Device for dispensing a product

Abstract

A device for packaging and dispensing, under pressure, a product is provided. The device can be particularly advantageous for cosmetic products and includes a container containing the product to be dispensed under pressure, a propellant in the form of a liquefied gas having a gaseous phase and a liquid phase, and at least one retaining member able to trap the liquid phase of the propellant. The retaining member includes at least one portion that is permeable to the gaseous phase of the propellant. A valve is associated with the container and includes a body that includes a first passage able, when the device is in a first position, to cause the product contained in the container to enter the valve body when the valve is actuated, and a second passage able, when the device is in the first position, to cause the propellant contained in gaseous form in the container to enter the valve body when the valve is actuated.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This document claims priority to French Application Number 04 51499, filed Jul. 12, 2004 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/601,603 filed Aug. 16, 2004, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a product, with a pressurized container equipped with an additional gas intake.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Discussion of Background

Dispensing devices of the aerosol type which include a container containing a product in liquid form and a propellant are known. The container is equipped with a valve for letting out the liquid under pressure. This valve is fixed to a valve cup, in such a way that the fixed valve body opens into the container and a moving element opens to the outside of the container, with the opening of the valve being brought about by depressing or tilting the moving element in the valve body. The displacement of the moving element of the valve is generally accomplished using a push-button to press against the moving element of the valve, and the push-button can be displaced manually by the user in order to actuate the valve. The push-button generally includes a duct for ejecting the product that is to be dispensed and an outlet orifice. A dip tube may be fixed to the valve body to allow the valve body to be supplied with liquid that is to be dispensed, even when the liquid level is low, when the product is dispensed “head up”.

Devices of the aerosol type allow the product to be atomized into the form of a spray or alternatively allow the product to be dispensed in the form of a foam or mousse.

Document FR 2 114 497 describes, for example, a device for dispensing shaving foam which includes a container containing the product which is to be dispensed and a liquefied propellant. In order to maintain sufficient pressure in the container throughout the life of the device, reservoirs are provided within the container to hold the propellant in a concentrated form so as to release it gradually in stages as the pressure reduces upon each use.

Devices for atomizing a product into the form of a spray may be equipped, at the valve body, with an additional gas intake (AGI) which allows a fraction of the pressurized gas contained in the container to be drawn off the top of the product in order therefore to facilitate the ejection of the product that is to be atomized and encourage the atomization of the product. The additional gas intake is generally in the form of an orifice formed in the valve body and opening into the upper part of the container containing the gaseous phase of the propellant used to pressurize the product. The AGI has the function of increasing the gas content of the dispensed mixture. U.S. Pat. No. 4,417,674 describes an example of such a device.

When the propellant is a compressed gas, for example compressed air, it is necessary to have a very high initial pressure in order to have sufficient pressure at the end of use of the device. However, there is a risk that such a pressure will be incompatible, for example, with legislation, regulatory requirements or standards in this field. Furthermore, in the case of a container made of a thermoplastic material, the variation in pressure that would occur between the first use and the last use would be detrimental to the overall performance of the device.

Better pressurization is achieved when the propellant is a liquefied gas, namely a gas containing both a liquid phase and a gaseous phase above the liquid phase. However, when the propellant in the form of a liquefied gas that cannot mix with the product is in the same container as the product, the propellant in the liquid form may be dispensed particularly when the device is in horizontal position. This is because, in this position, the end of the dip tube may dip into the liquid phase of the propellant which means that the liquid propellant can be sprayed. The propellant therefore leaves the device in liquid form and the user might not notice that he or she is dispensing propellant instead of the product. A significant amount of propellant may thus escape from the container and this may soon adversely affect atomization performance.

If there is a desire to be able to dispense the product in all positions, it is necessary for the product to be packaged separately from the propellant which keeps the product under pressure. In order to do this, the product may be packaged in a flexible-walled pouch in communication with the valve. The propellant is packaged in a volume formed between the exterior surface of the pouch and the interior wall of the container. Alternatively, the product can be kept separate from the propellant by means of a piston, which slides in a sealed manner against the interior surface of the container. However, such devices having separating elements are relatively expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a device that enables the problems mentioned hereinabove with reference to be solved in full or in part.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device that allows a product to be atomized in the form of a good-quality spray throughout the service life of the device.

