Title: Hollow body, of the flexible pouch or bottle type, intended to contain at least one fluid product, in particular a gas-releasing cosmetic product

[0001 ] The present invention relates to a hollow body, of the flexible pouch or bottle type, intended to contain at least one fluid, in particular liquid, product, in particular a gas-releasing cosmetic product. More particularly, the hollow body constitutes a reservoir forming a product refill intended to be installed in a dispensing machine, said hollow body comprising a dispensing head that is in particular in the form of a part of a fluid interconnection system.

[0002] Fluid interconnection systems are conventionally used to selectively place two hollow bodies, such as reservoirs of the bottle or pouch type, ducts or pipes, in fluid communication. Such interconnection systems are in particular used to install reservoirs constituting refills (first body) in an associated dispensing machine (second body). These may in particular be fruit juice dispensing machines, a pouch of fruit juice being put in place inside a dispensing machine by virtue of such an interconnection system.

[0003] The products generally contained in the pouch or bottle (first hollow body) may be liquid products, but also powdered products that are able to flow. The products may be products intended for the preparation of edible products such as drinks, syrup and liquid concentrates. Such systems can also be used for cosmetic products in liquid, cream or fluid powder form, in particular in customized formulation machines that meter various compounds from a set of cartridges connected to the machine by means of such interconnection systems.

[0004] Conventionally, an interconnection system according to the present application comprises two complementary elements, namely a female element and a male element, each mounted on one of the two hollow bodies. The male element and the female element are able to mutually engage with one another so as to establish the fluid communication between the two hollow bodies. The male element and the female element can also be disengaged from one another so as to interrupt the fluid communication between the two hollow bodies. The female element is generally equipped with a valve system that then allows the hollow body forming a reservoir or refill to be isolated from the outside. Interconnection systems are described in particular in documents US5467806, W02009017390 and WQ2016138053 among others.

[0005] In these systems, the female element, mounted on the first hollow body, comprises a body having a through-duct equipped with a valve. The valve is able to move between a shut-off position shutting off the duct and an open position opening same, said duct being configured to allow the introduction of a complementary male element of the interconnection system. Thus, when the male element is introduced, a stem moves the valve of the female element and opens the fluid communication. Conversely, when the male element is removed, the valve returns to the shut-off position shutting off the duct, thus closing the reservoir or the pouch. The stem of the male element is hollow and forms a complementary duct that establishes the fluid connection with the duct of the female element after the valve has been moved. The male element and the female element are moreover generally equipped with complementary sealing elements aimed at ensuring peripheral sealing upon connection, the fluid only being able to circulate through the ducts of the male element and of the female element. Such interconnection systems are particularly advantageous since they allow simple disconnection of the two elements even though product can still be present in the first hollow body, the valve closing and isolating the latter.

[0006] As indicated, such interconnection systems can also be used for reservoirs of cosmetic products. Now, products exist that degrade over time and of which the degradation leads to gas evolution. This is the case in particular for certain hair dyeing/bleaching products. This is of course not admissible during storage of such refills and it is necessary to be able to evacuate this gas so as to avoid any overpressure in the reservoir over time.

[0007] Document WQ2016138053 mentions this problem in paragraphs

123 and 124 (Figures 24A and 24B) and proposes equipping a plate or base for fastening the female element to the reservoir with a venting member or vent comprising a membrane that is permeable to gases but impermeable to liquids. Such a solution requires a specific female part to be produced, even though it is not necessary for all products. This brings about a substantial additional cost for the manufacturer and the need to be equipped to manufacture a specific female element model. A solution to this problem was proposed and described in application FR3087428A1 filed on 18 October 2018.

[0008] However, it has become apparent that equipping the dispensing head with a venting member or vent allowing the evacuation of gas generated by the degradation of the cosmetic product contained in the hollow body is not sufficient for certain uses.

[0009] Specifically, although they are stored in what is called a “head- up” position, such hollow bodies are frequently intended to be installed and used in the dispensing machine in what is called a head-down position. Thus, although evacuation of the gas is possible during the storage phase, it is no longer possible during the phase of use of the product. Of course, this does not pose a problem for products that are consumed rapidly, but it can be bothersome for products that are intended to be installed in the dispensing machine and used over a period of several weeks, as may be the case for cosmetic products that are dispensed on demand. By way of example, a liquid oxidant formulation (e.g. based on aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution) intended to be used in a hair dyeing product can release up to 40 litres of gas per litre of formulation. The increase in the internal pressure of the hollow body or pouch during the use phase can negatively affect the dispensing of the product and impact the metering thereof. This is not desirable.

[0010] There is therefore a need for a hollow body in which the evacuation of the gas resulting from the degradation of the product contained therein is possible in various positions, and in particular both in the use position and in the storage position.

