EP4301522A1

EP4301522A1 - Packaging device with integrated ventilation system

Info

Publication number: EP4301522A1
Application number: EP22709741.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Oliver LALLEMENT; Este RENZO
Original assignee: Horus Pharma SAS
Current assignee: Horus Pharma SAS
Priority date: 2021-03-05
Filing date: 2022-03-04
Publication date: 2024-01-10
Also published as: BR112023017904A2; JP2024509420A; FR3120359A1; US20240131543A1; WO2022184883A1; FR3120359B1; US20240226934A9; CA3209439A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device comprising: - a container (1) intended to contain a product to be dispensed, - a cap (4), - a head mounted on the container and comprising: o a nozzle (31) for discharging the product, and o a collar (2) including:  an upper working portion intended to engage with the cap to close the distribution device, and  a lower combining portion intended to engage with the container, characterised in that the device further comprises at least one ventilation opening which opens onto the interface between the upper working portion and the lower combining portion so as to maintain an air communication channel between the outside and inside of the packaging device when the cap is mounted on the collar.

Description

CONDITIONING DEVICE WITH INTEGRATED VENTILATION SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the general technical field of packaging, and specifically the field of packaging and distribution of a liquid, semi-fluid or viscous product distributed in portions or in doses.

The subject of the invention is more particularly a device for packaging and dispensing a product, of the type comprising:

- a tank containing the product,

- a head configured to be positioned on an open neck of the tank, and

- a cover adapted to cover the head of the packaging device.

The product intended to be packaged and distributed may be a cosmetic product, or a hygiene product, or a face and/or body care product, or a make-up product, or a sunscreen product, or a pharmaceutical product ( for example an ophthalmic solution), or a food product.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Packaging devices are known which make it possible to preserve and dispense a product in the form of doses or drops or in any other form, while maintaining its cleanliness throughout the duration of its use. These devices are used in particular in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food fields.

Such a device conventionally comprises:

- a container intended to receive the product with a liquid, viscous or pasty consistency,

- a dispensing head, the actuation of which allows the ejection of a dose of product at the level of a tip of the dispensing head, and - a cap capable of being screwed or clipped onto the dispensing head to close the packaging device.

The principle of using such a device is as follows. When the user wishes to obtain a dose, he removes the lid and activates the dispensing head which ejects a dose of product. Then the user closes the device by repositioning the cap on the dispensing head.

After delivery of a dose, there is generally a residual quantity of product left on the tip of the dispensing head.

When the cap is replaced on the pump, this residual quantity of product is found trapped in a closed volume defined between the cap and the dispensing head. This prevents the product from drying out, and creates a moist environment conducive to bacterial growth, especially if the product is a preservative-free solution with a high percentage of water.

It is therefore advantageous to dry this residual quantity of product in order to limit the risks of bacterial proliferation.

Aeration systems have already been proposed. Such systems consist of through holes formed in an upper wall of the cap. These through holes make it possible to open the closed volume in order to facilitate the drying of the residual quantity of product.

However, a disadvantage of these existing aeration systems is that dust or other contaminants present in the ambient air can fall on the dispensing head by gravity passing through the cap at the level of the through holes.

An object of the present invention is to propose a ventilation system making it possible to remedy the aforementioned drawback. In particular, an object of the present invention is to propose a device for packaging a product - such as a cream or a gel or a liquid - incorporating an aeration system arranged to limit the risks of dust falling on a dispensing head of the packaging device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention proposes a device for packaging a product to be dispensed, the device comprising:

- a reservoir intended to contain the product to be dispensed,

- a cap,

- a head mounted on the tank and comprising: o a product outlet nozzle, and o a ring including:

^■ an upper working part intended to cooperate with the cap for closing the dispensing device, and

^■ a lower association part intended to cooperate with the reservoir, remarkable in that the device further comprises at least one ventilation opening opening out at the interface between the upper working part and the lower association part to maintain an air communication channel between the inside and the outside of the packaging device when the cap is mounted on the ring.

