EP2237896B1 - Attachment device and dispenser using such a device - Google Patents

Abstract

Attachment device to attach a dispensing member (4) to the neck (11) of a container of fluid product (1), the device comprising an attaching ring (2) comprising accommodating means (21) intended to accommodate the dispensing member (4) and catching means (23) intended to engage around the neck (11) of the container (1) and a locking band (3) fitted around the ring (2) and able to be moved axially relative to the ring between a pre-mounted temporary position and a mounted final position, the band (3) being engaged around the catching means (23) of the ring in order to lock them around the neck (11) in the mounted final position, characterized in that the band (3) comprises a deflection section (32) positioned, in the pre-mounted temporary position, around the catching means (23) but with an interposed deflection space (E) separating them, in order to allow the catching means (23) to move radially outward without being impeded by the band (3), and axially offset in the mounted final position with respect to the catching means (23) to allow the band to lock the ring (2) onto the neck (11).

Description

The present invention relates to a fixing device for fixing a dispensing member, such as a pump or a valve, on a neck of a fluid reservoir to form a fluid dispenser, the device comprising a fixing ring comprising receiving means for receiving the dispensing member and hooking means for engaging around the neck of the tank, and a locking ring engaged around the ring and axially movable relative to the ring between a position. pre-assembled temporary and a final mounting position, the hoop being engaged around the fastening means of the ring to lock them around the neck in the final mounting position. The preferred fields of application of the present invention are those of perfumery, cosmetics or even pharmacy.

In the prior art, this type of fastening system is already known using an attachment ring associated with a locking ring. In general, the fixing ring comprises receiving means, such as a housing, for receiving the dispensing member, which may for example comprise a projecting collar intended to be engaged by snapping into the housing of the ring. In addition to these receiving means, the fixing ring also comprises a substantially cylindrical fixing skirt defining an internal wall provided with one or more attachment profile (s) intended (s) to come into engagement with the collar of the tank. Conventionally, the neck of the tank forms a projecting annular external reinforcement under which the attachment profile (s) engage in the final assembly position. The function of the locking band is to prevent the disengagement of the internal profiles of the skirt of the ring from below the protruding external reinforcement of the neck. In other words, the locking ring maintains the snap profiles of the ring prisoners of the neck of the tank. To allow the profiles of the ring to pass beyond and below the annular protruding reinforcement of the neck, it is possible to realize the skirt of the ring with longitudinal slots so as to divide the skirt into several legs separated by slots. Alternatively, it is possible to leave the continuous skirt and play on the elasticity and deformability of the skirt to pass the fastening profiles over the annular protruding reinforcement of the neck. In both cases, it is necessary that the skirt of the ring can deform radially outwardly during the passage of the neck reinforcement. The purpose of the locking band is to prevent this radial deformation towards the outside of the skirt of the ring once the fastening profiles are engaged under the reinforcement of the neck.

The document FR 2,859,983 describes a fixing device according to the preamble of claim 1.

In general, the final mounting position, in which the locking collar prevents the ring from disengaging from the neck, is a definitive position, in that it is no longer possible to remove the locking ring from the ring for allow removal of the ring from the neck. Therefore, to remove a dispensing assembly using such a fastening system, it must destroy the hoop, ring or collar. Indeed, the holding of the hoop is considerable so that its tensile strength can not be overcome by pulling axially on the hoop without damaging or destroying it.

Before the fixing device is mounted on the neck of the reservoir, the locking collar is generally premounted in the temporary position on the fixing ring so as not to prevent the radial outward movement of the attachment means. In general, the lower end of the hoop is located in provisional position premounted above the attachment means. Therefore, the hooking means protrude beyond the lower end of the hoop. In other words, the hooking means of the ring are not located inside the hoop, and are therefore not protected. Indeed, the hooking means of the ring constitute the most fragile element of the ring + fret fixing system, since they are deformable, since they have to be engaged by radial deformation towards the outside around the neck of the ring. tank. When the attachment means are formed by a split skirt, consisting of tabs separated by slots, the risk of deterioration is even higher, since the tabs, which are easily deformable, can cling to any object and be irreversibly deformed. The fixing ring can no longer be used. There is therefore a real and significant risk of damaging the fixing ring, and more particularly its attachment means, in the premounted temporary position.

