Patent Publication Number: US-8979002-B2

Title: Venturi-effect spraying device and its use in cosmetology and in perfumery

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a U.S. national stage filing of International Patent Application No. PCT/FR2008/051242 filed on Jul. 3, 2008, which claims priority under the Paris Convention to French Application No. 07 04898, filed on Jul. 6, 2007. 
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This invention relates to venturi spraying devices and to the uses of such devices in cosmetology and in perfumery. 
     More particularly, the invention relates to a spraying device comprising:
         a distributor comprising:
           a head,   an air nozzle and an output nozzle each molded from a single part made of synthetic material and assembled in the head,   an air circuit including at least, from upstream to downstream, an air inlet conduit at least partially formed in the air nozzle and a venturi formed in the air nozzle and an output conduit formed in the output nozzle, the venturi defining a vacuum zone in the air circuit,   
           a conduit for channeling product to be sprayed extending according to a substantially vertical direction and communicating with the vacuum zone of the air circuit,   a manual compressed-air generator communicating with the air inlet conduit,   a reservoir adapted to contain the product to be sprayed, communicating with the conduit for channeling product to be sprayed.       

     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,080,761 describes an example of such a spraying device, wherein the product to be sprayed must follow a complex and narrow path between the conduit for channeling and the output conduit, in such a way that this type of spraying device can possibly operate for spraying a liquid product, but not for spraying a powdery product. 
     In addition, the form of the output conduit disclosed in this document is also not suited for the spraying of powdery product. 
     Finally, the air nozzle of this document has a form that is entirely not suited for the effective carrying out of a vacuum capable of sucking the product to be sprayed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This invention has in particular for purpose to overcome these disadvantages. 
     To this effect, according to the invention, a spraying device of the type in question is characterized in that the head delimits a mixing chamber between the air nozzle and the output nozzle, said mixing chamber forming said vacuum zone and being arranged directly above the conduit for channeling, in that the venturi comprises a convergent section, and in that the output conduit comprises a divergent section open towards the exterior and a convergent section open towards the mixing chamber upstream of the divergent section. 
     Thanks to these arrangements, the spraying device according to the invention is adapted to effectively spray powdery products, as well as liquid products. In addition, the form of the Venturi, provided with a convergent section, allows for effective suction of the product to be sprayed. 
     In various embodiments of the spraying device according to the invention, further recourse is possible to one and/or the other of the following arrangements:
         the output conduit comprises an inlet cone open towards the mixing chamber, said inlet cone being arranged upstream of said convergent section of the output conduit and having an angle at the top between 30 and 60 degrees and greater than an angle at the top formed by the convergent section;   the distributor comprises a protruding portion which penetrates in the mixing chamber above the conduit for channeling;   the air nozzle has an end in the form of a point forming said protruding portion;   the conduit for channeling has a section of passage having a first portion overhung by said protruding portion and a second portion not overhung by said protruding portion;   the head comprises a nozzle housing extending horizontally and wherein are nested the air nozzle and the output nozzle;   the air nozzle and the output nozzle are nested in the head;   the head is molded of synthetic material;   the air inlet conduit has a first section and the venturi has a minimal section, said minimal section having an area between 1% and 6.5% of the area of said first section;   the air inlet conduit is formed at least partially in a tip fixed to the air nozzle by nesting and connected to said manual compressed-air generator;   the distributor comprises an inlet valve which is adapted in order to allow only the circulation of air towards the venturi and which is arranged on air inlet conduit, said inlet valve comprising a valve member solicited by a spring towards a valve seat directed towards the venturi;   the output conduit has an output section between 0.25 and 1.2 mm 2 ;   the head comprises a well that opens vertically in the mixing chamber and wherein is nested a dip tube which delimits at least partially the conduit for channeling product to be sprayed;   the dip tube has an internal diameter between 0.6 and 2 mm;   the head is covered by an added external envelope;   the manual compressed-air generator is a flexible bulb;   the manual compressed-air generator is a piston pump.       

