Abstract:
A fluid dispenser comprising: a fluid reservoir; at least one dispensing orifice through which the fluid is dispensed; a fluid feed duct ( 12 ) connecting the reservoir to the dispensing orifice, said duct being provided with an inlet and with an outlet; a valve ( 31, 61 ) for selectively closing off the feed duct, said valve comprising a moving valve member ( 31 ) mounted to move between a passageway-closure position and a passageway-opening position, the moving valve member being mounted to be moved in translation along a valve axis; and actuating means ( 4 ) for moving the moving valve member ( 31 ) between the passageway-closure position and the passageway-opening position; said fluid dispenser being characterized in that the actuating means can be moved transversely to said valve axis, the actuating means comprising force-transmitting means suitable for transforming a force exerted on the actuating means into a transverse thrust force exerted on the moving valve member to move it towards its passageway-closure position.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of pending U.S. provisional patent application Serial No. 60/464,334, filed Apr. 22, 2003, and priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) of French patent application No. FR-03.02080, filed Feb. 20, 2003. 
     
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir, at least one dispensing orifice through which the fluid is dispensed, a fluid feed duct connecting the reservoir to the dispensing orifice, a valve for selectively closing off the feed duct, and actuating means for moving the valve between a passageway-closure position and a passageway-opening position. Such a dispenser can be used, in particular, in the fields of perfumes, of cosmetics, or indeed of pharmaceuticals.  
           [0003]    The present invention applies more particularly to a dispenser having a vibratory plate for generating vibration in the fluid so as to dispense it through the dispensing orifice(s). In order to start the plate vibrating, vibrator means are generally provided in the form of a piezoelectric element or of an ultrasonic resonant element. However, the invention is not limited to this particular type of dispenser having a vibratory plate. It is applicable to other types of dispenser that do not have vibratory plates.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    Such a particular type of dispenser having a vibratory plate is known from Document FR 2 820 408 which describes a dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir, a dispensing member having a perforated vibratory plate, a feed duct connecting the reservoir to the vibratory plate, and an intake valve suitable for opening and closing the passageway formed by the feed duct. That valve comprises a metal ball urged by a spring against a valve seat formed inside the feed duct. To disengage the ball from its seat, electromagnetic means are provided that make it possible to attract the ball away from its seat. The ball moves axially inside the duct, and the actuating means are controlled electrically.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention proposes an alternative solution to electrically controlling the intake valve consisting in actuating means that are exclusively mechanical, and that make it possible to lift the valve away from its seat.  
           [0006]    In the invention, the fluid dispenser comprises: a fluid reservoir; at least one dispensing orifice through which the fluid is dispensed; a fluid feed duct connecting the reservoir to the dispensing orifice, said duct being provided with an inlet and with an outlet; a valve for selectively closing off the feed duct, said valve comprising a moving valve member mounted to move between a passageway-closure position and a passageway-opening position, the moving valve member being mounted to move in translation along a valve axis; and actuating means for moving the moving valve member between the passageway-closure position and the passageway-opening position; the actuating means being mounted to move transversely to said valve axis, the actuating means comprising force-transmitting means suitable for transforming a force exerted on the actuating means into a transverse thrust force exerted on the moving valve member to move it towards its passageway-closure position. Thus, the valve member is moved axially by exerting a transverse and advantageously perpendicular force on the actuating means. The force-transforming means making it possible to move the valve member are clearly different from some other mechanical technical solution consisting in moving a valve member transversely in front of an outlet of a feed duct like a slide.  
           [0007]    In an aspect of the invention, the moving valve member comes into leaktight abutment against a fixed valve seat, formed at the outlet of the feed duct, when in the passageway-closure position, and remains away from said seat when in the passageway-opening position. Advantageously, the moving member is urged resiliently into the opening position by spring means.  
           [0008]    In a practical embodiment, the force-transforming means comprise a cam system. Advantageously, the cam system comprises a cam element secured to the moving member and a cam piece formed by the actuating means. Preferably, the cam piece can be moved in translation and transversely relative to the cam element. However, in a variant, the cam piece can be moved in rotation and transversely relative to the cam element.  
