Abstract:
Packaging ( 1 ) for the extemporaneous mixing of two products (A, B) includes a first bottle ( 6 ) intended to contain a first product (A), this bottle being open at its base ( 12 ) in the form of a skirt ( 7 ) and being fitted with a dispensing nozzle ( 36 ); a connecting part ( 10 ) fixed to the base ( 12 ) of the first bottle ( 6 ), including a central hollow shaft ( 14 ) capable of receiving a first detachable stopper ( 16 ) allowing the first bottle to be closed; a second bottle ( 5 ) intended to contain a second product (B), provided with a neck ( 18 ) which can be engaged in the central hollow shaft ( 14 ), the second bottle ( 5 ) being equipped with a removable closure ( 26 ) and bearing an engagement part ( 48 ) which, after the closure ( 26 ) has been removed, interacts with a complementary part ( 46 ) provided in the central hollow shaft ( 14 ), to allow the first stopper ( 16 ) to be expelled and allow the two products (A+B) to be mixed. The second bottle ( 5 ) includes an intermediate member ( 20 ) which can participate with the closure ( 26 ) in order, on removing the closure ( 26 ), to carry out the mixing of at least two base compositions (B 1 , B 2 ) separately contained in the second bottle ( 5 ) so as to form the second product (B).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to packaging allowing three components of a product, for example liquids, to be stored separately from each other, and allowing them to be mixed at the time of their use. This packaging can be used, for example, for the storage of a hair dye or of a hair-perming product, these products usually consisting of several components. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Two-part packaging allowing two components to be stored and extemporaneously mixed just before the use of the mixture is described in EP-A-0,298,357. This packaging comprises a first bottle intended to contain a first component, this bottle being open at its base and fitted at its top with a dispensing nozzle; connecting part fixed to the base of the first bottle and comprising a central hollow shaft capable of receiving, at the top, a removable stopper allowing the first bottle to be closed; a second bottle intended to contain a second product, provided with a neck which can be engaged in the central hollow shaft, this neck being equipped with a closure plug for storage, connecting part, in particular of the screwing type, provided between the neck and the plug, the assembly being such that when the plug is removed from the second bottle, the neck of the second bottle can expel the stopper to allow the components to be mixed. 
     Moreover, DE GM 8700341 describes packaging for the separate storage of three components to be mixed at the time of use. This packaging comprises a cylindrical upper first container fitted with a dispensing nozzle and containing a first component; a cylindrical lower body provided with a bottom to which two concentric cylinders of the same height are connected, the lower cylinder constituting a second container which contains a second component, and a third container bounded by the volume defined between the two cylinders and the bottom, and containing a third component. A plug having two annular skirts is provided for simultaneously closing off the second and third compartments. The plug includes a plurality of radial fins intended to catch on an internal rim of the first container when the first container undergoes a relative translational movement with respect to the second container, for the purpose of disconnecting the plug from the second and the third containers and thus of mixing the three components. 
     It has been found that the plug frequently remains caught on the second and third containers and that the mixing of the three components could therefore not be carried out. Moreover, certain multi-component formulations such as those intended for use with the present invention require the mixing of the various components to be carried out according to a sequence of precise steps. This is because, for example, in the case of certain recently developed formulations, it is absolutely essential to proceed via a premixing of two or more base compositions before another active component is added. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide packaging of the abovementioned kind, which especially allows the mixing of a product consisting of three components. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide packaging for a multi-component product the manufacture of which remains simple and as inexpensive as possible, and which allows storage under reliable sealing conditions. This packaging must be made as small as possible and allow simple and rapid assembly. By virtue of the invention, it is possible to completely safely package several components, for example of a corrosive nature, for a prolonged storage period, these components having to come into contact with each other only at the moment of use. 
     Such packaging can be used, in particular, for a hair dye, for example an oxidation-type dye, or else for a hair-perming product. 
     It is known that this kind of product generally consists of at least two base compositions. In general, such a product comprises an active component combined with a reducing agent or an oxidizing agent. The active component has to be stored separately from the reducing agent or the oxidizing agent in order to prevent premature inactivation of the active component. However, when it is desirable to add an additional component, for example a fragrance intended to mask the smell of one of the components, or a solubilizing agent, or even an emulsifier, in order to make it easier for the mixture to be homogenized, it is not possible to package the additional component with one or other of the base compositions. This is because the premature contacting of these components would cause the product to degrade before it is used. 
