EP2707305B1 - Fluid product dispenser - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser comprising a reservoir having a neck defining an opening, and a dispensing member, such as a pump or a valve, having a body which is fixedly held in the opening of this reservoir. The preferred fields of application of the present invention are those of perfumery, cosmetics or even pharmacy.

In the prior art, the document is already known US 2010/0213212 which describes a fluid dispenser comprising a plurality of light sources oriented towards the reservoir or to the dispensed fluid product. The light sources are configured to be activated for a predetermined time when the dispenser is actuated. The distribution of fluid product is carried out by means of a piezoelectric generator, thermoelectric or electrostatic. Therefore, the dispenser is entirely electronic, since the dispensing of fluid product is not carried out by means of a pump or a conventional valve actuated manually by means of a pusher for varying the volume of the dispenser. a fluid chamber defined within the body of the pump or valve. Providing light sources associated with an energy generator makes this dispenser a fully electric unit.

In the prior art, the document is also known WO 2005/095003 which discloses a dispensing head incorporating a light source disposed on the underside of the head for illuminating the container and its contents. This document does not indicate how the dispensing head is associated with a pump-type or valve-type dispensing member making it possible to take and dispense fluid product.

The document is also known FR-2 927 068 which describes a dispensing device incorporating irradiation means arranged on the passage of the fluid product so as to irradiate it. More specifically, irradiation means are arranged in a pusher near the dispensing orifice. The purpose of the irradiation is to modify the properties of the distributed fluid product.

These documents of the prior art describe very theoretical concepts whose practical implementation proves extremely complicated.

The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art by defining a fluid dispenser that integrates a source of radiation, irradiation or light in a very practical and extremely simple to implement. The present invention aims to associate a radiation source in a clever and realistic way to a conventional dispensing member pump or valve type.

To do this, the present invention provides a fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir comprising a neck defining an opening, a dispensing member, such as a pump or a valve, comprising a body which is fixedly held in the opening the reservoir by defining an annular space between the neck and the body, characterized in that at least one radiation source is disposed in the annular space. Thus, the radiation source is positioned in a particularly judicious manner, since it can radiate in all directions, ie downwards towards the reservoir, radially outwardly through the neck of the reservoir, radially towards the outside. interior to the body of the dispensing member, or upwards out of the opening of the neck towards the pusher. It can thus be said that the position of the radiation source is central. In addition, it is particularly well protected between the neck and the body of the dispensing member: indeed, the annular space E is normally not accessible to the user, especially when the dispenser member is mounted final way on the neck of the tank, which is often the case. It may further be noted that the annular space E is a place that is not very visible in a dispenser, since it is surrounded by the neck and the fixing means. The positioning of the radiation source does not require any special adaptation for a conventional dispenser, since the annular space E is not normally used.

According to one embodiment, the radiation source is integral with the body of the dispenser member. In a variant, the radiation source is integral with the neck of the reservoir. According to yet another variant, the dispensing member comprises fixing means for holding the body in the opening of the reservoir, the radiation source being secured to the fastening means. When the fastening means comprise a neck joint, it is conceivable to associate the radiation source with the neck joint.

According to a particularly practical aspect of the present invention, the radiation source is mounted in a sleeve engaged in the opening of the neck around the body of the dispensing member. This sleeve may be integral with the neck, the body, the neck seal or fastening means. The sleeve thus serves as a support for the radiation source, as well as for associated components, such as a battery pack or possibly an electronic circuit. The sleeve may for example be engaged in force around the body of the dispenser member or in the neck of the reservoir.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the body of the dispensing member is transparent or translucent to the radiation of the radiation source, the body defining a fluid chamber which is subjected to radiation from the radiation source through the body. Thus, it is possible to irradiate the fluid product contained in the fluid product chamber, for example to modify its properties or stabilize them. Simply, it may be interesting to illuminate the fluid contained in the chamber.

In addition to the body of the dispensing member, other constituent elements of the dispenser may be transparent or translucent to the radiation of the radiation source, such as, for example, the fastening means, the neck of the receptacle, or even the receptacle in its entirety. . These constituent elements may be partially, locally or completely transparent or translucent to the radiation of the radiation source. Thus, the radiation source can irradiate in any desired direction, either towards the container, towards the neck of the container, towards the body of the dispensing member or upwards out of the opening, for for example illuminate a pusher mounted on the dispenser member.

The spirit of the invention lies in the judicious, easy and safe positioning of one or more source (s) of radiation inside the tank, around the body of the dispensing member which forms with the neck a favorable annular space. Even if the radiation source is positioned below the neck around the body of the dispensing member, it is considered within the scope of the invention that it is arranged in the annular space E.

