JP2005154013A - Tilting valve capable of distinguishing a plurality of flow rates - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a valve which can distribute products by a different flow rate in accordance with the feature of required spray by clearly distinguishing an operation movement which makes it possible to distribute the products by the different flow rate. <P>SOLUTION: These tilting valves (10 ; 210) are composed so that they can distribute the products held in pressurized containers (20 ; 220), and also, they have the vertical axes X, they are moved from closing positions to the first opening positions in accordance with the first operation movement, they are made to distribute the products pressurized by the first flow rate through the first passage portions (18b ; 218b) there, furthermore, they are moved from the closing positions to the second opening positions in accordance with the second operation movement which is different from the first operation movement, and they are provided with opening and closing elements (14 ; 214) which distribute the products by the second flow rate which is different from the first flow rate through the second passage portions (18c ; 218c) there. The second passage portions (18c ; 218c) are closed in the first opening position, and the first passage portions (18b ; 218b) are closed in the second opening position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a pressurized container valve. Such valves apply in particular in the field of cosmetics hair products (lacquers, styling sprays, etc.), household hygiene products, makeup products and products intended to protect against the harmful effects of UV rays. Used for.

As a most general structure, such a valve has a valve body in which an opening / closing element in the form of a valve stem is mounted, and a part of the valve stem appears from the valve body. The valve stem slides into engagement with a sealing element in the form of an annular gasket to form a seal.
The valve stem has a passage extending axially therethrough so that one end of the passage opens on a shaft outside the valve body and communicates with a passage through the valve actuating member having at least one outlet orifice. It has become.
The other end of the flow path is opened in a radial direction through a plurality of inlet orifices located on one or the same axis.

In the closed position of the valve, the one or more inlet orifices are located facing the seal member.
In response to actuation, the valve sinks axially, allowing pressurized product inside the valve body to flow into one or more inlet orifices of the valve stem. The product is conveyed directly to the dispensing orifice through a passage through the valve stem and actuating member. If the valve has multiple inlet orifices, these communicate with the valve body at the same time.

When the operation is stopped, the spring accommodated in the valve body returns the valve stem to the closed position. Product distribution stops.
In addition to being actuated by moving the valve stem in the axial direction, some valves can be actuated by applying a force to the side of the valve stem. Such valves are known as “tilting” valves.

In some “female” valves, the opening and closing elements do not appear outside the valve body. In this case, a part of the operating member is engaged with the inside of the valve main body, and controls opening and closing of the valve.
A valve having a different structure is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. In this document, a purge orifice traverses the valve body from which high pressure gas is dispensed with the product or separately from the product.

In all these known valves, the opening and closing elements are moved by an actuation action, moving from a closed position to an open position where the product is dispensed at a single, fixed flow rate.
In the first type of valve, the flow rate at the outlet is partially determined by the cross-section and / or number of one or more inlet orifices. In the valve of the type disclosed in Patent Document 1 above, the flow rate at the outlet is determined by the depth and / or width and / or number of grooves provided on the inner surface of the valve body.

As a result, in the field of hair styling products, containers equipped with valves having a first flow rate for lacquers are used. When the product is dispensed in spray form, different containers attached to different valves having a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate are used.
This means that two different instruments are required to allow the selection of either of two different spray modes for the same product.

A valve that can apply a plurality of flow rates is disclosed in Patent Document 2, Patent Document 3, and Patent Document 4. According to their structure, the positions allowing different flow rates are very close to each other. In particular, these two flow rates are obtained by applying a force to the valve stem in the same direction, specifically by pushing the valve stem deeply or shallowly.
Patent Document 5 discloses a tilting valve or a toggle valve with a variable flow rate. The valve stem of the valve is traversed first by a product outlet orifice and secondly by a channel that opens into a product entry passage defined between two parts of the valve stem. When the valve stem is pushed in the axial direction, the pressurized product flows into the entry path inside the valve body. When the valve stem is tilted, the two portions of the valve stem that define the product injection path are pulled apart from each other, widening the passage. Again, there is no clear difference between the two flow rates.
French Patent No. 2725182 U.S. Patent Application No. 3,292,827 US Patent Application Publication No. 3,195,569 US Pat. No. 6,296,155 U.S. Pat.No. 4,139,128

Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to distribute the product at different flow rates depending on the required spray characteristics by clearly distinguishing the actuating actions that allow the product to be distributed at different flow rates. It is to provide a valve that can.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
Other objects will be apparent from the detailed description below.

