EP0897323B1 - Fixed-spray dispensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for dispensing a fluid material from a container, including a conventional pump or valve comprising a fixed body in which an actuating rod (11) is movable between an inoperative position and a dispensing position, said rod (11) being hollow so that it defines a discharge channel (15) providing fluid communication between at least one part of said fluid material and outlets (12) on the rod; and a dispensing member (3) secured to said body and provided with a fixed dispensing outlet (20) and means (31, 34) for providing fluid communication between said movable outlets (12) and the fixed dispensing outlet (20), at least in the dispensing position, as well as a push button (13) mounted on the actuating rod (11) for sealing the top end of the discharge channel (15).

Description

The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a fluid having a consistency liquid to pasty contained in a tank, said dispensing device dispensing fluid in the form of a fixed spray. "Fixed spray" means a jet of fluid in spray form which does not does not move when the device is actuated. In indeed, most dispensing devices are actuated by translative movement of a pusher incorporating the nozzle on which one acts using a finger or actuating device. The fixity of the spray is therefore to be taken in relation to the reservoir. The fixed spray dispensing devices, which can be a simple or precompression pump or a metering valve or not, can for example find their utility in pharmacy-related applications in which the jet accuracy is important.

We already know from the prior art, for example documents US-A-4,218,198, FR-A-2,015,035, WO 93/03857 or US-A-4,227,628, spray dispensing devices fixed. In these devices of the prior art, actuation of the pusher lowers a piston in a room which is provided in its lower part with a outlet valve device which communicates with a distribution channel. The complexity of this kind of dispensing device is due to the fixity of the spray; the escape of the fluid from the chamber is making through a distribution channel independent of the pusher, whereas in a conventional pump in which the spray is not fixed, the delivery of the product out of the chamber is usually done through the rod hollow actuation which acts as a delivery channel towards the push button which is mounted on the end upper of the actuating rod. The whole structure of this kind of prior art device is therefore affected by the fact that the spray is fixed. Both the pusher, the chamber the outlet valve, that the channel delivery and distribution are of a design particular and unusual compared to a conventional distribution does not produce a fixed spray. This structural complexity makes the device relatively expensive.

We also know documents FR-1 430 243 and FR-1 292 289 fixed spray pumps with a rod hollow actuation on which a pusher is mounted and a dispensing member incorporating a fixed nozzle. The pusher and the dispensing member are part part of the pump and cannot be separated from it without rendering the pump unusable. All the elements components of these pumps are specially designed one after the other to obtain a spray pump fixed. A relatively low manufacturing cost ensues Student.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for dispensing a fluid spray product fixed which is inexpensive to manufacture. The invention is proposes to use distribution devices conventional non-fixed spray modified so that their spray is made fixed.

• une pompe ou une valve de type classique comportant un corps fixe dans lequel une tige d'actionnement est déplaçable entre une position de repos et une position de distribution, ladite tige étant creuse de manière à former un canal de refoulement mettant en communication de fluide au moins une partie dudit produit fluide avec des orifices de sortie formés sur la tige, la tige présentant une extrémité qui fait saillie hors du corps,
• un organe de distribution présentant un orifice de distribution fixe et des moyens de communication pour mettre en communication de fluide lesdits orifices de sortie déplaçables avec l'orifice de distribution fixe au moins en position de distribution, et
• un bouton-poussoir monté sur la tige d'actionnement de manière à obturer le canal de refoulement à son extrémité supérieure,

   caractérisé en ce que l'organe de distribution est encliqueté sur le corps fixe, et le poussoir est encliqueté sur la tige d'actionnement.To do this, the subject of the present invention is a device for dispensing fluid product contained in a reservoir, said device comprising:

• a pump or a valve of the conventional type comprising a fixed body in which an actuating rod is movable between a rest position and a dispensing position, said rod being hollow so as to form a delivery channel bringing the fluid into communication with the at least part of said fluid product with outlet orifices formed on the rod, the rod having one end which projects out of the body,
• a dispensing member having a fixed dispensing orifice and communication means for placing said movable outlet orifices in fluid communication with the fixed dispensing orifice at least in the dispensing position, and
• a push button mounted on the actuating rod so as to close the delivery channel at its upper end,

characterized in that the dispensing member is snapped onto the fixed body, and the pusher is snapped onto the actuating rod.