Preferred but non-limiting aspects of the conditioning device are the following:

- the upper working part may be composed of: o a first cylindrical side wall, o an annular cup extending radially inwardly from an upper edge of the first side wall, and o a shoulder projecting radially outwards from a lower edge of the first side wall, each through-opening consisting of a groove formed between the annular cup and the lower association part; - the upper working part may be composed of: o a first cylindrical side wall, o an annular cup extending radially inwardly from an upper edge of the first side wall, o d 'a shoulder projecting radially outwards from a lower edge of the first side wall, and o an annular flange projecting radially outwards, said annular flange being in contact with the shoulder and being intended to cooperate with a side wall of the cap so as to keep the cap at a non-zero distance from the first side wall, each through-opening comprising a recess made in the shoulder and the annular flange, said recess extending between the lower association part and the first side wall;

- the packaging device may also comprise a tear-off tamper-evident band connecting the cap to the ring as far as the first opening, the tamper-evident band being arranged so as to cover each ventilation opening before the first use of the conditioning ;

- the conditioning device may also include a filter associated with each ventilation opening;

- the conditioning device may further comprise means for adjusting the level of ventilation, the actuation of said adjusting means making it possible to vary the size of each ventilation opening;

- the first cylindrical side wall may comprise at least one through-light, each through-light being in fluid communication with a respective ventilation opening when the cap is mounted on the ring;

- the conditioning device may include three ventilation openings distributed radially every 120 degrees;

- the cap may include at least one through hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other advantages and characteristics of the packaging device will emerge better from the following description of several variant embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, from the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a conditioning device,

- Figure 2 is a schematic representation in perspective of a ring of the conditioning device,

- Figure 3 is a schematic representation in perspective of the ring and a pump of the conditioning device,

- Figure 4 is a schematic representation in perspective of a cap of the packaging device when the latter caps the ring,

- Figure 5 is a partial sectional view of the ring and the cap when the ring is closed by the cap,

- Figure 6 is a sectional view of the cap, the ring and the pump

- Figure 7 is a schematic representation of an alternative embodiment of the conditioning device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An example of a packaging device according to the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the figures. In these various figures, the equivalent elements are designated by the same reference numeral.

1. General

1. 1. Presentation of the conditioning device

Referring to Figure 1, the conditioning device comprises:

- a tank 1 provided to contain the product to be dispensed,

- a ring 2 surmounting the tank 1,

- a pump 3 intended to be associated with the ring 2 at the level of an opening of the ring 2, - A cap 4 intended to cover the ring 2 for storing or transporting the packaging device.

The product can be liquid, viscous or pasty. It can be a cosmetic product, a food product or a drug.

As indicated above, when using such a conditioning device, a residual quantity of product may remain at the level of a nozzle 31 of the pump 3.

To allow the drying of this residual quantity of product, the packaging device according to the invention incorporates an aeration system which will be described in more detail below.

This ventilation system comprises one (or more) ventilation opening(s) made in the ring 2, at the level of a zone in which the cap 4 is fixed on the ring 2. These openings ventilation allow the circulation of air between the cap 4 and the ring 2, in order to facilitate the drying of the residual quantity of product which may be at the level of the nozzle 31 after use of the packaging device.

1.2. Advantages of the conditioning device

The solution proposed in the present invention has many advantages, in particular vis-à-vis existing systems based on the formation of through holes in the upper wall of the cap.

It makes it possible in particular to protect the pump 3 from dust or other contaminants present in the ambient air since these cannot fall on the pump 3 by gravity. The solution according to the invention also makes it possible to facilitate the evacuation of the quantity of residual product in the event that the latter should become detached from the nozzle 31 . If the solution is quite liquid, and the residual quantity of product flows downwards, the opening(s) allow(s) its evacuation to the outside of the packaging device (rather than its accumulation around from the base of the pump 3).

