Multiple-compartment container with frangible seal
The present invention relates to a multiple-compartment
container for packaging products that must be kept separated during
transport and storage and that are mixed within the container only
when used.
One advantageous application of the invention is the use of the
multiple-compartment container for packaging cosmetic products, such
as cosmetic products for dyeing human keratin fibers. Other
advantageous applications of the invention may be the use of the
multiple-compartment container to store care products, adhesive
products, polymer coatings, flavored liquids, etc.
In one type of multiple-compartment container, a hollow tube
has a fold seal that divides it into two compartments separated from
one another to prevent contact between the housed products. Such seal
is formed by folding the compartments to face each other. For
example, such a container is disclosed in patent US 3, 478, 871.
However, with such container, only a deformation of the
hollow tube, and not a fused bond, is foreseen to separate the products
of the two compartments. A design with such a fold seal would lead to
accidental mixing of the housed products within the hollow tube.
In another type of multiple-compartment container, a closed
envelope is divided in two distinct compartments separated from one
another by a frangible seal to prevent contact between the housed
products until there is a need to intermix. To this end, the frangible
seal can be ruptured by exerting a manual pressure to the envelope.
As soon as the frangible seal is broken, the products formerly
present in the first and second compartments can be blended and
caused to form a single homogeneous mixture contained within the
closed envelope. For more details, it is possible for example to refer
to the patent applications US 2004/0118710, US 2004/0247813 and US
2011/0132782.
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Such a frangible seal has sufficient strength to not be ruptured
or compromised until a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to
the-container. A "compromised seal" should be understood as a seal
which allows a communication between the housed products.
However, the multiple-compartment container must be
designed such that the required breaking force pressure to apply is
limited. As a matter of fact, the frangible seal must rupture easily in
order to satisfy a consumer in search of effective products, and
notably a consumer using such a container packaging cosmetic
products. For example, the required force pressure to break the
frangible seal may range from about 0.1 kg/cm2 to about 3 kg/cm2.
Since the strength of the frangible seal must remain limited,
said seal may inadvertently be broken or compromised during normal
handling, shipping or storing operations of the container. This would
lead to accidental mixing of the housed products within the container.
One aim of the present invention is to overcome these
drawbacks.
It is a particular object of the present invention to provide a
container which securely houses at least two different products but
which can easily be operated to achieve mixing of the products.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
container which is reliable in storage and prevents accidental or
unintentional mixing of the housed products.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a
container which is easy to manufacture, assemble and operate.
According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a multicompartment
container comprising at least one first compartment
containing at least one first product, at least one second compartment
containing at least one second product, and at least one frangible seal
to separate said first and second compartments from one another so
that said first and second products are prevented from mixing before
said frangible seal is ruptured.
According to a general feature, this container is arranged in a
folded state about at least a part of said frangible seal. One of the said
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first and second compartments overlies at least a part of the other
compartment in said folded state of the container.
A "frangible seal" should be understood as a membrane or
partition which can rupture under pressure exerted on the container
5 from the outside in an unfolded state of the container. In other words,
the frangible seal forms a non-definitive bond that can be ruptured or
failed without damaging other part(s) of the container in such
unfolded state. To obtain the rupture of the seal in the unfolded state,
a pressure may be exerted at least on one of the compartments so that
10 the product contained in said compartment exerts a force on the seal
and opens it. Alternatively, the pressure may be exerted directly on
the frangible seal.
With the specific folding of the container, a fold is formed at
least on a part of the frangible seal. Only the frangible seal sealingly
15 separates the compartments from each other within the container, not
the fold. The container is folded about at least one fold line. The fold
line is formed at least on a part of the seal. Before use, the container
is packaged in the folded state. The overall dimension of the container
is thus limited.
20 With such a folding of the container, less stresses are
transmitted to the frangible seal under a pressure applied to the
container. The applicant has determined that, in such folded state of
the seal, the container can sustain very high force pressure without
any deterioration of the frangible seal. As a matter of fact, in the
25 folded state, the container can withstand forces more than ten times
higher than in a flat state, i.e. unfolded state. Besides, in such a folded
position, the container has also greater resistance to drop.