The object of the present invention is to overcome this aforementioned disadvantage of the prior art by defining a ring + ring fastening device which is particularly strong and resistant, even in a premounted provisional position. Simple and inexpensive manufacture, implementation and assembly is still an objective of the present invention.

To achieve these objects, the present invention provides a fixing device for fixing a dispensing member, such as a pump or a valve, on a neck of a fluid reservoir to form a fluid dispenser, the device comprising a fixing ring comprising receiving means for receiving the dispenser member and hooking means for engaging around the neck of the reservoir, a locking ring engaged around the ring and axially movable relative to the ring between a premounted provisional position and a final mounting position, the hooking means of the ring being free to move radially outwardly in premounted provisional position to allow mounting of the ring on the tank neck, the hoop being engaged around the fastening means of the ring to lock them around the neck in the final assembly position, characterized in that the collar c includes a deflection section disposed, in premounted provisional position, around the attachment means, but with an intermediate clearance space separating them, to allow the attachment means to move radially outwards without being impeded by the hoop and axially offset in the final mounting position relative to the hooking means to allow the hoop to lock the ring on the neck. Thus, the deflection section protects the attachment means of the ring forming a peripheral protection belt. Compared to the locking rings of the prior art, the deflection section constitutes an extension or extension section that surrounds the attachment means.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the ring is entirely inscribed in the hoop in premounted temporary position, the deflection section masking the attachment means. According to another advantageous characteristic, the deflection section has a lower end edge which extends axially at least to the same level as a lower end of the ring. It is not excluded that the lower end edge of the deflection section extends below the lower end of the ring or attachment means. In any case, perfect protection is provided for the hooking means of the ring inside the hoop. And even beyond the risk of deterioration of the ring, it avoids any risk of separation of the hoop and the ring premounted provisional position, since there is virtually no grip on the ring.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the deflection section is connected to a locking section engaging around the fastening means in the final mounting position. Advantageously, the deflection section has a reduced wall thickness with respect to the blocking section. Preferably, the locking section and the deflection section are connected by forming an internal shoulder which is located axially above the attachment means in the temporary position and below the fastening means in the end position. Compared to a prior art locking ferrule, the locking ferrule of the present invention extends downwardly from the inner shoulder, which forms the lower edge in a conventional locking ferrule.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the locking band is surrounded by a trim band which is advantageously formed integrally with the locking band. The two frets together form a piece of dressing and blocking.

The present invention also defines a fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir having a neck which protrudes from a reservoir body, the neck forming an outer annular reinforcement, a dispensing member, such as a pump or a valve, and a device fastener according to any one of the preceding claims, the attachment means engaging under the annular reinforcement of the neck. Advantageously, the deflection section comes into abutment on the tank in the final mounting position.

A principle of the invention is to provide a locking ring section which extends around the fastening means of the ring in premounted provisional position, in which the attachment means can be moved radially outwards to be set up on a tank pass.

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.

• les figures 1 et 2 sont des vues en section transversale verticale à travers un distributeur de produit fluide utilisant un dispositif de fixation selon l'invention, respectivement en position provisoire prémontée et en position finale de montage, et
• la figure 3 est une vue très fortement agrandie d'un détail de la figure 1.

In the figures:

• the Figures 1 and 2 are vertical cross-sectional views through a fluid dispenser using a fixing device according to the invention, respectively in pre-assembled provisional position and in final assembly position, and
• the figure 3 is a very greatly enlarged view of a detail of the figure 1 .

Reference is made to the figures to describe in detail a fluid dispenser according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The distributor comprises several constituent elements, namely a fluid reservoir 1, a fixing ring 2, a locking and cladding part 3, a dispensing member and a pusher 5. The dispensing member 4 can be a pump or a valve.

The tank 1 can be made of any suitable material, such as glass, plastic, metal, etc. The tank 1 defines in its upper part a shoulder 13 from which projects a neck 11 defining an opening 10 which communicates the interior of the tank with the outside. The neck 11 is made with a reinforcement or annular bead 12 which protrudes radially outwards. This reinforcement 12 thus forms a lower rim that will serve as a surface hooking for the distribution assembly, as will be seen below. This is a quite classic design for a fluid reservoir in the fields of cosmetics, perfumery or pharmacy.

