EP1458632A1

EP1458632A1 - Fluid product dispenser

Info

Publication number: EP1458632A1
Application number: EP02803443A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Firmin Garcia; Christophe Pierre
Original assignee: Valois SAS
Current assignee: Aptar France SAS
Priority date: 2001-11-20
Filing date: 2002-11-19
Publication date: 2004-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 2022-11-19
Also published as: WO2003043907A1; FR2832391A1; EP1458632B1; BR0214286A; DE60204355T2; DE60204355D1; JP2005509571A; ES2242905T3; FR2832391B1; CN1589217A

Abstract

The invention concerns a fluid product dispenser comprising: a reservoir (3) containing said fluid product and provided with at least an actuating wall (10) whereon pressure is exerted to decrease the volume of the reservoir; a dispensing orifice (50) communicating with the reservoir and through which the fluid product is dispensed outside the reservoir mixed with a gas to generate a two-phase spray; a removable closure element (12) to close the dispensing orifice (50) thus isolating the reservoir from outside; spring means (4) for urging the actuating wall (10) into a rest position defining the maximum volume of the reservoir (3) when the closure element (12) is removed from the dispensing orifice (50), said spring means (4) being compressed when the closure element (12) closes the dispensing outlet (50), the reservoir (3) substantially containing solely fluid product as long as the removable closure element (12) closes the dispensing orifice (50). The invention is characterized in that, so long as the closure element (12) closes the dispensing orifice (50), the reservoir (3) is divided into several compartments (31, 32; 31', 32') by at least a separating partition (13; 13'), at least one (31; 31') of the compartments containing the fluid product and at least another compartment (32; 32') containing the spring means (4), but no fluid product, such that the fluid product is not in contact with the spring means (4) before the closure element (12) is removed.

Description

FLUID PRODUCT DISPENSER

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser comprising:

a reservoir containing said fluid product and provided with at least one actuating wall on which pressure is exerted to reduce the volume of the reservoir,

- a dispensing orifice communicating with the reservoir and through which the fluid is dispensed out of the reservoir in mixture with a gas to create a two-phase spray, - a removable closure element for closing the dispensing orifice and thus isolating the reservoir from the outside, and

- spring means for urging the actuating wall into a rest position defining the maximum volume of the reservoir when the closure element is removed from the dispensing orifice, said spring means being compressed when the element d obturation closes the outlet orifice, the reservoir containing substantially only fluid as long as the removable closure element closes the dispensing orifice.

Such a fluid dispenser is described in particular in document F -2,791,645. The reservoir of this dispenser is therefore sealed with the aid of the removable closure element whereas it contains practically only fluid and practically or not at all air. It therefore has a particularly flat configuration, especially if a spring is used which adopts a flat configuration when compressed to the maximum. It is only when the removable closure element is removed that air is sucked into the reservoir through the dispensing orifice because the spring means can then relax and thus stress the actuating wall so as to increase the volume of the reservoir to a maximum state. From this moment, the tank contains a small amount of fluid and a much larger amount of air. By then pushing in the actuation wall, the volume of the tank decreases and the mixture of air and fluid is then discharged in the form of a two-phase spray through the dispensing orifice.

