EP0743263B1 - Packaging and dispensing device for liquid or viscous products - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to packaging devices and dispensing a liquid or pasty product.

Devices have been proposed comprising a container having a cylindrical body in which a piston can slide. The latter delimits inside the container a space of variable volume containing the product. The container is fitted with a pump for withdrawing product from said space. The piston moves in the container in response to a start of product when the pump is activated, to keep the product stored protected from air in the container. An advantage of this type of device is to be able to be used both upside down and upside down. Through however, the use of a movable piston poses leakage problems produced when the latter is a liquid, so the use of these known devices remained limited to packaging and distribution viscous products such as toothpaste.

We know by the German utility model G 90 13 168 a device for packaging and dispensing a liquid product or pasty, comprising a container capable of containing said product, this container having a product outlet orifice, equipped with a pump comprising a valve capable of allowing the product to flow without air entering, the container further comprising a bottom wall consisting of a pocket delimiting inside the container a space containing said product, said pocket being capable of moving within the container in response to a product departure to reduce the volume of said space and maintain the product protected from air in the container. The pocket is attached to a end at its periphery to the container and it is able to deform to decrease the volume of said space until it substantially matches the shape of inside the container. The pocket is folded in on itself when the container is full of product and it gradually unfolds as as the product leaves. The pocket is trapped inside the container by a rigid wall pierced with an orifice allowing reentry of air in the container, on the side of the side of the bag which is opposite to the product. The device described in this German utility model is used with the pump down and not suitable for use with the pump in high because in this case there is a risk that the product will be retained in a cavity formed by the folds of the pocket and cannot be distributed by the pump. In addition, the pocket could cover the opening of re-entry of air into the container and impede the proper functioning of the device.

We know from the German patent application DE 1,586,797 a device for packaging and dispensing a liquid product or pasty comprising a container with a deformable wall capable of containing said product, this container having an outlet orifice fitted with a valve suitable for allowing product to flow without air entering, the container further comprising a pocket delimiting inside the container a space containing said product, said pocket being able to move in the container in response to a product outflow to decrease the volume said space and keep the stored product away from air in the container, this pocket being fixed at one end at its periphery to the container and being able to expand to reduce the volume of said space. As the container empties of product, the bag fills air through a container orifice, fitted with a valve intended for avoid the air escaping from the pocket when pressing on the walls of the container to cause expulsion of the product. The pocket being elastically deformable, it contains air which is in the state compressed. When the bag occupies the majority of the container, a pressure exerted on the walls of the container tends to compress the air contained in the pocket causing only slight expansion of this last and it becomes difficult to distribute product. So it is not not easy with this device to use all the product contained in inside the container.

We know from the German patent application DE-A-4 403 755 a packaging and distribution device as defined in the preamble of claim 1.

The pocket is attached to the center of the bottom wall of the container. Of reliefs such as ribs are provided to communicate the lower and upper parts of the container when the pocket is swelling plate against the side wall of the container.

The object of the present invention is to propose a new device for packaging and dispensing a liquid product or pasty, of the type comprising a container capable of containing said product, this container with a product outlet orifice fitted with a pump comprising a valve capable of allowing product to flow without reentry air, the container further comprising a pocket delimiting inside of the container a space containing said product, said pocket being made in an elastically deformable material, being able to move in the container in response to a product outflow to decrease the volume said space and keep the stored product away from air in the container, said pocket being fixed at one end at its periphery to the container and being able to deform to reduce the volume of said space up to substantially match the shape of the interior of the container, which can be used with the pump above or the pump below and which allows to distribute almost all the product contained inside of the container.

It achieves this by the fact that the pocket constitutes the wall of bottom of container.

When product leaves the container. depression created in said space by the departure of the product causes the deformation of the pocket in the direction tending to decrease the volume of said space, up to the cancellation of said depression.

The pocket occupies advantageously, thanks to its elasticity, in its state of maximum expansion almost all of the volume initially occupied by the product, regardless of the shape of the container. The invention thus allows a wide variety of shapes for the container, while the devices of the prior art with movable piston necessarily had to have a cylindrical body.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pump is located in the upper part of the container during use.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the pocket is able to deploy at first without its wall tensing then in a second step to expand elastically.

