Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6202899
-
Patent Number
6,202,899
-
Date Filed
Thursday, February 25, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, March 20, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 222 3217
- 222 4021
- 222 40221
- 222 40223
- 222 492
- 222 494
- 222 495
- 222 496
- 222 513
- 222 514
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A head (4) for dispensing a product under pressure includes a dispensing element (20) intended to be mounted on a pump or a valve (30) surmounting a product reservoir (2) and defining an outlet duct (34) for the product, opening to a dispensing orifice (22). A rigid or semi-rigid actuator (16) is capable of coming into engagement with the dispenser. A shut-off device (18) is integral with the actuator (16) and is capable, in response to a pressure exerted on the actuator, of moving from a first position in which it seals off the orifice (22) to a second position in which the orifice (22) is uncovered so as to allow the product to exit under pressure. The shut-off device (18) is formed of a material that is elastically deformable so that it can return to the first position by elastic return when the actuating pressure ceases.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a head for dispensing a product, especially a liquid or pasty product, this head being intended to be mounted on a reservoir pressurized particularly using a propellant gas, or manually by a pump or a piston. The invention also relates to a dispensing unit comprising such a reservoir filled with product, a dispensing valve and a dispensing head fitted with a push-button that can be actuated by a user with a view to ejecting a dose of product.
2. Discussion of the Background
The products likely to be thus dispensed from a dispensing unit of this type are, in particular, cosmetic products, hygiene products and maintenance products. In the field of body and hair care, there may, for example, be mentioned the packaging in pressurized cans of foaming shaving creams, self-foaming shaving gels, hair tints, cold hair reducing agents, shampoos, depilatory foams, sun-protection mousses and make up-removal mousses, particularly in self-foaming form.
In such dispensing units the ejected product travels along an ejection duct as far as an outlet orifice. Once the user has released the pressure exerted on the push-button, in practically all instances in the dispensing of products with the aforementioned consistency, the ejection duct does not have time to empty and as a result the product, in an amount which is all the greater if the outlet orifice is formed in an elongate application fitting, remains in the ejection duct.
The aforementioned products are of a nature such that, once dispensing is over, they tend to continue to come out of the ejection duct slowly (by foaming in the case of a foam or mousse, or by running in the case of liquid or viscous products), and this leads to soiling of the push-button or, in general, of the dispensing head or even of the user's hand.
It has already been proposed that this drawback be overcome by shutting off the outlet orifice when the container is in the position of rest, this orifice being uncovered only when the push-button is operated. Thus, Applicant's FR-A-2,617,809 proposes a dispensing unit for products with a viscous or pasty consistency or alternatively those which are dispensed in the form of foams or mousses from a container equipped with a moving push-button that has an ejection duct. According to this document, the ejection duct leads into a chamber delimited by a stationary part attached to the container and constituting, with the moving push-button, a dispensing head. The chamber opens to the outside via an outlet orifice. The moving push-button comprises a device capable of closing off the outlet orifice when the push-button is in the position of rest and of uncovering it when the button is actuated.
Trials conducted by the Applicant have shown that the sealing of the unit according to FR-A-2,617,809 leaves something to be desired. In particular, residual product was found in the space formed between the top of the container and the dispensing head. Furthermore, the moving push-button and the stationary part have to be mounted in two separate steps, and this mounting requires special tooling.
EP-A-0,031,123 describes a dispensing head that has an outlet duct, the end of which forms an outlet orifice, the duct being closed off in the position of rest by a central shutter. The central shutter and the outlet duct are made of a rigid material, a thin region of the duct being provided at a point that is remote from the outlet orifice for allowing retraction of the duct and thus uncovering of the outlet orifice. This device has the drawback that the seal between the shutter and the outlet orifice leaves something to be desired, especially when the product coming out is an expanding foam or mousse. This is because, since the outlet orifice and the shutter are made of a rigid material by molding, the accuracy of these parts is not good enough to provide reliable sealing.
Furthermore, FR-A-2,684,080 discloses a dispensing head of the aforementioned type that has an outlet duct, the free end of which forms an internal rigid peripheral valve seat. In the position of rest, this peripheral seat cooperates with a central shutter made of a rigid material, connected to a moving actuating fitting capable of causing the shutter to retract and thus uncover the outlet orifice. This dispensing head, like that disclosed in EP-A 0031123, has problems with sealing. Furthermore, the shutter is difficult to fit, is complicated to mold, and on the industrial scale the whole assembly is difficult to mount.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simplified dispensing head which is easier to mount on a reservoir as compared with the prior art.