           [0009]    In the former case, the actuating means can be moved in translation in the manner of a drawer or of a slide. In the latter case, the actuating means may be in the form of a wheel that can be turned about its axis.  
           [0010]    In another aspect of the invention, the actuating means further comprise a control element that is accessible from outside the dispenser. The control element may be in the form of a button or knob to be pushed or pulled, or else in the form of a segment of periphery of a wheel that can be turned by using a finger.  
           [0011]    In another embodiment of the invention, the dispenser comprises a closure member serving to come into place selectively in front of or behind said at least one dispensing orifice to close it off. This closure member directly contacts the surface surrounding said dispensing orifice and thus closes the passage between the feed duct  12  and the orifice. This closure member may be implemented independently from the valve, because it has a similar function. Advantageously, the cam piece and the closure element are constrained to move together. Thus, by actuating the actuating means, both the feed duct and the dispensing orifice(s) are closed off.  
           [0012]    In an advantageous embodiment, the actuating means are made integrally as a single piece.  
           [0013]    In another aspect of the invention, the moving member is secured to a support piece on which a piece of porous material is mounted that can be impregnated with fluid, said piece being urged resiliently into contact with said at least one dispensing orifice. Advantageously, the support piece is provided with common spring means for simultaneously urging the piece of porous material against said at least one dispensing orifice and urging the moving member into the passageway-opening position. Advantageously, the support piece forms an outlet channel connecting the outlet of the duct to the piece of porous material, the moving member being mounted inside said channel. Advantageously, the channel has an elastically-deformable portion making it possible to move the moving member and the piece of porous material. Advantageously, the support piece is provided with an elastically deformable diaphragm having an outer peripheral edge that is held in fixed manner, said diaphragm moving the moving member and the piece of porous material in translation axially. Thus, the support piece may also be made integrally as a single piece by integrating the moving member, the common spring means, the outlet channel, the support for the piece of porous material, and the elastically deformable diaphragm.  
           [0014]    In a preferred embodiment, the dispenser further comprises a vibratory plate that generates vibration in the fluid, said plate advantageously being vibrated by a piezoelectric element. Advantageously, said at least one dispensing orifice is formed through the vibratory plate. The use of such an intake valve controlled by control means that are exclusively mechanical is particularly advantageous when the dispenser has a vibratory plate which is advantageously perforated for dispensing the fluid in the form of a spray. This avoids any risk of the fluid leaking when the dispenser is not being used. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    The invention is described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings which give a non-limiting example of an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0016]    In the figures:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is an overall section view of a fluid dispenser of the invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged vertical section view of the dispensing portion of a fluid dispenser of the invention in the in-use position;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a view similar to the FIG. 2 view looking along a section line that is slightly offset relative to the line of FIG. 2;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a view similar to the FIG. 2 view on the same section line, when the dispenser is in the actuating position;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a view similar to the FIG. 3 view, in the rest position;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the support piece used in the dispenser of the present invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the support piece;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views seen looking from different angles of the actuating means for actuating the dispenser of the present invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the support piece and the actuating means in the actuating position;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 11 is a perspective view similar to the FIG. 10 view, in the not-in-use rest position;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 12 is another perspective view similar to FIG. 11; and  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 13 is another perspective view similar to FIG. 10. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0029]    The fluid dispenser of the invention shown in FIG. 1 comprises a fluid reservoir  1  having a bottom wall or bottom  13  and a dome-shaped top wall  11 , the walls defining between them the working volume of the reservoir. Naturally, the particular shape of the reservoir should not be considered to be limiting, so that the reservoir may be of any shape without going beyond the ambit of the invention. The top wall  11  of the reservoir is also provided with an actuating button  8  which is an electrical actuating button, as explained below. In addition, a venting passageway may be formed at the top wall  11  under the actuating button  8 .  
