EP0878145A1 - Device for applying a hair treatment compositon and application method using such a device - Google Patents

Abstract

The applicator (1) comprises a flexible cover (3) sealed with the composition. The cover is delimited by a peripheral edge (13) which by partial folding on itself defines a pocket (2) inside which the composition is introduced. The partially folded edge delimits an opening (4) for the pocket. Removable means are provided to seal the opening and define a closed volume enabling, before application, the conditioning of the composition. After unfolding the edge of the cover a bonnet (16) is formed which covers totally the hair (C) on the person's head (15) and holds the composition in contact with the hair.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for applying a composition hair color product type, direct, tone / tone, or oxidation, as well as bleaching compositions, or hair care masks, etc. in particular, the invention is suitable for the application of hair compositions, in particular of the oxidation coloring type, obtained by mixing at least two products. Such compositions are preferably of relatively viscosity important. As an indication, such compositions may be of consistency close to that of a gel, a cream, or even a paste. More compositions liquids can however be used according to the invention.

Currently, there are three main modes, mixing and application of coloring products. According to a first method, the mixing is carried out in a "hot water bottle", which includes an applicator tip, for an application lock by lock of the composition. This type of container is quite suitable for mixing two liquids, or a liquid and a relatively cream fluid. However, if one of the constituents is very viscous, the mixture obtained is not homogeneous. In addition, in the case of a very viscous final mixture (consistency of a mask for example), such a hot water bottle does not allow the return of the entire product.

According to another known method, the mixing is carried out in a bowl or in a tray. The application is made directly with the hands. This shape of application, requiring the use of gloves for the application of the product, is very poorly accepted, or even refused, by consumers. Alternately, the application of the mixture or of the composition can be carried out by means of a brush, or any other suitable applicator (spatula, comb, etc.). The application of the hair composition by means of a brush is essentially suitable for short hair but is too long and too tedious for long hair or mid long. For these reasons in particular, the brush remains a reserved accessory to "professionals".

US Patent 4,116,365 describes the use of a mixing bag containing a dose of powder, to which the necessary amount of developer, so as to obtain a paste which will be distributed directly on the hair by through a discharge port. In the same way as for hot water bottles, the restitution of all the product on the hair is almost impossible. Furthermore, the application of the product, due to its character sequential for the different areas of the hair, is not of a satisfactory homogeneity.

US Patent 4,942,893 describes a system for applying a hair product, such as a coloring product, in which the locks to be treated are isolated by means a capsule so as to confine the locks and the coloring solution for a sufficient time to obtain the desired coloration. The process implemented work is tedious, and limited to the coloring of wicks.

Patent application FR 2 726 164 describes a capillary protection device, especially intended to create a protective envelope for the hair when it is treatment of the permanent type, discoloration, regecolor, color or others, likely to be accelerated by a calorific contribution. The envelope forms a "mattress" delimited by two waterproof sheets, inside which is arranged water, a gel, or a block of foam soaked in water, and through which the hair is heated. The product is not in contact with the hair. By elsewhere, such a device does not allow a mixture of products to be produced. of their application on the hair.

It is therefore one of the objects of the invention to provide a device for allow the application of a hair composition, which does not have the disadvantages mentioned with reference to the devices of the prior art.

It is in particular an object of the invention to provide a device allowing to further make a mixture of the constituents used in the preparation of such a composition as well as the application of such a mixture, in a simple and rapid, and which allows the application of substantially all of the mixture produced.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device further enabling conditioning before application, all or part of the composition to be applied.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a method for apply such a hair composition.

According to the invention, these objects are achieved by producing an application device of a hair composition, comprising: a flexible covering of a material impervious to said composition, delimited by a peripheral rim, and capable of define by partial folding of its rim on itself a pocket inside which the composition is introduced, said partially folded rim defining an opening for said pocket, removable means being provided for closing off sealingly said opening, so as to define a closed volume for allow, before application, the conditioning of all or part of the composition and / or preparation of said composition, the envelope being adapted to, after unfolding the rim, form a "cap" capable of covering in its whole, the hair of a person's head, and maintain the composition in direct contact with the hair, means located near the edge envelope peripheral ensuring the maintenance of the flexible envelope on the head and sealing in the vicinity of said edge.

Advantageously, the hair composition is obtained by mixing two products, the mixing being carried out just before application, inside the volume closed formed by the pocket. However, for certain applications, of the coloring type direct or hair mask, the composition is directly ready for use, without no pre-mixing.

