DISPENSER

The invention concerns a dispenser for simultaneously dispensing a first liquid, gel-like or pasty product and a second liquid, gel-like or pasty product, comprising a first chamber for storing the first product, a second chamber for storing the second product, a first conveyor device for conveying the first product out of the first chamber, a second conveyor device for conveying the second product out of the second chamber, and a mixer for mixing the two products after they have been conveyed out of the respective chamber.

Dispensers of the foregoing kind are known. In the known dispensers, the mixer is usually fixedly mounted, for example to a housing containing the two chambers. That design configuration makes it difficult to clean the mixer. That is the case in particular when outlet valves on the two chambers do not reliably close. In such a situation more particularly there is the danger that cleaning agents pass into the chamber and adversely affect the product therein.

The object of the invention is to improve the dispenser of the kind set forth in the opening part of this specification, in such a way that the mixer is better to clean.

According to the invention that object is attained in that the mixer is removable.

In other words, in accordance with the invention, the mixer can be cleaned completely independently of the two storage chambers so that in particular an adverse effect on the chambers or the products stored therein is reliably avoided. In addition the cleaning operation is simplified because the mixer is better accessible, by virtue of being removable.

In accordance with the invention the dispenser preferably has a cover, wherein the mixer is mounted to the cover and is removable together with the cover.

In that configuration the dispenser comprises a total of only two structural groups, which simplifies dismantling it for cleaning and subsequently re-assembling it.

In accordance with a particular preferred embodiment of the invention the dispenser is in pen form, wherein the cover is designed in the nature of a cap. That design configuration makes the dispenser particularly easy to handle.

Preferably the dispenser has a housing in which the chambers are at least partially accommodated.

That design configuration makes the dispenser overall compact. In a further preferred feature there is provided a mixing chamber, within which the two products are mixed together.

In a further preferred feature the mixing chamber has at least one flow obstacle which deflects a product flowing therepast.

In that case the term 'flowing therepast ¹ is used to denote not just that the product is moved with respect to the flow obstacle. Rather, the reverse situation is also envisaged, in which the flow obstacle moves with respect to the product.

The flow obstacle can preferably have an unevenness which is disposed transversely to a direction in which it is movable for mixing with respect to the products.

That means that the products are compelled to move transversely with respect to the direction of movement of the flow obstacle, which promotes a mixing effect.

The unevenness can be of a rib or corrugation shape. That provides that it is particularly simple to manufacture. Additionally or alternatively the flow obstacle can have at least one brush bristle and/or comb tooth which is disposed transversely with respect to a direction in which it is movable for mixing with respect to the products. That therefore provides a structure which, for mixing purposes, can engage into the respective products and engaged therein can move in the transverse direction, which leads to a particularly intensive mixing action.

In a further preferred feature according to the invention there is provided an elastic device for urging the flow obstacle towards products to be mixed and/or for urging products to be mixed towards the flow obstacle.

That ensures that the flow obstacle is reliably in contact with the products to be mixed, during the mixing operation.

In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the mixer is mounted to a cover and is actuable by rotation of the cover with respect to at least one of the chambers.

That design configuration makes a separate actuating device for the mixer superfluous.

Preferably the dispenser has a housing having a screwthread for fitting the cover.

That design configuration makes it possible to implement mixing by simply unscrewing the cover.

The flow obstacle can be of a helical configuration. That design configuration provides for particularly intensive mixing of the two products when the two products flow in the axial direction over the helix or the helix moves in the axial direction through the two products.

In a further preferred feature of the invention there is provided at least one rib in the shape of a portion of a helix as the flow obstacle.

As the rib only describes a portion of a helix, the two products to be mixed, in the case of an axial relative movement, are deflected by the rib towards the two sides thereof, thereby implementing mixing.

In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the dispenser has a mixing spindle.

In that case the mixing spindle can be surrounded at least over a part of its axial length by the inside wall of a bore which bears at least portion-wise against an outside wall of a rib of the mixing spindle.

