Powder dispenser

Abstract

A powder dispenser comprising a powder reservoir (R) containing powder and air, the powder reservoir (R) being provided with pressure means (21) able to increase the pressure of the air inside the powder reservoir (R), the powder dispenser also being provided with a dispensing outlet (14) arranged along a vertical dispensing axis (X) below the powder reservoir (R), so that the powder is dispensed by gravity during the actuation of the pressure means (21), characterized in that the dispensing outlet (14) comprises a siphon (140) forming a filling duct (141), a metering cup (144) and a dispensing duct (147).

Description

Powder dispenser

[0001] The present invention relates to a powder dispenser that delivers powder by gravity. This type of dispenser generally comprises a powder reservoir containing powder and air, the powder reservoir being provided with pressure means capable of increasing the air pressure inside the powder reservoir, the powder dispenser further being provided with a distribution outlet arranged along a vertical distribution axis below the powder reservoir, so that the powder is distributed by gravity when the pressure means are actuation.

[0002] Such a powder dispenser is notably described in US patent 2718987, in which the powder reservoir is deformable by manual compression, thereby pressurizing the air inside. This dispenser also includes a dispensing outlet in the form of a chamber communicating with the powder reservoir through large side windows and a small central hole. The chamber communicates with the outside through a small central dispensing orifice. This powder dispenser can be used with the reservoir positioned above the dispensing outlet, by compressing the reservoir to pressurize the air inside, which then forces the powder through the chamber. The powder is thus expelled through the small central dispensing orifice as a cloud of powder.

[0003] The dispenser described in US2718987 is specifically designed to spray fine powders, such as talcum powder. It cannot dispense coarser powders, such as detergents or powdered shampoo. This would require enlarging the diameter of the small central dispensing orifice, but this would result in a continuous flow, which would be considered an unacceptable leak.

[0004] The present invention aims to design a powder dispenser suitable for distributing all kinds of powders, including coarse powders.

[0005] To this end, the present invention proposes a powder dispenser comprising a powder reservoir containing powder and air. The powder reservoir is equipped with pressure means for increasing the air pressure inside the powder reservoir. The powder dispenser is further provided with a distribution outlet arranged along a vertical distribution axis below the powder reservoir, such that the powder is distributed by gravity when the pressure means are actuated. The dispenser is characterized in that the distribution outlet comprises a siphon forming a filling conduit, a dosing cup, and a distribution conduit. A siphon is understood to be a convoluted path comprising two substantially vertical descending sections connected by an ascending section, thus imposing a change of direction.In other words, the powder descends by gravity, then flows against gravity before finally falling back out of the dispenser by gravity. The powder's path follows a horizontal S-shape. Thanks to this siphon, the powder's gravity flow is stopped at the point where it needs to change direction. It is the air pressure exerted on the powder when the pressure mechanism is activated that forces the powder to flow through the siphon.

[0006] It should be noted that the siphon passage sections can be large and in any case much larger than that of the small central distribution orifice of the dispenser in document US2718987.

[0007] Advantageously, the filling conduit feeds the dosing cup by gravity with powder from the powder reservoir, with the powder reservoir positioned along the vertical distribution axis above the distribution outlet.

[0008] According to a very interesting feature of the invention, the dosing cup can define an upper edge of overflow or spillage, so that the powder from the filling conduit remains inside the dosing cup, when the pressure means are not actuated, with the powder reservoir arranged along the vertical distribution axis above the distribution outlet.

[0009] It should be noted that the actuation of the pressure means evacuates the powder from the dosing cup over the upper overflow edge, the powder falling by gravity through the distribution conduit, with the powder reservoir always positioned along the vertical distribution axis above the distribution outlet.

[0010] It can be noted that the loading of the dosing cup by gravity and the distribution of the powder by actuation of the pressure means are both carried out with the powder reservoir positioned along the vertical distribution axis above the distribution outlet, without turning the powder distributor over.

