EP0815030B1 - Dispenser for removing a fluid from a container - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/FR96/00486 Sec. 371 Date Sep. 24, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Sep. 24, 1997 PCT Filed Apr. 1, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO96/30273 PCT Pub. Date Oct. 3, 1996A dispenser for removing a fluid from a container, including a fixed part with a portion for attachment to the container and a generally cylindrical pouring portion, a side fluid outlet, a moveable part and a head portion. A tamper-proof strip defines a first axial position and snap means define a second axial position for the moveable part relative to the fixed part.

Description

The present invention relates to a dispenser for withdrawal of a fluid product contained in a container.

Such a dispenser is known from document WO 80/02 546. This dispenser or tap intended more particularly for "bag-in-box" type containers (combining flexible inner container pocket or bladder shape and a rigid outer container) includes a fixed part forming a valve body, comprising a part of attachment to the container which is extended towards the outside of the container by a pouring part of generally cylindrical shape, open to both axial ends and pierced with a lateral fluid outlet orifice. This dispenser further comprises a movable part comprising a obturation part of general cylindrical formula mounted at tight fit in the pouring part of the fixed part, open to its inner axial end, closed at its outer axial end and pierced with a lateral fluid outlet orifice, and a head portion allowing to grasp and maneuver the moving part from outside. The two pieces also include means designed to define a first axial position of the moving part relative to the fixed part, in which the lateral openings of the two parts are offset axially so that they cannot be brought into coincidence, therefore in communication, whatever the angular position of the moving part with respect to the fixed part and means designed to define a second axial position of the part movable relative to the fixed part, in which the lateral openings of the two pieces can be brought into coincidence so in communication, by rotation of the moving part with respect to the part fixed.

A first drawback of this known distributor on which said first axial position is the extraction position and said second axial position is the insertion position of the part movable relative to the fixed part consists in the fact that nothing is planned to hold the moving part with certainty at first axial position until the moving part has been moved intentionally for the first distribution of fluid. A either accidental or untimely distribution of fluid cannot therefore not be excluded with certainty. Furthermore, given the structure from this known distributor, the operation of the head part of the part mobile, by rotation, for the distribution of the fluid, is not easy, the head part being, in the second axial position, difficult to access for rotation. In addition, it is not planned and it is not possible, on this known distributor, to bring the moving part from the second axial position to the first position axial, i.e. at the position in which a rotation of the part mobile does not cause fluid distribution. Finally, this distributor known does not present so-called inviolability means guaranteeing the user the perfect state of the container and its contents at the time of his purchase.

Document BE-A-760941 discloses a cooperating tap-stopper with a neck forming an integral part of a container body, or attached to this container body, said neck having an opening distribution side. The plug includes a cooperating plunger with the inside of the neck, an outer end wall and a skirt exterior cooperating with the exterior of the neck, in order to maintain the plug in two extreme positions, one corresponding to the position and the other to the open position. The outer skirt of the cap internally has helical tabs and neck has at its free end grooves in engagement with said tabs. This allows, by turning the cap, to print on this simultaneously an axial translational movement, to bring it following a "screwing" movement from the open position to the closed position, and vice versa. The plug plunger includes, at its free end, a notch or notch which, in position complete opening of the cap, coincides with the opening lateral distribution of the neck, the purpose of this notch being to "shear or sweep material from the outside of the neck around the orifice when the plug passes from an open position to a closed position ".

This cap is devoid of tamper-evident means and of means of dispensing rate adjustment.

The present invention aims to provide a distributor for the withdrawal of a fluid product contained in a container, distributor which overcomes the disadvantages described above of known distributors.

