WO1993001996A1

WO1993001996A1 - Spray can

Info

Publication number: WO1993001996A1
Application number: PCT/FR1992/000690
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gustav Nefzger; Gilles Baudin
Original assignee: L'oreal
Priority date: 1991-07-23
Filing date: 1992-07-16
Publication date: 1993-02-04
Also published as: EP0548350A1; ES2077428T3; EP0548350B1; DE69205132D1; DE69205132T2

Abstract

A spray can sealed with a collar (3) supporting a valve (7) with a body (6) defining a chamber (10) which is connected via a tube (22) running down into the product and having mounted therein a rod (1) with two cylindrical portions (23, 24) that define an annular abutment surface (17), wherein a channel (13) provided in portion (23) communicates with the outside of the rod through a channel (12) passing through its wall. The rod (1) is movable in the opening of a seal (4) placed between the body (6) and the collar (3) and thicker than the cross-section of channel (12), said rod (1) being urged by a resilient element (11) towards a rest position in which the bearing surface (17) co-operates with the seal (4) and the channel (12) opens out level with the thickness of the seal (4). An opening (8) is provided in the body (6) to link the chamber (10) with the space in the can that contains the pressurized liquid, and a device is provided for preventing the product held in the chamber (10) and the tube (22) from dropping to the bottom of the can after every spraying operation.

Description

SPRAYER CONTAINER

The invention relates to a spray container for spraying a product, in particular liquids, using a pressurized fluid, in particular a gaseous fluid, for example compressed air, said container being closed at its upper part, by a cup carrying a valve having a generally cylindrical body inside which is defined a chamber which is connected, by means of a dip tube, to the volume of the container containing the product to be sprayed, and , in which is slidably mounted an operating rod comprising at least two coaxial cylindrical portions of different diameters defining between them a transverse annular abutment bearing, the portion of smaller diameter or first portion being intended to receive a push button provided with a spray nozzle, a blind axial channel formed in said first portion being, on the one hand, in communication with said nozzle, l when the push button is mounted on the operating rod, and, on the other hand, with the outside of the rod via a radial channel passing through the wall of the operating rod which is movable, sealed, by its first portion , in the central opening of an annular seal placed between the valve body and the cup, intended to ensure the tightness of the chamber relative to the outside of the container, and the thickness of which is greater than the section of said radial channel through which it opens to the outside of the operating rod, the operating rod being biased axially by elastic means towards a rest position in which the annular abutment surface cooperates with the annular seal , and in which, also, said radial channel opens at right with the thickness of said annular seal, so that the container is closed with respect to the outside. In such known spray containers, generally the pressurized fluid, such as compressed air, CO2 or the like, which is under a relatively high pressure, of about 10 bar, serves as a propellant for the product which is sprayed through the spray nozzle. It is also known, to perfect this spraying, to provide an additional fluid intake by providing a small orifice in the wall of the valve body defining the chamber, said orifice. communicating said chamber with the upper volume of the container in which the pressurized fluid is located, so that it is a mixture of product and pressurized fluid which is supplied to the spray nozzle. In the case of spray containers of this type, when an action is exerted on the operating rod by pressing the push button, the pressure drop through the small additional fluid intake orifice leads to more fluid pressure higher in the container than in the valve chamber, and this allows the product, under the effect of this pressure difference, to reach the spray nozzle via the dip tube.

The first problem which arises is that after releasing the push-button, therefore interrupting the flow of the pressurized fluid, the pressures equalize on either side of the small orifice, and the product, in the chamber and the dip tube descends until it reaches the level corresponding to that existing in the spray container. This has the disadvantage that, at the start of each spray, only a quantity of pressurized fluid is consumed until the product to be sprayed reaches the spray nozzle. This results, in particular if the spraying is frequently interrupted, a very significant loss of fluid under pressure, which is detrimental.

The first object of the invention is to avoid these drawbacks and to provide a spray container, of the type mentioned above, making it possible to avoid this loss of fluid under pressure, and to obtain a spray as fine as in the past. .

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the fact that a device is provided which prevents, after each spraying, the emptying, towards the bottom of the container, of the product contained in the chamber and in the dip tube.

