EP1651540B1 - Fluid product dispensing head - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a fluid product dispensing head comprising a body (1) forming a dispensing conduit (14) having an outlet (143) defining an outlet axis X, and a closure element (2) mounted on the body (1) for selectively closing the dispensing conduit (14) at its outlet (143), the closure element forming a dispensing orifice (22) closed in the absence of fluid product under pressure in the dispensing conduit, said closure element including sealing means (24) and fixing means (25a) co-operating with sealed receiving means (15) and complementary retaining means formed by the body (1), the fixing means comprise at least one fixing profile (253) facing radially outwards relative to the outlet axis X and the retaining means comprise at least one retaining profile (193) facing radially inwards towards the outlet axis X.

Description

The present invention relates to a fluid dispensing head intended to be mounted on a fluid dispenser member such as a pump or a valve. The dispensing head may form a pusher on which the user can exert pressure to actuate the dispenser member. However, this pusher function can be dissociated from the dispensing head. Such dispensing head may in particular be used in combination with a dispensing member to be mounted on a fluid reservoir in the fields of perfumery, cosmetics or even pharmacy.

The type of fluid dispensing head of the present invention generally comprises a body forming a dispensing pipe having an inlet intended to be connected to the dispenser member and an outlet having an outlet axis X. The head comprises in addition to a shutter mounted on the body for selectively closing the distribution duct at its outlet, the shutter forming a closed dispensing orifice in the absence of fluid under pressure in the distribution duct and open in the presence of fluid product in the distribution duct at a pressure greater than an opening threshold value, said shutter comprising sealing means and fixing means cooperating with sealing receiving means and complementary respective holding means formed by the body for fixing sealing the shutter on the body. The dispensing orifice is often formed by a simple self-sealing slot which remains sealed in the closed state in the rest position, that is to say in the absence of fluid product at a pressure greater than the threshold value. opening. We already know a distribution head of this type of document FR 2,654,078 . The shutter of this document is snapped onto the body with a snap profile turned inwards. In addition, the snap and seal function is almost confused, or at least very closely associated.

The present invention aims to define a dispensing head of this type having improved fixing and sealing functions. Moreover, the shutter and / or the body must be easily moldable and demoldable. Definitive fixation is another goal. To achieve these objects, the present invention proposes a dispensing head according to the features of claim 1. The fastening means comprise at least one fastening profile rotated radially outwardly with respect to the output axis X and the means at least one retaining profile rotated radially inwards towards the output axis X. This means that the closure of the shutter on the body is effected on an outer periphery of the shutter and on a periphery internal of the body, unlike the dispensing head of the aforementioned prior art. According to another interesting feature that can be implemented additionally or alternatively, the sealed receiving means are located radially closer to the output axis X than the holding means. Advantageously, the sealed reception means and the holding means extend substantially concentrically. This implies that the fastening means are spacially spaced from the sealing means. In other words, the fastening means do not normally participate in sealing the obturator on the body. Conversely, sealing the shutter on the body does not participate in fixing the shutter on the body. Thus, the sealing and fixing functions are dissociated. It is therefore possible to optimize each function (sealing and fixing) independently of one another. This is not the case in the dispensing head of the prior art where the fastening participates in the seal. The configuration of the fastening profiles on the outer periphery of the shutter and the separation of the sealing and fastening functions are two features that can be implemented independently of one another.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the sealed reception means comprise a peripheral groove which extends around the outlet, and the sealing means comprise a sealing lip in sealing engagement in the groove. Advantageously, the groove forms two side walls connected by a bottom, the lip being in sealing contact at least with the two side walls and advantageously also with the bottom. Preferably, the lip borders a outlet chamber located in the extension of the duct outlet and comprising a convergence wall which extends towards the dispensing orifice for directing the fluid under pressure from the outlet to the dispensing orifice. The sealing lip makes it possible to achieve a particularly good sealing quality, since the lip comes into sealing contact on three distinct zones, namely the two side walls and the bottom. The sealing contact on the side walls is particularly effective since these two side walls face each other and the lip is thus crushed or wedged between these two walls. It is thus possible to dispense with the resistance of the lip to the deformation. It is possible to form a very thin lip which is inserted into a groove of very small width.

