EP1155744B1 - Spring-type push-button - Google Patents

Abstract

A pushbutton for actuating a dispenser member, the dispenser member having a moving element that is movable between two positions, the pushbutton having a base, a head defining both a bearing surface for a user and a dispensing orifice, and an elastically-deformable portion interconnecting the base and the head, the head being suitable for being secured to the moving element. The elastically-deformable portion is arranged so as to deform in the sense of rolling onto itself when the head is depressed and is suitable for returning the moving element into an initial position by resilient return.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of devices for packaging and dispensing a fluid, liquid or pasty product, in particular a cosmetic product.

The invention relates more particularly to devices comprising a manually operated pump for dispensing a dose of product.

Such pumps conventionally include a push button defining a bearing surface for the user, mounted at the upper end of a hollow pump control rod and driven at the time of use.

It is known to use a metal spring to return the push button to its initial position after dispensing a dose of product.

However, the use of such a metal spring increases the cost price of the pump and may pose a problem of corrosion and compatibility with the product dispensed.

It has been proposed in the patent US-A-5,363,993 (Corresponding to the preamble of the independent claim 1), a pump in which the push button is integral with a spring bellows, to recall it in its initial position after dispensing a dose of product.

Such a bellows is relatively bulky and unsightly and requires to provide a dressing skirt extending around him.

In addition, such a bellows is difficult to mold.

The patent application DE 197 29516 describes a pump of elastic material for the dosing of liquid substances, viscous or in the form of gels.

The patent application FR 2,735,452 discloses an automatic and waterproof push-plug for delivering a liquid or pasty product contained in a tank. This plug-pusher comprises a means acting as a spring consisting of a deformable chamber in the form of a balloon for automatically resetting the plug-push and conferring the seal to the piston of the tank relative to the rest of the plug-push.

The invention aims in particular to remedy all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks.

It achieves this by means of a push-button according to the invention, intended for the actuation of a dispensing member, this dispensing member comprising a member movable between two positions, the push-button comprising a head, defining a surface of support for the user and a dispensing orifice, a base and an elastically deformable portion connecting the head to the base, the head being adapted to be secured to the element, this push button being characterized by the fact that the elastically deformable portion is arranged to deform in the direction of a winding on itself when the head is depressed and is adapted to recall by elastic return the movable member in an initial position and the fact that the pushbutton is made in one piece by molding.

Thus, the elastically deformable portion is deformed in the present invention other than a bellows or a helical spring, since a bellows or a helical spring deforms not in the direction of a winding on itself but in the direction of axial settlement.

The push-button according to the invention makes it possible to avoid the use of a metal spring to return the pump to its initial configuration after dispensing a dose of product, without presenting the aforementioned drawbacks of the patent. US-A-5,363,993 .

The pushbutton according to the invention can also be manufactured easily by plastic molding and can be made with an aesthetic shape, to overcome a dressing skirt surrounding the elastically deformable portion.

In a particular embodiment, the elastically deformable portion has a general dome shape.

Preferably, the head is in the center of the elastically deformable portion.

Such a configuration makes it possible to promote translational movement of the head when the user presses on the latter.

Advantageously, the elastically deformable portion is arranged to form a fold when the head is depressed, and at least from a certain driving stroke of the head, the connection zone of the latter to the elastically deformable portion passes to- below the level of the top of the fold.

In a particular embodiment, the elastically deformable portion has a substantially constant thickness.

Still in a particular embodiment, the elastically deformable portion is devoid of folds at rest.

Such creases could be unsightly and promote the accumulation of dirt.

In a particular embodiment, the base of the push button has a tubular shape, preferably symmetrical of revolution.

In a particular embodiment, the head comprises a tip for attachment to a control rod of a pump.

The tip may extend below the level of the connection zone of the elastically deformable portion on the head.

In a particular embodiment, the head comprises a housing allowing the fixing a nozzle.

The axis of the nozzle may be perpendicular to the direction of depression of the head to dispense a dose of product, or alternatively to have another orientation.

In a particular embodiment, the elastically deformable portion connects to the head substantially perpendicular to the direction of depression of the head to dispense a dose of product.

Such a configuration makes it possible to cause the elastically deformable portion to wind on itself from the beginning of the driving stroke of the head.

In a particular embodiment, the elastically deformable portion connects to the head by a zone of reduced thickness.

Such a zone of reduced thickness facilitates translational movement of the head when it is depressed.

Advantageously, the base is arranged to engage on the pump body and preferably comprises in this case, at the area for fixing on the pump body, an annular bead.

Such bead provides a greater clamping force to keep in place the push button on the pump body.

The thickness of the elastically deformable portion may be between 1 and 3 mm for example, being preferably close to 2 mm.

In a particular embodiment, the head of the push button has an enlarged upper end.

According to the invention as defined in the independent claim 1, the push button is made in one piece by molding.

