IL23841A - Push-button distributor for products in the fluid state - Google Patents

Description

C O H E N Z E D E K & S P I S B A C H EGO, PATENT ATTORNEYS 24, LEVONTIN SIR., P. O. B. 1169 P A T E N T S & D E S I G N S O R D I N A N C E 13427/65 SPECIFICATION PUSB»4OTT0N PISTRIBUTOa TOR PRODUCTS IN THE gLUIS STATE it ■ft Ί /' Ί i ME, J.R. GEIQY S.A.,a Sides ^ooiee Anonyoe, of 3ohwar¾waXdalle9215» Basel* Switeerland, DO HEREBY DECLARE the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement : P.A.23841 Pile 13427 19.IX.68 This invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing a product in the fluid state such as a liquid or a powdery product. Where the product is a liquid* the. dispenser makes it possible to atomize the liquid in question as it is dispensed.

The dispenser in accordance with the invention is of the type comprising a receptacle fitted with a pushbutton valve and using a gas under pressure (in particular a liquified gas), as the propellant agent,, this gas being contained in a reservoir separate from that which contains the fluid to be dispensed.

Atomiser-dispensers are already known comprising an outer receptacle provided with a push-button valve and containing the active liquid to be dispensed. In this receptacle is mounted the propellent gas reservoir which is connected with the valve flap. Downstream from this valve flap is arranged an atomization nozzle, for instance one of the convergent-divergent kind in the immediate vicinity of which a tube opens, which plunges into the liquid.

When the push-button is pressed the valve is opened.

The propellant gas vaporizes and in escaping through the nozzle it causes a depression which sucks the liquid to be atomized through the plunger tube. This liquid is broken up into fine droplets and is projected into space by the gaseous current♦ The importance of such a device is that it permits a complete and permanent separation during an extremely short interval of time at the exact moment of atomization. In this way the drawbacks met with in aerosol bombs due to incompatibility between the liquefied propelling agent and the active agent to be atomized, are overcome.

However, a device of the kind defined above has the drawback of not permitting a fluidtight sealing of the active agent, which may thus evaporate, deteriorate or escape.

To overcome this it has been proposed to mount on the head of the atomizer a fluidtight obturator, closing the outlet orifice of the atomization nozzle. However this system is very complicated to produce and to handle.

Atomizers are also known comprising a triple obturator, with centralized push-button control. known dispenser In a fipot omboaimont the atomizer comprises two identical aerosol valves placed side by side, that of the liquid to be atomized being double and controlling an air inlet orifice. These valves are actuated by a single push-button which caps them. However, such a device is expensive to produce. Furthermore the use of an aerosol typo valve for discharging a liquid under pressure is not favourable, as this comparatively complicated system calls for a useless throttling in the liquid stage in this type of appliance.

Atomizers have likewise been proposed comprising a triple obturator consisting of a sliding core forming a slide-valve. According to a first version of this type, the propellant fluid is arranged in an annular reservoir situated round the In the second place it will be noted that the known atomizers of the above kind are rechargeable and are expensive to produce. This is why these appliances are reserved for the atomization of expensive liquids, such as perfumes, whose price justifies at one and the same time a complicated mechanical production of the atomizer, careful handling and the possibility of refilling Vtte object of the invention on the contrary dispenser is to produce a» afcewafgeg containing a considerable quantity of a cheap product, such as a household product (cleaning, deodorization or disinfecting agent) or a pest destroyer (anti-parasite, weed-killer, insecticide, etc), a hygienic or cosmetic product (hair lacquer, sunburn lotion, etc) without necessitating either exag¾rated quantities of the propelling agent or of any sort of refilling during use.

The invention is also intended to permit dispenser large-scale mass production of the diofripiputor, only while using cheap materials such as plastic materials.

The invention is jJurther directed to ensuring that the fineness of atomization obtained with a nozzle of the convergent-divergent type through which passes a current of vaporized propelling agent shall dispensers be comparable to that produced by the aerosol bomba- now in use, in which the active liquid agent and the propelling agent are in the presence of one another in the same receptacle under pressure.

^P-fs^fefee^^^-^^g^^^a^rH^-^ Hiiculal'ly iir -»fe-e«^&e -_^yffiT-e^-ft^¾«^¾.fe ■ agent-xif■ r-iiqirfcr ft' receptacle containing the active agent to be atomized which is fed to the atomization nozzle through an axial duct. This arrangement however results in an atomizer which is difficult to produce, unpleasing in appearance and difficult to handle. Furthermore in the case of an explosion of the reservoir containing the propelling agent, the user is not protected against flying fragments.