[0011] To this end, the present invention relates to a hollow body, of the flexible pouch or bottle type, intended to contain at least one fluid product, in particular a gas-releasing cosmetic product, and comprising at least one dispensing head, said hollow body being able to be manipulated between a storage position and a use position. The hollow body is characterized in that it is equipped with at least two venting members or vents, each permeable to gases and impermeable to liquids, said venting members being disposed at a distance from one another so as to allow degassing of the product both in the storage position and in the use position.

[0012] Thus, by providing for the hollow body to be equipped with two venting members disposed at a distance from one another, and in particular on different sides of the hollow body, it is possible to allow a gas generated by degradation of the product contained in the hollow body to be evacuated, when said hollow body is in at least two positions, namely in particular in its storage position and in its use position.

[0013] More particularly, the two venting members can be disposed on either side of a median, coronal and/or transverse plane, preferably a transverse plane, one venting member being situated on the dispensing head side while the second venting member is situated on the side of an opposite foot or bottom.

[0014] Of course, the venting member is mounted on the hollow body so as to allow gas exchange between an inner space of said hollow body containing the product and an outer space. As is described in document WQ201 6138053 and is already frequently used, it could be a Gore-Tex® membrane or more generally a PTFE component that meets the mentioned conditions of permeability to gases and impermeability to liquids. Mention may also be made of materials such as Tyvek® and other hydrophobic-treated woven or nonwoven materials.

[0015] Preferentially, the use position is a head-down position. This relates in particular to hollow bodies and pouches forming refill reservoirs for dispensing machines and systems. It should be noted here that the up/down directions are given relative to the direction of gravity.

[0016] According to a first variant embodiment, the storage position corresponds to a head-up position. Although the hollow body can easily be made of a material that is compatible with the product to be contained (for example a multilayer laminate with or without aluminium foil), the dispensing head generally has to be made of a different material, which may not have the same resistance or stability with respect to the product. In particular, dispensing heads are known, in particular those equipped with a connection valve, that are made of thermoplastic materials that are less resistant to a chemically aggressive product such as an oxidant for hair dyeing. It may also be noted that numerous interconnection systems comprise male and/or female elements made of POM (polyoxymethylene) derivatives that disintegrate when directly exposed to a 40- volume acidic oxidant for one month at 45°C. Thus, it is important that such refills are stored head up, said refill being turned head down when it is put in place in the dispensing machine or system.

[0017] Alternatively, the storage position may correspond to a position in which the hollow body is on its side.

[0018] Preferably, a first venting member is disposed in an upper part of the body, in the vicinity of the dispensing head, preferably on the same side, and in particular in a base for fastening said dispensing head to the body (see for example WQ2016138053) or in a member for temporarily closing said dispensing head (as is described for example in application FR3087428A1).

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the dispensing head is a female element forming part of a fluid interconnection system for placing in communication with a second hollow body equipped with a corresponding male element.

[0020] Advantageously, the hollow body comprises a bottom, situated at the opposite end from the dispensing head, the second venting member being disposed in a lower part of the body, in the vicinity of the bottom.

[0021] According to a particular embodiment, the bottom is equipped with a filling head, the second venting member preferably being situated in a fastening base of said filling head or in a removable member for closing said filling head.

[0022] Alternatively or in a complementary manner, the second venting member is in the form of a membrane integrated in a wall of said hollow body, in particular a lateral wall, and forming a panel for venting said hollow body. As an exemplary embodiment, mention may be made of the Wicovalve® one-way valves sold by Wipf that can be welded to the flexible pouch.

[0023] In a complementary manner, the hollow body comprises a foolproofing element that is able to ensure indexed insertion of the dispensing head according to a predefined orientation. [0024] The invention may be better understood upon reading the following description, accompanied by nonlimiting implementation examples thereof, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[Fig. 1] is a schematic depiction of a hollow body according to the present application.

[0025] Figure 1 shows a hollow body according to the present application, in the form of a flexible pouch 1. The hollow body is intended to contain a fluid product forming at least one gas by degradation, in particular by thermooxidative degradation. More particularly, the product is a hair treatment product, and in particular a dyeing or bleaching product.

[0026] The pouch has two opposite lateral faces 2a, 2b (not visible) and an upper edge equipped with a dispensing head 3. The pouch 1 has an opposite lower edge forming a bottom and equipped with a filling head 4.