Other objects will become apparent from the detailed description herein.

According to the invention, a device for packaging and dispensing, under pressure, a product, particularly a cosmetic product, is provided which includes a container containing the product to be dispensed under pressure. A propellant is provided in the form of a liquefied gas and includes a gaseous phase and a liquid phase. At least one retaining member is able to trap the liquid phase of the propellant, and the retaining member includes at least one portion that is permeable to the gaseous phase of the said propellant. In addition, a valve is mounted on the container and includes a body having a first passage able, when the device is in a first position, to cause the product contained in the container to enter the valve body when the valve is actuated, and a second passage able, when the device is in the first position, to cause the propellant contained in gaseous form in the container to enter the valve body when the valve is actuated.

By using a propellant in the form of a liquefied gas, a small amount of propellant, e.g. just one drop of gas, can be enough to pressurize the container. Furthermore, since the liquid phase of the propellant gas is at least partially held within the retaining member, the risks of the propellant in liquid form being dispensed are low, even when the container is in a horizontal position.

According to a preferred example, the retaining member can be configured to absorb all of the liquid phase of the propellant so that the propellant in liquid form can never be dispensed.

The first passage can be connected to a dip tube which can extend, for example, as far as the bottom of the container.

By way of example, the propellant can be chosen from the group consisting of alkanes, particularly butane, isopropane, isobutane, fluorinated compounds, particularly difluoroethane 152a, tetrafluoroethane 134a and dimethylether.

Also by way of example, the propellant/product weight ratio by weight is preferably between 10 and 1 to 1 (10:1 to 1:1) inclusive, and more preferably between 2 and 1 to 1 (2:1 to 1:1) inclusive.

The retaining member can be made of a material and/or with a physical structure which are chosen according to the nature of the substance or substances contained in the container. For example, the retaining member can be formed according to the nature of the propellant and the quantity of gas that needs to be released by desorption, bearing in mind, for example, the configuration of the valve and the volume that the gas released by desorption is likely to occupy, and the pressure to be present in the container.

For example, the retaining member can include a porous material. The retaining member can also include a material the chemical nature of which allows it to absorb a propellant gas contained in the fluid.

By way of example, the retaining member can include a cellular material, for example a foam or a frit, particularly a frit of high porosity including pores of a size that may vary, for example, from approximately 5 to 20 μm. This frit may, for example, be a frit of high density polyethylene, of polypropylene or of PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride).

Also by way of example, the retaining member can include fibres of polyamide, particularly of Nylon®.

The retaining member can also include a silicone, particularly when the propellant is butane, isobutane, difluoroethane 152a, tetrafluoroethane 134a, dimethylether or a mixture of at least two of these compounds, because of the affinity there is between silicone and the propellant.

The retaining member can be in the form of a body that is free inside the container. Alternatively, the retaining member can be fixed inside the container, for example to an internal wall of the container, such as the bottom wall of the container or to the dip tube. A device such as a stop, can be provided in order to immobilize the retaining member inside the container. Alternatively, the retaining member can be bonded or welded. Other attachment expedients could also be used.

In a disclosed example, the second passage can be an orifice made in the sidewall of the valve body. The aforementioned orifice may have a diameter, for example, of between 0.1 and 0.5 mm inclusive and more preferably of between 0.2 and 0.4 mm inclusive.

The valve may be configured to be actuated by a depressing movement or, alternatively, by a tilting movement.

The device can include a member for actuating the valve and dispensing the product under pressure via at least one dispensing orifice situated, for example, inside a nozzle, preferably a swirl-inducing nozzle.

The container can be made of aluminium or of tinplate, for example. Alternatively, the container may be made of a thermoplastic, particularly of PET/PEN. The container is preferably cylindrical or spherical in shape.

