Device for spraying a product

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for spraying a product, in particular a cosmetic product, makeup product or care product, said device comprising: a container containing the product, and a dispensing head (3) comprising a body (5), and an endpiece, in particular a diffuser (7), attached to the body,
the body and the endpiece (7) being configured to allow the product to be sprayed through outlet orifices about a longitudinal axis (Y) of the endpiece, in particular in at least two different directions, which are in particular diametrically opposite, the dispensing head (3) comprising at least first (15) and second (16) chambers, in particular concentric chambers, through which the flow of product successively passes before emerging from the outlet orifices, at least one opening between the first and second concentric chambers being able to be offset angularly with respect to at least one of the outlet orifices.

Claims

1. Device for spraying a product, said device comprising: a container containing the product, and a dispensing head comprising a body, and an endpiece, attached to the body, the body and the endpiece being configured to allow the product to be sprayed through outlet orifices about a longitudinal axis (Y) of the endpiece, in at least two different directions, the dispensing head comprising at least first and second chambers, the first and second chambers being concentric chambers, through which the flow of product successively passes before emerging from the outlet orifices, wherein the flow of product emerging from the endpiece has undergone at least two changes of direction of flow, in which the endpiece comprises a stem allowing it to be fixed to the body, the stem comprising at least one longitudinal passage for the product to pass from the body towards the endpiece.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the two directions form between them an angle of 60 degrees to 180 degrees.

3. Device according to claim 2, the flow emerging from an outlet orifice being oriented non-parallel to a longitudinal axis (X) of the device.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein at least one opening between the first and second concentric chambers being able to be offset angularly with respect to at least one of the outlet orifices.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the outlet orifices lead directly to the outside, without an attached nozzle.

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein the endpiece is a diffuser.

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein the at least two changes of direction occur in the diffuser.

8. Device according to claim 1, the endpiece comprising a separation skirt which separates the first and second chambers, this separation skirt being pierced with at least two openings allowing the flow of product to pass through.

9. Device for spraying a product, said device comprising: a container containing the product, and a dispensing head comprising a body, and an endpiece, attached to the body, the body and the endpiece being configured to allow the product to be sprayed through outlet orifices about a longitudinal axis (Y) of the endpiece, in at least two different directions, the dispensing head comprising at least first and second chambers, the first and second chambers being concentric chambers, through which the flow of product successively passes before emerging from the outlet orifices, wherein the flow of product emerging from the diffuser has undergone at least two changes of direction of flow, in which the second chamber is surrounded by a peripheral skirt cooperating with the body in such a way as to ensure the closure of the second chamber.

10. Device according to claim 9, in which the body comprises an annular groove intended to receive the peripheral skirt of the endpiece.

11. Device according to claim 9, wherein the outlet orifices extend along some or all of the peripheral skirt.

12. Device according claim 1, the first and second chambers being at least partially annular.

13. Device for spraying a product, said device comprising: a container containing the product, and a dispensing head comprising a body, and an endpiece, attached to the body, the body and the endpiece being configured to allow the product to be sprayed through outlet orifices about a longitudinal axis (Y) of the endpiece, in at least two different directions, the dispensing head comprising at least first and second chambers, the first and second chambers being concentric chambers, through which the flow of product successively passes before emerging from the outlet orifices, wherein the flow of product emerging from the diffuser has undergone at least two changes of direction of flow, the first at least partially annular chamber extending along the longitudinal axis and being inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of the device by a non-zero angle.

14. Device according to claim 1, in which the body comprises a central channel intended to allow the flow of product to pass from the container to the endpiece.

15. Device according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal passage is a longitudinal groove.

16. Device according to claim 1, wherein the stem is configured to be insertable into the central channel.

17. Device according claim 1, in which the body having two concentric and continuous annular ribs.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(1) The invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description of a non-limiting illustrative embodiment thereof and on examining the appended drawing, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of a spray device according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through the dispensing head of the device in FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the closure cap of the device in FIGS. 1 and 2,

(5) FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of FIG. 3 along IV-IV,

(6) FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the body of the device in FIGS. 1 and 2,

(7) FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section through the body in FIGS. 5 and 6,

(8) FIGS. 8 and 9 are schematic and partial perspective views of the diffuser in FIGS. 1 and 2,

(9) FIG. 10 is a bottom view along the arrow X in FIGS. 8 and 9,

(10) FIG. 11 is a longitudinal section along XI-XI in FIGS. 8 to 10,

(11) FIG. 12 is a view, similar to FIG. 7, of an alternative embodiment,

(12) FIG. 12a is a perspective view thereof,

(13) FIGS. 12b and 12c illustrate the functioning of the device in FIGS. 12 and 12a,

