EP1828021B1 - Fluid or pasty product dispensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for dispensing a fluid or pasty product includes a dispensing member fixed to a container including a neck and a cap, about the dispensing member, wherein the neck includes a ramp and an edge of the cap includes a ramp, the ramps being mutually mobile in rotation between a dispensing position wherein the dispensing member can be actuated and a locking position wherein the ramps prevent the dispensing member from being actuated.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a fluid or pasty product, comprising a security system.

Dispensing devices are frequently used in the field of perfumery, cosmetics or even pharmacy to dispense fluid or pasty products by manual support with a finger on a pusher. For reasons of safety, it is desirable to be able to lock the dispenser member in the closed position, to prevent undesired actuation of the valve or the pump. In general, a removable cover protects the pusher when the dispenser is not in use, but such hoods are easily removed and therefore do not provide reliable protection for the vaporizer. It is therefore desirable for a user to have an effective and non-separable security of the distribution member, making it possible to block the device when it is not used, for example during a transport.

A vaporization device is known comprising a document security system FR2803543 . The spray device described by this document also comprises a horizontal sliding slider surrounding the neck of the container and adapted to take two respectively distribution and locking positions, in which it comes to allow or prohibit the pushing movement of the pusher. The slider consists of a pull tab with two opposite horizontal tabs slidable in openings of an assembly surrounding the pump. Said slider is disposed between the container and the pusher. The cursor has two vertical walls cylindrical sector, able to come to the right of the pusher to prevent its translation. When the slider is in the locked position, the lower part of the vertical wall of the pusher bears on the upper part of the walls of the slider, which prevents the translation of said pusher towards the container, thus the actuation of the pump. When the slider is in the dispensing position, the walls of the slider are offset laterally relative to the wall of the pusher and thus allow its actuation.

Another solution is known from the document FR2589756 . The pusher is provided with two thrust wings diametrically opposite to the tip. Between the pusher and the container, two diametrically opposed axial arms are arranged at the periphery of the container, so that the descent of the wings of the nozzle, so the actuation of the pump, is possible in a suitable position of said pusher and is prevented when the pusher is rotated 90 °.

However, the means provided for blocking the pusher in the dispensing devices described in these two documents are relatively complex and require the use of additional parts expensive and complicated to achieve from an industrial point of view.

The present invention aims to provide a new dispensing device that avoids the aforementioned drawbacks, wherein the safety system for blocking the actuation of the pump is simpler and does not require the use of additional parts compared to a conventional dispensing device.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a device for dispensing a fluid or pasty product comprising a dispensing member fastened to a container with a sealing ring, said dispensing member being surmounted by a pusher that can be depressed to manipulate said dispensing member, said pusher having a dispensing orifice for ejecting product when said dispensing member is operated, and a cover, integral with said pusher during a translation along the median axis of the dispensing device towards said container, characterized in that said cover and said container each comprise a ramp, said ramps being rotatable relative to each other between a dispensing position in which the dispensing member can be actuated and a locking position in which they prevent the actuation of said dispensing member.

Advantageously, said ramps have a complementary shape.

Preferably, said ramps have a sinusoidal shape.

According to a feature of the invention, said cover and said pusher are integral in translation.

According to another characteristic of the invention, said cover comprises an inner projecting ring and said pusher comprises an annular groove, the inner radial edge of said ring being housed in said annular groove.

Advantageously, said dispensing device comprises a guide ring, said guide ring being able to cooperate with said pusher to guide it, in cooperation with the sealing ring. during a translation, along the median axis of the dispensing device, said pusher.

According to another characteristic of the invention, said guide ring is adapted to cooperate with said cover to guide it during a translation along the median axis of the dispensing device.

Preferably, said guide ring is adapted to cooperate with said cover to limit, in cooperation with said projecting ring, the translation movement of the cover towards the container.

Advantageously, the lower edge of said guide ring has substantially the shape of the container ramp and the upper edge of said guide ring has a circular section orthogonal to the median axis of the dispensing device.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the guide ring and the sealing ring are constituted by a single piece.

The dispensing device according to the present invention may be, for example, a vaporizer. However, the dispensing device can be adapted to allow the distribution of a fluid or pasty product in any form, for example in the form of drop, jet or hazelnut product.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, in order to achieve a vaporization, said dispensing device comprises an outlet tube for connecting said dispensing member and said dispensing orifice, said outlet tube comprising at least three convergent channels. at a point of intersection, said intersection point being located upstream of said dispensing orifice.

