EP1022062A1 - Packaging and dispensing arrangement with a pump and a flexible container - Google Patents

Abstract

Packaging and distribution assembly (1) of a product (P) comprising: a) a reservoir (2) with flexible walls, able to contract on themselves in response to a vacuum inside the reservoir, b ) a pump (26) mounted on said reservoir and capable, in response to an actuation command, of dispensing said product through an outlet orifice (38), said reservoir being disposed inside an enclosure outer (4) whose walls have a sufficient thickness to ensure shape stability to said assembly, said walls being made of an elastomeric material so as to be able to deform reversibly, in response to a pressure resulting from the grip by the user of said set. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a set of packaging and distribution of a product, especially a liquid. Products to distribute, targeted by the invention are, in particular, cosmetic, pharmaceutical or dermo-pharmaceutical.

More particularly, the invention relates to a packaging assembly of the kind that include a flexible-walled tank, and therefore variable volume, pocket type, containing the product to be dispensed. To perform the product distribution, the tank is in communication with a pump manual, surmounted by a push button fitted with a dispensing orifice, user operated.

When you want to package a product to be stored away from air ambient - what is necessary for many cosmetic or dermo-pharmaceutical products - the pump fitted to the assembly, must be a pump without air intake, thus ensuring the absence of any return of air into the tank, after the distribution of a dose of product. In such a distributor, as and measurement of product distribution, the reservoir retracts, and the handling of the whole becomes more and more difficult, in particular, when the user wishes to activate the pump. Indeed, following the retraction of the tank, the external gripping surface becomes ill-suited to easily press on the pushbutton.

Certainly, many constructions have been proposed to enclose a reservoir with flexible walls in a rigid or semi-rigid enclosure. For example, such distributors are described in documents EP-A-0 486 355 and EP-A-0 628 355, in the name of the applicant, or in document US-A-3 420 413. These dispensers have a rigid outer enclosure, in which is arranged a flexible pocket filled with product. The pocket is in communication with a manual pump, itself fixed on a neck or a base more or less rigid, integral with the enclosure. In these distributors, the pump is surmounted by a push button allowing the actuation of the pump and the product distribution.

In general, this kind of distributor is satisfactory, provided you seize it correctly with the fingers of one hand and place, appropriately the index finger of this hand on the push button to push it. Sometimes taking hand of such a dispenser and its handling can be judged as not very easy, ergonomically. Indeed, it can escape from the hand, in particular, when it is necessary to shake the tank before application.

Furthermore, documents US-A-5,388,727 and US-A-5,542,580 describe a dispenser comprising an external enclosure in the form of a compressible tube, inside which is a deformable pocket, filled with a fluid product to distribute. To ensure the distribution of the product, the tube is surmounted by a distribution pump, communicating with the interior pocket. According to these documents, the outer enclosure is made of a thermoplastic material flexible, such as polyethylene. The use of an elastomeric material for the realization of the compressible tube is neither described nor suggested.

Also, compared to the aforementioned documents, is this a first object of the invention than providing a distribution assembly with improved ergonomics during its handling and handling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser whose touch is soft, and therefore more pleasant.

Yet another object of the invention consists of a dispenser whose body is flexible, able to adapt individually, when in use, to the physiognomy from the user's hand.

Yet another object of the invention is to create an external shape, non-slip, modeled "in situ" on the crevices of the hand.

Still other objects will appear in the detailed description which follows.

Also, the present invention relates to a packaging and packaging assembly. distribution of a product, in particular liquid, comprising: a) a walled tank flexible, able to contract on themselves in response to depression at inside the tank, b) a pump mounted on said tank and suitable, in response to an actuation command, to distribute said product through a outlet orifice, said tank being disposed inside an external enclosure whose walls have sufficient thickness to ensure shape stability to said assembly, said walls being made of an elastomeric material, of so that it can deform reversibly in response to pressure resulting from the user taking charge of said assembly.

By this arrangement, a particularly ergonomic grip is obtained, because by the reversible deformation of the enclosure, we create a modeling of the surface external, adapting individually, depending on the shape of the hand the user.