Thanks to this arrangement, it is only at the first spraying that the chamber and the dip tube are filled with product, and that, on the other hand, for each other spraying process, the chamber and the dip tube remain filled, since the device according to the invention prevents their emptying. According to one embodiment, the device which prevents this emptying comprises means for closing the communication of the small orifice with the valve chamber. These closing means are operational when the valve stem is in the rest position. Said closing means are constituted by at least one circular seal disposed between the second portion of the operating rod and the inner cylindrical surface of the valve chamber, and carried by said second portion which also has an axial blind passage followed a radial passage passing through the wall of the second portion, said axial and radial passages communicating the two volumes of the valve chamber located on either side of the circular seal. According to a first embodiment, the closure means consist of two circular seals arranged axially at a distance from each other at least equal to the largest dimension, along the axis of the valve, of the section by which the small opening opens into the valve chamber. According to another embodiment, the closure means consist of a ring-shaped seal of substantially rectangular section whose axial height is at least equal to the largest dimension, along the axis of the valve, of the section through which the small orifice opens into the valve chamber.

The second problem which arises is that, so far, if it is desired to have a first spraying mode, where the product alone is sprayed, and a second spraying mode, where a mixture of product and of fluid is sprayed, two specific types of spray containers are provided, each one being adapted, by its construction, to the chosen spray mode. Thus, the second object of the present invention is to provide a spray container allowing the two spray modes, that is to say allowing spraying of the product without or with additional fluid.

According to the invention, this object is achieved thanks to the fact that means, known as two-mode means, are provided for, on the one hand, making the small additional fluid orifice inoperative in a first position of the operating rod, and, on the other hand, making said small orifice operational in a second position of the operating rod. According to a first embodiment, said two-mode means comprise means for closing the communication of the small orifice with the valve chamber, said closing means being operational for a first stroke of the operating rod and non-operational for a second stroke of the operating rod following the first stroke, the radial channel passing through the wall of the first portion of the operating rod connecting the chamber and the axial channel of said first portion during the first and the second stroke of the operating rod maneuver. The closing means consist of a piston sliding in the valve body; said piston is integral with the second cylindrical portion of the operating rod, said piston being traversed by at least one passage communicating the lower part and the upper part of the chamber defined on either side of the piston. As a variant, the piston is disposed axially between the operating rod and the bottom of the chamber, first elastic compression means being placed between the operating rod and said piston, and second elastic compression means being arranged between said piston and the back of the room. To better understand the object of the invention, we will now describe, by way of purely illustrative and nonlimiting example, embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. In these drawings: - Figure 1 is a partial view, in section, of a spray container according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is a partial view, in section, of a variant of the valve according to Figure 1;

- Figures 3, 4 and 5 show, in section, a valve of another spray container according to the invention, the valve stem occupying three different positions illustrated respectively by the three figures 3, 4 and 5;

- Figures 6 and 7 show, in partial section, a variant of the container corresponding to Figures 3 to 5, Figures 6 and 7 respectively illustrating two positions of the valve stem, in operation. According to Figure 1, a spray container consists of a cylindrical envelope 18 having a bottom at its bottom, not shown, and closed at its upper part by a cup 3, a seal 2 ensuring the tightness of the closure. The container is filled with a product to be sprayed, and with a pressurized fluid, for example compressed air. A spray valve 7 comprises a valve body 6 and an operating rod 1; the valve body 6, of generally cylindrical shape, has at its upper part, in FIG. 1, a bead 6â of larger diameter than the rest of the body and allowing the body 6 to be held in place by crimping by the metal cup 3 provided. The transverse upper wall of the cup 3 is pierced with a circular orifice 3a; an annular seal 4, placed inside the bead 6a, is compressed, during crimping, between the upper wall of the cup 3 and an annular bearing 6b, concentric with the bead 6g and carried by the valve body 6, extending up to 'At the joint 4 the cylindrical inner wall 25 of the body 6; the operating rod 1 comprises two coaxial cylindrical portions 23 and 24, defining a transverse annular surface 17; the portion 23 of the rod 1 has a diameter slightly less than that of the orifice 3a of the cup 2, while the portion 24 of the rod 1 has a diameter greater than that of the orifice 3â, while being slightly smaller to the diameter of the inner wall 25 of the body 6. When the operating rod 1 is mounted on the body 6, the portion 23 passes through the seal 4 and the orifice 3a of the upper wall of the cup 3, the portion 24 is in the chamber 10 defined inside the body 6; the body 6 has, at its lower part, an extension 16, of smaller diameter than that of the rest of the body, along the axis of the body 6, and shaped as a nozzle on which is connected a dip tube 22, made of plastic, allowing communication between the chamber 10 and the product to be sprayed contained in the container, the dip tube 22 plunging to the vicinity of the bottom of said container. Inside the body 6, in the vicinity of the bottom of the chamber 10, radial fins 15 distributed circumferentially, define a planar surface 20 of transverse abutment, serving as a seat for a helical spring 11; the cylindrical portion 24 of the rod 1 is extended, at its lower part, by a tail 21 of smaller diameter so that a transverse surface 19 is defined at the connection of the tail 21 and the portion 24; the spring 11 at its other end surrounds the tail 21 and rests on the bearing surface 19, thus applying, at rest, the transverse annular bearing surface 17 of the rod 1 against the annular seal 4.

