EP1626813B1 - Fluid product dispenser and method for assembling one such dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for assembling a fluid product dispenser comprising: a dispensing body (2), such as a pump, provided with an inlet tubing (22; 61) through which a fluid product admission extends into the dispensing body, a reservoir (10) which is used to receive the fluid product and is provided with a cylindrical shank (11; 11') and a piston-type element (14) mounted in the shank a sliding manner, and an annular cup (32; 32') comprising an external periphery (33) which is fixed to the shank (11; 11') and an internal periphery (321) defining an opening (20) having a smaller cross-section than that of the shank, the useful volume of the reservoir (10) being defined between the cup (32; 32') and the piston-type element (14) at a certain height of the shank. The inventive method consists of successive steps whereby the reservoir (10) is filled with a fluid product and the tubing (22) is tightly engaged in the opening.

Description

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser and a method of mounting the dispenser. This is a manual dispenser that can be grasped with the help of a hand and pressing an actuating head (push) with a finger of the same hand . This type of dispenser and frequently used in the fields of perfumery, cosmetics or even pharmacy to dispense a fluid product, such as a perfume, a lotion, a gel, a cream, etc. The distribution of the fluid product can be carried out in the form of a spray (spray) or in the form of a net, a drop or a hazelnut.

In general, this type of fluid dispenser comprises a dispensing member such as a pump, a reservoir for containing fluid, said reservoir comprising a cylindrical shaft and a follower piston slidably mounted in said barrel. The dispenser further comprising an annular cup having an integral outer periphery of the barrel and an inner periphery defining an opening of reduced section relative to the barrel section. The useful volume of the tank is defined between the cup and the follower piston on a height of the drum. This is a particular distributor, since the reservoir is a variable volume reservoir due to the displacement of the follower piston inside the barrel as the fluid is removed by the dispenser member. This type of dispenser is commonly referred to as "airless", because there is no return of air inside the tank to compensate for the volume of fluid extracted by the dispenser member . Thus, the useful volume of the reservoir decreases until the follower piston comes into contact with the cup. The volume is then zero or substantially zero.

The fluid product stored inside such a piston follower tank is never in contact with the outside air. Any deterioration by oxidation or desiccation is then avoided. However, to ensure perfect preservation of the fluid inside this type of insulated tank, outside, it is still necessary that there is no or almost no air trapped inside the tank during assembly or filling of the dispenser. An object of the present invention is precisely to ensure a mounting / filling of the distributor tank which ensures the absence of air trapped in the tank.

Several techniques or methods of mounting or filling have already been used for this purpose. A known technique is to fill the tank and / or to mount the dispensing member on the tank in a sealed manner in a chamber where there is an air gap. This is the safest technique to ensure an airless filling of the tank. However, this technique is expensive both economically and technically. Indeed, the distributor must go through different vacuum filling stations, which is a considerable investment, and which also significantly increases the assembly time of such a distributor.

There are still other techniques for filling or mounting without air in the tank that does not use a vacuum chamber. For this purpose, mention may be made of the document EP 0 571 280 which discloses a fluid dispenser comprising a pump as a dispensing member and a reservoir comprising a cylindrical barrel in which a piston follower sealingly slides. The pump is mounted in a fastener which forms a cup whose outer periphery is intended to slide in the barrel of the tank and whose inner periphery forms an opening of reduced section relative to the section of the barrel. The pump comprises a body forming at its lower end a tubular internally defining an inlet inside the pump. At its upper opposite end, the pump body is provided with a fastening flange intended to cooperate with a sleeve formed by the fastener. The lower tubing of the pump body is sealingly engaged within the reduced section opening formed by the cup. The fastener and the pump form a unitary assembly that is pre-assembled before being engaged inside the barrel of the tank. Of course, before mounting this assembly in the barrel, it is first necessary to fill the barrel with the piston-follower in the low position. Then, the assembly is introduced into the barrel by sliding the outer bearing surface of the cup inside the barrel. The cup must slide in the barrel over a certain height to ensure a stable axial attachment of the fastener, and thus the pump, inside the barrel. However, as soon as the cup is engaged in the open upper end of the barrel, air is trapped in the barrel above the previously introduced fluid. To allow this trapped air to evacuate during the tight sliding of the cup in the barrel, there are grooves in the inner wall of the barrel which extend over a certain height. Thus, although the outer span of the cup slides in the barrel, entrapped air can escape from the reservoir through the grooves of the barrel. Before reaching the final mounting position, the cup reaches a bearing section of the barrel which was devoid of grooves. Thus, a complete and complete peripheral sealing is performed at the outer bearing surface of the cup. The reservoir then contains practically only fluid, the air having been evacuated through the grooves of the drum.

In another embodiment of this document EP 0 571 280 , the cup engaged around the lower end of the pump body forms at its outer periphery a flexible sealing lip intended to come into sealing contact sealing inside the barrel. After filling the reservoir with the follower piston in the low position, the assembly consisting of the pump and the cup is introduced into the barrel and pushed by sliding the flexible sealing lip of the cup against the inner wall formed by the barrel. . The air trapped in the tank above the fluid can be discharged from the tank by clearing a passage between the flexible lip and the barrel. Indeed, because of its deformability characteristic, the flexible lip can be bent inwards so as to release a passage for air. Continuing to drive the assembly constituted by the pump and the cup, the cup goes at a time come into contact with the fluid product. Continuing to drive the cup, the fluid product which is thus pressurized will also clear a passage between the flexible lip and the barrel by deformation of the flexible lip. Thus, excess fluid can reach above the cup within the barrel. It is thus ensured that the reservoir contains only or virtually only fluid, all the air has been removed, and even a portion of excess fluid.

