Device for supplying mist of liquid and assembly including the same

The present invention relates to a device (10) for supplying a mist of liquid (F). The device (10) is used in combination with a container (20) with an opening (200) for containing the liquid (F). The device (10) includes a main body (100) comprising: (i) a center axis (C); (ii) a liquid chamber (110) formed inside the main body (100), into which a predetermined amount of liquid (F) can be taken up; (iii) a first port (112) formed in a base wall (114) of the main body (100) forming a bottom surface (116) of the liquid chamber (110) so as to face the opening (200) when the device (10) and the container (20) are combined with each other, through which the liquid (F) can flow; (iv) a second port (118) formed in the base wall (114) at a position different from the position where the first port (112) is formed so as to face the opening (200) when the device (10) and the container (20) are combined with each other, through which the liquid (F) can flow; and (v) an aperture (120) connected to the liquid chamber (110), through which a mist of liquid (F) can be released to the outside of the main body (100). The device (10) further includes: a connecting section (122) provided on the main body (100) so as to extend from it in a direction away from the base wall (114) and used for connecting the container (20) to the main body (100); an atomizing element (124) interposed between the liquid chamber (110) and the aperture (120) to atomize the liquid (F) taken up in the liquid chamber (110) and release a mist of the liquid (F) to the outside of the main body (100) from the aperture (120); a first valve (126) mounted on the main body (100) corresponding to the first port (112), wherein the first valve (126) permits the liquid (F) in the container (20) flowing into the liquid chamber (110) through the first port (112) under the influence of gravity, and prevents the liquid (F) in the liquid chamber (110) flowing into the container (20) under the influence of gravity; and a second valve (128) mounted on the main body (100) corresponding to the second port (118), wherein the second valve (128) prevents the liquid (F) in the container (20) from flowing into the liquid chamber (110) through the second port (118) under the influence of gravity, and selectively permits or prevents the liquid (F) in the liquid chamber (110) flowing into the container (20) through the second port (118) under the influence of gravity.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a device for supplying a mist of liquid, for example, water, liquid lotion, liquid medicine or the like. The present invention also relates to an assembly including such a device.

BACKGROUND ART

Currently, compact type ultrasonic devices are widely used to supply liquid such as water as fine mist. These devices can be roughly divided into two types. One is configured so that liquid is supplied to the device from above. This type of device is provided with a liquid reservoir with a lid, and an atomizing element (an ultrasonic vibrating element) for converting a liquid into a mist located adjacent to the reservoir. When the reservoir is empty, the lid is opened and the liquid is supplied to the reservoir. The other is of a type in which a liquid reservoir and an atomizing element are arranged separately in the vertical direction. Such a device is commonly referred to as a “cotton stick type”. In this cotton stick type device, an elongated cotton stick is immersed in a liquid in a reservoir, and the liquid is drawn up by capillary action and supplied to the atomizing element that converts the liquid into a mist.

Devices of the type initially described suffer from the following disadvantages. The volume of the reservoir containing the liquid to be released as a mist is generally very small, for example about 5 to 10 ml. Therefore, if the device is continuously used, the reservoir will be emptied in a relatively short time, and it will be necessary to refill the liquid frequently. In order to refill the liquid, it is necessary to open the lid of the reservoir and pour a predetermined amount of liquid carefully from a refill port into the reservoir so as not to spill it, but this is laborious. Furthermore, for this device, it is not easy to enlarge the reservoir since a large-scale design change in the device itself is required for this purpose. In addition, in this existing device, the type of liquid to be released as a mist cannot be easily changed. If the user wishes to change the type of liquid, it is necessary to fully exhaust the liquid already contained in the reservoir.

