EP3638086B1 - Actionneur de pompe à mousse avec buse pliante adaptée pour l'e-commerce - Google Patents

Actionneur de pompe à mousse avec buse pliante adaptée pour l'e-commerce Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3638086B1
EP3638086B1 EP18913642.7A EP18913642A EP3638086B1 EP 3638086 B1 EP3638086 B1 EP 3638086B1 EP 18913642 A EP18913642 A EP 18913642A EP 3638086 B1 EP3638086 B1 EP 3638086B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
nozzle
actuator
closure
hand operated
closed position
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP18913642.7A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP3638086A1 (fr
EP3638086A4 (fr
Inventor
Armin Arminak
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Individual
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Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US15/946,436 external-priority patent/US10493478B2/en
Priority claimed from US16/150,147 external-priority patent/US10252284B2/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP3638086A1 publication Critical patent/EP3638086A1/fr
Publication of EP3638086A4 publication Critical patent/EP3638086A4/fr
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Publication of EP3638086B1 publication Critical patent/EP3638086B1/fr
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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K5/00—Holders or dispensers for soap, toothpaste, or the like
    • A47K5/14—Foam or lather making devices
    • A47K5/16—Foam or lather making devices with mechanical drive
    • 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
    • B05B11/0089—Dispensing tubes
    • B05B11/0091—Dispensing tubes movable, e.g. articulated on the sprayer
    • B05B11/0094—Dispensing tubes movable, e.g. articulated on the sprayer movement of the dispensing tube controlling a valve
    • 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
    • B05B11/1059—Means for locking a pump or its actuation means in a fixed position
    • 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
    • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
    • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
    • B65D47/20—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge
    • B65D47/30—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with plug valves, i.e. valves that open and close a passageway by turning a cylindrical or conical plug without axial passageways
    • B65D47/305—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge with plug valves, i.e. valves that open and close a passageway by turning a cylindrical or conical plug without axial passageways provided with a spout, e.g. "escargot"-type valve
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K5/00—Holders or dispensers for soap, toothpaste, or the like
    • A47K5/06—Dispensers for soap
    • A47K5/12—Dispensers for soap for liquid or pasty soap
    • A47K5/1202—Dispensers for soap for liquid or pasty soap dispensing dosed volume
    • A47K5/1204—Dispensers for soap for liquid or pasty soap dispensing dosed volume by means of a rigid dispensing chamber and pistons
    • A47K5/1205—Dispensing from the top of the dispenser with a vertical piston
    • 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
    • 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
    • B05B11/1087—Combination of liquid and air pumps
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B7/00—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas
    • B05B7/0018—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with devices for making foam
    • B05B7/0025—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with devices for making foam with a compressed gas supply
    • B05B7/0031—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with devices for making foam with a compressed gas supply with disturbing means promoting mixing, e.g. balls, crowns
    • B05B7/0037—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with devices for making foam with a compressed gas supply with disturbing means promoting mixing, e.g. balls, crowns including sieves, porous members or the like

