EP1002735B1 - Pump and container incorporating the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The pump comprises a movable part having a central conduit (32) in which the product to be dispensed penetrates through a opening (36). The support defines a variable volume pumping chamber (34) around the central conduit. The pump has a membrane (50) with a central sleeve with its upper end open and lower end closed. The central conduit is inserted in the central part of the membrane which isolates the opening and the pumping chamber when the volume in this latter increases and the product is sucked into the pumping chamber.

Description

The present invention relates to a pump according to the preamble of claim 1 and a container containing a liquid, for example a cosmetic cream, equipped with such a pump.

We know from French patent FR-A-2,728,809 a pump comprising a push button mounted on the move on a support subject to the container containing the product to distribute, the push button comprising a central cylindrical duct of revolution, provided with radial openings at its lower end, the support defining around this leads an annular pumping chamber, of variable volume. A membrane made in an elastomer is mounted on the support. This membrane has a part symmetrical central of revolution, in the form of a sleeve open at its upper end and closed at its lower end. The central duct of the push button is inserted in the membrane until it bears against the bottom of the sleeve.

The membrane thus constitutes an elastic return member making it possible to return the push button to its initial position after dispensing a dose of product.

In addition, during the return movement of the push button, the membrane by sticking to the central duct isolates the pumping chamber and avoids a re-entry of air into it.

Such a pump has the advantage of having only a small number of parts and therefore to be relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

However, this known pump does not offer complete satisfaction, the company Applicant having observed a tendency for the push button to lock up and / or poor reconstitution and dose distribution.

The present invention aims to improve the reliability of the operation of a pump of the type defined above, namely comprising a movable member mounted at displacement relative to a support, the movable member comprising a central duct into which the product to be distributed enters through at least one opening, the support defining with the movable member, around said central duct, a variable volume pumping, this pump further comprising a membrane having a sleeve-shaped central part open at its upper end and closed at its lower end, central part into which said central duct is inserted, the membrane being arranged so as to isolate the opening or openings of said central duct allowing the entry of the product and the pumping chamber when the volume of the latter increases and product is drawn into the pumping chamber.

It does this by the fact that at least one of the membrane and the duct central features reliefs against which comes to bear the other of the membrane and the central duct, at less during the relative movement of the movable member and the support to prevent formation between the membrane and the central duct a sealed annular zone preventing the product contained in the pumping chamber to flow through said central duct when the volume of the pumping chamber decreases.

Thanks to the invention, reliable operation of the pump is guaranteed, without blocking of the movable member when the volume of the pumping chamber varies.

The above reliefs tend to prevent any blockage by the membrane of the circulation of the product coming from the pumping chamber towards the opening (s) of the central conduit through which or which enters the product to be distributed, when the volume of the pumping chamber decreases.

These reliefs also tend to maintain the central duct of the movable member in the axis of the central part of the membrane, which is favorable for operation satisfactory from the pump.

In a preferred embodiment, said reliefs are produced on the membrane in preferably being formed by equi-distributed bosses around the axis of the part center of the membrane at its opening.

In a particular embodiment, the membrane comprises a flexible lip capable on the one hand to isolate the pumping chamber from a source of product when the volume of said pumping chamber decreases and on the other hand to allow a return of product into said pumping chamber when the volume of the latter increases.

In a particular embodiment, said flexible lip is connected with said central part of the membrane, forming a narrow annular groove, open downwards, and the support has an inner skirt bearing at its upper end in the bottom of said groove, for axially retaining the membrane when the movable member is moved down to decrease the volume of the pumping chamber.

In a particular embodiment, the support has a double lip sealing, applying sealingly on a tubular skirt of the movable member, this tubular skirt being open downward and extending around the central duct concentrically to the latter, this tubular skirt further delimiting radially towards outside the pumping chamber.

In a particular embodiment, the aforementioned inner skirt is part of a patch on the rest of the support.

In a preferred embodiment, the aforementioned flexible lip has a rib annular by which it can be applied sealingly on the inner skirt of the support when the volume of the pumping chamber decreases or when the pump is at rest, said inner skirt communicating internally with the product source and comprising above said annular rib openings allowing the product to gain the pumping chamber when the volume of the latter increases and that said flexible lip deviates from said inner skirt under the effect of the thrust of the product flowing to the pumping chamber.