In both embodiments of this document EP 0 571 280 , the dispensing member, that is to say the pump, is previously engaged in the cup so as to form a unitary entity. More specifically, it is the inlet pipe of the pump body which is fitted tightly in the reduced section opening formed by the cup. Thus, the air and any fluid product in excess is forced to be evacuated between the outer bearing of the cup and the barrel. In other words, the air and the excess fluid product are evacuated around the outer periphery or external bearing of the cup along the barrel. When the cup and the pre-assembled pump are engaged in the drum, the volume of air or fluid that is evacuated is equal to the section of the cup multiplied by its height of displacement. Since the section of the cup is strictly equal to the internal section of the drum, the volume to be evacuated is considerable. It can even reach half of the useful volume of the drum.

In the prior art, the document is also known EP-0 486 355 which describes a fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir defining a sliding barrel within which a follower piston is slidably mounted. The dispenser also includes a cup engaged with the opening of the barrel and defining an opening of reduced section. The distributor further comprises a pump assembly consisting of a pump associated with a pusher and a fixing ring secured to the pump by a crimping ring.

The lower end of the fixing ring is engaged in a sheath formed by the cup. This sleeve extends concentrically around the opening of the cup. The lower body of the pump, which defines an inlet manifold, is disposed within the opening of the cup, without creating a seal. Indeed, the inlet pipe of the pump has a diameter much smaller than the internal diameter of the opening, of so that there remains an annular space between the tubing and the opening. There is therefore no sealing of the tubing of the pump in the opening of the cup.

As a result, the fluid product can spread in the fixing ring around the body of the pump passing through this annular space formed between the tubing and the opening. In other words, the useful volume of the reservoir extends beyond the opening between the fixing ring and the body of the pump.

The document U.S. 5,509,584 describes a dispenser with a configuration similar to that of the document EP-0 486 355 . Indeed, the dispenser also comprises a tank, a cup and a pump. The cup also forms a sleeve in which is engaged a fixing ring supporting the pump.

EP 1 091 809 discloses a method of mounting a fluid dispenser according to the preamble of claim 1, and also a fluid dispenser according to the preamble of claim 9.

The present invention aims to define another mounting technique to ensure a filling tank without air or virtually airless. Another object of the present invention is to ensure a total or almost total evacuation of air with a very low pressure drop. Yet another object of the invention is to ensure evacuation of air and / or fluid without additional specific means.

To achieve these objects, the present invention provides a method of mounting a fluid dispenser according to claim 1. It is thus used the opening of the cup to evacuate, chase or repress air still present in the reservoir and / or any excess fluid product. The method also implies that the cup forming the opening is placed in the barrel before the engagement of the tubing of the dispensing member in the opening of the cup. As a result, the evacuated volume corresponds only to the volume displaced by the engagement of the tubing in the opening. Since the opening has a reduced section relative to the section of the barrel and therefore the cup, the volume evacuated or displaced is small compared to the volume that would have displaced the cup, as is the case in the aforementioned European document of the prior art. In other words, the reduced size of the opening allows a reduced volume of air or fluid to be evacuated. This is all the more striking as the engagement stroke of the tubing in the opening is relatively small. Indeed, the volume to be evacuated is equal to the section of the opening multiplied by the height of the engagement stroke of the tubing in the opening.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the method comprises a preliminary step of filling the reservoir through the opening of the cup. This of course implies that the cup is placed in the barrel before filling the tank. This advantageous characteristic can be implemented independently of the fact that the tubing of the dispensing member is engaged in the opening. In other words, this method of filling through the opening of the cup can be implemented in a dispenser whose dispenser member does not necessarily engage in the opening with its lower inlet manifold.

According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the method comprises the preliminary steps of arranging the follower piston in the barrel so that the useful volume of the reservoir is substantially zero, and of injecting fluid through the opening for moving the piston-follower in the barrel and thus increase the useful volume of the tank filled substantially exclusively with fluid. This filling technique ensures that there is initially no air or almost no air in the tank. Indeed, it is the fluid injection that forces the follower piston to move without creating a call for air, and since there was initially no air in the tank since its volume was zero, there can not be air in the tank filled with fluid. This filling technique of course implies that the cup has been placed in the drum before filling. However, this technique can be implemented independently of the fact that the tubing of the dispenser member is fitted into the opening of the cup.

The method provides for filling the tank to the level of the opening so that there is virtually no air in the tank and then engage the tubing in the opening by driving back the remaining air and excess fluid from the reservoir around the tubing until the tubing comes into sealed contact in the opening. In filling to the brim or almost to the brim the tank to the upper edge of the opening of the cup, it is guaranteed that there is no or almost no air in the tank. Subsequent engagement of the tubing thus has the effect of flushing an excess of fluid around the tubing out of the reservoir.

According to a filling variant not forming part of the present invention, the method provides for filling the barrel from the follower piston to a certain height in the barrel and inserting the cup into the barrel until fluid product arrives in the opening of the cup, the engagement of the tubing in the opening discharging excess fluid from the reservoir around the tubing until the tubing comes into sealed contact in the opening . In this variant, the opening of the cup is not used as the filling orifice of the reservoir. It is the insertion of the cup into the barrel that will drive air from the tank through the opening until the fluid goes up into the opening. The subsequent engagement of the tubing will then have the effect of driving the excess fluid out of the tank.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the tubing, when engaged in the opening, slides first without sealing in the opening to allow the excess fluid product located in the opening to be forced around the tubing and then comes into sealed engagement with the opening in a final mounting position.