Furthermore, the proposed solution makes it possible to limit the costs associated with the manufacture of the packaging device, since it is industrially simpler to modify the shape of the ring 2 in order to provide the opening(s) therein, than to making through holes on the upper wall of cap 4. Indeed, the modification of the shape of the ring 2 can be obtained by modifying the shape of the injection mold of the ring 2, while the making of through holes in the upper wall of the cap 4 requires the implementation of an additional drilling step (or deburring) of the cap 4 after its molding. Furthermore, if the shape of the through holes is provided directly at the level of the manufacturing mold of the cap 4, this can disturb the plastic injection during manufacture and the regular flow of the dyes, which is a critical point in the field of cosmetics where colors and appearance are paramount.

In addition, the positioning of the ventilation opening(s) at the lateral periphery of the packaging device makes it possible to limit the risks of blockage of the ventilation system with respect to an orifice made on the upper surface of the packaging device. cap 4, in particular in the case of stacking of objects on the packaging device, etc.

Finally, the proposed solution has improved aesthetics since when the cap 4 is mounted on the ring 2, the opening (or openings) is (are) largely hidden, as shown in Figure 4.

We will now describe in more detail the various elements constituting the packaging device. 2. Reservoir

Reservoir 1 is configured to contain the product to be packaged and dispensed. The tank 1 can be made of different materials known to those skilled in the art (glass, polypropylene, etc.) depending on the intended application.

In certain embodiments, the reservoir 1 is transparent or translucent, for example when the product consists of an alcoholic perfume solution. In other embodiments, the reservoir 1 is opaque, for example when the product consists of an ophthalmic liquid which must be stored away from light.

Reservoir 1 can be of any shape known to those skilled in the art (cylindrical, cubic, etc.). He understands :

- a fund,

- one (or more) side wall(s), and

- a top opening.

The free end(s) of the side wall(s) opposite the bottom define(s) a neck 11 on which the ring 2 is mounted.

Such a tank 1 being known to those skilled in the art, it will not be described in more detail below.

3. Cap

The cap 4 makes it possible to close the packaging device. More precisely, the cap 4 makes it possible to cover the ring 2 and the pump 3 of the packaging device in order to protect the pump 3 and avoid the risks of accidental ejection of product during transport and/or storage of the packaging device. Cap 4 can be made of plastic or any other material known to those skilled in the art. He understands :

- an upper wall 41, and

- A side wall 42 (or more depending on the shape of the cap).

The side wall 42 may comprise an annular groove on its internal face, close to its free end opposite the upper wall 41. This annular groove is intended to cooperate by clipping, with a corresponding annular bead 215 formed in the ring 2. alternatively, the side wall 42 may include a thread on its internal face, close to its free end opposite the upper wall. In this case, the thread of the cap 4 is intended to cooperate by screwing, with a corresponding thread made in the ring 2.

The bead/thread makes it possible to removably fix the cap 4 on the ring 2 when closing the packaging device.

Such a cap 4 being known to those skilled in the art, it will not be described in more detail below.

4. Pump

Pump 3 ejects the product contained in the tank to the outside.

The pump 3 comprises a pump body 32 on which is mounted in the lower part a dip tube 33. The dip tube 33 is intended to be immersed in the product to allow said pump 3 to be supplied with the product to be dispensed.

The pump 3 incorporates functional elements (not shown) which allow, by actuation of a push button 34, to distribute the solution via the nozzle 31 . A large number of arrangements and kinematics of pumps which allow the dispensing of product, on which the invention can be implemented, are known. This is why the reader will appreciate that the conditioning device according to the invention is not limited to the pump 3 described above, and that the conditioning device can comprise another type of pump.

