EP0385896B1 - Dispenser body, dispenser having such a body and cap therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a dispenser body (1) comprising a casing (3), which has a base (4) and side wall (5), and a cap (2) fitted tightly to the top (12) of said side wall (5) of the casing (3), characterised in that this cap (2) is made of a plastics material and has an annular covering (8) of minimal thickness of between 1.2 and 4 mm and also two annular portions, lower and upper (7 and 9), allowing this dome (2) to be fitted tightly, on the one hand, over said side wall (5, 12) and, on the other hand, to dispensing means. Said attaching portions (7, 9) are extensions of said annular covering (8) and delimit it. <??>The invention also relates to dispensers having this kind of dispenser body (1) and the corresponding cap (2). It is of application in the fields of cosmeticology, pharmaceuticals, hygiene and foods. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a preassembled dispenser body, to which dispensing means will typically be attached consisting of an aerosol valve or a pump surmounted by a dispensing nozzle for a liquid or creamy product. The invention also relates to dispensers comprising such a body and the dome used.

As the document FR-A-2606686 indicates, there is already known a metal dispenser box of the aerosol type produced in one piece by impact spinning from an aluminum or alloy pellet, then by forming the end. upper open of its cylindrical body in a narrowed part or dome usually surmounted by a rolled edge. This housing will then be filled with liquid or creamy product, and the dispensing valve will be fixed at its top by crimping the fixing cup of this valve around the previous rolled edge. In this design, the narrowing of the upper end made in several passes is complicated.

A housing body according to the preamble of claim 1 and an annular dome according to the preamble of claim 22 are also known from document FR-A-2735550.

There are also cases typically made of tinplate, the body of which is cylindrical, the bottom being crimped, and the valve fixing cup being itself crimped at the upper end of the body after filling with product.

These metal / metal crimps involve corrosion risks despite the coatings.

The Applicant has sought to develop a distributor body which is easier to manufacture and does not lead to corrosion risks linked to its assembly into a distributor.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The first object of the invention is a dispenser body according to claim 1 consisting of a housing which has a bottom and a side wall, and a dome sealingly attached to the upper end of said side wall of the housing. According to the invention, this dome is made of plastic and comprises an annular veil of minimum thickness between 1.2 and 4 mm as well as two lower and upper annular portions allowing the fixing of this dome respectively on said side wall by direct axial fitting of said lower portion, and to distribution means, said fixing portions extending and framing said annular web.
This plastic dome is rigid and its thickness is chosen so that it resists both handling shocks and internal pressure when it is a body for an aerosol dispenser. The dome is in itself a molded part simple to manufacture and light, its open shape at the base allows the use of a tubular body of the housing or a side wall of the housing, the upper end of which is slightly constricted into an annular portion. usually straight, i.e. generators of axial directions, or in a portion with a rolled edge.

Compared to the case of a metal case made in one piece with a domed neck of its upper end, the thickness of the side wall of a metal case of a dispensing body according to the invention may not be so only 0.5 times to 0.65 times what it should be in this case known from a one-piece dome shrunk to withstand a given pressure, which is a surprising result and of great economic advantage. In the case of a housing with a shrunk dome of the prior art, the thickness of the wall, or at least the thickness of its upper part, is in fact provided as a function of the deformation with shrinkage, and this thickness is then typically 1.5 to 1.8 times the thickness that would be required to withstand the only pressure. The weak shrinkage of the end of the housing in the case of the invention makes it possible to avoid the additional thickness thus linked to the deformation with significant shrinkage and provides a surprising saving in metal.
The housing can also be made of plastic. In the preassembled distribution body and in the distributor obtained with this body, there are only tight metal / plastic and possibly plastic / plastic assemblies, which eliminates the risks of corrosion which were linked to metal / metal crimps in prior art.

Throughout the description, "axial" relates to the direction of the axis of the tubular body or of the side wall of the distributor supposed to be upright, so that "the top" and the "bottom" are respectively turned towards the distribution means and towards the bottom of the case. "Metal / plastic" refers multilayer materials comprising at least one metallic layer and one plastic surface layer.

The plastic dome is tightly fixed on the upper end of the tubular body of the housing, according to methods well suited to mass production and falling under the following principles: bonding; welding of a connecting piece; production of a plastic lock either by injection inside the rolled edge surmounting the tubular body, or by rotation welding (= by friction) of a plastic part trapped by said rolled edge; friction welding on the upper end of the housing in the case of a plastic housing. These various methods and the resulting arrangements will be illustrated by the examples. There are thus obtained, according to a variety of embodiments of the distributor bodies, the upper ends of which will be fixed in leaktight manner to the fixing cup of the valve or of the distribution pump, typically by crimping on the externally bulged upper end. of the annular dome.

The annular dome is usually one of the materials of the group formed by: polyamides, polycarbonates, polyesters, polyacetal, polypropylene and polyethylene.

To meet the imperative of resistance to internal pressure in the case of aerosols, for example an internal pressure of 1.2 MPa, or to that of resistance to depression in the case of distributors equipped with a pump without return d air, the annular veil of the annular dome has a minimum thickness preferably between 1.5 and 3 mm, and more preferably between 1.7 and 2.5 mm.