In a preferred embodiment, the flexible lip comprises, above said annular rib, a thinned area.

In a preferred embodiment, the central duct of the movable member is provided, at its lower end, at least one radial opening.

In a preferred embodiment, the movable member constitutes a push button, said central duct being produced in one piece with a dispensing nozzle.

In a particular embodiment, the tubular skirt of the movable member slides inside a support guide skirt, providing with said interior skirt of the support an annular groove open upwards, communicating by at least one orifice of air intake with the source of product, the tubular skirt of the movable member applying sealingly on said guide skirt when the movable member is at rest and the volume of the pumping chamber is maximum.

In a particular embodiment, the pump includes a return spring for recall the movable organ to an initial position after dispensing a dose of product.

This return spring is advantageously constituted by a helical spring working in compression.

This spring is preferably arranged in the axis of the membrane, so as to apply by its upper end to the lower end of the central part of the membrane.

The presence of a return spring is advantageous because it facilitates the choice of the material which may constitute the membrane, since the latter may then not be prestress or undergo a relatively weak prestress.

It also widens the range of products that can be distributed, since becomes easier to find, to make the membrane, a material compatible with the product to distribute.

The invention also relates to a container equipped with a pump such as defined above.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique de la partie supérieure d'un récipient équipé d'une pompe conforme à l'invention,
• les figures 2 et 3 représentent isolément la jupe intérieure du support,
• la figure 4 représente isolément et partiellement, l'extrémité inférieure de la jupe tubulaire de l'organe mobile,
• la figure 5 représente isolément, en coupe axiale schématique, la membrane équipant la pompe de la figure 1,
• la figure 6 est une vue de dessus selon la flèche en VI de la figure 5,
• la figure 7 illustre le fonctionnement de la pompe lorsque l'on appuie sur le bouton-poussoir,
• la figure 8 illustre le fonctionnement de la pompe lorsque l'on relâche le bouton-poussoir,
• la figure 9 représente de façon partielle et schématique un bouton-poussoir conforme à une variante de mise en oeuvre de l'invention, et
• la figure 10 est une section transversale selon le trait de coupe X-X de la figure 9.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the invention and of an alternative embodiment, and on examining the attached drawing, in which:

• FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the upper part of a container fitted with a pump according to the invention,
• FIGS. 2 and 3 represent the inner skirt of the support in isolation,
• FIG. 4 represents, in isolation and partially, the lower end of the tubular skirt of the movable member,
• FIG. 5 represents in isolation, in schematic axial section, the membrane equipping the pump of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 6 is a top view according to the arrow in VI of FIG. 5,
• FIG. 7 illustrates the operation of the pump when the push button is pressed,
• FIG. 8 illustrates the operation of the pump when the push button is released,
• FIG. 9 partially and schematically represents a push button in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention, and
• FIG. 10 is a cross section along the section line XX of FIG. 9.

There is shown in Figure 1 a container 1 having a body 2 forming reservoir, of which only the upper end can be seen in the drawing, defining a neck 3 on which is snapped on a support 4.

The support 4 guides in sliding, along an axis X, a push button 5 and used to mount a removable protective cover 6, covering the front push button 5 the first use.

The support 4 includes a sealing skirt 7 which is applied in a sealed manner on the inside surface of the neck 3.

The sealing skirt 7 is extended radially, on the one hand towards the outside by fixing lugs 8 snapped onto an annular bead 9 of the neck 3, and other goes inward by a stepped wall 10 defining a nozzle 12 used for connection of a dip tube 13, partially shown in the drawing.

An outer skirt 15 and a guide skirt 16 are made in one piece by plastic molding with the sealing skirt 7, the fixing lugs 8 and the stepped wall 10.

The outer skirt 15 extends around the neck 3 of the container and has a shoulder 17 on which the protective cover 6 is supported.

The upper edge 18 of the outer skirt 15 retains the push button 5 at rest, as will be explained below.

