EP2446970B1 - Dispensing system and dispenser for a fluid product dispenser - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a system for dispensing a fluid product comprising a device for sampling under pressure of said product. The invention also relates to a dispensing bottle comprising such a dispensing system which is mounted on a product conditioning tank, said reservoir being formed inside a rigid wall.

In a particular application, the dispensing system is intended to equip bottles used in perfumery, in cosmetics or for pharmaceutical treatments. Indeed, this type of bottle conventionally comprises a product conditioning tank which is returned under pressure by a manually operated sampling device by means of a push button which is arranged to allow the spraying of the product.

To do this, the sampling device has a body mounted on the reservoir, said body incorporating distribution means which are fed with conditioned product via a dip tube disposed in said reservoir. Furthermore, the body is equipped with a vent hole which is arranged to allow to compensate by air the volume of product dispensed. Thus, by allowing air to enter the inside of the rigid tank, the vent hole prevents a depression from being established within said tank as the distribution proceeds.

The dip tubes are conventionally made of thermoplastic material of the polyolefin type, that is to say that they are not very transparent and retain the curvature of the storage coils. There are also plunger tubes made of fluoro-polymers which have the advantage of being almost invisible once immersed in a product, but remain visible when they are not.

In some applications, including cosmetics, the visibility of the dip tube through the wall of the bottle is considered unsightly. To solve this aesthetic problem, it has been proposed to use a tube cover surrounding the dip tube over at least a part of its length, said tube cover being able to then be chosen to present an advantageous aesthetic in the tank, in particular by the use of a particular material and / or decorations on said tube cover, or to maintain the dip tube initially curved in a precise position, for example to collect the last drop in a hollow practiced at the bottom of the bottle.

In particular, the tube cover may be associated with the body of the sampling device by means of a socket which has an outer surface around which the upper end of the tube cover is disposed and an inner surface in which said body is mounted. However, in such an assembly, the air intake path between the vent hole and the tank passes through the product, which can cause problems of product leakage and reliability of the air intake function. expected.

In an attempt to solve this problem, it has been proposed to make a hole in the tube cover. However, in addition to its cost of implementation including resumption of transformation in a metal tube, this hole can lead into the product, especially depending on the length of the body and the level of filling of the tank.

Another solution proposes the realization of grooves on the outer surface, said grooves forming air return path between the vent hole and the lower end of the sleeve which is disposed in the tube cover. However, the presence of grooves decreases the mechanical strength of the sleeve and the reliability of maintaining the tube cover on the body. Therefore, the grooves must be narrow and shallow resulting in their filling at least partially by the product by capillary phenomenon.

However, when there is a rise in temperature, the volume of the packaged product increases by expansion even more if it is alcoholic. It follows a pressure inside the tank which, depending on the temperature rise, can commonly reach 5 or 6 bars depending on the volume of product / volume of air ratio above the product. In addition, a pressure differential between the inside of the container and the outside is also formed at altitude.

Before the user uses such a pressurized bottle, the air contained in the space V1 situated above the product outside the tube cover is at the same pressure as the air contained in the space V2 situated top of the product in the tube cover.

When the user uses the bottle, he presses the push button, so the path to the vent hole is open. By balancing the pressures with the outside air, air contained in the volume V2 escapes through the vent hole, the pressure in V2 drops, but as the grooves are partially filled by the product, the flow rate of air through the grooves is very small. The V1 air pressure is applied to the surface of the product, the liquid level rises in the V2 space and passes through the air intake path to the outside. This phenomenon occurs in a few tenths of a second and causes a product leak.

In the document FR 2 718 372 A1 , which discloses a dispensing system according to the preamble of claim 1, an orifice made on the inner bearing surface of the bushing and in communication with the vent hole of the pump body opens into the inner bearing over the outer door. of the socket

The invention aims to improve the prior art by providing in particular a dispensing system in which a cover of the dip tube is reliably held on the body of a sampling device with air intake, and without risking of product leak or affect the air intake function.

For this purpose, and according to a first aspect, the invention proposes a system for dispensing a fluid product according to claim 1.

