EP0589764B1 - Dismountable dispensing device for a substance - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dispensing device of the type comprising: a receptacle body (100), a reservoir (200) made of an elastic material, which contains the substance to be dispensed, and a dispensing head (300) which communicates with the reservoir (200) and which is capable of being made to open or to close, characterised in that it further comprises: a base wall (500) provided at the axial end of the receptacle body (100) opposite the dispensing head (300) and on which the reservoir (200) is fixed, an extension limiter (800) fixed, on the one hand, to the dispensing head (300), on the other hand to the base wall (500) in order to limit the separation between the latter, and a radial expansion limiter (100, 900) for the reservoir (200). <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to the field of devices for dispensing substances, such as aerosols or viscous materials.

Numerous dispensing devices have already been proposed for this purpose.

In particular, numerous dispensing devices have been proposed containing a volume of propellant based on fluorocarbon compounds. However, it is known that these devices tend to be abandoned these days due to the presumed interactions between the environment, in particular ozone, and these fluorocarbon compounds.

It has also been proposed, to avoid the use of these fluorocarbon compounds, to use substitution gases such as nitrogen, compressed air and above all butane. These various solutions are not always satisfactory.

In addition, devices with elastic pockets have been proposed which themselves generate the propulsion force when they are inflated.

Document FR-A-2126862 teaches a fluid distributor comprising a container body with its cover, the latter comprising a passage or conduit for fluid making correspond with the outside a valve member supported inside said container body, a valve member, an expandable member open at one end and closed at the other, the diameter of which, near said open end, is greater than the diameter of said closed end, said expandable member being arranged to be held inside of said container body and to store fluid therein, a member serving as a valve valve, arranged so as to be able to move axially in said valve member and suitable for opening and closing the communication between said passage intended for the fluid and the interior of said expandable member, and means for imposing longitudinal and radial stresses on the walls of said front expandable member to store fluid there.

Document EP-A-0222319 teaches another dispensing device comprising a container body, a reservoir made of flexible elastic material capable of containing the substance to be dispensed, a dispensing head which communicates with the reservoir and which can be controlled by opening and closing, and an elongated rigid beam placed inside the reservoir and defining at least one fluid path in communication with said dispensing head and means based on polymer material capable of sealingly fixing the tank on said beam.

Distributors have also been proposed comprising elastic propellant means.

In particular, in document EP-A-0 300 886, distributors have been proposed comprising a container body, a reservoir made of flexible material, which contains the substance to be dispensed, a dispensing head capable of being controlled by the opening or closing, and elastic means formed by two elastic blades placed respectively on either side of the reservoir, to exert a permanent pressure on the latter and allow a distribution of said substance on a single command at the opening of the distribution head.

Document EP-A-0 388 270 describes improvements to the dispenser proposed in the aforementioned document EP-A-0 300 886. According to these improvements, the elastic means further comprise an elastic sheath stretched over said blades.

• un corps de récipient 1, formé par exemple d'un boitier standard en fer blanc,
• un réservoir 2 constitué d'une poche en matériau souple, et de préférence élastique, typiquement en butyl, qui contient la substance à distribuer,
• une tête de distribution 3 qui communique avec le réservoir et qui est susceptible d'être commandée à l'ouverture ou à la fermeture,
• un chapiteau 4 fixé sur la tête de distribution 3, de préférence par dudgeonnage, pour assurer l'étanchéité du réservoir 2 et fixé sur le corps de récipient 1, de préférence par sertissage, pour supporter ladite tête de distribution 3,
• un fond 5 fixé sur le corps de récipient 1,
• et des moyens élastiques formés
  • . de deux lames élastiques 6, 7 placées respectivement de part et d'autre du réservoir 2, et
  • . d'une gaine élastique 8 tendue sur lesdites lames 6, 7

   pour exercer une pression permanente sur le réservoir 2 et permettre une distribution de ladite substance sur seule commande à l'ouverture de la tête de distribution 3.There is shown in Figures 1 and 2 attached, a dispenser according to document EP-A-0 388 270. More specifically Figure 1 shows an axial sectional view of an empty dispenser, while Figure 2 shows a view axial section of the same full distributor. In Figures 1 and 2 we see:

• a container body 1, formed for example of a standard tin box,
• a reservoir 2 consisting of a pocket made of flexible material, and preferably elastic, typically of butyl, which contains the substance to be dispensed,
• a dispensing head 3 which communicates with the reservoir and which is capable of being controlled on opening or closing,
• a marquee 4 fixed to the dispensing head 3, preferably by expansion, to ensure the tightness of the reservoir 2 and fixed to the container body 1, preferably by crimping, to support said dispensing head 3,
• a bottom 5 fixed to the container body 1,
• and elastic means formed
  • . two elastic blades 6, 7 placed respectively on either side of the tank 2, and
  • . of an elastic sheath 8 stretched over said blades 6, 7

to exert permanent pressure on the reservoir 2 and allow a distribution of said substance on a single command when the dispensing head 3 is opened.