According to another known device the receptacle containing the liquid and the reservoir of the liquefied propelling agent are arranged side by side. The slide-valve which can slide along an axis at right angles to that of these receptacles is pierced with an axial duct for the escape of the atomized propelling agent. This system however has the same defect as regards protection as the preceding one in the case of an explosion of the propelling agent reservoir, devices In -appLianooc of this kind it has furthermore been considered necessary, to facilitate the atomization, either to discharge the vaporized propelling agent above the active agent to be atomized, which again introduces the problem of incompatibility, and resistance to pressure of the outer receptacle, or se uential of producing in a« eekeieet*-*^ order the opening and closing of various obturators, which substantially complicates production, makes it necessary to provide for the slide-valve an appreciable length of travel and reduces the manufacturing tolerances. dispenser The improved cHva'fa'ibutofi in accordance with the presenc invention is intended in the first place to overcome the defects of the prior devices powdery natgre, which comprises an outer receptacle containing the active agent, an inner reservoir containing a propellant gas under pressure, a stopper closing the outer receptacle and keeping the inner reservoir in position, the said stopper comprising a push-button for control of the escape of the propelling agent and supporting a tube which plunges into the active agent and feeds a discharge nozzle, is mainly characterised in that the propelling agent reservoir is provided with a high pressure obturator rendered integral with the control push-botton which comprises two low pressure obturators respectively controlling the communication of the plunger tube with the discharge nozzle and the communication of the receptacle containing the active agent with the outer atmosphere.

Preferably the high pressure obturator which forms one piece with the propellant agent reservoir in such a way as to form an independent assembly, comprises a jet provided with a gas expansion nozzle. This nozzle is capped by the control push-button while the distributor stopper is provided with a deformable collar permitting a spigot and socket mounting of the propellant agent reservoir.

It is thus possible to assemble the distributor at atmospheric pressure, and by means of a very simple series of operations. Furthermore the jet with its nozzle permits, by throtthing across the orifice, a first expansion of the propellant agent, which is favourable to the suction of the liquid.

P.A.23841 File 13427 19.IX.68 According to the invention there is provided an apparatus for dispensing a product in the fluid state, such as a liquid or a powder product, said apparatus comprising an outer receptacle containing said product to be dispensed, an inner reservoir for a propellent gas under pressure and positioned within said oute receptacle, a stopper closing said receptacle and havin said inner reservoir secured thereto, a push-button movably mounted in said stopper controlling the operation of said dispensing apparatus and carrying a discharge nozzle, said stopper further carrying a tube which plunges into said product to be dispensed for feeding said product towards said ischarge nozzle, is characterized in that said propellant reservoir comprises a high pressure obturating means coupled to said pushbutton for controlling the flow of said propellant towards said discharge nozzle and in that said pushbutton is also coupled to two low pressure obturating means respectively controlling the flow of the product to be dispensed from the plunger tube to the discharge nozzle andthe communication of said receptacle containing said product with the outer atmosphere.

Preferably the high pressure obturator is incorporated with the propellant agent reservoir in such a way as to form an independent assembly, comprises a conduit member provided with a gas expansion nozzle opening into, it.

This conduit member is capped b the control push-button Ρ.Δ.23841 Pile 13427 19.IX.68 It is thus possible to assemble the dispenser at atmospheric pressure, and by means of a very simple series of operations. Furthermore the conduit member of the high pressure obturator permits a first expansion of the propellant agent, which is favourable to the suction of the liquid into the discharge nozzle.

P.A.23841 File 15427 19.ΙΧ.6Θ Figure 1 is a view in elevation with a part diametral section of the dispenser according to the invention. figure 2 is a diametral section on a larger scale of the upper part of the dispenser in the rest position.

Figure 3 s an. axial section along III-III in Figure 2* Figure 4 is a part view similar to Figure 2 of the dispenser in the working position.

Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to Figure 2 showing a dispenser whose propellant agent reservoir has different high pressure obturators; Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 2, the propellant agent reservoir not being cut off, showing Ί a dispenser provided with other low pressure obturators, this dispenser being in the rest condition.

Figure 8 shows the same dispenser working.

