EP0764590B1 - Conditioning and dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for packaging and distribution of a liquid, gelled or pasty, of the type comprising a container for containing said product and a dispensing head provided with a dispensing orifice product and a valve, capable of closing said orifice in the absence of product distribution and able to open under the effect of product pressure upstream during distribution.

Such a device is known from EP-A-0 452 196 from the company depositor, or the distribution head consists of three elements separate.

The object of the invention is to further improve such a device.

It achieves this by the fact that the distribution head has at least two parts which are made in one piece by molding with a third part and are each connected to the latter by a bridge of material forming a hinge, one of the two parts connected to the third part further carrying said valve.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the head of distribution includes a nozzle to be fixed in a mouth of the container or on a pump or on a valve fitted to the container, and said parts each connected by a bridge of material forming hinge to the third part constitute a movable capsule provided with said dispensing orifice and mounted with a possibility displacement relative to the endpiece between an open position in which communication is established between the orifice of distribution and the interior of the container and a position of closure in which the capsule cooperates with the end piece to isolate said dispensing orifice inside the container.

Advantageously, the end piece is made in one piece by molding with said third part while being connected to the latter by bridges of breakable material. In one embodiment of the invention, the bridges of breakable material are to be broken during the first use of the device and constitute a witness inviolability. Alternatively, the bridges of breakable material can be broken when mounting the capsule on the container.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, said valve is produced by overmolding of elastomeric material on one of said parties.

In another embodiment, the valve came from molding in one piece with one of the parties.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the capsule is produced by molding a part forming an annular body, connected by at least one material bridge to the end piece, and two pivoting parts each connected by a bridge of material forming hinge to said annular body, the aforementioned valve being integral of one of said parts, one of the two pivoting parts constituting a closure flap capable of retaining by cooperation of forms the other pivoting part on said annular body after pivoting.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the valve is integral with the pivoting part forming a closing flap.

In another particular embodiment of the invention, the valve is integral with the part which is retained on said third part by the closing flap.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the part of the dispensing head which carries the valve opening for the product outlet further includes an air return valve.

Advantageously, the valve opening for the distribution of product and the air return valve are made in one piece by overmolding of elastomeric material.

In the particular embodiment mentioned above in which the valve came from molding with the part that carries it, the valve preferably has an Ω shape and its free edge cleaning with the facing edge a gap preferably understood between 0.1 and 0.2 mm.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe axiale, schématique, d'un ensemble formant tête de distribution, constitué d'un embout et d'une capsule, réalisés d'un seul tenant par moulage en matière plastique,
• les figures 2 et 3 illustrent différentes étapes du montage de la tête de distribution représentée sur la figure 1 sur un col d'un récipient,
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe axiale, schématique, d'une tête de distribution selon un deuxième exemple de réalisation de l'invention,
• la figure 5 est une vue partielle, en élévation, d'un récipient équipé de la tête de distribution représentée sur la figure 4,
• la figure 6 est une vue en coupe axiale, schématique, d'une tête de distribution conforme à un troisième exemple de réalisation de l'invention,
• la figure 7 est une vue partielle, en élévation, d'un récipient équipé de la tête de distribution représentée sur la figure 6,
• la figure 8 est une vue partielle, en coupe, d'une tête de distribution conforme à un quatrième exemple de réalisation de l'invention,
• la figure 9 est une vue en coupe axiale, schématique d'une tête de distribution selon un cinquième exemple de réalisation de l'invention, et
• la figure 10 est une vue partielle, de dessus, selon la flèche X de la figure 9.

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

• FIG. 1 is a schematic view in axial section of an assembly forming a dispensing head, consisting of a nozzle and a capsule, produced in one piece by plastic molding,
• FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate different stages in the mounting of the dispensing head shown in FIG. 1 on a neck of a container,
• FIG. 4 is a schematic view in axial section of a dispensing head according to a second embodiment of the invention,
• FIG. 5 is a partial view, in elevation, of a container fitted with the dispensing head shown in FIG. 4,
• FIG. 6 is a schematic view in axial section of a dispensing head according to a third embodiment of the invention,
• FIG. 7 is a partial view, in elevation, of a container equipped with the dispensing head shown in FIG. 6,
• FIG. 8 is a partial view, in section, of a dispensing head according to a fourth embodiment of the invention,
• FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view in axial section of a dispensing head according to a fifth embodiment of the invention, and
• FIG. 10 is a partial view from above, according to arrow X in FIG. 9.

