EP3212334B1 - Fluid-product dispenser - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir defining an opening, a dispensing member mounted in the opening of the reservoir and comprising an actuating rod, a pusher intended to be mounted on the actuating rod. of the dispensing member, and a covering shell in which an assembly, formed by the reservoir and its dispensing member, is adapted to be held removably, the pusher being trapped in the covering shell, so that said actuating rod can be connected to the pusher in the covering shell, the pusher being movable axially in the covering shell on a limited stroke defined by a lower stop and a high stop. The preferred fields of application of the present invention are those of perfumery, cosmetics or even pharmacy.

The document of the prior art FR2825989 discloses a fluid dispenser of this type, comprising a pusher which is trapped in a covering shell, so that the actuating rod of a dispenser member (pump or valve) can be connected to the pusher only in the dressing shell. The dispensing member is mounted on or in the opening of a fluid reservoir so as to form an assembly that defines a refill. On the other hand, the pusher prisoner of the casing shell is another assembly adapted to receive the assembly constituted by the reservoir and the dispenser member.

In this dispenser of the prior art, the pusher is certainly trapped in the covering shell, but can move within this shell on a limited stroke defined by a low stop and a high stop. Thus, when the refill formed by the reservoir and its dispensing member is not in place inside the covering shell, the pusher is free to move on this limited stroke under the effect of gravity. It follows that the displacement of the internal pusher of the shell can generate noises undesirable. Worse still, the pusher could lock inside the shell, so that the dispenser would become unusable.

The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art by defining a fluid dispenser pusher prisoner who is not free to move within the casing shell. Another object of the present invention is that the prisoner pusher is disposed in a determined position inside the covering shell when the refill is not in place inside the covering shell. Yet another object of the present invention is to dispense with mechanical holding means or techniques, such as friction, screwing or snapping, which can lead to blockages, hardnesses or even worse to breakages. rooms.

To achieve these objects, the present invention provides magnetic means acting between the covering shell and the pusher for maintaining by attraction / magnetic repulsion the pusher in a determined position which is fixed relative to the covering shell, when the rod the actuator is disconnected from the pusher. Thus, the magnetic means generate magnetic attraction or repulsion to immobilize the pusher in a predetermined position inside the covering shell.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the magnetic means comprise at least one shell magnet integral with the covering shell and at least one push magnet secured to the pusher. In this first embodiment, the two magnets attract or repel depending on the arrangement and / or the orientation of the magnetic poles of the two magnets.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the magnetic means comprise at least one magnet secured to the covering shell or the pusher, and at least one ferromagnetic element integral with the pusher or the covering shell. In this case, the ferromagnetic element is always attracted by the magnet: there are no magnetic repulsion phenomena.

According to a first interesting aspect of the present invention, the magnetic means can maintain the pusher in said determined position which corresponds to the abutment of a pin secured to the pusher against one of the low or high abutments formed by the covering shell. In other words, the pusher is attracted or pushed against the upper stop or the lower abutment of the covering shell.

Advantageously, the covering shell defines a holding ring in which the pusher is engaged and trapped while moving axially on said limited stroke. Preferably, the holding ring defines at least one axial guide groove closed at its two ends respectively defining the low and high stops, the pusher comprising at least one stud engaged in the axial guide groove and axially displaceable in this guide groove. axial between its two abutments low and high, the stud being advantageously formed on a flexible tab allowing the introduction of the stud in the axial guide groove by elastic deformation of the flexible tab. The pusher can thus be placed in the holding ring with its pin or pins engaged in the groove (s) of axial guidance by simple axial thrust by deforming the flexible tabs on which are formed the nipples.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the shell comprises a barrel surrounding the tank, the shell magnet or the ferromagnetic element being mounted on this barrel.

According to another interesting aspect of the present invention, the pusher may comprise a connection sleeve intended to engage with the actuating rod, the pusher magnet or the ferromagnetic element integral with the pusher being mounted around the connecting sleeve. .

According to a particular embodiment, the actuating rod may be provided with a rod magnet or a ferromagnetic rod element which cooperates with the pusher magnet or the ferromagnetic pusher element to achieve a magnetic connection between the actuating rod and the pusher. Advantageously, the magnetic attraction is stronger between the actuating rod and the pusher than between the pusher and the shell dressing. Preferably, the magnetic means maintain the pusher in said determined position corresponding to the abutment against the abutment. Thus, when the assembly formed by the reservoir and the dispensing member is brought inside the covering shell, the actuating rod provided with a magnet or a ferromagnetic element will quickly come into contact with the connection sleeve itself provided with a magnet or a ferromagnetic element. The pusher is then always in abutment against the lower stop. The user will then push on the tank to move it to the final position in which the nipples of the pusher will come close to or abut against the high stop. This implies that the magnet or the ferromagnetic element of the pusher has been moved away from the magnet or the ferromagnetic element of the covering shell so that magnetic attraction or repulsion has decreased. On the other hand, the depression of the pusher is in the direction of an increase in the attraction or the magnetic repulsion with the covering shell, which makes it possible to decrease, in a perceptible or not, the force of support needed to push the pusher.