The plastic material used to mold the push button may be a shape memory material, preferably chosen from mixtures based on the following materials: ethylene vinyl acetate, thermoplastic elastomers and low density polyethylene.

• la figure 1 représente partiellement et de manière schématique un récipient muni d'une pompe équipée d'un bouton-poussoir conforme à l'invention, le bouton-poussoir étant représenté au repos et en coupe axiale,
• la figure 2 est une vue de face du bouton-poussoir représenté isolément, selon la flèche II de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une coupe axiale selon le trait de coupe III-lII de la figure 2,
• la figure 4 est une coupe transversale selon le trait de coupe IV-IV de la figure 3, et
• la figure 5 est une vue analogue à la figure 1, représentant le bouton-poussoir au cours de la distribution d'une dose de produit.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the following detailed description of an example of non-limiting implementation, and the examination of the appended drawing, in which:

• the figure 1 partially and schematically represents a container provided with a pump equipped with a push-button according to the invention, the push-button being shown at rest and in axial section,
• the figure 2 is a front view of the push button shown in isolation, according to the arrow II of the figure 1 ,
• the figure 3 is an axial section along line III-III of the figure 2 ,
• the figure 4 is a cross-section along line IV-IV of section figure 3 , and
• the figure 5 is a view similar to the figure 1 , representing the push button during the dispensing of a dose of product.

Partially and very schematically represented on the figure 1 a container 1 known in itself, provided with a pump 2 provided with a push button 3 according to the invention.

The container 1 is filled with a liquid or pasty product P, in contact with the body of the container itself in the example described.

Product P could, in a variant not shown, be trapped in a pocket that can retract during dispensing.

The pump 2 can be with or without air intake.

It comprises a pump body 17 and a hollow rod 6 movable in translation along the axis X with respect to the pump body 17, to move downwards to dispense a dose of product.

The pump body 17 is fixed in a mounting skirt 4 made at the top of the container 1 and houses, in a conventional manner, a suction valve and a discharge valve, not visible in the drawing, and defines with a piston also not shown in the drawing, integral with the hollow rod 6, a pumping chamber of variable volume.

The use of a push-button 3 according to the invention makes it possible to use a pump body 17 without a spring inside, as will be specified below.

The aforementioned discharge valve opens to allow the distribution of the product through the inner channel 8 of the hollow rod 6 when the volume of the pumping chamber decreases, that is to say when the hollow rod 6 goes down, the valve suction is then closed.

When the hollow rod 6 rises, the discharge valve closes and the suction valve opens to allow a return of product into the chamber of pumping.

In the embodiment described, the pump 2 is connected to a dip tube 9 for using the container head up.

The push-button 3 comprises a base 10 fixed on the upper part 11 of the pump body 17, a head 14 and an elastically deformable part 15 connecting the head 14 to the base 10.

The head 14 comprises in the lower part a tubular tip 18, of axis X, in which is inserted the upper end of the hollow rod 6, and has in the upper part a housing 20 of axis Y perpendicular to the axis X, for mounting a nozzle 21, the latter may be single port or vortex channels, depending on the nature of the product dispensed and the destination thereof.

The interior of the housing 20 communicates with the inside of the nozzle 18 by an inner channel 19 allowing the product exiting the hollow rod 6 to be dispensed.

The head 14 has, as can be seen on the figure 2 , an enlarged upper end 25 defining a bearing surface 26 substantially flat and perpendicular to the axis X.

The elastically deformable portion 15 is not in contact with the product, has a generally dome shape, the head 14 of the push button 3 is connected to the elastically deformable portion 15 at the top of this dome.

The elastically deformable portion 15 connects to the head 14 by a thinned annular zone 30, but also has a substantially constant thickness between this thinned zone 30 and the base 10.

When the elastically deformable portion 15 is observed in axial section as on the figure 3 , it has a substantially quarter-circle shape on either side of the head 14.

It is also seen in this figure that the elastically deformable portion 15 connects to the head 14 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis X and is connected to the base 10 parallel to the axis X.

In the embodiment described, the base 10 has a symmetrical shape of revolution, with an annular bead 32 on its radially inner surface, this annular bead 32 being intended to increase the clamping force on the upper part 11 of the body of pump 17.

The lower end of the base 10 is beveled on its radially inner surface to facilitate the introduction of the push button 3 on the pump body 17.

In the embodiment described, the outer surface of the elastically deformable portion 15 and the base 10 is continuous and free of relief or recess, which is particularly aesthetic.

In addition, the pushbutton 3 prevents the return of dirt in the annular clearance 35 around the hollow rod 6.

In the embodiment described, the base 10, the elastically deformable portion 15 and the head 14 are made in one piece by injection molding, in a shape memory material.

Among the materials that can be used to produce the push-button 3, mention may be made of mixtures based on ethylene vinyl acetate, thermoplastic elastomers or low-density polyethylene.

Of course, the above list is not limiting and one can use other suitable materials, thermoplastic or not.

