Device for separately storing at least two substances, for mixing them together, and for dispensing the mixture obtained thereby, and a method of manufacture

Abstract

The invention relates to a device enabling at least two substances to be stored separately, to be mixed together, and the resulting mixture to be dispensed, said device being of the type comprising a receptacle and at least one removable shutter suitable for separating, inside the receptacle, two chambers for respectively containing said substances prior to first use of the device, the device further including a pushbutton for moving on first use to cause said shutter to be removed or torn and to put the two chambers into communication with each other. The device comprises a gasket including a portion fixed to the receptacle and a deformable portion made of an elastically-deformable material suitable for deforming when the pushbutton is depressed so to accompany the movement thereof while simultaneously constituting a sealed barrier between the inside of the receptacle and the pushbutton.

I claim:  
     
       1. A device enabling at least two substances to be stored separately, to be mixed together, and the resulting mixture to be dispensed, the device being of the type comprising a receptacle and at least one removable shutter suitable for separating inside the receptacle two chambers containing said substances respectively prior to first use of the device, the device further including a pushbutton for moving on first use to cause said shutter to be moved away or torn and the two chambers to be put into communication with each other, the device including a gasket comprising a portion fixed to the receptacle and a deformable portion made of an elastically-deformable material, suitable for deforming when the pushbutton is depressed so as to accompany the movement thereof, while continuing to constitute a sealing barrier between the inside of the receptacle and the pushbutton. 
     
     
       2. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said pushbutton is connected to the receptacle via at least one bride of breakable material for breaking on first use of the device. 
     
     
       3. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said gasket is made out of a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
       4. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said deformable portion is in the form of a glove finger of transverse dimensions selected in such a manner that at least part of said deformable portion remains substantially in contact with the wall of the receptacle during displacement of the pushbutton. 
     
     
       5. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said deformable portion is in the form of a bellows. 
     
     
       6. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein one of said chambers is formed inside a chimney of the receptacle that is closed at one end by said shutter and at its other end by said gasket. 
     
     
       7. A device according to  claim 6 , wherein the pushbutton is mounted on the receptacle in such a manner as to be capable of being moved over a depression stroke greater than or equal to the maximum height of substance in said chimney. 
     
     
       8. A device according to  claim 6 , wherein deformable portion has one end adapted to side  slide in contact with the wall of said chimney. 
     
     
       9. A device according to  claim 1 , including means for retaining said pushbutton on the receptacle. 
     
     
       10. A device according to  claim 9 , wherein said pushbutton is secured to said gasket. 
     
     
       11. A device according to  claim 9 , wherein said receptacle and/or the pushbutton have resilient tongues or catches capable of retaining the pushbutton after initial depression thereof. 
     
     
       12. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said gasket ha s  has an end including at least one projection shaped to create a tear starter in the shutter or to exert thrust at a predetermined location on the shutter. 
     
     
       13. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the pushbutton is shaped to exert localized thrust on a surface of small extent of the gasket. 
     
     
       14. A device according to  claim 13 , wherein the pushbutton is shaped so that during first use it causes said deformable portion to be deformed in such a manner as to form a pointed zone for striking the shutter. 
     
     
       15. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is formed by assembling together a hollow body and an end portion including a base for fixing to said body and a cover fixed to the base and connected to the pushbutton prior to first use of the device via said at least one bridge of material. 
     
     
       16. A device according to  claim 15 , wherein said base, said cover, and said pushbutton are integrally molded as a single piece, the base being connected to the cover via a film hinge. 
     
     
       17. A device according to  claim 15 , wherein said shutter is constituted by a wall integrally molded with the base. 
     
     
       18. A device according to  claim 15 , wherein said shutter is fixed on the base. 
     
     
       19. A device according to  claim 18 , wherein said shutter is constituted by an aluminum film heat sealed to said base. 
     
     
       20. A device according to  claim 15 , wherein said end portion projects from the outer surface of said hollow body to serve as an abutment or as a grip for the fingers of the user when the pushbutton is being depressed. 
     
