EP2133152B1 - Bellows pump - Google Patents

Abstract

The bottle has a body defining a fluid product reservoir and a fluid product dispensing system. The system has bellows (4) made of elastically deformable material, and a ring (3) that is integrated to the body. The ring is provided with an upper vent (20) in which a downstream part of a fluid product supply channel (19) is emerged. The upper vent has a tapered lower part (20a) in which an inlet valve (21) is housed. The lower part is arranged in a dosage chamber (22) such that the upper vent is extended axially from the dosage chamber.

Description

The invention relates to a dispensing bottle of a fluid product, in particular a gel or a cream, for example a cosmetic product or a pharmaceutical product.

WO 03/035274 discloses a viscous product dispensing bottle according to the preamble of claim 1.

In particular, the bottles according to the invention find their use for dispensing product samples, especially with a volume of between 1 and 10 ml.

Bottles equipped with a dispensing system comprising a bellows of elastically deformable material which is mounted on the body of said bottle to be in communication with the product are known. In addition, the dispensing system comprises an intake valve and a product exhaust valve which are arranged to manually press the bellows to pressurize the product for dispensing through an orifice. and, by releasing said compression, dosing the product to be dispensed into said bellows. Thus, the dispensing system forms a manually operated pump of particularly simple structure.

In particular, the invention proposes a bottle for dispensing a fluid product, comprising a body defining a container for packaging said product and a dispensing system for said product which is mounted on said body to be in communication with said tank by the intermediate of a product supply device, said dispensing system comprising a ring integral with the body and a bellows of elastically deformable material which comprises a base mounted on said ring, said base being surmounted by an elastically compressible head so as to define a variable volume inside said head, said ring being provided with a product supply channel from the supply device to the inside of the bellows, said channel being equipped with a product inlet valve inside said bellows and the bottle further comprises an exhaust valve of the product from the inside of said bellows, said exhaust valve being interposed between the ring and the bellows so as to delimit an upper metering chamber whose volume is variable and a lower distribution chamber which is formed inside from the base to be in communication with a dispensing orifice formed in said base.

A problem that arises with such a dispensing bottle concerns the compression ratio and therefore the suction force of the pump which may be insufficient to allow the distribution of a relatively viscous product with a high refund rate. In addition, given the small volume of the metering chamber, this problem is even more present with sample dispensing vials.

According to a first aspect, the invention aims to improve the prior art by providing in particular a bottle whose compression ratio and thus the suction force of the pump are optimized.

For this purpose, the invention provides that the ring comprises an upper stack in which the downstream portion of the supply channel opens, said stack having a lower part in which the inlet valve is housed, said lower part being arranged in the metering chamber so that said chimney extends axially in said metering chamber.

According to one embodiment, the exhaust valve comprises an annular membrane having a free end, said membrane being displaceable in bending by compression of the product in the metering chamber between a rest position in which the free end is in sealing abutment on the bellows and a constrained position in which the free end is disposed at a distance from said bellows to allow the passage of the pressurized product from the metering chamber to the distribution chamber.

In this embodiment, the invention proposes that the dispensing bottle comprises, in combination or independently of the characteristics mentioned above relative to the chimney, at least one axial finger which is arranged for, at the end of compression stroke of the head, exert a support on the membrane in the constrained position and, at the beginning of the race of decompression of said head, releasing said support to allow the disposition of said membrane in the rest position.

In another aspect, the invention aims to improve the attachment and sealing of the bellows in the body.

• la base est disposée autour de la bague, ladite bague comprenant des anneaux d'accrochage qui sont agencés pour assurer un serrage radial de la partie inférieure de la base dans ledit corps ; et/ou
• le flacon comprend en outre un capot destiné à recouvrir le soufflet entre les distributions, ledit capot en position de recouvrement étant agencé pour entourer avec interférence la partie supérieure de la base, la bague comprenant un anneau de maintien de ladite partie supérieure.

For this purpose, the dispensing bottle may, in combination or independently of the characteristics mentioned above, have the following characteristics in relation to a base comprising a lower part which is disposed in the body and an upper part in which the chamber and the distribution orifice are formed:

• the base is arranged around the ring, said ring comprising attachment rings which are arranged to ensure a radial clamping of the lower part of the base in said body; and or
• the bottle further comprises a cover intended to cover the bellows between the distributions, said cover in the covering position being arranged to surround with interference the upper part of the base, the ring comprising a retaining ring of said upper part.