There is shown in Figures 1 to 3 a head of distribution 1 in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, intended to be mounted on the neck 2 of a container 3 known in itself and produced for example by a technique injection-blowing. The dispensing head 1 consists of a end piece 4, to be fixed in the neck 2 and a capsule 5 made of integral with the end piece 4 and formed by the union of a body ring 6, a pivoting cover 7 and a pivoting flap 8.

The end piece 4 comprises two tubular skirts 9, 10 coaxial of axis X, of circular cross section, joined at 11 at their lower end. The radially outermost tubular skirt, referenced 10, extends radially outward at its upper end to form a curved annular rim 12 downwards, shaped to engage the end edge upper neck 2. The radially innermost tubular skirt 9 extends axially at its upper end beyond the rim annular 12 as shown in Figure 1. The annular rim 12 is hollowed out over a limited angular sector of its periphery to form a cutout 13 intended to cooperate with a lug 14 of shape complementary projecting from the radially outer surface of the neck 2 to immobilize in rotation the end piece 4 on the neck 2. The skirt tubular 9 is perforated from its end edge upper, on a limited angular sector of its periphery, for form a lateral opening 15 for the passage of product as this will be explained below.

The external diameter of the tubular skirt 10 is chosen to so that the end piece 4 fits tightly in force in the neck 2. The tubular skirt 9 internally delimits a channel 16 for product passage from inside the container 3. The tip 4, once in place in the neck 2, reduces the cross-section of free passage for product flow leaving container 3 via collar 2.

The annular body 6 has a wall 6 a of generally tubular shape, of circular cross section centered on the axis X, on which are formed at least two flexible retaining tongues 18 diametrically opposed, provided at their lower end with bosses 19 forming radially protrusion on the internal surface of the wall 6 a , intended to snap onto an annular bead 20 radially projecting on the external surface of the neck 2 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The wall 6a is provided at its lower end d 'a flange 21 radially projecting on its outer surface. The pivoting cover 7 and the pivoting flap 8 are connected to the collar 21, at diametrically opposite locations, by means of bridges of material forming hinges respectively referenced 22 and 23.

Material bridges 17 connect the surface radially outermost of the annular rim 12 of the end piece 4 at the surface radially internal to the annular body 6 in the vicinity of its edge upper end.

The pivoting cover 7 has an external shell 24 having the general shape of a flattened dome in 27 at its top and has internally two coaxial tubes 25 and 26 connecting to the internal face of the flattened wall 27 of the shell 24. A channel of product passage is formed in the thickness of the wall 27, opening at one end into the annular space 30 formed between the pipes 25 and 26 and at the other end on an orifice distribution 29 located on the side wall of the shell 24. This the latter is hollowed out at 31 substantially at the base of the orifice of distribution 29 for fixing the pivoting flap 8 to the pivoting cover 7. The internal diameter of the tube 25 thus that the thickness of its wall are chosen so that when the pivoting cover 7 is folded over the annular body 6, the tubing 25 engages in the annular groove 32 formed between the tubular skirts 9 and 10 and fits tightly on the surface radially internal of the tubular skirt 10. More generally, the tubing 25 and the tubular skirt 9 are shaped so as to allow, taking into account the geometry of the material bridge 22, the mounting one on top of the other. The external diameter of the tubing 26 is chosen so that it fits inside of the tubular skirt 9 when the pivoting cover 7 is in place on the annular body 6. The material bridge 22 is produced with a V-shaped and its length is chosen so as to give to the pivoting cover 7 the mobility necessary to engage the tubing 25 on the tubular skirt 9.

The pivoting flap 8 is shaped to be fixed on the surface lateral external of the pivoting cover 7 and has a pin 33 able to engage in the recess 31, to retain the pivoting flap 8 applied to the pivoting cover 7. An elastic, tapered blade, is overmolded on the rigid wall constituting the rest of the flap pivoting 8 to form a valve 34 covering at rest the orifice of distribution 29.

The pin 13 is made of rigid plastic. In variant it can be made of flexible plastic in which case it is advantageously overmolded with the valve (variant not shown).