In particular, the handling of the distribution assembly according to the invention provides a particularly solid hold, so that the actuation of the pump is easy. This is important, especially when the pump is a precompression pump, requiring an actuating force more important than a conventional pump.

The thickness of the walls of the enclosure is advantageously chosen as a function of the flexibility, especially in compression, of the elastomeric material. Through "shape stability" means a stability which is at least such that the external enclosure does not deform under the effect of its own weight, when the device rests on a support. For this purpose, areas can be provided on the walls of the enclosure whose thickness is greater than the rest of the enclosure.

Also, according to an advantageous embodiment, the walls of said enclosure outside are of variable thickness, so as to define zones of privileged deformation, in response to the user taking charge of all.

Advantageously, the thickness of said walls can vary, both in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said assembly, only in a passing plane by the longitudinal axis of the assembly.

According to one embodiment, the pump is mounted on the reservoir via a part mounting. In this way, for economic aspects, it is possible to use a commercially available pump. The mounting piece can be a base comprising, according to one embodiment, a transverse bottom connected to a peripheral cylindrical edge extending at least partially from the opposite side of the tank. The base is crossed by an axial chimney capable of receive the pump. Generally, the pump can be mounted on the workpiece mounting by snap-fitting, mounting by force, gluing or any other suitable means.

Preferably, the pump fitted to the distribution assembly is of the type without air intake. In this case, means can be provided to allow a balancing of air pressure in the volume delimited between the wall tank flexible and the outer enclosure. For this purpose, advantageously, a vent orifice is drilled in one of the walls of the enclosure. In this way, we avoid the creation of a depression in said volume, and therefore a deformation of the external enclosure, during the emptying of the tank. The vent port can be spared or bottom of the outer enclosure. It is also possible to provide longitudinal vent stripes, located between the mounting piece and the outer enclosure, in the attachment area of the two parts.

To allow the pump to operate and to ensure the distribution of product, advantageously, the whole of the invention is further equipped with a push button mounted on the pump, fitted with a dispensing orifice. A way connection is provided, able to put the pump in communication with the dispensing orifice. Furthermore, the push button may include a skirt external, capable of sliding inside said peripheral edge formed in the part mounting.

The elastomeric material constituting the external enclosure is chosen, from preferably, among silicone, butyl, polynorbornene rubbers; the thermoplastic elastomers of polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, block copolymers of styrene and butadiene (SEBS), copolymers of ethylene, propylene and a diene / polymethylene (EPDM), polyurethane, etc. If necessary, these materials can also be used in the form of closed-cell foam or semi-closed.

Advantageously, the elastomeric material has a Shore A hardness between 20 and 60.

The external enclosure can be made of transparent, frosted material, opaque, mono- or multi-color in appearance. Its shape can be complex, because the elasticity of the material constituting it enables undercut constructions, thus allowing great freedom in the realization of the most varied forms, cannot be removed from a rigid material. In particular, when the material elastomeric is transparent, it can include UV filters. By this provision, one can protect a product sensitive to UV rays, placed in an internal transparent pocket.

According to another embodiment, one of the walls of the external enclosure has a cup-shaped portion. So the distribution assembly can be fixed on a flat, vertical surface, such as for example tiles bathroom murals.

According to a preferred embodiment, the reservoir is a deformable pocket consisting, for example of a thermoplastic sheet or a sheet in one complex material, such as a sheet composed of a triple layer: layer thermoplastic / metallic layer / thermoplastic layer. Such a pocket is fixed, advantageously on a skirt carried by the base and sandwiched between the base and a portion of the outer enclosure.

The whole of the invention which has just been described is, in particular, usable for the packaging and distribution of a cosmetic product, in particular a hair product, pharmaceutical, or dermo-pharmaceutical.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe axiale d'un ensemble de conditionnement et de distribution, conforme à un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 représente une vue en section suivant le plan II-II de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 représente une vue en section suivant le plan III-III de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 représente une vue en section conforme à la figure 3, après la prise en main par l'utilisateur, la forme initiale étant représentée en lignes pointillées ;
• les figures 5 à 8 représentent des vues en section conformes à d'autres modes de réalisation de l'enceinte souple externe ;
• la figure 8 est une vue en coupe axiale d'un ensemble de distribution, selon un autre mode encore de l'invention.

