Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B17/00—Apparatus for spraying or atomising liquids or other fluent materials, not covered by the preceding groups
  • B05B17/04—Apparatus for spraying or atomising liquids or other fluent materials, not covered by the preceding groups operating with special methods
  • B05B17/06—Apparatus for spraying or atomising liquids or other fluent materials, not covered by the preceding groups operating with special methods using ultrasonic or other kinds of vibrations
  • B05B17/0607—Apparatus for spraying or atomising liquids or other fluent materials, not covered by the preceding groups operating with special methods using ultrasonic or other kinds of vibrations generated by electrical means, e.g. piezoelectric transducers
  • B05B17/0638—Apparatus for spraying or atomising liquids or other fluent materials, not covered by the preceding groups operating with special methods using ultrasonic or other kinds of vibrations generated by electrical means, e.g. piezoelectric transducers spray being produced by discharging the liquid or other fluent material through a plate comprising a plurality of orifices
  • B05B17/0646—Vibrating plates, i.e. plates being directly subjected to the vibrations, e.g. having a piezoelectric transducer attached thereto
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L9/00—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air
  • A61L9/015—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone
  • A61L9/04—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone using substances evaporated in the air without heating
  • A61L9/12—Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L9/00—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air
  • A61L9/14—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B12/00—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area
  • B05B12/08—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means
  • B05B12/12—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus
  • B05B12/122—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus responsive to presence or shape of target
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
  • B65D83/14—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant
  • B65D83/16—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant characterised by the actuating means
  • B65D83/26—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant characterised by the actuating means operating automatically, e.g. periodically
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D2200/00—Details not otherwise provided for in A45D
  • A45D2200/20—Additional enhancing means
  • A45D2200/207—Vibration, e.g. ultrasound

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a fluid dispenser
• I comprising a reservoir intended to contain fluid and a mechanical, but preferably electromechanical, distribution member.
• the dispensing member can be mounted on an opening of the reservoir, or as a variant, the dispensing member can simply communicate with the opening of the reservoir by means of a supply conduit for withdrawing fluid from the reservoir.
• This is a completely conventional dispenser design as described for example in document EP-0 615 470, in which the dispensing member uses a perforated vibrating membrane advantageously driven by a piezoelectric element.
• a dispenser is described in particular in document WO 01/34 307.
• the documents of the aforementioned prior art they are electromechanical distribution members whose actuation is possible by pressing an actuation button.
• the actuation button has the effect of closing the electrical circuit and thus allowing the supply of electricity by means of vibration.
• the vibration means vibrate the perforated membrane or the chamber membrane so as to dispense a dose of fluid product in the form of a dispensing spray which the user will naturally direct towards a target so that the distribution spray hits this target.
• the purpose of the present invention is to influence the actuation or the diffusion spray depending on the target.
• the present invention provides detection means capable of detecting at least one physical characteristic of the target on which the fluid is intended to be distributed, said detector, after detection of said at least one physical characteristic of the target, triggering or influencing the dispensing spray.
• detection means can somehow serve as an "immaterial” actuation button, or alternatively, the detection means can serve to modify the dispensing spray after pressing an actuation button on the dispenser.
• the detection means fulfill a similar purpose, namely to influence the operation of the dispenser in response to a physical characteristic of the target which will enter the detection field of the detection means.
• the physical characteristic is the distance separating the distribution outlet from the target.
• the detection means can trigger the dispensing spray. Additionally or alternatively, the detection means can influence the shape of the dispensing spray, advantageously as a function of the distance from the target. Similarly, the detection means can influence the distribution rate advantageously as a function of the distance to the target. The detection means can also influence the actuation frequency of the dispensing member.
• the detection means can quite simply serve to detect the presence of a target within a predetermined distance field, for example from 5 to 30 cm, and in response to the detection of the presence of the target, the detection means send an actuation signal which triggers the emission of a dispensing spray.
• the detection means simply replace a manual actuation button when the distributor is placed near a target.
• the detection means can also serve to influence the general shape of the dispensing spray by increasing or decreasing, for example, its width or its diameter at the level of the target.
• the physical characteristic can also be chosen from the group consisting of the humidity of the target, the color of the target, the light intensity of the target, the presence of a certain substance in the target, the content of the target in a certain substance, the temperature of the target.
• detection means can for example detect a particular type of skin and then adjust the flow rate of the dispensing spray in the case of a sprayable sunscreen.
• One can also detect, for example, the moisture content of hair for the application of a hair care product such as a conditioner.
• the applications are many and diverse.
• FIG. 1 is a front view of a dispenser produced according to the present invention, showing in dotted lines certain internal constituent elements of the dispenser, and
• FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the dispenser of Figure 1.
• the dispenser shown here comprises a fluid reservoir 2 in the form of a flexible deformable pocket fixed on a pocket support piece 3 which defines an opening 30 for the reservoir.