The advantage with such a dispenser is that the fluid inside the tank is practically or not at all in contact with air which could deteriorate the qualities of the fluid. However, the fluid product is in contact with the spring means which can be made of metal or plastic. Depending on the type of fluid contained in the tank, there may be a deterioration in its qualities due to its direct contact with the spring means. The present invention aims to remedy, or at least reduce the aforementioned drawback of the prior art by defining a fluid dispenser with a sealed reservoir containing compressed spring means in which the spring means are not in contact of the fluid before removing the removable closure element. To achieve this object, the present invention provides, as long as the obturation element closes the dispensing orifice, the reservoir is divided into several compartments by at least one partition, at least one of the compartments containing the fluid product and at least one other compartment containing the spring means, but no fluid product, so that the fluid product is out of contact with the spring means before removal of the closure element. Advantageously, said at least one partition is adapted to break so as to cause the compartments to communicate with each other under the effect of the relaxation of the spring means after removal of the closure element allowing the penetration of air into the tank through the dispensing orifice. There is therefore no particular or additional operation to break the partition. In addition, these are mechanical means, namely the spring means, which operate the rupture of the partition wall. However, these mechanical means have a force or more particularly a predetermined and easily measurable stiffness. Consequently, the opening of the partition to unite the different compartments does not have any random nature, as would be the case if the user had to operate himself the opening of the partition, for example by pulling or pressing with one or more fingers. In the present invention, the user only needs to tear off or fold back the removable closure element to clear the dispensing orifice, which has the effect of triggering the relaxation of the spring means because air can enter the tank. Thus, it is guaranteed that the partition will always be broken in the same way with given spring means. A particular advantage of the present invention therefore lies in the fact of using the rebound of the spring triggered by the withdrawal of the removable closure element to break the partition separating the spring from the fluid product and thus allow the fluid product and air is spreading throughout the tank.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the spring means are located in a compartment capable of filling with air coming from the dispensing orifice after removal of the closure element. Indeed, to allow the spring means to relax, it is necessary that they are no longer isolated from the outside and that air can thereby enter the compartment where they are located.

According to one embodiment, the spring means are located in a compartment communicating directly with the dispensing orifice. Alternatively, the spring means are located in a compartment separated from the dispensing orifice by a selective partition impermeable to the fluid product and permeable to air. In this case, said selective partition can form an impassable baffle for the fluid product, but nevertheless allowing air to pass through.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the compartment containing the spring means also contains a piece of porous material capable of being soaked with fluid by capillarity. As a variant, the compartment containing the fluid product also contains a piece of porous material capable of being soaked with fluid product by capillary action.

This piece of porous material is preferably located in the immediate vicinity of the dispensing orifice as is the case in the dispenser of the aforementioned prior art. When the fluid product is located in the compartment also containing the piece of porous material, the compartment containing the spring means is separated from the fluid product compartment by the selective partition.

According to a practical embodiment, the dispenser comprises two sheets welded together on their peripheries to form the reservoir, said at least one separation partition being formed by one or more weld lines of low resistance capable of coming apart by spacing the sheets, advantageously caused by the relaxation of the spring means after removal of the closure element. The weld on the peripheries of the sheets is a final weld while the weld forming the partition is a much weaker weld capable of coming apart without damaging the sheets.

The invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings giving by way of nonlimiting examples two embodiments of the invention. In the figures:

- Figure 1 is a plan view by transparency through a fluid dispenser according to a first embodiment before use, that is to say with its removable closure element closing the dispensing orifice, - Figure 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the removable closure element removed,

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the dispenser of FIG. 1 along the section line I-I,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view through the dispenser shown in FIG. 2 along the section line II-II,

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a fluid dispenser according to a second embodiment of the invention, and

- Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 for the second embodiment of the invention. In the two embodiments of FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, 5, the dispenser can be produced from two sheets of flexible complex film 1 and 2 which are welded together on their periphery 11, 12 so as to define therebetween a volume which corresponds substantially to that of a reservoir 3. An insert 5 can also be arranged between the two sheets 1 and 2: this insert 5 defines a dispensing orifice 50 and a housing in which a piece of porous material 6 can be housed so as to extend inside the tank 3. This piece 6 is intended to impregnate with fluid product contained inside the tank 3. Once this piece is soaked in product, it suffices to pass an air flow through the fiber which creates a two-phase distribution at the distribution orifice 50 of the insert 5. In front of the orifice dispensing 50, the two sheets 1 and 2 welded together define a tear-away or folding tab 12 which closes the dispensing orifice 50 so as to isolate the reservoir 3 from the outside.

