Shearing assembly

Abstract

The present invention generally is a shearing assembly for a viscous product comprising a product inlet flow component, a shearing component, and a housing, said housing arranged to be mounted on the product inlet flow component. The shearing component is enclosed in the housing such that the viscous product is sheared when it flows via the shearing component while the flow of the product is sealed when the shearing component is under the action of a force. Also disclosed is a device comprising said shearing assembly.

1 . A shearing assembly for a product comprising:
 a product inlet flow component, said product inlet flow component having an inlet end and an outlet end wherein the inlet end and the outlet end define an opening that allows the product to flow through it;   a shearing component, and   a housing, said housing arranged to be in fluid communication with the product inlet flow component wherein the product is sheared when it flows via the shearing component.   
   
   
       2 . The shearing assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the shearing component has an inlet end, an outlet end, a sidewall and a plurality of flow tracks and wherein a protrusion extends outwardly from the inlet end of the shearing component. 
   
   
       3 . The shearing assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the shearing component is an integral part of the housing. 
   
   
       4 . The shearing assembly according to  claim 3  wherein the shearing component and the product inlet flow component are arranged to be displaceable with respect to each other. 
   
   
       5 . The shearing assembly according to  claim 4  wherein the shearing component displaces in an axial direction with respect to the product inlet flow component when a force is applied or removed from it, and wherein the product is sheared while it flows via the plurality of flow tracks in the shearing component. 
   
   
       6 . The shearing assembly according to  claim 4  wherein product inlet flow component displaces in an axial direction with respect to the shearing component when a force is applied or removed from it, and wherein the product is sheared while it flows via the plurality of flow tracks in the shearing component. 
   
   
       7 . The shearing assembly according to  claim 4  wherein the flow of the product is sealed when the shearing component and the product inlet flow component are caused to be placed abutting each other. 
   
   
       8 . The shearing assembly according to  claim 7  wherein the sealing of the flow of the product occurs when the extended protrusion of the shearing component is caused to travel into the opening of the product inlet flow component by application or removal of force thereby sealing the opening of the product inlet flow component. 
   
   
       9 . The shearing assembly according to  claim 8  comprising an applicator in the housing to which the product is supplied via the shearing component. 
   
   
       10 . The shearing assembly according to  claim 9  comprising a biasing member wherein the biasing member biases the relative axial displacement of the shearing component and the product inlet flow component under the action of a force. 
   
   
       11 . The shearing assembly according to  claim 10  wherein the biasing member is housed in the housing with the shearing component and it biases the shearing component to move in an axial direction with respect to the product inlet flow component when a force is applied or removed from it. 
   
   
       12 . The shearing assembly according to  claim 10  wherein the biasing member biases the displacement of the product inlet flow component when a force is applied or removed from it. 
   
   
       13 . The shearing assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said shearing component shears viscous products, said viscous products comprising at least one of medication fluids, dermatological fluids, liquid cosmetic material, microencapsulated liquid products, lip gloss, lip balm, lip putty, lip plumping gel, cream eye shadow, under-eye cream, under-eye repair cream, foundation, concealer, blemish concealer, cheek plumping gel or cream, cream and moisturizer, nail enamel, temporary hair colors, hair styling gel, glitter, hair mousse, hair repair cream, exfoliant and hydrating cream, correction cream, acne treatment cream, skin treatment cream, hair repair cream, anti-dandruff cream or teeth whitening gel. 
   
   
       14 . A device for packaging and dispensing a product comprising:
 a reservoir wherein said reservoir has a neck that defines an opening in the form of an orifice;   a means for closing the reservoir, said means comprising a cap;   a shearing assembly arranged to be mounted onto the neck of the reservoir; wherein said shearing assembly comprises a product inlet flow component   a shearing component;   a housing, said housing arranged to be in fluid communication with the product inlet flow component wherein the product inlet flow component is arranged to be mounted in the opening of the neck of the reservoir wherein the product is sheared when it flows via the shearing component; and   an applicator, said applicator housed in the housing of the shearing assembly   
   
   
       15 . The device according to  claim 14  wherein the shearing component and the product inlet flow component of the shearing assembly are arranged to be displaceable with respect to each other. 
   
