GB2340891A

GB2340891A - Mousse diffuser for attachment to an aerosol container

Info

Publication number: GB2340891A
Application number: GB9818636A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simone Beadle
Original assignee: Courtaulds Packaging Ltd
Current assignee: Albea UK Ltd
Priority date: 1998-08-26
Filing date: 1998-08-26
Publication date: 2000-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 2018-08-26
Also published as: GB9818636D0; GB0230137D0; GB2380232B; GB2380232A; GB2340891B

Abstract

The mousse diffuser 11 comprises a base 12 to which is hinged, eg by an integral plastics hinge 30, a dispensing button 13 having a bore 17 to receive the outlet valve of the container so that the valve is opearted by pressing the dispensing button 13. The dispensing button 13 has a body part 31 and a lid part 32 such that when they are in a closed condition they cooperate to form a chamber 18 connected to the bore 17 by an orifice 19. At least one baffle 36 is formed on the body part 31 or the lid part 32 between the orifice 19 and the dispensing outlet opening 21 to deflect flow of the contents. The body part 31 and a lid part 32 may be moulded in one piece in the open condition. The contents may include conditioners, gels or shaving or cleansing foams.

Description

2340891 MOUSSE DIFFUSER The present invention relates to mousse diffusers

which are generally used in combination with an aerosol container.

Mousse diffusers are used in combination with aerosol containers which store materials such as conditioners, gels, shaving and cleansing foams etc. under pressure. The contents of the container are dispensed through an outlet valve which is resiliently biased into a closed condition. The diffuser generally slows down the delivery from the aerosol container giving time for a mousse or foam to develop. The container contents may be discharged into a chamber for mixing and to allow the foam to develop before the foam then exits the diffuser through an opening. The mousse diffuser is a relatively complex component comprising is a base which may clip onto the aerosol container, a dispensing button for operating the aerosol outlet valve and which may include the chamber into which the mousse is initially discharged, and an opening which is generally formed with a grille or grid, or other baffle means which further helps the generation of the mousse.

The base and button are generally injection moulded as a single plastic component with the button hinged to the body. The chamber may be formed within the button but this requires expensive and complicated tooling.

The present invention provides a simplified diffuser construction which is easier to mould.

According to the present invention there is provided a mousse diffuser comprising a base for attachment to an aerosol container having an outlet valve, a dispensing button hinged to the base and having a bore therein to receive the valve and being moveable to operate the valve, the button having a body part and a lid part such that when the lid is in a closed condition the two parts cooperate to form a swirl chamber through which the contents of the 2 aerosol are discharged, the swirl chamber being connected to the bore by an orifice and having an opening through which said contents are dispensed, wherein at least one baffle is formed on one of the body part and lid part and is located between the opening and orifice to deflect the flow of said contents from the orifice.

Preferably the lid part of the button is hinged to the body part and is preferably secured in place to the body part by a simple snap fit connection or alternatively a push-in connection with the body part. Preferably there are at least two baffles located between the orifice and the opening, and one baffle may be formed on each of the lid part and body part; more preferably the baffle nearest the orifice is formed on the body part.

is Another aspect of the invention provides a method of manufacture of a mousse diffuser having a base for attachment to an aerosol container, and a dispensing button for operating an outlet valve of the aerosol container, the button comprising a body part and a lid part such that when the two parts are in a closed condition they form a chamber into which the contents of the aerosol are discharged, the chamber having an opening through which the contents are dispensed, characterised in that the body part and lid part are formed as a single plastics moulding with the lid part being hinged to the body part, which is also hinged to the base, the diffuser being moulded with the lid part in an open condition.

The invention will hereinafter be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig 1. is an isometric view of a mousse diffuser according to the invention, ready for use; Fig 2. is a vertical section through the diffuser shown in Fig 1; Fig 3. is an isometric view of the diffuser of Fig 1 in the as-moulded condition; and Fig 4. is a vertical section through the diffuser of Fig I in the asmoulded condition.

With reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings there is shown a mousse diffuser 11 comprising a base 12 and a dispensing button 13 for operating the outlet valve (not shown) of an aerosol container. The base 12 has a substantially frustoconical sidewall 14 with a larger diameter bottom portion 15 which will fit over the rim of an aerosol container (not shown). The bottom portion 15 has a radially inwardly facing bead 16 on its internal wall surface for securing the diffuser 11 in place on a container (not shown).