The molding of the dome makes it possible to easily obtain an asymmetrical annular veil, the geometry of the dome then being adapted to a distribution of oblique or lateral direction. An example is given on this subject.

In the frequent case of a metal case, this is typically made of aluminum or alloy or tinplate, both of which can be coated with plastic and / or varnish and it is typically either '' a box with a metallic bottom, spun or stamped or stamped-drawn, or a box with a sealed crimped metal bottom.

• . ⌀ 33mm à < 47 mm : épaisseur 0,15 à 0,20 mm (0,30 à 0,35 mm)
• . ⌀ 47mm à < 55 mm : épaisseur 0,20 à 0,25 mm (0,35 à 0,4 mm)
• . ⌀ 55mm à 80 mm : épaisseur 0,25 à 0,35 mm (0,4 à 0,6 mm).

For all of the above cases and typically in the case of a metal casing of Al or Al alloy, the constriction of the upper end of the tubular body typically corresponds to a difference between overall diameter of the body and internal diameter of its reduced upper opening, ranging from 4 mm to at most 12 mm, and the thickness of the side wall is reduced as already indicated, corresponding as follows to the outside diameter of this wall, the thicknesses in parentheses relating to a tubular body spun from l prior art:

• . ⌀ 33mm to <47mm: thickness 0.15 to 0.20mm (0.30 to 0.35mm)
• . ⌀ 47mm to <55mm: thickness 0.20 to 0.25mm (0.35 to 0.4mm)
• . ⌀ 55mm to 80mm: thickness 0.25 to 0.35mm (0.4 to 0.6mm).

These shrinkage and thickness values are also valid for the tinplate housings used according to the invention.

The low shrinkage and the remarkable economy of metal associated with it are considerable advantages of the new structure of the distributor body according to the invention.

For the bodies used in pump dispensers, it is possible to associate with a housing without a metallic or metal / plastic or plastic bottom, an attached foot that is either waterproof or allowing air to pass when a sliding piston is used. A particularly interesting added foot is described in Example 10.

The second object of the invention is a dispenser according to claim 17 comprising a dispenser body with an annular plastic dome according to the invention, according to any one of its embodiments, as well as dispensing means comprising either a valve dispensing an aerosol, either a low or no return air pump equipped with a dispensing or spraying nozzle for a liquid or a cream, the flange or cup for fixing said valve or pump being tightly crimped on the outwardly swollen upper end of said annular dome.

• des distributeurs à valve de distribution d'un produit aérosol, le boîtier du corps de distributeur ayant un fond étanche monobloc ou serti, d'une rigidité suffisante;
• des distributeurs à pompe, la pompe étant de préférence sans retour d'air pour une meilleure conservation des produits :

• a) le boîtier du corps n'ayant pas de fond ou un fond rapporté (= fond serti ou pied rapporté) qui laisse passer l'air, ce boîtier comprenant un piston glissant qui est introduit par l'extrémité inférieure du boîtier avant la mise en place éventuelle du fond;
• b) le boîtier du corps ayant un fond pas ou peu démontable et laissant passer l'air, ce boîtier étant métallique ou métal/plastique et son fond étant habituellement monobloc (boîtier embouti et étiré), ce boîtier comprenant un piston glissant qui y a été introduit par son extrémité haute, cette extrémité ayant ensuite été rétreinte pour l'emboîtage de fixation du dôme annulaire en matière plastique;
• c) le boîtier du corps ayant un fond étanche, non démontable ou un fond rapporté étanche, le pompage se faisant à volume intérieur fixe du distributeur, et la tubulure ou l'orifice d'aspiration de la pompe étant munie d'un tube plongeur, cette pompe est une pompe sans retour d'air.

The main types of distributors according to the invention are thus:

• dispensers with a valve for dispensing an aerosol product, the case of the dispenser body having a one-piece or crimped waterproof bottom, of sufficient rigidity;
• pump distributors, the pump preferably being without air return for better product conservation:

• a) the housing of the body having no bottom or an added bottom (= crimped bottom or attached foot) which allows air to pass, this box comprising a sliding piston which is introduced by the lower end of the box before setting where applicable from the bottom;
• b) the housing of the body having a bottom which is not or hardly removable and allowing air to pass through, this box being metallic or metal / plastic and its bottom being usually in one piece (pressed and drawn box), this box comprising a sliding piston which has was introduced by its upper end, this end having then been constricted for the fixing socket for the annular plastic dome;
• c) the body casing having a sealed, non-removable bottom or a sealed attached bottom, the pumping being carried out at a fixed internal volume of the distributor, and the tubing or the suction orifice of the pump being provided with a dip tube , this pump is a pump without air return.

Note that when the housing has an attached foot, the filling of the product can be done by the lower end of the body: before fitting the piston and then the attached foot in case (a), before the only fitting of the stand added in the latter case (c), the dispensing means being already fixed by crimping. Filling through the upper opening of the dome is necessary or usual in all other cases, it can also be practiced in the previous cases (a) and (c) after fixing the attached foot.