According to another aspect of the invention, the excess fluid product discharged during the engagement of the tubing in the opening is collected in a vented space communicating with the outside through a passage formed between the dispensing member and receiving means in which the dispensing member is received in non-sealed engagement. In a variant, the excess fluid product discharged during the engagement of the tubing in the opening is collected in an enclosed space isolated from the outside by the sealing engagement of the dispensing member in receiving means. The collection space, whether vented or isolated, allows the storage of a certain amount of fluid that has spurted out of the opening during the engagement of the tubing. This space, even when it is stale, is not open wide outward so the excess product fluid that has sprayed stays inside the stale space. It should be noted that this space, even when vented is perfectly sealed against the tank by sealing engagement of the tubing in the opening.

In another aspect, the cup is made integrally with the barrel. In this case, the filling of the tank is necessarily done through the opening of the cup.

According to another advantageous characteristic, the outer periphery of the cup slides sealingly in the barrel away from the follower piston during sealing engagement of the tubing in the opening. In this case, it is not necessary that the tubing slides initially without sealing in the opening. During all the tight sliding of the tubing in the opening, the cup can slide in the barrel away from the follower piston, to ensure the constancy of the useful volume of the reservoir.

According to another advantageous aspect, the tubing of the dispensing member is pre-assembled in an unsealed manner in the opening of the cup before the insertion of the cup into the drum to allow the fluid to be forced back between the tubing and the opening, the tubing coming to the final mounting position in sealed contact in the opening. In this case, the dispensing member and the cup form a preassembled assembly which is engaged unitarily within the barrel. However, the non-sealing between the tubing and the opening allows an evacuation of trapped air and even an excess of fluid if any.

The invention also relates to a fluid dispenser comprising evacuation means to allow delivery of fluid and / or air out of the reservoir between the tubing and the opening of the cup. Advantageously, the evacuation means comprise at least one vent passage between the tubing and the opening which communicates the inside of the reservoir with the outside, sealing means being provided for cutting said at least one passage into final mounting position of the tubing in the opening so as to isolate the tank sealingly. The vent passage (s) allow evacuation of air and possibly product fluid in excess of the tank until the sealing means are cut off these vent passages and thus isolate the tank from the outside.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the dispenser member comprises an upper flange which projects radially outwards, said flange being engaged with receiving means for maintaining the dispensing member in a stable manner with respect to the barrel. In general, the lower pipe constitutes the lower end portion of the dispensing member while the collar forms one of the upper end portions of the body of the dispensing member. Advantageously, the receiving means may be formed by the barrel. Alternatively, the receiving means is formed by a fastener also forming the cup. Advantageously, the collar is received in an unsealed manner in the receiving means, a vented space being thus created between the sealed engagement of the tubing in the opening and the non-tight engagement of the collar with the receiving means, this space for collecting the excess fluid discharged by the engagement of the tubing in the opening. It is also possible to provide a variant that the engagement of the collar in the receiving means makes a tight grip so that the space is isolated.

According to a particular embodiment, the body of the dispensing member is received in a fixing sheath forming the tubing and the collar. In this case, the tubing and the flange are no longer directly formed by the body of the dispensing member.

In another aspect, the cup and the barrel are integrally formed.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings giving by way of non-limiting example several embodiments of the invention.

• la figure 1 est une vue en section transversale verticale à travers un distributeur de produit fluide selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue en section transversale verticale à travers la tête de distribution et l'organe de distribution du distributeur de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue en section transversale verticale à travers le réservoir et l'organe de fixation du distributeur de la figure 1,
• la figure 4 représente une variante de réalisation de la figure 3,
• la figure 5 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 3 à l'état rempli du réservoir,
• la figure 6 est une vue du distributeur de la figure 1 en cours de montage,
• la figure 7 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 6 en fin de montage,
• la figure 8 est une vue du distributeur après montage,
• la figure 9 est une vue éclatée du distributeur de la figure 1 pour illustrer un procédé alternatif de montage ne faisant pas partie de la présente invention,
• la figure 10 est une vue du distributeur de la figure 9 au cours d'une étape de montage ne faisant pas partie de la présente invention,
• la figure 11 est une autre vue du distributeur de la figure 9 au cours d'une étape ultérieure de montage ne faisant pas partie de la présente invention,
• la figure 12 est une vue du distributeur de la figure 9 en fin de montage,
• la figure 13 est une vue en section transversale verticale à travers un réservoir équipé d'un organe de fixation selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention,
• la figure 14 est une vue éclatée en cours de montage de ce distributeur selon cette seconde forme de réalisation de l'invention, et
• les figures 15 à 17 illustrent différentes étapes de montage du distributeur de la figure 14.