A seal 9 is disposed at the periphery of the cylindrical portion 24 and cooperates with the internal cylindrical wall 25 of the body 6 to seal it, the portion 24 being mounted in the body 6 by sliding, in the manner of a piston in a cylinder; according to Figure 1, the seal 9 consists of two O-rings 9a and 9b spaced axially; a small orifice 8 is formed in the wall of the body 6 and communicates the chamber 10 with the upper volume of the container in which the fluid under pressure is located; the small orifice 8 is located axially so that it opens into the chamber 10 between the O-rings 9a, 912 when the rod 1 is at rest, so that, in this position, the chamber 10 does not communicate with the volume of the container surrounding the valve 7. The second cylindrical portion 24 of the rod 1 has an axial blind passage 14 followed by a radial passage 5 passing through the wall of said second portion 24, said axial passages 14 and radial 5 opening respectively into the chamber 10 on either side of the O-rings 9a, 9.2 _. by somehow short-circuiting said seals 9a, 9b. A blind axial channel 13 is also formed in the first portion 23 of the rod 1, the open end of the channel 13 communicating with the spray nozzle when the push button (not shown) is mounted on the operating rod 1; the channel 13 is, moreover, in communication with the outside of the rod 1 by a radial channel 12 passing through the wall of the first portion 23 of the rod 1; the section of said channel 12 through which it opens to the outside is less than the thickness of the joint 4; in the rest position, as shown in Figure 1, the channel 12 opens to the right of the thickness of the seal 4. The container according to the invention operates as follows. From the rest position, as shown in Figure 1, a downward action on the operating rod 1 lowers it in the body 6, guided in the body 6 by the tight sliding assembly from there second portion 24 of said rod 1. After a certain stroke, on the one hand, the radial channel 12 is no longer obstructed by the seal 4 and, on the other hand, the small orifice 8 communicates the upper part of the container containing the pressurized fluid with the upper part of the chamber 10 located above the seal 9â, said seal 9a having passed downwards the level of the small orifice 8 due to the displacement of the operating rod 1. Thus, the product to spray is pushed by the pressurized fluid from the dip tube 22 to the part of the chamber 10 located below the seal 9b and the channels 14, 5, 12, 13, and therefore to the spray nozzle; in parallel, pressurized fluid is also brought to join the nozzle via the upper part of the chamber 10 situated above the seal 9g and the channels 12 and 13; in fact, it is a mixture of fluid and product which is sprayed; the pressure drop through the small orifice 8 results in a pressure in the chamber 10 above the seal 9a less than the pressure in the chamber 10 below the seal 9J2, which allows the product to be dispensed from the container, as described above.

When the action on the operating rod 1 ceases, the spring 11 pushes the rod 1 back into the position where the bearing surface 17 is in contact with the seal 4, the channel 12 in line with this seal 4 and the channel 8 between the seals 9a and 9h; the product contained in the chamber 10 and the dip tube 22 remains there and no longer descends towards the lower volume of the container.

In FIG. 2, the means for closing the small orifice 8 consist of a seal 9c. in the form of a ring of substantially rectangular section whose axial height is greater than the section through which the small orifice 8 opens into the chamber 10; the operation of the container fitted with such a seal is identical to that described with reference to FIG. 1.