With regard to the cotton stick type device, refilling the liquid is also laborious work. Furthermore, the cotton stick type device does not allow exchange of the type of liquid to be released as a mist. In the cotton stick type device, liquid which has been used until then penetrates the cotton stick in a large amount. Therefore, when a different kind of new liquid is refilled in the reservoir, the liquid used until then mixes with this new liquid in the cotton stick.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel device for supplying a mist of liquid and an assembly including such a device. In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel device for supplying a mist of liquid which is capable of easily accommodating changes in the capacity of a liquid reservoir, i.e., a liquid storage unit. A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel device for supplying a mist of liquid which enables easily refilling of a liquid to be released as a mist by a user. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel device for supplying a mist of liquid which enables replacing the liquid being used with another kind of liquid without mixing of the two, even before using up the liquid being used.

In order to achieve these objects, the present invention provides a device for supplying a mist of liquid that is intended to be used in combination with a container with an opening for containing the liquid. The device according to the present invention includes a main body comprising: (i) a center axis; (ii) a liquid chamber formed inside the main body, into which a predetermined amount of liquid can be taken up; (iii) a first port formed in a base wall of the main body forming a bottom surface of the liquid chamber so as to face the opening of the container when the device and the container are combined with each other, through which the liquid can flow; (iv) a second port formed in the base wall of the main body at a position different from the position where the first port is formed so as to face the opening of the container when the device and the container are combined with each other, through which the liquid can flow; and (v) an aperture connected to the liquid chamber, through which a mist of liquid can be released to the outside of the main body. The device according to the present invention further comprises: a connecting section provided on the main body so as to extend from the main body in a direction away from the base wall of the main body and used for connecting the container to the main body; an atomizing element interposed between the liquid chamber and the aperture to atomize the liquid taken up in the liquid chamber and release a mist of the liquid to the outside of the main body from the aperture; a first valve mounted on the main body corresponding to the first port, wherein the first valve permits the liquid in the container flowing into the liquid chamber through the first port under the influence of gravity, and prevents the liquid in the liquid chamber flowing into the container under the influence of gravity; and a second valve mounted on the main body corresponding to the second port, wherein the second valve prevents the liquid in the container from flowing into the liquid chamber through the second port under the influence of gravity, and selectively permits or prevents the liquid in the liquid chamber flowing into the container through the second port under the influence of gravity.

According to the present invention, the device for supplying a mist of the liquid is designed not to include the integrated liquid reservoir. Instead, the device according to the present invention is designed to be freely combined with a liquid storage unit, i.e., the container for containing the liquid that can have various capacities, via the connection section. Thus, the device according to the present invention can easily accommodate changes in the capacity of the liquid storage unit (the liquid container) as needed. Furthermore, the device according to the present invention comprises a first valve which permits or blocks the flowing of liquid between the device and the container in response to an orientation of an assembly consisting of the device and the container (for example, an orientation along the vertical line parallel to the direction of gravity), and a second valve which selectively permits or blocks the flow of liquid between the device and the container. Thus, for example, by handling the assembly so that the assembly is first in an inverted state (i.e., the state in which the container is above the device) over a period of time and then in its use state (i.e., the state in which device is above the container), the user can easily refill the liquid in the container into the device. Furthermore, with the configuration stated above, the user can return the liquid being used in the device to the container as needed, even while operating the device. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily replace the liquid being used with another kind of liquid without mixing of the two, even before using up the liquid being used.

According to one preferred aspect of the present invention, the atomizing element may be a piezoelectric element, particularly a mesh-shaped piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element is also called an ultrasonic vibrator and exerts a desired function by being applied with a high frequency alternating or pulsated voltage.

According to one preferred aspect of the present invention, the first valve may comprise a first flap which is disposed within the liquid chamber and which is rotatable around a first flap axis orthogonal or approximately orthogonal to the center axis, wherein the first flap of the first valve blocks the flowing of liquid by being pressed against the bottom surface of the liquid chamber by the weight of the liquid in the liquid chamber.