In the figures:

• the figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a fluid dispenser according to a first embodiment of the invention,
• the figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view through the dispensing head and dispensing member of the dispenser of the figure 1 ,
• the figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the reservoir and the dispenser fastener of the figure 1 ,
• the figure 4 represents an alternative embodiment of the figure 3 ,
• the figure 5 is a view similar to that of the figure 3 in the filled state of the tank,
• the figure 6 is a view of the distributor of the figure 1 during editing,
• the figure 7 is a view similar to that of the figure 6 at the end of editing,
• the figure 8 is a view of the distributor after mounting,
• the figure 9 is an exploded view of the distributor of the figure 1 to illustrate an alternative method of assembly not forming part of the present invention,
• the figure 10 is a view of the distributor of the figure 9 during a mounting step not forming part of the present invention,
• the figure 11 is another view of the distributor of the figure 9 during a subsequent assembly step not forming part of the present invention,
• the figure 12 is a view of the distributor of the figure 9 at the end of editing,
• the figure 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a reservoir equipped with a fastener according to a second embodiment of the invention,
• the figure 14 is an exploded view during assembly of this dispenser according to this second embodiment of the invention, and
• the Figures 15 to 17 illustrate different stages of assembly of the distributor of the figure 14 .

The Figures 1 to 12 represent a first embodiment of a fluid dispenser according to the invention. Some variants are however possible without it being considered that this is another embodiment. In this case, the variant of figure 4 must be considered separately. On the other hand, on all the others Figures 1 to 12 (except this figure 4 ), the dispenser comprises five constituent parts, namely a container 1, a follower piston 14, a fastener 3, a dispensing member 2 and a distribution head 4. We will refer first of all more specifically to the figures 1 , 2 , 3 and 9 to describe the five aforementioned constituent parts of this fluid dispenser according to this first embodiment.

The container 1 comprises a substantially elongated barrel 11 defining internally a cylindrical sliding wall 111. The outside of the barrel 11 may be of any shape or surface nature. The inner sliding wall 111 extends over most of the barrel 11. At its upper end 132, the barrel forms a neck 13 defining an opening inside the barrel 11. The neck 13 is internally provided with a profile 131. At its opposite end, the barrel 11 is closed by a bottom 12 pierced with through holes 121. The bottom 12 is optional, so that the container 1 can be summed up with the single barrel 11 open at both ends. The container 1 can be made of any rigid material, and more particularly plastic, glass or metal. Indeed, the shaft 11 is substantially indeformable.

The follower piston 14 comprises a bottom wall 142 bordered on its periphery by a lip 141 intended to come into sealing contact against the inner sliding wall 111 of the barrel 11. On the figure 1 , the follower piston 14 is in its maximum low position in contact with the bottom 12.

The fixing member 3 comprises a lower cup 32, a ring 34 and an upper receiving sleeve 35.

The cup 32 comprises an outer periphery formed by a cylindrical section 33 of smaller outer diameter equal to or slightly greater than the internal diameter of the barrel 11 at its internal sliding wall 111. This cylindrical section 33 is extended downwards by a frustoconical section 323 which moves progressively away from the inner wall 111. This frustoconical section 323 is then extended by an annular flange 322. This flange 322 has an inner periphery on which is formed a sleeve 321. As can be seen on the figures 3 and 9 , the sleeve 321 defines an opening 20. It is also conceivable that the cup 32 is devoid of such a sleeve 321 so that the opening 20 would then be defined by the inner periphery of the annular flange 322. In short, the periphery outer of 32 formed cup by the cylindrical section 33 is integral with or engaged with the barrel 11, while the inner periphery of the cup 32 forms an opening 20.

The ring 34 extends upwards in the extension of the cup 32. The ring 34 advantageously has an external profile capable of cooperating with the reception profile 131 formed by the neck 13. Preferably, the profile of the ring 34 is adapted to achieve snap fastening in the receiving profile 131. A simple clamping is also possible. The ring 34 essentially serves to fix the fastener 3 in the neck 13 of the barrel 11. However, the cylindrical section 33 of the cup 32 may also contribute to this attachment. The cylindrical section 33 and / or the ring 34 also makes a sealed contact inside the neck 13 or more generally of the barrel 11. The ring can be considered as forming an integral part of the cup, when the section 33 is not engaged with the drum.

The receiving sleeve 35 extends upwardly in the extension of the ring 34. The sleeve 35 is located outside the barrel 11. Its outer diameter may be substantially equal to the outside diameter of the barrel 11 so that the sleeve 35 is extends in the extension of the shaft 11. The sleeve 35 internally forms receiving means 351 in the form of a latching housing.

The fastener 3 thus formed by the cup 32, the ring 34 and the sleeve 35 is inserted into the barrel 11 through the opening formed by the neck 13 until the cup 32 is at the wall slide 111 with the ring 34 engaged in the profile 131 and the sleeve 35 resting on the upper end edge 132 of the neck 13.

The engagement of the fixing member 3 in the barrel 11 delimits, with the inner sliding wall 111 and the follower piston 14, an internal volume serving as a fluid reservoir 10. This reservoir communicates with the outside through the liner. opening 20 formed by the cup 32. The useful volume of the reservoir 10 is variable depending on the position of the follower piston 14 in the barrel 11. The volume of the reservoir can even be zero when the follower piston 14 is in abutting contact under the flange 32, as can be seen on the figure 3 . The useful volume and all the more zero that the underside of the cup 32 has a negative shape complementary to that of the follower piston 14. More specifically, the lip 141 of the follower piston 14 can be inserted around the frustoconical section 323, as can be seen on the figure 3 .

