Patent ID: 12208956

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the figures stated, reference number1is used to denote, as a whole, a fluid substance dispensing device.

Reference should initially be made toFIG.2, in which some parts of the device1are shown schematically with dashed lines.

The device1for dispensing a fluid substance5, comprises a container2in which the fluid substance5is housed. The fluid substance can be housed directly inside the container2, or it may be contained in a deformable bag.

The container2may be coupled to a valve3, as shown inFIG.2, or a manual pump3A, as shown inFIG.7(but the dispensing cap inFIG.7may also be fitted on a valve stem).

If there is a valve3present, the container2is pressurised, whether the fluid substance is contained directly inside the container or whether it is housed within a deformable bag; in the second case, the pressurisation occurs outside the bag.

If there is a pump3A present, the vessel may not be pressurised.

Essentially, the pump or valve is equipped with a hollow stem4which is movable between at least a first position, in which the fluid substance5is dispensed through a cavity4A thereof, and a second position, in which the dispensing of the fluid substance through the cavity thereof is prevented.

At the top (or free end) of the hollow stem4, there is a dispensing button7coupled, essentially in a sealed manner, so that the application of pressure to the said button7moves the hollow stem4between the said second and the said first position.

In the configuration inFIG.2, the button7is hinged to a base20which is fastened (for example by means of a snap mechanism) to the container2. The base20and the button7can be made in a single moulded piece.

In the configuration inFIG.6, on the other hand, the button7is completely supported directly on the stem4, and there is no base20. The button7may be formed in a single piece.

In the present wording, the term “essentially sealed”, when referring to the coupling between the base and the stem, means that the coupling must prevent or minimise leakage of the fluid substance at the said coupling, at least during dispensing of the fluid substance.

Going back toFIGS.2and3, it can be seen that the button7defines a delivery channel8endowed with a first opening8A in a free surface of the device1(at a dispensing area).

The channel8is also endowed with a surface10facing the stem cavity4A.

According to the present invention, the surface10is conical or pyramidal, being tapered towards the stem cavity.

The surface10may be integrally formed with the button7(i.e. formed in a single piece). The button7may be formed in a single piece, preferably of injection moulded plastic.

The conical surface may be a solid of rotation obtained by rotating a right-angled triangle around one of its cathetuses. The axis of the cone may be the cathetus around which the solid is constructed; the base of the cone is also the circle obtained by the rotation of the other cathetus. Finally, the vertex of the cone is the point of the axis opposite the intersection with its base.

A cone may be considered to be a pyramid with a circular base, therefore having an infinite number of oblique faces.

A pyramid (or pyramidal surface) is defined as a polyhedron consisting of a polygonal face, known as the base, and a vertex which does not lie on the same plane as the base and which is sometimes known as the apex of the pyramid. Its edges are the sides of the base polygon and the line segments bounded by the apex and each of the vertices of the base. The faces of the pyramid include the base thereof and the triangular faces (known as the lateral faces) which have the apex of the pyramid as their apex.

In the present invention, the pyramidal surface may, therefore, consist of a polygonal base and from four to very many (an infinite number) sides, thus “degenerating” into a conical surface, as defined above.

The delivery channel can comprise a first portion80(with a radius which is essentially comparable to the external radius of the stem) which extends axially to the stem, and a second portion81, which extends radially to the stem4.

Said surface10may be located in said first portion80. Specifically said surface may be located at a closed end of said first portion. The said surface10may face the stem4.

The second portion81may be simply a through hole, whose diameter is smaller than that of the first portion80.

The second portion81may extend radially with respect to the axis A of the stem4.

A longitudinal axis B of the second portion81may be inclined either by an angle α with respect to the axis A of the stem4or with angle α between a range of 60° and 135° inclusive, preferably 98°.

The second portion81may be endowed with a second opening8B in the first portion8A, near or at a base of the said conical or pyramidal surface10.

As already mentioned, the surface10may have a truncated cone or truncated pyramid conformation, being therefore endowed with an essentially flat surface facing the cavity4A, as shown here.

The surface10may also have an actual vertex or apex facing the said cavity. In this case, it can be considered to be a cone or a pyramid.

An axis of the cone or pyramid (but also of the truncated cone or the truncated pyramid) may coincide with an axis A of the stem.

To improve dispersion of the fluid substance, the surface10may be endowed with a surface groove S which extends between the part near the stem and the base, optionally between the part near the stem and the said second opening8B.

The groove can advantageously open (or end) directly at the second opening8B, as shown inFIG.5or9.

In this way, the groove can efficiently convey the fluid substance towards the second portion81of the dispensing channel.

It has been found that with a surface groove S configured as a spiral whose radius increases towards the base, excellent results are obtained in terms of dispersion of the fluid substance and turbulence during dispersion.

It has also been found that the present invention provides comparable or superior results (in terms of aerosol homogeneity) to those obtained using dispensers equipped with a pad.

In the embodiments described, it has been found that an opening angle β of the conical or pyramidal surface of between 60° and 80° gives good results, and even better results if the angle is between 65° and 75°, more preferably 70°.

It has also been found that the ratio between the depth P and the width L of the groove may be between 0.6 and 6.66.

The groove width L can be between 0.15 mm. and 0.5 mm, while its depth P may be between 0.3 mm and 1.0 mm.

The spiral groove S (which is obviously three-dimensional) may also comprise a number of turns comprised between 0.5 and 3, preferably 1.5 turns (as shown inFIGS.5and9).

Various embodiments of the innovation have been disclosed herein, but further embodiments may also be conceived using the same innovative concept.