Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
  • B65D83/14—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant
  • B65D83/60—Contents and propellant separated
  • B65D83/66—Contents and propellant separated first separated, but finally mixed, e.g. in a dispensing head
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
  • B05B11/0005—Components or details
  • B05B11/0062—Outlet valves actuated by the pressure of the fluid to be sprayed
  • B05B11/007—Outlet valves actuated by the pressure of the fluid to be sprayed being opened by deformation of a sealing element made of resiliently deformable material, e.g. flaps, skirts, duck-bill valves
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
  • B05B11/0005—Components or details
  • B05B11/0062—Outlet valves actuated by the pressure of the fluid to be sprayed
  • B05B11/0064—Lift valves
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
  • B05B11/01—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use characterised by the means producing the flow
  • B05B11/06—Gas or vapour producing the flow, e.g. from a compressible bulb or air pump
  • B05B11/061—Gas or vapour producing the flow, e.g. from a compressible bulb or air pump characterised by the means producing the gas or vapour pressure
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
  • B05B11/01—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use characterised by the means producing the flow
  • B05B11/10—Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle
  • B05B11/1042—Components or details
  • B05B11/1043—Sealing or attachment arrangements between pump and container
  • B05B11/1049—Attachment arrangements comprising a deformable or resilient ferrule clamped or locked onto the neck of the container by displacing, e.g. sliding, a sleeve surrounding the ferrule

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a fluid dispenser device intended to be associated with a fluid reservoir to thereby form a fluid dispenser.
• the dispenser is often referred to as a "vaporizer".
• the preferred field of application of the present invention is that of perfumery or cosmetics, but can of course be applied to other areas where a distribution of fluid product is necessary.
• the dispensing device of the invention is of a particular type ensuring a mixed or bi-phasic distribution of the fluid product with a propellant gas, conventionally air.
• the dispensing device thus generally comprises a fluid dispensing orifice through which the mixture of fluid and air is dispensed in pulverized form.
• the device also comprises a pressurized air duct having a downstream end opening near the dispensing orifice, and an air flush, such as a collapsible soft bulb, connected to an upstream end of the air duct. for supplying a flow of pressurized air through the air duct to the dispensing orifice.
• the device also comprises a fluid product channel which connects to the air duct near or at its downstream end, the fluid product in the channel being sucked by the flow of air under pressure by Venturi effect, so as to distribute a mixture of air and fluid through the dispensing orifice.
• This type of dispensing device is often referred to as a "pear pump", which comes from the use of a flush of air in the form of a crushable soft pear.
• This type of dispensing device has been known for a long time, and today gives a classic or retro effect to the fluid dispenser. The use of such a dispenser is done by holding the tank with one hand and crushing the pear with the other hand.
• the dispensing orifice is integral with the reservoir, so that it is the hand that holds the reservoir which directs the dispensing orifice and thus the jet of sprayed product.
• the mixture of air and fluid product is carried out near the dispensing orifice or somewhat upstream of it.
• By crushing the soft bulb air is forced under pressure through the air duct towards the dispensing orifice.
• This air flow has the effect of creating a vacuum inside the fluid channel which is generally connected to the tank by a dip tube. Consequently, the fluid product present in the fluid product channel is sucked by the flow of pressurized air by a well-known Venturi effect phenomenon.
• the fluid product from the channel is introduced into the air flow leaving the air duct.
• the fluid product mixes with the air flow and the mixture thus obtained is expelled through the dispensing orifice in the form of fine droplets of fluid product.
• the actuation of the flush can thus be divided into two phases, namely an elastic crushing phase and an elastic expansion phase.
• the crushing phase the effective volume of the flush is reduced, so that the air contained therein is pressurized and discharged through an opening to the air duct.
• the relaxation phase the effective volume of the hunt increases under the effect of the elastic memory of the hunt, and outside air must therefore penetrate inside the hunt.
• the air flush comprises an end at which the opening connected to the air duct is formed and another opposite end at which an air inlet flap is provided which is open during the phases.
• resilient and closed relaxation during the phases of elastic crushing. Therefore, a conventional hunt includes two separate and separate openings, which complicates on the one hand the manufacture and assembly of the air flush and night on the other hand to its overall aesthetic appearance.