The device according to the invention is particularly advantageous for the packaging and dispensing under pressure of a product which, when dispensed via the valve, forms a milk or a foam or a spray. By way of example, the product can be a deodorant spray, a makeup product, particularly a foundation, or a product to be applied to the hair, particularly a styling spray or a lacquer.

As should be apparent, the invention can provide a number of advantageous features and benefits. It is to be understood that, in practicing the invention, an embodiment can be constructed to include one or more features or benefits of embodiments disclosed herein, but not others. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the preferred embodiments discussed herein are provided as examples and are not to be construed as limiting, particularly since embodiments can be formed to practice the invention that do not include each of the features of the disclosed examples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In addition to the features discussed above, the invention can include a number of additional features which will be explained hereinafter, with regard to nonlimiting exemplary embodiments which are described with reference to the attached figures, which:

FIG. 1 depicts, in cross-section, a first embodiment of the device according to the invention during head-up use;

FIG. 2 depicts a partial cross-section of the device of FIG. 1 in the closed position;

FIG. 3 depicts, in cross-section, the device of FIG. 1 during head-down use; and

FIG. 4 depicts, in cross-section, a second embodiment of the device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The device 100 depicted in its entirety in FIG. 1 includes, by way of example, a cylindrical container 10 made of tinplate. Also by way of example, the container can be made of aluminium or of a thermoplastic, particularly of PET/PEN.

This container 10 contains a product P to be atomized under the pressure of a propellant gas G such as isobutane, difluoroethane 152a, tetrafluoroethane 134a or dimethylether, for example.

The container 10 includes, at the upper part, an opening 11 into which a cup 12 is, for example, crimped in a conventional way. A valve 20 is fixed by crimping into a central housing of the cup 12. The other end of the container 10 is closed by a concave bottom.

The valve 20 includes a valve body 21 defining a chamber 22 in which there is engaged a valve stem 23, having a longitudinal axis X, able to move in the chamber 22 between a valve-closed position illustrated in FIG. 2, and an open position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3.

The valve stem 23 is equipped, at its end emerging from the valve body 21, with a push-button 30. This push-button 30 is provided with an interior duct of passageway 31 which opens via a spray orifice 32. This spray orifice could be delimited by one or more nozzles with swirl-inducing ducts for example, according, for example, to the type of aerosol desired and the nature of the product being sprayed.

An annular seal 33 is interposed between the valve body 21 and the cup 12.

A dispensing duct or passageway 24 is provided in the valve stem 23. This duct emerges at one end in the interior duct 31 of the push-button 30 and at the other end onto a lateral surface of the valve stem 23, via a radial orifice 25.

In the illustrated example, the valve stem 23 includes, under the radial orifice 25, an annular portion 26 the periphery of which is equipped with a lip 26a. A spring 40, when there is no stress exerted on the valve stem, forces the free end of the annular lip 26a to be pressed or urged in a sealed fashion against the seal 33 so that an annular space 22a is delimited by the annular portion 26, the lip 26a and the annular seal 33, as can be seen in FIG. 2.

When the valve is in the closed position illustrated in FIG. 2, the lip 26a presses in a sealed manner against the annular seal 33 so that the radial orifice 25 does not communicate with the chamber 22. When the valve stem 23 is tilted relative to the axis X, the annular lip 26a moves away from the seal 33, to a certain angular extent, and this allows a communication to be established between the inside of the valve body and the annular space 22a and therefore between the inside of the valve body and the inside of the stem 23 via the radial orifice 25. The helical spring 40 returns the valve stem 23 to the closed position when this valve stem is released.

The valve stem 23 includes, in the lower part, under the annular portion 26, a cylindrical portion 27 having axis X acting as a guide for the spring 40.

The valve body 21 includes, in the lower part, an endpiece 28 onto which a first end 51 of a dip tube 50 is fixed. The endpiece 28 opens into this dip tube via a first passage in the form of an orifice 28a having circular cross section, for example. The second end 52 of the dip tube 50 is situated more or less at the bottom of the container.

