EP1616813A1 - Device for the distribution of a product - Google Patents

Abstract

A packaging and dispensing device comprises a container containing product to be dispensed under pressure, propellant, and retaining member(s); and a valve coupled the container and including a body having a first passage through which the product enters the valve body when valve is actuated, and a second passage through which the propellant enters the valve body when valve is actuated. A packaging and dispensing device comprises a container (10) containing a product (P) to be dispensed under pressure, a propellant (G) in the form of liquefied gas comprising gaseous and liquid phases, and retaining member(s) (60) partially trapping the liquid phase of propellant and having portion(s) that is permeable to gaseous phase of propellant; and a valve (20) coupled the container and including a body (21) having a first passage through which, when the device is in a first position, the product contained in the container enters the valve body when the valve is actuated, and a second passage through which, when the device is in the first position, the propellant contained in gaseous form enters the valve body when the valve is actuated.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a product, comprising a pressurized container provided with an additional gas-taking valve.

Aerosol dispensing devices are known which consist of a container containing a product in liquid form and a propellant. The container is provided with a valve for the outlet of the pressurized liquid. This valve is fixed on a valve cup, so that the fixed valve body opens into the container and a movable member opens to the outside of the container, the opening of the valve being effected by depression or tilting of the movable element in the valve body. The displacement of the movable member of the valve is generally obtained by means of a push-button, capable of pressing on the movable member of the valve, push button that the user can manually move to actuate the valve. valve. The push button generally comprises an ejection channel of the product to be dispensed and an outlet orifice. A plunger tube may be attached to the valve body to allow the liquid to be dispensed to the valve body to be dispensed, even when the liquid level is low, when dispensing the product is done "upside down".

The aerosol-type devices make it possible to spray the product in the form of a spray or else to dispense product in the form of a foam.

FR 2 114 497 describes for example a device for dispensing shaving foam which comprises a container containing the product to be dispensed and a liquefied propellant. To maintain a sufficient pressure in the container throughout the life of the device, reservoirs are provided inside the container to retain the propellant in concentrated form so as to releasing it as the pressure decreases. with each use.

The devices for spraying the product in the form of a spray can be provided at the valve body with an additional gas inlet (PGA), which makes it possible to take a fraction of the pressurized gas contained in the container. above the product and, therefore, facilitate the ejection of the product to be sprayed and promote the spraying of the product. The additional gas intake is generally in the form of an orifice formed in the valve body, and opening into the upper part of the container which contains the gaseous phase of the propellant used for pressurizing the product. The function of the PGA is to enrich the distributed mixture with gas. Document US 4,417,674 for example describes such a device.

When the thruster is a compressed gas, for example compressed air, it is necessary to have a very large initial pressure to have sufficient pressure at the end of use of the device. Such pressure may be incompatible with legislation in this area. In addition, in the case of a thermoplastic container, the pressure variation that would be generated between the first use and the last, would be detrimental to the overall performance of the device.

Better pressurization is obtained when the propellant is a liquefied gas, namely a gas comprising both a liquid phase and a gaseous phase above the liquid phase.

However, when the propellant in the form of liquefied gas immiscible with the product is in the same container as the product, propellant in liquid form can be distributed especially when the device is in a horizontal position. Indeed, in this position, the end of the dip tube can be immersed in the liquid phase of the propellant so that liquid propellant is sprayed. The thruster then leaves the device in liquid form so that the user does not notice that it distributes propellant instead of the product. A large quantity of propellant can thus escape from the container which can quickly alter the performance of the spray.

If one wants to be able to distribute the product in all the positions, it is necessary to condition the product separately from the thruster intended to keep them under pressure. To do this, the product can be packaged in a pocket with flexible walls, in communication with the valve. The thruster is conditioned in a volume formed between the outer surface of the pocket and the inner wall of the container. Alternatively, the product is kept separate from the propellant by means of a piston, able to slide in sealed support against the inner surface of the container. Such devices having separating elements are relatively expensive.

Also, is it an object of the invention to provide a device for solving all or part of the problems mentioned above with reference to conventional devices.

It is in particular an object of the invention to be able to produce such a device which makes it possible to spray a product in the form of a spray of good quality throughout the period of use of the device.

Still other objects will appear in the following detailed description.