[0011] In one embodiment, the siphon can be made as a single piece. 3D printing is applicable. However, conventional molding processes are not applicable, or at least very difficult to implement, due to the siphon's complex shape.

[0012] According to a more practical embodiment, the siphon can be made in at least two pieces and preferably in two pieces.

[0013] According to a first version, the siphon can comprise two parts, each forming half of the filling conduit, half of the dosing cup, and half of the dispensing conduit. The two parts are advantageously assembled along an axis perpendicular to the vertical dispensing axis. Advantageously, the powder reservoir comprises a reservoir body, with the two assembled parts forming the siphon engaged in the reservoir body along the vertical dispensing axis. The two parts can be substantially mirror-image, so that each forms half a siphon. They can be assembled by any means, such as welding, gluing, snap-fitting, a male / female connection, etc.

[0014] According to a second version, the filling conduit can be formed by an upper part, while the dosing cup and dispensing conduit are formed by a lower part, the two parts advantageously being assembled along the vertical dispensing axis. Advantageously, the lower part is a fixed portion of a hood that forms the dosing cup and dispensing conduit, the hood also defining a movable portion that selectively closes the dispensing conduit and is advantageously connected to the fixed portion. In this version, the hood is used to form part of the siphon.

[0015] According to another aspect of the invention, the pressure means may include an elastically deformable membrane located at the top of the powder reservoir, opposite the dispensing outlet.

[0016] The filling conduit may include a rounded or partially cylindrical wall, which defines a lower free edge arranged axially vertically to the dosing cup.

[0017] The dosing cup may include a rounded or partially cylindrical wall, which defines the upper overflow or spillage edge, which gives into the distribution conduit.

[0018] The siphon can be in the form of a cylinder in which the two rounded or partially cylindrical walls extend.

[0019] The essence of the invention lies in the use of a siphon at the dispensing outlet to retain the powder, which is then expelled from the siphon by air from the pressurized reservoir, activated by the pressure means. The dispenser of the invention does not need to be inverted or reversed, either to load or empty the siphon. The dispenser of the invention can be used with the reservoir always positioned above the siphon.

[0020] The invention will now be described in greater detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, giving by way of non-limiting examples, three embodiments of the invention.

[0021] In the figures:

[0022] This is a vertical cross-sectional view through a powder dispenser according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0023] This is a cut-out perspective view showing the lower part of the powder dispenser.

[0024] This is a cut-out perspective view showing a powder dispenser according to a second embodiment of the invention,

[0025] This is a perspective view cut along another axis showing the lower part of the powder dispenser.

[0026] This is a vertical cross-sectional view through a powder dispenser according to a third embodiment of the invention, and

[0027] This is a perspective view cut out of the lower part of the powder dispenser.

[0028] Reference will first be made to Figures 1 and 2 to describe in detail the first embodiment of the invention. This powder dispenser comprises four distinct parts: a body 1, an actuating element 2, a retaining ring 3, and a cover 4. The actuating element 2, the ring 3, and the cover 4 can be made by injection molding of a suitable plastic material. The body 1 can be made by 3D printing. The powder dispenser defines a vertical dispensing axis X, which extends through the actuating element 2, the body 1, and the cover 4.

[0029] The body 1 defines a reservoir body 11, a threaded neck 12 disposed at the upper end of the reservoir body 11, a funnel 13, and a dispensing outlet 14, which is critical to the invention. Indeed, this dispensing outlet 14 defines a siphon 140, through which the powder will follow a convoluted path. In more detail, this siphon 140 forms a filling conduit 141 directly downstream of the funnel 13, a dosing cup 144 directly downstream of the filling conduit 141, and a distribution conduit 147 directly downstream of the dosing cup 144. In further detail, the siphon 140 has a general cylindrical configuration, inside of which extend two walls 142 and 145. The first wall 142 partially defines the filling conduit and extends here in a rounded or partially cylindrical manner from the outlet of the funnel 13 towards the inside of the dosing cup 144.It can be observed that the free end edge 143 of the wall 142 is positioned axially above the dosing cup 144. The second wall 145 extends upwards with a rounded or partially cylindrical shape. This wall 145 defines an upper overflow edge 146, which is located near the lower free edge 143 of the first wall 142. However, a flow passage remains between these two edges 143 and 146, which leads into the distribution conduit 147. In Figure 1, it is clearer that the walls 142 and 145 have a rounded or partially cylindrical configuration, with opposite orientations. The lower free edge 143 of the first wall 142 is positioned to the right of the vertical distribution axis X in Figure 1, while the upper overflow edge 146 is positioned to the left of this axis X.