Thus, said pocket can be deployed at first without that its wall is stretched to occupy more than half of the space initially occupied by the product, then in a second step, the pocket can expand elastically to occupy the remaining space freed by the product.

Because the pocket is able to expand elastically from a certain degree of emptying of the container, it has fewer folds when the container is full than the pockets of known devices which do not are not made of an elastic material; so the risks associated with blocking the air intake opening are diminished.

Advantageously, the pocket is internally provided with a lining in a material which is not elastically deformable but very impermeable to gases, said lining being able to deploy to accompany the deformation of the pocket until the wall of the latter tightens.

In another particular embodiment of the invention, the pocket is slightly stretched when the container is full.

Thus, the pocket can be in the form of a membrane elastic substantially flat when the container is full. This the latter can be substantially flat and shaped so that when empty, the bag has moved over a height relatively small, for example between 15 and 20 mm.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the device comprises sealing means capable of isolating the interior of the ambient air pocket, at least before the first use of the device. These sealing means constitute with the pocket a double sealing barrier favorable for long storage duration of the product contained in the container. In addition, these means seal, when in place on the container, prevent pocket to inflate by air inlet and interfere with the operation of the pump used to withdraw the product. The sealing means can thus advantageously serve as a witness to inviolability, in the extent to which their presence, intact, on the device indicates to the user that it could not be used previously from normal way.

• la figure 1 représente un dispositif de conditionnement et de distribution conforme à un premier exemple de réalisation de l'invention, avant première utilisation,
• la figure 2 montre le dispositif représenté sur la figure 1 en cours d'utilisation,
• la figure 3 représente un deuxième exemple de réalisation d'un dispositif conforme à l'invention, avant première utilisation,
• la figure 4 montre le dispositif représenté sur la figure 3 en fin d'utilisation,
• la figure 5 représente un troisième exemple de réalisation d'un dispositif conforme à l'invention, avant première utilisation,
• la figure 6 représente un quatrième exemple de réalisation d'un dispositif selon l'invention, avant première utilisation, et
• la figure 7 représente un cinquième exemple de réalisation de l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, of nonlimiting exemplary embodiments of the invention, and on examining the appended drawing in which:

• FIG. 1 represents a packaging and distribution device according to a first embodiment of the invention, before first use,
• FIG. 2 shows the device represented in FIG. 1 during use,
• FIG. 3 represents a second embodiment of a device according to the invention, before first use,
• FIG. 4 shows the device shown in FIG. 3 at the end of use,
• FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of a device according to the invention, before first use,
• FIG. 6 represents a fourth embodiment of a device according to the invention, before first use, and
• FIG. 7 represents a fifth embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a device 1 for packaging and distribution of a liquid P cosmetic product or pasty, according to the invention. Of course, we do not go out of framework of the invention using the device to condition and distribute a non-cosmetic product.

This device 1 comprises a container 2 with a rigid wall, generally symmetrical of revolution in the example described, formed by the snap-fit assembly of a body 3 on a base 4. The latter comprises an upper tubular skirt 5 provided at its free end of a flange 6 radially projecting towards the interior. The body 3 is provided with a lower tubular wall 7, of external diameter adapted to engage in the tubular wall 5. The tubular wall 7 is connected to the rest of the body 3 by a narrowing of section 8 defining an external annular groove in which the flange 6 engages at the end of the fixing by snapping of the body 3 on the base 4. The latter comprises a skirt lower tubular 9, externally threaded, for screwing on a base known in itself and not shown. A wall 10, flat and perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the container 2, extends radially inward at the junction of the tubular skirts upper 5 and lower 9. This wall 10 is crossed in a central annular region with openings 11. A mounting foot central 12, integral with the wall 10, extends along the axis of symmetry of the container 2 inside the threaded tubular part 9. The fixing foot 12 is used for mounting removable closure means 14 as will be explained below.