     Thus, the invention comprises a packaging for the extemporaneous mixing of two products, comprising a first bottle intended to contain a first product, this bottle being open at its base in the form of a skirt and being fitted with a dispensing nozzle; connecting part fixed to the base of the first bottle and comprising a central hollow shaft capable of receiving a first detachable stopper allowing the first bottle to be closed; a second bottle intended to contain a second product and provided with a neck which can be engaged in the central hollow shaft, the second bottle being equipped with a removable closure and bearing engagement means which, after the closure has been removed, interact with a complementary part provided in the central hollow shaft, to allow the first stopper to be expelled and allow the two products to be mixed. 
     According to the invention, in such a packaging the second bottle includes an intermediate member which can participate with the closure in order, on removing the closure, to carry out the mixing of at least two base compositions separately contained in the second bottle so as to form the second product. 
     In other words, by virtue of the packaging of the invention it is possible, in a first step, to pre-mix two base compositions in order to obtain the second product. In a second step, the first product can be added to the pre-mixture thus obtained, in order to obtain a mixture of the three components in a defined order, ready for use. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the intermediate member comprises a skirt which is inserted into the neck of the container of the second bottle and a free edge of which, placed inside the neck, is intended to come into engagement with a second stopper carried by the closure and isolating one of the base compositions from the other. By this arrangement, it is possible to superpose the two base compositions, one with respect to the other, thereby allowing them to be mixed under gravity after the second stopper has been expelled. 
     Advantageously, the skirt presents a portion emerging from the container of the second bottle and including a screw thread which can interact with a corresponding screw thread carried by the closure. Thus, by simply unscrewing the closure it is possible to cause the second stopper to be disengaged and the two base compositions to be premixed. 
     Moreover, unless otherwise indicated, the screwing systems used for joining the assembly together preferably have a “right-handed” screw thread. 
     When it is difficult to mix the first product contained in the first bottle with one of the two base compositions, for example for solubility reasons, the nature of the other of the base compositions may be chosen so as to obtain a co-solubilizing effect. 
     According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the closure is in the form of a stopper and carries a central tubular portion which (i) passes through the inside of the first skirt over its entire height and (ii) has a free end which is closed off by the second stopper, thus defining a compartment which can contain one of the base compositions. 
     In this case, the second stopper advantageously presents a projecting peripheral edge which can butt against the free edge of the first skirt so that, when the closure has been removed from the second bottle, the second stopper is expelled, allowing the base compositions to be mixed. 
     Preferably, the engagement means are carried by the intermediate member. In this case, the engagement means may be carried by a second skirt which is placed on the outside around the neck of the second bottle and an inner surface of which includes a screw thread capable of interacting with a corresponding screw thread formed on the neck. 
     These engagement means advantageously comprise at least one stub or a screw thread portion projecting radially outwards, complementary parts being provided on the internal surface of the central hollow shaft. Such complementary parts may comprise at least one helical ramp which can interact with the stub or the screw thread portion. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the engagement means comprise two diametrically opposed stubs, the complementary parts comprising two diametrically opposed helical ramps. 
     The interaction between the engagement means and the complementary part causes the intermediate member to move axially inside the central hollow shaft in response to the second bottle being rotated with respect to the first. For reasons of ease of use, the pitch of the or each helical ramp may be such that the axial movement of the intermediate member relative to the central hollow shaft, necessary for expelling the first stopper, is obtained by rotating the second bottle through at least one turn with respect to the first. 
     Moreover, “anti-rotation” parts may be provided which, after the intermediate member has been screwed onto the neck of the second bottle, prevent the intermediate member from rotating with respect to the second bottle. Thus, when unscrewing the closure, the intermediate member is prevented from becoming disconnected from the neck of the second bottle. Of course, these “anti-rotation” parts may not exist when the system for screwing the intermediate member onto the neck of the second bottle has a “left-handed” screw thread. 
     It should be noted that the second bottle advantageously consists of a lower container which includes the neck and is made, in particular, of glass or of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In this case, the neck is surmounted by the intermediate member provided with an upper compartment. 
     Preferably, the first stopper is snap-fastened on to the top of the central hollow shaft. Likewise, the second stopper is advantageously snap-fastened on to the free end of the tubular portion of the closure (or plug). 
