EP1497036B1 - Distribution device for a fluid product - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a distribution device for a fluid product, comprising a product reservoir (10), means for distribution (20) for selective distribution of product contained in the reservoir (10), a distribution head (30) with a distribution orifice (31) and an operating system (40) for manual operation of said distribution means (20). The device comprises a cover (50) which can be displaced from a rest position in which the above covers the distribution orifice (31) and prevents operation of the distribution means (20) and an in-use position in which the distribution orifice (31) is exposed and operation of the distribution means (20) is possible. Said cover (50) is non-detachable and independent of the operating system.

Description

The present invention relates to a product dispensing device fluid or powder with manual operation.

Fluid or powder dispensing devices, particular to distribute products from the fields of pharmacy, cosmetics, perfumes or the like, generally include a product tank, a dispensing member, such as a pump, for dispensing the product contained in the tank, and a dispensing head incorporating a dispensing orifice. An actuation system is generally also provided for actuating said pump. A problem that can arise with fluid or powder dispensing devices of this type relates to the period of time between the end of the assembly of the device and the use proper by the user. During this time, avoid the dispensing orifice does not become dirty or dirty, and it is also necessary to avoid accidental actuation of the device. These problems are usually solved by providing a removable hood on the dispensing head, and a system of blocking the device preventing the accidental actuation thereof. This can for example be realized by means of a breakable band or a movable element to move before use. These systems, although effective, have a certain number of disadvantages. Thus, the removable hood may be lost when it is removed from the dispensing head, so that the problem of clogging of the dispensing orifice can again be installed after the first use, by example when the dispensing device is to be transported in a bag hand or similar. Similarly, job security systems, ie preventing accidental actuation of the device during storage or transport, can be complex and therefore expensive to carry out, and are not always absolutely reliable.

Document FR-2 750 406 discloses a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

The present invention aims to provide a dispensing device fluid or powdery product that does not reproduce the disadvantages above.

The present invention thus aims to provide a device for distribution of fluid or powdery product that protects the dispensing orifice and simultaneously prevents the actuation of the device at any time during periods of non-use of the device.

The present invention also aims to provide a device for distribution of fluid or powder that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, as well as easy to use.

The subject of the present invention is therefore a device for distributing fluid or powder product with manual operation as described in the claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments are described in the claims dependent.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective partiellement découpée d'un dispositif de distribution de produit fluide ou pulvérulent selon un premier mode de réalisation de la présente invention, en position de repos du capot,
• la figure 2 est une vue de détail du capot du dispositif de la figure 1, dans une position intermédiaire,
• la figure 3 est une vue schématique dudit premier mode de réalisation, en position d'utilisation du capot,
• la figure 4 est une vue schématique en perspective partiellement découpée d'un dispositif de distribution selon un second mode de réalisation de la présente invention, en position de repos du capot,
• la figure 5 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 4, en position intermédiaire du capot,
• la figure 6 est une vue similaire à celles des figures 4 et 5 en position d'utilisation du capot,
• la figure 7 est une vue schématique d'un autre mode de réalisation de l'invention, en position de repos du capot,
• la figure 8 est une vue selon la coupe D-D de la figure 7,
• la figure 9 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 7, en position d'utilisation du capot, et
• la figure 10 est une vue selon la coupe D-D de la figure 9.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly in the following detailed description of several embodiments thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, and on which

• FIG. 1 is a schematic partially cut-away perspective view of a fluid or powder dispenser device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in the hood rest position,
• FIG. 2 is a detail view of the cover of the device of FIG. 1, in an intermediate position,
• FIG. 3 is a schematic view of said first embodiment, in the use position of the cover,
• FIG. 4 is a schematic partially cut-away perspective view of a dispensing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in the hood rest position,
• FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4, in the intermediate position of the cover,
• FIG. 6 is a view similar to those of FIGS. 4 and 5 in the position of use of the cover,
• FIG. 7 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the invention, in the bonnet rest position,
• FIG. 8 is a view according to section DD of FIG. 7,
• FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7, in the use position of the cover, and
• FIG. 10 is a view according to section DD of FIG. 9.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, the product dispensing device fluid or powder according to the invention comprises a product reservoir 10 on which is assembled a dispensing pump 20 itself connected to a head of distribution 30 having a dispensing orifice 31. A system actuator 40 is provided for actuating said pump 20. According to the invention, the device comprises a captive cap 50 which is movable between a position of rest, shown in Figures 1 and 4, in which it covers the dispensing orifice 31 and prevents the actuation of the pump 20, and a position of use, shown in Figures 3 and 6, in which he discovers the dispensing orifice 31 and allows the actuation of the pump 20. By captive means a hood which at any time and in any position is connected to the dispensing device.

