EP0655208B1 - Applicator device for liquids - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an applicator device for liquid and in particular a device which can be used for application, for example topically, on the skin of a cosmetic product or dermopharmaceutical, such as a deodorant for example.

In the particular case of products such as a deodorant or an antiperspirant, it has already been proposed to ensure application by means a solid stick, called "grape", containing the active ingredient to be applied to the skin of the user; such a grape can have, in cross section, various forms chosen according to the use and it is packaged in a case allowing its displacement as and when consumption grape. The disadvantage of such a presentation is, on the one hand, that it requires for the packaging of the product of the tools special and expensive and, on the other hand, that the conservation of the grape is not generally not perfectly assured, because the solid composition used contains a large percentage of alcohol and the packaging is generally not waterproof enough to prevent alcohol from evaporating. In addition, user comfort is not perfectly satisfactory because the application of a grape on the skin gives, with known compositions, an impression oily application when the user wants an application that is not oily with a refreshing effect.

It has already been proposed to overcome these drawbacks by proposing an applicator which implements a liquid composition contained in a bottle on which a dispensing head is fixed carrying a dispensing dome made of a porous solid material. This type of embodiment has been described, for example, in the patent US-A-5,230,579 or in French patent FR-89-06490. The disadvantage of this type of packaging is twofold: on the one hand, to ensure the closure of the bottle when the product is not used, it is necessary to provide a relatively dispensing head complicated, which significantly increases the cost of conditioning ; and secondly, to use the product, it is necessary to perform a prior action bringing the liquid into the porous dome with which we will ensure the application: in the case of two earlier patents mentioned above, this action is a reversal the bottle so that the liquid descends by gravity into the porous dome.

It has also been proposed to apply products of this type in aerosol form, in which case the liquid composition dispensed is perfectly preserved during storage since it is inside a pressurized container closed by a valve. However, this mode of application has significant drawbacks: in fact, the application, even when it is well targeted, generates a cloud of liquid particles which is partially inhaled by the user, hence it often results in a particularly unpleasant sternutatory effect, especially during the morning toilet in the bathroom, or even more severe reactions in asthmatic subjects particularly sensitive to inhalation of aerosol particles. In in addition, the use of aerosol delivery involves ejection in the atmosphere, along with the liquid particles of aerosol, pressurizing gas; if you pressurize with a compressed gas not liquefied, for example by air, the pressure of distribution decreases as the tank is discharged, from so that at the end of distribution the aerosol particles are too large; if pressurization with chlorofluoroalkane is ensured partially liquefied, air pollution is generated; if, finally, we pressurize with butane or propane partially liquefied, the product can in no way be considered as hypoallergenic, given the risk faced by some subject to inhalation of the propellant.

In order to remove the mentioned disadvantages above, according to EP-A-0 374 339, a device has been proposed liquid applicator comprising a container for the liquid to be applied on a surface to be treated and a dispensing dome connected to said container by a dispensing head, the dispensing dome being produced in a porous material suitable for applying the liquid by simple rubbing of the external face of said dome on the surface to be treated, the container being a pressurized tank fitted with a distribution valve, the dome dispenser being carried by a support, which constitutes an element of the dispensing head and is mechanically linked to a nozzle suitable for cooperate with said valve to cause it to open under the action mechanical stress exerted on the dispensing dome, the liquid ejected from the tank during said opening being channeled to through said nozzle towards the face of the distributor dome, which is opposite on the external face of said dome, the dispensing head comprising a attachment member for securing said head with the tank and the attachment member being a rigid skirt fixed to the tank by snap-fastening of a snap-on area. Such a device has the advantage of not requiring any prior return to the application; however, its use is not easy: on the one hand, the distributor dome is guided along the axis of the valve stem distribution that it is necessary to operate along this axis for its opening while a transverse movement must be given to the device for spreading the product on the surface to be treated, and other apart, this axial force of opening the valve is carried out against elastic means specific to the dispensing valve and it is difficult to adjust or adjust the distribution of the product.

The object of the present invention is to propose a device applicator of the above type, which eliminates all the disadvantages above mentioned and which can be realized for a cost price reduced. The device according to the invention can be used for the distribution of cosmetic or dermopharmaceutical products but is in no way limited to this type of application: it can be used in all cases where you want to spread a liquid on a surface at using an applicator. In case it is an application topically on the skin of a user, the device according to the invention therefore has the advantage of not requiring any prior return to application, which is an added benefit for the user, in particular for the application of deodorants or antiperspirants in the armpits.

According to a first characteristic of the device according to the invention, a flexible element connects said attachment member and the distributor dome support.

According to another characteristic of the device according to the invention, the rigid skirt is connected in the vicinity of its border greater than a cylindrical wall, which constitutes the flexible element.

