US20240166463A1

US20240166463A1 - Sample activator and dispenser device

Info

Publication number: US20240166463A1
Application number: US18/513,519
Authority: US
Inventors: Volney Olivato de Camargo; Sergio PICCIARELLI, Jr.
Original assignee: Adhespack Industria Comercio Importacao e Exportacao Ltda
Current assignee: Adhespack Industria Comercio Importacao e Exportacao Ltda
Priority date: 2022-11-18
Filing date: 2023-11-18
Publication date: 2024-05-23
Also published as: EP4371918A1

Abstract

A sample activator and dispenser device (10) is described, said samples (30) being disposed on reels (31) of continuous strip (32), the device for dispensing samples (10) comprising a body (11) containing an input portion (12) of the continuous strip (32) and an output portion (13) of the sample (30) forming a passage channel (14) of the sample inside the body (11); the passage channel (14) of the sample comprising at least one separator (15) positioned inside the body (11) and acting with a connecting contour (301) of the sample (30) so as to detach it one by one from the continuous strip (32); the sample activation and dispenser device (10) further comprising at least one activator element (50) positioned in the passage channel (14) after the input portion (12) and before the at least one separator (15), the at least one activator element (50) projecting towards an upper surface of the continuous strip (32) so as to activate the sample (30).

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to BR 2020220235428, filed Nov. 18, 2022, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. (The number is in the current PDX format.)
The present utility model refers to a device that activates and dispenses samples, particularly individual samples of products such as perfume fragrances and cosmetics disposed in microcapsules, so as to rupture these microcapsules while simultaneously dispensing the sample to the user at various sales or display outlets.

