EP1205403B1 - Unit for storing and dispensing a product under pressure - Google Patents

Abstract

The container (2) has a valve (11) actuated by a sideways pressure on its stem (12) produced by tilting its outlet nozzle (20) after removing a locking cap (30) which has stays (33) to prevent the nozzle being moved. The nozzle, attached to the container by a separate mounting ring (13), has a threaded surface (31) at its broader end engaging with a matching thread (32) on the cap. The nozzle thread is separated from its outlet (22) by a zone with its diameter increasing from the outlet to the thread.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for conditioning and dispensing under pressure of a product according to the preamble of claim 1, in particular cosmetic. Such a product can be in the form of a liquid, a foam, or a more viscous consistency, especially in the form of a cream or a gel. The invention can be used especially for the packaging and distribution of a care product, a make-up product, a hair product or personal hygiene product, or a skin protection product against the effects of sun radiation.

In the case of a device using a valve, the product may be pressurized at medium of a propellant gas, liquefied or not. The gas can be conditioned, directly in contact with the product, or separately via a piston or pocket with soft walls.

Patent Application FR-A-2,635,085 describes a pump-type dispenser or valve comprising a container containing the product. The container is topped of a valve, and a dispensing head for actuating the pump or the valve, and dispensing the product via at least one dispensing orifice. A cap is mounted clamping on the dispensing tip between two uses.

The problems with such a configuration are many. The first the fact that by mounting the hood on the device, the risks are great for unintentional actuation of the distribution element, particularly when it is a valve whose actuating stroke is very low.

In addition, in the mounted position of the hood, the dispensing orifice is not closed by waterproof way. As a result, especially for certain products whose tendency is to clog when drying is strong, the dispensing orifice as well as the channel opening onto the dispensing orifice, are subject to fouling, which risks make the device totally unusable, especially after a long period not in use. In addition, the residual product in the canal and in the vicinity of the opening, is likely to deteriorate, in particular by oxidation, and to be unattractive appearance.

If the hood configuration is changed so that in the mounted position on the dispensing nozzle, the dispensing orifice is closed sealingly by a corresponding portion of the hood, in particular by its bottom, then the risks are even greater for that, by mounting the hood on the device, it an inadvertent actuation of the dispensing element occurs.

US-A-2 767 888 discloses a device in which a cap is screwed on a dispensing nozzle, the latter being mounted on a valve stem. Such a design suffers from several disadvantages. The first is the fact that there is no coupling in rotation between the tip and the mounting hoop. Of this fact, it is not excluded that the cap may not be screwed so sufficient. In addition, if the cap were to be screwed sufficiently, then is not excluded that during the unscrewing movement, the tip turns with the hood, making the removal of the latter impossible. The risk is all the more higher than, after use, a residue of product may flow along the tip and come soil the thread, to the point of causing the bonding with the cap thread. The risk of contamination of the thread is increased by the fact that the tip is relatively short and cylindrical, and that the thread is located on a portion of the tip section similar to the section of the rest of the tip.

Also, is it an object of the invention to provide a device for packaging and distribution under pressure of a product, in particular cosmetics, and which makes it possible to get rid of all or part of the problems mentioned above with reference to patents FR-A-2,635,085 and US-A-2,767,888.

It is in particular an object of invention to provide such a device for which the risks of inadvertent actuation of the distribution element are reduced significantly.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a device for which the risk of clogging and fouling of the dispensing orifice and / or the channel leading to the latter, are reduced substantially.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide such a device in which the protective cap can be screwed / unscrewed easily and satisfactory on the dispensing nozzle, and for which the risk of contamination of the threading of the tip are reduced significantly.

It is yet another object to provide a device that can be manufactured and economically mounted and easy to use.

Still other objects will appear in the following detailed description.

According to the invention, these objects are achieved by producing a device for packaging and distribution under pressure of a product, in particular cosmetic container comprising a container containing the product, said container being surmounted by a distribution element, in particular a valve, and a head of distribution for the actuation of the distribution element, and the distribution of the produced via at least one dispensing orifice, the dispensing head comprising: a) a mounting band, integral with the container; b) a dispensing nozzle forming a channel opening on said dispensing orifice, said nozzle being immobile in rotation with respect to the mounting band and being fit, in response to an actuating command, to move in such a way as to provoke actuation of the dispensing element; and (c) a hood screwed onto the mouthpiece distribution, and having means adapted, in the screwed position of the hood, to prevent actuation of the dispensing element.