The spirit of the invention is based on the fact of using attraction or magnetic repulsion to immobilize a pusher inside a covering shell, when the refill, formed by a dispensing member and a reservoir , is not in place inside the dressing shell. This immobilization avoids unnecessary displacement of the pusher inside the shell. In addition, the attraction or the magnetic repulsion can be used to implement a refill itself provided with a magnet or a ferromagnetic element capable of making a magnetic connection between the actuating rod of a pump or a valve and the pusher.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, giving by way of nonlimiting examples, several embodiments of the invention.

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective explosée d'un ensemble formé par un poussoir et une coque d'habillage selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention,
• La figure 2 est une vue en coupe transversale verticale à l'état monté de l'ensemble de la figure 1,
• La figure 3 est une variante de réalisation de la figure 2,
• Les figures 4 et 5 montrent un distributeur de produit fluide selon l'invention mettant en oeuvre une recharge constitué d'un réservoir et d'un organe de distribution et un ensemble selon les figures 1 et 2, respectivement en position connectée (figure 4) et en position déconnectée (figure 5),
• La figure 6 montre une variante de réalisation de la figure 5, et
• La figure 7 montre encore une autre variante de réalisation des figures 2 et 3.

In the figures:

• The figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an assembly formed by a pusher and a covering shell according to a first embodiment of the invention,
• The figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view in the assembled state of the entire figure 1 ,
• The figure 3 is an alternative embodiment of the figure 2 ,
• The Figures 4 and 5 show a fluid dispenser according to the invention using a refill consisting of a reservoir and a dispensing member and an assembly according to the Figures 1 and 2 , respectively in connected position ( figure 4 ) and in the disconnected position ( figure 5 )
• The figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the figure 5 , and
• The figure 7 shows yet another variant embodiment of Figures 2 and 3 .

The fluid dispenser of the present invention consists of a first assembly consisting of a reservoir on which is mounted a dispensing member such as a pump or a valve, and a second assembly or subassembly constituted or comprising a covering shell 4 and a pusher 3. The first set or subassembly is removably received inside the covering shell 4 of the second set, and thus constitutes a refill that can be removed to be removed. replaced by another.

We will first refer to Figures 1 and 2 to describe in detail the structure of a second set according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This second assembly thus comprises a covering shell 4 and a pusher 3 which is received inside the shell 4 so as to be a prisoner. On the figure 1 it can be seen that the covering shell 4 comprises a holding ring 41 at its upper part. This holding ring 41 defines two axial guide grooves 42, which are here arranged diametrically opposite. Without departing from the scope of the invention, the holding ring 41 may define a single axial guide groove, or on the contrary more than two guide grooves Axial. These axial guide grooves 42 extend vertically or axially so as to define two ends forming a low abutment 43 and a high abutment 44. The abutment 43 may be formed by a shoulder 45 from which the covering shell 4 defines a barrel 46 which is widely open at its lower end. This shaft 46, near the shoulder 43, defines two housings 47 in which two permanent magnets 48 are received. These magnets 48 are here in the form of substantially cylindrical studs with the north pole oriented towards the inside of the shell. and the south pole facing the outside of the hull, as can be seen on the figure 2 . It can thus be said that the magnets 48 are arranged axially below the axial guide grooves 42 and are separated by the shoulder 45 which forms the bottom stop 43 of the grooves 42. It may also be noted that the diameter of the holding ring 41 is smaller than the barrel 46.

The pusher 3 comprises a connecting sleeve 31 which extends axially downwards. This sleeve 31 internally defines a fluid product supply channel which extends to a dispensing orifice 32 which is formed laterally in this embodiment. It may also be noted that the pusher 3 comprises two flexible tabs 34 which are arranged diametrically opposite. A pin 33, which protrudes radially outwards, is formed at the free end of each flexible tab 34. Thus, the stud 33 can be moved radially inwards by elastic deformation of the tab flexible 34. The pusher 3 also comprises a pusher magnet 35 which is engaged around the connecting sleeve 31.This pusher magnet 35 may for example have an annular cylindrical shape and be engaged around the sleeve 31 by clamping so as to ensure its fixation. The pusher 35 may be covered or masked by a hoop 36, which may be made of a ferromagnetic material or not.

