Technical field

The present invention regards the field of devices including spatulas for spreading fluids or paste products, placed in containers that can be attached to such devices, and from which devices said spatulas protrude by sliding, following an action of pressure/friction exercised on it by the product, for example by squeezing the relative container, putting pressure on a sliding base of the syringe type, or by other eventual possible methods. Given as an example, the invention can be used to distribute and apply spread-able alimentary creams or non-food products, among which: paste glues, paste medicines or gels, cosmetic products, etc.; generally, to be able to distribute and apply fluid products or products that can be fluidized, during their use.

STATE OF THE ART

Relative to spread-able alimentary creams such as, for example, jams, chocolate creams, honey and others, diverse kinds of packaging are known, such as: plastic or aluminium tubes, tear open sachets, etc.

The packaging described above has numerous disadvantages, among which: - the necessity of having available, on any occasion of their use, dirtying and therefore eventually needing to clean, accessories for removing the spread-able material and for spreading it; the need to have napkins and/or items such as: plates, trays, chopping-boards and similar things, so as to avoid soiling the area in which the spread-able material is to be consumed; the need to have a piece of cutlery specifically for taking out each spread-able material, if two or more spread-able materials are used contemporarily;

- the need to have an area for preparation that is relatively large, according to the food to be consumed;

- The need for control, on the part of adults, over all the phases in the process of spreading, should children be doing the spreading, since the use of knives or objects that potentially cut could be prejudicial to their safety.

The aim of the present invention, relative to the sector of spread-able alimentary creams, is therefore that of: avoiding arming oneself with accessories for removing and spreading the spread-able product; reducing to a minimum the possibility of soiling the preparation area with the spread- able material;

- provide a practical instrument for spreading that is always hygienic;

- make the moment of consumption amusing, pleasant and safe, even for children.

In relation to paste glues, various types of dispenser are known, such as, for example: plastic or metal tubes, plastic jars with or without a lip for application. The packaging described above has numerous disadvantages, among which: the eventual need to arm oneself with accessories for application;

- the need to clean the accessories for application, so as not to encrust these with glue residues; the need to use all the product, if it is not in a mono-portion package, within a short time, so as not to render the product unusable as a result of its "drying up";

- the need to dose the elements of multi-component glues with precision. The aim of the present invention, relative to the sector of paste glues, is therefore that of: providing an accessory suitable for the application of the glue and that does not need cleaning; - to always have a suitable dosage of the components of a multi-component glue.

In relation to cosmetic or pharmaceutical products, various types of dispenser are known, such as, for example: plastic or metal tubes.

The packaging described above has various disadvantages, among which the need to soil ones hands to apply the product.

The aim of the present discovery is therefore that of making available a package capable of spreading the product in a cleaner and more practical manner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above aims are reached, according to claim 1, through a device for spreading fluid or paste products, characterised by the fact that the same can be connected to a container that contains the products themselves, as well as by the fact that it is comprised of a body in which a space is created where a spatula is situated, which slides in the same space, and which protrudes from said body through pressure and/or friction from said fluid or paste products, consequent to the pressure applied externally, by the user, on said fluid or paste products, acting opportunely on the container, and by the fact that the spatula is ready to connect the inside of the device with the outside, in order to distribute and spread the products. Another characteristic is given by the fact that the spatula has blocking elements and that the body has either a rim or projections which, intervening with said blocking elements, impedes the complete exit of the spatula from the body.

Another characteristic is given by the fact that the space of the body is closed on its lower side by a removable seal.

Another characteristic is given by the fact that the body has a groove and that the removable seal has a rib, complementary to said groove or vice-versa, which reciprocally intervene, allowing the same seal to be closed again.

Another characteristic is give by the fact that the spatula has a cavity through which the fluid or paste products can pass directly to the outside.

Another characteristic is given by the fact that the spatula has a cavity with a compartment through which the fluid or paste products pass to the outside when, by the sliding of the spatula towards the outside, a passage waterway between the inferior part of said cavity compartment and the inferior part of the body is uncovered.

