FR3096671A1 - Fluid product refill - Google Patents

Abstract

Fluid product refill (R) for filling a bottle (F) provided with a threaded neck (C), the refill (R) comprising: - a flexible bag (P) comprising an opening, - a dispensing assembly (D1) comprising a sealing appendage (11) on which the opening of the flexible pouch (P) is mounted, and a passage (10), characterized in that the dispensing assembly (R) further comprises a threaded connection sleeve (22) forming an internal helical thread (221) suitable for screwing the threaded neck (C) of the bottle (F). "Figure for the abstract: figure 2"

Description

Fluid product refill

The present invention relates to a fluid product refill for filling a bottle provided with a threaded neck. The bottle can be part of a dispenser further comprising a dispensing head integrating for example a pump. The dispensing head is screwed removably onto the threaded neck of the bottle. Such dispensers are frequently used in the fields of perfumery and cosmetics. The purpose of the refill of the invention is to refill the bottle with fluid product, once its content has been dispensed through the removable head. The head is therefore removed from the bottle by unscrewing to be replaced briefly by the refill of the invention.

The aim of the present invention is to define a fluid product refill which can easily and quickly be connected to the neck of the bottle in order to carry out rapid filling of the bottle without risk of loss of fluid product. By fluid product, we mean any liquid, such as a perfume, lotion, cream, gel, foundation, etc.

To do this, the present invention proposes a fluid product refill for filling a bottle provided with a threaded neck, the refill comprising a flexible pouch comprising an opening, and a dispensing assembly comprising a sealing appendage on which the opening of the flexible bag is mounted, and a passage, in which the dispensing assembly further comprises a threaded connection sleeve forming an internal helical thread suitable for screwing on the threaded neck of the bottle. In other words, the refill of the invention is in the form of a crushable flexible pouch mounted on a pouch holder provided with a thread corresponding to that of the neck of the bottle. Thus, the refill can be screwed onto the neck of the bottle and its pocket can then be pressed or crushed in order to push back the fluid product from the pocket into the bottle, and this without risk of loss of fluid product.

Advantageously, the dispensing assembly comprises closure means which close the passage, the closure means being deactivated when screwing the threaded neck of the bottle into the threaded connection sleeve. These closure means ensure that the fluid product can only pass from the flexible bag into the bottle when the refill is screwed onto the bottle. This avoids any risk of loss of fluid product.

According to one embodiment, the sealing appendage is crossed by the passage, but comprises a cap which closes off the passage, the dispensing assembly comprising a piercing needle engaged in the passage and inside the connection sleeve, this piercing needle being moved in the passage, when screwing the threaded neck of the bottle into the threaded connection sleeve, towards the cap so as to pierce it. It is therefore the neck of the bottle that will push the piercing needle against the seal, until it pierces it at the end of screwing. Advantageously, the piercing needle defines a through conduit for the fluid product, the piercing needle being able to be mounted to slide in leaktight manner in the passage.

According to another aspect of the invention, the connection sleeve can define an external helical thread suitable for screwing on a removable cover, which can advantageously be provided with a tamper-evident ring.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the dispensing assembly comprises:
- an insert forming the sealing appendage, as well as a cam track or an external thread,
- a cap forming the threaded connection sleeve, as well as a cam profile or an internal thread engaging the cam track or the external thread,
in which the plug is initially in leaktight engagement with the insert so as to form closure means between them, the cam profile or internal thread moving in the cam track or external thread, following the screwing of the threaded neck of the bottle in the threaded connection sleeve, so as to deactivate the closure means.

It is therefore the neck of the bottle that will cause the stopper to rotate, thus establishing a fluid product flow path between the flexible bag and the bottle. Preferably, the rotation of the stopper occurs following the screwing of the neck of the bottle into the threaded sleeve.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the insert and the plug form end-of-travel abutment means to limit their mutual displacement. According to a practical embodiment, the external cam track of the insert comprises two ends, namely an input end connected to an axial mounting chimney and a blind end serving as end-of-travel abutment means, a profile retainer being advantageously formed at the junction of the axial assembly chimney with the external cam track to maintain the internal cam profile in the external cam track and thus prevent it from returning to the axial assembly chimney.

