More specifically, the present Invention refers to a mechanism specially designed to alter the outlet stream of a semi-solid product dispensed from a usual packaging. This alteration in the stream is determined by the valve details of a cartridge which, accordingly, is defined with three embodiments, where the outlet stream of the product is altered, turning into: a drip, trickle and spray.
Therefore, the present cartridge is a complementary mechanism developed to be mounted directly on the nozzle outlet region of a known actuator of a usual packaging, which actuator is traditionally combined with an extractor pump-type mechanism of the product contained in said packaging. Thus, by pressing the actuator, said pump-type mechanism enters into action and displaces the product until same can exit through the actuator nozzle. Said condition enables a quantity of product to be dispensed each time the actuator is operated, whereupon the outlet stream is transformed.
In many circumstances, the same packaging, the same dispensing mechanism and the same actuator are utilized for different products which, for one reason or another, have to be dispensed with different streams: drip, trickle, and spray. Thus, the present cartridge is precisely designed to maintain the same constructive characteristics of the packaging and drive mechanism thereof, just by adapting the corresponding cartridge to the desired stream type.
Today there is an infinity of packaging specially designed so that a quantity of semi-solid product can be dispensed in a controlled manner. Said packaging is configured according to many different solutions, some simpler and others more sophisticated, but one of them stands out by utilizing a pump-type inner valve mechanism with plunger driven by an actuator which, in turn, also includes the outlet nozzle of the product, as taught, for example, by PCTBR2020050025 and U.S. Pat. No. 10,512,928, cited herein solely to exemplify the use of plunger or pump so that a certain quantity of product can be dispensed.
Therefore, the packaging of the type that has an internal mechanism for dispensing the product normally work by pressing an upper head with the appearance of an operating button. Said button is normally called “actuator”, and pressing it means the pump-type mechanism starts to operate and displaces the product until same can exit through the actuator nozzle. Said condition enables a quantity of product to be dispensed every time the actuator is operated.
There is no doubt whatsoever that packaging with a pump-type mechanism is sufficient for a product to be dispensed correctly and in the desired quantity. However, said pump-type mechanisms generally have specific details to meet the particular fluidity characteristics for each product to be dispensed, because, for one reason or another, said products have to be dispensed with different streams, not only because of their viscosity, but also due to other factors. Among the most well-known streams, it is possible to define them as follows: drip, trickle, and spray. Consequently, a greater variety of pump-type mechanisms is required to meet the particular fluidity characteristics of each product to be dispensed.
Moreover, conventional packaging of said nature presents other disadvantages, in which the most significant is that the outlet nozzle remains open and, consequently, is a target for the effects caused by the outside environment, chiefly the entry of air. More precisely, it can be said that between the outlet nozzle and the extractor pump-type mechanism of the product there is absolutely no barrier for preventing the entry of air. This situation allows air from the outside environment to contaminate the product remaining between the nozzle and the extractor mechanism, also causing oxidation thereof and, to avoid this, a larger quantity of preservatives is generally used.
Therefore, the deterioration of the product remaining between the nozzle and the extractor mechanism is caused by the fact that there is no valve component at the end of the product outlet, namely the nozzle and, accordingly, from this point up to the seal-tight valve of the extractor mechanism, all the remaining product is a target for contamination by the outside air and, consequently, in many cases, said remaining part of the product can “represent a dose to be dispensed”, which generates a vicious cycle in the deterioration of the product dispensed, as some part will always remain in the actuator region. Obviously deterioration is understood to be the different effects caused by the entry of air into the nozzle region, which may cause significant alterations to the product, such as: contamination by micro-organisms, dryness, oxidation, run-off and others.
An objective to be achieved with the present cartridge is the idealization of a complementary mechanism developed to be mounted directly onto the nozzle outlet region of any known actuator of a usual packaging, where the working thereof makes it possible to alter the outlet stream of the semi-solid product dispensed. This alteration in the stream is determined by the valve details of the cartridge which, accordingly, is defined with three embodiments, where the outlet stream of the product is altered, turning into: drip, trickle, and spray.
