U.S. patent application number 15/489385 was filed with the patent office on 2017-08-03 for system for dispensing a foam of a fluid product.
The applicant listed for this patent is Twist Beauty Packaging Airspray N.V.. Invention is credited to Peter Jozef Jan Albertz, Pierre Dumont, Emmanuel Mauduit, Eric Rossignol.
Application Number | 20170215656 15/489385 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47429888 |
Filed Date | 2017-08-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170215656 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Albertz; Peter Jozef Jan ;
et al. |
August 3, 2017 |
System for Dispensing a Foam of a Fluid Product
Abstract
System for dispensing a foam of a fluid product having a head
wherein a mixing chamber of the product with air is formed. The
head has a passage for product; a unit for foaming with a passage
for supplying with a mixture coming from the chamber and a passage
for dispensing the foam; a supply valve of the mixing chamber has a
product valve and an air valve; the valves are arranged to open the
passage for product and for air respectively in order to supply the
mixing chamber; and a passage for return air provided with an air
return valve arranged to open under the effect of a vacuum that the
source of air exerts on it in order to allow for the air return in
the source through the head. The supply valve has a membrane
whereon the product and air valves are formed.
Inventors: |
Albertz; Peter Jozef Jan;
(Bloemendaal, NL) ; Dumont; Pierre; (Dargnies,
FR) ; Mauduit; Emmanuel; (Abbeville, FR) ;
Rossignol; Eric; (Chalon Sur Saone, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Twist Beauty Packaging Airspray N.V. |
Alkmaar |
|
NL |
|
|
Family ID: |
47429888 |
Appl. No.: |
15/489385 |
Filed: |
April 17, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14430110 |
Mar 20, 2015 |
9662619 |
|
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PCT/EP2013/069648 |
Sep 20, 2013 |
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15489385 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05B 7/0037 20130101;
B01F 3/04808 20130101; B05B 11/043 20130101; B05B 11/0059 20130101;
B01F 2215/0031 20130101; B01F 3/04446 20130101; B01F 5/0206
20130101; B01F 2215/0032 20130101; A47K 5/14 20130101; B05B 11/3087
20130101; B01F 2003/04872 20130101; B05B 11/047 20130101; B05B
7/0025 20130101; A61K 8/046 20130101; B05B 7/0018 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47K 5/14 20060101
A47K005/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 21, 2012 |
FR |
1258906 |
Claims
1. System for dispensing a foam of a fluid product comprising a
head wherein a mixing chamber of said product with air is formed,
said head having: a passage for product intended to place in
communication a source of product with said chamber and a passage
for air intended to place in communication a source of air with
said chamber; a unit for foaming which has a passage for supplying
with a mixture coming from the chamber and a passage for dispensing
the foam; a supply valve of the mixing chamber which comprises a
product valve and an air valve provided respectively on the passage
for product and the passage for air, each of said valves being
arranged to open the passage for product and for air respectively
in order to supply the mixing chamber; a passage for return air
which is provided with an air return valve arranged to open under
the effect of a vacuum that the source of air exerts on it in order
to allow for the air return in said source through said head;
wherein the supply valve comprises a membrane whereon the product
and air valves are formed, said membrane being arranged in order to
be reversibly mobile starting from a pressure that the source of
product or that the source of air exerts on it, between a stable
position wherein the passages of product and of air are closed by
the intermediary of the corresponding valve and a stressed position
wherein the passages for the product and for the air are open in
order to supply the mixing chamber; wherein the supply valve
comprises a seat wherein the passages for air and for product open,
the valves in closed position being thrust in a sealed manner onto
said seat, and the valves in the open position being released from
said seat; and wherein the passage for air comprises at least one
air duct passing through the seat, with the passage for product
extending inside said seat.
2. System for dispensing according to claim 1, wherein the head
comprises a base wherein an armature is fixed, said armature having
a wall forming the seat and the membrane being associated with the
base by being arranged in said armature.
3. System for dispensing according to claim 2, wherein the passage
for product passes through a product chamber formed between the
armature and the membrane, with the passage for air passing through
an air chamber formed between the base and said armature.
4. System for dispensing according to claim 3, wherein the passage
for return air passes through the air chamber, with the air return
valve able to be displaced in open position of said passage for
return air under the effect of a vacuum in the air chamber.
5. System for dispensing according to claim 4, wherein the head
comprises a support to which the base is fixed by causing the
passage for return air to open between said support and the
armature, with the air return valve being arranged between said
armature and said support.
