FR2862623A1 - Tilting type valve for distributing e.g. hair spray, has stem that is displaced from closing position to two opening positions, such that product is distributed under pressure as per respective flows through two orifices - Google Patents

Abstract

The valve has a stem (14) that is displaced from a closing position to two opening positions, in response to respective activating controls, such that a product is distributed under pressure from a pressurized container as per respective flows through two orifices (18b, 18c). The orifice (18c) is closed in one opening position and the orifice (18b) is closed in another opening position. An Independent claim is also included for device to condition and distribute the cosmetic product.

Description

INDEPENDENT FLOW RATE VALVE

  The present invention relates to a valve for equipping a pressurized container. Such valves are used in particular in the field of cosmetics for the distribution of hair products (lacquers, styling sprays, etc.) of personal care products, make-up products, or products protecting against the harmful effects. of the sun.

  Such valves, in a most common configuration, comprise a valve body within which is mounted an opening / closing member in the form of a valve stem, a portion of which emerges outside the valve body . The valve stem is able to slide sealingly into engagement with a sealing member in the form of an annular seal.

  The valve stem is traversed by an axial channel, one end of which opens axially outside the valve body, and is intended to be placed in communication with a passage passing through an actuating member of the valve comprising at least one orifice of exit.

  The other end of the channel opens radially via an inlet orifice, or several inlet orifices arranged in the same axial position.

  In the closed position of the valve, the (or) inlet (s) is (are) opposite the sealing element.

  In response to an actuation command, the valve sinks axially, and the inlet port (s) of the valve stem is (are) brought into communication with the pressurized product within the valve body. The product is then conveyed, via the valve stem and the passage passing through the actuating member, to the dispensing orifice. In the case of a multi-port valve, these are simultaneously communicated with the valve body.

  When the actuation command stops, a spring contained within the valve body recalls the valve stem in the closed position. The distribution of the product is interrupted.

  Some valves, in addition to actuating in response to axial movement, may be actuated in response to a force exerted laterally to the valve stem. Such valves are called "tilting".

  For some valves, called "females" the opening / closing element does not emerge outside the valve body. In this case, a portion of the actuating member is engaged within the valve body, and controls the opening or closing of the valve.

  A valve in a different configuration is described for example in the patent FR 2,725,182. In this document, the valve body is crossed by a purge port for the distribution, together with the product, or separate, propellant.

  For all these known valves, the actuation control causes a movement of the opening / closing element, and its passage from a closed position to an open position in which the product is dispensed at a determined rate and unique.

  For the first type of valve, it is the section of the inlet orifice (s), and / or their number, which partly determines the output flow rate. For a valve of the type described in FR 2,725,182, mentioned above, it is the depth and / or the width, and / or the number of grooves formed on the inner surface of the valve body.

  Thus, in the field of styling products, for a lacquer, a container equipped with a valve allowing a first flow is used. When it comes to spraying the product in the form of a spray, using another container equipped with another valve for a second flow, greater than the first.

  Two separate devices are required when the user wants to be able to choose between two different spray modes of the same product.

  Variable flow valves are described in US-A-3,292,827, US-A-3,195,569 and US-B-6,296,155. By their configuration, the two positions with different rates are very close to each other. In particular, the two flows are obtained by transmitting to the valve stem a force in the same direction, more precisely by more or less significant depression of the valve stem.

  US 4,139,128 discloses a variable flow tilt valve. This valve comprises a valve stem through which a channel opens, on the one hand, on an outlet port of the product and, on the other hand, on an inlet passage of the product delimited between two parts of the valve stem. When axially pressing the valve stem, this passage is communicated with the pressurized product within the valve body. When the valve stem is tilted, the two parts of the valve stem that delimit the product inlet passage apart from each other so as to enlarge the passage. Again, the two flows obtained are not clearly distinct.

  Also, is it an object of the invention to provide a valve capable of dispensing a product at different flow rates, depending on the desired spray characteristics, clearly distinguishing the actuating movements to distribute the product according to the different flows.

  It is another object of the invention to provide a device that is simple and economical to produce.

  Still other objects will appear in the following detailed description.

  According to the invention, these objects are achieved by providing a tilt-type valve for the dispensing of a product contained in a pressurized container, said valve having a longitudinal axis and comprising an openerclosing element able, in response to a first actuation control, to move from a closed position to a first open position in which the pressure product is dispensed at a first rate via a first passage, and which, in response to a second actuation command different from the first, is able to move from the closed position to a second open position in which the product is distributed in a second flow, different from the first, via a second passage, the second passage being closed in the first opening position and the first passage being closed in the second open position.