  The above objective is accomplished in accordance with the present invention by providing a tilting valve having a longitudinal axis and having an opening and closing element for dispensing a product contained in a pressurized container. When the first operation is performed, the opening / closing element moves from the closed position to the first opening position, and as a result, the pressurized product is distributed at the first flow rate through the first flow path portion. The When a second operation different from the first operation is performed, the opening / closing element moves from the closed position to the second opening position, and as a result, the product flows through the second flow path portion to the first flow rate. Is distributed at a different second flow rate. The second channel portion is closed at the first opening position, and the first channel portion is closed at the second opening position.

  Thus, by using different flow path portions and opening only one of them at a time, a clear difference can be made between the two flow rates.

The opening / closing element can move in parallel to the axis X (including moving on the axis X) according to the first operation operation, and can move away from the axis X according to the second operation operation. Can move. Therefore, the operation of moving the opening / closing element to distribute the product at the first flow rate is different from the operation to distribute the product at the second flow rate. When the opening and closing element is directly usable, the first flow rate is obtained by tilting the opening and closing element, whereas the second flow rate is obtained by pressing the opening and closing element, so the two flow rates can be easily distinguished It is. Even when an operating member such as a push button is mounted on the opening / closing element, for example, the first surface that allows the opening / closing element to move to the side of the axis X on the push button, and the opening / closing element as the shaft By providing two different surfaces consisting of a second surface that allows movement moving parallel to X or on axis X, the two flow rates can be easily distinguished.
As a result, for example in the case of a hair styling product, at the first opening position, the product is dispensed as a lacquer at a relatively small flow rate. In the second open position, the product is dispensed as a spray at a higher flow rate. Thus, the same instrument can be used in two dispensing modes.

The opening / closing element may first pass through an axial flow path that opens to the outside of the valve body through the outlet orifice and secondly opens to the inside of the valve body through the first and second flow path portions. it can.
The axial flow path can be provided with a neck portion on the axis between the first flow path portion and the second flow path portion.

The opening / closing element comprises a valve stem, and a part of the valve stem appears outside the valve body.
Alternatively, the open / close element can be a stem integral with a member external to the valve, in particular with the valve actuating member.

The valve can be provided with a sealing element, in particular in the form of an annular gasket, inside the valve body, the opening towards the side of the first flow path part being closed facing this sealing element in the closed position. Yes.
The first flow path portion can open into the valve body at the first opening position.

The valve also comprises a pan with a lip that contacts the sealing element in the closed position. The pan also has a base that closes the second flow path portion by contacting one end of the open / close element in the closed position.
The pan may include a pin that is housed in the second flow path portion to close the second flow path portion, particularly at the closed position of the valve.
Or you may arrange | position the flat gasket which contacts so that the edge part of an opening-and-closing element may be sealed in the base of a plate | pan.

  When the opening / closing element is in the second opening position and the second flow path portion is open, the end of the opening / closing element moves in a direction away from the base of the dish portion.

In another aspect of the present invention, a device for packaging and dispensing a product, particularly a cosmetic product, is provided, the device comprising a pressurized container containing the product to be dispensed, and equipped with a valve according to the present invention. ing.
The product can be pressurized with compressed or liquefied gas. The high-pressure gas may be in contact with the product or may be separated from the product by a piston or a flexible pouch that accommodates the product inside.