[0030] We can already understand that the powder from the funnel 13 will pass through the filling conduit 143 to fall by gravity into the dosing cup 144, before flowing over the upper overflow edge 146 and finally falling by gravity through the distribution conduit 147. We will come back to this later.

[0031] The actuating element 2 is preferably made of an elastically deformable material. It comprises a cylindrical mounting skirt 22 surmounted by an elastically deformable dome-shaped membrane 21. The actuating element 2 is held in place by a screw-on ring 3, which engages with the threaded neck 12 of the body 1. The assembly is not only leak-proof but also removable, allowing the dispenser to be refilled with powder. This actuating element 2, located at the top of the dispenser, together with the reservoir body 11, defines an internal volume that can be described as the fluid product reservoir R. This reservoir R also extends through the funnel 13 and communicates directly with the dispensing outlet 14, which incorporates the siphon 140 described earlier.By axial pressure on the membrane 21, the air contained in the reservoir R is pressurized, so as to push the powder it contains through the distribution outlet 14.

[0032] The hood component 4 comprises a fixed portion 41 mounted on the body 1 and a movable portion 45 which is attached to the fixed portion 41 by a hinge 40. The fixed portion 41 defines a mounting sleeve 42 threaded into the body 1, as well as a lip 43 extending inside the distribution outlet 14 to create a seal between the fixed portion 41 and the body 1. The movable portion 45 includes a needle 46 designed to engage tightly with the inside of the lip 43. This is a very standard configuration for a hood component. The user can therefore, as desired, close the distribution outlet 14 by folding the movable portion 45 onto the fixed portion 41 or, conversely, open the distribution outlet 14 by pivoting the movable portion 45 relative to the fixed portion 41.

[0033] Regarding the use of this powder dispenser, we will start with a powder reservoir R that is partially or completely filled with powder. In practice, the user will fill the reservoir body 11 and stop before the threaded neck 12 in order to be able to reattach the actuating part 2 using its threaded ring 3. Therefore, some air remains inside the powder reservoir R, which can be pressurized by deforming the elastically deformable diaphragm 21, as previously described. When this membrane 21 is at rest, with the powder reservoir R positioned axially above the distribution outlet 14, the powder is subject to gravity and thus flows through the funnel 13 and then through the filling conduit 141 to fill the dosing cup 144. Due to the particular arrangement of the two edges 143 and 146, the powder remains inside the cup 144 without flowing over or beyond the upper discharge edge 146.Therefore, there is no powder distribution in the resting state. On the other hand, as soon as the user pushes the membrane 21 inside the skirt 22, the air contained in the reservoir R increases in pressure and pushes the powder it contains downwards, so that the powder contained in the dosing cup 144 is forced to flow by overflow into the distribution conduit 147 and then through the lip 43.

[0034] The siphon 140 therefore acts as a means of retention in the rest state, keeping the powder in the dosing cup 144 and as a winding distribution path when the air in the reservoir R is pressurized.

[0035] Of course, it is possible to adjust or vary the behavior of the siphon 140 by playing with the relative positioning of the two edges 143 and 146, more or less separated or more or less offset with respect to the X-axis. One can even imagine a configuration in which the lower edge 143 is positioned axially below the upper overflow edge 146. In other words, this lower edge 143 could be positioned inside the cup 144.