  Thus, by using two distinct passages of which only one is open at a time, one can perfectly differentiate the two flows.

  The open / close element can move parallel to the X axis (including along the X axis) in response to the first actuation command and move away from the X axis in response to the second command actuating. Thus, movement to move the opening / closing member to dispense the product at a first rate is relatively different from that for dispensing the product at the second rate. Indeed, when the opening / closing element is directly accessible by the user, the first flow is obtained by tilting the opening / closing element while the second flow is obtained by pressing it, which allows the user to easily differentiate the two flows. In the case where the opening / closing element is surmounted by an actuating member, for example a push-button, the two flows can also be easily identified by identifying for example two distinct surfaces on the button. pusher, a first surface for transmitting to the opening / closing element a movement laterally to the X axis, and a second surface for transmitting to the opening / closing element a movement parallel to the X axis Also, in the case of, for example, a styling product, in a first open position, the product is dispensed at a relatively low flow rate, in the form of a lacquer. In a second open position, the product is distributed at a greater rate in the form of a spray. The same device can then be used for both distribution modes.

  The opening / closing element can be traversed by an axial channel opening, on the one hand, outside the valve body via an outlet orifice and being able to open, on the other hand, on the inside. of the valve body via the first and second passages.

  The axial channel may comprise a necking located axially between the first passage and the second passage.

  The opening / closing element may consist of a valve stem, a portion of which emerges outside a valve body.

  The opening / closing element may alternatively be a rod integral with a member external to the valve, in particular an actuating member of the valve.

  The valve may comprise a sealing element, in particular in the form of an annular seal, disposed inside said valve body, the first passage emerging laterally opposite said sealing element, in the closed position.

  The first passage may open into the valve body in the first open position.

  The valve may further comprise a nacelle provided with a lip adapted, in the closed position, to bear against the sealing element, the nacelle further comprising a bottom bearing on one end of the element d opening / closing in the closed position so as to close the second passage.

  The nacelle may comprise a pin adapted to be housed in the second passage to seal it sealingly, particularly in the closed position of the valve.

  Alternatively, the bottom of the nacelle may comprise a flat seal adapted to come into sealing engagement on the end of the opening / closing element.

  The end of the opening / closing element is able to move away from the bottom of the nacelle when the opening / closing element is in the second open position so as to disengage the second passage.

  According to another aspect of the invention, a device is provided for packaging and dispensing a product, in particular a cosmetic product, the device comprising a pressurized container containing the product to be dispensed, and equipped with a valve according to the present invention.

  The product can be pressurized with compressed or liquefied gas. The propellant gas may be in contact with or separated from the product by a plunger or a flexible bag within which the product is disposed.

  The device may further comprise a member for actuating the valve and dispensing the pressurized product via at least one dispensing orifice situated for example inside a nozzle, in particular a swirling nozzle.

  The actuating member may be integral with the opening / closing element.

  The actuating member may comprise two separate bearing surfaces for actuating the valve, a first bearing surface for axially moving the opening / closing element and a second bearing surface for moving laterally the opening / closing element. The first bearing surface may for example be a surface passing in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis X. The second bearing surface may for example pass in a plane parallel to the axis X or a surface passing through a plane substantially perpendicular to the X axis formed at a distance from the X axis and which does not contain it.

  The device according to the invention can advantageously be used for packaging and dispensing under pressure a cosmetic product, in particular a hair product, a personal care product, a make-up product, a cosmetic product or a cosmetic product. skin care product or a protective product against the harmful effects of the sun.

  The invention consists, apart from the arrangements set out above, in 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: FIG. 1 illustrates an overview of a first embodiment of a packaging and dispensing device according to the invention; FIG. 2 represents an exploded view of the device illustrated in FIG. 1; - Figures 3 to 5 show in partial section the device shown in Figure 1 in different positions; - Figures 6 and 7 show alternative embodiments of the first embodiment of the device according to the invention; and FIG. 8 represents a second embodiment of a packaging and dispensing device according to the invention.

  The device 100 shown in its entirety in Figure 1 comprises a cylindrical container 20, in particular aluminum or tinplate, surmounted by a head 30 for actuating a valve 10, which will be described in detail later. The device 100 is provided for dispensing a composition, in particular a capillary composition, through a dispensing orifice 31. The dispensing head 30 comprises two bearing surfaces 32 and 33 intended for actuating the valve. A removable cap 40 covers the dispensing head 30.

  As seen in more detail in FIGS. 3 to 5, the valve 10 is mounted on a cup 60, which is expanded on a rolled edge of an aluminum container 20. The latter is only partially represented.