According to another embodiment of the invention, in order to deliver the product in the form of a drop, said dispensing device comprises an outlet tube for connecting said dispensing member and said dispensing orifice, said outlet tube comprising a single channel.

• la figure 1 est une vue simplifiée frontale et en coupe du dispositif de vaporisation selon l'invention, le dispositif étant en position de blocage ;
• la figure 2 est une vue analogue à la figure 1, le dispositif étant en position de distribution ;
• la figure 3 est une vue analogue à la figure 2, le poussoir étant appuyé ;
• la figure 4 est une vue simplifiée latérale et en coupe du dispositif de vaporisation, le dispositif étant en position de blocage ; et
• la figure 5 est une vue analogue à la figure 1 mais montrant une variante de dispositif de vaporisation conforme à l'invention.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more clearly apparent in the following detailed explanatory description of several embodiments of the invention given as examples. purely illustrative and non-limiting examples, with reference to the attached schematic drawings.
On these drawings:

• the figure 1 is a simplified front view in section of the vaporization device according to the invention, the device being in the locking position;
• the figure 2 is a view similar to the figure 1 the device being in the dispensing position;
• the figure 3 is a view similar to the figure 2 the pusher being supported;
• the figure 4 is a simplified side view in section of the vaporization device, the device being in the locking position; and
• the figure 5 is a view similar to the figure 1 but showing an alternative spray device according to the invention.

Referring to the figure 1 , a vaporization device is shown, conventionally comprising a bottle 1, a container 2, a pusher 3, a dispensing member 4 and a cap 5.

The container 2 is intended to contain a fluid product, such as perfume, water or a pharmaceutical product. The container 2 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The container 2 comprises a neck 7. The lower edge of the neck 7 follows a ramp 8.

The ramp 8 is such that the height of the neck 7 is not constant on its circumference. The width of the ramp 8 is substantially equal to the difference between the radius of the container 2 and the radius of the neck 7.

The end 7b of the neck 7 has a ring 9 projecting radially outwardly. Said ring 9 being able to cooperate with a sealing ring 10 in a manner to be described in detail below. The end 7b has an opening 7c intended to insert the dispenser member 4 into the receptacle 2.

The cover 5 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The lower end 5a of the cover 5 defines an orifice of diameter greater than the diameter of the neck 7, so that the cover 5 is adapted to fit on said neck 7. In the embodiment shown, the cover 5a a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the container 2. The cover 5 has on its lower edge a ramp 11.

The cover 5 has a ring 12 projecting inside. The cover 5 has an opening 13 ( figure 4 ), for example of circular shape, said opening 13 being adapted to cooperate with the pusher 3 to allow the distribution of a fluid product, as will be described in detail below.

The pusher 3 has a substantially cylindrical shape and conventionally comprises a dispensing orifice 14, for example of circular section. The radially outer surface 3a of the pusher 3 has an annular groove. Said groove 15 cooperates with the ring 12 so that the inner radial edge of the ring 12 is embedded in the groove 15. The connection between the groove 15 and the ring 12 is such that the cover 5 and the pusher 3 are integral in translation and that the cover 5 can rotate relative to the pusher 3 along the axis A, which is the median axis of the vaporization device. A rotation of the axis A of the cover 5 with respect to the pusher 3 causes a rotation of axis A in the same direction and at the same angle of the cover 5 with respect to the container 2.

Ramps 8 and 11 are able to come into contact over part of their length ( figure 1 ) when the cover 5 is in an angular position adapted relative to the container 2, the cover 5 being in the rest position, that is to say that it is not pressed towards the container 2, as will be described in detail later. Ramps 8 and 11 are able to define between them and over their entire length a sufficient space ( figure 2 ) to allow the actuation of the dispensing member 4, when the cover 5 is in an angular position adapted relative to the container 2, the cover 5 being in the rest position, as will be described in detail below. For example, said ramp 11 has a shape complementary to the ramp 8 so that the two ramps 8 and 11 are able to come into contact along their entire length.

A hollow stem 16 ( figure 4 ), which is arranged perpendicularly to the axis A, through the dispensing orifice 14. Said rod 16 has a diameter equal to the diameter of the orifice 14 and is fixed rigidly to the orifice 14. Said rod 16 has a length such that one of the ends 16a of the rod is in contact with the opening 13 and the other end 16b of the rod 16 is fixed to an outlet tube 17, which is arranged vertically in the center of the bottle 1.

