FR3032895B1 - PUSH BUTTON FOR A PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OF A PRODUCT - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a push button comprising a body (1) having a housing (11) provided with an anvil (12) around which a spray nozzle (13) is mounted so as to form a product distribution path between said housing and a turbulence assembly comprising a turbulence chamber (21) provided with a dispensing orifice (22) and at least two supply channels (23) of said chamber arranged symmetrically with respect to a distribution axis (D), said chamber being defined by a lateral surface (24) having a polygonal geometry with respect to which the channels (23) extend in a transverse plane, the surface (24) converging from an upstream end (25) in which opens the downstream end of the channels (23) to a downstream opening (26) for supplying the orifice (22), said orifice having an exit dimension which is equal to the internal dimension of said downstream opening, e turbulence assembly further having a recess (29) formed upstream and in axial view of the chamber (21).

Description

The invention relates to a push button for a pressure distribution system of a product, as well as such a dispensing system.

In a particular application, the dispensing system is intended to equip bottles used in perfumery, in cosmetics or for pharmaceutical treatments. Indeed, this type of bottle contains a product which is returned by a dispensing system comprising a device for sampling under pressure of said product, said system being actuated by a push button to allow the product to be sprayed. In particular, the sampling device comprises a pump or a manually operated valve via the push button.

Such push buttons are conventionally made in two parts: an actuating body and a spray nozzle of the product which are associated with each other to form a swirl assembly comprising a vortex chamber provided with a dispensing orifice and at least one supply channel of said chamber.

In particular, document FR-2 952 360 discloses a push button in which the swirl chamber is delimited by a lateral surface having a frustoconical geometry with respect to which the supply channel or channels extend in a transverse plane, said lateral surface being convergent from an upstream end, wherein the downstream end of the supply channel (s) opens tangentially to a downstream feed opening of the dispensing orifice, said orifice having an exit dimension which is equal to the internal dimension of said downstream opening.

Thus, during the dispensing under pressure of the product, the tangential feed of the swirl chamber makes it possible to put the product in rotation in the upstream end of said chamber, the product is then pressed and pushed in rotation along the lateral surface. of said chamber by forming a product sheet whose speed of rotation increases and which converges towards the downstream opening, then said convergent sheet can escape through the dispensing orifice without being deformed so as to be able to impact to form the aerosol.

This embodiment allows the distribution of an aerosol formed of a uniform spatial distribution of droplets suspended in the air, the size of said droplets being small and uniform. In particular, the aerosol can then have the appearance of a smoke plume with droplet sizes of between 10 microns and 60 microns with an average of 35 microns for an alcoholic product, irrespective of the strength of the aerosol. support that the user exerts on the push button.

However, this embodiment, if it proves particularly satisfactory for the distribution of very fluid products, such as for example perfumes or toilet waters, may however pose a problem in the case of products with a higher viscosity, such as for example, lotions whose viscosity is in particular greater than 10 times that of water.

Indeed, when dispensing a dose of lotion-type product, the viscoelastic behavior of said product may in particular cause the adhesion of a layer of product to the lateral surface of the turbulence chamber, which may have effects negative not only on the quality of the aerosol dispensed, but also on subsequent distributions. The invention aims to improve the prior art by proposing in particular a push button allowing the distribution of an aerosol formed droplets having improved calibration and spatial distribution, even for products to be dispensed of high viscosity such as lotions . For this purpose, and according to a first aspect, the invention proposes a push button for a pressurized dispensing system of a product, said push button comprising a body having a mounting well on a tube for feeding the product under pressure. and a housing in communication with said well, said housing being provided with an anvil around which a spray nozzle is mounted so as to form a product distribution path between said housing and a turbulence assembly comprising a turbulence chamber provided with a dispensing orifice and at least two supply channels of said chamber which are arranged symmetrically with respect to a distribution axis, said turbulence chamber being delimited by a lateral surface having a polygonal geometry with respect to which the feeding channels extend in a transverse plane, said lateral surface being convergent since an upstream end, in which opens the downstream end of the supply channels, to a downstream feed opening of the dispensing orifice, said dispensing orifice having an outlet dimension which is equal to the internal dimension of said opening downstream, the turbulence assembly further having a recess which is formed upstream and in axial view of the turbulence chamber.