Accordingly, the container is robust enough to withstand
imposed forces that are inherently applied during handling, shipment
30 and storage. This facilitates reliable storage without significant risk of
inadvertent or accidental mixing of the products.
Therefore, it is not necessary to design a frangible seal having
an increased strength to avoid its inadvertent rupture. The user may
still rupture easily the seal in the unfolded state of the container.
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Advantageously, the container is packaged in a folded state
about the whole length of said frangible seal. Accordingly, the risk of
deterioration of the frangible seal is further reduced.
In one particular embodiment, the first and second
5 compartments are folded one over the other. The first and second
compartments may also be superposed exactly.
In addition, the multiple-compartment container may further
comprise at least one retaining element for holding said container
packaged in the folded position. Therefore, the folded state can be
10 maintained in a sure way. In one particular embodiment, said retaining
element is disposed on a side opposite to said frangible seal with
respect to one of the said first and second compartments. In other
words, one of the said first and second compartments is located
between said retaining element and said frangible seal. The container
15 may comprise two retaining elements disposed on opposite sides of the
container. For example, the retaining element(s) comprise an adhesive
tape or an elastic band or a tape band or a clip or a self-locking cutout
from a sealed peripheral edge of the container.
In one particular embodiment, the container comprises a closed
20 envelope made from a flexible material and having a sealed peripheral
edge, said envelope being divided into at least the first and second
compartments by said frangible seal extending between the sealed
peripheral edge and connected to said edge. For example, the closed
envelope may be made from a flexible material with a laminate
25 structure.
In one particular embodiment, the frangible seal may extend
substantially along a longitudinal axis of said container. Alternatively,
the seal may extend substantially along a transverse direction of said
container, said transverse direction being preferentially perpendicular
30 to the longitudinal axis of said container. In another variant, the seal
may extend substantially along a diagonal direction of said container.
According to a second aspect, the invention also relates to a
packaging assembly comprising a multiple-compartment container as
previously defined and an outer removable wrapping, said container
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being packaged in the folded state inside said wrapping. For example,
the wrapping may be made from a cardboard sheet.
The present invention and its advantages will be better
understood by studying the detailed description of specific
5 embodiments given by way of a non-limiting examples and illustrated
by the appended drawings on which:
Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a multiplecompartment
oontainei arranged in a folded state according to a first
example of the invention,
10 - Figure 2 is a side view of the container of Figure 1,
Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the container of
Figures 1 and 2 in an unfolded state,
Figure 4 is a top view of the container of Figure 3 in the
unfolded state,
15 - Figure 5 and 6 are schematic perspective views of a
multiple-compartment container arranged in a folded state according
to a second example of the invention, and
Figure 7 is a side view of a packaging assembly according
to an example of the invention.
20 Figures 1 to 4 show an example of a multiple-compartment
container, denoted by the general reference number 10, for packaging
products (not shown) that must be kept separated until there is a need
to use said products.
The container 10 may be used for packaging cosmetic products,
25 for example products intended to be mixed to obtain a dyeing
composition. The expression "cosmetic product" is understood to mean
a product as defined in Article 2 of Regulation No. 1223/2009 of the
European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009.
The container 10 may also be used for packaging other types of
30 cosmetic products such as skin care products, or other types of
products like adhesive products, polymer coatings, flavored liquids,
etc. A variety of products may be separated into the container, such as
liquid products for example aqueous compositions, or solid products
that can be powdered or not, or gas products.
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As shown on Figures 1 and 2, the container 10 is arranged in a
folded state. As will be described later, such packaging in a folded
state is provided to prevent accidental or unintentional mixing of the
products during handling, shipment and storage. Figures 3 and 4
5 represent the container 10 in an unfolded state that is assumed to be
horizontal. In such a state, the container 10 has a longitudinal axis XX'.
