FR3006913A1 - SPRAY HEAD WITH TWO PIECES - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a spraying head (1) comprising: - a one-piece body (5) comprising a channel (17) for feeding a product, - a spraying nozzle (20) mounted on the body (5). ) and having at least two spray ports (22), - a supply channel (50) into which the supply channel (17) opens, the supply channel (50) serving all the spray ports (22). ).

Description

The present invention relates to devices for dispensing a fluid product, and more particularly but not exclusively the spray heads of a cosmetic product such as for example a deodorant (including antiperspirants) or a hair product, for example shaping the hair.

Patent FR 1 600 138 discloses a dispensing head comprising a push button whose body is traversed by a feed channel and ends in a housing receiving a nozzle having three spray orifices. The housing has a flat bottom and the nozzle has radial grooves for defining, after assembly on the body of the push button, channels connecting the supply channel to the dispensing orifices. These channels are oriented perpendicular to the direction of spray and the longitudinal axis of the supply channel. A disadvantage of this head is to create a relatively large loss of load due to the course of the product which includes multiple changes of direction and right angle references. In addition, this route increases the risk of clogging in the case of the use of a product producing by drying a dry residue. The patent FR 2,691,383 describes a spray head whose axes of the spray nozzles are located in the same plane, and form between them an angle of between 1 ° and 40 °. The impact surface of the spray cloud is formed by the crossing of two discs, with a less wetting effect, especially when it is a lacquering hair. The geometry of this spray head, and the technical requirements of molding and demolding force to use a seven-piece geometry. Certainly, some parts are identical to each other: There are two door nozzles, and two nozzles. However, there are so many pieces to assemble, and a large number of molds to create. The first consequence of this number of coins is that the cost price and the amount of the investment of such a broadcaster puts it out of reach of a launch on the market in viable economic conditions. There is a need to simplify the geometry of the spray heads by seeking to reduce the number of parts, and to simplify assembly.

There is also a need to increase the speed of application of a product by spraying without increasing the risk of clogging related to the drying of the sprayed product. The invention thus aims to further improve the known spray heads while allowing the use of manufacturing techniques whose cost is compatible with large-scale diffusion. The subject of the invention is, according to a first aspect of the invention, a spray head comprising: - a one-piece body comprising a product supplying channel; - a spray nozzle mounted on the body and comprising at least two orifices; spraying, - a supply channel into which the supply channel, the supply channel serving all the spray orifices. This assembly makes it possible to create easily and without undue investment costs, a large number of new geometries, offering various and varied effects. These effects concern angles of convergence or divergence, the shape of the spray, the various flow rates or the number of orifices for example. By "supply channel" is meant a channel connecting the supply channel to the spray ports.

Advantageously, the spray nozzle is one-piece. The manufacture of the head is further simplified. Advantageously, the spray head has respective supply channels of each spray orifice. These respective feed channels connect the feed channel to each spray port. The spray head according to the invention comprises a single supply channel. Advantageously, the supply channel is located between the body and the nozzle. The molding of the nozzle is easy since the feed channel is formed during assembly of the nozzle in the housing of the body of the head. The molding does not necessarily require the use of a drawer mold. Moreover, it is easy to mold this channel the desired orientation, adapted to reduce the risk of accumulation of product. Advantageously, all the spray orifices are aligned. In this case, the manufacture of the head is simplified.

More preferably, the nozzle has a non-planar front face on which the spray openings open. The spray is original. The spray is wide. This front face is preferably a fully visible face when the nozzle is mounted on the dispensing head. Thus, if the nozzle has a color different from that of the body, the aesthetics of the spray head is improved. Spotting of the spray holes by the user is facilitated. Even more advantageously, said face is concave or convex. Thus, the spray head is ergonomic. It is easier to mold and unmold. Advantageously, the respective supply channels of the orifices extend along respective longitudinal axes (K) inclined obliquely with respect to the direction of spraying. By "oblique" we must understand neither parallel nor perpendicular. The respective supply channels extend along respective longitudinal axes preferably inclined with respect to the direction of spraying by an angle of between 30 ° and 60 °, more preferably of the order of 45 °.

Preferably, the nozzle comprises grooves which partially define said channels, these grooves being for example of semicircular cross section. This allows for the housing with a smooth conical surface for example. Alternatively, grooves are formed in the housing to at least partially define the feed channels, and the rear face of the nozzle is smooth. However, in this case, a marking of the orientation of the nozzle relative to the housing is necessary. The axes of the spray orifices may be offset relative to the axis of the nozzle and the axis of the feed channel. Advantageously, the longitudinal axes (K) are located in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the supply channel. In this case, the spray is more accurate.

