FR2837800A1 - FLUID PRODUCT DISPENSER - Google Patents

Abstract

Fluid product dispenser comprising: - a drive gas reservoir (10) provided with actuating means (12, 13; 12 ') capable of putting the gas contained in the reservoir under pressure, - a fluid reservoir ( 3), and- a distribution orifice (21) intended for the passage of a mixture consisting of drive gas and fluid product, characterized in that the fluid reservoir (3) is separated from the gas reservoir (10 ) by a partition (31, 32; 31 ', 31 ", 31"'), said partition being permeable to gas and impermeable to the fluid product, so that the pressurized gas enters the fluid reservoir (3) at through the partition and carries the fluid with it towards the dispensing orifice.

Description

manual.

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  The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser comprising a drive gas reservoir provided with actuating means capable of putting the gas contained in the reservoir under pressure, a fluid reservoir, and a dispensing orifice intended for the passage of 's a mixture of entrainment gas and fluid product. The entrainment gas reservoir thus serves as an air flush to drive the contents of the fluid reservoir towards the dispensing orifice to be dispensed there.

  as a two-phase gas / liquid or gas / powder mixture.

  I1 already exist many distributors of fluid product of this type o used in particular in the field of perfumery, cosmetics or especially and still pharmacy. Very often, the fluid product is stored in the same tank as that of the entrainment gas. In other cases, the fluid and the entrainment gas are stored in separate tanks. It is then necessary that the entrainment gas can take with it part or all

  the contents of the fluid reservoir.

  The present invention specifically aims to promote training

  of the fluid product by the flow of entrainment gas.

  To do this, the present invention provides that the fluid reservoir is separated from the gas reservoir by a partition, said partition being o permeable to gas and impermeable to fluid, so that the pressurized gas enters the reservoir of product fluid through the partition and carries the fluid with it to the dispensing orifice. The partition not only keeps the fluid inside the fluid reservoir, but also disperses the gas flow from the entrainment gas reservoir. A better entrainment of the fluid product is thus obtained towards the dispensing orifice. The partition j plays a role of screen, grid or lattice defining holes in which the fluid product is accumulated so that the flow of gas under pressure passes through the holes and carries with it the fluid product. A grid, screen or mesh structure is suitable o for a powdery fluid product, while a porous structure is more

  suitable for a liquid fluid product.

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  In one embodiment of the invention, the partition of the fluid reservoir is located in a bottleneck formed by the entrainment reservoir. For example, the gas reservoir comprises a body and a neck, the neck defining an opening communicating with the interior of the body by a conduit, the partition of the fluid reservoir is at least partially

  disposed in said conduit. This is a very practical embodiment.

  According to another aspect of the invention, a tip is in leaktight engagement with the neck.

  of the gas tank, said nozzle forming the dispensing orifice.

  Advantageously, the fluid reservoir is partially formed by said 0 nozzle. According to another embodiment, the fluid reservoir

  comprises a body engaged with the end piece, said body forming said partition.

  Advantageously, the nozzle forms a housing open towards the body of the gas tank and partially closed at the level of the dispensing orifice, the body of the

  fluid reservoir being engaged in said housing.

  According to another practical aspect, the fluid product reservoir comprises a first end at which the dispensing orifice is formed and a second end, said second end being impermeable to the fluid product and to gas. Advantageously, the body of the fluid reservoir o comprises a tubular section forming said partition, said tubular section being engaged in the nozzle, said section defining a first end adjacent to the dispensing orifice and a second end closed by a

  sealing member which is impermeable to gas.

  According to another embodiment, the fluid product is biased towards the dispensing orifice by pushing means, so that there is always fluid product at the dispensing orifice. A more secure and regular distribution is thus obtained, since the entrainment gas is forced to pass through the distribution orifice, which is always supplied with fluid. Advantageously, the partition is movable relative to, and advantageously towards, the dispensing orifice. Preferably, the partition is stressed elastically in the direction of a reduction in the internal volume of the

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  fluid reservoir. In a practical embodiment, the partition is mounted on a scraper piston in sliding engagement in a cylinder. As a variant, the partition is mounted on an elastic prestressed membrane adapted to

  return to a rest position.

  s The invention will now be described more fully in reference to the accompanying drawings, which give two embodiments by way of non-limiting examples.

of the invention.

