EP1270428A1 - Device for spraying a product, especially in form of sample metering - Google Patents

Abstract

The atomizer consists of a container (10) for a fluid product which is sprayed through a diffuser outlet (20) in a nozzle (30). The container has a supple wall (11) which is compressed to expel the product and returns to its initial shape when the pressure is released. The atomizer consists of a container (10) for a fluid product which is sprayed through a diffuser outlet (20) in a nozzle (30). The container has a supple wall (11) which is compressed to expel the product and returns to its initial shape when the pressure is released. The wall is convex in shape, e.g. a portion of a sphere, and made from a material designed to produce a spray of short duration, preferably of between 2 and 10 sec.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for packaging and distribution in sprayed form of a fluid product. In particular, the invention concerns a miniature sprayer suitable for packaging products cosmetics, especially perfumes.

Distributors of this type are described in particular in the requests for patent FR-A-2 778 639, EP-A-0 761 314, FR-A-2 443 980, or in patents US-A-3,897,005, or US-A-3,412,907. All of these devices suffer mainly at least one handicap, linked either to their manufacturing cost or to their ease of use, or the quality of the spray they are capable of generate.

Indeed, since the samples are not generally intended for sale, their cost manufacturing should be as low as possible. It is therefore important to have devices whose parts can be easily produced in large series and whose assembly can be carried out in a simple manner. In addition, they must be able to generate a spray whose quality is as good as possible, and whose characteristics are as constant as possible. It is also desirable that they generate a relatively mild spray, during a certain duration, so that this spray approaches a spray aerosol type.

A solution to carry out such packaging at a cost as low as possible would consist in making the reservoir in the form of a pod of the type of which is commonly used for the packaging of certain serums physiological, eye drops or make-up removing products. Such a pod is made in one piece with a spray opening whose opening is caused by tearing off a tip, in particular by twisting the tip around the axis of the hole. The filling of such a device can be done via the open tank bottom. The latter is then closed in particular by welding, like a tube.

However, such a solution suffers from two major drawbacks. The first is due to the fact that at the opening, the orifice which results from the tearing of the end piece by torsion is of imprecise shape and dimensions. As a result, the spray obtainable through such an orifice when the walls are pressed compressible of the tank, has characteristics varying greatly from one device to another. Often even, the section of the orifice is such that it is not not possible to generate a spray. The product can only flow in the form more or less large drops or a continuous stream.

In addition, the welding operation, after filling the tank, in particular when it is a highly volatile product such as a perfume, is not without to pose a problem. Under the effect of heat, the product may evaporate, deteriorate or even ignite.

Furthermore, the quality of the spray depends on the speed with which it is pressed. the compressible walls of the tank. Indeed, if we slowly press the walls, the spraying is of poor quality. This is why the document FR 2 778 639 describes a spraying device in which the wall of the tank has a threshold of resistance to deformation which makes it possible to obtain a good quality spray. However, in this type of device, no provision is made not to carry out a spray whose spraying duration can be modulated.

Also, is it an object of the invention to provide such a device for spraying, solving all or part of the problems discussed above in reference to conventional devices.

It is in particular an object of the invention to produce such a device which is easy to mass produce, with a cost price as low as possible.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a device which allows generate a spray of quality that is both satisfactory and reproducible device to another.

It is yet another object to provide a device capable of generating a spraying for a certain period, which can be varied, and which provides a relatively mild spray.

According to the invention, these objects are achieved by producing a device for dispensing a fluid product comprising a reservoir containing said product and equipped with a spray orifice, said reservoir having at least one deformable actuating wall in response to a pressure exerted on said wall so as to cause the product to be sprayed through said orifice, said actuating wall having a predetermined threshold of resistance to deformation, so that before the pressure exerted reaches a pressure P _s necessary and sufficient to overcome said predetermined threshold of resistance to deformation, the volume of sprayed product is substantially zero, the device being configured so that, at least during its first use, the continuous exercise of the threshold pressure P _s causes a spraying the duration of which can be varied.