The container 10 comprises an envelope 12 which is divided
into two distinct first and second pouches or compartments 14, 16 by
10 means of a seal 18 that is frangible or rupturable under pressure. The
compartments 14, 16 are designed to contain the products housed
separately from one another up to the preparation of the mixture. Each
compartment 14, 16 protrudes transversally on either side of the
envelope 12.
15 The envelope 12 comprises a sealed peripheral edge 20. Each
compartment 14, 16 is delimited by said sealed peripheral edge 20 and
the frangible seal 18. More precisely, the compartment 14 is delimited
by a part of the sealed peripheral edge 20 and the frangible seal 18
while the other compartment 16 is delimited by the other part of said
20 edge 20 and the seal 18.
The envelope 12 may be single-layered or have a multilayer
structure. Preferably, the envelope 12 is made of at least one sheet of
polymeric film folded back on itself and sealed at the peripheral edge
20. The polymeric film may comprise at least two, different or
25 identical, layers of polymeric film. Thus, the sheet of polymeric film
has a laminate structure and the layers of polymeric film are
superposed on one another. For example, the sheet of polymeric film
may be made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyesters, polyolefins,
polyamides, polystyrenes or ionomers.
30 The frangible seal 18 is connected to the sealed peripheral
edge 20. In the disclosed example, the frangible seal 18 is connected
to facing opposed regions of the sealed peripheral edge 20. As shown
more clearly on Figures 3 and 4, the frangible seal 18 comprises two
opposite ends 18a, 18b each connected to the sealed peripheral edge
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20 to define the two separate compartments 14, 16. The frangible seal
18 also comprises two opposite edges 18c, 18d which respectively
delimit the compartments 14, 16. Each compartment 14, 16 is
delimited by the sealed peripheral edge 20 on three sides and by one
5 of the edges 18c, 18d on its last side.
In the illustrated example, the frangible seal 18 is oriented
transversally with respect to the longitudinal axis X-X' of the
container 10 in the unfolded position. The edges 18c, 18d of the seal
extend transversely with respect to the axis X-X'. Alternatively, it is
10 possible to foresee other orientations for the frangible seal 18. For
example, the frangible seal 18 may extend substantially along the
longitudinal axis X-X' of the container or along a diagonal direction
of said container. Here, the frangible seal 18 has a straight form.
Alternatively, the frangible seal 18 may have another geometry, for
15 example with a presence of a sharp point or apex in the design, or a
smooth curve design.
The frangible seal 18 may be formed by bonding the envelope
12. The term "bonding" should be understood to mean an attachment
by melting of the envelope 12 locally, for example by heat-sealing or
20 ultrasonic-sealing. In other words, the polymeric film(s) of the
envelope 12 are sealed locally together in order to create the frangible
seal 18. Alternatively, a rupturable strip seal having micro-fibers may
be used to form the frangible seal. A rupturable strip formed by
localized coating of different polymers could also be possible.
25 It should be noted that the sealed peripheral edge 20 of the
envelope, which is also made by bonding and avoid the contamination
of the housed products, has a much higher resistance than the
resistance of the frangible seal 18 in the unfolded state of the
container 10. As a matter of fact, the sealed peripheral edge 20 should
30 not be opened at the same time that the frangible seal 18 but must be
kept sealed to isolate from the outside.
The "sealed peripheral edge 20" refers to a definitive bond
made on the envelope 12 that cannot be opened without damaging said
envelope. On the contrary, the "frangible seal 18" refers to a non-
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definitive bond that can be ruptured or failed under pressure exerted
on the container from the outside without damaging the envelope 12.
As previously indicated and as shown on Figures 1 and 2, the
container 10 is packaged in a folded state, folded about the frangible
5 seal 18. The seal 18 is folded. The seal 18 forms a folded end of said
container. The compartment 16 is folded over the compartment 14
about the seal 18. In the illustrated example, the compartments 14, 16
are superposed exactly. The container 10 is folded about a fold line 22
(Figures 2 and 4) formed on the whole length of the frangible seal 18.
10 Alternatively, according to the shape of the seal 18, the fold line 22
may be formed only on a part of said seal. The first and the second
compartments 14, 16 are positioned on either side of the fold line 22.