The dispenser as claimed for the withdrawal of a fluid in a container includes a fixed part comprising an attachment portion to the container which is extended towards the outside of the container by a generally pouring part cylindrical, open at its two axial ends, and pierced with a lateral outlet for fluid outlet. This distributor also includes a moving part comprising a shutter part of general shape cylindrical fitted tightly in the pouring part of the fixed part, open at its internal axial end, closed at its external axial end and pierced with a lateral outlet orifice for fluid, and a head portion for grasping and maneuvering the moving part from the outside. The moving part is mounted movable in axial and rotating translation in the fixed part. The fixed part and the moving part include first means designed to define a first axial position of the movable part relative to the part fixed, in which the side holes of the two parts are offset axially so as not to be able to be brought into coincidence, whatever the angular position of the moving part with respect to the fixed part, and second means for defining a second position axial of the moving part with respect to the fixed part, in which the side holes of the two parts can be brought into coincidence by rotation of the moving part, the second means comprising latching means cooperating with each other to keep the moving part axially in its extraction position corresponding to the second position. According to the invention, the first means include a tamper-evident strip which, as long as it is not torn off, connects the head part of the moving part to the fixed part and keeps it in an axial position of maximum penetration corresponding to said first axial position, and in a position angular defined. After tearing off said inviolability tape and translation of the moving part with respect to the fixed part at said second axial position, the second means allow a rotation of the moving part with respect to the fixed part, in order to be able to bring the side holes of the two pieces selectively coincidentally in sight distribution of the product.

Preferably, the tamper-evident band connects the head portion of the moving part has a snap ring snapped onto the part fixed.

Thus, the moving part (shutter part and head part) can be made in one piece by molding with the strip tamper evident and with the snap ring, and this set can be assembled with the fixed part molded apart, the shutter part of the movable part being fully fitted into the pouring part of the part fixed, the two parts being secured to each other by snap-fastening the moving part's hooking ring behind a bead exterior formed on the fixed part.

Advantageously, the head part of the moving part has an external grip edge and the tamper-evident band connects said outer rim to the fixed part, preferably to the ring hooking cooperating by snap-fastening with the fixed part.

Preferably, the outer rim of the head part, the tamper-evident band and possibly the attachment ring of the moving part and the fixing part of the fixed part have roughly the same outside diameter, which gives the entire distributor, before the first opening, an external shape general cylindrical, i.e. an exterior shape substantially smooth, without projecting parts.

The lateral opening provided on the pouring part of the fixed part, may advantageously include a spout, preferably at little near radial, which allows a regular payment, whatever the flow regulated by a more or less significant covering of the orifices side of the two parts of the dispenser.

The latching means defining the second position axial of the moving part with respect to the fixed part can advantageously include an inner bead on the fixed part and an outer bead on the closing part of the moving part.

The inner bead is advantageously formed on a skirt extending the pouring part of the fixed part towards the inside of the container.

Preferably, the cylindrical closure part of the part mobile has at least one notch extending from the end inside of the shutter part to an axial depth such that said notch is offset axially relative to the lateral orifice of the fixed part in the first axial position of the moving part and can, by rotation of the moving part, in the second position axial of the latter, be brought into coincidence with the orifice side of the fixed part.

According to a preferred embodiment, two notches diametrically opposite are provided in the shutter portion of the moving part.

This allows, in the second axial position of the part mobile, to bring one or the other of these two notches in coincidence with the lateral opening of the fixed part, by a movement less than 180 ° in one direction or the other. In addition, these two notches give to the obturation part, at the place of its ratchet bead, flexibility favoring its latching in the second axial position.

In the case where the distributor is intended to equip a container containing a liquid, it may be advantageous to provide, in the pouring part of the fixed part, in a diametrically position opposite the lateral opening of this part, one or more holes ventilation that allow as the liquid flows from the container, the entry of a corresponding volume of air inside the container, thus avoiding the formation, inside the container, of a depression which could disturb the regular flow of the liquid.

la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un bidon équipé d'un distributeur conforme à l'invention;

la figure 2 est une vue en élévation frontale du distributeur, avant arrachage de la bande d'inviolabilité;

la figure 3 est une coupe suivant III-III de la figure 2;

la figure 4 est une vue en perspective éclatée du distributeur de la figure 2, montrant ses deux éléments constitutifs et le goulot du bidon;

la figure 5 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 2 après arrachage de la bande d'inviolabilité et traction sur la pièce mobile;

la figure 6 est une coupe suivant VI-VI de la figure 5;

la figue 7 est une coupe analogue à celle de la figure 6, après rotation de la pièce mobile de manière que les orifices de sortie de la pièce mobile et de la pièce fixe coïncident.

