EP1302246A1 - Device for spraying at least one product on a substrate, especially on a keratinous substrate such as skin - Google Patents

Abstract

The sprayer for skin paint has an atomizer (100) with a gas canister (101) and a paint feed (140) connected to a paint tank. The paint is aspirated into the spray by the low pressure caused by the gas flow. The sprayer has a closure (150) to selectively close off the paint feed from the paint tank. The paint feed can have a capillary.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for spraying at least one produced on a support, for example a keratinous support such as the skin.

The use of a carrier gas jet to spray paint is known for a long time, in particular by US Patent 2,635,921. This principle has been widely developed and has been the subject of numerous patent filings. As an indication, we can cite European patent application EP-A1-0 208 247 or US patents 5,255,852 and 5713519.

There are currently on the market under the brand ECOSPRAY® spray devices suitable for applying paint to a non-keratinous support.

Also known from US Patent 1,430,506 a device comprising a tank on which are fixed two nozzles connected to a compressed air supply, these two nozzles capable of emitting air jets meeting in a region above a product inlet. Such a device requires an external source of air compressed with a supply hose.

It is also known to apply a makeup product by means of a airbrush also called "air-brush", comprising a spray pen connected to a bottle of compressed vector gas, this spray pen comprising on the one hand a carrier gas ejection nozzle and on the other hand a cup in which the product spray is contained, this product being gradually sucked through a conduit into the cup thanks to the vacuum created by the Venturi effect by the speed of the carrier gas at its nozzle outlet. Air-brush spraying in particular makes it possible to make less visible the border between the treated and untreated areas, fading, gradations or volume impressions. The body language is also different, since the sprayed product does not have to be spread once deposited on the keratinous support. The application of the product is thus very hygienic, since it can be done without fingers and without an applicator.

A device as described above is the subject, for example, of the request. of Canadian Patent CA-A-2 152 406. Similar devices are marketed by the DINAIR company, under the registered trademarks BEAUTY ART or BODY ART, the bottle of compressed carrier gas being replaced by an air compressor. These devices known, in which the spray pen and the carrier gas source do not constitute a unitary construction, being connected by a flexible, are relatively bulky and are intended mainly for professional use. They are not suitable to be easily carried by a woman in her handbag, like the accessories of conventional makeup.

We also know from French patent application FR-A-2 781 208 a unitary construction device for spraying onto a support a composition chosen from a plurality of compositions having different shades, in which the product is sprayed thanks to a vacuum caused by the expansion of a gas jet vector near a product inlet member, the vector gas jet being emitted by a nozzle whose axis is contained in the same plane as that of the arrival member.

The subject of the present invention is a new spraying device which either self-contained, relatively simple and inexpensive to build, and suitable for a use in particular in the cosmetic field.

The subject of the invention is therefore a device for spraying at least one produced on a support, this device comprising a reserve of carrier gas, at least one product arrival capable of being placed in fluid communication with a reserve of said product product, the latter being drawn into the reserve through a vacuum created in the vicinity of said at least one product arrival by means of a gas emission vector.

According to one aspect of the invention, the device comprises at least one shutter able to interrupt the fluid communication between said at least one arrival of product and product reserve.

The product arrival may include at least one orifice.

The product arrival may include at least one product supply member, for example an organ in which the product can circulate by capillarity, such as a felt, a foam or sinter.

Thanks to the invention, it is possible to improve the conditions for preserving the product in the product reserve and in particular avoid the escape of components volatile.

The invention can also make it possible to avoid the risks of product leakage when the device is transported while lying down or upside down, which is the case with example in a handbag.

According to one aspect of the invention, the device can be arranged so as to automatically reestablish a fluid communication between said at least one arrival of product and the reserve of product, during an emission of carrier gas. The device can thus be arranged so that the fluid communication is automatically interrupted when the emission of carrier gas ceases.

According to one aspect of the invention, the device may include a push button able to act simultaneously, directly or indirectly, on a valve carrier gas distribution and on the shutter, so that communication fluid flow between product arrival and product reserve is established when the user presses the push button to deliver carrier gas.

The reserve of product can be contained for example in a first container attached to a second container containing the carrier gas. The two containers can also have at least one common part, for example a partition defining at least two compartments respectively containing the carrier gas and the spray product.

