EP2859956A1 - Device for producing foam cream - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for producing foam cream adapted to be mounted on a rigid reservoir (12) of foamable liquid (4) comprising a liquid supply duct (1), a mixing chamber (2) at least one anti-return device (3a, 3b) arranged in the mixing chamber (2), an air supply duct (50), a foam reserve (7), at least one stirring element (6) disposed between the mixing chamber (2) and the foam reserve (7), a pumping means and an outlet duct (9).

Description

The present invention relates to the field of foam production devices by hand pumps operating with a non-deformable container containing a mixture of foaming liquid. The present invention relates more particularly to a device for producing foam cream.

A problem arises, in the field of foam production devices, when said device is of large size and is inserted inside a tank. The problem is that the air inlet of the device is placed away from the tank neck downwards. Indeed, if the liquid tank to be foamed is completely filled, the air inlet may be immersed in the liquid preventing air from entering the device. Therefore, when filling the tank, remember to leave a sufficient volume of air so that the air inlet is not in contact with the foaming liquid and can perform its function. This has the disadvantage of not being able to fill the tank with liquid completely and therefore to be obliged to provide a tank larger than the volume of liquid.

US patents US 4,147,306 and US 4,156,505 have deformable reservoir foam producing apparatus in which the foam is produced when the reservoir is deformed by compression. In these devices, the mixing chamber is above the opening of the tank and the air inlet is made by means of holes at the end of the tank. However, this solution does not allow to incorporate the device inside the tank. Indeed, when the device is large, the air inlet is immersed in the liquid, preventing air from entering the device. This solution therefore makes it necessary to leave the foam production device outside the tank which leads to a device high enough and therefore not very aesthetic or with a tank of small capacity if we want to keep an acceptable size for the device.

The US patent application US 204/060945 has a foam dispenser comprising a deformable reservoir, a housing, and a movable chamber within the housing. When the user presses or releases the reservoir, a deformable annular member is compressed or released by the movable chamber allowing air to flow from the outside of the reservoir inwardly or to flow from the interior of the reservoir to the inside of the chamber through the free space between the moving chamber and the housing of greater diameter. However, this solution can not be applied to the foam dispenser having a non-deformable reservoir. Indeed, the pressure exerted by the pumping means is much lower than when a user presses a deformable reservoir. The pumping means would not allow to compress the annular piece. The air would not enter the room and only the liquid would be pumped.

Another solution proposed by the prior art consists of a tank with a neck having the same height as the body of the foam producing device. As a result, the air inlet is not immersed in the liquid to be lathered. A disadvantage of this solution is a tank having a neck high enough and therefore not very aesthetic.

In this context, it is interesting to propose a solution.

The object of the present invention is to overcome certain disadvantages of the prior art by proposing a device for producing foam cream that does not require leaving a large volume of air in the tank and thus making it possible to fill the tank almost completely.

This object is achieved by a device for producing foam cream that can be mounted on a rigid reservoir of liquid to be foamed, comprising a liquid supply duct, a mixing chamber, at least one anti-return device arranged in the chamber. of mixing, at least one air supply duct opening into the mixing chamber, a volume constituting a reserve of foam in communication with the mixing chamber and with an outlet duct, on the one hand, minus a stirring element arranged between the mixing chamber and the foam reserve, a pumping means.

According to another feature, the air supply duct is formed by the space between two walls, one comprising at least a part of the wall of the mixing chamber and an air inlet and the second wall being different. from the wall of the foaming liquid tank.

In another feature, the air supply duct is formed by a groove formed in a part of the body of the device.

In another feature, at least one air supply duct is formed by a channel molded into the body of the device.

According to another feature, at least one air supply duct is formed by a tube running along at least a portion of the wall of the device, connecting an air inlet to the ambient air in a region close to an opening of the foaming liquid tank.

According to another feature, one or more stirring elements are arranged in the mixing chamber.

According to another feature, the device comprises at least one filter element between the foam reserve and one end of the outlet duct.

According to another feature, the device according to the invention comprises an anti-return device between the foam reserve and an end of the outlet duct.

According to another feature, the device according to the invention comprises an anti-return device between the mixing chamber and the foam reserve.

According to another feature, at least a portion of the wall of the foam reserve of the device is deformable.

According to another feature, the device comprises a device for blocking the pumping means.

