EP1583612B1 - Fixing member for fitting a pump or a valve on a reservoir - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a fixing member (1) for fitting a dispensing member (4), such as a pump or a valve, on a fluid product reservoir, said fixing member (1) comprising a fixing ring (2) and a covering collar (3), the fixing ring (2) including receiving means (24) for receiving the dispensing member (4) and fixing means (211) on the reservoir, the covering collar (3) being mounted by being axially engaged around the ring (2) so as to conceal same at least partly, the collar (3) including catching means (35) co-operating with retaining means (225) formed by the ring (2), said catching means (35) comprise rotation locking means (351, 352) so as to prevent the collar (3) from rotating about the ring (2) and axial translation locking means (352) to prevent the collar (3) from being axially disengaged from the ring (2), the retaining means formed by the ring (2) including at least one retaining housing (225) accessible by axial engagement, said rotation and translation locking means co-operating with the retaining housing (225). The invention is characterized in that the translation locking means comprise at least one hooking profile (325) adapted to grip the housing.

Description

The present invention relates to a fastener for fixing a dispensing member, such as for example a pump or a valve, on a reservoir intended to contain a liquid fluid product, or even powder. This type of fastener is frequently used in the field of perfumery, cosmetics or even the pharmacy to attach pumps or valves on containers of fluid.

Conventionally, a fixing member comprises a fixing ring, generally made of plastic, associated with a trim ring which can be made of metal or plastic. The trim band is mounted around the ring so as to hide it at least partially to advantageously give it an attractive appearance. Conventionally, the trim band is engaged axially in force around the fixing ring, and this friction-only contact is sufficient in principle for fixing the band on the ring. However, it often happens that the hoop rotates around the ring or disengages axially exerting a very limited force.

FR-2,799,185 provides a partial solution to this problem of the solid attachment of the hoop on the ring. Indeed, it is intended in this document to crimp the trim band inside a sleeve formed by the ring. The crimping is supposed to ensure both a locking in axial translation and a locking rotation. However, it happens all the same that the hoop can turn on the ring, even with this internal crimping. Indeed, the crimping is more specifically adapted to locking in translation and does not implement specific means, except for a close contact, to ensure the locking in rotation.

FR-2 779 419 discloses a pump mounted in a ring which is inserted by force into a tank neck. The ring externally forms a groove for engaging teeth formed within a hood. The teeth ensure locking both in rotation and in translation. The teeth are in the form of rectangular pads that protrude from the inner wall of the hood. However, it is not clear how the teeth are held in the throat. Document US-A-2002/0076271 discloses a fixing ring for a dispenser member. A trim band is mounted on this fixing ring and has tabs adapted to be mounted on the shoulder formed by the ring so as to secure said ring and said ring together. The object of the present invention is to provide a perfect translational and rotational locking between a fixing ring and a covering hoop surrounding it.

To achieve this object, the present invention provides a fastener according to the main claim.

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.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe transversale verticale à travers un organe de fixation de l'invention dans lequel est monté un organe de distribution,
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe transversale verticale à travers la frette d'habillage d'un organe de fixation selon l'invention, et
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe transversale verticale à travers une bague de fixation d'un organe de fixation selon l'invention.

In the figures:

• FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a fastener of the invention in which a dispenser member is mounted,
• FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the trim band of a fastener according to the invention, and
• Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a fixing ring of a fastener according to the invention.

The fixing member shown in the figures is generally designated by the reference numeral 1 and advantageously comprises two constituent elements, namely a fixing ring 2 and a covering band 3. The trim ring 3 is mounted around the fixing ring 2 and performs an aesthetic function, but sometimes also functional fixing.

