EP1400465B1 - Variable-delivery tiilt valve as well as container having such valve - Google Patents

Abstract

The valve (10) for dispensing a product contained in a pressurized container (20) comprises a longitudinal axis (X) and an opening/closing element (14) which in response to a force transmitted laterally to the axis moves from a closed to open position where the product is dispensed at a first flow rate. In response to a force transmitted to the element parallel to the axis the element moves to a second opening position and the product is dispensed at a second flow rate, different to the first. The opening/closing element consists of a valve rod (14) having a portion emerging outside the valve body (11). The valve rod has an axial channel (18) discharging outside the valve body via an outlet orifice (18a) and via two inlet orifices (18b,18c) which, in the closed position, are isolated from the valve body.

Description

The present invention relates to a valve for equipping a pressurized container. Such valves are used in particular in the field of cosmetics for the distribution of hair products (lacquers, styling sprays, etc.) of personal care products, make-up products, or products protecting against the harmful effects. of the sun.

Such valves, in a most common configuration, comprise a valve body within which is mounted an opening / closing member in the form of a valve stem, a portion of which emerges outside the valve body . The valve stem is able to slide sealingly into engagement with a sealing member in the form of an annular seal.

The valve stem is traversed by an axial channel, one end of which opens axially outside the valve body, and is intended to be placed in communication with a passage passing through an actuating member of the valve comprising at least one orifice of exit.

The other end of the channel opens radially via an inlet orifice, or several inlet orifices arranged in the same axial position.

In the closed position of the valve, the (or) inlet (s) is (are) opposite the sealing element.

In response to an actuation command, the valve sinks axially, and the inlet port (s) of the valve stem is (are) brought into communication with the pressurized product within the valve body. The product is then conveyed, via the valve stem and the passage passing through the actuating member, to the dispensing orifice. In the case of a valve with several inlet ports, these are placed in communication simultaneously with the valve body.

When the actuation command stops, a spring contained within the valve body recalls the valve stem in the closed position. The distribution of the product is interrupted.

Some valves, in addition to actuating in response to axial movement, may be actuated in response to a force exerted laterally to the valve stem. Such valves are called "tilting".

For some valves, called "females" the opening / closing element does not emerge outside the valve body. In this case, a portion of the actuating member is engaged within the valve body, and controls the opening or closing of the valve.

A valve in a different configuration is described for example in the patent FR 2,725,182. In this document, the valve body is crossed by a purge port for the distribution, together with the product, or separate, propellant.

For all these known valves, the actuation control causes a movement of the opening / closing element, and its passage from a closed position to an open position in which the product is dispensed at a determined rate and unique.

For the first type of valve, it is the section of the inlet orifice (s), and / or their number, which determines the output flow rate. For a valve of the type described in FR 2,725,182, mentioned above, it is the depth and / or the width, and / or the number of grooves formed on the inner surface of the valve body.

Thus, in the field of styling products, for a lacquer, a container equipped with a valve allowing a first flow is used. When it comes to spraying the product in the form of a spray, using another container equipped with another valve for a second flow, greater than the first.

Two separate devices are required when the user wants to be able to choose between two different spray modes of the same product.

Variable flow valves are described in US-A-3,292,827, US-A-3,195,569 and US-B-6,296,155. By their configuration, the two positions with different rates are very close to each other. In particular, the two flows are obtained by transmitting to the valve stem a force in the same direction, more precisely by more or less significant depression of the valve stem.

US 4,139,128 discloses a variable flow tilt valve. This valve comprises a valve stem through which a channel opens, on the one hand, on an outlet port of the product and, on the other hand, on an inlet passage of the product delimited between two parts of the valve stem. When axially pressing the valve stem, this passage is communicated with the pressurized product within the valve body. When the valve stem is tilted, the two parts of the valve stem that delimit the product inlet passage apart from each other so as to enlarge the passage. Again, the two flows obtained are not clearly distinct.

