EP3131829B1 - Fluid-product dispenser - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir in which the fluid product is stored under pressure and a fluid outlet valve which is operable from a closed position to an open position to define an orifice. distribution in a distribution wall. The outlet valve comprises a movable member which rests sealingly on a seat in the closed position and which is out of contact of this seat in the open position. The outlet valve also includes an actuator for moving the movable member between the closed and open positions. This type of dispenser is widely used in the fields of cosmetics, pharmaceuticals or even perfumery, or even food, to dispense fluid products more or less viscous.

In the prior art, there are already numerous distributors equipped with an actuating member on which is pressed to open an outlet valve allowing a fluid product stored under pressure to escape into a tank. In particular, there are aerosols that contain a propellant gas. They are usually equipped with a dispensing valve equipped with a valve stem on which is pressed axially or laterally. Distributors are also known whose reservoir is equipped with a pusher piston urged for example by a spring. This type of dispenser is also equipped with an outlet valve or a dispensing valve. In a very general manner, most of the valves or outlet valves are equipped with a return spring, and the actuation of the actuating member requires to overcome the stiffness of this return spring. A fluid dispenser corresponding to the preamble of claim 1 is illustrated in the document US6352166B1 . The present invention wanted to radically break with traditional techniques to provide an outlet valve whose force required to move the actuating member is lower while ensuring a perfect seal. The present invention also wanted to break with the usual gestures of axially pressing or tilting a valve stem laterally. The present invention also seeks to depart from any unit dosage to provide a distribution as the actuator is actuated. Finally, the present invention seeks to significantly improve the distribution of creams packaged in pots.

To do this, according to claim 1, the present invention proposes that the movable member and the actuating member are both arranged on a pivoting lever. Thus, the length of lever which separates the movable member from the actuating member serves to increase the force so that it is not necessary to strongly press the actuating member to open the orifice. Release. With this design, it is no longer necessary to overcome the stiffness of any return spring.

Advantageously, the pivoting lever comprises an axis located at a fixed end of the lever, the lever also comprising a movable end opposite the fixed end, the movable member being located closer to the fixed end than to the movable end, and the actuator being located closer to the moving end than the fixed end. Of course, the more the movable member is close to the fixed end and the more the actuating member is close to the movable end, the more the multiplier effect is high.

According to another advantageous characteristic, the distribution wall is substantially flat, the actuating member being operable from the distribution wall. This is a design that is more particularly suitable for a jar closed by a cover which forms the flat distribution wall. In this case, it is advantageous that the lever extends substantially parallel to the distribution wall.

According to the invention according to claim 1 the actuating member comprises two opposite faces, namely an inner face subjected to the fluid under pressure and an outer face free of any pressure exerted by the fluid, so that the pressure exerted by the fluid on the inner face of the actuating member is transmitted by the lever to the movable member, which is thus pushed against the seat sealingly. Thus, the actuating member participates in the rapid return of the organ mobile in his seat. Therefore, there is no need to provide a return spring: the only fluid pressure stored in the reservoir sufficient to return the outlet valve in the closed position.

According to a practical embodiment, the dispenser comprises a pusher on which the user can press to dispense fluid through the dispensing orifice, the outer face of the actuating member being coupled to the pusher in an intimate manner, so that the fluid under pressure can not be introduced between them. This ensures that the external face is not subjected to the pressure exerted by the fluid product. Advantageously, the pusher is formed from an elastically deformable material, the outer face of the actuating member being sealed, advantageously glued, to the pusher. Alternatively, it is possible to realize the pusher with a characteristic of elastic deformation without the outer face of the actuator member is intimately related. In this case, the elastic return force for returning the outlet valve in the closed position is mainly provided by the elastic characteristic of the pusher.

According to an embodiment particularly adapted to the pot, the pusher and the dispensing orifice are formed by the distribution wall. Thus, the lid distribution wall comprises two elements clearly visible and distant from each other, namely on the one hand the pusher and on the other hand the dispensing orifice which can be arranged diametrically opposite .