  In the figures: - the. s figure s 1 and 2 s have s we s in co up e trans towards ale re spe ctively o wes high and in profile through a fluid dispenser according to a first embodiment of the invention, - the Figures 3 and 4 are views respectively similar to Figures 1 and 2 for a second embodiment of a fluid dispenser according to the invention, i5 - Figures 5 and 6 are views, respectively in vertical cross section and in cutaway perspective of a dispenser according to a third embodiment of the invention, and - Figures 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views of a dispenser, respectively according to a fourth and a fifth embodiment of

realization of the invention.

  In the embodiments used to illustrate the present invention, the fluid dispenser comprises a reservoir of entrainment gas 10 closed by a container 1 which is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 in the form of a small flask or bottle substantially flat defining two opposite faces s substantially planar 12 and 13 connected to each other by a substantially circular peripheral edge 11. The vial 1 further comprises a neck 15 defining an internal conduit 16 which communicates the reservoir 10 with the 'outside. The neck comprises an annular upper edge 150 as well as a hollow internal wall 151. The reservoir 10 is intended to contain a gas, for example air. One can however imagine other types of gas depending on the fluid product that one

wants to distribute.

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  This particular configuration of the reservoir 10 from a vial 1 is not the only possible one: in fact, other shapes can be used to make the entrainment gas reservoir 10, like that of FIGS. 5 to 8 which

  represents a tank in the form of a crushable pear.

  s In FIGS. 1 to 4, one or preferably two flat faces 12 and 13 are substantially elastically deformable so that they can be brought closer to one another by pressing with two fingers, for example so as to reduce the volume of the reservoir 10. Thus, the gas contained inside is pressurized, which has the effect of discharging it through the conduit 16 which forms a constriction, creating an acceleration of the gas at the inside. The two arrows designated P show the direction of the force to be applied to the actuating walls 12 and 13 of the reservoir 10. One can of course imagine other actuating means for reducing the volume of the reservoir 10, as for example

  exemple a piston displaceable inside a cylinder forming the reservoir.

  In all the embodiments, the drive gas reservoir is associated with a dispensing tip 2, 2 ′, 2 "which is mounted in the neck 15 of the vial 1. More specifically, the dispensing tip forms a fixing sleeve 24 which is engaged in a sealed manner inside the neck 15. To allow good retention of the end piece, the sleeve 24 forms a protruding profile or fixing cord 241 intended to be housed in the recess 151 formed in the internal wall of the neck 15. Above its sleeve 24, the end piece forms an abutment flange 23 which projects radially inwards and which comes into abutment contact against the upper end 150 of the neck 15. Above this flange 23, the end piece 2 forms a barrel 22, 22 ', 22 ", 22"' which is partially closed at its free end by a front distribution wall 20 in which an orifice is drilled distribution 21. It is also possible to provide several distr orifices ibution 21. The dispensing end piece internally forms a housing 25, 'which extends inside the sleeve 24, the flange 23 and the barrel. This housing 25 is widely open at the level of the free end of the sleeve 24 so and partially closed by the front distribution wall 20 pierced with the orifice 21.

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  According to the invention, the dispenser comprises a fluid product reservoir 3 containing a fluid, liquid or pulverulent product. In FIGS. 1 to 4, this fluid product reservoir 3 is formed by a tube 31 engaged in the housing, closed at one of its ends by a bottom 32 or a plug 32 ′ and partially closed at its other end by the wall distribution front 20 in which the distribution orifice 21 is drilled. It can thus be said that the fluid reservoir consists mainly of the closed tube 31

  at its bottom and by the nozzle 2, with its front distribution wall 20.