The device also comprises a member for actuating the valve and can dispense the product under pressure, for example through at least one dispensing orifice located inside a nozzle, in particular a swirl effect nozzle.
The actuating member may be integrally formed with the opening / closing element.
The actuating member has two different surfaces for actuating the valve: a first surface on which the opening and closing element can be moved axially and a second surface on which the opening and closing element can be moved laterally. it can. The first surface can be, for example, a surface that lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis X. For example, the second surface may be in a plane parallel to the axis X, or may be in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the axis X, does not include the axis X, and is away from the axis X.

  The device according to the invention is advantageous for packaging and dispensing under pressure of cosmetic products, in particular hair products, household hygiene products, makeup products, skin care products or products that provide protection from the harmful effects of UV radiation. Can be used for

  In addition to the configurations described above, many other configurations are possible for the present invention, which will be described in detail below, using non-limiting examples shown in the accompanying drawings.

  1 has a cylindrical container 20 made of aluminum or tin plate, on which a head 30 (described in detail below) for operating the valve 10 is mounted. Yes. The appliance 100 is designed to dispense a composition, in particular a hair composition, through the dispensing orifice 31. The dispenser head 30 has two surfaces 32 and 33 for actuating the valve. A removable cap 40 covers the dispenser head 30.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 3-5, the valve 10 is mounted on a valve cup 60 that is crimped to the curled edge of the aluminum container 20. The aluminum container is only partially shown.
The valve 10 has a vertical axis X and includes a cylindrical valve body 11. One end of the valve body is a funnel 12 extending in the axial direction to which the dip tube 50 is press-fitted.

  The other end of the valve body 11 is closed by a valve cup 60, and the annular gasket 13 serves as a closing seal. The annular crown 11a formed inside the valve body 11 and located in the vicinity of the cup 60 is in close contact with the inner surface of the gasket 13, so that the gasket is held in its fixed position and the necessary seal is obtained. ing. The valve stem 14 moves in the axial direction in the annular gasket 13, and a part 14a of the valve stem emerges from the valve body.

  A passage 18 having one end opened to the outside of the valve body passes through the valve stem 14 through an orifice 18a on the shaft in the axial direction. The flow path 18 is opened in the radial direction through the orifice 18b in the vicinity of the other end. The orifice 18b is tightly engaged with the inner edge of the annular gasket 13 and sealed when the valve is in the closed position. The flow path 18 is connected to the frustoconical orifice 18c on the axis X at the second end 14b of the valve stem.

  A lower end 14 b of the valve stem 14 is located inside the valve body 11. A dish portion 15 having a base portion 15b surrounded by an outer peripheral lip 15a is mounted inside the valve body, and a truncated cone-shaped pin 15c is attached to the center of the base portion 15b. The dish portion 15 is formed as an extension of the stem portion 15d. When the spring 16 surrounds the stem portion 15d and there is no force acting on the valve stem, the free end of the annular lip 15a is biased to contact and seal the gasket 13. Therefore, the annular space 17 is defined by the dish portion 15, the lip 15 a and the annular gasket 13. Also in this position, the pin 15c is located in the valve stem orifice 18c and closes to seal the orifice. A force toward the outside of the valve body is also applied to the stem 14 by a spring through a dish portion that contacts the lower end 14b of the stem. However, the stem 14 is held inside the valve body by an annular retainer 19 formed on the stem near its lower end 14b. An annular gasket 13 serves as a stopper for the retainer 19.

  The pin 15c not only improves the sealing performance of the orifice 18c, but also makes it easy to position the stem 14 with respect to the dish portion 15.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a push button type dispenser head 30 is press fitted onto a portion 14 a that appears outside the valve stem 14. The dispenser head 30 is traversed by a flow path portion 34, and one end of the flow path portion communicates with the flow path 18 of the valve stem. The other end of the channel portion 34 opens, for example, through a dispensing orifice 31 defined by a nozzle (not shown in detail) incorporating a swirl chamber.
The dispenser head has a first surface 32 at a position away from the axis X, and the valve can be operated by tilting the surface. The dispenser head has a second surface 33 which passes through the axis X of the valve stem and is preferably perpendicular to the axis X, and the valve can be actuated by pushing this surface down in the axial direction.