In a practical aspect, the distribution wall may comprise guide elements for the lever during its pivoting. These guide elements can also limit the degree of pivoting of the lever.

As already mentioned, the dispenser of the invention adapts particularly when it forms a pot and a lid mounted on the pot, the lid forming the dispensing wall with its dispensing orifice and its pusher.

In another technical aspect, the reservoir comprises a pusher piston which slides in a sealed manner in a sliding shaft, the pusher piston being biased by elastic means selected from springs, foams, gases. More generally, all the technical provisions for putting the contents of a tank under pressure can be implemented within the scope of the present invention.

The spirit of the invention lies in the fact that the element which closes the dispensing orifice and the element which makes it possible to disengage the dispensing orifice are arranged on the same pivoting lever with a certain distance between them to create a multiplier effect to lower the force required to operate the dispenser. This results in a smooth operation that is in total contrast with the degree of sealing at the dispensing orifice in the closed position. When the distribution wall is flat, it is advantageous that the lever extends parallel just below this wall.

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

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un distributeur de produit fluide selon l'invention, sensiblement à l'échelle 1,
• La figure 2 est une vue en coupe transversale verticale agrandie à travers le distributeur de la figure 1,
• La figure 3 est une vue en plan de l'intérieur du distributeur de la figure 1, et
• Les figures 4 et 5 sont des vues en perspective explosées d'une partie du distributeur des figures 1 à 3.

In the figures:

• The figure 1 is a perspective view of a fluid dispenser according to the invention, substantially at scale 1,
• The figure 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view through the dispenser of the figure 1 ,
• The figure 3 is a plan view of the interior of the distributor of the figure 1 , and
• The Figures 4 and 5 are exploded perspective views of a portion of the distributor's Figures 1 to 3 .

The dispenser shown in the figures to illustrate the present invention is of a particular type, since it is a pot, which is characterized by its massive and squat shape. It can also be said that the pot is characterized by a substantially flat upper face and whose diameter corresponds substantially to that of the tank.

In the embodiment shown, the fluid reservoir R is associated with a lid 5 which is mounted on a neck 41 in a fixed manner and The reservoir R here has a somewhat unusual configuration, since it comprises an inner container 1 disposed inside an external pot 4. The inner container 1 comprises internally a sliding shaft 11 and a bottom 12. The container 1 also contains a pusher piston 2, for example provided with two sealing lips 21. This pusher piston 2 is biased by elastic means which are here in the form of a spring 3, which may be a coil spring, and which bears on the one hand on the bottom 12 and on the other hand under the pusher piston 2. It is easily understood that the force of the spring 3 will push the pusher piston 2 so as to exert pressure on the fluid product present above the follower piston 2. The inner container 1 may for example form a flange on which rests the neck seal 8 and under which is formed the neck 41 which comes in p rise with the lid 5 to close the tank R.

Without departing from the scope of the invention, it is of course possible to implement another type of tank which does not include, for example, an external pot 4. However, this external pot makes it easy to give the tank a conventional pot shape, independently the capacity and shape of the inner container 1.

The lid 5 comprises an annular fixing ring 50 which engages with the neck 41 to crush the neck seal 8. Thus, a stable and leakproof attachment is made between the lid 5 and the tank R. The lid 5 also comprises a distribution wall 51, which is advantageously substantially flat. This also helps to give the distributor a pot configuration. The distribution wall 51 serves as a fluid product recovery surface at which the user will recover the dispensed fluid product.

This distribution wall 51 is first pierced by a dispensing orifice 53 whose edge forms a valve seat 52. Advantageously, it is possible to make this valve seat 52 with a material different from the rest of the lid 51, in particular with a more flexible material, for example by an overmolding or bi-injection process. This confers higher sealing qualities for the valve seat 52. Advantageously, the valve seat 52 has a frustoconical shape whose apex constitutes the dispensing orifice 53.