According to a first aspect of the invention, the above and other objects are achieved by to a dispensing head for dispensing a product under pressure, comprising a dispensing member mountable on a pump or valve surmounting a reservoir containing the product and defining an outlet duct for the product, the outlet duct opening to at least one dispensing orifice; a substantially rigid actuating fitting movable in response to a pressure exerted on the actuating fitting from a first position to a second position, the actuating fitting being configured to come into engagement with the dispensing member during the movement of the actuating fitting from the first position to the second position in order to move the dispensing member from a closed position to a dispensing position in which the outlet duct is in communication with the reservoir; and a shut-off device movable with the actuating fitting from the first position in which the dispensing orifice is closed thereby to a second position in which the dispensing orifice is uncovered to allow the product to exit under pressure, wherein said shut-off device is constructed to elastically return to the first position when the actuating pressure ceases.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the substantially rigid actuating fitting can move axially over a travel that exceeds the travel of the dispensing member, the actuating fitting returning to the position of rest, partly as a result of the return force exerted by the elasticity of the pump or of the valve, and partly under the elastic-return force exerted by the shut-off device. For this purpose there may be a spring on which the pump or valve stem is mounted. The term “substantially rigid actuating fitting” is understood as meaning one whose structure, or the material used for it, is non-deformable under normal conditions of use.
A second aspect of the invention is a unit for packaging under pressure, comprising a reservoir for the product to be dispensed, fitted with a valve or with a pump, and equipped with a dispensing head according to the first aspect. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, this unit is fitted with a valve with an emerging stem in communication with the dispensing member, the product contained in the reservoir being pressurized by a propellant gas chosen from liquefied chloro-fluoro-alkanes or hydrocarbons, or nitrogen, compressed air, carbon dioxide, dimethyl ether or mixtures thereof.
By way of example, the product packaged in the reservoir is advantageously a self-foaming gel containing a foaming agent such as isopentane, a mousse or foam such as a shaving foam, a liquid foundation, a depilatory foam, or a hair-coloring product.
Advantageously the actuating fitting and the dispensing member are arranged in such a way that an actuating pressure first causes the shut-off device to move from the first position into the second position and then causes the outlet duct to be brought into communication with the reservoir, the dispensing member returning from the dispensing position into the closed position under the effect of a return force generated by the elasticity of the pump or of the valve.
Through this arrangement, any flow of residual product between the dispensing pump or valve and the dispensing orifice may be avoided instantly and reliably, to ensure that the unit remains clean after each use. In the position of rest the sealing occurs at the dispensing orifice. This sealing is guaranteed even if the product contains foaming agents such as isopentane which, at atmospheric pressure, tend to cause the product to expand for a time that may be as much as about ten minutes.
Furthermore, advantageously, the shut-off device, in the second position, provides sealing between the dispensing element and the actuating fitting. Through this arrangement, it is possible to avoid soiling of the mechanism, as this would then run the risk of impeding the mobility of the actuating fitting with respect to the dispensing member. According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the shut-off device is formed of an elastomeric material, that is to say of a material, such as natural or synthetic rubbers, that is elastically compressible in its three dimensions.
For this purpose, advantageously, the actuating fitting has an annular portion surrounding the dispensing member and whose free end lies more or less in the vicinity of the at least one dispensing orifice, the shut-off device being formed of an annular member mounted inside the annular portion of the actuating fitting, the actuating fitting being mounted so that it can slide with respect to the dispensing member. Advantageously, this annular member defines a skirt having a free edge which, in the second position, provides sealing between the actuating fitting and the dispensing member.
In an advantageous embodiment, the actuating fitting and the shut-off device are produced by two-shot injection molding of a first and a second thermoplastic material which are physico-chemically compatible. Also, the first material may be, for example, a polyethylene or of a polypropylene, which are relatively rigid materials. In this case, the second material may be an elastomer chosen from the group of ethylene-propylene copolymers; poly(ether-block-amide)s; polyvinyls; ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers (EPDM); styrene-butadiene block copolymers (SBS); styrene-ethylene-butadiene block copolymers (SEBS-SIS); thermoplastic polyurethanes; blends of polypropylene with one of the following elastomers:styrene-ethylene-butadiene block copolymers (SEBS-SIS), ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers (EPDM), and styrene-butadiene block copolymers (SBS).