The container containing the product and the container containing the carrier gas can be fixedly linked, without displacement of one relative to the other during use. One can get for example in this way a relatively whole compact, easy to transport, especially in a handbag.

The container containing the product may for example have a shape annular, in order to provide a passage, for example central, in which a control member of a valve fitted to the container containing the carrier gas.

The shutter can be operationally connected to at least one element actuated by the movement of a push button of the device. Such an element can include for example a hollow rod, having at least one inner channel allowing the product contained in the product reserve to win the product arrival.

The shutter may for example comprise at least one seal, capable of closing at at least one orifice through which the product can flow to gain said at least one arrival of product and able to release this orifice at least partially during distribution of the product.

In a particular embodiment, the shutter consists of a mounted seal on a hollow rod, the latter being closed at its lower end, the seal being able to come to bear by its upper face against a shoulder of the rod. The latter is crossed for example by at least one product inlet orifice, the diameter of which is less than or equal to the thickness of the joint. It is able to come into abutment by its face lower against a supporting wall, fixed, when the hollow rod is pressed, so that the gasket is then compressed and at least partially clears the intake port, in order to allow a flow of product towards said at least one inlet of product. The seal can also, for example, be applied at its periphery against the surface inside of a conduit in which the hollow rod can move axially, this conduit capable of communicating freely with the outside, in which case the seal provides a tight closing of the gap between the hollow rod and the inner surface of the leads. This duct can be connected at its upper end to a closing cover above the container containing the product, for example. The hollow rod can be actuated for example by moving a push button controlling the transmission carrier gas. The space inside the support wall against which the seal can come stop by its lower face can communicate with the container containing the product, by example via an annular groove made in a bottom wall of the container. The aforementioned conduit can be connected in leaktight manner to the support wall aforementioned tubular.

According to one aspect of the invention, the device may include a push button produced by assembling a lower part and an upper part. The lower part can be made for example in one piece with a rod actuation, and extend into a passage, for example central, of the container containing the product. The control rod of the valve containing the carrier gas can be engaged in the push rod actuation rod.

The carrier gas can be emitted from at least one gas outlet.

The gas outlet orifices can be arranged so as to create the depression outside the device, in front of the orifice through which the product arrives leads to the outside.

In a particular embodiment, the carrier gas is emitted by at least two gas outlet ports, the respective positions and orientations of which are chosen from so that the vector gas jets emitted by these orifices meet. It may improve the application characteristics. The gas outlet ports can for example be arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis of spray.

The product arrival may have a hole whose axis is located substantially in the same plane as the axes of the gas outlet orifices. The orifices of gas outlet can be arranged in such a way that the gas jets emitted by these orifices meet directly, without deflection by a deflector element. At least a deflector element can also be provided, for example.

Gas outlets may have no channels eddy.

In a particular embodiment, the axes of the gas outlet orifices make a angle of about 45 ° with an axis of a hole in the product inlet. The axis of this hole, by which the product is delivered, can be confused with the spray axis, by example.

The carrier gas may be contained in a liquefied form in the container. carrier gas. This then results in a small footprint or increased autonomy of the device, for example twenty times greater than that imparted by compressed air, and the carrier gas can be emitted at a constant pressure, which improves for example the reproducibility of makeup made using the device. The carrier gas can be compatible with the use of the spray device in cosmetics or dermatology.

The device may include, at the inlet of the valve body for example, a element allowing the passage of the carrier gas in gaseous form but preventing the passage of carrier gas in liquefied form.

Such an element can consist of a block of sintered material for example.

The product which is sprayed can be a sufficiently liquid or powder Fine.

The container containing the product can be fixed on the container containing the carrier gas removably, to allow for example to use the same carrier gas container for spraying different products. The container containing the product can for example be devoid of air return duct. Alternatively, it can include means allowing air intake such as for example a micro-leak or a valve capable of opening in the event of depression in the container containing the product. Yes a micro-leak is used, it is made so as not to allow the passage of produced when the device is in the supine position.