The third object of the invention is finally the annular dome itself according to claim 22, which has a structure particularly suitable for its attachment to the tubular body and for the attachment of the dispenser distribution means. Its upper annular end is swollen externally, forming a crimping ring, and its lower end portion is wider and has an open annular groove, of profile at least partially semicircular, allowing the rolled edge to be fitted a housing. Its annular veil has a minimum thickness of between 1.2 and 4 mm and is framed by the swollen upper end and by the lower end portion. The lower end portion may comprise, in place of a groove, a skirt comprising an annular vertical inner surface which makes it possible to fit, with a clearance typically less than 0.1 mm in diameter, the right narrowed annular portion of the tubular body of plastic or metal externally coated with plastic of a housing, for its tight connection to this end portion by gluing or welding (typically by induction, ultrasound or rotation). The annular dome typically has a minimum thickness of annular value of between 1.5 and 3 mm, and preferably between 1.7 and 2.5 mm, and is made of one of the plastics indicated above, the choice of polyethylene leading to preferably choose its varieties with high or medium density.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

• . faible rétreint du corps tubulaire métallique quel que soit le diamètre de fixation de la valve ou pompe, le dôme en matière plastique faisant l'essentiel de la réduction entre diamètre du corps tubulaire et ce diamètre de fixation;
• . fabrication plus facile et plus économique du boîtier, que ce soit avec la solution filée ou avec les autres solutions décrites;
• . standardisation du boîtier quand le diamètre de fixation de la valve varie, le dôme étant seul adapté;
• . forte réduction de l'épaisseur de la paroi latérale du boîtier, typiquement de 35 à 50% relatif;
• . forte réduction des risques de corrosion à l'endroit des fixations étanches, des contacts locaux matière plastique/métal étant seuls possibles;
• . simplicité et fiabilité des méthodes d'assemblage;
• . simplicité de fabrication du boîtier métallique ou en matière plastique ou métal/plastique, en utilisant un pied rapporté spécial, dans le cas d'un distributeur à pompe.

They are summarized as follows:

• . small constriction of the metallic tubular body whatever the fixing diameter of the valve or pump, the plastic dome making the bulk of the reduction between the diameter of the tubular body and this fixing diameter;
• . easier and more economical manufacturing of the box, whether with the extruded solution or with the other solutions described;
• . standardization of the housing when the valve fixing diameter varies, the dome being the only suitable one;
• . sharp reduction in the thickness of the side wall of the housing, typically from 35 to 50% relative;
• . significant reduction in the risk of corrosion at the location of the waterproof fasteners, only local plastic / metal contacts being possible;
• . simplicity and reliability of assembly methods;
• . simple manufacturing of the metal or plastic or metal / plastic housing, using a special attached foot, in the case of a pump dispenser.

All these advantages are linked to the dissociation between the roles of the various elements of the dispenser operated by the invention. The dome resists internal or external pressure and operates the diameter variation between the housing and the distribution means. The tubular body of the housing resists this same pressure, with a monobloc or attached bottom. The waterproof fixings are preferably metal / plastic.

EXAMPLES

• . Figure 1 shows a dispenser body according to the invention, in axial section.
• . FIG. 2 represents a pump distributor obtained from a distributor body of the same type, in axial section.

• . Les figures 4 à 6 représentent différents modes d'assemblage étanche du boîtier et du dôme du corps de distributeur, en demi-coupe axiale.
• . La figure 7 représente un corps de distributeur, dont le dôme est muni sur sa face envers d'un insert formant barrière pour les parfums, en demi-coupe axiale.
• . La figure 8 représente l'assemblage étanche d'un boîtier en matière plastique et d'un dôme, en demi-coupe axiale, ainsi que le cas où ce boîtier est métallique.
• . La figure 9 représente l'assemblage d'un autre boîtier en matière plastique et d'un dôme, en demi-coupe axiale.
• . La figure 10 représente le bas d'un boîtier muni d'un pied rapporté spécial, en demi-coupe axiale.
• . La figure 11 représente un dôme à ouverture de sortie latérale, en coupe axiale.

FIG. 3 represents a distributor with a sliding piston pump obtained from another pre-assembled body, the distribution means not being cut and the body of the distributor being represented in two axial half-sections: on the right in the state filled and left in the emptied state at the end of use.

• . Figures 4 to 6 show different sealed assembly modes of the housing and the dome of the distributor body, in axial half-section.
• . FIG. 7 shows a dispenser body, the dome of which is provided on its reverse side with an insert forming a barrier for perfumes, in axial half-section.
• . Figure 8 shows the sealed assembly of a plastic housing and a dome, in axial half-section, as well as the case where this housing is metallic.
• . Figure 9 shows the assembly of another plastic housing and a dome, in axial half-section.
• . Figure 10 shows the bottom of a housing with a special attached foot, in axial half-section.
• . FIG. 11 represents a dome with lateral outlet opening, in axial section.