The fixing ring 2 comprises fastening means adapted to cooperate with a reservoir (not shown) or more precisely an opening of the reservoir which may for example be in the form of a projecting neck. The fixing ring 2 is more particularly adapted to cooperate with the outer wall of the opening of the reservoir which is advantageously made with one or more gripping profiles. These gripping profiles may for example be in the form of an external thread or in the form of a thickened flange forming a lower gripping shoulder. In this case, the fixing ring comprises a fixing skirt 21 which is provided internally with an internal thread 211 intended to cooperate with a corresponding thread formed on the outer wall of a tank or container neck. Without changing the spirit of the invention, the fastening skirt 21 may also be provided with gripping or detenting heads intended to cooperate with a corresponding fastening profile formed on the outer wall of a container neck. More generally, the fixing ring comprises a fixing skirt 21 for ensuring a stable attachment of the fixing ring on a container.

The fixing ring 2 also comprises receiving means for fixedly receiving a dispensing member. The dispensing member 4, which is shown very schematically in Figure 1, may be a pump or a valve. Its internal structure does not matter for the present invention; that's why she's not even represented. The dispensing member 4 generally comprises a body 40 inside which a valve 42 is axially displaceable. The body 40 may form or be provided with a fastening flange 41 intended to cooperate with the receiving means formed by the fixing ring 2. In this case, the fastening ring forms a snap-fitting housing 24 to the inside which the flange 41 of the dispensing member 4 is engaged in force and held fixedly. To improve the stability of the dispensing member 4 in the fixing ring 2, the ring forms here furthermore a holding sleeve 23 inside which the dispensing member 4 is engaged.

On the other hand, the fixing ring 2 forms a sleeve 22 which can advantageously extend in the extension of the fixing skirt 21. The skirt 21 can extend downwards while the sleeve 22 extends towards the up to end with a free upper end 222. The sleeve 22 may have the same diameter as that of the skirt 21 or a different diameter. Referring to Figure 3, it can be seen more clearly that the bushing 22 of the ring 2 forms a retaining housing 225 which is open upwardly. This retaining housing 225 is here delimited by two walls 224 which extend substantially vertically opposite each other. The spacing between the two walls determines the width of the housing. This spacing can be constant, increasing or decreasing from its top opening. These walls 224 are at least partially formed by two longitudinal vertical flanges 223 formed on the inner wall of the sleeve 22. The walls 224 thus comprise a vertical component, but also a radial component. Preferably, but not necessarily, the sleeve 22 forms a notch 222 at the retaining housing 225. However, one can imagine a socket devoid of such a notch 222 so that the sleeve is complete and continuous over its entire periphery at the its upper end 222. In this case, the retaining housing 225 is formed only inside the socket by the walls 224 of the two flanges 223. In the figures, we see only one housing of 225, but it can very well provide several retaining housing 225 distributed for example equidistantly on the periphery of the sleeve 22.

The wrapping band 3 here comprises a perfectly cylindrical barrel 31 having a lower end 32 and an upper end 33. The internal diameter of the barrel 31 is advantageously equal to or very slightly less than the maximum outside diameter of the fixing ring 2. Thus, the shaft 31 of the hoop 3 can be engaged with a frictional contact clamping around the fixing ring 2, to achieve a primary fixation. The band 3 forms at its upper end 33 a peripheral peripheral flap 34 which can advantageously forming a small return 341 oriented downwards substantially parallel and concentrically to the shaft 31.

According to the invention, the trim band 3 forms a hooking element 35 which performs both a locking in rotation and a locking in axial translation of the band on the ring. The fastening element 35 is made in one piece for the trim band. However, these rotational locking and locking functions in axial translation could be dissociated so as to be provided by two distinct elements, but preferably according to the invention these two locking functions are performed by one and the same attachment element 35. This attachment element 35 extends in the extension of the return 341 or the tuck flap 34 by pointing downwards towards the lower end 32 of the hoop. The attachment element 35 is here in the form of an arrow forming a substantially straight body 351 at the end of which is formed a harpooning head forming one or two spearing profiles 352. One can of course imagine an element with only one single harpooning profile or with more than two harpooning profiles. The attachment element 35 extends substantially axially, but also tangentially.