For example, in one embodiment, the pump may have no dip tube. An example of such an embodiment is illustrated in Figure 7. In this embodiment, the device comprises a flexible pocket 11 containing the product to be dispensed. This flexible pocket 11 is housed in the reservoir 1 . The flexible bag 11 is configured to contract as the quantity of product it contains decreases. This makes it possible to guarantee that the product contained in the flexible pouch 11 is "pushed" towards the pump 3, with no air gap between the product and the pump 3. This configuration of the reservoir 1 (known under the name of "bottle-pocket ”) makes it possible to dispense with the use of a dip tube.

5. Ring

5. 1. Presentation

The ring 2 is intended to be mounted on the reservoir 1. It constitutes an interfacing element making it possible to assemble the pump 3 on the reservoir 1 .

In some embodiments, ring 2 may be integral with reservoir 1.

In other embodiments, the ring 2 and the pump 3 are one-piece.

Finally, in other embodiments, ring 2, reservoir 1 and/or pump 3 are separate components intended to be assembled during manufacture of the packaging device. In this case, the ring 2 is configured to be fixed on the neck of the tank 1, for example: - by screwing onto a thread provided on the tank 1, or

- by interlocking.

In the following, the ring 2 will be described with reference to a conditioning device in which the ring 2, the pump 3 and the reservoir 1 are three distinct components intended to be assembled together during the manufacture of the conditioning device.

Referring to Figure 2, the ring 2 comprises an upper working part 21 and a lower association part 22 having two successive diameters:

- the upper working part 21 defines a central passage 211 at which the pump 3 is mounted; this upper part 21 is located inside the cap 4 when the latter caps the packaging device,

- the lower association part 22 allows the connection (by screwing or interlocking) of the ring 2 on the reservoir 1 .

More precisely, the upper working part 21 is composed of a first cylindrical side wall 212, and of an annular cup 213 extending radially projecting inwards from the upper edge of the first side wall 212. This first side wall 212 is continued by a shoulder 214, projecting radially, which is extended by a second cylindrical side wall 221 forming the lower association part 22.

Advantageously, the ring 2 comprises a ventilation opening 23 opening out at the interface J between the upper working part 21 and the lower association part 22.

This ventilation opening 23 makes it possible to maintain a communication channel between the inside and the outside of the packaging device when the cap 4 is mounted on the ring 2. This makes it possible to maintain air circulation in the volume defined between the cap 4, the ring 2 and the pump 3 when the cap 4 is fixed on the ring 2. The drying of any residual quantity of product (remaining on the nozzle of the pump after use of the conditioning device) is thus facilitated . The packaging device may comprise a single opening 23, or a plurality of openings 23 distributed over its periphery. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the packaging device comprises three ventilation openings 23 distributed every 120° and opening out at the level of the junction zone J between the cap 4 and the ring 2.

5.2. Variants of ventilation openings

In an embodiment not shown, each ventilation opening 23 comprises a groove made in the shoulder 214 and the first side wall 212. Thus, when the cap 4 is positioned on the ring 2, this groove constitutes, with the face cap 4, an air circulation channel between the exterior of the device and the interior volume between the ring 2, the pump 3 and the cap 4.

In another embodiment, each vent opening is defined by:

- an annular flange 24 projecting radially outwards at the interface J between the upper working part 21 and the lower association part 22,

- a recess made in the shoulder 214 and the annular collar 24.

More specifically and with reference to Figures 2 and 3, the upper working part 21 comprises an annular flange 24 at the end of the first side wall 212 opposite the cup 213 (i.e. at the end connected to the shoulder). This annular collar 24 extends radially projecting outwards from the first side wall 212. The collar 24 makes it possible to maintain the side wall 42 of the cap 4 at a non-zero distance from the first side wall 212 when the cap 4 is mounted on ring 2. There is then a cylindrical space between:

- the outer face of the first side wall 212, and

- the internal face of the side wall 42 of the cap 4.