With that design configuration the products to be mixed are urged through the intermediate spaces in the helical rib of the mixing spindle, which results in an intensive mixing effect.

In accordance with the invention the mixing chamber can have an intermediate storage means in which a mixing action takes place.

In that case the intermediate storage means can be connected to an applicator by way of a passage.

That design configuration makes it possible for the products which are to be mixed to be conveyed through one, two or more such passages into the intermediate storage means and back again to the applicator, which leads to a mixing effect. For that purpose it can be particularly provided that the volume of the intermediate storage means is adjustable.

Furthermore it can be provided in accordance with the invention that an adjustment of the volume of the intermediate storage means leads to conveying of product/products through the passage. In other words, the volume of the intermediate storage means only has to be adjusted for mixing purposes so that the mixing operation is implemented by a particularly simple measure.

In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided an elastic device whose elastic return force acts against an adjustment in the volume of the intermediate storage means.

With that design configuration the volume only has to be adjusted in one direction for conveying and thus for mixing the two products. The elastic return force then provides for a (re-)adjustment of the intermediate storage means volume in the other direction so that a reciprocating conveying movement takes place for mixing the two products.

In a preferred feature of the invention there is provided a pusher member for adjusting the volume of the intermediate storage means. That configuration is particularly simple to handle.

In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention the mixing chamber has a conical cylinder into which a conical plunger engages. With this design configuration, mixing of the products which are to be mixed together takes place in the space between the conical outside wall of the plunger and the conical inside wall of the cylinder.

Preferably the dispenser according to the invention has a cover and an applicator, wherein the applicator is fitted to the cover.

With that configuration the cover can be used for applying the products which are to be mixed together so that there is no need for the chambers for storing the two products, which chambers under some circumstances are comparatively bulky because of their volume, to be handled together with the applicator.

In accordance with the invention the dispenser can be used for dispensing any products. Preferably in accordance with the invention however it involves a cosmetic dispenser.

The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter by means of preferred embodiments by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which :

Figure 1 shows a view in longitudinal section of a cosmetic dispenser according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 shows a partial view in longitudinal section of the dispenser of Figure 1 but in another operating position,

Figure 3 shows an inside view of a cap of the dispenser of Figures 1 and 2, Figure 4 shows a plan view of the dispenser of Figure 1,

Figure 5 shows a partial view in longitudinal section of a dispenser according to a further embodiment of the invention,

Figure 6 shows the same view as Figure 5 but in another operating condition, Figure 7 shows a detail of the dispenser of Figures 5 and 6,

Figure 8 shows a partial view in longitudinal section of a further embodiment of the invention,

Figure 9 shows the same view as Figure 8 but of another operating condition,

Figure 10 shows a detail of the dispenser shown in Figures 8 and 9,

Figure 11 shows a partial view in longitudinal section of a further embodiment of the invention,

Figure 12 shows the same view as Figure 11 but in the form of an exploded illustration,

Figure 13 shows a partial view in longitudinal section of a further embodiment of the invention, and Figure 14 shows the same view as Figure 13 but in another operating condition.

Figure 1 shows a dispenser. It includes a housing 10 in which two chambers 12, 14 are formed. The chambers 12, 14 serve for storing a pasty blue eyeshadow material 16 (chamber 12) and a pasty green eyeshadow material (chamber 14). It will be appreciated that the chambers may also accommodate other liquid, pasty or gel-like cosmetic products. They can be coloured and/or have caring and/or medical properties. The dispenser may also have more than two chambers with products which are to be mixed together. Spindles 20, 22 with plungers 24, 26 are disposed in the chambers

12, 14. The plungers 24, 26 are held non-rotatably in the chambers 12, 14. If the spindles 20, 22 are rotated by means of knurled wheels 28, 30 the plungers 24, 26 move upwardly or downwardly in Figure 1. A movement upwardly causes an increase in the pressure in the chambers 12, 14 so that the eyeshadow materials 16, 18 are conveyed out of the chambers 12, 14 by way of outlets 32, 34.