• les figures 1 sont des vues en coupe longitudinale d'un flacon de distribution selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention, respectivement entre deux utilisations (figure 1 a) et montrant partiellement le système de distribution en fin de course de compression (figure 1b) ;
• les figures 2 sont des vues en coupe longitudinale du flacon de distribution selon les figures 1, montrant le montage du système de distribution dans le corps respectivement après remplissage du réservoir (figure 2a), en cours de montage (figure 2b) et après montage (figure 2c).

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 are views in longitudinal section of a dispensing bottle according to one embodiment of the invention, respectively between two uses ( figure 1 a) and partially showing the distribution system at the end of compression stroke ( figure 1b );
• the figures 2 are longitudinal sectional views of the dispensing bottle according to the figures 1 , showing the assembly of the distribution system in the body respectively after filling the reservoir ( figure 2a ), being edited ( figure 2b ) and after assembly ( Figure 2c ).

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

In connection with the figures, there is described below a bottle for containing a fluid for distribution. In particular examples, the product may be a gel or a cream, for example a cosmetic product or a pharmaceutical product.

The bottle comprises a body 1 defining a product conditioning tank 2 and a dispensing system of said product which is mounted on said body to be in communication with said tank via a product supply device. In particular, the tank 2 may have a capacity of between 1 and 10 ml so as to allow the distribution of product samples.

The dispensing system comprises a ring 3 which is integral with the body 1 and a bellows 4 of elastically deformable material, in particular polyolefin of the polyethylene or polypropylene type in which an elastomer of the EPDM, EVA or polyurethane type may be added. The bellows 4 comprises an annular base 5 mounted on the ring 3, said base being surmounted by a head 6 resiliently compressible so as to define a variable volume within said head.

In the figures, the bellows 4 comprises an axial superposition of annular folds forming the head 6, said folds being able to pass reversibly from a rest position with a nominal axial spacing ( figure 1 a) at a compressed position in which the folds are close together ( figure 1b ) to reduce the interior volume of said head.

More precisely, three plies are shown, each ply comprising an upper radial wall 7 and a lower radial wall 8 which are connected by a U-shaped zone 9 disposed radially inwardly of the bellows 4, each ply being connected to an adjacent fold by a U-shaped zone 10 arranged radially outwardly. The volume variation is then obtained by deformation of the zones 9, 10 in U so as to induce the axial approximation of said walls.

The head 6 also comprises an upper surface 11 on which the compression can be actuated by axial manual support, said surface being connected to the upper radial wall 7 of the upper fold by means of a U-shaped zone 12 arranged radially towards the outside.

Thus, the variable volume is formed by actuating the upper surface 11 on a stroke between two axial dimensions respectively at rest R and end of travel F compression. In addition, the upper surface 11 is convex at rest and concave at the end of the compression stroke so as to be able to turn to reduce the volume of the head 6 at the end of compression stroke. Furthermore, the base 5 extends axially downwards by being connected to the lower radial wall 8 of the lower fold by means of a bend 13.

In the embodiment shown, the body 1 of the bottle is made of rigid material, in particular of plastic material of polyethylene or polypropylene type, to present a hollow tube of constant circular section between a bottom 14 and a neck 30 forming an upper opening.

In addition, the feed device comprises a follower piston 15 which is slidably mounted in the reservoir 2 to bring the product into a feed tube 16. In the embodiment shown, the tube 16 is integrated in the ring 3 and comprises a lower portion 16a which is disposed in the reservoir for communicating the dispensing system with the product.

In this embodiment commonly referred to as "airless", according to the filling process, the tank 2 may not contain air. In use, air does not enter the tank in compensation for the dispensed product. The bottom 14 of the body 1 then has an orifice 17 allowing the entry of air into the body 1 in compensation for the sliding of the piston 15. This orifice can be covered with a porous label, for example paper, to limit the gas exchange and thus the evaporation of the packaged product.

The feed device shown in the figures is of conventional structure which is known to those skilled in the art, the invention can be implemented with other types of feed system, for example with air intake in comprising a dip tube.

On the figures 1 , the ring 3 is made of rigid material, in particular of plastic material of polyethylene or polypropylene type, to be associated, in particular by tight fitting, in the neck 30. To do this, the ring 3 comprises a lower mounting surface 31 which is clamped in a groove 32 formed in the body 1, said groove delimiting down the neck 30.