Figure 9, like Figure 7, represents a variant embodiment in the rest position*. a Figure 10 is similar view of the above dispenser at work"'.

In the description which ollows it will be assumed that the active agent to be dispensed is a liquid-. In this case the dispensing of this liquid includes its atomiaation, particularly in the form of very fine droplets in order to produce a mist which is comparable The receptacle 1 terminates in a neck 3 which is obturated by a solid stopper 4. This carries the reservoir 5 containing the propellant agent 6 (liquefied gas for instance) whose kinetic energy in the case of escape is utilized for the atomizatioh of the liquid 2. For instance the propellant agent may consist of a gas with a high vapour tension such carbon .dioxide as c«rbe±¾-e--ae¾a--gee, fluorochloride hydrocarbons, such as dichloro-difluoromethane, propane, etc.

The reservoir 5 m y be made, for example, of thick glass or of a light alloy. In the first case (as shown in the Figures) a receptacle with a large diameter and a low height is preferably used, to limit the flexional stresses at the point of fixation. In the second case there is preferably selected a receptacle with a small "diameter extending over the whole available depth of the receptacle 1.

According to an important special feature of the present invention the reservoir 5 is fitted with a high pressure obturator 7, of any type, which is accomodated inside the dome 8 of a cover 9 capping the reservoir 5. The obturator 7 is formed by a conventional aerosol valve. This comprises in the example described valve body siida¾ly housing /«3-©t 13/mounted oib ifig-by in a be^y 20 which communicate through an orifice 30 with the interior of the reservoir valve body . The -jet Al is urged into the closing position by the pressure of the liquefied gas and by a return spring 12. valve body The Al compresses at rest a flexible annular joint 13 against the base 10 of the dome 8, in such a way as to obturate one or more radial ducts 14 which open into conduit memoer The reservoir 5 fitted with its high pressure obturator thus arranged forms a first autoiromous subassembly which can be filled with the propellant gas by conventional aerosol filling techniques and which can then be handled at atmospheric pressure.

To permit simple and rapid fixing of the reservoir 5» the stopper 4 is provided with an annular downward extending flange ■fflfr ftfe 17 with a restricted edge 18 capable of adapting itself to the cover 9 by elastic deformation. There is further hollowed in the stopper 4 a& cavity 19 whose volume corresponds to that of the dome 8.

The cavity 19 is surmounted by a cup 21, flaring with a gradual .d oHing¾- the base of which consists of a flexible collar 22 leaving an orifice 23 for the conduit member passage of the nooBlbc 16 of the high pressure obturator 7.

Under these conditions, by sinking the cover flange conduit member 9 of the reservoir 5 in the mount 17, the **e*eie 16 is brought along the axis of the cap 21; The dimensions of the system are so calculated that the base 10 of the dome 8 lightly repels the collar 22, deforming it elastically, which ensures a fluidtight joining of these surfaces. recess The stopper 4 has further a ooa ing 40 in which a tube 24 is forcibly ensleeved, the said tube plunging into the liquid 2. The joints-Hg thus obtained is fluidtight. The tube 24 communicates with the cup 21 through a duct 25 which opens into this latter through an aperture 26.

The further comprises a push-button 27 whose head 28 contains the discharge a semi-rigid The push-button 27 can be made of/moulded synthetic material off ■■'brns ^evai«rig±¾-"Kinc. and the associated nozzle 29 can be of a light alloy or of stainless steel or again of rigid synthetic material.

The head 27 is extended axially by a body 31 terminating in a sleeve provided both for taking position in the cup 21 and for capping in a conduit member fluidtight manner the mwrfcer 16.

When the appliance is mounted the pushbutton 27 is thus axially mobile at the same time as the high pressure obturator 7 which carries it, this assembly constituting a single continuous block. c The body 31 of the push-button 27 is pierded with two ducts 33 parallel to the axis A-A of the appliance (Figure 3 ) , which in the upstream direction re-unite in a chamber 34 extending the duct 15 of the conduit member • jaosaJjQ 16 and which in the downstream direction open into a chamber 35 with an axis B-B at right angles to the above and which corresponds to the axis of the nozzle 29« This nozzle may be of any type and may simply comprise, for instance, a convergent duct 36, a neck 37 and a divergent duct 38.