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, end piece 4 and capsule 5 are made in one piece from plastic, which simplifies the handling of the dispensing head 1 as well as its positioning on the container 3. After molding the nozzle 4 and capsule 5 in the configuration shown in the figure 1, that is to say with the pivoting flap 8 extending substantially perpendicular to the X axis and the axes of the pipes 25 and 26 oriented substantially parallel to the X axis, the annular body 6 is snapped onto the neck 2 of the container (after filling this last) then the cover 7 and the flap 8 are pivoted towards the annular body 6 of approximately 180 ° and 90 ° respectively and joined by force insertion of the pin 33 into the recess 31. The immobilization in rotation of the nozzle 4 relative to the neck 2 is guaranteed thanks to the cooperation of shapes between lug 14 and cutout 13.

After assembly of the capsule 5, as shown in the Figure 3, the channel 28 is located opposite the side opening 15 and it is isolated from the latter by the tubular skirt 9.

The dispensing head 1 is thus closed, the valve 34 isolated from the product, and any product departure prevented.

When using the device for the first time, the user must rotate the capsule 5 around the X axis to bring the lateral opening 15 opposite the channel 28.

During this rotation, the material bridges 17 break, which alerts the user that the device has not been used previously.

Product departure can be caused by overwriting the container 3 when the latter is made of a material flexible plastic or by any other pressurizing device of product inside the container. The valve 34 deviates from its seat on the pivoting cover 7 under the effect of the pressure of the product upstream in the dispensing orifice 29.

After dispensing a dose of product, the valve 34 resumes its rest position in which it closes the orifice distribution 29 thanks to its own elasticity, the return of the valve in its rest position being facilitated if necessary by the effect of suction accompanying the return of the container 3 in its initial conformation.

It should be noted that the initial dimensions of the valve molded can be such that a clearance is made between the valve and its seat on the cover 7 to take account of the swelling of the material of the valve in contact with the product during use.

There are shown in Figures 4 to 7 two variants of realization of a device according to the invention to illustrate the possibility of realizing thanks to the invention in undercut for the distribution head.

In the following description, numbers will be assigned identical references, simply assigned a ', to designate elements identical or functionally analogous to those of the previous achievement, and which may therefore not be described again in detail.

The dispensing head 1 'shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 differs essentially from the dispensing head 1 described previously by the geometry of the annular body 6' and by the arrangement of the end piece 4 'and the pivoting cover 7' allowing 'isolate or put in communication the channel 28' with the interior of the container 3 '. The annular body 6 ′ has a tubular wall 6 a ′ to which the material bridges 17 ′ connecting the end piece 4 ′ to the capsule 5 ′ are connected.

The wall 6 a 'is extended radially outwards from its lower end upwards by a wall 6 b ' having a generally flared shape convex towards the outside.

The pivoting cover 7 'and the pivoting flap 8' are connected to the annular body 6 'by bridges of material forming hinges 22' and 23 'respectively connecting to the upper end edge of the wall 6 b ' in diametrically located opposites. The wall 6 b ′ forms, with the pivoting cover 7 ′, when the latter is folded over the annular body 6 ′, a distribution head in the form of a ball as shown in FIG. 5.

The tip 4 'differs from the tip 4 previously described by the absence of tubular skirt 9 and by the fact that the tubular skirt 10 'is crossed laterally by a hole forming an opening 15 'for the passage of the product from inside the container 3' to the 28 'distribution channel.

Of course, the inner surface of the neck of the container 3 ' in which the tubular skirt 10 'is inserted is shaped so as to allow product to arrive from inside the container 3 'until opening 15'.

The pivoting cover 7 'differs mainly from the cover 7 previously described by the fact that the tubing 25 'is perforated laterally from its end edge to form a opening 35 'for the passage of product between the lateral opening 15' and the interior 36 'of the tubing 25'. When the cover 7 'is folded over the annular body 6 ', the tubing 25' adjusts so watertight inside the tubular skirt 10 '.

Figures 6 and 7 show a head of 1 '' distribution according to a second alternative embodiment of the dispensing head 1 previously described.

We used identical reference numbers simply marked with '' to designate identical elements or functionally analogous to those previously described with reference in Figures 1 to 3.

The distribution head 1 '' differs mainly from the distribution head 1 'by the geometry of the annular body 6''. The latter has a wall 6 a '' concave outwardly forming, after assembly of the dispensing head 1 '' on the container 3 '', an annular groove 37 '' as shown in Figure 7. The nozzle 4 '', the pivoting cover 7 '' and the pivoting flap 8 '' are identical to those previously described with reference to Figure 4.

