EP1035038A1 - Unit for storing and dispensing a product under pressure, especially cosmetics - Google Patents

Abstract

Container (2) has neck (3) where dispensing head (4) is placed. Valve stem (18) is placed in openings (15, 17) and comprises part (21) closing valve (12), and hollow stem (22), emerging outside valve body (11) and with one closed end with small aperture (23), defining outlet of valve body. Dispensing annular opening (31) is linked to valve stem. Closing section (21) has annular ridge (27) able to come to contact with joint (16) so as to form seal around outlet (23) under recall force of spring (28).

Description

The present invention relates to a device for packaging and pressure distribution of a product, especially a cosmetic. Such a product can in particular in the form of a foam, a gel, or a spray, including styling. The product can be pressurized in the container at by means of a propellant, dissolved or not in the product, or by means of a piston, which itself can constrain the product by means of compressed air.

Typically, such a device comprises a container containing the product under pressure, and equipped with a valve of the type comprising a valve body, having an inlet and an outlet, and a closure member for, in response to an actuation command, initiate communication the inlet and outlet ports, and the product outlet via at least one dispensing orifice, elastic return means being provided for, in the absence of an actuation command, constrain the closing member to closed position. The valve body is arranged inside the container, from which it is secured via a valve holder cup, set on a rolled edge of the container which, usually is made of metal. In its most common form such a valve has a valve stem, emerging outside of the valve body, and on which is mounted a push button, adapted to allow the actuation of the valve. The presence of the valve body entirely inside the container, in because of the accessibility of the dispensing orifice which must be sufficient to distribute the product at the desired location, forced to design the push button with a relatively long length of conduits, which carry the product on the dispensing orifice, provided for example on a side skirt of the pushbutton.

One of the problems associated with such a design is that, when the valve, such conduits are filled with the product contained in the container, such product being, in particular in the case of a foam, formed from a mixture of a liquid formula, surfactants, and gas, which is partially dissolved and partially boiling. In practice, the foam grows on leaving of the device, that is, where the user collects the foam.

When the user releases the pressure on the push button, the seal is restored to the valve closure system, which interrupts the distribution. However, at this time, it still exists in the conduits of the push button, a quantity which turns out to be significant of product which does not has not yet expanded into foam.

Gradually, the dissolved gas boils, and it forms, at the exit of the button pusher, a residual foam which abounds gently and which is not collected by the user. Such an abundance can be done on a time scale of many hours. Also, when the user wants to use his product again, the push button, and possibly the cover, have stains important, which affects the aesthetics, or even the proper functioning of the device.

An attempt has been made to solve this problem by closing the dispensing orifice of the product by means of a pointer which, in the closed position is forced to bear watertight on the dispensing orifice. Such pointers are used in particular in manually operated pump devices, in which case the pointer is constrained in closed position when the pump itself returns to position closed, under the action in particular of an elastic return means.

Such a pointer device is described in combination with a valve in the US-A-3,584,789 in which, some of the alternative embodiments plan to form the valve body inside the push button, and in in some cases, to get rid of the presence of a valve in the container. Of conventionally, the pointer is moved to the open position by a pull exerted on the pointer, so as to make it move back relative to the orifice of distribution, in order to release the latter. In some embodiments, the traction is produced by pressing on a bearing surface, connected to the pointer via a pivot, converting the bearing force on the bearing surface into a tensile force on the pointer. In a particular embodiment, the pointer is fixed, and does not therefore undergoes no force, while the dispensing orifice itself is moved so as to release an annular passage.

According to a point common to all the variants described in this document, because of the pointer's traction in the axis of the valve body (according to a movement opposite the outlet port) or due to the displacement of the dispensing port in a movement opposite the bottom of the valve body, it is necessary to have a connecting piece crossing the bottom of the valve body, and connected with a part to the pointer, and secondly to an actuating surface, so that produce the axial recoil of the pointer. Such a moving part, crossing the bottom of the valve body, requires a "dynamic" seal at this point particularly complex to implement, due to the movement of the connecting piece. Therefore, practice shows that such a system is almost impossible to achieve under economically and industrially conditions viable.

US-A-3,650,438 describes an assembly consisting of an aerosol container equipped with a valve arranged in a conventional manner inside the container, and the outlet of which is connected via a flexible conduit, to a distribution system also equipped with a valve of the type used in the container (reference 31, Figures 3, 5, and 7 of the document). The object of such an achievement is to be able distribute the product away from the container containing it. Such a configuration does not in no way solves the problems mentioned above with reference to the other devices conventional.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide a device for the packaging and distribution under pressure of a product, and resolving all or part of the problems mentioned above with reference to the devices conventional.