• la figure 1 est une section axiale, schématique et partielle, selon I-I de la figure 2, d'un exemple de dispositif de pulvérisation conforme à l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue de dessus, partielle et schématique, selon la flèche II de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une section axiale, schématique et partielle, selon III-III de la figure 2,
• la figure 4 est une vue schématique, en perspective éclatée, partielle, du dispositif de la figure 1,
• la figure 5 est une vue à échelle agrandie du détail V de la figure 1,
• les figures 6 et 7 représentent schématiquement d'autres exemples d'obturateurs,
• la figure 8 représente schématiquement un organe d'amenée du produit par capillarité,
• la figure 9 représente de manière schématique un exemple de microfuite, et
• la figure 10 représente de manière schématique un exemple de clapet de reprise d'air.

The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, of nonlimiting examples of implementation of the invention, and on examining the appended drawing, which forms an integral part of the description, and on which :

• FIG. 1 is an axial, schematic and partial section, along II of FIG. 2, of an example of spraying device according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a partial and schematic top view, along arrow II of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is an axial, schematic and partial section, according to III-III of FIG. 2,
• FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view, in exploded perspective, partial, of the device of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 5 is a view on an enlarged scale of detail V of FIG. 1,
• FIGS. 6 and 7 schematically represent other examples of shutters,
• FIG. 8 schematically represents a member for bringing the product by capillary action,
• FIG. 9 schematically represents an example of micro-leakage, and
• FIG. 10 schematically represents an example of an air return valve.

The spray device 100 shown in Figure 1 includes a pressurized container 101 containing for example a carrier gas in liquefied form, for example example of butane, isopropane, isobutane or a fluorinated compound, and a set dispenser 102 comprising a push button 103 and a container 104 containing a product P, for example a liquid foundation. The product P can for example be a liquid comprising a suspension of solid particles.

The container 104 comprises, in the example described, a cavity 105 of shape general annular around an axis W, this cavity 105 containing the product P being delimited radially outside by a first tubular wall 105a and radially at the interior by a second tubular wall 105b. The walls 105a and 105b are joined at their lower part by a bottom wall 105c, which has an annular groove 107, W axis, the role of which will be explained later.

The cavity 105 is closed above by a cover 110, on the face bottom of which is connected a conduit 111 of axis parallel to the axis W. The cover 110 comes to bear against a shoulder 112 produced at the upper end of the wall 105a.

The conduit 111 extends over substantially the entire height of the cavity 105 and comes to assemble at its lower end with a wall 114, projecting towards the high on the bottom wall 105c, plumb with the groove 107. The assembly of the conduit 111 and of the wall 114 is produced for example by fitting. The aforementioned wall 114 can be continuous or discontinuous and can for example form studs.

The duct 111 and the cover 110 can be made in one piece, by example.

The push button 103 is formed for example by the assembly of a part upper 103a and lower 103b. In the example illustrated, the latter is made in one piece with a hollow rod 120 for actuating a valve of the pressurized container 101, which can slide inside the wall 105b.

This valve may include a hollow rod 121, engaged in a sealed manner in the lower end of the rod 120, and coming to bear by a shoulder against the lower end face of the rod 120.

The push button 103 can be moved along the axis W to act on the rod 121, in which case carrier gas flows through the inner pipe of the rod 120 and gains a cavity 125, with which communicate, as can be seen on the Figure 2, two inner conduits 126a and 126b opening out of the push button by vector gas outlet orifices 127a and 127b. Ports 127a and 127b for example have axes Za and Zb substantially perpendicular and each make by example an angle of about 45 ° with the spraying direction.

The push button 103 also includes an orifice 130 for the arrival of the product, of axis Zc, for example confused with the spraying direction. Port 130 communicates for example with the inside of a hollow rod 140 closed at its end lower by a wall 141, as can be seen in FIG. 5, and on which is engaged an annular seal 150 serving as a shutter, this seal 150 being for example produced made of elastomer.

In the example illustrated, the seal 150 comes to bear by its upper face plane 151 against an annular rib 142 of the rod 140. The latter presents at minus a product inlet orifice 145, the diameter of which is less than or equal to the nominal thickness of the seal 150, measured along the axis of the rod 140. The orifice 145 is positioned so that the seal 150, when it is in abutment at rest against the rib 142, completely covers the orifice 145 and prevents the product P contained in the cavity 105 from entering through the orifice 145 in the rod 140.

