EP1687096A2

EP1687096A2 - Pump for dispensing fluid products

Info

Publication number: EP1687096A2
Application number: EP04805804A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Marc Pardonge; Christophe Fagot; Samuel Pruvot; François LE MANER
Original assignee: Valois SAS
Current assignee: Aptar France SAS
Priority date: 2003-11-07
Filing date: 2004-11-03
Publication date: 2006-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 2024-11-03
Also published as: EP1687095B1; WO2005044463A2; US20070295756A1; JP4825678B2; US7775404B2; DE602004005611D1; US7870978B2; WO2005044464A3; WO2005044464A2; CN1886202A; WO2005044463A3; JP2007511339A; JP4825677B2; CN100460085C; US20070272712A1; EP1687095A2; DE602004006017T2; DE602004006017D1; EP1687096B1; FR2862106A1

Abstract

The inventive pump for dispensing fluid products comprises a pump body (10), a pump chamber (20) at least one piston (30, 72) sliding inside the pump chamber (20) for dispensing a fluid product, a dispensing orifice (45) and a shutter (38) which interacts with said dispensing orifice (45) and is embodied in such a way that it is movable and/or deformable between the closed position of the dispensing orifice (45) and the open position thereof, said shutter being elastically driven to a closed position. Said invention is characterised in that the inventive pump comprises only one elastic element (50) in the form of a spring for bringing at least one piston (30, 72) to a rest position after actuation and for driving the shutter (38) to a closed position and at least one piston is embodied in one piece with the shutter (38).

