Abstract:
A dispensing assembly for at least two constituents is provided having flexible walls and at least two compartments, including outlet orifices located adjacent to one another so that when the outlet orifices are opened as by cutting, and pressure is applied to the flexible walls, dispensing and immediate mixing of the constituents will be effected; the viscosity and volumes of the constituents are selected to have certain values to enable the dispensing to properly mix the constituents to form a homogenous product.

Description:
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 06/ 903,618, filed Sept. 5, 1986, abandoned. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a process which enables a composition consisting of two separately packaged and simultaneously dispensed constituents A and B to be formed in situ. The present invention also relates to a dispensing assembly for carrying out this process. 
     The preparation of compositions at the time of use is current practice in a number of fields and, as a general rule, this method of preparation is used whenever the resulting composition has to contain constituents such that, when brought into contact with each other, either they react with each other to give the active product or products which will have to be used immediately, or they bring about a physicochemical imbalance which may result in a fall in the activity of the constituent(s), or they cannot be stored. By constituent, there is understood here either a particular compound, or alternatively a formulation which contains at least one compound capable of being combined with at least one compound of another formulation, the latter formulation being intended to be brought into contact with the former. 
     PRIOR ART 
     In the cosmetics field, and in particular in hair-care cosmetics, the mixing of the constituents of compositions such as so-called oxidation dyeing compositions, bleaching compositions, colour-lightening shampoos, and exothermic compositions involving oxidation/reduction systems is carried out only at the time of use, these constituents frequently being grouped together in two sub-combinations. 
     Also in the cosmetics field, a number of examples are also found illustrating the case of compositions, which could not be combined previously without bringing about a physicochemical imbalance leading to the above-mentioned disadvantages. Mention may be made of various cosmetic treatment compositions based on cosmetic agents having opposite ionic strength. 
     The preparation of a composition at the time of use is customarily performed by mixing its constituents in a container, after which the resulting mixture is used, for example is applied on a support such as the hair or skin. 
     In some cases, this intermediate mixing stage can represent on the one hand a cost in equipment, since suitable containers must be provided for carrying out the mixing, and on the other hand wasted time for the user. 
     Furthermore, this time wastage can sometimes involve either a loss of active component or components, for example by evaporation, which can have an effect on the result expected of the final composition, or a decrease in, or even loss of, the activity of the said composition, in particular if the reaction between the two constituents of the composite is a rapid reaction, as is the case with compounds which react with each other by a catalytic process. 
     On the other hand, in the case of a slow reaction and/or, moreover, where the constituents have an inherent activity which may be advantageous, the loss of time due to performing the operation of mixing the constituents in question can have the effect of not enabling the benefit to be derived from this inherent activity of the constituents, which activity might develop before the final product was formed. 
     The case of so-called oxidation hair-dyeing compositions illustrates these disadvantages of the known art for preparing compositions at the time of use. 
     Such compositions are produced at the time of use by mixing a formulation A, containing at least one oxidation dye, and a formulation B containing hydrogen peroxide. In the hairdressing salon, the operator weighs the amounts of the two formulations A and B which are to constitute the active mixture, and he carries out the said mixing in a bowl using a paint brush or other brush. As regards private individuals, they can obtain commercially the two formulations A and B separately packaged and, for application on the hair, they have to transfer one of these formulations to a container containing the other in order to carry out the mixing. This manipulation can lead to partial evaporation of the ammonia present in the dye formulation A, and this loss of ammonia can adversely affect the qualities of uniformity of the final oxidation dyeing. 
     Similarly, in hair bleaching, the procedure is also carried out by mixing in a bowl, prior to application on the hair, a formulation A containing ammonia and a formulation B containing hydrogen peroxide. As a result, a partial loss of ammonia can take place, with the likelihood of producing less powerful lightening of colour than that envisaged. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The Applicants have now discovered that, by selecting formulations or constituents A and B of a composition intended to be prepared at the time of use, which parts show specific rheological properties, and by choosing appropriate packaging to contain the constituents A and B separately, but to enable simultaneous and common dispensing of these constituents A and B to be performed, the desired composition could be produced directly on the site of application. Under these conditions the intermediate stage of mixing in a container is eliminated, thereby resulting in a facility of application, a gain in time, an economization on equipment, and a more satisfactory use of some active components. 
     Furthermore since the constituents A and B of the composition are delivered directly from the packaging to the support, in contrast to the prior art, it becomes possible in the first place in the case of products formed by a rapid reaction, to profit from the optimal activity of these products for which the activity appears to have a tendency to decrease during the period following their chemical formation and in the second place, in the case of products formed by a slow reaction, to profit from the possible inherent activity of the individual constituent or constituents before modification by their interaction. In this latter case, if it was desired to turn the activity inherent in each of these compounds to good account, the application of the composition had to be performed in two stages. 
     A first aspect of the present invention therefore provides a process for forming a composition in situ by mixing two simultaneously dispensed constituents A and B, this process employing two containers in which the constituents A and B are selected to have, individually and when mixed, respective viscosities ηA, ηB, ηA+B, which, when measured under laminar flow conditions at a rate of 45 s -1  using a HAAKE &#34;ROTOVISCO RV 100&#34; viscometer at 25° C., fulfil the following conditions: 
     
