EP4032617A1

EP4032617A1 - Fluid dispenser

Info

Publication number: EP4032617A1
Application number: EP21382046.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roger OLLER MAS; Rubén Caño Bailador; Josef George GLEIXNER
Original assignee: Quadpack Industries SA
Current assignee: Quadpack Industries SA
Priority date: 2021-01-20
Filing date: 2021-01-20
Publication date: 2022-07-27

Abstract

Comprising a first, outer container (1) having a mouth (8), inside which there is a second, inner container (2), formed by a shrink bag, the size of said mouth being sufficient for letting the second container (2) through, having ribs (15, 16) that separate the first container (1) from the second container (2), a dispensing pump (3) having at least one push-button (6), receiving the fluid from said second container (2), characterized in that:
- at the top of the second container there is a disc (7) arranged over the mouth (8) of the first container (1), having a first orifice (9) for letting the dispensing pump (3) pass through, and
- it comprises a retaining element (10) arranged on the disc (7), with a second orifice (11) for the passage of the dispensing pump (3), having first attachment means (4) that attach the retaining element (10) to the first container (1), having guiding elements (12) for the push-button (6), and second attachment means (13) that attach the retaining element (10) to the first attachment means (4) from within the latter.

Description

Fluid dispenser of the type comprising a first, outer container having a mouth, inside which there is a second, inner container, formed by a shrink bag, the size of said mouth being sufficient for passing the second container through, having ribs that separate the first container from the second container, a dispensing pump having at least one push-button, receiving the fluid from said second container; and also characterized in that at the top of the second container there is a disk arranged over the mouth of the first container, having a first orifice that lets the dispensing pump pass through, and comprising a retaining element arranged on the disc, with a second orifice for the passage of the dispensing pump, having first attachment means that attach the retaining element to the first container, having guiding elements for the push-button, and second attachment means that attach the retaining element to the first attachment means from within the latter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known in the art different substance containers activated by means of a pump.
Thus, state of the art is European Patent No. 2243557 ( ES2538798 )"DEVICE FOR CONTAINING FLUID SUBSTANCES IN AIR-TIGHT CONDITIONS, AND FOR DISPENSING THEM", of the year 2010, in the name LUMSON SPA, which refers to a device for containing fluid substances in air-tight conditions and for dispensing such fluid substances, comprising a rigid container having a neck, which defines an opening that provides access to the cavity of the container and which is provided with an outer thread, and a bag made of thermoplastic material housed in the container and which, in turn, has a neck from which there radially extends a flange, which defines a orifice for providing access to the cavity of the bag and for housing the body of a manually-actuated pump in order to extract the fluid from the bag and bring it out through the dispensing rod of the pump, the pump body being pressed in order to form a seal over said bag flange by means of a second annular cap; the device comprises also a first annular cap threaded on the neck of the container and attached to the bag, the second annular cap being blocked on the first annular cap; coupling means being provided between said first and said second annular caps so that said first and said second annular caps be torsionally rigid with respect to each other, such that a rotation imposed on the second annular cap of the pump is in corresponding rotation of the first annular cap, thus facilitating the extraction of the empty bag from the container resulting from the withdrawal of the pump from the container; last, at least there is provided one air inlet from outside the container to an intermediate space that is formed between the inner surface of the container and the outer surface of the bag housed therein, characterized in that said second annular cap is attached to the bag by means of the flange that remains between said second annular cap and said first annular cap.
Known in the art is also European Patent No. 1433534 "Fluid-storing container", of the year 2003, in the name Masuda MASATOSHI, which refers to a container for storing fluids wherein a fluid-storing portion includes an external container, an internal container and a coupling material which forms an internal space shielded from the outside between the internal container and the external container. When the volume of the internal container decreases, the internal space is depressurized and receives force in a direction toward the internal space from outside. Consequently, air flows into the internal space from the outside by the action of a runoff prevention mechanism of the coupling material.
A document to be considered is European Patent No. EP3416748 "DISPENSING MEMBER AND DISPENSER COMPRISING SUCH A MEMBER", of the year 2017, in the name APTAR France SAS, which refers to dispensing member, such as a pump or valve, comprising a body defining an inlet tube and in which a valve stem is axially movable back and forth, the body being provided with a venting lip which extends around the body, pointing outwards and downwards in the direction of the inlet tube, thus defining an exterior edge which is not in contact with the body, the venting lip being formed by a sleeve engaged axially around the body, and causing there to be sealing between these , the sleeve forming a sealing sheath engaged fluid-tightly around the inlet tube of the body, characterized in that the venting lip is situated axially above the sealing sheath.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention belongs to the sector of dispensers that contain one or more fluids inside, and an extractor pump for said fluids.
The closest document is European Patent No. 1433534 .
Said patent solves the problem of the difficulty of using the commercially available containers as external containers without modifications, since the existence of a orifice for the air is needed.
On the other hand, the patent has the drawback that a blowing operation of the container must be performed before filling it with fluid. In addition, the internal container cannot be changed when it is partly full, as it cannot come out through the neck of the external container.
The present invention solves the problem by means of a system for attaching the various parts that allows disassembling the whole dispensing container. Thus, the internal container can be changed even if there remains fluid inside it and may be replaced by a different one. Last, the ability to disassemble almost all the elements increases the recycling capacity thereof.
An object of the present invention is a fluid dispenser of the type comprising a first, outer container having a mouth, inside which there is a second, inner container, formed by a shrink bag, the size of said mouth being sufficient for passing the second container through, having ribs that separate the first container from the second container, a dispensing pump having at least one push-button, which pump takes in the fluid from said second container; and also characterized in that at the top of the second container there is a disk arranged over the mouth of the first container, having a orifice that lets the dispensing pump pass through, and comprising a retaining element arranged on the disc, with a second orifice for the passage of the dispensing pump, having first attachment means that attach the retaining element to the first container, having guiding elements for the push-button, and second attachment means that attach the retaining element to the first attachment means from within the latter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To facilitate the explanation of this specification, four sheets of drawings are included that represent a practical embodiment, which is provided by way of non-limiting example of the scope of the present invention:

Figure 1 is a general view of the object of the present invention,
Figure 2 is a section through lines II-II of Figure 1,
Figure 3 is an exploded view of Figure 1, and
Figure 4 is a detailed section of Figure 2 highlighting the retaining element and the dispensing pump.

SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Thus, Figure 1 shows a first container 1, first attachment means 4 and a cap 5.
Figure 2 shows the first container 1 with a mouth 8, a second container 2 with a bottom 18, a first orifice 9 and its disc 7 having vertical ribs 15, and horizontal ribs 16, a dispensing pump 3, the first attachment means 4, a retaining element 10, the cap 5, a push-button 6 and a joint 14.
Figure 3 shows the first container 1 with its mouth 8, the second container 2 with its bottom 18 and its disc 7, the dispensing pump 3, the first attachment means 4, the retaining element 10, the cap 5, the push-button 6 and the joint 14.
Last, Figure 4 shows the dispensing pump 3, the retaining element 10 having a second orifice 11, guide elements 12, second attachment means 13 and flaps 17.
Thus, the fluid dispenser of the present invention is formed by a first, outer container 1 having an inlet mouth 8, which container may be made of glass, aluminium, plastic, ceramics, porcelain, wood, compostable and biodegrading materials, etc.
Inside the first container 1 there is provided a second, inner container 2, formed by a shrink bag for the fluid, having ribs 15, 16, which separate the first container 1 from the second container 2, permitting the air to enter and exit from inside the first container 1.
The ribs 15, 16, besides separating the first container 1 from the second container 2 also serve for guiding and retaining means between said containers.
The mouth 8 has a size sufficient for the second container 2 to go through and into the first container 1. The term "sufficient" as used here means that the size of the mouth 8 is larger than the size of the second container 2, so that the second container 2 may pass through such mouth 8 and fit inside the first container 1.
It is also comprised a dispensing pump 3 having at least one push-button 6 that takes in the fluid of said second container 2 and drives it out. At least one push-button 6 is described, although there may be more than one push-button 6, which would allow combining the fluids at the exit of said push-buttons 6. In other words, when pushing, for instance, 2 or 3 buttons simultaneously, the fluid coming out from two or three simultaneously could be mixed to form a specific product, substance, or scent.
Optionally, there is an upper cap 5 on top.
The second container 2 has an upper disc 7 on top, arranged over the mouth 8 of the first container 1, having a first orifice 9 to let the dispensing pump 3 through.
A retaining element 10 is comprised, arranged on the disc 7 and having a second orifice 11 for letting the dispensing pump 3 go through.
Said retaining element 10 also comprises guiding elements 12 of the dispensing pump 3 which provide the right position to the dispensing pump 3.
Likewise, said retaining element 10 comprises second attachment means 13, which attach the retaining element 10 to the first attachment means 4 from inside of the latter.
In this embodiment and, optionally, said first attachment means 4 also attach the cap 5 to the first container.
That is to say, the configuration of the retaining means 10 allows simultaneously pressing the disc 7, guiding the push button 6, attaching the first attachment means 4 and supporting and guiding the dispensing pump 3, which facilitates an easy assembly and disassembly of the dispenser, so as to allow exchanging the second container 2 or to recycle or mount the dispenser itself.
Optionally, the retaining means 10 is attached to the disc 7, for example, because both have been bi-injected and they form one body.
Optionally, in order to improve the airtightness of the dispenser, a joint 14 is provided between the disc 7 and the retaining element 10.
The dispenser may be configured such that the vertical ribs 15 and the horizontal ribs 16 are separated. This is done so because if certain materials are used for the vertical ribs 15 and the horizontal ribs 16 and they could coincide, the effect known as rechucked could occur, producing a series of imperfections in the disc 7 surface, on which both the joint 14 and the retaining element 10 are provided, which could lead to leaks, thus impairing the perfect airtightness of the dispenser.
To improve the union between the second attachment means 13 and the first attachment means 4 it has been provided that the second attachment means 13 are provided with flaps 17 that rise opposite to the first attachment means 4, thus facilitating the threading or the clipping, or any other type of attachment, of the first attachment means 4 on the second attachment means 13 provided in such flaps 17.
Optionally, the second container 2 which is a shrink bag, is bi-injected into the disc 7, which assures the airtightness, and it is also unevenly laminated, with its bottom region 18 being the weakest region. Being the bottom region 18 the weakest one, when the contents of the second container 2 are running out, the bag shrinks, starting from its bottom 18, thus allowing that in the end almost all the fluid in the second container 2 can be extracted.
In a practical embodiment, for example, users already having a first container could purchase the second container 2 with a cosmetic fluid.
Next, the second container 2 could be inserted into the first container 1, arranging the disc 7 over the mouth 8 of the first container.
Further, the joint 14 could be placed in order to improve the airtightness on the disc 7, being arranged, in the end, between the retaining element 10 and the disc 7.
The vertical ribs 15 would separate the second container 2 from the first container 1, positioning the first within the second, and, at the same time, facilitating the entrance/exit of the air from inside the first container 1.
The horizontal ribs 16 separate the disc 7 from the mouth 8 of the first container 1, so the air can enter/exit too.
Next, the dispensing pump 3 would be held and introduced from the lower section of the retaining element 10, passing it through the second orifice 11, mounting the push-button 6 on the upper end of the dispensing pump 3, such that said dispensing pump 3 be guided by the guiding elements 12 and the dispensing pump 3 would be retained thereby.
Further, the lower end of the dispensing pump 3 is passed through the first orifice 9, which belongs to the second container 2.
Therefore, the first attachment means 4 are threaded to the thread of the first container 1 and simultaneously threaded to the flaps 17 of the retaining element, and in this way the retaining element 10 pushes downwards against the mouth 8 of the first container 1, thus sealing and preventing leaks from the second container 2 and, on the other hand, the dispensing pump 3 is immobilized for an optimal operation. Threads are used here, although other sealing means could also be used, such as clipping, etc.
Lastly, the cap 5 would be positioned on the push-button 6, closing the dispenser.
When using the dispenser, the button 6 with the orifice must be pushed, which would cause the fluid to rise, generating a vacuum in the second container 2 whose bottom 18 would start to shrink, thanks also to the vertical ribs 15 and the horizontal ribs 16 that allow the passing of air that would occupy the free space in the second container 2.
When users wish to change the second container 2, for example, to change the fluid, they should unthread the first attachment means 4, which will separate the retaining element 10 and the dispensing pump 3 will separate from the second container 2, extracting the second container 2 from inside the first container 1.
Conversely, if the first attachment means 4 is bi-injected to the disc 7 and it is wished to change the second container 2, the first attachment means 4 must be unthreaded and it will pull with it the retaining element 10 and the dispensing pump 3, with its push-button 6.
For replacing the old one by a new second container 2, the previous procedure must be followed.
Likewise, this special configuration of the dispenser would allow to separate the recycling material and using it in different containers or even reusing part thereof.
In addition, due to its special configuration, the dispenser could be used for different products from different industries, some non-limiting examples of which are such sectors as: cosmetics (for dispensing cosmetic fluids), home (for dispensing scents), vehicles (for dispensing perfumes and cleaning products), cleaning (for cleaning gels), medical (for dispensing disinfectant gels), etc.
This invention describes a novel fluid dispenser. The examples mentioned herein do not limit this invention, and therefore different applications and/or variations are possible, all included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

