EP1035038B9 - Unit for storing and dispensing a product under pressure, especially cosmetics - Google Patents

Abstract

Container (2) has neck (3) where dispensing head (4) is placed. Valve stem (18) is placed in openings (15, 17) and comprises part (21) closing valve (12), and hollow stem (22), emerging outside valve body (11) and with one closed end with small aperture (23), defining outlet of valve body. Dispensing annular opening (31) is linked to valve stem. Closing section (21) has annular ridge (27) able to come to contact with joint (16) so as to form seal around outlet (23) under recall force of spring (28).

Description

The present invention relates to a device for conditioning and pressure distribution of a product, especially a cosmetic product. Such a product is in particular in the form of a foam, a gel, or a spray, including styling. The product can be pressurized in the container by means of a propellant gas, dissolved or not dissolved in the product, or by means of a piston, which, he himself can force the product by compressed air.

Typically, such a device comprises a container containing the product under pressure, and equipped with a valve of the type comprising a valve body, having an inlet port and an outlet port, and a closure member for response to an actuation command, cause communication the inlet port and the outlet port, and the outlet of the product via at least one dispensing orifice, resilient return means being provided for, in the lack of actuation control, constrain the closure member closed position. The valve body is disposed inside the container, from which it is secured via a valve holder cup, set on a rolled edge of the can which, usually is metal. In its most common form such a valve has a valve stem, emerging outside the valve body, and on which is mounted a push button, adapted to allow the actuation of the valve. The presence of the valve body entirely inside the container, in because of the accessibility of the dispensing orifice which must be sufficient for distribute the product at the desired place, constrained to design the push button with a relatively long length of ducts, which carry the produced on the dispensing orifice, provided for example on a lateral skirt of the pushbutton.

One of the problems with such a design is that at the opening of the valve, such conduits are filled with the product contained in the can, such product being, in particular in the case of a foam, formed of a mixture of a liquid, surfactant, and gas formulations, which is partially solubilized and partially boiling. In practice, the foam grows as it exits of the device, ie, where the user collects the foam.

When the user releases pressure on the push button, the seal is restored at the level of the valve closing system, which interrupts the distribution. However, at that moment, it still exists in the ducts of the pushbutton, a quantity that proves to be a significant amount of product that does not has not yet expanded into foam.

Gradually, the dissolved gas boils, and it is formed, at the exit of the button pusher, a residual foam that abounds gently and is not collected by the user. Such an abundance can be done on a time scale of many hours. Also, when the user wants to use his product again, the push button, and possibly the hood, present stains important, which affects the aesthetics, or even the proper functioning of the device.

It has been attempted to solve this problem by closing the dispensing orifice of the produced by means of a pointer which, in the closed position is constrained in support sealed on the dispensing orifice. Such pointers are used in particular in manually operated pump devices, in which case the pointer is constrained in the closed position when the pump returns itself in position closed, in particular by the action of an elastic return means.

Such a pointer device is described in combination with a valve in the US-A-3 584 789 in which, some of the variants of embodiment plan to form the valve body inside the push button, and in in some cases, to avoid the presence of a valve in the container. Of conventional way, the pointer is moved to the open position by traction exerted on the pointer, so as to move it back relative to the orifice of distribution, in order to clear the latter. In some embodiments, the traction is produced by pressing a bearing surface, connected to the pointer via a pivot, converting the bearing force on the bearing surface into a traction force on the pointer. In a particular embodiment, the pointer is fixed, and therefore undergoes no force, while the dispensing orifice itself is moved in order to clear an annular passage.

According to one point common to all the variants described in this document, of the pointer's traction in the axis of the valve body (according to a movement in the opposite of the outlet) or because of the displacement of the dispensing orifice in a movement away from the bottom of the valve body, it is necessary to have a connecting piece passing through the bottom of the valve body, and connected with a part of the pointer, and secondly to an actuating surface, so as to produce the axial retreat of the pointer. Such a moving piece, crossing the bottom of the valve body, requires to achieve at this location a seal "dynamic" particularly complex to implement, because of the movement of the connecting piece. As a result, practice shows that such a system is almost impossible to achieve economically and industrially viable.

US-A-3,650,438 discloses an assembly consisting of an aerosol container equipped with a valve arranged in a conventional manner inside the container, and whose output is connected via a flexible conduit to a distribution system also equipped with a valve of the type used in the container (reference 31, Figures 3, 5, and 7 of the document). The object of such an achievement is to be able distribute the product away from the container containing it. Such a configuration does not does not solve the problems mentioned above with reference to other devices conventional.

