EP1444051A1

EP1444051A1 - Fluid dispenser

Info

Publication number: EP1444051A1
Application number: EP02796816A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Isabelle Binois; Laurent Decottignies
Original assignee: AirlesSystems SAS
Current assignee: AirlesSystems SAS
Priority date: 2001-10-22
Filing date: 2002-10-21
Publication date: 2004-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 2022-10-21
Also published as: ES2242091T3; CN1575207A; DE60204163D1; BR0213453A; CN1277620C; FR2831142A1; US20050077319A1; FR2831142B1; DE60204163T2; WO2003035273A1; US7543721B2; EP1444051B1; BR0213453B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a fluid dispenser comprising: at least one fluid tank (1) which defines an essentially rigid neck (14); a more or less rigid casing (2) which houses said tank (1); and a dispensing member (5) which is inserted in the neck (14) of at least one tank (1) in order to remove the fluid product. The inventive device is characterised in that it also comprises a support element (3) which is engaged with both the neck (14) of the tank (1) and the rigid casing (2) in such a way as to hold said tank in place inside the rigid casing.

Description

Fluid dispenser

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir defining a substantially rigid neck, a substantially rigid shell inside which the reservoir is placed and a dispensing member, for example a pump, engaged in the neck of the fluid. reservoir for withdrawing fluid. In general, in such a dispenser using a reservoir and a substantially rigid shell, the reservoir is often in the form of a flexible bag which defines one or more deformable walls. To make the flexible pouch integral with the substantially rigid neck, there are several techniques. For example, the opening of the flexible pouch can be welded to a pocket support made from a substantially rigid material. Another technique is to realize the bag and neck in one piece by extrusion blow molding or injection blow molding. To impart rigidity to the neck, it is made with a wall thickness much greater than that of the flexible pouch.

Document FR-2 791 643, for example, discloses a monobloc reservoir produced by injection-blow molding or extrusion-blow molding. This reservoir comprises a deformable body for containing fluid and a substantially rigid upper portion which defines a neck. Below the neck, the substantially rigid portion extends in the form of a bell whose outer diameter is substantially equal to that of the flexible body. For the fixing of this reservoir in a rigid outer shell, there is provided on the outer periphery of the rigid bell several snap rings and a protruding collar intended to cooperate with the rigid shell at its upper opening. Therefore, it can be said that the tank incorporates holding means for fixing the tank in place inside the rigid outer shell. Since these holding means are integrated in the tank, they can cooperate with a rigid outer shell of a type specially adapted to receive this particular tank. In other words, it is practically impossible to use a particular tank with any rigid shell that is not specially adapted to its reception.

The object of the present invention is to remedy this drawback of the aforementioned prior art by defining a fluid dispenser with a tank and a rigid shell in which the retention of the reservoir in the rigid shell is easy and fast whatever the rigid shell used. The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an adaptability in the holding in place of the tank in any rigid shell.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a fluid dispenser comprising at least one fluid reservoir defining a substantially rigid neck, a substantially rigid shell closing the reservoir, and a dispensing member engaged in the neck of said at least one reservoir. for withdrawing fluid, characterized in that it further comprises a holding element in engagement with both the neck of the reservoir and the rigid shell so as to maintain the reservoir in place in the rigid shell. The holding element is a separate part attached to the neck of the tank and cooperating with the other with the rigid shell. Since most rigid shells are circular cylindrical, it is very easy to make a holding element specially adapted to the diameter of the rigid shell. Thus, with any tank and any shell it is still possible to keep the tank in place in the rigid shell. It is from here that comes the adaptability of the dispenser according to the invention.