Unlike the devices of the prior art described above, the fluid is expelled out of the chamber through the built-in discharge channel in the movable actuating rod. While in art we had tried to avoid passing the fluid through the pusher or rod because of their mobility, in this invention the fluid passes through the rod actuation which allows the use of devices conventional dispensers not producing spray fixed. It is the stationary distribution unit which allows to make the spray fixed thanks to a communication fluid with the rod outlet port means actuating.

The actuating rod could be a valve of a valve or a actuating rod of a pump with precompression or not. The valve or pump is of a quite classic type and therefore relatively expensive low. Therefore, by a simple click of the dispensing member and the push button on the rod, we obtain a spray distribution device fixed.

According to one embodiment, the means of communication include an integral outlet chamber of the distribution body in which part of the rod comprising at least the outlet orifice means is slidably mounted, said chamber communicating, at least in the distribution position, the rod exit ports with the distribution.

Advantageously, the outlet chamber surrounds the rod over a height substantially equal to the stroke height defined between the rest position and the position of rod distribution.

In order to guarantee watertightness, the outlet chamber is provided with two annular sealing lips in tight sliding contact with the rod.

The fluid product discharged through the discharge channel through the outlet port means therefore arrives in a room high enough to allow the medium exit ports to be in communication at any time with this outlet chamber at least over part of the stroke of the rod going to its position of distribution. Indeed, the outlet port means according to one embodiment, can be at any time in communication with the outlet chamber throughout the stroke of the rod between the rest position and the distribution position. In this case, the distribution should be fitted with an outlet valve. In variant, the rod outlet orifice means, in rest position, can be isolated from the body distribution.

In other words, the outlet orifice means of the rod are located outside the outlet chamber in position rest. In this case, the obstruction of the orifice means in the rest position plays the role of means of outlet valve. On a short stroke of the rod, the outlet port means are therefore masked. This variant is particularly suitable in the case where the rod is an actuation rod of a precompression pump, in which a short stroke initial of the rod is used to put the fluid under pressure.

Other features and advantages of this invention will appear during the description following detailed of two embodiments given at title of nonlimiting example with regard to the drawings joints.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe d'un dispositif de distribution selon une première forme de réalisation de la présente invention ; et
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe d'un dispositif de distribution selon une deuxième forme de réalisation de la présente invention, laissant montrer la structure interne du dispositif.

In the drawings:

• Figure 1 is a sectional view of a dispensing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; and
• Figure 2 is a sectional view of a dispensing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing the internal structure of the device.

The present invention applies to any device for distribution having a movable actuating rod between a rest position and a distribution. As a distribution device of this type, include simple or precompression pumps and metering valves or not. In Figure 1, it has been represented a distribution device designated by the reference numeral 1, the internal structure of which is not visible. We must understand that it can be as well of a pump than a valve. As we can see, the dispensing device 1 is mounted on the neck 2 of a container to which it is fixed by a crimp 14. The container may or may not be a pressurized container. The dispensing device 1 has a fixed body 10 in which an actuating rod 11 surmounted by a actuating button 13 is movable between a rest position and a dispensing position in-dark. The actuating rod 11 is hollow and made communicate through an internal delivery channel 15 the distribution chamber, in the case of a pump or a metering valve, or the container itself in the case a non-metering valve, with one or more orifices outlet 12 formed laterally in the actuating rod 11. Conventionally, each time the pusher is depressed 13 driving the actuating rod 11 to its position dispensing, the product is delivered by doses, or by continuous jets in the case of a non-metering valve, with through the hollow actuating rod 11 then through the or the outlet ports 12. This is a completely classic design for a device distribution (pump or valve). So we can. use practically all conventional pumps and valves existing on the market on the only condition that they are provided with a hollow actuating rod moving in a fixed body.