According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the fixing means comprise at least one fixing lug forming an external fixing profile and the holding means comprise at least one holding housing forming a holding profile intended to come into fixing engagement. with the fixing profile. Advantageously, the holding means comprise locking means intended to cooperate with the fastening means (tabs) to block the fastening profile engaged with the holding profile. Preferably, the holding housing forms a locking surface for biasing the fixing lug so as to push the fastening profile against the holding profile. According to a practical embodiment, the blocking surface is turned radially outwards with respect to the output axis X, the fixing lug forming a cam surface turned radially towards the output axis, said cam surface being engaged with the blocking surface. Still for practical purposes, the dispensing head comprises three fixing lugs arranged on either side and below the output axis X, when the inlet is oriented downwards. Advantageously, said at least one holding housing comprises an insertion window defining an inner edge and an outer edge with respect to the output axis, said outer edge defining an internal ratcheting edge forming said holding profile, said profile external fastener engaging snapped with said inner ratcheting edge. The brackets with their external fastening profiles thus extend around the sealing lip, the formation of the fastening profiles on the outside or on the outer periphery of the tabs also allows a natural release of the shutter by moving away the mold parts . This is not the case when the fastening profiles are formed on an inner wall or directed towards the output axis. In this case, the demolding takes place in force, which often has the effect of deteriorating the fastening profiles. This results in a lower attachment quality. As for the locking means, they provide an irreversible or unmountable fixation of the locking profiles on the holding profiles.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the dispensing orifice is a self-sealing slot urged to rest in a sealed closed position. This slot can be made by a simple incision of the shutter using a sharp blade.

The invention will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings giving by way of non-limiting example an embodiment of the invention.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe transversale verticale à travers une tête de distribution selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une coupe transversale horizontale selon l'axe de sortie X de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe transversale verticale du corps de la tête de distribution,
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective de l'obturateur de la tête de distribution de l'invention,
• la figure 5 est une autre vue de l'obturateur selon un autre angle de vue, et
• la figure 6 est une vue en perspective du corps de la tête de distribution de l'invention.

In the figures:

• the figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a dispensing head according to the invention,
• the figure 2 is a horizontal cross section along the output axis X of the figure 1 ,
• the figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the body of the dispensing head,
• the figure 4 is a perspective view of the shutter of the dispensing head of the invention,
• the figure 5 is another view of the shutter from another angle of view, and
• the figure 6 is a perspective view of the body of the dispensing head of the invention.

The dispensing head used to illustrate the present invention and shown in the figures is a pusher-type dispensing head on which one or more fingers can be pressed to actuate a dispenser member. distribution, such as a pump or a valve, on which the head is mounted. However, a dispensing head according to the present invention can be dissociated from the pusher function and perform only a fluid dispensing and dispensing function. In this case, the pusher is separate from the head.

In the embodiment of the figures, the dispensing head comprises two constituent elements, namely a body 1 and a shutter 2. These two elements can be made by injection molding plastic into a suitable mold. The body is preferably made of a plastic material harder or stiffer than the shutter. The shutter may for example be made of elastomer.

The body 1, which is preferably made in one piece, comprises an upper support wall 13 which serves as a thrust surface on which one or more fingers of one hand can be applied and exert a pressure force. This upper wall 13 here has a complex shape both rounded and inclined. This is an ergonomic shape for the position of a finger with the last end phalanx of the finger placed on the highest part of the upper wall 13. On the other hand, the body 1 forms a side skirt 11 which extends from the top wall 13 downwards. The skirt 11 also has a complex configuration, but generally cylindrical. On the side where the upper wall 13 is the highest, the skirt 11 forms a junction plane 17, which is here perfectly flat. This junction plane 17 is pierced with several openings or evidemments, as will be seen below. The shutter 2 which will be described below, is intended to be attached to the body 1 at the junction plane 17.

The body 1 internally defines a connecting sleeve 12 for receiving the upper end of an actuating rod of a dispensing member such as a pump or a valve. The housing formed by the connecting sleeve 12 may be of the type snap force or snap. This receiving housing is extended by a distribution duct 14 which defines an axial inlet 141. This inlet is disposed on a longitudinal axis vertical Y which merges with the axis of the dispensing member and its actuating rod. The inlet 141 is of course open downward to communicate with the housing formed by the connecting sleeve 12 in which must be engaged the upper end of the actuating rod. In many cases, the body 1, and more generally the dispensing head, is rotatably mounted around this vertical axis Y. The distribution duct 14 also forms a radial passage 142 which opens at the junction plane 17 to the The output 143 and the passage 142 which connects the input 141 to the output 143 extend along a distribution or output axis X. The output axis X extends substantially perpendicularly. However, the X axis can be oriented slightly or substantially upwards or downwards with respect to the Y axis. The exit 143 is thus bordered by a flat annular surface 16 which can be disposed in the junction plane 17, or advantageously slightly inwardly offset with respect to this plane 17, as can be seen very clearly on the figure 3 . This annular wall 16 is surrounded externally by a receiving groove 15 which extends from the junction plane 17 towards the inside of the body 1 substantially in the same direction as the output axis X. The groove 15 thus forms a sort of ring trench whose depth extends horizontally. The groove comprises two concentric annular side walls 151 and 152 connected by a bottom 153.