Advantageously, at the end of each supply channel is provided a "center post" (central amount). The latter has a conical boss easy to unmold. The taper of this center post is particularly sealed with the rear face of the spray nozzle at the orifices. In the orifices, an interruption of the inner cylinder is preferably provided so that they are in continuity with the supply channel, when the plate is assembled on the dispensing head. The nozzle is preferably heat-welded in the housing, by ultrasound or thermal welding.

The spray holes may end with a narrowing of their section. According to one embodiment, each nozzle comprises swirling supply channels. Thus, the spray is more homogeneous. The body of the spray head may be made with at least one relief for attachment to a container, for example a pressurized aerosol container. The dispensing head can be made to allow mounting thereon a protective cover, which is for example fixed by snapping on the head. The container on which the spray head according to the invention is mounted may contain a deodorant or other product to be sprayed, for example another cosmetic, care product or a product intended for household use. The feed channel may extend along an axis that is not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container, when the spray head is mounted on it, in particular to promote the flow of the product after spraying and reduce further the risk of clogging the spray head.

In general, the dispensing head is made of a suitable thermoplastic material, for example polyethylene (LDPE / HDPE), styrene-butadiene block copolymers (SBS), propylene-ethylene copolymers (PP / PE), polypropylene (PP) or polyamides (PA). The invention further relates to a packaging and dispensing device comprising a container equipped with the dispensing head described above.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing the dispensing head, in which: - a one-piece body is manufactured, - a one-piece spray nozzle is produced, - the spray nozzle is mounted on the body. Advantageously, the manufacture of the spray nozzle comprises a flat molding step. It is also possible to directly mold the nozzle in its final configuration, which is technically possible. However, the molding in the flat form requires a simple mold, while the molding in the final form may require a drawer mold, much more expensive. In addition, the flat molding makes it easy to change inserts and to create different channels, different orifices, direct outputs without swirling channels, and to have a complete range of different stages, each adapted the type of spray desired and the formula used.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description of an example of non-limiting implementation thereof, and on examining the appended drawing, in which: FIG. , in longitudinal section, partial and schematic, the dispensing head according to the invention, - Figure 2 shows a front view, in perspective, the dispensing head, mounted on a container, - Figure 3 shows a side view. in perspective, the dispensing head, before assembly of the spray nozzle, - Figure 4 shows a rear view of a swirling channel spray nozzle before its introduction on the body of the dispensing head, - the FIG. 5 shows a front view of a spray nozzle before it is placed on the body of the dispensing head, FIG. 6 shows a partial and schematic cross section of a non-swirling spray nozzle, after When placed on the body of the dispensing head, Figures 7 to 9 illustrate the method of assembling the spray nozzle on the body of the dispensing head.

The spray head 1 shown in the figures is intended to equip a container 2, for example an aerosol can comprising a product which is dispensed under the pressure of a propellant gas. This is for example a deodorant. The dispensing head 1 can still be mounted, in a variant not shown, on a bottle equipped with a pump. In the example of Figures 1 to 3, the container 2 is equipped with a trigger valve by driving a hollow control rod along the longitudinal axis X of the container. Alternatively, the valve is triggered by tilting. The dispensing head 1 comprises mounting means on the container 2, which comprise in the illustrated example a hoop 6, also called mounting skirt, intended to snap on the container 2, in a manner known per se. In variants not shown, the dispensing head 1 is mounted otherwise on the container containing the product to be sprayed, being for example screwed, welded or glued on it. The container can also be made at least partially by molding with the body of the dispensing head. In the example illustrated in Figure 1, the body 5 of the dispensing head 1 comprises a push button 8 which defines a surface 9 on which the user can press to distribute the product. The pushbutton 8 is connected to the hoop 6 by a flexible portion 10 which, in the example in question, is located on the side of the dispensing head from which the product is sprayed. The flexible portion 10 forms a film hinge. The hoop 6 defines in the upper part of a holding gudron 12. which allows the mounting of a protective cover, which is advantageously made of a thermoplastic material.

The push button 8 has on its inner face, a conventional device 16 for fitting the stem valve. The hoop 6, the flexible portion 10 and the push button 8 are molded in one piece in a thermoplastic material, for example polypropylene (PP). The feed channel 17 opens into the bottom of a housing 18 which receives A spray nozzle 20. The nozzle 20 has several spray orifices 22, in this case two in number, the Z axes of which are intersecting at the direction of spray Y.

The orifices 22 open on a front face 30 of the nozzle 20, which is apparent after mounting it on the push button 8. The nozzle 20 is made by molding thermoplastic material, for example PP or POM.