     
       21. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the substance contained in the chamber of the receptacle that is in contact with the gasket is a powder. 
     
     
       22. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the depression stroke of the pushbutton is selected so as to create sufficient extra pressure inside the receptacle to enable a predetermined quantity of mixture to be expelled when the pushbutton is depressed. 
     
     
       23. A method of manufacturing a device for separately storing at least two substances, for mixing them together, and for dispensing the resulting mixture, the method comprising the steps consisting in: 
       making a hollow body provided with removable closure means at one end and open at another end;  
       making an end portion by integral molding, said end portion including a base and a cover connected together by a film hinge, said cover including a pushbutton connected to the remainder of the cover via at least one bridge of breakable material, said end portion including a chimney;  
       fixing or forming a removable shutter at one end of said chimney;  
       filling said chimney with a first substance;  
       applying a gasket onto said chimney and shaped to close said chimney;  
       applying the cover onto the base by pivoting about the axis of rotation of said film hinge;  
       filling said hollow body with a second substance via said open end; and  
       fitting said end portion on said open end of said hollow body.  
     
     
       24. A device for mixing at least two substances to form a mixture, and for dispensing the mixture, the device comprising: 
       
         a receptacle;  
       
       
         a first chamber associated with the receptacle for containing a first substance;  
       
       
         a second chamber associated with the receptacle for containing a second substance;  
       
       
         at least one shutter isolating the first chamber from the second chamber when the device is in a storage position, the shutter being configured to be actuated to place the first chamber in flow communication with the second chamber;  
       
       
         a movable actuator configured to be moved to actuate the shutter and thereby enable mixing of the first substance and the second substance to form a mixture; and  
       
       
         a gasket providing a sealing barrier between the movable actuator and an interior portion of the receptacle, wherein the gasket comprises  
       
       
         a portion fixed to the receptacle, and  
       
         a deformable portion made of an elastically - deformable material, the deformable portion being configured to deform when the actuator is moved.   
     
     
       25. The device of  claim 24 , wherein the shutter separates an inside of the receptacle into the first and second chambers. 
     
     
       26. The device of  claim 24 , wherein the shutter is configured to be moved away from an initial position to place the first chamber in flow communication with the second chamber. 
     
     
       27. The device of  claim 26 , wherein the shutter is chosen from a plug and a portion of the receptacle configured to be detached from another portion of the receptacle. 
     
     
       28. The device of  claim 24 , wherein the shutter is configured to be torn to place the first chamber in flow communication with the second chamber. 
     
     
       29. The device of  claim 28 , wherein the shutter comprises a film of material sealing a passage in the receptacle. 
     
     
       30. The device of  claim 24 , wherein the movable actuator comprises a pushbutton. 
     
     
       31. The device of  claim 30 , wherein the pushbutton is movable between an initial position and a depressed position, and wherein the gasket is configured to return the pushbutton from the depressed position to the initial position. 
     
     
       32. The device of  claim 30 , further comprising at least one bridge of breakable material connecting the pushbutton to the receptacle. 
     
     
       33. The device of  claim 24 , further comprising at least one bridge of breakable material connecting the actuator to the receptacle. 
     
     
       34. The device of  claim 34 , wherein a portion of the gasket is configured to slide in contact with a wall surface of the receptacle when the actuator is moved to actuate the shutter. 
     
     
       35. The device of  claim 24 , wherein the actuator is in contact with the gasket. 
     
     
       36. The device of  claim 24 , wherein the device is configured to have a size such that the device may be held in one hand of a user during movement of the actuator. 
     
     
       37. The device of  claim 24 , further comprising a dispensing outlet flow communicating with an interior of the receptacle. 
     
     
       38. The device of  claim 24 , wherein the gasket is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
       39. The device of  claim 24 , further comprising a powder contained in the first chamber and a liquid contained in the second chamber, wherein the first chamber is between the gasket and the shutter. 
     