Also, is it an object of the invention to provide a valve capable of dispensing a product at different flow rates, depending on the desired spray characteristics, clearly distinguishing the actuating movements to distribute the product according to different flows.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device that is simple and economical to produce.

Still other objects will appear in the following detailed description.

According to the invention, these objects are achieved by providing a tilt type valve for dispensing a product contained in a pressurized container, said valve having a longitudinal axis X and comprising a single opening / closing member provided with at least two inlet ports, the opening / closing element being adapted, in response to a force transmitted to the opening / closing element laterally to the X axis, to move from a closed position at a first open position in which the pressurized product is dispensed at a first rate, and which, in response to a force transmitted to the opening / closing element parallel to the X axis, is able to move from the closed position to a second open position in which the product is dispensed at a second rate, different from the first.

The two open positions are positions each authorizing a different delivery rate, each of which can be obtained under normal conditions of use by manual actuation, particularly with the finger, and can be maintained as long as desired.

Thus, in the case for example of a styling product, in a first open position, the product is distributed in a relatively low flow, in the form of a lacquer. In a second open position, the product is distributed at a higher rate in the form of a spray. The same device can then be used for both distribution modes.

The movement to actuate the opening / closing element to dispense the product at a first rate is relatively different from that for dispensing the product at the second rate. Indeed, when the element opening / closing is directly accessible by the user, the force transmitted to the opening / closing element, is the force exerted by the user directly on the opening / closing element. In this case, the first rate is obtained by flipping the opening / closing element while the second rate is obtained by depressing it, which allows the user to easily differentiate the two rates. In the case where the opening / closing element is surmounted by an actuating member, for example a push-button, the force transmitted to the opening / closing element is that transmitted by the push button in response to the force exerted by the user on the push button. The two flows can also be easily identified by identifying for example two distinct surfaces on the push-button, a first surface for transmitting to the opening / closing element a force laterally to the X axis, and a second surface allowing to transmit to the opening / closing element a force parallel to the axis X.

In addition, the use of two separate inlet ports makes it possible to differentiate between the two flows.

The valve may be in communication with the product via a dip tube, the product then being propelled by means of a liquefied or compressed gas. Alternatively, the product is contained inside a pocket with flexible walls, outside of which is the propellant gas.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the opening / closing element may consist of a valve stem, a portion of which emerges outside a valve body, said valve stem being traversed by a axial channel opening, on the one hand, outside the valve body via an outlet orifice and, on the other hand, via at least two inlet ports which, in the closed position, are isolated from the valve body .

The valve may comprise a sealing element, in particular in the form of an annular seal, disposed inside said valve body, and the valve stem may comprise an annular portion disposed inside the valve body, said annular portion being provided with a lip adapted, in the closed position, to bear against the sealing element so as to define, with said sealing element, an annular space isolated from the valve body, a first orifice entrance opening into the annular space.

At least a second inlet orifice, opens laterally opposite said sealing member, in the closed position.

The first and second inlet ports may be of identical sections, or of different sections.

From a practical point of view, the flow rate is not necessarily a direct function of the number and size of the orifices. Indeed, in the case where the product enters the valve stem via at least two separate orifices, the product flows via the different orifices may, depending on the relative position of the orifices, interfere with each other, so that the resulting flow may be different from the sum of the flow rates specific to each orifice, taken independently.

The first and second inlet ports may be at different angular positions. This configuration makes it possible to reduce the transient phenomena between the flow rates corresponding to each of the opening positions.

According to another aspect of the invention, a device is provided for packaging and dispensing a product, in particular a cosmetic product, the device comprising a pressurized container containing the product to be dispensed, and equipped with a valve according to the present invention.

The product can be pressurized with compressed or liquefied gas. The propellant may be in contact with the product or separated from the latter by a piston or a flexible bag inside which is disposed the product.

