EP2119508B1 - Push button for convergent distribution channels - Google Patents

Abstract

The button has a body (1) in which a distribution path is formed, and an insert (17) associated to the body to form a distribution chamber (18) between the insert and the body. The chamber comprises converging channels (19) arranged in a manner to allow impaction of jets of liquid distributed through a distribution orifice (20). The insert and the body include a fingerprint presenting tapered male and female geometries arranged so as to be nested to one another by forming the converging channels between the geometries. An independent claim is also included for a liquid distribution system comprising a pump or valve on which a push button is mounted.

Description

The invention relates to a push button for a liquid distribution system, as well as such a dispensing system.

In a particular application, the dispensing system is intended to equip bottles used in perfumery, in cosmetics or for pharmaceutical treatments. Indeed, this type of bottle contains a liquid which is returned by a dispensing system comprising a pump or a manually operated valve by means of a push button to allow the spraying of the liquid.

The document FR-2 915 470 discloses a push button comprising a female element and a male element closely received in said female element according to a distribution interface and delimiting with said female element a chamber intended to be supplied with fluid to be dispensed, the distribution interface being defined by a inner surface of the female member and an outer surface of the male member, said push button further comprising a plurality of passages disposed in the dispensing interface and through which the chamber opens outwardly, the inner surface and the outer surface described above being in contact between two consecutive passages.

The document US-3,568,933 discloses a nozzle for spraying a particulate liquid, said nozzle comprising a plurality of converging jet-forming passages for conducting the flow of said liquid, a cavity being formed at the convergence of said passages.

The document GB-1,253,221 discloses nozzles for impinging a liquid stream into an aerosol, especially such nozzles for use in combination with controlled product dispensing devices which are mounted on a product's packaging bottles such as aerosol flasks.

The document JP-2005/219031 discloses an aerosol jet nozzle which can be manufactured by a simple manufacturing technique, without requiring advanced manufacturing technique, the constitution of which can be simplified and in which product streams projected in aerosol form from ejection ports can safely collide with each other, so that the pressure necessary to propel / diffuse the aerosol product can be lowered.

Such push buttons are conventionally made in two parts: an actuating body and a liquid spray nozzle which are associated with each other to form the push button. In particular, the spray nozzle may be arranged to form an aerosol with the liquid, in particular by defining a so-called vortex chamber.

To do this, the vortex chamber is arranged to rotate very quickly the liquid to give it speed. Thus, by providing that the swirl chamber is extended at its center by a dispensing orifice, the liquid can escape at high speed by splitting into fine droplets forming the aerosol.

However, this fractionation being uncontrolled, the aerosol is composed of droplets of very different sizes. For example, for a pump or a valve supplying a push button with a flow of alcohol at a pressure of 5 bars, and an outlet orifice of 0.3 mm, the aerosol is commonly constituted by droplets of diameter between 5 μm and 300 μm.

However, the large droplets are heavier than the smaller ones and follow a different distribution path, which can cause indelible stains in the case of perfumes. Also, the small droplets are the lightest and can be inhaled, which can be the goal sought in the case of drugs, but this can be an adverse effect in the case of toxic products. In addition, in the case of drugs that must be dispensed at a specific dosage, the place of application, for example within the respiratory system, depends on the size of the droplets, and the large disparity in size distorts the treatment.

Furthermore, the size of the droplets from a vortex chamber depends in part on the force and speed with which the user actuates the pump pressing the push button with his finger, because the induced pressure depends on it.

In addition, particularly because of the effects of the centrifugal force at the outlet of the vortex chamber, the aerosol tends to be hollow with a substantially conical envelope which consists of the majority of the droplets while there is little to inside the cone. In particular, this distribution of droplets can be harmful for dermal applications.

To solve the problems mentioned above, especially the document FR-2 903 328 proposes to use a non-swirling nozzle which is equipped with a micro-grid to ensure the calibration and the spatial distribution of the droplets.

However, this embodiment requires sections of passages through the micro-grid which are extremely small, in particular of the order of 6 microns in diameter, which imposes a fine filtration of the liquid to avoid clogging problems. In addition, the difficulty of making and assembling in the body of these micro-grids remains high.