The dispensing member 2, which is here a pump, comprises a body 21 and an actuating rod 27 movable back and forth in the body 21. The body 21 comprises several sections of different diameters. Starting from the top of the body 21 downwards, it comprises a first upper section 26 within which the actuating rod 27 extends. Below this upper section 26, the body forms a collar 25 which protrudes radially outwards. Below this flange, the body forms an upper middle section 24 which extends downwards by a lower middle section 224. Below this lower middle section, the body forms a frustoconical section 223 which extends downwards to form a pipe 222 which internally defines an inlet duct inside the body 21. This is a particular non-limiting design for a pump body. Of course, it is possible to use a pump having a body of different shape. Sections 26, 24 and 224 may in particular be arranged in different ways. For example, the section 26 may be located below the collar 25 so that the latter is then located at the upper end of the pump body 21. However, the inlet pipe 22 is always located at the bottom of the body This inlet tubing 22 also constitutes the section with the smallest outside diameter. All other sections thus have upper sections with the collar 25 which advantageously has the largest section at its outer periphery.

The pump 2 is engaged in the fixing member 3 so that in the final mounting position, as shown in FIG. figure 1 , the collar 25 is engaged in the receiving housing 351 of the sleeve 35 and the inlet pipe 22 is engaged in the opening 20 of the cup or more precisely in the sleeve 321. The engagement of the collar 25 in the housing 351 may be sealed or not on the entire periphery of the collar. The engagement of the tubing 22 in the sleeve 321 is sealed. The commitment of the pump 2 in the fixing member 3 defines an internal space 23 which extends around the pump body 2 inside the fixing member 3. This internal space 23 does not communicate with the reservoir 10 since the tubing 22 is engaged sealingly in the sleeve 321. In contrast, the inner space 23 may communicate with the outside when the engagement of the flange 25 in the housing 351 is not waterproof. On the other hand, when the grip of the collar 25 in the housing 351 is sealed, the internal space 23 is closed and isolated from the outside. When the contact of the flange 25 in the housing 351 is sealed, it can even be provided that the upper middle section 24 comes into sealing contact in the sleeve 35, and possibly in the ring 34. Thus, depending on the tightness or the non-sealing at the upper part of the body 21, the inner space 23 is either vented or closed. Advantageously, to ensure that the flange 25 and the upper middle section 24 does not make a sealing engagement inside the fastener 3, venting grooves 345 formed in the inner wall of the flange can be provided. 35 and the ring 34, as can be seen on the figure 3 . In this case, the internal space 23 is certainly stale.

The inlet pipe 22 fulfills a sealing function for the tank 10 because of its tight engagement in the sleeve 321.

According to the invention, the tubing 22 may be provided with one or more vent passages 221 which may be in the form of grooves or grooves formed vertically or longitudinally in the outer wall of the tubing. These passages 221 extend over a portion of the height of the tubing 22 leaving, however, an upper portion 222 free passage. This portion 222 may have a perfectly cylindrical outer wall. It is also this part 222 which seals the tubing 22 in the sleeve 321. In a variant, the vent passage or passages 321 may extend over the entire height of the tubing 22 and sealing can be achieved by the frustoconical section 323 located above the tubing 22 when it engages with the upper end of the tubing 321, as can be seen on the Figures 7 and 8 . However, it is preferable that the vent passages stop before the frustoconical section 321 thus leaving a cylindrical smooth portion 222 remain. The essential is to achieve a final seal between the pump 2 and the dispensing member 3 at the level of the opening 20. It is also possible to imagine alternatively vent passages are formed in the inner wall of the sleeve 321. The vent passages would then extend from the free upper end of the sleeve 321 and extend vertically downward without achieving up to the lower end of the sleeve 321. This is shown in the embodiment variant of the figure 4 with the vent passages designated by the numeral 325. The function of these vent passages, whether located at the tubing 22 or the sleeve 321, will be given below.

The dispensing head 4 comprises a cap 41 and a case 43. The cap 41 comprises an ogival or frustoconical outer wall 411 which has a general point appearance with a top wall 212. This top wall 212 is pierced with a dispensing orifice 422. Internally, the cap 41 comprises an outlet duct 42 which connects the upper end of the actuating rod 27 to the dispensing orifice 422. Indeed, the outlet duct 42 has a lower end forming a sleeve of receiving 427 for the upper end of the actuating rod 27. The conduit 42 thus defines an outlet channel 421 which reads the actuating rod 27 to the dispensing orifice 422 located at the top of the cap 41. note that the duct 42 extends in the axial extension of the actuating rod 27. The axis of displacement back and forth from the actuating rod 27 in the pump body 21 is even coincident with the longitudinal axis d the symmetry of the dispenser which passes through the dispensing orifice 422, the duct 42, the actuating rod 27, the tubing 22, the follower piston 14 and the bottom 12. Thus, the outlet duct 42 is in a way an extension of the actuating rod 27 whose free end defines the dispensing orifice 22 at which the user can collect the dose of fluid dispensed by the pump 2. The position of the dispensing orifice 422 is here not only axial, but also summit. However, it is possible to provide an eccentric (non-axial) top orifice.

According to the invention, the case 43 extends downwards in the extension of the frustoconical or ogival external wall 411 of the cap 41. The case 43 is made in one piece with the cap 41. The case 43 is present in the form of an envelope which may have a circular cylindrical outer shape or any other shape advantageously conferring an aesthetic appearance to the dispenser. In the illustrated embodiment on the Figures 1 to 12 , the case 43 is in the form of a simple circular cylinder connected at its upper end to the cap 41 and advantageously forming at its lower end a small outward flap 431. The case 43 surrounds the pump 2, the fixing member 3 and a part of the barrel 11. The case 43, on the figure 1 extends around the upper two thirds of the barrel 11. There remains therefore a lower third of the barrel 11 which projects out of the case 43; since this lower third forms the bottom 12, it is located outside the case 43.