US-A-5,305,930 is the closest prior art and describes the use of two valves to reduce the volume of product that can dry between two distributions.

Also, is it an object of the present invention to provide a device for packaging and dispensing under pressure of a product, and solving in whole or in part the problems mentioned above with reference to conventional.

It is in particular one of the objects of the invention to provide a system of pressure distribution, in which the volume of product can dry from undesirable way between two uses, is reduced significantly.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a system which is simple, reliable, and economical to achieve.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a device for pressure distribution by means of a valve, located at least partly at outside the container, and whose sealing is not more complex to achieve than in the case of a traditional valve contained in the container.

Still other objects will appear in the following detailed description.

According to the invention, these objects are achieved by providing a device for the packaging and distribution under pressure of a product, in particular cosmetic, comprising the features of claim 1.

Thus, the valve body, located outside the container, allows the positioning of the product dispensing orifice, just at the outlet of the valve stem, into the case of a male valve, thus making it possible to overcome the presence of channels auxiliaries formed by the actuating member. In the case of a female valve, the length of the channels formed in the actuating member is also reduced in a considerable way. Typically, the required length corresponds substantially the length of the valve stem in the case of a male valve.

The fact of causing the opening of the valve by a pressure exerted on the closing means, either axially to the valve body or transversely to the valve body, allows not to have to ensure sealing other than that necessary to close the valve. In particular, and unlike the patent US-A-3 584 789, there is no dynamic seal, resulting in particular from the sliding of a connecting piece in the bottom of the valve body.

The device may be of the type operating upside down or head up, in the last case, the valve being secured to a plunger tube having a free end ends substantially in the bottom of the container. The container may be metal or plastic, especially based on a mixture of PET / PEN. The device can, in the storage position, be removably covered with a hood.

Advantageously, the actuation control is exerted on an organ actuator bearing said (or said) orifice (s) distribution. As well as previously mentioned, disposing the valve body outside the container facilitates the arrangement of such an actuating member, free of substantially any conduit likely to retain product subject to drying between two uses. With the system according to the invention, the orifice (s) of distribution may be formed just at the exit of the valve stem, this is at say adjacent to the free end of the valve stem. In the case of a female valve, it is possible to limit to a length of conduit that is similar to the length of an emerging stem.

Advantageously, said closure member consists of an annular ridge which, in the closed position of the valve, is constrained to sealing against a seal sealing, said edge ceasing, at least partially, to be in waterproof support against the seal in response to said pressure exerted on the closure member.

In the case of a push-in valve, the closure member moves axially, causing the interruption of the sealing support on the entire edge. In the In the case of a tilting valve, the interruption is done only on one sector angular.

According to one embodiment, the valve is of the recess type, said pressure exerting on the closure member along an axis of the valve body, the opposite the restoring force exerted by the elastic return means. In this hypothesis, the actuating member is articulated with respect to the container, around an axis which is preferably substantially perpendicular to the axis of the container, said axis being preferably located in the vicinity of one end of the organ actuator, opposite a bottom of said valve body.

According to a preferred embodiment, the valve is of the tilting type, said pressure acting on the closure member, transversely to an axis of the valve body.

In this case, the actuating member is articulated on a fixed part of the container, particularly the valve body, about an axis which preferably is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the container, said axis being advantageously located in the vicinity of a bottom of the valve body. Such an axis can be formed of a film hinge connecting the actuating member to a mounted fret fixed on the container. Alternatively, the valve body forms two lugs aligned along said axis, and intended to be housed in recesses corresponding parts made in the actuating member, or vice versa.

Preferably, said valve is of the male type, and comprises a stem emerging at the outside of the valve body, said rod having a free end disposed of adjacent to said (or said) orifice (s) distribution. However, and according to an alternative, said valve may be of the female type.

According to a preferred embodiment, the valve body has an axis longitudinal forming a non-zero angle with the axis of the container. advantageously, said axis forms an angle of between 20 ° and 90 ° with respect to an axis of container. Thus, with such an angle between 20 ° and 70 °, and preferably between 30 ° and 60 °, and with the (or) orifice (s) of distribution realized (s) in the axis of valve body, a device is produced whose output product is done so substantially lateral to the container. With an angle of between 50 ° and 90 °, there is a product outlet located substantially in the axis of container, which is favorable to the use of the device upside down.