The body 3 is closed at its upper part by a wall 15 having a neck 16 extending upwards, provided at its end upper of an annular rim 17 radially projecting towards outside. A pump 18 known in itself and not described is attached to the neck 16. This pump 18 includes a pusher 19 of product distribution, and it has a bottom cap 20 shaped to snap onto the annular rim 17 of the neck 16. The pump 18 has a tube 21 for withdrawing the product P in container 2. This tubing 21 is engaged in the opening of the neck 16 and extends by its lower end under the wall 15 in an interior space 23 of the container 2 containing the product P. Lateral openings 24, whose role will be explained below, are formed at the lower end 22 of the pipe 21.

A cover 25 covers the neck 16 of the body 3. This cover 25 fits on the body 3 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 up to abut by its lower edge against a shoulder 26 formed on the external surface of the body 3, and it is provided superiorly in its center of a passage for the pusher 19.

The device 1 comprises a pocket 28, having a certain elasticity and appearing in the example described in the form of a bellows in the folded state delimiting inside the container 2 two spaces one of which is constituted by the above-mentioned interior space 23, contains product P, and the other, inside the bellows, carries the reference 29. The pocket 28 constitutes a deformable waterproof barrier separating spaces 23 and 29. The interior space 29 communicates by the openings 11 with the outside when the closure means 14 are removed, as shown in Figure 2.

The pocket 28 is fixed at its lower end to its periphery to container 2, so that the inside of the bellows communicates via the openings 11 with the ambient air. More precisely, the wall 28 is pinched at its lower end than its periphery between the tubular skirts 5 of the base 4 and 7 of the body 3. Preferably, as shown, the base 4 has a lip annular 30 coaxial with the tubular skirt 5 and defining with this last an annular groove 31 into which the end engages lower of the tubular skirt 7 of the body 3. The annular lip 30 improves the strength and tightness of the attachment of the pocket 28 on container 3 by pinching it against the surface radially internal of the tubular skirt 7. The wall of the pocket 28 pinched between the body 3 and the base 4 constitutes a seal ensuring a hermetic mounting of the body 3 on the base 4. Good understood, it is not going beyond the scope of the present invention by fixing the pocket 28 at its lower end at its periphery to the body 3 alone or at the base 4 alone, for example by welding.

The abovementioned closure means 14 are presented in the example described in the form of a cap or suction cup comprising a central housing retained by friction on the fixing foot 12. The wall radially delimiting this housing extends upwards by a sealing lip 32 extending obliquely radially towards the exterior and coming to be applied by its free end to the wall 10 around the openings 11 when the cap 14 is in place. This the latter is advantageously provided at its lower end, as shown, a tab 33 facilitating its removal.

Advantageously, the vacuum is created in the interior space 29 before fitting the cap 14 by sucking the air through openings 11 using an appropriate device to cause folding in on itself of the pocket 28, as shown in the Figure 1. The pocket 28 then occupies a reduced volume in the container 2.

In the example described, the pocket 28 is folded back on itself by suction through the openings 11 while the pump 18 and the cover 25 is not yet in place on container 2. Once pocket 28 folded, container 2 is filled with product under vacuum by the neck 16 then the pump 18 is slammed on the latter and the cover 25 is attached. As a variant, the pocket 28 is integral with the base 4 alone. The container 2 is filled before the base 4 is attached to the latter with the pocket 28 in the folded state. The filling is then carried out from the bottom, with the pump 18 already in place on the body 3. After filling, the base 4 provided with the pocket 28 kept in the folded state by the cap 14 is slammed on the body 3.

The pump 18 comprises a valve arranged in a manner known per se to allow product P to be taken up without re-entering the air through the tubing 21 in the container. if the user attempts to collect product P by pressing the pusher 19 while the cap 14 is still in place, the pump cannot function properly to distribute product. On the other hand, when the cap 14 is removed, the bag 28 can inflate in the container 2 to reduce the volume of the interior space 23, so that it cannot appear in the latter a depression opposing a product departure. At during use, the pocket 28 deploys upwards according to the axis of symmetry of the container 2 as shown in Figure 2. The pocket 28 can inflate thanks to the air inlet inside this through the openings 11 to occupy all the volume in the container 2 which is released by the product P.