Within the meaning of the present invention, by "a wall having a threshold of resistance to deformation" means a wall configured in such a way that its deformation does not depend linearly on the pressure exerted on it to deform it, but requires the passing of a threshold. Thus, the pressure exerted by a user on the actuating wall causes, before reaching the threshold pressure P _s , namely, the pressure necessary and sufficient to overcome said predetermined threshold of resistance to deformation of said wall. actuation, a deformation of the wall which does not make it possible to spray product but which makes it possible to accumulate energy so that, when the pressure exerted by the user on the wall reaches the threshold pressure P _s , the wall abruptly deforms. The volume inside the tank is reduced so that an overpressure is created suddenly inside the tank. This overpressure allows the product to exit through the orifice in the form of a good quality spray.

Depending on the time range over which we want to modulate the duration of spraying, the parameters of the device are determined, in particular the cross-section of the outlet and its maximum flow rate, depending in particular on the viscosity of the product and the overpressure capable of being generated inside the reservoir in response to the pressure exerted on the actuating wall. In the determination of these parameters, we will play in particular on the nature of materials, on the thickness of the actuating wall, on its profile, on the tank volume, etc.

Advantageously, the duration of spraying is modulated as a function of the duration of pressure on the actuating wall.

Obviously, the time modulation range is not infinite. In fact, after a certain period of continuous exercise of said pressure P _s , if no additional energy is supplied, the overpressure inside the tank will drop below the value required to cause the distribution in spray form. The latter is then interrupted. By releasing the pressure exerted on the actuating wall, then pressing it again, we are again in a position to modulate the duration of spraying, until the volume of product in the tank becomes insufficient to obtain the least spray in response to said pressure P _s . In this case, and to ensure a maximum emptying rate of the tank, it may be necessary to exert a pressure greater than the pressure P _s .

Advantageously, the device is configured in the form of a sample dose. containing a cosmetic product, in particular a perfume, said duration of spraying can be modulated over a range from 1s to 45s, and from preferably from 2s to 10s.

Advantageously also, the actuating wall is with shape memory, that is, it is configured to return to its original form by elastic return when said pressure ceases. The device can then be used several times consecutively.

According to a preferred embodiment, the actuating wall has a profile substantially convex in its undistorted position, in particular in the form of dome, and a substantially concave profile in its deformed position when the predetermined threshold for resistance to deformation of said wall actuation has been exceeded. Such a configuration makes it easy to obtain a wall with a threshold of resistance to deformation which corresponds when passing between the concave profile and the convex profile. In addition, this configuration facilitates the return of the wall to the convex position when the pressure.

The actuating wall of the reservoir is formed of a thermoplastic material, in particular a polyethylene, a polypropylene, a polyethylene terephthalate, a polyethylene naphthalate, a polyacrylonitrile, a polyoxymethylene, a polyvinyl chloride, or a mixture of these materials.

Advantageously, the spray orifice is formed in a diffuser produced in the form of a nozzle with one or more vortex channels. The vortex channels thus accelerate the fluid upstream of the orifice so as to produce very fine liquid particles. It is obvious that the orifice can alternatively be formed in a simple nozzle.

The diffuser is mounted on the tank, in particular by snap-fastening or screwing. So when the tank is empty, you can remove the diffuser so that fill the tank for reuse. Alternatively, a intermediate element between the tank and the diffuser. The intermediate element is for example a nozzle which is mounted on the reservoir, in particular by latching or screwing. The diffuser is then mounted on said end piece, by bonding or welding, especially hot.

The device is particularly suitable for packaging and spraying of a sample dose of a cosmetic product, in particular of a perfume.

• la figure 1 illustre une vue en perspective d'un mode de réalisation préféré du dispositif de pulvérisation selon l'invention;
• la figure 2 représente une vue en coupe du dispositif illustré à la figure 1 en position de repos;
• la figure 3 représente une vue en coupe du dispositif illustré à la figure 1 en position de pulvérisation; et
• la figure 4 représente une vue en coupe d'un second mode de réalisation de l'invention.

The invention consists, apart from the arrangements set out above, of a certain number of other arrangements which will be explained below, with reference to nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, described with reference to the appended figures, among which:

• Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the spray device according to the invention;
• 2 shows a sectional view of the device illustrated in Figure 1 in the rest position;
• Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the device illustrated in Figure 1 in the spray position; and
• Figure 4 shows a sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention.