According to the invention, the reservoir 3 contains a spring 4 which is arranged between the two sheets 1 and 2. This spring 4, as can be seen in FIG. 4, acts at least on one wall 10 of the dispenser, which can be an actuating wall 10, so as to increase the internal volume of the reservoir 3. According to a particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, the spring 4 is constrained in its fully compressed state as long as the obturation element 12 closes the dispensing orifice 50 and thus isolates the reservoir 3 from the outside, as can be seen in FIG. 3. In other words, the reservoir 3 was dried during its manufacture with the spring constrained in its maximum compressed state so that the tank is then at its minimum volume. Since the reservoir 3 is perfectly isolated from the outside by the closure element 12, the spring 4 cannot relax inside the reservoir 3 due to the atmospheric pressure exerted on the walls 1 and 2 of the tank. The dispenser can be stored before use in this state; it then has a particularly reduced thickness which is defined substantially by the thickness of the spring 4 in its fully compressed state added to the cumulative thickness of the two sheets of film 1 and 2. Such a dispenser can for example be inserted in a magazine since 'it is particularly flat and particularly resistant to pressure. As soon as the shutter element 12 is removed, the air can penetrate inside the tank 3 through the dispensing orifice 50 so that the spring 4 can relax inside the tank. so as to increase its internal volume. The reservoir 3 is then filled with fluid and gas, generally air. To obtain a distribution of sprayed product, it suffices then to act on the wall 10 using the thumb for example against the action of the spring 4 so as to discharge air through the part 6 soaked with fluid product . The air passing through the impregnated part 6 creates a two-phase spray at the level of the dispensing orifice 50. As soon as the pressure on the actuating wall 1 is released, the latter resumes its shape represented on the Figure 4 due to the elastic action of the spring 4.

This is a distributor conforming to document FR-2 791 645.

According to the invention, the reservoir 3 is divided into several compartments by one or more partition walls which separate the spring 4 from the fluid product. Thus, there is no contact between them which could damage or deteriorate the qualities of the fluid product. Therefore, one of the compartments contains the spring while the other compartment or compartments contains or contain the fluid.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, there is only one partition 13 which divides the tank into two compartments 31 and 32. The compartment 32 contains the spring 4 and no fluid while the compartment 31 contains fluid.

In the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6, there are two partition walls 13 'which divide the tank into three compartments, namely a central compartment 32' containing the spring 4 and two side compartments 31 'containing the fluid.

In both embodiments, the partition walls 13 and 13 ′ are adapted to break so as to make all the compartments communicate with each other so that the fluid product can spread throughout the tank. According to the invention, the rupture of the partition walls is reahsée by the slackening of the spring 4 after removal of the closure element 12 thus allowing air to enter the tank through the dispensing orifice, as explained above. To do this, the compartment containing the spring 4 must be in air communication with the dispensing orifice 50 so as to allow air coming from outside to enter the compartment where the spring is located for that he can relax.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, the compartment 32 containing the spring 4 communicates directly with the dispensing orifice 50 through the piece of porous material 6. It can here be noted that the spring 4 and the piece of porous material 6 are located in the same compartment 32 '. As for the fluid product, it is stored in the two lateral compartments 31 'which are separated from the dispensing orifice 50 by the partitions 13'. It is easily understood that after removal of the removable closure element 12, as shown in FIG. 6, air, the path of which is shown in dotted lines, can penetrate into the compartment 32 'where the spring is located 4 who can then relax. The relaxation of the spring allows the adjacent partitions 13 'to rupture, which then makes the compartments 31' communicate with the central compartment 32 '. The fluid can then spread throughout the tank 3, and preferably will soak the piece of porous material 6. We are then left with a fluid dispenser conforming to that of the document of the aforementioned prior art.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, the compartment 32 containing the spring 4 does not communicate directly with the dispensing orifice 50, since it is separated by the partition 13. It is the compartment 31 containing the fluid product which is in direct communication with the dispensing orifice 50. It may be noted that this compartment 31 also contains the piece of porous material 6 so that the fluid product will preferably soak up inside this piece of porous material 6 and there stay stored. To allow the air coming from the dispensing orifice 50 to penetrate inside the compartment 32 containing the spring 4, the partition 13 is a selective partition preventing the fluid product contained in the compartment 31 from passing through but however allowing air to pass from the compartment 30 to compartment 32 through the selective partition 13. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the partition 13 is made selective by means of a baffle or a labyrinth 14, the crossing of which is impossible in practice for the fluid product, but which nevertheless allows the passage of air to reach the compartment 32. In any case, the fluid product in the compartment 31 tends to be stored in the piece of porous material 6 and practically not in the rest compartment. Therefore, the possibility is low for the fluid to pass through the baffle 14. The flow of air from the outside through the dispensing orifice 50 into the compartment 32 via the baffle 14 is shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. In response to this introduction of air, the spring 4 relaxes and destroys the selective partition 13 and optionally the baffle 14. We are then left with a distributor conforming to the document of the prior art supra. According to the invention, the partitions 13 and 13 ′ can be produced by low resistance weld lines which join the sheets 1 and 2 together locally, as shown in FIG. 3. The weld must be such that the spring 4 can undo without damaging the sheets 1 and 2. After the spring 4 has been relaxed, there is advantageously no trace of the weld line 13, as shown in FIG. 4.

