Spray head including a sonotrode

• US 8,556,191 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2009
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Duru, Nicolas, Prunier, Marion, Tierce, Pascal
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorman, Darren W
• Application Number:
  US12/370,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20090200395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,706 Days
• Field of Search: 239/102.2, 239/102.1, 239/699, 239/370, 239/4, 128/200.14, 128/200.16, 128/200.18
• US Class Current: 239/102.2
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/057 Spray nozzles; Generating atomised liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/55 using cleaning fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0607 generated by electrical means, e.g. piezoelectric transducers
• 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 7/0075 Nozzle arrangements in gas streams
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/1673 heat being transferred to the material to be sprayed by a heat transfer conductive fluid B05B7/162, B05B7/1653 take precedence

Abstract

A device for spraying a cosmetic composition may include a sonotrode, the sonotrode having an end collar defining an ejection surface for ejecting particles of composition, the collar being suitable for bending under the effect of vibration of the sonotrode.

Claims

1. A device configured to spray either a cosmetic or a dermatological composition, the device comprising:

the cosmetic or dermatological composition;

a sonotrode;

a casing comprising a portion terminating in an opening defined by an external surface of the device; and

an airflow generator configured to blow air via the opening,

wherein the sonotrode comprises a composition feed channel and has an end collar defining an ejection surface for ejecting particles of the cosmetic or dermatological composition, the ejection surface projecting outside the device from the opening by a distance,

wherein the end collar is bendable under the effect of vibration of the sonotrode and the ratio of a greatest diameter of the end collar divided by a thickness of the end collar ranges from 12 to 32,

wherein the sonotrode comprises a portion of outside cross section that decreases towards the ejection surface, and

wherein the composition feed channel feeds the ejection surface via a single outlet orifice and comprises a first diameter portion connected to a second diameter portion that is narrower than the first diameter portion and that opens out to the ejection surface at the outlet orifice.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the end collar ranges from 0.45 mm to 0.55 mm.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the end collar comprises a circular outline.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein a greatest diameter of the end collar ranges from 7 mm to 13 mm.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the ejection surface is planar at rest.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein ejection of particles of the cosmetic or dermatological composition takes place over an entire circumference of the end collar.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein a total amplitude of vibration of the ejection surface is greater than or equal to 10 μ

m.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the ejection surface is configured to vibrate by alternating between a concave shape and a convex shape.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein a frequency associated with the vibration ranges from 30 kHz to 200 kHz.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the end collar includes a greatest transverse dimension that is less than or equal to λ

/4, wherein λ

is a wavelength of an ultrasound wave associated with the vibration in a material comprising the sonotrode.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein a length of the sonotrode between a face of the sonotrode in contact with a transducer coupled to the sonotrode, and the ejection surface is less than or equal to λ

.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sonotrode comprises aluminum.

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein a viscosity of the cosmetic or dermatological composition is greater than or equal to 0.1 mPa·

s measured at 25°

C.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein a viscosity of the cosmetic or dermatological composition lies in a range of 10 mPa·

s to 500 mPa·

s measured at 25°

C.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the distance the ejection surface projects outside the device from the opening ranges from 2 mm to 4 mm.

15. A device configured to spray either a cosmetic or a dermatological composition, the device comprising:

the cosmetic or dermatological composition;

a sonotrode, the sonotrode comprising a composition feed channel and an end collar defining an ejection surface for ejecting particles of the cosmetic or dermatological composition, the sonotrode comprising a portion of decreasing diameter extended by a cylindrical portion that is connected to the end collar, wherein the composition feed channel feeds the ejection surface via a single outlet orifice and comprises a first diameter portion connected to a second diameter portion that is narrower than the first diameter portion and that opens out to the ejection surface at the outlet orifice;

a transducer coupled to the sonotrode;

a casing comprising a portion terminating in an opening defined by an external surface of the device, the ejection surface projecting outside the device from the opening by a distance; and

an airflow generator configured to blow air via the opening,

wherein a first ratio comprising the transducer diameter divided by a diameter of the cylindrical portion ranges from 3 to 4.5,

wherein a second ratio comprising a diameter of the end collar divided by the diameter of the cylindrical portion ranges from 7/6 to 13/4, and

wherein a third ratio comprising the diameter of the end collar divided by a thickness of the end collar ranges from 70/6 to 130/4.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the first ratio ranges from 3.5 to 3.7.

18. The device according to claim 15, wherein the distance the ejection surface projects outside the device from the opening ranges from 2 mm to 4 mm.