Into the neck 37 open radial ducts 41 which communicate with an annular chamber 42 for distributing the liquid to be atomized. The chamber 42 is fed by an oblique duct 43 pierced in a partition 44 separating the two ducts 33 (Figure 3 ) . The duct 43 opens upstream through an aperture 45 into an annular choke 46 of the body 31 and it is controlled by a low pressure obturator essentially comprising a flexible instance, is circular in form and has a central aperture for the passage of the body 31, this aperture being however of smaller diameter than that of the annular choke 46 on which it locks to provide fluidtightness.

The joint 47 in the example in question also serves as a a belongs •oqttaJ-Jjy' to th» second obturator, *4e low pressure obturator, controlled by the button 27 and serving for the admission of air into the receptacle dispensing. 1 solely during Wto- yisvTu&-iyf—crs , To ensure this function the stopper 4 is pierced with a duct 4$ whose upper end opens above the joint 47 into an annular groove 49 separated from the cup 21 by a collar 51 on which the joint 47 finds a fixed support under the action of a semi-rigid cap 52,■'•forcibly embedded on a projection 5 of the stopper '4. The cap 52 which has a central aperture 54 for the passage of the body 31, is bordered by a collar 55 directed towards the joint 47 and supported on it in the rest position. Radial ducts 56 place the duct 4$ and the space between the joint 47, the cap 2 and the collar 55, in communication. This last, by resting on the joint 47, separates the said space in the rest position from the outer atmosphere, from the foregoing description the stopper 4/ the reservoir 5 filled with its and the obturator 7 and propellant gas /Η¾¾»ο1>·,i¾¾tew,argggm-biyYr the push-button 7,-e#- their attachments can be mounted separately and form a second sub-assembly. 'To complete the mounting of the distributor it is sufficient to engage rim δ of the stopper rests on the neck 3 of the receptacle 1. This neck has an outer projection 61 permitting fixing by elastic embedment of an annular cover 62 comprising an inner rib 63 and a central aperture 64 for the passage of the stopper 4. As the interior of the receptacle 1 is not under pressure, this assembly can bo effected very easily and with a perfectly satisfactory fluidtightness, simply by engagement of the various components and without any screwing.

If it is desired to obtain for this apparatus the benefit of inviolability, the rim 5$ can be rendered integral with the' neck 3 by bonding or welding by any suitable means (thermowelding, by ultrasonic or high frequency methods) according to the nature of the plastic materials used, the not being, basically, designed to be refilled, dispenser The airgfrri.fett'ber being mounted and at rest (Figure 2 ) the push-button 27 is kept in the upper position by the spring 12 and by the pressure of the propelling agent 6. The joint 47 is thus applied on the annular rim 55 of the cap 52, In these circumstances the cup 21 is fluidtightly obturated by the joint 47, the aperture 45 being situated above this latter.

In this way the liquid 2 cannot escape, even if it penetrates into this cup by passing through the tube 24 and the duct 25, Furthermore the part of the chamber 49-between the joint 47 a d the cap 2 and which is in relation with the duct 48 is fluidtightly obturated in respect of the outer atmosphere. Any escape of liquid 2 b this route is therefore e uall im ossible.

If the push-button 27 is pressed (Figure 4) valve body sinking it in the stopper 4» the je^r 11 of the obturator housing 7 slides in the direction G into the fterety 20 of this obturator, compressing the spring 12. The flexible joints 13 and 47 under the action of this displacement are bent as shown in Figure 4 and uncover the duct 14 of the nozzle 16 and also the aperture 45 of the duct 43 , which has penetrated into the cup 21 below the joint 47.

The first result of this displacement is to bring the reservoir 5 into communication with the outer atmosphere, which causes the circulation of the. propellant fluid in the direction f. This circulation includes a first expansion at the outlet from the duct 14 which gives the vaporized propellant agent conduit member a high speed in the jaocole 16, This speed is further increased after passing into the ionvergent 6 -divergent 3$ system of the discharge nozzle 29. Under low pressure the action of this gaseous circulation a dtspi oaaiun is created at the neck 37 of the nozzle, the result of which is to suck up the liquid 2 in the direction j_ : plunger tube 24, duct 25, cup 21 , duct 43 , chamber 42 and radial ducts 41o The liquid reaching the chamber 4 of the nozzle 29 is projected to the exterior and atomized by the gaseous flow f circulating along the axis B-B of the head 2S .

