables the user to press a finger against the flap14from its side opposite to the cavity15, thus enabling it to be pivoted from the first position towards the second position.

The second measuring scoop6defines a cavity28of constant volume. In an example that is not shown, the measuring scoop6may be analogous to the first scoop4, likewise being provided with a pivoting flap, and the scoops4and6may present capacities that are different or identical.

The handle2is a hollow, being formed by assembling together two portions8and9that are connected together on one side by a film hinge10, which hinge may be situated substantially half way along the handle2.

The handle2may be molded with the portions8and9located side-by-side, as shown inFIG. 3, after which they may be folded one against the other. The portions8and9can then be held assembled together in various ways, e.g. by adhesive, heat-sealing, or snap-fastening, or even by overmolding some other material, as described in detail below.

In the example under consideration, the device1is made as a single molding of a thermoplastic material, e.g. of polypropylene.

In the molding configuration, the flap14extends outside the frame13. This can make the device1easier to unmold.

The flap14can be unmolded in two stages, unmolding the top face of the flap so as to release a space that allows the flap to pivot, and subsequently unmolding the face of the flap14that faces towards the cavity15and the frame.

The frame13may include one or more abutments against which the flap14presses when it is in one of the first and second positions.

In particular, the frame13may have a first abutment30formed by a rim on the distal wall19, projecting from its side opposite from the leading edge21, as shown inFIG. 4.

Close to its leading edge21, the frame13may also include a second abutment31against which the flap14comes to bear on reaching the second position, as shown inFIG. 5.

The abutment31may present a chamfered shape, thus enabling the flap14to go past it more easily by elastic deformation when the flap14passes from the molding configuration to the utilization configuration.

The distal edge of the flap14may also present a chamfer60on its inside face in order to present less resistance to passing the second abutment31in order to reach the first position.

At least one portion in relief may be arranged to generate the feeling of a hard-point on being passed by the flap14, thereby providing the user with a tactile warning that the flap has reached the second position, for example. Where appropriate, going past the abutment may give rise to an audible click being emitted. The hard point may be formed by a projection on the inside surface of the frame, e.g. on its distal wall19.

The abutments30and31may be replaced by any other portions in relief capable of generating a hard point and/or of preventing the flap14from moving, or one or both of them may be omitted.

The device1can be used as follows.

The flap14is brought into the first position and then a quantity of substance is taken with the measuring scoop4.

Once the cavity15has been filled, it is possible to scrape the leading edge21so as to eliminate any excess substance from the cavity15.

Thereafter, the user presses against the flap14through the opening27so as to cause the flap14to pivot from the first position towards the second position in order to eject the substance.

Any substance still adhering to the flap14can be removed, e.g. by scraping the scoop4on the edge of a receptacle. The flap14can then be held in the second position against the abutment31by being pressed with the finger.

The portion of substance as taken in this way can be mixed with some other substance, which might have been taken with the second measuring scoop6, where appropriate. For example it may comprise an oxidizer for mixing extemporaneously with the substance taken using the first scoop4.

Naturally, if so desired, the device1need not have the measuring scoop6.

FIG. 6shows a portion-taker device40, like the device1, that comprises a handle2with a measuring scoop6at one end, and with a measuring scoop41at the other end.

The scoop41comprises a frame42having a rigid portion43and an elastically deformable membrane44in the form of a cap.

The rigid portion43defines the leading edge21of the scoop41and comprises both two substantially parallel arms45that are connected to the handle2, and a distal wall46that interconnects the arms45at their ends opposite from the handle2.

The membrane44forms the bottom portions48of the cheeks49of the frame, closing the bottom thereof.

The above-mentioned rigid portion43can be made integrally by being molded out of the same thermoplastic material as the handle2and the flap14.

By way of example, the membrane44can be made by overmolding an elastomer onto the rigid portion43, for example a flexible polyethylene terephthalate, an EPDM, Santoprene®, or rubber.

Catches in relief may be provided on the rigid portion43in order to reinforce the connection of the membrane44thereon.

In this example, the handle2can be made from two portions8and9, as described with reference toFIG. 1, which portions may be held together by a coating53of the same material as the membrane44and injected at the same time as the membrane is injected.

The device40can be used as follows.

After taking substance with the scoop41, the user presses against the flap14by pressing against the membrane44so as to cause the flap14to pivot from the first position towards the second position. The substance can then be extracted from the scoop41, as described above.

FIGS. 7 to 13show another embodiment of the portion-taker device1.

In this embodiment, the handle2extends along a longitudinal axis that is not rectilinear, as can be seen in particular inFIG. 7. The device1can be made as a single molding of a plastics material, in particular by injection molding.

The handle2can be molded with a cross-section that is solid, in particular half way along its length, and a void might form within the handle during cooling of the plastics material, as shown inFIG. 11, thus having the effect of lightening the device1.

In this example, the frame13presents a rim90that extends over the entire inside perimeter of the frame13.

On its distal edge, the flap14may present a small setback91making it easier to go past the leading edge21of the frame13that acts as an abutment for the flap14in a position where its surface24comes substantially flush with the edge of the frame13so as to define a cavity of substantially zero volume.

The device1may present inscriptions in the vicinity of the measuring scoops6and4in order to make the device1easier to use.

In the example described, the frame13is connected to two cheeks92which are interconnected by a back93so as to define a void that can serve, for example, to enable the user to press more easily against the bottom face35of the flap14in order to bring it from the first position to the second position. The void is given reference94as can be seen inFIG. 9.

In this embodiment, it can also be seen that the portion of the device1that includes the measuring scoop4is at an angle α with the axis of the portion of the device1that includes the scoop6. By way of example, this angle α is about 7.5°.

The total pivot stroke of the flap14between the first and second positions is the angle β of about 39°.

The device1can be molded with the flap14in the position shown inFIG. 8, then making an angle γ of 600 for example with the second position of the flap14.

The embodiment ofFIGS. 14 to 16differs essentially from the embodiments described above in that the handle2is made with a recess95over a fraction of its length, this recess opening out to one side of the handle2. This enables the weight of the device1to be reduced further, and diminishes the quantity of material that is used.

The measuring scoops4or6may be made with different shapes.

In the embodiment described, the measuring scoop6has an opening of substantially circular section, for example.

The recess95may be formed between two cheeks96and97that are spaced apart by a distance the various on going along the longitudinal axis of the device, with this spacing passing through a maximum substantially half way along the handle2, for example, as shown inFIGS. 14 and 16.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

For example, the portions8and9of the handle2inFIG. 3may be interconnected by a film hinge, not along of their longitudinal side, but at one end of the handle2.

The handle2can be made in some other way, and for example it could be solid.

The flap may be connected to the handle or to the frame in some manner other than via a film hinge, for example the hinge could involve a separate hinge pin.

The term “comprising a” should be understood as being synonymous with “comprising at least one”, unless specified to the contrary.