The valve body 21 also comprises a second passage in the form of an additional gas intake (AGI) orifice 29, with the orifice 29 being formed in the sidewall of the valve body and opening into the upper part of the container in the illustrated example. The orifice 29 may alternatively be formed in the bottom of the valve body and have an axis parallel to the axis X, for example.

The AGI has the function of enhancing the gas content of the dispensed mixture, with the mixture of liquid and propellant gas being formed in the chamber and conveyed to the spray orifice when the device is used head up. It also allows the passage of the product, when the device is used head down or inverted with respect to the head up position.

A retaining member 60 is provided, in the example illustrated, in the form of free bodies of silicone able to absorb the propellant gas in the liquefied state G, because of the affinity there is between the silicone and the propellant. The silicone bodies 60 are free to move inside the container and, in particular, in the liquid product P.

The retaining member 60, by desorption of the propellant gas G, allows the pressure provided within the container to be increased once the valve stem 23 has returned to its closed position. The retaining member 60 is configured to absorb all the liquid phase of the propellant to prevent the latter from being dispensed in liquid form. Furthermore, the retaining member 60 is configured so that the gaseous volume released by desorption is enough for the product P to always be under pressure throughout the life of the product.

According to a particular example, the container contains 30 g of foundation and 60 g of isobutane. The container also contains three blocks of silicone which in total represent a volume of approximately 20 cm³.

To produce the device, the product P is introduced into the container together with the blocks of silicone. The valve is then crimped onto the cup. Then, via the valve, the quantity of liquefied propellant gas is introduced, and the gas is absorbed and retained in the silicone blocks. Depending on the pressure inside the container, the liquid gas vaporizes above the product, and spreads out in the container thus exerting pressure on the product P which is thus pressurized adequately.

Each time the valve 20 is actuated via the push-button 30, the product P leaves under pressure, particularly in the form of a spray. Each time some product P is dispensed, the pressure in the container decreases, and this causes a corresponding quantity of liquefied gas contained in the silicone blocks to vaporize and causes an adequate pressure to be maintained throughout the life of the product.

In the head-up position illustrated in FIG. 1, the valve opens in response to actuation of the push-button. The product P is thus driven under the pressure of the propellant, via the dip tube, into the valve. At the same time, the propellant in gaseous form present in the upper part of the container above the product P also arrives in the valve body via the additional gas intake orifice 29. A product/propellant mixture is therefore dispensed via the spray orifice 32.

In the head down position illustrated in FIG. 3, the container is inverted with respect to the FIG. 1 position, and the product this time arrives in the valve via the orifice 29. The propellant in gaseous form present above the product, this time towards the bottom of the container, is conveyed into the valve body via the dip tube.

If, however, the user attempts to actuate the valve when the device is in the horizontal position and the end 52 of the dip tube and the additional gas intake orifice 29 are not in contact with the product, the propellant will be dispensed alone in gaseous form. However, the user will soon realize that he or she is not dispensing product and will stop actuating the valve or alter the position of the device.

The device illustrated in FIG. 4 differs from the one which has just been described in that the free silicone bodies constituting the retaining element 60 are replaced by a block of open-cell foam 60 fixed or coupled to the bottom of the reservoir, for example by bonding or another suitable expedient.

Here again, the block of foam contains the liquid phase of the liquefied gas, for example an isobutene, which provides a vapor above the product P, to exert enough pressure to pressurize the contents P.

Alternatively, also by way of example, one or more retaining members can be fixed or attached elsewhere, for example to a sidewall of the container, to the dip tube or alternatively to the exterior wall of the valve body. Components that make up the various parts of the container may also, at least in part, constitute retaining members.

In the foregoing detailed description, reference has been made to some preferred embodiments of the invention. However, variations can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter. For example, the valve may in particular be configured to allow dispensing when the valve stem is depressed rather than tilted. It is also possible to provide a valve body with other forms or types.