According to another interesting aspect, the insert can comprise a tube and the stopper can comprise a sleeve engaged around the tube inside the threaded connection sleeve. Preferably, the sleeve slides in a sealed manner around the tube between an initial closed position and a final open position, following the screwing of the threaded neck of the bottle into the threaded connection sleeve.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the stopper comprises a tamper-evident ring which cooperates with the insert so as to break the tamper-evident ring, following the screwing of the threaded neck of the bottle into the threaded connection sleeve. The tamper evident ring can be located at the base of the cap and breaks in abutment contact against a stop notch of the insert, when the tightening torque exerted is sufficient.

The invention also defines a method for filling a bottle with a threaded neck by means of a fluid product refill with a stopper, the method comprising the following steps:
a) Engage the threaded connection sleeve of the stopper around the threaded neck of the bottle,
b) Rotate the fluid product refill to screw the threaded connection sleeve around the threaded neck of the bottle,
c) Once the threaded connection sleeve has been screwed fully around the threaded neck of the bottle, continue to impart a torque on the refill of fluid product to rotate the flexible pouch and the insert around the cap and the bottle,
d) Crush the flexible pouch to force its contents into the bottle through the dispensing assembly,
e) Unscrew the fluid product refill from the bottle.

The cap, initially attached to the insert at the start of screwing, ends up being attached to the bottle at the end of screwing. The user, without even realizing it, deactivates the closure function of the cap, during a simple and unique screwing operation. Of course, the threading of the cap must be reversed with respect to that of the connection socket, in order to achieve, during a single and same rotation, both a screwing (of the bottle in the socket) and a unscrewing (of the cap on the insert).

The spirit of the present invention resides basically in a screw-on refill with a crushable flexible pouch. The piercing needle, and more particularly the cap, guarantee perfect closure of the refill, as long as it is not screwed onto the bottle.

The invention will now be more fully described with reference to the attached drawings, giving, by way of non-limiting examples, several embodiments of the invention.

In the figures:

Figure 1 is a schematic view showing a refill of fluid product of the invention ready to be associated with a bottle of a fluid dispenser,

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the refill dispensing assembly of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the insert of the dispenser assembly of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is ver similar to that of Figure 2 for an alternative embodiment, and

Figures 5 and 6 are vertical cross-sectional views through dispensing assemblies according to other embodiments.

see [Fig 5]

Reference will first be made to FIG. 1 to very generally describe the fluid product refill of the invention and its use with a bottle or a fluid product dispenser.

The fluid product refill, designated as a whole by the capital letter R, comprises two constituent elements, namely a flexible pocket P and a dispensing assembly D1.

The flexible bag P can be crushed manually and can be made from any suitable material, such as a laminated sheet (aluminum + plastic material). The pocket P can also be made by blow molding or by extrusion. The pocket P comprises an opening (not shown) in which the dispensing assembly D1 is mounted, for example by welding or gluing. As can be seen in Figure 1, the dispensing assembly D1 protrudes out of the flexible bag P.

The bottle F comprises a neck C which is provided with one or more thread(s) T. The bottle F can be made from any suitable material, such as for example glass, metal, plastic , etc. It can be transparent, translucent or opaque. The bottle F can be part of a fluid product dispenser further comprising a dispenser head H comprising a pump K, a push button B and a fixing ring M. The dispenser head H can be mounted by screwing by means of its fixing ring M on the threaded neck C of the bottle F, thus forming a fluid dispenser. The user, by pressing the push button B, activates the pump K which delivers a dose of fluid product through a dispensing orifice B1 formed by the push button B. This is a completely classic design for a fluid product distributor in the fields of perfumery and cosmetics.

The purpose of the fluid product refill R of the invention is to be able to fill the bottle F of a fluid product dispenser, once the latter is empty. In practice, the dispensing head H is unscrewed from the threaded neck C of the bottle F and a refill of fluid product R according to the invention is attached to the threaded neck C of the bottle F in order to be able to transfer the contents of the flexible bag P into bottle F through dispensing assembly D1.