According to yet another characteristic of the device according the invention, the dispensing head is made in one piece by plastic molding.

Of course, the applicator device according to the invention may have all three of the above features simultaneously.

In a preferred embodiment, the dome support dispenser is a cup having, on at least one zone, a depression likely to collect an excess of liquid ejected by the valve.

According to an interesting embodiment, the tank is a can cylindrical, the top of which is shaped like a warhead and carries the valve distribution, a latching groove being provided in the area of connection of the cylindrical wall and the ogive wall, the skirt rigid being cylindrical and bearing in the vicinity of one of its edges a latching means able to cooperate with said groove latching.

Preferably, the flexible element connects the area of the skirt rigid, which is furthest from the snap zone, at the periphery support for the dispensing dome; the rigid skirt and the flexible element may consist of a continuous wall surrounding the valve dispensing when the dispensing head is snapped onto the tank; but the flexible element could also be produced under discontinuous shape by a plurality of successive sectors. Advantageously, the distribution head is, apart from the medium (s) for hanging the dispensing dome, a piece of revolution around a axis.

It is preferred that the dispensing valve has a rod emerging, which is partially embedded, in a sealed manner, in a internal channeling of the nozzle; the tip can be placed in the central zone of the support of the dispensing dome, said end piece having a cylindrical shape along the axis of which is formed its pipe internal.

In the case of an applicator device intended to applying a cosmetic product to the skin or dermopharmaceutical, it can advantageously be provided that the valve distribution valve or an opening valve by lateral tilting of its emerging stem.

The dispensing dome may be made of a material ceramic or plastic sintered, in particular of a material obtained by compression of plastic particles; for example, we can use a sinter obtained by compression of calibrated balls of polyethylene, said sintered material having a porosity of between 10 microns and 500 microns. The choice of porosity is generally made in taking into account two parameters, on the one hand, the flow rate desired for the liquid to be applied and, on the other hand, the surface condition of the porous dome, which must be compatible with the surface to be treated envision. To define the porosity, in a known way, we measure the flow passage of a liquid through a given thickness of the sintered under a predetermined pressure difference and the section is deduced therefrom equivalent of a pipe ensuring the same flow in the same conditions and therefore, the average diameter of a pore when we know statistically the number of pores per unit area of the dome. When the dispensing dome is made of a sintered material plastic, it can be made of synthetic resins such as high or low density polyethylenes, polypropylenes or polyvinyl fluorides, the preferred porosity range being 10 at 200 microns.

The dispensing dome of the device according to the invention can also be made using open cell foam by example a polyethylene foam; this foam can be covered with a canvas for the comfort of the application.

Advantageously, the dispensing dome consists of a non-deformable material.

Provision can be made for channels which are substantially radial between the internal face of the support and the lower face of the dome distributor, said channels can be made in the dome dispenser itself and / or in the support wall: these channels have the advantage of ensuring a good distribution of the liquid to be distributed for that the external face of the dispensing dome is uniformly supplied by said liquid. In addition, one can also plan to have, facing from the end of the internal channel of the nozzle, an obstacle playing the role of a jet breaker and aiming at the same goal as that indicated above for any substantially radial channels.

It should be noted that, in the case where a valve is used opening by lateral tilting, ejection of the liquid from the tank occurs due to friction between the dispensing dome, on the one hand, and the surface to be treated, on the other hand; we can settle the importance of friction triggering the opening of the valve while playing on the deformability of the flexible element which, in the head of distribution, connects the rigid skirt and the support of the distributor dome. In Furthermore, it should be noted that, if the external face of the dispensing dome wears a film of liquid, the friction force between the dome dispenser and the surface to be treated will be small, which will allow consume the film of liquid before any subsequent opening of the distribution valve. We can use a flexible element more or less easily deformable, so that in operation, the pressure support of the dispensing dome on the surface to be treated, ie that which is desirable for the intended application.

Advantageously, the application face of the dome distributor has a roughness such that the average Ra of the deviations of roughness is between 0.5 µm and 100 µm, preferably between 6 µm and 50 µm.

Another advantage of the device according to the invention comes from the fact that when the valve is opened, the liquid is ejected towards the dome distributor by the pressurizing agent but that given that it is not an aerosol distribution, the pressurizing agent can remain entirely inside the container: there is therefore no risk of air pollution and no destruction of character possibly hypoallergenic of the liquid to be dispensed. In addition, the distribution is done without generating a cloud of liquid particles may be inhaled by the user with a sternutatory effect.

It should also be noted that the expansion of the liquid at the outlet of the pressurized tank generates, in the case of topical application, a particularly pleasant impression of freshness for the user.

