FR3070280A1 - DEVICE FOR PACKAGING AND DISPENSING A PRODUCT, IN PARTICULAR A PHARMACEUTICAL OR COSMETIC PRODUCT - Google Patents

Abstract

The device for packaging and dispensing a product, in particular a pharmaceutical or cosmetic product, comprises: - a storage container 12 comprising a piston 20 movable inside said container and sealingly delimiting a volume compartment 22 variable containing said product, - a dispensing head 14 mounted on the storage container 12 and provided with at least one inlet 40 of the product, at least one outlet 38 of said product and at least one supply channel 42 in direct communication with said inlet and outlet ports, and - a resiliently deformable mechanical member 28 mounted inside the storage container 12 on the opposite side to the variable volume compartment 22 with respect to the piston 20 , and exerting a permanent thrust force on said piston in the direction of the dispensing head 14.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for packaging and dispensing a product.

The device is particularly suitable for the distribution of cosmetic, pharmaceutical or dermato-pharmaceutical products. Such products can for example be distributed in the form of a milk, a cream, a gel, a foam, a paste, etc.

Products of the type of those mentioned above are commonly stored in a container made in particular of thermoplastic material or glass. The storage container is equipped with a dispensing head movable relative to the container so as to allow the delivery of the product.

In the pharmaceutical or cosmetic field, it is widely used storage containers of the type using a variable volume compartment and equipped with a dispensing valve supporting the dispensing head of the product.

According to a particular design, the variable volume compartment can be formed by a pocket with flexible walls containing the product to be dispensed and arranged inside the storage container. The product to be dispensed is pressurized by a gas introduced between the rigid container and the pocket with flexible walls.

In another design, the variable volume compartment can be delimited inside the storage container by a piston. A pressurized gas is also placed in another compartment of the container located under the piston, this gas expanding with each actuation of the valve to raise the piston and cause a distribution of the product.

Such devices are advantageous insofar as the product to be dispensed is packaged and stored while being isolated from the air.

However, the problems associated with the production of these devices are of several orders. First of all, it is necessary to equip the bottom of the container with a filling means to allow during the assembly of the device the introduction of gas under pressure. In addition, the valve used to obtain product distribution increases the cost price of the device.

There are also storage containers using a variable volume compartment and equipped with a metering pump without air intake, generally called an “airless pump”, which allows the product contained in the compartment to be aspirated, the bottom of the container comprising an air intake opening.

Again, this type of distribution member on which the distribution head is mounted increases the cost price of the device. In addition, such a distribution pump only makes it possible to deliver a dose of product in response to an actuation of the head, but does not allow continuous distribution of said product.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks.

More particularly, the present invention aims to provide a device for packaging and distributing a product having a simplified design, economical and easy to assemble.

The present invention also aims to provide a device for continuous distribution of the packaged product.

The subject of the invention is a device for packaging and distributing a product, in particular a pharmaceutical or cosmetic product, comprising a storage container comprising a piston movable inside said container and sealingly delimiting a compartment for variable volume containing said product, and a dispensing head mounted on the storage container and provided with at least one product inlet orifice, at least one product outlet orifice and at least one delivery channel brought into direct communication with said inlet and outlet ports.

According to a first general characteristic, the device further comprises an elastically deformable mechanical member mounted inside the storage container on the side opposite to the variable volume compartment relative to the piston, and exerting a permanent thrust force on said piston in the direction of the distribution head.

According to a second general characteristic, the dispensing head is movable relative to the storage container between a rest position in which said inlet orifice is obstructed and at least one dispensing position in which said inlet orifice opens out at least in part inside the variable volume compartment.

With such a device, in said dispensing position of the head, under the effect of the force exerted by the elastically deformable mechanical member, the piston moves in the direction of the dispensing head. This has the effect of pushing the product contained in the variable volume compartment of the container inside said inlet orifice of the dispensing head, and of causing a flow of product in said supply channel up to said orifice. exit to obtain a distribution of the product. The distribution of the product through the outlet orifices is continuous.

With the device of the invention, mechanical assistance is provided for moving the piston. Thus, no pressurized gas is used inside or outside the storage container to perform this function.

Furthermore, the device does not have a distribution valve or metering pump provided with an actuating rod and a piston for obtaining the distribution of the product in response to an actuation of the dispensing head. The design of the device is simplified compared to conventional devices.

In other words, in the device of the invention, no dispensing member is interposed between the storage container and the dispensing head.

