WO1993000841A1

WO1993000841A1 - Apparatus for the controlled distribution of semifluid products to be applied to a human body

Info

Publication number: WO1993000841A1
Application number: PCT/IT1992/000071
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gabriele Scerri
Original assignee: Gabriele Scerri
Priority date: 1991-07-04
Filing date: 1992-06-30
Publication date: 1993-01-21
Also published as: IT1250633B; ITMI911850A1; ITMI911850A0; AU2263592A

Abstract

The described apparatus comprises at least one tank (2, 3a, 3b) containing a product to be distributed, at least one distributor device (6) adapted to hold at least one dose of the product to be distributed, supply means (5) for the distributor device (6), adapted to draw predetermined amounts of product from the tank (2, 3a, 3b) and admit them into the distributor device (6), and heating means (21) acting on said distributor device (6) so as to transfer heat to the product introduced into the distributor device (6) at the moment of its being distributed.

Description

APPARATUS FOR THE CONTROLLED DISTRIBUTION OF SEMIFLUID PRODUCTS TO BE APPLIED TO A HUMAN BODY

Description

The present invention relates to the controlled distribution of semi-fluid products to be applied to a human body. It is known that the application of semi-fluid products to a human body or at all events of liquids having a more or less marked fluidity is widely spread in a variety of fields. For example, in the trichology field both for medical purposes and hygienic and aesthetic purposes, liquid or semi liquid substances of different kinds such as shampoos, creams and similar products are distributed on the scalp.

In the aesthetic field, for example in beauty and aesthetic medicine centres the distribution of creamy substances and the like is frequently provided on particular areas of the human body. Also in massotherapy and physiotherapy treatments the application of appropriate products to the skin, even to an important amount, is very often absolutely necessary.

In all the aforesaid and still other fields it is well known that one problem encountered by clients and/or patients, and indirectly operators, is connected with feelings of uncomfortableness, annoyance and sometimes true desease that can arise as a result of the rapid application of substances at temperatures different from the bodily one, above all to particularly sensitive or more vascularized areas, such as for example the scalp.

It has been scientifically proved and at all events it can be widely seen by everybody that the thermoregulation mechanism in a human body based on vasoconstriction and vasodilatation is inadequate when it cannot operate with the appropriate graduality. In fact, if there is a sudden temperature variation the human organism does not succeed in adapting itself to the change with the necessary rapidity and a real thermal shock may occur.

For example if a scalp is bathed in warm water and subsequently submitted to an abrupt application of cold water or cold shampoo, the concerned subject at best will have an annoyance reaction that will appear as a light shiver, goose pimples and hair erection. In a few cases a hypotensive crisis may occur which causes pallor, general desease, faint.

It should be pointed out that the application for example of a shampoo, due to its viscosity usually higher than that of water and, as a result, its flowing more slowly on the scalp, causes a disagreeable effect lasting in time for a longer period than cold water.

It is to be added that contact with cold substances also gives rise to a reduction of the cutaneous sensitivity due to a temporary alteration of the nerve fibres.

These annoyance and sometimes danger situations are particularly serious in people already subjected to trouble or diseases such as cardiopaths, asthmatics, hypertensives or hypotensives or in subjects that submit themselves to these cutanous treatments when they are very hot or very cold.

In order to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks, very careful operators, for example in the coiffure field, carry out the empirical and rough mixing of the coldproduct with warm or hot water poured out in basins or containers. In some cases the thus mixed product is put on a warmer, so as to be kept to the desired temperature, which enables it to be used for several applications throughout the day. However the achieved results are very varying and consequently all possible inconveniences and dangers are not radically eliminated. In particular, when some types of mixings are concerned, the separation of the product from the mixing water or other solvent occurs.

A second problem well known by operators, above all in the coiffure field is represented by the lack of appropriate control as regards the amounts of the different products really contained in each application and the reduced precision in the percent concentrations of many products in the diluting liquids.

In fact, for example, some products such as shampoos are supplied to coiffeurs in bottles of big sizes and when the operator executes the hair washing he generally takes out an approximate shampoo amount which is sometimes twice or three times the needed amount. Consequently a waste of product generally occurs and an increase of prices without real reasons.

In addition, some products are often bought, for cost reasons, in the form of concentrated substances that are directly diluted by the operator through water addition.