Another characteristic is given by the fact that the spatula has spring elements which become tense when the passage waterway is uncovered and which, when the pressure internal and external to the device is re-balanced, tend to return to their original resting position at rest, dragging the spatula upwards and thus closing the passage waterway.

Another characteristic is given by the fact that the spatula has a cavity furnished with deformable wings, whose free edges are originally closed, through which the fluid or paste products pass to the outside with the opening of said deformable wings which, when the pressure, internal and external to the device is re-balanced, return to their original closed position, stopping the flow of said products. Another characteristic is given by the fact that the spatula has flexible blocking wings, which override and intervene or with a rim or with protuberances of the body, in order to avoid the accidental re-entry of the spatula so that the user, by exercising onto the same sufficient pressure directed towards the inside of the device, in order to opportunely deform said flexible blocking wings again, does not allow the spatula to reposition itself inside the space.

Another characteristic is given by the fact that the spatula has, on its inferior extremity, a

"comb" conformation.

Another characteristic is given by the fact that the body has a female connection on one side and a male connection on the opposite side, in order to unite more devices between themselves.

Another characteristic is given by the fact that the body has rods, to which a container for fluid or paste products is made to adhere by welding or by other known techniques.

Another characteristic is given by the fact that the body has a frame to which a container for fluid or paste products is made to adhere by welding or by other known methods.

Another characteristic is given by the fact that the body has a threaded connection to which a container for fluid or paste products is united.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear clear from the following description of some methods of its creation, given as non-limiting examples in the figures 1-

14.

SYNTHETIC DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

- Fig. 1 Axonometric view of the device in a first variant of the body Fig.2 Views of the body, with seal, in a first variant o Fig. 2a axonometric view o Fig.2b front vertical section o Fig.2c lateral vertical section

- Fig. 3 Views of the spatula in a first variant o Fig. 3 a axonometric view o Fig. 3b front vertical section o Fig. 3 c lateral vertical section

Fig. 4 Views of the functioning phases of the device, in lateral vertical section, in the first variant of the body and of the spatula o Fig. 4a view of the device before use o Fig. 4b view of the device after removal of the seal o Fig. 4c view of the device during the distribution of the product

Fig. 5 Axonometric view of a second variant of the spatula

- Fig. 6 Views of the functioning phases of the device, in front vertical section, in a second variant of the body and of the spatula o Fig. 6a view of the device before use o Fig. 6b view of the device after the removal of the seal o Fig. 6c view of the device during distribution of the product o Fig. 6d view of the device with distribution interrupted

- Fig. 7 Views of the functioning phases of the device, in lateral vertical section, in the second variant of the body and of the spatula o Fig. 7a view of the device before use o Fig. 7b view of the device after the removal of the seal o Fig. 7c view of the device during the distribution of the product o Fig. 7d view of the device with interrupted distribution - Fig. 8 Views of the functioning phases of the device, in lateral vertical section, in the first variant of the body and of the third variant of the spatula. o Fig. 8a view of the device before use o Fig. 8b view of the device after the removal of the seal o Fig. 8c view of the device during the distribution of the product o Fig. 8d view of the device with distribution interrupted

- Fig. 9 Views of a third variant of the body and of the seal o Fig. 9a axonometric view o Fig. 9b lateral vertical section with the seal still intact o Fig. 9c lateral vertical section with the seal in the phase of partial closure

Fig. 10 View of a fourth variant of the body and of the seal o Fig. 10a axonometric view o Fig. 10b lateral vertical section with the seal still intact o Fig. 10c lateral vertical section with the seal in the phase of partial closure

Fig. 11 Axonometric views of a fourth and fifth variants, respectively, of the spatula o Fig. 11a "comb" variant o Fig. l ib variant with stabilising upper wings