The dispensing devices of the type shown in Figures 1 and 2 attached are very promising. However, they are sometimes subject to certain criticisms. Indeed, nowadays the problems of the ozone layer are controversial, while those of the accumulation of waste and its recycling or destruction have become very tangible and predominant ecologically realities.

And in this respect, the known dispensing devices of the type shown in the attached FIGS. 1 and 2 are not entirely satisfactory. Indeed, the high pressures involved require an assembly of the marquee 4 on the dispensing head 3 and on the container body 1 which prohibits any disassembly of the dispenser.

As indicated above, the marquee 4 is generally crimped onto the container body 1, when these elements are metallic. Where appropriate, the marquee 4 can be welded or glued to the container body 1 when these elements are made of plastic or glass. These various assembly techniques prohibit any disassembly.

It has been envisaged to assemble the marquee 4 on the container body 1 using a thread. However, it turns out that the pressures involved would require a large pitch thread incompatible with the thicknesses of container body involved. In addition, the threading considerably complicates the production tooling and decreases the productivity, both in level of the preparation of the parts that of the assembly and requires the use of a circular container body of revolution.

The present invention now aims to improve existing dispensing devices.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a new easily removable dispenser.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a new dispenser which can be refilled.

These objects are achieved according to the present invention by means of a dispensing device of the type defined in appended claim 1, delimited in the form of a preamble and characterizing part with respect to document FR-A-2126862.

As will be understood below, the dispensing device according to the present invention thus formed is easily removable because the assembly formed by the reservoir, the dispensing head, the bottom wall and the elongation limiter constitutes an insert easily separable from the container body.

• les figures 1 et 2 précédemment décrites représentent l'état de la technique,
• la figure 3 représente une vue schématique latérale d'une tête de distribution,
• la figure 4 représente une vue en coupe axiale d'un chapiteau,
• la figure 5 représente une vue de dessus du même chapiteau,
• la figure 6 représente une première vue en coupe axiale d'une paroi de fond conforme à la présente invention,
• la figure 7 représente une seconde vue en coupe axiale de la même paroi de fond conforme à la présente invention après déformation de celle-ci afin de fixer le réservoir,
• la figure 8 représente une première vue de dessus de la paroi de fond, correspondant à la figure 6,
• la figure 9 représente une seconde vue de dessus de la paroi de fond, correspondant à la figure 7,
• la figure 10 représente une vue latérale d'un limiteur d'allongement conforme à la présente invention,
• la figure 11 représente une vue latérale d'un réservoir conforme à la présent invention,
• la figure 12 représente une vue latérale d'une lame élastique conforme à la présente invention,
• la figure 13 représente une vue en coupe axiale d'un corps de récipient conforme à la présente invention,
• la figure 14 représente une vue latérale d'un limiteur d'allongement conforme à la présente invention,
• la figure 15 représente une vue en coupe axiale d'un dispositif distributeur conforme à la présente invention, plus précisément la demie vue gauche de la figure 15 représente le dispositif à l'état vide, tandis que la demie vue droite de la figure 15 représente le même dispositif à l'état plein, et
• la figure 16 représente un corps de récipient conforme à une variante de réalisation de la présente invention.

Other characteristics, objects and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows and with reference to the appended drawings, given by way of nonlimiting examples and in which:

• FIGS. 1 and 2 previously described represent the state of the art,
• FIG. 3 represents a schematic side view of a dispensing head,
• FIG. 4 represents a view in axial section of a marquee,
• FIG. 5 represents a top view of the same marquee,
• FIG. 6 represents a first view in axial section a bottom wall in accordance with the present invention,
• FIG. 7 represents a second view in axial section of the same bottom wall in accordance with the present invention after deformation thereof in order to fix the reservoir,
• FIG. 8 represents a first top view of the bottom wall, corresponding to FIG. 6,
• FIG. 9 represents a second top view of the bottom wall, corresponding to FIG. 7,
• FIG. 10 represents a side view of an elongation limiter according to the present invention,
• FIG. 11 shows a side view of a tank in accordance with the present invention,
• FIG. 12 shows a side view of an elastic blade according to the present invention,
• FIG. 13 shows an axial section view of a container body according to the present invention,
• FIG. 14 shows a side view of an elongation limiter according to the present invention,
• 15 shows an axial sectional view of a dispensing device according to the present invention, more precisely the left half view of Figure 15 shows the device in the empty state, while the right half view of Figure 15 the same device in full state, and
• Figure 16 shows a container body according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

