EP2442914B1 - Fluid material dispenser - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir provided with an opening, a pump or a dispensing valve, provided with a fluid product outlet, a fixing ring for fixing the dispensing member on the opening of the reservoir, and a dispensing head mounted on the outlet of the dispensing member, the head comprising a dispensing orifice and a bearing surface on which a user can press with a finger to actuate the dispensing member, and thus dispense fluid through the dispensing orifice. The head further comprises a fluid product recovery cup in which the fluid product from the dispensing orifice is collected before being taken by the user. The preferred field of application of the present invention is that of cosmetic products, especially in the form of cream, gel, and more generally high viscosity products.

A conventional general configuration for this kind of fluid dispenser is in the form of a pot with the dispensing head having the appearance of a lid that closes the pot formed by the reservoir, the dispenser member being not visible and the fixing ring can be inserted between the dispensing head and the reservoir. There are already many distributors with such a general configuration. A frequent disadvantage of this type of distributor lies in the fact that the dispensing head is mounted axially on the outlet of the dispensing member with the dispensing orifice located in the axis of the dispenser member. Thus, to actuate the dispensing head, it is necessary to press the dispensing head out of the axis of the dispenser member, since the dispensing orifice is located at this location. It follows that the support force is totally eccentric, thus leaning or tilting the dispensing head. This is really not aesthetic, but also you have to strongly press the dispensing head to operate, since it tends to deform the outlet of the dispenser member. The entire bearing force is therefore not used to actuate the dispensing member, but on the contrary to deform the outlet and a portion of the dispensing head.

A solution of the prior art to overcome this drawback is to press the dispensing head on either side of the dispensing orifice in order to balance the bearing force on the head. This solution is quite suitable, but it requires the user to press the head in two different places, which is not at first convenient, but which also does not meet all the aesthetic criteria . Another disadvantage due to eccentric support on the dispensing head lies in the fact that a portion of the dispensed fluid can spread on the edge of the dispensing head and pass below, so that it is not more accessible. The fluid product will then deteriorate and dry out under the dispensing head, which is not acceptable from a hygienic point of view, and which furthermore damages the quality image of the dispenser. This may occur due to the fact that the user will collect the fluid dispensed at the recovery cup with wiping or scraping gestures with the fingers. As a result, a portion of the fluid product may be pushed onto the edge of the dispensing head and accidentally pass under the dispensing head or in an inaccessible location. US 5617978 discloses a dispenser according to the preamble of claim 1.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of pot-type dispensers of the prior art by defining a dispensing head whose actuation is optimal even by eccentric support and for which any risk of product loss in inaccessible locations is eliminated.

To achieve these different aims, the present invention proposes that the dispensing head further comprises a peripheral skirt integral with the ring and / or the reservoir, the skirt being connected to the cup, to the bearing surface and to the orifice by a flexible deformable zone. The peripheral skirt makes it possible to form a junction, advantageously sealed, with the rest of the distributor, which eliminates any risk of loss of fluid in inaccessible places. We then find the appearance and benefits of a classic pot lid screwed or clipped on a tank. On the other hand, the flexible deformable zone not only allows to connect the skirt to the rest of the head, but above all allows to balance the support force, when it is exerted eccentrically on the dispensing head. Advantageously, the dispensing head is made integrally by injection / molding plastic material (s) (s). Preferably, the dispensing head is made in one piece by bi-injection or overmolding two different plastics.

According to the invention, the deformable zone surrounds the cup, the bearing surface and the dispensing orifice. Therefore, even by pressing eccentrically on the dispensing head, the deformable area distributes the support force around the perimeter of the head, which reduces the tendency of the head to tip or tilt. According to a practical embodiment, the deformable zone is substantially annular and flat. The outer periphery of the deformable zone connected to the skirt remains static, while the inner periphery of the deformable zone connected to the cup and to the bearing surface moves when the bearing surface is pressed. In a variant, the deformable zone is formed by the skirt in the form of a bellows. In this case, the deformation is purely axial.