According to a second aspect, the invention proposes a system for dispensing a product under pressure, comprising a sampling device equipped with a tube for feeding the pressurized product on which the well of such a push button is mounted for allow spraying of the product. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the description which follows, made with reference to the appended figures in which: - Figure 1 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a bottle equipped with a dispensing system according to a embodiment of the invention; - Figure 2 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the push button of Figure 1; - Figures 3 are views of the nozzle of the push button according to Figure 2, respectively broken perspective (Figure 3a) and the inner portion (Figure 3b); FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the volume of the push button turbulence assembly of FIGS. 2 and 3.

In relation to the figures, a push button for a pressure distribution system of a product is described below, said product being of any kind, in particular used in perfumery, in cosmetics or for pharmaceutical treatments.

In particular, the product to be dispensed is a fluid product of lotion type, and in particular has a viscosity greater than that of water, for example about ten times greater than that of water. Such products are generally obtained by adding to their base composition, whose fluidity is substantially identical to that of water, a stabilizing and / or thickening viscoelastic substance, for example xanthan gum. Such a substance is generally added in very small proportions, for example of the order of 0.25%, so that the final product remains fluid while presenting a specific rheological behavior.

The push button comprises a body 1 having an annular skirt 2 surrounding a well 3 for mounting the push button on a feed tube 4 of the pressurized product. Furthermore, the push button comprises an upper zone 5 allowing the user to exert a digital support on said push button in order to move it axially. In the embodiment shown, the push button is equipped with an aspect trim 6 which surrounds the body 1 and on which is formed the upper support zone 5.

In relation to FIG. 1, the dispensing system comprises a sampling device 7 equipped with a feed tube 4 for the pressurized product which is sealed in the well 3. In known manner, the dispensing system comprises moreover, means 8 for mounting on a bottle 9 containing the product and means 10 for sampling the product inside said bottle which are arranged to supply the feed tube 4 with pressurized product.

The sampling device 7 may comprise a manually operated pump or, in the case where the product is packaged under pressure in the bottle, a manually operated valve. Thus, during a manual movement of the push button, the pump or the valve is actuated to supply the supply tube 4 with pressure product.

The body 1 also has an annular housing 11 which is in communication with the well 3. In the embodiment shown, the housing 11 is of axis perpendicular to that of the mounting well 3 to allow lateral spraying of the product relative to the body 1 of the push button. In a variant not shown, the housing 11 may be collinear with the well 3, in particular for a push button forming nasal spraying nozzle.

The housing 11 is provided with an anvil 12 around which a spray nozzle 13 is mounted so as to form a distribution path of the product under pressure between said housing and a turbulence assembly. To do this, the anvil 12 extends from the bottom of the housing 11 leaving a channel 14 for communication between the well 3 and said housing.

In the embodiment shown, the nozzle 13 has a cylindrical side wall 15 of revolution which is closed forwardly by a proximal wall 16. The association of the nozzle 13 in the housing 11 is formed by fitting the outer face of the side wall 15, the rear edge of said outer face being further provided with a radial projection 17 for anchoring the nozzle 13 in said housing.

Furthermore, an impression of the turbulence assembly is formed recess in the proximal wall 16 and the anvil 12 has a distal wall 18 on which the proximal wall 16 of the nozzle 13 is supported to delimit between them all turbulence. As a variant not shown, an imprint of the turbulence assembly can be formed directly on a wall of the housing 11, in particular for a nasal spraying nozzle.

Advantageously, the nozzle 13 and the body 1 are made by molding, in particular of a different thermoplastic material. In addition, the material forming the nozzle 13 has a stiffness that is greater than the stiffness of the material forming the body 1. Thus, the significant stiffness of the nozzle 13 prevents its deformation during its mounting in the housing 11 so to guarantee the geometry of the turbulence unit. In addition, the lower stiffness of the body 1 allows on the one hand a more qualitative touch during the actuation and on the other hand an improved seal between the mounting well 3 and the feed tube 4. Finally, the stiffness larger of the nozzle 13 improves the reliability of the spearing of the projection 17 in the housing 11 to avoid the risk of expulsion of the nozzle 13 during distribution

In an exemplary embodiment, the body 1 is made of polyolefin and the nozzle 13 is made of cycloolefinic copolymer (COC), poly (oxymethylene) or poly (butylene terephthalate).