By “inlet channel in direct communication with said inlet and outlet ports”, it is meant that the inlet and outlet ports and the head inlet channel remain in permanent fluid communication in the rest positions and distributing said head. In the dispensing position, the outlet port (s) are in direct communication with the variable-volume compartment of the storage container, no dispensing member being disposed between the outlet port and the compartment to force the passage of the product. through the opening (s).

The mechanical member may for example be in the form of a helical spring, or may also include one or more stacked elastic spring washers, for example of the Belleville type.

Preferably, said inlet opening of the dispensing head is obstructed by the storage container in the rest position. This design makes it possible to limit the number of parts of the device.

Alternatively, it is however possible to provide a specific piece attached and fixed to the storage container to perform the sealing function of the inlet orifice (s) in the rest position of the dispensing head.

In an advantageous embodiment, the storage container further comprises an attached bottom wall, the piston delimiting with said bottom wall an additional compartment with variable volume inside which is housed the mechanical member. Said additional compartment is at atmospheric pressure.

In a particular embodiment, the dispensing head comprises a flange axially in leaktight support against the storage container in the rest position of said head, said flange being located upstream of said inlet orifice considering the direction of circulation of the product during a distribution of said product.

With such an arrangement, in the rest position of the dispensing head, the risk of the product contained in the compartment of the storage container being limited towards the inlet opening (s) is limited, even with an orientation of the head towards the bottom, ie below the storage container.

Preferably, the dispensing head is slidably mounted relative to the storage container. This facilitates the design and usability of the device.

Preferably, the device further comprises an elastic return member from the dispensing head to its rest position which is separate from the mechanical member.

An automatic return of the dispensing head is thus obtained in its rest position once a stress exerted by the user on it is stopped. The distribution of the product through said outlet orifice of the dispensing head is thus stopped as soon as the user's request ceases.

The elastic return member can be placed between the storage container and the dispensing head. The biasing member may for example be in the form of a helical spring, or may also comprise one or more stacked elastic spring washers, for example of the Belleville type.

Preferably, the device further comprises a base mounted on the storage container and delimiting an annular space inside which is partially housed the dispensing head. The elastic return member is advantageously disposed inside the annular space delimited by the base. The elastic return member can axially support the dispensing head against the base in the rest position.

In a particular embodiment, the dispensing head comprises at least one pusher provided with said product outlet orifice, and a support body on which the pusher is mounted and provided with said inlet port, said body and the pusher jointly delimiting said supply channel.

The realization of the dispensing head in at least two separate parts facilitates the manufacture and assembly of the device. Alternatively, it is however possible to provide a dispensing head made in one piece.

So as to be accessible from the outside, the plunger of the dispensing head extends at least partly projecting outside the base. The elastic return member can be mounted between the storage container and the pusher.

The device may also include a closure cover removably mounted, for example on the base, and covering the dispensing head.

Advantageously, the device according to the invention can be used for packaging and dispensing a cosmetic, pharmaceutical or dermatological product, in particular in the form of a cream, a foam, a gel, a milk or of a paste.

The present invention will be better understood on studying the detailed description of an embodiment, taken by way of nonlimiting example and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a packaging and dispensing device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, and

- Figures 2 to 5 are sectional views of the device of Figure 1 according to different positions of use.

FIG. 1 illustrates a device for packaging and distributing a product, designated by the general reference 10, which comprises a container 12 for storing said product (not shown) and a head 14 for dispensing said product mounted on the container. The device 10 is shown in a supposedly vertical position with the dispensing head 14 disposed above the container 12.

The device 10 also comprises a base 16 mounted on the container 12 and inside which is partially housed the dispensing head 14. The device 10 also comprises a cover 18 removably fixed on the base 16 and covering the distribution head 14. The cover 18 can be produced by molding a thermoplastic material.

The container 12 extends along a longitudinal axis X-X ’, here vertical. The container 12 comprises an open lower end 12a, an opposite upper end forming a neck 12b and a peripheral wall 12c extending axially between these ends. The neck 12b is separated from the peripheral wall 12c of the container by an annular shoulder (not referenced). The peripheral wall 12c of the container may have a circular or polygonal cross section, in particular square, or even an oval section.

The base 16 is fixed to the container 12 by any suitable means, for example by screwing, snap-fastening, tight fitting, etc. The base 16 comprises a peripheral skirt 16a which extends in the extension of the peripheral wall 12c of the container 12, and a front end wall 16b extends radially the upper end of the peripheral wall. A through hole 16c is formed in the thickness of the front wall 16b to allow the passage of the dispensing head 14.

