EP1080017B1 - Sampling-type spraying device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for dispensing in spray form a fluid product, comprising a reservoir (13) containing the product to be dispensed and a spray outlet (16), said reservoir (13) including at least an actuating wall (131) deformable by application of a vertical force (F) so as to reduce the reservoir (13) internal volume, thereby exerting pressure on the fluid product to deliver it through the spray outlet (16). The invention is characterised in that said at least one actuating wall (131) has a predetermined threshold of resistance to deformation which must be overcome so as to deform it.

Description

The present invention relates to a distribution device in the form sprayed with a fluid product. More particularly, the invention relates to a preferably disposable miniature sprayer suitable in particular for the sample in the fields of pharmacy, perfumery or cosmetics.

The problems which arise for such a product distributor are in particular inexpensive manufacturing requirements. Indeed, the samples not being generally not intended for sale, the manufacturing cost must be the lowest possible. It is therefore important to have devices whose parts are easily achievable in large series and whose assembly can be carried out in a simple way. In in addition to samples used primarily for advertising purposes, it is desirable to be able to visibly affix the brand, logo or any other distinctive sign corresponding to the product contained in the dispenser. Likewise, it is desirable to provide a device having an original shape and practical for use. For example, in the sample case to include in magazines or newspapers, it is essential that the dispenser has a very reduced thickness.

The dispensing device according to the invention can also find pharmaceutical applications. In this particular area, it is important that the dose of product is precise. In addition, it is also important that the spraying is of good quality.

It is for example known from document FR-A-2 443 980 a disposable vaporizer made by welding a plastic sheet defining between it a reservoir as well as two swirl channels connected to a spray orifice. By pressure on the tank whose walls are made of plastic sheets, product is pushed back into the swirl channels and then through the spray orifice to create a spray of sprayed product. This disposable spray does not, however, to expel a defined dose of product. In addition, the creation of swirling by welding of two plastic sheets is rather imprecise and random. According to a version of this vaporizer, the tank is divided into two chambers by a partition which breaks under the action of pressure. One bedroom is filled with a fluid while the other contains another product and air. In addition, the tank is separated from the spray orifice by a break point. In one first time, when the tank is pressed, the partition breaks and the two fluids mix more or less with each other and with air. Either way, the mixture as well obtained cannot be homogeneous. By increasing the pressure, the breaking point breaks and the non-homogeneous mixture is discharged to the spray orifice. The jet coming out of the orifice is sometimes composed of the first fluid, sometimes composed of the second fluid and sometimes air, but never a homogeneous mixture of the three. It follows that the jet is sometimes purely aqueous and sometimes biphasic. Its quality is therefore not constant.

Document FR-A-2 232 923 describes a dispenser of the same type suffering from similar problems.

We also know from document WO-A-98/01360 a two-phase distributor capable of delivering a dose of product in spray form. This distributor is also intended to serve as a miniature sprayer as a sample. he includes two air tanks and a product tank which are all connected to an orifice common spray. Upstream of the spray orifice, there is provided a fiber capable of soaking in product. The air expelled from the air tank passes through therefore the fiber soaked in product expelled from the two product tanks. For actuation of the device, a pressure member is provided in the form a foldable tab on the tanks so as to crush them, which causes the discharge of product and air to the spray orifice. The different tanks are formed between a support and a flexible barrier film. The tongue of pressure has the effect of crushing the film against the support at the level where they form together the product and air tanks.

The disadvantage with this type of two-phase distributor 5 is that the quality of the spraying depends on the speed of actuation of the tab on the tanks. In effect, If you slowly bring the tab on the tanks, the spraying will be bad quality. Therefore, it is necessary to fold down the tongue with a certain speed.

The present invention aims to solve this problem of the prior art by defining an inexpensive distribution device which ensures perfect quality of spraying in all circumstances. In addition, the volume of the dose emitted should be constant and precise. On the other hand, in certain applications, in particular advertising, the distributor will have to meet certain dimensional requirements, in particular it must have a very reduced thickness in order to be incorporated into a magazine or a review. It must also be able to withstand high pressures without leakage of product. Indeed, when such a sample is included in a journal for example and that these journals are stacked, the included sample is subjected to strong pressure.