Said (or said) orifice (s) may be formed in a nozzle, in particular with swirling effect, a grid, a sinter, in particular of a thermoplastic or ceramic material, or an open cell foam or semi open.

The device according to the invention can be used for conditioning and dispensing a product, especially in the form of a foam, a gel, or a liquid spray.

• les figures 1A-1B illustrent un premier mode de réalisation du dispositif selon l'invention;
• les figures 2A-2B illustrent un second mode de réalisation du dispositif selon l'invention;
• les figures 3A-3B illustrent un troisième mode de réalisation du dispositif selon l'invention;

The invention consists, apart from the arrangements described above, in 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:

• FIGS. 1A-1B illustrate a first embodiment of the device according to the invention;
• FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate a second embodiment of the device according to the invention;
• Figures 3A-3B illustrate a third embodiment of the device according to the invention;

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1A and 1B, the device 1 comprises a can 2, X axis, and a free edge, in the form of neck 3, defines an opening on which is mounted a dispensing head 4 according to the invention. The head of distribution comprises a portion 5 for mounting the head 4 on the container 2. The mounting piece 5 is shaped as an element substantially plane, having an axial chimney 6 turned towards the inside of the container 2, and intended for mounting a dip tube 7. At its periphery, the piece 5 forms an annular groove 8 for mounting by breakdown of the dispensing head 4 on the neck 3 of the container, a seal 9 ensuring the tightness of the mounting.

Opposite the container 2, the axial chimney 6 is extended by a portion 10 opening into the body 11 of a valve 12 via an orifice 20. The body is oriented along an axis Y forming with the axis X of the can an angle of about 55 °. The part 10 opens substantially at mid axial height of said valve body 11. The body valve consists of two parts: one 13 forming the body itself, and whose end is closed by a bottom 34; the other 14, forming a lid, and closing the valve body 11. The mounting of the part 14 on the piece 13 is provided by welding, including ultrasound. Exhibit 14 comprises, centered on the Y axis, an orifice 15. Inside the valve body 11, pressed against the cover 14, there is a seal 16 presenting a orifice aligned with the orifice 15 of the lid 14. The seal 16 is held in place by the free edge of the piece 13.

In the orifices 15 and 17, is mounted at coulse a valve stem 18 formed in one piece, and having two main portions: a portion 21 making office of closing member of the valve 12; and a portion 22 forming a rod hollow, emerging outside the valve body 11, and one end of which is closed by a bottom pierced at its center with an orifice 23, forming the outlet orifice of the valve body.

The closure member 21 comprises a sharp annular edge 27, suitable, under the resilient return force of a spring 28 (disposed within the valve body) to come into sealing engagement against the surface of the joint 16, so as to form a sealed bead around the outlet orifice 23.

The valve stem 18 has a free end 24 disposed opposite, and adjacent to a diffusion member 25, in the form of a grid, and worn by an actuating member 26. The free end 24 of the valve stem 18 is fitted into an axial passage 33 opening into a recess formed in a front face 29 of the actuating member 26, and in which the diffusion member 25 is latched. The grid 25 has a central portion full 30 disposed opposite the free end 24 of the valve stem, and surrounded by an annular passage 31 in communication with the valve stem 18.

The actuating member 26 also has a bearing surface 32 formed a surface portion located at the front of a surface of the push button 26 substantially perpendicular to the front surface 29.

At its opposite end to the diffusion member, the push button 26 is hinged on the valve body 11, about an axis A, perpendicular to the axes X and Y, via two ball joints 35 or pins carried by the push button 26, and able to come in engagement with two corresponding recesses formed on the valve body 11.

To use the device, the user exerts pressure on the bearing surface 32 (as shown by the arrow F in Figure 1B), which causes the actuating member 26 to tilt around the In this way, the portion 22 of the valve stem 18 undergoes a pressure transverse to the Y axis towards the container. It is the same for the closure member 21, forming a single piece with the portion 22 of the valve stem 18. Thus, on a given angular portion, the annular edge 27 is no longer in sealed engagement with the seal 16. The pressurized product contained in the valve body 11, thus engulfs between the sealing ring 27 and the seal 16, passes into the outlet orifice 23, rises in the portion 22 of the stem At this time, the product is deflected by the central portion 30 of the grid 25 and out through the annular passage 31. At this time, it can be taken by the user, especially in the form of foam. By releasing the pressure on the bearing surface 32, the seal is restored between the closure member 21 and the seal 16. The product distribution is interrupted. Only at atmospheric pressure, the product contained in the emerging portion 22 of the valve stem 18, and which could not be dispensed. Such a volume is however very small. As an indication, it is a volume that can be of the order of 5 mm ³ or less.

