The present invention relates generally to the field of topical product applicators and containers, and in particular to an apparatus comprising an internal valve system that may be used for controlling product flow between a container and an applicator nozzle.
A wide variety of topical product containers with applicator nozzles are well known in the prior art. Examples are found in the following documents: CN103826753A, U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,911, U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,802, U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,781, U.S. Pat. No. 6,793,431, U.S. Pat. No. 7,309,184, U.S. Pat. No. 7,824,124, U.S. Pat. No. 8,226,319, U.S. Pat. No. 8,662,776, U.S. Pat. No. 8,714,857, US2013/108349, US2002/0014254, US2002/0090247, US2003/0057236 and US20030057236. Each document describes a specific type of construction for the application of a product, always in order to offer a more efficient way of handling, controlling and applying the product.
The mechanisms currently known for the purpose described above are sufficient for a product to be applied correctly; however, mechanisms that work with internal valves, although efficient, could use considerable improvement, as many of them use springs, spheres and other widely varying types of mobile mechanical components. The result is a final mechanism that is substantially complicated, and the delivery of product at the end of the tip often does not occur as desired. Consequently, these assemblies are difficult to manufacture, both in terms of fabrication of the components as well as their final assembly, which significantly increases the costs thereof. Additionally, the aforementioned issues occur without even obtaining the result of stringent control of the amount of product dispensed, and, in some cases, with the residual pressure of the container causing minor drips or leaks and thus wasted product.
The present invention seeks to provide a product applicator intermediate assembly between a container and an applicator nozzle, comprising an actuation mechanism and having multiple valves and at least two possible types of applicator nozzles for use on different types of substantially flexible containers. The container contents are extracted in largely the same manner as cosmetics of different stages of fluidity, which are normally packed in compressible tubes and/or all types of filled recipients that may facilitate and allow stringent control of the quantity of product to be applied, as occurs with topical products such as, for example, either cosmetics or drugs.
On its lower side, the assembly presents means for being connected to a suitable container such as, for example, a compressible tube, for example, containing a fluid that flows easily, whether a liquid, oil, cream, paste or powder, such as a cosmetic or a drug, while on its upper side the assembly can be fitted with different applicator tips, most notably those whose ergonomics are intended for application around the eyes or lips. The actuation mechanism is endowed with means to combine with the applicator tip, and by performing a 90° turn, an internal valve system either closes or opens, allowing product to flow with excellent quality control to the applicator tip that in turn also includes another product outflow control valve, whereby a desired quantity of product may be delivered to the surface of the applicator tip. The applicator tip in turn has variable geometry, adapting to the anatomy of the place where the product is being applied, such as for example on the eyes or lips.
The present invention seeks to provide two separate valves, one in the actuation mechanism and one at the applicator tip. The first valve is a mobile component, combining a fixed stopper and a small tubular hollow plunger that is in turn comprising the first passage for the product, with the plunger also being mobile in order to move axially towards or away from the stopper, resulting in the leakproof closing or opening of its central passage. This movement results from the fact that the plunger has two radially opposed follower studs supported on keyways with cams, that are engaged through these follower studs with the lower cylindrical rotating part of the applicator tip, whereby 90° turns in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction establish an upward and downward movement of the hollow plunger, allowing or halting the flow of the product into the applicator tip.
The applicator tip is anatomically shaped in conformity with the fingertip of a forefinger, the entire contact area being formed from an elastomer layer on which a small internal pouch is created, that in turn serves as a “balloon” that accumulates a predetermined amount of product and remains static so long as the container is not pressed. Upon pressing of the container, the pressure in the pouch increases sufficiently for a strategic valve opening in the digital part of the applicator tip to open and allow the controlled outflow of a desired quantity of the product. The valve is in the form of a small slot, the opening of which allows product to be delivered exactly on the surface of the applicator tip. At this stage, the applicator tip is ready to be rubbed lightly over the part of the body, such as the eyes or the lips, where the product is applied efficiently with no waste.
The applicator tip, having an elastomer layer that forms a second valve-controlled outlet, may have an assortment of shapes depending on the fabrication process, such as for example fabrication by injection, heat molding or vulcanization, with the tip always shaped in order to facilitate the application of creams, gels, powders and any other solids or semi-solids, ensuring that they are applied correctly. The elastomer layer may be shaped in compliance with the specific needs of the area to be treated, allowing for maximum application control and no waste, with the desired volume of product, as defined by the user, dispensed when pressing the container.
