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US 6,474,861 B1Granted
Device for mixing at least two products
AssigneeL'oreal
InventorVincent De Laforcade
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This application relates to a mixing device for mixing at least two products. The device includes a first container containing a first product, preferably a liquid, and a second container containing a second product, preferably a powder, the first and second containers being separated in sealed fashion by a removable stopper. The mixing device comprises a flexible finger coupled to an operating member and capable, in response to actuation of the operating member, of engaging the stopper. While engaging the stopper, the flexible finger may flex elastically into a position of abutment against a stop borne by the stopper. In this position the flexible finger forms a buttress-like prop capable of releasing the stopper so as to allow the first and second products to be mixed.
Claims72
A mixing device for mixing at least two different products, the device comprising:
- a first container for containing a first product;
- a second container for containing a second product;
- a removable stopper configured to seal said first container from said second container;
- and
- an operating member having a flexible finger configured to engage and move said removable stopper from a sealing position upon actuation of the operating member so as to permit mixing of first and second products,
- wherein the operating member is configured to force the flexible finger against the stopper, and
- wherein said flexible finger is configured to flex elastically as the operating member forces the flexible finger against the removable stopper.
4 more elements
A mixing device for mixing at least two different products, the device comprising:
- a first container for containing a first product;
- a second container for containing a second product;
- a removable stopper configured to seal said first container from said second container;
- and
- an operating member having a flexible finger configured to engage and move said removable stopper from a sealing position upon actuation of the operating member so as to permit mixing of first and second products,
- wherein said flexible finger is configured to flex elastically as the flexible finger engages a stop on said removable stopper.
3 more elements
A mixing device for mixing at least two different products, the device comprising:
- a first container for containing a first product;
- a second container for containing a second product;
- a removable stopper configured to seal said first container from said second container;
- and
- an operating member having a flexible finger configured to engage and move said removable stopper from a sealing position upon actuation of the operating member so as to permit mixing of first and second products,
- wherein the removable stopper includes a peripheral edge and an annular rim forming a stop,
- wherein the stop is concentric with the peripheral edge, and
- wherein the flexible finger is configured to engage the removable stopper between the peripheral edge and the stop.
5 more elements
A mixing device for mixing at least two different products, the device comprising:
- a first container for containing a first product;
- a second container for containing a second product;
- a removable stopper configured to seal said first container from said second container;
- and
- an operating member having a flexible finger configured to engage and move said removable stopper from a sealing position upon actuation of the operating member so as to permit mixing of first and second products,
- wherein the removable stopper has an inner surface in fluid communication with the second container and an outer surface in fluid communication with the first container, and
- wherein at least the inner surface is concave.
4 more elements
A mixing device for mixing at least two different products, the device comprising:
- a first container for containing a first product;
- a second container for containing a second product;
- a removable stopper configured to seal said first container from said second container;
- and
- an operating member having a flexible finger configured to engage and move said removable stopper from a sealing position upon actuation of the operating member so as to permit mixing of first and second products,
- wherein the removable stopper has an inner surface in fluid communication with the second container and an outer surface in fluid communication with the first container,
- wherein at least the inner surface is concave,
- wherein the removable stopper includes an annular rim in an inner portion of the stopper, and
- wherein the flexible finger is configured to flex towards the annular rim as it engages the inner concave surface of the removable stopper.
6 more elements
A mixing device for mixing at least two different products, the device comprising:
- a first container for containing a first product;
- a second container for containing a second product;
- a removable stopper configured to seal said first container from said second container;
- an operating member having a flexible finger configured to engage and move said removable stopper from a sealing position upon actuation of the operating member so as to permit mixing of first and second products, wherein the first container includes first and second openings;
- and
- an intermediate element fixedly mounted on the second opening of the first container.
3 more elements
A mixing device for mixing at least two different products, the device comprising:
- a first container for containing a first product;
- a second container for containing a second product;
- a removable stopper configured to seal said first container from said second container;
- and
- an operating member having a flexible finger configured to engage and move said removable stopper from a sealing position upon actuation of the operating member so as to permit mixing of first and second products,
- wherein said operating member includes a wall configured as a moving bottom wall of said second container, and
- wherein the flexible finger is a skirt portion intermediate a peripheral edge of the wall and a central portion of the wall.