     Advantageously, a sealing lip may be placed on an internal surface of the top of the central hollow shaft so as to provide a good seal between the internal surface and the first skirt when the first skirt is in the position for expelling the first stopper. 
     According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the internal diameter of the bottom of the central hollow shaft is large enough to allow entry of at least part of the second skirt of the intermediate member and of at least part of the closure. By means of this arrangement, it is possible to produce a particularly compact packaging for the assembly. 
     According to one embodiment, the connecting part consist of a member forming a U-shaped annular groove, and formed from an inner wall, consisting of at least a portion of the central hollow shaft, an outer wall and a bottom connecting the inner wall to the outer wall. The inner wall is extended by a smaller-diameter extension forming the top of the central hollow shaft. The internal surface of the outer wall includes a screw thread capable of interacting with a corresponding screw thread provided on the base of the first bottle. 
     Advantageously, a sealing lip is placed in the bottom of the U-shaped groove, between the inner wall and the outer wall, the sealing lip having a profile capable of interacting in a sealed manner with the base of the first bottle so as to provide a good seal between the first bottle and the outside. 
     The first container may communicate, at its top, with a dispensing nozzle which is closed by a breakable tip. After having mixed all the components of the assembly, the user breaks this tip, thus freeing a dispensing channel for applying the mixture obtained at the desired point. 
     Advantageously, the first container is made of a compressible thermoplastic. Thus by directing the open application nozzle to the point to be treated, and by pressing on the walls of the first container with greater or lesser strength, the user can deliver the desired amount of dispensed product. 
     The intermediate member and the connecting part may be made of a thermoplastic chosen from polyethylenes (PE), polypropylenes (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chlorides (PVC), or of a complex of the polyethylene/ethylene-vinyl alcohol (PE/EVOH) or PE/PET type. 
     According to one particularly preferred embodiment, this packaging is intended to contain a hair dye, the first bottle containing an oxidizing agent and the second bottle containing a colorant and an oil or a fragrance, respectively. Advantageously, the colorant is placed in the lower container and the oil or fragrance is in the upper compartment. 
     By virtue of the arrangement of the packaging of the invention, it is possible to ensure that the components of the product are properly preserved during storage and/or transportation and for a long period of preservation. 
     The components may be mixed in a defined order, on the one hand without loss of product to the outside, and on the other hand without one of the components coming adventitiously into contact with any one of the other components. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order to make the present invention more clearly understood, a description will now be given, by way of purely illustrative and entirely non-limiting example, of an embodiment of packaging according to the invention, shown in the appended drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows an axial sectional view of two-part packaging containing three components, in the storage position; 
     FIG. 2 shows a view illustrating the packaging of a base composition (B 2 ) in an intermediate member; 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate, in a partial axial sectional view, the way in which the intermediate member is fitted onto a lower container which contains another base composition B 1 ; 
     FIG. 5 shows an axial sectional view, illustrating the mixing of the two base compositions (B 1 +B 2 ); 
     FIG. 6 shows an axial sectional view, illustrating how the first bottle is joined to the second bottle, via connecting part; and 
     FIG. 7 shows an axial sectional view of the packaging in FIG. 1, in the ready-to-use position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, especially to FIG. 1, packaging  1  is made of two parts having a longitudinal axis X and allowing three components A, B 1 , B 2  of a product to be stored separately from each other. These components are generally liquid and have to be mixed just before they are used. In the example in question the product is a hair dye. 
     The first part of the assembly comprises a bottle  6 , equipped with a dispensing nozzle  36  and a connecting part  10 . The bottle  6  contains a first product A, for example an oxidizing agent, intended to be mixed at the time of use with a second product B. The product B is a composition resulting from extemporaneous mixing of two base compositions B 1  and B 2 . These base compositions are packaged separately in a lower bottle  5 . 
     The base composition B 1  is, for example, a precursor for an oxidation colorant and the base composition B 2  may be an oil, a fragrance, a cosolubilizer or an emulsifier. 
     The component B 1  is placed in a lower container  8  provided with a neck  18 . The component B 2  is packaged in a container  34  formed by a tubular portion  28  forming part of a plug  26  and of a removable stopper  32 . The plug  26  constitutes a removable closure and is fitted onto an intermediate member  20 . This intermediate member  20  includes a first cylindrical skirt  22  whose internal diameter corresponds approximately to the external diameter of the tubular portion  28  of the plug  26 , to within the clearance necessary for ensuring that the plug can move in the intermediate member  20 . The tubular portion  28  passes through the skirt  22  over its entire height and has a free end  30  emergent with respect to the skirt  22 , the removable stopper  32  being fastened to this free end  30 . The subassembly, consisting of the intermediate member  20 , the plug  26 , the stopper  32  and the lower container  8 , forms the second bottle  5 . 