         [0030]    The dispenser further comprises a bottom shell  5  on which the reservoir  1  is mounted so as to define a plurality of compartments between the bottom wall  13  and the bottom shell  5 . The bottom shell  5  has a substantially plane bottom wall  50  which serves as bearing surface on which the dispenser stands when it is put down on a substantially plane surface. The bottom shell  5  is also provided with a peripheral edge  51  to which the reservoir  1  is fixed. Among the compartments defined between the bottom wall  13  and the bottom shell  5 , there is a compartment containing control electronics  7  making it possible to control the dispenser. In an adjacent compartment, there are two batteries  71  for powering the dispenser. In its right portion, as shown in FIG. 1, the dispenser also forms a feed duct  12  which leads from the reservoir  1  so as to feed the fluid to a composite dispensing member which makes it possible to dispense fluid from the dispenser. The dispensing member is disposed between the outlet of the duct  12  and a window  52  formed in the edge  51  of the bottom shell  5 . The composite dispensing member is shown greatly enlarged and seen from a different angle in FIGS.  2  to  5  which show the dispensing member in the rest position and in the in-use position on offset section planes. Reference is therefore made below to FIGS.  2  to  5  to describe in detail the structure and operation of the composite dispensing member of the invention.  
         [0031]    The composite dispensing member in this non-limiting embodiment of the invention comprises a vibratory plate  2  which, in this example, is advantageously perforated with a plurality of dispensing orifices  22 . The dispensing orifices  22  may, for example, be arranged in the form of a grid-like array made up of rows and of columns of dispensing orifices. The vibratory plate, which may be flexible to some extent, may be associated with a vibration-generating element such as a piezoelectric element or a resonating element that resonates at very high frequency, such as an ultrasonic element. However, the vibratory plate may preferably be constituted by a piezoelectric layer associated with a non-piezoelectric layer so that the resulting plate is subjected to deformation by flexing when fed with a given current and with a given frequency. The plate  2  is held at its peripheral edge  21  so as to be fixed against the edge  51  of the bottom shell  5 . Thus, when fed appropriately with current, with voltage, and with frequency, the vibratory plate starts to vibrate by means of a flexing deformation phenomenon, thereby ejecting fine droplets of fluid through the array of dispensing orifices  22 . Naturally, for this purpose, it is necessary for the fluid coming from the reservoir  1  to be fed onto the rear face of the vibratory plate  2 , i.e. its face facing towards the inside of the dispenser. The face facing towards the outside of the dispenser is situated in the window  52  formed by the bottom shell  5 .  
         [0032]    To feed the fluid onto the rear face of the vibratory plate  2 , the outlet end  121  of the feed duct  12  communicates with the rear face of the vibratory plate  2  via an outlet channel  32  which connects the duct  12  to the plate  2 . The outlet channel  32  is formed by a sleeve  33  which is an integral part of a support piece  3 . More precisely, the outlet end  121  of the feed duct  12  is engaged in a ring  6 . The ring is engaged at its outer peripheral edge  63  with the edge  51  of the bottom shell  5 . The ring  6  forms an end-piece  62  inside which the end  121  of the duct  12  is in leaktight engagement. In addition, the end-piece  62  forms an intake valve seat  61  which is situated immediately after the end  121  of the duct  12 . The support piece  3  forms a leaktight fixing collar  341  in engagement around the end-piece  62  of the ring  6 . The collar  341  forms the upstream end of the sleeve  33  internally defining the outlet channel  32 . The support piece  3  forms an elastically deformable segment  34  which nevertheless has shape memory so as to provide a return spring function. Beyond this return spring segment  34 , the sleeve  33  forms a portion that is more rigid and therefore substantially non-deformable, inside which a needle  31  is formed that acts as a moving valve member designed to come selectively into leaktight bearing contact against the valve seat  61  formed by the ring  6 . In FIGS. 2 and 3, the needle  31  is away from the seat  61 , while in FIGS. 4 and 5 the needle is in leaktight contact against its seat  61 . In the invention, the return spring segment  34  urges the needle  31  away from the seat  61  so as to open up a passageway for the fluid at the outlet of the duct  12 . This position corresponds to the dispensing member being in the actuating position or in the in-use position. The needle  31  which acts as a moving valve member occupies a portion of the cross-section of the sleeve  33  so that an annular passageway is formed between the needle  31  and the sleeve  33  so as to enable the fluid coming from the duct  12  to pass beyond the needle  31  towards the vibratory plate  2 . Spacers may connect the needle to the sleeve.  