According to an advantageous embodiment, the at least one outlet orifice opens at right angles to the outlet duct, straight onto the internal face of the annular member. Thus, when product is being dispensed, the annular member acts as a breaker, avoiding accidental squirting and splashing of product, something which is advantageous when dispensing products which are very liquid or products which are highly pressurized.
Advantageously, the dispensing head comprises a part intended for fixing it onto the reservoir, for example an annular band, this part being integral with the actuating fitting via an articulation region, for example a film hinge.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Apart from the arrangements explained hereinabove, the invention consists of a number of other arrangements which will be explained hereafter with regard to a non-limiting embodiment described with reference to the appended Figures, among which:
FIG. 1
depicts a view in perspective of a pressurized packaging unit fitted with a dispensing head, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2
depicts a part view in perspective of the unit of
FIG. 1
during use;
FIG. 3
shows an enlarged part view in longitudinal section of the unit of
FIG. 1
in the position of rest;
FIG. 4
shows an enlarged view in longitudinal section of the shut-off device in the position of rest; and
FIG. 5
depicts a view in longitudinal section of the shut-off device in the dispensing position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIGS. 1 and 2
show in perspective a dispensing unit
1
in accordance invention. This assembly, of axis X, consists of a reservoir
2
containing a liquid product, especially a foaming product, and a dispensing head
4
which is mounted on the reservoir via a cylindrical band
6
. The band
6
carries a circular plate
8
in which is made a cut-out
10
delimiting a space in which there is placed a push-button
12
articulated so that it can pivot on the plate
8
by means of a film hinge
14
. The push-button
12
has an actuating surface
13
located off-center with respect to the axis X and on which the user presses in order to dispense a dose of product. The push-button has a dispensing fitting
16
in the form of a cylindrical tube integral with the actuating surface
13
. As shown in
FIG. 1
, when the unit is in the position of rest the axis of the fitting
16
is coincident with the axis X. The fitting
16
has a free end
15
inside which is placed an annular shut-off device
18
. This shut-off device
18
is advantageously made of an elastomer material, such as an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM). Such a material is marketed by the company MONSANTO under the trade name of Santoprene®. Inside the annular shut-off device is a dispensing member
20
. In the position of rest, the dispensing member
20
does not protrude outwards from the annular shut-off device
18
.
When the user presses on the actuating surface
13
of the push-button
12
, by pivoting about the film hinge
14
the push-button is driven slightly into the space delimited by the cut-out
10
. During this action, the fitting
16
and the shut-off device
18
retreat with respect to the dispensing member
20
, thus uncovering the free end
22
of a dispensing duct.
FIG. 3
shows the dispensing head
4
of
FIGS. 1 and 2
, depicted in axial section. The head is mounted on the top of an aerosol container
2
made for example of aluminium and having a rolled neck
24
to which a valve-carrier dish
26
is fixed by crimping. The dish
26
comprises a dome
28
in which a dispensing valve
30
with emerging stem
32
is mounted. The free end of the stem
32
is engaged in a corresponding bore made in the lower end of the dispensing member
20
. The dispensing member has a central dispensing duct
34
which ends opposite a solid portion
20
a
situated at the free end of the dispensing member
20
. Just below the portion
20
a
, the central duct
34
opens to two radial ducts
22
arranged, in the position of rest, facing the internal wall of the annular shut-off device
18
. The valve
30
is connected to a dip tube
36
which generally ends near the bottom of the reservoir
2
.
As can be seen in
FIG. 3
, the dispensing member consists of four portions
20
b,
20
c,
20
d
and
20
e
of increasing diameter. The portion
20
b
has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the solid portion
20
a.
Between the smallest-diameter portion
20
b
and the portion
20
c
there is a connecting region
20
f
in the shape of a cone frustum. The portion
20
c
is separated from the portion
20
d
by a step
20
g.
Likewise, between the portion
20
d
and the portion
20
e
there is a step
20
h.
One or more annular ribs
20
i
may be provided for centering the dispensing member
20
in the fitting
16
(see FIG.
4
).
When the unit
1
is in the position of rest, the step
20
g
is arranged a small axial distance δ
c
from a corresponding shoulder
16
a
made on the inside of the fitting
16
, whereas, when the push-button
12
is actuated, this step
20
g
is able to come into abutment against the projection
16
a.
Typically, this distance δ
c
is 0.8 mm to 1.0 mm. This axial distance δ
c
allows the fitting
16
to move a short axial distance with respect to the dispensing member
20
, as will be seen in detail later.