     The intermediate member  20  has parts  40 ,  41 ,  18   a ,  40   b  (see FIG. 3) for allowing it to be irreversibly fastened onto the neck  18  of the lower container  8 . These parts for fastening the intermediate member  20  comprise a second, outer cylindrical skirt  40 , concentric with the first skirt  22 . The outer skirt  40  has a portion  40   a  (FIG. 3) extending radially towards the X axis and joining the first skirt  22  approximately half-way up the first skirt. This second skirt  40  has a free edge facing the second bottle  8  and defines, with roughly the lower half of the first skirt  22 , an annular groove which can receive the neck  18  of the bottle  8 . 
     The intermediate member  20  is screwed onto the neck  18  by means of an external screw thread  42  on the neck  18  interacting with a complementary screw thread  41  made on the internal surface of the second skirt  40 . In order to ensure that this fastening arrangement cannot be unfastened, the base of the neck  18  is provided with anti-unscrewing catches  18   a  which are uniformly distributed around its periphery. These catches  18   a  interact with complementary catches  40   b  (see FIGS. 2 and 3) carried by the lower end of the second skirt  40 . 
     Moreover, the external wall of the skirt  40  carries engagement means  48 , consisting of two diametrically opposed stubs, the purpose of which will be explained below. 
     As regards the removable stopper  32 , when applied to the plug  26  it has a peripheral edge  33  projecting from the outer surface of the tubular portion  28  so as to butt against a free end  25  of the first skirt  22  (FIG. 3) so that, when the plug  26  is removed from the intermediate member  20 , the stopper  32  is released from the free end  30  of the plug  26 . 
     The plug  26  includes an external screwing bush  27  (FIG. 3) concentric with the tubular portion  28  and provided with an internal screw thread  29 . The internal screw thread  29  can interact with a complementary external screw thread  23  carried by an emergent portion  24  of the first cylindrical skirt  22 . 
     The first bottle  6  is open at its base  12 , which base consists of a first cylindrical neck  7  with an external screw thread  9 . The neck  7  is connected to the body of the bottle  6  by a shoulder  11 . A second neck  50 , of smaller diameter than the diameter of the first neck  7 , is placed at the top of the bottle  6 , on the opposite side from the first neck  7 . The second neck  50  is provided with an external screw thread  52  onto which the dispensing nozzle  36  is screwed. This dispensing nozzle has a tip  54  closed by a lug  38 . This lug  38  may be broken by the user at the moment of use of the packaging, in order to obtain an outlet  55  (FIG. 7) for the purpose of applying the mixture produced. 
     The connecting part  10  includes a collar  13  fastened onto the neck  7  of the bottle  6 , for connecting the upper bottle  6  to the intermediate member  20 . This connecting part  10 , made of a rigid thermoplastic, includes a central hollow internal shaft  14  formed with a lower portion  44  of approximately cylindrical shape and surmounted by a portion  14   a  of gradually decreasing cross section. The decreasing section portion  14   a  terminates inside the bottle  6  in an upper end  15 . This end  15  defines an orifice which is closed off, in storage position, as shown in FIG. 1, by another removable stopper  16 . The stopper  16  is in the form of a circular dish which includes an annular groove  17  into which is forcibly engaged, in a sealed manner, the free edge of the upper end  15 . 
     The stopper  16  can be separated from the end  15  by pushing axially along the X axis of the assembly. The portion  44  of the central hollow shaft  14  includes an internal screw thread  46  which can interact with the engagement means  48  of the intermediate member  20 , the operation of which will be explained below. It should be noted that the total height of the intermediate member  20  is greater than the height of the central hollow shaft  14  in order to be able to ensure that the stopper  16  is correctly expelled. 
     The connecting part  10  includes a bridge  10   a  connected on the outside to the central hollow shaft  14  and also connected to an external trim skirt  10   b , this connection being approximately half-way up the trim skirt  10   b . This configuration defines an annular groove into which the neck  7  of the first container  6  is engaged. 