The container 12 comprises a pusher piston 20 which is mounted inside the latter in a leaktight manner while being freely movable in the axial direction. The piston 20 delimits inside the container 12 a variable volume compartment 22 which contains the product. The compartment 22 is axially delimited by the shoulder of the container 12 and by the piston 20.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the piston 20 comprises two annular lips 20a, 20b in frictional contact with the peripheral wall 12c of the container. The lip 20a essentially serves as a scraper when the piston 20 rises in the direction of the dispensing head 14. The lip 20b makes it possible to avoid an air intake inside the compartment 22. As a variant, it is however possible to provide a piston 20 devoid of such lips.

In the illustrated embodiment, the piston 20 also includes a through hole 20c which is centered on the axis X-X ’. So as to seal the compartment 22, the piston 20 is equipped with a shutter 23 which obstructs the orifice 20c. The orifice 20c passing through the piston is intended to allow the air to be expelled after filling the compartment 22 and before mounting the shutter 23. Alternatively, it is possible to provide a piston 20 devoid of such a through orifice. In this case, it is not necessary to provide the shutter 23.

The container 12 also comprises an attached bottom wall 24 and closing off the open lower end 12a of said container. The bottom wall 24 is provided with a through hole 24a. The bottom wall 24 is in the form of a disc.

Axially on the side opposite to compartment 22, the piston 20 delimits inside the container 12 an additional compartment 26, also of variable volume. The compartment 26 is at atmospheric pressure through the orifice 24a of the bottom wall which forms an air intake orifice. The compartment 26 is axially delimited by the bottom wall 24 and by the piston 20. The compartments 22, 26 are arranged axially on either side of the piston 20.

The container 12, the piston 20, the bottom wall 24 and the base 16 are each made in one piece, for example by molding a thermoplastic material, for example polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE).

The device 10 also comprises a spring 28 which is mounted inside the compartment 26 and which exerts a permanent pushing force on the piston 20 which tends to push it axially in the direction of the dispensing head 14. As will be described more in detail subsequently, the spring 28 is provided for mechanically ensuring the rise of the piston 20 during actuation of the dispensing head 14 for dispensing the product.

The spring 28 is disposed axially between the piston 20 and the bottom wall 24. The spring 28 is compressed axially between the piston 20 and the bottom wall 24. The spring 28 is centered on the axis XX ’. The spring 28 is here in the form of a helical compression spring. The lower end turn of the spring 28 bears against the bottom wall 24 while the upper end turn comes to rest against the shutter 23 of the piston. So as to ensure the radial centering of the spring 28, the bottom wall 24 comprises two concentric annular skirts 24b of axis X-X ’. For this purpose, the shutter 23 also includes two annular skirts 23a centered on the axis X-X ’. As indicated above, it is possible to provide a piston 20 without a shutter 23. In this case, the spring 28 bears directly on the piston 20.

In the illustrated embodiment, the spring 28 is in the form of a helical spring. Alternatively, to exert an axial force on the piston 20, it is possible to provide an elastic washer or several elastic washers stacked axially, for example of the Belleville type.

The dispensing head 14 is slidably mounted relative to the container 12 between a rest position illustrated in FIG. 1 and a dispensing position of the product contained in the volume 22 of the container. As will be described in more detail below, the device 10 also includes a spring 30 for returning the head 14 to its rest position. The dispensing head 14 is partially mounted inside the annular space delimited by the base 16.

In the illustrated embodiment, the dispensing head 14 is made in several parts. The head 14 comprises a pusher 32 equipped with a tube 34 for dispensing the product, and an insert or body 36 for support on which said pusher is mounted. The pusher 32 and the support body 36 are each made in one piece, for example by molding a thermoplastic material, for example polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE). The tube 34 can be made of thermoplastic material, elastomer or silicone or even metallic material.

The pusher 32 comprises a plate 32a mounted inside the base 16 and a head 32b extending axially from the plate and through the orifice 16c of said base. The head 32b extends projecting outside the base 16. The distribution tube 34 is fixed on the pusher 32 and delimits an orifice 38 for the outlet of the product. The free end of the tube 34 forms said orifice. The orifice 38 forms the outlet orifice of the dispensing head 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the tube 34 is hollow and fixed on the pusher 32 by fitting. The tube 34 is fixed here so as to extend radially. The tube 34 can be fixed by any other suitable means. Alternatively, it might be possible to provide a dispensing head 14 devoid of the dispensing tube 34. In this case, the pusher 32 delimits the orifice 38 leaving the product.