The rod 140 is for example fixed at its upper end in a housing 160 of the push button 103 and can move together with the rod 120 when the user presses the push button 103. When the rod is pushed in 140, the seal 150 is compressed between the wall 114 and the rib 142, such compression having the effect of reducing its thickness and at least partially freeing the orifice 145, so that the product contained in the cavity 105 can flow through the orifice 145, go back into the rod 140 and gain the product inlet orifice 130.

When the push button 103 is released, the rod 140 rises with this last and the joint 150 can resume thanks to a shape memory a thickness sufficient to seal port 145.

The operation of the device 100 is as follows. To spray product P, the user presses the push button 103, which causes the depression of the stem 121 of the container valve and the emission of carrier gas into the inner channel of the rod 120. The carrier gas can flow through the conduits 126a and 126b and exit through the ports 127a and 127b, which creates by Venturi effect in front of the inlet port of produces 130 depression. The depressing of the push button 103 also has the consequence of moving the rod 140 and compressing the seal 150, as explained more high. The orifice 145 is then at least partially released and of the product P contained in the cavity 105 can, under the effect of the aforementioned depression, go back up into the inner channel of the rod 140 and gain the orifice 130. The product is then sprayed in the direction of the axis Zc, as long as the user presses the push button 103. When the latter is released, it can go back to its rest position because the control rod 121 is recalled by elastic means specific to the container 101 in its initial position and under the effect of the proper elasticity of the seal 150. The latter, by resuming its initial shape, closes the orifice 145, so that when the device 100 is transported in the extended position or upside down, the product P remains contained in the cavity 105 and does not risk leaking through the product inlet 130.

The container 104 can for example be removably attached to the container containing the carrier gas, so as to allow, if necessary, to change container 104 because the product reserve has been used up. It can also allow replace container 101 or spray different products successively using of a single container 101.

In the example corresponding to FIGS. 1 to 5, the arrival of product is formed by the end of a conduit formed in the push button but we do not exit of the scope of the present invention when the product arrival comprises a material capable of absorbing the product by capillary action, for example a wick, a felt or a sintered.

We can also use a plurality of different product reserves, mounted on a barrel, similar to what was described in the request for French patent FR-A-2 781 208, the content of which is incorporated by reference.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and, in general, we can replace the shutter which has been described by all suitable sealing means, for example sealing means comprising, as illustrated in FIG. 6, two coaxial walls 201, 202 movable one relative to the other, constituting a shutter.

The wall 202, the innermost, can be formed for example by a rod hollow integral with the push button, being closed at its lower end. The product can go back up inside this rod when a depression is created by an emission carrier gas.

The wall 201, the outermost, is fixed and it is capable of closing an orifice 203 of the wall 202 when the push button is at rest. The wall 202 has a orifice 204 opposite which orifice 203 can come, when the push button is pressed, which at least partially frees the orifice 203, to allow the product to win the product arrival.

A valve, for example a ball, controlled in opening by the movement of the push button could also be used, as illustrated in figure 7. Such a valve can take a closed position when the push button is released by the user. In the example illustrated, the valve comprises a ball 210 forming a shutter, recalled in a position closed by a spring 211. An actuating rod 212 is arranged to be moved down when the push button is pressed. The product can then flow through a conduit 213 to reach the area where the depression is created, in order to be sprayed.

The annular groove 107 could, in alternative embodiments, be removed, for example if the product is allowed to gain space inside the wall 114, for example by means of openings made in this wall and in the end bottom of conduit 111.

It is not beyond the scope of the invention when the depression is created by the emission, by a single orifice, of the carrier gas.

We do not go beyond the scope of the invention when the arrival of product includes a product supply member such as a felt, a foam, a sinter, as illustrated in Figure 8. In this figure, there is shown a felt tip 220 used to bring the product by capillarity into the area where the depression is created, this point felt being for example fixed in the aforementioned orifice 130.

The control rod 121 of the container containing the carrier gas could still control the distribution of carrier gas while being inclined relative to the axis W, provided that the push button is made accordingly.

The container 104 can be produced without air intake or with air intake, especially if prolonged use is planned.