The recess is for its part made in the shoulder 214 and the annular collar 24. It makes it possible to establish an air communication conduit between the cylindrical space and the exterior. of the packaging device when the cap 4 is fixed on the ring 2 (ie closed packaging device).

6. Optional aspects

6. 1. Tamper evident tape

The device may include a tear-off tamper-evident band (not shown) connecting the cap 4 to the ring 2 up to the first opening. In this case, the tamper evident band can be arranged to cover the ventilation opening (or openings) 23.

Thus, during the storage of the packaging device prior to its first use, the ventilation openings 23 are closed, and the interior volume defined between the cap 4, the ring 2 and the pump 3 remains airtight, which limits the losses by evaporation and contamination risks.

After the first use (i.e. once the strip has been torn off), the ventilation opening (or openings) 23 is (are) open, and the internal volume of the cap 4 is well ventilated.

The tamper evident band may consist of a tear-off plastic film or any other type of tamper evident band known to those skilled in the art.

6.2. Filtered

Advantageously, each ventilation opening can be equipped with a filter or a valve, for example allowing air and humidity to pass but blocking the passage of bacteria or liquids coming from the outside.

Such a filter can for example consist of a strip of porous fabric welded to the cap, or injected with the cap 4 during molding of the latter. 6.3. Aeration level adjustment means

In one embodiment, the packaging device may include means for adjusting the level of aeration of the volume defined between the cap 4, the pump 3 and the ring 2.

In the case where the cap cooperates by clipping with the ring 2, the ventilation level adjustment means may consist of two adjacent grooves made on the internal face of the cap 4, close to its free end opposite the upper wall 41 When the lower groove (i.e. groove closest to the free end of the side wall of the cap) cooperates with the annular bead 215 provided in the ring 2, the ventilation opening (or openings) 23 is (are ) fully open. When the upper groove (i.e. groove furthest from the opening of the cap) cooperates with the annular bead 215, the ventilation opening (or openings) 23 is (are) totally or partially closed.

In the case where the cap 4 cooperates by screwing with the ring 2, the means for adjusting the level of aeration can consist of indexing at two screwing levels.

6.4. Additional through lights

For certain applications, it may be advantageous to combine the ventilation opening (or openings) 23 with one (or several) through-light(s) made in the first side wall 212.

Indeed, as illustrated in Figure 6, the push button 34 is dissociated from the ring 2 at the level of the annular cup 213. During the extraction of a dose of product by the user, a certain portion of product may infiltrate (by gravity) between the push button 34 and the annular cup 213. In this case, this portion of product is trapped under the annular cup 213. The formation of one (or more) through slot(s) 25 (each) coinciding with the ventilation opening (or a respective opening) 23 allows air circulation F under the dish 213 in order to dry any portion of product trapped under it.

7. Principle of operation

The operating principle of the conditioning device described above is as follows.

The user wishing to receive a dose of product removes the cap 4 from the packaging device, either by unscrewing or by unclipping the cap from the ring 2. The solution for fixing the cap 4 by screwing makes it possible to limit the risks of the opening (or openings). Indeed, the sweeping movement created during the screwing/unscrewing of the cap 4 contributes to wiping the ventilation openings 23 and to preventing them from clogging.

Then the user activates the push button 34 to activate the pump 3. A portion of product is sucked from the tank 1 thanks to the dip tube 33 and the functional parts of the pump 3. This portion of product is ejected at the level of the nozzle of exit 31 . A residual quantity of product remains at the outlet nozzle 31 .

Once the dose has been recovered, the user repositions the cap 4 on the ring 2 to close the packaging device.

Grace :

- to the ventilation opening (or openings) 23 made in the ring 2, and

- to the annular flange 24 making it possible to maintain the side wall 42 at a non-zero distance from the first side wall 212, a flow of air F is generated in the volume defined between the ring 2 and the cap 4, which tends to promote the drying of the residual quantity of product remaining on the outlet nozzle 31 .