The device may further comprise a member for actuating the valve and dispensing the pressurized product via at least one dispensing orifice situated for example inside a nozzle, in particular a swirling nozzle.

The actuating member may comprise two separate bearing surfaces for actuating the valve, a first bearing surface for axially moving the opening / closing element and a second bearing surface for moving laterally the opening / closing element. The first bearing surface may for example be a surface passing in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis X. The second bearing surface may for example pass in a plane parallel to the axis X or a surface passing through a plane substantially perpendicular to the X axis formed at a distance from the X axis and which does not contain it.

The device according to the invention can advantageously be used for packaging and dispensing under pressure a cosmetic product, in particular a hair product, a personal care product, a make-up product, a cosmetic product or a cosmetic product. skin care product or a protective product against the harmful effects of the sun.

• la figure 1 illustre une vue d'ensemble d'un dispositif de conditionnement et de distribution selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 représente une vue éclatée du dispositif illustré à la figure 1 ;
• les figures 3A à 3C représentent en coupe partielle le dispositif illustré à la figure 1 dans différentes positions ;
• la figure 4 représente en coupe partielle une variante du dispositif représenté sur les figures 1 à 3C ; et
• la figure 5 représente une variante de l'élément d'ouverture/fermeture du dispositif selon l'invention.

The invention consists, apart from the arrangements set out 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:

• Figure 1 illustrates an overview of a packaging and dispensing device according to the invention;
• Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the device shown in Figure 1;
• Figures 3A to 3C show in partial section the device shown in Figure 1 in different positions;
• Figure 4 shows a partial sectional view of a variant of the device shown in Figures 1 to 3C; and
• FIG. 5 represents a variant of the opening / closing element of the device according to the invention.

The device 100 shown as a whole in FIG. 1 comprises a cylindrical container 20, in particular made of aluminum or tinplate, and surmounted by a head 30 for the actuation of a valve 10 (which will be described in detail later) and for the distribution of a composition, in particular capillary, through a dispensing orifice 31. The dispensing head 30 comprises two bearing surfaces 32 and 33 for actuating the valve. A removable cap 40 covers the dispensing head 30.

As seen in more detail in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the valve 10 is mounted on a cup 60, which is expanded on a rolled edge of an aluminum container 20. The latter is only partially shown.

The valve 10, with a longitudinal axis X, comprises a cylindrical valve body 11, one end of which terminates in an axial chimney 12 on which is mounted a plunger tube 50.

The other end of the valve body 11 is closed by the valve holder cup 60, sealing at the closure being provided by an annular seal 13 whose thickness is about 1 mm. An annular ring 11a formed inside the valve body 11 in the vicinity of the cup 60 is sealingly applied against the inner surface of the seal 13, thus ensuring both a holding in position thereof and the required sealing. Inside the annular seal 13 slides axially a valve stem 14, a portion 14a emerges outside the valve body.

A portion 14b of the valve stem 14 is located within the valve body 11, and includes an annular portion 15 whose periphery is provided with a lip 15a. A spring 16, in the absence of stress exerted on the valve stem, constrains the free end of the annular lip 15a in sealing engagement against the seal 13 so that an annular space 17 is delimited by the annular portion 15, the lip 15a and the annular seal 13.

The valve stem 14 is traversed axially by a channel 18 whose one end opens out of the valve body via an axial orifice 18a. The channel 18, in the vicinity of its other end opens radially via two orifices 18b and 18c. A first orifice 18b opens into the annular space 17 in the closed position of the valve (FIG. 3A). A second orifice 18c is in sealing engagement against the inner edge of the annular seal 13 in the closed position of the valve.

According to the illustrated example, the orifices 18b and 18c are of identical section and occupy substantially the same angular position. The diameter of the orifices 18b, 18c is of the order of 0.2 to 0.6 mm. They are located axially at about 1.5 mm from each other. However, it is obvious that the two orifices may have different sections, and / or be spaced angularly.