The pocket 28 is made of an elastic material deformable such as rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer. We can use a blow molding technique, injection or dip molding in particular. The pocket 28 can also consist of an assembly of at least two layers of different plastics. The pocket 28 can still have a variable thickness allowing to favor the expansion of areas chosen from the pocket.

In the example described, the pocket 28 can be deployed to occupy up to approximately 80% of the volume initially occupied by the product P before its wall is stretched. It is then thanks to its elasticity as the wall of the pocket can stretch more so conform to the shape of the interior of the container and occupy the 20% of the initial volume remaining.

Given its attachment to the container at its periphery at its lower end, pocket 28, when it deforms elastically, is pressed first against the wall of the container 2 adjacent to the base 4. The pocket 28 then ensures by plating gradually on the container wall from bottom to top the ascent of the entire product P in the direction of the direct debit 21.

The aforementioned lateral openings 24, formed in the lower part of the tubing 21 of the pump 18, allow the lateral entry of product P in the tubing 21 and an operation of the device itself if the pocket 28 is applied against the lower end edge of tubing 21.

In an alternative embodiment not shown, the pocket 28 is internally provided with a lining of a non-material elastically deformable but very impermeable to gases such as polyethylene. The interior of the lining communicates with the air ambient through openings 11 and the lining can inflate to occupy a maximum of approximately 80% of the volume initially occupied by the product. Once the lining wall is stretched, the pocket deforms thanks to its own elasticity to occupy the 20% of the initial volume remaining, with the appearance of a depression in the interval between the pocket and its lining.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a device 40 according to a second embodiment of the invention.

In the following description, we will use signs of identical references for certain elements functionally analogous to those which have just been described above, and the description will not be repeated.

The device 40 differs from the previous one mainly by the fact that a valve 41 is arranged in the air passage making communicating the interior space 29 and the exterior. This valve 41 is shaped to allow air to enter the interior space 29 and prohibit an air outlet to the outside. Valve 41 does not opens only when air enters the pocket 28 when this last expands and forms with it when it is at rest in the closed state a double sealing barrier, favorable to long-term storage of the product contained in the container. The pocket 28 can, as in the previous embodiment, be swell until its wall tightens then deforms elastically to occupy, as shown in Figure 4, the almost all of the volume initially occupied by product P at distribute. The valve 41 includes a membrane 42 applied to its periphery on the base 4 and able to deform elastically for free an orifice 43 for the passage of air towards the interior space 29. The membrane 42 is applied to the base 4 by means of a piece of retainer 44 forming a tap, clicked on the base 4 with a possibility of rotation about the axis of symmetry of the container 2. The membrane 42 has at its periphery an annular rim 45 engaged in an annular groove 46 of the retaining piece 44. The base 4 is provided on its underside with an annular boss 47 pinching the membrane 42 at the base of the rim 45 to ensure maintenance waterproof membrane 42 at its periphery. The membrane 42 has a part 47 of hemispherical shape whose concavity is turned upwards, extended below by a shutter finger 48 suitable for applying to the edges of the aforementioned orifice 43, formed on the retaining part 44. The membrane 42 is shaped so that that the hemispherical part 47 is slightly pre-stressed at rest and elastically plate the closing finger 48 against the edges of orifice 43 to close it. The valve is thus, in the absence of use of the device 40, in a position closing the passage, communicating the interior space 29 with the outside.

The base 4 and the retaining piece 44 constitute a valve closing, in a determined angular position of the workpiece retainer 44, the passage communicating the orifice 43 and the space interior 29. The retaining part 44 comprises a part forming plug 49a engaged in a lower tubular extension 49b of the base 4.

For storage, the retaining piece 44 is turned so to close the air passage between the plug 49a and the part tubular 49b. The interior 29 of the pocket 28 is thus isolated from outside for a good conservation of the product. A film tearable can be fixed externally on two surfaces adjacent to the base 4 and the retaining piece 44 to serve as witness of inviolability. When said film is intact, the user knows that the inside of the pocket 28 has remained isolated from outside and that the normal operation of pump 18 has not been possible.