         ______________________________________   ηA  ≦                 1,500 cP,   ηB  ≦                 1,500 cP,   ηA - ηB           ≦                 1,000 cP,   ηA + B           ≦                 3,000 cP,______________________________________ 
    
     the volumes of the constituents A and B confirming the relationship: ##EQU1## the constituents being stored in containers which posses a deformable wall, enabling simultaneous compression to be effected by successive squeezing actions by the user so as to provide for the dispensing of their contents, and which have outflow orifices close together or capable of being brought into proximity with each other and arranged in such a way that the outflow jets meet each other, the said outflow orifices being capable of being opened simultaneously and each having a cross-section of from 0.1 to 75 mm 2 . 
     Preferably, the constituents A and B are such that the viscosities ηA, ηB, and ηA+B, measured as stated above, fulfil the following conditions: 
     
         ______________________________________ηA          ≦    500 cP,ηB          ≦    100 cP,ηA - ηB ≦    300 cP,ηA + B      ≦  1,500 cP.______________________________________ 
    
     Advantageously, the orifices are created by a cut of from 3 to 10 mm in length on a glove-finger like zone of the containers. 
     Preferably also, the constituents A and B have viscosities ηA, ηB, measured under laminar flow conditions at a rate of 450s -1  using a HAAKE &#34;ROTOVISCO RV 100&#34; viscometer at 25° C., of less than or equal to 1,000 cP and, more especially, less than or equal to 300 cP. 
     In an especially advantageous embodiment of the process according to the present invention, two bags of flexible material are selected as containers, the outflow orifice of each bag being by sectioning two end portions of wall facing each other. 
     Preferably, the outflow orifice of each of the two flexible bags is formed by simultaneous sectioning of an outflow tip common to both bags. 
     A second aspect of the present invention provides a dispensing assembly for carrying out the process as defined above, this dispensing assembly incorporating two containers respective ones of which contain the two components A and B intended to form one and the same composition by simultaneous dispensing, wherein the containers have, on the other hand, a deformable wall enabling them to be compressed simultaneously by successive squeezing actions by the user in order to provide for the dispensing of their contents, and on the other hand outflow orifices which are close together or capable of being brought into proximity with each other, and arranged in such a way that their outflow jets meet each other, the said outflow orifices being capable of being opened simultaneously and each having a cross-section of from 0.1 to 75 mm 2 , and in that the constituents A and B possess, individually and when mixed, respective viscosities ηA, ηB and ηA+B, when measured under low laminar flow conditions at a rate of 45 s -1  using a HAAKE &#34;ROTOVISCO RV 100&#34; viscometer at 25° C., which fulfil the following conditions: 
     
