EP2308604B1 - Dispensing system for a fluid product - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a system for dispensing a fluid product and a method for packaging a fluid product in such a dispensing system.

In particular, the fluid product to be dispensed may be a liquid or a cream, for example a perfume, a cosmetic product or a pharmaceutical product.

We know, especially documents FR 2,721,592 , EP 0 349 396 , EP 0 945 184 and EP 0 486 355 distribution systems comprising a flexible body delimiting an internal volume which is variable by deformation of said body, said volume being intended for packaging the product to be dispensed. In particular, according to the document FR 2,721,592 , the body may have a flexible tube provided with an open end and an end equipped with an upper flange which is surmounted by a neck in which a dispensing device is sealingly mounted.

Thus, these dispensing systems can be delivered to the conditioners which, after filling the flexible body with the fluid product via the open end, close said end to seal the volume of conditioning that is formed inside said body.

In particular, the dispensing device may be a manually operated pump, in particular without air intake. Thus, as and when dispensing the product, the flexible body deforms by suction of the product so as to adapt the volume of packaging to the amount of product it contains.

The distribution of the product may also be actuated directly by deformation of the body, in particular by manual support, the dispensing device may then comprise a sampling tube optionally provided with a non-return valve and / or an applicator.

However, the presence of the collar induces a local stiffening of the body which, during the distribution of the product, limits the approximation of the body walls in the area near said collar. Thus, resistance to deformation of this zone makes it impossible to distribute the product it contains, which therefore limits the rate of distribution of the product contained in the body.

The invention aims to improve the prior art by proposing in particular a distribution system comprising a flexible body in which the rate of distribution of the product is improved.

For this purpose, and according to a first aspect, the invention proposes a system for dispensing a fluid product, comprising a flexible body delimiting a variable internal volume by deformation of said body, said body having a tube provided with an open end and an end equipped with an upper flange which is surmounted by a neck in which a dispensing device is mounted in a sealed manner, said system further comprising a partition member disposed inside the body being in sealing contact on the inner wall of said body, said member delimiting, on either side, a conditioning volume which is in communication with the open end as well as with feeding means of the dispensing device and a dead volume formed in the at least a portion of the flange and neck to be isolated from the open end.

According to a second aspect, the invention proposes a method for packaging a fluid product in such a dispensing system, said method providing for the disposition of the body so that the open end of the tube is disposed above the neck, the introducing the product into said open end to fill the conditioning volume without introducing product into the dead volume, and then closing said open end to seal said volume of packaging.

• la figure 1 représente en coupe longitudinale partielle un système de distribution selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 représente en coupe longitudinale partielle une variante de réalisation du système de distribution selon la figure 1 ;
• les figures 3 représentent en coupe longitudinale partielle un système de distribution selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention, respectivement en cours de montage de la pompe dans le col avec l'organe de cloisonnement en état rétracté (figure 3a) et en position montée avec ledit organe en état déployé de cloisonnement (figure 3b).

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

• the figure 1 represents in partial longitudinal section a distribution system according to a first embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 2 represents in partial longitudinal section an alternative embodiment of the distribution system according to the figure 1 ;
• the figures 3 represent in partial longitudinal section a distribution system according to a second embodiment of the invention, respectively during assembly of the pump in the neck with the partitioning member in retracted state ( figure 3a ) and in mounted position with said member in the deployed partitioning state ( figure 3b ).

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

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

The dispensing system comprises a flexible body 1 delimiting a variable internal volume by deformation of said body, said volume being intended for packaging the product to be dispensed. In particular, the body 1 can be made by extrusion of one or more plastics, possibly coiled with an aluminum foil, or by high pressure injection.

The body 1 has a tube 2 provided with an open bottom end 3 and, opposite said open end, an upper end 4 which is equipped with an upper flange 5 surmounted by a neck 6. In particular, the collar 5-collar 6 assembly is formed in one piece on the upper end 4 of the tube 2, either by being integral with it or being attached, for example by overmolding, welding or gluing.

