EP1463674B1 - Fluid product dispensing valve and fluid product dispensing device comprising same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an improved valve. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved valve having an annular ring assembled around the valve body.

The valves are well known in the state of the art. They find their main application with aerosol containers for the distribution of fluid product together with a propellant. The valve comprises a valve body which is fixed in a fastener, such as a crimpable capsule or the like, for attaching the valve to a reservoir with interposition of a neck seal for sealing with the reservoir . In some cases, the product contained in the tank may be incompatible with the sealants used. Thus, some products of pharmacy, perfumery, cosmetics, but also insecticides, etc. may have components that react on seals that can absorb or fix these components and swell, crack or deteriorate. As a result, the container may lose its seal. There may also be exchanges of the seal towards the product which is then altered and may lose its qualities. Similarly we can observe cases of attachment of the active product on the seal. The tanks can remain a certain time in stock or store, these disadvantages can be serious, even if the reaction on the seal is not fast.

To solve this problem, it has been proposed to use an annular ring assembled around the valve body and intended to minimize the contact between the product and the seal. Document FR-2 450 758 discloses such a ring. The use of this ring also provides the advantage of substantially filling the dead volume disposed below the product inlet opening in the valve body, in the position of use thereof, when This is a valve that can be used in the inverted position. This ensures the distribution of a maximum of product, by limiting the dead volume. Document FR-2 738 557 discloses a similar annular ring, which fulfills substantially the same purposes as that of document FR-2 450 758. The particular design of the ring of the document FR-2 738 557 provides additional advantages, by further limiting the contact between the seal and the product, by allowing a compensation of manufacturing tolerances, and also by allowing a non-distribution of the sedimentation residues which can occur with valves usable in the inverted position.

The annular rings described above are fitted on the body of the valve, the radial clamping being sufficient to maintain said ring in position. This implementation, however, has certain disadvantages. Thus, the radial clamping of the ring on the valve body is likely, over time, to deform said valve body, so that the clamping may not be sufficient to maintain the ring in position, the latter sliding then out of position along the valve body, so that it is no longer able to achieve the purposes for which it was intended. On the other hand, the deformation of the valve body is likely to cause a risk of jamming of the valve valve. This is particularly true in the case of metering valves, in which the valve body encloses a metering chamber and valve movable between a rest position and an actuating position. This valve is biased by a spring towards its rest position, and when the user actuates the metering valve, it presses this valve which slides in the valve body to the actuating position in which a dose of product is expelled. The spring then returns the valve stem to its rest position. To achieve maximum performance of the metering valve, clearance between the valve stem, particularly its inner lower portion, and the valve body is accurately studied to provide the best performance. In this case, a small deformation of the valve body, in particular of the portion of the valve body in which the lower part of the valve stem slides, may cause its jamming, and therefore a malfunction of the valve. . The risk of deformation of the valve body is even greater if it has several large openings allowing the entry of the product from the tank inside the valve. In particular, a valve body having three longitudinal slots in the side wall of the body of valve necessarily implies a relatively large flexibility of the valve body, incompatible with a radial clamping of the annular ring on the valve body. GB-A-1,358,498 discloses a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

The present invention aims to provide a valve that does not reproduce the aforementioned drawbacks.

In particular, the present invention aims to provide a fluid dispenser valve that is safe and reliable in its operation, substantially eliminating the risk of jamming of the valve during actuation.

The present invention also aims to provide such a valve having an annular ring around the valve body, which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide such an improved valve, wherein there is no risk that the annular ring assembled around the valve body will move out of position during its service life.

The present invention therefore relates to a fluid dispensing valve, comprising a valve body, a valve movable in said valve body between a rest position and a dispensing position, and an annular ring mounted around said valve body said annular ring being fixed on said valve body, said fastener being substantially radially non-clamping on said valve body, said annular ring having an axial edge proximal to the outlet orifice of said valve, said annular ring comprising one or more fastening means cooperating with the valve body and made on or near said proximal radial edge, the valve body having a first body portion, in which an inner part of the valve slides, and a second body portion, defining a metering chamber, said annular ring being attached to said valve body so that it does not cooperate with said first body part.

Advantageously, the annular ring is snapped onto the valve body.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the second body portion has an outer diameter greater than that of the first body portion, said first and second body portions being connected by a joining portion, said annular ring being fixed said valve body at said joining portion.

Advantageously, the valve body comprises one or more body latching means cooperating with one or more ring latching means made on the annular ring.

Advantageously, said body latching means comprise at least one shoulder formed in the outer side wall of said valve body.

Advantageously, said ring latching means comprise at least one shoulder formed in the inner side wall of said annular ring.

Advantageously, said body latching means and / or said ring latching means comprise means of radial deformation.

Advantageously, said radial deformation means comprise a radial space disposed radially respectively behind said body latching means and / or behind said ring latching means.

Advantageously, the annular ring is fixed on said valve body with a radial and / or axial clearance.

The present invention also relates to a valve unit characterized in that it comprises a valve as described above, a fixing member for fixing said valve on a fluid reservoir, and a seal for achieving sealing with said reservoir, said seal being disposed between said fastener and said annular ring.