         ______________________________________   ηA  ≦                 1,500 cP,   ηB  ≦                 1,500 cP,   ηA - ηB           ≦                 1,000 cP,   ηA + B           ≦                 3,000 cP,______________________________________ 
    
     the volumes of the constituents A and B satisfying the relationship: ##EQU2## 
     The preferred conditions for the viscosities of constituents A and B are those stated above. 
     Moreover, in a particular embodiment, each container is a sealed bag of flexible material, the outflow orifice of each bag being able to be formed by sectioning of two bag end wall portions facing each other. In particular, the two independent bags can be united by juxtaposition, that is to say coupled to each other and arranged in a flexible case, and can have a common outflow tip capable of being sectioned to form simultaneously the outflow orifices of said bags. 
     In an especially preferred embodiment of the dispensing assembly according to a second aspect of the invention, this assembly incorporates a sachet consisting of three superposed sheets joined along their edges, each of the two outer sheets constituting, with the inner sheet, one of the bags of flexible material. 
     In the case where the assembly is intended for the direct application on the skin and hair of an amount of a cosmetic composition, one of the constituents A or B of said composition advantageously contains at least one foaming agent in a proportion of from 0.1 to 30% by weight, and in particular from 1 to 20% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the dispensing assembly is used for containing and applying a composition consisting of two constituents for colour lightening or coloring hair. In this case, the viscosities ηA, ηB, ηA+B fulfil the following conditions: 
     ηA is comprised between 10 and 800 cps; 
     ηB is comprised between 10 and 800 cps; 
     ηA+B is comprised between 10 and 800 cps as disclosed hereinafter in example 3. 
     In particular, these viscosities meet the following requirements: 
     ηA is comprised between 10 and 30 cps; 
     ηB is comprised between 10 and 30 cps. 
     ηA+B is comprised between 10 and 30 cps as disclosed hereinafter in example 4. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Apart from the arrangements set above, the invention will be better discussed with reference to the attached drawings, but which is in no way restrictive. In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a dispensing assembly incorporating two containers united by juxtaposition and arranged in a flexible case ; and 
     FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a dispensing assembly according to the present invention, incorporating a double-sachet comprising two bags. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Several embodiments of the invention will now be described so that it will be better understood. 
     In a first embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the dispensing assembly 1 incorporates two independent bags 2 and 3, respective ones of which contain the two components A and B. The wall of each bag is deformable and the outflow orifices are capable of being opened simultaneously. These two bags, 2 and 3, are united by juxtaposition in a flexible case 4. 
     According to a second embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, the dispensing assembly 101 incorporates a double-sachet consisting of three superposed sheets 104, 105 and 106 joined along their edges, each of the two outer sheets 105, 106 constituting, with the inner sheet 104, one of the bags 102 or 103 of flexible material. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     To be able to apply a self-heating disentangling lotion, formed by mixing two separately packaged and simultaneously dispensed constituents A and B, directly on a head of hair, the procedure adopted is as follows: 
     The first step is the separate preparation of each of the two constituents A and B, which are formulated as follows: 
     
         ______________________________________CONSTITUENT ASodium metabisulphite       4      gCationic polymer consisting of repeated units                       0.8    grepresented by the following formula: ##STR1##and prepared according to French Patent SpecificationNo. 2,270,846Methyl para-hydroxybenzoate 0.1    gWater qs                    100    gCONSTITUENT B&#34;200 volumes&#34; hydrogen peroxide                       6      gAcetanilide                 0.1    gPhosphoric acid qs          pH     3Water qs                    100    g______________________________________ 
    