The support 4 comprises an inner skirt 20 constituted by a part added, having a shoulder lower end 21, forcibly engaged in the stepped wall 10.

The inner skirt 20 has a substantially tapered upper end, provided with openings 22, as can be seen more particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3.

These openings 22 are in the example described in the form of slots oriented along the X axis, extended downward by grooves 25 extending over the radially inner surface of the inner skirt 20 until a step 26.

A double annular sealing lip 24 is produced in one piece with the inner skirt 20 by plastic molding.

The push button 5 has an outer skirt 30, provided at its end lower of teeth 31, the latter coming into abutment against the upper edge 18 of the skirt outside 15 of the support 4 when the push button 5 is at rest in the high position, as shown in figure 1.

The push button 5 comprises a central duct 32, of axis X, and a skirt tubular 33 concentric, delimiting around the central duct 32 a 34 annular pumping.

The outer skirt 30, the tubular skirt 33 and the central duct 32 are produced in one piece by molding plastic material with a dispensing nozzle 35, communicating internally with the central duct 32.

The latter has, at its lower end, radial openings 36.

The lower end of the tubular skirt 33 forms a sealing lip 37, extending slightly radially outward, as shown more particularly in Figure 4.

The guide skirt 16 of the support 4 has a slight shrinkage in the lower part annular 41 on its radially inner surface.

When the push button 5 is in the high position, the sealing lip 37 applies tightly to the cylindrical surface of revolution 40 of the part upper part of the guide skirt 16, as shown in FIG. 1.

The interior of the container is thus isolated from the ambient air, which is favorable to good conservation of the product.

When the push button 5 is pressed, the sealing lip 37 ceases to apply tightly to the guide skirt 16, due to the existence of the shrinkage annular 41, which allows the groove formed between the inner skirts 20 and guide 16 to communicate with the outside.

An air intake orifice 42 is made in the bottom of this groove to allow air to re-enter the container as it is emptied.

The inner skirt 20 is used for mounting a membrane 50 having a part sleeve-shaped central unit 51, of axis X, open at its upper end and closed at its lower end by a bottom 52.

This central part 51 is extended radially outwards by a lip flexible annular 53, as can be seen more particularly in FIGS. 5 and 6.

This flexible lip 53 forms, by connecting with the central part 51, a narrow annular groove 54 into which the inner skirt 20 is inserted at its end upper, until taking support by its free edge in the bottom of said groove. The throat 54 has substantially the same profile as the upper end of the inner skirt 20.

The height of the flexible lip 53 is greater than that of the openings 22 and the flexible lip 53 has on its radially inner face, close to its end free, an annular rib 56 capable of being applied sealingly against the surface radially exterior of the interior skirt 20, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The flexible lip 53 also has, above the rib 56, a wall thinned 58 intended to facilitate its deformation radially outwards, to allow to the product to gain the pumping chamber 34, as will be explained below.

The membrane 50 comprises, at the opening of its central part 51, non-symmetrical reliefs of revolution around the axis X, namely bosses 55 of which the function will be specified later.

In the embodiment described, these bosses 55 are three in number, being evenly distributed angularly around the X axis, as can be seen in Figure 6.

Each of these bosses 55 protrudes from the radially inner surface of the central part 51 along approximately a quarter of the height thereof from its upper end, and extends radially outward on the upper face of the membrane 50 to substantially above the groove 54, as can be seen in the figure 5.

Each of the bosses 55 further presents, when observed in section in a transverse section plane, a convex section towards the X axis, as shown in the figure 6.

The central conduit 32 of the push button 5 is inserted in the central part 51 of the membrane 50 until it bears, by its lower end, against the bottom 52 of the membrane 50, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The bosses 55 then apply, in the example described, against the surface cylindrical of revolution of the central duct 32. However, it is not necessary to in general, that the bosses 55 are applied to the central duct 32 when the push button is at rest.

When the push button 5 is at rest, the central part 51 of the membrane 50 is slightly stretched, so as to keep the teeth 31 in abutment against the edge upper 18 of the outer skirt 15.