However dilution is not often carried out according to the prescribed proportions. That is why products lose efficiency as they do not have the necessary stability and homogeneity and the separation of water from the active ingredient may even occur, above all when dilution is made some days before use. In this case it may happen that the operator during the first applications takes out water alone and therefore he is obliged to add more concentrated substance therein in order to be able to apply an amount of product capable of giving the desired qualitative results. In addition, mixtures resulting from empirical dilutions which are not used within a short period of time often give rise to sediments and encrustations where an undesirable bacterial flora, develops very easily.

It is finally pointed out that a third problem of hard resolution frequently resides in the difficult homogeneous distribution of the products on the skin. In particular, in the case of curative shampoos expressly designed to solve problems relating to greasy hair, dandruff and other anomalies proper to the scalp, results are less efficient and sometimes they do not qualitatively correspond to expectations, just on account of a non-correct and homogeneous distribution of the product. For example the product may be too much on some areas thereby causing in some cases skin dehydration and hair spoiling. All the above problems, although specific examples tare given only in some operating fields, are present in all fields in which the distribution of substances on some surface areas of the human body is required. under this situation the technical task underlying the present invention is to conceive an apparatus for the controlled distribution of semifluid products to apply to the human body, capable of substantially solving the above problems and eliminating the described drawbacks.

Within the scope of this technical task it is an important object of the invention to devise an apparatus capable of distributing products which are heated to a temperature substantially equal to that of the human body, to be applied to the human body itself, while at the same time preventing said application from producing annoyance and disease to all subjects submitted to the application. Another important object of the invention is to provide an apparatus capable of controlling the amounts of the distributed products and executing mixings and dilutions of the substances to be applied to the human body according to correct proportions and at the real moment of use of the same, thereby improving the operating steps connected with the use of said products from both an economical and qualitative point of view. Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus enabling an optimal, easy and quick distribution of the products to be applied to the desired areas in the desired amounts, thereby reaching the maximum yield and best efficiency for each individual product.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an embodiment thereof which is advantageous in itself and at the same time represents a technical progress in the specific field.

The technical task mentioned and the objects specified are substantially achieved by an apparatus for the controlled distribution of semifluid products to be applied to the human body, characterized in that it comprises:

- at least one tank containing a product to be distributed,

- at least one distributor device adapted to hold at least one dose of said product to be distributed,

- supply means for said distributor device, adapted to draw predetermined amounts of said product from said tank and admit them into said distributor device, and

- heating means to be activated on at least said distributor device so as to transfer heat at least to said dose of product introduced into said distributor device. The descrition of a preferred embodiment of an apparatus for the controlled distribution of semifluid products to be applied to the human body is given hereinafter by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of some components of the apparatus of the invention;

- Fig. 2 diagrammatically shows the supply means and a distributor device being part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and

- Fig. 3 is a side view of the distributor device shown in fig. 2. Referring to the drawings, the apparatus of the invention is generally denoted by 1.

It comprises one or more tanks, for example one main tank 2 adapted to hold a diluting liquid such as water, and a pair of additional tanks 3a and 3b, each containing a product to be distributed by the apparatus far application to the human body.

Tanks 2, 3a and 3b rest on a base 4 containing supply means 5, as shown in Fig. 2, which is adapted to draw from the respective tanks 2, 3a and 3b predetermined amounts of diluting liquid and products to be distributed and to introduce them into a distributor device 6 adapted to hold said predetermined drawn amounts.

In greater detail, the supply means 5 comprises, at each tank, a metering pomp or syringe 7 provided with a piston 8 the rod 9 of which is operated upon interposition of kinematic elements 10 known per se, by a driving motor 11. The metering pomp 7 is connected, by a connecting duct 12, to a junction point 13 between a suction pipe 14 fitted in the corresponding tank 2, 3a or 3b, and a delivery pipe 15. An emission valve 16 adapted to be connected to a quick-coupling attachment 17 arranged on the distributor device 6 is disposed on said delivery pipe 15. The delivery pipe 15 is fitted at its end into the corresponding tank 2, 3a or 3b and consequently, together with the suction pipe 14 which is consecutive thereto, defines a closed circuit with respect to the tank 2, 3a, or 3b, thereby enabling the product or liquid to return to the tank if the emission valve 16 does not draw it. Upstream and downstream of the junction point 13 a first and a second non-return valves 18 and 19 are provided and at the end of the delivery pipe 15 the admission of product or liquid to the tank is ensured by a third overpressure valve 20 enabling adjustment of pressure in the delivery pipe 15.