As can be seen on the figure 2 , the pusher 3 is engaged inside the holding ring 41, so that these two pins 33 are received inside the axial guide grooves 42. The reception nipples 33 in the respective grooves 42 is made possible by the elastic deformability of the flexible tabs 34 to pass the pins 33 inside the upper stops 44 of the holding ring 41. Once the pins 33 in contact with the inside the grooves 42, the pusher 3 is locked in rotation, but can move axially on a limited path defined between the lower stops 43 and the upper stops 44 of the two axial guide grooves 42. figure 2 it can be seen that the two pins 33 are in contact or abut against the upper stops 44. This is explained by the fact that the pusher magnet 35 has a south pole oriented downwards and a north pole oriented towards the high. Thus, the two hull magnets 48 and pusher 35 repel so as to move the pusher upwards until the studs 33 are advantageously in abutment against the upper stops 44. The pusher 3 is thus immobilized or maintained in a position determined with respect to the covering shell 4. The axial grooves 42 provide locking in rotation, and the magnetic repulsion forces generated by the magnetic means 35, 48 provide axial retention of the pusher 3.

On the figure 3a the push magnet 35 has simply been turned over so that its north pole is downward and its south pole is upwardly oriented. As a result, the pusher 3 is magnetically biased downwardly so that these pins 33 abut or abut against the lower stops 43 of the guide grooves 42. In this lower position, the pusher penetrates further into the barrel. 46 that in the embodiment of the figure 2 .

We will now refer to Figures 4 and 5 to describe a fluid dispenser according to one embodiment of the invention. The second assembly formed by the covering shell 4 and the pusher 3 is that of the embodiment variant shown in FIG. figure 3 , with the pusher abutting against the bottom stop 43. The first set R formed by the reservoir 1 and the dispensing member 2 is in place inside the shell 4 on the figure 4 . The fluid reservoir 1 comprises an opening 11 in which a dispensing member, such as a pump or a valve is fixedly mounted and sealed. The dispensing member 2 comprises an actuating rod 21 which is axially displaceable back and forth. This actuating rod 21 is provided with a ring 24 whose function is to provide a tight connection between the actuating rod 21 and the connecting sleeve 31 of the pusher 3. For this purpose, the ring 24 may comprise a seal 26 intended to come into direct or indirect contact with the connecting sleeve 31. Optionally, this ring 24 may incorporate a ferromagnetic element 25 'which will be attracted magnetically by the pusher magnet 35. A magnetic connection is thus performed between the actuating rod 21 and the connecting sleeve 31. It can be noted on the figure 4 that the distance separating the electromagnetic element 25 'from the pusher magnet 35 is shorter than the distance separating the two magnets 35 and 48. Thus, the magnetic attraction force exerted between the ferromagnetic element 25' and the magnet push magnet 35 is greater than that exerted between the two magnets 35 and 48. When the first set R is in operational position inside the covering shell 4 as shown in FIG. figure 4 , the user can press the pusher 3 so as to move it inside the retaining ring 41 to drive the actuating rod 21 into the body of the dispensing member 2. In response, the fluid product , in metered form or not, is dispensed through the dispensing orifice 32 of the pusher 3, in a completely conventional manner. During its axial downward movement, the pusher 3 starts from a position in which its pins 33 abut against the upper stops 44 to reach a depressed position in which the pins 33 come into maximum contact with the lower stops 43 .

When the user removes the first set R from the covering shell 4, as shown in FIG. figure 5 , the pusher 3 is first driven by the magnetic force exerted between the ferromagnetic element 25 'and the pusher magnet 35 until the pins 33 abut against the lower stops 43. Then, the ring 24 is separated from the pusher magnet 35, leaving the pusher 3 in its low position. This position is maintained by the magnetic force exerted between the shell magnets 48 and the pusher member 35, as explained above with reference to the figure 3 .

It must be understood that the magnetic forces exerted between the ferromagnetic element 25 'and the pusher magnet 35 are greater than those exerted between the pusher magnet 35 and the two shell magnets 48, so as not to disturb the operation of the dispenser. However, the magnetic forces exerted between the magnets 35 and 48 still remain, and advantageously participate in reducing the force required to drive the pusher 3. It is also possible to use the presence of the shell magnets 48 to strengthen the connection between the ring 24 and the pusher magnet 35.