To facilitate the realization of the passage sections of the liquid, in particular the document DE-29 25 435 describes the realization of passage grooves at the interface between the nozzle and the body.

However, the precision of realization of these grooves, in particular by machining, can not be sufficiently guaranteed to control the calibration and the spatial distribution of the droplets.

It is also known, in particular from the document EP-0 941 144 a push button comprising a dispensing chamber which is provided with channels each convergent towards a dispensing orifice, said convergent channels being arranged to allow impaction of the liquid jets distributed by said orifices. Thus, during the impaction jets distributed at high speed, it forms an aerosol without having recourse to a vortex chamber.

However, to achieve such an aerosol by satisfactorily controlling the calibration and the spatial distribution of the droplets, it is necessary to form identical jets and whose convergence is perfect. Indeed, failing, the jets intersect without impact or only partially impacting, which degrades the calibration and spatial distribution of the formed droplets.

The invention proposes a push button allowing in particular to reliably obtain identical and converging jets, and this by using a particularly simple design to achieve by allowing the use of tools and assembly machines traditional push buttons.

For this purpose, and according to a first aspect, the invention proposes a push button according to claim 1.

According to a second aspect, the invention proposes a liquid distribution system comprising a pump or a valve on which such a push button is mounted, the distribution path being in communication with said pump or said valve so as to allow the spraying the liquid by impinging the jets from the convergent channels.

• la figure 1 est une vue partielle en coupe longitudinale d'un système de distribution selon l'invention, ledit système étant monté sur le col d'un flacon ;
• la figure 2 est une vue partielle en coupe longitudinale du bouton poussoir du système de distribution selon la figure 1, sur laquelle est schématisée l'enveloppe du liquide distribué ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe un quart de l'insert représenté sur la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 représente en perspective la géométrie de la chambre de distribution du bouton poussoir selon la figure 2.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the description which follows, made with reference to the appended figures in which:

• the figure 1 is a partial view in longitudinal section of a dispensing system according to the invention, said system being mounted on the neck of a bottle;
• the figure 2 is a partial view in longitudinal section of the push button of the distribution system according to the figure 1 , on which is schematized the envelope of the dispensed liquid;
• the figure 3 is a sectional view a quarter of the insert shown on the figure 2 ;
• the figure 4 represents in perspective the geometry of the distribution chamber of the push button according to the figure 2 .

In relation to the figures, a push-button for a liquid dispensing system is described below, said liquid being able to be of any kind, in particular used in perfumery, in cosmetics or for pharmaceutical treatments.

The push button comprises a body 1 in which a distribution path is formed. In addition, the body 1 has an annular skirt 2 that surrounds a housing 3 mounting the push button on the dispensing system. Furthermore, the push button comprises an upper zone 4 allowing the user to exert a digital support on said push button in order to move it axially.

In relation to the figure 1 , the dispensing system comprises a pump provided with a nozzle 5 which is inserted sealingly into the housing 3. In addition, the pump comprises a sleeve 6 for mounting on the neck 7 of a bottle containing the liquid, said sleeve comprising an upper bearing surface 8 in which the aspect skirt 2 of the push button is mounted in translation.

Furthermore, the pump shown comprises a body 9 which is mounted in the sleeve 6, said body housing the dosing and liquid compression means which comprise a piston 10 mounted around the nozzle 5 via a spring 11. The body 9 also integrates the spring 12 for returning the translation of the nozzle 5 as well as the valve 13 for admitting the liquid into the body 9 via a plunger tube 14.

The dispensing pump shown is of conventional construction for supplying the nozzle 5 and therefore the dispensing path in liquid under pressure by manual movement of the push button. However, the invention is not limited to a particular type of pump and, in the case where the liquid is packaged under pressure in the bottle, a manually operated valve may be used as a dispensing system.

The body of the push button has an annular housing 15 of axis perpendicular to that of the mounting housing 3, the downstream end of the distribution path opening into said housing. More specifically, the distribution path is formed in the housing 3 and at least one downstream channel 16 is formed at the bottom of the annular housing 15 for communicating the housings 3, 15.