Referring to the appended schematic drawings, there will be described below in more detail an illustrative and nonlimiting embodiment of a dispenser according to the invention; on the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container equipped with a dispenser according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the dispenser, before tearing off the tamper-evident band;

Figure 3 is a section along III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser of Figure 2 showing its two components and the neck of the container;

Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 after tearing of the tamper-evident band and traction on the moving part;

Figure 6 is a section along VI-VI of Figure 5;

Fig 7 is a section similar to that of Figure 6, after rotation of the movable part so that the outlet openings of the movable part and the fixed part coincide.

As illustrated by the drawings, the dispenser 1 conforms to the invention for the withdrawal of fluid, for example liquid, from a container 2 shown in Figure 1 in the form of a container plastic, consists of two elements 3 and 4, namely a element 3 intended to be fixed to the neck 5 of the container 2 and an element 4 cooperating with element 3 to control and regulate the withdrawal of the fluid in container 2.

The element 3 comprises a part 6 for fixing to the neck 5, composed of an outer skirt 7 provided with an internal thread 8, and an inner skirt 9 which cooperates with the inner surface of the neck 5 to ensure the seal between the element 3 and the neck 5. The skirt outer 7 has, at a distance above the thread 8, a inward recess, forming an annular shoulder 10. Above the shoulder 10, the outer skirt 7 has a outer annular bead 11 and then joins the inner skirt 9 by an inner annular rim 12 which extends radially towards the interior beyond the interior skirt 9.

The fixing part 6 is extended, at the edge inside of the rim 12, axially upwards in the figures, that is to say towards the outside of the container 2, by a pouring part 13 of general cylindrical shape. The pouring part 13 comprises laterally, at a distance above the rim 12, an orifice liquid flow 14 located approximately halfway down the portion 13. The orifice 14 is surrounded by a pouring spout 15 extending radially outwards. In a position diametrically opposite the orifice 14, the pouring part 13 has an air inlet orifice 16 located, along the axis of the pouring part 13, approximately at the edge hole 14.

A cylindrical skirt 17 of short length comprising at its lower end a circular row of inner beads 18 extends downwards from the edge 12, so that the inner ends of the beads 18 are located substantially on the downward extension of the interior surface of the part jug 13.

Finally, a tamper-evident ring 19 comprising a bead hanging interior 20 (or more interior hanging lugs) is connected by frangible bridges 20a to the lower edge of the skirt outside 7 of element 3.

The element 4 comprises a closure part 21 which is in the form of a cylindrical skirt projecting from a bottom 22 closing the skirt 21 at its upper end. The bottom 22 is extended radially outwards beyond the skirt 21, under the form of an annular outer rim 23. The skirt 21 has two diametrically opposed notches 24 extending from the end bottom of the skirt, upwards substantially up to mid-height of the latter. The skirt 21 also comprises, at its lower edge, an outer bead 25 extending over the entire periphery of the skirt 21, except at the location of the notches 24.

A tear-off tamper-evident band 26, produced in one part with the rim 23 of the bottom 22, is connected to said rim by a annular zone 27 of least resistance. The tamper-evident tape 26 includes, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, a tab grip 28 allowing to grasp one end of the strip 26 in view of his uprooting. At its lower end, the tamper-evident band 26 cylindrical is connected by an annular zone 29 of lesser resistance to a hooking ring 30 provided internally with a annular bead 31 intended to cooperate by snap-fastening with the outer bead 11 of the fixing part 6 of the element 3.

Element 3 is made in one piece with the ring tamper evident 19, by plastic molding. Element 4 is made in one piece with the tamper-evident band 26 and the ring attachment 30, also by molding in thermoplastic material.