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 device for packaging and dispensing a product, under pressure, comprising:

(a) a container containing: (i) a product to be dispensed under pressure; (ii) a propellant in the form of a liquefied gas comprising a gaseous phase and a liquid phase; (iii) at least one retaining member which at least partially traps the liquid phase of the propellant, said retaining member having at least one portion that is permeable to the gaseous phase of the said propellant;

(b) a valve coupled the container and which includes a body, the valve comprising: (i) a first passage through which, when the device is in a first position, the product contained in the container enters the valve body when the valve is actuated; (ii) a second passage through which, when the device is in the first position, the propellant contained in gaseous form in the container enters the valve body when the valve is actuated.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining member is configured to absorb all of the liquid phase of the propellant.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first passage is connected to a dip tube.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the propellant is chosen from the group consisting of butane, isopropane, isobutane, fluorinated compounds, particularly difluoroethane 152a, tetrafluoroethane 134a and dimethylether.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the propellant includes an alkane.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the propellant/product weight ratio is between 10:1 and 1:1 inclusive.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the propellant/product weight ratio is between 2:1 and 1:1 inclusive.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining member comprises a porous material.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the retaining member comprises a material the chemical nature of which allows it to absorb the propellant.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining member comprises a material the chemical nature of which allows it to absorb the propellant.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining member comprises fibres made of a polyamide material.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein the polyamide is Nylon@.

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein retaining member comprises a frit.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining member comprises silicone.

15. A device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining member is in the form of a body that is free inside the container.

16. A device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining member is attached inside the container.

17. A device according to claim 16, wherein the retaining member is attached to an internal wall of the container.

18. A device according to claim 16, wherein the retaining member is attached to a bottom wall of the container.

19. A device according to claim 2, wherein the retaining member is attached to the dip tube.

20. A device according to claim 1, wherein the second passage comprises an orifice in a sidewall of the valve body.

21. A device according to claim 1, wherein the second passage has a diameter of from 0.1 to 0.5 mm.

22. A device according to claim 21, wherein the diameter is from 0.2 to 0.4 mm.

23. A device according to claim 1, wherein the valve is configured to be actuated by a pressing movement.

24. A device according to claim 1, wherein the valve is configured to be actuated by a tilting movement.

25. A device according to claim 1, including an actuating member for actuating the valve to dispense the product under pressure via at least one dispensing orifice.

26. A device according to claim 25, wherein a swirl nozzle is associated with said actuating member and said at least one dispensing orifice is situated inside said swirl nozzle.

27. A device according to claim 1, wherein the container is made of aluminium or of tinplate.

28. A device according to claim 1, wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of a deodorant spray, a makeup product, and a product to be applied to the hair.

29. A device according to claim 28, wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of a foundation and a hair styling product.

30. A device according to claim 1, wherein when the device is in a second position and the valve is actuated, the product contained in the container enters the valve body through the second passage and the propellant in gaseous form enters the valve body through the first passage.

31. A device according to claim 30, wherein the second position is an inverted position with respect to said first position.

32. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first passage is in communication with a dip tube which extends to a lower region of said container, and wherein said second passage is in communication with an upper region of said container.

33. A device according to claim 32, wherein said retaining member is disposed within said product in said container.

34. A device according to claim 33, wherein said retaining member releases said propellant and said propellant passes through said product to enter an upper region of said container when said container is in an upright position and said propellant is retained in said upper region of said container in a gaseous state.

35. A device according to claim 1, wherein said retaining member is disposed within said product in said container.

36. A device according to claim 35, wherein said retaining member releases said propellant and said propellant passes through said product to enter an upper region of said container when said container is in an upright position and said propellant is retained in said upper region of said container in a gaseous state.

37. A device according to claim 36, wherein said propellant is in contact with said product as the propellant passes through the product while traveling from the retaining member to the upper region of the container.

38. A device according to claim 37, wherein said second passage is in communication with said upper region of said container such that the propellant in the gaseous state passes from the upper region of the container into the valve body by way of the second passage, and wherein the first position of said device is said upright position.