EP1935503B1 - Compact pump with capacity for rotating the nozzle in relation to the piston - Google Patents

Abstract

The pump has a jetter (9) connected to a push button (10) for being actuated in a pump body (3). The jetter includes a distribution path with a radial upstream orifice (12) and a channel (13) with a downstream end contacting a distributing nozzle (14). A piston (16) is mounted in rubbing contact against an inner surface of the body to delimit a dosage chamber (17). The piston occupies closing and contacting states of the orifice, and is mounted coaxially around the jetter on an association zone, where the zone is arranged to permit a seal joint between the piston and the jetter.

Description

The invention relates to a pump intended to be mounted on a bottle so as to allow the dispensing of a liquid contained in said bottle, said liquid being able to be a perfume, a cosmetic product or a pharmaceutical product.

Such pumps are known, typically comprising a nozzle which is actuated in translation in a body by a push button on a respective distribution and suction stroke of the fluid. In addition, to allow the pressurization of the liquid, a piston is mounted on the nozzle so as to function, according to said pressure, a closed state and an open state of a distribution path.

• fixer le piston sur le gicleur, le passage d'un état à l'autre se faisant par déformation élastique dudit piston ;
• monter coulissant le piston sur le gicleur et contraindre élastiquement le déplacement de l'un par rapport à l'autre, le passage d'un état à l'autre étant alors fonction de la résultante des contraintes exercées respectivement par le moyen de contrainte et par la pression sur le liquide.

To allow the passage of the piston reversibly in these two states, two embodiments are known from the prior art:

• fixing the piston on the nozzle, the passage from one state to another being by elastic deformation of said piston;
• slidably mounting the piston on the nozzle and elastically constraining the displacement of one relative to the other, the passage from one state to another then being a function of the resultant of the stresses exerted respectively by the stressing means and by the pressure on the liquid.

In known embodiments, the piston and the nozzle are mounted coaxially rigidly, typically by providing a contact area of large axial dimension, so as to ensure a coaxial displacement of the nozzle-piston assembly. However, these embodiments have the disadvantage of the size, which can be limiting for the realization of reduced axial dimension pumps.

In addition, the maintenance of the nozzle-piston assembly coaxially in the body is provided by a sealing support on two axially spaced zones, respectively formed between the nozzle and a member integral with the body, and between the piston and the inside of the body. . Therefore, the reliability of this maintenance and therefore the sealing are conditioned by the spacing between the bearing areas, that is to say by the axial dimension of the pump.

Documents are also known FR-2 764 005 , EP-0 301 615 and US-2005/0023302 a pump in which the piston is mounted coaxially around the nozzle on a zone of association.

The invention aims in particular to overcome the limitations mentioned above, so as to allow the realization of a pump of reduced axial dimension.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a pump according to claim 1.

• les figures 1 a à 1 d sont des vues en coupe longitudinale d'une pompe selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention, ladite pompe étant montée sur la bague d'un flacon par l'intermédiaire d'une coupelle, ladite pompe étant représentée respectivement en position de repos (1a), dans sa course de distribution (1b), en fin de course (1c) et dans sa course d'aspiration (1d) ;
• la figure 2 est une vue analogue à la figure 1d montrant la jupe de la cloche partiellement non coupée.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the description which follows, made with reference to the appended figures, in which:

• the figures 1 a to 1 d are views in longitudinal section of a pump according to one embodiment of the invention, said pump being mounted on the ring of a bottle by means of a cup, said pump being respectively shown in FIG. rest position (1a), in its distribution stroke (1b), end of stroke (1c) and in its suction stroke (1d);
• the figure 2 is a view similar to the figure 1d showing the skirt of the bell partially uncut.

In the description, the spatial positioning terms are taken with reference to the position of the pump shown in the figures.

In connection with the figures, there is described below a pump to be mounted on a bottle so as to allow the distribution of a liquid contained in said bottle. In an exemplary application, the liquid is a perfume, a cosmetic product or a pharmaceutical product.

In the figures, the pump is mounted on the ring 1 of a bottle (not shown) via a cup 2, in particular aluminum, which is deformed to fit the shapes of the association zone in order to block axially and radially the pump relative to the bottle. In other embodiments, the cup 2 may comprise a geometry and / or configurations of association means on the ring 1 of the bottle which are different.