According to another feature, the device of the air inlet (s) have a cross section determined according to the cross section of the liquid supply duct to be foamed.

According to another feature, the pumping means is constituted by the outlet duct, one end of which penetrates into the volume of the foam reserve and is integral with a movable part in the volume of the foam reserve.

According to another feature, the pumping means is a bellows located above an anti-return device and the outlet conduit disposed at the periphery of the non-return device.

According to another particular feature, the device for producing foam cream is held on one end of the reservoir by means of a cap screwed or clipped onto said reservoir, said stopper being pierced so as to allow the outlet duct to pass and slide. .

• la figure 1a, représente une vue de coupe d'un exemple de réalisation du dispositif de production de crème de mousse monté sur un réservoir de liquide à faire mousser.
• la figure 1b représente des vues de coupe d'exemples de réalisation d'un conduit d'alimentation en air.
• les figures 2a, 2b et 3 représentent une vue de coupe de variantes de réalisation du dispositif de production de crème de mousse suivant l'invention.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the description below, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• the figure 1a , represents a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the foam cream production device mounted on a tank of liquid to be foamed.
• the figure 1b represents sectional views of exemplary embodiments of an air supply duct.
• the Figures 2a, 2b and 3 represent a sectional view of alternative embodiments of the foam cream production device according to the invention.

The invention will now be described with reference to the figures mentioned above.

The figures 1a , 2a , 2b and 3 show examples of embodiment of the device according to the invention. The figure 2b represents the device, illustrated figure 2a in which the pumping means is compressed. The manual device is intended to be mounted on a rigid, non-deformable reservoir (12) of liquid to be foamed (4). The assembly may, for example, be made by screwing, as in the example of the figure 1a , by clipping, or by snapping as illustrated figure 3 . The figure 3 shows an embodiment in which the device has a male element (15) snap in a groove of the reservoir (12). According to an alternative embodiment, the device for producing foam cream rests on the lip of one end of the reservoir (12). A seal may, for example, be inserted between the end of the reservoir (12) and the foam cream producing device so as to seal. The device for producing foam cream is held on one end of the reservoir (12), for example and without limitation, the neck, by means of a plug (13) for example screwed, clipped or snapped onto the tank (12). The plug may be pierced so as to allow the outlet duct (9) to pass and to allow it to slide. According to another embodiment this plug (13) may also be clipped on a lip of the foam cream production device.

The figure 1a shows an exemplary embodiment in which a reservoir (12) of non-deformable foaming liquid (4) is closed by a foam cream production device according to the invention.

The device comprises a liquid supply pipe (1), one end of which is immersed in the liquid to be foamed and the other end is in communication with a mixing chamber (2). This conduit (1) may be formed for example and without limitation, by a dip tube whose one end, forming the inlet of the conduit, is disposed in the bottom of the tank (12) of liquid to be foamed (4). The other end forming the outlet of the liquid supply duct (1) is embedded in the mixing chamber (2) of the device. The end immersed in the liquid reservoir may, for example, be beveled so as to avoid clogging the inlet when the conduit touches the bottom of the tank. According to another embodiment the liquid supply duct (1) and the mixing chamber (2) are not formed of two separate parts.

The mixing chamber (2) comprises an anti-return device (3a, 3b) preventing the fluid contained in this chamber (2) from going into the reservoir (12) while allowing a circulation of the reservoir (12) towards the chamber of mixture (2). This anti-return device (3a, 3b) can be placed, for example, between the liquid supply duct (1) and the inlet of the mixing chamber (2). The anti-return device (3a, 3b) may, for example, be formed by a movable element (3a) such as for example a ball or a needle resting on a substantially frustoconical seat (3c). The seat (3c) of the anti-return device (3a, 3b) may for example be formed by a substantially frustoconical portion of the body of the end of the mixing chamber (2) in communication with the liquid supply duct (1). ) forming the inlet of said chamber (2). A retaining device (3b) can also be associated with the movable element (3a) so as to limit the stroke of the latter and serve as a stop for the movable element (3a). The retaining device (3b) may for example and without limitation, be achieved by a ring or lugs formed or placed on the inner wall of the mixing chamber (2).

The mixing chamber (2) also comprises one or more air inlets (5) allowing air to enter the chamber (2) thereby allowing the foaming liquid to be mixed with the air to form a foam. This air inlet (5) will have a cross section determined according to the cross section of the liquid supply duct (1) so as to have an air / liquid foaming ratio to produce a quality foam. Indeed, too much foaming product (4) and not enough air produces a flowing foam.