Reference will now be made to Figures 2 and 3 to explain in detail the structure and operation of the fluid product refill R of the invention, and more specifically of its dispensing assembly D1.

Timing assembly D1 comprises two essential constituent elements, namely an insert 1 and a cap 2. These two parts can be produced by injection molding of plastic material.

The insert 1 comprises a sealing appendage 11, the geometry of which is more clearly shown in Figure 3. The sealing appendage 11 has an eye or diamond-shaped section. This sealing appendix 11 is inserted into the opening of the flexible bag P and fixed, preferably by heat sealing. The sealing appendix 11 internally defines a passage 10.

Above the welding appendage 11, the insert 1 forms a cylindrical body 12 through which the passage 10 extends. axial mounting chimney 123. The cam track 120 comprises a lower inlet end 121 and a blind upper abutment end 122. The cam track extends in an arcuate manner between these two ends 121 and 122. The axial mounting chimney assembly 123 extends from the upper end of the body 12 to the inlet end 121 of the cam track 120. This chimney 123 comprises first of all a funnel section 125 which extends from the bottom by a rectilinear section which opens into the inlet end 121 of the cam track 120. At the level of the junction between the lower end of the axial mounting chimney 123 and the inlet end 121, there is provided a profile of retainer 124, whose function will be given below.

The insert 1 also comprises a tube 13 which extends axially upwards above the cylindrical body 12. This tube 13 is also crossed by the passage 10 which opens outwards through two lateral openings 130. The tube 13 includes an annular groove 132 which receives an O-ring 133. The upper end of tube 13 is closed by a small cap 131.

Plug 2 is engaged around body 12 and stem 13 of insert 1, as can be seen in FIG. 2. This plug 2 comprises a skirt 21 which extends around body 12. This skirt 21 forms internally two cam profiles 210, which can simply be in the form of a small cylindrical lug. In FIG. 2, the cam profiles 210 are positioned at the inlet ends 121 of the cam tracks 120, below the axial assembly chimneys 123. of the body 12 will cause the displacement of the cam profiles 210 along the cam paths 120, which has the effect of axially displacing the cap 2 upwards relative to the insert 1.

The cap 2 also comprises a threaded connection sleeve 22 which extends substantially in the extension of the skirt 21. This threaded connection sleeve 22 internally defines one or more internal helical threads 221. The diameter of the sleeve 22 and the pitch of the thread 221 correspond to those of the threaded neck C of the bottle F. This threaded connection sleeve 22 has the function of being screwed onto the threaded neck C of the bottle F.

The cap 2 also comprises a plate 24 which extends radially inwards from the skirt 21 or the sleeve 22. At its internal periphery, the plate 24 is connected upwards to a sleeve 23 which is extends around the tube 13. It can be seen that the O-ring 133 comes into sealed contact with the internal wall of the sleeve 23. The latter also comprises a free upper end 232 which is in sealed engagement with the small cap 131 of the tube 13. Thus, the passage 10 which extends to the side openings 130 cannot communicate with the outside, due to the two annular sealed contacts formed on either side, namely by the O-ring 133 and the leaktight engagement of the end 132 with the small cap 131. The dispensing assembly D1 as shown in FIG. 2 is therefore in its initial closed position.

The assembly of the plug 2 on the insert 1 takes place in a particularly simple manner, given that the engagement of the cam profiles 210 in the cam tracks 120 takes place through the axial assembly chimneys 123. In practice, it suffices to engage the cam profiles 210 inside the funnels 125, and from there they are guided towards the lower part of the chimneys 123 which leads to the entrance of the cam tracks 120. A slight additional axial pressure will be necessary to pass the cam profiles 210 on the other side of the retaining profiles 124, which are located at the entrance of the lower inlet ends 121 of the cam tracks 120.

It can also be noted that the blind ends 122 of the cam tracks 120 serve as an unscrewing limit stop. Indeed, the cam profiles 210 move from the inlet ends 121 to the blind ends 122 against which they will come into abutment, thus marking the complete and final unscrewing of the cap 2.