The push button also comprises an insert 17 which is associated in the body 1 so as to form a distribution chamber 18 between said insert and said body, more precisely in the free space which is formed at the interface between said insert and said body. The distribution chamber 18 comprises convergent channels 19 each towards a dispensing orifice 20, said channels convergents being arranged to allow the impingement of the liquid jets distributed by said orifices to form the desired aerosol.

To produce the convergent channels 19, the insert 17 and the body 1 each comprise an imprint which has a frustoconical geometry, said geometries, respectively male and female, being arranged so as to be nested one inside the other forming the convergent channels 19 between them. Thus, the convergent channels 19 are obtained by cooperation of shapes that are simple to perform by molding, in particular by not including any groove.

In addition, the identity and the perfect convergence of the channels 19 are provided geometrically, as well as the convergence angle that corresponds to that of the frustoconical geometries. Moreover, the section of convergent channels 19 may be sufficiently large, for example more than 10 000 microns ² , to exclude any risk of clogging.

As shown in the figures, the frustoconical geometries can be respectively polygonal base for one of the footprints and revolution for the other footprint. Thus, the convergent channels 19 are formed by providing that the geometry of revolution has a radius adapted to come into contact on the faces 21 of the polygonal geometry by forming liquid passages along each of the edges 22 of said polygonal geometry. In addition, the frustoconical geometries have a similar convergence angle so as to form convergent channels 19 of substantially constant section.

In particular, the female geometry can be frustoconical polygonal base, the male geometry being frustoconical of revolution, although the reverse construction can be considered. In the embodiment shown, the female geometry is frustoconical with a four-sided base to form four convergent channels 19. Moreover, the convergence angle of the frustoconical geometries is such that the channels 19 converge at an angle C of the order of 70 °, so as to produce the aerosol A in the immediate vicinity of the dispensing orifices 20. In this embodiment, the aerosol A consists of droplets in the air whose size is very uniform and small. In addition, the section of the envelope of aerosol A is approximately square in shape, however, depending on the nature of the liquid and / or the position of the impingement point, this shape may be more rounded.

In particular, as shown on the figure 2 , the insert 17 may be arranged to form the dispensing orifices 20 recessed relative to the front face 23 of the push button, so as to bring the impaction point p of said face. However, other constructions can be envisaged knowing that the smaller the angle C of convergence, the more the aerosol A will be detached from the dispensing orifices 20, the smaller the angle α of the aerosol A will be and the smaller the droplets will be tall.

According to other embodiments, the polygonal base may comprise a different number of sides 22 knowing that the number of convergent channels 19 formed will be equal to said number of sides 22. In particular, six sides can be used to form a substantially round aerosol or two sides to form a substantially flat aerosol.

In the embodiment shown, the distribution chamber 18 also comprises an upstream annular duct 24 which is in communication with the downstream channel 16 of the distribution path.

To do this, the housing 15 comprises a central stud 25 which extends from the rear wall of said housing having an opposite end 26. Furthermore, the insert 17 has a chimney 27 for mounting which is delimited by a front wall 28 , said insert being mounted in the housing 15 around the stud 25 so as to form the annular conduit 24 between the inner wall of the chimney 27 and the outer wall of the stud 25.

The chimney 27 has an internal geometry which is cylindrical of revolution, the insert 17 being arranged collinearly with the axis of the housing 15 to allow lateral spraying of the liquid relative to the body 1 of the push button. In addition, the outer face of the rear edge of the chimney 27 is provided with a radial projection 29 anchoring in the housing 15.

The distribution chamber 18 shown also comprises radial supply channels 30 which are in communication on the one hand with the upstream annular duct 24 and on the other hand respectively with a convergent channel 19. To do this, the inner face of the front wall 28 is provided with a circumferential alternation of recesses 31 and complementary projections 32 which, by sealing the projections 32 on the front end 26 of the stud 25, is arranged to form a supply channel 30 in each of said recesses .

In relation to the figure 3 an insert 17 is described in which a frustoconical female geometry with a square base is formed, said geometry having a central opening 33 in which the distribution orifices 20 of the convergent channels 19 are formed. More specifically, the front wall 28 of the insert 17 is provided with the opening 33 in which the female geometry is formed, the front end 26 of the stud having a projection 34 forming the male geometry being nested in said opening forming the convergent channels 19 ( figure 2 ).