[0027] The dispensing head 3 is a female element 30 forming part of a fluid interconnection system for placing in communication with a second hollow body equipped with a corresponding male element. More specifically, the female interconnection element 30 comprises a body or base that is able to be mounted, for example by thermal bonding or heat sealing, on the pouch 1 and has a through-duct (not visible) that is able to allow fluid communication between the inside and the outside of said pouch. The duct is furthermore equipped with a valve that is able to move between a shut-off position shutting off said duct and an open position opening same. The duct is configured to allow the introduction of a complementary male element of the interconnection system, comprising a body that is able to be mounted on the second hollow body and having a hollow tubular stem forming a duct between the inside and the outside of the second hollow body. The stem is configured to move the valve of the duct of the female element from its closed position to its open position when it is introduced so as to establish a fluid connection between the first hollow body and the second hollow body and to allow the valve to return from its open position to its closed position when said male element is removed, thereby interrupting the fluid communication. [0028] The dispensing head can be temporarily closed before use by a temporary closure member or lid 20 that is able to be attached and held removably on said dispensing head. In accordance with one aspect of the present application, the lid 20 is configured to keep the female interconnection element forming the dispensing head open, and is equipped with a first venting member.

[0029] More specifically, the lid 20 of the female element 30 of the interconnection system comprises a body having a base 21 that is configured to cooperate removably with the body of the female element and a stem 22 similar to the stem of the male element of the interconnection system. The duct of the stem 22 of the closure device 20 is shut off by at least one element that is permeable to gases and impermeable to liquids and forms a venting member.

[0030] The venting member, which is permeable to gases and impermeable to liquids, is thus disposed inside the duct of the stem of the closure device. The venting member can in particular be welded or adhesively bonded, in particular by ultrasonic or thermal welding, inside the duct of the stem 22 of the closure device 20. Alternatively, it can be attached inside the duct of the stem. The element that is permeable to gases in particular comprises a ring bearing a membrane, said ring being force-fitted inside the duct of the stem of the closure device.

[0031] As a variant, the venting member, which is permeable to gases and impermeable to liquids, is disposed outside the duct of the stem 22, adjacent to an outlet of the duct. The outlet of the stem 22 is defined as being the open end that is opposite a head for introducing the stem into the female element. The element that is permeable to gases can in particular be fastened inside a cap that can be screwed onto the body of the lid, against a perforated wall of said cap.

[0032] Advantageously, the base 21 has two lateral tabs 23 extending from said base in a direction substantially parallel to the stem. The lateral tabs 23 are each equipped with a transverse lip that is able to engage with a corresponding transverse plate 24 of the body of the female element 30 during a rotation, in particular a ¼ of a turn, of the closure device. Advantageously, the base 21 is equipped with a cap that is removable, in particular by screwing, and is able to allow access to the duct of the stem 22 of the closure device. An internal cap surface can bear the element that is permeable to gases and impermeable to liquids, thereby making it easily removable.

[0033] The pouch 1 is intended to be installed (in particular by connection by virtue of the interconnection system) in an associated dispensing machine and used head down. Before use, the pouch 1 is stored head up.

[0034] Of course, before use, the lid 20 has to be removed from the dispensing head. Thus, during use, the venting member is no longer present on the actual pouch. Within the meaning of the present application, the term hollow body therefore of course means the pouch before use and removal of the lid leading to the removal of the first venting member. In the present case, the lid 20 therefore makes it possible to ensure evacuation of the gas generated when the pouch 1 is in the storage position.

[0035] In accordance with the present application, the pouch 1 is equipped with a second venting member disposed so as to allow degassing of the product in the use position, i.e. head down.

[0036] The second venting member is disposed at the opposite end from the dispensing head in a bottom in the vicinity of a filling head 4. More specifically, the filling head 4 is in the form of a threaded neck 41 comprising a base that is able to be fastened to the pouch 1 by thermal bonding or heat sealing. Like for the dispensing head, the venting member is disposed in a member 43 for temporarily closing said filling head 4, namely a screw-on lid. In particular, the venting member can be in the form of a PTFE membrane, of the Gore-Tex® type disposed in a bottom of the threaded lid, said bottom having at least one venting orifice passing through it.

[0037] Alternatively, the second and/or first venting member can be in the form of membrane integrated in a wall of the hollow body, in particular a lateral wall or flank, and thus forming a panel for venting said hollow body.

[0038] In a complementary manner, the hollow body comprises a foolproofing element 50 that is able to ensure insertion of the dispensing head. In the present case, in order to avoid any increase in mass that might be caused by the addition of an additional component, the foolproofing element is in the form of an edge of the pouch on the dispensing head side that is bevelled, whereas the edge that is opposite thereto with respect to the median axis remains substantially at right angles to the upper edge of said pouch. Such a bevelled edge makes it possible to perform simple and economical mechanical foolproofing.

[0039] It is of course also possible to perform optical foolproofing by creating perforations in the welds of the pouch, but this device necessitates an optical cell device on the machine and this leads to an additional cost.