BACKGROUND

Many devices for dispensing samples are already known in the state of the art which provide samples in small quantities of perfumes, cosmetics, make-up, among others. These devices can dispense the samples mechanically, automatically or semi-automatically.
Also known in the state of the art are labels or samples containing mainly fragrances which are encapsulated in specific sites on the surfaces of these samples, so that they do not exude the material before being distributed to the users. In this case, these labels or samples are endowed with a base material usually plasticized on which a small portion of the fragrance is disposed in microcapsules, and a fine layer of plastic film is positioned on the microcapsules, known as a protective layer.
When this sample is provided to the user, be it fixed in magazines, catalogs or by means of the sample dispenser devices, the user has to withdraw or lift the protective layer from the sample so that the microcapsules of the fragrance are ruptured to exude their aroma. One example of this type of sample is described in document MU9000686-0. So, for the fragrance microcapsules not to rupture by contact with other elements and, accordingly, volatilize the aroma undesirably, these labels or samples need to have on the microcapsules, the protective layer which is made predominantly of plastic material or plastic film.
Document BR 102015010856-7 describes an automatic dispenser of samples which are initially disposed on a reel and comprise, on the sample portion of the product to be dispensed, the upper layer of protection above mentioned. By pressing a button, the reel is rotated, positioning a sample in the correct cutting position, the sample is cut, detaching it from the remainder of the reel, making it available for the user. All that remains therefore is for the user to effortlessly retrieve the sample released by this device, withdraw or lift the layer of film disposed on the sample to have access to the content of the sample which may be a perfume, make-up, cosmetic. In this case, if the sample product is a fragrance in microcapsules, upon withdrawing or lifting the protective film from the sample, the microcapsules are ruptured, releasing the aroma of the fragrance.
Document EP0790928, in turn, describes a semi-automatic label dispenser, comprising an axis on which one reel of labels is positioned and the labels are stuck to and pulled by parallel rolls endowed with projections that engage the labels guiding them to the automatic cutter. This cutter consists of two cutting blades, one fixed and the other mobile, acting as a scissor that cuts the label on the space markings printed thereon. Furthermore, while the label exits the dispenser, the adhesive layers of the label, the function of which is to protect the contents of the sample, are withdrawn by means of the adherent cover which envelops at least one of the rolls and other adhesive adherent walls disposed after the label-cutting region. In this manner, the label which, when in the device had an adhesive cover layer to protect the content thereof, is dispensed to the user devoid of this protective cover. In this case, so that it can be used in this dispenser and keep its product preserved, the label must necessarily have a layer of plastic covering material to protect the sample product on account of the internal mechanism of the device dispenser, such that this layer is withdrawn by the dispenser itself at the moment immediately prior to when the user detaches the label in order to access the product.
In the same way, the document FR2890952 refers to a device for dispensing a liquid or paste product deposited on a support obtained from a strip coming from a reel. More specifically, this device is equipped with a strip reel containing a plurality of base portions of the sample, initially without the product applied. An applicator capable of dispensing, by mere contact, a quantity of a given product is positioned before the base portions of the sample such that this applicator dispenses a quantity of product in these base portions of the samples at the moment in which they are being retrieved from the device.
In this document, the strip bears a U-shaped central cutout between each support, delimiting a flap that forms the product reception zone, which is applied by the dispenser and, on each side of the flap, two detachable connection zones are formed. Accordingly, between each cutout a different support is defined and a quantity of a liquid or paste product is applied thereon by the applicator. So that the strip portion of the reel or sample, containing the product of interest, is then retrieved from the device, the user pulls this sample holding a small region of the strip, so that the detachable connection zones break off, releasing the sample. When released, this sample already contains the product without the cover and/or protective film. Therefore, the device described in thi document does not enable fragrance samples to be dispensed, much less fragrances in microcapsules, since the non-encapsulated fragrance has its aroma exuded very quickly and the fragrance in microcapsules requires mechanical attrition for the microcapsules to rupture, which is not possible in the device described in this document.
Document BR 102020019640-5 describes a device for dispensing samples, particularly single and individualized samples of products such as fragrances, make-up, and cosmetics, providing them in a safe and hygienic manner at different sales or display outlets. These samples are disposed on continuous strip reels, formed by a base having a surface that receives a small quantity of the sample product and by a layer of protection positioned on a base surface, so as to cover and protect the sample product. The device for dispensing samples described in this document from the state of the art comprises a passage channel of the sample inside its body endowed with a separator positioned inside the body and acting with a connecting contour of the sample so as to detach the samples, one by one, from the continuous strip. As pointed out, the samples dispensed by the device described in document BR 102020019640-5 have a plastic protective film on the sample product so that it keeps the correct position and protects it inside the mechanism of the device up to the moment when the user, withdrawing this plastic film, gains access to the sample product.
Although many sample dispensers are already known to the public, most of them require the use of samples containing the plastic layer of protection of their product and, for those where the plastic layer of protection of sample can be dispensed with, the type of product to be used in the sample is limited, since fragrances and liquid products cannot be dispensed through these devices.

OBJECTIVES

Accordingly, the objective of the present disclosure is to provide the sample activation and dispenser device, capable of dispensing samples containing products in microcapsules which are activated while still inside the device, during the dispensing of the sample to the user.
It is also an objective of the present disclosure to provide the sample activation and dispenser device that enables the use of samples made of paper, devoid of plastic material and, mainly, devoid of the upper plastic layer of protection of the sample product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The object of the present utility model is a sample activator and dispenser device, said samples being disposed on continuous strip reels, the device for dispensing samples comprising a body containing an input portion of the continuous strip and an output portion of the sample forming a passage channel of the sample inside the body; the passage channel of the sample comprising at least one separator positioned inside the body and acting with a connecting contour of the sample so as to detach it one by one from the continuous strip; the sample activation and dispenser device further comprising at least one activator element positioned in the passage channel after the input portion and before the at least one separator, the at least one activator element projects towards an upper surface of the continuous strip so as to activate the sample.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 —is a first perspective view of the sample activation and dispenser device;

FIG. 2 —is a second perspective view of the sample activation and dispenser device;

FIG. 3 —is a front view of the sample activation and dispenser device;

FIG. 4 —is a rear view of the sample activation and dispenser device;

