Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
  • B65D83/14—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant
  • B65D83/16—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant characterised by the actuating means
  • B65D83/20—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant characterised by the actuating means operated by manual action, e.g. button-type actuator or actuator caps
  • B65D83/205—Actuator caps, or peripheral actuator skirts, attachable to the aerosol container
  • B65D83/206—Actuator caps, or peripheral actuator skirts, attachable to the aerosol container comprising a cantilevered actuator element, e.g. a lever pivoting about a living hinge
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
  • B05B11/0005—Components or details
  • B05B11/0037—Containers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
  • B05B11/01—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use characterised by the means producing the flow
  • B05B11/10—Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle
  • B05B11/1001—Piston pumps
  • B05B11/1015—Piston pumps actuated without substantial movement of the nozzle in the direction of the pressure stroke

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a packaging and dispensing device for a liquid or semi-liquid product, of the type comprising a reservoir, an ejection assembly linked to a wall of said reservoir and provided with an actuating member protruding from said reservoir, said actuating member being capable of being displaced in an actuating direction, called vertical direction, for ejecting a quantity of said product out of said reservoir through a passage formed in said actuating member, connecting means which have a first end linked to said actuating member and a second end linked to an outlet member and which are deformable over at least part of their length between said first and second ends so as to be able to convey said quantity of product to said outlet member without transmitting substantial effort to said output member, said output member being fixedly linked to said reservoir and comprising an outlet opening in order to be able to dispense said quantity of product.
• the ejection assembly is typically a manually actuated pump, for a non-pressurized tank, or a valve in the case of a pressurized tank.
• the actuator typically takes the form of a hollow pump or valve stem surmounted by a pusher.
• FR 2 767 799 A provides for shifting the pump relative to the axis of revolution of the reservoir, so as to move it away from the spray nozzle and therefore to lengthen the flexible connection which connects them accordingly.
• This solution is however reserved for devices having a sufficient dimension along a pump-nozzle axis, that is to say incompatible with devices of particular shape.
• US 3,640,274 A plans to extend the flexible conduit connecting the actuator rod of the pump to the spray nozzle by making it loop around the actuator rod.
• the flexible conduit is oriented first towards the spray nozzle and then turns laterally.
• a drawback of this arrangement is that it requires space available for the passage of the flexible conduit between the actuating rod and the spray nozzle, which is also incompatible with devices of particular shape, in particular when the horizontal distance between the rod d actuation and the spray nozzle is very short. Indeed, it is necessary in this case to increase the curvature of the flexible conduit, to a point where the pressure drops can become unacceptable or at the risk of producing a pinching of the flexible conduit.
• US 3,189,232 A provides for raising the spray nozzle away from the valve stem in the vertical direction. This solution has the drawback of increasing the size of the part of the device projecting above the tank, and therefore requires limiting the capacity of said tank for a given total size of the device.
• the object of the invention is to create a device which overcomes at least some of these drawbacks.
• the invention provides a device of the above type, characterized in that from at least one of said ends, said connecting means have at least one end portion oriented so as to move away a zone in the form of a vertical flat strip containing a geometric line directly connecting said actuating member and said outlet member.
• the connecting means deviate, from one of their ends, or preferably from both, from a vertical strip generated by the direct line between the actuating member, for example at the outlet of the passage for the product, and the outlet member, for example at its inlet for the product.
• This configuration makes it possible to increase the length of the connection means, and in particular the length of their deformable portion (s), for example flexible (s). This increase in length results from a routing of the connecting means outside of this vertical strip, for example along at least one portion perpendicular to this vertical strip, which has the advantage of not passing on this extension on the size of the device. in the vertical direction.
• the actuating member may consist of one or more element (s) which ensure (s), if necessary jointly, the transmission of a vertical actuating movement.
• the outlet member designates one or more element (s) which imprint (s) an outlet direction to the flow of ejected product.
• said connecting means comprise a flexible pipe.
• the connection means can then comprise at least one male or female connector fixed to at least one of said actuating member and outlet member and able to be connected in leaktight manner with said flexible pipe, said connector being oriented so as to forming an angle with a geometric vertical plane containing said strip, that is to say a vertical plane intersecting the output member and the actuating member.
• a geometric vertical plane containing said strip that is to say a vertical plane intersecting the output member and the actuating member.
• said angle is greater than 30 °, for example substantially equal to 90 °.
• connection means for example end portions of a flexible pipe
• orientation of the end portions of the connection means can be adapted to route the connection means in a particular sector of the horizontal plane, for example to adapt the path means of connection to a tank of particular horizontal section.
• said connecting means between said first and second ends, extend essentially on one side relative to said geometric vertical plane containing said strip.