According to a practical embodiment, the bearing surface, the cup and the skirt are made of a substantially hard plastic material, while the deformable zone, and optionally the dispensing orifice, are made of a substantially flexible plastic material. It is thus possible to make the dispensing orifice in the form of a self-holding slot which is closed in the rest state and which opens under the effect of the pressure of the fluid product.

According to a particularly interesting aspect of the present invention, the reservoir has an axis of symmetry X, the dispensing member has an actuating axis Y and the bearing surface has a bearing axis Z, the actuating axis Y being parallel, but offset, with respect to the actuating axis Y. Advantageously, the support axis Z is parallel, but offset, with respect to the axes of symmetry X and actuation Y. Preferably, the three axes X, Y, and Z are included in a plane of symmetry of the distributor. It should first be noted that the offset arrangements of these different axes can be implemented on any fluid dispenser, which does not necessarily include the fact that the dispensing head comprises a peripheral skirt integral with the ring and or the tank and that the skirt is connected to the rest of the head by a deformable flexible zone. However, these particular arrangements of the various axes are particularly advantageous in the context of the present invention, since the axis offsets make it possible to reduce or even eliminate the problems related to the application of the support force. eccentrically. Indeed, by shifting the axis of actuation of the axis of symmetry of the tank, it allows to press in the axis of actuation without creating a tilting, while the center of the dispensing head is confused with the axis of symmetry of the tank. It is even possible to shift the support axis so that the support force is no longer centered on the axis of actuation, the eccentricity of the support force being partially or completely compensated by the zone flexible deformable.

The spirit of the invention lies in the fact of providing the dispensing head with a flexible deformable zone which distributes the support force on the dispensing head, even in the case of eccentric application, this flexible zone also serving as a sealing junction between the head and the static remainder of the dispenser, to prevent any loss or infiltration of fluid in inaccessible areas of the dispenser. This flexible zone allows a shift of the various axes of the distributor, since it reduces or offsets the harmful effects of a support of an eccentric bearing force.

The invention will now be described more fully 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 perspective d'un distributeur de produit fluide selon une forme de réalisation de la présente invention à l'état de repos,
• La figure 2 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 1 à l'état actionné,
• La figure 3 est une vue en coupe transversale verticale à travers le distributeur de la figure 1, et
• La figure 4 est une vue en coupe transversale verticale perpendiculaire à celle de la figure 3 du distributeur de la figure 1.

In the figures:

• The figure 1 is a perspective view of a fluid dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention in the rest state,
• The figure 2 is a view similar to that of the figure 1 in the activated state,
• The figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the distributor of the figure 1 , and
• The figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view perpendicular to that of the figure 3 of the distributor of the figure 1 .

The fluid dispenser shown in the figures has an overall external appearance similar or comparable to that of a pot, such as those that can be encountered in many fields, such as cosmetics. Thus, the fluid dispenser of the present invention comprises four essential components, namely a reservoir 1, a dispensing member 2, a fixing ring 3 and a dispensing head 4. These various elements can advantageously be made by injection molding of plastic material. Optionally, the tank 1 can be made of glass, metal, or composite material. Since the reservoir 1 is relatively stocky and the dispensing head is flat and has a diameter substantially comparable to that of the reservoir, this gives the distributor a general appearance of pot, the dispensing head visually acting as a lid. However, in the present invention, this "pot" contains a dispensing member 2 for dispensing the fluid from the reservoir, and a fixing ring for holding the dispenser member on the reservoir.

The fluid reservoir 1 comprises a bottom 11 and a cylindrical side wall, of circular shape. The diameter of the bottom 11 is relatively large compared to the height of the wall 12, which gives the tank 1 a squat form of pot. The upper end of the side wall 12 defines an opening 13 which makes the outside of the tank communicate with the interior 10. The opening 13 is advantageously provided with appropriate fastening profiles making it possible to cooperate with the fixing ring 3, as will be seen below. Tank 1 presents here a circular cylindrical configuration, but other geometric configurations can be used without departing from the scope of the invention. The reservoir of the figures has an axis of revolution X.

