DEVICE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF A COSMETIC PRODUCT, CORRESPONDING PROCESS, USE AND CONTAINER

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (1) for the administration of a cosmetic product, with a first holder (2) for a pressurized gas cartridge (3), a second holder (4) for a cosmetic product container (5), flow rate regulating means (6), a nozzle (7) with heating means (8), and a trigger (9) which allows opening the passage of gas when operated. The first holder (2) allows housing a cartridge (3) for the passage of pressurized gas towards the flow rate regulating means (6). The first holder (2), the flow rate regulating means (6) and the nozzle (7) are fluidically connected. The regulating means are located downstream of the first holder (2) and upstream of the nozzle (7). The second holder (4) allows housing a container (5) for the passage of a product towards the nozzle (7) by means of a first conduit (10). The invention also relates to the corresponding process, use and container.

Claims

1. A device (1) for the administration of a cosmetic product, characterized in that it comprises: a first holder (2) for a pressurized gas cartridge (3), a second holder (4) for a cosmetic product container (5), flow rate regulating means (6), an outlet nozzle (7), heating means (8) of said nozzle (7), and a trigger (9), wherein said first holder (2) is configured for housing a pressurized gas cartridge (3) for the passage of a pressurized gas towards said flow rate regulating means (6), said first holder (2), said flow rate regulating means (6) and said nozzle (7) being fluidically connected, such that said regulating means are located downstream of said first holder (2) and upstream of said outlet nozzle (7), wherein said second holder (4) is configured for housing a cosmetic product container (5) for the passage of a cosmetic product towards said nozzle (7), and said second holder (4) being fluidically connected with said nozzle (7) by means of a first product outlet conduit (10), and wherein said trigger (9) is configured for opening the passage of said gas when it is operated by a user.

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said outlet nozzle (7) is made of a ceramic material.

3. The device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that said first product outlet conduit (10) has an inner diameter comprised in the range of between 0.4 mm and 1.2 mm, preferably between 0.5 mm and 1 mm, more preferably 0.7 mm.

4. The device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it also comprises first securing means (12) for securing said pressurized gas cartridge (3) against said flow rate regulating means (6), configured such that the attachment between an outlet of said pressurized gas cartridge (3) and an inlet of said flow rate regulating means (6) is sealed.

5. The device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said flow rate regulating means (6) and said second holder (4) are furthermore fluidically connected by means of a second conduit (11) extending to said second holder (4).

6. The device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said second gas inlet conduit (11) has an inner diameter comprised in the range of between 0.4 mm and 1.2 mm, preferably between 0.5 mm and 1 mm, more preferably 0.7 mm.

7. The device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said second holder (4) further comprises second securing means (12) for said cosmetic product container (5).

8. The device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said first holder (2) is configured for housing a cartridge (3) containing CO.sub.2 at a pressure of 50 bar.

9. The device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said second holder (4) is configured for housing a container (5) containing an amount of product which is in the range of 2 to 6 cm.sup.3, preferably 3 to 5 cm.sup.3, more preferably 4 cm.sup.3.

10. The device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it further comprises power supply means (13) and a voltage regulator.

11. The device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that said power supply means (13) comprise a battery having a voltage in the range comprised between 9 V and 15 V, preferably between 10 V and 12 V, more preferably 11 V.

12. The device (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that said voltage regulator comprises a voltage booster configured for providing an output voltage comprised in the range of 22 V to 26 V, preferably 24 V.

13. The device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it further comprises a control module (14) configured for regulating flow rate regulating parameters of said flow rate regulating means (6), and temperature regulating parameters of said heating means (8) of said nozzle (7).

14. The device (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that said flow rate regulating means (6) comprise an injector, and said flow rate regulating parameters comprise a value of the working cycle of said injector, said working cycle being defined as the ratio between the time in which said injector is open with respect to the total time.

15. A process for the administration of a cosmetic product which, starting from a the device (1) according to claim 1, comprises the steps of: [a] a user placing a pressurized gas cartridge (3) in said first holder (2) and a cosmetic product container (5) in said second holder (4), [b] the user actuating said trigger (9), [c] said heating means (8) heating said nozzle (7), [d] said trigger (9) opening the passage of a pressurized gas located inside said pressurized gas cartridge (3), [e] said flow rate regulating means (6) regulating the outflow rate of the gas through said nozzle (7), [f] as it exits, said gas also causing a cosmetic product located inside said cosmetic product container (5) to exit, and [g] said cosmetic product being mixed with the gas in said nozzle (7) and sprayed on the skin of a patient.