According to one preferred aspect of the present invention, the second valve may comprise a second flap which is disposed outside the liquid chamber and which is rotatable around a second flap axis orthogonal or approximately orthogonal to the center axis, wherein the second flap of the second valve blocks the flowing of the liquid from the container to the liquid chamber by being pressed against an outer surface of the base wall of the main body by the weight of the liquid in the container. In this aspect, the second flap may be brought into abutment with the opening-side end of the container approaching the outer surface of the base wall of the main body when the container is connected to the device, and wherein the second flap may block the flowing of the liquid from the liquid chamber to the container and vice versa by being pressed against the outer surface of the base wall of the main body by the opening-side end of the container. This aspect is particularly desirable because it can realize a desired valve function with a simple structure. Furthermore, in this aspect, when the outer surface of the base wall of the main body and the opening-side end of the container are spaced apart from each other in order to detach the container from the device, thereby occurring a clearance between the second flap and the outer surface of the base wall, the second flap may permit the liquid in the liquid chamber to flow into the container through the second port under the influence of gravity. This aspect is also particularly desirable because it can realize a desired valve function with a simple structure.

According to one preferred aspect of the present invention, the connecting section of the device and the opening-side end of the container may be connected by screw-in connection. However, other means such as interference fit may be suitably adopted for connection between the connecting section and the opening-side end of the container.

In addition to the above, the present invention further provides an assembly comprising: the aforementioned device for supplying a mist of liquid, and a container, which is connected to the device, for containing the liquid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference toFIGS.1to8.FIG.1shows an assembly which is an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. InFIG.1, this assembly, roughly indicated by a reference numeral1, includes a device10for supplying a mist of liquid, which is also an exemplary embodiment of the invention, and a liquid container20as a liquid storage unit combined (connected) with the device10. In the container20, the liquid F (for example, water containing cosmetic or medical ingredients) to be released by the action of the device10as a mist is contained. The container20is made of plastic, glass or the like and has a predetermined internal volume (for example, tens to several hundred ml). The container20has an opening200and an opening-side end210on the upper end thereof as shown inFIG.2. Furthermore, at the opening-side end210of the container20, a screw thread used for connecting with the device10is formed.

As best seen inFIG.2, the device10generally comprises a main body100, a connecting section122extending away from a bottom wall114of the main body100, an atomizing element124assembled to the main body100to release a mist of the liquid F to the outside of the main body100, and first and second valves (one-way valves)126,128mounted on the main body100. The main body100may be formed by combining several parts made of plastic, for example. The connecting section122is used for connecting the container20to the main body100. In this exemplary embodiment, the main body100and the connecting section122are integrated together, but they may be separate bodies. In addition, in this embodiment, the connecting section122of the device10and the opening-side end210of the container20are connected by a screw-in connection, but other connection system or method may be adopted.

As an example, the main body100may have a substantially cylindrical external shape having a center axis C as shown inFIG.1. The main body100has a liquid chamber110defined therein, in which a predetermined amount of liquid F can be taken up from the container20in a manner detailed below. The main body100also includes a first port112and a second port118through which liquid F can flow. The first port112is formed in a base wall114of the main body100forming a bottom surface116of the liquid chamber110, so as to face the opening200of the container20when the device10and the container20are combined with each other. On the other hand, the second port118is formed in the base wall114of the main body100at a position different from the position where the first port112is formed. Similarly to the first port112, the second port118faces the opening200of the container20when the device10and the container20are combined with each other.

The body100further includes an aperture120formed through its peripheral wall and connected to the liquid chamber110. The mist of the liquid F taken up in the liquid chamber110can be released to the outside of the main body100via the aperture120. In this exemplary embodiment, the aperture120is circular and has a conical shape in the depth direction, but any other configuration of the aperture120may be used as required.