(14) FIGS. 13 and 14 are partial longitudinal sections along XIII-XIII and XIV-XIV, respectively, in FIG. 12,

(15) FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the diffuser in FIGS. 12 to 14,

(16) FIG. 16 is a view, similar to FIG. 13, of the diffuser on its own,

(17) FIG. 17 is a view of the diffuser in FIGS. 12 to 16 along the arrow XVII,

(18) FIG. 18 is a side view of the body in FIGS. 12 to 17,

(19) FIG. 19 is a view thereof along the arrow XIX,

(20) FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view thereof along XX-XX,

(21) FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view thereof along XXI-XXI,

(22) FIG. 22 is a view, similar to FIG. 16, of an alternative embodiment,

(23) FIG. 23 is a view thereof along the arrow XXIII,

(24) FIGS. 24a to 24g are views, similar to FIGS. 17 and 19 respectively, of alternative embodiments,

(25) FIG. 25 is a view, similar to FIG. 16, of an alternative embodiment, and

(26) FIG. 26 is a view thereof along the arrow XXIII in FIG. 25.

(27) FIGS. 1 to 11 show a device 1 for spraying a product, said device 1 comprising a container 2, which contains the product to be sprayed, and a dispensing head 3, which sits on top of the container 2. The initial pressure in the container is, for example, between 1 and 12 bar at 20 C.

(28) The container 2 can comprise a valve holder cup (not shown) crimped onto a body of the container or formed in another way.

(29) The dispensing head 3 comprises a body 5 arranged on the container 2 and cooperating with a diffuser 7. A closure cap 9, visible in FIGS. 3 and 4, is intended to cover the body 5 and the diffuser 7 when the device is not in use. The cap 9 comprises, for example, an annular relief 10 in order to allow it to be held on the container 2 with snap-fit engagement.

(30) The body 5 and the diffuser 7 are configured to allow the product to be sprayed in at least two different directions, which are four in number in the example described and are distributed uniformly about the axis Y of the diffuser. For this purpose, the diffuser 7 comprises four outlet orifices 12, visible in FIGS. 8 to 10, which will be described in detail below.

(31) During the spraying of the product, the flow of product coming from the container firstly passes through a central channel 25 of the body 5, which is intended to allow the product to pass from the container 2 as far as the diffuser 7. This central channel 25 comprises a straight portion 25a, which extends in the longitudinal axis X of the device above the container, and an oblique portion 25b, which extends along the axis Y of the diffuser 7 and which is inclined by an angle with respect to the straight portion 25a. The angle is of the order of 20 to 30, for example.

(32) The diffuser 7 comprises a central stem 28 allowing it to be fixed to the body 5, in the oblique portion 25b. It is fixed by being inserted by force and with snap-fit engagement. For this purpose, the central stem 28 comprises a fixation relief 30, such as an annular bead, intended to snap-fit behind a corresponding relief of the body 5.

(33) The central stem 28 has a shoulder 34 in order to guarantee leaktightness.

(34) Two longitudinal grooves 32 formed on the central stem 28 allow the product to pass from the body 5 towards the diffuser 7. They are diametrically opposite each other in the example described. These grooves 32 are oriented along the axis Y of the diffuser. They can have a cross section that is partially circular.

(35) In the diffuser 7, the flow of product passes through a first inner chamber 15 and a second outer chamber 16 concentric to the first.

(36) The diffuser 7 comprises a separation skirt 18 between the first and second chambers 15 and 16. This separation skirt 18 constitutes an inner wall within the meaning of the invention. It is pierced with two openings 20 to allow the flow of product to pass through. The latter is thus separated into four distinct streams, of which two opposite streams each emerge from the openings 20. The latter are uniformly distributed on the circumference of the separation skirt 18, being diametrically opposite each other. Each opening 20 preferably extends along the entire height h.sub.1 of the separation skirt 18, as is illustrated in FIG. 11. The height h.sub.1 of the separation skirt 18 is of the order of 2.5 or 4 mm, for example.

(37) The second chamber 16 is surrounded by a peripheral skirt 22 of the diffuser 7, said peripheral skirt 22 cooperating with the body 5 in such a way as to ensure the closure of the second chamber 16. The peripheral skirt 22 comprises the four aforementioned outlet orifices 12 for ensuring the discharge of the product to the outside. These outlet orifices 12 are distributed uniformly about the axis Y of the diffuser 7. They can each extend along the entire height h.sub.2 of the peripheral skirt or along only part thereof. This height h.sub.2 can be of the order of 1.9 or 5 mm.