The present invention also relates to a fluid dispenser device comprising a fluid reservoir and a valve unit as described above.

• la figure 1 représente une vue schématique en section transversale d'une valve selon un mode de réalisation avantageux de la présente invention, en position de repos, et
• la figure 2 montre une variante de réalisation non revendiquée.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in the following description, made in reference to the accompanying drawings, given as non-limiting examples, and in which:

• FIG. 1 represents a schematic cross-sectional view of a valve according to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, in the rest position, and
• Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment not claimed.

With reference to the figures, the valve comprises a valve body 10 in which slides a valve 20 movable between a rest position, shown in the single figure, and a dispensing position, in which the valve is pressed inside the body of valve. Typically, the valve has an outlet port through which the product will be dispensed. An annular ring 30 is mounted around said valve body 10 and, according to the invention, the fixing of the annular ring 30 on the valve body 10 is substantially non-clamping, that is to say that the ring 30, mounted state, exerts little or no radial force on the valve body 10. The risk of deformation of said valve body by the presence of the ring 30 is removed. The fixing of the ring on the valve body can be carried out with a radial clearance and / or an axial clearance, which means that the ring, when it is fixed, is in fact held on the valve body, without necessarily being blocked in position. Preferably, the fixing of the annular ring 30 on the valve body 10 is made by snapping. This clipping can be achieved in various ways, for example with or without play, the fastening or detent means that can be provided on the valve body 10, on the annular ring 30, or on both, as shown in the figures . More specifically, the valve body 10 may comprise one or more body fastening or detent means 15, preferably made in the form of a shoulder (s) formed in the outer lateral wall of said valve body. Similarly, the annular ring 30 may also include one or more ring fixing or detent means 35, preferably in the form of a shoulder (s) formed in the inner side wall of the ring. 30. Advantageously, the means respective snap-fasteners 15, 35 of the valve body 10 and the annular ring 30 may have inclined ramps facilitating the latching operation.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ring fixing means 35 are made on or near the lower axial edge of the ring 30, in the position shown in FIG. 1. This lower axial edge corresponds to the proximal axial edge of the ring. 30 to the outlet orifice of the valve 20. To facilitate attachment, and in particular snap-fastening, radial deformation means 16, 36 can be provided at said body attachment means 15 and / or at the said ring fixing means 35. More precisely, as shown in FIG. 1, these deformation means can be made in the form of a respective radial space 16, 36 disposed radially behind said shoulder 15 of the valve body 10 and / or behind said shoulder 35 of the annular ring 30. In the example shown in Figure 1, the ring 30 is snapped or snapped during assembly by exerting a radial deformation force on the ratching means, which can deform radially due to the presence of two respective spaces 16 and 36, and then return elastically to their normal position. In the example shown in Figure 2, which is not covered by the invention, the ring 30 is also snapped or snapped during assembly. In this example, only the ring latching means 35 deform radially during snapping. In contrast to the example of FIG. 1, the shoulder 35 is not formed at the lower edge of the ring 30. It can be formed by a projection 35 forming a shoulder, the ring 30 possibly comprising a radial recess 37 disposed axially behind said projection 35, in particular to limit the contact surface between the ring 30 and the valve body. The ring 30 is therefore attached to an axially more internal portion of the valve body.

Thus, in the mounted position shown in the figures, the ring 30 is permanently attached to the valve body 10, and in particular it is not likely to move during the life of this valve, for example in because of a deformation of the valve body 10 as was the case in the devices of the prior art. One advantage of snapping is that when mounted, the radial ring 30 may exert only a very small radial force on the valve body, or even no radial force.

In a conventional manner, the valve may be held on the neck of a reservoir (not shown) by means of a fastener 40, for example made in the form of a crimpable capsule or cup. Of course, other fasteners are possible to achieve this fixation. The fixing of the valve on the reservoir is carried out with the interposition of a seal 50, called a neck seal. Advantageously, the ring 30 is, in the mounted position, applied against said neck seal 50, which is trapped between the annular ring 30 and the fixing member 40. In this way, the presence of the ring 30 limits the contact between the product contained inside the reservoir and the neck seal 50. Preferably, it is the proximal axial edge of the ring 30 which is in contact with the seal 50. Advantageously, the ring 30 is made of an inert material with respect to the product contained in the tank, and it makes it possible to fulfill all the aforementioned functions of the rings as defined in the above-mentioned prior art documents, namely the patents FR-2 450 758 and FR-2 738 557.

An advantage of the present invention is to be able to realize a valve unit formed by the valve itself, the fastener 40 and the seal 50. This valve unit can then be supplied to the manufacturer of the product which no longer than to introduce its product in a tank and assemble the valve unit on said tank by means of the fixing member 40.

The present invention applies to all types of valves, including those operating in the inverted position, but they have additional advantages in the context of a metering valve as shown in the figures.