Said tube 17 has for example a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the rod 16 and has an orifice 17a at the end 16b. The end 17b of the tube 17 is fixed rigidly to the pusher 3. The other end 17c of the tube 17 is inserted into the dispensing member 4. The tube 17 may for example comprise three channels converging at a point d 'intersection. The point of intersection is located in the tube 17, for example near the dispensing orifice 14. When a dose of product is ejected by the dispensing member 4 and it arrives through the three channels at the point of intersection there is a burst of particles that allows the product to vaporize.

The dispensing member 4, which is here a pump or a valve, comprises a pump body 18 which is placed in the container 2. In a conventional manner, the pump 4 comprises a piston (not shown) which is able to slide in the pump body 18.

The ring 10 ensures a good seal of the device. The ring 10 is further intended to maintain the dispensing member 4 and fix it in the opening of the container 2. This is a conventional fixing ring. The ring 10 is for example crimped on the neck 7. When the ring 10 is crimped, the ring 9 prevents a vertical translation upwardly of the ring 10 relative to the container 2. The ring 10 comprises a sleeve 22, the lower edge is disposed at the inner periphery of the ring of the ring 10. The sleeve 22 is frictionally engaged on the tube 17. The sleeve 22 further allows the guiding of the tube 17 during a translation of the tube 17 along the axis A. The height of the sleeve 22 is such that the upper edge of the sleeve 22 is substantially at the lower edge of the pusher 3 when the pusher 3 is in the rest position, that is to say when no pressure is exercised on him. The outside diameter of the sleeve 22 is such that the sleeve 22 is able to be inserted with friction into the skirt of the pusher 3. The sleeve 22 furthermore makes it possible to guide the pusher 3 during a vertical translation of the pusher 3 by relative to the container 2.

The vaporizer comprises a guide ring 24. The ring 24 is able to guide the pusher 3, in cooperation with the ring 10, during a vertical translation. The ring 24 is able to guide the cover 5 during a vertical translation. The ring 24 is able to limit the vertical translation of the cover 5 towards the container 2 in cooperation with the ring 12. The ring 24 has the shape of a sleeve and is inserted on the fixing ring 10 and on the neck 7 The ring 24 is integral with the ring 10 and the neck 7. The lower edge of the ring 24 follows the ramp 8. The upper edge of the ring is orthogonal to the axis A and is substantially at the height of the lower edge of the pusher 3, when the pusher 3 is in the rest position. The inside diameter of the ring 24 is not constant, so that the inner surface of the ring 24 is, on its lower part, resting on the neck 7, on its central part, resting on the ring 10 and on its upper part that there exists a space 25 between the ring 24 and the sleeve 22. The space 25 between the ring 24 and the sleeve 22 has the shape of a well, the width of which is such that the pusher 3 is able to slide between the ring 24 and the sleeve 22, for example during a dispensing operation. The outer diameter of the ring 24 is constant and such that the cover 5 can slide on the ring 24 with friction.

The operation of the vaporizer according to the invention will now be described, starting from a dispensing state of said vaporizer, which is represented on the figure 2 and wherein the ramps 8 and 11 are not in contact with each other.

In this state, when a user presses the cover 5 so that said cap 5 is translated vertically to the container 2, the ring 12 which is inserted into the groove 15 drives the pusher 3 which performs a translation in the same direction. The maximum translation that can make the cover 5 with respect to the container 2 corresponds to the difference between the ramps 8 and 11 in the rest position of the cover 5. The state corresponding to the two ramps 8 and 11 in contact is represented on the figure 3 . This state corresponds to a state in which the ring 12 bears on the upper edge of the ring 24. The difference between the ramps 8 and 11 in the rest position of the cover 5, which also corresponds to the difference between ring 12 and the upper edge of the ring 24 in the rest position of the cover 5, may for example correspond to the stroke of the piston. This translation has the effect of driving the tube 17 into the body of the pump 18. The translation of the tube 17 actuates the pump 4, which has the effect of discharging a dose of product through the tube 17 to the dispensing orifice 14 then to the opening 13, in a conventional manner.

We will now describe a blocking operation of the spray device according to the invention.

When starting from the distribution state represented on the figure 2 a user acts on the cover 5 so that said cover 5 makes a rotation of axis A and 180 ° relative to said container 2, the ramps 8 and 11 are arranged relative to each other in such a way that they are in contact over part of their length, in the rest position of the 5. The device is in the locked position. This position is represented on the figure 1 and on the figure 4 .

When in this position a user tries to press the cover 5, the contact between the ramps 8 and 11 prevents the translation of said cover 5 and therefore said pusher 3, the pump 4 can not be actuated. When starting from the blocking state a user performs the same operation, that is to say a 180 ° rotation of the cover 5 relative to the container 2, the ramps 8 and 11 are again mobile in translation l one with respect to the other. The system is in distribution position.