Referring in particular to
FIGS. 4 and 5
, it can be seen that the annular shut-off device
18
has two cylindrical skirts
18
a
and
18
b
arranged concentrically and facing towards the reservoir. The first skirt
18
a,
of larger diameter than the second skirt
18
b,
is set into a housing
16
b
made in the wall of the fitting
16
near to its free end
15
and having a shape that complements the shape of the skirt
18
a.
The free end
15
has a rim
15
a
in contact with a smaller-diameter region
18
c
formed by the upper end of the shut-off device
18
. This allows the shut-off device
18
to be blocked axially inside the fitting
16
.
The second skirt
18
b
has a free end
19
resting elastically on the inclined surface of the cone frustum
20
f.
Note that between the external surface of the skirt
18
b
and the internal wall of the fitting
16
there is a space
23
to allow the free end
19
of the second skirt to deflect radially. This deflection allows the skirt
18
b
to be stressed.
The annular shut-off device
18
also has a cylindrical central passage
18
d
in which the smallest-diameter portion
20
b
of the dispensing member
20
is located. The central passage
18
d
has an end
18
e
of diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the rest of the passage
18
d.
Housed in this end
18
e,
in a position of rest, is the solid portion
20
a
of the dispensing member
20
. With reference to
FIG. 4
, the shut-off device closes the dispensing duct
34
via the radial ducts
22
. The second skirt
18
b
ensures a good seal between the dispensing member
20
and the internal wall of the fitting
16
pushing the dispensing member
20
elastically towards the reservoir
2
in response to a force exerted on the actuating surface
13
. It also elastically returns the shut-off device
18
to cover the ducts
22
.
Note that, advantageously, the shut-off device
18
may be installed during manufacture of the dispensing head
1
by a technique of two-shot injection molding of an elastomeric thermoplastic material (forming the shut-off device) and a rigid thermoplastic material (forming the push-button and the band in one single piece).
To dispense some product, the user presses on the actuating surface
13
in the direction of the arrow F (see FIG.
3
). As shown in
FIG. 5
, the end
19
of the skirt
18
b
deforms, the fitting
16
moves downwards with respect to the dispensing member
20
over an axial distance δ
c
and the ends
22
of the dispensing duct are uncovered. When the user continues to press, the shoulder
16
a
comes into abutment against the edge formed by the step
20
g.
By this operation, the dispensing member
20
is brought into a lower axial position suitable for actuating the dispensing valve. Some product P is then dispensed, as indicated by the arrows P in FIG.
5
.
When the pressure on the actuating surface
13
is relaxed, the dispensing member
20
returns to the closed position under the effect of a return force exerted by the valve on which the valve stem is mounted.
The fitting
16
moves back upwards with the dispensing member
20
. When the dispensing member
20
reaches the uppermost end of its travel, the fitting
16
continues its travel over a height δ
c
, under the effect of the elastic return force exerted by the skirt
18
b,
thus causing the shut-off device
18
to again cover the ducts
22
. Thus, dispensing is halted abruptly and any belated flow of product is prevented. In particular, in the case of a highly-expanding product such as a foam or mousse or a self-foaming gel, the unit always remains clean.
Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
Claims
- 1. A dispensing head for dispensing a product under pressure, comprising:a dispensing member mountable on a pump or valve surmounting a reservoir containing the product and defining an outlet duct for the product, the outlet duct opening to at least one dispensing orifice; a substantially rigid actuating fitting movable in response to a pressure exerted on the actuating fitting from a first position to a second position, the actuating fitting being configured to come into engagement with the dispensing member during the movement of the actuating fitting from the first position to the second position in order to move the dispensing member from a closed position to a dispensing position in which the outlet duct is in communication with the reservoir; and a shut-off device movable with the actuating fitting from the first position in which the dispensing orifice is closed thereby to a second position in which the dispensing orifice is uncovered to allow the product to exit under pressure, wherein said shut-off device is constructed to elastically return to the first position when the actuating pressure ceases.
- 2. The dispensing head according to claim 1, wherein a distance of said movement of said actuating fitting from the first position to the second position exceeds a distance of said movement of said dispensing member from the closed position to the dispensing position.
- 3. The dispensing head according to claim 2, wherein said dispensing member returns from the dispensing position to the closed position under the effect of a return force generated by the pump or valve.
- 4. The dispensing head according to claim 1, wherein the actuating fitting has an annular portion surrounding the dispensing member, and wherein a free end of the annular portion lies substantially adjacent the at least one dispensing orifice, said shut-off device having an annular member mounted inside the annular portion of the actuating fitting, said actuating fitting being mounted so that it can slide with respect to the dispensing member.