The device shown in overview in Figure 1 and in section through Figures 2 and 3 includes a reservoir 10 with a deformable wall, containing the product to be dispensed, on which is mounted a diffuser 20 in which a spray orifice 21 in communication with the interior of the reservoir. In exerting pressure on the wall of the tank, an overpressure is created at inside the tank which causes the product to be sprayed through the orifice.

According to the embodiment shown, the reservoir 10 is configured under form of a drop of water, but it is obvious that it can present any other shape allowing the deformation of at least one of its walls. It is obtained by molding, in particular by injection blow molding, for example in one piece, a thermoplastic material, in particular a polyethylene, a polypropylene, a polyethylene terephthalate, a polyethylene naphthalate, a polyacrylonitrile, a polyoxymethylene, a polyvinyl chloride, or still a mixture of these materials. It has an actuating wall 11 domed shape which is deformable when pressure is applied to it.

This wall has shape memory so that it returns to its initial position when you stop putting pressure on it. Opposite this wall actuation 11, the reservoir 10 has a flat wall 12. This configuration of the tank makes it easy to identify the area where the user should apply pressure so that the operation of the device is made obvious. In addition, this configuration allows the device to be easily grasped between two fingers, for example by placing the thumb on the flat wall 12 and the index on the actuating wall 11 or vice versa. The user thus exercises pressure on the actuating wall using his index finger or thumb so that it can easily spray the product.

The reservoir 10 ends with an open neck 13, threaded on its outer surface. A diffuser 20 is screwed onto the neck of the reservoir while being disposed in the extension of the tank wall so as to form the end of the water drop. The diffuser 20 is provided with a fixing skirt 22, threaded on its inner surface to cooperate with the neck 13 of the reservoir 10. A skirt sealing 23, cylindrical, is provided to be housed inside the neck 13 of the reservoir and thus ensure sealing between the opening of the neck 13 and the Streamer. The diffuser 20 is obtained by molding, for example from a single piece, of a thermoplastic material, in particular of polyethylene or polypropylene.

A nozzle 30 with swirl channels is mounted on the diffuser 20. The orifice spray 21 is formed in the nozzle and is in communication with inside the tank via the inside of the neck 13. The nozzle 30 is mounted on the diffuser by any suitable means, for example by gluing, welding, tightening, or snap-fastening.

FIG. 4 represents a spraying device in which one has replaced the diffuser 20 provided with the nozzle 30 as just described by a simple nozzle 40 provided with a spray orifice 21. The nozzle 40 has a fixing skirt 42 threaded on its outer surface so as to be screwed onto the neck 13 of the container 10. The end piece 40 also includes a skirt seal 43 intended to be housed inside the neck 13 of the tank.

In the two embodiments which have just been described, the reservoir is configured so as to generate a good quality spray. To this end, the actuating wall 11 has a predetermined threshold of resistance to deformation below which the wall deforms slightly and beyond which, the wall abruptly deforms to have a concave profile as shown in the figure. 3. This threshold is determined according to the geometry of the actuating wall but also to the nature of the material used to form this wall and finally to the thickness of the wall. Thus, the reservoir can pass from a first convex position corresponding to its non-deformed position, to a second concave position corresponding to its deformed position. This second position is pre-established, again as a function of the geometry of the wall. The geometry of the wall is such that the pressure to be exerted necessary to maintain this deformed position is less than the threshold pressure P _s necessary to pass the threshold of resistance to deformation, so that the user does not tend to exert greater pressure on the wall after reaching its concave position. Consequently, this second preset position will be substantially the same at each use. For a given reservoir, it is thus easy to determine the deformable volume, namely the variation in volume between the non-deformed position and the pre-established deformed position. In addition, the remainder of the reservoir is not substantially deformed so that, when the actuating wall is deformed, the interior volume of the reservoir decreases. An overpressure is then created inside the tank which causes the product to exit through the nozzle. However, this overpressure being created very suddenly when crossing the threshold, the product is suddenly forced to flow out of the tank through the orifice.