         [0033]    The support piece  3  also forms a fixing recess  35  for an piece of porous material  30 . The fixing recess  35  is formed at the downstream end of the sleeve  33 . The piece of porous material  30  which is received in fixed manner in the recess  35  closes off the outlet of the channel  32 , so that the fluid coming from the duct  12  and passing around the needle  31  has to penetrate into the piece of porous material  30 . In this way, the piece of porous material  30  becomes impregnated or soaked with fluid. Preferably, the piece of porous material  30  has capillary absorption properties. The piece of porous material  30  is urged by the return spring segment  34  formed by the support piece  3  into contact with the rear face of the vibratory plate  2 , where the dispensing orifices are formed. Therefore, the return spring segment  34  both urges the needle  31  away from its seat  61  and urges the piece of porous material  30  into contact with the perforated vibratory plate  2 .  
         [0034]    The support piece  3  also forms a corolla-like diaphragm  36  which extends radially outwards from the fixing recess  35  and forms at its outer periphery a fixing bead  361  engaged between the ring  6  and the peripheral edge  21  of the vibratory plate  2 . More precisely, the fixing edge  63  of the ring  6  pushes the bead  361  into bearing contact against the periphery  21  of the vibratory plate  2 . The diaphragm  36  may have a resilient return function for assisting the return segment  34 . However, the diaphragm  36  also has a function for guiding the sleeve  33  or holding it in alignment so that the piece of porous material  30  always comes into contact with the vibratory plate  2  at the same place, and can move along an axis perpendicular to the plane of the plate  2 . The axis along which the piece of porous material  30  moves coincides with the axis along which the needle  31  moves. The sleeve  33  moving in axial translation in this way is made possible by the elastic deformation characteristics of the segment  34  and of the diaphragm  36 . However, the sleeve  33  is held in fixed manner at its two ends, i.e. at the collar  341  and at the bead  361 .  
         [0035]    As explained above, the support piece  3  that supports both the moving valve member, namely the needle  31 , and the piece of porous material  30 , can move in translation axially along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the vibratory plate  2 .  
         [0036]    The composite dispensing member of the invention further comprises actuating means  4  which make it possible to move the sleeve  33  between a starting first position in which the piece of porous material  30  is in contact with the vibratory plate and the needle  31  is away from the seat  61  and a final second position in which the needle  31  is in leaktight abutment against the seat  61  and the piece of porous material  30  is away from the rear face of the vibratory plate  2 . The actuating means  4  are mechanical actuating means that do not use electrical energy or electromagnetic energy. The actuating means  4  can be moved relative to the sleeve  33  of the support piece  3  in a plane that is transverse and preferably perpendicular to the axis along which the sleeve  33  moves. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the actuating means  4  comprise an actuating arm  41  adapted to move in translation by sliding along an actuating axis that is perpendicular to the axis along which the valve member and the piece of porous material move. The actuating arm  41  co-operates with the support piece  3  to form a force-transforming system making it possible to transform a force exerted along one axis into a force exerted along a transverse and preferably perpendicular other axis. More precisely, in this example, the force-transforming system is in the form of a cam system, one portion of which is formed by the actuating means  4 , the other portion being formed by the support piece  3 . In the practical embodiment shown in the figures, the actuating arm  41  forms a cam piece  42  which is in the general form of a two-pronged fork. Each prong of the cam piece  42  forms a sloping cam surface  43 . The two prongs formed by the cam system  42  are spaced apart form each other and disposed such that the actuating arm  41  can move towards the sleeve  33  so that the sleeve  33  can be received between the two prongs. In corresponding manner, the support piece  3  forms two cam elements  37  which are in the form of two wedges, each of which defines a cam surface  371 . The two wedges forming the cam element  37  are disposed on either side of the sleeve  33 , as can be seen in FIGS. 10, 11, and  12 . The actuating arm  41  can be moved in translation so that the cam surface  43  comes into contact with the cam surface  371 , and so that the surfaces remain in contact with one another while they slide relative to each other over a certain distance. In this manner, while the arm  41  is moving towards the support piece  3 , the cam piece  42  with its cam surfaces  43  moves the cam element  37  in translation along the axis along which the sleeve can move  33 . This movement in translation takes place towards the feed duct  12  so that the needle  31  is moved into contact with its seat  61 , and so that the piece of porous material  30  is moved away from the rear face of the vibratory plate  2 . The cam piece  42  acts entirely conventionally on the cam element  37  as can be understood easily by any person skilled in the art. While the cam member  37  is moving, the return spring segment  34  is deformed elastically and it remains under stress so long as the actuating arm  41  has not been withdrawn to release the cam element  37  formed by the support piece  3 . FIGS. 2 and 3 show the cam arm  41  not in engagement with the support piece  3 , so that the needle  31  is away from its seat  61 , and the piece of porous material  30  is in contact with the rear face of the vibratory plate  2 . FIG. 2 is a view in section through the needle  31 , and FIG. 3 is a view in section through a prong and through a wedge formed respectively by the cam system  43  and by the cam element  37 . Conversely, FIGS. 4 and 5 show the actuating arm  41  advanced into engagement with the support piece  3 . FIG. 4 is a view in section through the needle  31 , and FIG. 5 is a view in section through a prong and through a wedge formed respectively by the cam system  42  and by the cam element  37 .  
