WO2014049287A1 - Liquid spraying device - Google Patents

Description

 LIQUID SPRAY DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

 The invention relates to the field of liquid sprayers and more specifically very small sprayers. These include the ability to integrate such sprays in objects such as jewelry or other small accessories. In some cases, it seeks to hide or conceal such a sprayer so that the object maintains an aesthetic appearance while giving it a spray function. STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

In US 6 123 228 discloses a ring for spraying a liquid contained in a removable refill integrated into the most visible and voluminous part of the ring, more exactly in its decor. Pressing a button outside the general shape of the ring, can spray the liquid outside the ring. Only one spray is possible here, after which it is necessary to change the cartridge. This is not very satisfactory for the user who must change the cartridge very frequently. Moreover, the mechanism disclosed is complex, with small pieces that are fragile and therefore easily breakable. [0003] US 2006/0219742 or US Pat. No. 4,972,684 show bracelets incorporating perfume refills disposed in an annular portion; the spray heads extend well beyond the perfume tank and can be discovered by a removable cap or by a portion of the ring forming the bracelet. The miniaturization of these sprayers is not possible, especially for rings. In addition, it is noted that the dip tube opens into the head along its main axis which constitutes a certain size. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

 The invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the state of the art and in particular to provide a liquid spray device that allows a number of successive spraying before being reloaded, while being of very small size.

To do this is proposed according to a first aspect of the invention a liquid spray device comprising a pump mounted on a liquid reservoir, and a dip tube associated with said pump, wherein the mechanism of said pump is partially immersed . More specifically, the mechanism of said pump comprises a submerged chamber, a resilient element partially immersed and resting on said chamber, a piston cooperating with the spring and partially immersed, a non-submerged pusher cooperating with the elastic element. Such an arrangement optimizes the volume occupied by the device which can thus be part of a small accessory, in a very discreet manner. In addition, the fact that part of the sprayer is immersed links the venturi principle to the volume of liquid under pressure, and thus increases the reliability thereof. The term "immersed" means when the tank is full or almost full of liquid.

In addition the dip tube opens into the mechanism of the pump perpendicular to the main axis of said mechanism. This unusual arrangement allows a space saving quite interesting.

According to the variant considered, said dip tube opens into the chamber or into an adjacent submerged volume.

Advantageously, said dip tube has a bend. Without departing from the scope of the invention, the reservoir has a shape adapted to that of the pump and / or the size of the dip tube. This arrangement allows aspiration of all the liquid, to the last drop. The useful volume is thus optimized. According to one embodiment of the invention, the spray device is intended to be integrated into an accessory. It is then as a separate and removable device vis-à-vis the accessory for which it is provided. It can be of the disposable type and constitute a refill of liquid. According to another embodiment of the invention, the spray device is part of an accessory. The tank is then fully integrated with the accessory and the spray head, which exceeds slightly, is easily concealed in the body (or volume) of the accessory.

By accessory we mean multiple objects such as rings, watches, bracelets, pendants ... etc.

Advantageously, the device according to the invention may further comprise a liquid reservoir refilling means, mounted on a specific opening of said reservoir.

In this case, the device further comprises a syringe functionally adapted to the charging system. Thus the user can easily fill himself the tank, with the liquid of his choice.

As an illustration, the charging system may comprise a ball resting on one end of a spring housed at its other end in a cavity coinciding with said specific opening, and a removable closure cap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

 Other features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrate: FIG. 1, an exploded view of part of the device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3, a side view of a device according to the invention; Figure 4, a longitudinal section of a device according to another embodiment of the invention;

 Figure 5, an exploded view of a portion of the device according to a second embodiment of the invention;

 Figure 6 is a general view of a device according to the second embodiment of the invention;

 Figure 7 is a diagram showing the respective arrangement of the spray head and the liquid level;

- Figure 8, a partial side view of the invention, showing the charging system;

 Figure 9 is a general view of the device according to the invention;

 FIG. 10, a view of a device according to the invention integrated in an object; Figure 1 1, a longitudinal section of a syringe;

- Figure 12, a view of the syringe in position.

For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs throughout the figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

 Figure 1 shows by exploded the main components of a pump 1 forming part of a spray device according to the invention. The other essential element, namely the tank 2, will be described in more detail in connection with the other figures. Figure 2 shows the same pump in the operating state.

The pump 1 or more precisely its mechanism here comprises a sprinkler button or push 1 1 intended firstly to the styling and secondly to be in contact with a finger of the user for a push along the longitudinal axis XX of said mechanism. Of course, the pusher 1 1 has a liquid expulsion port and an associated plunger (not referenced). In direct contact with the inner face of the pusher 1 1 is provided a piston 12 of axis XX which cooperates with an elastic element such as a compression spring 13 itself in contact with the pusher January 1 on the one hand and a chamber 14 on the other. The shape of the chamber 14 is such that the spring 13 rests on its inner surface perpendicular to the axis XX and is housed inside its inner cylindrical surface. Moreover, the chamber 14 has an axial abutment for the piston 12. According to a first embodiment of the invention, the chamber 14 has an extension 15, here of spherical shape, into which a plunger tube 16 opens.