Fluid dispenser of the type comprising a first, outer container (1) having a mouth (8), inside which there is a second, inner container (2), formed by a shrink bag, the size of said mouth being sufficient for letting the second container (2) through, having ribs (15, 16) that separate the first container (1) from the second container (2), a dispensing pump (3) having at least one push-button (6) receiving the fluid from said second container (2), characterized in that
- at the top of the second container there is a disc (7) arranged over the mouth (8) of the first container (1), having a first orifice (9) letting the dispensing pump (3) pass through, and

- it comprises a retaining element (10) arranged on the disc (7), with a second orifice (11) for the passage of the dispensing pump (3), having first attachment means (4) that attach the retaining element (10) to the first container (1), having guiding elements (12) for the push-button (6), and second attachment means (13) that attach the retaining element (10) to the first attachment means (4) from within the latter.
Dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining element (10) is attached to the disc (7).
Dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that a joint (14) provided between the disc (7) and the retaining element (10).
Dispenser according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the ribs (15, 16) are vertically (15) and horizontally (16) arranged.
Dispenser according to claim 4, characterized in that the vertical ribs (15) are separated from the horizontal ribs (16).
Dispenser according to claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that the second attachment means (13) of the retaining element (10) are arranged in rising flaps (17) opposite to the first attachment means (4).
Dispenser according to claim 6, characterized in that the retaining element (10) comprises guiding elements (12) of the dispensing pump (3), said guiding elements (12) being arranged next to the second orifice (11).
Dispenser according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the second container (2), comprises a shrink bag, bi-injected to the disc (7) that is unevenly laminated, wherein the bottom region (18) thereof being the weakest region.