It is in particular one of the objects of the invention to provide a system of pressure distribution, in which the volume of product that can dry from undesirably between two uses, is significantly reduced.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a system which is simple, reliable, and economical to produce.

It is yet another object of the invention to produce a device for pressure distribution by means of a valve, located at least partly at the outside of the container, and the sealing of which is not more complex to produce than in the case of a traditional valve contained in the container.

Still other objects will appear in the detailed description which follows.

According to the invention, these objects are achieved by producing a device for packaging and distribution under pressure of a product, in particular cosmetic, comprising a container of axis X, containing the product under pressure, and equipped with a valve of the type comprising a valve body, said valve being fixedly mounted on the container and having an inlet port and a outlet, a closing member being provided for, in response to a command actuation, cause selective entry of the inlet port and the outlet, and the product outlet via at least one outlet distribution, elastic return means being provided for, in the absence of actuation command, forcing the closing member into the closed position, said valve body being located outside the container, said setting communication of the inlet and outlet being caused by by means of a pressure exerted on said closure member.

Thus, the valve body, located outside the container, allows positioning of the product dispensing orifice, just at the outlet of the valve stem, in the case of a male valve, thus eliminating the presence of channels auxiliaries formed by the actuator. In the case of a female valve, the length of the channels formed in the actuator is also reduced in a big way. Typically, the length required corresponds substantially to the length of the valve stem in the case of a male valve.

The fact of opening the valve by a pressure exerted on the closing means, either axially to the valve body, or transversely to the valve body, allows not to have to ensure sealing other than that necessary to close the valve. In particular, and unlike the patent US-A-3,584,789, there is no dynamic sealing, resulting in particular from sliding of a connecting piece in the bottom of the valve body.

The device can be of the head-down or head-up type, in the last case, the valve being integral with a dip tube with one free end ends substantially in the bottom of the container. The container can be made of metal or plastic, in particular based on a mixture of PET / PEN. The device can, in the storage position, be removably covered with a cover.

Advantageously, the actuation command is exerted on a member actuator carrying said (or said) dispensing orifice (s). As well as mentioned above, having the valve body outside the container facilitates the arrangement of such an actuator, free substantially of any duct likely to retain product subject to drying between two uses. With the system according to the invention, the opening (s) of distribution can (can) be formed just at the exit of the valve stem, it is say adjacent to the free end of the valve stem. In the case of a female valve, it is possible to limit itself to a length of conduit which is similar to the length of an emerging stem.

Advantageously, said closure member consists of an annular edge which, in the closed position of the valve, is forced into tight support against a seal sealing, said edge ceasing, at least partially, to be sealed against the seal in response to said pressure exerted on the closure member.

In the case of a push-in valve, the closing member moves axially, causing the interruption of the sealed support over the entire edge. In the in the case of a tilting valve, the interruption is only done on one sector angular.

According to one embodiment, the valve is of the push-in type, said pressure acting on the closure member along an axis of the valve body, opposite of the restoring force exerted by the elastic return means. In this hypothesis, the actuator is articulated relative to the container, around an axis which, preferably, is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the container, said axis preferably being located in the vicinity of one end of the member actuation, opposite a bottom of said valve body.

According to a preferred embodiment, the valve is of the tilting type, said pressure being exerted on the closure member, transverse to an axis of the valve body.

In this case, the actuator is articulated on a fixed part of the container, in particular the valve body, about an axis which, preferably, is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the container, said axis being advantageously, located in the vicinity of a bottom of the valve body. Such an axis can be formed by a film hinge connecting the actuator to a mounted hoop fixedly on the container. Alternatively, the valve body forms two lugs aligned along said axis, and intended to be housed in recesses correspondents made in the actuator, or vice versa.

Preferably, said valve is of the male type, and comprises a rod emerging at the outside of the valve body, said rod having a free end arranged adjacent to said (or said) dispensing orifice (s). However, and according to an alternative, said valve can be of the female type.

According to a preferred embodiment, the valve body has an axis longitudinal forming a non-zero angle with the axis of the container. Advantageously, said axis forms an angle between 20 ° and 90 ° relative to an axis of the container. Thus, with such an angle between 20 ° and 70 °, and preferably between 30 ° and 60 °, and with the distribution port (s) made in the axis of the valve body, a device is produced, the product outlet of which is done so substantially lateral to the container. With an angle between 50 ° and 90 °, there is a product outlet located substantially in the axis of the container, which is favorable for using the device upside down.

