Abstract:
A device for the packaging, dispensing and application of a product packaged in a liquid form and dispensed in the form of a foam or gel. The device has a pressurized container (2) containing the product, an actuating valve (4), and an applicator element (9) for applying the product. The applicator element (9) has an external application surface (9a) made of a porous non-deformable material and has in addition to the pores, at least one duct (10) traversing the element (9) so as to open out on the external application surface (9a) in the form of an opening (10a), and to allow the product to emerge on the application surface in the form of a foam or gel in response to an actuation of the valve (4).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a device for the packaging of a liquid product and for the dispensing and application of this product in the form of a foam or gel. This device serves in particular for the dispensing and application of a fixing foam for the hair, a depilatory foam, a shaving foam or a self-foaming shaving gel. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Generally, conventional devices for dispensing liquid products in the form of a foam will comprise a pressurized container. A dispensing head mounted on this container comprises a dispensing valve provided with an actuating stem and a dispensing element. This dispensing element comprises a nozzle on which an end grill is catch-engaged. 
     When a mechanical pressure is exerted on it the dispensing element delivers the product through the grill to emerge in the form of a foam. The presence of this nozzle provided with its grill permits a dosed and localized dispensing of the foam. 
     Unfortunately, because of the continued emergence of the foam in the absence of any mechanical pressure on the dispensing element, this known device gives rise to the presence of a foam residue on the grill after the foam has been taken up. 
     Moreover, the use of such a foam dispenser requires the use of an additional subsidiary brush-type applicator for the shaving foam, or merely use of the hand for shaving foam, setting foam for the hair, or depilatory foam, which makes the use of this dispenser tedious. 
     For products of a deodorant type in a liquid form dispenser-applicator devices are, moreover, known to have a structure similar to that of the above-mentioned device, but wherein the applicator element comprises a sintered porous material and has no grill. Such a device is described in particular in EP-A-0 655 208. Due to mechanical pressure on the sintered material, the liquid product is ejected through the valve at the center of the dispensing element and is diffused by capillarity towards the outside of this element. The element which is then impregnated by micro-droplets of the liquid product can be used as an applicator on the skin. Unfortunately, this type of device does not make it possible to obtain from a liquid product a foam uniformly spread over the application surface. The product is, in particular, always extracted in a liquid form. 
     From U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,609, there is also known a dispenser applicator-device, for a shaving foam, which comprises a sponge as an applicator element, which is pierced by two longitudinal ducts. The use of this type of applicator has the drawback of a non-uniform dispensing of the product on the applicator, and of rough contact with the skin. Moreover, the sponge is made of an elastically compressible material which may, during the application, cause the ducts to become clogged up rendering the ducts inoperative. 
     Thus there exists the need for a new packaging, dispensing and application device that simultaneously permits (i) a soft contact with the skin, thanks to an appropriate applicator element, (ii) a channelled dispensing of the foamy product when, in particular, a mechanical pressure is exerted on the applicator element, and (iii) a cessation of the emergence of the product when this mechanical pressure stops. Thus the drawbacks of the prior art, which are linked to the nature and/or the structure of the applicator element and/or of the device as a whole, are remedied. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention therefore provides a device for the packaging, dispensing and application of a product packaged in a liquid form and dispensed in the form of a foam or gel, comprising a pressurized container containing the product, an actuating valve, and an applicator element for applying the product, characterized in that the applicator element has an external application surface made of a porous non-deformable material and comprises, in addition to the pores, at least one duct traversing the applicator element so as to open out on the external application surface in the form of at least one opening, and to allow the product to emerge on the application surface in the form of a foam or of a gel in response to an actuation of the valve. The pores of the material forming the applicator element make it possible to experience during application to the skin the softness and the comfort required in such an application. Moreover, they permit a uniform distribution of the product over the applicator. 
     Advantageously, the duct passes through the whole thickness of the applicator element, where the thickness of the element is measured along an axis A substantially perpendicular to the application surface. 
     This new device has the advantage of having a large and localized flow of the foam or gel at the outlet of the applicator element. This device also allows the foam or gel to be directly applied to the skin as it emerges from the container. Another advantage of this device is that it permits a channelled and homogeneous spreading of the foam or gel. 
     The product at the outlet of the container may be in the form of a gel, a foam or a self-foaming gel. To ensure the emergence of the product the container moreover contains a propellant agent dissolved in, or separate from, the liquid, such as nitrogen, a liquefied hydrocarbon or air. The liquid may moreover contain a foam expansion agent such as isobutane. The use of a propellant makes it possible, furthermore, to bring freshness to the skin. 