At the same time as the liquid 2 circulates in the direction _j thus progressively emptying the receptacle 1 , the outer air is admitted to the depression interior of this receptable, because of the gofcpaotio-ft of this air through the ducts 5 and the duct 4$ (path k). Because the curved part of the joint 47 rests against the conical part of the groove 6 any re-entry of air which would cut off the suction of the liquid vein is prevented.

Experience has shown that the rise of the liquid 2 in the direction j is practically instantaneous, even if the receptacle 1 is only slightly de filled, so that as soon as the button 27 is pressed atomization takes place without there being any loss of propellant agent. It is because of this instanta-neousness that the present invention provides for the flexing 4 simultaneous i&ooofliflg of the joints 13 and 17.

It will be noted that the cup 21 provided in the stopper 4 plays a special part : after atomization a certain amount of liquid is found in the cup 21, dispenser When the d*e½ *fe«ier is used again, this liquid is as it driven by the body 31 of the button 27 (whom thio descends^- in such a way that it is mechanically impelled into the duct 4 This helps to bring the liquid 2 practically instantaneously to the level of discharge the chamber 42 of the/nozzle 29.

During operation, the propellant 6 cools but it receives additional hoat from the thick wall of the reservoir 5 (or from the liquid 2 if this reservoir has thin, ITS HP and soaks in this said liquid).

In particular as the aluminium spinning process makes it possible to obtain receptacles of great length economically, it may be provided that the thin-walled reservoir extends over the whole depth When this is done - -- < . . st¾-rt <as.-t reee*** «f li^ fled p*#f)ellanfc gas «an be heated, all during the uee of the appliance, by the heat which can be supplied by the liquid to be atomized itself.

Experience shows that the arrangement thus constituted makes it possible, by choosing a suitable venturi discharge tube, to obtain a fine atomization (droplets of about a few tenths of microns in diameter) with a reduced consumption of propellant, the weight of this latter thus being originally about "}0% in relation to the weight of the liquid 2 to be atomized.

The entry of the outer air through the duct 3 likewise facilitates the emptying of the receptacle 1, avoiding the interior of this receptacle being at all placed in depression in relation to the atmosphere.

The embodiment previously described, and also the other embodiments which will be explained later on, have the following additional advantages : - by the systematic use of plastic receptacles, problems of corrosion are eliminated.

Consequentially it is possible to use water as a solvent, with a wide spread of tension-active products making.lt possible to impart to it valuable atomization properties. The cost price of the make-up of the liquid agent 2 is likewise reduced. - because of the absence of contact between the propellant agent 6 and the liquid 2 it is possible to make general use of formulae which are aqueous (and hence non-inflammable, even when the propellant gas is a light hydrocarbon, because of the low percentage of this in relation to the aqueous component), are emulsified or in solution, without these products being first extracted by the liquefied propellant. - because the receptacle 1 is of appreciable size, it ensures satisfactory protection against flying fragments if the reservoir 5 should explode. - atomization is ensured by more pressure dispenser of the finger, the ^-i-o rb'toy being held in the same hand. The push-button 27 can furthermore be easily turned round the axis Λ-Α.

If furthermore there is used as propellant a practically non-inflammable gas such as a fluorochlo-ride hydrocarbon such as dichlorodifluoromethane, the atomizer-dispenser invention makes it possible to obtain <½efe**te»¼©*H3 which are non-inflammable whether in store or in use, not subject to the slightest danger of fire in case of explosion, at a cost price very much lower than dispensers that of conventional aerosol bombo-because of the much smaller quantity of propellant agent and the possibility of at atmospheric make it possible to employ a whole series of formulae which are very much wider than in the case of conventional aerosol technique. - another fundamental advantage of the invention a.gain is that it can be used with reservoirs 5 having high pressure obturators 7 of any type whatever. valve body Thus, in Figure 5, the sliding je*b 11 of the obturator has a frusto-conical bearing .

In the version in Figure 6 the sliding jot 11 is provided with a bead*«g 67 forming a valve. This beadiftg 67 is supported against a fixed flexible joint 68, wedged between the body 20 (here provided with a centring collar 69) and the dome 8 of the cover 9.

Those types of high pressure obturators are known per se. Any other pusher type high pressure obturating devices cculd be used in fact, so that the structure of the obturator 7 will not be described in more detail in the following description.

In the version in Figures 7 and 8 the low pressure obturators for the active agent 2 to be distributed and for air, comprise a single flexible annular joint 71 which is mounted in the cup 21 of the stopper 4 of the receptacle 1 and through which passes the body 31 of the push-button 27.