The part 3, the dispensing member 4, the pusher 5 and the cover 6 form a dispensing assembly which is pre-assembled before being mounted on the reservoir 1. The dispensing member 4 and the pusher 5 are not critical for the present invention and will therefore not be explained in detail. Indeed, these elements do not participate directly in the present invention which relates more particularly to the fastening system formed by the fixing ring 2 and part of the part 3.

The fixing ring 2 is of a completely conventional design for a conventional fastening system using a fastening ring locked on the neck of a tank with a locking ring. Thus, the ring 2 comprises receiving means 21 for fixedly receiving the dispensing member 4. These receiving means 21 may for example be in the form of a detent housing in which a projecting collar of the body of the distribution member is snapped. The particular form of the receiving means 21 is not critical to the present invention. The fixing ring 2 also comprises a fastening skirt 22 which is of substantially or perfectly cylindrical outer shape. The fastening skirt 22 internally forms one or more attachment profile (s) 23 which project radially inwards. The hooking profile 23 may for example extend continuously over the entire inner periphery of the skirt 22. Alternatively, there may be several profiles 23 distributed over the inner periphery of the skirt 22. The skirt 22 may be continues so as to form a solid cylinder, or alternatively, the skirt may be formed with slots which separate the skirt in several tabs each formed with one or more attachment profile (s) 23. This is the case in the figures . Whatever the configuration of the skirt 22 (and its attachment profiles 23), it is deformable radially to allow the attachment profiles 23 to be housed under the rim formed by the reinforcement protruding 12 of the neck 11, as can be seen on the figure 1 . To reach this position, which can be described as "snapping", it is of course necessary that the profiles 23 pass over and beyond the reinforcement 12. In the case of preformed internal profiles, it is necessary that the skirt 22 is deforms radially outwardly during the passage of the reinforcement 12 to then retract again so that the profiles engage snapped under the flange 12. However, given the deformability of the skirt 12, its solid attachment under the reinforcement 12 can not be provided solely by the ring; it also requires a locking element which prevents the skirt of the ring from deforming again radially outwardly to disengage its attachment profiles 23 from below the reinforcement 12.

This locking element is formed here by a locking ring 31 which is an integral part of the part 3. This is only a particular non-limiting embodiment: indeed, the locking ring 31 can very well be carried out separately and individually. The locking ring 31 is in the form of a substantially cylindrical section which is engaged around the ring 2, and more precisely around the fixing skirt 22. The locking ring 31 can extend to above of the ring 2 forming an internal flap which bears on the upper end of the ring. The inner surface of the ferrule 31 tightly engages with the outer surface of the ferrule 2 so as to provide an assembly capable of withstanding a predetermined tensile force. It is even possible to provide special means to increase the attachment of the hoop on the ring. According to another interesting aspect of the invention, the locking band 31 is surrounded by an external trim band 36 which hides the band 31 in the final mounting position. This outer shell can be used as outer cover to the distribution assembly, giving it an attractive aesthetic appearance.

According to the invention, the locking band 31 also defines a deflection or extension section 32 forming the lower end edge 33 of the hoop 31. This deflection section 32 has the particularity that its inner surface is radially offset towards the outside compared to the internal surface of the remainder of the hoop in contact with the ring. It can also be said that the deflection section 32 has an internal surface offset radially so as to form a withdrawal or off hook relative to the remainder of the hoop. More specifically, the deflection section is connected upwardly to a locking section 34 which is in tight contact locking around the hooking means of the ring in the final mounting position. Since the deflection section is outwardly shifted, an inward downwardly directed shoulder 35 is formed by the locking section 34: this shoulder 35 radially connects the ring to the deflection section 32. In final mounting position as represented on the figure 2 , the deflection section 32 is disposed below the lower end of the ring 2, and therefore does not cooperate with the ring at all. To reach this final position, the preassembled assembly, consisting of the dispensing member, the ring and the part, was mounted on the neck of the tank by applying an axial thrust force downwards. Conventionally, the fixing ring 2 is first engaged around the neck 11 of the tank, and then the locking band 31 is lowered around the hooking profiles 23 of the ring to lock them below the reinforcement 12 of the neck . To do this, the locking band 31 is pre-assembled on the ring 2, but in such a way that the band does not prevent the radial outward movement of the fastening profiles 23 to allow them to pass on the reinforcement 12. This pre-assembled temporary position is represented on the figure 2 , and very greatly enlarged on the figure 3 . It can be seen that the dispensing member 4 is in place in the receiving means 21, but that the locking band 31 does not block the hooking means 23. Indeed, the inner surface of the band 31 is not not in close contact with the outer surface of the skirt 22 at the hooking profiles 23. In contrast, the band 31 extends with its lower edge 33 to the level of the lower end of the skirt 22, or very slightly below. In reality, it is the deflection section 32 which is disposed at the hooking profiles 23, but this section 32 does not come into contact with the skirt 22, since it is offset radially outwards. he is thus created an intermediate space of clearance E between the ring 22 and the extension section 32. This clearance space E allows the skirt 22 to deform radially outwardly during the passage of the profiles 23 on the reinforcement 12. It may be noted that the internal shoulder 35 is located above the hooking profiles 23: the locking section 34 is in engagement with the skirt of the ring to hold the band on the ring, but not at the level of the profiles. hooking 23.