Note that thanks to the geometry of the base 10 and that of the elastically deformable portion 15 the push button can be achieved by means of a relatively simple mold.

In order to put in place the push-button 3, the base 10 is force-fitted on the upper end 11 of the pump body 17, the base 10 being able to expand elastically radially outwardly during this mounting.

Once in position, the base 10 is immobilized by friction on the upper end of the pump body 17 due to the clamping resulting from the use of an elastomeric material.

The operation of the pump 2 is as follows, the latter being assumed to be initiated.

To dispense a dose of product P, the user pushes the head 14 along the X axis by pressing with a finger on the bearing surface 26.

During this depression, the elastically deformable portion 15 is deformed in the direction of a winding on itself, as can be seen in FIG. figure 5 .

It will be noted that the elastically deformable part forms, at the end of a a certain driving stroke of the head 14, a fold whose vertex 40 is above the level of the connection on the head 14 of the elastically deformable portion 15.

It will also be noted that the radial dimension of the elastically deformable portion increases when the head 14 is depressed.

The presence of the thinned zone 30 facilitates the depression of the head 14.

When the user releases the head 14 of the push button 3, the elastic energy accumulated in the elastically deformable portion 15 is released and the latter, by resuming its initial shape, brings the head 14 upwards, which makes it possible to up the hollow rod 6 and suck the product into the pumping chamber, despite the absence of any return spring in the pump body 17.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described.

In particular, it is possible to modify the shape of the elastically deformable part, for example by producing perforations in the latter, the latter thus being able to present only portions of spindles.

It is also possible to modify the shape of the base and to make it for example in one piece with a part of the container or the pump body.

It is also possible to modify the shape of the head and to make it, for example, in one piece with the control rod of the pump.

It is also possible to realize the push button using different materials, for example a rigid or semi-rigid plastic material for the base and the head and an elastomeric material for the elastically deformable part, thanks to a material bi-injection technique. thermoplastic for example.

Finally, the invention makes it possible to produce a pump without a spring at a relatively low cost price, with no risk of corrosion compared with a spring-loaded metal pump, which can be easily molded and is more aesthetically pleasing than a pump comprising a bellows. forming spring.

Claims (20)

1. A pushbutton (3) for actuating a dispenser member, the dispenser member having a moving element that is movable between two positions, the pushbutton having a base (10), a head (14) defining both a bearing surface (26) for a user and a dispensing orifice, and an elastically-deformable portion (15) interconnecting the base (10) and the head (14), the head being suitable for being secured to the moving element, and the pushbutton being characterized by the fact that the elastically-deformable portion (15) is arranged so as to deform in the sense of rolling onto itself when the head is depressed and is suitable for returning the moving element into an initial position by resilient return, and by the fact that the pushbutton is made as a single piece by moulding.
2. A pushbutton according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the elastically-deformable portion (15) is generally dome-shaped.
3. A pushbutton according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the elastically-deformable portion (15) is arranged to form a fold when the head is depressed, and by the fact that from at least a certain down stroke of the head, the zone (30) connecting the head to the elastically-deformable portion passes beneath the level of the top of the fold.
4. A pushbutton according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the head (14) is situated in the center of the elastically-deformable portion (15).
5. A pushbutton according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the elastically-deformable portion (15) is of substantially constant thickness.
6. A pushbutton according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the elastically-deformable portion (15) has no folds when at rest.
7. A pushbutton according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the base (10) is tubular in shape, and is preferably circularly symmetrical.
8. A pushbutton according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the head (14) includes an endpiece (18) enabling the head to be fixed onto a hollow rod (6).
9. A pushbutton according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the endpiece (18) is extended beneath the level of the zone (30) where the elastically-deformable portion (15) connects with the head (14).
10. A pushbutton according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the head includes a housing (20) enabling a nozzle (21) to be secured thereto.
11. A pushbutton according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the axis (Y) of the nozzle (21) is perpendicular to the direction (X) in which the head (14) is depressed in order to dispense a quantity of fluid.
12. A pushbutton according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the elastically-deformable portion (15) is connected to the head (14) substantially perpendicularly to the direction (X) in which the head is depressed in order to dispense a quantity of fluid.
13. A pushbutton according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the elastically-deformable portion (15) is connected to the head via a zone (30) of reduced thickness.
14. A pushbutton according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the base (10) is arranged to engage on a pump body (17).
15. A pushbutton according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the base (10) has an annular bead (32) in its zone for engaging on the pump body (17).
16. A pushbutton according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the thickness of the elastically-deformable portion (15) lies in the range 1 mm to 3 mm, and is preferably close to 2 mm.
17. A pushbutton according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the head (14) has an enlarged top end (25).
18. A pushbutton according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that it is made of a material having shape memory, and preferably selected from mixtures based on the following materials: ethylene vinyl acetate, thermoplastic elastomers, and low density polyethylene.
19. A pump fitted with a pushbutton (3) as defined in any preceding claim.
20. A receptacle fitted with a pump as defined in the preceding claim.

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