The ring 3 is provided with a channel 19 for feeding the product into the interior of the bellows 4, the upstream portion of said channel being formed in the feed tube 16 and its downstream part being formed in an upper chimney 20 of the ring 3, said chimney surmounting said tube to be disposed inside the bellows 4. In particular, the lower part 16a allows communication between the supply channel 19 and the product.

The feed channel 19 is equipped with an intake valve which, in the figures, comprises a ball 21 housed in a seat formed in the lower part 20a of the chimney 20. More specifically, the chimney 20 has a lower part frustoconical 20a which is connected to the upper end of the tube 16, the seat being formed in said frustoconical portion which further comprises tabs 20b retaining the ball 21. This assembly allows the ball 21 to move from a low position closing the channel 19 during the compression of the bellows 4 to an upper position of admission of the product into the bellows 4 during the decompression thereof.

The bottle further comprises a valve for exhausting the product from inside the bellows 4 for distribution. The exhaust valve is interposed between the ring 3 and the bellows 4 so as to delimit an upper annular dosing chamber 22 whose volume is variable and a lower annular distribution chamber 23 whose volume is substantially constant, said distribution chamber being formed inside of the base 5 to be in communication with a dispensing orifice 24 formed in said base.

In the embodiment shown, the base comprises a lower portion 5a which is disposed in the neck 30 and an upper portion 5b in which the chamber 23 and the dispensing orifice 24 are formed. In addition, the base 5 is arranged around the ring 3 which comprises attachment rings 3a, 3b arranged to ensure a radial clamping of the lower portion 5a of the base 5 in the neck 30. In the figures, two rings 3a , 3b are spaced axially to become embedded in the lower portion 5a so as to ensure clamping in two radial planes.

The dispensing bottle also comprises a cover 28 of rigid material which is intended to cover the bellows 4 between the distributions, said cover in the overlap position being arranged to surround with interference the upper part 5b of the base 5, the ring 3 comprising a retaining ring 3c of said upper part. This embodiment, by allowing the bellows 4 to exert a radial reaction force when tightening the cover 28, aims at improving the fastening and sealing of the bellows 4 in the body, in particular during the removal of the cover 28.

Furthermore, the base 5 is provided with a bead 5c which extends externally, the cap 28 in the overlapping position bearing axially on said bead. Thus, the bead 5c form limit stop cover overlap 28, ensuring a damping due to its elastically deformable nature.

In addition, the dispensing orifice 24 is surrounded externally by a projecting spout 29, the interference between the cover 28 and the base 5 being sufficient for said hood comes into sealing engagement on said beak to ensure a closure of the orifice 24 between the distributions.

The lower part 20a of the chimney 20, and thus the inlet valve 21, is disposed in the metering chamber 22 so that said chimney extends axially in said metering chamber. Thus, at the end of the compression stroke, the upper surface 11 is close or in contact with the inlet valve 21 so as to optimize the compression ratio and thus the suction conferred.

According to one embodiment, this optimization is obtained with a stack 20 which extends axially in the metering chamber 22 to a dimension C between 50% and 100% of the axial dimension F of the end of travel of the upper surface 11 .

Furthermore, as shown in the figures, the outer wall of the stack 20 is disposed in the metering chamber 22 with a radial clearance J which is arranged to allow axial guidance of the head 6 during its compression. In addition, the outer wall of the chimney 20 has longitudinal ribs 20c which form axial guiding means of the head 6. In fact, the combination of the clearance J and the ribs 20c makes it possible to limit the skewing of the head 6 during compression by promoting the maintenance in line of the collapse of the folds.

The exhaust valve shown comprises an annular membrane 26 having a base formed integrally with the ring and a free end 27. More specifically, the membrane 26 extends substantially radially around the outer wall of the tube 16 while being slightly inclined towards the top. Therefore, the outer wall of the tube 16 comprises successively the exhaust membrane 26, the retaining ring 3c and the attachment rings 3b, 3a, the intake valve 21 being disposed above said exhaust membrane .

The membrane 26 is arranged to be displaceable in bending by compression of the product in the metering chamber 22 between a rest position ( figure 1a ) in which the free end 27 bears tightly on the bellows 4 and a constrained position ( figure 1b ) in which the free end 27 is disposed at a distance from said bellows to allow the passage of the pressurized product from the metering chamber 22 to the distribution chamber 23.