This groove 15 is surrounded by the junction plane 17. Referring to the figure 6 it can be seen that the receiving groove 15 is surrounded on at least three of these sides, that is to say the two lateral sides and the bottom side, by three insertion windows, namely the window 19a at the bottom of the the throat, and two lateral insertion windows 19b. On the sectional view of the figure 3 , we see the insertion window 19a while the figure 2 reveals the side windows 19b. These insertion windows 19a and 19b pass through the wall thickness of the skirt 11 so as to access the interior of the body 1. These insertion windows constitute holding housing access openings 18a and 18b. The window 19a provides access to the lower housing 18a while the windows 19b allow to access the lateral holding housing 18b. Each window defines an inner edge 191 and an outer edge 192. The inner edge 192 is closer to the X axis than the outer edge 192. In fact, the inner edges 191 are placed just behind the groove 15 while the edges 192 face the inner edges 192 with the access passage extending between them. According to the invention, the inner edge formed by the outer edge 192 serves as a holding profile intended to cooperate with the shutter 2 as will be seen below. There are therefore three retaining edges that extend towards the X axis. These edges constitute holding profiles 193 which are turned inward towards the X axis. The inner edges 191 extend inside the X axis. respective holding housings forming a locking surface 181 which faces outwardly with respect to the X-axis and at an angle to the horizontal. Thus by engaging a piece horizontally through one of the windows, the part will quickly come into contact with the blocking surface 181. We will see below the actual function of this blocking surface.

It can thus be said that the outlet 143 is surrounded by a receiving groove 15 concentrically. We will see below that the function of this groove is to seal with the shutter 2. It may also be noted that the holding housings extend concentrically around the outlet 143 and the receiving groove 15. The groove 15 is indeed separate from the housing insertion windows by the junction plane 17. This visible on the figure 6 . This junction plane advantageously extends further around the insertion windows 19a and 19b.

The shutter 2 forms a dispensing spout 21 internally forming an outlet or distribution chamber 23 having a wide opening bordered by a sealing lip 24. The chamber 23 extends from this sealing lip 24 forming an upper surface 211 and a lower surface 212. The two walls 211 and 212 converge towards one another to meet at a self-sealing slot 22 which forms a dispensing orifice. This self-sealing slot has edges which are in sealing contact in the rest position, that is to say when the chamber 23 contains no fluid product subjected to a pressure greater than a threshold pressure for separating the edges of the slot and thus open the dispensing orifice 22. In the embodiment of the figures, the lower surface 212 is inclined upwards and constitutes and a convergence wall adapted to direct the fluid under pressure to the dispensing orifice. The sealing lip 24 is surrounded by a contact plane 213. Fastening tabs 25a and 25b extend from this contact plane 213. In the non-limiting embodiment, there is a lower tab 25a and two side tabs 25b. These three tabs extend from the contact plane 213 around the sealing lip 24. The tabs and the lip 24 project from the contact plane 213, so that it can be said that the tabs extend concentrically around the sealing lip 24. Each tab comprises an inner face facing the lip 24 and an outer face. According to the invention, the outer faces of the lugs form fastening means in the form of snap-fastening profile 253. More specifically, these attachment profiles 253 are formed by projecting ridges which face outwards. On the other hand, the inner faces of the tabs form cam surfaces 251.

The shutter 2 is mounted on the body 1 by penetrating the tabs 25a and 25b in the respective holding housing 18a and 18b through the insertion windows 19a and 19b. More specifically, the tab 25a enters the housing 18a through the window 19a while the two side tabs 25b respectively enter the housings 18b through the windows 19b. By thus continuing to insert the tabs into the respective housings, the cam surfaces 251 will come into sliding contact with the locking surfaces 181 formed by the body. The mounting of the shutter 2 continues, and the sealing lip 24 will begin to penetrate the receiving groove 15. By continuing to report the shutter 2 on the body 1, the sealing lip 24 will be pressed inside the groove 15 so as to come into sealing contact with these two lateral walls 151 and 152 and advantageously also with the bottom 153 of the groove. This gives a three-point sealing contact which has a very good sealing quality, since the lip is tightly engaged between the two side walls 151 and 152 facing each other. At the same time as the lip 24 comes to the final sealing position in the receiving groove 15, the fastening profiles 253 formed on the outer faces of the tabs will engage behind the retaining edges 193 formed at the windows of FIG. respective insertion. The cam surfaces 253 are then strongly urged by the locking surfaces 181. The tabs are thus slightly deformed outwards, which increases the quality of the binding between the fixing and holding edges. On the other hand, the blocking surfaces 181 provide a definitive fixing of the shutter 2 that can not be dismounted on the body 1.