6. System for dispensing according to claim 2, wherein the mixing
chamber is formed inside the armature, with the unit for foaming
being fixed to said armature.
7. System for dispensing according to claim 5, wherein the passage
for return air opens around the passage for dispensing of the unit
for foaming.
8. System for dispensing according to claim 1, wherein the membrane
has an inside chamber which is in communication with the mixing
chamber by the intermediary of an orifice passing through said
membrane.
9. System for dispensing according to claim 1, wherein the membrane
and the seat have a complementary tapered geometry, with the
membrane being displaced axially in open position.
10. System for dispensing according to claim 11, wherein the valves
are each formed by at least one peripheral lip protruding
exteriorly from the membrane, with the lip of the product valve
being axially spaced from the lip of the air valve.
11. System for dispensing according to claim 1, wherein the seat
has a downstream opening for supplying the mixing chamber, said
opening being provided with a deflector which is arranged to
improve the distribution in the mixing chamber of the air and of
the product coming from said seat.
12. System for dispensing according to claim 1, wherein the passage
for supplying and/or for dispensing are provided with a foaming
grid.
13. Bottle for dispensing a foam of a fluid product comprising a
reservoir wherein said product and air are conditioned, said bottle
comprising a system for dispensing according to claim 1 which is
mounted on said reservoir, said reservoir being reversibly
deformable between a pressurized state of the supply valve for
dispensing the foam through the unit for foaming and a vacuum state
of the air return valve in order to allow for the air return in
said reservoir through the head.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a system for dispensing a foam of a
fluid product, in particular liquid, used in perfumery, in
cosmetics or for pharmaceutical treatments. The invention further
relates to a bottle for dispensing comprising such a system mounted
on a reservoir wherein the product and air are conditioned.
[0002] In order to allow for the dispensing of the foam, the system
comprises a head wherein a mixing chamber of the product with air
is formed, as well as a unit for foaming which has a passage for
the supply of mixture coming from said chamber and a passage for
dispensing the foam.
[0003] Supplying the mixing chamber is carried out via the passages
respectively for product and for air, said passages being in
communication with the reservoir in order to be supplied
respectively with product and with air. As such, by providing a
deformable reservoir, in particular manually, the conditioned air
and product are pressurised in said reservoir in order to supply
the mixing chamber by the intermediary of the passages, in order to
dispense the product foam without using a pump.
[0004] In addition, the deformation of the reservoir is reversible
in order to allow for the air return in the reservoir as
compensation for the volume dispensed. To do this, a passage for
return air is provided between the reservoir and the exterior of
the bottle, said passage being provided with an air return valve
which is arranged to open under the effect of the vacuum induced by
the returning of the reservoir to its initial shape.
[0005] In particular in relation with bottles that can be inclined
head downwards during storage and/or dispensing, it is necessary to
provide a supply valve of the mixing chamber in order to prevent
product leakage by the head in the absence of stress on the
reservoir. Indeed, when the head is arranged underneath the
product, i.e. when the bottle is arranged between the horizontal
and vertical directions head downwards, simple gravity can suffice
to cause a flow of product via the head.
[0006] The supply valve conventionally comprises a product valve
and an air valve provided respectively on the passage for product
and the passage for air, each of said valves being arranged to open
the passage for product--respectively for air--in order to supply
the mixing chamber starting with a pressure that the
product--respectively the air--exerts on it. As such, in the
absence of deformation of the reservoir, the supply of the mixing
chamber is closed in a sealed manner, with the pressurising of the
air and of the product in said reservoir actuating the dispensing
of the foam.
[0007] However, the use of a supply valve according to prior does
not provide full satisfaction, as it is complex to carry out and
requires a substantial number of components. In addition, the
opening/closing stresses of the different valves are difficult to
reconcile, which can result in product leakage and/or the
dispensing of a foam of which the quality is not always
satisfactory, in particular during a slow deformation of the
reservoir.
[0008] The invention aims to improve prior art by proposing in
particular a system that makes it possible, even in relation with a
use head inclined downwards, the dispensing of a foam of good
quality, wherein the functions of opening/closing the passages of
product, of air and of air return are carried out simply and
reliably, in particular in relation with a slow deformation of the
reservoir.