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

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe transversale verticale à travers un distributeur de produit fluide selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue éclatée du distributeur de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue similaire à la figure 1 pour un deuxième mode de réalisation selon l'invention, et
• la figure 4 est une vue similaire à la figure 1 pour un troisième mode de réalisation selon l'invention.

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 an exploded view of the distributor of the figure 1 ,
• the figure 3 is a view similar to the figure 1 for a second embodiment according to the invention, and
• the figure 4 is a view similar to the figure 1 for a third embodiment according to the invention.

In the three embodiments illustrated on the Figures 1 to 4 , the dispenser comprises the following constituent elements, namely, a reservoir 1, a dispensing member 2, fastening means 3, 4, a pusher 5 and a sleeve 6, 6 'and 6 ", respectively. embodiment differ mainly by the sleeve, the other constituent elements may be identical or similar.

The container 1 comprises a neck 11 defining an opening 12 through which the interior of the container communicates with the outside. In addition, the collar forms a protruding peripheral reinforcement 13 and an inner wall generally cylindrical 14 which defines the opening 12. The reinforcement 13 serves for fixing the dispensing member 2, as will be seen below. The container may be transparent or translucent, in part or in whole.

The present invention applies to all dispensing members such as pumps or valves. Therefore, the dispensing member 2 shown in the figures can be either a pump or a valve. The dispensing member 2 comprises a body 21 defining an inlet 22 at which can be connected a dip tube 23 which extends inside the container 1 to the level of its bottom. The body 21 comprises, at its end opposite the inlet 22, a flange 24 which protrudes outwards. The dispensing member also comprises an actuating rod 25 which is movable back and forth inside the body 21 which forms a fluid product chamber 20. This actuating rod 25 drives an element (not visible ), which may be a piston in the case of a pump or a valve in the case of a valve, and whose purpose is to vary the volume of the fluid chamber 20. Between two actuations of the rod 25 the chamber 20 is full of fluid product.

The body 21 of the dispensing member 2 extends inside the neck 11 so as to define between them a substantially cylindrical annular space E which is delimited by the inner wall 14 of the neck and the outer wall of the body 21. This annular space E is delimited in its upper part by the neck seal 35 and is open in its lower part so as to communicate directly with the inside of the tank. Traditionally, this cylindrical annular space E has no particular function and remains empty.

The pusher 5 is mounted on the upper end of the actuating rod 25. In the example shown, the pusher 5 forms a bearing surface 51, a connecting pipe 52 engaged on the rod 25, and an internal conduit 53 which connects a dispensing orifice 54, for example in the form of a nozzle.

The operation of such a dispensing member is very simple and well known: it suffices to press on the bearing surface 51 of the pusher to move the actuating rod 25 in the body 21, which has the effect of distributing a quantity of fluid product, dosed or not, through the actuating rod 25 to the dispensing orifice 54.

The fixing means 3, 4 are here in the form of a fixing ring 3 associated with a locking ring 4. The ring 3 forms a receiving housing 31 for the flange 24 of the body 21 and also forms a skirt. cling 33 engaged around the reinforcement 13 col. The housing is connected to the skirt by an annular plate 32. To achieve a tight fastening on the neck, the fixing means advantageously comprise a neck gasket 35 intended to be compressed between the plate 32 and the neck 11. This is there a non-limiting embodiment, because the fastening means may also be in the form of a crimp ring or snap. The particular form of the fastening means is not critical to the present invention.

All this is quite conventional for a pump or a valve in the field of cosmetics, perfumery or pharmacy.

According to the invention, this annular space E is used to house one or more radiation source (s) 61 capable of emitting radiation in a certain direction. The radiation source 61 can emit in the visible spectrum so as to constitute a light source. It can also emit in non-visible spectra. For example, the radiation of the source is intended to illuminate, illuminate, modify, stabilize, sterilize, decontaminate the components and / or the fluid product. The light source 61 may for example radiate through the body 21 of the dispensing member so as to irradiate or illuminate the contents of the fluid chamber 20. Of course, for this, it is necessary that the body 21 is made of a material that is transparent or translucent to the radiation of the source 61. The radiation emitted by the source may, for example, have an effect on the fluid product stored in the chamber 20: the radiation can modify the properties of the fluid product, or even increase its stability. The radiation emitted by the source 61 may also have a simple illumination effect so as to illuminate the distribution member 2. It can also be imagined that the radiation source 61 radiates through the neck 11 of the container, which must then be made of a transparent material or translucent radiation source. The illumination of the neck 11 may for example be used to illuminate the rest of the container. It is also possible for the fixing ring 3 and / or the locking ring 4 to be made of a material that is transparent or translucent to the radiation of the source 61. The gasket 35 can also be made of a material that is transparent or translucent to the radiation of the source, so that the radiation can pass through the seal 35 and the plate 32 so as to illuminate at least a portion of the pusher 5. In other words, the radiation emitted by the source 61 may have a lighting effect of one or more constitutive element (s) of the dispenser and / or treatment of the fluid dispensed by the dispenser.

