EP1960117B1 - Sliding-jacket pump - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pump intended more particularly for the dosing and dispensing of liquid cosmetic products such as creams or gels.

Known pumps which are used in this type of application generally comprise a body delimiting a metering chamber provided in the lower part of an intake orifice and having, in the upper part, an opening in which is introduced a sleeve carried by a axial displacement actuating head provided with an ejection duct and a closure element and cooperating, moreover, with a return spring mounted outside said body.

In particular, the document WO-2004/054723 describes such a pump.

This arrangement makes it possible to prevent the spring which is metallic from being in contact with the product and causing physicochemical degradation phenomena.

The movement of the actuating head relative to the body has a piston effect which causes the product to compress within the chamber and exit via the ejection duct.

The inlet port is, in turn, likely to be closed, at least during the product delivery phase, by a generally ball valve.

However, this valve is independent of the other components of the pump and is made in the form of inserts on the body which creates both sealing problems, coordination in operation and assembly difficulties.

In addition, such a valve is subjected to the forces of gravity and its operation may become defective in the case of use of the pump in an inclined or inverted position.

The present invention aims to solve these technical problems satisfactorily.

This object is achieved according to the invention by means of a pump of the above type, characterized in that the body encloses an axially displaceable liner. in said chamber and at least partially inside the sleeve and which carries a lower valve capable of closing the inlet port.

According to an advantageous characteristic, said jacket comprises, in the lower part, a sealing skirt which is in contact with the inner wall of the chamber.

According to another characteristic, said liner comprises, at the top, a peripheral lip which is in sealed frictional contact with the inner wall of the sleeve.

Advantageously, said liner has a peripheral shoulder capable of abutting with an annular projection carried by the inner wall of the body to limit its upward stroke.

According to a variant, said valve comprises a central cup connected to the wall of said jacket by radial fins.

Preferably, said cup has a section complementary to that of the inlet orifice.

According to another variant, the body comprises a vent opening opening, at the bottom, in the chamber and capable of communicating with an annular atmospheric compartment formed at the periphery of the jacket. Advantageously, said vent orifice is capable of being sealed from the atmospheric compartment by an annular flap carried by the lower part of the jacket.

Preferably, said flap and said skirt delimit between them a peripheral groove which caps a circular rib carried by the bottom of the chamber.

According to a variant, said closure element of the ejection duct is associated with a control rod movable axially in said liner.

In this case, it is provided that said liner comprises an upper collar for guiding said control rod.

It is also possible to provide that the inner wall of said liner is provided with an axial retaining ring of the control rod.

According to another characteristic, the body is made in one piece with a ring for fixing the pump on the neck of a container.

The pump of the invention has a simple structure and economic cost that ensures a high level of tightness for the product.

It also ensures reliable dispensing of the product with precise and reproducible dosing and offers adaptability and efficient cooperation with different variants of end-closing actuating heads.

The pump of the invention is applicable to both an atmospheric dispenser and a dispenser without air intake ("airless").

In an atmospheric application, the return air is made in an original mode that has all the guarantees of tightness and regularity required. In an application without air intake and depending on the type of container used, the pump may not have a vent port.

• la figure 1 représente une vue en coupe d'un premier mode de réalisation de la pompe de l'invention;
• la figure 2 représente une vue en coupe d'un second mode de réalisation de la pompe de l'invention ;
• Les figures 3A à 3F représentent des vues schématiques des différentes phases de la délivrance du produit avec une pompe selon le mode de réalisation de la figure 1 ;
• Les figures 4A et 4B représentent des vues en perspective partielles, respectivement de dessus et de dessous, du mode de réalisation des figures 1 et 2.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 represents a sectional view of a first embodiment of the pump of the invention;
• the figure 2 represents a sectional view of a second embodiment of the pump of the invention;
• The Figures 3A to 3F represent schematic views of the different phases of the delivery of the product with a pump according to the embodiment of the figure 1 ;
• The Figures 4A and 4B represent partial perspective views, respectively from above and from below, of the embodiment of the figures 1 and 2 .

The pump of the invention comprises, as shown in figures 1 and 2 , a generally cylindrical body 1, the wall of which delimits internally a metering chamber.

In the embodiment of the figure 1 the body 1 is mounted in a ring B for fixing on the neck of a product reservoir which is in the form of a bottle or more generally of a cylindrical container (not shown).

In the variant of the figure 2 , the ring B is made in one piece with the body 1.

The dosing chamber of the pump is provided, at the bottom, with an inlet orifice 10 which extends downwards into the reservoir through a catch tube 15. The chamber has, in the upper part, an opening in which is introduced a sleeve 21 carried by an actuating head 2.

The head 2 forms an axial displacement push-button and the sleeve 21 is capped by a hoop or cover 22.

The lower periphery of the sleeve 21 is provided with radial retaining projections 23 which cooperate with an upper flange 14 of the body 1 to prevent separation of the pump and its head 2.