16. The process according to claim 15, characterized in that it further comprises a prior step consisting of said heating means (8) heating said nozzle (7) in a moment before step [c].

17. The process according to claim 16, characterized in that in the moment in which the gas starts to exit through said nozzle (7), said heating means (8) have heated said nozzle (7) to an initial temperature in the range comprised between 60 C. and 100 C., preferably between 70 C. and 90 C., more preferably 85 C.

18. The process according to any of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that a part of said pressurized gas is introduced in said product container (5) through a second gas inlet conduit (11) and forces said product to exit through said first product outlet conduit (10).

19. The process according to any of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that a control module (14) provided in said device (1) controls the flow rate regulating parameters of said flow rate regulating means (6) and temperature regulating parameters of said heating means (8) of the nozzle (7).

20. The process according to claim 19, characterized in that said flow rate regulating means (6) comprise an injector and said flow rate regulating parameters comprise a working cycle of said injector, said working cycle being defined as the ratio between the time in which said injector is open with respect to the total time.

21. The process according to claim 20, characterized in that said working cycle of said injector is varied in a range comprised between 1% and 15%, preferably between 3% and 10%, more preferably between 5% and 8%.

22. The process according to any of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that said temperature regulating parameters are varied such that the temperature of said nozzle (7) goes from an initial temperature in the range comprised between 60 C. to 100 C., preferably between 70 C. to 90 C., more preferably 85 C., to a final temperature in the range comprised between 0 C. and 20 C., preferably between 5 C. and 15 C., more preferably 10 C.

23. The process according to any of claims 19 to 22, characterized in that said device (1) further comprises a battery and a voltage booster, and said control module (14) further regulates voltage boosting parameters of said voltage booster by increasing said voltage boosting parameters following a function that increases over time.

24. Use of a pressurized gas for spraying a cosmetic product on the skin of a patient through a nozzle (7) of a device (1), said nozzle (7) being able to be heated by means of heating means (8), wherein the outlet temperature is regulated at least at a minimum level so that ice is not formed on said nozzle (7) or so that said ice does not end up blocking the passage of said cosmetic product through said nozzle (7).

25. A cosmetic product container (5) suitable for use thereof in a the device (1) according to claim 1, comprising a main body and a cover, made of elastomer, for example, said container (5) preferably being a vial, and containing a mixture of cosmetic product with an alcohol.

26. The cosmetic product container (5) according to claim 25, characterized in that the amount of said alcohol is less than 25% with respect to the total volume, preferably between 5% and 20%, more preferably between 10% and 15%.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0071] The advantages and features of the invention are seen based on the following description in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is described in a non-limiting manner with respect to the scope of the main claim in reference to the drawings.

[0072] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device of the invention.

[0073] FIG. 2 is a simplified section view of the device

[0074] FIG. 3 is a simplified perspective view of a part of the gas circuit of the device.

[0075] FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of the nozzle

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0076] The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is a device 1 with a general gun shape, such that the user can hold it by the handle and pull the trigger 9 with the index finger.

[0077] FIG. 1 shows the pressurized gas cartridge 3 being installed in the first holder 2 and the product container 5 in the second holder 4, as well as a display screen 15 to provide indications to the user. Some controls for operations such as turning the device 1 on and off can also be seen next to the screen 15. For the exemplifying embodiment, the cartridge contains CO.sub.2 at a pressure of 50 bar, and the product container is a vial with a cover made of elastomer containing 4 cm.sup.3 of a mixture of a cosmetic product with 10% to 15% alcohol. The percentage has been chosen for obtaining the desired viscosity given the rest of the components, as will be described below.

[0078] The exemplifying embodiment shows a preferred configuration in FIG. 3, in which the axis of the product container can be seen forming an acute angle with respect to the axis of the nozzle, to make product outflow easier.

[0079] In the embodiment herein described, the device 1 does not need cables for operation, given that the power supply means 13 comprise a rechargeable 11 V battery, which can be seen in FIG. 2. Although not shown in the drawings, the device 1 has a storage and charging base for said battery.