In the illustrated example, the fold line 22 extends transversally to the
axis X-X' in the unfolded state of the container 10. The frangible seal
15 18 extends on either side of said fold line. In other words, first and
second parts of the seal 18 are separated by the fold line 22.
Preferably, the first and second parts of the seal 18 positioned on
either side of the fold line 22 are superposed exactly.
With the folded state of the frangible seal 18, when the
20 container 10 is handled, shipped, stored, even dropped, the risk of
inadvertent or accidental breaking of said seal is strongly decreased.
As a matter of fact, the applicant has determined that, with a frangible
flange 18 that requires a breaking force pressure of about 3 kg/cm2 in
the unfolded state of the container 10, such breaking force pressure is
25 about 40 kg/cm2 in the folded state.
In the illustrated example, the container 10 further comprises
two adhesive tabs 24, 26 cooperating together for holding said
container is the folded state. In the illustrated example, the adhesive
tabs 24, 26 are secured on opposite sides of the sealed peripheral edge
30 20. The adhesive tabs 24, 26 are arranged in such a way that the
compartment 14 is located between the adhesive tab 24 and the
frangible seal 18 and the other compartment 16 is located between the
other adhesive tab 26 and the frangible seal 18. Alternatively, it is
possible to foresee other dispositions of the adhesive tabs 24, 26 on
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the sealed peripheral edge 20 to hold the compartments 14, 16 together
when the container 10 is in the folded state.
Any other appropriate elements may also be provided in order
to retain the container 10 is the folded state such as elastic bands, tape
5 bands, or clips for example. In another variant illustrated on Figures 5
and 6, in which identical parts are given identical references, the
container 10 comprises a cut-out tab 28 and a slit 30 cooperating
together for holding said container is the folded stale. In the
illustrated example, the tab 28 and the slit 30 are formed on opposite
10 sides of the sealed peripheral edge 20. The disposition of these
retaining elements is identical that the one of the adhesive tabs as
disclosed in the previous example.
The slit 30 extends through the thickness of the sealed
peripheral edge 20. The slit 30 may be formed by cutting. The slit 30
15 is large enough that the tab 28 can be inserted from the position as
shown on Figure 5 into said slit as shown on Figure 6 for holding the
container in the folded state. The tab 28 is formed in the thickness of
the sealed peripheral edge 20 by cutting. The tab 28 comprises two
self-locking lugs 28a, 28b. After the insertion of the tab 28 through
20 the slit 30, said tab is folded on the sealed peripheral edge 20 and lugs
28a, 28b lock the container in the folded state.
It should be noted that, in another variant, the container 10
may be depri-ved of such retaining elements. In this case, the folded
state of the container 10 is only maintained by the own weight of the
25 product housed inside the second compartment 16.
To mix the products housed respectively into the first and
second compartments 14 and 16, the users unfolds the container 10
and then squeezes one or both the compartments 14, 16 to break the
frangible seal 18 such that said compartments become one single
30 compartment. In the unfolded state of the container, the frangible seal
18 may be rupture easily. The multiple-compartment container 10 may
also comprise an opening element (not shown) to deliver the obtained
mixture, for example by way of tearing or cutting, or dispensing
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nozzle or system. The opening means may be for example a pre-cut
line.
Figure 7 shows a packaging assembly, denoted by the general
reference number 32, comprising a wrapping 34 and the container 10
5 packaged in the folded state inside said wrapping. The wrapping 34
surrounds the container 10. The container 10 is sandwiched into the
wrapping 34. With such a packaging assembly, the container 10 is
hold in the folded position by the wrapping 34. The container 10 may
be deprived of the retaining elements illustrated on Figures 1 to 6. The
10 wrapping 34 forms a secondary packaging.
The first and second compartments 14, 16 of the container may
be or not attached to the walls of the wrapping 34. Preferably, the
compartments 14, 16 are entirely housed inside the wrapping 34.