In the embodiments shown, the neck 6 has an internal dimension which is smaller than the internal dimension of the tube 2, the collar 5 having a variable internal dimension to make the junction between said neck and said tube. In particular, the neck 6 and the tube 2 have a geometry cylindrical of revolution and the flange 5 has a frustoconical geometry of revolution.

The dispensing system also comprises a dispensing device 7 which is sealingly mounted in the neck 6. In particular, the body 1 having an open bottom end 3, the dispensing device 7 is mounted in the neck 6 before the product is introduced into the body 1, the inner volume of the body 1 being free of product to be dispensed when the dispensing device 7 is mounted in the neck 6.

In the figures, the dispensing device is a manually operated pump 7 of the type without air intake, the dispensing of the product then not being compensated by an introduction of air inside the body 1. As the product is dispensed, the suction of the product into the pump 7 induces a decrease in the internal volume of the flexible body 1 by deformation thereof.

In a variant not shown, the dispensing device 7 may comprise a sampling tube possibly equipped with a non-return valve and / or an applicator, the dispensing of the product then being actuated by manual deformation of the flexible body 1.

The pump 7 shown comprises a body 8 (uncut in the figures) which is equipped, in the upper part, with a nozzle 9 and, in the lower part, a supply port 10 of product to be dispensed. Furthermore, the nozzle 9 is surmounted by a push button 11 equipped with a dispensing orifice 12.

According to a known embodiment, the push button 11 actuates in reversible translation the nozzle 9 on a distribution / suction stroke, the body 8 incorporating a piston allowing the pressurization of the product to ensure its distribution through the nozzle 9 and the suction of the product through the orifice 10. However, the invention is not limited to a particular embodiment of the pump 7.

Furthermore, the figures show the mounting and fixing of the pump 7 in the neck 6 by means of a sleeve 13 comprising means for fixing the pump on said sleeve and means for fixing said sleeve on the neck 6, said Moreover, the invention is not limited to a particular mounting mode of the pump 7 in the neck 6.

The dispensing system further comprises a partition member 15 which is disposed within the body 1 by being in sealing contact on the inner wall of said body. In particular, the partitioning member 15 may have a disc 16 whose periphery is in sealing contact on the inner wall of the body 1.

• un volume inférieur 17 de conditionnement qui est en communication avec l'extrémité ouverte 3 ainsi qu'avec l'orifice 10 d'alimentation de la pompe 7 ; et
• un volume supérieur mort 18 qui est formé à l'intérieur d'au moins une partie de la collerette 5 et du col 6 pour être isolé de l'extrémité ouverte 3, ledit volume mort étant étanchéifié en partie supérieure par le montage de la pompe 7 dans le col 6.

The partitioning member 15 delimits, on both sides:

• a lower conditioning volume 17 which is in communication with the open end 3 and with the supply port 10 of the pump 7; and
• an upper dead volume 18 which is formed inside at least a part of the flange 5 and the neck 6 to be isolated from the open end 3, said dead space being sealed at the upper part by the mounting of the pump 7 in the collar 6.

In the embodiments shown, the body 8 of the pump 7 is disposed in the dead volume 18, the lower portion 8a of said body sealingly traversing the partition member 15 to put the supply port 10 in communication with the volume of conditioning 17.

The packaging of the product in the system can be achieved by arranging the body 1 so that the open end 3 of the tube 2 is disposed above the neck 6, in particular by placing the body 1 upside down with the open end 3 in the upper part. Then, the product can be introduced into the open end 3 to fill by gravity the volume of packaging 17 without introducing any produced in the dead volume 18. Indeed, the partitioning member 15 delimiting the bottom of the conditioning volume 17, it forms an obstacle to the flow of the product from said volume of packaging in the dead volume 18.

Finally, the conditioning volume 17 can be sealed by closing the open end 3, in particular by welding the edges of said end. The product thus packaged can then be distributed via the pump 7, in particular in that the decrease in the volume of packaging 17 as and when said distribution allows to maintain the supply of said pump packaged product.

In particular, the geometry of the flange 5 opposes the approximation of its inner wall during the deformation of the body 1 and the presence of the partition member 15 makes it possible to have no product in the vicinity of said flange. Thus, it avoids the non-distribution of this product during the deformation of the body 1. This results in an improvement in the rate of distribution of the product contained in the body 1, and this particularly simple and low cost.