Another objective of the invention is to provide valve means for seal-tight closing of the outlet nozzle of the product, logically to prevent the entry of outside air and to eliminate those disadvantages of usual packaging, that is, to provide a seal-tight valve closing precisely at the end of the product outlet, and to fully eliminate the entry of air and any remaining part of the product which could potentially come into contact with the outside air. Consequently, there is no deterioration of the product caused by the entry of air into the nozzle region, thus eliminating those significant alterations of the product, such as: contamination by micro-organisms, drying, oxidation, run-off and others.
Another objective of the invention is a cartridge that can work in any known actuator and traditionally combined with an extractor pump-type mechanism of the product contained in said packaging. Thus, when the actuator is pressed, said pump-type mechanism begins operating and displaces the product until same can exit through the actuator nozzle. This condition enables a quantity of product to be dispensed every time the actuator is pressed, where that transformation of the outlet stream occurs.
Another objective of the invention is to enable the same packaging, the same dispensing mechanism and the same actuator to be utilized for different semi-solid products which, for one reason or another, have to be dispensed with different streams: drip, trickle, and spray. Thus, the present cartridge is precisely designed to maintain the same constructive characteristics of the packaging and of the drive mechanism thereof, adapting just the cartridge corresponding to the type of which is desirable to obtain for the semi-solid product to be dispensed.
Another objective of the invention is to enable the same packaging that was used to dispense a substantially larger range of products in different states of aggregation, notably liquids, oils and creams and semi-solids in general, such as occurs with various cosmetics, be they for beauty, for therapeutic purposes or both, some also known as cosmeceutics having action comparable to medicines.
It is also an objective of the invention to enable the same cartridge assembly to be utilized in packaging of the “press, without pump-type mechanism” type, that is, upon pressing the body of the packaging, sufficient internal pressure is created to drive the cartridge, such that a quantity of product contained in the packaging can be dispensed in the same way.
Below is a detailed description of the present Invention for improved understanding, drawing references to the accompanying drawings:
According to these illustrations and details herein, more particularly
As illustrated in
In relation to
The jet (11) has an elongated part in the form of cylindrical rod (18), having a front end with a chamfer (19) and averagely has radial vanes (20) and at the rear end includes a plunger-like head (21), with a central hole (22) for incasing the spring (12), and the plunger-like head (21) and the radial vanes (20) have outer diameters consistent for tight and sliding inside the tubular cartridge (9).
The spring (12) is comprised of a cylindrical pin (23) which, by the front end, is incased into that central hole (22) of the plunger (21), while at the opposite end it has radial projections curved backwards that configure small blade springs (24), whose distal ends are interconnected by a stabilizer ring (25) which, in turn, constitutes support against the closing (16) of the tubular cartridge (9) and, thus, when there is an increase in pressure inside said tubular cartridge (9), the plunger (21) is forced backwards and overcomes the pressure of the spring blades (24), consequently, the chamfered end (19) of the jet (11) moves away from the seat seal (14) allowing a reduced quantity of product (P), in drip form, to be dispensed.
The seat seal (14) is formed by a rear ring part (26), with internal chamfer (27) and external diameter consistent for penetrating and being locked inside the tubular cartridge (9), having a front flange (28) as penetration limit, with external diameter equal to that of the tubular cartridge (9) and, further, this flange is hollowed by a central hole (29) internally with a chamfer (30) which, in turn, constitutes the seat seal per se for the obturator tip (13) of the jet (11).
In another preferred embodiment, illustrated in
In another preferred embodiment, illustrated in
The working of the embodiment illustrated in
Lastly,
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/BR2020/050129 | 4/15/2020 | WO |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2021/207804 | 10/21/2021 | WO | A |
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International Search Report for PCT/BR2020/050129 dated Dec. 12, 2020. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20230150751 A1 | May 2023 | US |