To solve this problem, the present invention provides a device for distribution in sprayed form of a fluid product, comprising a reservoir containing the fluid to be dispensed and a spray orifice, said tank comprising at least one actuating wall which can be deformed by the application of a force support so as to reduce the internal volume of the tank and thus exert pressure on the fluid product to discharge it through the spray orifice, said at least an actuating wall having a predetermined threshold of resistance to deformation that must be overcome to deform it.

According to one embodiment, said at least one actuating wall at rest has a convex profile, which is capable of deforming suddenly and easily in a determined concave profile, as soon as the pressing force has reached said threshold of resistance.

Like the devices described in the prior art, the actuation takes place also by pressing on an actuating wall, but in the present invention, the state of deformation of the wall (s) does not depend linearly on the bearing force but requires exceeding a predetermined threshold so that it is created in the user's finger an accumulation of energy which is suddenly released when the force exceeds said resistance threshold of the wall. This creates a kind of precompression, although the liquid inside the tank is not subjected to any pressure until the wall is deformed. The accumulation of potential energy in the user's finger ensures that the energy released will be necessary and sufficient for a good spraying of the product. Dynamically, as long as the support force has not not reached this threshold, the wall remains at rest. As soon as the force exceeds this threshold, the wall leaves its rest position and during its deformation to its final deformed position, the force required is actually much lower than the force required to overtake the resistance threshold, which means that the deformation, after leaving the rest position, is fast and abrupt since the force is much greater than that necessary. The rest position therefore constitutes a point of resistance after which the force required for deformation is much less to reach the final deformed state.

According to one embodiment, said at least one actuating wall has at least one reinforcing groove or rib to increase its rigidity or delimit its perimeter. This point of resistance is here achieved by the grooves or ribs.

According to another characteristic, said at least one actuating wall has a shape memory allowing it to return to its initial shape after loosening of the supporting force. This ensures that the dispenser can be used repeatedly without altering the actuation capacity of the wall.

On the other hand, it is advantageous that said at least one actuating wall has a constant deformed state so that the quantity of product dispensed is constant and balanced. With a distributor ensuring both a predetermined threshold of resistance of the deformation, a shape memory and a constant deformed state, one ensures repeated spraying of optimal quality of a precise dose of product. The use of one or two actuating wall (s) according to the invention in a biphasic application finds a particular advantage because the actuating wall does not act not directly on the fluid, but on the gas inside the tank by brutally compressing it.

According to an advantageous embodiment in the case of two-phase application, a nozzle comprising a retention piece of porous material adapted to soak up fluid product is disposed upstream of the spray orifice. The piece of porous retention is automatically soaked in fluid by capillary action when the distributor is at rest, and is then crossed by an air flow which is put under pressure by actuation of the tank wall.

In another aspect, the spray orifice is hermetically sealed, before use of the device, by a plug member. Therefore, a actuation of the wall will only compress the air inside the tank without spraying. The plug member therefore serves as security and first use guarantee.

According to a practical embodiment, the dispenser can be made from a thermoformed shell forming the actuating wall and an opercular film together defining the reservoir and the spray orifice. The distributor can thus be made very simply and quickly in a single assembly line.

Alternatively, the distributor can be made from two shells thermoformed each forming an actuating wall, the two shells being tightly assembled to form the reservoir and the orifice between them spray.

The invention will now be described more fully with reference to the drawings. joints giving by way of nonlimiting example an embodiment of the present invention.

• les figures 1a à 1d représentent des vues en perspective schématiques d'un dispositif de distribution selon l'invention au cours de différentes étapes d'utilisation,
• la figure 2a est une vue agrandie du détail encerclé en pointillés sur la figure la qui représente la partie du distributeur incorporant l'orifice de pulvérisation à l'état non encore utilisé,
• la figure 2b est une vue en section transversale à travers la partie représentée sur la partie 2a,
• la figure 3a est une vue agrandie du détail encerclé sur la figure 1b représentant l'orifice de pulvérisation en état d'utilisation,
• la figure 3b est une vue en section transversale à travers la partie représentée sur la figure 3a ; et
• les figures 4a, 4b et 5a, 5b sont des vues en section transversale à travers un dispositif de distribution selon un second mode de réalisation de l'invention.