FIG. 5 shows a device 50 conforming to a third embodiment of the invention. These measures comprises a tap 51 which can take two angular positions. In a first angular position, the valve 51 can authorize a air passage between the interior space 29 and the exterior and, in a second angular position, the valve isolates the interior space 29 from outside. In the example described, the base 4 has in its part lower a tubular wall 52 closed at its lower end 53 and traversed radially by a bore 54. The tap 51 is retained by snap at 55 on the body 3 of the container 2 with a possibility of rotation about the latter's axis of symmetry. he has a housing 56 coming to engage closely on the wall tubular 52 of the base 4. A through hole 57, extending radially, opens at its radially innermost end in the housing 56 and can come, in said second position angle of the valve 51, opposite the bore 54 to establish a air passage with the latter and with the interior space 29. The tap 51 is provided, as shown in FIG. 5, with a membrane 58 able to close the hole 57 before the first use of the device. This membrane 58 is removably attached to the tap 51 and has a grip portion 59 allowing the user to remove it during the first use of the device. The pocket 28 is folded back on itself, creating a vacuum in the interior space 29. The membrane 58 advantageously plays the role of a valve when it is on tap 51 by deforming to allow the passage of air to the outside when putting under vacuum of the interior space 29 and by preventing the re-entry of air by reverse.

The operation of the device 50 is as follows. For the first use, the user positions the hole 57 of the tap 51 opposite the bore 54 of the base 4 and tears off the membrane 58. Removal of membrane 58 allows air to enter in the interior space 29. When the plunger 19 of the pump 18 is actuated, product P is taken from the interior space 23 and the pocket 28 deforms to compensate for the reduction in volume caused by the departure of product P. After use, to avoid on the one hand the flow of product P in the event of involuntary actuation of the pusher 19 and on the other hand improve the conservation of the product P, the user can close the hole 54 by turning the tap 51. The space interior 29 is then isolated from the exterior.

Partially shown in FIG. 6 is a third exemplary embodiment of a device 60 according to the invention. The device 60 comprises a tap 61 fitted with a first valve 62 authorizing in a first angular position of the valve 61 a air entering the interior space 29 and preventing the exit air from the latter. The valve 62 used is of any type known in itself and has only been shown schematically. It includes a shutter 63 able to move in tap 61 between a closing position of a passage 64 making the outside communicate with the interior space 29, and a position allowing a air circulation in this passage 64 towards space inside 29. The tap 61 is equipped with a second valve 65 allowing in a second angular position of the valve 61 a air outlet from interior space 29 and preventing reentry air in the latter. In the example described, the valve 65 is constituted by a membrane comprising a fixing part 66 integral with the tap 61. In the closed position, the valve 65 closes a channel 67 which extends radially in the tap 61 and which opens out at its radially innermost end into a housing 68 in which is engaged a tubular part 69 of the base 4. A end piece 70 is fixed in the tubular part 69. This end piece 70 is traversed by a channel 71 opening at its upper end into the interior space 29 and opening at its lower end, at the favor of a bore 72 passing through the wall of the tubular part 69, outside of the latter. In the second angular position above of the tap 61, shown in Figure 6, the channel 67 is located opposite the bore 72. The end piece 70 has one end crenellated upper, defining lateral openings 73 allowing air intake into the interior space 29 without risk closing the channel 71 by the pocket 28. The tap 61 is fixed by snap in 74 on the base 4.

To fold the pocket 28 back on itself, the tap 61 is positioned in said aforementioned second angular position and the vacuum is created in the interior space 29 by suction through channels 67 and 71. During suction, the valve 65 opens and allows the air outlet. Once the vacuum in the interior space 29 valve 65 closes and prevents the entry of air into this space. For storage, after filling the container, the tap can be rotated in an intermediate position between the two abovementioned angular positions, in which the bore 72 is closed by the wall of the housing 68 of the tap 61. For the first use, the valve 61 is rotated to position the passage 64 opposite the bore 72. The valve 62 can open to allow air to enter the interior space 29. The tap 61 is kept in this angular position during use of the device. It can be rotated again to isolate the space interior 29, during transport for example or for storage extended without use.

Of course, many modifications can be made to devices which have just been described without departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, the pump on the container so as to allow the use of product refills.

