Spray head including a sonotrode with a composition feed channel passing therethrough

• US 8,430,338 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2009
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Duru, Nicolas, Tierce, Pascal, Prunier, Marion
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Len
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONAITIS, JUSTIN M
• Application Number:
  US12/370,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20090200398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,538 Days
• Field of Search: 239/102.1, 239/102.2, 239/370, 239/699, 239/99, 239/229, 239/242, 239/255, 239/263.1, 239/338, 239/380, 239/589.1, 239/659, 239/690, 116/137.R, 310/26
• US Class Current: 239/102.2
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/057 Spray nozzles; Generating atomised liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0623 coupled with a vibrating horn
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/063 having an internal channel for supplying the liquid or other fluent material
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0669 Excitation frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/066 with an inner liquid outlet surrounded by at least one annular gas outlet

Abstract

A spray head for spraying a cosmetic or dermatological composition, in particular for application to the human body, may include a sonotrode for transmitting ultrasound vibration from a transducer to an ejection surface for ejecting particles of composition, the sonotrode including a channel for feeding the composition to the ejection surface. The channel may present a narrow portion between a composition inlet into the sonotrode and the composition outlet to the ejection surface.

Claims

1. A spray head configured to spray a cosmetic or dermatological composition on human keratinous material, the spray head comprising:

a nozzle body comprising a portion terminating in an opening;

an airflow generator configured to blow air through the opening;

a transducer for generating ultrasound vibration; and

a sonotrode for transmitting the ultrasound vibration from the transducer to an ejection surface for ejecting particles of the composition, the sonotrode comprising a channel for feeding the composition from an inlet of the sonotrode to an outlet of the sonotrode,

wherein the outlet is surrounded by a collar having a face defining the ejection surface and that projects out of the opening of the nozzle body by a distance, and

wherein the channel has a reduced diameter portion that includes the outlet.

2. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein the channel is a single channel and extends along an axis of the sonotrode.

3. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein the reduced diameter portion has a constant cross-section over a distance of at least 1 mm.

4. A spray head according to claim 3, wherein the reduced diameter portion has a constant cross-section over a distance less than or equal to 5 mm.

5. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein the reduced diameter portion has a cross-section that is circular.

6. A spray head according to claim 5, wherein a diameter of the reduced diameter portion ranges from 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm.

7. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein the channel has a cross-section that is circular.

8. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein a minimum cross-sectional area of the reduced diameter portion is less than or equal to 0.8 mm².

9. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of the channel adjacent to the reduced diameter portion ranges from 1 mm to 2 mm.

10. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of a length of the reduced diameter portion divided by a total length of the sonotrode ranges from 0.04 to 0.4.

11. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of a largest cross-section of the channel divided by a narrowest cross-section of the channel ranges from 1 to 25.

12. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein the channel feeds the ejection surface via a single outlet orifice.

13. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein the sonotrode is made as a single piece and includes an endpiece for connection to a tube for feeding the channel with composition.

14. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein the sonotrode comprises a portion of outside cross-section that decreases towards the ejection surface.

15. A spray head according to claim 14, wherein the sonotrode comprises a frustoconical portion, and wherein an angle at an apex of the frustoconical portion ranges from 15°

to 45°

.

16. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein the sonotrode comprises a portion that is circularly cylindrical.

17. A spray head according to claim 14, wherein the portion of decreasing outside cross-section connects with a circularly-cylindrical portion of the sonotrode.

18. A spray head according to claim 16, wherein an outside diameter of the circularly-cylindrical portion ranges from 4 mm to 7 mm.

19. A spray head according to claim 18, wherein a length of the circularly-cylindrical portion ranges from 3 mm to 5 mm.

20. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein a minimum thickness of the collar in a region for ejecting particles of composition ranges from 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm.

21. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein an outside diameter of the collar ranges from 7 mm to 13 mm.

22. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein the sonotrode is a machined sonotrode.

23. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein the sonotrode comprises aluminum.

24. A spray head according to claim 13, wherein the endpiece passes through the transducer.

25. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein an excitation frequency of the transducer ranges from 30 kHz to 200 kHz.

26. A device configured to package and spray a cosmetic composition, the device comprising:

the spray head as defined in claim 1.

27. A device according to claim 26 further comprising a container containing the composition for spraying.

28. A device according to claim 26, the composition being at least one of a makeup composition, a self-tanning agent, a sunscreen, and a composition including a hair agent.

29. A cosmetic treatment method comprising:

spraying a composition on human keratinous material using the spray head as defined in claim 1.

30. A spray head according to claim 1, wherein the sonotrode comprises metal.