Description

Fluid dispensing pump

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser pump, as well as a fluid dispenser device comprising such a pump. Fluid product dispensing pumps are well known in the state of the art, and are used to dispense fluid, especially in the fields of perfumery, cosmetics or pharmacy. These pumps generally include a pump body and a pump chamber in which slides at least one piston to dispense a dose of product on each actuation. The pump chamber generally includes an inlet valve as well as an outlet valve. A dispensing head incorporating the dispensing orifice is generally assembled on the pump, said head comprising an expulsion channel connecting said pump to said dispensing orifice. In particular when the fluid product is a pharmaceutical product, it may be necessary to avoid contamination of this product, in which case a shutter may be provided at the dispensing orifice. This shutter is generally biased towards its closed position by an elastic element, and is open at the time of expulsion to allow the product to exit. When the device is a spraying device, it is also possible to provide an insert disposed in the expulsion channel to limit the dead volume of the latter and promote spraying of the product. As the pump is part of a fluid product dispensing device, a fixing ring is generally provided for fixing this pump to a reservoir containing the fluid product. A dip tube can also be associated with the pump to extend to the bottom of the tank and allow the distribution of all of the product contained therein. This type of pump, well known, comprises a relatively large number of component parts, which makes its manufacture and its assembly relatively complicated and expensive. Another problem which can arise, in particular when the fluid product is a pharmaceutical product, is that the product is generally in contact with the springs of the pump, these being generally metallic. Depending on the pharmaceutical product under consideration, this type of contact with a metallic product can be harmful and cause product alteration. The object of the present invention is to provide a fluid dispensing pump which does not have the abovementioned drawbacks. More particularly, the present invention aims to provide a fluid dispensing pump which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble. The present invention aims in particular to provide a fluid dispensing pump which is made up of a minimum number of component parts. The present invention also aims to provide a fluid dispenser pump, which eliminates any risk of alteration of the fluid product dispensed by said pump, in particular by eliminating any contact with metal parts. The present invention therefore relates to a fluid dispensing pump comprising a pump body, a pump chamber, at least one piston sliding in said pump chamber for dispensing the fluid product, a dispensing orifice, and a shutter. cooperating with said dispensing orifice, said shutter being displaceable and / or deformable between a position for closing the dispensing orifice and a position for opening the dispensing orifice, said shutter being resiliently biased towards its position of obturation, the pump comprising a single elastic element, such as a spring, adapted to return said at least one piston to its rest position after actuation and to urge said obturator to its closed position, and said at least one piston being made in one piece with said shutter. Advantageously, said spring is out of any contact with the fluid product. Advantageously, the pump includes a fixing ring adapted to fix said pump on a tank. According to a first embodiment of the present invention, said pump body is made in one piece with said fixing ring. Advantageously, said fixing ring is made in one piece with a dip tube intended to extend into a reservoir. Advantageously, said fixing ring is made in one piece with a seat of the inlet valve of the pump chamber. Preferably, the pump comprises a dispensing head comprising the dispensing orifice. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, said pump body is arranged inside said dispensing head. Advantageously, said dispensing head is connected, in particular snapped-in, in a non-removable manner on said fixing ring, said dispensing head and said fixing ring forming a stop to define the rest position of the pump. According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, an insert is arranged in the pump chamber upstream of the dispensing orifice. Advantageously, said insert is made in one piece with said shutter. Advantageously, said pump consists of only four parts comprising the part forming the dispensing head, the part forming the piston and obturator, the part forming a spring, and the part forming the pump body, fixing ring and dip tube. Advantageously, the part forming the pump body, fixing ring and dip tube also forms the seat of an inlet valve of the pump chamber, cooperating with a valve element. According to an alternative embodiment, the valve element is integral with the part forming the piston and the shutter. Advantageously, said pump chamber is arranged immediately upstream of said dispensing orifice, said shutter forming an outlet valve of said pump chamber. The present invention also relates to a device for dispensing a fluid product, comprising a reservoir and a pump as described above. Advantageously, the pump is fixed, in particular snapped on, on the tank with the interposition of a seal. Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly during the following detailed description of several embodiments and variants of the present invention, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of nonlimiting examples, and on which: - Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fluid dispenser device comprising a fluid dispenser pump produced according to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, in the pump rest position; - Figure 2 is an enlarged schematic view of part of the device of Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 in the dispensing position of the pump; and - Figure 4 is an enlarged schematic view of part of the device of Figures 1 and 3. The dispensing pump according to the present invention comprises a pump body 10 in which slides at least one first piston 30, 72. Said at at least one piston 30, 72 slides in a pump chamber 20 to dispense a dose of fluid product through a dispensing orifice 45, each time the pump is actuated. Said pump chamber 20 preferably comprises an inlet valve 70. To avoid contamination of the product between two actuations, the dispensing orifice 45 is provided with a shutter 38 which is movable and / or deformable between a position of closure of this dispensing orifice 45 and an open position thereof, said shutter 38 being resiliently urged towards its closed position. According to the invention, the pump comprises a single elastic element 50, such as a spring, which is adapted both to return the piston 30, 72 to its rest position after actuation and to urge the shutter 38 to its closed position. Advantageously, this spring is disposed out of any contact with the fluid, which avoids any risk of contamination, especially when this spring is metallic. Preferably, the pump comprises a dispensing head 40 which incorporates the dispensing orifice 45. Advantageously, the pump chamber 20 is disposed at least partially in said dispensing head 40, directly upstream of said dispensing orifice 45. L shutter 38 then forms the outlet valve of this pump chamber. The pump can be fixed to a reservoir 60 containing the fluid by means of a fixing ring 15, which can be of any desired type, for example screwable, snap-on or crimpable. Preferably, the pump is assembled on the reservoir 60 by means of said fixing ring 15 with the interposition of a seal 65 between these two elements. The figures represent an advantageous embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the fixing ring 15 is advantageously made in one piece with the pump body 10. Preferably, this fixing ring 15 is also made in one piece with a dip tube 18 which s 'extends towards the bottom of the tank 60. As shown in the figures, this dip tube 18 can also be extended inside the pump body by an extension of the axial tubing forming a valve seat 71 of the inlet valve 70 of the chamber pump 20. The piston 30 is made in one piece with the shutter 38. In addition, an insert 39 may be provided upstream of the dispensing orifice 45 in the pump chamber 20, this insert preferably being produced in a single piece with said shutter 38. This insert 39 can form at its lower end the valve member 75 of the inlet valve 70 of the pump chamber, which cooperates with the valve seat 71 described above. As shown in the figures, the pump comprises only a single spring 50, which in this embodiment is arranged outside the pump body 10, outside of said fixing ring 15, so that it is out from any contact with the fluid. Advantageously, the pump comprises a second piston 34, preferably integral with the first piston 30, and which slides in leaktight manner in the dispensing head 40 to partially limit said pump chamber 20. The operation of the pump shown in the figures is as follows . When the user presses on the dispensing head .40 from the position shown in FIG. 1, the dispensing head descends axially relative to the reservoir by compressing the spring 50. In doing so, the valve element 75 formed on the lower end of the insert 39 cooperates with the valve seat 71 of the inlet valve 70 to close this inlet valve. The volume of the pump chamber 20 is then defined and extends between the pump body 10, the first piston

30, and the second piston 34 and the shutter 38 which closes the dispensing orifice 45. A continuation of the axial actuating force on the dispensing head 40 causes a rise in pressure in the pump chamber 20, which causes an axial displacement of the piston 30, and therefore of the shutter 38 away from the dispensing orifice 45, allowing distribution of the product through the latter. When the user releases his pressure on the dispensing head 40, the latter is brought back to its rest position by the spring 50, as is the piston 30 and therefore the shutter 38 is also brought back to its rest position simultaneously . Preferably, the dispensing head 40 is connected, in particular snapped-in, in a non-removable manner on the fixing ring 15, by forming with it a stop position which defines the rest position of the pump. The pump chamber 20 preferably extends directly upstream of the dispensing orifice 45, at least partially in the dispensing head 40. It is therefore essential that this dispensing head 40 is not removable, to avoid any risk contanαination of the product contained in the pump chamber.