  The valve 10, with a longitudinal axis X, comprises a cylindrical valve body 11, one end of which terminates in an axial chimney 12 on which is mounted a plunger tube 50.

  The other end of the valve body 11 is closed by the valve cup 60, the sealing at the closure being provided by an annular seal 13. An annular ring 11 has formed inside the valve body 11 in the vicinity of the cup 60 applies sealingly against the inner surface of the seal 13, thus ensuring both a holding position thereof and the required sealing. Inside the annular seal 13 slides axially a valve stem 14, a portion 14a emerges outside the valve body.

  The valve stem 14 is traversed axially by a channel 18 whose one end opens out of the valve body via an axial orifice 18a. The channel 18, in the vicinity of its other end opens radially via an orifice 18b which, in the closed position of the valve, is in sealing engagement against the inner edge of the annular seal 13. Finally, the channel 18 opens at the second end 14b of the valve stem by a frustoconical hole 18c formed in the X axis. The lower end 14b of the valve stem 14 is located inside the valve body 11. A nacelle 15 having a bottom 15b surrounded by a peripheral lip 15a is mounted inside the valve body, the bottom 15b being provided in its middle, a frustoconical pin 15c. The nacelle 15 is formed in the extension of a rod portion 15d. A spring 16 surrounds the rod portion 15d and, in the absence of stress acting on the valve stem, forces the free end of the annular lip 15a into sealing engagement against the seal 13. An annular space 17 is then delimited by the nacelle 15, the lip 15a and the annular seal 13. In addition, in this position, the pin 15c is housed in the orifice 18c of the valve stem so as to seal it sealingly. The rod 14 is also pushed outwardly of the valve body by the spring, through the nacelle which bears on the lower end 14b of the rod. However, the rod 14 is held integral with the valve body by virtue of the presence of an annular rod 19 formed on the rod near its lower end 14b, the rod 19 abutting against the annular seal 13.

  In addition to improving the sealing of the closure of the orifice 18c, the pin 15c facilitates the positioning of the rod 14 relative to the nacelle 15.

  As shown in Figures 3 and 5, on the emergent portion 14a of the valve stem 14 is forcibly mounted a dispensing head 30 in the form of a push button. The dispensing head 30 is traversed by a passage 34, one end of which is in communication with the channel 18 of the valve stem. The other end of the passage 34 opens, via a dispensing orifice 31, delimited, for example, by a vortex channel nozzle (which is not shown in detail).

  The dispensing head comprises a first bearing surface 32 formed at a distance from the X axis and which makes it possible to actuate the valve by tilting. The dispensing head has a second bearing surface 33, passing through the axis X of the valve stem and preferably perpendicular to this axis X, which allows to actuate the valve by axial depression.

  By exerting an IF force on the surface 33 of the dispensing head (FIG. 4), the valve stem is inserted axially by a distance such that the orifice 18b is no longer opposite the annular seal 13. , the bottom 15b of the nacelle remains in abutment on the lower end 14b of the valve stem so that the orifice 18c remains closed sealingly by the pin 15c. The annular lip 15a moves away from the seal 13 over its entire circumference so that the product rushes into the channel 18 of the valve stem through the orifice 18b. It is then dispensed via the dispensing orifice 31, for example in the form of a spray, at a first rate determined by the section of the orifice 18b which is smaller than that of the channel 18.

  By exerting a force F2 on the surface 32 of the dispensing head (FIG. 5), a lateral force is transmitted to the valve stem 14 so that it is tilted relative to the axis X. The annular lip 15a away from the seal 13, according to a certain angular extent, which allows to establish a communication between the interior of the valve body and the annular space 17. In addition, the lower end 14b of the stem deviates from the bottom 15b of the nacelle and the pin 15c disengages the orifice 18c so that the communication is established between the inside of the valve body and the inside of the rod 14, via the orifice 18c. In this position of the valve stem, the orifice 18b remains opposite the seal 13. The product contained in the valve body then engulfs in the channel 18 of the valve stem 14 only through the orifice 18c. It rises in the passage 34 of the dispensing head 30 and leaves in the form of a cloud of fine droplets, via the orifice 31 at a second flow rate, different from the first and which is determined by the section of the second orifice 18c.

  In addition, by choosing an orifice 18c of relatively small section, the second flow rate is determined by this section, regardless of the angle of inclination of the rod 14. Alternatively, the channel 18 comprises a necking 118 located axially between the first passage 18b and the second passage 18c while the orifice 18c may have a relatively large section, as shown in Figure 6. The second flow is then determined by the shrink 118. There is then a better control of the second debit.