     
       40. The device of  claim 24 , further comprising a retainer retaining the actuator on the receptacle. 
     
     
       41. A device for mixing at least two substances to form a mixture, and for dispensing the mixture, the device comprising: 
       
         a receptacle including a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion;  
       
       
         a first chamber associated with the receptacle for containing a first substance;  
       
       
         a second chamber associated with the receptacle for containing a second substance;  
       
       
         at least one shutter isolating the first chamber from the second chamber when the device is in a storage position, the shutter being configured to be actuated to place the first chamber in flow communication with the second chamber;  
       
       
         a movable actuator at the first end portion of the receptacle, the movable actuator being configured to be moved to actuate the shutter and thereby enable mixing of the first substance and the second substance to form a mixture;  
       
       
         a gasket providing a sealing barrier between the movable actuator and an interior portion of the receptacle during actuation of the shutter; and  
       
       
         a dispensing outlet at the second end portion of the receptacle. 
       
     
     
       42. The device of  claim 41 , wherein the shutter separates an inside of the receptacle into the first and second chambers. 
     
     
       43. The device of  claim 41 , wherein the shutter is configured to be moved away from an initial position to place the first chamber in flow communication with the second chamber. 
     
     
       44. The device of  claim 41 , wherein the shutter is configured to be torn to place the first chamber in flow communication with the second chamber. 
     
     
       45. The device of  claim 44 , wherein the shutter comprises a film of material sealing a passage in the receptacle. 
     
     
       46. The device of  claim 41 , wherein the movable actuator comprises a pushbutton. 
     
     
       47. The device of  claim 41 , wherein a portion of the gasket is configured to slide in contact with a wall surface of the receptacle when the actuator is moved to actuate the shutter. 
     
     
       48. The device of  claim 41 , wherein the actuator is in contact with the gasket. 
     
     
       49. The device of  claim 41 , wherein the device is configured to have a size such that the device may be held in one hand of a user during movement of the actuator. 
     
     
       50. The device of  claim 41 , further comprising a powder contained in the first chamber and a liquid contained in the second chamber, wherein the first chamber is between the gasket and the shutter. 
     
     
       51. The device of  claim 41 , further comprising a retainer retaining the actuator on the receptacle. 
     
     
       52. A device for mixing at least two substances to form a mixture, and for dispensing the mixture, the device comprising: 
       
         a receptacle including a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion;  
       
       
         a first chamber associated with the receptacle for containing a first substance;  
       
       
         a second chamber associated with the receptacle for containing a second substance;  
       
       
         at least one shutter isolating the first chamber from the second chamber when the device is in a storage position, the shutter being configured to be actuated to place the first chamber in flow communication with the second chamber,  
       
       
         wherein the shutter is configured to be moved away from an initial position to place the first chamber in flow communication with the second chamber, and  
       
       
         wherein the shutter is chosen from a plug and a portion of the receptacle configured to be detached from another portion of the receptacle;  
       
       
         a movable actuator at the first end portion of the receptacle, the movable actuator being configured to be moved to actuate the shutter and thereby enable mixing of the first substance and the second substance to form a mixture;  
       
       
         a gasket providing a sealing barrier between the movable actuator and an interior portion of the receptacle; and  
       
       
         a dispensing outlet at the second end portion of the receptacle. 
       
     
     
       53. A device for mixing at least two substances to form a mixture, and for dispensing the mixture, the device comprising: 
       
         a receptacle including a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion;  
       
       
         a first chamber associated with the receptacle for containing a first substance;  
       
       
         a second chamber associated with the receptacle for containing a second substance;  
       
       
         at least one shutter isolating the first chamber from the second chamber when the device is in a storage position, the shutter being configured to be actuated to place the first chamber in flow communication with the second chamber;  
       
       
         a movable actuator at the first end portion of the receptacle, the movable actuator being configured to be moved to actuate the shutter and thereby enable mixing of the first substance and the second substance to form a mixture,  
       
       
         wherein the movable actuator comprises a pushbutton, and  
       
       
         wherein the pushbutton is movable between an initial position and a depressed position;  
       
       
         a gasket providing a sealing barrier between the movable actuator and an interior portion of the receptacle,  
       
       
         wherein the gasket is configured to return the pushbutton from the depressed position to the initial position; and  
       
       
         a dispensing outlet at the second end portion of the receptacle. 
       