     Moreover, the invention also has for objective a use of a device such as defined hereinabove, for the spraying of a powdery product. This powdery product can be for example a perfumery product, a cosmetic product, or other. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other characteristics and advantages of the invention shall appear during the course of the following description of several of its embodiments, provided by way of non-restricted examples, with regards to the attached drawings. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a general view of a spraying device according to a first embodiment of the invention, 
         FIG. 2  is a vertical cross-section view of the device in  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed view of the section in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a portion of the device in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to the  FIG. 3 , in a second embodiment of the invention, 
       and  FIG. 6  is a view similar to the  FIG. 4 , in the second embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In the various figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements. 
       FIG. 1  shows a portable spraying device comprising:
         a distributor  2  adapted to spray a product by an outlet orifice  3 ,   a manual compressed-air generator, for example a flexible bulb  4  made of elastomer or same, making it possible to insufflate air, for example in the form of an air stream, in the distributor  2  to spray the product in an air flow by the outlet orifice  3 ,   a reservoir  5  adapted to contain the product to be sprayed, communicating with the distributor  2 .       

     The product to be sprayed  6  contained in the reservoir  5  (see  FIG. 2 ) can be for example a powdery product, in particular a perfumery product, a cosmetic product, or other. 
     This powdery product, in particular a composition in the form of free perfumed cosmetic powder, can for example have a granulometry between a few micrometers and 200 μm, and a density between 0.6 and 1. This entails for example a mineral powder (such as mica, mineral pigments, etc.) or an organic powder (polyamide, PMMA or other), or a mixture of such mineral and organic powders. This product can also contain a mixed powder such as for example organic coloring agents fixed on a mineral support. 
     Note that the bulb  4  can for example comprise an air inlet valve  4   a  allowing the air to enter into the bulb  4  when it inflates via elasticity, but preventing the air outlet towards the exterior when a user presses said bulb  4 . 
     As shown in the  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the distributor  2  can comprise a head  107  which can for example be molded of plastic material. This head  107  can be fixed by clipping-on or other on the neck  8  of the reservoir  5 , in such a way as to close said reservoir. A seal  9  can where applicable be interposed between the head  107  and the neck  8 . 
     Finally, the head  107  can where applicable be covered by a decorative added external envelope  31  ( FIGS. 1 to 4 ) which has recesses on the outlet orifice  3  and a tip connecting the head  107  to the bulb  4 . 
     The head  107  is crossed by a nozzle housing  110  which, in the example shown in the drawings, has a general form of a revolution around a substantially horizontal axis X, for example a cylindrical form. 
     The head  107  further comprises a well  114  extending according to a substantially vertical axis Z, which opens directly upwards in a mixing chamber  119  delimited by the nozzle housing  110 . In the well  114  is nested by force a dip tube  15  made of plastic material, delimiting a conduit for channeling product to be sprayed, extending downwards in the reservoir  5  and dipping into the product  6  to be sprayed (see  FIGS. 2 to 4 ). The dip tube can for example have an internal diameter between 0.6 and 2 mm. 
     At the rear end  111  of the nozzle housing  110  is nested an air nozzle  116  which is molded of a single part made of synthetic material, in particular of thermoplastic. 
     As shown in more detail in  FIG. 4 , the air nozzle  116  can have an exterior form that is complementary to the nozzle housing  10 , in such a way as to be able to be nested by force via the rear end  11  of said nozzle housing. The air nozzle  116  is crossed by a recess centered on the axis X, which forms, from the rear towards the front: 
     a tip housing  117 , having for example a cylindrical form of a revolution centered on the axis X, of diameter D 1 ,
         then a tapered convergent section  118 , which in the example considered here is surrounded by a shoulder  118   a,      then a narrowed conduit  118   b , having for example a cylindrical form of a revolution centered on the axis X, of diameter D 2 .       