The figure 6 represents an alternative embodiment in which the ring 24 mounted on the actuating rod 21 supports a magnet 25, and no longer a single ferromagnetic element 25 '. In a symmetrical manner, the pusher 3 is provided with a ferromagnetic element 35 'instead of the pusher magnet 35 previously used. The ferromagnetic element 35 'no longer has magnetic poles and its simple positioning at the level of the shell magnets 48 makes it possible to keep it immobilized in the low position with its pins 33 in contact with the lower stops 43.

The figure 7 represents an alternative embodiment in which the two shell magnets 48 have been replaced by a ferromagnetic element 48 ', which may for example be in the form of a sleeve engaged around the upper part of the barrel 46. The pusher, as to him, remains equipped with a pusher magnet 35. The pins 33 are then also in abutment against the lower stops 43, as in the embodiment variant of the figure 3 .

Without departing from the scope of the invention, it is quite possible to provide a first set R whose actuating rod 21 is devoid of a magnet or of a ferromagnetic element: in this case, a simple traditional mechanical connection between the rod of actuation 21 and the sleeve of connection 31 is performed. However, the use of magnet or ferromagnetic element at the actuating rod 21 is preferred, since the pusher 3 is already equipped with a magnet 35 or a ferromagnetic element 35 '.

Thanks to the invention, the pusher which is trapped in the covering shell can be held in a predetermined position without using mechanical holding means, which could hinder its axial displacement during the fluid dispensing phases.

Claims (11)

1. A fluid dispenser comprising:

   • a fluid reservoir (1) that defines an opening (11);

   • a dispenser member (2) that is mounted in the opening (11) of the reservoir (1) and that includes an actuator rod (21);

   • a pusher (3) for mounting on the actuator rod (21) of the dispenser member (2); and

   • a covering shell (4) in which an assembly (R), formed by the reservoir (1) and its dispenser member (2), is adapted to be held in removable manner, the pusher (3) being held captive by the covering shell (4) so that said actuator rod (21) can be connected to the pusher (3) only in the covering shell (4), the pusher (3) being axially movable in the covering shell (4) over a limited stroke that is defined by a low abutment (43) and a high abutment (44);

   the fluid dispenser being characterized by magnetic means (35; 35', 48; 48') that act between the covering shell (4) and the pusher (3) so as to hold the pusher (3), by magnetic attraction/repulsion, in a determined position that is stationary relative to the covering shell (4), when the actuator rod (21) is disconnected from the pusher (3).
2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic means comprise at least one shell magnet (48) that is secured to the covering shell (4), and at least one pusher magnet (35) that is secured to the pusher (3).
3. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic means comprise at least one magnet (48; 35) that is secured to the covering shell (4) or to the pusher (3), and at least one ferromagnetic element (35' 48') that is secured to the pusher (3) or to the covering shell (4).
4. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the magnetic means (35; 35', 48; 48') hold the pusher (3) in said determined position that corresponds to putting a stud (33) that is secured to the pusher (4) into abutment against one of the low and high abutments (43, 44) formed by the covering shell (4).
5. A dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the covering shell (4) defines a holding collar (41) in which the pusher (3) is engaged and held captive while moving axially over said limited stroke.
6. A dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the holding collar (41) defines at least one axial guide groove (42) that is closed at both of its ends, respectively defining the low and high abutments (43, 44), the pusher (3) including at least one stud (33) that is engaged in the axial guide groove (42) and that is axially movable in the axial guide groove (42) between its low and high abutments (43, 44), the stud (33) advantageously being formed on a flexible tab (34) that enables the stud (33) to be put into place in the axial guide groove (42) by elastically deforming the flexible tab (34).
7. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the shell (4) includes a cylinder (46) that surrounds the reservoir (1), the shell magnet (48) or the ferromagnetic element (48') being mounted on the cylinder (46).
8. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the pusher (3) includes a connection sleeve (31) for coming into engagement with the actuator rod (21), the pusher magnet (35) or the ferromagnetic element (35') that is secured to the pusher (3) being mounted around the connection sleeve (31).
9. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuator rod (21) is provided with a rod magnet (25) or with a rod ferromagnetic element that co-operates with the pusher magnet (35) or with the pusher ferromagnetic element (35') so as to make the magnetic connection between the actuator rod (21) and the pusher (3).
10. A dispenser according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic attraction is stronger between the actuator rod (21) and the pusher (3) than between the pusher (3) and the covering shell (4).
11. A dispenser according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the magnetic means (35; 35', 48; 48') hold the pusher (3) in said determined position that corresponds to being put into abutment against the low abutment (43).

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