- 5. The dispensing head according to claim 4, wherein said actuating fitting and the said shut-off device are molded of a first and a second thermoplastic material which are physico-chemically compatible.
- 6. The dispensing head according to claim 5, wherein the first material consists of one of a polyethylene and a polypropylene, and wherein the second material is an elastomer chosen from the group consisting of ethylene/propylene copolymers; poly (ether-block-amide)s; polyvinyls; ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers (EPDM); styrene-butadiene block copolymers (SBS); styrene-ethylene-butadiene block copolymers (SEBS-SIS); thermoplastic polyurethanes; blends of polypropylene with one of the following elastomers:styrene-ethylene-butadiene block copolymers (SEBS-SIS), ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers (EPDM), and styrene-butadiene block copolymers (SBS).
- 7. The dispensing head according to claim 4, wherein said annular member defines a skirt having a free edge which, in the second position, provides sealing between the actuating fitting and the dispensing member.
- 8. The dispensing head according to claim 1, wherein the at least one outlet orifice opens at right angles to the outlet duct.
- 9. The dispensing head according to claim 1, further comprising a part integral with the actuating fitting which fixes the actuating fitting to the reservoir.
- 10. A dispensing head for dispensing a product under pressure, comprising;a dispensing member mountable on a pump or valve surmounting a reservoir containing the product and defining an outlet duct for the product, the outlet duct opening to at least one dispensing orifice; a substantially rigid actuating fitting movable in response to a pressure exerted on the actuating fitting from a first position to a second position, the actuating fitting being configured to come into engagement with the dispensing member during the movement of the actuating fitting from the first position to the second position in order to move the dispensing member from a closed position to a dispensing position in which the outlet duct is in communication with the reservoir; and a shut-off device movable with the actuating fitting from the first position in which the dispensing orifice is closed thereby to a second position in which the dispensing orifice is uncovered to allow the product to exit under pressure, wherein said shut-off device is constructed to elastically return to the first position when the actuating pressure ceases, wherein the shut-off device provides sealing between the dispensing member and the actuating fitting.
- 11. A unit for packaging a product under pressure, comprising:a reservoir for a liquid product to be dispensed and fitted with a valve or a pump; a dispensing member mountable on the pump or valve and defining an outlet duct for the product, the outlet duct opening to at least one dispensing orifice; a substantially rigid actuating fitting movable in response to a pressure exerted on the actuating fitting from a first position to a second position, the actuating fitting being configured to come into engagement with the dispensing member during the movement of the actuating fitting from the first position to the second position in order to move the dispensing member from a closed position to a dispensing position in which the outlet duct is in communication with the reservoir; and a shut-off device movable with the actuating fitting from the first position in which the dispensing orifice is closed thereby to a second position in which the dispensing orifice is uncovered to allow the product to exit under pressure, wherein said shut-off device is constructed to elastically return to the first position when the actuating pressure ceases.
- 12. The unit according to claim 11, wherein the valve has an emerging stem in communication with the dispensing member, the product contained in the reservoir being pressurized by a propellant gas.
- 13. The unit according to claim 11, wherein the product comprises a self-foaming gel, a foam or mousse, or a hair-coloring product.
- 14. A unit for packaging a product under pressure, comprising:a reservoir for a liquid product to be dispensed and fitted with a valve or a pump; a dispensing member mountable on the pump or valve and defining an outlet duct for the product, the outlet duct opening to at least one dispensing orifice; a substantially rigid actuating fitting movable in response to a pressure exerted on the actuating fitting from a first position to a second position, the actuating fitting being configured to come into engagement with the dispensing member during the movement of the actuating fitting from the first position to the second position in order to move the dispensing member from a closed position to a dispensing position in which the outlet duct is in communication with the reservoir; and a shut-off device movable with the actuating fitting from the first position in which the dispensing orifice is closed thereby to a second position in which the dispensing orifice is uncovered to allow the product to exit under pressure, wherein said shut-off device is constructed to elastically return to the first position when the actuating pressure ceases, wherein the shut-off device provides sealing between the dispensing member and the actuating fitting.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
98 02279 |
Feb 1998 |
FR |
|
US Referenced Citations (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 031123 |
Jul 1981 |
EP |
0244293 |
Nov 1987 |
EP |
2 684080 |
May 1993 |
FR |
40-24069 |
Oct 1965 |
JP |
6-12855 |
Apr 1994 |
JP |