Classifications

• • 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
• • 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
  • B05B11/1046—Sealing or attachment arrangements between pump and container the pump chamber being arranged substantially coaxially to the neck of the container
  • B05B11/1047—Sealing or attachment arrangements between pump and container the pump chamber being arranged substantially coaxially to the neck of the container the pump being preassembled as an independent unit before being mounted on the container
• • 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
  • B65D83/16—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 characterised by the actuating means
  • B65D83/20—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 characterised by the actuating means operated by manual action, e.g. button-type actuator or actuator caps
  • B65D83/205—Actuator caps, or peripheral actuator skirts, attachable to the aerosol container

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir provided with an externally threaded neck and internally defining an opening communicating with the interior of the reservoir.
• the dispenser further comprises a dispensing head mounted on the neck of the reservoir, the head comprising a dispensing member such as a pump or a valve, a pusher for actuating the dispensing member and a fastener engaged with the times with the threaded neck of the tank and the dispensing member.
• a dispensing member such as a pump or a valve
• a pusher for actuating the dispensing member
• fastener engaged with the times with the threaded neck of the tank and the dispensing member.
• the fixing member comprises a rigid skirt internally forming one or more threads intended to cooperate with the threaded neck of the reservoir.
• To set up the dispensing head on the tank simply screw the threaded skirt fastener on the threaded neck of the tank. Conversely, simply unscrew the skirt of the neck to remove the head of the tank. Screwing is done conventionally clockwise, and unscrewing counter-clockwise.
• a disadvantage of this fastener to screw / unscrew is that it is impossible for the user to know if the dispensing head has not already been removed from the tank, so that the user may have a doubt as to the first use of the dispenser.
• a disadvantage of this fastener to screw / unscrew is that the user can remove the head of the tank to recover a remainder of fluid, add another fluid or fill the tank. Therefore, the manufacturer of the distributor has no control over the future use of its distributor, and can not thereby guarantee the authenticity of the fluid product it contains.
• the present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art by defining a fluid dispenser whose attachment member can not be removed from the reservoir without this being visible. Another object of the present invention is that it is impossible to screw the skirt back onto the reservoir once the dispensing head has been removed from the reservoir.
• a fluid dispenser comprising:
• a fluid product reservoir provided with an externally threaded collar and internally defining an opening communicating with the interior of the reservoir, the neck forming at least one helical thread
• a dispensing head mounted on the neck of the reservoir, the head comprising a dispensing member, such as a pump or a valve, a pusher for actuating the dispensing member, and a fixing member engaged with both the threaded neck of the reservoir and the dispensing member,
• a dispensing member such as a pump or a valve
• a pusher for actuating the dispensing member
• a fixing member engaged with both the threaded neck of the reservoir and the dispensing member
• the fixing member comprising a ring, this ring forming receiving means adapted to receive fixedly the dispenser member, an annular plate for exerting pressure on the neck and a skirt adapted to engage with the threaded neck ,
• This ring comprising breaking means between the plate and the skirt to separate the plate of the skirt by rotation of the ring on the threaded neck, so as to remove the dispenser member of the reservoir.
• the dispenser comprises stop means preventing the skirt from being unscrewed from the threaded neck.
• the neck comprises an annular peripheral reinforcement located above the net, this reinforcement defining the abutment means in the form of an annular shoulder under which the skirt abuts when it is desired to unscrew it from the neck.
• the thread of the neck is tilted upwards from right to left, so that the direction of screwing is anti-clockwise and the direction of unscrewing is hourly. This implies that the user will actually screw the skirt on the collar, causing the rupture means rupture, while he thought to unscrew the skirt of the collar.
• the breaking means are formed at the level of the skirt.
• the present invention also solves this disadvantage, advantageously providing that the skirt is malleable so as to deform against the threaded neck, so that the ring can be mounted on the threaded neck without screwing it: simply axial movement is sufficient.
• the fixing member further comprises a rigid hoop engaged around the skirt for pushing the skirt radially against the threaded neck so as to deform the skirt against the thread of the neck to create a net impression in the skirt. The fastener is thus engaged with the thread of the neck by axial displacement, then radial, without any rotary component.
• the skirt is provided internally with several bosses intended to be deformed by the thread of the neck.
• the contact with the thread of the neck is made only at the bosses which are distributed around the neck in a discrete manner.
• the bosses are elongated and extend substantially transversely to the net.
• the bosses may thus be in the form of ribs or vertical bars that will be deformed or dug at the neck of the neck to form the net imprint.
• the bosses can extend on both sides of the net.
• at least one net print is formed in some of the bosses.
• the skirt is continuous over its entire periphery, so that it remains in position around the neck after rupture of the rupture means.