The dispensing member 2, which is shown on the Figures 3 and 4 , is a pump, but it can also implement a valve in the context of the present invention. The dispensing member 2 conventionally comprises an inlet 21 and an outlet 24. The fluid product from the tank 1 enters the dispenser member through the inlet 21 and leaves the dispenser member through the outlet 24. The internal structural elements, as well as the operation of the dispensing member, are those of a conventional pump or valve, and it is therefore not necessary to describe them.

The fixing ring 3 has the function of fixedly and sealingly mounting the dispensing member 2 on or in the opening 13 of the tank 1. In the particular embodiment used to illustrate the present invention, the fixing ring 3 comprises receiving means 32 in the form of a latching housing in which the dispensing member 2 is received. The fixing ring 3 also comprises a protective dome 36 which partially envelops the dispenser member 2. This dome 36 terminates in a guide sleeve 37 which makes it possible to axially guide the dispensing member 2. The fixing ring also defines a radial plate 31 which has an eccentric configuration. In other words, the reception means 32, the dome 36 and the sleeve 37 are not arranged at the center of the plate 31, but instead offset on one side, in this case the right side, when the we look at the figure 3 . The plate 31 is virtually non-existent on the right side of the dispensing member 2. On the other hand, the plate 31 extends on its outer periphery to form a substantially cylindrical section 35 which comes into contact, advantageously sealed, with the inner wall of opening 13. This section 35 extends on the outside of the opening 13 by a fastening belt 33 which ensures the fixing of the ring 3 on the opening 13. The fixing ring 3 also forms an annular flange 34 which protrudes upward at the fastening belt 33. The flange 34 internally forms a snap groove, whose function will be given below. The particular embodiment of the fixing ring which has just been described must not be considered unique: on the contrary, one can imagine many other forms for a fixing ring for sealingly securing a dispenser member such as a pump or a valve on an opening or tank neck.

The dispensing head 4 is mounted on the outlet 24 of the dispensing member 2, and defines for this purpose an outlet chamber 42 downstream of the outlet 24. This chamber 42 communicates with the outside through a dispensing orifice 43 which can advantageously be made in the form of a selfjointing slot which is closed in a sealed manner at rest and which opens under the effect of the pressure of the fluid product to define an outlet passage. The selfjointing slot may advantageously be made of a flexible plastic material. For attaching the dispensing head 4 to the dispensing member 2, the head 4 comprises a plug sleeve 41 which engages around the outlet 24 of the dispensing member 2. In the example of the figures , the guide sleeve 37 surrounds the socket sleeve 41. The dispensing head 4 also comprises a bearing surface 44 on which the user can press with a finger to actuate the dispensing member 2 This bearing surface 44 is located above the dispensing orifice 43, slightly offset, as can be seen in the various figures. It can be said that the bearing surface 44 overhangs the dispensing orifice 43, which is formed on the slope of a recovery cup 45 intended to collect the fluid product which is dispensed through dispensing orifice 43. that the bottom of the cup is located below the dispensing orifice 43, so that the fluid can flow or fall by gravity into the bottom of the cup 45. It can also be noted that the bearing surface 44, the dispensing orifice 43 and the bottom of the cup 45 are aligned, as can be seen on the figure 4 . The dispensing head 4 also defines a peripheral skirt 46, here of generally circular cylindrical shape, which is integral. of the fixing ring 3, and more particularly of the flange 34. More specifically, the free lower end of the skirt 46 is snapped inside the groove formed by the flange 34, so that the skirt 46 is firmly fixed on the ring 3. In variant not shown, one can imagine that the skirt 46 is to be fixed directly on a portion of the tank 1, or on another element integral with the reservoir and / or the fixing ring. The bottom line is that the skirt is static with respect to the tank and / or the ring.

According to the invention, the peripheral skirt 46 is connected to the remainder of the head, namely the recovery cup 45, the bearing surface 44 and the dispensing orifice 43, by a flexible deformable zone 47. This deformable zone allows axially moving the cup 45, the bearing surface 44 and the orifice 42 leaving the peripheral skirt 46 perfectly static. The flexible zone therefore performs a function of articulation between the skirt 46 and the remainder of the head 4. The deformable zone 47 may be formed by or integrated with the peripheral skirt 46, for example in the form of a bellows. In preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the deformable zone is in the form of an annular ring and substantially flat which connects the cylindrical skirt 46 to the rest of the head. The outer peripheral edge of the deformable zone 47 connected to the skirt 46 remains static, while the inner periphery of the flexible zone 47 connected to the remainder of the head moves with the cup 45, the bearing surface 44 and the orifice 43. At rest, as represented on the figures 1 , 3 and 4 , the flexible zone 47 may have a slightly inward and upward orientation. When the support surface 44 is fully depressed, the deformable zone 47 adopts an inclined configuration inwards and downwards, as can be seen in FIG. figure 2 .