Thus, the cover being screwed directly on the end piece, the risks of actuation unexpectedly the distribution element are reduced significantly, the screwing movement generating substantially no constraint suitable for cause such inadvertent actuation. On the contrary, screwing the hood on the dispensing tip tends to pull the latter away from the valve. In addition, storing position, the risks of inadvertent activation are removed from the means provided for this purpose on the hood, which interact with a at least part of the mounting band.

Such a configuration makes it possible to produce a dispensing head whose aesthetics is similar to that fitted to the containers in the form of tubes. This characteristic, from a marketing point of view, is advantageous when the product to conditioning is in the form of a care cream or a gel, traditionally conditioned in a tube.

The dispensing endpiece being fixed in rotation, the screwing of the cover can also be as tight as possible, thus improving sealing at closure, and further reducing the risks of inadvertent actuation of the distribution element when the device is in storage position. At the opening, the tip is fixed in rotation compared to the hood, which can be removed easily regardless of the degree of screwing.

Preferably, the thread of the tip is on a portion of the mouthpiece of section larger than the section of the free end of the tip at the level of which is formed the dispensing orifice. Preferably, the threaded portion of the tip is separated from the free end of the tip by at least a portion of section gradually increasing towards the threaded portion. Alternatively, the threaded portion of the tip can be separated from the free end of the endpiece by one or more bearings, the function of these bearings or other incrementally increasing portion portions being to delay, see to prevent, the moment when the product reaches the thread. In addition, this feature makes it easier to design the hood by allowing the provision of the bonnet thread on the inner surface of its side wall outside, without requiring an intermediate inner wall.

Preferably, the dispensing nozzle is formed of a separate part of the collar mounting. The term "distinct" reflects the fact that the dispensing tip and the mounting fret are formed of two pieces, which at least after the first use, are, apart from their coupling in rotation, independent of each other, that is to say connected by no material bridge, in particular in the form of a hinge film. Preferably, the two pieces are molded separately. Alternatively, during molding, the two parts can be connected by material bridges that are broken during the first use, and which, as a result, constitute indicators of inviolability.

This arrangement in which the dispensing tip consists of a piece distinct from the hoop facilitates to a large extent the mounting of the head of distribution on the container, and in particular, significantly reduces the risks inadvertent actuation of the valve during this assembly. In addition, this characteristic is advantageous compared to a solution according to which the endpiece of distribution would be connected to the hoop by a film hinge to the extent that, particularly in the case of a toggle valve, actuation of the valve regardless of the angular position of the point of exercise of the lateral force aiming to provoke such a changeover.

Preferably, the dispensing element consists of a valve, the product being pressurized inside the container. Such a valve, because of its low stroke actuation, facilitates the distribution of the product.

According to a first embodiment, the valve is of the tilting type, suitable for be actuated in response to a pressure transverse to an axis of said valve. So, with this configuration, the product distribution can be made directly on the surface where the product is to be applied, simply by putting the distribution in engagement with the surface to be treated, and moving the tip distribution relative to said surface.

According to a second embodiment, the valve is of the recess type, suitable for be actuated in response to a pressure axially oriented to said valve.

The mounting collar can be fixedly mounted on the container, in particular by snap fastening. Alternatively, it can be screwed onto the container.

The dispensing nozzle can be immobilized in rotation relative to the ferrule of mounting, by means of one or more notches, formed by the mounting band (respectively, the tip), and able (s) to engage in a corresponding number grooves formed by the dispensing nozzle (respectively, the hoop of mounting). The assembly operation of the dispensing head, and in particular the setting concordance of the notches with the grooves, is all the easier to obtain than their number is large. As an indicative example, their number ranges from 2 to 6, and preferably from 2 to 4.

The dispensing nozzle may comprise an element, in particular in the form of a ring collar, which, in cooperation with a corresponding portion of the frette, forbidden to separate the dispensing tip from the rest of the head of distribution. In addition, this annular element, when actuating the element of tipping distribution, may come into engagement with said portion corresponding to the fret, and act in the manner of a lever arm. We facilitate still the distribution of the product.

The suitable means, in the targeted position of the hood, to prevent the actuation of the distribution element, may consist of an edge, in particular an annular edge, and which, in the screwed position of the hood on the dispensing nozzle, is substantially in contact with the mounting band. The term "substantially" reflects the fact that the existing clearance between the annular edge of the hood and the mounting band is less than the stroke necessary to cause the opening of the distribution element. Such play, when the dispensing element is a valve, may be of the order of 0.5 mm.