In the drawings:

• FIGS. 1a to 1d represent schematic perspective views of a dispensing device according to the invention during different stages of use,
• FIG. 2a is an enlarged view of the detail circled in dotted lines in FIG. 1a which represents the part of the dispenser incorporating the spray orifice in the state not yet used,
• FIG. 2b is a cross-section view through the part shown in part 2a,
• FIG. 3a is an enlarged view of the detail circled in FIG. 1b showing the spraying orifice in state of use,
• Figure 3b is a cross-sectional view through the portion shown in Figure 3a; and
• Figures 4a, 4b and 5a, 5b are cross-sectional views through a dispensing device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

In the figures, the dispensing device according to the invention which is shown is a free type sample for incorporation in journals or magazines as an advertisement, for example for a perfume. We therefore understand that the dispenser should be relatively flat. This free sample app should only not be considered unique or limiting indeed, we can apply this invention to any fluid dispenser having an actuating wall to deform to exert pressure on the product to be dispensed.

According to the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, the distributor comprises three constituent elements, namely a semi-rigid shell 11, preferably thermoformed, a flat opercular film 12 connected to the shell 11, and a part of porous material 19 wedged between the shell i1 and the film 12. The film may appear in the form of a flexible or rigid substrate.

The semi-rigid shell 11 can be produced from a sheet of material thermoformable plastic. The flat plastic sheet is placed on an imprint concave defining a concave dome 13 and a channel 15 defining a housing ending with a conduit 14 made blind by a plug portion 171 as is can see it in Figures 2a and 2b. Once turned over, the shell defines a dome 13 to which the housing 15 terminated by channel 14 is connected, as can be seen in the different figures. The dome 13 defines relative to the plane of the shell 11 a certain volume which corresponds to that of the tank which will be designated in the rest of the description by reference 13

In order to complete the reservoir 13 formed by the dome of the shell 11, the film lid 12 is heat sealed on the base of the shell 11 so as to isolate the tank 13 as well as the housing 15 and the blind channel 14 from the outside, as can be seen see in FIG. 1a, the shell i1 and the opercular film 12 define together by therefore an internal volume constituted by the reservoir 13, the housing 15 and the channel blind 14.

Of course, the fluid to be dispensed must be introduced into the reservoir 13 before sealing using film 12. Preferably, the amount of fluid in each tank 13 is preferably less than the total capacity of the tank 13 so that part of the reservoir 13 remains filled with a gas, for example air. We assure thus a biphasic distribution.

The fluid product, and possibly the gas contained inside the shell 11 after sealing, is completely isolated from the outside and cannot escape. According to one embodiment, the shell i1 and the cover film 12 are provided with a common rupture line 18 which crosses the blind duct 14. The part of the shell 17 formed on the other side of the rupture line 18 relative to the reservoir 13 defines a foldable or tear-off tab serving as a plug member. By folding the tongue 17, the part 171 is detached from the conduit 14 at the level of the rupture line 18. The conduit 14 is then no longer blind but defines an orifice 16 serving as an orifice for spray for the dispenser. Therefore, after tearing off the tongue detachable 17, the reservoir 13 can communicate with the outside via the channel 14 opening with its spray orifice 16. Upstream of channel 14, the housing 15 can for example contain any spray nozzle, but of preferably according to the invention the housing 15 contains a piece of porous material 19 a detailed explanation of which will be given with reference to Figures 2 and 3. In any case, the housing 15 can contain any means allowing spraying of the product stored inside the tank 13.

Once the tab 17 is folded, it is possible to dispense a dose of product fluid contained in the reservoir 13 by acting on the dome formed by the shell 11.

Obviously, the user will understand that it is necessary to act on the top of the dome of the reservoir 13. At this location, the dome of the reservoir 13 defines a wall actuator 131 on which one can act using the thumb for example.