• the object of the present invention is to overcome this aforementioned disadvantage of the prior art by defining a fluid dispenser device of the "pear pump” type, the flushing of which is simpler to manufacture and has a better aesthetic appearance.
• the present invention proposes a fluid product dispensing device intended to be associated with a fluid reservoir to form a fluid dispenser, the device comprising:
• a fluid product dispensing orifice a pressurized air duct comprising a downstream end opening near the orifice and an upstream end;
• a flush of air such as a flexible pear, capable of undergoing phases of crushing and elastic expansion, the flushing of air being connected to the upstream end of the air duct to feed a flow of air under pressure through the air duct to the orifice during the phases of elastic crushing,
• a fluid product duct connecting to the air duct near its downstream end, the fluid product in the duct being sucked by the flow of air under pressure by Venturi effect, so as to dispense a mixture of air and fluid product through the dispensing orifice, characterized in that the flush has only one opening provided with a coupling sleeve defining at least a portion of the air duct, the sleeve comprising in addition to a passage of air entering provided with an air inlet valve able to let outside air into the flush of air during the phases of elastic relaxation and to prevent the exit of air from the flush of air through this passage during the phases of elastic crushing.
• the air inlet valve has been moved from one end of the air flush to the other end where the opening provided with the coupling sleeve is formed.
• An opening has been removed at the level of the flush which then includes only one. It is thus possible to perform air evacuation with the most diverse forms, since it is no longer necessary to provide a specific opening for the air inlet valve.
• the air inlet valve can cooperate with a valve seat so as to rest on its seat during the elastic crushing phases, the air inlet valve being arranged so as to be stressed. on its seat by the flow of air under pressure generated during the phases of elastic crushing.
• the air inlet valve is disposed at the center of the opening and the air flow under pressure that flows to the air duct is directed to the air inlet valve, the flow of pressurized air then passing around the valve.
• the air inlet valve is disposed around the flow of air under pressure. In one way or another, it is ensured that the air inlet valve is pressed in a sealed manner on its seat during the phases of elastic crushing.
• the coupling sleeve may also comprise a non-return valve preventing a suction of fluid product through the air duct into the flush during elastic expansion phases.
• the non-return valve cooperates with a valve seat so as to rest on its seat during elastic expansion phases.
• the check valve comprises a self-sealing slot which opens under the pressure of the air flow generated during the elastic crushing phases and which closes tightly during the elastic expansion phases.
• the air inlet valve and the non-return valve are integral with each other in displacement.
• the air inlet valve and the self-sealing slot are made in one piece of valve, in a single material or by two injection of two different materials.
• the valve member comprises a substantially rigid fixing sleeve, provided on one side with a dome formed with the self-sealing slot and on the other side with a flexible annular membrane which is extends outward and serves as an air inlet valve.
• One principle of the invention is to group the outgoing air flow and / or entering the flush at a single opening provided with a connecting sleeve for connecting the flush to the remainder of the dispensing device.
• This coupling sleeve comprises an air inlet valve and / or an anti-return valve.
• FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a dispensing device according to a first embodiment of the invention mounted on a reservoir,
• FIGS. 2a and 2b are enlarged cross-section views of the coupling sleeve of FIG. 1 respectively during a crushing phase and an expansion phase
• FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIGS. 2a and 2b for a variant of the first embodiment
• FIGS. 4a and 4b are views similar to FIGS. 2a, 2b and 3 for a second embodiment of a coupling sleeve according to the invention
• FIG. 5 is an enlarged and cutaway perspective view of a coupling sleeve according to a third embodiment of the invention during an elastic expansion phase
• FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. Figure 5 for a fourth embodiment of the invention.
• the fluid dispensing device of the invention shown in FIG. 1 essentially comprises four constituent elements, namely a body 2, a head 3, an air flush 4 and a coupling sleeve 5.
• the device can also comprise other optional or accessory components, such as a trim ring 22, a neck seal 25 and / or a covering cap 34.
• the dispensing device is intended to be mounted on a neck 11 of a tank 1 containing the fluid product to be dispensed. It can typically be a perfume or a sprayable cosmetic product.
• the tank 1 can be made with any type of suitable material and have a certain rigidity.
• the neck 11 typically protrudes upwardly so as to define an upper annular edge 13.
• the neck 11 may also form an outer annular reinforcement 12 which will serve to attach the dispensing device of the invention. These are quite conventional characteristics for a fluid reservoir in the fields of perfumery and / or cosmetics.