The air inlet (5) is connected to an air supply duct (50). This duct (50) has the function of allowing air to enter the mixing chamber (2) even when the air inlet (5) is below the level of the foaming liquid (4).

The air supply duct (50) may for example be formed by a channel, connecting the air inlet (5) to the ambient air above the filling level of the reservoir (12) of foaming liquid (4). ) for example, at a portion near the opening of said reservoir (12). This channel may, for example, be molded along an outer portion of a wall of the device. In order to reduce the volume of the protruding part of the channel, a groove may for example be hollowed out in the outer wall of the device at least over part of the path of said channel as illustrated. Figure 2a or 2b . In this embodiment, a groove has been cut on a portion of the outer wall of the mixing chamber (2) of the air inlet (5) to a region near the tank opening (12). ) of the liquid to be lathered (4). This example is in no way limiting and in the embodiment variant with a piston pump the groove may for example be made along a portion of the outer wall of the mixing chamber (2) and a part of the reserve of foam (7).

According to another embodiment, at least a part of the body of the foam cream producing device, comprising one or more air inlets (5), is formed of two pieces embedded in each other as illustrated. Figures 1a and 1b . In this embodiment, the air supply duct (50) is formed by the space between the two envelopes. The figure 1b presents a cut of the device presented figure 1a , following the plan AA '. In these examples, projecting elements (51) such as, for example and without limitation, nipples or ribs keep the two parts separate.

The projecting elements (51) can be indifferently made on one of the two walls or on both walls. Similarly, complementary shapes may be formed on the wall facing the projecting elements (51) such as a groove cooperating with a nipple or a rib. An advantage of these complementary shapes is that they facilitate the insertion of parts during assembly. In another example, an L-shaped groove may be made to cooperate with a nipple. Such a groove makes it possible to lock the stud and thus and thus to prevent the parts from being broken after assembly.

As illustrated in Figure 1c the two walls may be of the same shape as for example two substantially cylindrical shapes concentric or not. They may also be of different shapes, for example a cylinder inserted inside a wall of substantially oval section. An advantage of the different section walls is that in some cases they can make it possible to dispense with the projecting elements (51).

According to another nonlimiting example, the duct (50) may be made by a small tube parallel to the body of the device connecting the air inlet (5) to the ambient air for example at the neck of the tank (12) of foaming liquid (4) as illustrated Figure 2a or 2b . The air supply duct (50) may also for example be pierced in the wall of the device.

The mixing chamber (2) communicates with a foam tank (7). Between the mixing chamber (2) and the foam tank (7), one or more stirring elements (6) are inserted. These stirring elements (6) may be, for example, sieves, grids or any other porous element.

The product to be foamed (4) comprises an active agent optionally combined with a foaming agent, diluted in water. The passage of the liquid foaming / air mixture through the stirring element (s) (6) makes it possible to stir the liquid in the air and transform the latter into foam.

An anti-return device (30a, 30b) is inserted between the mixing chamber (2) and the foam reserve (7). The anti-return device comprises a movable element (30a), such as for example and without limitation, a ball or a needle, resting on a seat (30c) of substantially frustoconical shape. A retainer (30b) may also be associated with the movable member (30a) to limit its stroke. As described above, the retaining device (30b) may for example and without limitation be made by a ring or lugs formed or placed on the inner wall of the foam reserve (7).

After passing through the stirring element (6) the foam enters a foam reserve (7). The foam reserve (7) comprises means for pumping the foam. This pumping means can be produced, for example and without limitation, by a piston (8a) sliding inside the volume of the foam reserve (7) and an elastic return means (8b) such as a spring. The elastic return means (8b) also participates in the stirring. During its movement, it improves the quality of the foam. It also prevents the drying of the foam. One end of the outlet duct (9) is integral with the piston (8a) and the cross member allowing the foam contained in the reserve (7) to be expelled. A retaining means (8c) such as for example a disk or a ring makes it possible to limit the stroke of the piston (8a) and to prevent it from coming out of the foam reserve (7). According to a variant of realization, the pumping means comprises the outlet duct (9), a part of which penetrates inside the volume of the foam reserve (7) and is integral with a movable part in the foam reserve (7).