[0009] To this effect, and according to a first aspect, the
invention proposes a system for dispensing of a foam of a fluid
product comprising a head wherein a mixing chamber of said product
with air is formed, said head having: [0010] a passage for product
intended to place in communication a source of product with said
chamber and a passage for air intended to place in communication a
source of air with said chamber; [0011] a unit for foaming which
has a passage for the supply of mixture coming from the chamber and
a passage for dispensing the foam; [0012] a supply valve of the
mixing chamber which comprises a product valve and an air valve
provided respectively on the passage for product and the passage
for air, each of said valves being arranged to open the passage for
product--respectively of air--in order to supply the mixing
chamber; [0013] a passage for return air which is provided with an
air return valve arranged to open under the effect of a vacuum that
the source of air exerts on it in order to allow for the air return
in said source through said head; the supply valve comprising a
membrane whereon the product and air valves are formed, said
membrane being arranged to be reversibly mobile starting from a
pressure that the source of product or that the source of air
exerts on it, between a stable position wherein the passages for
product and for air are closed by the intermediary of the
corresponding valve and a stressed position wherein the passages
for the product and for air are open in order to supply the mixing
chamber.
[0014] According to a second aspect, the invention proposes a
bottle for dispensing a foam of a fluid product comprising a
reservoir wherein said product and air are conditioned, said bottle
comprising such a system for dispensing which is mounted on said
reservoir, said reservoir being reversibly deformable between a
pressurised state of the supply valve in order to dispense the foam
through the unit for foaming and a vacuum state of the air return
valve in order to allow for the air return in said reservoir
through the head.
[0015] Other objects and advantages of the invention shall appear
in the following description, provided in reference to the annexed
figures, wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-section view of a bottle for
dispensing according to an embodiment of the invention, said bottle
shown in dispensing state;
[0017] FIGS. 2 to 4 are enlarged views of the bottle for dispensing
of FIG. 1 showing more particularly the system for dispensing in
closed state (FIG. 2), in dispensing state (FIG. 3) and in air
return state (FIG. 4).
[0018] In relation with the figures, a bottle for dispensing a foam
of fluid product P, in particular liquid is described hereinbelow,
said product able to be of any nature, for example used in
perfumery, in cosmetics or for pharmaceutical treatments. The
bottle comprises a reservoir 1 surmounted by a neck 2 whereon a
system for dispensing is mounted, with the product P and air A
being conditioned in said reservoir in order to be mixed for the
purposes of dispensing them in the form of foam.
[0019] To do this, the system for dispensing comprises a head 3
wherein is formed a mixing chamber 4 of the product P with air A,
as well as a unit for foaming 5 which has a passage for supplying 6
with a mixture coming from said chamber and a passage for
dispensing 7 the foam to the exterior of the bottle. In particular,
the unit for foaming 5 allows for the expansion of the foam and its
dispensing at the geometry of the passage for dispensing 7.
[0020] In the embodiment shown, the head 3 comprises a support 8
which has an outer plate 9 provided with an inner annular skirt 10
and with an outer annular skirt 11. The skirts 10, 11 are
concentric in order to form a space wherein the neck 2 is arranged,
with the inner skirt 10 being in sealed contact on the interior of
said neck and the outer skirt 11 being snap-fitted onto the
exterior of said neck. Other methods of sealed fastening of the
head 3 on the neck 2 can be used, for example by screwing or by
crimping.
[0021] The outer plate 9 comprises a downstream opening 12 formed
inside a central wall 13 which extends exteriorly. The head 3
further comprises a base 14 which has an inner plate 15 provided
with an outer skirt 16, said skirt associated between the inner
skirt 10 and an inside bearing surface which is formed around the
downstream opening 12 by extending under the outer plate 9.
[0022] The head 3 comprises a lid 17 for closing the downstream
opening 12 between two dispensings, said lid, in the embodiment
shown, being mounted by the intermediary of a hinge 18 on an edge
of the outer plate 9 between a closed position (FIG. 2) and an open
position (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4). In particular, the lid 17 comprises an
inner edge 19 which, in closed position, is engaged on the central
wall 13 in order to provide the seal of the closing of the
downstream opening 12 during storage.
[0023] The system for dispensing comprises a casing 20 wherein the
unit for foaming 5 is formed. The casing 20 comprises the passages
for supplying 6 and for dispensing 7 between which a foaming
chamber 21 is formed, in particular in order to allow for the
expansion and the dispensing of the foam formed by the mixture of
the product P and of air A. Moreover, the passage for dispensing 7
is arranged inside the downstream opening 12 in such a way as to be
closed by the lid 17 between two dispensings.