     The conduit  118   b  opens in the mixing chamber  119  of the head  107 , at the front end  116   a  of the air nozzle  116 . Said front end  116   a  of the air nozzle can have a form of a point, for example tapered, protruding in the mixing chamber  119 . 
     In the example in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , a tip  122 , which can be for example molded from plastic material, is nested by force in the tip housing  117 . 
     As shown in more detail in  FIG. 3 , the tip  122  comprises a front end  123  and a rear end  124  whereon the bulb  4  is fixed in a sealed manner. The front end  123  of the tip  122  is nested to the exterior of the rear end of the air nozzle  116 , and said tip further comprises a tubular portion  123   a , formed in the interior of the front end  123 , which is nested in the tip housing  117 . The tip  122  is pierced with a central recess which extends according to the axis X and which forms, from the rear towards the front:
         an upstream conduit  125  of relatively small diameter, which opens towards the rear in the bulb  4 ,   a valve seat  126  diverging towards the front.       

     The air nozzle  116  further contains an inlet valve  28  which comprises a valve member  29 , for example a ball made of plastic material or other, and coiled spring  30  supporting the convergent section  18  (or for example on a shoulder  118   a  surrounding this convergent section  18 ) and soliciting the valve member towards the rear, in contact against the valve seat  126 . 
     At the front end  112  of the nozzle housing is furthermore nested by force an output nozzle  132  which delimits the output conduit  120 , this output nozzle  132  also being nested by force in the recess arranged across from the output  3  in the added external envelope  31 . The output nozzle  132  does not extend to the contact of the air nozzle  116 , in such a way that these two nozzles leave in the nozzle housing  110  a free space which constitutes the aforementioned mixing chamber  119 . The output nozzle  132  can comprise at its front end, an external collar  132   a  which abuts against the external envelope  31 . 
     The output nozzle  132  comprises, from the rear towards the front (i.e. from upstream towards downstream):
         a convergent inlet cone  120   a  open towards the mixing chamber  119  and having a relatively substantial angle at the top β, for example between 30 and 60 degrees,   then a convergent section  120   b  having a relatively small angle at the top γ, of a few degrees (for example less than 10 degrees),   then, where applicable, a short cylindrical portion (not referenced),   then a divergent section  120   c  also having a relatively small angle at the top δ (for example less than 15 degrees) and opening towards the exterior via the outlet orifice  3 , of a section similar to the section of the first embodiment. Thanks to the presence of the convergent section  120   b  and of the divergent section  120   c  in the output conduit, the clogging of the output conduit  120  by agglomerates of powdery material is avoided or limited.       

     The head  107 , the air nozzle  116 , the tip  122  and the output nozzle  132  delimit as such an air circuit comprising, from upstream to downstream (i.e. from the rear towards the front in this case):
         the upstream conduit  25 ,   the inlet valve  28 ,   the air inlet conduit  127 , delimited in the tip housing  117  downstream of the tip  122 ,   the convergent section  118  and the conduit  118   b,      the mixing chamber  119 ,   the output conduit  120 .       