The distribution wall 51 is also provided with a pusher 55, on which the user can press vertically to move it over a certain stroke. Advantageously, this pusher is made from a flexible material, which may be identical to that of the valve seat 52. The pusher 55 may form an annular skirt 57 and an anchoring ring 56 which extends under the distribution wall 51, as can be seen on the figure 2 . When pressing the pusher 55, it is essentially the skirt 57 that will undergo the deformation stresses. The pusher 55, like the valve seat 52, can be made with a bi-injection technique or overmolding. It is essential that a seal be made between the pusher 55 and the remainder of the distribution wall 51, in order to avoid leakage of fluid product.

The distribution wall 51 is further provided on its inner face, more visible on the figure 4 , a bearing axis 54, which also bears on the fixing ring 50. On the other hand, the inner face of the distribution wall 51 may also be provided with guide elements 58, which may present in the form of two parallel tabs separated by a certain distance. Advantageously, each tongue is provided with a protruding bar 59 on the internal face, so that the bars 59 face each other, and locally reduce the distance between the two tongues 58. It may be noted that the shaft bearings 54, the dispensing orifice 53, the pusher 55 and the two possible tongues 58 are aligned with a diameter of the distribution wall 51. On the external face of the distribution wall 51, as visible on the figure 1 it is seen that the valve seat 52 and the pusher 55 are arranged substantially diametrically opposite.

According to the invention, the dispenser also comprises an outlet valve 6 which comprises a lever 61, a movable outlet valve member 62, a pivot axis 64 and an actuating member 65. pivoting 64 is formed at a lever end 61 which is fixed, since the pivot axis 64 is intended to be engaged in the bearing 54 of the lid 5. The actuating member 65 is formed at the other end opposite which forms a movable end. As for the movable outlet valve member 62, it is formed on the lever 61, close to the pivot axis 64. More generally, it can be said that the movable member 62 is closer to the axis 64 than the other opposite end where the actuating member 65 is formed.

Referring again to the figure 2 , we see the outlet valve 6 in place under the distribution wall 51. It can be immediately noted that the lever 61 extends substantially parallel to the bottom of the distribution wall 51. The pivot axis 64 is engaged in the bearing 54, the movable member 62 is engaged in the dispensing orifice 53 and comes into sealing contact with the valve seat 52, the lever 61 is engaged between the two tongues 58 and can not disengage from it. that the presence of the two bars 59 and the actuating member 65 is engaged with the pusher 55. On the figure 2 , the outlet valve 6 is in the closed position of rest. From this position, the user can press the pusher 55 axially downward so as to deform and move the actuating member 65 to the inside of the tank. Because of the rigidity of the lever 61, the movable member 62 also moves, but a smaller distance, due to the leverage effect or reduction. All the same, the movable member 62 is detached from the seat 52 so that the dispensing orifice is open. The fluid product stored under pressure in the tank can then exit through the dispensing orifice 53 and extend on the distribution wall 51 as the actuating member 65 is pushed through the pusher 55. The distribution is terminates when the user releases its pressure on the pusher 55 returning to its closed rest position. The elastic return of the pusher 55, due to its shape memory, can alone allow to bring the actuating member 65 to its rest position. For this, it is necessary that the actuating member 65 is connected to the pusher 55 so that it moves in solidarity. The connection between the actuating member 65 and the pusher 55 can be achieved by any technical means, such as by gluing, welding, snapping, etc.

According to the invention, the actuating member 65 comprises two opposite faces, namely an inner face 66 facing the reservoir and subjected to the pressure exerted by the fluid and an outer face 67 facing the pusher 55. characteristic of the invention, the outer face 67 is intimately connected with the pusher 55, so that the pressure exerted by the fluid product is not exerted on the outer face 67. In other words, the intimate contact must prevent any introduction of fluid between the actuating member 65 and the pusher 55. Thus, the pressure exerted by the fluid product is exerted only on the inner face 66 so that it tends to return the valve exit in its closed rest position. It is therefore no longer necessary to use the elastic restoring force linked to the shape memory of the constituent material of the pusher 55. The thrust exerted by the fluid product on the actuating member 65 is all the more important as the surface of the inner face 66 is large. This is why the actuating member 65 can for example be made in the form of a disc having a significant diameter, for example of the order of 1 cm. The disk is connected to the lever 61 at a reinforcing spider 68, as can be seen on the figure 4 .