A manual support of the user on the upper face of the cover 22 of the head 2 causes its descent while its return to the high position is provided by a return spring R coaxially mounted outside the body 1 and the sleeve 21.

The head 2 is, in addition, provided with a conduit 20 for ejection of the product which is fed upstream by the metering chamber and which opens downstream to the outside.

The conduit 20 is provided with a shutter element 4, for example, in the form of a valve which, in the embodiment of the figure 1 , is arranged upstream and, in the embodiment of the figure 2 , is at the downstream end of said duct. According to the invention, the body 1 encloses a cylindrical liner 3 axially displaceable in the chamber and at least partially inside the sleeve 21 and carrying a lower valve 30susceptible to close the inlet port 10. The shirt 3 also has, in the lower part, a sealing skirt 31 which is in contact with the inner wall of the chamber.

On the figure 2 , the bottom of the chamber carries a circular rib 13 which extends around the orifice 10 and on the inside of which the lower edge of the skirt 31 is in sealing engagement.

In the upper part, the liner 3 comprises a peripheral lip 32 which is in sealing friction contact with the inner wall of the sleeve 21 and which further ensures, during sliding, the scraping of the product.

The internal volume of the liner 3 and that of the sleeve 21 to the inlet of the ejection duct 20 constitutes the volume of a dose of product.

The inlet valve 30 comprises a central cup 30a connected to the wall of the jacket 3 by a set of radial fins 30b as shown in FIG. Figure 4B . The cup 30a preferably has a section complementary to that of the inlet orifice 10 and has, for example here, a frustoconical shape or, according to a variant not shown, spherical.

In the case of atmospheric applications, as for the embodiments of figures 1 and 2 , the body 1 of the pump has a vent opening 11 opening, at the bottom, into the chamber and capable of communicating with an annular compartment 33 formed at the periphery of the jacket 3 between its outer wall and the inner wall of the body 1.

The vent orifice 11 is capable of being sealed from the compartment 33, in particular when the pump is at rest and during the delivery phase of the product, by an annular flap 35 carried by the lower part of the jacket. 3, as shown on the Figures 4A and 4B .

In the embodiment of the figure 2 , the flap 35 and the sealing skirt 31 delimit between them a peripheral groove 12 which caps the circular rib 13 of the bottom of the chamber.

The liner 3 has a peripheral shoulder 36 capable of sealingly abutting with an annular projection 16 carried by the inner wall of the body to limit the stroke of said liner upwards (see FIG. figures 2 , 4A and 4B ).

In the embodiment of the figure 2 , the range between the lower end of the flap 35 and the shoulder 36 ensures the axial setting of the liner 3 in the chamber.

In the embodiment of the figure 1 , the flap is very short and it is therefore its upper face which delimits the shoulder 36.

In both embodiments of the figures 1 and 2 , the shutter element 4 is associated with a control rod 41 which is axially movable in the jacket 3. However, other types of valves such as, for example, a spring valve, would be suitable.

In the embodiment of the figure 1 , the shutter element 4 is a valve whose seat is formed of a frustoconical surface formed at the upper part of the sleeve 21 and which forms, moreover, a shoulder forming a high stop for the jacket 3.

In the embodiment of the figure 2 , the shutter element 4 is a needle valve 42 retractable in the conduit 20.

The liner 3 comprises an upper flange 37 for guiding the rod 41 and the latter has a diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the central bore 34 of the liner 3 to provide a passage for the outgoing product.

The passage of the product can also, according to a variant, be carried out via longitudinal grooves formed on the rod 41.

However, the inner wall of the liner 3 is provided with a rod 34a allowing the axial retention of the end of the rod 41 which has on the figure 2 a chamfered section.

The Figures 3A to 3F illustrate the successive phases of the delivery of the product with the pump of the invention in atmospheric version according to the variant of the figure 1 . For the sake of clarity, the liquid product has not been shown.

The position represented on the figure 3A corresponds to the rest position of the pump.

In this position, the chamber is filled with product and, because of the abutment of the projection 23 against the collar 14, the spring R remains slightly compressed to maintain the head 2 upwards and, consequently, the element shutter 4 in waterproof support on its seat.

The seal is reinforced because the end of the rod 41 of the element 4 is pulled down by its attachment to the rod 34a.

The liner 3 is here in the up position and the inlet valve 30 is open. The peripheral shoulder 36 bears tightly against the underside of the annular projection 16, thus preventing any exchange between the inside of the container and the outside.

The position represented on the figure 3B corresponds to the beginning of the phase of support on the head 2 whose strength is materialized by an axial arrow.

The frictional contact between the lip 32 of the liner 3 and the inner wall of the sleeve 21 secures the assembly consisting of the two parts and the closure element 4 in their joint descent movement.

The slight tightening resulting from this contact, however, offers a greater resistance to clamping between the skirt 31 and the wall of the body 1.