As we saw at the beginning of this description, the second object of the present invention is to provide a spray container allowing the two spray modes, with or without additional fluid. Figures 3 to 7 show, partially, two variants of such containers, more precisely two variants of valves fitted to such containers and making it possible to achieve this goal. In these figures, parts or components similar, in particular in their function, to those described in connection with Figures 1 and 2 have the same numbers and will therefore not be described. Figures 3 to 5 show a first variant of valve 7; Figure 3 shows the operating rod 1 in the rest position, held in this position by the spring 11; the rod 1 carries a piston 31 mounted for leaktight sliding in the body 6; the piston 31 is crossed by passages 30 communicating the volumes of the chamber 10 located above and below the piston 31. The operation is simple. FIG. 4 shows the relative position of the elements after the rod 1 has made a first downward displacement stroke, following an action on the push button (not shown) mounted on the first portion 23 of the rod 1; in this position, the radial channel 12 is no longer opposite the seal 4, and the small orifice 8 is still obstructed by the piston 31, the axial height of which is provided sufficient to do this; therefore, in this position, this first spraying mode corresponds to a spraying of the product alone. Figure 5 corresponds to a second stroke of the rod 1, following the first stroke; in this position of the elements, the small orifice 8 is no longer obstructed by the piston 31; spraying is of the second mode, in which it is a mixture of product and of fluid to be sprayed which passes through the spray nozzle. The relative position of the channels 12 and 8 and of the piston 31, as well as the axial height thereof, define the position of the rod 1 for which the change of spraying mode takes place.

Figures 6 and 7 show another embodiment of a valve fitted to a container with two spray modes. In Figure 6, we see that a piston 40 is slidably mounted in the valve body 6; the piston 40 is bowl-shaped, the bottom of which carries a cylindrical passage 43 defining annular edges, on either side of the bottom, the inner edge being designated by the reference 42; these flanges serve for centering a first compression spring 44 disposed axially between the piston 40 and the rod 1; the spring 44 bears on the rod 1 via the annular bearing surface 19 bordering a centering tail 45 extending the rod 1 downwards and consisting of four radial arms arranged in a cross; a second compression spring 41 is placed between the piston 40 and the bottom of the chamber 20.

In the rest position, not shown, the channel 12 is blocked by the seal 4 and the small orifice 8 is blocked by the piston 40; in the position of figure 6, which shows the position occupied by the elements after the rod 1 has made a first stroke, the channel 12 is no longer in line with the seal 4 and the small orifice 8 is still closed by the piston 40; spraying is carried out according to the first mode; in the position shown in Figure 7, the channel 12 is still open, and the piston 40 no longer covers the small orifice 8; spraying is in the second mode; it will be understood that according to the relative stiffnesses of the springs 41 and 44, equal or different, the relative displacements of the rod 1 and of the piston 40 will be equal or different: the choice of these stiffnesses makes it possible to define the stroke of the rod 1 after which will change the spray mode.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 - Spray container for spraying a product, in particular liquids, by means of a pressurized fluid, in particular a gaseous fluid, such as for example compressed air, said container being closed, at its upper part , by a cup (3) carrying a valve (7) having a body (6) of generally cylindrical shape inside which is defined a chamber (10) which is connected, by means of a dip tube (22 ), to the volume of the container containing the product to be sprayed, and in which is slidably mounted an operating rod (1) comprising at least two coaxial cylindrical portions (23, 24) of different diameters defining between them a range (17) of transverse annular stop, the portion of smaller diameter (23) or first portion being intended to receive a push button provided with a spray nozzle, a blind axial channel (13) formed in said first portion (23) being, on the one hand, in communication with said nozzle, when the push button is mounted on the operating rod (1), and, on the other hand, with the outside of the rod via a radial channel (12) passing through the wall of the operating rod (1) which is movable, sealed, by its first portion (23), in the central opening of an annular seal (4) placed between the valve body (6) and the cup (3), intended to seal the chamber (10) relative to the outside of the container, and the thickness of which is greater than the section of said radial channel (12) through which it opens out to the outside of the operating rod (1), the operating rod (1) being biased axially by elastic means (11) towards a rest position in which the annular abutment bearing surface (17) cooperates with the annular seal (4), and in which, also, said radial channel (12) opens out in line with the thickness of said annular seal. re (4), so that the container is closed vis-à-vis the outside, a small orifice (8) being provided in the wall of the valve body (6) to communicate the chamber (10) with the upper volume of the container in which the pressurized fluid is located, characterized in that a device is provided which prevents, after each spraying, the emptying, towards the bottom of the container, of the product contained in the chamber (10) and in the tube plunger (22). 2 - spray container according to claim 1, characterized in that said device which prevents emptying comprises closing means (9, 9c) of the communication of the small orifice (8) with the chamber (10), said closing means (9, 9c) being operational when the valve stem (1) is in the rest position.