The invention consists, apart from the arrangements set out above, of a certain number of other arrangements which will be explained below, with reference to nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, described with reference to the appended figures, among which:

• Figure 1 is an axial sectional view of a packaging and distribution assembly, according to a first embodiment of the invention;
• 2 shows a sectional view along the plane II-II of Figure 1;
• 3 shows a sectional view along the plane III-III of Figure 1;
• FIG. 4 represents a section view in accordance with FIG. 3, after the user has taken it in hand, the initial shape being shown in dotted lines;
• Figures 5 to 8 show sectional views in accordance with other embodiments of the external flexible enclosure;
• Figure 8 is an axial sectional view of a dispensing assembly, according to yet another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, we see a set of packaging and distribution, in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, designated generally by reference 1. This assembly, of axis X, comprises a reservoir deformable 2 containing a liquid or viscous product P, such as a cream, a gel, body milk or lotion. This reservoir 2 is housed in an external enclosure 4, made of an elastomeric material. This enclosure 4 is produced, for example into a copolymer of ethylene, propylene and a diene / polymethylene (EPDM). Advantageously, the Shore A hardness of the elastomeric material chosen is about 35.

The reservoir 2 is in the form of a pocket and consists of a sheet flexible plastic, for example polyethylene, or a complex formed by a metallic layer and at least one plastic layer. The bottom of the pocket 2 is closed by a weld line 6. To allow balancing of the internal pressure, during emptying of the bag, in the defined volume V between the pocket 2 and the internal walls of the enclosure 4, the bottom 8 of the enclosure is provided with a vent opening 10. The enclosure 4 has a side wall whose the open end bears the reference 5.

The free upper edge 12 of the pocket 2 is fixed, by gluing, welding or all other suitable means, on a peripheral skirt 14, formed on a base 16 rigid. The section of the peripheral skirt 14, in a plane perpendicular to the axis X, can be circular, oval, rectangular, etc.

The peripheral skirt 14 is provided with a peripheral bead 14a, capable of cooperate with a complementary groove 5a provided on the internal wall of the enclosure 4, in the vicinity of its free end 5. By this arrangement, the free end 12 of the pocket 2 is sandwiched between the free edge 5 of the enclosure 4 and the peripheral skirt 14 of the base 16.

The base 16 is in the form of a bowl provided with a bottom transverse 20 crossed by a cylindrical chimney 18. This chimney is heads out of the tank. In this fireplace is mounted, from above, the body of a pump 26. The pump 26 comprises an emerging rod 28 used for the both when the pump is actuated and when product P is dispensed. The free end of the pump rod 28 is engaged in a push button 30. A cover removable protection 32 is provided to protect the push button 30 from any accidental activation.

The pump 26 is advantageously a pump without air intake. So during of the distribution of the product P, the bag 2 retracts, and the volume V defined between the pocket 2 and the internal walls of the enclosure 4 increases.

The push button 30 has an upper surface 34 constituting an area support, on which the user presses to actuate the pump 26, in order to distribute a dose of product. A distribution channel 36 connects the pump rod 28 to a dispensing orifice 38. The push-button has a body 40 in general shape of a dome, the base 44 of which forms an outline suitable for being housed in the internal part of the peripheral skirt 14. By this arrangement, an axial guide suitable for the push button 30 in the skirt 14 is ensured during actuation of the pump.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the enclosure 4 is formed by walls of which the thickness varies from place to place. We see that an area 4a surrounding the skirt 14 is formed of a relatively large portion of thickness to ensure a reliable mounting of the base 16 in the enclosure 4.

Other portions 4b, 4c and 4d have a significantly greater thickness. as the thickness of the portions 4e and 4f. The thicker portions 4b, 4c and 4d are provided to give the assembly good shape stability. The thinner portions 4e and 4f are easily deformable elastically, easily adapting to the shape of the corresponding area of the hand coming into contact with said portions 4e and 4f. Advantageously, the transition from a thin portion to a thick portion important is progressive.