Preferably, the hood is configured so that, in the screwed-on position the tip, a portion of the cover is in engagement with the dispensing orifice to seal the latter tightly. Because the hood is screwed directly on the dispensing nozzle, the risks of inadvertent actuation of the distribution element when mounting the hood on the latter, are reduced by sensitive manner and regardless of the degree of commitment of the hood with dispensing orifice. Thus, the problem associated with manufacturing tolerances of parts.

The device according to the invention can be used in particular for conditioning and the distribution under pressure of a cosmetic product, in particular of care, makeup, personal hygiene, hair care or skin protection against harmful effects of solar radiation.

• les figures 1, 2, 3A-3C sont relatives à un premier mode de réalisation du dispositif selon l'invention; et
• les figures 4A-4B sont relatives à un second 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:

• Figures 1, 2, 3A-3C relate to a first embodiment of the device according to the invention; and
• FIGS. 4A-4B relate to a second embodiment of the device according to the invention.

Figures 1, 2, 3A-3C to which reference is now made represent different views of a packaging and dispensing device 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention.

According to this embodiment, the device 1 comprises a pressurized container 2, aluminum or tinplate, containing the product and a suitable gas to pressurize the product. The container 2 is surmounted by a valve 11 of the type to failover. The valve 11 comprises a valve stem 12 emerging outside of the valve. The container 2 is equipped with a dispensing head 10 for the actuation of the valve 11 and the distribution of the product under pressure.

The dispensing head 10 comprises a mounting band 13 mounted by snap fastening on the crimping bead 14 of the valve 11. The hoop assembly 13 mainly comprises a cylindrical skirt 15 with one end is open, and the other end has an annular flange 16 delimiting an opening 17. The inner surface of the skirt 15 is provided with a bead detent 18 of the hoop 13 on the crimping bead 14 of the valve.

On the valve stem 12, is mounted tightly, a dispensing nozzle 20 crossed by a channel 21 disposed in the axis X of the valve 11. The channel 21, in its end opposite the valve stem 12 opens on a dispensing orifice 22. The tip 20 is of section gradually increasing between the orifice of distribution 22 and the thread 31 provided opposite the dispensing orifice.

As it clearly appears on the exploded view of Figure 2 as well as on the view detail of FIG. 3C, the dispensing nozzle 20 is coupled in rotation with the mounting band 13 via an arrangement consisting of a plurality of notches 23 formed on the inner surface of the mounting band 13, and able to engage in grooves 24 of corresponding geometry, formed by the outer surface of the dispensing nozzle 20.

The dispensing nozzle 20, at its end opposite the dispensing orifice 22 forms a transverse flange 25 turned towards the outside, and whose diameter maximum is greater than the inside diameter of the annular flange 16 of the ferrule 13. Thus, the collar 25 prevents the dispensing tip 20 from being able to be disconnected from the rest of the dispensing head.

Directly on the dispensing nozzle 20 is screwed a cover 30 of flared profile, similar to the profile of the dispensing nozzle 20. For this purpose, the nozzle of distribution 20 has on its outer surface, near its end opposite to the orifice 22, a thread 31 capable of cooperating with a thread corresponding 32 formed on the inner surface of the hood 30, in the vicinity of its open end.

In the screwed position of the hood, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A, the edge 33 delimiting the open end of the hood 30, is almost in contact with the rim ring 16 of the mounting band 13, so that in this mounted position of the cover 30, it can not tilt substantially around the axis X of the valve 11, thus avoiding any risk of inadvertent actuation of the valve 11 when the device is in the storage or transport position.

In the screwed position of the cap 30 on the dispensing nozzle 20, a bead 34 formed by the bottom 35 of the hood, is in sealed engagement with the orifice of distribution 22 of the dispensing nozzle 20, thus avoiding between two uses, any risk of clogging of the dispensing orifice 22 or the channel 21 by the product residual at this location. This characteristic is particularly advantageous for products of high viscosity. In addition, this waterproof closure of the dispensing orifice 22 by means of the bead 34, in the case of products easily oxidized, avoids the deterioration of any residual product inside the channel 21.

In order to use the device according to the invention, the user unscrews the hood 30. She puts the dispensing orifice 22 on the surface to be treated, and moves the device 1 relative to said surface. Such support causes the switchover of the valve stem 12, the opening of the valve 11, and the outlet of the product through the orifice 22, via the axial channel 21. Such an open configuration of the valve 11, in tilted position of the tip 20 and the valve stem 12, is shown in FIG. Figure 3B.

After use, it adjusts the cover 30 on the dispensing tip 20, the screwing movement generating no stress likely to cause the tilting of the valve stem 12. The screwing continues until the edge 33 of the cover 30 arrives at the close vicinity of the annular rim 16 of the hoop mounting (Figure 3A). The complete screwing of the cover 30 on the tip of distribution 20 is facilitated by the rotational coupling of the dispensing nozzle 20 and the mounting band 13, which itself is stationary in rotation by relative to the container 2.