Accordingly, the risk of deterioration of the compartments 14, 16 is
15 limited. However, in a variant, the container 10 may protrude
outwards relative to the wrapping 34. Before use, the wrapping 34 has
to been removed. For example, the outer wrapping 34 may be made
from cardboard or flexible material laminate.
In the illustrated examples, the packaging consists in folding
20 the container 10 on itself about a single fold line 22, symmetrically,
the two compartments 14, 16 positioned on either side of this line then
being superposed exactly. As a variant, the folding may consist in
folding the container about a fold line that does not lie in a median
plane of symmetry of the container once the latter is unfolded. The
25 compartments thus positioned on either side of the fold line and one of
the compartments may for example jut out beyond the contour of the
other compartment. With such a disposition, the fold line still extends
on the frangible seal.
The invention has been illustrated on the basis of a container
30 having two compartments separated by one frangible seal and folded
on itself about only a single fold line formed on said seal.
Alternatively, the container may comprise at least one other
compartment separated from the first and second compartments by at
least one other seal. In this case, the container may be packaged in a
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folded state with at least one other fold line formed on said at least
one other frangible seal. The folding may be repeated several times on
the container. The container may be folded up on itself. When the
container comprises, in the packaged state, more than one fold lines,
5 the fold lines may be for example parallel or perpendicular to one
another. Otherwise, the invention is not limited to a container having a
rectangular shape in the unfolded state. The container may have, in
ouch stale, a contour of any shape, in particular polygonal or not,
circular or oval.
10 The expression "comprising a" is synonymous with
"comprising at least one", unless specified to the contrary.

CLAIMS
1. Multiple-compartment container (10) comprising at least
one first compartment (14) containing at least one first product, at
least one second compartment (16) containing at least one second
5 product, and at least one frangible seal (18) to separate said first and
second compartments from one another so that said first and second
products are prevented from mixing before said frangible seal is
ruptured, characterized in that said container is arranged in a folded
state about at least a part of said frangible seal (18) in which one of
10 the said first and second compartments (14, 16) overlies at least a part
of the other compartment.
2. Multiple-compartment container according to claim 1,
wherein said container is packaged in the folded state about the whole
length of said frangible seal (18).
15 3. Multiple-compartment container according to claim 1 or 2,
wherein the first and second compartments (14, 16) are folded one
over the other.
4. Multiple-compartment container according to any one of
the preceding claims, wherein the first and second compartments (14,
20 16) are superposed exactly.
5. Multiple-compartment container according to any one of
the preceding claims, further comprising at least one retaining element
(24, 26; 28, 30) for holding said container in the folded state.
6. Multiple-compartment container according to claim 5,
25 wherein said retaining element (24, 26; 28, 30) is disposed on a side
opposite to said frangible seal with respect to one of the said first and
second compartments (14, 16).
7. Multiple-compartment container according to claim 5 or 6,
comprising two retaining elements (24, 26; 28, 30) disposed on
30 opposite sides of the container (10)
8. Multiple-compartment container according to any one of
the preceding claims 5 to 7, wherein said retaining element comprises
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an adhesive tape or an elastic band or a tape band or a clip or a selflocking
cut-out tab.
9. Multiple-compartment container according to any one of
the preceding claims, comprising a closed envelope (12) made from a
flexible material and having a sealed peripheral edge (20), said
envelope being divided into at least the first and second compartments
(14, 16) by said frangible seal (18) extending between the sealed
peripheral edge and connected to said edge.
10.Multiple-compartment container according to any one of
the preceding claims, wherein the frangible seal (18) extends
substantially along a transverse direction of said container, said
transverse direction being preferentially perpendicular to a
longitudinal axis of said container.
11.Multiple-compartment container according to any one of
the preceding claims 1 to 9, wherein the frangible seal (18) extends
substantially along a longitudinal axis of said container.
12.Multiple-compartment container according to any one of
the preceding claims 1 to 9, wherein the frangible seal (18) extends
substantially along a diagonal direction of said container.
13.Packaging assembly comprising a multiple-compartment
container (10) according to any one of the preceding claims and an
outer removable wrapping (34), said container being packaged in the
folded state inside said wrapping.