Since the product contained in each tank can be drawn theref rom separately, provision is made for as many emission valves 16 as the different tanks and respective supply means 5. Therefore in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 there are three emission valves 16a, 16b and 16c connected to tanks 2, 3a and 3b respectively. Preferentially a corresponding counter diagrammatically shown at 30 and 31 in Fig. 1 is connected to the emission valves 16b and 16c, which counter enables the number of openings carried out by the valves to be counted in order to consequently calculate the amount of the product drawn from tanks 3a and 3b.

The apparatus of the invention also provides for one or more heating means units 21, to be acti vated on one di stributor devi ce 6 so as to transfer heat to the diluting liquid and the product admitted into the distributor device 6. More specifically, each heating means unit 21 comprises a pair of heating plates 22 provided for example with an electric resistor, adapted to house one distributor device 6 between them, keeping it at least partly in contact with their heating surfaces. Plates 22 are integral with the base 4 and at least one portion of them is positioned so as to receive the distributor device 6 in an operating position when said device is connected, through its quick-coupling attachment 17, to one of the emission valves 16. In Fig. 1 this situation for example occurs when the distributor device 6 is connected to the emission valve 16a or 16c.

Finally the distributor device 6, as shown in Fig. 3, comprises a cylindrical body 23 substantially embodying a cylindrical container inside which a plunger 24 is slidable. An elastic element 25, a spring for example, is active on said plunger and is adapted to push it towards a delivery nozzle 26, capable of emitting a threadlike jet and provided with a jet-to-shower commutator, upstream of which a delivery valve 27 located inside the main body 23, is provided.

The distributor device 6 is also provided with a handgrip 28 integral with the main body 23 and an actuating push 29 acting on the delivery valve 27 and operable in the same manner as a trigger when the handgrip 28 is seized. Connected to the plunger 24 is a guide and manipulation bar 30 enabling to displace the plunger 24, for example when the distributor device 6 is to be cleaned.

Taken as a whole, apparatus 1 comprises a fixed portion consisting of the base 4, heating means 21, tanks and Supply means 5, and a movable portion defined by the distributor device 6.

Operation of the apparatus for the controlled distribution of semifluid liquids and creamy products to be applied to the human body according to the invention described above mainly as regards structure. is as follows.

If the product to be spread needs to be suitably diluted, through the addition of water for example, first the quick-coupling attachment 17 of the distributor device 6 is connected to the emission valve 16a corresponding to the main tank 2, upon insertion of said distribution device between the heating plates 22. The metering pump 7 related to the main tank 2 draws the desired amount of water and transfers it into the distributor device 6, where it is heated by conduction to the temperature provided by the heating plates 22.

The distributor device 6 filled with hot water can be taken and connected to one of the emission valves 16b or 16c corresponding to the product which is to be mixed with water. The supply means 5 enables the desired amount of said product to be exactly withdrawn. The automatic count of the drawn doses is possible and therefore the daily consumption of the product really supplied can be easily kept under control. Mixing between the hot water and cold product takes place within the main body 23 of the distributor device 6, the product being therefore heated.

If the operator grasps the distributor device 6 by its handgrip 28, he will be able to easily take the delivery nozzle 26 close to the area concerned with the application of the heated mixture. It will be then sufficient to press the trigger 29 and the automatic distribution of the mixture will take place, because said mixture is kept under weak depression by the elastic spring 25. It is therefore possible to carry out a homogeneous distribution of the heated mixture on the skin areas concerned with the treatment, the product yield being optimized and at the same time all trouble and inconveniences due to thermal shocks being completely eliminated.