• la valve 12 est du type à enfoncement, tandis que la valve 12 du mode de réalisation précédent était à basculement. L'ouverture d'une telle valve nécessite une force d'appui dirigée sensiblement dans l'axe de la tige de valve 18, à l'encontre de la force de rappel élastique exercée par le ressort 28. Avec une telle force ainsi exercée, c'est l'intégralité de l'arête annulaire 27 qui cesse d'être en engagement étanche avec le joint 16 ;
• l'orifice de sortie 23 est constitué d'un orifice ménagé radialement à la base de la tige de valve 18. Dans la position fermée illustrée à la figure 2A, l'orifice 23 est en regard du joint d'étanchéité, améliorant ainsi l'étanchéité réalisée par la couronne d'étanchéité 27. Dans la position ouverte illustrée à la figure 2B, l'orifice 23 est décalé axialement par rapport au joint 16 de sorte que le produit passant sous la couronne d'étanchéité 27, entre dans la tige de valve 18 via l'orifice 23 ;
• la surface d'appui 32 est formée d'une portion de surface située à l'arrière de la surface de l'organe d'actionnement sensiblement perpendiculaire à l'axe X du récipient 2. Le bord inférieur de la face frontale 29 de l'organe d'actionnement 26 présente une portion 40, venant en butée contre la pièce de montage 5. Ainsi, en exerçant une pression sur la surface 32, de la manière illustrée par la flèche F de la figure 2B, on provoque un basculement du bouton poussoir autour d'un axe B sensiblement confondu avec la portion 40, et ce, jusqu'à ce que l'arrière du bouton poussoir 26 soit en butée contre la partie correspondante de la pièce de montage 5. Ce faisant, une force est exercée sur la tige de valve 18, sensiblement dans l'axe Y, et de direction opposée à la force de rappel du ressort 28. Cette force provoque le recul de l'organe de fermeture 21, et la rupture de l'étanchéité au niveau de la couronne annulaire 27. Le produit entre dans la tige de valve 18 via le passage radial 23, et est distribué de la même manière que pour le mode de réalisation précédent.

The embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 2B is a variant of that discussed previously. This embodiment differs from the previous one, mainly in that:

• the valve 12 is of the depressing type, while the valve 12 of the previous embodiment was tilting. The opening of such a valve requires a bearing force directed substantially in the axis of the valve stem 18, against the elastic return force exerted by the spring 28. With such a force thus exerted, it is the entirety of the annular edge 27 which ceases to be in sealed engagement with the seal 16;
• the outlet orifice 23 consists of an orifice formed radially at the base of the valve stem 18. In the closed position illustrated in FIG. 2A, the orifice 23 is opposite the seal, thus improving the sealing made by the sealing ring 27. In the open position illustrated in Figure 2B, the orifice 23 is offset axially relative to the seal 16 so that the product passing under the sealing ring 27, enters the valve stem 18 via port 23;
• the bearing surface 32 is formed of a surface portion located at the rear of the surface of the actuating member substantially perpendicular to the axis X of the container 2. The lower edge of the front face 29 of the actuating member 26 has a portion 40, abutting against the mounting piece 5. Thus, by exerting pressure on the surface 32, as illustrated by the arrow F of Figure 2B, causes a tilting of push button about an axis B substantially coincides with the portion 40, and this, until the rear of the push button 26 is in abutment against the corresponding part of the mounting part 5. In doing so, a force is exerted on the valve stem 18, substantially in the Y axis, and opposite direction to the restoring force of the spring 28. This force causes the retraction of the closure member 21, and the rupture of the seal at the of the annular ring 27. The product enters the valve stem 18 via the e radial passage 23, and is distributed in the same manner as for the previous embodiment.