   
       16 . The device according to  claim 15  wherein the shearing component has an inlet end, an outlet end, a sidewall and a plurality of flow tracks and wherein a protrusion extends outwardly from the inlet end of the shearing component. 
   
   
       17 . The device according to  claim 16  wherein a force applied on the reservoir causes displacement of the product inlet flow component with respect to the shearing component resulting in flow of the product or sealing of product flow. 
   
   
       18 . The device according to  claim 17  wherein the flow of the product is sealed when the shearing component and the product inlet flow component are caused to be placed abutting each other. 
   
   
       19 . The device according to  claim 16  wherein the means for closing the reservoir when in close communication with the neck of the reservoir causes the protrusion in the shearing component to seal the orifice of the reservoir. 
   
   
       20 . The device according to  claim 19  wherein the means for closing the reservoir when removed causes the displacement of the shearing component with respect to the product inlet flow component which results in opening of the orifice of the reservoir due to which when the reservoir is actuated it results in the flow of the product via the shearing component. 
   
   
       21 . A device for packaging and dispensing a product according to  claim 14  wherein the product comprises at least one of medication fluids, dermatological fluids, liquid cosmetic material, microencapsulated liquid products, lip gloss, lip balm, lip putty, lip plumping gel, cream eye shadow, under-eye cream, under-eye repair cream, foundation, concealer, blemish concealer, cheek plumping gel or cream, cream and moisturizer, nail enamel, temporary hair colors, hair styling gel, glitter, hair mousse, hair repair cream, exfoliant and hydrating cream, correction cream, acne treatment cream, skin treatment cream, hair repair cream, anti-dandruff cream or teeth whitening gel. 
   
   
       22 . A shearing assembly for a product comprising:
 a product inlet flow component, said product inlet flow component having an inlet end and an outlet end wherein the inlet and the outlet end defines an opening that allows for the product to flow through it;   a shearing component wherein the shearing component has an inlet end, an outlet end, a sidewall and a plurality of flow tracks and wherein a protrusion extends outwardly from the inlet end of the shearing component;   a housing, said housing arranged to be in fluid communication with the product inlet flow component, wherein said shearing component is enclosed in the housing such that the product is sheared when it flows via the shearing component and the shearing component seals the flow of product upon application or removal of a force, wherein application or removal of a force causes displacement of the shearing component with respect to the product inlet flow component, wherein the product is sheared while it flows via the plurality of flow tracks in the shearing component and wherein the product flow is sealed by the protrusion of the shearing component;   optionally comprising an applicator in the housing to which the product is supplied via the shearing component; and   optionally comprising a biasing member wherein the biasing member biases the relative axial displacement of the shearing component and the product inlet flow component under the action of a force.   
   
   
       23 . A device for packaging and dispensing a product comprising:
 a reservoir wherein said reservoir has a neck that defines an opening in the form of an orifice;   a means for closing the reservoir, said means comprising a cap;   a shearing assembly arranged to be mounted onto the neck of the reservoir wherein said shearing assembly comprises:
 a product inlet flow component; 
 a shearing component, wherein the shearing component has an inlet end, an outlet end, a sidewall and a plurality of flow tracks and wherein a protrusion extends outwardly from the inlet end of the shearing component; and 
 a housing, said housing arranged to be in fluid communication with the product inlet flow component wherein the product inlet flow component is arranged to be mounted in the opening of the neck of the reservoir and wherein the shearing component is enclosed in the housing such that the product is sheared when it flows via the shearing component, wherein the shearing component and the product inlet flow component of the shearing assembly are arranged to be displaceable with respect to each other; and 
 an applicator, said applicator housed in the housing of the shearing assembly, wherein application or removal of a force causes displacement of the product inlet flow component with respect to the shearing component resulting in flow of the product or sealing of product flow, wherein the means for application of force is a cap of the device, the housing or the reservoir; 
   a biasing member wherein the biasing member biases the relative axial movement of the shearing component and the product inlet flow component under the action of a force, wherein the means for closing the reservoir when in close communication with the neck of the reservoir causes the protrusion in the shearing component to seal the orifice of the product inlet flow component.