The pump also comprises a pump body 3 on which the cup 2 is mounted, said body having a cylindro-conical geometry which is delimited by an inner surface. More specifically, the body 3 comprises an upper zone 4 which is intended to allow mounting of the pump on the bottle, said zone comprising an upper sealing bead 4a and a lateral sealing bead 4b. Thus, the folding of the cup 2 on the zone 4 makes it possible to put a radial bearing surface and a lateral bearing surface of the cup 2 in sealing engagement on a sealing bead 4a, 4b respectively. As a variant not shown, only one type of beads 4a, 4b may be provided for sealing between the cup 2 and the pump body 3.

In addition, an inner seal 5 is provided between the body 3 and the cup 2. The seal 5 is held in abutment on the upper surface of the ring 1 by the cup 2 and a sealing groove 6 is provided on the periphery of the body 3 to seal the inner end of said seal. In the embodiment shown, the periphery of the body 3 also has, under the groove 6, a bead 7 which allows on the one hand the axial retention of the seal 5 before mounting the pump on the ring 1, and other part of form sealing between the inside of the ring 1 and the body 3. To do this, the inner diameter of the bead 7 is smaller than that of the bore of the seal 5 and the order of the inner diameter of the ring 1 .

The pump comprises a dip tube 8 whose upper part is fitted in a lower part of the body 3 and whose lower part is immersed in the liquid contained in the bottle.

Furthermore, the pump comprises a nozzle 9 which is disposed in the body 3. The nozzle 9 is integral with a push button 10 which is actuatable in translation by the user so as to move said nozzle in said body on a stroke respectively of liquid distribution ( figure 1b ) and suction of the liquid ( figure 1d ). Furthermore, an elastic return means 11 of the translation of the nozzle 9 in the body 3 is provided.

The nozzle 9 comprises a substantially vertical distribution path which is formed of two radial upstream orifices 12 and a channel 13 in communication with said orifices. Furthermore, the downstream end of the channel 13 is inserted in the push button 10 to be in communication with a dispensing nozzle 14 via a path provided in said button, said nozzle being integrated in the push button 10 to to be able to distribute the liquid through a dispensing orifice 15.

The pump also comprises a piston 16 which is mounted in frictional contact against the inner surface of the body 3. The piston 16 defines a metering chamber 17 which is in communication with the dip tube 8 via a valve formed of a ball 18 placed on a seat made in the bottom of the body 3. The seat is provided with tabs 19 for retaining the ball 18 so as to form a retention cage thereof at the bottom of the the dosing chamber 17.

The piston 16 is mounted coaxially around the nozzle 9 on a zone of association so as to be able to present a state of closure of the upstream orifices 12 and a state of communication of said upstream orifices with the metering chamber 17.

In the embodiment shown, the association zone is arranged to allow relative sliding of the piston 16 around the nozzle 9 between its closed state and its communication state. In addition, the sliding is constrained by an elastic prestressing means 20 which is mounted in abutment between the piston 16 and the nozzle 9. In a variant not shown, the passage of the piston 16 between its two states can be achieved by deformation of the latter. ci depending on the applied pressure.

So, in his state of rest ( figure 1a ), the piston 16 is in its closed state and, pressing on the push button 10, pressurizes the liquid contained in the metering chamber 17, by compensation of the force exerted by the prestressing means 20, to move the piston 16 to its dispensing state ( figure 1b ) until the end of the race ( figure 1c ). Then, by releasing the support on the push button 10, the return means 11 moves the nozzle 9 on its suction stroke ( figure 1c ) in which the piston 16 is in its closed state and the ball 18 is raised to allow the supply of the metering chamber 17 in liquid.

To ensure the sealing of the metering chamber 17, the piston 16 comprises a lower sealing lip 16a which is in rubbing contact on the inner surface of the body 3. The lip 16a is annular and extends towards the chamber the piston 16 further comprises an upper sealing lip 16b which is in frictional contact with the inner surface of the body 3, said upper lip extending to the opposite of the lower lip 16a with respect to the direction of translation of the piston 16.

To compensate for any misalignment between the axis of the thrust exerted on the push button 10 and the axis of the body 3, the association zone is arranged to allow a sealed swiveling between the piston 16 and the nozzle 9. Thus, in the event of off-axis support on the push-button 10, the misalignment of the nozzle 9 with respect to the body 3 is compensated by the swiveling in order to keep the piston 16 in the axis, so as in particular to maintain the watertightness of the In particular, the swiveling makes it possible to keep the sealing lips 16a, 16b in contact on the internal surface of the body 3.