It can also be noted that the apparent outer surface of the shutter 2 extends the upper support wall 13 and the skirt 11 without forming a line recess, so that the shutter 2 is smoothly integrated smoothly to the body 1 The shutter 2 offers very little grip so that it is difficult to grasp for the purpose of extracting it. In any case, its extraction is impossible because of the snapping of the fixing and holding edges blocked by the cam surfaces engaged with the blocking surfaces.

Thanks to the invention, the means for sealing between the shutter and the body are separated or dissociated means for fixing the shutter on the body. On the other hand, the arrangement of the fastening profiles of the shutter turned outwardly relative to the sealing lip allows a natural release of the workpiece by simply moving away from the constituent elements of the mold. This guarantees a better quality of the fastening profiles.

The conduit, the outlet, the lip and the groove may be circular, oblong, ovoidal elliptical or more generally annular.

Claims (14)

1. A fluid dispenser head designed to be fitted to a fluid dispenser member, said head comprising:

   a body (1) forming a dispensing duct (14) having an inlet (141) designed to be connected to the dispenser head, and an outlet (143) having an outlet axis X; and

   a shutter (2) fitted to the body (1) for the purpose of selectively closing off the dispensing duct (14) at its outlet (143), the shutter forming a dispensing orifice (22) that is closed in the absence of fluid under pressure in the dispensing duct, and that is opened in the presence of fluid in the dispensing duct at a pressure greater than an opening threshold pressure, said shutter being provided with sealing means (24) and with fixing means (25a, 25b) cooperating respectively with complementary seal-receiving means (15) and with complementary holding means (18a, 19a, 18b, 19b) formed by the body (1) for the purpose of fixing the shutter (2) to the body (1) in leaktight manner;

   said fluid dispenser head being characterized in that the fixing means comprise at least one snap-fastening profile (253) facing radially outwards relative to the outlet axis X, and the holding means comprise at least one holding profile (193) facing radially inwards towards the outlet axis X, the snap-fastening means coming in snap-fastened engagement with the holding means.
2. A fluid dispenser head according to claim 1, in which the seal-receiving means (15) are situated radially closer to the outlet axis X than the holding means (193).
3. A fluid dispenser head according to claim 2, in which the seal-receiving means (15) and the holding means (193) extend substantially concentrically.
4. A fluid dispenser head according to any preceding claim, in which the seal-receiving means comprise a peripheral groove (15) which extends around the outlet (143), and the sealing means comprise a sealing lip (24) in leaktight engagement in the groove (15).
5. A fluid dispenser head according to claim 4, in which the groove (15) forms two side walls (151, 152) interconnected by an end wall (153), the lip (24) being in leaktight contact at least with the two side walls and advantageously also with the end wall.
6. A fluid dispenser head according to claim 4 or claim 5, in which the lip (24) flanks an outlet chamber (23) situated in alignment with the outlet (143) of the duct (14) and having a convergence wall (212) which extends towards the dispensing orifice (22) for the purpose of directing the pressurized fluid coming from the outlet towards the dispensing orifice.
7. A fluid dispenser head according to any preceding claim, in which the fixing means comprise at least one fixing catch (25a, 25b) forming an outside fixing profile (253), and the holding means comprise at least one holding recess (18a, 18b) forming a holding profile (193) designed to come into fixing engagement with the fixing profile.
8. A fluid dispenser head according to claim 7, in which the holding means further comprise locking means (181) designed to co-operate with the catches (25a, 25b) to lock the fixing profile (253) in engagement with the holding profile (193).
9. A fluid dispenser head according to claim 8, in which the holding recess forms a locking surface (181) designed to urge the fixing catch (25a, 25b) so a to push the fixing profile (253) against the holding profile (193).
10. A fluid dispenser head according to claim 9, in which the locking surface (181) faces radially outwards relative to the outlet axis X, the fixing catch forming a cam surface (251) radially facing towards the outlet axis, said cam surface being in engagement with the locking surface.
11. A fluid dispenser head according to any one of claims 7 to 10, having three fixing catches (25a, 25b) disposed on either side of and below the outlet axis X, when the inlet faces downwards.
12. A fluid dispenser head according to any one of claims 7 to 11, in which said at least one holding recess comprises an insertion window (19a, 19b) defining an inner edge (191) and an outer edge (192) relative to the outlet axis, said outer edge defining a snap-fastening inside shoulder (193) forming said holding profile, said outside fixing profile (253) coming into snap-fastened engagement with said snap-fastening inside shoulder (193).
13. A fluid dispenser head according to any preceding claim, in which the dispensing orifice (22) is a self-closing slit urged at rest into a leaktight closed position.
14. A fluid dispenser head according to any preceding claim, in which the dispensing duct (14) is integrally formed with the fixing means by the body.

Images