EP1915302B1 - Dispensing device comprising an assembly designed to be fixed on the neck of a fluid product container - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns an assembly designed to be fixed on a container holding a fluid product, said assembly comprising a fixing ring (1) adapted to secure a dispensing member (3), such as a pump or a valve, on the neck of the container, and a seal (2) designed to be interposed between the fixing ring (1) and said container neck, said seal (2) being pre-mounted in close-fitting engagement in the fixing ring (1) so as to maintain said seal (2) in stressed state in said ring (1) before and after fixing said assembly on said container neck.

Description

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser device comprising an assembly for attachment to a neck of a container adapted to contain a fluid product.

Cosmetics, perfumery and pharmaceuticals are preferred but not exclusive fields of application of the present invention.

In the prior art, it is known, when attaching a pump or a valve on a container neck, to seal said container neck with a seal. Such a seal is generally made of an elastomeric material or plastic capable of being deformed by being constrained between an upper edge of the neck and a fixing element of the pump or valve. Usually, the assembly sequence of such an assembly first comprises a step of fixing the body of the pump or valve in the fastener, followed by a step of positioning the seal on the body of said pump. or valve, followed by a step of assembling the fastener on the container neck, trapping and sealingly engaging said gasket, the fastener and the neck of the container. The fastening element can be fixed on the neck by any appropriate means such as screwing, snapping, crimping, etc. This sequence then results in compression of the seal between the upper edge of the neck and the ring. Such compression thus ensures the sealing of the device by preventing the passage of fluid between the upper edge of the neck and the fixing ring.

However, certain disadvantages are related to the implementation of such an assembly sequence. Thus, when positioning the seal around the pump body or valve, it exerts radial stresses on said body can lead to deformations thereof. This can affect the operation and sealing of the pump or valve. In addition, when the manufacturer of the dispenser is not the manufacturer of the product to be dispensed, the dispenser is generally delivered disassembled, and the manufacturer of the product must assemble the device after filling. With the exception of fixing the pump or valve in the ring, it must therefore perform all the other steps of the aforementioned assembly sequence. The multiplicity of different steps increases the risk of malfunctions.

The documents US-2,998,168 , US-3,185,356 and US-3,191,815 disclose devices of the prior art.

The present invention aims to provide a device that does not reproduce the aforementioned drawbacks.

In particular, the present invention aims to provide a device comprising a seal ensuring perfect positioning of the seal relative to the neck and the ring.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device comprising a neck gasket that easily adapts to standard fixing rings.

Another object of the present invention is also to make the mounting of the seal provided between the fixing ring and the neck of a container and the overall assembly of the dispensing device simpler, more reliable and less expensive.

The present invention therefore relates to a fluid dispenser device as described in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

• la figure 1 représente une vue schématique en section verticale d'un ensemble selon la présente invention, dans lequel est monté un organe de distribution,
• la figure 2 est une vue agrandie d'une partie de l'ensemble représenté sur la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue schématique en section horizontale d'une variante de réalisation ne faisant pas partie de la présente invention, et
• la figure 4 est une vue schématique en section horizontale d'une variante de réalisation de la présente invention.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly in the following detailed description of several embodiments thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given solely by way of non-limiting examples and in which:

• the figure 1 represents a schematic view in vertical section of an assembly according to the present invention, in which a dispensing member is mounted,
• the figure 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the set shown on the figure 1 ,
• the figure 3 is a schematic view in horizontal section of an alternative embodiment not forming part of the present invention, and
• the figure 4 is a schematic horizontal sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

The assembly according to the present invention is intended to be fixed on a container of fluid and more particularly on a container neck (not shown) which can be any. The fluid contained in the container may be a liquid, a lotion, a cream, a perfume, a viscous product, a pasty product, a pharmaceutical product or a drug substance embedded, dispersed or dissolved in a propellant.

The assembly according to the invention advantageously comprises two constituent elements, namely a fixing ring 1 and a seal 2, generally called a neck seal. The fixing ring 1 may be any element adapted to be fixed on a container neck.