In particular, the free end 27 of the diaphragm 26 in the rest position is in sealing engagement on the lower face of the lower radial wall 8 of the lower fold. The function of the intake valve is thus satisfactorily obtained in that, during compression of the bellows 4, said wall is substantially fixed in position relative to the ring 3.

In addition, still to improve this exhaust function, the free end 27 of the membrane 26 comprises a contact bead 27a with the bellows 4. As shown in FIG. figure 1b , the bead 27a is annular and extends on the upper surface of the free end 27, said bead having a convex section, in particular substantially toric. Thus, the contact between the membrane 26 and the bottom wall 8 is substantially along a line of revolution, which contributes to the quality of the seal provided. In addition, the presence of the bead 27a makes it possible to mechanically strengthen the free end 27 of the membrane 26 and to facilitate its production.

Furthermore, the bellows shown comprises at least one axial finger 33 which is arranged for, at the end of compression stroke of the head 6, exert a bearing on the membrane 26 in the stressed position and, at the beginning of decompression stroke of said head releasing said support to allow the arrangement of said membrane in the rest position. Thus, the finger 33 improves the exhaust function by mechanically constraining the flexion of the membrane 16, and in particular to allow its setting rest position from the beginning of the decompression.

In the embodiment shown, the membrane 26 in the rest position is in sealing local support on an outer zone of the lower face of the head 6, the axial finger 33 extending on an inner zone of said lower face to exert a remote support of the free end 27a of said membrane. More specifically, the finger 33 extends from the U-shaped zone 9 of the lower fold, the outer zone being formed near the bend 13.

The dispensing bottle shown further comprises a purge membrane 34 which is integrated on the outer wall of the lower portion 16a of the tube 16, below the mounting surface 31. The purge membrane 34 is arranged to allow, during the mounting the dispensing system in the body 1, the discharge of air and excess product in a dead volume 35 and, after said assembly, the creation of a seal between the inside of the tank 2 and said dead volume.

In particular, the dead volume 35 is formed under the neck 30 of the body 1 being delimited axially on both sides by the mounting surface 31 and by the purge membrane 34. Moreover, in the embodiment shown, the purge membrane 34 has a base formed integrally with the lower part 16a of the tube 16 and a free end forming a sealing lip which bears on an inner bearing surface of the body 1, said support being arranged to allow the evacuation during the sliding installation of said lip on said span and to ensure sealing after assembly.

In relation to figures 2 the arrangement of the dispensing system shown is described in which, after filling the tank 2 with the product ( figure 2a ), the assembly ring 3 / bellows 4 / cover 28 / valve 21 is introduced into the neck 30 of the body 1. On the figure 2b it can be seen that the free end of the purge membrane 34 comes into sealing on an internal bearing surface of the body, said bearing comprising an axial sleeve which is surmounted by a diverging portion 36 of connection with the mounting groove 32. then an air pressure under the membrane 34, which causes it to bend upwards and therefore an air leak towards the dead volume 35.

In the embodiment shown, longitudinal passages 37 are formed around the lower part 5a of the base 5 so, when mounting the distribution system, to allow the escape of air from the dead volume 35 to the 'outside.

When continuing to press the assembly to drive it completely into the neck 30, once the air is completely removed, a small amount of product may overflow the membrane 34 and remain contained in the dead volume 35 while the mounting of the bearing 31 in the groove 32 ensures the maintenance and sealing of the dispensing system in the body 1 ( Figure 2c ). The air contained in the dead volume 35 is therefore no longer in contact with the product packaged in the tank 2, so that the bottle is purged of air during filling and can be dispensed without allowing air to come into contact. with the product.

Claims (15)