[0080] FIG. 2 shows a simplified section view of the exemplifying embodiment, in which most of the inner wiring or other support elements are not shown for the sake of clarity. Said FIG. 2 shows how the cartridge 3 is placed in the holder and is secured by securing means 12 keeping it firmly secured to the flow rate regulating means 6 to cause sealing which prevents unwanted gas leaks. In the particular case of the example, the flow rate regulating means 12 comprise an injector of the type used in vehicles, which is operated at a frequency of 60 Hz and with working cycles varying between 5% and 8%. Given that the operating voltage of the injector used in the example is 24 V, the device also includes voltage regulating means for increasing the rated voltage of the battery from 11 V to 24 V as required by the injector. Given that the voltage decreases as the battery loses its charge, the regulator follows a profile that increase over time to keep the voltage level within the operating ranges of the injector. The voltage regulating parameters are controlled by means of a control module 14.

[0081] When the pressurized gas from the cartridge 3 goes through the injector, its pressure is reduced such that the pressure is no longer too high when the gas reaches the nozzle 7. Part of this gas is introduced through a second gas inlet conduit 11 in the container 5 and it helps the product to exit through the first outlet conduit 10, thereby obtaining an aerosol mixture of pressurized gas and cosmetic product which is discharged through the nozzle 7 for application thereof. Likewise, at the moment of exiting through the nozzle 7, the sudden change in pressure causes a drop in temperature and the combined cosmetic effect of applying sprayed product under pressure and at a low temperature occurs, which favors smoothing out the wrinkles on the patient. For the case of the example, the conduits 10 and 11 have an inner diameter of 0.7 mm which, in combination with the viscosity of the product, allows the product to exit smoothly without dripping when it is not being applied.

[0082] The detail of FIG. 4 shows both conduits 10 and 11 entering the container 5 through needles penetrating the cover made of elastomer.

[0083] In the example, to prevent the container from popping out due to the incoming gas, the second holder 4 is provided with indentations which act like securing means. They are not shown in the drawings for the sake of simplicity.

[0084] Likewise, in the embodiment the nozzle 7 is formed from a ceramic material so that it can withstand temperature changes. The device has electric cables wound on the nozzle which act like heating means 8 by way of resistance that is heated when current circulates. The nozzle 7 of the example has grooves keeping said cables in place, which can be seen in FIG. 4. In the example, an initial temperature of 85 C. has been determined, the nozzle having to reach said temperature before the gas starts to circulate to thereby prevent the cosmetic product from freezing, which could block the outlet. The users thereby activate the device 1, heating the nozzle 7 for a maximum of 5 seconds, and said users will be notified of the moment in which they can begin to apply the treatment on the patient by means of the display screen 15 and an acoustic indicator device.

[0085] The sizes and flow rates of the example have been selected to enable providing a 4-minute treatment time, after which the cartridge 3 no longer has enough gas to maintain the pressure, and the container 5 does not contain enough product for it to continue being evacuated, specifically the residual product volume of the example is around 1 cm.sup.3, so 3 cm.sup.3 are consumed during application.

[0086] In the exemplifying embodiment, when the device 1 starts operating, the control module 14 acts to increase the working cycle of the injector from an initial value of 5% to a final value of 8% in order to compensate for the drop in gas pressure as the cartridge 3 is evacuated. Likewise, the control module 14 also sends an electric current to the heating means 8 of the nozzle 7 in order to reach the 85 C. which have been described initially; as time passes and the gas pressure decreases, the cooling of the nozzle is reduced so, along with the thermal inertia of the ceramic material of the nozzle 7, so much heating is not needed, and the heating means can even be disconnected, such that it is kept at a temperature of about 10 C.

[0087] In the exemplifying embodiment, in order to reduce the final product cost, the specific temperature and flow rate regulation profile has been obtained experimentally and has been pre-programmed into the memory of the control module 14 such that on-the-go calculations and the electrical consumption of said module 14 are prevented. The person skilled in the art will understand that there may be other configurations based, for example, on sensors and on a compensation adjusted to environmental conditions.

[0088] The person skilled in the art will also understand that there are other possible variations of the invention without departing from the scope of the main claim as a result. For example, though in a non-exclusive manner, the sizes and content of the container and cartridge, the flow rate regulating means and the operating parameters thereof, as well as the shapes and relative placement of each of the auxiliary elements, may vary.