• un récipient contenant :
  • le produit à distribuer sous pression ;
  • un propulseur sous forme d'un gaz liquéfié comportant une phase gazeuse et une phase liquide ;
  • au moins un organe de rétention apte à emprisonner la phase liquide du propulseur, ledit organe de rétention ayant au moins une portion perméable à la phase gazeuse dudit propulseur ;
• une valve surmontant le récipient qui comporte un corps comportant :
  • un premier passage apte, dans une première position du dispositif, à faire entrer le produit contenu dans le récipient à l'intérieur du corps de valve lorsque la valve est actionnée ;
  • un deuxième passage apte, dans la première position du dispositif, à faire entrer le propulseur contenu dans le récipient sous forme gazeuse à l'intérieur du corps de valve lorsque la valve est actionnée.

According to the invention, these objects can be achieved by producing a device for packaging and dispensing under pressure a product, in particular a cosmetic product, comprising:

• a container containing:
  • the product to be dispensed under pressure;
  • a propellant in the form of a liquefied gas comprising a gaseous phase and a liquid phase;
  • at least one retention member adapted to trap the liquid phase of the propellant, said retention member having at least one portion permeable to the gas phase of said propellant;
• a valve surmounting the container which comprises a body comprising:
  • a first passage adapted, in a first position of the device, to bring the product contained in the container inside the valve body when the valve is actuated;
  • a second passage adapted, in the first position of the device, to bring the propellant contained in the gaseous container inside the valve body when the valve is actuated.

By using a propellant in the form of liquefied gas, a single drop of gas is sufficient to pressurize the container. In addition, the liquid phase of the propellant being retained at least partly within the retaining member, the risks are low for the thruster in liquid form is distributed, even in a horizontal position.

The retention member may be configured to absorb the entire liquid phase of the propellant so that the propellant in liquid form can in no case be distributed.

The first passage can be connected to a dip tube, which can extend to the bottom of the container.

The propellant may be selected from the group consisting of alkanes, especially butane, isopropane, isobutane, fluorinated compounds, especially difluoroethane 152a, tetrafluoroethane 134a, and dimethyl ether.

The propellant / product ratio, by weight, is between 10 and 1 inclusive, and preferably between 2 and 1 inclusive.

The retention member may be made of a material and / or with a physical structure chosen according to the nature of the substance or substances contained in the container, in particular the nature of the propellant and the quantity of gas to be released by desorption, taking into account for example the configuration of the valve and the volume that the gas released by desorption is likely to occupy, the pressure in the container.

The retention member may comprise a porous material. The retention member may comprise a material whose chemical nature allows it to absorb a propellant gas contained in the fluid.

The retention member may comprise a cellular material, for example a foam or a sintered material, in particular a high porosity sinter comprising pores of size may vary for example from 5 to 20 microns approximately. This sintered material may be, for example, sintered from high-density polyethylene, polypropylene or PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride).

The retention member may comprise polyamide fibers, especially nylon®.

The retention member may comprise a silicone, especially when the propellant is butane, isobutane, difluoroethane 152a, tetrafluoroethane 134a, dimethylether or a mixture of at least two of these compounds, because of the existing affinity between the silicone and the propellant.

The retention member may be in the form of a free body in the container. Alternatively, the retention member may be fixed inside the container, in particular to the inner wall of the container, for example at the bottom of the container or the dip tube. Means, especially in the form of a stop may be provided for immobilizing the retention member inside the container. Alternatively, the retention member can be glued or welded. Other attachment means can still be envisaged.

The second passage may be an orifice made on the side wall of the valve body. The aforementioned orifice may have a diameter of between 0.1 and 0.5 mm, and preferably between 0.2 and 0.4 mm.

The valve may be configured to be actuated by a depressing movement or alternatively by a tilting movement.

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 container can be made of aluminum or tinplate. Alternatively, the container may be made of thermoplastic material, in particular PET / PEN. Preferably, the container is cylindrical or spherical.

The device according to the invention is particularly useful for packaging and dispensing under pressure of a product forming during dispensing via the valve, a milk or a spray. As illustrations, the product is a deodorant spray, a makeup product, especially a foundation, or a hair application product, especially a styling spray, a lacquer.

• la figure 1 représente en coupe un premier mode de réalisation du dispositif selon l'invention en cours d'utilisation tête en haut ;
• la figure 2 représente une coupe partielle du dispositif de la figure 1 en position fermée ;
• la figure 3 représente en coupe le dispositif de la figure 1 en cours d'utilisation tête en bas ; et
• la figure 4 représente en coupe un deuxième 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:

• Figure 1 shows in section a first embodiment of the device according to the invention in use head up;
• Figure 2 shows a partial section of the device of Figure 1 in the closed position;
• Figure 3 shows in section the device of Figure 1 in use upside down; and
• FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention.