Thanks to the flexible deformable zone 47, there is no risk that fluid can spread or seep under the dispensing head, since the skirt 46 is in engagement, preferably sealed, with the fixing ring 3 at the flange 34. On the other hand, the flexible zone deformable ensures a better distribution of the pressing force exerted on the surface 44.

Referring again to the figure 3 it can be seen that the tank 1 has an axis of symmetry and / or revolution X, the distribution member 2 has an actuating axis Y and the bearing surface 44 has a support axis Z. These three X, Y and Z axes are all distinct here, but we can also consider confusing the Y and Z axes. Referring to the figure 4 it can be seen that the three axes X, Y and Z are contained in the same plane of symmetry P which is common to the distributor as a whole. Even in the configuration where the support axis Z is parallel, but offset, with respect to the actuating axis Y, a pressing force exerted on the surface 44 (which is thus eccentric with respect to the axis actuating Y) does not induce tilting of the dispensing head, due to the presence of the deformable flexible zone 47 which plays a role of distribution of the force on the periphery of the head. It should be noted that the particular arrangement of the X, Y and Z axes can be implemented in any fluid dispenser, which does not necessarily have a deformable flexible zone or a peripheral skirt. static. In other words, a separate protection can be sought for this characteristic.

Thanks to the invention, there is a pot-shaped dispenser whose dispensing head moves substantially axially, even when the bearing force is not exerted directly on the axis of actuation of the organ of distribution. On the other hand, the head guarantees perfect hygiene.

Claims (9)

1. A fluid dispenser comprising:

   • a fluid reservoir (1) provided with an opening (13);

   • a dispensing pump (2) or valve, provided with a fluid outlet (24);

   • a fastener ring (3) for fastening the dispenser member (2) on the opening (13) of the reservoir (1); and

   • a dispenser head (4) mounted on the outlet (24) of the dispenser member (2), the head including a dispenser orifice (43) and a pressing surface (44) on which a user may press by means of a finger so as to actuate the dispenser member (2) and thus dispense fluid through the dispenser orifice (43), the head (4) further including a fluid-collection dish (45) in which the fluid from the dispenser orifice (43) is collected before being taken by the user, the dispenser head (4) further including a peripheral skirt (46) that is secured to the ring (3) and/or to the reservoir (1), the skirt (46) being connected to the dish (45), to the pressing surface (44), and to the orifice (43) via a deformable flexible zone (47);

   the fluid dispenser being characterized in that the deformable zone (47) surrounds the dish (45), the pressing surface (44), and the dispenser orifice (43).
2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser head (4) is made as a single piece by injection molding plastics material(s).
3. A dispenser according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the dispenser head (4) is made as a single piece by bi-injecting or overmolding two different plastics materials.
4. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the deformable zone (47) is substantially annular and plane.
5. A dispenser according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the deformable zone is formed by the skirt in the form of a bellows.
6. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the pressing surface (44), the dish (45), and the skirt (46) are made of a plastics material that is substantially hard, while the deformable zone (47), and possibly the dispenser orifice (43), are made of a plastics material that is substantially flexible.
7. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the reservoir (1) presents an axis of asymmetry X, the dispenser member (2) presents an actuation axis Y, and the pressing surface (44) presents a pressing axis Z, the actuation axis Y being parallel to, but offset from, the axis of asymmetry X and the pressing axis Z.
8. A dispenser according to claim 7, wherein the pressing axis Z is parallel to, but offset from, the axis of asymmetry X and the actuation axis Y.
9. A dispenser according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the three axes X, Y, and Z lie in a plane of asymmetry (P) of the dispenser.

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