In the embodiment shown, the swiveling is obtained by providing a zone of association comprising a projection 21 for centering and sealing the piston 16 around the nozzle 9 and an annular space 22 allowing an angular displacement of the nozzle 9 relative to the piston 16. More specifically, in the figures, the piston 16 comprises a bore which has a larger diameter defining the annular space 22 around the periphery of the nozzle 9, and a lower diameter 21 radial centering projection which is in sealing contact around the periphery of the nozzle 9. In this embodiment, the piston 16 comprises a chimney 23 around the upper diameter, the prestressing spring 20 being in abutment on the upper surface of said chimney. As a variant not shown, the geometry of the periphery of the nozzle 9 could be adapted to form the association zone for swiveling.

To allow swiveling in a suitable angular range, the ratio between the axial dimensions of the upper and lower diameters may be between 8 and 4.

The pump further comprises an upper bell 24 which is interposed between the nozzle 9 and the push button 10, said bell for locally reinforcing the nozzle 9, so as to make a nozzle 9 of reduced diameter in areas less mechanically stressed. In addition, the periphery bell 24 comprises a fitting surface 25 of a bore of the push button 10, said surface being provided with an annular groove 26 in which a projection formed in the bore of the push button is introduced to make said fitting more reliable.

The bell 24 is fitted around the upper part of the nozzle 9 leaving an upper surface 27 of said free nozzle so that the push button 10 bears axially on said surface thus forming a stop.

The pump shown also comprises a stent 28 secured to the body 3 by sealing inside said body, the piston 16 being slidably mounted in the stent 28. The stent 28 has a cylindro-conical geometry comprising a lower bearing surface 29. contact with the periphery of the piston 16, and in particular in sealing contact with the periphery of the chimney 23, so as to ensure the guidance of said piston by limiting its swiveling relative to said body.

The return spring 11 is resting on the outside of the lower bearing surface 29. In addition, the periphery of the expander 28 comprises a radial projection 30 which forms an axial stop of the expander 28 on a step formed in the body 3 In addition, a vent hole 31 is formed in the body 3 below the fitting zone of the stent 28.

To improve the translational guidance of the nozzle 9, the bell 24 comprises a lower skirt 32 that extends under the fitting surface 25 of the push button 10, said skirt having an outer diameter allowing a play free sliding of said skirt in the liner. expander 28 during displacement in translation of the nozzle 9. In addition, this embodiment makes it possible to limit the angle of rotation of the nozzle 9. Moreover, the presence of the skirt 32 laterally masks the springs 11, 20 when the pump is in rest position.

As shown on the figure 2 , the skirt 32 has at least one hollow zone 40 opening axially so as to allow the passage of air between said skirt and the expander 28. Thus, the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the expander 28 is limited so as not to interfere with the suction stroke of the nozzle 9.

The return spring 11 and the preload spring 20 are concentrically arranged, said return spring having the largest diameter. The springs 11, 20 are on the one hand resting on the bell 24 and on the other hand bearing respectively on the expander 28 and the piston 16. This embodiment makes it possible to prevent the springs 11, 20 from coming into contact with each other. fluid, and contribute to the axial compactness of the pump. Moreover, the springs 11, 20 not being visible in the pump, it is possible for the body 3, the ball 18 and / or the dip tube 8 to be made of a transparent material or at least a translucent material so as to provide a particularly discreet and aesthetic pump. In addition, the compactness of the pump allows its housing in the ring 1, only the dip tube 8 protruding inside the bottle.

The spring 11 is supported under the skirt 32, which allows the use of a large diameter spring so that the forces exerted by said spring can contribute to the angular stability of the nozzle 9 relative to the body 3. In addition, the springs 11 20 are inverted turns to facilitate rotation in both directions of the push button 10 about its axis.

The lower portion of the nozzle 9 which is disposed in the metering chamber 17 is arranged to form a dead volume 33 to limit the priming speed of the pump. However, to maintain a constant dose, the dead volume 33 is in communication with the metering chamber via radial passages 34.

According to the embodiment shown, the lower part comprises a ring 35 having slots 36, said slots being arranged to define the end of stroke of the nozzle 9 while bearing on the bottom wall of the metering chamber 17 ( figure 1c ). Thus, the dead volume 33 is defined under the ring 35 and the radial passages 34 are formed between the adjacent slots 36. In Moreover, the presence of the slots 36 allows, at the end of the race, to avoid a suction effect of the ring 35 on the bottom wall of the metering chamber 17.

Furthermore, the ring 35 has a generatrix inclined externally relative to the axis of the nozzle 9 and the piston 16 comprises a sealing zone 37 which, in the closed state, is in contact on the outer surface of the In addition, the lower bearing surface 29 is arranged to cooperate with a complementary bearing surface of the piston 16 so that, in the closed state, the force exerted by the return means 11 improves the sealing of the chamber. metering device 17 at said sealing zone in contact with the ring gear 35.