The dispensing device according to the present invention, shown in the appended figures comprises: a container body 100, a reservoir 200, a dispensing head 300, a marquee 400, a bottom wall 500, two elastic blades 600 and 700, a elongation limiter 800 and an elastic sheath 900.

The container body 100 can be the subject of numerous embodiments. It can be formed for example of a solid wall cylinder, as shown in Figures 13 and 15, of revolution or not around its central axis 102. The container body 100 may for example have a polygonal section considered in a plane transverse to the aforementioned axis 102. The body 100 preferably has a section constant over its entire length. The body 100 can be formed of any suitable material, such as for example plastic or metal, in particular iron, aluminum, even cardboard, glass.

As a variant, as shown in FIG. 16, the body 100 can be formed of a simple helical spring centered on the axis 102.

As will be seen later, the body 100 serves as a radial expansion limiter for the tank 200.

The reservoir 200 can be formed of a blind pocket as described in the aforementioned documents EP-A-0 300 886 or EP-A-0 383 270.

Preferably, however, in the context of the present invention, the reservoir 200 is formed from an extruded elastic tube. The use of an extruded tube represents, compared to a blind pocket as described in documents EP-A-0 300 886 and EP-A-0 383 270, a big saving in tools, the replacement of molds by and the possibility of adapting the length of the tank without limitation. In addition, the use of an extruded tube allows, as will be explained below, after dismantling the dispenser, to rinse and sterilize the tank / tube 200, for example by a flow of steam and then of sterile hot air.

The extruded tank 200 is advantageously made of butyl.

The dispensing head 300 can be formed from any suitable structure known to those skilled in the art. It advantageously comprises a box 302 which houses a valve biased by spring against an associated seat and a control button 304 capable of being actuated by a user to move said valve from its seat and thus free a through passage to authorize the distribution of substance. Preferably, the housing 302 is provided on its outer periphery with an annular bead facilitating the fixing of the dispensing head to the marquee 400.

The marquee 400 can also be the subject of numerous embodiments. It can be made of metal or plastic.

Preferably the marquee 400 is formed of a single piece whose external cross section is identical to that of the body 100. The marquee advantageously has an annular recess 402, on its outer surface to allow engagement of the marquee 400 on an axial end body 100.

The marquee 400 has a chamber 406 complementary to the housing 302 of the head 300 and which opens onto its upper surface 408. The marquee 400 is further crossed by a passage 410, preferably in the form of a slot, which connects the lower surface 412 of the capital to said chamber 410. As shown in FIG. 4, the passage 410 advantageously has inclined chamfers 414 on the side of the chamber 406.

The passage 410 is intended to receive the upper end of the reservoir 200 and of the elongation limiter 800 while letting the material to be distributed pass.

The bottom wall 500 is intended to be placed against the bottom of the body 100. It is also adapted to be fixed on the lower end of the tank 200.

The bottom wall 500 can be the subject of numerous embodiments suitable for this purpose.

Preferably, the bottom wall 500 comprises a clamp structure adapted to be clamped on the lower end of the tank 200 in order to fix this and simultaneously ensure the tightness of the tank 200.

There is shown in Figures 6 to 9 a preferred embodiment of such a bottom wall 500. According to the embodiment of Figures 6 to 9, the bottom wall 500 comprises a disc 502 generally plane at rest which has a cutout 504 passing through according to its thickness, in the general shape of H. The core 506 of the cutout 504 is produced according to a diameter of the disc 502. The two wings 508 of the cutout 504 located respectively on either side of the core are symmetrical with respect to the diametral plane containing the core 506. These wings 508 converge towards their free end. There are also provided two fold lines 510, mutually parallel and parallel to the core 506, which respectively connect the free ends of the wings 508.

The structure 500 thus formed is made of elastic material, for example metal or plastic.