The device thus produced is particularly advantageous in that it offers a great simplicity of application. In the case of a composition resulting from a mixing of two or more products, the mixing is very rapid. By elsewhere, the constituents of the mixture can be substantially under any which dosage form: cream + cream, solid (extrudate, tablet) + water, cream + powder + water, etc. The entire composition can be applied to the hair. In addition, the application of the composition to the hair does not require no gloves, or brush-type or other application utensils.

The material constituting the device can be a plastic or textile material waterproofed. By way of illustration, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polystyrene (PS), or a complex type PE / EVOH / PP, or PE / EVOH / PE, etc.

Advantageously, the material is translucent or transparent. This feature allows on the one hand during mixing, if necessary, to check the degree of homogenization of the mixture, and on the other hand, during application, check the degree of homogenization of the application.

The removable means for closing said opening may comprise a link, elastic or not, an adhesive, a clamp, a welding line, etc. The choice (or des) means (s) of closure depends on the functionality of the device according to the invention. It is obvious that in the case where the application device is used also as a primary conditioning of the composition or of one of its components, the required sealing level will be higher than the required level in the assumption that, in addition to the application, the device according to the invention is only used for the preparation (typically the mixture) of the composition, and not for its storage. According to one embodiment, two means can be provided for separate closure, one ensuring watertight closure during storage of the device, the other ensuring watertight closing during preparation of the composition. Thus, for packaging, the watertight closure is carried out at by means of a peripheral weld, beyond the elastic holding means, and that the user cuts before use. Then to use the device as a mixer, the watertight closure of the mixing bag is carried out by means of a removable fastener, a link, or a "Zip" type device. Such combined closures are known in particular for the packaging of certain food products such as cheese.

The sealing means comprise, for example, an elastic band mounted in the vicinity of the periphery of the envelope, said elastic band may be covered with absorbent material so as to prevent any flow of composition at said periphery. Such an absorbent material can be made of open cell or semi open cell foam. Besides waterproofing, the elastic band ensures during the application of the hair composition, thus that during the exposure time, the solid maintenance of the envelope on the head.

The device according to the invention can be used as primary packaging for at least one of the products, in the case of a composition resulting from the mixing extemporaneous of two constituents. This allows on the one hand to reduce in a way the cost of packaging, and on the other hand to limit the number of manipulations necessary for the preparation of the mixture, before application. In the in the case of a composition directly ready for use, the device can be used as primary conditioning of the composition. Alternatively, the composition, or the constituents used in the composition, are stored in conventional packaging (such as trays, sachets, tubes, etc.). In this hypothesis, the device according to the invention can be used as secondary conditioning of these conventional packages, as well as accessories used for the preparation and / or application of the composition capillary.

The hair composition may be a direct coloring composition, tone on tone, or oxidation, a bleaching composition or a hair mask.

a) former une poche par repliement partiel sur lui même d'un rebord périphérique d'une enveloppe souple en un matériau étanche à ladite composition, ledit rebord périphérique partiellement replié délimitant une ouverture;

b) introduire la composition capillaire à l'intérieur de ladite poche, ladite poche formant un "bonnet" adapté pour recouvrir dans son intégralité, la chevelure de la tête d'une personne;

c) appliquer le bonnet sur la tête de manière à maintenir la composition en contact direct avec la chevelure, des moyens situés au voisinage du bord périphérique de l'enveloppe assurant le maintien de l'enveloppe souple sur la tête et l'étanchéité au voisinage dudit bord; et

d) masser la chevelure au travers de ladite enveloppe de manière à permettre une application homogène de la composition sur la chevelure.

According to another aspect of the invention, a process is also carried out for the application of a hair composition, comprising:

a) forming a pocket by partial folding over itself of a peripheral rim of a flexible envelope made of a material impervious to said composition, said peripheral rim partially folded delimiting an opening;

b) introducing the hair composition inside said pocket, said pocket forming a "cap" adapted to cover in its entirety, the hair of a person's head;

c) applying the cap to the head so as to maintain the composition in direct contact with the hair, means located in the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the envelope ensuring the maintenance of the flexible envelope on the head and sealing in the vicinity said edge; and

d) massaging the hair through said envelope so as to allow a homogeneous application of the composition to the hair.

i) introduire les produits A et B à l'intérieur de la poche au travers de ladite ouverture;

ii) obturer de manière étanche ladite ouverture de manière à former un volume clos et mélanger les produits A et B à l'intérieur du volume clos, pour former une composition homogène;

iii) libérer ladite ouverture avant application du bonnet sur la tête.