The embodiment of FIGS. 4A and 4B differs from the embodiment previous in that the valve 11 is of the depression type. The tip of distribution 20 form two "ears" 26, 27 so as to allow actuation of the valve by an axial displacement of the nozzle 20 towards the container 2 (see Figure 4B). The profile of the cover is different from the profile of the cover of the preceding embodiment so that, when screwing the cover on the endpiece 20 (Figure 4A), the cover 30 does not come into engagement with the ears of the tip 20, which engagement would be likely to cause a inadvertent actuation of the valve 11.

The device 1 is also in all respects identical to that of the mode of previous realization.

In particular, when the cover 30 is screwed onto the dispensing nozzle 20, there is substantially no risk of inadvertent actuation of the valve 11, no stress generated by the screwing movement being liable to cause such an actuation. The coupling in rotation of the hoop 13 and the tip of distribution 20 allows a large tightening of the cap 30 on the tip 20, which tightening guarantees a good sealing on closing. In the screwed position of the cover 30 on the tip 20, the edge 33 of the cover 30 is substantially in contact with the flange 16 of the hoop 13, making it once again impossible the actuation of the valve 11.

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 (14)

1. Device (1) for packaging and dispensing a product, particularly a cosmetic product, under pressure, comprising a receptacle (2) containing the product, said receptacle being surmounted by a dispensing element (11), particularly a valve, and by a dispensing head (10) for the actuation of the dispensing element, and the dispensing of the product via at least one dispensing orifice (22), the dispensing head comprising: a) an assembly band (13), integral with the receptacle; b) a dispensing nozzle (20) forming a channel (21) emerging on said dispensing orifice, said nozzle (20) being capable, in response to an actuation command, of being displaced so as to give rise to the actuation of the dispensing element (11); and c) a cap (30) screwed onto the dispensing nozzle and comprising means (33) capable, in the screwed-on position of the cap, of preventing the actuation of the dispensing element (11), characterized in that the nozzle (20) is immovable in rotation relative to the assembly band (13).
2. Device (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the dispensing nozzle (20) includes a thread (31) capable of interacting with a corresponding thread (32) of the cap (30), said thread (31) being formed on a portion of the nozzle of larger cross section than the cross section of a free end of the nozzle where the dispensing orifice (22) emerges.
3. Device (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the thread (31) of the nozzle (20) is separated from the dispensing orifice (22) by at least a portion with a cross section which increases progressively in the direction of the thread (31) and/or by at least one shoulder.
4. Device (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the thread (32) of the cap (30) is provided on the inner surface of an outer lateral wall of the cap (30).
5. Device (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the dispensing nozzle (20) is formed from a piece distinct from the assembly band (13).
6. Device (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the dispensing element consists of a valve (11), the product being pressurized inside the receptacle (2).
7. Device (1) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the valve (11) is of the rocking type, capable of being actuated in response to a pressure transverse to a longitudinal axis (X) of said valve.
8. Device (1) according to Claim 6,
   characterized in that the valve (11) is of the push-in type, capable of being actuated in response to a pressure oriented axially relative to said valve (11).
9. Device (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the assembly band (13) is mounted securely on the receptacle (2), particularly by clamping snap-fitting.
10. Device (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the dispensing nozzle (20) is immobilized in rotation relative to the assembly band by means of one or more notches (23) formed by the assembly band (13), or the nozzle (20), respectively, and capable of engaging in a corresponding number of grooves (24) formed by the dispensing nozzle (20), or the assembly band (13), respectively.
11. Device (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the means which are capable, in the screwed-on position of the cap, of preventing the actuation of the dispensing element consist of an edge (33) of the cap (30), particularly an annular edge, which, in the screwed-on position of the cap (30) on the dispensing nozzle, is in contact with the assembly band (13).
12. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cap (30) is configured such that, in the screwed-on position on the nozzle (20), a portion (34) of the cap is in engagement with the dispensing orifice (22) in order to close off the latter in a leaktight manner.
13. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dispensing nozzle (20) includes an element (25), particularly in the form of an annular collar, which, in interaction with a corresponding portion (16) of the band (13), prevents detachment of the dispensing nozzle (20) from the rest of the dispensing head (10).
14. Use of a device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims for the packaging and dispensing of a cosmetic product, particularly a care, make-up, body-hygiene, hair-care or sun-screen product, under pressure.

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