Figure 2 shows a cross section along the line II-II of Figure 1. We sees that the enclosure has at this height a substantially oval section. The sides 4g and 4h have a significantly smaller thickness than the sides side 4b and 4d. These lateral sides 4b, 4d ensure the holding of the assembly, while the sides 4g and 4h are more easily deformable than the sides 4b, 4d, by compression.

Figure 3 shows a cross section along line III-III of Figure 1. We note that the shape of the section here approaches rather a circular shape. AT this height, the portions 4c and 4e are of greater width compared to the corresponding sections of the section of figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a schematic view of the deformation of the section of the outer enclosure 4, when taking hold of the assembly. We see that the contour of the elastomeric enclosure 4 follows the profile of the hand. In particular, portions in contact with the thumb and middle finger undergo deformation important, which is the case, thin portions 4th, 4g and 4h. (The index is not shown because it is placed on the push button). We will understand that the deformations will always be different when handling a individual to the other, able to improve the gestures adapted to each. In others terms, the addition of a flexible and elastically deformable material allows a easy handling by any user. In a way, the form of the external enclosure is individually "shaped" by hand, whether with a left hand or a right hand, with a small hand or with a large hand.

The thin portions, depending on the pressure exerted by the hand of the user, deform more than the thicker portions more important. However, even areas of significant thickness undergo a significant deformation, when compression is exerted, as mentioned above, for example between the thumb and the middle finger. The handling of such set is ergonomic, pleasant to touch and allows a solid hold of the whole in the hand. When the user activates the pump in pressing the push button with the index finger, actuating the pump is easily carried out, without risk of sliding of the lateral wall of the enclosure in the hand.

After use, the enclosure regains its initial shape, thanks to the properties elastic of the materials used. Unlike handling a tube crushable, the feeling of taking hold of the assembly according to the invention is constant throughout the duration of use. Indeed, the filling rate of the pocket does not influence the shape of the outer enclosure, due to the presence of the vent orifice 10.

Certain elastomeric materials such as block copolymers of styrene and butadiene (SEBS), known for their non-slip properties, can be used for a distribution set designed specifically for be used in the shower or in the bath.

The embodiment described also allows, thanks to the conformation of the base 16 in a bowl, to manufacture a packaging unit, of appearance aesthetic, at a particularly attractive price. Thus, it is possible to provide a tank surmounted by a dispensing head and comprising a push button "integrated", with a particularly low location. Thanks to the invention, such a packaging unit can be produced by mounting means simple.

Figures 5 to 8 illustrate other embodiments of the invention. Among these Figures, Figure 5 shows the cross section of an outer enclosure, according a second embodiment. In FIG. 5, the enclosure 41 has a section substantially square with rounded angles 41a. The portion near the angled portion 41a has a thickness that is significantly smaller than the portions 41b formed by the faces of the square.

Figure 6 shows the cross section of an outer enclosure, according to a another embodiment. In FIG. 6, the enclosure 42 has a section substantially square with rounded angles 42a. The portions 42a have a significantly greater thickness than the portions 42b formed by the faces of the square. The transition between the thin portions 42b and the portions of significant thickness 42a is progressive.

FIG. 7 illustrates the cross section of an external enclosure 43, according to a another embodiment. In FIG. 7, the enclosure 43 has a section in form of a "portal", the upper part 43a of which is shaped into a semicircle. The base 43b and as well as the flanks 43c of the "portal" have a low thickness, while the upper part 43a is formed by a thick portion whose thickness gradually increases towards the summit, then decreases gradually from the top.

Figure 8 shows a view of the cross section of an outer enclosure 44, according to another embodiment. In FIG. 8, the section of the enclosure 44 has a diamond shape, having two portions 44a diametrically opposite, located at the acute angles of the rhombus. Two other portions 44b, diametrically opposite are formed at the obtuse angles of the diamond. The portions 44a have a significant thickness, decreasing gradually towards the portions 44b. The portions 44a thus ensure the shape stability of the enclosure, while the portions 44b having a deformability, preferred during user handling.