Referring again toFIG.2, the atomizing element124is interposed between the liquid chamber110and the aperture120. When a switch130mounted on an outer circumferential surface of the main body100is turned ON, the atomizing element124atomizes the liquid F taken up into the liquid chamber110and releases the mist of the liquid F from the aperture120to the outside of the main body100. In this exemplary embodiment, although not limited thereto, the atomizing element124is a piezoelectric element commonly referred to as a “piezo mesh”. In addition to the atomizing element124and the switch130stated above, the device10further comprises a battery132and a drive circuit134for the atomizing element124, which are not shown inFIG.2but shown inFIG.3. The atomizing element124, the switch130, the battery132and the drive circuit134are connected generally as shown inFIG.3. By turning on the switch130, high frequency alternating or pulsated voltage is applied to the atomizing element124from the drive circuit134. With the atomizing element124driven in this way, the liquid F in the liquid chamber110in contact with the atomizing element124is atomized into a mist and released from the aperture120to the outside of the main body100.

In this exemplary embodiment, the switch is of the type turning the ON/OFF state by pushing a small boss provided on the outer peripheral surface of the main body100, but any other type of switch may be used. As an example, a cover piece slidable in the vertical direction along the outer peripheral surface of the main body100so as to close/open the aperture120for releasing the mist may be used as a switch for activating or stopping the atomizing element124. In this case, when the cover piece is lowered (or lifted) so as to open the aperture120, the atomizing element124is actuated, whereas when the cover piece is lifted (or lowered) so as to close the aperture120, the action of the atomizing element124stops.

Subsequently, the first and second valves126,128which play a particularly important role in the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. As seen inFIG.2, the first valve126is mounted on the main body100corresponding to the first port112thereof. The first valve126permits the liquid F in the container20flowing into the liquid chamber110through the first port112under the influence of gravity (see the state shown inFIG.4). Furthermore, the first valve126prevents the liquid F in the liquid chamber110flowing into the container20under the influence of gravity (see the states shown inFIGS.5to7). Similarly, the second valve128is mounted on the main body100corresponding to the second port118thereof. The second valve128prevents the liquid F in the container20from flowing into the liquid chamber110through the second port118under the influence of gravity (see the state shown inFIG.4). Furthermore, the second valve128selectively permits or prevents the liquid F in the liquid chamber110flowing into the container20through the second port118under the influence of gravity (see the state shown inFIG.7and the states shown inFIGS.5and6). In this exemplary embodiment, one first valve and one second valve are mounted on the main body100. However, if necessary or if space permits, a plurality of first valves and/or second valves may be mounted on the main body100(together with corresponding first ports and/or second ports).

Referring again toFIG.2, the first valve126comprises a first flap126awhich is disposed within the liquid chamber110and rotatable around a first flap axis R1orthogonal (or approximately orthogonal) to the center axis C. The first flap126aof the first valve126, as stated above, blocks the flowing of liquid F by being pressed against the bottom surface116of the liquid chamber110by the weight of the liquid F in the liquid chamber110. The first flap126afunctions in this way, for example, when the assembly1is in the upright state as shown inFIGS.5to7(i.e., the state in which the device10is located above the container20).

The second valve128also comprises a second flap128awhich is disposed outside the liquid chamber110and which is rotatable around a second flap axis R2orthogonal (or approximately orthogonal) to the center axis C. The second flap128aof the second valve128, as stated above, is capable of blocking the flowing of the liquid F from the container20to the liquid chamber110by being pressed against the outer surface114aof the base wall114of the main body100by the weight of the liquid F in the container20. The second flap128afunctions in this way, for example, when the assembly1is in the inverted state as shown inFIG.4(i.e., a state in which the device10is positioned below the container20). However, this function of the second flap128ais a redundant function in this embodiment. This is because in this embodiment the pressing of the second flap128aagainst the outer surface114aof the base wall114of the main body100is made by contact with the opening-side end210of the container20.