The pusher 32 is fixed to the upper end of the support body 36. The support body 36 comprises, on the side opposite to the pusher 32, product inlet ports 40 which form the inlet ports of the dispensing head. There are two inlet ports 40 here. As a variant, it is possible to provide a different number of orifices. The inlet orifices 40 open onto the outer surface of the support body 36. The inlet openings 40 open radially. The inlet orifices 40 are formed in the vicinity of the lower end of the support body 36. The inlet orifices 40 can for example be formed by making a radial drilling in the thickness of the support body 36.

A supply channel 42 is formed on the support body 36 and on the pusher 32 to put in fluid communication the outlet port 38 and the inlet ports 40. In the illustrated embodiment, the channel inlet 42 comprises an axial portion in fluid communication with the inlet orifices 40, and a radial portion extending an upper end of said axial portion and inside which the tube 34 is fitted.

The support body 36 comprises, at its lower end, an annular flange 36a axially bearing against the shoulder of the container 12 in the rest position of the dispensing head 14. In the position of the device illustrated in FIG. 1, the inlet orifices 40 are located axially above the flange 36a. In other words, the flange 36a is located upstream of the inlet orifices 40 by considering the direction of circulation of the product during distribution of this product.

The return spring 30 is mounted inside the annular space delimited by the base 16. The spring 30 exerts a permanent axial return force on the head 14 of mobile distribution. The spring 30 tends to hold the plate 32a of the plunger of the dispensing head axially in abutment against the front wall 16b of the base. The spring 30 is interposed axially between the shoulder of the container 12 and the plate 32a of the pusher. The spring 30 is compressed between the container 12 and the plate 32a. The spring 30 is centered on the axis X-X ’. The spring 30 is here in the form of a helical compression spring. The lower end turn of the spring 30 bears against the shoulder of the container 12 while the upper end turn rests against the plate 32a of the pusher. So as to ensure the radial centering of the spring 30, the container 12 comprises an annular skirt 12d radially surrounding the neck 12b and between which is the lower end turn of said spring. For this purpose, the plate 32a of the pusher also includes two concentric annular skirts 44 of axis X-X ’.

To distribute the product contained in compartment 22 of the container, the user proceeds as follows.

First, the user begins by removing the cover 18 from the base 16 as illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 corresponds to a rest position of the dispensing head 14, i. e. a position in which no axial force is applied to it by the user.

In the rest position of the dispensing head 14, the inlet orifices 40 thereof are blocked by the neck 12b of the container. The flange 36a of the support body, which is axially in abutment against the shoulder of the container 12, also prevents any flow of the product contained in the compartment 22 in the direction of the inlet orifices 40. The flange 36a remains in leaktight support against the container 12 under the effect of the spring 30.

From the rest position of the head 14, when the user exerts an axial force on the head of the pusher 32 thereof oriented towards the container 12, the head 14 slides axially with respect to said container. In the figures, the axial force exerted by the user is illustrated diagrammatically by the arrow referenced 46.

The head 14 can slide until the skirts 44 of the head pusher abut axially against the skirt 12d and the neck 12b of the container 12 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

In the position illustrated in FIG. 3, the inlet orifices 40 of the dispensing head are left entirely free by the container 12 and are immersed inside the compartment 22 of said container which contains the product. The inlet openings 40 open entirely inside the compartment 22.

Under the effect of the thrust force exerted by the spring 28, the piston 20 moves axially in the direction of the dispensing head 14 as illustrated in FIG. 4. This causes a reduction in the volume of the compartment 22 of the container . For reasons of understanding, the axial displacement of the piston 20 which is illustrated in FIG. 4 has been exaggerated from its previous position shown in FIG. 3.

With the displacement of the piston 20, part of the product present in the compartment 22 of the container is forced through the inlet orifices 40 of the dispensing head as illustrated diagrammatically by the arrows referenced 48. This causes a displacement of the product which was already contained in the supply channel 42 and a product outlet through the outlet orifice 38 as illustrated by the arrows referenced 50 and 52 respectively. The dispensing of the product is continuous in the dispensing position of the head 14. When the device 10 has not yet been used and the supply channel 42 is empty, ie not filled with product, it suffices to press the dispensing head 14 and wait a few moments to fill it .