Advantageously, the hair composition is obtained by mixing at least two products A and B, the preparation of said composition consisting in:

i) introduce products A and B inside the pocket through said opening;

ii) sealingly sealing said opening so as to form a closed volume and mixing the products A and B inside the closed volume, to form a homogeneous composition;

iii) release said opening before applying the cap to the head.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the mixture of products A and B inside the pocket, is made by kneading with the hands.

• la figure 1 illustre un premier mode de réalisation du dispositif de conditionnement, de mélange et d'application selon l'invention;
• la figure 2 illustre une variante du dispositif de la figure 1; et
• les figures 3A - 3E illustrent les différentes étapes d'un mode de réalisation du procédé selon l'invention.

The invention consists, apart from the arrangements set out above, of a certain number of other arrangements which will be explained below, with reference to nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, described with reference to the appended figures, among which:

• Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the packaging, mixing and application device according to the invention;
• Figure 2 illustrates a variant of the device of Figure 1; and
• Figures 3A - 3E illustrate the different steps of an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

Figure 1, to which reference is now made, illustrates schematic, a first embodiment of a device for packaging and mixing 1 according to the invention, as may be marketed. In this embodiment, the device 1 is shaped under shape of a pocket 2 made of material impervious to the coloring product (for example made of thermoplastic material, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutethylene terephthalate (PBT), or as a complex of thermoplastic materials (PE / EVOH / PE), or in a waterproof textile material). The thickness of the material forming the pocket can vary between 0.5 mm and 2 mm. Characteristics of the material, in particular its nature, its thickness, are chosen so as to be able to form a flexible structure which, as will be seen in more detail by the is able to withstand the manual mixing necessary for the correct distribution of the composition on the hair.

The pocket actually consists of an envelope 3 shaped as a "bonnet" or "charlotte" 16. In the form illustrated in FIG. 1, a rim device 13 of envelope 3 is folded back on itself so as to delimit a enclosed volume, an opening 4 of which is sealed in a sealed manner by a fastener 5. The free edge of the envelope 3 has an elastic band 12, mounted at the inside of a peripheral hem, so as to allow, as will be seen in more detail later, good holding of the cap 16 on the head during the application of the product, as well as a peripheral seal. The tightening achieved by the elastic must be sufficient to retain the product inside the cup, and prevent it from sinking. The seal can be further improved by covering the elastic band 12 of an absorbent material, of the open cell foam type or semi open, in order to avoid product dripping during application homogeneous product on the hair, as well as during the entire exposure time necessary for the effective action of the product. We can use for example, a polyurethane foam. In this form, the device thus marketed, contains all the elements necessary for the use and implementation of the coloring. For example, the bag 2 contains the products 6.7, necessary for mixture, in the form for example, of a tube of cream 6 and a dish doser 7 containing a powder. Can also be included in the pocket, gloves 8 necessary for handling the products, an explanatory note 10, a sachet 11 of an auxiliary product to be added to the mixture, etc.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, the bag 2 is used as primary container of one of the products A (for example an oxidant), entering the production of the mixture, or of the composition directly ready for use (by example, a direct coloring composition or a hair mask). The pocket 2 is sealed off by a fastener 5, or by any other appropriate means. As another example, the elastic band 12 is located in withdrawal from the edge of the envelope 3 forming the pocket, and closing waterproof, during product storage, is ensured by thermal welding 14 or other, extending continuously between the edge of the envelope and the strip elastic 12. In the example illustrated, the two closure means 5, 14 are used in combination. Before use, the user cuts the weld line so as to open the pocket 2. If necessary, it undoes the fastener 5, which may be used again as a removable closure if a mixing must then be carried out in pocket 2. Pocket 2 and its contents, as well as the accessories and other elements necessary for carrying out the coloring, can be packaged inside a secondary packaging (not shown), in the form of a cardboard or thermoformed plastic box, for example. This solution makes it possible to reduce handling of products. This is particularly advantageous for the strongly oxidizing products used in the field of hair coloring.

FIGS. 3A-3E illustrate the different stages of an embodiment of the method according to the invention. In Figure 3A, after taking care to fold partially on itself, the peripheral rim 13 of the cup 16, so as to give more depth to the volume thus formed, the two products A and B are introduced through the opening 4 delimited by the free edge of the rim device 13.

In FIG. 3B, the opening 4 has been sealed off by a fastener 5, so as to form a closed volume containing products A and B. Using the hands, the user kneads the whole so as to achieve a mixture also homogeneous as possible. In order to be able to view the mixture, without having to open pocket 2, this is advantageously made of a transparent material or translucent.