3 - spray container according to claim 2, characterized in that said closure means (9, 9c consist of at least one circular seal (9, 9c) disposed between the second portion (24) of the rod operation (1) and the inner cylindrical surface (25) of the chamber (10), and carried by said second portion (24) which also has an axial blind passage (14) followed by a radial passage (5) passing through the wall of the second portion (24), said axial (14) and radial (5) passages communicating the two volumes of the chamber (10) located on either side of the circular seal (9, 9c).

4 - spray container according to claim 3, characterized in that the closure means (9) consist of two circular seals (9â, 9î_ arranged axially at a distance from each other at least equal to the largest dimension, along the axis of the valve (7), of the section through which the small orifice (8) opens into the chamber (10).

5 - spray container according to claim 3, characterized in that the closure means (9c) consist of a seal (9cj in the form of a ring of substantially rectangular section whose axial height is at least equal to the largest dimension , along the axis of the valve (6), of the section through which the small orifice (8) opens into the chamber (10).

6 - Spray container for spraying a product, in particular liquids, using a pressurized fluid, in particular a gaseous fluid, such as compressed air, said container being closed, at its upper part, by a cup (3) carrying a valve (7) having a body (6) of generally cylindrical shape inside which is defined a chamber (10) which is connected, by means of a dip tube (22) , to the volume of the container containing the product to be sprayed, and in which is slidably mounted an operating rod (1) comprising at least two coaxial cylindrical portions (23, 24) of different diameters defining between them a surface (17) of transverse annular abutment, the portion of smaller diameter (23) or first portion being intended to receive a push button provided with a nozzle spraying, a blind axial channel (13) formed in said first portion (23) being, on the one hand, in communication with said nozzle, when the push-button is mounted on the operating rod (1), and, on the other hand, with the outside of the rod via a radial channel (12) passing through the wall of the operating rod (1) which is movable, with sealing, by its first portion (23), in the central opening of an annular seal (4) placed between the valve body (6) and the cup (3), intended to seal the chamber (10) relative to the outside of the container, and the thickness is greater than the section of said radial channel (12) through which it opens to the th outside of the operating rod (1), the operating rod (1) being biased axially by elastic means (11, 41, 44) towards a rest position in which the annular abutment bearing surface (17) cooperates with the seal sealing ring (4), and in which, also, said radial channel (12) opens out in line with the thickness of said annular seal (4), so that the container is closed with respect to the outside, a small orifice (8) being provided in the wall of the valve body (6) for communicating the chamber (10) with the upper volume of the container in which the pressurized fluid is located, characterized in that means, known as means two modes are provided for, on the one hand, making the small orifice (8) inoperative in a first position of the operating rod (1), and, on the other hand, making said small orifice (8) operational in a second position of the operating rod (1).

7 - spray container according to claim 6, characterized in that said two-mode means comprise closing means (31, 40) of the communication of the small orifice (8) with the chamber (10), said closing means (31 , 40) being operational for a first stroke of the operating rod (1) and not operational for a second stroke of the operating rod (1) following the first stroke, a radial channel (12) passing through the wall of the first portion (23) of the operating rod (1) connecting the chamber (10) and the axial channel (13) of said first portion (23) during the first and second stroke of the operating rod (1).

8 - spray container according to claim 7, characterized in that the closing means consist of a piston (31, 40) sliding in the body (6) of the valve.

9 - spray container according to claim 8, characterized in that said piston (31) is integral with the second cylindrical portion (24) of the operating rod (1), said piston (31) being traversed by at least one passage (30) connecting the lower part and the upper part of the chamber (10) defined on either side of the piston (31).

10 - spray container according to claim 8, characterized in that the piston (40) is arranged axially between the operating rod (1) and the bottom of the chamber (10), first elastic means (44) of compression being placed between the operating rod (1) and said piston (40), and second elastic compression means (41) being arranged between said piston (40) and the bottom of the chamber (10).