  The reservoir 3 here has a tuLular shape coming from the tube 31, but one can of course imagine other shapes for the reservoir. It is however advantageous for the reservoir 3 to have a tubular shape, at least to be fitted inside the housing 25. In addition, the tubular shape of the reservoir 3 makes it possible to create a cylindrical annular 16 inside the neck 15. It is also advantageous for the reservoir 3 to extend inside the neck 15, preferably s to the interior of the reservoir 10, as can be seen in the various figures 1 to 4. The annular 16 forms an annular throttle inside which the gas under pressure coming from the tank 10 is very strongly, accelerates. The bottom 32, in FIGS. 1 and 2, can be formed in one piece with o the same material as the tube 31. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4,

  a plug 32 'is attached to the end of a tube 31 which can be perfect.

  According to the invention, the reservoir 3 at its tube 31 and / or its bottom 32 forms a partition permeable to gas from the reservoir 10 and impermeable to the fluid product contained in the reservoir 3. Thus, the fluid, liquid or pulverulent product , stored inside the tank 3 cannot spread in the tank 10 while the gas contained in the tank 10 can be expelled through the porous or permeable partition of the tank 3 inside the tank 3 so as to entrain the fluid through the dispensing orifice 21 to be then sprayed in a two-phase manner. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the gas under pressure from the reservoir 10 can penetrate

  in the tank 3 at the tube 31 but also at the bottom 32.

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  In the variant of FIGS. 3 and 4, the attached plug 32 ′ is perfectly impermeable to gas so that the gas from the reservoir 10 is forced to enter the interior of the reservoir 3 ′ through the partition 31 which is mainly arranged and preferably completely inside the neck 15. Thus, all of the gas under pressure is forced to pass inside the ring finger 16 o it is strongly accelerated. In this way, the gas penetrates inside the tank 3.

  with good pressure or power.

  Referring to Figures 5 and 6, we see a dispenser with a container 1 in the general shape of a deformable pear at its wall 12. This container o internally forms a gas tank 10. The container forms a wide neck 1S which defines a large opening. A nozzle 2 'of general design similar to that of the previous embodiments is engaged in the neck 15 with its sleeve 24 and rests on the neck with its flange 23. This nozzle 2' also forms a dispensing orifice 21 at its front wall 20. This

  wall 20 is connected to the flange 23 by a barrel 22 'partially frustoconical.

  The end piece 2 'forms an internal housing 25'. A partition 31 ′, impermeable to the fluid product (liquid or powder) and permeable to gas, is engaged inside the housing, for example at the level of a snap-in recess 220. This partition 31 ′ divides the housing into two compartments, a first forming the

  o fluid reservoir 3 and a second one forming part of the gas reservoir 10.

  This partition 31 'thus forms a body which extends transversely in the

  housing 25 ', and which advantageously serves as a support for the fluid product.

  In this third embodiment, the endpiece forms an internal housing having a relatively large diameter or cross section. The partition 31 ′, which can advantageously be in the form of a simple porous plate, extends perpendicular to the direction of the flow of gas under pressure. Thus, the gas passes more directly through the partition, and thus encounters little loss of load or resistance; the speed of the gas beyond the partition in the reservoir 3 is thus largely sufficient for o entraining the fluid product towards the orifice 21, aided in this by the frustoconical shape

  barrel 22 'which directs and concentrates the biphasic flow towards the orifice.

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  We will now refer to FIG. 7 which represents a fourth embodiment of the invention. The container forming the reservoir 10 can be of a design similar or identical to those of Figures 5 and 6, that is to say in the form of a crushable pear. This reservoir 10 also forms a neck 15 in which is engaged a dispensing nozzle 2 ". This nozzle also forms a sleeve 24 engaged in the neck 15, a radial flange 23 which rests on the upper end of the neck 15, a barrel substantially cylindrical 22 ", a front wall 20 and a dispensing orifice 21. The barrel 22" and the front wall 20 are here produced separately from the remainder of the nozzle 2 "formed by the sleeve o 24 and the flange 23. On can however imagine an alternative embodiment in which the end piece 2 "is produced in a single piece, as is the case in the previous embodiments. The barrel 22" and the front wall 20 are therefore here produced in the form of 'a cup whose bottom is pierced at the level of the dispensing orifice 21. This cup is connected to the remainder of the nozzle 2 "by i5 fitting of the free end edge of the barrel 22" around a fixing sleeve 220 formed substantially in the prolo changing the sleeve 24. The edge

  the barrel comes into bearing contact on the radial flange 23.