Returning again to Figure 1, it is understood that the fluid product refill R can be attached upside down above the threaded neck C of the bottle F, so as to engage the threaded sleeve 22 around the threaded neck C. The user grasps the refill R by the flexible pouch P which he drives in rotation, so as to screw the socket 22 around the threaded neck C. At first, the threaded neck C will penetrate inside the socket threaded 22 until it comes into abutment with the plate 24. Then, the user can continue to drive the flexible pouch P in rotation, which will have the effect of rotating the flexible pouch P and its insert 1 relative to the stopper 2, which is now integral with the threaded neck C. In doing so, the two cam profiles 210 will be forced to move inside the cam tracks 120, which will have the effect of undoing the sealed contact between the end 232 of the sleeve 23 and the small cap 131 of the tube 13. A fluid communication is then established between the flexible bag P and the bottle F through the passage 10, the side openings 130 and the open exit path between the end 232 and the cap 131. The O-ring 133 prevents any leakage of fluid product between the cap 2 and the insert 1 towards the body 12. From then on, the user can press or crush the flexible bag P so as to push or push back the product fluid that it contains in the bottle F. The air initially contained in the bottle F can escape therefrom, for example through the unsealed threaded socket between the threaded neck C and the threaded sleeve 22. Given that the pocket flexible is crushable, it is not necessary to replace the volume of its liquid contents by air.

We have thus just seen that the simple rotation of the flexible bag P with respect to the bottle F generates two successive operations, namely the screwing of the sleeve 22 on the threaded neck C initially, and the unscrewing of the cap 2 with respect to insert 1 in a second step. This sequencing is preferential, but not mandatory.

Optionally, the lower end of the skirt 21 is provided with a tamper evident ring 216 (or first-use security ring), which is connected to the skirt 21 by breaking bridges. On the other hand, the base of the cylindrical body 12 forms one or more detents 126 which engage with the tamper evident ring 216, so that the stopper 2 is locked in rotation on the insert 1. However, sufficient torque between the plug and the insert has the effect of breaking the break bridges, so as to separate the tamper evident ring 216 from the skirt 21. The integrity of the break bridges indicates to the user that the plug 2 has never been unscrewed from the insert 1. The breaking of the bridges preferably takes place between the operation of screwing the sleeve onto the neck and the operation of unscrewing the cap.

In Figure 4, we see a variant embodiment, which differs from the first embodiment at the level of the engagement of the skirt 21' of the stopper 2' with the cylindrical body 12' of the insert 1'. Indeed, instead of the cam track 120 and the cam profiles 210, an external thread 120' is provided here at the level of the cylindrical body 12' and a corresponding internal thread 210' at the level of the internal wall of the skirt 21 '. As a result, the mounting of the plug 2' on the insert 1' can only be done by screwing, and not by pure axial mounting as is the case in the first embodiment.

Another difference of this embodiment variant of FIG. 4 lies in the fact that the skirt 21 internally forms an abutment harpoon 211 intended to come into abutment below a flange 122' formed by the cylindrical body 12', in order to limit unscrewing of cap 2'. The harpoon 211 can pass by force above and beyond the collar 222' during the assembly operation requiring the screwing of the plug 2' on the insert 1'. On the other hand, due to its harpoon-shaped configuration, it can no longer disengage from below the 122' flange.

Optionally, the skirt 21' also forms a tamper evident band 212, which breaks when the torque is sufficient.

In this variant embodiment of Figure 4, the connection sleeve 22', the tube 13' and the sleeve 23', may be identical to those of the first embodiment. The 11' sealing appendix is shorter, without modifying its function.

A fluid product refill incorporating the D2 dispensing assembly is used in exactly the same way as that described previously with reference to the D1 dispensing assembly. At the end of the screwing operation, the cap 2' is unscrewed from the body 12' until the abutment harpoon 211 comes into abutment contact below the collar 122'.