The double sealing lip 24 is applied tightly to the surface radially inner of the tubular skirt 33, whatever the upward movement or down from push button 5.

The radially inner surface of the central part 51 of the membrane is slightly conical, converging downwards, for its part extending under the bosses 55 slightly above the upper end of the openings 36, then cylindrical of X axis revolution.

When the membrane 50 is in place, the flexible lip comes to rest in support by the rib 56 on the inner skirt 20.

The support 4, the push button 5 and the membrane 50 constitute a pump whose operation is as follows.

When the user presses the push button 5, as illustrated in the Figure 7, the central duct 32 drives down the bottom 52 of the membrane 50, which deforms elastically by stretching to accompany movement of the duct central 32.

The pump is here assumed to be primed, i.e. the pumping chamber 34 is filled with product.

During the downward movement of the push button 5, the product contained in the pumping chamber 34 which is driven between the central duct 32 and the part central 51 of the membrane gains the radial openings 36 of the central duct 32, then the dispensing nozzle 35.

The flexible lip 53 is applied in a sealed manner to the inner skirt 20 during the downward movement of the push button 5.

The sealing lip 37 of the tubular skirt 33 of the push button 5 ceases, when it reaches the annular withdrawal 41 after a certain driving stroke of the push button 5, to apply tightly to the guide skirt 16, allowing communication between the inside of the container and the outside, via the air intake orifice 42 and the clearance existing between the guide skirt 16 and the tubular skirt 33.

The bosses 55 between them provide passages for the product and prevent the formation of a sealed annular zone between the central duct 32 and the central part 51 of the membrane 50 which could not be overcome by the pressure of the product, so that the product can flow to the radial openings 36, the membrane 50 being able to move away slightly from the central duct in the vicinity of the upper end of the openings 36 under the effect of product pressure.

The bosses 55 also tend to keep the central duct 32 coaxial with the inner skirt 20 and to guarantee that the upper part of the membrane hung on the inner skirt 20.

In addition, the narrowness of the groove 54 ensures good adhesion of the membrane 50 on the inner skirt 20 and prevents the membrane 50 from being entrained, at its part upper, moving with the central duct 32.

When the user releases the push button 5, it is called back to the high by the central part 51 of the membrane which tends to return to its initial shape.

During the return movement of the push button 5, the central part 51 of the membrane 50 isolates the radial openings 36 of the pumping chamber 34, and the depression which is created in the latter causes the separation of the flexible lip 53 and an arrival of product from the container.

More specifically, the product then wins the pumping chamber 34 circulates by the grooves 25 of the inner skirt 20, along the central part 51 of the membrane 50, crosses the inner skirt 20 through the openings 22, then goes around the lip flexible 53 and rises outside of the latter as illustrated in FIG. 8.

As the push button 5 goes up, air can reach the container through the clearance between the guide skirt 16 and the tubular skirt 33 and the air intake orifice 42, until the sealing lip 37 again applies sealingly to the guide skirt 16 when the push button 5 reaches the high position, as explained upper.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment which comes to be described.

One can in particular use a membrane whose surface radially interior of the central part would be symmetrical in revolution, the bosses 55 being replaced by bosses 60 made on the central duct 32 as illustrated in the Figures 9 and 10.

We can still assist or cause the return movement of the push button by means of a helical spring 90 shown in broken lines in FIG. 8.

This spring is housed inside the inner skirt 20, works in compression, and is supported at its lower end on the recess 26 and at its upper end on the underside of the bottom 52 of the membrane.

We can also place a valve upstream of the membrane, this valve opening when product is sucked into the pumping chamber and leaking so as not to prevent the displacement of the movable member during the distribution of a dose of product.

This valve can be produced for example by means of a ball 91 shown in broken line in Figure 8, the tip 12 serving as a seat.

Reliefs 92 are produced on the inner surface of the inner skirt to retain ball 91 near its seat.

The ball 91 is chosen to be very rough so as to create a leak making it possible to do not block the downward movement of the central part of the membrane when distribution of a dose of product.

The ball 91 makes it possible to prime the pump by actuating a small number of times the push button.

The membrane can also be made of at least two different materials.