[0024] In order create a foam of high quality, the passage for
supplying 6 and/or for dispensing 7 can be provided with a foaming
grid having pores through which the product P--air A mixture passes
in order to best expand the foam. The grids can be welded or
crimped by creeping of melted material through the mesh, or carried
out via injection.
[0025] The head has a passage for product 23 in communication with
a source of product 24 formed in the reservoir 1 and a passage for
air 25 in communication with a source of air 26 formed in said
reservoir. In relation with the figures, each passage 23, 25 is
formed in the inner plate 15 in the form of an orifice.
Alternatively, a passage 23, 25 can include several orifices and/or
be formed in another wall of the base 14.
[0026] The inner plate 15 has an extension 28 surmounting the
passage for air 25, with one end of a tubing 27 being mounted on
said extension and the other end of said tubing being arranged in
the source of air 26 in order to allow for the transport of the air
A between said source and said passage for air through the source
of product 24. Alternatively, other means for supplying the passage
for air 25 can be considered.
[0027] In the embodiment shown, the bottle is intended to be used
head 3 inclined downwards, with the source of product 24 being
formed in the portion of the reservoir 1 located in the extension
of the neck 2 and the source of air 26 in that located in the
bottom 29 of said reservoir. In particular, this use implies that
the head 3 be arranged under the product P, in particular with the
bottle arranged between the horizontal and vertical directions head
3 downwards during the dispensing and/or storage. In the embodiment
shown, the lid 17 has a flat upper wall whereon the bottle is
intended to be placed head 3 downwards when stored (FIG. 2).
[0028] The system for dispensing comprises a supply valve of the
mixing chamber 4 which comprises a product valve 31 and an air
valve 32 provided respectively on the passage for product 23 and
the passage for air 25. Each of the valves 31, 32 is arranged to
open the passage for product 23--respectively for air 25--in order
to supply the mixing chamber 4.
[0029] The supply valve comprises a membrane 30 which can be made
from a flexible sealed material, for example with a base of
silicone or elastomer or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), whereon the
product 31 and air 32 valves are formed. The membrane 30 is
arranged in order to be reversibly mobile starting from a pressure
that the source of product 24 or that the source of air 26 exerts
on it, between a stable position wherein the passages for product
23 and for air 25 are closed by the intermediary of the
corresponding valve 31, 32 and a stressed position wherein the
passages for the product 23 and for air 25 are open in order to
supply the mixing chamber 4. In an alternative not shown, the
membrane 30 is assisted by an element with a spring effect when it
returns to the stable position.
[0030] As such, in the absence of sufficient pressure on the
membrane 30, in particular via simple gravity, the supply of the
mixing chamber 4 is closed in a sealed manner in order to prevent
leaks. The pressurising of the membrane 30 actuates the dispensing
of the foam by providing that the opening of a valve 31, 32, in
particular the product valve 31 under the effect of the pressure of
product P on it, causes the joint opening of the other valve 32,
31, and this even if the pressure on said other valve is not enough
to cause it to open. Supplying the mixing chamber 4 is then carried
out with kinematics and a product/air ratio which are always
optimal in order to guarantee the dispensing of a quality foam.
[0031] In the embodiment shown, the dispensing of the foam is
actuated by the intermediary of the reservoir 1 which is
deformable, in particular manually. Indeed, this deformation
induces a pressurising of the air A and of the product P which is
exerted respectively on the air 32 and product 31 valves in such a
way as to supply the mixing chamber 4 then the unit for foaming
5.
[0032] In this embodiment, the joint opening of the valves 31, 32
makes it possible to guarantee an optimum supply of the mixing
chamber 4 even in the case of slow deformation of the reservoir 1.
Alternatively, the source of product 24 and/or of air 26 can be
pressurised by means other than deforming the reservoir 1, or via a
non-manual deformation of said reservoir.
[0033] So that the bottle takes back its initial shape between two
dispensings, the deformation of the reservoir 1 is reversible, in
particular by providing to carry out said reservoir with a shape
memory material and/or by providing said reservoir with added
elastic means. The dispensing of a volume of foam must then be
compensated by a return of air of equivalent volume in the
reservoir 1.
[0034] To do this, the head 3 has a passage for return air 33 which
is provided with an air return valve 34 arranged to open under the
effect of a vacuum that the source of air 26 exerts on it in order
to allow for the air return in said source through said head. In
particular, during the air return, the membrane 30 is in a stable
position of closing the passages for product 23 and for air 25.