Because the barrel 11 has a reduced outside diameter compared to its height, and the casing 43 surrounding it has similar proportions, the fluid dispenser according to this embodiment has a very slender elongated shape comparable to that of a pen. The resemblance with a pen is all the more striking that the dispensing orifice 422 is located axially and vertically, in the manner of the tip of a pen.

Referring to the figure 1 , we will now describe an operation cycle of the dispenser in this embodiment. The reservoir 10 is filled with fluid with little or no air trapped in the reservoir. The follower piston 14 is in abutment against the bottom 12. The user of the dispenser can grasp it with the help of a hand in the case 43 with the protruding flap 431 which advantageously abuts on the index finger. The user can thus use his thumb to press the bottom 12. By exerting sufficient pressure, the container 1 will be pressed into the case 43. Since the fixing member 3 and the pump body 21 are secured in displacement of the container 1, these will also move inside the case 43. In contrast, the actuating rod 27 integral with the cap 41 will remain static; this has the effect of displacing the pump body 21 with respect to the actuating rod 27. pump 2 is thus actuated and a dose of fluid product is distributed through the outlet duct 42 to the level of the dispensing orifice 421. The dispensing is of great precision since the gripping means of the dispenser, namely the case 43, are integral in displacement of the dispensing orifice 422, which therefore remains static or fixed during dispensing.

On all Figures 1 to 12 with the exception of figure 4 , the fixing member 3 constitutes an element initially separated from the container 1 which is subsequently added inside the opening of the container. On the figure 4 , the fastener has been integrally integrated with the container 1 '. The barrel 11 'can be substantially identical to that of the first embodiment. However, the container here is devoid of bottom so as to insert the follower piston 14 into the barrel 11 '. The cup 32 'may be identical to that of the first embodiment. However, the cup 32 'is here made with a sleeve provided with vent passages 325. This feature can also be integrated in the first embodiment, as mentioned above. On the other hand, the rest of the fastener incorporated in the container 1 'can have a completely identical shape. The container 1 'is then in the form of a tube open at both ends with a cup 32' disposed inside. Of course, the cup 32 'forms an opening 20 which makes the two parts of the tube communicate. Moreover, we see in comparison to the figure 4 , that the only noticeable difference between the two embodiments is that the bottom is absent on the figure 4 .

We will now describe the various techniques and methods of mounting and filling such a fluid dispenser.

Regarding the filling of the tank, an aim is that the tank is only filled with fluid, that is to say they do not contain ideally no air at all. In practice, it is virtually impossible that there is no air at all inside the tank. Therefore, one goal is to minimize the presence of air inside the tank. The tank can first be filled through the opening 20 of the cup using the sleeve 321 for the adaptation of the filling nozzle. Alternatively, one can filling the tank while the fixing member 3 is not yet mounted in the container 1.

In the first technique of filling the reservoir through the opening 20, it is advantageous to initially dispose the follower piston 14 in contact with the cup 32, as can be seen in the Figures 3 and 4 . The useful volume of the reservoir 10 is then zero since the follower piston 14 fits perfectly under the cup 32. By bringing the filling nozzle into the sleeve 321, fluid can be injected against the follower piston 14 which will then move in the barrel 11 under the pressure of the fluid injected. The useful volume of the reservoir will then increase until the stop of the injection of the fluid product. For example, it is possible to inject until the follower piston 14 comes into abutment against the bottom 12, as is the case on the figure 1 . We can also stop the injection before, as it is the case on the figure 5 . Starting from the position in which the follower piston 14 is in abutment against the cup 32, it is ensured that there is initially no air inside the tank since its useful volume is zero. The injected fluid product practically does not allow the inclusion of air bubbles inside the reservoir. This produces a reservoir filled with fluid only. Advantageously, the fluid reservoir is filled to the level of the sleeve 321, and preferably substantially to the level of the upper edge of the sleeve 321. Thus, the reservoir 10 is filled to the brim.

In the second case in which the fixing member 3 is not yet in place in the container 1 during filling of the tank, the follower piston 14 is preferably initially placed in its lower position, for example in contact with the bottom 12 The filling nozzle then fills the tank 10 from the follower piston 14 to a certain height in the barrel 11. Then, the fastener 3 is engaged in the container 1. Advantageously, the barrel 11 is filled with a quantity of fluid such as when the fastener 3 is engaged in the container 1 in the container 1, the fluid product is pushed into the opening 20 through the sleeve 321. Excess fluid can even be forced out of the sleeve 321 so as to be collected in the cup 32 around the sleeve 321. In this way, it is also guaranteed a complete filling of the tank only with fluid product excluding any air bubbles.

Both filling techniques that have just been described can of course be protected independently. Filling the reservoir flush to the level of the opening 20 is a feature that can also be protected independently of the filling technique.