In Figure 5, we see a second embodiment of the invention, the operation of which is different from that of the first embodiment. The dispensing assembly D3 comprises an insert 1'' which forms a sealing appendage 11'' which is closed off by a cap 110. The insert also forms a connection sleeve 14 which defines an internal thread 141, but also a thread 144. In other words, the sleeve 14 is both internally and externally threaded. We see in Figure 5 that a removable cover 4 is engaged with the threaded sleeve 14. More specifically, this removable cover 4 comprises an upper closing wall 41, as well as a cylindrical wall 42 internally forming a corresponding thread 43 to the thread 144 of the sleeve 14. The cover 4 also includes a first-use safety ring 44. Thus, the cover 4 is screwed tightly onto the sleeve 14.

The dispensing assembly D3 of FIG. 5 also comprises a piercing needle 3 which is engaged inside the sealing appendage 11'' and the sleeve 14. This piercing needle 3 defines one or more passages ( s) internal (s) 30 and comprises a thrust collar 32, a sealing lip 33 and a beveled end 31. The support collar 32 is initially disposed inside the sleeve 14, substantially halfway up . The sealing lip 33 is in leaktight sliding engagement inside the sealing appendage 11'', which can also be provided with an additional sealing bead 111. The bevelled end 31 is located near or in contact with the cap 110 which closes off the lower end of the sealing appendage 11''. It can thus be said that the drill needle 3 is placed inside a closed space, which is defined by the insert 1" and the removable cover 4.

Although not shown, the dispensing assembly D3 is associated with a flexible bag to constitute a fluid product refill according to the invention. Initially, the user unscrews the removable cover 4, after having removed the first-use security strip 44. The dispensing assembly D3 can then be attached upside down to the bottle F in the same way as shown. in Figure 1. The connection sleeve 14 is screwed onto the threaded neck C of the bottle F, which has the effect of moving the piercing needle 3, since it is urged by the upper edge of the threaded neck C which comes into contact with the thrust collar 32. Thus, the piercing pin 3 is moved axially towards the lid 110, and will inevitably pierce. A fluid communication is then established between the flexible bag P and the bottle F through the internal passage 30 defined by the piercing needle 3.

In this second embodiment, the screwing of the sleeve 14 around the threaded neck C takes place simultaneously with the movement of the drilling needle 3 inside the insert 1''. The risks of leakage are extremely reduced, given that the piercing needle 3 alone ensures the passage between the pocket P and the inside of the threaded neck C. Indeed, one can notice that the thrust collar 32 is located in withdrawal relative to the upper end of the needle 3, so that this upper end can penetrate inside the neck C.

In Figure 6, we see a third embodiment, which is particularly simple. The D4 dispensing assembly includes a 1” insert that defines an 11” sealing appendage for a flexible pouch not shown. The 1'' insert includes a 14' connection sleeve which is internally and externally threaded, as in the previous embodiment. The D4 distribution assembly also includes a removable 4' cover which is screwed around the 14' threaded sleeve.

The user, after removing the 4' removable cover, will bring the bottle F upside down to the dispensing assembly D4. Very naturally, the user will rotate the bottle F in order to screw its threaded neck C inside the 14' threaded sleeve. Once screwing is complete, the user can turn the assembly upside down and press the flexible bag P to discharge the fluid product it contains inside the bottle F through the 1” insert. This is a particularly simple design, which however implements a dispensing assembly comprising an internal passage and an internally threaded sleeve adapted to receive the threaded neck C of the bottle F by screwing.

Thanks to the invention, there is a fluid product refill with a flexible pocket comprising a dispensing assembly which can easily be connected to the threaded neck of a bottle.

Claims (12)