(38) The chambers 15 and 16 preferably have respective widths l.sub.1 and l.sub.2 of the order of 1.2 mm.

(39) The outlet orifices 12 can comprise a lower portion, in the form of a slit of constant width formed in the bottom of the skirt 22, and an upper portion, which has a semicircular cross section and is formed in the top of the skirt 22, extending away from the shoulder 22a. The product emerges from the device via the upper portion of the outlet orifices 12, the lower portion being masked and closed by the body 5.

(40) The outlet orifices can each have a cross section of between 0.05 and 5 mm.sup.2, preferably between 0.1 and 2 mm.sup.2, for example of the order of 1 mm.sup.2.

(41) The outlet orifices can have any suitable geometric shape. In one embodiment, they can have a circular cross section.

(42) The outlet orifices 12 are offset angularly with respect to the openings 20 of the separation skirt 18. For example, they are each offset by an angle of the order of 45, as is illustrated in FIG. 10.

(43) The openings 20 are offset with respect to the longitudinal grooves 32. For example, they are offset by an angle of the order of 90, as is illustrated likewise in FIG. 10.

(44) The body 5 comprises an annular groove 23 intended to receive the peripheral skirt 22 of the diffuser 7. This annular groove 23 is delimited by two concentric ribs 24a and 24b which are configured to engage on each side of the peripheral skirt 22. The two ribs 24a and 24b are continuous. They can bear against shoulders 22a and 18a, which are present on the separation skirt 18 and the peripheral skirt 22 respectively, when the body and the diffuser are assembled. They preferably have respective thicknesses e.sub.1 and e.sub.2 of the order of 0.7 mm. They form between them a distanced of the order of 1.25 mm. The rib 24b closes the lower portion of the outlet orifices 12.

(45) The annular groove 23 and the ribs 24a and 24b are arranged at an end of the body opposite a mounting skirt 27 for mounting the body 5 on the container 2. The rest of the body, in particular the central channel 25 of the body, is connected to the mounting skirt 27 by a hinge 27a. The mounting skirt is preferably fixed with snap-fit engagement on the container, but it can also be fixed to the latter in another way.

(46) The diffuser 7 has an upper face 35 with a generally curved shape, of which the radius of curvature is, for example, between 0 and 20 mm, or between 2 and 10 mm, preferably between 3 and 9 mm, for example of the order of 6 mm.

(47) The upper face 35 of the diffuser 7 has markers in the form of reliefs 36 with the general shape of a triangle, of which the point is oriented towards the edge of the upper face 35 and towards the peripheral skirt 22 in the alignment of the outlet orifices 12. The upper end 35 of the diffuser 7 likewise has a central depression 37, which has a circular contour and accommodates the injection sprue.

(48) The flow of product undergoes at least two changes of direction in the diffuser 7. As is illustrated in FIG. 9, the flow of product thus passes from a first direction A in the grooves 32 to a second direction B in the first chamber 15, the two directions A and B forming between them an angle of 90. The flow of product then passes from the direction B to a direction C in the second chamber 16, with a change of direction of the order of 180, then adopts a direction D corresponding to the emergence of the product through an outlet orifice 12.

(49) An alternative embodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS. 12a to 12c and 12 to 21. In this example, the device comprises a valve with a hollow stem through which the product emerges and which, by being displaced, makes it possible to trigger the dispensing of the product coming from the container. The container 2 can comprise a valve holder cup (not shown) crimped onto a body of the container or formed in another way.

(50) The dispensing head 3 comprises a body 5 arranged on the container 2 and cooperating with a diffuser 7. A closure cap (not shown) is intended to cover the body 5 and the diffuser 7 when the device is not in use. The cap comprises, for example, an annular relief in order to allow it to be held on the container 2 with snap-fit engagement.

(51) The body 5 comprises a movable part 5a which is able to pivot with respect to the container 2 so as to trigger the dispensing of product after it has been pivoted through a given angular course.

(52) The movable part 5a is connected to a base part 27 mounted fixedly on the container 2. This base part 27 is connected to the movable part by a hinge 27a situated, with respect to the longitudinal axis X, on the same side as the inclination of the axis Y, in such a way that the longitudinal axis Y of a cannula 40 of the movable part of the body 5 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the container during the dispensing of the product.

(53) The movable part 5a thus comprises a dispensing cannula 40 which, at rest, extends along a longitudinal axis Y inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis X of the container by an angle , as is illustrated in FIG. 12b, which corresponds substantially to said angular course, such that the longitudinal axis Y of the cannula of the movable part 5a is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the container during the dispensing of the product, as is illustrated in FIG. 12c. The angular course can be of the order of 13.