Regarding now mounting the pump 2 in the fastener, it is also advantageous that this operation also promotes the elimination, evacuation or exclusion of any air bubbles in the tank. As mentioned above, the pump 2 is mounted in the fixing member 3 by sealing engagement of its tubing 22 in the opening 20 and the sealing or non-sealing engagement of the collar 25 in the receiving housing 351. According to the Thanks to the presence of the vent passages 221 or 325, the air possibly still present in the tank 10 before the engagement of the tubing in the sleeve 321 can be discharged from the tank through the vent passages during the engagement of the tubing in the sleeve 321. This evacuation is possible as long as the vent passages communicate the inside of the tank with the outside. On the other hand, in the final position, the vent passages are obstructed so as to make a sealed engagement at the opening 20. These vent passages certainly allow the evacuation of air possibly trapped in the opening 20, but also allow the discharge of an excess of fluid product located in the opening 20. Advantageously filling the tank flush to the top of the sleeve 321, is guaranteed almost already the absence of air. By additionally allowing an evacuation of air or fluid during the engagement of the tubing in the sleeve before reaching the final sealed mounting position, it is practically impossible for there to remain air in the reservoir .

Of course, the final sealing position of the tubing 22 in the sleeve 321 is only possible when the fastener 3 is itself in the final mounting position in the container 1. However, the pump 2 may be pre-engaged or pre-assembled in the fixing member 3 when the fixing member 3 is engaged in the container 1. Thus, the fixing member 3 and the pump 2 constitute a pre-assembled assembly in the mounting position not definitive. Indeed, the pump 2 can be pre-assembled in the fastener 3 so that the tubing 22 is not sealingly engaged in the sleeve 321. This is quite possible because of the presence of the passages. vent. The collar 25 may be prepositioned above its receiving housing 351. After filling the reservoir, the assembly can then be mounted on the reservoir, as can be seen on the figure 10 . A pressure can first be exerted on the fixing member 3 by means of a press 5 provided with a bucket 51. This is visible on the figure 11 . Once the fastener has reached its final mounting position in the container 1, the press 5 then presses the pump 2 to mount it permanently in the fastener 3, this is represented on the figure 12 . It can clearly be seen that prior to this last step of mounting the pump in the fixing member, the possibly trapped air and excess fluid can be discharged from the tank 10 through the vent passages 221 which still make communicate the interior of the tank 10 with the internal space 23. This evacuation of air and / or fluid in excess is indicated by the arrow on the figure 11 .

The air and the fluid product discharged from the reservoir is advantageously collected in the internal space 23 which can be closed or vented depending on the sealed or non-sealed engagement of the flange 25 in the receiving housing 351. When the space 23 is vented, the air possibly discharged out of the tank can also escape outwards around the flange 25. On the other hand, the fluid product, due to gravity and phenomena of surface tension remains adhered against the wall of the cup 32.

The vent passages 221 or 325 thus constitute means for discharging air and / or fluid out of the tank. It is advantageous that this evacuation is carried out using the pipe 22, because it has a reduced section which thus allows a small amount of air or fluid to be evacuated. This is not the case if the cup 32 is used to evacuate the air and fluid during its engagement in the container 1, as is the case with the document EP 0 571 280 .

We will now refer to Figures 13 to 17 to explain a second embodiment of the invention. The dispenser comprises a receptacle 1 "also forming a barrel 11 inside which a follower piston 14 slides which may be identical to that of the preceding embodiment The receptacle 1" also forms a neck 13 forming an external locking profile 131. On the other hand, the container 1 "also forms a bottom 12 pierced with through-holes The distributor comprises a fixing member 3" engaged in the barrel 11 by the neck 13. This fixing member 3 "comprises a cup 32 forming a sleeve 321 internally defining an opening 20. This cup 32 is extended upwards by a sliding ring 34 slidably engaged inside the barrel 11. At its upper end, the ring 34 forms a flap towards the outside 35 which bears on the upper end of the neck 13. The reservoir 10 can be filled through the opening 20 by pushing the follower piston 14 towards the bottom as described above. is lying.

The dispenser comprises a pump 2 which may be the same or similar of the previous embodiment. The pump 2 comprises a body 21 defining a lower inlet pipe 22 and an upper flange 25. The pump also comprises an actuating rod 27 movable axially back and forth inside the body 21. The pump 2 is here provided with a dispensing head 4 "having an outlet channel 421 which opens at a dispensing orifice 422. The head may be capped with a cover 44.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the pump 2 is mounted in a fixing sheath 6 which surrounds the pump body 21. The sheath comprises an upper snap-fitting housing 65 receiving the flange 25 and a lower cuff 61 in which The tubing 20 is also sealingly received. In addition, the fixing sheath 6 forms a fastening collar 66 intended to engage with the fastening profile 131 formed outside the neck 13. The cover 44 is engaged with the flange 66 of the sheath 6. The figure 14 represents the distributor before mounting the assembly consisting of the sheath 6 and the pump 2 on the assembly consisting of the container 1 "and the fixing member 3". The reservoir 10 is filled up to the level of the opening 20. By lowering the upper assembly onto the lower assembly, the collar 61 will enter the opening 20 until it comes into sealing sliding contact. inside the sleeve 322. At the same time, the flange 66 begins to engage with the neck 13. This is shown in FIG. figure 15 . By continuing the engagement of the sleeve 61 in the sleeve 322, the pressure will rise inside the tank 10 which has the effect of raising the fixing member 3 "in the barrel 11 in the manner of a This effect can be noticed by the detachment of the flap 35 on the figure 16 . The sliding of the fixing member 3 "is possible because the sliding ring 34 does not achieve a fixing grip inside the barrel 11. figure 17 represents the dispenser with the empty tank. It may be noted in particular that the flap 35 has come into contact with the upper end 132 of the neck 13 by suction effect at the end of emptying the tank.