[0036] This first embodiment is characterized by the fact that the 140 siphon is made as a single piece. This is achievable with certain techniques, such as 3D printing, but is very difficult to achieve with traditional injection / molding techniques.

[0037] Reference will now be made to Figures 3 and 4 to describe the second embodiment of the invention. The actuating member 2, the screw-on ring 3, and the cover member 4' may be substantially or perfectly identical to those of the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2. The body 1' comprises a reservoir body 11' and a tube 15, the function of which will be described below. The difference from the first embodiment lies in the fact that the funnel and the distribution outlet incorporating the siphon are formed by two parts 5a and 5b, which, once assembled, are axially engaged inside the body 1'. These two parts 5a and 5b are substantially identical by mirror symmetry. Only their assembly means require a male / female configuration. In Figure 1, only one of the two parts 5a is visible, whereas in Figure 2, both parts 5a and 5b are visible.The two parts 5a and 5b define a vertical joining plane, so they are assembled along an axis that is perpendicular to the vertical distribution axis X. This is very clear from the diagram. Each part 5a and 5b forms two assembly fins 53, which are the only different elements, since two fins 53 form two holes, while the other two fins 53 of the other part form two pins that can be inserted into the holes. Apart from this difference, the two parts 5a and 5b are completely identical by mirror symmetry. Together they form the funnel 52, which is here surmounted by a stabilizing cylinder 51, which engages with the tank body 11'. Below the funnel 52, the two parts 5a and 5b together form the distribution outlet 54 and its integrated siphon 540, which are axially engaged inside the tubing 15 of the body 1'.Each part 5a, 5b forms half of the upper wall 542 and half of the lower wall 545. Thus, each part 5a, 5b forms half of the filling conduit 541, half of the dosing cup 544 and half of the distribution conduit 547. When the two parts 5a, 5b are assembled, the siphon 540 that they form together can be substantially or perfectly identical to the siphon 140 of the first embodiment of Figures 1 and 2.

[0038] As for the hood part 4', it differs simply in that the fixed portion 41 does not extend inside the distribution conduit 547, but stops before it. Consequently, the sealing pin 46 engages directly inside the two parts 5a and 5b to seal the distribution outlet.

[0039] This embodiment can be considered preferred, since the two parts 5a and 5b are easy to manufacture by injection molding and easily assembled by simply placing them on top of each other. Furthermore, mounting the two assembled parts 5a and 5b is straightforward, as they simply need to be inserted along the vertical distribution axis X inside the tank body 1' before mounting the actuating part 2 and the screw-on ring 3.

[0040] Reference will now be made to Figures 5 and 6 to describe the third embodiment of the invention. This third embodiment is characterized by the fact that the dispensing outlet 14" with its integrated siphon 140" is formed jointly by the body 1" and the cover piece 4". The reservoir body 11, the actuating piece 2, and the screw-on piece 3 may be substantially or exactly identical to those of the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2. The funnel 13" is also formed by the body 1", as are the first wall 142 and the filling conduit 141. Conversely, the second wall 432 with its upper overflow edge 433 is formed by the fixed portion 41" of the cover piece 4". Consequently, the dosing cup 431 is formed by the fixed portion 41". The same applies to the dispensing conduit 434.More specifically, we can see that the fixed part 41'' forms a cylindrical section 43'' engaged inside the distribution outlet 14''. The second wall 432 forming the upper edge of the overflow 433 is formed inside this cylindrical section 43''.

[0041] Thus, we can say that the two walls 142 and 432 are formed by two separate pieces that are attached one on top of the other. In this embodiment, the fixed part 41'' is attached to the body 1'' along the vertical distribution axis X.

[0042] In the three embodiments described above, whether the siphon is made as a single unit or by assembling two parts, it has a substantially identical or similar configuration. The two walls of the siphon define volumes that form the filling conduit, the dosing cup, and the dispensing conduit. The powder falls by gravity through the filling conduit into the dosing cup, where it remains until the diaphragm 21 is actuated. But as soon as the user depresses the diaphragm 21, the pressurized air acts on the powder contained in the reservoir, so that the powder is forced out of the dosing cup over the upper overflow edge and finally falls by gravity through the dispensing conduit.