- Fig. 12 Views of a fifth variant of the body o Fig. 12a axonometric view with female connection o Fig. 12b axonometric view with male connection o Fig.12c lateral vertical section of two bodies, reciprocally engaged for the distribution of multi-flavours/multi-components Fig. 13 Axonometric views of variants of the body with upper rods o Fig. 13a variation with flat rods o Fig. 13b variation with "V" shaped rods o Fig. 13c variation with tongue-shaped rods

Fig. 14 Views of variants of product containers with different assemblages of the device o Fig. 14a axonometric of a flexible sachet welded to the body o Fig. 14b vertical section of a flacon united to the body by a threaded connection

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

With reference to Fig.l, the device (1), in a first variation of the body (2), results as being composed of the body (2), of a sliding spatula (3) lodged in the space (6) of said body (2) and of a removable seal (4), created as a single piece with the body (2) and united to it by the thin walls (7). In this particular variant, a product container (5) is attached to the device (1) by welding, for example, or by other known techniques, and which forms a closed ambient with the device (1).

In Fig. 2 different views of the body (2) in its first variant are shown, with the seal (4) united to it.

In Fig. 3 different views of the spatula (3) in the first variant are shown. In particular in sections 3b and 3c the edge (10) of the spatula, on which the pressure of the product (8) acts, not shown here, the cavity (11) on which the eventual friction from the product (8), not shown here, and the blocking element (12), complementary to the projection (9) of Fig. 2 which, intervening with said projection (9), impedes the complete exit of the spatula (3) from the body (2) are shown more clearly.

In a variation not shown here, the blocking element (12) can intervene with the edge of the body (2) to obtain the same effect. The edge (10) of the spatula (3) is, furthermore, constructed in such a way as to not allow the leakage of the product (8) between the same edge (10) and the walls of the space (6), not shown here.

In Fig. 4, in lateral vertical section, various views are shown of the phases of functioning of the device (1) in the first variant of the body (2) and of the spatula (3).

In particular, in section 4a, the device (1) is seen in its configuration before use, with the seal

(4) still united to the body (2) by the thin walls (7).

By flexing the seal (4) in the direction indicated by the arrows, the thin walls (7) are broken, and the seal (4) is detached from the body (2).

Having carried out said operation of removal of the seal (4), as can be seen in section 4b the opening (13) which will allow the spatula (3), initially lodged in the space (6), to come out from the body (2).

In section 4c it is seen that by pressing the product container (5) (in this particular case represented by a flexible sachet of thin film, made to adhere to the surface (14) of the body (2) by welding or by another known technique), this pressure is transmitted to the product (8) which, in turn, acts by pressure on the edge (10) of the spatula (3), and eventually by friction on the cavity (11) according to the viscosity of the same product, giving to the spatula (3) a sliding movement which makes it leave the space (6) towards the outside, through the opening (13). Also visible is the product (8), which comes to be distributed onto the support

(15) through the cavity (11) and can successively be spread onto the same support (15) by the spatula (3).

In Fig. 5 an axonometric view of a second variant of the spatula (3) is shown.

In particular, the various constituent elements can be seen, such as the edge (10) and the cavity compartment (16), which have substantially analogous functions to those of the edge (10) and the cavity (11) of the first variant of the spatula, or rather, respectively those of impeding the passage of the product (8) between said edge (10) and the walls of the space (6) and of collecting the force of the product (8) exercised on the spatula (3), as well as that of distributing the product (8) onto the support (15). Also distinguishable are the blocking element (12), which also has a function that is substantially analogous to the corresponding element of the first variant of the spatula (3), as well as the blocking wings (17) and the spring elements (18), whose function will be made clear in following.

In Figs. 6 and 7 the views in section are represented, respectively, of the front vertical and lateral vertical of the phases of functioning of the device (1) in the second variant of the body

(2) and of the spatula (3).

In particular in the sections 6a and 7a the device (1) in its configuration before use is seen, with the seal (4) still united to the body (2) by the thin walls (7).

