EP0228934A1 - Adjustable nozzle for an aerosol vaporizer - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Spray device for an aerosol product in which the nozzle (23) is spaced from the container by being mounted at a first end of an elongate tip (21) the other end of which is connected to a push-button (22) the actuation of which controls the opening of a valve (2) through the said push-button, the tip being constituted by a flexible extruded tube (21) and a semi-rigid plastically deformable thread-like element (33), characterized in that the thread-like element (33) is incorporated in the wall of the tube (21) during the extrusion of the said tube.

Description

The present invention relates to an aerosol product diffuser device in which the diffuser member, or nozzle, is spaced from the container, can or bottle. The nozzle is mounted at a first end of a tube-shaped nozzle, the second end of which is connected to the outlet of the container, on a plunger, the actuation of which activates the triggering of a valve.

• a) l'embout est rigide et n'a aucune possibilité d'orientation par rapport au poussoir, lui-même emmanché sur la soupape commandant le mécanisme ;
• b) l'embout est orientable, articulé ou flexible, il possède un ou plusieurs degrés de liberté par rapport au poussoir.

Types of such diffusers are already known:

• a) the end piece is rigid and has no possibility of orientation relative to the pusher, itself fitted on the valve controlling the mechanism;
• b) the endpiece is orientable, articulated or flexible, it has one or more degrees of freedom relative to the pusher.

It is this second type that relates to the present invention. The advantages of this arrangement, compared to the rigid end piece, are:
- less bulk after folding the end piece, both for the conditioner and for the user;
- operating safety in the folded position in the case of the joint, the connection being cut, and the folded end piece further blocking the operation of the pusher.

However, the development of these latter tips remains limited, because users complain of the poor sealing of the device or the pollution of the product to be dispensed.

Indeed, the joints of the articulated end pieces give rise to leaks. This is indeed a cheap piece that is part of a lost packaging,

We have also thought of using flexible end caps inside which a semi-rigid plastically deformable element is introduced (US Patent 2,968,441). Apart from the high cost price, the content distributed is polluted by the presence of this deformable element. Deformable elements were also placed around the end piece. Apart from the unsightly appearance and the high cost, these elements retain dirt and microbes, which is unacceptable when the device is intended to introduce drugs into a physiological orifice.

The present invention makes an important contribution to this technique by providing a steerable tip having an absolute seal in all positions, no pollution of the product distributed, perfect cleanliness and unmodified aesthetics.

In accordance with the present invention, an aerosol product dispenser device is proposed in which the nozzle is separated from the container by being mounted at a first end of an elongated nozzle, the other end of which is connected to a pusher, the actuation of which controls the triggering of a valve through said pusher, remarkable in particular in that the end piece is constituted by a flexible extruded tube, in the wall of which is incorporated, during the extrusion of said tube, a semi-rigid filiform element plastically deformable.

It is thus possible to keep the flexible tube in any orientation and in any shape. For manufacturing, simply cut the extruded tube to the desired length as a tube, and assembly is carried out exactly as with an ordinary tube.

Advantageously, the filiform element is a stainless steel wire. It can also be a ribbon, a braid or a cable. Also, the influence of the end sections, which alone could come into contact with the dispensed product, is minimized.

Other characteristics of the invention will appear during the description which follows, given by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, and which will make it clear how the invention can be implemented.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe d'un mode de réalisation de l'invention, d'un embout diffuseur en position de fonctionnement ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe de l'embout suivant la ligne II-II de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue d'ensemble d'un distributeur d'aérosol en position de rangement.

In the drawings:

• Figure 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the invention, of a diffuser nozzle in the operating position;
• Figure 2 is a sectional view of the nozzle along the line II-II of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is an overview of an aerosol dispenser in the storage position.

In Figure 1, a pusher 22 of an aerosol valve 2 is equipped with a nozzle according to the invention. The end piece which consists of a tube 21, the structure of which is described in more detail below, is connected at one end to the pusher 22, and carries at its other end a nozzle 23. In the tube 21, is incorporated a rigid or semi-rigid body 33 plastically deformable, such as an annealed stainless steel wire. By a rigid or semi-rigid body is meant a body of rigidity markedly greater than that of the tube. In the context of this invention, a plastic deformation is such that the force exerted on this body gives it a stress located in the plastic zone of the material chosen (Hooke's law) sufficient to overcome the naturally elastic force of the flexible tube. Under these conditions, the tube 21 takes the form of the wire 33, which can be brought to any desired shape.

Figure 2 is a section of the tube 21 which has a large channel 32 for the passage of the fluid. The wire 33 is extruded with the tube. Just cut the desired length. There is no introduction or assembly operation. The outer section of the tube 21 is preferably circular, to facilitate mounting of the ends in the pusher 22 and in the nozzle 23. The passage section 32 can have any shape. Under these conditions, the mounting of the vaporizer during manufacture is therefore without modification. The external appearance of the tube is unchanged. It fulfills the aesthetic and hygienic conditions, essential in the case of pharmaceutical applications.

Figure 3 shows an example of positioning the tip for storage or delivery. For use, the tip is replaced in the position of FIG. 1. There is no articulation, therefore no leakage, no contact with a metallic element, therefore no pollution of the product distributed.

Claims (2)

1. Device for diffusing an aerosol product in which the nozzle is moved away from the container while being mounted at a first end of an elongated nozzle, the other end of which is connected to a pusher, the actuation of which activates the triggering of a valve through said plunger, characterized in that the end piece consists of an extruded flexible tube (21), in the wall of which is incorporated, during the extrusion of said tube, a semi-rigid plastically deformable threadlike element (33). 2. Device (1) characterized in that the filiform element (33) is an annealed stainless steel wire.

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