• the body 2 of the dispensing device of the invention comprises fixing means for fixing the device on the neck 11 of the tank 1.
• the body 2 comprises a skirt 21 adapted to come cling under the annular reinforcement 12 of the neck 11.
• the engagement of the skirt 21 under the reinforcement 12 further allows to crush the neck seal 25 on the upper edge 13 of the neck.
• a trim ring 22 which surrounds the skirt 21 from the outside and which masks the body 2 at least partially.
• the trim band 22 is preferably made of metal.
• the body 2 also forms an inlet pipe 23 in which is fitted the upper end of a dip tube 24 which extends inside the tank 1 to near its bottom (not shown).
• the tubing 23 extends downstream of the end of the plunger tube 24 so as to form a first portion 25 of a fluid channel.
• the body 2 still forms other elements, which are not however critical for the present invention.
• the head 3 is mounted on the body 2 so as to extend the first channel portion 25 in the form of a second channel portion 33 which communicates with a dispensing orifice 31 at which the fluid and the air will be mixed.
• the head 3 can be fixedly mounted on the body 2: alternatively, the head 3 can be mounted with a possibility of axial displacement and / or rotational relative to the body 2 for example to achieve a shutter function of the fluid product channel 25, 33.
• This relative displacement of the head 3 with respect to the body 2 can also be used to perform a shutter function of a vent passage (not shown) for introducing outside air to the interior of the tank 1 as the fluid product is extracted through the dispensing device of the invention.
• the head 3 also forms an air duct portion 32 having a downstream end which communicates directly with the dispensing orifice 31.
• the head 3 may be provided with a covering cap 34, which may advantageously be made of metal.
• the covering cap 34 is provided with a hole at the dispensing orifice 31.
• the cap 34 has another hole for the insertion of the connecting sleeve 5, as will be seen hereinafter. after.
• the air duct portion 32 is formed at its upstream end with a connection housing 35 for the connecting sleeve 5.
• the air flush 4 comprises an envelope 41 which is made of an elastic material having a shape memory.
• the envelope 41 may conventionally have a pear or egg shape.
• the envelope 41 comprises a single opening 43 which is delimited by an edge 42, advantageously reinforced.
• the envelope 41 is able to undergo the repeated phases of elastic crushing and elastic expansion. During the crushing phases, the air contained inside the casing 41 is pressurized and discharged through its opening 43. During the elastic expansion phases, outside air enters the inside of the casing 41. the envelope 41 through its single opening 43.
• the coupling sleeve 5 is mounted in the opening 43 of the casing 41, and is preferably permanently secured to the casing.
• the sleeve 5 partially closes the opening 43, however, defining one or more outgoing air duct portions 51, 52, as well as an inward air passage 53.
• This passage 53 is provided with an inlet flap. air 56 able to let outside air into the air flush 4 during the elastic expansion phases and to prevent the air outlet of the flush of air through this passage 53 during crushing phases elastic.
• the sleeve 5 comprises a plug-in connector 55 adapted to come and leak tightly inside the connection housing 35 formed by the head 3.
• the conduit portion of 51, 52 formed by the sleeve 5 can communicate directly with the part of conduit 32 formed by the head 3.
• the air it contains is driven through the air duct portions 51, 52 and 32 to reach the dispensing orifice 31 where this pressurized air is mixed with the fluid product from the channel 25, 33.
• outside air can enter the interior of the flush 4 through the passage 53, the flap of which air inlet 56 opens due to the depression generated inside the hunt.
• the air duct portion 51, 52 may advantageously be provided with an anti-return valve 58, as will now be seen with reference to FIGS. 2a and 2b.
• FIG. 2a and 2b show in an enlarged manner the details of embodiment of the coupling sleeve 5 used in the first embodiment of FIG. 1.
• FIG. 2a shows the sleeve during an elastic crushing phase
• FIG. 2b shows the same sleeve 5 during an elastic expansion phase.
• the outgoing and incoming air flows are represented by arrows in the figures.
• the coupling sleeve 5 comprises a base body 5a which is associated with a valve member 5b.
• the base body 5a can be made integrally from a suitable plastic material which has a certain rigidity.
• This base body 5a comprises an outer sleeve 54 which is sealingly engaged inside the opening 43 of the casing 41.