According to the invention, there is provided a distribution, designated as a whole by the reference digital 3, which is mounted on the stationary or static distribution by compared to the tank. This means that the organ of distribution does not move during depression of the push button 13. The dispensing member 3 does communicate the exit port (s) 12 of the rod actuator 11 with a dispensing orifice 30 which allows a projection of the fluid product in the form of jets fine spray droplets. The orifice of distribution 30 can be any suitable nozzle with or without swirl chamber. In the form of embodiment shown in Figure 1, the distribution covers the distribution device with a cylindrical sleeve 33 which extends over the crimp 14 until contact with the base of neck 2 of the tank. This outer sleeve 33 incorporates the nozzle 30 and allows also the depression of the pusher 13 inside the socket until flush with the upper surface of the pusher 13 with the upper edge of the sleeve 33. The distribution member 3 further comprises a flange annular 36 which extends from the outer sleeve 33 inwards. This annular flange 36 incorporates a distribution duct 34 which extends from the nozzle 30 inwards where it opens into a outlet 31 formed by a sealing sleeve 32 which is formed in one piece with the annular flange 36 and the outer sleeve 33. The annular flange 36 incorporates also a vent hole 35 which allows an air inlet to as fluid is dispensed in the case. a non airless pump. Snap tabs 37 extend from the underside of the flange annular 36 and are engaged with the device distribution for the subjugation of the organ of distribution 3 on the distribution device 1. The snap tabs 37 must be sufficiently resistant to prevent relative displacement of the distribution member 3 relative to the device distribution 1. Distribution unit 1 is therefore forcibly snapped onto the dispensing device 1.

On the other hand, it should be noted that the push button 13 acts as a stopper for sealing the open upper end of the actuating rod, which is normally connected to a distribution head conventional incorporating a nozzle or nozzle. To ensure good sealing as well as good support, the push button 13 is snapped into the rod. actuation; an annular sealing bead can by example improve sealing.

Thus, thanks to the distribution member 3 and the push button 13 of the invention, it is possible to transform almost any pump or valve conventional in a fixed spray dispenser, the distribution 3 for bringing the fluid from the movable actuating rod with fixed nozzle and push button for closing the upper end open the delivery channel 15 of the rod actuation 11.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the outlet chamber 31 formed by the sleeve 32 is crossed by the actuating rod 11 of the distribution 1. As can be seen in Figure 1, the outlet chamber 32 is sealed by two annular sealing lips 320, 321 which are in sealed sliding contact with the actuating rod 11. The effective volume of the outlet chamber 31 is therefore defined by the annular formed between the sleeve 32 and the actuating rod 11. In the embodiment of the Figure 1 which is shown in the rest position, we can note that the outlet port (s) 12 of the rod actuator 11 are located inside the chamber outlet 31. Consequently, in the rest position, the hollow actuating rod 11 is in communication with fluid with the outlet orifice 30 via the or outlet orifices 12, the outlet chamber 31, and the distribution duct 34. To allow actuation of the distribution device by depression of the pusher 13, the outlet chamber 31 must have sufficient height to allow outlet ports 12 to be inside the chamber outlet 31 when the actuating rod. reaches its distribution position, i.e. the most low. It is essential that the outlet (s) of the actuating rod 11 are located inside of the outlet chamber 31 at least in the position of distribution. Of course, in the case shown on the Figure 1, where the outlet ports 12 are located in the outlet chamber 31 in the rest position it is essential that the distribution system be equipped with an internal outlet valve (not shown) for insulate the interior of the distribution device the atmosphere. It will be different for the form of embodiment shown in Figure 2 which will be described below.

We will now quickly describe a cycle actuation of the distribution device for understand how it works. In the resting state shown in Figure 1, the actuating rod 11 is pushed back by internal return spring means device (not visible) to its high rest position. The outlet port (s) 12 of the actuating rod 11 are located in the upper part of the exit 31 and therefore communicate with the distribution 30 through chamber 31 and the distribution 34. A push on the push button 13 axially pushes in the rod actuator 11 in the distribution device, this which has the effect of lowering the outlet (s) 12. Depending on the type of distribution device, the fluid is discharged through the rod actuation 11, i.e. from the start of the stroke of the rod to its distribution position, either from a certain stroke length during which no product fluid is distributed. This is particularly the case with a precompression pump in which the product is not distributed only after a certain running distance from the actuation rod which overcomes a spring of precompression. Anyway, when the rod actuation 11 has reached its distribution position low, the inside of the dispensing device must be in fluid communication with the dispensing orifice 30. Since the outlet port (s) of the actuating rod 11 are permanently located at inside the outlet chamber 31, it is ensured that the all of the fluid is distributed through the dispensing orifice 30.

The distribution member 3 according to the invention allows, thanks to its outlet chamber 31, to erase the effects of displacement of the actuating rod 11 on the jet of fluid product sprayed at the outlet. The bedroom distribution 31 therefore makes it possible to restore the fixity of the jet of sprayed product. The fixity of the jet is particularly appreciable when using dispensing devices in which the accuracy of the jet is important, as is the case in the field pharmaceutical.