There is shown in Figure 8 an embodiment in which two valves 40, 41 are made to open respectively during the distribution of the product and after the distribution for the return of air in the container.

In the example described, the valves 40 and 41 are produced in one piece by molding elastomeric plastic onto a flap 42 shown partially and connected by a bridge of material forming a hinge to the rest of the distribution head, like flaps 8, 8 'and 8' 'previously described. The operation of overmolding is facilitated insofar as the part which carries the flaps, i.e. the flap 42 extends away from the rest of the dispensing head during its manufacture, being connected by the material bridge 23. It is thus easier accessible for plastic overmolding operations. The flap 42 has an opening 43 associated with the valve 41. This the latter is shaped to engage at rest within the opening 43 and apply to the internal surface of the flap 42 bordering the opening 43.

The flap 42 has on its internal face a tubular wall 44 inside which opens the opening 43. The blade of elastomeric material in which the valves 40 and 41 are made is fixed to the flap by a part 45 joining the two valves. This part 45 crosses an aperture 46 formed at the base of the wall tubular 44. At rest, the valve 40 rests against a seat 47 a cover 48 like the valves 34, 34 'and 34' 'previously described.

The use of an air return valve allows in particular avoid the appearance of a depression in the container after distribution of the product and a crushing of the walls of the latter on themselves. In addition, since the air intake takes place thanks to at the valve 41, it is possible to shape the valve 40 so as to that the latter applies completely waterproof on its seat 47 and avoid any product leakage when the device is used with the dispensing head at the bottom.

FIG. 9 shows a dispensing head 50 according to a fifth embodiment of the invention, equipping the neck 51 with a container.

The dispensing head 50 has a nozzle 52 to be fixed in the neck 51 and a capsule produced in one piece with the end piece 52, and constituted by the union of an annular body 53, of a cover pivoting 54 and a closing flap 55. The cover 54 and the flap 55 are connected by respective film hinges 56 and 57 to the annular body 53. The flap 55 includes a pin 58 intended to engage in a suitable recess of the cover 54 to maintain in place it as shown in Figure 9.

The annular body 53 is connected by bridges of material scored 59 at the tip 52.

After rupture of these bridges 59, the capsule can rotate around of the X axis of the nozzle.

The end piece 52 has two skirts at the top concentric cylindrical 60 and 61 forming between them a groove annular in which is received a cylindrical skirt 63 integral of the cover 54. The inner skirt 61 is closed at its part upper and has an axial slot 64.

The skirt 63 also has an axial slot 65, allowing when it is brought opposite the slot 64, to the product contained inside the container to leave it.

A valve 66 is placed at the upper end of the skirt 63 to prevent dust or sand from getting inside reduce the risk of product leakage in the event of a fall of the container for example and still prevent drying of the product present on the internal walls of the neck 51 or contained in inside the skirt 63 or in the slots 64 and 65.

By rotation of the capsule around the X axis, it is possible to bring the slits facing each other for the product distribution or on the contrary to shift them sufficiently to close the communication between the valve 66 and the interior of the bottle.

During the rotation of the capsule, which takes place after rupture of the bridges 59, the endpiece 52 is blocked in rotation on the neck 51 for example by engaging an external relief 67 of the neck 51 in a recess 68 of complementary shape of the end piece.

The annular body 53 of the capsule is held axially on the neck by snapping into a groove 69 of the latter.

The valve 66 came from molding in one piece with the cover 54. It is connected to the rest of the cover by a bridge material 70 allowing it to rise under the action of the product during distribution. Leclapet presents in top view as shown in Figure 10 a general shape in Ω and its edge free cleaning with the adjacent edge of the cover a gap g between 0.1 and 0.2 mm. This interstice allows the air intake.

In an alternative embodiment not shown, the valve 66 is made of the same material as the cover but with a different color, by bi-injection molding of material. he can also be made by bi-injection in a material more flexible than that used to mold the rest of the cover. Finally, the valve can be made separately and attached and then fixed by any known means on the cover.

Finally, the invention allows forms of distribution heads with undercuts and authorizes greater freedom in choosing the general aesthetics of the conditioning.