Before installing the distributor 1 formed of the two elements 3 and 4 on the neck 5 of the container 2, the two elements 3 and 4 are assembled, by inserting the skirt 21 of the element 4 in the pouring part 13 of element 3 until after crossing the inner bead 18 of element 3 by the outer bead 25 of element 4, the ring of attachment 31 of element 4 is snapped below the bead 10 of the element 3, bearing on the shoulder 10. In this position which is visible in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper edge of the notches 24 of the skirt 21 of the element 4 is located lower than the lower edge of the orifice 14 of the pouring part 13 of the element 3.

Preferably, this assembly of the two elements 3 and 4 can be carried out with a well-defined angular positioning of element 4 with respect to element 3, i.e. in such a way that the tear-off tab 28 of the tamper-evident band 26 is on the right the spout 15 of the orifice 14 (see Figure 3).

For mounting the distributor 1 thus assembled from elements 3 and 4 on the container 2, the neck 5 of which has a thread outside 32 and, below the latter, an outside bead attachment 33 and an outer support rim 34, the distributor 1 on the neck 5. The height of the rim 12 of the element 3, where this rim 12 comes to bear on the upper edge of the neck 5, is advantageously chosen in such a way that when the distributor 1 is fully screwed onto the neck 5, the inner bead 20 of the tamper-evident ring 19 being snapped under the bead outside 33 of the neck 5, the distributor 1 occupies a position angular well predetermined with respect to the neck 5.

In the embodiment shown, the spout 15 which is located below the tear-off tab 28 of the strip inviolability 26 thus occupies an angular position such that when the container 2 is coated so that the distributor 1 is placed lower, the spout 15 is oriented downwards.

To ensure the seal between the two elements 3 and 4, it is necessary that the outside diameter of the skirt 17 of the element 4 and the inside diameter of the pouring part 13 of the element 3 are adapted so that the skirt 21 of the element 4 is mounted at tight fit in the pouring part 13 of the element 3.

Until the tamper-evident tape 26 has been torn off, element 4 occupies the position according to FIGS. 1 to 3 and any racking, voluntary or not, is impossible.

At the first opening, the tamper-evident band is torn off 26 and pull on the head 22 of the element 4 to extract the latter until the external bead 25 of the element 4 is snapped in behind the inner bead 18 of the element 3. In this position, no of the two notches 24 is not coincident with the orifice 14. It is only by a rotational movement printed in element 4, in one way or the other, that it is possible to bring one or the other of the two notches 24 opposite the orifice 14, which allows a racking at a rate adjustable by the degree of overlap of this notch 24 with port 14. At the same time, notch 24 opposite coincides with orifice 16, thus allowing entry air in the container as the fluid in the container flows through the orifice 14 and the spout 15 (see Figure 7).

When the required amount of fluid has been drawn off, the user can stop the racking by turning element 4 of so that the notch 24 no longer coincides with the orifice 14, which interrupts the payment. To improve security against a untimely payment, the user can also push on element 4 to return the latter to the insertion position according to the Figure 3, position in which, even by rotation of the element 4, it it is not possible to bring the notches 24 to coincide with the orifice 14, due to the axial offset of the notches relative to the orifice.

It goes without saying that the embodiment shown and described does not was given as an illustrative and nonlimiting example and many modifications and variants are possible within the framework of the invention.

Thus, the distributor 1, instead of being fixed by screwing, could also be snapped onto a shaped neck Consequently. In this case, to ensure positioning correct angle of the dispenser relative to the container, it is possible to provide, both on the fixing part 6 of the element 3 and on the neck 5 of the container, positioning means angular cooperating with each other so as not to allow a distributor clicks on the neck only in the position angular sought.

The click defining the extraction position of the movable element 4 could be produced by means other than the beads 18 and 25. The tamper-evident band 26 could cooperate directly with element 3, from which would remove the ring hanging 30.

The dispenser according to the invention can be used for 1 withdrawal of any fluid product that can be dispensed by pouring from a container. In the case of liquids, the ventilation hole 16 can advantageously be provided to prevent the establishment of a depression in the container, which could disturb the racking regular. The dispenser according to the invention can also be used for example for filling powders or other products fluid solids, for example in the form of microbeads. In that case, a ventilation hole may be superfluous.