The fixing ring 1 illustrated on the figure 1 is advantageously standard type. This ring preferably comprises a mounting portion 10, a radial flange 11 and an axial side wall 12. Considering the orientation of the figure 1 , the mounting portion 10 extends upwards from the radial flange 11, while the side wall 12 extends axially downwardly from the radial flange 11. Of course, the structure of this ring fixation is purely illustrative, the present invention being applicable to all types of rings.

The function of the mounting wall 10 is to maintain a dispensing member 3 in a fixed engagement, for example a pump. In this case, this function is fulfilled by crimping or snapping the fixing ring onto the dispensing member 3. The pump shown in FIG. figure 1 may be of any type, and will therefore not be described more fully below.

It should be noted that the dispensing member is not necessarily a pump. In particular, a valve, able to release an aerosol fluid product contained in the container, could also be implemented.

The side wall 12 has the particular function of fixing the fixing ring 1 to the neck of the container once the neck seal 2 correctly positioned. Its positioning will be further explained below. The attachment of the ring to the neck can be done by screwing, snapping, or crimping the ring on the neck of the container. The ring illustrated on the figure 1 is a crimp ring.

The neck seal 2 generally has an annular configuration. Such a seal has an upper surface 20 and a lower surface 21, which can both be substantially planar. The seal 2 further comprises an inner lateral edge 22 and an outer lateral edge 23. The inner lateral edge 22 defines a generally circular mounting opening through which the dispensing member 3 can extend.

According to the invention, in order to facilitate the mounting of the fixing and sealing assembly on the neck of the container and to obtain a perfect seal of the neck, the neck seal 2 is preassembled in a tight engagement in the fixing ring. It is then maintained in the constrained state in the ring before and after fixing this assembly on the neck of the container. According to an advantageous characteristic, this attachment of the seal 2 in the ring 1 results from the exclusive cooperation of the outer lateral edge 23 of the seal 2 with the ring 1, and in particular with the side wall 12 of the ring.

According to another particularly advantageous characteristic, the internal lateral edge 22 of the seal 2 is out of contact with the dispensing member 3. Thus, the seal 2 exerts no radial compressive force on the body 30 of the dispenser member 3, in particular on its cylindrical part forming sliding surface of the piston inside, unlike the devices in which the seal is pre-assembled tightly on the body of the dispensing member. The present invention thus eliminates any risk of deformation of said body 30. Thus, as visible on the figure 2 a space may exist between the body 30 of the dispensing member 3 and the lateral edge internal 22 of the seal, while having a perfect attachment of the seal 2 in the ring 1. Such an embodiment also makes it easy to compensate for the manufacturing tolerances of the seal and simplify the assembly of the seal in the ring. Moreover, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 in the premounted position of the seal 2 in the ring 1, the upper surface 20 of the seal advantageously abuts against the radial flange 11 of the ring. This simplifies the assembly of the seal 2 in the ring 1.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the seal comprises one or more fastening profiles ensuring perfect anchoring of the seal in the ring. Examples of fastening profiles are illustrated on the Figures 3 and 4 . As can be seen in these figures, such fastening profiles are advantageously distributed circumferentially around the side wall of the ring ( figure 3 ) and / or around the outer lateral edge of the joint ( figure 4 ). The presence of one or more fixing profiles (s) facilitates the pre-assembly when the seal is exclusively attached to the ring at its outer lateral edge. Indeed, the profile (s) limit (s) the friction during the pre-assembly compared to two substantially smooth surfaces. In addition, the dimensional accuracy can be less without risk of blockage during the pre-assembly, the profile providing superior deformation capabilities. The seal and the ring therefore do not need to be made with a very high dimensional accuracy. The invention therefore improves the compensation of manufacturing tolerances.

The figure 3 shows a first embodiment not forming part of the present invention in which the fixing ring 1 comprises fixing profiles 120. These profiles are angularly spaced at the internal face of the side wall 12 of the fixing ring 1 In this example, these profiles are in the form of internal bulges, of which there are eight in this example, arranged equidistantly on the side wall 12 of the ring being respectively separated from each other by an angle of 45 °. Such a structure thus gives rise to profiles projecting substantially radially inwards from the internal face of the outer lateral wall 12 of the ring, which are able to bite into the outer lateral edge 23 of the seal in order to maintain it. fixative The diameter at the radial ends of said bulges is therefore less than or equal to the diameter of the outer lateral edge 23 of the seal 2 to ensure a tight attachment thereof.