In the embodiments shown, the partitioning member 15 is made in a separate part of the pump 7, said member being mounted on said pump. In particular, the partition member 15 may have a central sleeve 19 provided with a bore 20 in which the lower portion 8a of the body 8 of the pump 7 is sealingly mounted. In variant not shown, it can be provided that the partition member 15 is made in one piece with the pump 7, in particular extending from the body 8 of said pump.

In relation to Figures 1 and 2 , an embodiment is described below in which the partitioning member 15 is inserted into the body 1 prior to the mounting of the pump 7 in the neck 6. In particular, the partitioning member 15 is mounted through the open end 3, the periphery disc 16 being tightened on the inner wall of the body 1 so as to seal.

Then, the pump 7 is mounted in the neck 6 by arranging its lower part 8a in the bore 20, the supply orifice 10 being disposed in communication with the conditioning volume 17. To do this, the partitioning member 15 is arranged at the corresponding height in the body 1 and its clamping in said body ensures its maintenance during the fitting of the pump 7 in the bore 20.

The figure 1 represents a sleeve 19 whose frustoconical lower part is provided with an orifice 21 corresponding to the supply orifice 10, the figure 2 showing a cylindrical sleeve 19 in which the lower part 8a and the supply port 10 are arranged. Moreover, the pump 7 is positioned in the body 1 so that the supply orifice 10 extends axially in the vicinity of the junction zone between the flange 5 and the tube 2, that is to say in the opening 4, especially just below said opening so as to ensure the supply of product during the deformation of the conditioning volume 17.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 , the partitioning member 15 may be rigid relative to the deformation of the body 1, to facilitate its positioning and to improve the seal imparted between said member and the body 1 during deformation of said body. In particular, the partitioning member 15 may be made of polypropylene or polyethylene. In addition, the disc 16 may be substantially flat or slightly curved to improve the tightening of its periphery on the inner wall of the body 1.

On the figure 1 , the partitioning member 15 is in sealing contact on a zone of the inner wall of the tube 2 which is adjacent to the collar 5. The dead volume 18 then extends inside the entire collar 5 and the col 6. On the figure 2 , the partitioning member 15 is disposed higher, namely on the lower zone of the inner wall of the flange 5, the dead volume 18 then extending inside a major part of the flange 5 and the entire neck 6.

Moreover, the figure 2 shows a variant in which the inner wall of the body 1 has a ring 22 for holding in position the partition member 15 in said body. In particular, the rod 22 is made in relief towards the inside of the body 1 to snap the periphery of the disc 16 above it, said ring further improving the seal between said periphery and the inner wall of the body 1.

In relation to figures 3 a second embodiment of a dispensing system is described below in which the partitioning member 15 is integral with the dispensing device 7 prior to its mounting in the neck 6. Moreover, the partitioning member 15 is deformable between a retracted mounting state of the device 7 in the neck 6 ( figure 3a ) and an expanded state of partitioning ( figure 3b ).

More specifically, the partitioning member 15 shown comprises a disc 16 which is elastically deformable between its retracted and deployed states, said disc being arranged for, during assembly of the dispensing device 7, that its periphery remains in sliding contact along the inner walls of collar 6 ( figure 3a ) and the flange 5 ( figure 3b ).

In particular, the disc 16 may have an inverted umbrella geometry which opens by elastic radial compression as a function of the dimension of the inner wall on which its periphery is in contact. According to one embodiment, the disc 16 may be made of polyolefin type material with shape memory or elastomeric material. The disk 16 may also comprise a compressible profile, for example by presenting puckers.

On the figure 3b , the partitioning member 15 is positioned in sealing contact on the inner wall of the flange 5, in particular by providing that the disc 16 is slightly concave towards the dead volume 18 so as to improve plating said disc on the inner wall of the flange 5 during the deformation of the body 1. However, it is possible to provide a lower positioning, in particular on the inner wall of the tube 2, the periphery of the disc 16 being then arranged to remain in position. sliding contact along said wall.