• the characteristic of such a flexible pocket 2 is to deform by crushing on itself as fluid is extracted from it through the opening 30.
• the flexible pocket 2 with its pocket support 3 is mounted in a rigid shell 1 which is presented here in two shell parts 11 and 12 attached to one another and fixed to one another by means of a fastening system.
• the bottom of the flexible bag 2 is wedged between the two shell parts 11 and 12.
• the support part 3 is fixedly held between the two shell parts 11 and 12.
• the two shell parts 11 and 12 each form a through window 110 and 120 so that the walls of the flexible bag 2 are visible at this location.
• the dispensing member is in the form of a vibrating membrane 61 perforated with a network of holes 62 as can be seen in Figure 1.
• This membrane can be made of a flexible deformable material, but still having a certain resilience to rigidity.
• a very thin metal plate can form the membrane.
• vibration means 63 are provided which can be in the form of a piezoelectric element.
• this supply conduit 15 contains a capillary wick 51 which makes it possible to supply the fluid product by capillary action up to the rear face of the perforated membrane 61.
• the shell 1 contains a housing for batteries 72 as well as an actuation button 73.
• the piezoelectric element 63 is supplied, which has the effect to bring the vibrating membrane 61 into vibration.
• fluid is dispensed in the form of a dispensing spray which the user directs towards a target so as to apply fluid to this target.
• this target can be very diverse in nature: it can indeed be an object, such as a shirt or scarf, but it can also be the skin of an individual.
• the target is nothing other than the air surrounding the dispenser. This is the case for a room fragrance or a humidifier.
• detection means 7 capable of detecting at least one physical characteristic of the target on which the fluid is intended to be distributed, said detector, after detection of the desired physical characteristic or characteristics of the target , triggering or influencing the dispensing spray.
• detection means 7 can for example be present in the form of a detection cell advantageously placed near the dispensing outlet which is here in the form of the vibrating perforated membrane 61. In the example shown in the figures, this detection cell 7 is placed just below the vibrating membrane 61.
• This detection cell 7 is advantageously coupled to an integrated control circuit 71 which makes it possible to directly activate the actuation of the dispenser without pressing the actuation button 73.
• This integrated control circuit 71 can also influence the dispensing spray by modifying, for example, the shape of the spray, the dispensing rate of the spray or even the actuation frequency of the dispensing member. 'It is of course imaginable that the integrated control circuit 71 could influence other parameters of the distribution.
• the integrated control circuit 71 will thus trigger the actuation and / or modify the parameters of the dispensing spray in response to a signal delivered by the detection cell 7 when the latter has detected the desired physical characteristic of the target. In one embodiment, this physical characteristic of the target can simply be the distance which separates the target from the detection cell 7.
• the detection cell 7 i can thus deliver the control signal to the integrated circuit 71 when a target material will be present within a determined distance range in front of the detection cell 7. This is a simple presence detection, and not of distance, since the detection cell 7 will send the control signal as soon as a target will be present in the range which can for example cover approximately
• the detection cell 7 can measure the distance which separates it from the target and send a control signal corresponding to the control circuit 71.
• the cell will send an appropriate control signal to the control circuit 71 which will then influence, for example, the shape of the spray or the delivery rate.
• the detection means can also detect other physical characteristics such as for example the humidity of the target, the color of the target, the light intensity of the target, the presence of a certain substance in the target, the content of the target in a certain substance, the temperature of the target.
• the detection cell can detect other physical characteristics such as for example the humidity of the target, the color of the target, the light intensity of the target, the presence of a certain substance in the target, the content of the target in a certain substance, the temperature of the target.
• the detection means 7 detects both the distance and the humidity level of the target, and the integrated control circuit 71 influences the delivery rate.
• the detection means 7 can simply measure the humidity level of the surrounding air and trigger the distribution of the fluid product when the humidity level drops below a certain level.
• the detection means simply serve as triggering means such as a manual push button after having measured the humidity of the ambient air.
• the dispenser is a portable or mobile vaporizer which the user grasps with one hand to bring it closer to the desired target.
• the present invention can however be applied to fixed distribution systems, such as fixed promotional distributors in perfume stores or distribution gantries through which the target is moved or is moving. In this case, the target is closer to the distributor. ;
• the spirit of the invention lies in the fact of using various detection means to measure or capture parameters specific to the target to be reached to influence or trigger the operation of a fluid dispenser.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
• Special Spraying Apparatus (AREA)
• Spray Control Apparatus (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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• 2001
  • 2001-12-04 FR FR0115655A patent/FR2832987B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2002
  • 2002-12-02 US US10/497,652 patent/US20050211797A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-12-02 EP EP02799765A patent/EP1461271A1/de not_active Ceased
  • 2002-12-02 WO PCT/FR2002/004130 patent/WO2003048005A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2002-12-02 JP JP2003549207A patent/JP2005511277A/ja not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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