When multiplied by the force F ₁ on the surface 33 of the dispenser head (see FIG. 4), the valve stem sinks along the axial direction, leaving a state in which the result orifice 18b is closed facing the annular gasket 13 To do. Conversely, the base 15b of the pan remains in contact with the lower end 14b of the valve stem, so that the pin 15c remains sealing the orifice 18c. The entire surface of the annular lip 15a leaves the gasket 13 so that the product is drawn into the valve stem channel 18 via the orifice 18b. The product is then dispensed from the dispensing orifice 31, for example in the form of a spray, at a first flow rate determined by the cross-sectional area of the orifice 18 b that is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the flow path 18.

When multiplied by the force F ₂ on the surface 32 of the dispenser head (see FIG. 5), lateral force is transmitted to the valve stem 14, whereby the valve stem is inclined relative to the axis X. The annular lip 15a is separated from the gasket 13 by a specific angular distance, whereby the inside of the valve body and the annular space 17 are connected. Further, the lower end 14b of the stem is separated from the base portion 15b of the dish portion, and the pin 15c opens the orifice 18c, whereby the inside of the valve body and the inside of the stem 14 are connected via the orifice 18c. The orifice 18b remains facing the gasket 13 when the valve stem is in this position. Then, the product accommodated in the valve body is drawn into the flow path 18 of the valve stem 14 through only the orifice 18c. The product flows into the flow path portion 34 of the dispenser head 30 and is ejected as a fine droplet mist from the orifice 31 at a second flow rate determined by the cross-sectional area of the second orifice 18c. Here, the second flow rate is different from the first flow rate.

  Also, by selecting an orifice 18c having a relatively small cross-sectional area, the second flow rate is determined by this cross-sectional area regardless of the inclination angle of the stem 14. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, a neck portion 118 may be provided on the axis between the first flow path portion 18b and the second flow path portion 18c of the flow path 18 so that the cross-sectional area of the orifice 18c is relatively large. Good. As a result, the second flow rate is determined by the neck portion 118. This facilitates the control of the second flow rate.

  When the pressure applied to the dispenser head is released from the operating position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the spring 16 pushes the plate portion 15 and the valve stem 14 to the positions shown in FIG. Stop.

In a modification not shown, the base portion 15b of the dish portion does not have a pin. In this case, the base is only a flat surface that contacts the end 14b of the stem, which closes the orifice 18c.
In the modification partly shown in FIG. 7, a flat gasket 15e, for example, a gasket made of an elastic material that improves the sealing state of the orifice 18c can be provided at the base of the dish portion.

  The valve described above can also dispense the product at a third flow rate. For this purpose, it is only necessary that the two orifices 18b and 18c can be opened by inclining the valve stem 14 after being pushed down. In this way, the product is dispensed at a third flow rate that is different from both the first flow rate and the second flow rate.

  In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the opening / closing element is a stem 214 integrated with the push button 230. Such an opening / closing element is obtained by molding integrally with the push button. Alternatively, the stem 214 may be made separately and welded to a push button, for example.

  While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in the foregoing description, it should be noted that changes can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

1 is an overall view of a first embodiment of a product packaging and dispensing device according to the present invention. It is an exploded view of the instrument shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a partial view of the instrument shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a partial view of the instrument shown in FIG. 1 at a position different from FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a partial view of the instrument shown in FIG. 1 in a different position from FIGS. 3 and 4. The modification of 1st embodiment of the instrument by this invention is shown. 6 shows another variation of the first embodiment of the device according to the invention. 2 shows a second embodiment of a product packaging and dispensing device according to the invention. -