The risks of depositing dust (or any other type of particles in suspension in the air) on the nozzle 31 are limited due to the lateral positioning of the ventilation opening (or openings) 23. In the event that the residual quantity of product would be detached from the nozzle 31, it could be evacuated to the outside of the packaging device via the ventilation opening (or openings).

The reader will have understood that many modifications can be made to the invention described above without materially departing from the new teachings and advantages described here.

For example, the device may have no pump. For example, the device can comprise a tip, of the type without air inlet, integrated into the ring. In this case, the distribution of the product is obtained by pressure exerted by the user on the walls of the reservoir. Such a tip is for example described in document US 5,605,257. It comprises a flexible part in cooperation with a rigid part such that the elastic end of said flexible part deviates from the end of said rigid part when a pressure is exerted on the tank, thus allowing a portion of product to be expelled, and returns to its initial position under the effect of its elasticity without allowing outside air to penetrate inside the tank.

This is why in the appended claims, reference is made to an "ejection head" in order to cover the different solutions that can be chosen for the ejection of the product (pump, nozzle of the type without air inlet, etc. ).

Furthermore, even if the annular collar illustrated in FIG. 2 is continuous over the entire circumference of the ring, it is understood for those skilled in the art that this collar can be discontinuous (for example composed of disjoint flanges in an arc of a circle positioned around the entire circumference of the ring).

Also, the reader will have understood that the ventilation openings described above can be combined with one (or more) through hole(s) made in the upper wall of the cap and/or in the side wall of the cap. This allows air circulation (entrance from the bottom, exit from the top) which promotes the drying of the residual quantity of product remaining at the level of the ejection head.

Claims

1 . Device for packaging a product to be dispensed, the device comprising:

- a tank (1) intended to contain the product to be dispensed,

- a cap (4),

- a head mounted on the tank (1) and comprising: o a product outlet nozzle (31), and o a ring (2) including:

^■ an upper working part (21) intended to cooperate with the cap (4) for closing the dispensing device, and

^■ a lower association part (22) intended to cooperate with the reservoir (1), characterized in that the device further comprises at least one ventilation opening (23) opening out at the interface (J) between the part upper working part (21) and the lower association part (22) to maintain an air communication channel between the inside and the outside of the conditioning device when the cap (4) is mounted on the ring (2 ).

2. Packaging device according to claim 1, in which the upper working part (21) is composed of: o a first cylindrical side wall (212), o an annular cup (213) extending radially inward from an upper edge of the first side wall, and o a shoulder (214) projecting radially outward from a lower edge of the first side wall, each through opening consisting in a groove made between the annular cup (213) and the lower association part (22).

3. Packaging device according to claim 1, wherein the upper working part (21) is composed of: o a first cylindrical side wall (212), o an annular cup (213) projecting radially inwards from an upper edge of the first side wall, o a shoulder (214) projecting radially outwards from a lower edge of the first side wall, and o an annular collar (24) projecting radially outwards, said annular collar being in contact with the shoulder and being intended to cooperate with a side wall (42) of the cap so as to keep the cap at a non-zero distance from the first side wall, each through-opening (23) comprising a recess formed in the shoulder and the annular flange, said recess extending between the lower part of association and the first side wall.

4. Packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which further comprises a tear-off tamper-evident strip connecting the cap to the ring as far as the first opening, the tamper-evident strip being arranged so as to cover each ventilation opening before the first use of the conditioning device.

5. Packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which further comprises a filter associated with each ventilation opening.

6. Packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which further comprises means for adjusting the level of ventilation, the actuation of said adjusting means making it possible to vary the size of each ventilation opening.

7. A packaging device according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the first cylindrical side wall comprises at least one through lumen (25), each through lumen being in fluid communication with a respective vent opening when the cap is mounted on the ring.

8. Packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which comprises three ventilation openings (23) distributed radially every 120 degrees.

9. Packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the cap (4) has at least one through hole.