Flexing the seal (4) as indicated in Fig. 7a causes the thin walls (7) to break and the detachment of the seal (4) from the body (2).

Having carried out said operation of removal of the seal (4), as is visible in sections 6b and

7b, the opening (13) is freed, which will allow the spatula (3); initially lodged in the space (6), to come out from the body (2).

In sections 6c and 7c it can be seen that by pressing the product container (5) (in this particular case represented by a flexible sachet of thin film, made to adhere to the surface (14) of the body (2) by welding, or by other known technique), said pressure is transmitted to the product (8) which, in turn, acts by pressure on the edge (10) and on the compartment (16) of the spatula (3), giving to the spatula (3) a sliding movement that makes it come out from the space (6) towards the outside, through the opening (13). Also visible is the product (8) which comes to be distributed onto the support (15) through the passage waterway (19), better identified in section 7c, and which is uncovered as soon as the spatula (3) arrives at the end of its line of movement, or rather when the intervention between the projection (9) and the blocking element (12) occurs, visible in detail in section 6c. It can be seen, always with reference to section 6c, that with the spatula (3) in said position the blocking wings (17), conceived in such a way as to be flexible, override the projection (9). The product (8) can, successively, be spread onto the support (15) by the spatula (3). In the detail of section 6c one of the spring elements (18) can be seen, and which is deformed, becoming tense, from the pressure exercised through it onto the blocking element (12) on the protuberance (9), a pressure which has its origin in the pressure applied to the product container (5).

The exit of the product (8) through the passage waterway (19) re-balances the difference between the pressure external and internal to the device (1); therefore, when the pressure onto the spatula (3), and consequently onto the blocking element (12) joined to it is lacking, the spring elements (18) tend to return to their original resting position, dragging the spatula (3) upwards, as is better seen in section 7d. This can be useful for controlling the exit of a fluid product with a low level of viscosity.

Furthermore, in section 6d the intervention between the blocking wings (17) and the protuberance (9) can be seen, useful for stabilising the position of the spatula (3), until the user wishes the spatula (3) to return inside the space (6), by exercising sufficient pressure onto the same, directed towards the inside of the device (1).

In Fig. 8 various views of the phases of functioning of the device (1) are represented, in the first variation of the body (2) and in the third variation of the spatula (3). In section 8a in particular the device (1) can be seen in its configuration before use, with the seal (4) still attached to the body (2) by the thin walls (7).

Flexing the seal (4) in the direction indicated by the arrows causes the thin walls (7) to break, and the seal (4) detaches from the body (2).

Once said operation of removal of the seal (4) has been carried out, as can be seen in section 8b, the opening (13) is freed which will allow the spatula (3), initially situated in the space (6), to come out of the body (2). In this phase it can be seen how the deformable wings (20) of the spatula (3) are in the resting position.

In section 8c it can be seen that by pressing onto the product container (5) (in this particular case represented by a flexible sachet of thin film, made to adhere to the surface (14) of the body (2) by welding or by other known technique), said pressure is transmitted to the product (8) and which, in turn, acts by pressure on the edge (10) of the spatula (3), and eventually by friction on the cavity (11) according to the level of viscosity of the product, giving to the spatula (3) a sliding movement which brings it to come out of the space (6) towards the opening (13). Also visible is the product (8) which comes to be distributed onto the support (15) by the widening of the deformable wings (20) , which occurs as a result of the pressure exercised by the product (8) which can successively be spread onto the support (15) by the spatula (3).

The exit of the product (8) through the deformable wings (20) re-balances the difference between the pressure external and internal to the device (1); as a result, with the reduction in the product (8) pressure on the wings (20) these same tend to return to their original resting position, closing the passage to the product (8) as can be seen in section 8d. This can be useful for controlling the exit of a fluid product with a low level of viscosity. In Fig. 9 some views of a third variant of the body (2) and of the seal (4) are shown. In particular in the axonometric 9a on the body (2) a groove (21), whose function will be explained in following, is visible.