Said (or said) dispensing orifice (s) can (can) be formed (s) in a nozzle, in particular with a swirl effect, a grid, a sinter, in particular of a thermoplastic or ceramic material, or open cell foam or semi open.

The device according to the invention can be used for packaging and distribution of a product, in particular in the form of a foam, a gel, or a liquid spray.

• les figures 1A-1B illustrent un premier mode de réalisation du dispositif selon l'invention;
• les figures 2A-2B illustrent un second mode de réalisation du dispositif selon l'invention;
• les figures 3A-3B illustrent un troisième mode de réalisation du dispositif selon l'invention;

The invention consists, apart from the arrangements set out above, of a certain number of other arrangements which will be explained below, with reference to nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, described with reference to the appended figures, among which:

• Figures 1A-1B illustrate a first embodiment of the device according to the invention;
• FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate a second embodiment of the device according to the invention;
• Figures 3A-3B illustrate a third embodiment of the device according to the invention;

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1A and 1B, the device 1 comprises a can 2, of axis X, and of which a free edge, in the form of a neck 3, delimits an opening on which is mounted a dispensing head 4 according to the invention. The head of distribution comprises a portion 5 intended for mounting the head 4 on the container 2. The mounting piece 5 is shaped as an element substantially planar, comprising an axial chimney 6 facing inward of the container 2, and intended for mounting a dip tube 7. At its periphery, the part mounting 5 forms an annular groove 8 intended for snap mounting of the dispensing head 4 on the neck 3 of the container, a seal 9 ensuring the tightness of the mounting.

Opposite the container 2, the axial chimney 6 is extended by a portion 10 opening into the body 11 of a valve 12, via an orifice 20. The body is oriented along an axis Y forming with the axis X of the container an angle of about 55 °. The part 10 opens substantially at mid axial height of said valve body 11. The body valve consists of two parts: one 13 forming the body itself, and one end of which is closed by a bottom 34; the other 14, forming a cover, and ensuring the closing of the valve body 11. The mounting of the part 14 on the part 13 is provided by welding, in particular by ultrasound. Exhibit 14 comprises, centered on the Y axis, an orifice 15. Inside the valve body 11, pressed against the cover 14, there is a seal 16 having a orifice aligned with the orifice 15 of the cover 14. The seal 16 is held in place by the free edge of part 13.

In the holes 15 and 17, a valve stem 18 formed is slidably mounted in one piece, and comprising two main portions: a portion 21 making office of valve 12 closing member; and a portion 22 forming a rod hollow, emerging outside the valve body 11, and one end of which is closed by a bottom pierced in its center with an orifice 23, forming the outlet orifice valve body.

The closing member 21 comprises a sharp annular edge 27, suitable, under the elastic return force of a spring 28 (disposed inside the valve body) at come into sealed engagement against the surface of the seal 16, so as to form a tight cord all around the outlet orifice 23.

The valve stem 18 has a free end 24, arranged opposite, and of adjacent to a diffusion member 25, in the form of a grid, and carried by an actuating member 26. The free end 24 of the valve stem 18 is fitted into an axial passage 33 opening into a recess formed in a front face 29 of the actuating member 26, and in which the diffusion member 25 is snapped on. The grid 25 has a central part full 30 disposed opposite the free end 24 of the valve stem, and surrounded by an annular passage 31 in communication with the valve stem 18.

The actuating member 26 also has a bearing surface 32 formed a surface portion located at the front of a surface of the push button 26 substantially perpendicular to the front surface 29.

At its end opposite to the diffusion member, the push button 26 is articulated on the valve body 11, around an axis A, perpendicular to the axes X and Y, via two ball joints 35 or pins carried by the push button 26, and able to come in engagement with two corresponding recesses formed on the valve body 11.