According to a practical embodiment, the radiation source may be a light emitting diode 61 to which a battery pack 62 and possibly an electronic control circuit 63 are associated. The power supply of the source may for example be triggered and stopped by the actuation of the pusher 5, or by the removal and repositioning of a cap to cap the pusher 5 and / or the locking ring 4. The radiation source 61, its battery 62 and its electronic circuit 63 may be mounted in the sleeve 6 which advantageously has a cylindrical configuration. Thus, the sleeve 6 can be engaged in the cylindrical annular space E, engaged around the body 21 and / or with the inner wall 14 of the neck 11. The sleeve 6 can also be integrated in the neck joint 35. In the embodiment of the figure 1 , the sleeve 6 is engaged in force around the body 21 to come into contact with the neck seal 35. Its mounting is very easy.

We will now refer to the figure 3 which shows a second embodiment in which the radiation source 61 is mounted in a sleeve 6 'which is integral with the fixing ring 3'. For this, the ring 3 'and the sleeve 6' together form complementary locking means 35, 65. In place of these latching means, it is possible to also consider making the sleeve 6 'integrally with the fixing ring 3'. It may also be noted that the fixing ring 3 'forms a window 36 just above the radiation source 61 so that the radiation can diffuse freely through the window 36 upwards in the direction of the pusher 5, and more particularly in FIG. direction of the dispensing orifice 54. Thus, the fluid dispensed through the orifice 54, advantageously in spray form, can be illuminated by the radiation from the source 61. In place of the window 36, it is also possible to provide that the fixing ring 3 'is made of a material transparent or translucent to the radiation of the source 61. In this embodiment, the sleeve 6' is disposed in the annular space E, without being in engagement with the body 21 or with the inner wall 14 of the neck 11.

On the figure 4 , the sleeve 6 "is engaged with the inner wall 14 of the neck 11 by defining a small gap with the body 21. The radiation source 61 is here directed downwards towards the interior of the container, so as to be able to eliminate its The source 61 can also illuminate the fluid inside the body 21, when the latter is made of a translucent material or transparent to the rays of the source 61.

In the three embodiments, the radiation source 61 (or the radiation sources 61) is housed in the cylindrical annular space E defined between the body 21 of the dispensing member and the inner wall 14 of the neck 11. The positioning the radiation source inside this space E makes it possible to illuminate or irradiate any part or location of the dispenser, without complicating its design, harming its aesthetics or depriving it of any function.

Claims (12)

1. A fluid dispenser comprising:

   • a fluid reservoir (1) including a neck (11) defining an opening (12); and

   • a dispenser member (2), such as a pump or a valve, including a body (21) that is held in stationary manner in the opening (12) of the reservoir (1), defining an annular gap (E) between the neck (11) and the body (21);

   the fluid dispenser being characterized in that at least one source of radiation (61) is disposed in the annular gap (E).
2. A fluid dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the source of radiation (61) is secured to the body (21) of the dispenser member (2).
3. A fluid dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the source of radiation (61) is secured to the neck (11) of the reservoir.
4. A fluid dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser member (2) includes fastener means (3; 3', 4) for holding the body (21) in the opening (12) of the reservoir, the source of radiation (61) being secured to the fastener means (3; 3', 4).
5. A fluid dispenser according to claim 2, 3, or 4, wherein the source of radiation (61) is mounted in a sleeve (6; 6'; 6") that is engaged in the opening (12) of the neck (11), around the body (21) of the dispenser member (2).
6. A fluid dispenser according to the preceding claim, wherein the body (21) of the dispenser member (2) is transparent or translucent to the radiation from the source of radiation (61), the body defining a fluid chamber (20) that is subjected to the radiation from the source of radiation (61), through the body (21).
7. A fluid dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the fastener means (3; 3', 4) are, at least in part, transparent or translucent to the radiation from the source of radiation (61).
8. A fluid dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the source of radiation (61) comprises a light-emitting diode that is associated with a power-supply battery (62) and possibly with an electronic circuit (63).
9. A fluid dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the container is, at least in part, transparent or translucent to the radiation from the source of radiation (61), the source of radiation (61) being oriented in such a manner as to radiate into the container (1).
10. A fluid dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the neck (11) is, at least in part, transparent or translucent to the radiation from the source of radiation (61), the source of radiation (61) being oriented towards the neck (11) of the container.
11. A fluid dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the body (21) is, at least in part, transparent or translucent to the radiation from the source of radiation (61), the source of radiation (61) being oriented towards the body (21) of the dispenser member.
12. A fluid dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the source of radiation (61) is oriented out from the opening (12).

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