(54) The body 5 and the diffuser 7 are configured to allow the product to be sprayed in at least two different directions, which are four in number in the example described and are distributed uniformly about the axis Y of the diffuser. For this purpose, the diffuser 7 comprises four outlet orifices 12, which will be described in detail below.

(55) During the spraying of the product, the flow of product coming from the container firstly passes through a central channel 25 of the body 5, which is intended to allow the product to pass from the container 2 as far as the diffuser 7. This central channel 25 comprises a straight portion 25a, which extends in the longitudinal axis X of the device above the container, and an oblique portion 25b, which extends along the axis Y of the diffuser 7 and which is inclined by an angle with respect to the straight portion 25a. The angle is of the order of 10 to 30, for example.

(56) The movable part 5a comprises a stub 41 in which the hollow stem of the valve is engaged, this stub being situated inside a tubular enclosing skirt 42 of the movable part 5a. The longitudinal axis X of the container and the longitudinal axis Y of the cannula 40 of the movable part 5a are coplanar and intersect substantially at the base of the cannula 40 of the movable part 5a.

(57) In addition, the outlet orifices 12 are formed in the diffuser 7 directly. They are formed in a curved portion of the diffuser 7, of hemispherical shape, having a radius of curvature of the order of approximately 6 mm.

(58) The orifices 12 are each oriented outwards on an axis Z, which forms an angle with the axis Y of the diffuser. The angle is less than 90, such that the resulting spray is of conical shape, with the product being distributed all around the axis Y. The angle can be between 10 and 85, preferably between 20 and 80, for example between 30 and 75, or between 40 and 70. It can be of the order of 60, for example.

(59) The dispensing head in FIGS. 12 to 21 also differs from that of FIGS. 1 to 11 in terms of the shape of the body 5. In this illustrative embodiment, the latter comprises a cannula 25b through which said channel 25 extends, this cannula having a longitudinal axis Y inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis X of the container.

(60) In addition, the mounting skirt 27 for mounting the body 5 on the container 2 is connected to the rest of the body by a hinge 27a situated, with respect to the longitudinal axis X, on the same side as the inclination of the axis Y, in such a way that the longitudinal axis Y of the cannula of a movable part of the body 5 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the container during the dispensing of the product.

(61) In the alternative embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 22 and 23, the diffuser 7 has no inner skirt. It has only a single annular chamber 15 through which the flow of product passes before emerging from the outlet orifices 12. The annular chamber 15 comprises inner walls within the meaning of the invention having the form of cylindrical pegs 50. Other alternative embodiments of an inner wall according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 24a to 24g.

(62) In the variant in FIG. 24a, the diffuser 7 comprises inner walls 60 which are partially circular and which are able to split the jet of product issuing from the longitudinal grooves 32.

(63) Alternatively, the jet-splitting inner wall can be formed in the body 5. By way of example, FIGS. 24b to 24g show a body 5 with at least one closure piece 70 attached to or integrally moulded on the body 5. The closure piece can comprise fins, in particular 2, 3 or 4 fins, which can have edges that are parallel, convergent or divergent. The fins can be connected to one another, via the centre of the body or via their perimeter, or not connected to one another.

(64) In the alternative embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 25 and 26, the diffuser 7 has no inner skirt. It has only a single annular chamber 15 through which the flow of product passes before emerging from the outlet orifices 12.

(65) The invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described.

(66) For example, the valve of the container can be triggered by being pushed down and not by tilting.

(67) The number of outlet orifices can be modified, as can their orientation.

(68) The axes of the outlet orifices, along which axes the sprays are emitted, may or may not be coplanar, or they may or may not be contained in the same cone of axis Y.

(69) It is possible to modify the shape of the body and the manner in which the latter is fixed to the container. It is possible for the body not to be bent, in which case the axis Y of the diffuser then coincides with the longitudinal axis X of the container.

(70) In the example described, the diffuser 7 is mounted on the body 5 without indexing. In one alternative, indexing is used. For this purpose, the diffuser can comprise any suitable means, for example a relief or mark, by which it is possible to ensure the correct positioning of the outlet orifices with respect to the body, in particular with respect to the bearing surface used to trigger the spraying.

(71) When observed from the front, the diffuser can have a contour that is other than circular.

(72) The product to be sprayed may be a deodorant, in particular a deodorant that contains an alcohol, an antiperspirant, a hair-care product, a shaving foam, among other possibilities.