With simultaneous reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be readily understood that by axially engaging the trim band 3 on the fixing ring 2, the hooking element 35 will engage axially inside the housing of FIG. retainer 225 formed by the sleeve 22 of the fixing ring 2. Of course, it is necessary to correctly orient the trim band 3 to axially align the fastening element 35 with the retaining housing 225. The element of FIG. hooking 35 can thus enter the housing 225 during assembly of the hoop on the ring without additional operation. The hooking element 35 will come to be positioned between the two walls 224 of the housing 225, which already ensures a locking in rotation of the band on the ring. The body 351 of the fastening element 35 may have a width less than or equal to the distance separating the two walls 224 of the housing 225. However, the width of the head at the attachment profiles 352 is greater than the distance separating the two walls 224 of the housing 225. As a result, the engagement of the fastening element 35 in the housing 225 has the effect of biting the attachment profiles 352 in the walls 224 of the housing 225. of their configuration in the manner of a harpoon, the harpooning profiles 352 can be inserted with a limited pressure force inside the housing 225, while their removal is made impossible in the manner of a conventional harpoon. Thus, a locking in axial translation is ensured.

It should be noted that the locking functions in rotation and in axial translation are here ensured by a single fastening element cooperating with a single retaining housing. It is of course possible to provide a plurality of fastening elements 35 advantageously distributed regularly around the periphery of the reentrant flap 34 of the hoop 3. The fixing ring 2 may be made of a plastic material. As for the trim band 3, it may also be made of a plastic material, but its attachment element 35 must be made of a harder plastic material to be able to fulfill its harpooning function. Preferably, the trim band 3 is made of metal.

Although the shaft 31 of the band 3 is here in tight contact with the ring 2, one can very well imagine an embodiment in which the shaft 31 is not in tight contact with the fixing ring 2. The fixing the ring on the ring is then entirely ensured by the engagement of the attachment element or elements 35 in one or more respective retaining seats. The fastening element (s) are here made at the level of the flap inside the hoop. However, they can be located elsewhere in the band, for example at the bottom of the band.

Claims (7)

1. A fastener member (1) for fastening a dispenser member (4), such as a pump or a valve, on a fluid reservoir, said fastener member (1) comprising a fastener ring (2) and a covering hoop (3), the fastener ring (2) including reception means (24) for receiving the dispenser member (4), and fastener means (211) for fastening on the reservoir, the covering hoop (3) being mounted by axial engagement around the ring (2) in such a manner as to mask it at least in part, the hoop (3) including hook means (35) co-operating with retention means (225) formed by the ring (2), said hook means (35) include means (351, 352) for preventing the hoop (3) from rotating around the ring (2) and means (352) for preventing the hoop (3) from moving in axial translation, and thereby becoming axially disengaged from the ring (2), the retention means formed by the ring (2) including at least one retention housing (225) that is accessible by axial engagement, said means for preventing both turning and movement in translation co-operating with the retention housing (225), the fastener member being characterized in that the means for preventing movement in translation include at least one barb profile (352) adapted to bite into the housing, and in that the retention housing (225) is defined by two opposite, vertical, longitudinal walls (224), the fastener means (35) being engaged with said walls (224).
2. A fastener member according to claim 1, in which the means for preventing turning include at least one fastener element (35) that is axially engaged in the retention housing (225).
3. A fastener member according to claim 2, in which the barb profile (352) is formed by the fastener element (35).
4. A fastener member according to claim 1, 2, or 3, in which the ring (2) includes a bushing (22) defining a free end (221), the bushing forming said at least one retention housing (225), the hoop (3) including a free bottom end (32), and a top end (33) forming an inwardly-directed rim (34), the fastener element (35) being connected to said rim and pointing substantially towards the bottom end (32) of the hoop in such a manner that the fastener element (35) penetrates into the retention housing (225) while the hoop (3) is being mounted, by axial engagement, on the ring (2).
5. A fastener member according to claim 4, in which the fastener element (35) reaches a final fastening position in its retention housing (225) when the inwardly-directed rim (34) comes into abutment against the free end (221) of the bushing (22).
6. A fastener member according to any preceding claim, in which the barb profile (352) is adapted to bite into at least one of said walls (224).
7. A fastener member according to any preceding claim, in which the ring (2) is made of a plastics material, and the hoop (3) is made of metal or of a plastics material that is harder than the plastics material of the ring.

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