Disposed in the two outlets 32, 34 are valves which are elastically biased in the closing direction, for example by means of a compression spring. If the pressure in the chambers 12, 14 rises then the valves open against the elastic return force of the compression springs and allow the respective material stored in the chambers 12, 14 to pass. When the pressure falls again the valves re-close.

A male screwthread 36 is provided on the housing 10. Accordingly, a cap 38 with a corresponding female screwthread 40 can be screwed on to the housing 10. In the condition of being screwed on to the housing 10, the cap 38 together with the housing 10 defines a mixing chamber 42. In the screwed-on condition, brush bristles or pointed plastic pins of which one is identified by way of example by reference numeral 44 extend into the mixing chamber. In addition two applicators 46, 48 for the eyeshadow materials 16, 18 extend into the mixing chamber 42.

The brush bristles 44 extend through passage openings in an intermediate plate 50. The intermediate plate 50 is biased downwardly in Figures 1 and 2 by means of a spring 52.

The cosmetic dispenser shown in Figures 1 to 4 operates as follows:

In the operating condition shown in Figure 1 the knurled wheels 28,

30 are actuated in order to convey the desired amounts of the eyeshadow materials 16, 18 into the mixing chamber 42 by way of the outlets 32, 34.

It is advantageous for both materials to be discharged simultaneously.

Although this is not shown in the drawing therefore the two spindles 20 and

22 or the two knurled wheels 28 and 30 can be coupled together, for example by way of a gear. After the two materials have been conveyed, the cap 38 is unscrewed from the housing 10. That unscrewing movement entails a movement, describing a helix, of the brush bristles 44, which leads to mixing of the eyeshadow materials 16, 18 with each other in the mixing chamber 42 as well as charging of the applicators 46 and 48.

Because of the elastic stressing of the spring 52, the intermediate plate 50 gradually moves downwardly with increasing unscrewing of the cap 38 from the housing 10, so that it progressively strips the two materials 16, 18 off the bristles 44.

The eyeshadow materials 16, 18 which are mixed together can then be applied with the applicators 46, 48. The mixing ratio of the two eyeshadow materials 16, 18 can be adjusted from blue through turquoise to green by suitable actuation of the two knurled wheels 28, 30.

As the cap, together with the brush bristles 40 serving for the mixing operation, can be removed from the housing 10, it can be particularly easily cleaned.

Although this is not shown in the drawing, a side 53 of the housing 10, that faces towards the brush bristles 44, can be provided with corrugations, ribs or the like, to promote a thorough mixing effect. Such corrugations or ribs represent a flow obstacle for the eyeshadow materials which are moved by the brush bristles and which are to be mixed together, and that promotes the mixing effect. The design configuration of the dispenser according to the invention as shown in Figures 5 to 7 differs from that shown in Figures 1 to 4 in particular by virtue of the way in which the two cosmetic materials 16, 18 are mixed together. As the invention is independent of whether the spindles 20, 22 together with the plungers 24, 26 and the knurled wheels 28, 30 are used for conveying the two cosmetic materials 16, 18 through the outlets 32, 34, or whether another conveyor device is used, the conveyor device is no longer shown in detail in the design configuration of Figures 5 to 7 and in the design configuration shown in further Figures 8 to 14. It will be appreciated that in all embodiments the conveyor device can be so designed as is shown in and described with reference to Figures 1 to 4.

The embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 7 has two passages 54, 56, an intermediate storage means 58 and a pushbutton 60. The applicator is denoted by reference numeral 62.