• at least one of said end parts of the connection means is oriented so as to move away from the opposite end of said connection means. An increased elongation of the connecting means is thus obtained, which can be particularly useful when the distance in a direct line between the output member and the actuating member is very short.
• said reservoir has a non-circular overall shape in horizontal section, for example an elliptical or oval shape, or a triangular, rectangular or trapezoidal shape.
• said reservoir has, in horizontal section, a maximum dimension in a direction intersecting said geometric vertical plane containing said strip-shaped area, preferably substantially perpendicularly.
• a device is thus obtained which can be easily held in the palm of the hand.
• a rigid cover is mounted on said tank so as to encompass said actuating member and said connecting means between a wall of said cover and said tank wall supporting the ejection assembly, said actuating member comprising a pusher mobile guided vertically through said hood wall.
• said pusher has a support surface accessible from the outside of said cover, said support surface being substantially aligned with an external surface of said cover in a rest position of said pusher.
• This arrangement has an ergonomic advantage and reduces the risks of an accidental actuation of the actuating member, compared to a pusher which would protrude outside the cover.
• said actuating member comprises a hollow pump rod and a transmission rod attached between said pusher and said hollow pump rod, an intermediate wall being arranged between said rigid cover and said tank wall, said transmission rod being guided through said intermediate wall.
• said outlet member comprises a nozzle support fixed to said rigid cover and a spray nozzle fixed to said nozzle support.
• FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a device according to a first embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a nozzle, of a flexible pipe and of a nozzle support of the device of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a top view of the device in FIG. 1,
• FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of Figure 3 of a device according to a second embodiment of the invention.
• This device is a portable vaporizer, generally designated by the number 1, intended for the packaging and distribution of a liquid or semi-liquid product, for example a perfume.
• the product is contained in a tank 2 of substantially elliptical horizontal section, as visible in FIG. 3.
• the tank 2 has a top wall 4 in the center of which protrudes a neck 3.
• the tank 2 can be made of glass for example .
• a manually actuated pump 5 is fixed by crimping on the neck 3.
• the pump 5 is of a design known per se. It comprises a pump body 6, visible only in FIG. 4, housed in the neck 3 and defining a pumping chamber, and a hollow actuating rod 7 slidably mounted in the pump body 6 to drive a piston of pumping in the pumping chamber against a return means (not shown).
• a return means not shown
• the direction of displacement of the hollow rod 7, which is represented by the axis Z in FIG. 4 is called vertical direction.
• the hollow rod 7 projects axially out of the neck 3. It has an axial passage through which a quantity of product is ejected when the pump 5 is actuated, that is to say when the hollow rod 7 is pressed into the body pump 6.
• the reservoir 2 is surmounted by a rigid cover 10 in two parts.
• a lower hoop 11 is fixed by snap-fastening on the reservoir 2, substantially at the periphery of the top wall 4.
• the lower hoop 11 can be made of plastic like ABS.
• On the lower hoop 11 is fixed by snap-fastening a transparent shell 12, which can be made of plastic like PCTA.
• the transparent shell 12 is snapped onto the lower hoop 11 by means of flexible hooks 13 formed integrally with the shell 2, shown in FIG. 4, which hook into an inner rim of the hoop 11.
• the shell 12 and the hoop 11 form the rigid cover 10 which has a substantially continuous outer surface and an overall shape of hollow semi-ellipsoid or cylinder with approximately elliptical hollow section, the lower edge of which follows the outline of the top wall 4 of the tank 2.
• the shell wall 12 forms a well 14 with a peripheral vertical wall 15 and a bottom wall 16.
• the well 14 contains a pusher 19 formed by a pusher head 17 which is guided in vertical sliding by the wall 15 and a push rod 18 which passes through the wall 16 through a central opening 20 formed therein.
• the pusher 19 is omitted in FIG. 3 to reveal the opening 20.
• the pusher head 17 has a shape in approximately elliptical horizontal section like the well 14, visible in FIG. 3.
• the pusher 19 is arranged vertically to the hollow rod 7 of the pump 5 in order to be able to actuate it.
• the pusher 19 is coupled to the hollow rod 7 by a nozzle 9 which performs both the function of transmitting the thrust from the pusher 19 and the function of guiding the product leaving by the hollow rod 7 towards means of link which will be described below.
• the push rod 18 has a lower end portion 21 which is hollow to receive the end piece 9, the horizontal section of which is smaller than the section of the rod 18. The assembly between the two elements is carried out by force fitting or by snap-fastening.
• the nozzle 9 and the pusher 19 are molded in one piece.
• the tip 9, better visible in Figure 2 has a body
• the end body 22 of generally cubic shape and a connecting sleeve 23 which extends from one of the lateral faces of the body 22.