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,210 Valve 11 Valve body 13 Annular gasket 14, 214 Valve stem 15 Dish part 15a Annular lip 15b Dish base 15c Pin 16 Spring 17 Annular space 18, 34 Flow path 18a, 18b, 18c Orifice 20, 220 Container 30 , 230 Dispenser head 31 Dispensing orifice 32 First surface of dispenser head 33 Second surface of dispenser head 100 Package and dispensing device 118 Neck portion

Claims (17)

  A tilting valve (10; 210) having a longitudinal axis X for dispensing a product contained in a pressurized container (20; 220), according to a first actuating action, from a closed position, In response to a second actuating operation different from the first actuating operation, wherein the pressurized product moves through the first channel portion (18b; 218b) to the first opening position where it is distributed at the first flow rate, An opening and closing element (14; 214) that moves from a closed position to a second opening position through which the product is distributed at a second flow rate different from the first flow rate through the second flow path portion (18c; 218c); A valve in which the second flow path portion (18c; 218c) is closed at the first opening position and the first flow path portion (18b; 218b) is closed at the second opening position.   2. Valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening and closing element (14; 214) moves parallel to the axis X in response to a first actuating action and moves away from the axis X in response to a second actuating action. .   The opening / closing element (14; 214) has a channel (18) with one end opened to the outside of the valve body through the outlet orifice (18a) along the axis, and the other end is the first channel. 3. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the valve is configured to open inside the valve body through the portion (18 b) and the second flow path portion (18 c).   The neck portion (118) is provided on the axis between the first flow path portion (18b) and the second flow path portion (18c) of the flow path (18) extending in the axial direction. The valve described in.   5. Valve according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the opening and closing element (14) consists of a valve stem, part (14a) of which appears outside the valve body (11).   5. Valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening and closing element (214) is integral with a member outside the valve, in particular with a valve actuating member (230).   In particular, it has an annular gasket-type seal member (13) arranged inside the valve body (11), and in the closed position, the first flow path portion (18b) opens laterally to the seal element (13). The valve according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the valve faces each other.   The valve according to claim 7, characterized in that the first flow path part (18b) opens into the valve body (11) at the first opening position.   It further comprises a pan (15) having a lip (15a) in contact with the sealing element (13) in the closed position, the pan (15) also in contact with one end (14b) of the opening and closing element in the closed position 9. Valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a base (15b) for closing the second channel part (18c).   The pan (15) is provided with a pin (15c) which is received in the second flow path part (18c) and closes to seal the second flow path part, particularly in the closed position. Item 10. The valve according to Item 9.   10. Valve according to claim 9, characterized in that the base (15b) of the pan (15) has a flat gasket (15e) that contacts and seals the end (14b) of the opening and closing element (14). .   When the opening / closing element (14) is placed at the second opening position and the second flow path portion (18c) is opened, the end (14b) of the opening / closing element moves in a direction away from the base (15b) of the dish part. 12. A valve according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that:   Device for packaging and dispensing of products, in particular cosmetic products (100; 200), containing the product to be dispensed, comprising a valve (10; 210) according to any one of the preceding claims. An instrument comprising a pressurized container (20; 220) mounted.   A member (30; 230) for actuating the valve and for dispensing the product under pressure via at least one dispensing orifice (31; 231), in particular arranged inside the nozzle, such as a swirl effect nozzle, etc. 14. A device according to claim 13, comprising a device.   15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the actuating member (200) is integral with the opening and closing element (214).   The actuating member has two different surfaces (32, 33; 232, 233) for actuating the valve, the first surface (32; 232) can move the opening and closing element laterally and the second surface 16. Device according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that (33; 233) can move the opening and closing element in the axial direction.   17. A cosmetic product, in particular a product for hair, a household hygiene product, a makeup product, a skin care product or a product intended to protect against the harmful effects of UV radiation, for containing and dispensing under pressure. The usage method of the instrument (100; 200) of any one of these.

Images