In the embodiment shown, the distribution path presents successively in upstream-downstream communication: an upstream annular duct 19 in communication with the channel, said annular duct being formed between the internal face of the lateral wall of the nozzle 13 and the outer face of the side wall of the anvil 12 which is arranged opposite; a downstream annular duct 20 formed between the proximal wall 16 of the nozzle 13 and the distal wall 18 of the anvil 12.

On the downstream side, the distribution path supplies pressurized product to the turbulence assembly which comprises a turbulence chamber 21 provided with a dispensing orifice 22 and at least two supply channels 23 of said chamber which are arranged symmetrically with respect to a distribution axis D. More precisely, in the embodiment shown, the supply channels 23 communicate with the downstream annular duct 20. In particular, this embodiment makes it possible to limit the length of the supply ducts 23 to reduce the induced pressure drops.

The turbulence chamber 21 is delimited by a lateral surface 24 having a polygonal geometry which extends along the distribution axis D, the supply channels 23 extending in a plane transverse to said distribution axis. In the description, the terms of positioning in space are defined with respect to the distribution axis D.

The lateral surface 24 converges from an upstream end 25, into which the downstream end of the feed channels 23 opens, to a downstream opening 26 for supplying the dispensing orifice 22, said dispensing orifice having a dimension of output which is equal to the internal dimension of the downstream opening 26.

In the embodiment shown, the downstream end of the supply channels 23 opens in the extension of respectively a radial edge AR of the upstream end 25.

Thus, during the dispensing of the pressurized product, the supply of the turbulence chamber 21 along the edges AR of its upstream end 25 makes it possible to put the product in rotation in said upstream end. The product is then pressed and pushed in rotation along the lateral surface 24 of the turbulence chamber 21, so as to form a sheet of product whose speed of rotation increases and which converges towards the downstream opening 26, then said sheet convergent can escape through the dispensing orifice 22 without being deformed so as to be able to impact to form the aerosol.

Moreover, the polygonal shape of the lateral surface 24 makes it possible, during rotation of the ply, to break the intermolecular bonds of the product each time said ply comes into contact with an axial edge AA of said lateral surface, which allows, in the case where the product to be dispensed has a high viscosity, to pre-fragment the flow of said product before it leaves the dispensing orifice 22, and to dispense said product in the form of an aerosol with a uniform spatial distribution of droplets suspended in the air, the size of said droplets being small and uniform.

In the figures, the turbulence chamber 21 has a lateral surface 24 of pyramidal geometry, so a square section. As a variant, and notably according to the viscosity of the fluid product to be dispensed, the turbulence chamber 21 may have polygonal geometries of various shapes, for example a prismatic geometry, that is to say a triangular section, or a pentagonal geometry, or a hexagonal geometry. Thus, it is possible to adjust the number of axial ridges AA which is optimal to pre-fragment the product flow in the turbulence chamber 21.

In the embodiment shown, the turbulence assembly has two supply ducts 23 of the turbulence chamber 21 which open respectively in the extension of two opposite AR radial edges of the upstream end 25.

Furthermore, to feed the turbulence chamber 21 by rotating the product along its lateral surface 24, each channel 23 has a U-shaped section which is delimited between an outer wall 27 and an inner wall 28. In particular, the wall outside 27 extends radially in the extension of an edge AR of the upstream end 25, and the inner wall 28 is shifted from it by a distance less than 30% of the internal dimension of the upstream end 25, so as to avoid impaction of the product in said upstream end.

In connection with the figures, the inner wall 28 is parallel to the outer wall 27. In a variant not shown, the inner wall 28 has an angle of convergence with the outer wall 27 in the upstream-downstream direction, the offset between said walls. being then measured at the unclogging section of the channels 23 in the upstream end 25.

As a variant, more than two feed channels 23 may be provided, in particular according to the geometry of the lateral surface 24 of the chamber 21, and therefore the geometry of the upstream end 25. In particular, the turbulence assembly may present supply channels 23 which are arranged so that the upstream end 25 has an angular alternation of radial edges AR fed by channels 23 and radial edges AR not fed, so as to allow a uniform supply of the turbulence chamber 21.

According to another embodiment, the turbulence assembly can have as many feed channels 23 as the number of radial edges AR of the upstream end 25, so that all the radial edges AR of said upstream end are fed. by respectively a feed channel 23.