Referring to the figure 5 , we see an alternative embodiment of the vaporizer according to the invention. The guide ring and the sealing ring are constituted by a single piece 124. The single piece 124 is for example obtained by molding.

Other variants of the vaporization device, not shown, are possible.

For example, the ramps 8 and 11 may be of complementary and oval shape, the axis of the largest diameter of each ramp forming an angle α with the axis A and the angle α being different from 90 °.

The ramps 8 and 11 may furthermore not be of complementary shape, the ramp 8 may for example have an oval shape and the ramp 11 may have a sinusoidal shape

In addition, the ring 12 projecting and the groove 15 may be replaced by a fastening system located on the top of the pusher 3, said fastening system for rotating the cover 5 relative to said pusher 3. Said fastening system being adapted to ensure the rotation of the cover 5 relative to the pusher 3, the solidarity of the cover 5 and the pusher 3 during a translation of the cover 5 towards the container 2 and allowing the cover 5 to be removed from the device, for example for a filling operation of the container 2.

For example, the neck 7 may comprise a thread and the ring 10 may be adapted to be screwed onto the neck 7.

To dispense a pasty product, such as a cream, it is possible for example to replace the three convergent channels by a single channel. In this case there is no bursting of the particles and the device can make it possible to distribute a small amount of product. Generally, the dispensing member and the outlet channel may be of any type and shape, so as to allow the distribution of the product in different forms.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. It applies to any type of liquid or pasty product dispenser, regardless of the particular form of the product jet delivered, since it comprises the actuating device by cooperation of ramps respectively integral with the cover and the container.

Claims (12)

1. A device for dispensing a fluid or pasty product, comprising a dispensing means (4) fixed to a container (2) with a seal ring (10), said container having a neck (7), said dispensing means (4) having a push button (3) at the top that can be pushed down to operate said dispensing means (4), said button having a dispensing orifice in it (14), making it possible to eject a product when the dispensing means (4) is operated, and a covering cap (5) interdependent with the button (3) when moved in a translational movement towards the container (2) along the central axis of said dispensing means (2), characterised by the fact that an edge of said neck (7) has a sloping surface (8), and an edge of the cap (5) has a sloping surface (11), said sloping surfaces (8 and 11) being able to rotate around each other between a dispensing position in which the dispensing means (4) can be activated and a locked position in which they prevent said dispensing means (4) from being activated.
2. The dispensing device according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that said sloping surfaces (8 and 11) have complementary shapes.
3. The dispensing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised by the fact that said sloping surfaces (8 and 11) are of a sinusoidal shape.
4. The dispensing device according to any of claims 1-3, characterised by the fact that said cap (5) and said button (3) are interdependent in a translational movement.
5. The dispensing device according to any of claims 1-4, characterised by the fact that said cap (5) has a ring (12) projecting inwards and said button (3) has a circular groove (15), the inner edge of said ring (12) being accomodated in said circular groove (15).
6. The dispensing device according to any of claims 1-5, characterised by the fact that said dispensing means (4) has a guide ring (24), said guide ring (24) being adapted to cooperate with said button (3) to guide it, in cooperation with the ring seal (10) in a translational movement of said button (3) along the central axis (A) of the dispensing device.
7. The dispensing device according to claim 6, characterised by the fact that said guide ring (24) is adapted to cooperate with said cap (5) to guide it in a translational movement along the central axis (A) of the dispensing means (4).
8. The dispensing device according to claim 6, characterised by the fact that said guide ring (24) is adapted to cooperate with said cap (5) to limit, in cooperation with said protruding ring (12), the translational movement of the cap (5) towards the container (2).
9. The dispensing device according to claim 6, characterised by the fact that the lower edge of said guide ring (24) has substantially the form of the sloping surface (8) of the container (2) and the upper edge of said guide ring (24) has a circular section orthogonal to the central axis (A) of the dispensing device.
10. The dispensing device according to claim 6, characterised by the fact that said guide ring (24) and the seal ring (10) are integral.
11. The dispensing device according to any of claims 1-10, characterised by the fact that the dispensing device has an outlet tube (17) adapted to connect said dispensing means (4) to said dispensing orifice (14), said outlet tube (17) comprising at least three channels converging towards a point of intersection, said point of intersection being situated upstream of said dispensing orifice (14).
12. The dispensing device according to any of claims 1-10, characterised by the fact that said dispensing orifice has an outlet tube (17) adapted to connect said dispensing means (4) to said dispensing orifice (14), said outlet tube (17) consisting of a single channel.

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