     Preferably, the device has several openings distributed advantageously uniformly over the surface of the applicator element. They may be situated at the center of the surface. Preferably, they are distributed symmetrically around the axis A. 
     The size of the openings may be from 0.4 mm to 6 mm and preferably from 0.8 mm to 2 mm. The openings may have a particular shape. Their size and shape make it possible to obtain at the outlet of the applicator element a foam or gel, for example, in the form of bands, strings or more precisely, spaghetti. 
     The external surface of the applicator element may be made of a sintered porous material chosen from the so-called &#34;soft&#34; materials such as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) or from synthetic resins such as high or low density polyethylenes, polypropylenes or polyvinyl fluorides. As a variant, the applicator element may be made of a rigid synthetic foam with open cells. 
     The porosity of this material may be from 1 μm to 300 μm and preferably from 10 μm to 100 μm. 
     To allow a very soft application of the product to be effected, the applicator element advantageously has an application surface whose average roughness is chosen within a range extending from 0.5 μm to 100 μm, and preferably within a range extending from 6 μm to 50 μm. 
     A specific combination of the size and of the geometric shape of the outlet openings with the porosity values of the sintered material makes it possible to adapt the applicator element to the type of product extracted from the container, whether it is a foaming or a self-foaming product (gel or foam). 
     According to the consistency of the product, the number and shape of the openings, as well as the porosity of the sintered material, the thickness of the sintered material may be chosen to be from 0.5 mm to 20 mm and preferably from 1 mm to 5 mm. 
     The device in accordance with the invention may serve for the dispensing with a view to the application of a shaving foam and of a depilatory foam, or also of a hair setting foam. 
     The applicator element may be fixed either directly on the valve and more particularly on the actuating stem of the valve, or mounted on the valve stem by means of a support. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Apart from the arrangements set out above, the invention consists of a certain number of other arrangements which will be explained below with regard to examples of embodiments described with reference to the attached Figures which are in no way limiting, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic view in an axial section of a device in accordance with a first variant of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view, similar to FIG. 1, of a device in accordance with a second variant of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view similar to FIG. 1, of a device in accordance with a third variant of the invention; 
     FIG. 4A-4H represents various shapes of the external surface of the applicator element in a top view; and 
     FIG. 5A-5E shows in axial sections various embodiments of the dome traversed by ducts. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1, there may be seen a packaging, dispensing and applicator device generally designated by the reference numeral 1, having an axis of symmetry X and comprising a generally cylindrical container 2 pressurized by means of a propellant gas and containing a liquid product P. This container carries at its upper end a cup 3 of a valve 4 fixed to the container by a crimped bead 5. In its upper portion, the valve 4 has a hollow actuating stem 6 on which a dispensing head 7 is fixed. This head 7 is constituted by a receptacle 8 which is fitted on the stem 6 via a hollow sleeve 8a. A slightly curved outwardly convex dome is mounted on the receptacle 8, and is made of a sintered, porous non-deformable material, in particular of polyethylene, with a porosity ranging from 1 to 300 μm. This dome 9, which constitutes the element for applying the product to the skin, is traversed by one or several ducts 10 which allow the product to emerge in the form of a foam or gel at the openings 10a on the application surface 9a. The dome 9 is fitted in the receptacle 8. It is also possible to ensure the fixing of the dome 9 on the receptacle 8 by means of a mounting ring (not shown), catch-engaged on the support. An expansion chamber 13 may be provided between the receptacle 8 and the dome 9. In this embodiment the ducts are orientated along an axis A substantially perpendicular to the application surface 9a, the axis A coinciding with the axis X. A plurality of such ducts 10 are disposed around the axis A. 
     The stem 6, the sleeve 8a and the perforated receptacle 8 define a dispensing duct for the product P, leading from the container to the dome 9. The device comprises moreover, a protective cap 11 intended to protect the external surface of the dome from ambient dust. The cap is fitted on a cylindrical fixing skirt 12 catch-engaged on the upper portion of the container 2, optionally connected to the receptacle 8 by tabs. This arrangement is described, in particular, in EP-A-0 655 208. 
     To use the device in accordance with the invention, after removing the protective cap 11, the user exerts a mechanical pressure F by pressing on the application surface 9a of the dome 9 outside the zones which comprise the openings 10a. The applicator element is thus depressed and, by depressing the stem 6 of the valve 4, causes the valve to open. The product emerges from the container via the stem 6, the sleeve 8a, then via the openings 10a, in the form of foam; it is accumulated on the surface of the dome 9. The foam is then applied to the skin, and the dome 9 is used as an applicator and as a means for spreading the foam on the skin. 