Once the user releases the pressure applied to the plunger 32 of the dispensing head, the spring 30 allows the latter to return automatically to its rest position illustrated in FIG. 5 in which the inlet orifices 40 are obstructed by the container 12 and the flange 36a of the pusher comes to bear axially against the container 12. The product which occupies the compartment 22 of the container can no longer be introduced inside the head 14, which blocks any distribution of product through the outlet orifice 38. The closure cover can then be replaced by the user on the base 16.

As indicated above, the dispensing head 14 is axially movable relative to the container 12 between its rest position in abutment against the base 16 and a dispensing position in abutment against the container 12. The movement of the head 14 relative to the container 12 is allowed between these two extreme positions. The head 14 can occupy a plurality of dispensing positions between a position in which the inlet orifices 40 are partially obstructed by the container 12 and partially open into the compartment 22, and the position in which the head is axially resting against the container 12.

To assemble the device 10, one can proceed as follows. In a first step, the base 16 is fixed to the cover 18 in a vertical position with the cover located below the base. Then, in a second step, the pusher 32 of the dispensing head is introduced through the recess 16c of the base until it comes to bear against the front wall 16b thereof and the tube 34 is mounted on the pusher 32 Then, during the third and fourth stages, the spring 30 is mounted to bear against the pusher 32 and the container 12 is fixed to the base 16. The spring 30 is mounted in a pre-compressed state. Then, in a fifth step, the support body 36 of the dispensing head is introduced through the neck 12b of the container until it comes to be fixed on the pusher 32. The device 10 can for example be delivered in this preassembled form.

To finalize the assembly of the device 10, the container 12 is firstly filled with the product to be packaged. Then, the piston 20 fitted with its shutter 23 is inserted inside the container 12 so as to close the compartment 22 containing the product. Then, the spring 28 is put in place. The spring 28 is mounted in a precompressed state. Finally, the bottom wall 24 is mounted inside the container 12.

Thanks to the invention, there is a device which is easy to assemble, of simple and economical design while allowing continuous product distribution, by providing on the one hand a piston which is mechanically stressed by an elastically deformable member. , and on the other hand of a dispensing head mounted movably on the container so that the inlet orifices or the latter can plunge directly into the variable volume compartment of the container.

Claims (13)

1. Device for packaging and distributing a product, in particular a pharmaceutical or cosmetic product, comprising: a storage container (12) comprising a piston (20) movable inside said container and sealingly delimits a variable volume compartment (22) containing said product, a dispensing head (14) mounted on the container (12 ) for storage and provided with at least one inlet port (40) for the product, at least one outlet port (38) for said product and at least one inlet channel (42) in direct communication with said inlet and outlet orifices, and an elastically deformable mechanical member (28) mounted inside the storage container (12) on the side opposite the compartment (22) with variable volume relative to the piston (20), and exerting a permanent thrust force on said piston in the direction of the dispensing head (14), the dispensing head being movable relative to the storage container between a rest position in which said inlet orifice (40) is obstructed and at least one position d e distribution in which said inlet orifice opens at least partially inside the variable volume compartment (22) of said container. 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said inlet orifice (40) of the dispensing head is obstructed by the storage container (12) in the rest position of said head. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the dispensing head (14) is slidably mounted relative to the storage container (12). 4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the storage container (12) further comprises an attached bottom wall (24), the piston (20) delimiting with said bottom wall an additional compartment (26). variable volume inside which is housed the mechanical member (28). 5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the dispensing head comprises a collar (36a) axially sealingly against the storage container (12) in the rest position of said head, said collar being located in upstream of said inlet orifice (40) by considering the direction of flow of the product during distribution of said product. 6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an elastic return member (30) from the dispensing head (14) to its rest position which is separate from the mechanical member (28). 7. Device according to claim 6 dependent on claim 5, wherein the elastic return member (30) axially bears the flange (36a) of the dispensing head (14) against the container (12) for storage in the rest position of said head. 8. Device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the elastic return member (30) is disposed between the storage container (12) and the dispensing head (14). 9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a base (16) mounted on the storage container (12) and delimiting an annular space inside which is partially housed the dispensing head (14) . 10. Device according to claim 9 dependent on any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the elastic return member (30) is disposed inside the annular space defined by the base (16). 11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the dispensing head (14) comprises at least one pusher (32) provided with said outlet orifice (38) for the product, and a support body (36) on which is mounted the pusher and provided with said inlet orifice (40), said body and the pusher jointly delimiting said supply channel (42). 12. Device according to claim 11 dependent on claim 9 or 10, wherein the pusher (32) of the dispensing head extends at least partially projecting outside the base (16). 13. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a closure cover (18) removably mounted and covering the dispensing head (14).