In addition, the device according to the invention does not have no risk of leakage since dead volumes below the dome dispensers are extremely reduced; in case of distribution excessive liquid instant, the liquid collects in the area of the distributor dome, which occupies the depressions of the cup where is set up said distributor dome. It is possible for the user to carry out a voluntary overdose by pressing with a finger on the surface of the dispensing dome before applying to the surface to be treated.

To better understand the object of the invention, we will describe it now, as a purely illustrative example and not limiting, an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing.

In this drawing: the single figure represents, in section axial, an applicator device according to the invention.

Referring to the drawing, we see that we have designated by 1 the pressurized tank of the device according to the invention. This tank is a cylindrical can of circular cross section, the top of which is shaped like a warhead 2, which carries, at its upper part, a valve cup secured to the container by a crimping bead 3. The valve cup carries, along its axis, a distribution valve 4 which, in the case of this example, is a valve comprising a rod emerging 5; valve 4 is opened by tilting lateral of the emerging rod 5; the valve may be of the type marketed by the company "COSTER" under the reference "TR 120-40". In the zone junction of the warhead 2 with the cylindrical wall of the tank 1, we have made a peripheral snap groove 6.

In tank 1, a pressure was conditioned liquid to be dispensed. This liquid can be a liquid composition of body deodorant with a viscosity of approximately 0.003 Pa.s. The pressurization can be carried out either by putting the liquid directly in contact with the propellant, either by separating the liquid and the gas propellant by a movable piston or by a flexible deformable pocket, which releases, in the latter case, from the obligation to use the device in a determined position, either valve at the top or valve at the bottom. In the example described, the propellant used was butane, liquid being separated from butane by a movable piston.

On the tank which has just been described, a dispensing head has been fixed, which comprises, on the one hand, a rigid skirt 7, on the other hand, a cup 8, which constitutes the support of a dispensing dome 9 and, finally, a flexible element 10, which connects the cup 8 and the rigid skirt 7. The rigid skirt 7 has internally, at its base, an annular latching bead 11, which is intended to cooperate with the latching groove 6 The rigid skirt 7 is connected in the vicinity of its upper edge 7 a to a cylindrical wall, which constitutes the flexible element 10, the connection being effected in a rounded zone 10 a , the convexity of which is turned towards the latching bead 11. The rigid skirt 7 and the flexible element 10 have a generally cylindrical shape and constitute coaxial cylinders. Along its border, which is opposite the zone 10 a , the flexible element 10 is connected to the cup 8; said cup 8 has an annular depression 8 a at the bottom of which there are projections which constitute attachment means 12 for the dispensing dome 9. In its central zone, the cup 8 is secured to a nozzle 13 of cylindrical shape, said tip having along its axis a conduit 14, the lower portion 14 has a larger diameter, said portion opening to the outside by a frustoconical mouth 14 b. In the part 14 a of the pipe 14, the free end is force-engaged over a few millimeters. of the emerging rod 5 of the valve 4 in order to obtain a sealed connection between the rod 5 and the nozzle 13.

Inside the cup 8, the distributor dome 9 has been put in place, which is constituted by a polyethylene sinter having a porosity of 40 microns. The roughness of the distributor dome is such that the average Ra of the roughness differences is of the order of 15 μm; Ra is the arithmetic mean of the deviations of the real surface from the median surface; this arithmetic mean Ra is given by the formula: Ra = 1 ℓ m 0 ℓ m | f (x) | dx in which f (x) is the measurement of the distance from the real surface to the median surface at a point of abscissa x over a length ℓ _m , measured using a "SURFTEST 301" device sold by the company "MITUTOYO".

To implement the device described above, the user applies the external surface 9a of the dome 9 against the surface to be treated, for example the skin of an armpit if the liquid packaged in the container 1 is a liquid deodorant. It then moves the device laterally with respect to the armpit, which results in a friction force, which causes the deformation of the flexible element 10, and, therefore, a substantially radial displacement of the cup 8 relative to the reservoir 1 and therefore relative to the axis of the valve 4. There follows a lateral tilting of the emerging rod 5 and therefore an opening of the valve 4 with simultaneous ejection of the liquid conditioned under pressure in the reservoir 1. The liquid arrives on the internal face 9b of the dispensing dome 9; it is distributed over this entire internal face and, under the effect of the distribution pressure, it passes through the sintering constituting the distributor dome 9 to come flush with the external face 9 a of said dome. The liquid is then distributed by friction on the support to be treated, in this case the armpit skin; if there is an excess of liquid, the friction force decreases, which causes the valve 4 to close under the effect of the elastic return, which exists inside said valve.

It can be seen that the device, which has just been described, is of an extremely reduced cost price because, the whole of the head of distribution constituted by the skirt 7, the flexible element 10 and the cup 8 can be made in one piece by plastic molding. The use of this device is particularly reliable since it there can be no leakage. Finally, the approval of an application topically using this device is very satisfactory because the user feels a soft and non-greasy application with a freshness effect and the application can be carried out directly without turning prior to the device.