• the end body 22 On its underside, which is hidden in FIG. 2, the end body 22 has a cylindrical housing intended to receive the end of the hollow rod 7. This housing communicates from the inside of the end piece body 22 with the bottom of the sleeve 23 to allow the passage of the product expelled through the hollow rod 7 as far as the sleeve 23.
• the lower end portion 21 of the push rod 18 has a notch for the passage of the sleeve 23.
• a square opening 25 is provided to fix a nozzle support 24.
• the nozzle support 24 has a short cylindrical body 26 and a square fixing flange 27 extending perpendicularly around the body 26 at its front end.
• the fixing flange 27 is fixed by snap-fastening in the opening 25.
• the body 26 contains an annular chamber whose axial direction, substantially perpendicular to the wall of the hoop 11, defines the direction of exit of the sprayed product.
• a pin 28 projects outwards from the nozzle support 24.
• a spray nozzle 29, not shown in FIG. 2 is fixed to the pin 28 by snap-fastening to atomize the jet of product.
• a connecting sleeve 30 which extends substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the body 26 and of the nozzle 29.
• the opening 25 may be a circular hole allowing only the spray nozzle 29 to pass through, the nozzle support 24 then remaining hidden inside the lower hoop 11.
• the axis P a geometric vertical plane which, in the assembled state of the vaporizer 1, contains the direct line between the hollow rod 7 and the spray nozzle 29, that is to say that 'it cuts both the hollow rod 7 and the spray nozzle 29.
• the plane P is also a plane of symmetry for the tank 2 and the cover 10, which it cuts on the minor axis of the elliptical horizontal section.
• both the sleeve 23 and the sleeve 30 are oriented so as to move away from the left side of FIG. 3.
• the sleeve 23 is substantially perpendicular to the plane P, and therefore extends horizontally parallel to the major axis of the elliptical shape of the reservoir 2.
• the direction of the socket 30 forms an angle of approximately 45 ° with the plane P and also approximately 45 ° upward relative to a horizontal plane, that is to say i.e. a plane perpendicular to the hollow rod 7.
• the flexible pipe 31 has, from the socket 23, a first end portion 31a which extends in alignment with the axial direction of the socket 23 following the major axis of the elliptical shape of the reservoir 2, a central portion substantially perpendicular to the portion 31a, which extends horizontally and parallel to the minor axis of the elliptical shape of the reservoir 2, and a second end portion 31c which extends in alignment with the axial direction of the sleeve 30 and ends at the bottom thereof.
• the orientation of the sockets 23 and 30 makes it possible to route the pipe 31 along a longer path, for example by a factor of about two to four, than a direct geometric line connecting the end of the hollow rod 7 and the inlet of the body 26 of the nozzle support 24.
• a straight pipe directly connecting the hollow rod 7 and the nozzle support 24 would be too short to properly absorb the movement of the actuating member.
• the end portion 31a moves away from the nozzle support
• the sockets 23 and 30 could of course be replaced by male connectors.
• the orientation of the sockets 23 and 30 shown in the figures is purely illustrative.
• the socket 23 could go obliquely downwards instead of being horizontal and could deviate from the plane P, seen from above, at an angle other than 90 °.
• the socket 23 could, when viewed from above, form an angle between 30 and 90 ° relative to the direction of the nozzle support 24, to lengthen the pipe 31 to a lesser extent, or form an angle between 120 and 180 ° relative to the direction of the nozzle support 24, to further lengthen the pipe 31.
• the socket 23 In the 180 ° configuration, the socket 23 would be oriented in the plane P, but always moving away from the vertical flat strip B of the plane P, which is generated by the direct line connecting the hollow rod 7 to the spray nozzle 29.
• the strip B is substantially delimited by the vertical axis of the hollow rod 7 and a vertical axis intersecting the nozzle support 24 or the spray nozzle 29.
• the orientation of the sleeve 30 could be modified, both in its inclination relative to the horizontal plane, than with respect to the direction of the minor axis of the ellipse when viewed from above.
• the sleeve 30 can also be oriented vertically.
• a second embodiment of a vaporizer is described, generally designated by the number 101.
• the elements identical or similar to those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numbers as in FIGS. 1 to 3 increased by the number 100 and are not described again.
• the lower hoop 111 is formed integrally with a base plate 40 which has a central opening 41 for receiving the neck 103 of the reservoir 102.
• the base plate 40 covers the top wall 104 of the reservoir 102 in the assembled state of the vaporizer 101.
• an upper hoop 42 which has an overall shape of shell approximately ellipsoidal of smaller size than the shell 112.
• the upper hoop 42 has a peripheral rim 43 whose shape and curvature correspond substantially to those of the inner surface of the shell 112 and a central wall 44 which is connected by its periphery to the rim 43 by forming an obtuse angle.
• the central wall 44 then extends generally horizontally at an intermediate level between the shell 112 and the base plate 40.