     The viscosities under laminar flow conditions at a low rate of 45 s -1 , ηA, ηB and ηA+B, of the constituent A, the constituent B and the mixture thereof, respectively, are measured using a HAAKE &#34;ROTOVISCO RV 100&#34; viscometer at 25° C., and the resulting volume obtained for each of these three viscosities is 8 cP. 
     10 g of constituent A and 10 g of constituent B are packaged in each of the compartments of a sachet having a tip which is common to both compartments and which has the form of a glove finger 3 mm wide; said sachet consists of three superposed sheets joined along their edges except at the end of the common tip, so as to permit filling. After filling, the sachet is closed by a weld formed at the above-mentioned end. 
     For application of the lotion, the said tip is sectioned by a transverse cut, which enables two adjacent outflow orifices to be formed. The sachet sectioned in this manner is placed above the head of hair to be treated and inverted at the same time as the wall is compressed manually to enable its contents to flow out; this outflow hence takes place in the form of two essentially intermingled jets. The bringing of the two constituents A and B into contact, and their application, are hence simultaneous. 
     After this application, which is carried out on clean hair following shampooing, the mixture is kneaded for a few seconds on the hair to make it homogeneous. Since the reaction which takes place between the active constituents of A and B is exothermic, a sensation of heat is felt by the subject as soon as the mixture is applied. Disentangling of the wet hair is easy. Setting is then carried out. After being dried, the hair is easy to disentangle; it is silky and shiny. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     To be able to apply a hair-bleaching composition, formed by mixing two separately packaged and simultaneously dispensed constituents A and B, directly on a head of hair, the procedure adopted is as follows: 
     The first step is the separate preparation of each of the two constituents A and B, which are formulated as follows: 
     
         ______________________________________CONSTITUENT AOxyethylenated nonylphenol (4 moles of                     20      gethylene oxide)Oxyethylenated nonylphenol (9 moles of                     18      gethylene oxide)Coconut diethanolamide    10      gEthyl alcohol             5       gPropylene glycol          11      gEthylenediaminetetraacetic acid                     0.2     gAmmonia solution containing 20% of NH.sub.3                     10      gWater qs                  100     gCONSTITUENT BConstituent B consists of an oxydizing milkcontaining &#34;20 volumes&#34; H.sub.2 O.sub.2, of composition:Cetyl alcohol             1       gOxyethylenated cetyl alcohol (10 moles of                     1.5     gethylene oxide)Phenacetin                0.1     gEthylenediaminetetraacetic acid                     0.02    gPhosphoric acid qs pH 3&#34;200 volumes&#34; hydrogen peroxide                     12      gWater qs                  100     g______________________________________ 
    
     The viscosities ηA, ηB and ηA+B, as defined in Example 1, are then measured. 
     The following results are obtained: 
     
         ______________________________________  ηA         80 cP,  ηB        200 cP,  ηA + B    450 cP.______________________________________ 
    
     35 g of constituent A and 35 g of constituent B are packaged in two independent sachets arranged in a flexible case. The procedure is then as described in Example 1, except that the line of cut of the sachet tip is 7 mm long. 
     After the application, on unwashed hair, of the mixture of these two constituents A and B directly from the above-mentioned two sachets, the mixture, in which the two constituents A and B are combined to form a gelified hair-care composition having the desired properties, is kneaded for a few minutes on the head of hair to make it homogeneous. The hair is left exposed to the mixture for 30 minutes and then rinsed; a lightening of approximately two tones is obtained relative to the initial colour of the hair, which corresponds to a bleaching of moderate intensity. 
     EXAMPLE 3 
     To be able to apply an oxidation hair-dyeing composition, formed by mixing two separately packaged and simultaneously dispensed constituents A and B, directly on a head of hair, the procedure adopted is as follows: 
     The first step is the separate preparation of each of the two constituents A and B, which are formulated as follows: 
     