The pumping means may also be formed by at least a portion of the deformable and elastic body of the foam reserve (7) as illustrated. Figure 2a or 2b . The compression of the foam reserve (7) expels the foam from the latter and its decompression to suck it from the mixing chamber (2). According to one embodiment, the pumping means is a bellows located for example above an anti-return device (11 a, 11 b) and the outlet duct (9) is disposed at the periphery of said anti-return device (11). a, 11 b).

Once pumped, the foam is extracted from the foam reserve (7) via an outlet duct (9) in communication with this reserve (7), for example through the body of the piston (8a) as illustrated in the example of realization of the figure 1a or 2 .

One or more filter elements (10) can be inserted between one end of the outlet duct (9) and the foam reservoir (7). According to a nonlimiting exemplary embodiment, at least one filter element (10) is inserted into the outlet duct (9). According to another variant, a filter element (10) such as a grid, is placed at one end of the outlet duct (9). The filter elements (10) can be in the form of sieves, grids or porous elements. These filtering elements (10) are intended to refine the foam by filtering and turn it into foam cream.

With reference to Figures 2a and 2b , the presence of filter elements (10) in the outlet duct (9) allows, in some cases, to remove the anti-return device (11a, 11b) also present in this duct (9). This may be the case, for example, when the filter element or elements (10) have very thin openings. In this case, the filter elements (10) create a strong resistance inside the outlet duct (9) favoring the passage of the foaming liquid / air mixture through the brewing element (6) rather than air through the outlet pipe (9) during decompression of the pumping means. This may also be the case when the filter elements (10) are numerous and / or thick. As in the previous case, they create an important resistance inside the outlet duct (9).

The classic foam is in the form of rather coarse air bubbles, of different sizes and very airy. The foam cream is in the form of a foam more homogeneous than the classic foam with more regular bubbles and much thinner. The foam cream forms a product denser and more compact than the classic foam. It is in the form of a fluid much less ventilated than the classic foam. Unlike conventional foam, the foam cream contains more foaming than air from where its consistency approximates that of a gel.

The foam cream obtained will be all the more compact and with bubbles even more fine and regular that the size of the openings of the filter elements (10) will be fine. The quality of the foam cream can also be improved by increasing the number of filter elements (10). In the case of an arrangement of several filter elements (10) in series, it is possible to vary the pore size progressively. Depending on the product to be foamed used, we will start with a filter element having fairly large pores and then use elements having openings increasingly fine. For other products, it will act in reverse.

The device for producing foam cream may also comprise a blocking system for the pumping means. This system may for example be achieved by a pin preventing movement of the piston (8a). The system can, for example, be locked by pivoting the outlet duct (9) in one direction and unlocked by rotating it in the opposite direction.

The figure 3 presents another variant embodiment of the device according to the invention. In this embodiment, at least a part of the envelope of the foam reserve (7) is deformable and forms the pumping means.

As in the preceding examples, the device for producing foam cream comprises a supply duct (1) of liquid to be foamed (4), one end of which forms the inlet of the duct and dips into the tank (12). foaming liquid (4). The second end of the liquid supply duct (1) is in communication with the mixing chamber (2). The mixing chamber (2) for mixing the liquid with the air comprises an air inlet (5) connected to an air supply duct (50) and an anti-return device (3a, 3b) avoiding mixing. liquid / air to enter the reservoir (12) foaming liquid (4). The mixing chamber (2) may also comprise one or more first stirring elements (6) for preparing a foam. According to a nonlimiting exemplary embodiment, the anti-return device (3a, 3b) comprises a movable element (3a) such as for example a ball or a needle resting on a substantially frustoconical seat (3c) and a restraining device (3b) limiting the stroke of the movable member (3a).

According to one embodiment, the mixing chamber (2) is in communication with the foam reserve (7) through a conduit (20) inside the mixing chamber (2) and of smaller diameter than that of this last. This duct (20) passes through two flanges (11a, 21). A first flange (11a) is formed of a flexible crown such as a membrane of elastic material forming a movable member. A second flange (21) is made of rigid material and forms a tight separation between the foam reserve (7) and the mixing chamber (2). In this duct (20) is placed an anti-return device (30a, 30b).