The device 100 shown as a whole in Figure 1 comprises a cylindrical container 10 of tinplate. It is not beyond the scope of the invention using a container made of aluminum or thermoplastic material, in particular PET / PEN.

This container 10 contains a product P to be sprayed under the pressure of a propellant gas G such as isobutane, difluoroethane 152a, tetrafluoroethane 134a or dimethylether, for example.

The container 10 has in the upper part an opening 11 on which is crimped a cup 12, in a conventional manner. A valve 20 is fixed by crimping in a central housing of the cup 12. The other end of the container 10 is closed by a concave bottom.

The valve 20 comprises a valve body 21 defining a chamber 22 in which is engaged a valve stem 23, of longitudinal axis X, able to move in the chamber 22 between a closed position of the valve illustrated in FIG. and an open position illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.

The valve stem 23 is provided at its end emerging from the valve body 21, a push button 30. This push button 30 is provided with an inner channel 31 which opens through a spray orifice 32. This orifice The spray pattern could be defined by one or more vortex channel nozzles, for example, depending, for example, on the type of aerosol desired and the nature of the sprayed product.

An annular seal 33 interposes between the valve body 21 and the cup 12.

A distribution channel 24 is formed in the valve stem 23. This channel opens at one end into the inner channel 31 of the push button 30 and at the other end on a lateral surface of the valve stem 23, through an orifice radial 25.

The valve stem 23 comprises, under the radial orifice 25, an annular portion 26 whose periphery is provided with a lip 26a. A spring 40, in the absence of stress acting on the valve stem, constrains the free end of the annular lip 26a in sealing engagement against the seal 33 so that an annular space 22a is delimited by the annular portion 26, the lip 26a and the annular seal 33, as seen in FIG.

In the closed position of the valve illustrated in Figure 2, the lip 26a is in sealing engagement against the annular seal 33 so that the radial orifice 25 does not communicate with the chamber 22. When tilting the valve stem 23 relative to the X axis, the annular lip 26a departs from the seal 33, following a certain angular extent, which allows to establish a communication between the inside of the valve body and the annular space 22a and therefore between the inside of the valve body and the inside of the rod 23 via the radial orifice 25 The coil spring 40 recalls the valve stem 23 in the closed position when it is released.

The valve stem 23 has in the lower part, under the annular portion 26, a cylindrical portion 27 of axis X serving as a guide to the spring 40.

The valve body 21 comprises in the lower part a tip 28 on which is fixed a first end 51 of a plunger tube 50. The tip 28 opens into the latter through a first passage in the form of a hole 28a of circular section . The second end 52 of the plunger tube 50 is located substantially at the bottom of the tank.

The valve body 21 further comprises a second passage in the form of an orifice 29 for additional gas intake (PGA), the orifice 29 being formed in the side wall of the valve body and opening into the upper part of the container. . The orifice 29 may alternatively be formed in the bottom of the valve body and comprise an axis parallel to the axis X.

The function of the PGA is to enrich the distributed mixture with gas, the mixture of liquid and propellant being formed in the chamber and is fed to the spray orifice when the device is used upside down. It also allows the passage of the product, especially when the device is used upside down.

In the example illustrated, a retention member 60 is formed in the form of free silicone bodies able to absorb the propellant gas in the liquefied state G, because of the affinity existing between the silicone and the propellant. The silicone bodies 60 are free to move inside the container and, in particular, in the liquid product P.

The retention member 60, by desorption of the propellant gas G, increases the pressure inside the container after returning the valve stem 23 in its closed position. The retention member 60 is configured to absorb the entire liquid phase of the propellant to prevent it from being dispensed in liquid form. In addition, the retention member 60 is configured so that the gaseous volume released by desorption is sufficient for the product P is always under pressure throughout the life of the product.

In a particular example, the container contains 30 g of foundation and 60 g of isobutane. The container also contains three silicone blocks totaling a volume of about 20 cm ³ .

To produce the device, the product P is introduced inside the container as well as the silicone blocks. The valve is then crimped onto the cup. Then, via the valve, the quantity of liquefied propellant gas is introduced, which is absorbed and retained in the silicone blocks. Depending on the pressure inside the container, the liquid gas vaporizes above the product, and is distributed in the container thus exerting a pressure on the product P which is thus adequately pressurized.