Example 1

The part (dome + housing) 1 or distributor body 1 of FIG. 1 comprises a dome 2 made of high density polyethylene (PE.HD) and a housing 3 made of aluminum alloy with a 4-piece base obtained by stamping-drawing.
The dome 2 comprises at its upper end an external bulge 7 of external diameter 20 mm constituting a crimping ring 7 of the distribution means. It further comprises below this ring 7 a veil 8 of 2.3mm thickness which is substantially constant, then an enlarged lower circular portion 9, of external diameter 45 mm and internal diameter 39 mm, comprising at its end an open circular groove 10 of semi-circular profile with a radius of 1.5mm in axial section and an average diameter of 42mm. The total height of dome 2 is 18mm.
The housing 3 has a thickness of cylindrical body 5 of 0.25 mm and a constricted opening 11 of diameter 36.5 mm surmounted by a rolled edge 12 over approximately 150 ° of external radius 1.3 mm. The fixing of the dome 2 to the rolled edge 12 was made by surface oxidation of the circular groove 10 of the dome 2 (Corona treatment) and bonding with cyanoacrylate glue of this groove 10 fitted on the rolled edge 12 and held in a little support more than 30 seconds while the glue is drying. The bonding technique used is the result of tests described below.

Other known methods for treating the surface of the plastic groove 10 can be used, for example a flame treatment or with a shaped electrode (Corona effect).

The housing 3 is intended for an aerosol application and its bottom 4 comprises an orifice for introducing a pressurized propellant gas and a plug 13 for sealing off this orifice.

Bonding tests

• . PA 12 (= Rilsan ®)
• . PA 6 (= Nylon ®)
• . PE-HD
• . PE linéaire

ces dômes étant collés sur des bords roulés d'extrémité supérieure de boîtiers en alliage d'aluminium, avec des familles de colle :

• . une colle silicone "Rhodorseal 5552" ( (R))
• . 3 colles cyanoacrylate :

n° 406 Loctite (®)
n° 202 Cyanolit (®)
n° 208 Cyanolit (®).The previous arrangement (Figure 1) was the subject of a set of bonding tests, concerning domes of different materials:

• . PA 12 (= Rilsan ®)
• . PA 6 (= Nylon ®)
• . PE-HD
• . Linear PE

these domes being glued to the rolled edges of the upper end of aluminum alloy housings, with families of glue:

• . a silicone adhesive "Rhodorseal 5552" ((R))
• . 3 cyanoacrylate adhesives:

n ° 406 Loctite (®)
n ° 202 Cyanolit (®)
No. 208 Cyanolit (®).

The observations made can be summarized as follows: the plastic surfaces must preferably be prepared by surface oxidation such as flame or Corona effect, and the aluminum surfaces must preferably be previously varnished, these adhesives do not give not a satisfactory adhesion on bare aluminum. Silicone glue requires pressing times of 1 to 2 min and ambient drying times greater than 24 h. The three cyanoacrylate adhesives give similar results: the pressing times can be limited to 5 to 10 seconds, and the parts can be handled after 30 seconds to 1 minute at room temperature. These cyanoacrylate adhesives are therefore much preferable for industrial application.

Example 2

A distributor body 1 identical to the body 1 of FIG. 1 with the exception of the bottom 40 of its housing 53 which is sealed, was used to manufacture a pump distributor 14 (FIG. 2). For this, the metal fixing cup 15 of the pump 16 was crimped with a seal 150, which is here surmounted by a diffuser 17 on the bulged upper end 7 of the dome 2. This pump 16 is here a pump without air return, that is to say without communication between the inside and the outside of the container as known from documents EP-A-0143183 and EP-A-0251863, which allows good preservation of the product contained. To obtain a satisfactory distribution of the liquid or the cream which is contained in the dispenser, the inlet tubing of the pump 16 is provided with a dip tube 43 descending towards the bottom 40 of the housing 3 the initial filling of the product contained being limited to 70% of the interior volume. In fact, tests have shown that, with full 80% and more, the pumps without air return used do not work satisfactorily, and that with full 70%, the operation was always satisfactory. These tests make it possible to conclude that a maximum filling of 75% must be respected in the scope of the present invention (capacities typically less than 1 liter) to obtain distributions without incident, the preferred fillings being from 60 to 75 %.

Example 2a

Another dispenser body, identical to the body 100 of the second example, is used to obtain a dispenser 14 ′ of aerosol product according to the following modification (fig. 2): the pump 16 is replaced by a valve 16 ′ for aerosol attached to the bulged end 7 of the dome 2 by crimping its fixing cup which is similar to the cup 15 of the pump. The distributor body 1 can thus have, as it is, two types of use.

Example 3

We took a blank 44 stamped-drawn case identical to that used for the housing 3 of Figure 1, with an external diameter 45 mm and having on its bottom 4 one piece a through hole 130 here serving as air passage for use. A sliding piston 45 was introduced from the top of this housing blank 44 and it was pushed back to the bottom 4 of this blank 44. The upper face of this piston 45 has a well 46 enveloping the pump fairly closely. 16 at the end of use, ensuring good emptying of liquid. With the piston 45 thus introduced, the upper end of the blank 44 has been narrowed into a circular cylindrical portion 47 with a diameter of 40 mm and a height of 10 mm, obtaining the housing 3 used for the preassembled body 100.
In addition, an annular dome 122 made of PA12 was prepared by molding, the upper end 7 of which, as well as the thickness and the inclination of the annular veil 8, are geometrically similar to those of the dome 2 in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the lower fixing portion 48 consists of a straight circular end skirt 48, the inner cylindrical surface 49 of diameter 40.1 mm fits with a slight clearance around the constricted end 47 of the housing 3.
The dome 122 was then glued with cyanoacrylate adhesive on the constricted end 47 of the housing, according to the technique described in Example 1, obtaining the preassembled distributor body 200.
After filling with water, a non-return pump 16 identical to that of FIG. 2 was fixed by crimping to the end 7 of the dome 122, as in Example 2. This pump 16 is of the type "VP7" from ESTABLISHMENTS VALOIS (France).
The emptying of the distributor obtained 140 by actuation of the pump 16 by acting on the diffuser 17 which overcomes it was obtained without any difficulty, the cutting of the distributor 140 emptied made it possible to note the final position of the sliding piston 45, the front of which 50 fits with a slight clearance inside the constriction 47 and the veil 8 of the dome 122 and envelops the pump 16, providing emptying better than 97%.