• the tip 9 of the first embodiment is replaced by a tip 109 which includes a thrust transmission rod guided through a central opening formed in the central wall 44 of the upper hoop 42.
• the internal structure of the end piece 109 is visible: this consists of a cylindrical bore with two stages, a stage of larger diameter which receives the hollow rod 107 in an adjusted manner, a shoulder against which the end of the hollow rod 107 abuts, and a stage of smaller diameter, closed by a bottom wall, which forms a chamber 45 opposite the end opening of the hollow rod 107 for receiving the ejected product.
• the sleeve 123 extends perpendicular to the lower bore of the end piece 109 and the interior of the sleeve 123 communicates with the chamber 45.
• the top well of the shell 112 does not have a bottom wall.
• the peripheral vertical wall 115 has a free edge projecting towards the inside of the shell 112.
• the pusher head 117 is an insert in the form of an approximately elliptical plate provided with a central sleeve 47 projecting from its lower face to receive the upper end of the end piece 109.
• Two ribs (not shown) suitable to radially tighten elastically the end of the end piece 109 are provided inside the socket 47 to maintain the assembly by snap-fastening.
• FIG. 4 also shows a dip tube 8 of the pump plunging to the bottom of the tank 2 for sucking the product towards the pump body 6.
• the pipe 131 is arranged similarly to the first embodiment and the operation of the vaporizer 101 is identical to that of the vaporizer 1.
• the assembly of the vaporizer 101 is carried out in the following order: the pipe 131 is assembled respectively to the nozzle support, not shown in FIG. 4, and to the socket 123. Then the nozzle support is fixed to the lower hoop 111 by snap-fitting of the nozzle support sleeve into the base plate 40. The end piece 109 is engaged by its upper end perpendicularly through the central wall 44 of the upper hoop 42, from the concave face thereof.
• a cylindrical guide wall 48 projects downward around the central opening of the wall 44 to guide the nozzle 109 in its functional movement intended to allow the actuation of the pump.
• the cylindrical wall 48 is provided with an axial groove for the passage of the sleeve 123, on the right of FIG.
• the upper hoop 42 is then assembled on the base plate 40 by means of elastic tabs d 'snap 49 which protrude vertically from the edge of the upper hoop 42 in the extension of the rim 43.
• the tabs 49 engage in corresponding notches of the base plate 40 and hang on the base plate 40.
• This design is advantageous in that the actuation and distribution assembly formed by the plate 40, the upper hoop 42, the nozzle support 24, the pipe 131 and the nozzle 109 can be preassembled independently of the reservoir 102, c that is to say, for example in a separate workshop. Conversely, the reservoir 102 can be filled and equipped with the pump 105 independently of the preassembled actuation and distribution assembly. The remaining assembly operations are limited and simplified.
• the base plate 40 is then assembled to the reservoir 102 by engaging it on the neck 103.
• the pump rod 107 is engaged in the nozzle 109.
• the plate 40 carries snap notches (not shown) which ensure a solid attachment with the neck 103.
• the lower hoop 111 is supported on a peripheral rim 50 of the reservoir 102.
• the pusher head 117 is mounted on the end piece 109. Pressure is repeatedly exerted on the pusher head 117 which allows both a solid assembly of the end piece 109 with the hollow rod 107 and the pusher head 117, and a priming of the pump 105.
• the shell or cap 112 is assembled on the base plate 40 and the hoop 111 by jointly engaging the pusher head 117 in the top well of the shell 112.
• the actuating member making it possible to actuate the pump 5 or 105 comprises several elements in addition to the hollow pump rod 7 or 107, since the usual pumps are provided with a rod fairly short piston.
• the piston rod of the pump could be designed differently, for example with a greater length and by forming a structure similar to the nozzle 109, and that the actuating member can therefore comprise more or fewer items.
• the pusher head 117 and the end piece 109 can also be molded in one piece.
• the outlet member can be placed at any point of the device, that is to say in particular above or below or at the same level as the pump rod in the vertical direction and at any location along the peripheral direction of the reservoir .
• the pump can also be replaced by a distribution valve for a pressurized tank.

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
• Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

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Family Applications (1)

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Family Cites Families (38)

• 2002
  • 2002-11-06 FR FR0213879A patent/FR2846639B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2003
  • 2003-11-05 EP EP03782517A patent/EP1565389B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-11-05 WO PCT/FR2003/003306 patent/WO2004043827A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 2003-11-05 CN CNA2003801046568A patent/CN1720182A/zh active Pending
  • 2003-11-05 US US10/534,039 patent/US20060157511A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-11-05 JP JP2004550745A patent/JP2006505463A/ja active Pending
  • 2003-11-05 DE DE60306953T patent/DE60306953D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-11-05 AT AT03782517T patent/ATE333425T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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