According to a second aspect, the invention proposes a dispensing bottle of a fluid product comprising a container for packaging said product which is formed inside a rigid and transparent or at least translucent wall, said bottle further comprising a such dispensing system which is mounted on the tank with the dip tube disposed in said tank, an air return path being formed between the vent hole and said tank via the communication port.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe longitudinale d'un flacon de distribution selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• les figures 2a et 2b sont des vues agrandies de la figure 1 montrant plus particulièrement le système de distribution avec le bouton poussoir appuyé ;
• les figures 3 sont des vues de la douille d'association du cache tube du flacon de distribution selon la figure 1, respectivement en perspective de dessous (figure 3a) et en coupe longitudinale (figure 3b).

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the description which follows, made with reference to the appended figures, in which:

• the figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a dispensing bottle according to one embodiment of the invention;
• the Figures 2a and 2b are enlarged views of the figure 1 showing more particularly the dispensing system with the push button pressed;
• the figures 3 are views of the union sleeve of the tube cover of the dispensing bottle according to the figure 1 , respectively in perspective from below ( figure 3a ) and in longitudinal section ( figure 3b ).

In the description, the terms of positioning in space are taken with reference to the position of the bottle shown on the figure 1 . In addition, for the sake of clarity, the product is not represented on the figures 2 .

In connection with the figures, there is described below a bottle for containing a fluid for distribution, and a dispensing system of such a product. In particular examples, the product may be liquid, in particular a cosmetic care, make-up or perfume product, or a pharmaceutical product.

The bottle comprises a body 1 having a rigid wall 2 in which a reservoir 3 for packaging the product is formed, said body also having a neck 4 which overcomes said reservoir. In particular, the body 1 has a sufficient rigidity so that the volume of the reservoir 3 remains substantially constant. In addition, the wall 2 may be transparent or at least translucent to allow visualization of the packaged product through it.

The body 1 can be made in one piece, for example by injection blow molding or extrusion blow molding, or in several injected parts and then assembled, for example by ultrasonic welding, rigid plastic at least translucent or glass.

The bottle also comprises a dispensing system which is mounted on the reservoir 3, said system comprising a device for sampling under pressure of the packaged product. In the embodiment shown, the sampling device comprises a dispensing pump manually operated by means of a push button 5 which is fed with the product under pressure for distribution.

The sampling device has a body 6 incorporating distribution means which are in communication with a plunger tube 7 via a valve 8, said plunger tube being disposed in the reservoir 3 to allow feeding of the dispensing means in packaged product. The body 6 is equipped with a vent hole 9 which is arranged to make it possible to compensate by air the volume of product dispensed, in order to prevent a depression from being established inside the rigid reservoir. 3 as the distribution proceeds.

In the embodiment shown, the body 6 has a cylindro-conical geometry comprising a central zone 6a connected to an upper zone 6b via a divergent connection fillet 6c. Furthermore, the body 6 has a tubing 6d in which the plunger tube 7 is fitted, said tubing being connected below the central zone 6a by via a seat 6e in which a ball 8 forming a valve is disposed. Moreover, the vent hole 9 is formed in the upper end of the central zone 6a.

In relation to the figure 2b , the dispensing means comprise a piston 29 which is mounted in sealed translation in the central zone 6a delimiting a metering chamber in communication with the dip tube 7 via the valve 8. The piston 29 is disposed on a nozzle 10 integral with the push button 5 to be actuated in reversible translation with respect to the body 6, on a stroke respectively distribution and suction of the product.

The nozzle 10 has a distribution path comprising at least one upstream orifice 11 and a channel 12 whose downstream end is in communication with the push button 5, the piston 29 being arranged to present a state of closure of the upstream orifice 11 and a communication state of said upstream port with the metering chamber. In particular, the piston 29 may be deformable and / or displaceable under the effect of the compression of the product in the metering chamber.

The push button 5 comprises an upper zone allowing the user to exert a digital support on said push button in order to be able to axially move the nozzle 10, the return of said push button on the suction stroke being conventionally carried out by a spring 30 . On the figures 1 and 2 the nozzle 10 is shown at the end of the dispensing stroke.

The push button 5 is equipped with a spray nozzle 13 which is arranged to radially distribute an aerosol of the product. However, the invention is not limited to a particular mode of product distribution. In particular, especially for a nasal spraying nozzle, the push button 5 may allow axial distribution of the product and another type of sampling device may be envisaged.