In this arrangement however the joint 71 with an appreciable thickness, is mounted with an appreciable longitudinal clearance in an annular groove 72 of the body 31, in such a way that the free displaces;-*nt of the joint 71 is only restricted by a pair of annular stops 73, 74 bounding on this body the groove 72. A slot 75 is provided along the groove 720 This slot is extended by a duct Si opening at the neck 8 of a venturi fitting, the convergent member of which can be seen at 83 and the divergent member at 84. The convergent member 83 is fed through an axial duct 85 in the extension of the nozzle 16. The distributor comprises a formed by a flattening of the cup 21 and by the cap 52 which overlaps the projection 53 of the stopper 4. The clearance provided between the stops 73 » 74 and 76, 77 is greater than the thickness of the joint 71 In this version the aperture 73 of the duct $ opens direct into the cup 21, inside the annular space 79 left free by the joint 71.

In these circumstances, in the rest position (Figure 7), the button 27 is pushed by the nozzle 16 of the obturator 7, which causes the stop 74 to push the joint 71 against the stop 77, ensuring the fluidtight sealing of the cup 21 in relation to the outer atmosphere.

When the button 27 is pressed (Figure S) it is the stop 73 which comes into contact with the joint 71 a d pushes it until it is stopped by the stop 76. The liquid 2 fed through the tube 24 fills the lower part of the chamber 21 and passes, in particular through the slot 75, into the aperture of the duct Si, At the same time the aperture 7& from of the duct ¾ is insulated by the joint 71 the cup 21 and placed in communication with the atmosphere.

Of course in the preceeding version push button it would also be possible to use a sto er 27 with pn associated nozzle of the kind described above.

The embodiment in Figures 9 and 10 is remarkable in that the push-button 27, which may be raade for J nstance of polytetrafluoro-ethylene or of any other plastic material with a low coefficient of frictions slides by its body 31 in the cup 21 comin into contact with this latter b the echelonned In the rest position (Figure 9), the duct 8 serving for the inlet of air opens facing the groove 89 while the duct 25 which extends the plunger tube 24 opens below the projection 88.

In this version it is supposed that the discharge nozzle 9 is directed vertically, that is to say along the axis of the distributor. Finally the push-button 27 is extended laterally by two branches 9 provided with a finger-rest 93.

It will be noted again that in this a assembly the cep 52 in Figure 7 is no longer required, which constitutes a new simplification.

It will be understood that a?i¾-ff»p&g triple fluidtig tness ia ensured in respect of the outer air for the liquid 2 and the propellant contained in the reservoir 5. de When the push-button 27 is pressed (Figure 10) the projection 86 passes below the orifice of the duct 4 putting it into communication with the atmosphere. At the same time the groove $1 comes facing the orifice of the duct 25 permitting the liquid 2 to rise in the duct 43. The mode of operation is the same as before, except for the fact that the atomization is effected along a vertical axis, in view of the arrangement adopted for the nozzle 29.

There is thus obtained an atomization along the axis of the receptacle.

It will be seen that in this version dispenser the number of members forming the 'diotro-bufror is very small. Furthermore these components can be ;:Obvi usly the invention is not ' restricted to the mbodiments which have just been described and numerous variants may be made to these, particularly by changing the type of nozzle and with regard to the orientation of this latter.

Furthermore the receptacle 1 could be divided into Wo compartments connected by separate ducts to the atomizatibn nozzle, each duct having its own obturator. It would thus be possible to distribute two incompatible products, for instance an acid and a base, a resin and its polymerisation catalyst, and so όή. Finally it goes without saying" that the receptacle 1, the stopper 4 and its attachments could be made of any material Whatever : glass or metal for example.