As it appears in FIGS. 3B and 3C, on the emergent portion 14a of the valve stem 14, a dispensing head 30 is force-fitted in the form of a push button. The dispensing head 30 is traversed by a passage 34, one end of which is in communication with the channel 18 of the valve stem. The other end of the passage 34 opens, via a dispensing orifice 31, delimited, for example, by a vortex channel nozzle (which is not shown in detail).

The dispensing head comprises a first bearing surface 32 formed at a distance from the X axis and which makes it possible to actuate the valve by tilting. The dispensing head has a second bearing surface 33, passing through the X axis of the valve stem and preferably perpendicular to this axis X, which allows to actuate the valve by axial depression.

By exerting a force F1 on the surface 32 of the dispensing head (FIG. 3B), a lateral force is transmitted to the valve stem 14 so that it is tilted relative to the axis X. The annular lip 15a away from the seal 13, along a certain angular extent, which allows to establish a communication between the interior of the valve body and the annular space 17 and therefore between the inside of the valve body and the inside of the stem 14 via the orifice 18b. The orifice 18c remains opposite the seal 13. The product contained in the valve body engulfs in the channel 18 of the valve stem 14 via the orifice 18b only. It goes up in the passage 34 of the dispensing head 30 and leaves in the form of a cloud of fine droplets, via the orifice 31, at a flow rate of about 0.4 g / s.

By exerting a force F2 on the surface 33 of the dispensing head (FIG. 3C), the valve stem penetrates axially by a distance such that the orifice 18c is no longer opposite the annular seal 13. , the annular lip 15a deviates from the seal 13, over its entire circumference. The product rushes into the channel 18 of the valve stem via the two orifices 18b and 18c. It is then dispensed via the dispensing orifice 31, for example in the form of a spray, at a rate substantially greater than the flow rate of FIG. 3B, ie a flow rate of approximately 1.0 g / s.

From one or other of the actuating positions of FIG. 3B or 3C, releasing the pressure on the dispensing head, the spring 16 causes the valve stem 14 to rise to its position in FIG. 3A. The distribution of the product is interrupted.

According to a variant shown in Figure 4, the channel 18 of the valve stem 14 opens radially via a third port 18d, angularly offset from the orifice 18c. The third port 18d is also in engagement sealed against the inner edge of the annular seal 13 in the closed position of the valve. The valve 10 is also identical in all respects to that of the previous embodiment.

According to this variant, by exerting a force on the surface 32 of the dispensing head, a lateral force is transmitted to the valve stem 14 so that it is tilted relative to the axis X. As previously, the annular lip 15a away from the seal 13 which makes it possible to establish communication between the inside of the valve body and the inside of the rod 14 via the orifice 18b. The orifices 18c and 18d remain opposite the seal 13. The product engulfs in the channel 18 of the valve stem 14, via the orifice 18b only, and is distributed, via the orifice 31, in a first rate.

By axially exerting a moderate force on the surface 33 of the dispensing head, the valve stem sinks by a distance such that the orifice 18c is no longer opposite the annular seal 13 while the orifice 18d remains facing the seal 13. The product contained in the valve body engulfs in the channel 18 of the valve stem 14 via the orifices 18b and 18c and is distributed, via the orifice 31, in a second flow.

By exerting a slightly stronger axial force on the surface 33 of the dispensing head, the valve sinks a greater distance so that the orifice 18d leaves its sealing engagement position with the seal 13. product then engulfs in the channel 18 of the valve stem via the three orifices 18a, 18b and 18c. It is then distributed via the dispensing orifice 31, in a flow rate substantially higher than the second flow rate.

In replacement of the two orifices 18c and 18d, it is possible to use an orifice 18e of triangular shaped section, as shown in FIG. 5. The width of the orifice 18e decreases progressively toward the bottom of the container. This orifice 18e is also in sealing engagement against the inner edge of the annular seal 13 in the closed position of the valve.