• the skirt comprises a longitudinal slot for removing the skirt of the neck after rupture of the breaking means.
• the skirt can also remain connected to the ring by a resistant sector which is advantageously located next to the slot, so that the skirt can be removed from the neck in the form of a band.
• the breaking means comprise bridges of breakable material separated by windows.
• the means of rupture in the form of a localized reduction of the wall thickness of the ring which is a line or zone of least resistance can easily be broken by rotation of the ring around the neck.
• the collar comprises an annular peripheral reinforcement located above the thread, this reinforcement defining a frustoconical wall to facilitate the engagement of the skirt around the neck.
• the hoop is engaged around the ring at two parts, namely a lower part located under the breaking means and incorporating the skirt and an upper part located above the breaking means, the friction in rotation between the upper part and the hoop being greater than those between the lower part and the hoop.
• the hoop mainly drives the upper part in rotation and prevents the lower part from moving downwards, breaking the breaking means.
• the spirit of the present invention is based on the principle of breaking a fastening ring mounted on a threaded neck to give a clear indication that the dispenser has been opened and at the same time prevent reassembly of the dispensing head on the reservoir.
• the stop means moreover combine with a counterclockwise screwing, ensures that the ring will be broken during the first unscrewing attempt.
• the axial assembly, and not rotating, the ring on the threaded neck with creating fingerprints avoids all the disadvantages of screwing. As for the hoop, it allows to deform the skirt against the net to create fingerprints, but it also allows to block the skirt under the shoulder, thus preventing ring unscrewing. The user is therefore forced to screw the ring on the neck, which certainly results in the rupture of the ring.
• FIG. 1 is a view showing a fluid dispenser according to the invention just before mounting the dispensing head on the threaded neck of the reservoir,
• FIG. 2 is a view of the fluid dispenser of FIG. 1 in the assembled state
• FIG. 3 is a cut-away view in perspective of the fixing ring mounted on a threaded neck according to the invention.
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of a variant of the fixing ring according to the invention.
• the fluid dispenser shown in the figures to illustrate the present invention comprises two separate parts or subassemblies, namely a fluid reservoir 1 and a dispensing head T to be mounted on the reservoir to together constitute the distributor.
• the fluid reservoir 1 is shown only partially in the figures. Only the neck 1 1 and a portion of the body 10 of the tank has been shown in the figures.
• the neck 1 1 protrudes axially upwards from the body 10.
• the neck 1 1 internally defines an opening which communicates the interior of the tank with the outside.
• the neck 1 1 forms a narrowed section 12 which connects directly to the body 10 of the tank.
• This narrowed section 12 comprises a plurality of helical threads 13, which are in the form of one or more protruding ribs arranged helically.
• the nets 13 can extend over any or part of the periphery of the pass.
• the nets 13 may be continuous, or conversely interrupted.
• the threads 12 are to allow a conventional rotational movement combined with an axial displacement. We can talk about a screwing / unscrewing movement.
• the threads 13 extend with an unconventional inclination, since they rise from right to left, so that the unscrewing is in the clockwise direction and the screwing in the counterclockwise direction. Therefore, the user believes that he will unscrew, while he is screwing, and vice versa.
• the neck 1 1 comprises, axially above the narrowed section 12, an annular peripheral reinforcement 14 which protrudes outwards with respect to the narrowed section 12. This reinforcement 14 defines an annular shoulder 15 which is pointing down.
• This shoulder 14 is connected to the narrowed section 12 and extends outward to define the maximum diameter of the neck.
• the annular reinforcement 14 forms a frustoconical wall 16 which converges upwards, that is to say toward the upper end of the neck which forms an annular sealing ring 17.
• the function of the frustoconical wall is to facilitate the mounting of the dispensing head on the neck, as will be seen below.
• the tank 1 can be made of any material to obtain a rigid neck and dimensionally stable.
• the reservoir may in particular be made of glass, metal or a rigid plastic material.
• the dispensing head T essentially comprises three constituent members, namely a dispensing member 2 which may be a pump or a valve, a pusher 25 mounted on the dispensing member 2 to actuate it and a fixing member 3,4 engaged with both the threaded neck 1 1 of the reservoir and the dispensing member 2.
• a dispensing member 2 which may be a pump or a valve
• a pusher 25 mounted on the dispensing member 2 to actuate it
• a fixing member 3,4 engaged with both the threaded neck 1 1 of the reservoir and the dispensing member 2.
• the dispensing member 2 comprises a body 21 defining at one of its ends an inlet 22 for the fluid coming from the reservoir, which may advantageously be provided with a dip tube 23.
• the body 21 forms a fastening flange (no represented) which protrudes radially outward.