         ______________________________________CONSTITUENT AAmmonium lauryl sulphate                   15     g of active                          substancesCoconut diethanolamide  5      gHydroxyethylcellulose sold under the name                   0.5    g&#34;NATROSOL 250 HHR&#34; by &#34;HERCULES&#34;Ammonia solution containing 20% of NH.sub.3                   10     gEthylenediaminetetraacetic acid                   0.2    g2-Methyl-1,4-diaminobenzene dihydrochloride                   0.64   g1-Amino-4-hydroxybenzene                   0.10   g1,3-Dihydroxybenzene    0.20   g1-Hydroxy-3-aminobenzene                   0.60   g6-Aminobenzomorpholine  0.045  gdihydrochlorideHydroquinone            0.174  gSodium bisulphite, 35° Be                   1.3    gWater qs                100    gCONSTITUENT BConstituent B consists of an oxidizing milkcontaining &#34;20 volumes&#34; H.sub.2 O.sub.2, ofcomposition:Cetyl alcohol           1      gOxyethylenated cetyl alcohol (10 moles of                   1.5    gethylene oxide)Phenacetin              0.1    gEthylenediaminetetraacetic acid                   0.02   gPhosphoric acid qs pH 3&#34;200 volumes&#34; hydrogen peroxide                   12     gWater qs                100    g______________________________________ 
    
     The viscosities ηA, ηB and ηA+B, as defined in Example 1, are then measured, proceeding as described in that example, and the following results are obtained: 
     
         ______________________________________ηA           =          670 cPηB           =          200 cPηA + B       =          125 cP.______________________________________ 
    
     The procedure is then as described in Example 2, except that one sachet contains 40 g of constituent A and the other 40 g of constituent B, and that the tip of the two sachets is sectioned according to a cut 10 mm long. Kneading on the head of hair provides for the formation of a homogeneous foaming gel. After the hair has been exposed to this gel for 30 minutes and then rinsed, it is observed that the hair, which was originally dark chestnut brown, has taken on an ashen light chestnut shade. 
     EXAMPLE 4 
     To be able to apply a slightly colour-lightening shampoo, formed by mixing two separately packaged and simultaneously dispensed constituents A and B, directly on a head of hair, the procedure adopted is as follows: 
     The first step is the separate preparation of each of the two constituents A and B, which are formulated as follows: 
     
         ______________________________________CONSTITUENT AOxyethylenated sodium lauryl ether sulphate                   7.5    g of active(2 moles of ethylene oxide)    substancesCoconut diethanolamide  3      gHydroxyethyl cellulose sold under the name                   0.1    g&#34;NATROSOL 250 HHR&#34; by &#34;HERCULES&#34;Propyl para-hydroxybenzoate                   0.05   gMethyl para-hydroxybenzoate                   0.10   gSodium hydroxide qs pH 10Water qs                100    gCONSTITUENT BAn oxidizing milk is prepared containing&#34;20 volumes&#34; H.sub.2 O.sub.2, as follows:Cetyl alcohol           1      gOxyethylenated cetyl alcohol (10 moles of                   1.5    gethylene oxide)Phenacetin              0.1    gEthylenediaminetetraacetic acid                   0.02   gPhosphoric acid qs Ph 3&#34;200 volumes&#34; hydrogen peroxide                   12     gWater qs                100    g______________________________________ 
    
     These viscosities ηA, ηB and ηA+B, as defined in Example 1, are then measured as described in that example, and the following results are obtained: 
     
         ______________________________________  ηA        20 cP  ηB        13 cP  ηA + B    13 cP.______________________________________ 
    
     10 g of constituent A and 10 g of constituent B are packaged in each of the compartments of a sachet of the same type as that defined in Example 1, and the procedure is as described in that example for the application of shampoo on the air, except that the tip of the sachet is sectioned according to a cut 8 mm long. After application of the composition, the mixture is kneaded for a few seconds to ensure the formation of a homogeneous mixture. The hair is left exposed for 5 minutes and rinsed. It is observed that, after five or six applications of the shampoo, a slight lightening in colour of the hair is obtained.