The device according to the invention also comprises an outlet duct (9) for extracting and dispensing the foam cream and a second anti-return device (11 a, 11 b). This second anti-return device (11 a, 11 b) may for example consist of a movable element (11a) formed for example by a flexible membrane ring-shaped mounted on the conduit (20) present inside the mixing chamber (2). The anti-return device also comprises a retaining device (11b) allowing the movable element (11a) to move only in one direction. The retaining device (11b) may, for example and without limitation, be formed by a ring or lugs inserted or formed in the inner wall of the mixing chamber (2). The retainer (11b) serves as a stop for the movable member, preventing it from deforming in one direction.

A stirring element (6) is mounted between the mixing chamber (2) and the foam reserve (7). A particularity of this embodiment is that the air / foaming liquid mixture from the mixing chamber (2) passes through the brewing element (6) twice. This stirring element (6) thus provides the two mixing and filtering functions of the mixture. This embodiment can reduce the number of parts by removing the filter element (10).

After pressing the pumping means (8), when the user releases the latter, the return, by elasticity of the pumping means (8) to its uncompressed position creates inside the foam reserve (7) a depression. This depression attempts to lift the movable member (11a) of the anti-return device in communication with the outlet duct (9) but it is blocked by the retaining element (11b) preventing air from entering through the duct output (9). The depression also causes the movable element (3a) of the anti-return device (3a, 3b) present in the mixing chamber (2) to rise and draws an air / foaming liquid mixture fed by the liquid conduit (1) and the air inlet (5). This mixture crosses a first time the stirring element (6) filling the reserve (7) of the foam thus formed.

When the user again presses the pumping means (8), the foam, present in the foam reserve (7), is expelled from the latter and passes again through the stirring element (6) thus producing a foam cream by filtering through the brewing element (6). Once expelled from the foam reserve (7), the foam cream is blocked at the anti-return device (30a, 30b) present in the mixing chamber (2) and presses against the mobile element (11a) of the anti-backflow device. return (11a, 11b) present at the outlet duct (9) allowing the latter to be expelled through said outlet duct (9).

It should be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention allows embodiments in many other specific forms without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. Therefore, the present embodiments should be considered by way of illustration, but may be modified within the scope defined by the scope of the appended claims, and the invention should not be limited to the details given above.

Claims (15)

Device for producing foam cream adapted to be mounted on a rigid reservoir (12) of liquid to be foamed (4), comprising: a liquid supply duct (1), a mixing chamber (2), at least one anti-return device (3a, 3b) arranged in the mixing chamber (2), at least one air supply duct (50), a reserve of foam (7) in communication with the mixing chamber (2) and with an outlet duct (9) of the device, at least one stirring element (6) arranged between the mixing chamber (2) and the foam reserve (7) or arranged in the mixing chamber (2), an anti-return device (30a, 30b) between the mixing chamber (2) and the foam reserve (7), and a pumping means for expelling the foam from the foam reserve (7) through the outlet duct (9). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one air supply duct (50) is formed by the space between two walls, one comprising at least a part of the wall of the mixing chamber ( 2) and an air inlet (5) and the second being different from the wall of the liquid reservoir (12). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the air supply duct (50) comprises a groove formed in a part of the body of the device. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the air supply duct (50) is formed by a channel molded into the body of the device. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the air supply duct (50) is formed by a tube running along at least a part of the wall of the device, connecting an air inlet (5) to the ambient air in a region close to an opening of the reservoir (12) of foaming liquid (4). Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the stirring element (6) is a sieve, a grid or any other porous element. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the anti-return device (30a, 30b) is a ball or a needle resting on a seat (30c) substantially frustoconical. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the pumping means is formed by a piston (8a) sliding inside the volume of the foam reserve (7). Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the mixing chamber (2) comprises an air inlet (5) connected to the air supply duct (50). Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises at least one filter element (10) between the foam reserve (7) and one end of the outlet duct (9). Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises an anti-return device (11a, 11b) between the foam reserve (7) and one end of the outlet duct (9). Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it comprises a device for blocking the pumping means. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the air inlet (5) has a cross section determined according to the cross section of the liquid supply duct to be foamed (1). Device according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the pumping means consists of the outlet duct (9), one of which end penetrates into the volume of the foam reserve (7) and is integral with a movable portion in said volume of the foam reserve (7). Device according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it is held on one end of the reservoir (12) by means of a plug (13) screwed or clipped onto said reservoir (12), said plug (13) ) being pierced so as to allow the outlet duct (9) to pass and slide.

Images