To use the device, the user exerts pressure on the bearing surface 32 (as shown by the arrow F in FIG. 1B), which causes the actuating member 26 to tilt around the axis A. In doing so, the portion 22 of the valve stem 18 is subjected to a pressure transverse to the axis Y, in the direction of the container. It is the same for the closure member 21, forming a single piece with the portion 22 of the valve stem 18. Thus, on a given angular portion, the annular edge 27 is no longer in sealed engagement with the seal 16. The pressurized product contained in the valve body 11, thus rushes between the sealing ring 27 and the seal 16, passes into the outlet orifice 23, rises in the portion 22 of the rod valve 18. At this time, the product is deflected by the central part 30 of the grid 25 and exits through the annular passage 31. At this time, it can be removed by the user, in particular in the form of foam. By releasing the pressure on the bearing surface 32, the seal is restored between the closure member 21 and the seal 16. The dispensing of product is interrupted. Only remains at atmospheric pressure, the product contained in the emerging portion 22 of the valve stem 18, and which could not be dispensed. However, such a volume is very small. As an indication, it is a volume which can be of the order of 5 mm ³ , or even less.

• la valve 12 est du type à enfoncement, tandis que la valve 12 du mode de réalisation précédent était à basculement. L'ouverture d'une telle valve nécessite une force d'appui dirigée sensiblement dans l'axe de la tige de valve 18, à l'encontre de la force de rappel élastique exercée par le ressort 28. Avec une telle force ainsi exercée, c'est l'intégralité de l'arête annulaire 27 qui cesse d'être en engagement étanche avec le joint 16 ;
• l'orifice de sortie 23 est constitué d'un orifice ménagé radialement à la base de la tige de valve 18. Dans la position fermée illustrée à la figure 2A, l'orifice 23 est en regard du joint d'étanchéité, améliorant ainsi l'étanchéité réalisée par la couronne d'étanchéité 27. Dans la position ouverte illustrée à la figure 2B, l'orifice 23 est décalé axialement par rapport au joint 16 de sorte que le produit passant sous la couronne d'étanchéité 27, entre dans la tige de valve 18 via l'orifice 23 ;
• la surface d'appui 32 est formée d'une portion de surface située à l'arrière de la surface de l'organe d'actionnement sensiblement perpendiculaire à l'axe X du récipient 2. Le bord inférieur de la face frontale 29 de l'organe d'actionnement 26 présente une portion 40, venant en butée contre la pièce de montage 5. Ainsi, en exerçant une pression sur la surface 32, de la manière illustrée par la flèche F de la figure 2B, on provoque un basculement du bouton poussoir autour d'un axe B sensiblement confondu avec la portion 40, et ce, jusqu'à ce que l'arrière du bouton poussoir 26 soit en butée contre la partie correspondante de la pièce de montage 5. Ce faisant, une force est exercée sur la tige de valve 18, sensiblement dans l'axe Y, et de direction opposée à la force de rappel du ressort 28. Cette force provoque le recul de l'organe de fermeture 21, et la rupture de l'étanchéité au niveau de la couronne annulaire 27. Le produit entre dans la tige de valve 18 via le passage radial 23, et est distribué de la même manière que pour le mode de réalisation précédent.

The embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 2B constitutes a variant of that previously discussed. This embodiment differs from the previous one, mainly in that:

• the valve 12 is of the push-in type, while the valve 12 of the previous embodiment was tilting. The opening of such a valve requires a bearing force directed substantially in the axis of the valve stem 18, against the elastic restoring force exerted by the spring 28. With such a force thus exerted, it is the entirety of the annular edge 27 which ceases to be in sealed engagement with the seal 16;
• the outlet orifice 23 consists of an orifice formed radially at the base of the valve stem 18. In the closed position illustrated in FIG. 2A, the orifice 23 faces the seal, thereby improving the sealing produced by the sealing ring 27. In the open position illustrated in FIG. 2B, the orifice 23 is axially offset with respect to the seal 16 so that the product passing under the sealing ring 27 enters the valve stem 18 via port 23;
• the bearing surface 32 is formed by a surface portion located at the rear of the surface of the actuating member substantially perpendicular to the axis X of the container 2. The lower edge of the front face 29 of the actuating member 26 has a portion 40, abutting against the mounting part 5. Thus, by exerting pressure on the surface 32, as illustrated by the arrow F in FIG. 2B, the tilting of the push button around an axis B substantially coincident with the portion 40, and this, until the rear of the push button 26 is in abutment against the corresponding part of the mounting part 5. In doing so, a force is exerted on the valve stem 18, substantially in the Y axis, and in a direction opposite to the return force of the spring 28. This force causes the closure member 21 to recede, and the seal to break at of the annular crown 27. The product enters the valve stem 18 via the e radial passage 23, and is distributed in the same manner as for the previous embodiment.