Furthermore, a supply channel 30 communicates with a convergent channel 19 through an opening 35 which is formed in the female geometry, said supply channels converging from the annular duct 24 towards the opening 35. molding the insert 17 and the flow of the liquid, the opening 35 has a radius r1 junction between the supply channel 30 and the convergent channel 19. Similarly, the male projection 34 is formed on the end before 26 of the stud 25 having a junction radius r2.

The female geometry thus formed thus comprises four faces 21 on which the male geometry comes into tight abutment, said faces being connected by edges 22 along each of which a convergent channel 19 is formed and on each of which an opening 35 opens.

In addition, to improve the reliability of the attachment of the insert 17 in the body 1 as well as the cooperation of the male and female geometries in order to produce the distribution chamber in a sealed manner, the body 1 can be made of a soft material and the insert 17 may be made of harder material. As the soft material, a polyolefin (polyethylene or polypropylene, for example) may be used and, as a hard material, a copolymer cycloolefin (COC), a polybutylene terephthalate or a polyoxymethylene may be used.

In a variant not shown, particularly in relation to a push-button forming a nasal nozzle for axial distribution of a pharmaceutical product, the central opening 33 can be made in the body 1 while being coaxial with the housing 3, the central block 25 being then realized in the form of insert 17 to be mounted in the housing 3 so as to form the distribution chamber.

Claims (10)

1. Push button for a distribution system for a liquid, said push button comprising a body (1) wherein a distribution path is formed, an insert (17) being associated in said body (1) in such a way as to form a distribution chamber (18) between said insert (17) and said body (1), said chamber (18) comprising converging channels (19) each towards a distribution orifice (20), said converging channels (19) being arranged in order to allow for the impaction of jets of liquid distributed through said orifices (20), the insert (17) and the body (1) each comprise a print having a tapered geometry, said geometries, respectively male and female, being arranged in such a way as to be nested inside one another by forming the converging channels (19) between them, said push button being characterised in that the tapered geometries are respectively with a polygonal base for one of the prints and of revolution for the other print, the converging channels (19) being formed by providing that the geometry of revolution has a radius adapted to come into contact with the faces (21) of the polygonal geometry by forming liquid passages along each of the ridges (22) of said polygonal geometry.
2. Push button according to claim 1, characterised in that the female geometry is tapered with a polygonal base, with the male geometry being of tapered revolution.
3. Push button according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the body (1) has the male geometry which is nested in the female geometry formed in the insert (17), said female geometry having an opening (33) wherein the distribution orifices (20) of the converging channels (19) are formed.
4. Push button according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the distribution chamber (18) comprises an upstream annular duct (24) in communication with the distribution path and inlet channels (30) in communication on the one hand with said upstream annular duct and on the other hand with respectively a converging channel (19).
5. Push button according to claim 4, characterised in that an inlet channel (30) communicates with a converging channel (19) via an opening (35) formed in the female geometry.
6. Push button according to claim 5, characterised in that the opening (35) has a junction radius (r1) between the inlet channel (30) and the converging channel (19).
7. Push button according to any of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the body (1) has a housing (15) provided with a central lug (25), the insert (17) having a shaft (27) which is delimited by a front wall (28), the insert (17) being mounted around said lug in such a way as to form the annular duct (24) between the interior wall of said shaft and the exterior wall of said plot.
8. Push button according to claim 7, characterised in that the interior face of the front wall (28) is provided with alternating recesses (31) and protrusions (32) which, by pressing of the protrusions (32) on the front end (26) of the lug (25), is arranged to form an inlet channel (30) in each of said recesses.
9. Push button according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the front wall (28) of the insert (17) is provided with an opening (33) wherein the female geometry is formed, the front end (26) of the lug (25) having the male geometry (34).
10. System for the distribution of a liquid comprising a pump or a valve whereon a push button according to any of claims 1 to 9 is mounted, the distribution path being in communication with said pump or said valve in such a way as to allow for the spraying of the liquid by impaction of the jets coming from the converging channels (19).

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