More specifically, the outer surface of the complementary surface has an annular surface which is inclined externally, and a radial annular surface. Thus, by pressing on this surface, the sealing zone 37 which is provided opposite, is pressed against the outer surface of the ring 35. This embodiment makes it possible to seal between the expander 28 and the piston 16 and also improve the suction power of the pump.

Claims (15)

1. Pump intended to be mounted on a bottle so as to enable a liquid contained in said bottle to be dispensed, said pump including:

   - a pump body (3) intended to be connected to the bottle while able to be brought into communication with the liquid;

   - an atomizer (9) secured to a push button (10) so as to be activated in translatory motion in said body, said atomizer including a dispensing path including at least one upstream orifice (12) and a channel (13) whereof the downstream end is in communication with a dispensing nozzle (14);

   - a means for the elastic return (11) of the translatory motion of said atomizer in said body;

   - a plunger (16) mounted in frictional contact against the internal surface of said body so as to define a dosing chamber (17) which is in communication with the liquid by means of a clack valve, said plunger being arranged so as to offer a state where the upstream orifices (12) are blocked and a state where said upstream orifices are brought into communication with the dosing chamber (17);

   the plunger (16) comprising a lower lip seal (16a) and an upper lip seal (16b) which are in frictional contact on the internal surface of the body (3), said upper lip extending opposite the lower lip (16a) in relation to the translatory direction of the plunger (16), the plunger (16) being furthermore mounted coaxially around the atomizer (9) in an association zone including a projection (21) for centring and sealing the plunger (16) around the atomizer (9), said association zone including an annular space (22) enabling angular deflection of said atomizer relative to said plunger, in such a way as to enable sealed swivelling between the plunger (16) and the atomizer (9), said association zone being arranged so as to enable a relative sliding of the plunger (16) around the atomizer (9) between the state where it is blocked and the state where it is brought into communication, said sliding being constrained by elastic pre-tensioning means (20) mounted in support between the plunger (16) and the atomizer (9), the pump further including an expander (28) secured to the body (3), the plunger (16) being slidably mounted in the expander (28), the return means (11) being supported on the outside of a lower bearing surface (29) of the expander (28), said pump including an upper shroud (24) which is interposed between the atomizer (9) and the push button (10), said shroud (24) including a lower skirt (32) which has an external diameter that enables said skirt to slide without play in the expander (28) when the atomizer (9) is moved in translatory motion.
2. Pump according to claim 1, characterised in that the plunger (16) includes a bore which has an upper diameter defining the annular space (22) around the periphery of the atomizer (9), and a lower diameter forming a radial centring projection (21) which is in sealed contact around the periphery of said atomizer.
3. Pump according to claim 2, characterised in that the ratio between the axial dimensions of the upper and lower diameters is between 8 and 4.
4. Pump according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the return means (11) and the pre-tensioning means (20) are each formed of a spring which are placed concentrically, the return spring (11) having the largest diameter.
5. Pump according to claim 4, characterised in that the springs (11, 20) have inverted spirals.
6. Pump according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the lower bearing surface (29) is arranged to engage with a complementary bearing surface of the plunger (16) so that, in the blocked state of the plunger, the stress exerted by the return means (11) improves the seal of the dosing chamber (17).
7. Pump according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the periphery of the skirt (32) has at least one hollow zone (40) emerging axially.
8. Pump according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the return means (11) and any pre-tensioning means (20) are supported on the shroud (24).
9. Pump according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the shroud (24) is fitted around an upper part of the atomizer (9), the push button (10) being axially supported on the upper surface (27) of the atomizer (9).
10. Pump according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the lower part of the atomizer (9) which is placed in the dosing chamber (17) is arranged to form a dead space volume (33).
11. Pump according to claim 10, characterised in that the dead space volume (33) is in communication with the dosing chamber (17) by means of radial passages (34).
12. Pump according to claim 11, characterised in that the lower part includes a ring (35) that has slots (36), said slots being arranged so as to define the end of stroke setting of the atomizer (9) as it comes to be supported on the lower wall of the dosing chamber (17).
13. Pump according to claim 12, characterised in that the ring (35) has a generator inclined externally relative to the axis of the atomizer (9).
14. Pump according to claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the plunger (16) includes a sealing zone (37) which, in the blocked state, is in contact on the outer surface of the ring (35).
15. Pump according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the body (3) includes an area (4) which is intended to enable the pump to be mounted onto the bottle, said area including an upper sealing bead (4a) and/or a lateral sealing bead (4b), on which a cap for associating (2) the pump with the bottle is intended to be supported in a sealed way.

Images