Variable flow rate valve and container equipped therewith

Abstract

A valve for dispensing a product contained in a pressurized container includes a valve body, an actuatable valving member, and an outlet passage. The valving member may be moveable between a closed position and at least two open positions. The at least two open positions may include a first open position where product is dispensed at a first flow rate and a second open position where product is dispensed at a second flow rate different from the first flow rate. The outlet passage may be selectively communicable with at least a portion of an interior of the valve body. The valving member may comprise a piston axially moveable inside the valve body between the closed position where the piston sealingly isolates said at least a portion of the interior of the valve body from the outlet passage and a position, chosen at least from the first and second open positions, where fluid communication is established between the portion of the interior of the valve body and the outlet passage.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A valve for dispensing a product contained in a pressurized container, the valve comprising: 
 a valve body;    an actuatable valving member moveable between a closed position and at least two open positions, wherein the at least two open positions include 
 a first open position where product is dispensed at a first flow rate, and  
 a second open position where product is dispensed at a second flow rate different from the first flow rate; and  
   an outlet passage selectively communicable with at least a portion of an interior of the valve body,    wherein the valving member comprises a piston axially moveable inside the valve body between the closed position where the piston sealingly isolates said at least a portion of the interior of the valve body from the outlet passage and a position, chosen at least from the first and second open positions, where fluid communication is established between said at least a portion of the interior of the valve body and the outlet passage.    
     
     
         2 . The valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the valving member moves from the closed position to the second open position by passing through the first open position.  
     
     
         3 . The valve according to  claim 2 , wherein a flow rate of product from the valve changes gradually from the first flow rate to the second flow rate when the valving member moves between the first and second open positions.  
     
     
         4 . The valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve body comprises an internal surface defining at least one axially extending groove.  
     
     
         5 . The valve according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one axially extending groove has an angular width and a depth, at least one of the angular width and the depth of the at least one axially extending groove varying along an axis of movement of the valving member.  
     
     
         6 . The valve according to  claim 4 , wherein the piston comprises a peripheral portion facing the at least one axially extending groove when the piston is in a position chosen at least from said first and second open positions.  
     
     
         7 . The valve according to  claim 1 , wherein a flow rate of product from the valve changes in a stepwise manner from the first flow rate to the second flow rate when the valving member moves between the first and second open positions.  
     
     
         8 . The valve according to  claim 4 , wherein the internal surface defines a second axially extending groove separate from the at least one axially extending groove.  
     
     
         9 . The valve according to  claim 8 , wherein the piston comprises a peripheral portion facing, in the first open position, at least the at least one axially extending groove, and, in the second open position, at least the second axially extending groove.  
     
     
         10 . The valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the valving member comprises a valve stem at least partially emerging outside of the valve body, the valve stem comprising an axial duct passing therethrough, the axial duct comprising an outlet orifice and an inlet orifice, the axial duct opening to the outside of the valve via the outlet orifice, the inlet orifice being isolated from the interior of the valve body in the closed position.  
     
     
         11 . The valve according to  claim 10 , further comprising a sealing element in the valve body, wherein, in the closed position, the inlet orifice opens in a lateral direction facing the sealing element.  
     
     
         12 . The valve according to  claim 11 , wherein the sealing element comprises an annular seal.  
     
     
         13 . A dispenser, comprising: 
 a container configured to contain a pressurized product; and    the valve according to  claim 1  associated with the container.    
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a pressurized product contained in the container.    
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the product comprises a cosmetic product.  
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 15 , wherein the product comprises at least one of a hair product, a personal hygiene product, a make-up product, a skin care product, and a product affording protection against harmful effects of the sun.  
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 an actuating member configured to actuate the valve.    
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 17 , wherein the actuating member defines at least one dispensing orifice, the product being dispensed from the at least one dispensing orifice.  
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  claim 18 , wherein the actuating member is configured to impart a swirl effect on the product being dispensed.  
     
     
         20 . A method of dispensing product, comprising: 
 providing the dispenser of  claim 14 ,    actuating the valve to dispense an amount of product; and    directing the dispensed product onto a surface.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the surface comprises at least one of hair and skin.