[0043] Without departing from the scope of the invention, the actuating part 2 could be replaced by an axially movable piston or even by a deformable wall of the tank body. Generally speaking, the actuating part constitutes a pressure-generating means for pressurizing the air in the tank.

[0044] Thanks to the invention, a powder dispenser is available that can be used without having to be inverted. The powder is held in place by the siphon when at rest, but allows powder to flow out once the air in the reservoir is pressurized.

Claims

Powder dispenser comprising a powder reservoir (R; R'; R'') containing powder and air, the powder reservoir (R; R'; R'') being provided with pressure means (21) capable of increasing the air pressure inside the powder reservoir (R; R'; R''), the powder dispenser further being provided with a distribution outlet (14; 54; 14'') arranged along a vertical distribution axis (X) below the powder reservoir (R; R'; R''), so that the powder is distributed by gravity, upon actuation of the pressure means (21), characterized in that the distribution outlet (14; 54; 14'') comprises a siphon (140; 540; 140'') forming a filling conduit (141; 541; 141), a metering cup (144; 544; 431) and a distribution conduit (147; 547; 434). Powder dispenser according to claim 1, in which the filling conduit (141; 541; 141) feeds by gravity the dosing cup (144; 544; 431) with powder from the powder reservoir (R; R'; R''), with the powder reservoir (R; R'; R'') disposed along the vertical distribution axis (X) above the distribution outlet (14; 54; 14''). Powder dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the metering cup (144; 544; 431) defines an upper overflow edge (146; 546; 433), such that the powder from the filling conduit (141; 541; 141) remains inside the metering cup (144; 544; 431), when the pressure means (21) are not actuated, with the powder reservoir (R; R'; R'') disposed along the vertical distribution axis (X) above the distribution outlet (14; 54; 14''). Powder dispenser according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the actuation of the pressure means (21) evacuates the powder from the metering cup (144; 544; 431) over the upper overflow edge (146; 546; 433), the powder falling by gravity through the distribution conduit (147; 547; 434), with the powder reservoir (R; R'; R'') always disposed along the vertical distribution axis (X) above the distribution outlet (14; 54; 14''). Powder dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the loading of the metering cup (144; 544; 431) and the distribution of the powder by actuation of the pressure means (21) are both carried out with the powder reservoir (R; R'; R'') disposed along the vertical distribution axis above the distribution outlet (14; 54; 14''), without reversing the powder dispenser. Powder dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the siphon (140) is made in a single piece. Powder dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the siphon (540; 140'') is made in at least two pieces (5a, 5b; 1'', 41''). Powder dispenser according to claim 7, in which the siphon (540) comprises two parts (5a, 5b) each forming half of the filling conduit (541), half of the dosing cup (544) and half of the distribution conduit (547), the two parts (5a, 5b) being advantageously assembled along an assembly axis perpendicular to the vertical distribution axis (X). Powder dispenser according to claim 8, in which the powder reservoir (R') comprises a reservoir body (1'), the two assembled parts (5a, 5b) forming the siphon (540) being engaged in the reservoir body (1') along the vertical distribution axis (X). Powder dispenser according to claim 7, in which the filling channel (141) is formed by an upper part (1''), the dosing cup (431) and the distribution channel (434) being formed by a lower part (41''), the two parts (1'', 41'') being advantageously assembled along the vertical distribution axis (X). Powder dispenser claim 10, wherein the lower part (41'') is a fixed part of a hood part (4'') forming the metering cup (431) and the distribution channel (434), the hood part (4'') also defining a movable part (45) selectively closing the distribution channel (434) and advantageously connected to the fixed part (41''). Powder dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pressure means comprise an elastically deformable diaphragm (21) located at the top of the powder reservoir (R; R'; R''), opposite the dispensing outlet (14; 54; 14'').

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