The dispensing system further comprises a tube cover 14 surrounding the plunger tube 7 over at least a part of its length. In particular, the tube cover 14 makes it possible to mask the dip tube 7 inside the tank 3, said tube cover then being chosen to present an advantageous aesthetic appearance in said tank, for example by the use of a particular material, in particular metal, and / or by making decorations or visual effects on said tube cover.

In relation to the figure 1 , the dip tube 7 extends substantially to the bottom of the tank 3 and the tube cover 14 surrounds said dip tube over substantially its entire length leaving the lower end of said dip tube through which the product is sucked. Moreover, the tube cover 14 has a cylindrical geometry of revolution with an inside diameter adapted for the disposition of the dip tube 7 inside. Alternatively, the tube cover 14 may have any elongated geometry in which the dip tube 7 may be arranged for at least partial masking or holds it in a precise position.

The tube cover 14 is associated with the body 6 by means of a socket 15 which has an outer surface 15a around which the upper end of the tube cover 14 is disposed and an inner bearing 15b in which said body is mounted. The bushing 15 may be made integrally of ductile material, in particular by molding a plastic material of polyolefin type.

In the embodiment shown, the sleeve 15 has a lower annular groove 16 in which a rod 17 formed inside the tube cover 14 is engaged to ensure the axial retention of said tube cover on said sleeve. Furthermore, the ring 17 delimits the upper end of the tube cover 14 which is arranged around the outer surface 15a, said upper end having an inside diameter which is greater than the inside diameter of the tube cover 14 which extends below said ring.

In relation to figures 3 the bushing 15 has an upper ring 18 which overcomes a sleeve 19, said upper ring being connected to said sleeve by a convergent fillet 20. The outer bearing surface 15a is then formed around the sleeve 19 and the inner bearing surface 15b extends to the inside the ring 18 and said sleeve. In particular, the tube cover 14 and the central zone 6a extend radially on an outer and inner portion respectively of the sleeve 19.

In the embodiment shown, the central zone 6a is disposed in the sleeve 19 and the upper zone 6b is disposed in the upper ring 18 so that the vent hole 9 is disposed radially facing the connection fillet 20. More specifically, the upper zone 6b has an upper flange 6f which bears axially against the upper end of the ring 18 with the pushbutton 5 disposed above the bushing 15. In addition, the geometries of the outermost peripheries respectively of the body 6 and Inside the sleeve 15 are arranged to form an annular clearance 21 between the vent hole 9 and the fillet 20.

Furthermore, the bushing 15 has an outer skirt 22 which surrounds the upper ring 18, said outer skirt comprising means for fixing said bushing on the tank 3. In the embodiment shown, the distribution system is mounted on the tank 3 through the sleeve 15 by arranging the upper end of the neck 4 between the outer skirt 22 and the upper ring 18. In addition, a seal 23 is interposed between the upper surface of the neck 4 and the surface bottom of the connecting surface 24 of the outer skirt 22 to the upper ring 18.

In the embodiment shown, the skirt 22 is provided with a flange 25 for fastening under the neck 4 which is arranged opposite radial connection fillet 20. In known manner, the flange 25 is protruding from the outer skirt 22 to allow positioning of the sleeve 15 on the neck 4 and, as shown in the figures 1 and 2 , folded into the fixing position under said neck by sliding a band 26 around said skirt. Alternatively, the skirt 22 can be positioned by clipping on the neck 4, said clipping being made reliable by a hoop 26.

The inner bearing surface 15b has an orifice 27 which is in communication with the vent hole 9, said orifice opening into the inner bearing surface 15b above the outer bearing surface 15a and thus above the tube cover 14. In particular, orifice 27 is formed in the fillet 20 to be in communication with the vent hole 9 via the annular clearance 21. Alternatively, a plurality of communication orifices 27 may be distributed over the inner span 15b.

Thus, an air return path is formed between the vent hole 9 and the tank 3 via the communication orifice 27, said path not passing through the inside of the tube cover 14 so as to avoid product leakage while making the return air function reliable. In particular, the communication port 27 is disposed in the neck 4, well above the product, so as to avoid any risk of invasion by the product.