Referring to these figures, the metering valve comprises a valve body 10 which encloses a metering chamber 13. This metering chamber 13 is delimited axially by two annular seals, a valve seal 17 and a chamber seal 18. These two seals each have a central opening through which a valve 20 passes, movable within the valve body 10 between a rest position, shown in the figure, and an actuating position. This valve 20 is biased towards its rest position by an elastic member 19, such as a spring, bearing on the one hand on the bottom of the valve body 10 and on the other hand on an inner part 21 of the valve 20 Since this type of metering valve is known, its operation will not be more fully described in the context of the present invention.

The valve body 10 is fixed, in particular crimped in a fastener 40, such as a capsule, which is then fixed, for example by crimping, on the neck of any container (not shown), with interposition of the collar seal 50.

The valve body 10 comprises a first body portion 11, in which the inner portion 21 of the valve 20 slides, and a second body portion 12 which comprises the metering chamber 13. Optionally, this metering chamber 13 can be defined by a sleeve 60 inserted into the second body portion 12. As shown in the figures, the second body portion 12 preferably has an outer diameter greater than that of the first body portion 11, said first and second body portions 11 , 12 being connected by a joining portion 14. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the annular ring 30 is attached to said valve body 10 at said joining portion 14. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 1 this joining portion 14, which may be formed by a radial or conical wall portion, comprises the latching means 15 of the body, which cooperate with the latching means 35 of the ring 30. In this way, the ring 30 absolutely does not cooperate with the first body portion 11 in which the inner portion 21 of the valve 20 slides. This is particularly advantageous in the case of a metering valve in which the first part of body 11 has one or more longitudinal slots extending over a large part of its side wall, to allow the entry of the product contained in the container (not shown) inside the valve. The presence of one or more slots of this type induces a certain flexibility of the valve body 10, so that even a small radial force exerted on the first body portion 11 may result in deformation of the latter. However, in the high-performance metering valves, the clearance provided between the inner wall of the valve body 10 and the valve 20 is generally determined very precisely so that even a small deformation of the valve body may cause jamming of the valve. valve and thus a malfunction of the valve. The internal diameter of the valve body is not deformed and therefore does not vary over time, which therefore avoids any risk of jamming while allowing the use of an annular ring 30 with the advantages and disadvantages. functions mentioned above.

In the example of Figure 2, which is not covered by the invention, or the shoulder (s) 15 of the valve body 10 is formed in the first part of the body 11. In this case, it is preferable that the radial force exerted on the valve body by the ring 30 in the mounted state is minimal or zero, to avoid any risk of deformation of said valve body.

The present invention has been described with reference to an advantageous embodiment thereof, but it is clear that it is not limited to this embodiment. On the contrary, a person skilled in the art can make any modifications without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (11)

1. Fluid product dispensing valve, comprising a valve body (10), a valve stem (20) moving in said valve body (10) between a rest position and a dispensing position, and an annular ring (30) mounted around said valve body (10), said annular ring (30) being attached to said valve body (10), said attachment being substantially radially non-clamping onto said valve body (10), said annular ring (30) comprising an axial edge that is proximal with respect to outlet orifice of said valve stem (20), said annular ring (30) comprising one or more attachment means (35) co-operating with the valve body (10) and provided on or close to said proximal axial edge, characterized in that the valve body (10) comprises a first body part (11), in which an internal part (21) of the valve stem (20) slides, and a second body part (12), defining a dosing chamber (13), said annular ring (30) being fixed to said valve body (10) such that the one or more attachment means (35) are provided on or close to said proximal axial edge and do not cooperate with said first body part (11).
2. Valve according to claim 1, in which the annular ring (30) is snap-fitted onto the valve body (10).
3. Valve according to any of claims 1 or 2, in which the second body part (12) has an external diameter greater than that of the first body part (11), said first and second body parts (11, 12) being joined by a junction part (14), said annular ring (30) being attached to the valve body (10) at said junction part (14).
4. Valve according to any of the preceding claims, in which the valve body (10) comprises one or more body snap-fit means (15) co-operating with one or more ring snap-fit means (35) provided on the annular ring (30).
5. Valve according to claim 4, in which said body snap-fit means (15) comprise at least one shoulder (15) provided in the external lateral wall of said valve body (10).
6. Valve according to any of claims 4 to 5, in which said ring snap-fit means (35) comprise at least one shoulder (35) provided in the internal lateral wall of said annular ring (30).
7. Valve according to any of claims 4 to 6, in which said body snap-fit means (15) and/or said ring snap-fit means (35) comprise radial deformation means (16, 36).
8. Valve according to claim 7, in which said radial deformation means (16, 36) comprise a radial space (16, 36) respectively positioned radially behind said body (15) and/or ring (35) snap-fit means.
9. Valve according to any of the previous claims, in which said annular ring (30) is attached to said valve body (10) with a radial and/or axial clearance.
10. Valve unit, characterised in that it comprises a valve according to any of the preceding claims, an attachment element (40) to attach said valve to a container of fluid product and a seal (50) to make the seal with said container, said seal (50) being positioned between said attachment element (40) and said annular ring (30).
11. Fluid product dispensing device, characterised in that it comprises a fluid product container and a valve unit according to claim 10.

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