The figure 4 shows an embodiment according to the invention in which it is the neck seal 2 which comprises fastening profiles 230. These profiles comprise several external protuberances, in this case three, distributed equi-angularly around the outer lateral edge 23 of the seal. These protuberances, spaced at an angle of 120 ° relative to each other, thus protrude radially outwardly from the outer lateral edge 23 of the seal 2 so as to ensure a clamp against the side wall of the seal ring. fixation. The diameter at the radial ends of said protuberances is therefore greater than or equal to the internal diameter of the side wall 12 of the ring 1 to ensure tight fixing of the seal. This implementation has the advantage of being able to use a standard fixing ring, such as a standard crimping cap, which does not need to be modified in order to premount said seal. This reduces manufacturing and assembly costs.

It should be noted that the number and distribution of bulges and protuberances are purely illustrative. Furthermore, it should be noted that the side wall of the ring, which in the above examples is defined as also forming the fastening means (crimping, screwing, snapping or other) of the ring on the neck, could also be an intermediate side wall, devoid of such fixing means, being for example between the mounting part and a specific fixing part dedicated to fixing the ring on the neck. This intermediate side wall could then be used to hold the neck gasket in the ring. It is also conceivable to provide fastening profiles both on the seal 2 and on the ring 1.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to several particular embodiments thereof, it is understood that it is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, and that a person skilled in the art could bring any useful modification without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (6)

1. A fluid dispenser device comprising a fluid receptacle having a neck, and a dispenser member (3), such as a pump or a valve, that is suitable for dispensing fluid contained in said receptacle, and a unit for fastening on the neck of the receptacle, said unit comprising:

   · a fastener ring (1) that is suitable for fastening the dispenser member (3) on the neck of the receptacle;

   · a gasket (2) for interposing between the fastener ring (1) and said neck of the receptacle, said gasket (2) including an inside edge (22) that defines a mounting opening, and an outside edge (23), and being pre-mounted in clamping engagement in the fastener ring (1), in such a manner as to hold said gasket (2) in its stressed state in said ring (1), both before and after fastening said unit on said neck of the receptacle.

   said device being characterized in that the gasket (2) includes at least one fastener profile (230) that is suitable for holding said gasket (2) in clamping engagement in said ring (1), and in that the fastening of the gasket (2) in the ring (1) is the result, exclusively, of co-operation between said outside edge (23) of the gasket (2) and said ring (1), the inside edge (22) of the gasket (2) being not in contact with the dispenser member (3), such that said gasket (2) does not exert any radial force on said dispenser member (3).
2. A device according to claim 1, in which said gasket (2) is in clamping engagement with an axial side wall (12) of said ring (1).
3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which said ring (1) and/or said gasket (2) include(s) a plurality of fastener profiles (120, 230) that are distributed circumferentially around said side wall (12) of said ring (1) and/or around said outside edge (23) of said gasket (2), said profiles (120, 230) being spaced apart from one another in such a manner as to form a plurality of anchor points.
4. A device according to any preceding claim, in which said at least one fastener profile (230) is projected radially outwards from said outside edge (23) of the gasket (2), so as to come to bear in clamping engagement against said side wall (12) of the ring (1).
5. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the gasket (2) is held in axial abutment against a radial flange (11) of the ring (1) in the pre-mounted position of the gasket (2) in the ring (1).
6. A device according to any preceding claim, in which said fastener ring (1) includes a mounting portion (10) that is suitable for fastening to the dispenser member, said mounting portion (10) being connected to a radial flange (11) that is connected to an axial side wall (12), said axial side wall supporting fastener means for fastening to a receptacle neck, said gasket, in its pre-mounted state, being in contact with said radial flange (11), and in clamping engagement with said axial side wall (12).

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