The manufacturing of the dispensing head is made more easy thanks to the invention, in particular by the fact that it allows make the valve (s) without too much difficulty.

The invention also makes it possible to reduce the possibilities of access to the interior of the capsule of foreign bodies such as sand.

The material bridges 17, 17 ', 17' 'or 59 advantageously connecting the end piece and the capsule, able to hold the latter in a position in which it isolates the distribution channel from inside the container, avoid that during storage, before first use, the valve made of elastomer material is not contact with product and swelling of the valve material.

The invention advantageously makes it possible to produce shapes with undercut for the distribution head with a minimum of material, the shell 24 of the capsule may be thin.

Figures 1 to 10 correspond to examples of realizations comprising a nozzle to be fixed in a mouth of a container.

We do not depart from the scope of the invention by fixing the end piece on a pump or on a valve fitted to a container, in which case the head can also be used as a push button.

The air intake can of course be carried out by a not completely sealed closure of the dispensing orifice product in the absence of product distribution, or during the return air, or by an air return valve not integral with the valve opening under the pressure of the product to be dispensed.

We can still modify the cooperating parts of the nozzle and the capsule allowing the opening and closing of the distribution head.

Claims (14)

1. Device for packaging and dispensing a liquid, gelified or pasty product, of the type comprising a container for containing the said product and a dispensing head (1; 1'; 1'') equipped with an orifice (29) for dispensing the product and with a valve (34; 34'; 34''; 40; 66) capable of closing the said orifice (29) in the absence of dispensing, and of opening under the effect of the pressure of the product upstream, characterized in that the dispensing head (1; 1'; 1'') comprises at least two parts (7, 8; 7', 8'; 7'', 8''; 54, 55) which are made as a single piece by moulding with a third part (6; 6'; 6''; 53) and are each connected to the latter part by a bridge of material forming a hinge (22, 23; 22', 23'; 22'', 23''; 56, 57), one (8; 8'; 8''; 54) of the two parts connected to the third part also bearing the said valve (34; 34'; 34''; 40; 66).
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said valve (34; 34'; 34'') is overmoulded on the part which bears it.
3. Device according to either one of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the dispensing head comprises an air intake valve (41).
4. Device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the valve (40) which opens to dispense product and the valve (41) for taking in air are made as a single piece by overmoulding some elastomer onto one (8; 8'; 8'') of the two parts (7, 8; 7', 8'; 7'', 8'') each of which are connected by a bridge of material forming a hinge to the said third part (6; 6'; 6'').
5. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said valve (66) is moulded as a single piece with the part (54) which bears it.
6. Device according to Claim 5, characterized in that the said valve (66) is in the overall shape of an Ω, and in that its free edge forms a gap of between 0.1 mm and 0.2 mm from the edge opposite it.
7. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the dispensing head comprises an end piece (4; 4'; 4''; 52) to be fixed into a mouth of the container or onto a pump or onto a valve with which the container is equipped, and in that the said parts (7, 8; 7', 8'; 7'', 8''; 54, 55) each connected by a bridge of material forming a hinge to the third part (6; 6'; 6''; 52, 53) constitute a mobile cap equipped with the said dispensing orifice and mounted with the possibility of moving with respect to the end piece between an open position, in which a communication is established between the dispensing orifice and the inside of the container, and a closed position, in which the cap cooperates with the end piece to isolate the said dispensing orifice from the inside of the container.
8. Device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the end piece (4; 4'; 4''; 53) is made as a single piece by moulding with the said third part, being connected thereto by frangible bridges of material (17; 17'; 17''; 59).
9. Device according to Claim 8, characterized in that the said frangible bridges of material are to be broken the first time the device is used, and constitute evidence of tampering.
10. Device according to Claim 8, characterized in that the said frangible bridges of material are broken as the cap is mounted on the container.
11. Device according to any one of Claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the said third part (6; 6'; 6'') is annular in shape.
12. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that one (7; 7'; 7''; 55) of the two parts connected by a bridge of material forming a hinge to the said third part, constitutes a closure flap capable, by collaboration of shapes, of holding the second part (8; 8'; 8''; 54) on the third (6; 6'; 6''; 52, 53).
13. Device according to Claim 12, characterized in that the valve is integral with the part constituting the said closure flap.
14. Device according to Claim 12, characterized in that the valve (66) is integral with the part (54) held on the third part (52, 53) by the said closure flap (55).

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