• the dispensing member 2 also comprises an actuating rod (not shown) which protrudes out of the body upwards and which is axially displaceable back and forth relative to the body.
• a return spring urges the actuating rod into its most extended position out of the body.
• the actuating rod internally defines a discharge channel for the fluid product pressurized within the body. This is a quite classic design for a pump or a valve in the fields of perfumery, cosmetics or even pharmacy. Since the internal structure of the dispensing member 2 is not critical to the present invention, it will not be further described.
• the pusher 25 is mounted on the free end of the actuating rod of the dispensing member 2.
• the fluid product coming from the actuating rod is led by an internal channel to a dispensing orifice 26 formed by the pusher.
• the pusher comprises a bearing surface 27 on which the user can press with the aid of one or more fingers to move the pusher axially back and forth. In this way, fluid, in metered form or not, is dispensed through the dispensing orifice 26. Again, this is a completely conventional design for a fluid dispenser.
• the fixing member comprises two distinct components, namely a fixing ring 3 and a locking ring 4.
• the hoop 4 is engaged around the ring 3 so as to mask it totally or partially.
• One purpose of the hoop 4 is to deform the ring 3 radially inwards and to maintain it in this state.
• the ring 3 is advantageously made of a deformable plastic material is malleable to create easily deformable areas, while other areas are more rigid.
• the ring 3 has a substantially cylindrical overall configuration of revolution about the axis of the distributor.
• the ring 3 is preferably made in one piece, but we can distinguish three parts each fulfilling a distinct function.
• the ring 3 comprises a skirt 31 which is intended to engage around the threaded neck 1 1 of the reservoir.
• the skirt 31 therefore extends around the neck 1 1 to below the threads 13 in the mounted position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
• the skirt 31 can be continuous over its entire periphery so as to form a complete cylinder. .
• the skirt 31 comprises a radial slot 313.
• the slot 313 may extend over all or part of the height of the skirt 31. In other words, one part of the skirt can remain continuous while another lower part is split. Because the skirt 31 is made of a malleable material, it has great flexibility, especially in the radial direction. It can thus be deformed outwards and inwards without risk of damaging it.
• the inner wall of the skirt may be perfectly smooth, or conversely, alternatively, it forms bosses 312 which project radially inwards.
• the bosses 312 are located near the free bottom end of the skirt.
• the bosses 312 are preferably thin and elongate in the axial direction. They are thus in the form of small ribs or separate vertical bars.
• the bosses 312 may be beveled edge songs to promote the establishment of the ring on the neck of the tank.
• the bosses 312 are disposed at the level of the skirt 31 so as to be positioned at the level of the threads 13.
• the bosses 312 are intended to be deformed plastically against the threads 13 of the neck 11.
• the ring 3 also forms a guiding and pre-assembly bushing 34 which extends upwards in the extension of the skirt 31.
• the bushing extends upwardly from the tray 33, while the skirt extends downward from the tray.
• the bushing is connected to the skirt at the level of the tray.
• the sleeve 34 has a substantially cylindrical configuration with a diameter suitable for receiving the hoop 4, as will be seen below.
• the ring 3 forms a bearing plate 33 which projects radially inwards.
• This plate 33 is intended to push on the rod 17 of the neck 1 1, with a seal G-neck possibly interposed.
• the thrust of the plate has the effect of compressing the neck gasket G, so that a perfect seal is thus provided between the dispensing member 2 and the neck 1 January.
• the state of compression of the gasket G is only ensured by the press used for mounting the dispensing head T, and not the deformation of the skirt 31, as is the case with the fastening members of the prior art.
• the ring 3 also forms a detent housing 32 which serves as receiving means for the dispensing member 2. More specifically, the flange (not shown) of the body 21 is snapped into the housing 32. Alternatively, it is possible to form the receiving means at the plate 33 without departing from the scope of the invention.
• the ring 3 is provided with breaking means 35,36 for breaking in at least two parts so as to remove the pump or the tank valve.
• breaking means 35, 36 are advantageously provided between the plate 33 and the skirt 31. In the present case, this means that the means of rupture can be formed by the plate, the skirt and / or the junction between the plate and the skirt.
• the breaking means 35, 36 may for example be provided at the level of the plate 33. In a preferred variant, the breaking means 35, 36 are provided at the level of the skirt 31. According to an advantageous embodiment, the breaking means 35,36 are made approximately at the level where the skirt is connected to the plate.
• the breaking means may for example be in the form of brittle material bridges 35 separated by elongated windows 36 which pass through the wall thickness of the skirt.
• the formation of the windows 36 considerably weakens the connection of the skirt 31 with the remainder of the ring, since the bridges 35 are weak.
• the breaking means can be made in the form of one or more grooves for locally reducing the wall thickness of the ring.