Each actuation of the valve 20, via the push button 30, the product P comes out under pressure, especially in the form of a spray. With each dispensing of product P, the pressure in the container decreases, which causes the vaporization of a corresponding amount of liquefied gas contained in the silicone blocks, and the maintenance of an adequate pressure throughout the duration of product life.

In the top-up position illustrated in Figure 1, the valve opens in response to the actuation of the push button. The product P is then pushed under the pressure of the thruster, via the dip tube, into the valve. At the same time, the gaseous propellant present in the upper part of the container, above the product P, also arrives in the valve body via the orifice 29 additional gas intake. A product / propellant mixture is then dispensed through the spray orifice 32.

In the upside down position illustrated in FIG. 3, the product arrives this time in the valve via the orifice 29. The thruster in gaseous form present above the product, this time towards the bottom of the container, is conveyed into the body of valve through the dip tube.

However, if the user tries to actuate the valve when the device is in the horizontal position and the end 52 of the dip tube and the additional gas intake port 29 are not in contact with the product, the thruster will be distributed alone. in gaseous form. However, the user will quickly notice that he does not dispense product so that he will stop the actuation of the valve or it will change the position of the device.

The device illustrated in FIG. 4 differs from that just described in that the silicone free bodies constituting the retention element 60 are replaced by an open cell block of foam 60 fixed to the bottom of the tank, for example by gluing.

Here again, the foam block contains the liquid phase of the liquefied gas, in particular an isobutane, intended, by vaporizing above the product P, to exert a pressure sufficient to pressurize the content P.

It is not beyond the scope of the invention using one or more retention members fixed elsewhere, in particular to a side wall of the container, to the dip tube or to the outer wall of the valve body. The parts constituting the different parts of the container may also constitute, at least in part, retention members.

In the foregoing detailed description, reference has been made to preferred embodiments of the invention. It is obvious that variations can be made without departing from the invention as claimed hereinafter. The valve can in particular be configured to allow dispensing when the valve stem is depressed instead of being rotated. The valve body can also be made with other shapes.

Claims (21)

Device (100) for packaging and dispensing under pressure a product (P), in particular a cosmetic product, comprising: a container (10) containing: the product (P) to be dispensed under pressure; a propellant (G) in the form of a liquefied gas comprising a gaseous phase and a liquid phase; - At least one retention member (60) adapted to trap, at least in part, the liquid phase of the propellant, said retention member having at least a portion permeable to the gas phase of said propellant; a valve (20) surmounting the container which comprises a body (21) comprising: - a first passage (28a) adapted, in a first position of the device, to bring the product contained in the container inside the valve body when the valve is actuated; - A second passage (29) adapted, in the first position of the device, to bring the propellant contained in the gaseous container within the valve body when the valve is actuated. - Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the retention member (60) is configured to absorb the entire liquid phase of the propellant. - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first passage (28a) is connected to a dip tube (50). - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the propellant is selected from the group consisting of alkanes, including butane, isopropane, isobutane, fluorinated compounds, including difluoroethane 152a, tetrafluoroethane 134a, and dimethyl ether. - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the propellant / product ratio, by weight, is between 10 and 1 inclusive terminals, and preferably between 2 and 1 inclusive terminals. - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retention member (60) comprises a porous material. - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retention member (60) comprises a material whose chemical nature allows it to absorb a propellant gas contained in the fluid. - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retention member (60) comprises polyamide fibers, including nylon®. - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the retention member (60) comprises a sintered. - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the retention member (60) comprises a silicone. - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retention member (60) is in the form of a free body in the container. - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the retention member (60) is fixed inside the container. - Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the retention member (60) is fixed to the inner wall of the container, in particular at the bottom of the container. - Device according to claims 2 and 12, characterized in that the retention member (60) is fixed to the dip tube. - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second passage (29) is an orifice formed on the side wall of the valve body (21). - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second passage (29) has a diameter of between 0.1 and 0.5 mm, and preferably between 0.2 and 0.4 mm. - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve (20) is configured to be actuated by a depressing movement. - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the valve (20) is configured to be actuated by a tilting movement. - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a member (30) for actuating the valve and dispensing the product under pressure via at least one dispensing orifice (32) located for example inside a nozzle, in particular a swirling nozzle. - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (10) is made of aluminum or tinplate. - Use of a device according to any one of the preceding claims for the packaging and dispensing under pressure of a product (P), such as a deodorant spray, a makeup product, especially a foundation, a hair application product, in particular a styling spray or a lacquer.

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