         [0037]    The cam system  42  is received between the cam element  37  and the fixing recess  35 .  
         [0038]    The actuating means  4  further comprise an actuating element  45  via which the actuating means  4  can be actuated manually or mechanically. For example, the control element  45  may be accessible from outside the dispenser through an opening  53  provided in the bottom  50  of the bottom shell  5 , as can be seen in FIG. 1. Thus, the actuating means  4  are actuated automatically whenever the dispenser is put down on a plane surface. In this way, whenever the dispenser is at rest, the actuating means are moved so that the cam system  43  comes into engagement with the cam element  37 , and urges the needle  31  into leaktight abutment against its seat  61 . Conversely, whenever the dispenser is picked up, the actuating means are urged resiliently by a spring  44  so as to disengage the cam system  43  from the cam element  37 , so that the needle  31  can return into a position in which it is disengaged from its seat  61  and the piece of porous material  30  is in contact with the rear face of the vibratory plate  2 . Any type of re-wetting means (not shown) are provided to hold the actuating means in the pushed-in or engaged position against the drive from the spring  44 . This is merely a particular embodiment. naturally, the control element  45  may be situated anywhere on the dispenser. For example, it may be actuated manually by the user using a finger.  
         [0039]    According to another characteristic of the invention, the dispenser comprises a closure member  46  able to be located in front of or behind the perforated vibratory plate, and more generally in front of or behind said dispensing orifice(s). The closure member may move along the valve axis or along a perpendicular axis. According to a practical embodiment, the actuating means  4  also form a closure flap  46  which can be slid in translation to come into position in front of the perforated vibratory plate  2 . The closure flap  46  can be moved with the arm  41  by actuating the control element  45 . Thus, when the cam system  43  is in engagement with the cam element  37 , the closure flap  46  is situated in front of the vibratory plate  2 . This is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Naturally, this corresponds to the fluid dispenser being in the rest position. The closure member may be implemented instead of the valve, or together with the valve. The closure member or closure flap may be fixed to the sleeve  83 .  
         [0040]    It is to be noted the piece of porous material also has a closure function in maintaining the fluid product spaced from the vibratory plate in rest position.  
         [0041]    Advantageously, the actuating means  4 , which can be seen clearly in FIGS. 8 and 9, are preferably made of integrally injection-molded plastic. The same applies for the support piece, which can be made of an integrally injection-molded flexible plastics material such as an elastomer thermoplastic. The support piece can be seen clearly from various angles in FIGS. 6 and 7. It is easy to understand how the actuating means  4  co-operate with the support piece  3  with reference to FIGS.  11  to  13 .  
         [0042]    In place of the above-described actuating means  4 , it is also possible to use rotary actuating means, for example, in the form of a wheel forming a cam track on one of its faces that is suitable for coming into engagement with a corresponding cam element formed by the support piece  3 . Thus, by turning wheel, a portion of the periphery of which is accessible from outside the dispenser, the cam element of the support piece  3  is urged to move the needle into engagement with its seat.  
         [0043]    By means of the invention, it is guaranteed that the fluid dispenser cannot leak at the outlet of its feed duct  12 .