• the fixing and / or sealing between the casing 41 and the sleeve 54 may be obtained by any suitable means, such as by tightening fastening, snapping, spearing, gluing, welding, overmolding, bi injection, etc.
• This outer sleeve 54 internally comprises an inner sleeve 54b which extends concentrically and coaxially inside the outer sleeve 54. This outer sleeve 54b will serve as a support for the valve member 5b, as will be seen hereinafter after.
• an air passage 53 is formed between the outer bushings 54 and inner 54a.
• the incoming air passage 53 comprises a valve seat 54a formed by the outer sleeve 54.
• the inner sleeve 54b is extended to form the connection endpiece 55 internally defining a portion 52 of the pressurized air duct.
• the valve member 5b comprises, in this embodiment, a securing section 57 which has a substantially cylindrical configuration. This fixing section 57 is engaged, for example by clamping, inside the outer sleeve 54b. This fixing section 57 is hollow and internally defines a portion 51 of the air duct under pressure.
• the securing section 57 forms a flexible dome 58a provided with a self-sealing slot 58.
• a self-sealing slot is a slot whose edges are contiguous and tight in rest condition. On the other hand, these edges will separate so as to define an opening when they are subjected to a sufficient pressure.
• the slot 58 separates the two air duct portions 51, 52. In other words, when the slot is closed or sealant, the portion 51 can not communicate with the portion 52.
• the dome 58a is disposed of so that its slot 58 opens only when pressurized air comes from the part 51. When pressurized air comes from the part 52, the slot 58 remains sealed.
• this slot 58 constitutes a check valve, in that it prohibits any air intake inside the flush 4 during elastic expansion phases.
• This is illustrated in Figure 2b.
• the slot 58 will open wide to let the air of the hunting during phases of elastic crushing.
• the valve member 5b also forms an air inlet valve 56 in the form of an annular membrane which extends outwardly from one end of the attachment section 57, which is opposite to that of the dome 58a.
• the free external periphery 56a of the membrane selectively rests in a sealed manner on the seat 54a formed by the outer sleeve 54. The membrane 56 thus closes the downstream end of the air passage 53.
• the air inlet valve 56 is pressed onto its seat 54a during the elastic crushing phases (FIG. 2a), and detached from its seat during the elastic expansion phases (FIG. 2b), to let in outside air in the hunt through the air passage 53.
• the air inlet valve 56 is formed around the air duct portion 51 and is therefore subjected to the pressure generated by the air flow, so as to press its outer periphery 56a tightly on its seat 54a.
• the pressurized air flow generated by the flush is used to ensure a perfect seal of the air inlet valve during elastic crushing phases.
• the self-sealing slot 58 is kept closed by the depression prevailing inside the flush, and the outside air is thus sucked through the air passage 53 into the flush forcing the air inlet valve 56 to the open position.
• a flap valve comprising one or more flaps adapted to close corresponding through holes. These flaps can be cut in a substantially rigid annular flange having the shape of the membrane 56.
• valve member 5b can be made integrally with a single plastic material: the rigidity and deformability characteristics being solely provided by wall thickness variations. Indeed, it can be seen in FIGS. 2a and 2b that the securing section 57 has a wall thickness much greater than that of the dome 58a or of the membrane 56.
• the valve member 5b can be made with a fastening section 57 formed of two parts 57 'and 57 "which can advantageously be overmolded or bi-injected
• the part 57' can be made of a flexible plastic material, while the part 57" is made of a material rigid plastic giving the assembly sufficient rigidity to ensure a stable attachment of the valve member 5b in the inner sleeve 54b.
• a coupling sleeve 5 according to a second embodiment of the invention.
• This sleeve also comprises a base body 5a and a valve member 5b.
• the coupling sleeve 5 is fixedly mounted and sealed, and advantageously permanently, in the opening 43 of the air flushing 4.
• the sleeve 5 comprises an outer sleeve 54 which can advantageously be provided with notches hanging in the form of harpoons.
• the base body 5a also forms a connecting end 55 intended to be inserted into the corresponding housing 35 of the head. This nozzle 55 internally forms an air duct portion 52.
• the valve member 5b is mounted inside the outer sleeve 54.
• the valve member 5b comprises a ring 59 which forms two valve seats 590 and 591.
