Dispensing – Fluid flow discharge – Fluid flow generated by manually actuated working member
Reexamination Certificate
2003-03-26
2004-09-07
Bomberg, Kenneth (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Fluid flow discharge
Fluid flow generated by manually actuated working member
C222S633000, C239S325000, C239S327000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06786369
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser comprising an entraining gas reservoir provided with actuating means suitable for pressurizing the gas contained in the reservoir, a fluid reservoir, and a dispensing orifice serving to pass a mixture made up of entraining gas and of fluid. The entraining gas reservoir thus serves as an air flush to entrain the contents of the fluid reservoir towards the dispensing orifice so as to be dispensed there in the form of a two-phase gas/liquid or gas/powder mixture.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Numerous fluid dispensers of this type already exist, in particular in the fields of perfumes, of cosmetics, or else and especially of pharmaceuticals. Very often, the fluid is stored in the same reservoir as the entraining gas. Sometimes, the fluid and the entraining gas are stored in separate reservoirs. It is then necessary for the entraining gas to be able to take away some or all of the contents of the fluid reservoir.
In the prior art, FR-2 038 476 describes a powder dispenser comprising a gas (air) reservoir having the shape of a bellows on which is mounted a cylindrical duct. The dispenser further comprises an end piece designed to be mounted on the free end of the duct. This end piece defines a powder reservoir sealed with a partition made of air permeable and powder impermeable porous material. The end piece also forms a dispensing orifice sealable with a cap. When the bellows is squeezed, air is pressurized and expelled through the partition so as to enter the powder reservoir, thus creating turbulences in the reservoir allowing the powder and air mixing to be expelled through the dispensing orifice.
The partition makes it possible not only to retain the fluid inside the fluid reservoir, but also to disperse the flow of gas coming from the entraining gas reservoir. The fluid is thus entrained better towards the dispensing orifice. The partition acts as a screen, grating, or lattice defining holes in which the fluid builds up so that the flow of pressurized gas passes through the holes and entrains the fluid with it. A grating, screen, or lattice structure is suitable for a fluid in powder form, while a porous structure is more suitable for a fluid in liquid form.
An object of the present invention is precisely to facilitate entraining of the fluid by the flow of entraining gas.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To this end, the present invention proposes a fluid dispenser comprising:
an entraining gas reservoir provided with actuating means suitable for pressurizing the gas contained in the reservoir;
a fluid reservoir; and
a dispensing orifice serving to pass a mixture made up of entraining gas and of fluid;
the fluid reservoir being separated from the gas reservoir by a partition, said partition being permeable to the gas and impermeable to the fluid, so that the pressurized gas penetrates into the fluid reservoir through the partition, and entrains the fluid with it towards the dispensing orifice, characterized in that the fluid is urged towards the dispensing orifice by thrust means so that fluid is always present at the dispensing orifice.
In an embodiment of the invention, the partition of the fluid reservoir is situated in a constriction formed by the entraining gas reservoir. For example, the gas reservoir comprises a body and a neck, the neck defining an opening that communicates with the inside of the body via a duct, the partition of the fluid reservoir being disposed in said duct at least in part. This is an embodiment that is very practical. Another feature of the invention is that an end-piece is in leaktight engagement with the neck of the gas reservoir, said end-piece forming the dispensing orifice. Advantageously, the fluid reservoir is formed in part by said end-piece.
In another embodiment, the fluid reservoir has a body in engagement with the end-piece, said body forming said partition. Advantageously, the end-piece forms a socket that is open towards the gas reservoir and that is closed in part at the dispensing orifice, the fluid reservoir forming a body engaged in said socket.
Another practical feature is that the fluid reservoir has a first end at which the dispensing orifice is formed, and a second end, said second end being impermeable to the fluid and to the gas. Advantageously, the body of the fluid reservoir comprises a tubular segment forming said partition, said tubular section being in engagement in the end-piece, said segment defining a first end adjacent to the dispensing orifice and a second end closed off by a closure member that is impermeable to the gas.
It is thus possible to obtain dispensing that is more reliable and more uniform, since the entraining gas is constrained to pass through the dispensing orifice, which is always fed with fluid. According to an embodiment, the fluid reservoir comprises a movable wall in a direction corresponding to a decreasing of the reservoir volume. Advantageously, the partition is mounted to move relative to and advantageously towards the dispensing orifice. Preferably, the partition is urged resiliently in the direction in which the internal volume of the fluid reservoir decreases. Advantageously, the partition forms a part of the movable wall. In a practical embodiment, the partition is mounted on a scraper piston which is slidably engaged in a cylinder. In a variant, the partition is mounted on a prestressed resilient membrane organized to return towards a rest position.
According to another embodiment, the wall is movable by the pressurized gas flow.
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patent: 2780388 (1999-12-01), None
patent: WO 9007351 (1990-07-01), None
Garcia Firmin
Millian Alex
Uguen Fabienne
Bomberg Kenneth
Valois SAS
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