Advantageously, the inlet valve seat 71 of the inlet valve 70 comprises air passage means 78 offset axially relative to said inlet valve seat 71, and capable of cooperating with the valve element 75 during boot. This position is shown in FIG. 4, in which it can be seen that these passage means 78 are formed by one or more lateral groove (s) formed in the wall of the tubular element forming the valve seat 71, and adapted (s) to cooperate with the end 75 of the insert 39 provided with corresponding passage grooves or ribs. This priming position can be reached when the pump chamber is filled with air. After evacuation of the air, the pump chamber then fills with product, and during the next actuations of the pump, this valve element

75 cannot move to these passage means 78 during the distribution of the product, but only at the end of actuation. The priming means therefore generate no risk of dose loss during normal actuation of the pump. A particular advantage of the present invention is that it makes it possible to produce a pump with a minimum of constituent parts. The pump shown in the figures can thus be produced with only four components, namely the part forming the dispensing head 40, the part forming the pump body 10, fixing ring 15 and dip tube 18, the part forming the spring 50, and the part forming piston 30 and obturator 38. The pump is then assembled on the reservoir 60 with the interposition of a seal 65, and it thus appears clearly that the number of parts of the pump according to the invention is lower in comparison state-of-the-art pumps, which simplifies the manufacture and assembly of this pump, and therefore makes it less expensive. Likewise, the operation of this pump is reliable, guaranteeing a good quality spray and facilitating priming. Likewise, the fact that the return spring never comes into contact with the fluid product avoids any risk of the product being damaged by contact with a metal part (when this spring is made of metal). Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it is understood that it is not liωitée by the example shown. On the contrary, a person skilled in the art can make any useful modifications to it without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

claims

1.- Fluid product distribution pump comprising a pump body (10), a pump chamber (20), at least one piston (30; 72) sliding in said pump chamber (20) to distribute the fluid product, a dispensing orifice (45), and a shutter (38) cooperating with said dispensing orifice (45), said shutter (38) being movable and / or deformable between a position for closing the dispensing orifice (45) and an open position of the dispensing orifice (45), said shutter (38) being resiliently biased towards its closed position, characterized in that the pump comprises a single elastic element (50), such as a spring, adapted to return said at least one piston (30, 72) to its rest position after actuation and to urge said shutter (38) to its closed position, and in that said at least one piston (30) is reahsé of a single piece with said shutter (38).

2.- Pump according to claim 1, wherein said spring (50) is out of contact with the fluid.

3.- Pump according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pump comprises a fixing ring (15) adapted to fix said pump on a tank (60).

4.- Pump according to claim 3, wherein said pump body (10) is made in one piece with said fixing ring

(15).

5.- Pump according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said fixing ring (15) is made in one piece with a dip tube (18) intended to extend in a tank (60).

6.- Pump according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein said fixing ring (15) is made in one piece with an inlet valve seat (71) of the pump chamber (20) .

7.- Pump according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pump comprises a dispensing head (40) comprising the dispensing orifice (45).

8.- Pump according to claim 7, wherein said pump body (10) is disposed inside said dispensing head (40).

9.- Pump according to claim 7 or 8 and any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein said dispensing head (40) is connected, in particular encased, irremovably on said fixing ring

(15), said dispensing head (40) and said fixing ring (15) forming a stop to define the rest position of the pump.

10.- Pump according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an insert (39) is disposed in the pump chamber (20) upstream of the dispensing orifice (45).

11.- Pump according to claim 10, wherein said insert (39) is made in one piece with said shutter (38)

12.- Pump according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said pump consists of only four parts comprising the part forming the dispensing head (40), the part forming the piston (30) and obturator (38), the part forming spring (50), and the part forming the pump body (10), fixing ring (15) and dip tube (18).

13.- Pump according to claim 12, wherein the part forming the pump body (10), fixing ring (15) and dip tube (18) also forms the seat (71) of an inlet valve (70) of the pump chamber

(20), cooperating with a valve element (75).

14.- Pump according to claim 13, wherein the valve member (75) is integral with the piston piece (30) and shutter (38).

15.- Pump according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said pump chamber (20) is disposed immediately upstream of said dispensing orifice (45), said shutter (38) forming an outlet valve of said pump chamber (20).

16. A fluid product distribution device comprising a reservoir (60), characterized in that the device comprises a pump according to any one of the preceding claims.

17.- Device according to claim 16, wherein the pump is fixed, in particular latched, on the tank (60) with the interposition of a seal (65).