More specifically, in this exemplary embodiment, the second flap128ais brought into abutment with the opening-side end210of the container20approaching the outer surface114aof the base wall114of the body100when the container20is connected to the device10. The second flap128a, as stated above, blocks the flowing of the liquid F from the liquid chamber110to the container20by being pressed against the outer surface114aof the base wall114of the main body100by the opening-side end210of the container20. Unlike the first flap126a, this blocking function of the second flap128ais maintained irrespective of the attitude of the assembly1once the device10and the container20are fully combined. The technique for locking the second flap128aby the opening-side end210of the container20as described herein is particularly preferred because the structure for realizing it is simple and reliable. However, any other mechanisms for locking the second flap128amay be additionally or alternately provided on the device.

Furthermore, the second flap128abecomes freely rotatable downward when the outer surface114aof the base wall114of the main body100and the opening-side end210of the container20are spaced apart from each other in order to detach the container20from the device10. As a result, a clearance D for passing the liquid F can occur between the second flap128aand the outer surface114aof the base wall114(seeFIG.7). In this way, the second flap128a, as stated above, permits the liquid F in the liquid chamber110to flow into the container20through the second port118under the influence of gravity. The second flap128afunctions in this way, for example, when the assembly1is in an upright state as shown inFIG.7(that is, the state in which the device10is positioned above the container20).

Hereinafter, the operation of the device10configured as described above and the method for using the assembly1containing the liquid F will be described with reference toFIGS.4to8(assuming that initially the liquid chamber is empty). For the sake of clarity, inFIGS.4to8, it should be noted that the above described switches and the like are omitted.

Prior to the supply of the mist of the liquid F, firstly, the orientation of the assembly1is inverted about 180° as shown inFIG.4. Then, the first flap126aof the first valve126pivots downward due to the weight of the liquid F in the container20, and the first port112opens, so that the liquid F in the container20flows into the liquid chamber110. Meanwhile, the second flap128aof the second valve128remains closed, blocking the flowing of liquid F from the container20to the liquid chamber110.

After a predetermined amount of liquid F has been taken up into the liquid chamber110in this way, the assembly1is returned again to the upright state as shown inFIG.5, that is, the state where the device10is positioned above the container20. In this state, the second flap128aof the second valve128still remains closed, while the first flap126aof the first valve126blocks the flowing of the liquid F by being pressed against the bottom surface116of the liquid chamber110by the weight of the liquid F in the liquid chamber110.

After reaching the state shown inFIG.5, when the switch130is turned ON, the atomizing element124is operated, and as a result, the liquid F in the liquid chamber110is released from the aperture120to the outside of the device10as a mist M as shown inFIG.6. When the remaining amount in the liquid chamber110decreases as a result of operating the device10for a certain amount of time, it is necessary to refill the liquid chamber110. According to the embodiment of the present invention, in this case, the user only need to invert the assembly1about 180° to the state shown inFIG.4, which greatly reduces the effort to refill the liquid F into the liquid chamber110compared to conventional devices.

Next, if the user desires to change the type of liquid despite the liquid F remaining in the liquid chamber110, it is necessary to return the remaining liquid F to the container20, and subsequently, to replace this container20being used with other container containing other kind of liquid. According to the embodiment of the present invention, in this case, the liquid F remaining in the liquid chamber110can be returned very easily to the container20. This is because, as stated above, when the outer surface114aof the base wall114of the main body100and the opening-side end210of the container20are spaced apart from each other in order to detach the container20from the device1, thereby occurring a clearance D between the second flap128aand the outer surface114aof the base wall114, the second flap128apermits the liquid F in the liquid chamber110to flow into the container20through the second port118under the influence of gravity.

In this way, once the liquid chamber110of the device10is emptied, the user can replace the container20that he/she was using with another container20′ containing another kind of liquid F′, for example, a container with a larger capacity, as shown inFIG.8. Even in this case, since the liquid chamber110of the device10is once completely emptied, different types of liquids will not mix with each other. Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, it is even possible to replace the container while operating the device. Thus, the device according the embodiment of the present invention can be referred to as a “hot swap” type device.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained above referring to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and changes may be made to the above described embodiments without deviating from the scope of the present invention, and such modifications and changes are also included in the scope of the present invention.