     The convergent section  118  of the air nozzle  116 , forms a venturi which defines a vacuum zone corresponding substantially to the mixing chamber  119 , which is pressurized when air circulates in the air circuit from upstream towards downstream. Due to the fact that the venturi is formed in a part molded from synthetic material, its form is perfectly defined and can be reproduced from one spraying device to the other, independently of any mounting tolerance, in such a way that the vacuum created by the venturi is also perfectly defined. 
     In the particular case shown in the  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the air inlet conduit  127  is cylindrical, of diameter D 1  for example between 2 and 3 mm (in particular of a magnitude of 2.3 mm) and the minimum diameter D 2  of the convergent section  118  is for example between 0.5 and 0.7 mm (in particular of a magnitude of 0.6 mm). The ratio of the diameters D 1 /D 2  can be between 10% and 25% or, more generally, the ratio between the area of the corresponding sections can be between 1% and 6.5%. The angle at the top α of the convergent section  118  can for example be between 20 and 40 degrees. 
     In light of the fact that the head  107  can where applicable be covered by a decorative added external envelope  31 , the head  107  is independent of the exterior style of the spraying device  1 . In addition, the air nozzle  116  and the output nozzle  132  can themselves be standard parts used on several types of sprayers  1 , independently not only in relation to the exterior style of the spraying device  1 , but also to the type of head  107  (several types of head  107  can be used according to the applications, in particular in order to adapt to several types of reservoirs  5 ). 
     A modular device can as such be manufactured comprised of a small number of thermoplastic parts which are simple to produce, and which implement all of the functions of the connection to the compressed air generator, venturi, channeling product, fixing on a recipient, product output, etc. These parts are assembled for example by simple nesting in relation to one another. 
     The device which has just been described operates as follows. When a user presses the bulb  4 , the inlet valve  4   a  of this bulb remains closed and the air contained in the bulb is compressed and insufflated into the distributor  2 , by following the air circuit of this distributor. Subsequent to its passing in the venturi formed by the convergent section  118 , the air flow creates a vacuum (by decreasing the pressure for example by 20 to 40 mbar [i.e. the equivalent of a column of 20 to 40 cm of water] in relation to the ambient pressure). 
     This vacuum sucks the powdery product via the dip tube. If the powdery product has agglomerates, these possible agglomerates are disintegrated by the front end  116   a  in the form of a point which protrudes into the mixing chamber  119  above the conduit for channeling delimited by the dip tube  15  (this front end in the form of a point does not however hinder the arrival of the powdery product in the mixing chamber  119  due to the form of a point of this front end and due to the fact that it does not fully overhang the section of passing of the conduit for channeling. 
     Note that the spraying device according to the invention makes it possible to spray a substantially constant dose of powdery product, right from the first actuating of the bulb  4 , and this, regardless of the level of product  6  in the reservoir  5 , as soon as the lower end of the dip tube  15  dips into the product  6 . 
     In the second embodiment of the invention, shown in the  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the spraying device  1  comprises as hereinabove a distributor  2  provided with an outlet orifice  3 , a manual compressed-air generator, comprised here of a manual pump  304 , and a reservoir  5  containing the product to be sprayed  6 , which can be for example similar to the powdery product described hereinabove. 
     The distributor  2  comprises a head  307  which can for example be molded from plastic material and which can in particular be fixed by clipping-on or other on the neck  8  of the reservoir  5 , a seal  9  able to be, where applicable, interposed between the head  7  and the neck  8 . 
     In the head  7  is arranged a cylindrical nozzle housing  310  which opens towards the exterior at a front end  312 . The nozzle housing  310  extends according to a substantially horizontal axis X from the front end  312  to a rear end  311  where said nozzle housing is extended upwards by a shaft  311   a  of which the lateral wall protrudes upwards. 
     The head  307  comprises as hereinabove, a well  314  which opens upwards in the nozzle housing  310  and which extends downwards, in parallel to a substantially vertical axis Z. In the well  314  can be nested a dip tube  15  made of plastic material or other, which extends downwards by dipping into the product to be sprayed  6  contained in the reservoir  5 . The dip tube  15  as such comprises, as hereinabove, a conduit for channeling product to be sprayed towards a mixing chamber  319  delimited on the inside by the nozzle housing  310 , above the well  314 . 
     At the rear end  311  of the nozzle housing is nested by force an air nozzle  316  which is molded of a single part of synthetic material, in particular thermoplastic. The air nozzle  316  has an exterior cylindrical form that is complementary to the interior form of the nozzle housing  310 , and it delimits interiorly a cylindrical air inlet conduit  327  of diameter D 1 , centered on the axis X. This inlet conduit  327  is extended, to 90 degrees upwards, inside the shaft  311   a , passing through a hole  316   b  arranged at the rear end of the air nozzle  316 . 