To fix the bottom wall 500 on the lower end of the reservoir 200 and of the elongation limiter 800, it suffices to deform the two flaps 512 delimited by the cutout 504, on the same side of the plane of the disc 502, which allows to separate the internal diametrical edges of said flaps 512, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, to introduce the lower end of the reservoir 200 and of the elongation limiter 800 into the day thus formed between the two flaps 512 and to release these latter. It is understood that thus the reservoir 200 and the elongation limiter 800 are pinched between the flaps 512. In addition, any traction on the reservoir 200, for example under the effect of the internal pressure of the latter amplifies the tightening, therefore l sealing.

The spring blades 600 and 700 are of identical structure. They are placed respectively on the side and on the other side of the reservoir 200 and preferably take support on the internal surface of the body, to operate on the reservoir 200 a constant pressure capable of authorizing the delivery of the substance contained in the reservoir 200, when the dispensing head 300 is open.

These blades 600 and 700 can comply with the provisions described in documents EP-A-0 300 886 and EP-A-0 383 270. These blades 600 and 700 are thus preferably formed from spring steel blades with a thickness of a few tenths of a millimeter and a rectangular outline.

The elongation limiter 800 is intended to limit the spacing between the marquee 400 and the bottom wall 500, in particular when filling the reservoir 200. The elongation limiter 800 is therefore formed of a non-elastic element, of so that this limiter cannot be susceptible to elongation. However, preferably the elongation limiter 800 is made of flexible material. The elongation limiter 800 can thus be formed for example based on metal or plastic.

The elongation limiter 800 can be the subject of numerous embodiments. It can be formed for example of a simple band housed in the tank 200 to be fixed both on the marquee 400 with the upper end of the tank 200 and on the bottom wall 500 with the lower end of the tank 200.

However, as shown in the appended figures, preferably the elongation limiter 800 is formed of a plastic tube, for example of polyethylene, housed in the tank 200. In this case, the tube forming the elongation limiter 800 is clamped at its upper end between the marquee 400 and the housing 302 of the dispensing head 300, and at its lower end in the bottom wall 500. Consequently, so as not to disturb the passage of the material to be dispensed, when opening the head 300, the tube 800 must be provided with at least one passage passing through its thickness.

According to the first embodiment shown in Figure 10, the tube 800 is provided with a plurality of longitudinal slots 802 which extend substantially over the entire length of the tube, with the exception of crowns located at the upper and lower ends of the tube 800, where it must be pinched respectively between the marquee 400 and the housing 302 and in the bottom wall 500.

By cons according to the second embodiment shown in Figure 14, the tube 800 comprises a single through hole 804, near its lower end. This second embodiment is adapted to be used in the case of dispensing a substance containing a propellant gas as a mixture, so that the gas confined in the upper part of the tank 200 cannot pass directly into the dispensing head 300 while authorizing on the other hand the passage of the substance by the lower orifice 804.

Where appropriate, the dispensing device can be supplemented by a covering capsule clipped into the bottom of the body 100. To this end, to facilitate attachment of the capsule, the body 100 is preferably provided at its lower end with a recess 104 complementary to said capsule.

To assemble the dispensing device, proceed as follows.

Firstly, the elongation limiter 800 is placed in the tank 200. The upper end of the reservoir 200 and of the elongation limiter 800 is placed in the slot 410 of the marquee 400 and immobilized therein by engagement of the housing. 302 in chamber 406. The fixing of the head 300 in the marquee 400 can be obtained by any conventional means suitable, for example by expanding the marquee 400 on the housing 302, as is known per se. The blades 600 and 700 are then placed respectively on either side of the reservoir 200. Preferably an elastic sheath 900 is further tensioned on the blades 600 and 700. The assembly thus formed is then placed in the body 100, the base of the marquee 400 being engaged in the upper end of the body 100. The lower end of the reservoir 200 and of the elongation limiter 800 is then pinched in the bottom wall 500 placed at the lower end of the body 100, according to the previously described procedure. The operational device represented in FIG. 15 is then obtained.

The marquee 400 and the bottom wall are connected by the elongation limiter 800.

When filling the reservoir 200, the body 100 limits the radial expansion of this reservoir.

To dismantle the device, it suffices to move aside the two flaps 512 to release the tank 200 and the elongation limiter 800. If necessary, any worn or broken part can therefore be easily changed.

In order to facilitate this deformation of the flaps 512, it is possible preferably to provide perforations in these flaps 512 so as to allow the engagement of hooks in them.