This actuating wall 131 has a convex profile at rest which incorporated almost imperceptibly to the eye in the tank dome 13. This actuating wall 131 can be delimited on its periphery by one or several grooves or ribs 132 which are formed inside the dome during the thermoforming. These grooves or ribs 132 therefore have on the one hand the role of delimiting the actuation wall area but also to strengthen and stiffen its periphery. These grooves or ribs 132 have the effect of reinforcing the resistance of the profile concave to the deformation exerted according to arrow F in FIG. 1c. This resistance deformation can also come from the particular shape of the dome. Through therefore, when we begin to press the actuating wall 131, it does not undergo any deformation and the dome remains intact as a whole. However, as soon as when the bearing force exerted on the actuating wall 131 exceeds a certain threshold of resistance which depends on the geometry, the nature and the thickness of the dome as well as the configuration and location of the grooves or ribs, the convex wall 131 suddenly deforms towards the inside of the tank until it reaches a final deformed position in which it forms a concave profile approximately corresponding to the convex profile of the initial state. Note that the rest of the dome constituting the reservoir 13 does not undergo any deformation during the deformation of the actuating wall 131. Consequently, the variation caused by the depression of the wall 131 towards the inside of the tank 13 generates a reduction in volume always constant since the initial state and the final state of deformation are constant. We assure so that an identical amount of air is both expelled from the orifice of spraying 16. In addition, since it is necessary to overcome this predetermined threshold of resistance to deformation ensures a substantially pressurized air condition identical to each actuation.

Finally, in order to allow a return to the initial state of rest, the wall actuation presents a shape memory which results in an intrinsic force of return which brings back the actuating wall 131 from its pressed shape to its shape convex rest.

It should be understood that the concept of a predetermined threshold for resistance to deformation does not mean that a minimum level of support force must be reached predetermined from which any further increase in strength allows a progressive deformation of the actuating wall 131. On the contrary, once the deformation of the actuating wall 131 has been initiated, the force necessary for its subsequent deformation to its fully depressed state is significantly less than that necessary for the initial deformation. In other words, the energy required at its complete deformation after initial deformation is much less than that necessary for initial deformation. And thanks to the predetermined threshold of resistance to deformation of the wall 13, a largely sufficient force is available to allow the subsequent complete deformation of the wall. The resistance threshold acts at the way of a breaking point beyond which the force necessary for the deformation is much less. And as the user's finger has accumulated significant energy which must be greater than the predetermined threshold, this guarantees rapid depression, even instantaneous, from the actuating wall 131 towards its completely position pressed.

• une accumulation d'énergie initiale assurant un actionnement instantané,
• une constance de l'état de déformation de la paroi, et
• un rappel de la paroi dans sa position initiale.

An actuating wall 131 such as that which has just been described performs three advantageous functions, namely

• an initial energy accumulation ensuring instantaneous actuation,
• a constant state of deformation of the wall, and
• a reminder of the wall in its initial position.

From these considerations, it is possible to envisage a distributor incorporating one or more of these functions.

Reference will now be made more particularly to FIGS. 2b and 3b for describe a particular embodiment using a piece of porous material 19 to spray at orifice 16. The piece of porous material which can be present in the form of a small east parallelepiped. placed in the housing 15 that forms the shell i1 upstream of the outlet channel 14. The piece of porous material 19 is blocked in the housing 15 downstream by the wall sections joining the channel 14 and upstream by a locking angle 191 formed by the shell 11. The piece of material porous 19 can not move, but still remains in connection with the reservoir 13 in such a way that it can soak by capillarity of the product contained in the reservoir 13. When the dispenser is still sealed, as shown in Figures 2a and 2b, the channel 14 is closed by the wall 171 which is part of the tongue foldable or detachable 17. When the dispenser is thus still sealed, the piece of porous material can still soak in product while preventing passage of the product beyond in the space formed by the conduit 14. Indeed, the phenomenon of capillarity produced by the piece of porous material prevents any passage of the product in this space. After tearing off the tongue, the conduit 14 forms the orifice of spraying as can be seen in Figures 3a and 3b. An actuation of the wall 131 then has the effect of compressing this air and expelling it through the piece of porous material soaked in product, which causes its two-phase spraying orifice level 16.