The dispenser shown in Figures 5 to 7 operates as follows : First of all once again the two knurled wheels 28, 30 (Figure 1) are actuated, whereupon corresponding portions of the two eyeshadow materials 16, 18 collect in the mixing chamber 42. When then the pushbutton 60 is depressed against the elastic return force of the spring 52 the two materials 16, 18 are urged into the passages 54, 56 so that they pass into the intermediate storage means 58. When thereupon the pushbutton 60 is released again the passages 54, 56 rise again because of the elastic return force of the spring 52 so that the two materials 16, 18 are again conveyed through the passages 54, 56 back into the mixing

chamber 42. Both the intermediate storage means 58 and also the mixing chamber 42 do not have separate chambers for the two eyeshadow materials 16, 18, for which reason mixing of the two materials 16, 18 together occurs in each of those two spaces to a certain degree. If the pushbutton 60 is moved up and down a plurality of times, the two materials 16, 18 are mixed with each other. Finally two material mixtures 64, 66 collect at the applicator 62 and can be applied.

The embodiment shown in Figures 8 to 10 differs from that shown in Figures 5 to 7 in principle only insofar as the two passages 54, 56 go into each other and extend around ribs in the form of portions of a helix, of which one is denoted by way of example by reference numeral 68. An outside wall 70 of the rib 68 in the form of a portion of a helix bears against an inside wall 72 of a bore 74 which forms the outer boundary of the two passages 54 and 56. That configuration forms a labyrinth, the two eyeshadow materials 16, 18 being mixed together on passing therethrough.

The mode of operation of the dispenser shown in Figures 8 to 10 is comparable to that of the dispenser shown in Figures 5 to 7. (Multiple) depression of the pushbutton 60 and subsequent release thereof leads to the two eyeshadow materials being mixed together. After the cap 38 is unscrewed from the housing 10 the materials which have been mixed together can be applied by means of the applicator 62.

The embodiment shown in Figures 11 and 12 has a mixing spindle which is arranged in a comparable fashion to the construction shown in Figures 8 to 10, in a bore 74. The two passages 54, 56 open into the bore 74. Conveying the two materials 16, 18 through the outlets 32, 34, the passages 54, 56 and the bore 74 with the mixing spindle 76 disposed therein leads to the two materials being mixed together so that they pass into the intermediate storage means 58, in a condition of being mixed with each other. From the intermediate storage means they pass by way of passage openings of which one is identified by way of example by reference numeral 78, on the outside of the applicator 80, by means of which they can then be applied. As can be seen in particular from Figure 12 a mixing

head 82, in the central bore 74 in which the mixing spindle 76 is accommodated, is adapted to be removable.

The embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention as shown in Figures 13 and 14 includes a mixer which is generally identified by reference numeral 84. That mixer is clipped on to the housing 10 by way of an annular bead 86. It is accordingly removable for cleaning purposes.

In the fitted condition, the mixer 84 together with the housing 10 constitutes two passages 88 and 90 which connect the two outlets 32 and 34 to a conical cylinder 92. Figure 13 shows the dispenser at rest. If cosmetic products are conveyed through the outlets 32 and 34 and the passages 88 and 90, they collect as a portion 94 to be mixed, in the cylinder 92. As a result they urge a plunger 96 against the elastic return force of a spring 98 out of the cylinder 92. As a result an intermediate storage means 100 is opened. If now the plunger 96 is moved back again into the cylinder 92, for example with a rotary movement with respect to the cylinder 92, the portion of cosmetic products 94 is conveyed with a mixing action in the intermediate space between the cylinder 92 and the plunger 96 into the intermediate storage means 100 and from there conveyed by way of openings 102 and 104 into an applicator 106.

Preferred materials for the above-indicated mixers are transparent plastic materials such as for example ABS, PMMA, PP, PVC, PS, CA, PCTG and PAN. The applicator can be of foam material such as for example TPE, PS, ABS, CA and PCTG, in which respect the surfaces thereof can have the most widely varying structures such as for example knobs, crown configurations and pocking. The applicators can also be flocked.

The features of the invention disclosed in the foregoing description, the claims and the drawing can be essential both individually and also in any combinations for implementing the invention in its various configurations.