     The air inlet conduit  327  is extended towards the front, in the air nozzle  316 , by a tapered convergent section  318  which can have an angle at the top for example between 20 and 40 degrees and which is extended by a short narrowed passage  318   b  of diameter D 2 , arranged at the front end  316   a  of the air nozzle. The diameters D 1  and D 2  can be similar to the diameters already described in the first embodiment of the invention. 
     The front end  316   a  of the air nozzle can be in the form of a point, in particular in a tapered form, and protrudes into the aforementioned mixing chamber  319 , above the well  314 . 
     Moreover, at the front end  312  of the nozzle housing is nested by force an output nozzle  332  of which the rear end arrives at the limit of the mixing chamber  319  and of which the front end comprises an exterior collar  332   a  coming to abut against the exterior lateral wall of the head  307 . 
     The output nozzle  332  delimits the output conduit  320  which can for example comprise a convergent inlet cone  320   a  open towards the mixing chamber  319 , followed by a convergent section  320   b  then where applicable by a short cylindrical passage of transition and finally by a divergent section  320   c  opening towards the exterior on the outlet orifice  3 , diameter D 3 . The form and the dimensions of the outlet passage  320  and of the outlet orifice  3  can be identical or similar in form and in dimension of the output passage  120  and of the outlet orifice  3  of the second embodiment described hereinabove. 
     Moreover, on the aforementioned shaft  311   a , can be nested a tip  322  belonging to a part  334  which can be molded of plastic material. The tip  322  has a general cylindrical form of revolution centered on a vertical axis parallel to the axis Z and extends upwards to a tapered portion which converges upwards by forming a valve seat  326 . The valve seat  326  is normally sealed by a valve member  29  solicited upwards par coiled spring  30  pressing against the upper end of the shaft  311   a . The valve member  29  and the spring  30  can be identical or similar to those already described hereinabove. The valve member  29  forms with the spring  30  and the valve seat  326  an air inlet valve  28  which allows only the entry of the air in the air inlet conduit  327 , through a recess  326   a  arranged in the center of the valve seat  326 . 
     The part  334  made of plastic material forms moreover a substantially horizontal piston  335  and has for example a form of a disk centered on the axis Z. 
     The piston  335  can comprise exteriorly one or several peripheral lips  336  whereon is nested a push-button  337  in the form of an inverted cup, made for example by molding of plastic material. 
     The push-button  337  can comprise for example an upper bottom  338  extended downwards by a cylindrical skirt  339  centered on the axis Z, the interior wall  339   a  of this skirt sliding sealingly on the peripheral lips  336  of the piston. 
     At its lower end, the cylindrical skirt  339  of the push-button is extended radially towards the exterior, by a flange ring  339   b  (or where applicable by exterior prongs) which is guided by vertical sliding, without sealing, by the cylindrical interior surface  340   a  of an annular lateral wall  340  centered on the axis Z, which can be formed of a single part with the head  307 . 
     The annular lateral wall  340  comprises, at its upper end, an interior rim  341  (continuous or discontinuous) against which abuts the flange ring  339   b  upwards, in order to limit the sliding upwards of the push-button  337 . 
     In the piston  335  can furthermore be formed an air inlet valve  342  which allows only the entry of air from the exterior, via the space located below the piston  335 , towards the space delimited between the piston  335  and the push-button  337 . This valve  342  can comprise for example an orifice  344  of tapered form, expanded upwards, which delimits as such a valve seat  345  against which is applied a valve member  343  which can for example be formed by a tab molded from a single part with the piston  335  and connected to this piston by a zone forming a hinge  343   a.    
     Moreover, coiled spring  346  is interposed between the piston  335  and the bottom  338  of the push-button  337 . 
     Finally, the piston  335  can be supported by two cylindrical tubular supports  347  which extend downwards according to the axis Z starting from the lower surface of said piston and which are nested by force on two cylindrical tenons  348  molded from a single part with the head  307  and extending upwards starting from said head (see  FIG. 10 ). 
     The device that has just been described operates as follows. 
     When a user presses on the push-button  337 , against the solicitation of the spring  346 , he compresses the air contained in the chamber which is delimited between the piston  335  and the push-button  337 , in such a way that this compressed air is expulsed through the air inlet valve  28 , towards the air inlet conduit  327 , then the convergent section  318  forming venturi, then the mixing chamber  319  where a vacuum is produced sucking upwards the powdery product  6  contained inside the reservoir  5 . This powdery product is mixed with the air flow inside the chamber  319 , and then sprayed towards the exterior through the output conduit  320  as explained hereinabove. 
     When the user releases the push-button  337 , the latter returns to its initial position under the solicitation of the spring  346 . During this movement, the air inlet valve  28  remains closed, but the valve  342  opens, allowing the entry of air into the chamber delimited between the piston  335  and the push-button  337 .