Dispensing head for dispensing a product

Details Dispensing head for dispensing a product Dispensing head for dispensing a product

2002-08-21

2004-12-07

Mancene, Gene (Department: 3754)

Dispensing

With lock or fastening seal

For a fluid pressure discharge assistant

C222S402210, C222S402230, C222S521000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06827239

ABSTRACT:

The present invention relates to a dispensing head for dispensing a product such as a cosmetic product. For example, the dispensing head could be used for dispensing product from a receptacle containing the product in a pressurized state. Such a product may be in the form of a liquid or a foam, or have a more viscous consistency, such as in the form of a cream or a gel. The product could be chosen from a care product, a make-up product, a body-hygiene product, a hair-care product, and a sun-screen product.
The dispensing head could be part of a device including a valve, and the product may be pressurized by, for example, a liquefied or non-liquefied propellant gas. The gas may be packaged directly in contact with the product or separately via a piston or a pouch with flexible walls.
French Patent Application 2,635,085 describes a dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a container by a pumping action. A valve is positioned in the container. A dispensing head is included for actuating the valve. The liquid is dispensed via at least one dispensing orifice in the dispensing head. A cap is positioned over the dispensing head between uses. The problems posed by the configuration shown in French Patent Application 2,635,085 are many. For example, even when the cap is fully mounted on the device, the dispensing orifice of the dispensing head is not closed off in a leak-tight manner. Therefore, the dispensing orifice and the channel leading to the dispensing orifice tend to be subject to fouling, particularly when a product with a strong tendency to clog when drying is contained in the container. Such fouling of the dispensing orifice and channel may render the device unusable, particularly after a long period of non-use. Furthermore, the residual product in the channel and in the vicinity of the orifice is prone to degradation due at least partially to oxidation, and is prone to be unattractive in appearance.
Furthermore, the risk of untimely actuation of the dispensing element is increased, particularly if used with a valve having a short actuation stroke.
Moreover, in the field of aerosol type devices, it is also known either to produce a valve directly in the form of an end piece defining a channel, the free end of which is closed by a center piece in the rest position, or to equip a conventional valve with such an end piece. Devices of the aforementioned type are generally described in EP031123B1, French Application No. 2,684,080, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,370,313, 3,696,977, EP298847, French Application No. 2,251,761, French Application No. 2,253,970, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,406,944. For some of these devices, the channel conveying the product is formed inside the center-post of the valve. For others, the channel conveying the product is formed around the center-post.
An actuating command, generally in the form of a force, breaks the seal between the center-post and the free edge of the end piece delimiting the dispensing orifice, thus at least partly opening the dispensing orifice. When the end piece acts as a valve, the opening of the dispensing orifice enables the product to be dispensed.
When the end piece surmounts a conventional valve, the actuating command causes, in a simultaneous or almost simultaneous manner, the opening of the dispensing orifice and the opening of the valve. Similarly, the dispensing orifice may be returned to its closed position by elastic return when the force actuating the valve ceases. The elastic return may be caused by the effect of pressure from the product, or by a return force generated by a spring associated with the valve, or by an auxiliary spring.
In general, such configurations enable the conveying channel, located upstream of the dispensing orifice, to be protected from the external environment, thus avoiding the problems of residual product coagulation or oxidation.
On the other hand, the device described in French Application No. 2,635,085 does not contain structure to prevent accidental actuation of the valve.
Furthermore, such a design involves a body movement which is not always user friendly and may make dispensing difficult. For example, it may be difficult to dispense if a user desires to actuate the valve and collect the dispensed product with the same finger. Moreover, it may be difficult to obtain the desired sealing, especially near the dispensing orifice, without making it very difficult to actuate the valve. Finally, the cost of manufacturing such a device may be rather high, which is often incompatible with a desire to mass produce the device.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,450,316, the valve stem itself acts as a center-post. An external outer element including a dispensing orifice is screwed onto the valve stem so as to displace from a first position in which the dispensing orifice is opened to a second position in which the dispensing orifice is blocked. The drawback of such a design is that it cannot be used with a standard valve stem. Furthermore, it is may be very difficult to mount the external outer element. In addition, for valves with a short actuating stroke, it may be difficult to prevent untimely actuation of the valve, and to ensure proper sealing. This is because the free end of the valve stem itself provides the sealed closure of the dispensing orifice when the external element is in the second position. As a result, because the external element and the valve stem are directly coupled, the slightest pressure exerted by the external element on the valve stem risks actuation of the valve. A structure of the same type is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,901,410.
One of the aspects of the present invention is to provide a device for dispensing a product, such as a cosmetic product, wherein the device optionally remedies at least one of the above-mentioned drawbacks.
In particular, a need exists for a device with a low risk of plugging and clogging the dispensing orifice and/or the channel.
A need further exists to supply a device which may be manufactured and assembled economically and which is simple to use.
Further, it may be desirable to provide a device with a low risk of unexpected actuation of the dispensing element.
It should be understood that the invention could be practiced without satisfying one or more of the needs described above and/or without fulfilling one or more of the aspects, objects and/or advantages described herein. In addition, it should be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely exemplary.
As embodied and broadly described herein, one aspect of the invention includes a dispensing head for dispensing a product from a receptacle associated with an actuatable dispensing element. The dispensing head comprises a first element defining a channel passing through the first element, and a second element. The first element may be configured to be coupled to the actuatable dispensing element. The first element may further define at least one inner outlet orifice. The channel may be configured to pass product from the actuatable dispensing element to the at least one inner outlet orifice. The second element may define at least one dispensing orifice. The second element may be configured to be displaced relative to the first element from a first position, where actuation of the actuatable dispensing element is prevented and the dispensing orifice is closed by the first element, to a second position, where actuation of the actuatable dispensing element is allowed and the at least one dispensing orifice is at least partly open and communicates with the at least one inner outlet orifice.
Another aspect relates to a dispensing device comprising a receptacle, a product contained in the receptacle, an actuatable dispensing element associated with the receptacle, and a dispensing head. In some embodiments, the actuatable dispensing element may be an actuatable valve stem of a valve associated with the receptacle. Many other forms of actuatable dispensing elements are also possible. For example, the actuatable dispensing element could be an actuatable portion of a pump associated with the reservoir.
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