For fixing the holding element on the neck of the tank, the holding member may comprise a substantially central mounting housing adapted to receive the neck of the tank. Advantageously, the holding element defines an access passage opening on the substantially central housing so that the neck of the reservoir can be engaged in the central housing by the access passage. Thus, to adapt the holding element to the neck of the reservoir, it suffices to provide a housing having a diameter equal to or slightly greater than a portion of the neck and to engage the neck in this housing through the specially designed access passage . In this way, it is possible to climb a holding element on a neck of any shape. The shape of the holding element may be particularly simple, for example in the form of a plate having a contour adapted to the rigid shell and at least partially surrounding the neck of the reservoir. According to an advantageous embodiment, the neck may form a constriction at which the holding element engages with the neck.

Advantageously, the reservoir comprises a deformable wall. The holding member may therefore allow to suspend the tank inside the hull. Advantageously, the tank may be of the aforementioned type, that is to say with a flexible pouch defining at least one deformable wall. However, any type of tank, such as a rigid glass tank, can be used in the present invention. However, it is obvious that the present invention will find a preferred application with flexible pouch tanks since they have no maintenance inside the rigid shell. It is precisely through the use of the holding element that the flexible pouch reservoir finds an outfit inside the rigid shell.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the dispenser further comprises a fastener provided with receiving means for the dispensing member and fastening means cooperating with the neck of the reservoir, said fastening means comprising an inner sleeve of sealed plug with the tank neck. Advantageously, the fixing member comprises a peripheral skirt engaged with the shell. Preferably, the fastener blocks the holding member in the shell. Thus, the positioning of the inner sleeve, advantageously inside the neck of the tank, is accurate because the outer skirt blocks the holding member which itself is fixed in position on the neck. The skirt can even come to bear on the holding element. On the other hand, the inner sleeve does not need to incorporate specific abutment means to limit its engagement inside the neck. The establishment of the fastener is simple from the moment the reservoir is held in place in the rigid shell by means of the holding member. he simply engage the sleeve in the rigid neck until the lower end of its peripheral skirt engages in engagement in the shell. The holding element can even play a role of reference for the establishment of the fastener, in the case where the skirt abuts on the holding member. On the other hand, the holding element is permanently locked in the rigid shell which further improves its maintenance. The fastener and the holding member therefore cooperate together to improve the stability of the reservoir and the dispensing member.

In another aspect, the shell forms internally a bearing zone on which the holding element bears.

On the other hand, the holding member may be constituted by a cut flat plate.

Advantageously, the holding element forms a separate part of the dispensing member and the shell, said at least one dispensing member being received and fixed on the holding element, said holding element being attached, and advantageously fixed in place, in the hull.

In one embodiment, the holding member may comprise two fixing housings adapted to each receive a tank neck.

The invention will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings giving by way of non-limiting example an embodiment of the invention.

In the figures:

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a fluid dispenser according to a first embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a holding element according to the invention,

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the upper part of a tank according to the invention, FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the upper part of a rigid shell according to the invention, revealing the inside of the shell,

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view laterally of a portion of a dispenser according to a second embodiment of the invention, and

- Figures 6 and 7 are views corresponding to Figure 5 in the assembled state.

A fluid dispenser according to the invention comprises four essential components, namely a reservoir 1, an outer shell 2, a holding member 3 and a dispensing member 5 which may be a pump. In addition, for fixing the pump 5 in the container 1, it is preferable to use an additional constituent element, namely a fixing member 4. Optionally, the dispenser may be provided with a cover 6 to protect the distribution member 5.