Figures 1 to 6 show two embodiments of the invention. according to the invention, the cover 50 is independent of the actuating system 40. other words, it is not on the hood 50 that the user will exert a force to actuate the pump, or more generally the distribution means.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment variant of such a system, wherein the dispensing device includes means for blocking 60 of the pump 20 which prevent the actuation thereof when the hood 50 is in the rest position. A movement of the cover 50 towards its position of use moves and / or deforms said locking means 60 to allow actuation of the pump by means of the actuating system 40. locking means 60 can be made in the form of elastic tabs, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, said tabs 60 preventing, in position resting the cover 50, a relative axial displacement between the dispensing head 30 and the reservoir 10, and thereby preventing an actuation of the pump 20. Advantageously, said tabs 60 may be integral with the head 30. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the cover 50 comprises a substantially cylindrical body 51 which surrounds the dispensing head 30 when the hood is in the rest position. The cover 50 further comprises a cover 52 which is movable relative to said body 51 of the cover, said cover 52 being opened by the user to firstly discover the dispensing orifice 31, as shown in Figure 2, and secondly to be able to move said hood 50 towards its position of use, shown in FIG. hood 50 to its position of use can be achieved by rotating the body 51 of the hood around the head 30, or alternatively by pressing on said cover Advantageously, said cover 50 may comprise one or more grooves in its side wall forming the body 51, said grooves being adapted to guide the movement of the hood towards its position of use. With reference to the 2, the cover 50 has two oblique grooves cooperating with corresponding ribs integral with the dispensing device, and which make when the user wishes to move the cover 50 towards its position of use, it rotates around the dispensing head 30 while moving axially in translation relative thereto to arrive at the position shown in Figure 6. It should be noted that the rotation can be performed in any direction, and that can be rotated either the hood 50 or the body 1 of the distributor, or both. In the use position of the figure 3, the body 51 of the hood 50 has displaced and / or deformed the elastic tabs 60 which blocked the actuation of the pump, so that the user, by actuating the actuating system 40, can dispense a dose of product. In the example shown, the actuating system 40 is formed by a lever pivoting lateral actuator 41, but any other operating system equivalent can be considered.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show another variant embodiment of the invention, in which the cover 50, when in the rest position, covers the system actuator 40, thereby preventing access to said actuating system 40 to the user. Thus, in the rest position of the hood 50, it is impossible to actuate the actuating system 40 and therefore the pump 20. Simultaneously, the dispensing orifice 31 is protected by said cover 50. In the example represented in FIGS. 4 to 6, the cover 50 comprises a body 51 substantially cylindrical and which surrounds in the rest position the dispensing head 30 and the actuating system 40, which in this case is an actuating system lateral having a button or lateral actuating element 41 on which the user must press to operate the pump. Advantageously, said hood 50 has a side wall 53 which covers said actuating element lateral 41 when the cover 50 is in the rest position, as shown in FIG. FIG. 4. The cover 50 also advantageously comprises a cover 52 which is movable relative to said body 51, preferably so that it opens automatically to discover the dispensing orifice 31 when the user moves the cover 50 to its position of use. Thus, with reference to FIGS. and 5, it is visible that when the user moves the hood 50 out of its position resting position shown in Figure 4, the movable cover 52 cooperates with the head 30 by being progressively opened by it during its move to its position of use. This is achieved especially because in this embodiment, the cover 50 moves in rotation around the distribution head 30 and around said actuating system 40, this rotation causing an axial displacement of said cover 50 with respect to said head of 30. This can advantageously be achieved by means of ribs and / or grooves provided in the inner wall of the body 51 of the hood 50 and cooperating with corresponding ribs and / or grooves provided on the body 1 of the fluid dispensing device, as is visible on the FIGS. 4 to 6. Thus, the user moves the hood 50 in rotation, which causes axial movement downwardly of said hood relative to said head, so that said head 30 pushes the cover 52 in the open position shown in Figure 6. Again, the rotation can be performed in a direction, and you can turn the hood, the body of the dispenser, or both to effect movement of said hood. In the position of use of FIG. 6, the actuating element 41 is accessible to the user, and the dispensing head 30 is discovered, so that the user can operate the pump 20 and dispense a dose of product.