It should be noted that the outlet valve 6 can be easily made by injection molding of substantially rigid plastic material, such as for example polyethylene or polypropylene. The mounting of the valve 6 in the cover 5 is relatively easy, since it is sufficient to introduce the axis 64 in the bearing 54 and then to bring the lever 61 between the tongues 58. The intimate contact between the outer face 67 of the the actuating member 65 and the pusher 55 may for example be made very simply by gluing. However, it is not excluded that this intimate connection can be achieved by welding, latching or forcibly fitting.

With the output valve of the invention, it is very easy to space the dispensing orifice 53 of the pusher 55 simply by playing on the length of the lever 61. And the distance between the orifice of the pusher is large , and lower will be the force required to push the pusher 55.

An advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that the pressure of the fluid does not affect the sealing of the dispensing orifice: on the contrary, it contributes to it, and in a multiplied manner, because the pressure of the fluid product is exerted on the actuating member.

Thanks to the present invention, there is a distributor, preferably in the form of a container closed by a lid, comprising an outlet valve which is practically imperceptible or incomprehensible to the user, in particular because the pusher 55 is located remote from the dispensing orifice 53.

Claims (10)

1. A fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir (R) in which the fluid is stored under pressure, and a fluid outlet valve (6) that is actuatable from a closed position to an open position so as to define a dispenser orifice (53) in a dispenser wall (51), the dispenser orifice (53) defining an edge that forms a valve seat (52), the dispenser wall (51) serving as a fluid recovery surface at the outlet of the dispenser orifice (53), the outlet valve (6) including a movable member (62) that bears in sealed manner against the seat (52) in the closed position and that is not in contact with the seat (52) in the open position, the outlet valve (6) including an actuator member (65) for moving the movable member (62) between the closed and open positions, the movable member (62) and the actuator member (65) being both be arranged on a pivot lever (61),
   characterized in that the actuator member (65) includes two opposite faces (66, 67), namely an inside face (66) that is subjected to the pressure exerted by the fluid under pressure, and an outside face (67) that is free of any pressure exerted by the fluid, such that the pressure exerted by the fluid on the inside face (66) of the actuator member (65) is transmitted via the lever (61) to the movable member (62) that is thus pushed against the seat (52) in sealed manner.
2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the pivot lever (61) includes a pin (64) that is situated at a stationary end of the lever, the lever (61) also including a movable end that is remote from the stationary end, the movable member (62) being situated closer to the stationary end than to the movable end, and the actuator member (65) being situated closer to the movable end than to the stationary end.
3. A dispenser according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the dispenser wall (51) is substantially plane, the actuator member (65) being actuatable from the dispenser wall (51).
4. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the lever (61) extends parallel to and under the dispenser wall (51).
5. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, including a pusher (55) on which the user may press so as to dispense the fluid through the dispenser orifice (53), the outside face (67) of the actuator member (65) being intimately coupled to the pusher (55), so that the fluid under pressure cannot pass between them.
6. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the pusher (55) is made out of an elastically-deformable material, the outside face (67) of the actuator member (65) being sealed, advantageously adhesively-bonded, to the pusher (55).
7. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the pusher (55) and the dispenser orifice (53) are formed by the dispenser wall (51).
8. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the dispenser wall (51) includes guide elements (58, 59) for guiding the lever (61) while it is pivoting.
9. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, comprising a pot (4) and a lid (5) that is mounted on the pot (4), the lid (5) forming the dispenser wall (51).
10. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the reservoir (R) includes a pusher piston (2) that slides in leaktight manner in a slide cylinder (11), the pusher piston (2) being biased by resilient means (3) selected from springs, foams, and gases.

Images