EP2739403B1 - Fluid product dispenser - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser comprising two tanks, two pumps and two pushers, namely a first pusher for actuating a first pump connected to a first reservoir containing a first fluid, and a second pusher for actuating a second pump connected. to a second reservoir containing a second fluid product. The preferred fields of application of the present invention are those of perfumery, cosmetics or even pharmacy.

In the prior art duo type distributors are already known comprising two tanks, two pumps and a common pusher for the simultaneous actuation of the two pumps. Distribution systems are also known for varying the doses of fluid dispensed by the two pumps. Thus, by pressing the common pusher, it is possible to dispense only the fluid product from the first pump, the fluid product from the second pump, or a more or less proportioned mixture of the fluid products from the two pumps simultaneously.

The document FR2793479 discloses a duo-type dispenser comprising two pushers without a dispensing orifice and a common push-button which acts simultaneously on the two pushers and which forms a single common dispensing orifice. The document CN2545134 discloses a duo-type dispenser comprising two pushers without a dispensing orifice and a common pushbutton acting simultaneously on the two pushbutts, but which does not define a dispensing orifice.

It describes a distributor according to the preamble of claim 1.

The object of the present invention is to define another type of duo distributor with two tanks and two pumps, but whose use is simpler for the user. Indeed, the user must very simply be able to distribute only the first fluid product or the second fluid or a mixture of these two fluid products.

To do this, the present invention provides a fluid dispenser comprising two tanks, two pumps and two pushers, namely a first pusher for actuating a first pump connected to a first reservoir containing a first fluid, and a second pusher for actuating a second pump connected to a second tank containing a second fluid, the dispenser further comprising a third pusher for dispensing a mixture of the first and second fluid products, the first fluid being dispensed through a first dispensing orifice, the second product fluid is dispensed through a second dispensing orifice, characterized in that the mixture of the two fluids is dispensed through a third dispensing orifice formed by the third pusher.

When the user wants a dose of the first fluid product he presses the first pusher, when he wants a dose of the second fluid he presses the second pusher and when he wants a combined dose of the first and second fluids he supports on the third pusher.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the third pusher is mounted on a third pump connected to the first and second tanks. The actuation of this third pusher is completely independent of the actuation of the first two pushers. According to one embodiment, a mixing buffer tank is interposed between the third pump and the first and second tanks. Advantageously, the buffer tank is connected to the first and second tanks by two conduits each equipped with a check valve, the fluid products being sucked by the third pump into the buffer tank through the conduits. According to another embodiment, the third pump comprises two plunger tubes respectively extending into the first and second reservoirs. In both embodiments, the actuation of the third pusher allows the third pump to take fluid either directly into the first two tanks or indirectly through the buffer tank.

According to another advantageous aspect of the present invention, the first and second pumps each define an internal venting passage which is opened by actuation of the pushers, the third pushing lightly pressing the end of the race on the first and second pushers to open the passages. internal venting of the first and second pumps. Advantageously, the third pusher comprises a collar which protrudes outwardly above the first and second pushers, the axial distance separating the flange of the first and second pushers being slightly less than the stroke of the third pusher. Thus, by actuating the third pusher, fans the first and second tanks.

One of the principles of the invention resides in the fact of implementing a third pusher with a third dispensing orifice which makes it possible to dispense a mixture of the fluid products contained in the two reservoirs. The third pusher can act directly on the first two pushers or actuate a third pump connected directly or indirectly to the two tanks.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, giving by way of non-limiting examples, an embodiment representing the prior art and two embodiments of the invention.

• La figure 1 est une vue très schématique représentant un distributeur de l'art antérieur,
• Les figures 2 et 3 sont des vues très schématiques représentant respectivement deux modes de réalisation de la présente invention,
• La figure 4 est une vue plus détaillée du troisième mode de réalisation en position enfoncée du troisième poussoir, permettant ainsi l'éventation des deux premiers réservoirs, et
• La figure 5 est un vue agrandie du détail A de la figure 4 permettant de visualiser le cheminement de l'air d'éventation.

In the figures:

• The figure 1 is a very schematic view showing a distributor of the prior art,
• The Figures 2 and 3 are very schematic views respectively representing two embodiments of the present invention,
• The figure 4 is a more detailed view of the third embodiment in the depressed position of the third pusher, thus allowing the first two tanks to vent, and
• The figure 5 is an enlarged view of detail A of the figure 4 to visualize the path of the air vent.

In the three embodiments of the Figures 1 to 3 the distributors comprise a first reservoir R1 containing a first fluid product F1 and a second reservoir R2 containing a second fluid product F2. The distributors also include a first pump P1 associated with the first tank R1 and a second pump P2 associated with the second tank R2. The first pump P1 is provided with a first pusher B1 and the second pump P2 is provided with a second pusher B2. The pumps P1 and P2 are also provided with plunger tubes T1, T2 which respectively extend into the tanks R1 and R2 for conveying fluid to the pumps P1, P2. Thus, when the user presses the first pusher B1, fluid F1 from the first tank R1 is conveyed through the plunger tube T1 pump P1 and up to a dispensing orifice. It is the same for the B2 pusher whose actuation allows the distribution of the second fluid product F2 at the dispensing orifice.

In all three embodiments, the dispenser is provided with a third pusher B3 which makes it possible to dispense a mixture of the first and second fluid products F1, F2.