The applicator tip is valve-controlled because its elastomer layer presents at least one outlet defined by a slot, whose dimensions may be adjusted according to each product and its density, viscosity, surface tension and additives altering the formulation characteristics and consequently the product flow, compliant with the specific needs of each of these formulation characteristics and requirements. This applicator may be made from elastomeric memory material, giving it the ability to return to the shape in which it was molded, whereby when the product runs through the slot, the memory effect of the material results in the passage being closed automatically once the internal container pressure ceases. This process is normally called self-closing, with this effect in specific applicators designed for each use in each region of the skin or body, allowing for far safer applications, as it does not allow contaminants to enter the external area or the external or internal parts of the container, thus avoiding contamination of the contents of the container. This benefit is highly sought after by the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, veterinary and even industrial markets, and also functions to avoid inflows of oxygen that could oxidize the product or result in other undesirable alterations to its formulation.
The invention will be described for the purposes of illustration only in connection with certain embodiments; however, it is to be understood that other objects and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent by the following description of the drawings according to the present invention. While a preferred embodiment is disclosed, this is not intended to be limiting. Rather, the general principles set forth herein are considered to be merely illustrative of the scope of the present invention and it is to be further understood that numerous changes may be made without straying from the scope of the invention.
As illustrated in
The applicator tip (9) is axially attached inside the sleeve (8) and to the corresponding part of the valve (7), whereby it may be twisted in both directions, with the actuation mechanism (11) moving the valve upwards and downwards (7) in order to open or close the product passage (6).
The details of the mounting base (1) are shown in
Details of the valve (7) are shown in
Details of the sleeve (8) are shown in
The upper part of the sleeve (8) is defined by two additional internal, circular and concentric walls, an inner wall (33) and an outer wall (34), with two channels, an inner channel (35) and outer channel (36) formed between them, within which is attached in a revolving manner, the lower end of the applicator tip (9). The smaller diameter inner wall (33) also comprises a slider housing for the upper end of the vertical plunger (21), the end having the upper sealing lip (23). To achieve this, the inner wall (33) also includes two diametrically opposed keyways that constitute the surfaces of the cams (37), pierced by the radially opposed follower studs (28) that are exposed in the inner channel (35) and are in a position to couple with the lower end of the applicator tip (9). Thus, the applicator tip is able to move the follower studs over the surfaces of the cams (37), and thus move the valve upwards or downwards (7), opening or closing it with 90° twists in both directions. To do so, the upper edge of the inner wall (33) of the sleeve (8) is lowered over a length of rabbet (38) ending in rabbet buffers and a light lock (39) that defines the open and closed positions, with this rabbet (38) also having a midline projection in the form of vertical pin (40) that constitutes a buffer and limit on the 90° movement, whether open or closed, for the overcap (10). There is also a lock formed by a protruding inner edge (41) on the cylindrical skirt (29) of the sleeve (8).
As illustrated in
As seen in
The applicator tip (9) described above features construction details and an anatomical shape that work together to ensure a controlled application of the product on the user's skin, particularly around the eyes, especially products defined generically as cosmetics, although this also includes drug products applied in the same areas, i.e. around the eyes.
The modified applicator tip (61) is also axially attached inside the double sleeve (8) whereby it may be twisted in both directions and combines with the actuation mechanism (11) in moving the first valve (7) upwards or downwards in order to open and close the product passage (6).
Similarly to the previously described applicator tip, the pressure against the inner area of the application surface (70) imposes demands on its elasticity, at which time the slit valve (71) is forced open, although only narrowly, and just enough for a desired quantity of the product to be released on the surface (70) and when the desired quantity of product is reached, the pressure is no longer applied to the container (4), with the elastomeric memory material of the elastomer tip (68) completely closing the slit valve (71) and keeping the tip (68) properly closed, with product inside ready for the next operation.
Pursuant to the matters set forth above, it may be noted that the assembly in question materializes the above-mentioned advantages, including functioning of the valve points (7) and (58) or (71), one activated manually and the other functioning automatically, together with the first one.
The product accumulated in the elastomer cap (56) is applied with great comfort, as this section of the cap is soft and padded, like the tip of a forefinger, ensuring extremely easy application of the product to the skin.
The user may thus keep the vertical plunger (7) in the open position while applying the product of the skin, or may leave the vertical plunger (7) in the closed position, after selecting the desired quantity of the product. This allows for excellent control of the applied product.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1020140166890 | Jul 2014 | BR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/BR2015/050079 | 6/25/2015 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2016/000054 | 1/7/2016 | WO | A |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20170143096 A1 | May 2017 | US |