FIG. 5 —is a schematic view of the sample when retrieved from the sample activation and dispenser device;

Detail E—is a detailed view of the sample product disposed in microcapsules;

FIG. 6 —is a schematic side view of the sample activation and dispenser device, illustrating the activation elements;

FIG. 7 —is an A-A cut view of the device illustrated in FIG. 6 ;

FIG. 8 —is a schematic side view of the sample activation and dispenser device, illustrating the passage of the sample material through the activation elements;

FIG. 9 —is a schematic view of the sample activation and dispenser device, illustrating the separation of the samples once activated;

Detail C—is a detailed view of the action of the activation elements in the microcapsules of the sample product;

Detail F—is a detailed view of the rupture of the microcapsules of the sample product and the consequent activation of the sample by the action of the activation elements;

FIGS. 10A-10F—are schematic views of the stages of retrieving the sample already activated from the sample activation and dispenser device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE UTILITY MODEL

According to a preferred embodiment and as can be seen in the accompanying drawings, the object of the present disclosure consists of a sample activation and dispenser device 10, particularly samples 30 of fragrances in microcapsules and disposed on reels 31 of continuous strips 32. The reels 31 can be formed by a plurality of samples 30 containing all the same product, for example, a same fragrance. Further, the reel 31 can be formed by a plurality of samples 30 containing different product types, for example, some comprising fragrances, other samples 30 containing make-up, other cosmetic products. However, all these samples 30 disposed on the same reel 31 and all the products are provided in microcapsules.
The sample 30 of the present embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 5 . This sample 30 is made entirely of paper, which can be biodegradable paper or otherwise, without comprising plastic parts or polymer materials, which enables the full recycling thereof and minimizes damage to the environment. Accordingly, the sample 30 is formed by a base B with a grasp area 41, whereby the user grasps the sample 30 provided by the device 10, and by the connection contours 301 whereby the samples 30 are detached, one by one, from the continuous strip 32. Additionally, the sample 30 also comprises a central portion C on which small quantities of the products are placed to be brought to the attention of the users when they retrieve the sample 30 from the device 10. The products disposed in the central region C are, preferably, formed by a plurality of microcapsules which wrap and protect the aroma of a fragrance or the surface of a cosmetic, for example, as illustrated in Detail E.
In this case, the products provided in the central portion C of the sample 30 are, preferably, in the form of microcapsules, that is, they preferably consist of fragrances, whose perfumes are protected in fine microcapsules that need to be ruptured to exude the odors, or by cosmetic or make-up products that can be provided in the form of microcapsules. This is why the sample 30 does not comprise any type of film or protective layer on its surface or on the central portion C, since the sample product is already protected in the form of microcapsules.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 , the sample activation and dispenser device 10 comprises a body 11, formed in a single part preferably made of polymer material, though other materials can be used such as, for example, rubber, metal material and composites. This body 11 comprises an input portion 12 of the continuous strip 32 of the reel 31 and an output portion 13 of the sample 30, when it is detached from the continuous strip 32.
The input portion 12 and the output portion 13 are preferably shaped like flat slots, but other shapes can be used for these portions, provided that they allow the input of the continuous strip 32 and the output of the sample 30.
In this sense, as can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the input portion 12 of the continuous strip 32 and the output portion 13 of the sample 30 form, inside the body 11 of the device 10, a passage channel 14 of the sample, whose E thickness is calculated based on the thickness of the continuous strip 32 containing the plurality of samples 30. This passage channel 14 of the sample is continuous, connects the input portion 12 with the output portion 13 inside the body 11 and comprises at least one separator 15 positioned inside the body 11. The separator 15 acts in a connecting contour 301 of the sample 30, with the objective of detaching the sample 30 one by one from the continuous strip 32, as will be explained in detail ahead.