According to this variant, by exerting axially a moderate force on the bearing surface 33 of the dispensing head 30, the valve stem 14 sinks a distance such that only a portion of small width of the orifice 18e is no longer facing the annular seal 13. The upper part of the orifice 18e (that is to say, its portion of greater width) remains opposite the seal 13. The product contained in the valve body engulfs in the channel 18 of the valve stem 14 via the lower part of the orifice 18e and through the orifice 18b. It goes up in the passage 34 of the dispensing head 30 and leaves in the form of a cloud of fine droplets via the orifice 31. The dispensing flow rate is relatively low.

The greater the force exerted on the dispensing head 30, the higher the flow rate, until it reaches a position in which the entire orifice 18e is no longer opposite the seal 13. In this position , the product is distributed at a rate substantially higher than the previous flow.

Alternatively, the orifice 18e may be of oblong section and of substantially constant width over its entire height. In this alternative, at the same height of the orifice 18e, the flow difference between the two positions is smaller than in the case of a triangular orifice.

In the foregoing detailed description, reference has been made to preferred embodiments of the invention. It is obvious that variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Claims (11)

1. Valve (10) of tilt type for dispensing a product contained in a pressurized container (20), said valve including a longitudinal axis X and comprising a single opening/closure element (14) provided with at least two entry orifices (18b, 18c; 18d; 18e), the opening/closure element (14) being capable, in response to a force transmitted to the opening/closure element (14), laterally to the axis X, of being displaced from a closed position to a first open position, in which the pressurized product is dispensed as a first flow, and which, in response to a force transmitted to the opening/closure element (14), parallel to the axis X, is capable of being displaced from the closed position to a second open position, in which the product is dispensed as a second flow, different from the first flow.
2. Valve according to Claim 1, characterized in that the opening/closure element (14) consists of a valve stem of which a portion (14a) emerges outside a valve body (11), said valve stem (14) being traversed by an axial channel (18) opening out, on the one hand, outside the valve body via an exit orifice (18a) and, on the other hand, via at least two entry orifices (18b, 18c; 18d; 18e) , which, in the closed position, are isolated from the valve body.
3. Valve according to Claim 2, characterized in that it includes a sealing element (13), particularly in the form of an annular seal, arranged inside said valve body, and in that the valve stem (14) includes an annular portion (15) arranged inside the valve body, said annular portion being provided with a lip (15a) capable, in the closed position, of bearing on the sealing element (13) so as to define, together with said sealing element, an annular space (17) isolated from the valve body, a first entry orifice (18b) opening out inside the annular space (17).
4. Valve according to Claim 3, characterized in that at least a second entry orifice (18c; 18d; 18e) opens out laterally opposite said sealing element (13) in the closed position.
5. Valve according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first (18b) and second (18d) entry orifices are in different angular positions.
6. Valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first (18b) and second (18c; 18d) entry orifices have identical sections.
7. Valve according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first (18b) and second (18e) entry orifices have different sections.
8. Device (100) for packaging and dispensing a product, particularly a cosmetic product, the device comprising a pressurized container (20) containing the product to be dispensed and equipped with a valve (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.
9. Device according to Claim 8, characterized in that it also comprises a member for actuating (30) the valve and dispensing of the pressurized product via at least one dispensing orifice (31) located, for example, inside a nozzle, particularly a swirl-effect nozzle.
10. Device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the actuating member includes two distinct bearing surfaces (32, 33) for actuating the valve, a first bearing surface (32) enabling the opening/closure element to be displaced laterally and a second bearing surface (33) enabling the opening/closure element to be displaced axially.
11. Use of a device (100) according to any one of Claims 8 to 10, for pressurized packaging and dispensing of a cosmetic product, particularly a hair-care product, a body-hygiene product, a make-up product, a skin-care product or a product protecting against the harmful effects of the sun.

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