Examples 4 to 6

• . La figure 4 représente la fixation d'un dôme 2 de même géométrie que dans les trois premiers exemples, sur un boîtier identique au boîtier de la figure 1 à l'aide d'une pièce annulaire de liaison 18 compatible à la fois avec la matière plastique du dôme 2 -ici du PE.HD- et le métal du boîtier 3 -ici de l'aluminium faiblement allié-. Cette pièce 18 d'épaisseur 0,2mm est en complexe contenant la même polyoléfine que celle du dôme 2, c'est-à-dire du PE, et de l'EAA; son bord extérieur est encliqueté sur l'extrémité du bord roulé 12, et après la mise en place du dôme 2 venant s'appliquer par sa gorge circulaire 10 sur la pièce de liaison 18, le soudage est effectué par l'une des méthodes suivantes : par induction haute fréquence, par rotation, ou encore par ultrasons en modifiant la forme du dôme pour l'appui du transducteur ultrasonore.
• . Sur la figure 5 on voit que le dôme 2, mis en place par sa gorge circulaire 10 sur le bord roulé 12 du boîtier 3, a une extrémité de gorge circulaire 10 dépassant d'environ 1 mm l'extrémité du bord roulé 12, sans obstruer l'intérieur de ce bord roulé 12. Par injection annulaire de matière plastique de même nature que celle du dôme, ici du PE, on remplit au moins partiellement la cavité intérieure du bord roulé 12 en faisant fondre partiellement la jupe extérieure 19 du dôme 2 bordant l'extrémité de la gorge circulaire 10, cette jupe 19 ayant à cet endroit 1 mm d'épaisseur. On obtient une liaison soudée étanche de bonne qualité qui prolonge la jupe 19. De façon générale, l'extrémité 19 du dôme 2 ainsi solidarisée par le moulage doit venir au voisinage de l'extrémité du bord roulé, soit moins de 0,5 mm avant cette extrémité ou un peu plus loin laissant au moins 1mm de passage vers l'intérieur du bord roulé 12.
• . Le mode de fixation de la figure 6 utilise une pièce annulaire de forme 20 en matière plastique de même nature que celle du dôme 2, dont le haut n'est pas représenté, cette pièce 20 étant mise en place sur l'épaule ou portion rétreinte 21 du boîtier située avant le roulage de son bord d'extrémité. Cette pièce 20, ici en PE comme le dôme 2, comporte une base 22 s'appuyant sur cette épaule 21 du boîtier 3, une portion supérieure 23 qui va être sertie comme représenté par le roulage 12 du bord d'extrémité supérieure du boîtier 3, ainsi que une ou plusieurs surfaces, ici les deux surfaces verticale 24 et horizontale 25, venant au contact de la jupe extérieure 19 du dôme 2. Les mises en place de la pièce de forme 20, du bord roulé 12 et du dôme 2 étant faites, la fixation étanche est effectuée par soudage par rotation des portées annulaires 24 et 25 contre la portion annulaire 26 du dôme 2. La fixation peut aussi être faite en soudage par induction HF ou par ultrasons.

Various methods can be used in series production for fixing the dome 2 to the housing 3. The methods which relate to metal housings, typically aluminum or tinplate of thickness 0.2mm to 0.6mm, the distributors being pressurized or no, are commented below in relation to FIGS. 3 to 5.