In FIG. 3C, the fastener 5 is removed so as to give back to the pocket 2, a configuration close to that of a cap 16, of the "shower cap" type. The mixture A + B it contains is perfectly homogeneous and is ready to be applied to the hair (C) of a person's head 15. In order to allow the application as will be described in more detail below, the mixture is preferably creamy to pasty in consistency.

In Figure 3D, the cap 16 is applied to the head 15 of the person so to cover substantially all of the person's hair C. To facilitate applying the cap 16 and its contents to the head, the user preferably, tilt your head down so that you don't have to turn the hat upside down of his pose on the head. This precaution is all the more useful as the composition is liquid. The mixture A + B is directly in contact with the hair C. bonnet is held on the head by means of the peripheral elastic 12, which furthermore ensures the sealing so as to prevent any product dripping, especially on the person's face.

It then remains to distribute the mixture evenly over the hair. For this, as illustrated in Figure 3E, the user massages the hair through the cup 16, the space existing between the hair C and the cup, allowing a good distribution of the product on the hair. It should be noted that the hat is of a sufficient volume on the one hand to contain the whole hair of the person, and on the other hand, maintain the product in direct contact with the hair, while leaving sufficient space between the hat and the hair, so that allow effective mixing of the hair through the cap, in order to distribute the product evenly over the entire hair. The realization of cup 16, made of transparent or translucent material, advantageously allows ensure good homogenization of the product on the hair. After having obtained a sufficiently homogeneous application of the product on the hair, and after the required exposure time has elapsed, the hat is removed. The product that it contained has been transferred almost entirely to the hair of the user. There is substantially no product remaining in the cap 16.

In the foregoing detailed description, reference has been made to modes of preferred embodiments of the invention. Obviously there may be variations made without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed below.

Claims (13)

Device (1) for applying a hair composition, comprising: a flexible envelope (3) made of a material impervious to said composition, delimited by a peripheral rim (13), and capable of defining by partial folding of its rim on itself a pocket (2) inside which the composition is introduced, said partially folded rim defining an opening (4) for said pocket, removable means (5) being provided for sealingly sealing said opening (4), so as to define a closed volume to allow before application, the packaging of all or part of the composition and / or the preparation of said composition, the envelope being adapted for, after unfolding of the rim (13), form a "cap" (16) capable of covering in its entirety, the hair (C) of the head (15) of a person, and maintain the composition in direct contact with the hair, means (12) located in the vicinity of the peripheral edge (13) of the envelope ensuring the maintenance of the flexible envelope (3) on the head and sealing in the vicinity of said edge. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that said material is a waterproof plastic or textile material. Device according to claim 2 characterized in that said material is translucent or transparent. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that that said removable means (5) for closing said opening comprise a bond, elastic or not, adhesive, clamp, peripheral weld, etc., or any combination of such means. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that that said sealing means (12) comprise an elastic mounted on the near the periphery of the envelope (3), said elastic being covered with absorbent material so as to prevent any escape of composition to said periphery. Device according to claim 5 characterized in that said material absorbent consists of open cell or semi open cell foam. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that that the composition is obtained by the mixture of two products A and B, said mixing being carried out inside the closed volume, so as to obtain a homogeneous composition. Device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the said envelope (3) is used as a primary packaging for one of the products (A). Device according to claim 7 or 8 characterized in that the products A and B are in the form of a cream, powder, fluid, or solid. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hair composition is a direct coloring composition, your on tone, or oxidation, a bleaching composition or a hair mask. Method for mixing and applying a hair composition, comprising: a) forming a pocket (2) by partial folding over itself of a peripheral rim (13) of a flexible envelope (3) of a material impervious to said composition, said peripheral rim partially folded delimiting an opening (4); b) introducing the hair composition inside said pocket, said pocket forming a "cap" (16) adapted to cover in its entirety, the hair (C) of a person's head; c) applying the cap (16) to the head so as to maintain the composition in direct contact with the hair (C), means (12) located in the vicinity of the peripheral edge (13) of the envelope ensuring the maintenance of the 'flexible envelope (3) on the head and sealing in the vicinity of said edge; and d) massaging the hair through said envelope (3) so as to allow a homogeneous application of the composition to the hair (C). Process according to Claim 11, characterized in that the said hair composition is obtained by mixing at least two products A and B, the preparation of the said composition consisting in: i) introducing products A and B inside the pocket (2) through said opening (4); ii) sealingly sealing said opening (4) so as to form a closed volume and mixing the products A and B inside the closed volume, to form a homogeneous composition; iii) release said opening (4) before applying the cap to the head. Method according to claim 12 characterized in that the mixture of products A and B inside the pocket is made by kneading with the hands.

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