In section 9b the seal (4) is illustrated, still joined by the thin walls (7) to the body (2), and which has ribbing (22) complementary to the groove (21),.

By flexing the seal (4) as shown by the arrows, the thin walls (7) are broken and the seal (4) itself can thus be removed.

To close the device (1) again it is sufficient to insert the seal (4) with its concavity facing towards the body (23), as illustrated in Fig. 9c, and push until the groove (21) encounters the ribbing (22).

In Fig. 10 some views of a fourth variant of the body (2) and of the seal (4) are shown.

In particular in the axonometric 10a a groove (21) on the body (2) and a ribbing (22) on the seal (4) are visible, whose function is substantially analogous to that of Fig. 9.

In section 10b the seal (4) is illustrated, still united by the thin walls (7) to the body (2), which presents a ribbing (22) complementary to the groove (21).

By flexing the seal (4) as indicated by the arrows, the thin walls (7) are broken and the seal

(4) can thus be removed.

In order to close the device (1) it is sufficient to insert the seal (4) with its concavity facing towards the body (2) and push until the groove (21) encounters the ribbing (22).

With relation to Fig. 11, the axonometric views of a fourth and fifth version of the spatula are shown.

In particular Fig. 11a shows a spatula with a "comb" shaped final part.

In this variant, a "comb" (23) shape has been given to the lower extremity of the spatula (3), in such a way that the fluid product (8) is distributed onto the support (15) in the manner of a rake. Such a method of application is particularly suitable for the application of glues or the imaginative use of alimentary creams.

Besides the "comb" (23) conformation, it is possible to contemplate other variants in its use such as, for example, that of a "brush", not shown here, where the lower part of the sliding spatula (3) is constituted, precisely, like bristles; another variant may be constituted by a lower part of the sliding spatula (3) having a curved profile, or of another shape. All the cited constructions depend on the type of product to be spreaded and on the type of application of the same, and do not constitute a limit to the creation of further variants of the sliding spatula

(3).

With regard to Fig. l ib, a variant is shown in which the upper part of the spatula (3) has stabilising wings (24), useful for keeping the position of the spatula (3) more stable during its downward movement during the spreading phase.

In Fig. 12 various views of a fifth variant of the body (2) are shown, characterised by the presence of connecting elements for joining other devices, in the case of products to be spreaded as "multi-taste/multi-component".

In particular, in Fig. 12a the axonometric of the body (2) is shown, with a view of the female connection (25), while in Fig. 12b the axonometric of the body (2) with a view of the male connection is shown.

In section 12c, instead, the assembly of just two bodies (2) is shown as an example.

In Fig. 13 various creations of the body (2) are shown, in which the same is mounted with rods that can be used to give a greater structure to the product container (5).

In particular, in Fig. 13a flat rods (27) are shown, to which the product container (5) could be made to adhere by welding or by other known techniques. In Fig. 13b lateral rods with a "V" (28) profile are seen, which can be joined to the product container (5) on the internal surfaces, for example by welding or by other known techniques, or directly during the phase of moulding the body (2), in the case of the injection of a plastic material.

In Fig. 13c, instead, a single "tab-shaped" rod (29) is shown. hi Fig. 14 views of variants of fluid product containers (5) with different device (1) assemblies are shown, given as non-limiting examples.

In particular, in Fig. 14a, in the place of the rods (27, 28 and 29) seen in Fig. 13, a frame (30) of an imaginative form is present, on which the product container (5) is created through joining a flexible film by welding or by other known techniques.

In Fig. 14b instead, a flacon is shown, which is united to the device (1) by a threaded connection (31).

The discovery, it should be noted, is not limited to the representations given by the illustrations, but may be perfected and modified by those skilled in the art without, however, exceeding the field of the patent.

The present invention consents numerous advantages and to overcome difficulties that could not have been overcome with the systems on sale at present.