The tank 1 which is shown in the figures is a particular tank produced by extrusion blow molding or injection blow molding. It is therefore a reservoir of the flexible pouch type defining at least one deformable wall. More specifically, the tank 1 comprises a body 10 closed at its lower end by a tank bottom 11 and defining at its upper end a shoulder 12 which is extended by a neck 14. The tank 1 is here made integrally. Its body 10 and its bottom 11 are made with a wall thickness smaller than that of the shoulder 12 and especially the neck 14. As a result, the body 10 and the bottom 11 define deformable flexible walls while the shoulder 12 has a certain rigidity and that the neck 14 has the greatest rigidity. It can clearly be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 that the wall thickness increases progressively at the shoulder 12 to reach its maximum at the neck 14. FIG. 3 represents a variant of the reservoir of FIG. 1 with a design collar somewhat different. However, these two passes are totally equivalent in function. The use of a bladder monobloc reservoir made by extrusion blow molding or injection blow molding to illustrate the present invention should not be considered as limiting: on the contrary, it could very well have been possible to use another type of tank, for example a flexible pocket reservoir whose pocket is welded to a separate pocket support. It would also have been possible to use a conventional rigid wall tank made of plastic or even glass. However, the use of a flexible bag reservoir is preferred for illustration of the present invention since this type of tank does not have a clean hold. According to the invention, the neck 14 of the reservoir is formed with a constriction 13 which defines a portion of reduced diameter. The constriction 13 of Figures 1 and 3 is formed just above the shoulder 12 and just below a reinforced portion 15 formed by the neck 14. The constriction 13 may be formed at another location of the neck 14 , for example near its upper end. However, the positioning of the constriction 13 in FIGS. 1 and 3 corresponds to a conventional tank neck shape which generally has a constriction at the point where the neck 14 connects to the shoulder 12.

The outer shell 2 is made of a suitable material (plastic, glass, metal, etc.) to give it a certain rigidity. The outer shell 2 comprises a body 20, here cylindrical, closed at its lower end by a shell bottom 21. At its upper end, the body 20 is open and defines an upper portion 22 defining at its inner wall one or more This upper part 22 is also provided with bearing or abutment means 25 which are here in the form of ends of ribs 24 which extend over the height of the body 20. In embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 4, the inner wall of the body is formed with eight ribs 24 defining eight abutment or abutment ends 25 located slightly below the cords or snap rings 23. It is easily understood that a disc having a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the shell 20 may rest stably on the eight ends 25. The ribs 24 extend over the height of the body 20 to improve the stability of the tank 1 inside the shell 2. Of course, the function filled by the ends 25 of the ribs 24 can be filled by other means such as for example a peripheral radial flange which projects towards inside. One can still imagine simple pads formed on the inner wall of the body 20.

According to the invention, a holding element 3 is used to hold the tank 1 in place inside the shell 2. This holding element 3 is here in the form of a simple washer, part of which has been removed. . Indeed, with reference to Figure 2, the holding element is in the form of a capital "c". One can of course imagine other forms for the holding element whose functions will now be described. The holding element 3 engages with both the neck 14 of the tank 1 and the shell 2 at its upper part 22. More specifically, the holding element cooperates with the throat 13 of the neck 14 and with the ends of the abutment 25 of the shell 2. For this, the holding element comprises a central housing 31 whose edge 34 has a shape allowing its adaptation around the throat 13 of the neck 14. Advantageously, to allow the introduction of the neck 14 in the housing 31, the holding member 3 forms an access passage 32 which opens into the housing 31. Thus, the holding member 3 can be engaged around the neck 14 at the throat 13 by passing the constriction of the neck through the access passage 32. The access passage 32 is largely open on the housing 31, but still limits the entrance so that the edge 34 of the housing 31 can surround the strangulation 13 on more than half of his p ourtour. Thus, a good stable attachment of the holding member 3 around the constriction 13 is achieved.

The holding member 3 also has an outer edge 33 which allows engagement of the holding member within the body 20 so as to rest on the abutment ends 25. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. figures, the shell 2 and the throat 13 of the neck 14 are cylindrical circular: thus, it is easy to achieve the holding element 3 in the form of a simple washer with an inner edge 34 circular and an outer edge 33 also circular. However, one can imagine other forms for the edges 34 and 33 without modifying their functions at the neck 14 and the shell 2.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the holding element 3 is on the one hand engaged around the neck 14 at its throat 13 and on the other hand rests on the abutment ends 25 formed at the end. In this way, the tank 1 is maintained perfectly stable inside the shell 2. It may even be noted that the bottom 11 of the tank 1 is located away from the bottom 21 of the hull. 2. It can be said that the tank 1 is suspended inside the shell 2 by means of the holding element 3.