[0035] In the embodiment shown, the head 3 comprises an armature 35
that has an internal wall 35a fixed to an exterior bearing surface
36 formed under the inner plate 15 of the base 14. The armature 35
further has a central wall forming a seat 35b for the supply valve
wherein the passages for air 25 and for product 23 open, as well as
an external wall 35c wherein the mixing chamber 4 is formed.
[0036] In the figures, the internal 35a and external 35c walls have
a cylindrical geometry of revolution and are connected by the seat
35b which has a tapered geometry, with the diameter of the internal
wall 35a being greater than the diameter of the external wall
35c.
[0037] Advantageously, the seat 35b has a downstream opening 37 for
supplying the mixing chamber 4, said opening being provided with a
deflector 38 which is arranged to improve the distribution in the
mixing chamber 4 of the air A and of the product P coming from said
seat. In particular, the deflector 38 radially directs the flow of
air A and of product P in order to distribute it better on the
surface of the foaming grid of the passage for supplying 6.
[0038] The membrane 30 has an external skirt 30a which is
associated with an inside bearing surface 39 formed under the inner
plate 15, said membrane having a dome that extends in the armature
35 so that the valves 31, 32 in closed position--respectively open
position--are thrust in a sealed manner onto the seat
35b--respectively released from said seat. Alternatively, the skirt
30a can be associated under the inner plate 15 by pinching between
two bearing surfaces.
[0039] The dome of the membrane 30 has a geometry that is
complementary to that of the seat 35b, said dome being displaced
axially inn open position in said seat. Moreover, the membrane 30
has an inside chamber 40 which is in communication with the mixing
chamber 4 by the intermediary of an orifice 41 passing through said
membrane, in particular by being created on the internal end of the
dome facing the downstream opening 37 of the seat 35b.
[0040] The orifice 41 allows for the escaping of air during the
installation of the membrane 30 on the inside bearing surface 39,
as well as the compensation of the variations in atmospheric
pressure. In addition, the size of the orifice 41 is sufficiently
small in order to limit the entry of product P into the inside
chamber 40.
[0041] The valves 31, 32 are each formed by at least one peripheral
lip protruding exteriorly from the dome of the membrane 30, with
the lip of the product valve 31 being axially spaced from the lip
of the air valve 32. Moreover, the passage for air 25 comprises at
least one air duct 42 passing through the seat 35b, the passage for
product 23 extends inside said seat. In particular, the air duct 42
is arranged between the lips of the valves 31, 32 in closed
position.
[0042] In the embodiment shown, a product chamber 43 is formed
between the armature 35 and the membrane 30 and an air chamber 44
is formed between the base 14 and said armature, with the passages
for air 25 and for product 23 respectively passing through said air
and product chambers. To do this, the orifice of the passage for
product 23 opens between the inside 39 and outside 36 bearing
surfaces, with the orifice of the passage for air 25 opening
outside the outside bearing surface 36.
[0043] The passage for return air 33 passes through the air chamber
44, with the air return valve 34 able to be displaced in open
position of the passage for return air under the effect of a vacuum
in the air chamber 44. As such, the air return is carried out
through the air chamber 44 in order to supply the reservoir 1 with
air A as compensation for the volume dispensed. In particular, the
air return is not carried out through the unit for foaming 5 but in
parallel of the foaming chamber 21. Moreover, the air pressure in
the air chamber 44 during the dispensing induces the closing of the
passage for return air 33.
[0044] In the figures, the passage for return air 33 extends from
the orifice of the passage for air 25 to open between the support 8
and the armature 35, wit the air return valve 34 being arranged
between said armature and said support. The unit for foaming 5 is
fixed in the external wall 35c and the passage for return air 33
opens around the passage for dispensing 7 of said unit for foaming.
More precisely, the passage for return air 33 opens annularly
between the casing 20 and the central wall 13, the lid 17 closing
said passage for return air between two dispensings.
[0045] The air return valve 34 is formed of a ring made of
elastomeric material, with the inside edge of said ring being
pinched between the armature 35 and the casing 20. The outside edge
of the ring can be displaced between a thrust closed position of
the passage for return air 34 (FIGS. 1 to 3) in order to allow for
the storage and the dispensing, and a separated open position of
said passage (FIG. 4) in order to allow for the air return. In an
alternative not shown, the air return valve 34 can include a ball
mounted in a sealed manner on a seat by the intermediary of a
retaining cage.
* * * * *