• en regard de la grille de diffusion 25, l'organe d'actionnement 26 présente un conduit 50 dont une extrémité libre est destinée à venir en butée contre l'organe de fermeture 21 de la tige de valve 18, à l'intérieur du corps de valve, pour, en réponse à une pression exercée selon l'axe Y, à l'opposé de la force de rappel exercée par le ressort 28, provoquer l'ouverture de la valve de manière similaire à l'ouverture de la valve du mode de réalisation précédent. Les caractéristiques dimensionnelles du conduit 50 sont similaires à celles de la portion 22 de la tige de valve 18 des modes de réalisation précédents. Le fonctionnement de ce mode de réalisation, notamment en termes de force d'appui à exercer pour l'ouverture, ainsi qu'en termes de mouvement du bouton poussoir 26 en réponse à cette force, est identique à celui du mode de réalisation précédent.

The embodiment of FIGS. 3A-3B represents a variant of the previous embodiment. In the same way as for the previous embodiment, the valve operates by pressing. However, according to this embodiment, the valve is of the female type. To this end:

• facing the diffusion grid 25, the actuating member 26 has a conduit 50, one free end of which is intended to come into abutment against the closing member 21 of the valve stem 18, inside the body valve, to, in response to a pressure exerted along the Y axis, opposite to the restoring force exerted by the spring 28, cause the opening of the valve similarly to the opening of the valve of the previous embodiment. The dimensional characteristics of the conduit 50 are similar to those of the portion 22 of the valve stem 18 of the previous embodiments. The operation of this embodiment, in particular in terms of the pressing force to be exerted for the opening, as well as in terms of movement of the push button 26 in response to this force, is identical to that of the previous embodiment.

In the foregoing detailed description, reference has been made to modes of preferred embodiments of the invention. Obviously there may be variations made without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed below.

Claims (12)

Device (1) for the packaging and distribution under pressure of a product, in particular cosmetic, comprising a container (2) of axis X, containing the pressurized product, and equipped with a valve (12) of the type comprising a body of valve (11), said valve being fixedly mounted on the container, and having a inlet port (20) and an outlet port (23), a closure member (21) being intended to, in response to an actuation command, cause the selective communication of the inlet (20) and the outlet (23), and the product outlet via at least one dispensing orifice (31), return means elastics (28) being provided for, in the absence of actuation control, forcing the closure member (21) into the closed position, said valve body (11) being located outside the container (2), said placing in communication of the orifice inlet (20) and the outlet (23) being caused by means of a pressure exerted on said closure member (21). Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the control actuation is exerted on an actuator (26) carrying said (or said) distribution orifice (s) (31). Device according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said member closure (21) has an annular edge (27) which, in the closed position of the valve (12) is forced into sealed abutment against a seal (16), said ridge (27) ceasing, at least partially, to be sealed against the seal (16) in response to said pressure exerted on the closure member (21). Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that that the valve (12) is of the push-in type, said pressure being exerted on the closure member (21) along an axis Y of the valve body (11), opposite to a return force exerted by the elastic return means (28). Device according to claims 2 and 4 characterized in that the member actuator (26) is articulated relative to the container (2) about an axis B substantially perpendicular to the axis X of the container, said axis B being located at near one end of the actuator (26), opposite a bottom (34) of said valve body (11). Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that that said valve (12) is of the tilting type, said pressure being exerted on the closure member (21), transversely to an axis Y of the valve body. Device according to claims 2 and 6 characterized in that the member actuator (26) is articulated on a fixed part of the container, in particular the valve body (11), around an axis A substantially perpendicular to the axis X of the container, said axis being located in the vicinity of a bottom (34) of the valve body (11). Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that that said valve (12) is of the male type, and comprises a rod (18, 22) emerging at the exterior of the valve body (11), said rod (18, 22) having one end free (24) disposed adjacent to said opening (s) distribution (31). Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that that said valve (12) is of the female type. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the valve body (11) has a longitudinal axis Y forming an angle between 20 ° and 90 °, and preferably between 20 ° and 70 °, and preferably still between 30 ° and 60 °, relative to an axis X of the container. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that that said (or said) distribution orifice (s) (31) is (are) formed in particular in a nozzle, in particular with a swirl effect, a grid (25), a sinter, in particular of a thermoplastic or ceramic material, or a foam open or semi open cells. Use of a device (1) according to any one of the claims which above for the packaging and distribution of a product, especially under form of a foam, gel, or liquid spray.

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