• the valve member 5b includes a movable valve member 57b which forms an air inlet valve 56b and a check valve 58b.
• the valve 56b is intended to come selectively in tight abutment on the seat 591, while the valve 58b is intended to come selectively in tight abutment on the seat 590.
• the air inlet valve 56b is in the form of a substantially frustoconical corolla, while the nonreturn valve 58b is in the form of a slightly concave disk.
• the two valves 56b and 58b are connected together by a connecting rod 568, so that the two valves are integral with each other in displacement.
• the movable valve member 57 is movable along a single axis which is imposed by the structure of the ring 59.
• FIG. 4a it is the valve 56b which rests in a sealed manner on its seat 591, whereas in FIG. 4b it is the valve 58b which rests on its seat 590.
• the configuration of FIG. 4a corresponds to a phase in which the air contained in the flush is pressurized and discharged through the connecting sleeve 5.
• the air path is represented by the line which ends with an arrow .
• FIG. 4b corresponds to an elastic expansion phase, during which outside air can penetrate inside the flush of air through the air inlet passage 53 which is open, since the valve 56b is detached from its seat 591.
• the air intake passage 53 is in the form of several lateral ports formed by the ring 59. These lateral ports meet at a central passage in which s' extends the connecting rod 57b.
• the two valves 58b and 56b are integral with each other in displacement. They could theoretically be made in one piece, but for reasons of practical assembly, they are made in two pieces. Indeed, the disk 58b acting valve can be molded integrally with the connecting rod 57b.
• the air inlet valve 56b can be made in the form of a cap formed with a flap serving as a valve. This cap can be mounted by clamping on the free end of the connecting rod 57b.
• this double-valve sleeve is identical to that of the first embodiment. The only difference is that the two valves are mechanically coupled in displacement.
• FIG. 5 there is shown a third embodiment for a coupling sleeve 5.
• This also includes a base body 5a associated with a valve member 5b.
• This valve part 5b forms the air inlet passage 53, as well as two valve seats 561 and 581.
• the air inlet valve 56c is here formed by a ball adapted to selectively rest on a watertight manner. seat 561.
• the non-return valve 58c is in the form of a disc for selectively resting sealingly on its seat 581.
• the operation of this double-valve sleeve is identical to those of the previous embodiments.
• valves 56c and 58c are completely decoupled, since there is no connection between them.
• FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment for a coupling sleeve 5 according to the invention.
• This sleeve also comprises a base body 5a associated with a valve member 5b.
• the valve member 5b forms a securing section 57 which terminates on one side by a valve seat 571 and on the other side by a flexible annular flange 56d adapted to selectively sealably rest on a seat 541 formed by the outer sleeve 54 of the basic body 5a.
• the air inlet passage 53 is formed in the manner of the first embodiment, that is to say between the outer sleeve 54 and an inner sleeve 54b receiving inside the valve member 5b.
• the check valve 58d is here in the form of a ball selectively sealingly resting on the seat 571.
• the air inlet valve 56d is formed by the annular flexible flange.
• Figure 6 is shown during an elastic expansion phase, the outside air being sucked through the air passage 53 to the inside of the flush with the open air inlet valve.
• the seat of the non-return valve 571 is made integrally with the air inlet valve 56d.
• the coupling sleeve 5 comprises both an air inlet valve and a nonreturn valve.
• the coupling sleeve could only include a single valve, preferably the air inlet valve.
• the invention has a single-opening air flush through the use of a coupling sleeve incorporating one or two valves.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Check Valves (AREA)
• Nozzles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

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• 2008
  • 2008-09-04 FR FR0855944A patent/FR2935362B1/fr active Active
• 2009
  • 2009-09-01 BR BRPI0918597A patent/BRPI0918597B1/pt active IP Right Grant
  • 2009-09-01 ES ES09741354.6T patent/ES2611584T3/es active Active
  • 2009-09-01 WO PCT/FR2009/051656 patent/WO2010026338A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2009-09-01 US US13/061,665 patent/US9061306B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2009-09-01 CN CN2009801344600A patent/CN102143803B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2009-09-01 EP EP09741354.6A patent/EP2331267B1/de active Active
  • 2009-09-01 JP JP2011525595A patent/JP5687623B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2015
  • 2015-05-12 US US14/710,034 patent/US9592949B2/en active Active

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