Preferably, it is desirable to support the marquee 400 and the bottom wall 500 when filling the reservoir 200 in order to support the elongation limiter 800 during the pressure build-up.

As indicated above, the radial expansion limiter for the reservoir can advantageously be formed from a helical spring 100 as shown in FIG. 16. This technique has obvious economic advantages compared to the use of an external housing formed by '' a continuous wall cylinder since the use of a spring 100 allows different diameters and involves only fairly simple tooling modifications with lengths on demand to result in a unit cost several times less than a cylinder of any material .

In addition, when using a spring 100, the storage of the radial expansion limiter is limited to rolls of wires. Winding machines are inexpensive and space-saving and allow you to go from large to very small series with little significant cost modifications.

If necessary, the spring 100 can be coated with a heat-shrinkable sleeve. One can in particular use dispensing devices comprising as external casing such a spring 100 coated, if necessary, with a heat-shrinkable sleeve for low-end products, in particular for uses in communities, such as hospitals.

In addition, provision can be made to condition the dispensing device comprising the reservoir 200, the dispensing head 300, the marquee 400, a radial expansion limiter formed by a spring 100, the bottom wall 500 and preferably the elastic blades. 600, 700 and the sheath 800 in the form of a refill adapted to be introduced into a more or less luxurious over-box kept by the consumer, comparable to the box 100 shown in the attached figures. Once empty, one can consider returning said refill to a conditioner for refilling.

It will also be noted that the elasticity of the spring 100 protects the dispensing device against shocks during multiple transports.

Of course the present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described but extends to all variants according to the claims.

Thus, for example, although according to the preferred embodiment described above, the device comprises two biasing blades 600 and 700 and a sheath 900, these elements can if necessary be removed, if the intrinsic elasticity of the reservoir 200 allows it, or even used in combination with a propellant. We can for example combine the use of stressing blades 600 and 700 with the use of a gas / substance mixture to be distributed, especially if the gas used is only in small quantities and has only one role diluent.

Claims (18)

1. Dispenser device of the type comprising:

   - a container body (100),

   - a receptacle (200) made from an elastic material and which contains the substance to be dispensed,

   - a dispensing head (300) which communicates with the receptacle (200) and which can be opened or closed on command,

   - a bottom wall (500) provided at the axial end of the container body (100) which is opposite the dispensing head (300) and to which the receptacle (200) is fixed,

   - an element (800) placed inside the receptacle and fixed, on the one hand, to the dispensing head (300), and on the other hand, to the bottom wall (500), and

   - a radial expansion limiter (100, 900) for the receptacle (200) characterized in that:

   - the said element (800) placed inside the receptacle consists of an elongation limiter limiting the separation between the dispensing head (300) and the bottom wall (500) and

   - there are provided means (402, 512) which are adapted for removably fixing the dispensing head (300) and the bottom wall (500) to the opposite ends of the container body (100).
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the receptacle (200) is formed from an extruded tube.
3. Device according to either one of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the elongation limiter (800) is formed from a flexible material.
4. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the elongation limiter (800) is formed from a flexible strip.
5. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the elongation limiter (800) comprises a tube including at least one perforation.
6. Device according to Claim 5, characterized in that the tube forming the elongation limiter (800) comprises plural longitudinal slits (802).
7. Device according to Claim 5, characterized in that the tube forming the elongation limiter (800) comprises a perforation (804) in the vicinity of its lower end.
8. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the elongation limiter (800) is made from polyethylene.
9. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the bottom wall (500) comprises a clasp.
10. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the bottom wall (500) is formed from a disc (502) comprising an H-cutout (504) through its thickness.
11. Device according to Claim 10, characterized in that the web (506) of the H-cutout lies along a diameter of the disc, whilst the flanges (508) of the H-cutout converge towards their free ends.
12. Device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the bottom wall (500) comprises passages able to receive hooks with a view to the opening of the clasp.
13. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it furthermore comprises two elastic plates (600, 700) placed respectively on either side of the receptacle (200).
14. Device according to Claim 13, characterized in that it furthermore comprises an elastic sheath (900) stretched over the elastic plates (600, 700).
15. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the radial expansion limiter is formed by the container body (100).
16. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the radial expansion limiter is formed from a helical spring (100).
17. Device according to Claim 16, characterized in that it furthermore comprises a heat-shrinkable sleeve placed over the spring (100).
18. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 17, characterized in that it is packaged in the form of a refill comprising a helical spring (100) forming a radial expansion limiter, and suitable to be fitted into a shrouding housing.

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