The nozzle 20 and the body 5 are welded to form a dispensing head 1. The latter comprises two welded parts. A cavity 25 is formed below the bearing zone 9. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the front face of the diffuser, with the hoop 6, and the push button 8.

The two orifices 22 communicate laterally. The channel 50 serves for ultrasonic welding. At the two distal ends of these two ducts, there are two "center post". Their conicity is such that they are demoldable along the axis of the channel 17. The edge of the channel 50 also encompasses the center post.

The front face 30 has two bosses 32 projecting therefrom, and at the apex 35 of which the openings 22 open. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the nozzle 20 comprises swirling channels. In the example illustrated in FIG. Figure 5, the orifices 22 are directional.

Figure 6 shows an enlarged section of the nozzle 20 assembled on the body 5 of the spray head 1. The conduit 24 serves to bring the spray to the vortex channels. These are not visible on this cut that goes through the channels. The spray orifices 22 may be relatively close together, which allows the formation at a short distance, for example less than 10 cm from the spray head 1, of a homogeneous spray. Figures 7 to 9 explain the mounting of the nozzle 20 on the body 5. In Figure 7, the nozzle 20 is brought from its position on the body 5. At this stage, an ultrasonic assembly is used. To do this, the anvil of the welding apparatus is introduced into the cavity 25. For this reason, the cavity 25 must have a sufficient volume for the anvil to have the required rigidity.

A sonotrode is provided to have the complementary shape of the nozzle 20 in its terminal configuration. At the moment of contact (Figure 8), the sonotrode forces on the center of the plate until it has acquired its final configuration. The emission of ultrasounds is triggered. The plate is fixed in its final configuration (Figure 9). The border of the push button and the flat nozzle portion 25 are laid one on top of the other. This contact completely encompasses the periphery of the device. A sealed assembly is obtained, which delimits a closed supply channel of the formula from the channel 17 to the outlet orifices 22. The mounting of the nozzle 20 can be done without prior angular registration, before assembly on the body 5 The angular orientation of the nozzle 20 relative to the Y axis is thus random, from one dispensing head to the next, during the manufacturing process. The quality of the spray is thus independent of the angular orientation of the nozzle during its mounting on the body of the dispensing head. To use the dispensing head 1, the user presses the push button. The product flowing through the feed channel 17 is distributed in the feed channel 17 and directed to the spray orifices 22 which ensure its distribution in the form of jets which meet. The invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described. In particular, the nozzle 20 can be made with more than two spray ports.

In addition, the nozzle can be oriented at an angle to the head. The shapes of the channels 17 and 50 may vary. The invention is suitable for dispensing products other than cosmetics, for example an oven cleaner or an insecticide. The phrase "with one" should be understood as being synonymous with "having at least one".

Claims (15)

REVENDICATIONS1. Spray head (1) comprising: - a one-piece body (5) comprising a channel (17) for feeding a product, a spray nozzle (20) mounted on the body (5) and comprising at least two holes of spraying (22), a supply channel (50) into which the supply channel (17) opens, the supply channel (50) serving all the spray ports (22). 2. Spray head (1) according to claim 1, the spray nozzle (20) being one-piece. 3. Spray head (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the supply channel (50) being located between the body (5) and the nozzle (20). 4. Spray head according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least three spray orifices (22). A spray head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein all the spray orifices are aligned. 6. Spray head according to any one of the preceding claims, the nozzle (20) having a non-planar front face (30) on which the spray openings (22) open. 7. Spray head according to claim 6, the face (30) being concave or convex. A spray head as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, having respective supply channels (51) for each spray port (22). 9. Spray head according to any one of the preceding claims, the respective supply channels (51) extending along respective longitudinal axes (K) inclined obliquely with respect to the direction of spraying. 10. Spray head according to any one of the preceding claims, the nozzle (20) having grooves (40) which at least partially define said channels (51). 11. Spray head according to any one of the preceding claims, the longitudinal axes (K) being located in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the feed channel (17). 12. Spray head according to any one of the preceding claims, each nozzle (20) having vortex supply channels. 20 13. A packaging and dispensing device comprising a container equipped with the dispensing head as defined in any one of the preceding claims. 25 14. A method of manufacturing a spray head as defined in any one of the preceding claims 1 to 12, wherein: - a body (5) is produced one piece, - one makes a spray nozzle (20) one-piece - the spray nozzle (20) is mounted on the body (5). 30 The method of claim 14, wherein the manufacture of the spray nozzle (20) comprises a flat molding step.