4 more elements
A mixing device for mixing at least two different products, the device comprising:
- an upper container for containing a first product;
- a lower container for containing a second product;
- a releasable sealing element between said upper container and said lower container;
- and
- a flexible finger within said lower container, said flexible finger configured to engage said sealing element, flex elastically when forced against said sealing element, and release said sealing element from a sealing position between said containers so as to permit mixing of first and second products.
2 more elements
A mixing device for mixing at least two different products, the device comprising:
- an upper container for containing a first product;
- a lower container for containing a second product;
- a releasable sealing element between said upper container and said lower container;
- and
- a flexible finger within said lower container, said flexible finger configured to engage and release said sealing element from a sealing position between said containers so as to permit mixing of first and second products,
- wherein the releasable sealing element has a conical shape.
3 more elements
A mixing device for mixing at least two different products, the device comprising:
- an upper container for containing a first product;
- a lower container for containing a second product;
- a releasable sealing element between said upper container and said lower container;
- and
- a flexible finger within said lower container, said flexible finger configured to engage and release said sealing element from a sealing position between said containers so as to permit mixing of first and second products,
- wherein the releasable sealing element includes a peripheral rim and a central annular rim, and
- wherein the flexible finger is mounted on a wall of the lower container and is configured to engage the central annular rim of the releasable sealing element.
4 more elements
A mixing device for mixing at least two different products, the device comprising:
- an upper container for containing a first product;
- a lower container for containing a second product;
- a releasable sealing element between said upper container and said lower container;
- a flexible finger within said lower container, said flexible finger configured to engage and release said sealing element from a sealing position between said containers so as to permit mixing of first and second products;
- and
- an operating member configured to move said flexible finger into engagement with said releasable sealing element,
- wherein said flexible finger is mounted on a movable wall of the operating member, and
- wherein the flexible finger is a skirt portion intermediate a peripheral edge of the wall and a central portion of the wall.
5 more elements
A mixing device for mixing at least two different products, the device comprising:
- a first container for containing a first product;
- a second container for containing a second product;
- a removable stopper configured to seal said first container from said second container;
- and
- a movable operating member having a flexible finger configured to engage and move said removable stopper from a sealing position upon actuation of the operating member so as to permit mixing of first and second products,
- wherein the operating member including the flexible finger is configured such that initial actuation movement of the operating member causes the flexible finger to flex elastically and thereby apply a biasing force to the stopper, and further actuation movement of the operating member causes the elastic flexing of the finger to increase to an extent causing the stopper to be expelled from a position sealing the first container from the second container.
3 more elements
A mixing device for mixing at least two different products, the device comprising:
- an upper container for containing a first product;
- a lower container for containing a second product;
- a releasable sealing element between said upper container and said lower container;
- and
- a flexible finger within said lower container, said flexible finger being configured to flex elastically and assume a curved shape, thereby exerting sufficient force to expel the releasable sealing element from a sealing position between said containers so as to permit mixing of the first and second products.
2 more elements
A mixing device for mixing at least two different products, the device comprising:
- a first container for containing a first product;
- a second container for containing a second product;
- a removable stopper configured to seal said first container from said second container;
- and
- an operating member having a flexible finger configured to flex elastically and assume a curved shape, thereby exerting sufficient force to expel the removable stopper from a sealing position upon actuation of the operating member so as to permit mixing of the first and second products.
2 more elements
A mixing device for mixing at least two different products, the device comprising:
- a first container for containing a first product;
- a second container for containing a second product;
- a removable stopper configured to seal said first container from said second container;
- and
- an operating member having a flexible finger defining an axis, said flexible finger being configured to engage said releasable stopper and flex elastically, thereby deflecting the axis of the flexible finger and exerting enough force to move said removable stopper from a sealing position upon actuation of the operating member so as to permit mixing of first and second products.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.