Claims (22)

1. Applicator device for liquid, comprising a container for the liquid to be applied to a surface to be treated, and a dispenser head (9) connected to the said container via a dispenser cap (7, 8, 10), the dispenser head (9) being made of a porous material adapted for application of the liquid by simple rubbing of the outer face (9a) of the said head (9) on the surface to be treated, the container being a pressurized reservoir (1) equipped with a dispenser valve (4), the dispenser head (9) being borne by a support which constitutes an element of the dispenser cap and is mechanically connected to a joining piece (13) capable of cooperating with the said valve (4) so as to bring about its opening under the action of a mechanical stress exerted on the dispenser head (9), the liquid discharged from the reservoir (1) during the said opening being channelled by a channel (14) through the said joining piece (13) towards that face (9b) of the dispenser head (9) which is opposite the outer face (9a) of the said head (9), the dispenser cap comprising a fastening member allowing the said cap to be connected to the reservoir (1), and the fastening member being a rigid skirt (7) fixed on the reservoir (1) by snap-fitting of a snap-fitting zone (11), characterized in that a flexible element (10) connects the said fastening member and the support of the dispenser head (9), the rigid skirt (7) being connected, in the vicinity of its upper edge (7a), to a cylindrical wall which constitutes the flexible element (10), the dispenser cap (7, 10, 8) being made in one piece by moulding of plastic material.
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the porous material from which the dispenser head (9) is made is a sintered material.
3. Device according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the connection between the rigid skirt (7) and the cylindrical wall which constitutes the flexible element (10) is effected via a rounded zone (10a) whose convexity is directed towards the snap-fitting zone (11).
4. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the support of the dispenser head (9) is a dish (8) exhibiting, over at least one zone, a depression (8a) capable of collecting an excess of liquid discharged via the valve (4).
5. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the support of the dispenser head (9) comprises at least one fastening means (12) for holding the dispenser head (9) on the said support.
6. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that an obstacle is arranged opposite that end of the internal channel (14) of the joining piece (13) which does not cooperate directly with the valve (4), in order to act as a jet break.
7. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that substantially radial channels are formed between the inner face of the support and the inner face of the dispenser head (9).
8. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the reservoir (1) is a cylindrical can whose top is shaped as a nose cone (2) and carries the dispenser valve (4), a snap-fitting groove (6) being provided in the connection zone between the cylindrical wall and the nose cone wall (2), the rigid skirt (7) being cylindrical and having, in the vicinity of one of its edges, a snap-fitting means (11) capable of cooperating with the said snap-fitting groove (6).
9. Device according to Claim 8 taken together with Claim 1, characterized in that the flexible element (10) connects that zone of the rigid skirt (7) furthest from the snap-fitting zone to the periphery of the support of the dispenser head (9).
10. Device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the rigid skirt (7) and the flexible element (10) consist of a continuous wall surrounding the dispenser valve (4) when the dispenser cap is snapped onto the reservoir (1).
11. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the dispenser valve (4) comprises a protruding stem (5) which is inserted partially, in a sealed manner, into an internal channel (14) of the joining piece (13).
12. Device according to Claim 11 characterized in that the joining piece (13) is arranged in the central zone of the support of the dispenser head (9), the said joining piece (13) having a cylindrical shape, along the axis of which its internal channel (14) is formed.
13. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that, with the exception of the fastening means (12) of the dispenser head (9), the dispenser cap (7, 10, 8) is a component with revolution about an axis.
14. Device according to Claim 11, characterized in that the dispenser valve (4) is a valve which opens by lateral tilting of its protruding stem (5).
15. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the liquid to be dispensed is a liquid with cosmetic or dermopharmaceutical action applied locally on the skin of a user.
16. Device according to Claim 15, characterized in that the liquid with cosmetic or dermopharmaceutical action applied locally on the skin of a user is a deodorant.
17. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the sintered material is obtained by compression of particles of plastic material.
18. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the porosity of the material constituting the dispenser head (9) is between 10 microns and 500 microns.
19. Device according to Claim 18, characterized in that the said porosity is between 10 microns and 200 microns.
20. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the dispenser head (9) consists of a non-deformable material.
21. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the application face of the dispenser head (9) has a surface roughness which is such that the mean Ra of the roughness spacings is between 0.5 µm and 100 µm Ra being the arithmetic mean of the spacings of the real surface in relation to the medium surface given by the formula Ra = 1ℓm 0 ℓm |f(x)|dx in which f(x) is the measure of the distance from the real surface to the median surface at an abscissa point x over a length ^l m, measured using a "SURFTEST 301" apparatus marketed by the company "MITUTOYO".
22. Device according to Claim 21, characterized in that Ra is between 6 µm and 50 µm.

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