Figure 9 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a distribution assembly 50, according to another embodiment of the invention. This set is provided with hooking means 68, allowing temporary fixing the whole on a smooth surface S, such as the tiling of a bathroom or a shower cabin. According to Figure 9, the free end 55 of a flexible pocket 52, filled with a liquid to pasty product P, is fixed on a peripheral portion 59 of a rigid base 56. The base 56 is crossed by an axial chimney 57 in which is mounted a pump 58 without air intake. Pump 58 is provided with a hollow actuating rod whose free end is engaged in a cylindrical portion 61 of a push button 62. Inside the push button a distribution channel 64 is made allowing the routing of the product P to an outlet 66.

At the height of the portion 59, the free end 55 of the pocket 52 is taken in sandwich between the base 56 and the free end 53 of an external enclosure 54. As in the embodiment described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, this enclosure outer is made of an elastomeric material. Cutting the device in a plane passing through its main axis shows that the wall has zones of variable thickness. Thus, it has thin zones 54a and zones of significant thickness 54b, 54c. The bottom 54c is provided with an orifice vent 10.

According to the different embodiments described above, with reference to attached drawings, the volume V located between the pocket 2 and the outer enclosure 4 is at atmospheric pressure.

The attachment means 68 are produced on a wall of substantial thickness 54b. These means 68 are in the form of a suction cup, generally circular, comprising a concave central part 70. In known manner, the circular periphery 72 of the suction cup is formed by a thick wall declining. This provision temporarily fixes all of distribution 50, for example on a wall tile in the bathroom or on a mirror.

In the foregoing detailed description, reference has been made to modes of particular realization of the invention. It is obvious that variants, in particular the shape of the enclosure and the thickness of its walls, can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed below.

Claims (13)

Packaging and distribution assembly (1, 50) of a product (P) comprising: a) a tank (2, 52) with flexible walls, capable of contracting on themselves in response to a vacuum inside the tank, b) a pump (26, 58) mounted on said tank and suitable, in response to a command actuation, to distribute said product through an outlet orifice (38,66), said reservoir (2, 52) being disposed inside an external enclosure (4, 41-44, 54) whose walls have a sufficient thickness to ensure a stability of forms said assembly, said walls being made of a material elastomeric so that it can reversibly deform in response at a pressure resulting from the user taking hold of said assembly. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the walls of said outer enclosure (4, 41-44, 54) are of variable thickness, so as to define preferred deformation zones (4e, 4f, 4g, 4h, 41a, 42b, 43b, 44b, 54a) in response to said handling by the user of said assembly. An assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the thickness of said walls varies in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (X) of said together. Assembly according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the thickness of the walls varies in a plane passing through a longitudinal axis (X) of said assembly. Assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that that the pump (26, 58) is of the type without air intake, means (10) being designed to allow air to be taken up into the volume (V) delimited between the tank (2) with flexible walls and the outer enclosure (4). Assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that said volume (V) is at atmospheric pressure. Assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that that the pump (26, 58) is mounted on the reservoir (2, 52) via a piece of mounting (14, 59). Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said elastomeric material is chosen from silicone, butyl, polynorbornene rubbers; elastomers polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, copolymers of ethylene, propylene and a diene / polymethylene (EPDM), block copolymers of styrene and butadiene (SEBS) or polyurethane. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said elastomeric material has a Shore A hardness between 20 and 60. Assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the walls of the enclosure (54) form a portion (68) in the form of suction cup. Assembly according to any one of Claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the walls of the tank (2, 54) have one end (12, 55) taken in sandwich between said mounting piece (14, 59) and a free end (5, 56) of the enclosure (4, 54). Assembly according to any one of Claims 7 to 11, characterized in which it further comprises, a push button (30, 62) provided with said orifice outlet (38, 66) in communication with said pump (26, 58), said push button comprising an external skirt (44) capable of sliding inside an edge device (14a) formed in said mounting piece (14). Use of an assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, for the packaging of a cosmetic, pharmaceutical or dermo-pharmaceutical product.

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