  From one or the other of the actuating positions of FIG. 4 or 5, releasing the pressure on the dispensing head, the spring 16 causes the nacelle 15 and the valve stem 14 to rise in its position. of Figure 3. The distribution of the product is interrupted.

  According to a variant not shown, the bottom 15b of the nacelle may be devoid of pin. The bottom is then only constituted by a flat surface which bears on the end 14b of the rod to close the orifice 18c.

  According to a variant shown in part in Figure 7, it can be provided that the bottom of the nacelle is provided with a flat gasket 15e, for example an elastomer seal which improves the sealing of the orifice 18c.

  The valve just described may also allow the product to be dispensed at a third rate. Indeed, it is sufficient to push the valve stem 14 and tilt once it is depressed so as to clear the two orifices 18b and 18c. The product can then be distributed in a third rate, different from the first two.

  According to a second embodiment illustrated in Figure 8, the opening / closing element is a rod 214 secured to the push button 230. It can be obtained from molding in one piece with the push button. Alternatively, the rod 214 can be made separately and soldered to the push button, for example.

  In the foregoing detailed description, reference has been made to preferred embodiments of the invention. It is obvious that variations can be made without departing from the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Claims (17)

  A tilt type valve (10; 210) for dispensing a product contained in a pressurized container (20; 220), said valve having a longitudinal axis X and including an opening / closing member (14; 214 ) responsive to a first actuating command to move from a closed position to a first open position in which the pressure product is dispensed at a first rate via a first passage (18b; 218b) , and which, in response to a second actuation command different from the first, is able to move from the closed position to a second open position in which the product is dispensed at a second rate, different from the first, via a second passage (18c; 218c), the second passage (18c; 218c) being closed in the first open position and the first passage (18b; 218b) being closed in the second open position.   Valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening / closing element (14; 214) moves parallel to the X axis in response to the first actuation command and deviates from the axis X in response to the second actuation command.   Valve according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the opening / closing element (14; 214) is traversed by an axial channel (18) opening on the one hand to the outside the valve body via an outlet (18a) and being able to open, on the other hand, inside the valve body via the first and second passages (18b) and (18c).   4. Valve according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the axial channel (18) comprises a recess (118) located axially between the first passage (18b) and the second passage (18c).   5. Valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening / closing element (14) consists of a valve stem, a portion (14a) emerges on the outside of a body valve (11).   6. Valve according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the opening / closing element (214) is a rod integral with a member external to the valve, in particular an actuating member. (230) of the valve.   7. Valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a sealing element (13), in particular in the form of an annular seal disposed inside said valve body (11), the first passage (18b) opening laterally opposite said sealing element (13), in the closed position.   8. Valve according to claim 7, characterized in that the first passage (18b) opens inside the valve body (11) in the first open position.   9. Valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a nacelle (15) provided with a lip (15a) adapted, in the closed position, to bear against the element d sealing (13), the nacelle (15) further comprising a bottom (15b) bearing on one end (14b) of the opening / closing element in the closed position so as to close the second passage (18c ).   10. Valve according to claim 9, characterized in that the nacelle (15) comprises a pin (15c) adapted to be housed in the second passage (18c) to seal it sealingly, especially in the closed position.   11. Valve according to claim 9, characterized in that the bottom (15b) of the nacelle (15) comprises a flat seal (15e) adapted to come into sealing engagement on the end (14b) of the opening element. / closure (14).   12. Valve according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the end (14b) of the opening / closing element is able to move away from the bottom (15b) of the nacelle when the opening / closing member (14) is in the second open position to disengage the second passage (18c).   13. Device (100; 200) for packaging and dispensing a product, in particular a cosmetic product, the device comprising a pressurized container (20; 220) containing the product to be dispensed and equipped with a valve (10; 210) according to any one of the preceding claims.   14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that it further comprises a member for actuating (30; 230) the valve and dispensing the product under pressure via at least one dispensing orifice (31; 231). for example inside a nozzle, including a swirling nozzle.   15. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the actuating member (200) is integral with the opening / closing element (214).   16. Device according to any one of claims 14 or 15, characterized in that the actuating member comprises two separate bearing surfaces (32, 33; 232, 233) for actuating the valve, a first bearing surface (32; 232) for laterally moving the opening / closing member and a second bearing surface (33; 233) for axially moving the opening / closing member.   17. Use of a device (100; 200) according to any one of claims 13 to 16 for packaging and dispensing under pressure of a cosmetic product, in particular a hair product, a hygiene product. body, a make-up product, a skincare product or a product to protect against the harmful effects of the sun.