• the bridges 35 and the windows 36 are positioned at the annular reinforcement 14, and that the skirt 31 forms a abutment profile 314 which is housed just below the shoulder 15 of the reinforcement 14.
• the abutment profile 314 may be formed by the upper end of the bosses 312. The skirt 31 is thus snapped under the annular reinforcement, and preferably it is impossible to disengage, so that the skirt is trapped in the neck. However, it is conceivable to make the skirt with a slot 313 to facilitate its disengagement.
• the ring as shown in FIG. 3, can hold of itself on the neck, but preferably, as represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ring is associated with a locking band 4.
• the locking ring 4 may be a visible aesthetic band, or on the contrary an invisible internal band.
• the hoop 4 is a visible covering hoop which can for example be made of metal.
• the hoop 4 is generally cylindrical with an upper tuck flap 41 intended to cover the free upper end of the sleeve 34.
• the inner diameter of the hoop 4 is slightly less than or equal to the outer diameter of the ring 3.
• the hoop 4 will constrain and maintain the skirt 31 of the ring in a substantially cylindrical configuration. The hoop can even participate in the deformation of the skirt against the threads of the collar by pushing strongly against the nets.
• FIG. 1 the dispensing head is not yet engaged with the neck 1 1.
• the skirt 31 1 then extends perfectly cylindrical without undergoing any deformation.
• the hoop 4 is pre-engaged around the ring 3 at the sleeve 34.
• the ring 3 and the hoop 4 is a unitary subset inseparable, and therefore captive.
• the sleeve 3 allows to maintain and guide the hoop perfectly axially. It should be noted that the hoop 4 is not yet engaged around the skirt 31.
• the first mounting step is to engage the skirt 31 around the threaded neck 1 January.
• the dispensing member 2 is then engaged inside the opening of the neck.
• the bosses 312 formed at the level of the skirt are finally arranged at the level of the threads 13.
• the next assembly step consists of lowering the band 4 around the ring 3. This is done by exerting pressure on the flap 41 of the recess of the band . This pressure makes it possible to crush the neck seal G to ensure the seal.
• the hoop 4 begins to engage around the skirt 31.
• the bosses 312 begin to be strongly pressed against the threads 13.
• the operation of lowering or engaging the hoop 4 around the ring 3 continues until the hoop completely surrounds the ring, as shown in FIG. 2.
• the deformation of the bosses is a plastic deformation by instantaneous and / or subsequent material displacement, in particular by creep. Indeed, it is known that plastic materials tend to flow over time to reach a state of final deformation. In the context of the present invention, this creep phenomenon is used because there is a relatively long period of time between the dispenser assembly and withdrawal of the dispensing head, when the reservoir is empty.
• the abutment means are important in this case, but it must be borne in mind that it is possible to do without these abutment means, when the direction of the threads is reversed, since the user goes from first try to unscrew the head, and that's where he'll break the bridges.
• the user will break the ring trying to disassemble the dispenser.
• the skirt will advantageously remain in place on the collar, blocked by the reinforcement 14.
• the skirt When the skirt is completely continuous, it will remain a prisoner of the neck. On the other hand, when it is split, it will remain on the neck, but it will be possible to remove it very easily.
• the breaking means 35, 36 extend only over a portion of the periphery of the skirt, so as to remain firmly attached to the remainder of the ring by a resistant sector 315 of the skirt, once the breaking means broken.
• This sector 315 which remains connected to the remainder of the ring represents less than half, and preferably less than a quarter, of the total periphery of the skirt.
• this sector 315 is located adjacent to the slot 313, so that after rupture of the bridges 35, the skirt 31 is in the form of a band whose one end is free and the other connected to the remainder of the ring by the sector 315.
• the ring can be broken and the dispensing head removed from the threaded neck with the skirt which remains secured to the ring. This avoids a subsequent operation of removing the skirt of the neck of the tank and any risk of loss of the skirt.
• the skirt without boss smooth inner wall
• window break groove
• collar without reinforcement with anti-time nets
• neck with time nets with reinforcement
• fastener without a locking band
• stop means on the other hand on the neck (threads, narrowed section, body). It is only necessary that the neck is threaded and that the ring comprises means of rupture. It is the combination of these two features that defines the present invention.

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• 2009
  • 2009-11-19 FR FR0958176A patent/FR2952620B1/fr active Active
• 2010
  • 2010-11-15 BR BR112012012094A patent/BR112012012094A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2010-11-15 EP EP10792994A patent/EP2501490A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2010-11-15 WO PCT/FR2010/052420 patent/WO2011061434A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2010-11-15 US US13/510,868 patent/US8944292B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2010-11-15 CN CN201080059340.1A patent/CN102665930B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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