Figures 7 to 10 show another embodiment of the invention, in which the dispensing means 20 are spraying means electrostatic or piezoelectric electronically controlled. The system actuator 40 comprises an actuating button 41, advantageously arranged on one side of the body 1. Locking elements 80, such as tabs, block said actuating button 41. These tabs 80 are movable electronically from the blocking position shown in FIG. release position shown in Figure 10. This displacement, and possibly the reverse movement, is controlled by means electronics 70 advantageously connected to a contactor 71. This contactor 71 comes into contact with the captive hood 50 when it arrives in its position of use, which disables said locking tabs 80 and moves them towards their liberation position. The user can then press the button actuator 41 for dispensing a dose of product. When the hood 50 is brought back to its rest position, there is no longer any contact between the hood 50 and the contactor 71, and the tabs 80 return to their blocking position. Good understood, alternative embodiments are possible, the blocking of the device can be achieved in any way, as long as the cover 50, in position of use, disables this blocking.

In all the embodiments described above, the hood 50 can have elastic return means which bring it back to its position of rest after use of the device. Alternatively, we could consider that it is the user himself who manually returns said hood to its position of rest. On the other hand, the invention has been described with reference to fluid or powder product distribution in which the direction of distribution is axial with respect to the central axis of the pump and the reservoir, but it applies equally well to all types of dispensing devices, and in particular those having a dispensing head having a direction of radial distribution. Moreover, although the present invention is particularly suitable for fluid dispensing device or with a lateral actuation system, it is not limited to this type of system, and applies instead to all types of systems appropriate actuation.

Although the invention has been described with reference to several modes of particular realization of it, it is understood that it is not limited to these embodiments, and that one skilled in the art can bring all useful modifications without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (13)

1. A manually-actuated device for dispensing a fluid in liquid or powder form and that comprises a fluid reservoir (10), dispensing means (20) for selectively dispensing the fluid contained in the reservoir (10), a dispensing head (30) provided with a dispensing orifice (31), and an actuating system (40) for manually actuating said dispensing means (20), said device being provided with a cap (50) mounted to move between a rest position, in which it covers the dispensing orifice (31) and prevents the dispensing means (20) from being actuated, and an in-use position, in which it uncovers the dispensing orifice (31) and enables the dispensing means (20) to be actuated, said cap (50) being a captive cap and independent from the actuating system (40), characterized in that said actuating system (40) comprises a side actuating element (41).
2. A device according to claim 1, in which said device is provided with locking means (60) for locking the dispensing means (20), which locking means prevent said dispensing means (20) from being actuated, said cap (50) moving and/or deforming said locking means (60) when it is moved into its in-use position to enable the dispensing means (20) to be actuated.
3. A device according to claim 2, in which said locking means (60) are resilient tabs (60) which, when the cap (50) is in the rest position, prevent the dispensing head (30) and the reservoir (10) from moving relative to each other, said tabs (60) being deformed by the cap (50) when it is in the in-use position.
4. A device according to any preceding claim, in which said cap (50) comprises a substantially cylindrical body (51) that surrounds the dispensing head (30) when the cap is in the rest position, and a cover (52) mounted to move relative to said body (51), said cover (52) being opened by the user firstly to uncover the dispensing orifice (31), and secondly to move said cover (50) into its in-use position.
5. A device according to any preceding claim, in which said cap (50) is moved axially in translation and/or in rotation relative to said dispensing head (30).
6. A device according to claim 1, in which, when the cap (50) is in the rest position, it covers the actuating system (40), thereby preventing access to said actuating system (40).
7. A device according to claim 6, in which said cap (50) comprises a substantially cylindrical body (51) which, when the cap is in the rest position, surrounds the dispensing head (30) and the actuating system (40), and a cover (52) mounted to move relative to said body (51), said cover (52) opening automatically to uncover the dispensing orifice (31) when the user moves said cap (50) towards its in-use position.
8. A device according to claim 7, in which said cap (50) is moved in rotation about said dispensing head (30) and about said actuating system (40), this movement in rotation causing said cap (50) to be moved axially relative to said dispensing head (30).
9. A device according to any preceding claim, in which said cap (50) has a side wall (53) covering said side actuating element (41) when said cap is in the rest position.
10. A device according to any preceding claim, in which said dispensing means (20) are implemented in the form of a pump that is actuated manually.
11. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in which said dispensing means (20) comprise piezoelectric or electrostatic spray means, the device including electronic means (70) for enabling and/or for disabling actuation of said dispensing means (20), said electronic means (70) being activated and/or deactivated by said cap (50).
12. A device according to claim 11, in which locking elements (80) co-operate with the actuating system (40), said locking elements (80) being mounted to move between an locking position and a release position, and being moved between these positions by said electronic means (70).
13. A device according to claim 12, in which said locking elements are tabs (80) for locking the actuating button (41) of the device, said electronic means (70) comprising a contactor (71) that comes into contact with the captive cap (50) when said cap is in the in-use position, said contactor (71) causing said tabs (80) to move into their release position when it is contact with said captive cap.

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