Furthermore, the distributor according to the invention could also have a general exterior shape other than the shape cylindrical shown.

Claims (10)

1. Dispenser for drawing off a fluid product held in a container (2) which includes a fixed piece (3) comprising a part (6) for attachment to the container, which part is extended towardss the outside of the container by a pouring part (13) of cylindrical general shape, open at its two axial ends and pierced by a lateral fluid outlet orifice (14), a movable piece (4) comprising a closure part (21) of cylindrical general shape fitted tightly in the pouring part (13) of the fixed piece (3) open at its internal axial end, closed at its external axial end and pierced by a lateral fluid outlet orifice (24), and a top part (22, 23) enabling the movable piece (4) to be gripped and operated from the outside, the movable piece (4) being mounted so as to be able to move in axial translation and in rotation in the fixed piece (3), the fixed piece (3) and the movable piece (4) including first means (11, 26, 29, 30, 31) designed to define a first axial position of the movable piece with respect to the fixed piece, in which position the lateral orifices (14, 24) of the two pieces are axially offset so as not to be able to be brought into coincidence, and second means (18, 25) for defining a second axial position of the movable piece with respect to the fixed piece, in which position the lateral orifices (14, 24) of the two pieces can be brought into coincidence by rotating the movable piece, the second means comprising snap-fastening means (18, 25) which interact with each other in order to keep the movable piece (4) axially in its extraction position corresponding to the second position, characterized in that the first means comprise a tamperproofing strip (26) which, until it has been torn off, connects the top part of the movable piece (4) to the fixed piece (3) and keeps it in an axial position of maximum insertion, corresponding to the said first axial position, and in a defined angular position and in that, after the said tamperproofing strip (26) has been torn off and the movable piece (4) has been moved translationally with respect to the fixed piece (3) into the said second axial position, the second means allow rotation of the movable piece (4) with respect to the fixed piece (3) so as to be able to bring the lateral orifices (14, 24) of the two pieces selectively into coincidence for the purpose of dispensing the product.
2. Dispenser according to Claim 1, characterized in that the tamperproofing strip (26) connects the top part (22, 23) of the movable piece (4) to a catching ring (30) snap-fastened onto the fixed piece (3).
3. Dispenser according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the top part (22, 23) of the movable piece (4) has an external rim (23) and in that the tamperproofing strip (26) connects the said external edge [sic] (23) to the fixed piece (3), preferably to the catching ring (30) snap-fastened onto the fixed piece (3).
4. Dispenser according to Claim 3, characterized in that the external rim (23) of the top part, the tamperproofing strip (26), where appropriate the catching ring (30) of the movable piece (4) and the attachment part (6) of the fixed piece (3) have approximately the same external diameter.
5. Dispenser according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the lateral fluid outlet orifice (14) of the fixed piece (3) has an external pouring spout.
6. Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the snap-fastening means defining the second axial position of the movable piece with respect to the fixed piece include an internal bead (18) on the fixed piece (3) and an external bead (25) on the closure part (21) of the movable piece (4).
7. Dispenser according to Claim 6, characterized in that the internal bead (18) is formed on a skirt (17) which extends the pouring part (13) of the fixed piece (3) towards the inside of the container.
8. Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cylindrical closure part (21) of the movable piece (4) has at least one cut-out (24) extending from the internal end of the closure part over an axial depth such that the said cut-out is axially offset with respect to the lateral orifice (14) of the fixed piece (3) in the first axial position of the movable piece (4) and can, in the second axial position of the latter, be brought into coincidence with the lateral orifice (14) of the fixed piece (3) by rotating the movable piece (4).
9. Dispenser according to Claims 6 and 8, characterized in that two diametrically opposed cutouts (24) are provided in the cylindrical closure part (21) of the movable piece (4).
10. Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixed piece (3) is attached by screws [sic] to the neck (5) of the container (2) and in that the fixed piece (3) has, on its attachment part (6), a tamperproofing ring (19) which engages by snap-fastening with the neck (5).

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