The pocket can be presented, as illustrated by FIG. 7, in the form of an elastic membrane 80 fixed at its periphery to the container wall, initially flat or slightly concave or convex towards the product, and able to deform elastically on a height of 15 to 20 mm for example to match the shape of the interior of the container in response to product departure.

Thanks to the invention, it is therefore possible to package the product in a relatively flat container 81, with rigid walls and equipped at its upper part of a pump 18 provided with a pusher 19.

The pocket has been represented in FIG. 7 by dotted lines in the position it occupies when the container is empty and in an intermediate position.

The pocket is almost stretched when the container is full and it no need to close the container at the bottom by a rigid wall intended to retain the pocket inside the container.

However, there is shown in Figure 7 a wall 82 closing the container at its lower end, pierced with an orifice 83 closed before use with a peelable film 84. The wall 82 and peelable film 84 allow the bag to be isolated from ambient air 80 before use, for better conservation of the product. For use, the peelable film 84 is removed. As a variant, the peelable film could be replaced by a self-breaking pin.

In addition, it is possible thanks to the tension of the pocket of condition the product when the container is full with a certain pressure, which facilitates priming of the pump.

The pocket may have a variable thickness so as to have more easily deformable areas than others, in order to favor one or more directions of deformation.

Claims (17)

1. Device for packaging and dispensing a liquid or pasty product (P), comprising a container (2) capable of containing the said product, this container having an outlet orifice for the product, equipped with a pump comprising a valve capable of letting product out without letting air in, the container comprising a pouch made of an elastically deformable material and delimiting within the container a space (23) containing the said product, the said pouch being capable of moving in the container in response to the letting-out of product in order to decrease the volume of the said space (23) and to keep the product stored from the air in the container, the said pouch being fixed at one end protected at its periphery to the container and being capable of deforming to decrease the volume of the said space (23) until it substantially matches the shape of the inside of the container, characterized in that the said pouch constitutes the end wall of the container.
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the pump is located at the top of the container during use.
3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pouch is capable of deploying initially without its wall becoming taut and then capable of expanding elastically.
4. Device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the said pouch is capable of deploying initially without its wall becoming taut so as to occupy more than half of the space initially occupied by the product, and the pouch is then capable of expanding elastically to occupy the remaining space freed by the product.
5. Device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the pouch has an internal lining made of a material which is not elastically deformable but is highly impermeable to gas, the said lining being capable of deploying to follow the deformation of the pouch until the wall thereof becomes taut.
6. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pouch is substantially taut when the container is full.
7. Device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the pouch is in the form of a substantially planar diaphragm.
8. Device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the container is shaped in such a way that when it is empty the pouch is moved over a height of 15 to 20 mm.
9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises shut-off means (14; 41, 44; 51, 58; 61, 65) capable of isolating the inside (29) of the pouch (28) from the ambient air at least before the device is used for the first time.
10. Device according to Claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a valve (41; 62) arranged in a vent which allows the inside (29) of the pouch (28) to communicate with the outside, this valve being shaped to allow air into the pouch and to prevent air from leaving towards the outside.
11. Device according to either of Claims 9 and 10, characterized in that the said pouch (28) is folded up on itself prior to use of the device by sucking out the air contained inside (29) the pouch.
12. Device according to any one of Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the said pouch (28) has the shape of a bellows in the folded-up state.
13. Device according to any one of Claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the said shut-off means comprise a tap (44; 51; 61) which has at least two positions, this tap being arranged in such a way that in one of the positions the tap prevents air from entering the pouch (28) and in the other position the tap allows air to enter the pouch (28).
14. Device according to Claim 13, characterized in that the said tap (61) is equipped with an air inlet valve (62) which, when the tap is in a first position, allows air to enter the pouch and prevents air from leaving it and with an air outlet valve (65) which, when the tap is in a second position, allows air to leave the pouch and prevents air from entering it.
15. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said shut-off means comprise a removable diaphragm (14; 58).
16. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said pouch (28) is secured to a base (4) that is to be snap-fitted onto the body (3) of the container.
17. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said pouch has a variable thickness so that it has areas that are more readily deformable than others, so as to give preference to one or more directions of deformation.

Images