More specifically, the separator 15 is positioned on a first surface 141 inside the body 11. This separator 15 is formed by a front face 151 which projects from the first surface 141 towards the passage channel 14 of the sample and a back face 152 which also projects from the first surface 141 towards the passage channel 14 of the sample. The front face 151 and the back face 152 are concurrent with each other so that at the point concurrence a separating edge 153 is formed. Additionally, both the front face 151 and the back face 152 are disposed slanted relative to the first surface 141, such that the length of the back face 152 is greater than the length of the front face 151.
Preferably, the device 10 comprises a pair of separators 15 positioned in line, parallel to each other and near the output portion 13 of the sample 30, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 , and have the function of detaching the samples 30 one by one from the continuous strip 32.
The passage channel 14 of the sample 30 comprises a curvature 16 disposed on a second surface 142 inside the body 11. This curvature 16 is positioned to coincide with the position of the separators 15 and its string has a length at least equal to the length of the separators 15, so that the separating edge 153 of each separator 15 is slightly housed in the semi-circle formed on the second surface 142 by this curvature 16, keeping the thickness E of the passage channel 14 of the sample constant.
Therefore, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 , the continuous strip 32 of the reel 31 is positioned in the passage channel 14 such that the connecting contour 301 of a sample 30 is housed in the curvature 16 and the end of the grasping portion 41 of the sample 30 is positioned outwardly of the output portion 13. In this position, the separating edge 153 of the separator encases into the connecting contour 301 of the sample 30 which is positioned in the curvature 16.
When the sample 30 is subjected to an Ft: traction force applied to the grasping portion 41, the sample 30 is moved into the passage channel 14 towards the output portion 13 of the device and the separating edges 153 of the separators 15, which are encased in the connection contours 301 of the sample 30, rupture this connecting contour 301, detaching the sample 30 from the continuous strip 32 and releasing this sample 30 for the user.
The sample activator and separator device 10 further comprises at least one activator element 50 positioned in the passage channel 14, as illustrated in FIG. 6 .
Preferably, the device 10 comprises a plurality of activation elements 50 disposed on the first surface 141 inside the body 11, after the input portion 12 and before the pair of separators 15. The activation elements 50 are pyramid-shaped, whose vortexes project towards an upper surface of the continuous strip 32 which passes through the passage channel 14, so as to activate the sample 30. Other shapes may be attributed to the activation elements 50, provided that they allow the activation elements 50 to activate the samples 30.
More specifically and as can be seen in Detail C and Detail F, a plurality of activation elements 50 disposed in the passage channel 14 of the device 10 have the function of rupturing the microcapsules of the sample product 30 during the passage of the continuous strip 32 through the passage channel 14 of the device, such that when the sample 30 is subsequently ruptured by the separators 15, the microcapsules of its product have already been broken apart by the activator elements 50 and the sample 30 is thus already activated, that is, exuding the odors in the case of a fragrance or with a product provided for the touch, in the cases of cosmetics and make-up.
Therefore, when the sample 30 is subjected to the Ft: traction force applied to the grasping portion 41, it is moved inside the passage channel 14 towards the output portion 13 of the device and the separating edges 153 of the separators 15, which are encased in the connection contours 301 of the sample 30, rupture this connecting contour 301, separating the sample 30 from the continuous strip 32. At the same time, when the sample 30 is moved inside the passage channel 14 towards the output portion 13 of the device, the passage of the central portion C of the sample 30 by the activation elements 50 makes the activation elements 50 rupture the microcapsules of the product disposed in the central portion C of the sample 30, activating this sample 30 so that, when completely exiting the device 10, the user already has access to the aroma of his or her fragrance or to the cosmetic material or make-up disposed therein, as can be seen schematically in FIGS. 8 and 9 and Details C and F.
The sequence of actions that result in the release of a sample 30 activated by the sample activation and dispenser device 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 10A to 10F. As illustrated in FIG. 10A, initially the continuous strip 32 of the reel 31 is inserted into the sample activation and dispenser device 10, such that the continuous strip 32 is positioned in the passage channel 14 and one end of the grasping portion 41 of the sample 30 is disposed in the output portion 13 so that it can be accessed by the user.