  In this embodiment, the dispensing end piece 2 "also comprises an internal radial flange 26 which projects inwards. This radial flange 26 serves as a support member for a spring 33. This spring 33 is intended for

  apply a follower piston or scraper 32 "which is engaged inside the barrel 22".

  This scraper piston 32 "can be made of a material permeable to entrainment gas and impermeable to the fluid product. However, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the scraper piston 32 'can also be impermeable to gas. drive but serve as support for a 31 "partition,

  which is permeable to entrainment gas and impermeable to fluid.

  The drive gas expelled from the reservoir 10 during its crushing is therefore forced to pass through the partition 31 "to reach the interior of the fluid reservoir 3. This fluid reservoir 3 is thus formed by o the barrel 22 ', the front wall 20 pierced with its orifice 21 and the scraper piston 32 "which supports the partition 31". Since the scraper piston 32 "is stressed

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  elastically by the spring 33, the fluid inside the tank 3 is thus biased towards the dispensing orifice 21. This ensures that there is always fluid in the dispensing orifice 21, this which is preferable to ensure a good quality of the distribution beyond the orifice 21. The piston 32 "with its partition 31" is here moved in the direction of the distribution orifice 21. One can however imagine variants of embodiment in which the piston would act in a different direction, for example transverse, but still ensuring a continuous supply of the dispensing orifice 21 in fluid product. In fact, the purpose of the piston 32 ", and more generally of a movable wall, is to ensure the presence of fluid product at the level of the dispensing orifice 21. This can of course be achieved by

other ways.

  Finally, reference will be made to FIG. 8 which represents a final embodiment which constitutes only a variant of that of FIG. 7. In fact, the drive gas tank 10 can be strictly identical, it is to say in the form of a crushable pear. A distribution nozzle 2 "'has a general configuration substantially identical to that of the nozzle 2" in FIG. 7. In fact, the nozzle 2 "' comprises a sleeve 24 engaged in the neck 15 of the reservoir, a radial flange 23 resting on the upper end of the neck 15, o a barrel 22 "', a front wall 20 pierced with a dispensing orifice 21. Here,

  the distribution nozzle 2 "'is made in one piece.

  As in the embodiment of FIG. 7, the ffuid product stored in the reservoir 3 is also stressed in the direction of the orifice of

  distribution 21 so as to ensure a continuous continuous supply thereof.

  s To ensure this continuous continuous supply, an elastically deformable membrane 32 "'is provided here which constitutes a movable wall element of the fluid reservoir 3. This membrane 32"' is maintained

  around its perimeter using a retaining ring 26 'engaged in the 22 "drum.

  More specifically, the outer peripheral edge of the membrane 32 "'is wedged o by the ring 26' against the front wall 20. The membrane 32 'can be made of a material permeable to entrainment gas and impermeable to the product

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  fluid, but preferable, the membrane 32 "serves as a support for a partition 31" 'which can advantageously be positioned in its center. The membrane 32 "'is initially prestressed so that it wants to return naturally to its rest position. The fluid inside the reservoir 3 is thus subjected to a pressure exerted by the membrane 32"'. The fluid 3 is thus continuously stressed in the direction of the dispensing orifice 21. It is easy to understand by looking at FIG. 8 that the membrane 32 "'wants to return to a position in which it is substantially pressed against the front wall 20. can imagine that the 32 "membrane has a configuration

  o flat or flat in its rest position.

  In the two embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8, the permeable partition 31 ", 31" 'is associated with the means making it possible to urge the fluid product inside the reservoir 3 in the direction and at the level of the dispensing orifice 21 One can however imagine alternative embodiments in i5 in which the permeable partition is not integral, fixed or constituted by the

  means for discharging the fluid product at the orifice 21.