     The device in accordance with the invention makes it possible to obtain a sufficient and homogeneous quantity and quality of the foam which can be easily and softly spread on the skin by means of the dome. This dome makes it possible to dispense with a brush, in particular in the case of a shaving foam. 
     In FIGS. 2 and 3, the elements that are identical to, or which perform functions similar to, the elements described with reference to FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. Their description will not be repeated or will be repeated only concisely. 
     FIG. 2 shows a device which differs from that of FIG. 1 in that the dispensing head 7 comprises an applicator in the form of a pointed element 9 formed of a sintered porous material such as defined in FIG. 1. This pointed element is fitted in the sleeve 8a of the receptacle 8 and has a duct 10 opening out, on the one hand, at the lower end of the pointed element fitted in the sleeve 8aand, on the other hand, on the external application surface 9a substantially in the vicinity of the free end of the pointed element 9. This receptacle 8 has, moreover, a general convex shape which is different from that of a cup. The receptacle 8 is locally connected by a peripheral hinge 12a to the fixing skirt 12. The bearing of the pointed element 9 on the surface to be treated causes the receptacle 8 to tilt round the hinge 12a, then causes the valve stem to be depressed. The product rises up the duct 10 and emerges in the vicinity of the free end of the pointed element 9. Such an applicator is used in the manner of a prong of a comb, in particular in the case of the application of a hair product. Advantageously, a plurality of such applicator elements 9 are mounted on the same pressurized container. 
     FIG. 3 shows a device which differs from that of FIG. 1 in that the receptacle 8 has a cup-shaped portion 8b on which portion the dome 9 of sintered material is fitted, and a duct 8c connecting the sleeve 8a and the cup-shaped portion 8b. The duct 8c forms an obtuse angle with the axis X. The functioning is comparable to that of FIG. 1. In the same way as in the case of the embodiment of FIG. 1, the ducts 10 are orientated along an axis A substantially perpendicular to the application surface 9a. In contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the axis A does not coincide with the axis X of the container. 
     The FIGS. 4A-4H show various representations of the external surface 9a of the applicator element. The openings 10a have various shapes and dimensions. Being associated with one or the other shape of the applicator element of FIGS. 1 to 3, the openings permit the delivery of specifically foaming or self-foaming products in the form of spaghetti or bands. 
     Thus in FIG. 4A, the openings 10a have an oval or elliptical shape, the major axes of each oval or each ellipse being orientated parallel to one another. 
     In FIG. 4B, the openings 10a have a square shape and are disposed symmetrically relative to the axis A. It is, however, possible to make openings 10a of a rectangular shape. 
     In FIG. 4C, the openings 10a have the shape of a circular arc. They are distributed along two concentric circles centred on the axis A and are set off in pairs. 
     In FIG. 4D, the openings 1Oa are circular and are disposed along two concentric circles centred on the axis A. 
     In FIG. 4E, the openings 10a are disposed along a single circle, for example, with a diameter of approximately 24 mm, centred on the axis A. 
     In FIG. 4F, the openings 10a are elliptical and their major axes are parallel to one another. 
     In FIG. 4G, the openings 10a are circular and are distributed along two parallel lines. 
     In FIG. 4H, the openings 10a are star-shaped and are arranged along the same line. 
     In FIGS. 4A-4E the application surface has a circular shape, while in the FIGS. 4F-4H it has a rectangular shape. 
     The emergence of a product in a self-foaming form is facilitated when the device in accordance with FIG. 1 is associated with one of the schematic representations of the surface 9a of the applicator element of FIGS. 4A-4E. 
     FIGS. 5A-5E illustrate several embodiments of the dome 9 traversed by a plurality of ducts 10. 
     Thus FIG. 5A shows ducts 10 inclined relative to the axis A (or X in the case where the two axes coincide). These ducts diverge from the axis A and are arranged along two concentric circles. 
     FIG. 5B shows ducts 10 inclined relative to the axis A, these ducts being parallel to one another. 
     FIG. 5C shows ducts 10 inclined relative to the axis A. These inclined ducts converge towards the axis A. 
     FIG. 5D shows conical ducts 10, the opening (or smaller diameter end) of the cone facing the application surface 9a. 
     FIG. 5E shows conical ducts 10, the opening (or smaller diameter end) of the cone facing the receptacle of the dome.