To allow air to be taken back, one can for example make a micro-leak 230, as illustrated in FIG. 9, through the cover 110 or between the cover and the wall 105a of container 104, which corresponds to the example shown in FIG. 9. A such micro-leakage is carried out so as to prevent the passage of the product in particular when the device is in the supine position, but to allow the passage of air.

One can also provide, for example, a valve 240 capable of closing an orifice. air return 241, as illustrated in FIG. 10. The valve 240 opens in the event of vacuum inside the container containing the product and closes the orifice 241 in the opposite case.

The valve 240 can for example be molded onto the cover 110, but could still be achieved otherwise without departing from the scope of this invention.

Claims (26)

Device for spraying at least one product on a support, this device comprising a reserve of carrier gas, at least one product inlet capable of being placed in fluid communication with a reserve of said product, the latter being drawn into the reserve thanks to a depression created in the vicinity of said at least one product inlet by means of an emission of said carrier gas, characterized in that it comprises at least one shutter (150; 201; 210) capable of interrupting the fluid communication between said at least one product inlet and the product reserve, the carrier gas being emitted by at least two gas outlet orifices (127a; 127b), the respective positions of which are chosen so that the carrier gas jets emitted through these holes meet. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the product inlet has at least one orifice (130). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the product inlet comprises at least one product supplying member by capillary action (220). Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is arranged so as to automatically restore fluid communication between said at least one product inlet and the product reserve, during a gas emission vector. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a push-button capable of acting simultaneously, directly or indirectly, on a carrier gas distribution valve and on the shutter, so that 'a fluid communication between said at least one product inlet and the product reserve is established when the user presses the push-button to deliver carrier gas. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a first container (104) fixed on a second container (101) containing the carrier gas. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the container containing the product and the container containing the carrier gas are fixedly connected, without displacement of one relative to the other during the use. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (104) containing the product has an annular shape, in order to provide a passage in which a control member (120) of a valve may extend. equipping the container containing the carrier gas. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shutter (150; 201; 202; 210) is operatively connected to at least one element actuated by the movement of a push button of the device. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that said element comprises a hollow rod (140), having at least one internal channel allowing the product to reach said at least one product inlet orifice. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shutter comprises at least one seal (150), capable of closing at least one orifice (145) through which the product can flow to gain said at least a product inlet and capable of releasing this orifice at least partially during the distribution of the product. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the shutter consists of a seal (150) mounted on a hollow rod (140), the latter being closed at its lower end, the seal being able to come to bear by its face upper against a shoulder of the rod, the latter being traversed by at least one product inlet orifice (145) whose diameter is less than or equal to the thickness of the seal (150), the latter being able to come into abutment by its underside against a support wall (114), fixed, when the hollow rod is pressed, so that the seal is then compressed and at least partially clears the intake orifice (145), in order to allow a product flow towards said at least one product inlet. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the seal (150) is applied at its periphery against the interior surface of a conduit (111) in which the hollow rod (140) can move axially, this conduit being able to communicate freely with the outside. Device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the hollow rod (140) is actuated by the movement of a push button (103) controlling the emission of carrier gas. Device according to any one of Claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the space inside the support wall (114) against which the seal (150) can abut by its lower face communicates with the container containing the product, via an annular groove (107) produced in a bottom wall (105c) of said container. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a push-button (103) produced by assembling a lower part (103b) and an upper part (103a). Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the lower part (103b) is made in one piece with an actuating rod (120), extending in a passage of the container containing the product. Device according to claim 17, characterized in that the rod (121) for controlling the valve containing the carrier gas is engaged in the actuating rod (120). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas outlet orifices are arranged symmetrically with respect to the spray axis (Zc). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the product inlet has an orifice (130) which has an axis (Zc) which is situated substantially in the same plane as the axes (Za; Zb) of the gas outlet ports. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axes (Za; Zb) of the gas outlet orifices make an angle of 45 ° with the spray axis (Zc). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier gas is contained in a liquefied form in the carrier gas container (101). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the product (P) which is sprayed is a liquid. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 22, characterized in that the product (P) which is sprayed is a powder. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (104) containing the product is fixed on the container (101) containing the carrier gas in a removable manner. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a micro-leak (230) or an air return valve (240).

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