Fluid product refill (R) for filling a bottle (F) provided with a threaded neck (C), the refill (R) comprising:
- a flexible pocket (P) comprising an opening,
- a dispensing assembly (D1; D2; D3; D4) comprising a sealing appendage (11; 11';11'';11''') on which the opening of the flexible pouch (P) is mounted, and a pass (10),
characterized in that the dispensing assembly (R) further comprises a threaded connection sleeve (22; 22';14;14') forming an internal helical thread (221; 141) suitable for screwing the threaded neck (C) bottle (F). Fluid product refill (R) according to claim 1, in which the dispensing assembly (D1; D2; D3) comprises closing means (2; 2'; 110) which close the passage (10), the means closure (2; 2'; 110) being deactivated when screwing the threaded neck (C) of the bottle (F) into the threaded connection sleeve (22; 22'; 14). Fluid product refill (R) according to claim 2, in which the sealing appendix (11'') is crossed by the passage (10), but comprises a cover (110) which closes off the passage (10), the dispensing assembly (D3) comprising a piercing needle (3) engaged in the passage (10) and inside the connection sleeve (14), this piercing needle (3) being moved in the passage (10), when screwing the threaded neck (C) of the bottle (F) into the threaded connection sleeve (14), towards the cap (110) so as to pierce it. Fluid product refill (R) according to claim 3, in which the piercing needle (3) defines a through conduit (30) for the fluid product, the piercing needle (3) being advantageously mounted to slide in leaktight manner in the passage (10). Fluid product refill (R) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the connection sleeve (14; 14') defines an external helical thread (144) suitable for screwing on a removable cap (4; 4') , which is advantageously provided with a tamper evident ring (44). Fluid product refill (R) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the dispensing assembly (D1; D2) comprises:
- an insert (1; 1') forming the sealing appendix (11; 11'), as well as a cam track (120) or an external thread (120')
- a plug (2; 2') forming the threaded connection sleeve (22; 22'), as well as a cam profile (210) or an internal thread (210') in engagement with the cam track (120) or the external thread (120'), respectively,
in which the cap (2; 2') is initially in leaktight engagement with the insert (1; 1') so as to form closing means between them, the cam profile (210) or internal thread (210' ) moving in the cam track (120) or external thread (120'), following the screwing of the threaded neck (C) of the bottle (F) into the threaded connection sleeve (22; 22'), so as to deactivate means of closure. Refill of fluid product (R) according to claim 6, in which the insert (1; 1') and the plug (2; 2') form limit stop means (122; 122', 211) for limit their mutual movement. Fluid product refill (R) according to claim 6 or 7, in which the outer cam track (120) of the insert (1) comprises two ends, namely an inlet end (121) connected to an axial chimney assembly (123) and a blind end (122) serving as limit stop means, a retaining profile (124) being advantageously formed at the junction of the axial assembly chimney (123) with the path of external cam (120) to maintain the internal cam profile (210) in the external cam track (120) and thus prevent it from returning to the axial assembly chimney (123). Fluid product refill (R) according to claim 6, 7 or 8, in which the insert (1; 1') comprises a tube (13; 13') and the plug (2; 2') comprises a sleeve (23 ; 23') engaged around the tube (13; 13') inside the threaded connection sleeve (22; 22'). Refill of fluid product (R) according to claim 6, 7, 8 or 9, in which the sleeve (23; 23') slides in leaktight manner around the tube (13; 13') between an initial closed position and a final open position, following the screwing of the threaded neck (C) of the bottle (F) into the threaded connection sleeve (22; 22'). Fluid product refill (R) according to Claim 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10, in which the cap (2; 2') comprises a tamper-evident ring (216; 212) which cooperates with the insert (1; 1') so as to break the tamper evident ring (216; 212), following the screwing of the threaded neck (C) of the bottle (F) into the threaded connection sleeve (22; 22'). Method for filling a bottle (F) with a threaded neck (C) by means of a fluid product refill (R) according to claim 6, 7, 8 or 9, the method comprising the following steps:
a) Engage the threaded connection sleeve (22; 22') of the stopper (2; 2') around the threaded neck (C) of the bottle (F),
b) Rotate the fluid product refill (R) to screw the threaded connection sleeve (22; 22') around the threaded neck (C) of the bottle (F),
c) Once the threaded connection sleeve (22; 22') has been screwed all the way around the threaded neck (C) of the bottle (F), continue to impart a torque on the refill of fluid product (R) to rotate the bag flexible (P) and the insert (1; 1') around the stopper (2; 2') and the bottle (F),
d) Crush the flexible pouch (P) to force its contents into the bottle through the dispensing assembly (D1; D2),
e) Unscrew the fluid product refill (R) from the bottle (F).
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