The holding element can be made in a particularly simple manner as seen above, that is to say from a simple perfectly flat washer that can be cut or punched in a plate. The holding member 3 is preferably made of plastic, but it can also be made of metal or any other suitable material. Of course, one can imagine more complicated shapes for the holding element 3.

The dispensing member 5, which is here a pump, comprises a body 50 which terminates at its upper end by a ratchet flange 51. The pump also comprises a pusher 52 which can be pressed to actuate its mechanism.

The pump 5 can be engaged directly in the neck 14 of the reservoir 1 in the manner of a plug with a sealing made between the body 50 and a portion of the neck 14, for example at its throat 13. However, according to the invention, a fastener 4 is used to fix the pump in the neck 14 of the container. This fixing member 4 comprises receiving means 41 in which is received the ratchet flange 51 of the pump 5. In this way, the pump 5 is stably held in the fixing member 4. Below the means 41, the fixing member 4 defines an inner sleeve 42 intended to be sealingly engaged in the neck 14. The sleeve 42 extends around the body 50 of the pump 5, advantageously with a space between the sleeve and the body. The fixing member 4 also comprises a peripheral skirt 43 which extends around the receiving means 41 and the sleeve 42. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, this peripheral skirt 43 has a generally ogival shape. Near its lower end, the skirt 43 forms a latching sleeve 44 which is formed externally with rods adapted to cooperate with the snap rings 43 formed in the portion 22 of the rigid shell 2. Above this sleeve 44, the skirt forms a peripheral flange 45 which extends radially outwardly. This flange 45 is intended to bear on the upper end of the portion 22 of the rigid shell 2. It should be noted that the lower end of the sleeve 44 formed by the skirt 43 bears on the element of 3, itself abuts on the ends 25. In this way, the holding member 3 is locked in position inside the shell 2, wedged between the abutment ends 25 and the free end of the sleeve 44. It should be noted that the contact of the sleeve 44 with the holding member 3 serves as a reference for the positioning of the inner sleeve 42 inside the neck 14. Indeed, since the holding element 3 is fixedly mounted in position in the throat 13 of the neck 14, the sleeve 43 will also be accurately positioned in the neck 14 due to the support of the lower end of the sleeve 44 on the element 3. So there is no need for sp ecciale to limit the engagement of the sleeve 42 in the neck 14. Optionally, the peripheral skirt 43 can serve as a support for a hood 6 which caps the skirt 43 and the pusher 52.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of a dispenser according to the invention which implements a holding member 3 'for receiving two tanks the. These reservoirs each comprise a flexible pouch 10 'fixed on a pocket support 14' which forms a neck defining an opening communicating the inside of the flexible pouch 10 'with the outside. Although not shown, the pocket support 14 'comprises a fixing appendage, advantageously by welding, on which the opening of the flexible pouch 10' can be advantageously fixed by welding. The support of pocket 14 'also comprises a plastron 12' which extends just below a groove 13 'which serves to fix the pocket support 14' on the holding element 3 ', as will be seen below.

The holding member 3 'here comprises a base plate 30' in which plate is cut two housing 31 'which are open towards the edge of the plate 30' through access passages 32 '. The access passages 32 'extend substantially opposite. The holding member 3 'also forms a ring 36' which extends upwardly from the periphery of the plate 30 '. This ring 36 'is also formed with side access windows 35' which are located just above the access passages 32 '. This is visible in Figure 5. In addition, the holding member 3 'comprises a partition wall 37' which extends below the plate 30 'substantially between the two housing 31'.