Claims (2)

1. P.A.23841 Pile 13427 19*IX.68 WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An apparatus for dispensing a produc in the fluid state, such as a liquid or a powdery product, said apparatus enablin said product to be atomized when it is in the liquid state, said apparatus comprising an outer receptacle containing said produc to be dispensed, aj- inner reservoir for a propellant gas under pressure and positioned within said outer receptacle, a stopper closing said receptacle and having said inner reservoir secured thereto, a pushbutton movably mounted i said stopper for controlling the operation of said dispensing apparatus and carrying a discharge nozzle, said stopper furthe carrying a tube which plunges into said product to be dispensed for f eding said product toward said discharge nozzle characterized in that said propellant reservoir comprises a high pressure obturating means coupled to said pushbutton for controlling the flow of said propellant towards said discharge nozzle and in that said pushbutton is also coupled to two low pressure obturating means respectively controlling the flow of the produc to be dispensed from the plunger tube to the nozzle and the communication of said receptacle containing said product with the outer atmosphere.
2. 2. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 and characterized in that said high pressure obturator is incorporated with s aid propellant agent reservoir so as toiformtherewith an independent sub-assembly, said obturator comprising a displaceable valve body which is P.A.23841 Pile 13427 19.IX.68 characterized in that said high pressure obturator comprises a valving means having a propellent discharging conduit member and in that said control push-button is fitted on said conduit member, 4* A dispensing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said control push-button is slidable axially of said stopper and of said outer receptacle. 5. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1» and characterized in that said control push-button is pierced by at least two ducts leading to said discharge nozzle, one for the passage of the gaseous propellant, the other for the feed of the product to be dispensed. 6· A dispensing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, and characterized in that said control push-button is slidably mounted in a cup provided in said stopper of the outer receptacle, the said cup which communicates with the plunger tube being obturated by a fluidtight joint permittin the sliding of the said push-button and belongin to one of the low pressure obturators. 7. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, and characterized in that one of the said low pressure obturators is inserted between an annular chamber which communicates with said plunger tube and a duct provided in said push-button and extending to said discharge nozzle. 8* A dispensing apparatus as claimed in Claim lt and characterized in that said stopper of said outer P.A.23841 Piie 1342 19.IX.68 of this receptacle with an annular chamber provided in. a fluidtigh joint separating it from the outer-atmosphere,. said joint being part of the said low pressure obturators*. 9. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, and characterized in that said control push-button is slidably mounted in a cup which receives the product to be dispensed and through which passes a conduit member ensuring the escape of the propellant and penetrating into the push-button this latter being further pierced by a duct connecting, in the active position, the said cup with said discharge nozzle* 10* A dispensing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said low pressure obturators comprise a single flexible annular joint which is mounted in a cup provided within said stopper of said outer receptacle and through which passes the control push-button* 11. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in Claim 10, and characterized in that said flexible joint is embedded in said cup which carries it, and that it is deformed by the actuation of said control pushbutton, in such a way as to place in communication . the:1 interior of said receptacle with the outer atmosphere and said discharge nozzle with the interior of the cup, itself fed with the product to be dispensed. 12. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in Claim 10, Ρ.Α.23θ4 Pile 13427 19.IX.68 between two pairs of annular stops, a first pair being provided in said cup of the stopper of said outer receptacle while the second pair is carried by said control push-button, the actuation of this push-button causing the inversion of the supports of the flexible joint on one of the said two pairs of stops. 13. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, and characterized in that said control push-button is slidably mounted in a cup of said stopper into which there opens a duct in communication with the interior of the outer receptacle, said push-button comprising echelonned annular projections in fluidtight contact with the wall of said cup and which belong to the low pressure obturators provided for the product to be dispensed and for the communication of the receptacle with the atmosphere. 1 · A dispensing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, and characterized in that said stopper has a cup for said control push-button, the botom of said cup having a recess for the passage of a conduit member being part of a movable valve body of said high pressure obturato mounted on the said propellent reservoir. 15. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in Claim 14, and characterized in that the reoessed bottom of said cup consists of a flexible collar capable of being elastically and fluldtightly supported on the head of the propellant reservoir. 16. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, ■P.A,23841 Pile 13427 19.IX.68 a mounting by elastic embodiment of said propellant reservoir. 17. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, and characterized in that said stopper of said outer receptacle has a seating in which the plunger tube is ensleeved in a fluid ight manner, this seating communicating through a duct provided within the body of said stopper with one of th<f said low pressure obturators, 18. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 and characterized In that both low pressure obturators are, at rest, kept closed by the force which ensures the closing of said high pressure obturator. 19. A dispensin apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, and characterized in that said high pressure obturator and both low pressure obturators are so arranged as to open simultaneously 'when said control push-button is 20. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, and characterized in that the duct provided for the propellant gas between said high pressure obturator and said discharge nozzle is arranged so as to permit a first expansion of the propellant agent. 21. A dispensing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attorneys for Applicants