In the embodiment shown, and according to the invention, the sleeve 15 has a groove 28 which extends axially on the outer surface 15a, said groove having an upper extension which is formed above said outer surface, the communication port 27 being made in said extension. In addition, the axial groove 28 opens axially in the lower part of the sleeve 15 to be in communication with the space above the product in the tube cover 14. Alternatively, a plurality of grooves 28 may be provided on the sleeve 15, a communication port 27 being formed in an upper extension of each of said grooves.

Thus, even if the groove is at least partially filled with the product by capillary phenomenon, the pressure equalization during the actuation of the push button 5 is achieved through the orifice 27 of communication with an air flow rate. sufficient to prevent product leakage.

Advantageously for the production of the communication orifice 27 during the manufacture by molding of the sleeve 15, the upper ring 18 has an internal diameter D2 and the groove 28 has a bottom which fits into a diameter D1. Thus, when the diameter D1 is less than or equal to the diameter D2, the communication orifice 27 is formed by interference of said diameters in the bottom region of the groove 28 which extends over the fillet 20.

Claims (13)

1. System for dispensing a fluid product, comprising a device for taking off said product under pressure, said device having a body (6) including dispensing means that are in communication with a plunger tube (7), said body being equipped with a vent hole (9) that is arranged so as to compensate with air for the volume of product dispensed, said system further comprising a tube cover (14) surrounding the plunger tube (7) over at least part of its length, said tube cover being associated with the body (6) by means of a socket (15) that has an external surface (15a) around which the top end of the tube cover (14) is placed and an internal surface (15b) in which said body is mounted, the internal surface (15b) having an orifice (27) that is in communication with the vent hole (9), said orifice emerging in the internal surface (15b) above the external surface (15a), said system being characterised in that the socket (15) has a groove (28) that extends axially over the external surface (15a), said groove having a top extension that is formed above said external surface, the communication orifice (27) being produced in said extension.
2. Dispensing system according to claim 1, characterised in that the socket (15) has a top ring (18) that surmounts a sleeve (19), the external surface (15a) being formed around said sleeve and the internal surface (15b) extending inside said ring and said sleeve.
3. Dispensing system according to claim 2, characterised in that the top ring (18) is connected to the sleeve (19) by a fillet (20) in which the communication orifice (27) is formed.
4. Dispensing system according to claim 3, characterised in that the top ring (18) has an inside diameter D2 and the groove (28) has a bottom that fits within a diameter D1, said diameter D1 being less than or equal to the diameter D2 so as to form the communication orifice (27) in the area of the bottom of the groove (28) that extends over the fillet (20).
5. Dispensing system according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the vent hole (9) is disposed radially facing the connecting fillet (20).
6. Dispensing system according to claim 5, characterised in that an annular clearance (21) is formed between the vent hole (9) and the connecting fillet (20).
7. Dispensing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the socket (15) has a bottom annular groove (16) in which a retainer (17) formed inside the tube cover (14) is engaged in order to hold said tube cover on the socket (15).
8. Dispensing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the axial groove (28) emerges axially at the bottom part of the socket (15).
9. Dispensing system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that socket (15) has an external skirt (22) that comprises means (25) for fixing said socket on a reservoir (3) of product to be dispensed.
10. Dispensing system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the dispensing means comprise a piston (29) that is mounted for sealed translation in the body (6) while delimiting an apportioning chamber in communication with the plunger tube (7), said piston being disposed on a nozzle (10) secured to a push button (5) so as to be actuated in reversible translation with respect to said body, said nozzle having a dispensing path comprising at least one upstream orifice (11) and a channel (12) the downstream end of which is in communication with the push button (5), said piston being arranged so as to have a state of closure of the upstream orifice (11) and a state of putting said upstream orifice in communication with the apportioning chamber.
11. Flask for dispensing a fluid product, comprising a reservoir (3) for packaging said product that is formed inside a rigid wall (2), said flask further comprising a dispensing system according to any one of claims 1 to 10 that is mounted on the reservoir (3) with a plunger tube (7) disposed in said reservoir, an air uptake path being formed between the vent hole (9) and said reservoir by means of the communication orifice (27).
12. Dispensing flask according to claim 11, characterised in that the reservoir (3) is surmounted by a neck (4) in which the communication orifice (27) is disposed.
13. Dispensing flask according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that the dispensing system is mounted on the reservoir (3) by means of the socket (15).

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