Piezoelectric nebulizing apparatus

• US 5,529,055 A
• Filed: 05/27/1994
• Issued: 06/25/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Gueret, Jean-Louis H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deane, Jr., William J.
• Application Number:
  US08/250,474
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.16, 128/200.18, 128/200.21, 128/203.12, 128/200.22, 128/200.23, 128/204.13
• US Class Current: 128/200.16
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0646 Vibrating plates, i.e. plates being directly subjected to the vibrations, e.g. having a piezoelectric transducer attached thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0684 Wicks or the like

Abstract

Apparatus for nebulizing a fluid product, including a nebulizing device having a diffusing vibrating member, a high-frequency generator for vibrating the diffusing vibrating member, an electrical supply for the generator, a reservoir for the fluid product removably mounted in the apparatus independently of the diffusing vibrating member, a member for supplying the diffusing vibrating member with liquid product, the supply member having an operating rod, a transfer piece and a flexible member capable of conveying the fluid product to the vibrating member, said flexible member being placed opposite the vibrating member, wherein a fluid communication is provided through the transfer piece, the operating rod and the flexible member.

Claims

1. Apparatus for nebulizing a fluid product, comprising:

a) a housing; and

b) an electrically actuated nebulizing device connected to the housing, the nebulizing device including

1) an electrical supply,

2) a high frequency vibration generator electrically connected to the electrical supply,

3) a diffusing vibrating member,

4) a switch electrically connecting the electrical supply, the generator, and the diffusing vibrating member,

5) a reservoir containing the fluid product and being mounted in the housing in a removable manner independently of the diffusing vibrating member,

6) a fluid product supply member connecting the reservoir and the diffusing vibrating member for supplying the diffusing vibrating member with the fluid product from the reservoir,

wherein the supply member is selected from the group comprising a pump or valve connected to the reservoir and has an operating rod connected to the pump or valve, a transfer piece connected to the operating rod, and a flexible member connected to the transfer piece for conveying the fluid product to the diffusing vibrating member, said flexible member being placed opposite the diffusing vibrating member, and

wherein a fluid communication is provided through the transfer piece, the operating rod and the flexible member; and

7) a manually operable activator connected to the housing and operable for simultaneously activating the switch for turning the nebulizing device on and the supply member to cause fluid product to be supplied from the reservoir to the diffusing vibrating member.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diffusing vibrating member is a grid.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a housing for mounting the reservoir and having a diffusion mouth, wherein the housing is bound by a wall having an opening for receiving the supply member and an operating member provided for the operation of the supply member.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the reservoir is slidably mounted in the housing.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrical supply is integral with the reservoir.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the electrical supply is associated with an electrical contact on the operating member.

7. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the diffusing vibrating member and the transfer piece are located on the housing and the transfer piece passes through an opening in a wall of the housing, bearing on the wall.

8. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the vibrating member and the transfer piece are located on the operating member housed in a cavity bordered by a wall equipped with an opening, the transfer piece passing through the opening, bearing on the wall.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flexible member is a brush.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flexible member is one of a foam and a flexible elastic frit.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flexible member is one of a flocked foam and a flocked flexible elastomeric plastic.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flexible member is a semi-flexible bellmouth with fringes, and is an extension of the transfer piece.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir is made of a rigid material.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir is a flexible material.