Furthermore, the set of downstream ends of each of the supply channels 23 forms a supply section of the turbulence chamber 21. To increase the duration of distribution of a dose of product on the actuating stroke of the button push, it can be expected that this supply section is small relative to the inner surface of the upstream end 25. In particular, the surface of the feed section may be less than 10% of the inner surface of the end upstream 25.

Preferably, the surface of the feed section may be between 0.02 mm 2 and 0.04 mm 2. In an exemplary embodiment, the internal dimension of the upstream end 25 is 0.6 mm, ie an inner surface of 0.36 mm 2, and each channel 23 has a width of 0.12 mm and a depth of 0, 13 mm, ie an area of 0.0312 mm2 for the feed section.

In addition, due to the passage of the product in a reduced feed section, the dispensing time is increased. For example, for a dose of 120 μΙ the distribution time may be between 0.5 and 2 seconds so as to allow the user to interrupt the distribution of the aerosol during actuation.

In the embodiment shown, the downstream opening 26 of the turbulence chamber is surmounted by a dispensing orifice 22 having a polygonal geometry which extends along the distribution axis D, the internal dimension of said orifice being constant and equal to the internal dimension of the downstream opening 26.

In particular, the polygonal geometry of the dispensing orifice 22 is identical to that of the lateral surface 24 of the turbulence chamber 21, so that said polygonal geometries both have the same number of axial edges AA, AA '.

In the embodiment shown, the axial edges AA 'of the dispensing orifice 22 are each arranged in the axial extension of an axial edge AA of the turbulence chamber 21 respectively. In a variant, the axial edges AA' of the dispensing orifice 22 may be offset angularly with respect to the axial edges AA of the turbulence chamber 21, which may further break the intermolecular bonds of the fluid product before it leaves the turbulence assembly, especially when the viscosity of said product is important, and therefore improve the quality of the aerosol dispensed.

Advantageously, the axial dimension of the dispensing orifice 22 is small relative to its internal dimension, so as not to disturb the convergence of the ply. In particular, the axial dimension of the dispensing orifice 22 may be less than 50% of its internal dimension.

In a variant that is not shown, the axial dimension of the dispensing orifice 22 can be zero, so that the downstream opening 26 of the turbulence chamber 21 can form the dispensing orifice 22.

In relation to FIG. 2, the proximal wall 16 of the nozzle 13 has a flat outer face 16a into which the dispensing orifice 22 opens. As a variant, the external face 16a may have a slightly concave geometry, at least at the level of the area surrounding the dispensing orifice 22, to form a protective bowl for the web without impinging its impaction.

The realization of the aerosol is particularly satisfactory when the internal dimension of the downstream opening 26 is small relative to the internal dimension of the upstream end 25, so that the impaction of the ply is made as close to the In particular, the internal dimension of the downstream opening 26 may be less than 50% of the internal dimension of the upstream end 25, more precisely being between 20% and 40% of said internal dimension.

Preferably, the axial dimension of the turbulence chamber 21 is relatively large, in particular of the order or greater than the internal dimension of the upstream end 25, so as to allow the establishment of the layer along the surface. 24 of said turbulence chamber and to confer a progressive convergence. In particular, the axial dimension of the turbulence chamber 21 is at least equal to 80% of the internal dimension of the upstream end 25, more precisely being between 90% and 200% of said internal dimension.

According to a particular embodiment in relation to a product whose distribution pressure is between 5 and 7 bar, the internal dimension of the upstream end 25 is 0.6 mm, the internal dimension of the downstream opening 26 is smaller or equal to 0.24 mm being in particular between 0.15 mm and 0.24 mm, the axial dimension of the turbulence chamber 21 is at least equal to 0.5 mm, the axial dimension of the dispensing orifice 22 is less than or equal to 0.16 mm.

Furthermore, the lateral surface 24 may have a convergence angle of between 20 ° and 150 °, and in particular equal to 90 °.

In connection with the figures, the turbulence assembly further has a recess 29 which is formed upstream and in axial view of the turbulence chamber 21, said recess being arranged to form a turbulence counter chamber to ensure uniform spatial distribution of the droplets, especially inside the product envelope that converges in the turbulence chamber 21.