The button 13 has a stepped bore 17 which receives the outlet valve (not shown) of the aerosol container, and an internal chamber 18 which receives the container contents discharged under pressure from the aerosol outlet valve, via an orifice 19 connecting the chamber 18 to the bore 17. The chamber 18 has an opening 21 which may be any desired shape, in this case an inverted "U" shape. If desired, the opening may be provided with a grille. The dispensing button 13 is hinged to the base 12 by an integral plastics hinge 30 located at the front of the button 13 below the opening 21.

The button 13 is depressed to operate the outlet valve by pushing down onto rear portion 23 which may have a non-slip surface e.g: raised ribs (not shown) thereon to act as a thumb or finger pad. The button 13 pivots about the hinge 30 to push down the valve (not shown) and allows the contents of the aerosol to discharge from the container.

The dispensing button 13 is formed of two parts 31, 32, these being a body part 31 and a lid part 32 interconnected by a hinge 33, which is located opposite the opening 21. The lid part 32 is a press-fit, or alternatively or snap- fit, with respect to the body part, the two parts forming 4 the chamber 18 when they are in a closed condition.

The body part 31 includes a central spigot 35 in which the bore 17 and orifice 19 are located, with the orifice 19 being directed towards the opening 21. Immediately in front of the orifice 19 is a baffle 36 curved so that its concave side is directed towards the orifice. The body also has a curved rear wall 34 located behind the spigot 35 and which is directed towards the opening 21.

The lid part 32 includes an outer annular wall 38 which surrounds the body part 31 and which has an aperture 39 therein which co- operates with a projection 37 on the body part to form the opening 21. An inner annular wall 42 projects downwardly in the lid part 32 and is located eccentrically within the outer wall 38. The inner wall 42 is surrounds the chamber 18 and opens into the aperture 39, and a second baffle 41 is located adjacent the aperture 39 but spaced inwardly therefrom. The second baffle 41 may also be curved so that its concave side is directed towards the orif ice 19. The inner annular wall 42 co- operates with a curved rear wall 34 on the body so that when the lid part 32 is in a closed condition the inner annular wall 42 is held between the rear wall 34 on the body, and the central spigot 35.

The diffuser is moulded from a thermoplastic material, preferably a polyolefin such as polypropylene, and is formed in the open condition as shown in Figs 3 and 4. The lid part 32 is then flipped into the closed condition as shown in Figs 1 and 2.

In use the contents of the aerosol, exiting the orifice 19, hit the first baffle 36. Some of said contents will be deflected back to a portion of the inner wall 42 behind the central spigot 35, and are then deflected forwards to pass each side of the second baffle 41, with some of said contents also passing over the first baffle 36 and under the second baffle 41.

This movement around the chamber 18 will ensure good mixing of the contents on discharge and allow the mousse to form before it exits the opening 21.

In another embodiment of the invention, one of the baffles 36 and 41 may be omitted, preferably the second baffle plate 41.

1.

1 11 6 -

Claims

1. A mousse diffuser comprising a base for attachment to an aerosol container having an outlet valve, a dispensing button hinged to the base and having a bore therein to receive the valve and being moveable to operate the valve, the button having a body part and a lid part such that when the lid and body parts are in a closed condition the two parts co-operate to form a chamber which is connected to the bore by an orifice and has an opening through which said contents are dispensed, wherein at least one baffle is formed on one of the body part and lid part and is located between the opening and orifice to deflect the flow of said contents from the orifice.

2. A mousse diffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid part has a hinged connection with the body part.

3. A mousse diffuser as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the lid part makes a snap fit connection with the body part.

4. A mousse diffuser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein there are two baffles located between the orifice and the opening.

5. A mousse diffuser as claimed in claim 4, where one baffle is formed integrally with the body part and the other baffle integrally with the lid part.

6. A mousse diffuser as claimed in claim 5 wherein one baffle is provided on each of the lid part and body part, the baffles being arranged to provide a serpentine flow path for the contents of the container upon discharge.

7. A method of manufacture of a mousse diffuser having a base for attachment to an aerosol container, and a dispensing button for operating the aerosol container outlet valve, the button comprising a body part and a lid part such 7 that when the two parts are in a closed condition they form a chamber into which the contents of the aerosol are discharged, the chamber having an opening through which the contents are dispensed, characterised in that the body part and lid part are formed as a single plastics moulding with the lid part being hinged to the body part, which is also hinged to the base, the diffuser being moulded with the lid part in an open condition.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the lid part is put into a closed condition before the diffuser is assembled to the aerosol container.