• en regard de la grille de diffusion 25, l'organe d'actionnement 26 présente un conduit 50 dont une extrémité libre est destinée à venir en butée contre l'organe de fermeture 21 de la tige de valve 18, à l'intérieur du corps de valve, pour, en réponse à une pression exercée selon l'axe Y, à l'opposé de la force de rappel exercée par le ressort 28, provoquer l'ouverture de la valve de manière similaire à l'ouverture de la valve du mode de réalisation précédent. Les caractéristiques dimensionnelles du conduit 50 sont similaires à celles de la portion 22 de la tige de valve 18 des modes de réalisation précédents. Le fonctionnement de ce mode de réalisation, notamment en termes de force d'appui à exercer pour l'ouverture, ainsi qu'en termes de mouvement du bouton poussoir 26 en réponse à cette force, est identique à celui du mode de réalisation précédent.

The embodiment of FIGS. 3A-3B represents a variant of the previous embodiment. In the same way as for the previous embodiment, the valve operates by depression. However, according to this embodiment, the valve is of the female type. For this purpose:

• facing the diffusion grid 25, the actuating member 26 has a duct 50, one free end of which is intended to abut against the closing member 21 of the valve stem 18, inside the body in response to a pressure exerted along the Y axis, opposite to the restoring force exerted by the spring 28, causing the valve to open in a manner similar to the opening of the valve of the valve. previous embodiment. The dimensional characteristics of the conduit 50 are similar to those of the portion 22 of the valve stem 18 of the previous embodiments. The operation of this embodiment, particularly in terms of the pressing force to exert for the opening, as well as in terms of movement of the push button 26 in response to this force, is identical to that of the previous embodiment.

In the above detailed description, reference has been made to modes of preferred embodiment of the invention. It is obvious that variants can be without departing from the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Claims (12)

1. Device (1) for packaging a product, particularly a cosmetic product, and dispensing it under pressure, comprising a container (2), of longitudiual axis X, containing the product under pressure and equipped with a valve (12) of the type comprising a valve body (11), the said valve being mounted fixedly on the container, and exhibiting an inlet orifice (20) for the product contained in the container and an outlet orifice (23), which is in communication with a dispensing orifice, a closure member (21) being provided for, in response to an actuating command, causing the inside of the container to be placed selectively in communication, via the inlet orifice (20), with the outlet orifice (23), in order to let product out via at least the dispensing orifice (31), elastic return means (28) being provided for, in the absence of any actuating command, forcing the closure member (21) into a closed position, the said valve body (11) being located outside the container (2), the said communication between the inlet orifice (20) and the outlet orifice (23) being brought about by pressure exerted on the said closure member (21).
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the actuating command is exerted on an actuating member (26) bearing the said dispensing orifice(s) (31).
3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the said closure member (21) exhibits an annular ridge (27) which, when the valve (12) is in the closed position, is forced to bear in leaktight fashion against a seal (16), the said ridge (27) at least partially ceasing to bear in leaktight fashion against the seal (16) in response to the said pressure exerted on the closure member (21).
4. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the valve (12) is of the type that has to be depressed, the said pressure being exerted on the closure member (21) roughly along a longitudinal axis Y of the valve body (11), in the opposite direction to a return force exerted by the elastic return means (28).
5. Device according to Claims 2 and 4, characterized in that the actuating member (26) is articulated with respect to the container (2) about an axis B approximately perpendicular to the axis X of the container, the said axis B being located near one end of the actuating member (26), away from a closed end (34) of the said valve body (11).
6. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the said valve (12) is of the tilt type, the said pressure being exerted on the closure member (21) transversely to an axis Y of the valve body.
7. Device according to Claims 2 and 6, characterized in that the actuating member (26) is articulated to a stationary part of the container, particularly the valve body (11), about an axis A approximately perpendicular to the axis X of the container, the said axis being located near a closed end (34) of the valve body (11).
8. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the said valve (12) is of the male type and comprises a stem (18, 22) emerging from the valve body (11), the said stem (18, 22) exhibiting a free end (24) arranged so that it is adjacent to the said dispensing orifice(s) (31).
9. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the said valve (12) is of the female type.
10. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the valve body (11) exhibits a longitudinal axis Y forming an angle of between 20° and 90°, and preferably between 20° and 70°, and more preferably still, between 30° and 60°, with respect to the longitudiual axis X of the container.
11. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the said dispensing orifice(s) (31) is (are) formed particularly in a nozzle, particularly one with a swirl effect, a grating (25), a frit, particularly made of a thermoplastic or ceramic, or an open-cell or semi-open-cell foam.
12. Use of a device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims for packaging and dispensing a product, particularly in the form of a mousse or foam, a gel, or a liquid spray.

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