  However, it is preferable for the partition to move in the direction of the dispensing orifice 21 so that the entraining gas travels a shorter distance in the fluid reservoir 3 as the dispenser is used. . It should be noted that the fluid dispenser according to the invention can be produced in three parts only in the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2, and 5 and 6, namely the reservoir 10, the nozzle 2 or 2 ' and the tube 31 or the plate 31 '. The mounting of the dispenser is also very simple, since it is sufficient at first to partially fill the reservoir 3 with a fluid product.

  desired, then engage the nozzle 2, 2 'in the neck of the tank.

  The material used for the gas permeable partition and impermeable to the fluid product may have a porous, grid, screen or mesh structure.

  function of the fluid to be dispensed.

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  Choice endon, we have a basic dispute gas / liqui or gas / poue design gas Salk of a gas pale patent prig and a

utOisabon aisle.

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Claims (12)

claims   1.- Fluid product distributor comprising: - a drive gas tank (10) provided with actuating means (12, 13; 12 ') capable of putting the gas contained in the tank under pressure, - a fluid product (3), and - a dispensing orifice (21) intended for the passage of a mixture consisting of entrainment gas and fluid product, characterized in that the fluid product reservoir (3) is separated from the reservoir gas (10) by a partition (31, 32; 31 ', 31 ", 31"'), said partition being permeable to gas and impermeable to the fluid product, so that the gas under pressure enters the reservoir of ffuid product (3) through the   and draws the fluid with it to the dispensing orifice.   2. The dispenser according to claim 1, in which the fluid product   is a powdery or liquid material.   3.- Distributor according to any one of the claims   previous, in which the partition (31, 32; 31 ') of the fluid or fluid reservoir is located in a throttling zone (16) formed by the reservoir entrainment gas (1).   4.- Distributor according to any one of the claims   previous, in which the gas tank (10) comprises a neck (15), the neck defining an opening communicating with the interior of the tank by a conduit (16), the partition (31; 31 ') of the fluid tank (3)   is at least partially disposed in said conduit (16). 12 2837800   5. A dispenser according to claim 4, wherein a nozzle (2; 2 ', 2 ", 2"') is in sealed engagement with the neck (15) of the gas tank, said   nozzle forming the dispensing orifice (21).   s 6.- A dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the reservoir of   fluid product (3) is partially formed by said tip.   7. A dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the endpiece forms a housing (25) open towards the gas tank (10) and partially closed o at the distribution orifice (21), the fluid reservoir (3)   forming a body (31, 31 ', 31 ", 31"') engaged in said housing (25).   8.- Distributor according to any one of the claims   previous, wherein the fluid reservoir (3) comprises a first end s (20) at which is formed the dispensing orifice (21) and a second end (32 '), said second end   (32 ') being impermeable to the fluid product and to gas.   9. A dispenser according to claim 7, wherein the body (31 ', o 31 ", 31"') extending transversely in said housing (25) so as to divide it into a first part forming the fluid reservoir (3)   and a second part partially forming the gas tank (10).   10.- Distributor according to any one of the claims   s previous, in which the partition serves as a support for the fluid.   11.- Distributor according to any one of the claims   above, in which the fluid is urged towards the dispensing orifice by pushing means (32 ", 32" '), so that there is   always fluid at the dispensing orifice. 13 2837800   12.- Distributor according to any one of the claims   previous, in which the partition (31 ", 31" ') is movable relative to,   and advantageously towards, the dispensing orifice.   13. Distributor according to claim 12, in which the partition (31 ", 31" ') is urged elastically in the direction of a reduction in the   internal volume of the fluid reservoir.   14. A dispenser according to claim 11, 12 or 13, in which the partition (31 ") is mounted on a scraper piston (32") in sliding engagement. in a cylinder (22 ").   15.- A dispenser according to claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein the partition (31 "') is mounted on an elastic prestressed membrane (32"')   s adapted to return to a rest position.