When the wall returns to its initial shape, air then enters the tank, especially through the spray orifice. If there is any product left inside the tank, we can again create an overpressure by deforming the wall actuation and thus spray another dose of product.

In order to obtain a significant maximum spraying time for an exercise continuous pressure on the wall allowing the user to modulate the time spraying, we choose the average flow rate of the nozzle according to the configuration of the tank and the viscosity of the product to be sprayed.

For a given tank, we can determine the total volume of product capable of be expelled from the reservoir in the deformed position of the actuating wall. In effect, this volume depends on the viscosity of the product and the overpressure maximum to which it is subjected in the deformed position. The more the product is viscous, the greater the overpressure necessary to spray it. Through elsewhere, the overpressure inside the container is maximum at the start of use of the device, that is to say when the tank contains little air. After several uses, the container contains more and more air, which compresses when the tank volume decreases. The overpressure generated by the passage of the wall in the deformed position is therefore reduced. Overpressure maximum is determined, depending on the deformable volume of the tank that we can easily determine as we saw previously. If we wish that this maximum volume can be sprayed for N seconds, we choose then a nozzle having an average flow rate less than or equal to the ratio between the maximum product volume and N. Below these N seconds, if the user releases the pressure he exerts on the deformable wall to maintain the concave position, the tank regains its initial volume and air enters the tank through the spray hole. The product is no longer overpressure and spraying stops.

According to a particular example given by way of nonlimiting illustration, a tank 10 made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The tank has a deformable wall which, in the non-deformed position, has a convex profile which becomes concave in the deformed position. The deformable wall in the non-state deformed is substantially a portion of a sphere which has a radius of curvature of around 50 mm. The deformable wall has a thickness of approximately 0.3 mm. In the undeformed state, the reservoir has a volume of 7.5 ml. The reservoir has a deformable volume of 0.5 ml so that, in the concave position of the actuating wall, the volume of the reservoir is 7.0 ml. If we wish spray water for about 5 seconds, choose a nozzle with a average flow rate of 0.1 ml. The user will thus be able to spray product, exerting continuous pressure on the deformable wall for five seconds. But it can also spray product for less a long time, for example for two, three or four seconds.

In the foregoing detailed description, reference has been made to modes of preferred embodiments of the invention. It is obvious that there are variations be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed below.

Claims (9)

Device for dispensing a fluid product comprising a reservoir (10) containing said product and equipped with a spray orifice (21), said reservoir (10) having at least one actuating wall (11) deformable in response to a pressure exerted on said wall (11) so as to cause the spraying of the product through said orifice (21), said actuating wall (11) having a predetermined threshold of resistance to deformation, so that before the pressure exerted reaches a pressure P _s necessary and sufficient to overcome said predetermined threshold of resistance to deformation, the volume of sprayed product is substantially zero, the device being configured so that, at least during its first use, the continuous exercise of the threshold pressure P _s causes spraying, the duration of which can be varied. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the duration of spraying is modulated as a function of the duration of exercise of the pressure. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is configured in the form of a sample dose containing a cosmetic product, in particular a perfume, said duration of spraying being able to be modulated over a range going from 1 s to 45 s, and of preferably from 2s to 10s. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said actuating wall (11) is configured so as to resume its initial shape by elastic return when said pressure ceases. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said actuating wall (11) has a substantially convex profile in its non-deformed position, in particular in the shape of a dome, and a substantially concave profile in its deformed position when said predetermined resistance threshold the deformation of said actuating wall (11) has been exceeded. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating wall (11) of the reservoir is formed from a thermoplastic material, in particular a polyethylene, a polypropylene, a polyethylene terephthalate, a polyethylene naphthalate, a polyacrylonitrile, a polyoxymethylene, polyvinyl chloride, or a mixture of these materials. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spray orifice (21) is formed in a diffuser (20) produced in the form of a nozzle (30) with one or more vortex channels. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diffuser (20) is mounted on the reservoir (10) in particular by snap-fastening or screwing. Use of a device according to any one of the claims for packaging and spraying a sample dose a cosmetic product, in particular a perfume.

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