Device for dispensing a product

Abstract

A device for packaging and dispensing, under pressure, a product is provided. The device can be particularly advantageous for cosmetic products and includes a container containing the product to be dispensed under pressure, a propellant in the form of a liquefied gas having a gaseous phase and a liquid phase, and at least one retaining member able to trap the liquid phase of the propellant. The retaining member includes at least one portion that is permeable to the gaseous phase of the propellant. A valve is associated with the container and includes a body that includes a first passage able, when the device is in a first position, to cause the product contained in the container to enter the valve body when the valve is actuated, and a second passage able, when the device is in the first position, to cause the propellant contained in gaseous form in the container to enter the valve body when the valve is actuated.

1 . A device for packaging and dispensing a product, under pressure, comprising: 
 (a) a container containing: 
 (i) a product to be dispensed under pressure;  
 (ii) a propellant in the form of a liquefied gas comprising a gaseous phase and a liquid phase;  
 (iii) at least one retaining member which at least partially traps the liquid phase of the propellant, said retaining member having at least one portion that is permeable to the gaseous phase of the said propellant;  
   (b) a valve coupled the container and which includes a body, the valve comprising: 
 (i) a first passage through which, when the device is in a first position, the product contained in the container enters the valve body when the valve is actuated;  
 (ii) a second passage through which, when the device is in the first position, the propellant contained in gaseous form in the container enters the valve body when the valve is actuated.  
   
   
   
       2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining member is configured to absorb all of the liquid phase of the propellant.  
   
   
       3 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first passage is connected to a dip tube.  
   
   
       4 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the propellant is chosen from the group consisting of butane, isopropane, isobutane, fluorinated compounds, particularly difluoroethane  152   a , tetrafluoroethane  134   a  and dimethylether.  
   
   
       5 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the propellant includes an alkane.  
   
   
       6 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the propellant/product weight ratio is between 10:1 and 1:1 inclusive.  
   
   
       7 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the propellant/product weight ratio is between 2:1 and 1:1 inclusive.  
   
   
       8 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining member comprises a porous material.  
   
   
       9 . A device according to  claim 8 , wherein the retaining member comprises a material the chemical nature of which allows it to absorb the propellant.  
   
   
       10 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining member comprises a material the chemical nature of which allows it to absorb the propellant.  
   
   
       11 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining member comprises fibres made of a polyamide material.  
   
   
       12 . A device according to  claim 11 , wherein the polyamide is Nylon@.  
   
   
       13 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein retaining member comprises a frit.  
   
   
       14 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining member comprises silicone.  
   
   
       15 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining member is in the form of a body that is free inside the container.  
   
   
       16 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining member is attached inside the container.  
   
   
       17 . A device according to  claim 16 , wherein the retaining member is attached to an internal wall of the container.  
   
   
       18 . A device according to  claim 16 , wherein the retaining member is attached to a bottom wall of the container.  
   
   
       19 . A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the retaining member is attached to the dip tube.  
   
   
       20 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second passage comprises an orifice in a sidewall of the valve body.  
   
   
       21 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second passage has a diameter of from 0.1 to 0.5 mm.  
   
   
       22 . A device according to  claim 21 , wherein the diameter is from 0.2 to 0.4 mm.  
   
   
       23 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve is configured to be actuated by a pressing movement.  
   
   
       24 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve is configured to be actuated by a tilting movement.  
   
   
       25 . A device according to  claim 1 , including an actuating member for actuating the valve to dispense the product under pressure via at least one dispensing orifice.  
   
   
       26 . A device according to  claim 25 , wherein a swirl nozzle is associated with said actuating member and said at least one dispensing orifice is situated inside said swirl nozzle.  
   
   
       27 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is made of aluminium or of tinplate.  
   
   
       28 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of a deodorant spray, a makeup product, and a product to be applied to the hair.  
   
   
       29 . A device according to  claim 28 , wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of a foundation and a hair styling product.  
   
   
       30 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein when the device is in a second position and the valve is actuated, the product contained in the container enters the valve body through the second passage and the propellant in gaseous form enters the valve body through the first passage.  
   
   
       31 . A device according to  claim 30 , wherein the second position is an inverted position with respect to said first position.  
   
   
       32 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said first passage is in communication with a dip tube which extends to a lower region of said container, and wherein said second passage is in communication with an upper region of said container.  
   
   
       33 . A device according to  claim 32 , wherein said retaining member is disposed within said product in said container.  
   
   
       34 . A device according to  claim 33 , wherein said retaining member releases said propellant and said propellant passes through said product to enter an upper region of said container when said container is in an upright position and said propellant is retained in said upper region of said container in a gaseous state.  
   
   
       35 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said retaining member is disposed within said product in said container.  
   
   
       36 . A device according to  claim 35 , wherein said retaining member releases said propellant and said propellant passes through said product to enter an upper region of said container when said container is in an upright position and said propellant is retained in said upper region of said container in a gaseous state.  
   
   
       37 . A device according to  claim 36 , wherein said propellant is in contact with said product as the propellant passes through the product while traveling from the retaining member to the upper region of the container.  
   
   
       38 . A device according to  claim 37 , wherein said second passage is in communication with said upper region of said container such that the propellant in the gaseous state passes from the upper region of the container into the valve body by way of the second passage, and wherein the first position of said device is said upright position.