• . FIG. 4 represents the fixing of a dome 2 of the same geometry as in the first three examples, on a housing identical to the housing of FIG. 1 using an annular connecting piece 18 compatible both with the material plastic from dome 2 - here from PE.HD - and the metal from housing 3 - here from low alloy aluminum -. This piece 18 of 0.2mm thickness is in complex containing the same polyolefin as that of the dome 2, that is to say of the PE, and of the EAA; its outer edge is snapped onto the end of the rolled edge 12, and after the positioning of the dome 2 which is applied by its circular groove 10 to the connecting piece 18, the welding is carried out by one of the following methods : by high frequency induction, by rotation, or by ultrasound by modifying the shape of the dome to support the ultrasonic transducer.
• . In Figure 5 we see that the dome 2, set up by its circular groove 10 on the rolled edge 12 of the housing 3, has a circular groove end 10 projecting by about 1 mm from the end of the rolled edge 12, without obstruct the interior of this rolled edge 12. By annular injection of plastic material of the same kind as that of the dome, here of PE, the interior cavity of the rolled edge 12 is at least partially filled by partially melting the outer skirt 19 of the dome 2 bordering the end of the circular groove 10, this skirt 19 having at this location 1 mm thick. A good quality sealed welded connection is obtained which extends the skirt 19. In general, the end 19 of the dome 2 thus joined by the molding must come near the end of the rolled edge, ie less than 0.5 mm. before this end or a little further leaving at least 1mm of passage towards the inside of the rolled edge 12.
• . The fixing method of FIG. 6 uses an annular piece of plastic shape 20 of the same kind as that of the dome 2, the top of which is not shown, this piece 20 being placed on the shoulder or constricted portion 21 of the housing located before rolling its end edge. This part 20, here in PE like the dome 2, has a base 22 resting on this shoulder 21 of the housing 3, an upper portion 23 which will be crimped as shown by the rolling 12 of the upper end edge of the housing 3 , as well as one or more surfaces, here the two vertical 24 and horizontal 25 surfaces, coming into contact with the outer skirt 19 of the dome 2. The positioning of the shaped part 20, the rolled edge 12 and the dome 2 being made, waterproof fixing is carried out by welding by rotation of the annular surfaces 24 and 25 against the annular portion 26 of the dome 2. The fixing can also be made by welding by HF induction or by ultrasound.

Example 7

Before its attachment to a housing 3, the dome 2 (fig. 7) of the same geometry as the previous domes 2, was fitted during its molding with an annular washer 27 with a barrier effect. This washer 27 is welded to the reverse side 28 of the dome 2 by a large face 29 and retained at its base by a small annular bead of plastic material 30. It generally has surface layers of polyolefin compatible with the polyolefin of the dome and an intermediate layer of AI or barrier plastic. For the washer 27, a 0.28 mm thick metalloplastic complex was used here comprising 5 layers, ie 2 outer layers of PE-BD each of 90 μm thickness, framing 2 intermediate layers of 30 μm in copolymer adhesive based on EAA with a central layer of aluminum 40 µm thick.

Example 8 (fig. 8)

The housing 3 of FIG. 8 is made of plastic, here PE-HD 0.6 mm thick in its cylindrical part. This molded housing 3 has a cylindrical upper end 47 of reduced outside diameter 40mm, while the dome 112 has at its lower end a straight skirt 48 whose cylindrical inner surface of diameter 39.8mm fits tightly the end 47. The fixing is then done by rotary welding (friction welding).
As a variant, the fixing is made by gluing, the straight skirt 19 having a diameter of 40.2mm and the end 47 preferably comprising slight depressions in which the adhesive is retained, depressions connected together by hollows forming bridges and having a depth typical 0.03 to 0.08 mm.

Example 8a (fig. 8 )

The same structure is used for fixing a plastic dome 122 on the constricted end 47 of a metal case 3. A connecting ring 118 of the same kind as the connecting piece 18 of Example 4 (fig .4) is then placed around the end 47 and the welding is typically carried out by HF induction or by rotation. The inside diameter of the skirt 48 of the dome 122 and the thickness of the ring or bracelet 118 are chosen so as to slightly tighten them before welding.

Bonding is also possible, the interior of the plastic skirt 118 being surface-oxidized beforehand and the exterior of the housing 3 is preferably varnished (see bonding tests in Example 1).

Example 9

The housing 3 of FIG. 9 like the housing 3 of Example 8 is made of HDPE 0.6 mm thick in its cylindrical part. This molded case has at its upper end 116 a tube 111 of rectangular axial section which fits tightly between the inner skirt 115 and the outer skirt 48 of the dome 122, the tube 111 applying by its horizontal end against the bottom of the groove 114. The fixing is preferably made by rotation welding, it can also be carried out by gluing. The horizontal annular surface 119 and the end 117 of the outer skirt 19 of the dome 122 can also intervene in this fixing. In the case of rotary welding, friction is favored by this arrangement, resulting in good reproducibility of the results of the seal obtained.

Example 10

• diamètres intérieur et extérieur de l'intérieur de son pli annulaire 42 : 47,5 et 50,5 mm;
• largeur du dessous de sa bordure 38 : 3mm;
• diamètre de la portion inférieure verticale de hauteur 7mm de la paroi extérieure 34 du pied = 52,5mm; diamètre d'extrémité de la portion supérieure chanfreinée (hauteur 3mm) = 50mm;
• hauteur extérieure du rebord 39 = 2mm.

FIG. 10 represents a metal case 33 without a monobloc bottom, therefore consisting of a portion of tube whose upper end is constricted, provided at its lower end with an attached foot 31, the side wall 32 of this case being nested around the outer tubular wall 34 of a foot made of PE.
This outer wall 34 is connected by its apex 35 to an inner wall 36 with which it forms an annular fold 42 open at its base and flexible, that is to say of modifiable spacing for any portion of its periphery, the wall inner 36 surrounding a central bottom 37 which extends it in a sealed manner and the outer wall 34 being surrounded by an edge 38 which is easy to deform transversely and elastically due to its small width and limited thickness.
This added foot 31 usable for other types of containers, acts as a diameter compensator and provides a good seal for ovalizations corresponding to differences in diameters not exceeding twice the average interior width of its annular fold 42 It tends to return the wall 32 of the housing 33 to the round when this wall is semi-rigid. The edge 38 is provided here with an outer rim 39 which makes it possible to protect the lower end of the side wall 32 of the housing 33. This rim 39 carries an inner annular relief 41 which retains the slightly flared end of the wall 32. And this wall 32 clamps the outer wall 34 of the foot 31 to a certain height. The arrangement thus obtained easily lends itself to bonding. creating a final fixing, it is particularly suitable for distributors fitted with a pump without air return or with low air intake, working in the internal depression of the distributor.
The added foot 31 with a deformable annular fold 42 has a thickness of 1 mm and the following dimensions:

• inside and outside diameters of the inside of its annular fold 42: 47.5 and 50.5 mm;
• width of the bottom of its border 38: 3mm;
• diameter of the vertical lower portion of height 7mm from the outer wall 34 of the foot = 52.5mm; end diameter of the chamfered upper portion (height 3mm) = 50mm;
• outer height of the rim 39 = 2mm.

The housing 33 fitted with the attached foot 31 was used in a pump distributor without air return, in which the pump inlet was provided with a dip tube, the filling volume being 70% of the interior volume. Emptying by vacuum does not require fixing by gluing, this being however preferable for the security of the fixing and for the inviolability of the container.

It is also possible to use an attached foot such as 31 provided with an air passage orifice, the foot being put in place after introduction of a sliding piston in the bottomless housing of any kind, the distribution means also being a pump without air return. The filling of the dispenser is then typically done by the upper opening of the dome before fixing the pump by crimping on this dome, but it is also possible to do it from the bottom of the housing before insertion of the sliding piston and preferably fixing the foot. reported allowing air to pass through.

Example 11

FIG. 11 gives an example of the distributor arrangements which can be obtained with a plastic dome. The dome 2 shown diagrammatically has an outlet opening and a fixing ring 7 for the means of distribution of axis 201 lateral, here at about 90 ° from the axis 202 of symmetry of the groove 210 for fixing the dome 212 to a housing. The veil 8 of this dome is highly asymmetrical.

APPLICATIONS

The invention applies in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, hygienic and food fields, for the storage and distribution of liquid or creamy products.

Claims (24)

1. A dispenser body (1; 100) consisting of a casing (3; 33) comprising a bottom (4; 40; 31) and a lateral wall (5; 32) having an annular upper end (12; 47) and an annular portion (2; 102; 122) of plastics material consisting of an annular veil (8) comprised between an annular upper portion (7) for sealing-tight fixing of the dispensing means (16;16′) and an annular bottom portion (9; 48; 48 and 115) fixed in sealing-tight manner by being pressed axially onto the said upper end (12; 47) of the casing (3; 33), characterised in that the said annular member is a rigid dome (2; 122) which is flared out at its base, the said annular veil (8) having a minimal thickness of between 1.2 and 4 mm, the said annular upper portion (7) being outwardly flared and allowing the said dispensing means (16; 16′) to be fitted around the said upper portion (7) by crimping, and the said bottom portion (9; 48; 48 and 115) being wider than the said upper portion (7) and comprising either an open annular groove (10) bearing on a rolled edge (12) on the said upper end (12) of the casing (3; 33), or a skirt (48) having an annular axial inner surface (49) fitted around a necked annular portion (47) forming the said end (47) of the casing (3; 33), the dome (2; 122) being thus fitted directly in sealing-tight fashion on the said casing (3; 33), the top end (12) of the casing (3; 33) being possibly narrowed slightly in relation to the part of the casing (3; 33) which is of maximum diameter.
2. A dispenser body (1) according to claim 1,of which at least the lateral wall (5) of the casing (3) is metallic, the said lateral wall comprising at its top end a rolled edge (12) and the member (9) for mounting the said annular dome (2) on the said wall (5) comprising an annular groove (10) mounted in sealing-tight manner on the said rolled edge (12).
3. A dispenser body (1) according to claim 2, in which the said dome (2) has its said annular groove (10) glued onto the rolled edge (12).
4. A dispenser body (1) according to claim 2 in which the said annular groove (10) on the dome (2) is fixed to the said rolled edge (12) by an intermediate plastics member (18) welded to the respective surfaces of the said groove (10) and of the said rolled edge (12).
5. A dispenser body (1) according to claim 4, of which the lateral wall (5) at least is of aluminium or alloy and of which the annular dome (2) is of polyolefine, the said intermediate piece (18) being of plastics material containing EAA and the said polyolefine.
6. A dispenser body (1) according to claim 2 in which the outer skirt (19) edging the said circular groove (10) of the said dome (2) continues through a plastics extension member which extends into the interior of the rolled edge (12) of the casing (3), rendering the said dome (2) and the said rolled edge (1) rigid with each other in sealing-tight manner.
7. A dispenser body according to claim 2, comprising an annular member (20) of plastics material and bearing on the shoulder (21) of the lateral wall of the casing (3) below the rolled edge (12) and maintained captive by the said rolled edge (12), the said dome (2) being welded around the said annular member (20) by at least one annular connecting surface (24, 25).
8. A dispenser body according to claim 1, of which at least the lateral wall (5) of the casing (3) is of plastics material or of metal externally coated with plastics material, the said lateral wall (5) comprising at its top end a straight restricted annular portion (47) bonded to the interior surface (49) of a skirt (48) at the bottom end of the said dome (122) by gluing or welding.
9. A dispenser body (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the annular dome (2; 122) is of one of the materials in the group comprising: the polyamides, the polycarbonates, the polyesters, polyacetal, polypropylene and polyethylene.
10. A dispenser body according to claim 9, in which the annular veil (8) of the annular dome (2; 122) has a minimum thickness of between 1.5 and 3 mm and preferably between 1.7 and 2.5 mm.
11. A dispenser body according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the annular disc (8) of the dome (2) is asymmetrical, the aperture (206) at its end (7) which is mounted on the dispensing means being laterally orientated.
12. A dispenser body (1; 100; 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the casing (3) which has a metallic lateral wall has one of the following structures: casing (3) having a monobloc metal bottom which is extruded or drawn or pressed-drawn, or a casing with a crimped-on metal bottom.
13. A dispenser body (3 - sic!) according to claim 12, of which the lateral wall (5) of aluminium or alloy or tin has an outside diameter and a thickness according to the following relationships:

    . diam. 33 mm up to 47 mm : thickness 0.15 to 0.20 mm

    . diam. 47 mm up to 55 mm : thickness 0.20 to 0.25 mm

    . diam. 55 mm to 80 mm : thickness 0.25 to 0.35 mm.
14. A dispenser body according to any one of claims 1 to 8, of which the casing (33) has a bottom consisting of a connected base (31) having a transversely deformable tubular outer wall (34), the outer wall (34) constituting the outside of an annular fold (42) which is open at the bottom, the said fold (42) having an inner wall (36) which is extended in sealing-tight manner by a central bottom (37) of the said base (31), the outer wall (34) being extended externally by an annular edge (38) of minimal width, the lateral wall of the said casing (33) being a portion of tube (32) which is force-fitted around the said outer tubular wall (34) of the base (31) and being stopped and protected by the said annular edge (38).
15. A dispenser body according to claim 14, of which the casing (33) comprises a piston which slides in sealing-tight manner in the said casing (33) and in which the central bottom (37) of the connected base (31) comprises at least one orifice which passes through it.
16. A dispenser body (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, of which the metal or metal/plastics casing (3) comprises a monobloc bottom (4) and also a piston (45) sliding in sealing-tight manner within the casing (3) between the said bottom (4) in which there is at least one through bore (130) and the top necked end (47) of the said casing.
17. A dispenser (14′; 140) comprising a body (1; 100) according to claim 1 and a valve (16′) or a pump (16) for dispensing a liquid or a cream, equipped with a fixing collar (15), the said valve (16′) or pump (16) being fixed in sealing-tight manner by this collar (15) to the said upper annular portion (7) of the dome (2: 122).
18. A dispenser according to claim 17 equipped with a pump and in which the casing of the said body has no bottom or has a connected bottom which allows air to pass through it, the said casing containing a piston which slides therein in sealing-tight manner.
19. A dispenser (140) according to claim 17 equipped with a pump (16), the casing (3) of the said body (100) being of metal or a metalloplastic material, its bottom (4) being in one piece with the said casing (3) and allowing air to pass through it, its upper end being a said necked portion (47), the said casing (3) containing a piston (45) which slides in sealing-tight manner between the said bottom (4) and the said necked end (47), the said bottom annular portion of the dome (122) being a skirt (19) which is fitted and glued or welded around the said necked end (47).
20. A dispenser according to any one of claims 17 or 19, equipped with a pump (16) with no air-return facility and of which the intake aperture is fitted with a plunger tube (43).
21. A dispenser according to claim 20 in its state of delivery after being filled with liquid or cream, this filling occupying 60 to 75% of the interior volume in order to obtain trouble-free dispensing.
22. An annular dome (2; 122) of plastics material which can be used for producing the dispenser body (1; 100) according to any one of claims 1 to 16, the said body (1; 100) comprising a casing (3) having an upper end (12; 47) while the said dome (2; 102; 122) is capable of being fixed in sealing-tight manner to dispensing means (16; 16′) and to the casing (3), characterised in that the said dome (2; 102; 212) is a rigid member which is flared out at its base, the dome consisting essentially of an annular veil (8) of minimum thickness comprised between 1.2 and 4 mm framed by an outwardly flared upper annular end portion (7) and by a bottom annular end portion which is wider than the said upper end portion and comprising either an annular groove (10) which is open and of at least partly semi-circular profile by which it can be mounted directly on the rolled edge (12) of a casing (3), or a skirt (48) having an annular axial inner surface (49) allowing it to be fitted over the outside of a necked annular portion (47) at the top end of a casing (3; 33).
23. An annular dome (2; 122) according to claim 22, the said annular veil (8) having a minimum thickness comprised between 1.5 and 3 mm and being of one of the materials in the group consisting of: the polyamides, polycarbonates, polyesters, polyacetal, polypropylene and polyethylene.
24. An annular dome (2) according to either of claims 22 or 23, its reverse surface (28) being provided with an annular barrier washer (27) comprising at least surface layers of polyolefine compatible with the said polyolefine of the dome (102) and an intermediate layer of aluminium or barrier plastics material.

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