Interestingly, and as shown in Figure 7, the chamber 14 and its extension 15 and the plunger tube 16 are totally immersed in the liquid tank when the latter is completely filled with liquid. Under these same conditions, the elastic element 13 and the piston 12 are partially immersed while the sprinkler button 1 1 is not immersed. In FIG. 7, the level L of the liquid corresponds to a maximum filling level of the tank 2.

The dip tube 16 opens either directly into the chamber 14, as shown in Figure 5, or in its extension 15 as shown in Figures 1, 2 or 7. In any case it opens out perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. XX of the pump mechanism 1. This aspect reduces the size of the pump along the axis XX.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the plunger tube 16 has a bend 160 so that its second end opens out at one end of the associated reservoir 2.

The tank 2 is shown schematically in particular in Figures 3, 4 and 6. It has a specific form, here adapted for use on a ring or other element of similar shape. The pump 1 is fixed in known manner on the reservoir 2, for example by depressing the outer surface of the chamber 14 on an opening of the reservoir 2; a stop forming a shoulder makes it possible to wedge the pump 1 on the tank 2 along the axis XX. Pumping the liquid in the reservoir 2 can be operated in a conventional manner. Advantageously, the dimensions of the tank 2 allow a maximum number of sprinkles; moreover, its shape and the arrangement of the dip tube 16 allow liquid suction to the last drop. As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 6 in particular, the free end of the plunger tube 16 coincides with a kind of tip of the reservoir 2. If the axis XX is vertical, then the tip of the reservoir corresponds to the lowest part of the reservoir. so that the free end of the plunger tube 16 is in contact with the liquid, to the last drop. As an illustration, for a tank having a capacity of about one milliliter, about 50 sprinkles can be operated before emptying the tank. This is a characteristic of the invention that is both very interesting and innovative.

FIG. 5 relates to an embodiment of the invention according to which the plunger tube 16 opens directly into chamber 14 and not into an extension 15. As already stated, this configuration makes it possible to optimize the space occupied by the device by reducing its dimension along the axis XX.

Figures 3 and 6 show a device that can be dissociated and integrated into an accessory. In other words, such a device can be a liquid refill, which the user detaches from the accessory, for example when it finds that it is empty of liquid; the user can also detach the refill if he wishes to replace it with another containing a different liquid.

Without departing from the scope of the invention, the tank 2 may be an integral part of an accessory; the shape of the latter then comprises the shape of the tank 2. [0030] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a system or means of refilling 3 of the reservoir 2 in liquid. The means 3 is mounted on a specific opening (not referenced) of the tank 2. It comprises for example a safety ball 31 supported by an elastic element such as a spring intended to move away from the specific opening when it s It acts to fill the reservoir 2. A cylindrical protrusion threaded 32 partially houses the ball 31 and cooperates with a cap The specific opening and the means 3 for recharging are preferably arranged on the same face of the tank as the pump 1, for reasons of practicality and functionality.

When it is desired to fill the reservoir 2, the cap 33 is unscrewed and then a syringe 4 is placed on the protrusion 32. Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a syringe likely to be suitable, and its positioning on the refilling means 3. The syringe 4 is for example of the piston type and it makes it possible both to move the safety ball 31 away, but also to direct the liquid it contains towards the specific orifice of the reservoir 2. The syringe will not be described in detail because known in itself. Any technically equivalent mechanism can be used without departing from the scope of the invention. The capacity of the syringe will advantageously correspond to that of the reservoir 2. The dimensioning of the constituent elements of the invention will result from the choice of the skilled person, depending on the intended application. The reservoir can be made of any rigid or semi-rigid material, opaque or transparent. The skilled person will choose this material, its characteristics, its thickness and all other parameters depending on the intended application. Moreover, the recharging means may or may not be present on the reservoir.

Claims

1. Liquid spray device comprising a pump mounted on a liquid reservoir, and a dip tube associated with said pump characterized in that the mechanism of said pump is partially immersed, in that the dip tube opens into the mechanism of the pump perpendicular to the main axis of said mechanism and in that said reservoir has a shape adapted to that of the pump and / or to the size of the dip tube, able to spray the liquid in its entirety.  2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the mechanism of said pump comprises a submerged chamber, a resilient element partially immersed and resting on said chamber, a piston cooperating with the elastic element and partially immersed, a non-submerged pusher cooperating with the elastic element.  3. Device according to claim 2 characterized in that said dip tube opens into the chamber or into an adjacent immersed volume.  4. Device according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that said dip tube has a bend. 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that its outer shape is intended to be integrated in an accessory. 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that it further comprises a liquid tank refilling means, mounted on a specific opening of said reservoir. 7. Device according to the preceding claim characterized in that it comprises a syringe functionally adapted to said charging system.  8. Device according to claim 6 or claim 7 characterized in that said recharging system comprises a ball resting on one end of a spring housed at its other end in a cavity coinciding with said specific opening, and a removable closure cap .  9. Accessory incorporating a spray device according to any one of the preceding claims.