Thus, in this premounted position, the premounted distribution assembly can be mounted on the neck of a tank by first engaging the profiles 23 under the reinforcement 12 and then lowering the locking band 31 so as to bring the band 31 in tight contact with the ring 22 at the snap profiles 23. This is done by shifting the extension section 32 downwards, as visible on the figure 2 .

With this deflection section 32, the lower edge 33 of the hoop is located at the lower edge of the ring premounted temporary position. Without the deflection section 32, the hooking profiles 23 of the ring would protrude out of the hoop and thus be exposed. The deflection section 32 was made here in the form of a reduction in wall thickness of the hoop. It is also possible to make this deflection section 32 with constant wall thickness, but forming a shoulder outwardly.

Claims (10)

1. A fastener device for fastening a dispenser member (4), such as a pump or a valve, on a neck (11) of a fluid reservoir (1) so as to constitute a fluid dispenser, the device comprising:

   • a fastener ring (2) including both reception means (21) for receiving the dispenser member (4), and fastener means (23) for coming into engagement around the neck (11) of the reservoir (1); and

   • a blocking hoop (3) that is engaged around the ring (2) and that is movable axially relative to the ring between a provisional pre-assembled position and an final assembled position, the fastener means (23) of the ring being free to move radially outwards in the provisional pre-assembled position so as to make it possible to assemble the ring on the reservoir neck, the hoop (3) being engaged around the fastener means (23) of the ring so as to block them around the neck (11) in the final assembled position;

   the fastener device being characterized in that the hoop (3) includes a clearance section (32) that, in the provisional pre-assembled position, is disposed around the fastener means (23), but with an intermediate clearance gap (E) separating them, so as to enable the fastener means (23) to move radially outwards without being hindered by the hoop (3), and is offset axially in the final assembled position relative to the fastener means (23), so as to enable the hoop to block the ring (2) on the neck (11).
2. A fastener device according to claim 1, wherein the ring (2) is inscribed entirely within the hoop (3) in the provisional pre-assembled position, the clearance section (32) masking the fastener means (23).
3. A fastener device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the clearance section (32) presents a bottom end edge (33) that extends axially at least up to the same level as a bottom end of the ring (2).
4. A fastener device according to any preceding claim, wherein the clearance section (32) is connected to a blocking section (34) that comes to be engaged around the fastener means (23) in the final assembled position.
5. A fastener device according to claim 4, wherein the clearance section (32) presents a thinner wall relative to the blocking section (34).
6. A fastener device according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the blocking section (34) and the clearance section (32) are connected together forming an internal shoulder (35) that is situated axially above the fastener means (23) in the provisional position, and below the fastener means (23) in the final position.
7. A fastener device according to any preceding claim, wherein the fastener means include a skirt (22) that forms at least one fastener profile (23) that projects radially inwards.
8. A fastener device according to any preceding claim, wherein the blocking hoop (3) is surrounded by a covering hoop (36) that is advantageously formed integrally with the blocking hoop.
9. A fluid dispenser comprising:

   • a fluid reservoir (1) having a neck (11) that projects from a reservoir body, the neck forming an external annular reinforcement (12);

   • a dispenser member (4), such as a pump or a valve; and

   • a fastener device (2, 3) according to any preceding claim, the fastener means (23) coming to be engaged below the annular reinforcement (12) of the neck (11).
10. A dispenser according to claim 9, wherein the clearance section (32) comes into abutment against the reservoir (1) in the final assembled position.

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