Thanks to the invention, the spring is separated from the fluid before use and the simple tearing of the removable closure element has the effect of relaxing the spring which breaks the partition or partitions.

Claims

claims

1.- Fluid product distributor comprising:

- a reservoir (3) containing said fluid product and provided with at least one actuating wall (10) on which "pressure is exerted to reduce the volume of the reservoir,

a distribution orifice (50) communicating with the reservoir and through which the fluid product is distributed outside the reservoir in mixture with a gas to create a two-phase spray,

- a removable closure element (12) for closing the dispensing orifice (50) and thus isolating the reservoir from the outside,

- spring means (4) for urging the actuating wall (10) in a rest position defining the maximum volume of the reservoir (3) when the closure element (12) is removed from the dispensing orifice (50), said spring means (4) being compressed when the closure element (12) closes the outlet orifice (50), the reservoir (3) containing substantially only fluid as long as the element removable closure (12) closes the dispensing orifice (50), characterized in that, as long as the closing element (12) closes the dispensing orifice (50), the reservoir (3) is divided in several compartments (31, 32; 31 ', 32') by at least one partition

(13; 13 '), at least one (31; 31') of the compartments containing the fluid and at least one other compartment (32; 32 ') containing the spring means (4), but no fluid, of so that the fluid is out of contact with the spring means (4) before removal of the closure element (12).

2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said at least one partition (13; 13 ') is adapted to break so as to make the compartments (31, 32; 31', 32 ') communicate with each other under the effect the relaxation of the spring means (4) after removal of the closure element (12) allowing the penetration of air into the reservoir (3) through the dispensing orifice (50).

3. A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the spring means (4) are located in a compartment (32; 32 ') capable of filling with air from the dispensing orifice (50) after removal of the closure element (12).

4. A dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the spring means (4) are located in a compartment (32 ') communicating directly with the dispensing orifice.

5. A dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the spring means (4) are located in a compartment (32) separated from the dispensing orifice (50) by a selective partition (13) impermeable to the fluid product and permeable to the air.

6. A dispenser according to claim 5, wherein said selective partition (13) forms a baffle (14) impassable for the fluid, but letting air pass.

7. Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the compartment (32 ') containing the spring means (4) also contains a piece of porous material (6) capable of being soaked with fluid by capillary action.

8. A dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the compartment (31) containing the fluid product also contains a piece of porous material (6) capable of being soaked with fluid product by capillary action.

9. A dispenser according to claims 5 and 8, wherein the compartment (32) containing the spring means (4) is separated from the compartment (31) of fluid by the selective partition (13).

10. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising two sheets (1, 2) welded together on their peripheries (11) to form the reservoir (3), said at least one partition (13; 13 ') being formed by one or more weld lines of low resistance capable of being undone by spacing the sheets, advantageously caused by the relaxation of the spring means after removal of the closure element.

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