     The external skirt  10   b  is provided with an internal screw thread  10   c  which can interact with the external screw thread  9  on the neck  7  of the bottle  6 . Moreover, the external skirt  10   b  has a shape allowing the external contours of the two bottles  6  and  8  to be brought into alignment. 
     For assembly and filling, the following procedures are carried out. As may be seen in FIG. 2, the intermediate member  20 , pre-equipped with the plug  26 , is firstly presented in an inverted orientation with respect to that shown in FIG.  1 . Thus, the open end  30  of the plug  26  lies at the top, allowing the base composition B 2  to be introduced. The stopper  32  is then fastened onto this end  30 , by snap-fastening. This stopper has a projecting external edge  33  and an inner sealing lip  33   a  which is applied against the internal wall of the tubular portion  28  of the plug. Thus, the base composition B 2  is contained, in a sealed manner, in the volume  34  bounded by the skirt  28  of the plug  26  and closed off by the stopper  32 , the whole assembly being fitted onto the intermediate member  20 . 
     In FIG. 3, the subassembly  20 ,  26 ,  32  is shown in the position for fitting onto the neck  18  of the lower container  8 . After the base composition B 1  has been introduced into the lower container  8 , and after the intermediate member  20  has been screwed onto the neck of the lower container  8 , the configuration shown in FIG. 4 results. It may be seen that the two base compositions B 1  and B 2  are contained in the bottle  5 , but separated from each other by the stopper  32 , the bottle  5  then being able to be handled completely safely. 
     The operation of the packaging that has just been described is illustrated in FIGS. 5 to  7 . In FIG. 5, the bottle  5  is shown in the open position. On unscrewing the plug  26 , the tubular portion  28  rises axially inside the first skirt  22 , bringing the peripheral edge  33  of the stopper  32  into abutment against the lower end  25  of the skirt  22 . During this movement, the stopper is disengaged from the end  30  and drops into the container  8 . The plug  26  is then withdrawn along the direction of the X axis of the bottle  5 . Because of the presence of the abovementioned anti-unscrewing elements  18   a  and  40   b , the intermediate member  20  remains securely attached to the lower container  8 . The base composition B 2  then flows under gravity into the lower container  8 , where it mixes with the base composition B 1  in order to form the product B. 
     In order to obtain the bottle  6  filled with product A, as shown in FIG. 6, the stopper  16  is firstly fastened, by snap-fastening, onto the free end  15  of the central hollow shaft  14  of the connecting part  10 . By screwing the neck  7  onto the external skirt  10   b , the bottle  6  is sealably fastened to the connecting part  10 . The product A is then introduced through the upper neck  50 . The bottle  6  is closed by screwing the nozzle  36  onto the neck  50 . 
     In order to join the lower bottle  5  and upper bottle  6  together, the user then places the upper bottle  6  on the end  24  of the lower bottle  5 . By making a screwing movement, the stubs  48  on the intermediate member  20  engage in the turns of the screw thread  46  on the central hollow shaft  14 . After at least one screwing revolution, the end  24  bears against the stopper  16 . It should be noted that a stud  56  may be provided on the lower face of the stopper  16 , making it possible to initiate the disengagement of the latter from the upper end  15  of the central hollow shaft  14 . By continuing the screwing movement, the stopper  16  is lifted off and expelled, as may be seen in FIG. 7, into the bottle  6 . In this position, the containers  6 ,  8  and  34  are in communication with each other and the products A and B are mixed. By shaking the entire packaging, it is possible to ensure homogeneous mixing. Before the mixture thus obtained is applied at the desired point, the user removes the tip  38  by a twisting movement. By turning the whole assembly upside down, the dispensing nozzle  36  pointing downwards, a dose of the mixture is dispensed. This dispensing operation is particularly facilitated when the bottle  6  is compressible. 
     In accordance with the embodiment illustrated, the upper bottle  6  is made of a semi-rigid thermoplastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene. Thus, the upper bottle  6  may be compressed while dispensing the mixture. The dispensing nozzle  36 , the intermediate member  20 , the plug  26  and the connecting part  10  are made of a rigid polypropylene, for example. As regards the lower bottle  8 , this is advantageously made of glass or of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) allowing an oxidation hair colorant precursor to be packaged under proper preservation conditions. 
     The stoppers  16  and  32  are advantageously made of a suitable semi-rigid thermoplastic. 
     In the preceding detailed description, reference was made to a preferred embodiment of the invention. It is obvious that variations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed hereinafter.