1. Bottle for distributing a fluid product, comprising a body (1) defining a reservoir (2) for conditioning said product and a system for distributing said product which is mounted on said body in order to be in communication with said reservoir by the intermediary of a device for supplying the product, said system for distributing comprising a ring (3) integral with the body (1) and a bellows (4) made of an elastically deformable material which comprises a base (5) mounted on said ring, said base being overmounted by a head (6) which can be compressed elastically in such a way as to define a variable volume inside said head, said ring being provided with a channel for delivering (19) the product from the device for supplying to the inside of the bellows (4), said channel being provided with an inlet valve (21) of the product inside said bellows and the bottle further comprises an exhaust valve (26) for the product from the inside of said bellows, said exhaust valve being interposed between the ring (3) and the bellows (4) in such a way as to delimit an upper metering chamber (22) of which the volume is variable and a lower distribution chamber (23) which is formed inside the base (5) in order to be in communication with a distribution orifice (24) formed in said base, said bottle being characterised in that the ring (3) comprises an upper shaft (20) wherein the downstream portion of the channel for delivering (19) emerges, said shaft having a lower portion (20a) wherein the inlet valve (21) is housed, said lower portion being arranged in the metering chamber (22) in such a way that said shaft extends axially in said metering chamber.
2. Bottle for distributing according to claim 1, characterised in that the inlet valve comprises a ball (21) which is lodged in a seat formed in the lower portion (20a) of the shaft (20), said ball able to be displaced from a low closing position of the channel for delivery (19) during the compression of the bellows (6), to a high position for the intake of the product into the metering chamber (22) during the decompression of said bellows.
3. Bottle for distributing according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the head (6) comprises an axial superposition of annular folds which is overmounted by an upper surface (11) in such a way as to form the variable volume by actuation of said surface over a travel between two axial measurements - respectively at rest (R) and at the end of the travel of compression (F) -, the shaft (20) extending axially in the metering chamber (22) to a measurement (C) between 50% and 100% of said axial measurement for the end of travel.
4. Bottle for distributing according to claim 3, characterised in that the upper surface (11) is convex at rest and concave at the end of the travel of compression.
5. Bottle for distributing according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the exhaust valve comprising an annular membrane (26) having a free end (27), said membrane able to be displaced by bending by compression of the product in the metering chamber (22) between a position at rest wherein the free end (27) is pressing in a sealed manner on the bellows (4) and a stressed position wherein the free end (27) is arranged at a distance from said bellows in order to allow for the passage of product under pressure from the metering chamber (22) to the distribution chamber (23).
6. Bottle for distributing according to claim 5, characterised in that the ring (3) comprises a tube (16) wherein the channel for delivery (19) is formed, the exhaust membrane (26) being formed on the outside wall of said tube.
7. Bottle for distributing according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the outside wall of the shaft (20) is arranged in the metering chamber (22) with a clearance (J) which is arranged in order to allow for an axial guiding of the head (6) during its compression.
8. Bottle for distributing according to claim 7, characterised in that the outside wall of the shaft (20) has longitudinal ribs (20c) which form means for the axial guiding of the head (6).
9. Bottle for distributing according to any of claims 5 to 8, characterised in that it comprises at least one axial finger (33) which is arranged in order to, at the end of the travel of the compression of the head (6), exert a force on the membrane (26) in stressed position and, at the beginning of the travel of decompression of said head, release said force in order to allow the disposition of said membrane in rest position.
10. Bottle for distributing according to claim 9, characterised in that the head (6) comprises a lower radial wall of which the lower face has an outside zone whereon the membrane (26) in rest position is pressing in a sealed manner, the axial finger (33) extending over an inside zone of said lower face in order to exert a force at a distance from the free end (27) of said membrane.
11. Bottle for distributing according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the base (5) comprises a lower portion (5a) which is arranged in the body (1) and an upper portion wherein the chamber (23) and the orifice (24) for distribution are formed.
12. Bottle for distributing according to claim 11, characterised in that the base (5) is arranged around the ring (3), said ring comprising hooking rings (3a, 3b) which are arranged in order to provide a radial clamping of the lower portion (5a) of the base (5) in said body.
13. Bottle for distributing according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that it further comprises a cover (28) intended to cover the bellows (4) between the distributions, said cover in covering position being arranged to surround with interference the upper portion (5b) of the base (5), the ring (3) comprising a retaining ring (3c) of said upper portion.
14. Bottle for distributing according to any of claims 6 to 13, characterised in that the tube (16) comprises a lower portion (16a) which is arranged in the reservoir (2) in order to place into communication the channel for delivery (19) with the product, the outside wall of said lower portion integrating a purge membrane (34), said membrane being arranged in order to allow, during the mounting of the system for distributing in the body (1), the evacuation of air and product in excess in a dead space (35) and, after said mounting, the creation of a seal between the inside of said reservoir and said dead space.
15. Bottle for distributing according to claim 14, characterised in that the dead space (35) is formed in the body (1) being delimited axially on either side by a mounting surface (31) of the ring (3) in the body (1) and by the purge membrane (34).

Images