The tanks can be received and mounted on the holding member 3 'in a manner substantially similar to that of the previous embodiment. Indeed, the constriction 13 'formed by the neck of the pocket support 14' is intended to be inserted and advantageously held by snapping inside a housing 31 'formed by the base plate 30' of the element holding 3 '. The edge 34 'of the housing 31' thus engages in the constriction or groove 13 ', advantageously surrounding it over more than half of its perimeter. A fixation is thus achieved. On the other hand, as can be seen in Figure 6, the plastron 35 'engages under the plate 30'. Thus, the fixing is ensured by the engagement of the constriction 13 'in the housing 31', and the stability is ensured by the positioning of the plastron 12 'under the plate 30'. It will be readily understood from FIGS. 5 and 6 that the tanks can be placed on the holding element 3 'by engaging their pocket support 14' through the windows 35 'and the access passages 32'. Once the tanks mounted on the holding member 3 ', as shown in Figure 6, this unit subassembly can be engaged in one piece inside a shell 2', as shown in FIG. 7. This shell 2 'comprises a barrel 20' which may advantageously be of elongated, oval or ellipsoidal shape. As in the preceding embodiment, although this is not shown, the shell 2 'may be internally provided with bearing surfaces for receiving the plate 30'. It may also be noted that the crown 36 'can be omitted, but it still allows a better stability of the holding member 3' in the shell 2 '. Once the holding member 3 'with its reservoirs inserted in the shell 2', as shown in FIG. 7, the tanks are trapped in the holding element 3 ', since the latter was 20'. shell 2 'closes the windows 35' through which the tanks were engaged in the housing 31 '. To obtain a complete fluid product dispenser, it is then sufficient to fill the two reservoirs and to mount dispensing members with the aid of a fastener, as in the previous embodiment.

Thanks to the invention, practically any tank can be held in position inside a rigid shell of any shape thanks to the use of a holding element according to the invention which makes the connection between the neck 14 of the tank and the hull with remarkable adaptability.

Claims

claims

1.- Fluid dispenser comprising:

- at least one fluid reservoir (1) defining a substantially rigid neck (14), - a substantially rigid shell (2) closing the reservoir (1), and

- A dispensing member (5) engaged in the neck (14) of said at least one reservoir (1) for taking fluid, characterized in that it further comprises a holding member (3) engaged at a time with the neck (14) of the tank (1) and the rigid shell (2) so as to hold the tank in place in the rigid shell.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the holding element (3) comprises a substantially central mounting housing (31) adapted to receive the neck (14) of the reservoir.

3. A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the holding element (3) defines an access passage (32) opening on the substantially central housing (31) so that the neck (14) of the reservoir can be engaged. in the central housing (31) through the access passage (32).

4. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the neck (14) forms a constriction (13) at which the holding member (3) engages the neck (14).

5. Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding member is in the form of a plate at least partially surrounding the neck of the reservoir.

6. Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reservoir (1) comprises a tank bottom

(11), opposite the neck (14), and the shell (2) also comprises a shell bottom (21), said tank bottom (11) not bearing against the shell bottom (21).

7. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reservoir (1) comprises a deformable wall (10, 11), and is advantageously produced integrally by injection blow molding or extrusion blow molding.

8. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a fastener (4) provided with receiving means (41) for the dispensing member (5) and fastening means (42) cooperating with the neck (14) of the reservoir, said fixing means (4) comprising an inner sleeve (42) in sealing engagement with the neck of the reservoir.

9. A dispenser according to claim 8, wherein the fastener (4) comprises a peripheral skirt (43) engaged with the shell (2).

10. A dispenser according to claim 8, wherein the fastener (4) blocks the holding member (3) in the shell (2).

11. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shell (2) internally forms a bearing zone (25) on which the holding member (3) abuts.

12. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding member is constituted by a cut flat plate.

13. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding member comprises two fixing housing adapted to each receive a tank neck.

14. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding element (3) forms a separate part of the dispensing member and the shell, said at least one dispensing member being received and fixed on the holding member, said holding member being attached, and advantageously fixed in place, in the shell.

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