In particular, an impression of the turbulence chamber 21 and supply channels 23 is formed on the proximal wall 16 of the nozzle 13, the recess 29 being formed on the distal wall 18 of the anvil 12 opposite said footprint. The recess 29 has a geometry of revolution about the distribution axis D. In particular, the recess 29 has a frustoconical geometry that diverges slightly to the turbulence chamber 21, which facilitates its implementation. Alternatively, the recess 29 may have a polygonal geometry, including square section.

Depending on the viscosity of the product to be dispensed, the dimensions of the recess 29 may vary. In particular, to properly perform its role of turbulence counter-chamber, the recess 29 has a downstream end 30 which is disposed facing the turbulence chamber 21 in alignment with the dispensing orifice 22, said downstream end having an internal dimension that is greater than or equal to 200% of the internal dimension of the dispensing orifice.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the internal dimension of the downstream end 30 of the recess 29 is in particular greater than or equal to 300% of the internal dimension of the dispensing orifice 22.

Furthermore, the recess 29 may have an axial dimension which is greater as the viscosity of the fluid to be dispensed is important.

According to a particular embodiment, the recess 29 has an upstream end 31 of internal dimension approximately equal to 0.24 mm, a downstream end 30 of internal dimension approximately equal to 0.45 mm, and an axial dimension at least equal to 1.2 mm.

Claims (13)

1. Push button for a pressurized dispensing system of a product, said push button comprising a body (1) having a well (3) for mounting on a feed pipe (4) of the pressurized product and a housing ( 11) in communication with said well, said housing being provided with an anvil (12) around which a spray nozzle (13) is mounted so as to form a product distribution path between said housing and a turbulence assembly comprising a turbulence chamber (21) provided with a dispensing orifice (22) and at least two supply channels (23) of said chamber which are arranged symmetrically with respect to a distribution axis (D), said button pusher being characterized in that said turbulence chamber is delimited by a lateral surface (24) having a polygonal geometry with respect to which the supply channels (23) extend in a transverse plane, said lateral surface being convergent from an upstream end (25), into which the downstream end of the supply channels (23) opens, to a downstream opening (26) for supplying the dispensing orifice (22), said orifice dispensing nozzle having an outlet dimension which is equal to the internal dimension of said downstream opening, the turbulence assembly further having a recess (29) which is formed upstream and in axial view of the turbulence chamber (21). 2. Push button according to claim 1, characterized in that the recess (29) has a downstream end (30) having an internal dimension which is greater than or equal to 200% of the internal dimension of the dispensing orifice (22). ). 3. Push button according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the internal dimension of the downstream opening (26) is less than 50% of the internal dimension of the upstream end (25) of the chamber of turbulence (21). 4. Push button according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the axial dimension of the turbulence chamber (21) is at least 80% of the internal dimension of the upstream end (25) of said chamber. 5. Push button according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the downstream opening (26) of the turbulence chamber (21) is surmounted by a dispensing orifice (22), said dispensing orifice having a polygonal geometry whose internal dimension is equal to the internal dimension of the downstream opening (26). 6. Push button according to claim 5, characterized in that the axial dimension of the dispensing orifice (22) is less than 50% of the internal dimension of said orifice. 7. Push button according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the dispensing orifice (22) has axial ridges (AA ') which are offset angularly with respect to the axial edges (AA) of the chamber of turbulence (21). 8. Push button according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the downstream end of the supply channels (23) opens in the extension of respectively a radial edge (AR) of the upstream end (25). ). 9. Push button according to claim 8, characterized in that the supply channels (23) are delimited between an outer wall (27) and an inner wall (28), the outer wall (27) extending radially in the extending an edge (AR) of the upstream end (25) and the inner wall (28) being offset from it by a distance of less than 30% of the internal dimension of the upstream end (25). 10. Pushbutton according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the nozzle (13) has a proximal wall (16) in which is formed an imprint of the turbulence assembly and the anvil (12) has a distal wall (18) on which the proximal wall (16) of the nozzle (13) bears to delimit between them said turbulence assembly. 11. Push button according to claim 10, characterized in that an impression of the turbulence chamber (21) and supply channels (23) is formed on the proximal wall (16), the recess (29) being formed on the distal wall (18) facing said cavity. 12. Pushbutton according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the recess (29) has a geometry of revolution around the distribution axis (D). 13. System for dispensing under pressure of a product, comprising a sampling device (7) equipped with a feed tube (4) of the pressurized product on which the well (3) of a push button according to the any one of claims 1 to 12 is mounted to allow the spraying of the product.