FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an aseptic misting device employing a permanent sonic generator and a replaceable liquid reservoir and nozzle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Spray and/or misting devices are often used to delivery cosmetic and general health care liquids. Low cost systems employ droppers and/or squeeze bottles with some form of nozzle through which the liquid is forced to provide a relatively uncontrolled dosage and droplet size.

Expensive systems may employ metering pumps and/or expensive aerosol forming components. For example, Hseih et al. U.S. Pat. No. 7,992,800 and Hseih et al. US Pub. Pat. Appn. No. 20120318260 disclose nebulizers driven by piezo-electric and/or magnetic drives to generate an aerosol mist.

Other examples include The Technology Partnership PLC, EP615470B1; Hailes et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,550,897; and Brown et al. U.S. Pat. No. 7,976,135, which disclose liquid projection apparatus employing transducers to project liquid droplets from an outer face of a nozzle.

Finally, Terada et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,863,224; Yamamoto et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,901,926; and Esaki et al. U.S. Pat. No. 8,286,629 disclose ultrasonic liquid atomizing devices.

Unfortunately, these expensive components can be contaminated through repeated uses and require careful cleaning or disposal.

What is needed is a relatively low cost system for delivering controlled doses and particle/droplet size aerosol mists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Surprisingly, we have found that ultrasonically atomizing a liquid through a sonic generator including a two-part, elongate sonic horn, wherein the distal end of the horn is disposable and has at least one submillimeter-sized nozzle disposed at the end thereof provides inexpensive aseptic atomization by separating the liquid contained in the reservoir from durable portions of the sonic generator.

In one embodiment, a handheld misting device includes a sonic generator, a power source coupled to the sonic generator, at least one reservoir containing a first liquid, and a conduit from the at least one reservoir. The sonic generator includes a converter and an elongate horn comprising a first horn section coupled to the converter and a second horn section physically connected to and removable from the first horn section. Sonic energy delivered to the first horn section is conducted to the second horn section. The conduit transports liquid from the at least one reservoir to the second horn section to a delivery opening distal the first horn section.