Following this movement, the valve 30 closes the inlet port 10 and thus prohibit any discharge to the container of the product contained in the chamber.

At the same time, the flap 35 disengages the vent orifice 11 and allows it to communicate with the annular compartment 33 which is itself in communication with the outside.

On the figure 3C , the user maintains his support and the head 2 continues its descent while the liner 3 is in abutment in the bottom of the chamber.

The frictional resistance of the contact sleeve 3 / sleeve 21 is overcome and gives way to a scraping sliding of the lip 32 on the inner wall of the sleeve while the latter continues its stroke downwards.

This movement causes the product to be compressed in the chamber in the manner of a piston and causes the closure element 4 to disengage from its seat in order to release the product which thus begins to escape through the conduit 20.

On the 3D figure , the support being always maintained, the shutter member 4 is pressed in the open position in the top against the inner wall of the conduit 20 and / or the hood 22.

The sleeve 21 continues its downward stroke by compressing the product in the chamber until the upper edge of the sleeve 3 (lip 32 or collar 37) comes into abutment against a shoulder 24 of the head.

At this time from the chamber, a volume corresponding to a dose of product has been delivered to the user and the dispensing phase is complete. The vent port 11 communicates with the compartment 33 which allows venting of the product reservoir (not shown) and a pressure equalization.

The user then releases the pressure and the spring R recalls the head 2 upwards as shown on the figure 3E .

Because of the frictional contact between the lip 32 and the wall of the sleeve 21, the jacket 3 and the head 2 firstly go up integrally with the valve 30, which leads to the opening of the inlet orifice 10.

The depression created in the body of the pump by this displacement causes the suction of product into the reservoir via the intake tube 15 and the progressive filling of the metering chamber.

At the same time, the vent orifice 11 closes by bringing the flap 35 into contact with the inner wall of the body until its upper face forming the shoulder 36 comes into abutment against the projection 16 of the body.

Very quickly, however, the resistance of the lip 32 yields and the sleeve 21 continues its upward movement independently of the sleeve 3 which remains locked in the lower position by the abutment 16 of the body.

The sealing element 4 then returns to its sealing position and thus closes the conduit 20 as shown in FIG. figure 3F and during this phase, the chamber continues to fill in product.

Still under the action of the spring R, the head 2 continues its upward stroke and finally stops in the rest position of the figure 3A , waiting for a new distribution.

In the latter position, the conduit 20 is held in a sealed position by the action of the spring R and draw tension of the rod 41 of the element 4 downwards by means of the rod 34a.

Of course, this pump can also be performed without vent port in the case of use without air intake called "airless".

Claims (12)

1. Pump for a liquid cosmetic product dispenser, comprising a body (1) which delimits a metering chamber provided in a lower part with an intake orifice (10) and having in an upper part an opening into which there is introduced a sleeve (21) borne by an axially displaceable actuation head (2) which is provided with a discharge conduit (20) and with a closure element (4) and which cooperates with a return spring (R) mounted on the exterior of said body, said body enclosing a jacket (3) which can be displaced axially in said chamber and at least partially inside the sleeve (21) and which bears a lower valve (30) capable of closing the intake orifice (10), characterised in that said closure element (4) for closing the discharge conduit (20) is associated with a control rod (41) which can move axially in said jacket (3) .
2. Pump according to claim 1, characterised in that said jacket (3) comprises, in a lower part, a sealing skirt (31) which is in contact with the inner wall of the chamber.
3. Pump according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said jacket (3) comprises, in an upper part, a peripheral lip (32) which is in sealed frictional contact with the inner wall of the sleeve (21).
4. Pump according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said jacket (3) comprises a peripheral shoulder (36) capable of coming into abutment against an annular protrusion (16) borne by the inner wall of the body (1) in order to limit its upward travel.
5. Pump according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said valve (30) comprises a central cup (30a) connected to the wall of said jacket (3) by radial fins (30b).
6. Pump according to claim 5, characterised in that said cup (30a) has a cross section complementary to that of the intake orifice (10).
7. Pump according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the body (1) comprises a vent orifice (11) which opens, in a lower part, into the chamber and which is able to communicate with an annular atmospheric compartment (33) formed at the periphery of the jacket (3).
8. Pump according to claim 7, characterised in that said vent orifice (11) can be isolated in a sealed manner from the atmospheric compartment (33) by an annular flap (35) borne by the lower part of the jacket (3).
9. Pump according to claims 2 and 8, characterised in that said flap (35) and said skirt (31) delimit between them a peripheral groove (12) which covers a circular rib (13) borne by the bottom of the chamber.
10. Pump according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said jacket (3) comprises an upper collar (37) for guiding the control rod (41).
11. Pump according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the inner wall of said jacket (3) is provided with a rim (34a) for axially retaining the control rod (41).
12. Pump according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the body (1) is made from a single part with a fixing ring (B) on the neck of a recipient.

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