     
     
       54. A device for mixing at least two substances to form a mixture, and for dispensing the mixture, the device comprising: 
       
         a receptacle including a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion;  
       
       
         a first chamber associated with the receptacle for containing a first substance;  
       
       
         a second chamber associated with the receptacle for containing a second substance;  
       
       
         at least one shutter isolating the first chamber from the second chamber when the device is in a storage position, the shutter being configured to be actuated to place the first chamber in flow communication with the second chamber;  
       
       
         a movable actuator at the first end portion of the receptacle, the movable actuator being configured to be moved to actuate the shutter and thereby enable mixing of the first substance and the second substance to form a mixture,  
       
       
         wherein the movable actuator comprises a pushbutton;  
       
       
         a gasket providing a sealing barrier between the movable actuator and an interior portion of the receptacle;  
       
       
         a dispensing outlet at the second end portion of the receptacle; and  
       
       
         at least one bridge of breakable material connecting the pushbutton to the receptacle. 
       
     
     
       55. A device for mixing at least two substances to form a mixture, and for dispensing the mixture, the device comprising: 
       
         a receptacle including a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion;  
       
       
         a first chamber associated with the receptacle for containing a first substance;  
       
       
         a second chamber associated with the receptacle for containing a second substance;  
       
       
         at least one shutter isolating the first chamber from the second chamber when the device is in a storage position, the shutter being configured to be actuated to place the first chamber in flow communication with the second chamber;  
       
       
         a movable actuator at the first end portion of the receptacle, the movable actuator being configured to be moved to actuate the shutter and thereby enable mixing of the first substance and the second substance to form a mixture;  
       
       
         a gasket providing a sealing barrier between the movable actuator and an interior portion of the receptacle; and  
       
       
         a dispensing outlet at the second end portion of the receptacle; and  
       
       
         at least one bridge of breakable material connecting the actuator to the receptacle. 
       
     
     
       56. A device for mixing at least two substances to form a mixture, and for dispensing the mixture, the device comprising: 
       
         a receptacle including a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion;  
       
       
         a first chamber associated with the receptacle for containing a first substance;  
       
       
         a second chamber associated with the receptacle for containing a second substance;  
       
       
         at least one shutter isolating the first chamber from the second chamber when the device is in a storage position, the shutter being configured to be actuated to place the first chamber in flow communication with the second chamber,  
       
       
         a movable actuator at the first end portion of the receptacle, the movable actuator being configured to be moved to actuate the shutter and thereby enable mixing of the first substance and the second substance to form a mixture;  
       
       
         a gasket providing a sealing barrier between the movable actuator and an interior portion of the receptacle,  
       
       
         wherein the gasket is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer; and  
       
       
         a dispensing outlet at the second end portion of the receptacle. 
       
     
     
       57. A method of manufacturing a device for mixing at least two substances to form a mixture, and for dispensing the mixture, the method comprising: 
       
         providing a hollow body having an open end;  
       
       
         providing an end portion comprising a base and a cover connected together by a hinge, the cover including an actuator connected to the remainder of the cover via at least one bridge of breakable material, wherein the end portion further comprises a chimney;  
       
       
         placing an actuatable shutter on the chimney;  
       
       
         adding a first substance to the chimney;  
       
       
         placing a gasket on the chimney, the gasket being shaped to close the chimney;  
       
       
         applying the cover onto the base by pivoting movement about the hinge;  
       
       
         adding a second substance to the hollow body; and  
       
       
         fitting the end portion on the open end of said hollow body.