According to one embodiment, the piece of porous material can be adapted in size so as to contain only one dose. After actuation, the piece of material porous 19 is then emptied of its fluid product. The loading of fluid from the piece of porous material 19 is carried out simply by agitating the dispenser or by letting it rest horizontally on its cover film 12. After a few seconds, the piece of porous material 19 is again completely soaked with fluid and actuation is again possible. This piece of porous material 19 therefore acts to the manner of a dosing chamber which ensures consistency in the amount of product distributed.

According to an alternative embodiment, the piece of porous material 15, while occupying the housing 15, can extend into the reservoir in the manner of a tube diver. In this case, the porous part can retain several doses so that several consecutive actuations are possible.

In addition, this part acts as a stopper which prevents the product from leaking out. through orifice 16. Therefore, even when the dispenser is open, i.e. with its tab 17 torn off, the dispenser can easily be transported even at upside down without risk of leakage

Referring now to Figures 4a, 4b and 5a, 5b, we see a second form in which the rigid or flexible lidding film has been replaced by a another thermoformed shell 11 ′ similar to that of the first embodiment. The distributor then presents an almost total symmetry apart from the housing for the porous part and the outlet orifice which are formed in only one of the shells. With this variant, we obtain a doubling of the deformation volume, and therefore of the quantity of product dispensed, since there is an actuating wall on each shell. Another advantage inherent in this double-sided dispenser is its compressive strength due to the fact that both sides have a wall actuator according to the invention having a threshold of resistance to deformation. This characteristic is particularly sought after for applications as that free sample inserted in a magazine.

By combining the advantages of the wall in the same distributor actuator according to the invention and a piece of porous material placed upstream of the spray orifice, it is ensured on the one hand that the dose of product dispensed is constant and precise and that the pressure and the amount of air expelled through the room porous material are constant and precise. We can thus guarantee optimal quality spraying for a simple sample of perfume for example.

Claims (10)

1. A dispenser device for dispensing a fluid substance in spray form, said device comprising a reservoir (13) containing the fluid substance to be dispensed, and a spray orifice (16), said reservoir (13) including at least one actuating wall (131) that can be deformed by applying a pressing force (F) so as to reduce the internal volume of the reservoir (13) and thus to exert a pressure on the fluid substance so as to deliver it through the spray orifice (16), said dispenser device being characterized in that said at least one actuating wall (131) has a predetermined threshold of resistance to deformation that must be overcome in order to deform it.
2. A dispenser device according to claim 1, in which said at least one actuating wall (131) has shape memory enabling it to return to its initial shape after the pressing force (F) is released.
3. A dispenser device according to claim 1 or 2, in which said at least one actuating wall (13) has a constant deformed state so that the quantity of product dispensed is constant and metered.
4. A dispenser device according to any preceding claim, in which said at least one actuating wall (131) has a convex profile at rest, which rest profile is suitable for deforming suddenly and easily into a determined concave profile, when the pressing force (F) reaches said resistance threshold.
5. A dispenser device according to any preceding claim, in which said at least one actuating wall has at least one reinforcing rib or groove for increasing its rigidity or defining its periphery.
6. A dispenser device according to any preceding claim in which the reservoir (13) contains both a fluid substance and a gas, so as to obtain a two-phase spray of fluid substance and of gas at the outlet of the spray orifice (16).
7. A dispenser device according to claim 6, in which an insert comprising a retaining piece of porous material (19) suitable for becoming soaked with fluid substance is disposed upstream from the spray orifice (16).
8. A dispenser device according to any preceding claim, in which the spray orifice (16) is hermetically sealed off by a stopper member (17) before the dispenser is used.
9. A dispenser device according to any preceding claim, made up of a thermoformed shell (11) forming the actuating wall (131) and of a closure film (12), the shell and the film co-operating to define the reservoir (13) and the spray orifice (16).
10. A dispenser device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, made up of two thermoformed shells (11 and 11'), each of which forms an actuating wall, the two shells being assembled together in sealed manner, so as to form the reservoir (13) and the spray orifice (16) between them.

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