The user then holds the grasping portion 41 of the sample 30 and applies an Ft: traction force, that is, pulls this sample out of the device 10 holding the grasping portion 41 of this sample 30, as illustrated in FIG. 10B.
Once the user has applied the Ft: traction force, the sample 30 and the continuous strip 32 move inside the passage channel 14, unraveling the reel 31, such that the activated sample 30 begins to leave the device 10 through the output portion 13 and the continuous strip 32 is inserted into the device 10 through the input portion 12 (FIG. 10C).
Inside the body 11 of the device 10, the sample 30 and the continuous strip 32 are moved through the passage channel 14, passing by the activation elements 50 that rupture the microcapsules of the product disposed in the central region C of the sample 30, activating this sample 30. Displacement continues until the connection contours 301 of the already activated sample 30 are housed in the curvature 16 of the passage channel 14 and meet the separating edges 153 of the separators 15 which are encased in the connection contours 301, as illustrated in FIG. 10D.
With the continuation of Ft: traction force applied by the user, the already activated sample 30 continues to move out of the device 10 through the output portion 13, as illustrated in FIG. 10E, but, by virtue of the encasement and actuation of the separating edges 153 of the separators 15 in the connection contours 301 of the sample, these connection contours 301 are ruptured, releasing the activated sample 30 for the user (FIGS. 10E and 10F), at the same time in which a new grasping end 41 of a new sample 30 is positioned in the output portion 13 of the device 10.
The presence of the activation elements 50 inside the passage channel 14 assures the activation of the sample 30 when the continuous strip 32 is moved through the passage channel 14, while the presence of the separators 15 inside the body 11 of the device 10 and the encasement and actuation of these separators 15 in the connection contours 301 of the samples 30, rupturing these connection contours 301 and separating one by one the samples 30 from the continuous strip 32 still inside the body 11 of the device, completely and satisfactorily prevents the output of more than one sample 30 when Ft: traction force is applied by the user.
In possession of the already activated sample 30 released by the sample activator and dispenser device 10, the user already has access to the product provided in the sample 30, which may be a perfume fragrance, cosmetic or make-up. There is no need to detach any part or film from the sample 30. In this sense, a reel 31 with samples 30 of fragrances, for example, when disposed in the sample activation and dispenser device 10, does not exude any odor. However, the sample 30 from this reel 31, when exiting the device 10 is exuding the odor of the fragrance and no action needs to be taken by the user other than just pulling the sample 30 and retrieving it from the device 10.
With this construction and functionality described above, the sample activation and dispenser device 10 is compact, mechanical, easy to operate and has small dimensions, meaning it can be installed and correctly operated on any external or internal flat surface such as, for example, a table corner, a small shelf, a store wall, inserted into a dispenser or in a dispensing box, among other surfaces.
Additionally, the sample activation and dispenser device 10 dispenses samples 30 already activated, that is, with the microcapsules of the product disposed therein ruptured, enabling the manufacture of samples 30 made entirely of paper, with no plastic parts, and without the need of a protective layer for the sample product.
Having described one example of a preferred embodiment, it should be understood that the scope of the present object encompasses other possible variations, being limited solely by the content of the accompanying claim, possible equivalents being included therein.

Claims

1. A sample activator and dispenser device (10), said samples (30) being disposed in reels (31) of continuous strip (32), the device for dispensing samples (10) comprising a body (11) containing an input portion (12) of the continuous strip (32) and an output portion (13) of the sample (30) forming a passage channel (14) of the sample inside the body (11); the passage channel (14) of the sample comprising at least one separator (15) positioned inside the body (11) and acting with a connecting contour (301) of the sample (30) so as to detach it one by one from the continuous strip (32); the sample activation and dispenser device (10) being characterized by further comprising at least one activator element (50) positioned in the passage channel (14) after the input portion (12) and before the at least one separator (15), the at least one activator element (50) projects towards an upper surface of the continuous strip (32) so as to activate the sample (30).