Moreover, in this embodiment as well as in the embodiment previously described, the partitioning member 15 may be mounted detachably on the dispensing device 7. Thus, providing that this assembly is arranged for, in case disassembly between the dispensing device 7 and the body 1, cause detachment of said body, it is possible to further benefit from a tamper evidence of the dispensing system.

In particular, in the embodiment of the figures 3 , the disc 16 by its concavity is arranged to not be able to go from its expanded state to its retracted state during disassembly of the pump 7. Thus, during disassembly of the pump 7, a detachment torque is induced between said pump and the partition member 15, in particular by pressing the periphery of the disc 16 on the inner wall, so as to leave said partitioning member inside the body 1.

Claims (15)

1. System for dispensing a fluid product, comprising a flexible body (1) which delimits an internal volume which can be varied by deforming said body, said body having a tube (2) which is provided with an open end (3) and an end (4) which is equipped with an upper collar (5) on which is mounted a neck (6) in which a dispensing device (7) is mounted in a sealed manner, said system being characterised in that it further comprises a partitioning member (15) which is arranged inside the body (1) in sealing contact with the internal wall of said body, said member delimiting, on either side thereof, a packaging volume (17) which is in communication with the open end (3) and with supply means (10) of the dispensing device (7) and a dead volume (18) which is formed inside at least part of the collar (5) and the neck (6) so as to be isolated from the open end (3).
2. Dispensing system according to claim 1, characterised in that the partitioning member (15) is produced as a part which is separate from the dispensing device (7), said member being mounted on said device.
3. Dispensing system according to claim 2, characterised in that the partitioning member (15) is detachably mounted on the dispensing device (7), said mounting being arranged so as to cause the detachment of said member when dismantling the dispensing device (7) and the body (1).
4. Dispensing system according to either claim 2 or claim 3, characterised in that the partitioning member (15) has a disc (16), of which the periphery is in sealing contact with the internal wall of the body (1), and a bore (20), in which the dispensing device (7) is mounted in a sealed manner.
5. Dispensing system according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the dispensing device (7) is of the type with no air intake, such that the flexible body (1) is deformed during the dispensing.
6. Dispensing system according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the dispensing device is a hand-operated pump (7).
7. Dispensing system according to claim 6, characterised in that the pump (7) has a lower part (8a) which is provided with a supply hole (10), the partitioning member (15) being arranged in a sealing manner around said lower part.
8. Dispensing system according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the neck (6) has an inner dimension which is less than the inner dimension of the tube (2), the collar (5) having an inner dimension which can be varied to produce the junction between said neck and said tube.
9. Dispensing system according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the partitioning member (15) is rigid in relation to the deformation of the body (1).
10. Dispensing system according to any of claims 2 to 9, characterised in that the partitioning member (15) is inserted in the body (1) before the dispensing device (7) is mounted in the neck (6), said member being held in said body so that said device can be mounted thereon, the supply means (10) being arranged in communication with the packaging volume (17).
11. Dispensing system according to claim 10, characterised in that the internal wall of the body (1) has at least one ring (22) for holding the partitioning member (15) in position in said body.
12. Dispensing system according to claim 8, characterised in that the partitioning member (15) is rigidly connected to the dispensing device (7) before said device is mounted in the neck (6), said member being able to be deformed between a retracted state for mounting said device in said neck and an opened-out state for partitioning.
13. Dispensing system according to claim 12, characterised in that the partitioning member (15) comprises a disc (16) which can be elastically deformed between the retracted and opened-out states thereof, said disc being arranged such that the periphery thereof remains in sliding contact along the internal walls of the neck (6), the collar (5) and optionally the tube (2) when the dispensing device (7) is mounted.
14. Dispensing system according to any of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the partitioning member (15) is in sealing contact with the internal wall of the collar (5) or with a region of the internal wall of the tube (2) which is adjacent to said collar.
15. Method for packaging a fluid product in a dispensing system according to any of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that said method provides for arranging the body (1) such that the open end (3) of the tube (2) is arranged above the neck (6), introducing the product into said open end to fill the packaging volume (17) without introducing product into the dead volume (18), then closing said open end to seal said packaging volume.

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