It should also be noted that the distribution body of the invention can be adapted to virtually any which dispensing device having a rod actuating.

Referring now to Figure 2, it will describes in detail a second embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention. This shape of realization reveals the internal structure of the distribution device, which in this case is a precompression pump. A return spring 17 pushes the actuating rod 11 towards its rest position which is that shown in Figure 2. Precompression necessary to obtain a good quality of the jet of sprayed product is provided by a second spring 16 says precompression. A detailed explanation of operation of a precompression pump will not done here, and we can for example refer to the document FR - 2 403 465 for further explanations. What is to note is that the backflow of the product in a such pump does not occur upon actuation of the push button 13 but after a certain distance from stroke which allows the fluid to be placed under a pressure determined in the distribution chamber. The outlet valve of such a pump is therefore suitable for open only when the pressure in the pump distribution has reached the pressure of precompression determined.

In the embodiment shown in the figure 2, the precompression pump has been slightly modified to which it no longer includes an outlet valve, the function is now performed by the body of distribution 3. Indeed, the actuating rod 11 opens directly into the pump chamber. Unlike the embodiment shown in the Figure 1, the outlet orifices 12 of the rod actuator 11 are not located in the outlet 31 of the dispensing member in position rest. As can be seen in Figure 2, the orifices outlet 12 are located, in the rest position, in a insulated chamber 315 closed by two sealing lips annulars 320 and 325. Consequently, the orifices of outlet 12 of actuating rod 11, in position rest, are isolated from the outside by the double row of annular lips 320 and 325. Thus, the insulated chamber 315 performs the function of an outlet valve chamber by isolating the pump chamber from the outside. The orifices outlet 12 are therefore not positioned in the chamber outlet 31 of the dispensing member in position rest. As can be understood from Figure 2, the outlet ports 12 will not be in communication with the outlet chamber 31 only after the actuating rod He has run a certain distance. The rod actuation 11 must reach with these outlet 12 the outlet chamber 31 which is delimited also by a double row of annular lips 320 and 321. The annular lip 320 delimits the separation between the valve chamber 315 and the outlet chamber 31. This is therefore only when the outlet orifices 12 have crossed the annular sealing lip 320 that the product pressurized fluid in the pump chamber may be discharged through the actuating rod 11, the orifices 12, the outlet chamber 31, the distribution conduit 34 and finally the dispensing orifice 30 of the nozzle.

In this particular case illustrated in FIG. 2, the distribution unit of the invention therefore fulfills a double function: that of outlet valve for a pump with precompression and that of fixity of the jet of product sprayed fluid. As for the push button 13, it fills here also the shutter function of the discharge channel 15.

Claims (6)

1. Dispensing device of fluid product contained in a container, said device including:

   a pump or a valve of the conventional type including a fixed body (10) in which an actuating rod (11) is movable between a resting position and a dispensing position, said rod (11) being hollow so that it forms a discharge channel (15) providing fluid communication between at least one part of said fluid product and outlets (12) formed on the rod (11), the rod presenting an extremity that projects outside the body (10),

   a dispensing member presenting a fixed dispensing outlet (20) and means of communication (31, 34) for providing fluid communication of said movable outlets (12) with the fixed dispensing outlet (20) at least in dispensing position, and

   a push button (13) mounted on the actuating rod (11) so as to seal the discharge channel (15) at its upper extremity characterized in that the dispensing member is ratcheted on the fixed body (10), and the button is ratcheted on the actuating rod.
2. Device according to claim 1, in which the communication means include an exit chamber (31) secured to the dispensing member (3) in which one part of the rod (11) comprising at least outlet means (12) is mounted such that it slides in a leaktight manner, said chamber causing the outlets (12) of the rod (11) to communicate with the dispensing outlet (30) at least in the dispensing position.
3. Device according to claim 2, in which the exit chamber (31) surrounds the rod (11) at a height approximately equal to the height of the defined movement between the resting position and the dispensing position of the rod.
4. Device according to claim 2 or claim 3, in which the exit chamber (31) is provided with two annular airtight lips (320, 321) in airtight sliding contact with the rod (11).
5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the outlet means (12) of the rod (11) in resting position are isolated from the dispensing member.
6. Device according to claim 2, in which the outlet means (12) of the rod (11) are situated outside the exit chamber (31) in resting position.

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