Thus, it is possible to use, to produce the flexible lip 53, a softer material than that used to produce the spring portion 51.

One can use for example the same elastomer, but more or less loaded.

The fact of using different materials makes it possible to use a material relatively hard for the central part 51, which is favorable for a good spring effect without however interfere with the operation of the flexible lip 53.

In an embodiment not illustrated, a helical spring is arranged around the central duct and bears at its lower end on the upper end of the membrane and at its upper end on the push button 5.

Claims (17)

1. A pump of the type including a moving member mounted to move relative to a support, the moving member having a central duct (32) in which substance to be dispensed penetrates via at least one opening (36), the support co-operating with the moving member to define, around said central duct, a pump chamber (34) of variable volume, said pump also having a membrane with a central portion in the form of a sleeve that is open at its top end and closed at its bottom end, said central duct being inserted in said central portion, the membrane being organized to isolate the pump chamber (34) from the opening(s) (36) of said central duct while the volume of the pump chamber is increasing and substance is being sucked into it, which pump is characterized by the fact that at least one of the membrane (50) and the central duct (32) has portions in relief (55; 60) against which the other one of the membrane (50) and the central duct (32) bears, at least during relative displacement between the moving member (5) and the support (4) to prevent a leakproof annular zone forming between the membrane (50) and the central duct (32) which would prevent the substance contained in the pump chamber from flowing via said central duct while the volume of the pump chamber is decreasing.
2. A pump according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said portions in relief (55) are made on the membrane (50).
3. A pump according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that said portions in relief are constituted by bulges (55) that are uniformly distributed around the axis (X) of the central portion (51) of the membrane (50) at its opening.
4. A pump according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the membrane (50) has a flexible lip (53) suitable firstly for isolating the pump chamber (34) from a source of substance while the volume of said pump chamber is decreasing, and secondly to enable substance to penetrate into said pump chamber (34) while the volume thereof is increasing.
5. A pump according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that said flexible lip (53) connects with said central portion (51) of the membrane (50) by forming a narrow annular groove (54) that is downwardly open, and by the fact that the support (4) includes an inner skirt (20) whose top end bears against the end wall of said groove (54) to retain the membrane while the moving member (5) is moving downwards to decrease the volume of the pump chamber (34).
6. A pump according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that said inner skirt (20) forms a portion of a part fitted to the remainder of the support (4).
7. A pump according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the support (4) has a double sealing lip (24) bearing in leakproof manner against the tubular skirt (33) of the moving member (5), the lip being downwardly open and extending concentrically around said central duct (32), said tubular duct (33) defining the pump chamber (34) in a radially-outward direction.
8. A pump according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the tubular skirt (33) of the moving member (5) slides inside a guide skirt (16) of the support (4), said guide skirt (16) co-operating with the inner skirt (20) to form an upwardly-open annular groove communicating via at least one air intake orifice (42) with the source of substance, the tubular skirt (33) of the moving member (5) bearing in leakproof manner against the guide skirt (16) when the moving member is at rest and the volume of the pump chamber is at a maximum.
9. A pump according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the central duct (32) of the moving member (5) is provided, at its bottom end, with at least one radial opening (36).
10. A pump according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that said moving member constitutes a pushbutton (5), said central duct (32) being integrally formed with a dispensing endpiece (35).
11. A pump according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that it has a return spring for returning the moving member towards an initial position after a quantity of substance has been dispensed.
12. A pump according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the return spring is constituted by a helical spring working in compression.
13. A pump according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the spring is disposed on the axis of the membrane so that the top end of the spring bears against the bottom end of the central portion of the membrane.
14. A pump according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that it includes a non-return valve upstream from the membrane, said valve opening while substance is being sucked into the pump chamber, and presenting a leak so as to avoid preventing displacement of the moving member while a quantity of substance is being dispensed.
15. A pump according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the membrane is made of at least two different materials.
16. A pump according to claims 4 and 15, characterized by the fact that the flexible lip (53) is made of a material that is softer than the spring-forming portion (51) of the membrane.
17. A receptacle fitted with a pump as defined in any preceding claim.

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