In this second embodiment, the closure of the reservoir is also achieved by the engagement of the tubing 22, or more precisely of the sleeve 61 which surrounds the tubing in an opening of reduced section relative to that of the barrel 11 in which slides the follower piston 14. It is quite possible to provide an alternative embodiment in which the sheath 6 stops before the tubing 22 so that it is the tubing 22 itself which engages in the opening 20. , the sheath is quite optional: the interesting feature lies in the fact that the fixing member 3 "can move by a piston effect inside the barrel 11 when it comes to engage the pump 2 in the opening 20.

It should be noted that the various technical or characteristic aspects which have just been described can often be implemented independently so that they can be independently protected. This is particularly the case of tank filling techniques that can be implemented independently of the mounting techniques of the pump in the cup.

Claims (14)

1. A method of assembling a fluid dispenser comprising:

   · a dispenser member (2), such as a pump, the member having a body including an inlet tube (22; 61) which internally defines an inlet for admitting fluid into the dispenser member;

   · a reservoir (10) for containing fluid, said reservoir comprising a cylinder (11; 11') and a follower-piston (14) that is slidably mounted in said cylinder; and

   · an annular dish (32; 32') presenting an outer periphery (33) that is secured to the cylinder (11; 11'), and an inner periphery (321) defining an opening (20) of section that is small relative to the cylinder, the working volume of the reservoir (10) being defined between the dish (32; 32') and the follower-piston (14) over a height of the cylinder,

   the method being characterized in that it includes the steps of filling the reservoir up to the opening so that there is practically no air left in the reservoir, and then engaging the tube in the opening, forcing the remaining air and the excess fluid out of the reservoir, around the tube, until the tube comes into leaktight contact in the opening.
2. A fluid dispenser assembly method according to claim 1, including a prior step of filling the reservoir (10) via the opening (20) of the dish (32; 32').
3. An assembly method according to claim 1 or claim 2, including prior steps of:

   · disposing the follower-piston in the cylinder so that the working volume of the reservoir is substantially zero; and

   · injecting fluid through the opening so as to displace the follower-piston inside the cylinder, and thus increase the working volume of the reservoir that is filled substantially exclusively with fluid.
4. An assembly method according to any preceding claim, in which the tube, while it is being engaged in the opening, firstly slides without sealing in the opening so as to enable the excess fluid situated in the opening to be forced out around the tube, and secondly becomes engaged in leaktight manner in the opening, in a final assembly position.
5. An assembly method according to any preceding claim, in which the excess fluid that is forced out while the tube is being engaged in the opening is collected in a vented space (23) that communicates with the outside via a passage formed between the dispenser member and reception means (351) in which the dispenser member is received in unsealed engagement.
6. An assembly method according to any preceding claim, in which the excess fluid that is forced out while the tube is being engaged in the opening is collected in a sealed space (23) that is isolated from the outside by the sealed engagement of the dispenser member in reception means (351).
7. An assembly method according to claim 1, 2, or 3, in which the dish (32') is made integrally as a single piece with the cylinder (11').
8. An assembly method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the outer periphery (33) of the dish (32) slides in leaktight manner in the cylinder, moving away from the follower-piston while the tube is being engaged in leaktight manner in the opening.
9. A fluid dispenser comprising:

   · a dispenser member, such as a pump, having a body including an inlet tube (22) which internally defines an inlet for admitting fluid into the dispenser member;

   · a reservoir (10) for containing fluid, said reservoir comprising a cylinder (11; 11') and a follower-piston (14) that is slidably mounted in said cylinder; and

   · an annular dish (32; 32') presenting an outer periphery (33) that is secured to the cylinder, and an inner periphery (321) defining an opening (20) of section that is small relative to the cylinder, the working volume of the reservoir being defined between the dish and the follower-piston over a height of the cylinder, the tube being adapted to be engaged in the opening (20),

   characterized in that

   . evacuation means (221) are provided for enabling fluid and/or air to be forced out of the reservoir between the tube and the opening, while the tube is being engaged in the opening, the evacuation means comprising at least one vent hole (221) between the tube and the opening for putting the inside of the reservoir into communication with the outside, sealing means (222) being provided so as to seal said at least one hole when the tube is in its final assembly position in the opening, so as to isolate the reservoir in leaktight manner, and

   . the body of the dispenser member (2) includes a top collar (25; 66) that projects radially outwards, said collar being engaged with reception means (351) so as to hold the dispenser member in stable and fixed manner relative to the cylinder.
10. A fluid dispenser according to claim 9, in which the reception means (351) are formed by the cylinder (11').
11. A fluid dispenser according to claim 9, in which the reception means (351) are formed by a fastener member (3) that also forms the dish (32).
12. A fluid dispenser according to any one of claims 9 to 11, in which the collar (25; 66) is received in unsealed manner in the reception means, a vented space (23) thus being created between the leaktight engagement of the tube in the opening and the unsealed engagement of the collar with the reception means, the space serving to collect the excess fluid forced out by the engagement of the tube in the opening.
13. A fluid dispenser according to any one of claims 9 to 12, in which the body (21) of the dispenser member (2) is received in a fastener sheath (6) forming the tube (61) and the collar (66).
14. A fluid dispenser according to any one of claims 9 or 10, in which the dish (32') and the cylinder (11') are formed as a single piece.

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