In the first embodiment of the figure 1 which represents the prior art, the third pusher T3 acts directly on the first and second pushers B1, B2 so that a mixture of the two fluid products F1, F2 is distributed at the dispensing orifice O, which is common to the three pushers B1, B2, B3. Although not shown, the distributor of the first embodiment could integrate three separate dispensing ports for the three pushers respectively. It should be understood that the actuation of the first pusher B1 leaves the other two pushers B2, B3 static. It is the same for the second push B2. On the other hand, when the third pusher B3 is actuated, it carries with it the first two pushers B1, B2.

In the first embodiment of the invention of the figure 2 , the third pusher B3 is mounted on a third pump P3 equipped with a third dip tube T3 which extends inside a mixing buffer tank R3, which is distinct from the tanks R1 and R2. The buffer tank R3 is then connected to the first tank R1 by a first pipe C1 provided with a non-return valve V1. In a symmetrical way, the buffer tank R3 is also connected to the second tank R2 by a second conduit C2 equipped with a non-return valve V2. The valves V1, V2 may for example be mounted on the tanks R1, R2 respectively. It should be noted that each pusher B1, B2 and B3 is provided with a proper dispensing orifice O1, O2 and O3. Thus, when the user wants to dispense a dose of the first fluid product F1, he presses the first pushbutton B1. Similarly, when he wants to dispense a dose of F2 product he presses the second push B2. And when he wants to distribute a mixture of the two fluid products F1, F2 he presses the third pusher B3, which actuates the pump P3 which will take a mixture of fluid already present in the buffer tank R3. The mixture of fluid product F1 + F2 present in the buffer tank R3 can not in any case regain the tanks R1 and R2 because of the presence of two check valves V1, V2. By actuating the pusher B3, the pump P3 draws the mixture of fluid product F1 + F2 into the tank R3, which has the effect of drawing fluid F1 from the tank R1 and the fluid product F2 from the tank R2 through the two ducts. C1 and C2, respectively.

In the second embodiment of the invention of the figure 3 , the third pusher B3 incorporates a dispensing orifice O3 and is mounted on a third pump P3 equipped with two dip tubes, namely a dip tube T31 which extends into the first tank R1 and a second dip tube T32 which extends in the second tank R2. The operation of this dispenser is very simple: by pressing the pushbutton B1 or B2, the dispenser distributes a single fluid product F1 or F2, and pressing the pushbutton B3, the dispenser distributes a mixture of the two fluid products F1, F2 to through the T31, T32 dip tubes and the P3 pump.

According to a particularly advantageous aspect of the invention, the actuation of the third pusher B3 can cause the two reservoirs R1, R2 to vent through the clean venting passages of the pumps P1, P2. On the figure 4 , the pusher B3 is shown in the fully depressed position, and it can be seen that it comprises a flange D3 which comes into pressed contact with the pushbuttons B1 and B2 so as to push lightly. This is possible by arranging the third pusher B3 so that the distance d visible on the figure 3 separating it from the other two pushers is slightly less than the total stroke of pushbutton B3. Thus, at the end of the stroke of the pusher B3, the flange D3 comes to simultaneously press the two other pushers B1, B2. On the figure 5 , we see a detail of the figure 4 which reveals the venting passage allowing the outside air to penetrate inside the tanks R1 and R2 during each actuation, and in particular during the actuation of the third pusher B3. In a completely conventional manner, the venting passage is cut in the rest position of the pump by a piston sliding inside a sliding shaft defined by the pumps.

Thanks to the invention, there is a duo-type dispenser, but comprising three separate pushers with three respective dispensing orifices, respectively for dispensing the first fluid, the second fluid or a mixture of the two fluids.

Claims (7)

1. A fluid dispenser comprising two reservoirs (R1, R2), two pumps (P1, P2), and two pushers (B1, B2), namely a first pusher (B1) for actuating a first pump (P1) that is connected to a first reservoir (R1) containing a first fluid (F1), and a second pusher (B2) for actuating a second pump (P2) that is connected to a second reservoir (R2) containing a second fluid (F2), the dispenser further comprising a third pusher (B3) for dispensing a mixture of the first and second fluids (F1, F2), the first fluid (F1) being dispensed through a first dispenser orifice (O1), and the second fluid (F2) being dispensed through a second dispenser orifice (O2), the fluid dispenser being characterized in that the mixture of the two fluids (F1, F2) is dispensed through a third dispenser orifice (O3) that is formed by the third pusher (B3).
2. A fluid dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the third pusher (B3) is mounted on a third pump (P3) that is connected to the first and second reservoirs (R1, R2).
3. A fluid dispenser according to claim 2, wherein an buffer mixing reservoir (R3) is interposed between the third pump (P3) and the first and second reservoirs (R1, R2).
4. A fluid dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the buffer reservoir (R3) is connected to the first and second reservoirs (R1, R2) via two ducts (C1, C2), each fitted with a respective check valve (V1, V2), the fluids (F1, F2) being sucked by the third pump (P3) into the buffer reservoir through the ducts.
5. A fluid dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the third pump (P3) includes two dip tubes (T31, T32) that extend in the first and second reservoirs (R1, R2) respectively.
6. A fluid dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second pumps (P1, P2) each define an internal vent passage that is opened by actuating their respective pushers (B1, B2), the third pusher (B3) pressing lightly at the end of its stroke on the first and second pushers (B1, B2) so as to open the internal vent passages of the first and second pumps (P1, P2).
7. A fluid dispenser according to claim 6, wherein the third pusher (B3) includes a collar (D3) that projects outwards above the first and second pushers (B1, B2), the axial distance (d) between the collar (D3) and the first and second pushers (B1, B2) being a little less than the stroke of the third pusher (B3).

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