It is pointed out that the distributor device 6 in use is completely separated from the fixed portion of the apparatus. Therefore the delivery nozzle 26 can be easily handled by the operator, which greatly enhances the efficiency of all treatments. In addition, due to the absence of any physical connection and more specifically of electrical connections, the use of the distributor device 6 is quite safe, for both the operator and the client and/or patient. If the product to be applied does not need to be diluted, the distributor device 6 can be maintained to the appropriate temperature by putting it between the heating plates 22 without however carrying out connections with any emission valves. In this case it is only at the moment of use that the quick-coupling attachment 17 is connected to one of the emission valves 16b or 16c. Thus the product introduced into the distributor device 6 is heated and can be distributed to the optimal temperature.

The invention achieves important advantages.

First of all it will be recognized that the products, by the use of the apparatus of the invention, are heated to a constant temperature, substantially corresponding to the body temperature only immediately before their use, whether heating is carried out by mixing with hot water or whether said products are directly heated by contact with the hot walls of the distributor device. In this way, not only a great amount of the involved products is practically always available for use, but also the products are prevented from being damaged as a result of a prolonged heating of the same and therefore undesirable trouble to people submitted to the application is avoided.

In addition, the supplied amounts are strictly checked and homooenizations are carried out mechanically. Therefore a useless waste of product is avoided as well as mixings in wrong proportions, which brings about an important economical advantage and the optimization of the results from a qualitative point of view.

It will be recognized that the great freedom of movement allowed by the presence of a distributor device devoid of physical connections with the fixed portion of the apparatus at the moment of use makes it easier to apply semifluid products, liquids or creams to any region of the human body.

It will be finally noted that the particular embodiment shown is also advantageous in its most specific aspects.

The invention includes all changes and modifications which do not constitute a departure from the true scope of this invention as claimed in the following claims. All of the details may be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. An apparatus for the controlled distribution of semifluid products to be applied to a human body, characterized in that it comprises:

- at least one tank (2, 3a, 3b) containing a product to be distributed,

- at least one distributor device (6) adapted to hold at least one dose of said product to be distributed,

- supply means (5) for said distributor device (6), adapted to draw predetermined amounts of said product from said tank and admit them into said distributor device (6), and

- heating means (21) to be activated on at least said distributor device (6) so as to transfer heat at least to said dose of product introduced into said distributor device (6).

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said heating means comprises at least one heating plate (22) adapted to be disposed in contact with at least one portion of said distributor device (6).

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said distributor device (6) comprises a quick-coupling attachment (17) adapted to be selectively connected to at least one of the emission valves (16) arranged in said supply means (5).

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that said heating plate (22) is positioned so as to be in contact with said distributor device (6) when said quick-coupling attachment (17) is brought in connection with said emission valve (16).

5. An apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that provision is made for a plurality of said tanks comprising at least one main tank (2) for containing a diluting liquid, and at least one additional tank (3a, 3b) for containing said product to be distributed and in that a corresponding plurality of said supply means (5) is provided, said means being individually connected to said tanks (2, 3a, 3b) and exhibiting a respective emission valve (16), said distributor device (6) being adapted to simultaneously hold predetermined amounts of said diluting liquid and product to be distributed, said heating means (5) acting on said distributor device (6) at least when the latter is connected to said emission valve (16) of said supply means (5) connected to the main tank (2).

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said supply means (5) comprises:

- a metering pump (7),

- a driving motor (11) for said metering pump (7),

- kinematic elements (10) interposed between said metering pump (7) and driving motor (11),

- a suction pipe (14) disposed intermediate said metering pump (7) and tank (2, 3a, 3b), and

- a delivery pipe (15) for connection between said metering pump (7) and one emission valve (16).

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that said delivery pipe (15) and suction pipe (14) are disposed consecutively to form a closed circuit with respect to said tank (2, 3a, 3b) and in that provision is made for:

- a single connecting duct (12) adapted to connect said pump (7) with a junction point (13) of said suction pipe (14) and delivery pipe (15), and

- non-return valves (18, 19) disposed upstream and downstream of said junction point (13).

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said distributor device (6) comprises:

- a main body (23) substantially in the form of a container,

- a pl unger (24) sliding within said main body (23),

- an elastic element (25) acting on said slidable plunger (24),

- a quick-coupling attachment (17) adapted for connection with said supply means (5),

- a delivery nozzle (26) connected to said main body (23),

- a delivery valve (27) disposed upstream of said delivery nozzle (26), within said main body (23),

- a handgrip (28) integral with said main body (23), and

- an actuating push (29) connected to said delivery valve (27).