Definitions

  • This invention relates to actuator assemblies for hand operated dispensing pumps and more particularly, to actuators for hand operated dispensing pumps that foam the fluid being dispensed without the use of aerosol propellants.
  • Hand operated foam pump dispensers are well known in the personal care industry for dispensing foam products. Pumps of this type require that the liquid and air be mixed under pressure in a dispenser bottle.
  • Hand operated foam pumps commonly include a liquid pump chamber and an air pump chamber. Typically, a piston moves between the charge and discharge positions in the air pump chamber and the liquid pump chamber to draw air or liquid into the respective chambers and force the air or the liquid from the chambers into a mixing region where the mixed air and liquid produce foam and the foamed products subsequently exit the nozzle of the actuator.
  • Prior art hand operated foam pumps are typically operated by means of trigger action requiring a trigger handle or linear action requiring a push button actuator. Both types of mechanisms feature fixed nozzles that protrude from the sides of the actuators. The protruding fixed nozzle or trigger of prior art hand operated foam pump actuators requires that they be packaged so as to prevent nozzle breakage during shipping. This limitation makes prior art hand operated foam pumps generally unsuitable for use in e-commerce where products are often shipped without packaging to prevent breakage and increasingly commonly, without any packaging at all.
  • US 3,907,174 A discloses an actuator assembly for a hand operated pump with foldable discharge nozzle.
  • the present invention is defined by claims 1 and 10.
  • the invention provides a new design for an actuator assembly for a hand operated foam pump.
  • the new actuator assembly comprises an actuator, a folding nozzle and a pump closure.
  • the folding nozzle of the new actuator assembly eliminates the protrusion of a conventional nozzle or trigger handle and thereby helps to prevent the closure of the actuator assembly from loosening and unlocking during shipping.
  • the folding nozzle of the actuator assembly of the present invention is configured so as to lock the actuator in place and prevent operation of the hand pump when the nozzle is folded.
  • the folding nozzle of the actuator assembly substantially reduces pump closure loosening, i.e. the tendency of the closure to loosen or separate (i.e. back-off) from the dispenser bottle due to vibration during shipping.
  • the folding nozzle substantially reduces the likelihood of parts breakage during shipping of a filled product, again by eliminating trigger handles or other conventional nozzle types which protrude from the side of the actuator.
  • the ability of the actuator assembly of the present invention to resist loosening and unlocking during shipping is further enhanced by configuring the folding nozzle such that it is locked to the actuator via snap tabs when in the folded position. The folding nozzle is unfolded after the package is delivered and ready for use.
  • the ability of the actuator assembly of the present invention to resist loosening and unlocking during shipping is further enhanced by providing an actuator assembly that is free of any sharp edges, surface discontinuities or protrusions that may catch on other containers or packaging during shipping.
  • the actuator assembly 10 of the present invention comprises an actuator 12, a folding nozzle 14 and a pump closure 16.
  • the actuator assembly 10 is mounted on a commonly available prior art, hand operated foam pump 18, typically by means of a snap fit between the pump closure 16 and a pump body 20 of the hand operated foam pump 18.
  • One such suitable prior art foam pump for use with the actuator assembly 10 of the present invention is Pump No. F2 ( https://www.albea-group.com/en/products/product-catalog/f2.html ) , manufactured by Albéa Group, 1,av du covered de Gaulle /ZAC des Barbanniers, Le Signac / 92635 Gennevijn Cedex, France.
  • the pump closure 16 of the actuator assembly 10 is an injection molded part having a generally cylindrical body 22 and a generally dome shaped top 24. As shown in Fig. 2 and Figs. 3-5 , the pump closure 16 is hollow having a generally cylindrical interior wall 26, which features a plurality of screw threads 28. The plurality of screw threads 28 allow the pump closure 16 to be screwed onto a dispenser bottle (not shown).
  • the pump closure includes a circular groove 30 which engages a circular lip 32 on the pump body 20, i.e. the pump body 20 is attached to the closure 16 via a snap-fit between the circular lip 32 of the pump body 20 and the circular groove 30 of the closure 16.
  • the generally dome shaped top 24 of the pump closure 16 includes a raised retaining wall 34 having a generally oval shaped perimeter wherein the retaining wall 34 has an open section 44 which is bounded at one end of the retaining wall 34 by a first retaining member 36 and at another end of the retaining wall 34 by a second retaining member 38.
  • a first snap element 40 At the junction of the retaining wall 34 and the first retaining member 36 is formed a first snap element 40 and at the junction between the retaining wall 34 and the second retaining element 38 is a second snap element 42.
  • a region of the dome shaped top 24 of the closure 16, interior of the retaining wall 34 is cutaway to form a generally oval shaped opening 46 which corresponds to a generally, oval shaped exterior wall 50 of the actuator 12. Received within the opening 46 is the actuator 12.
  • the generally dome shaped top 24 of the pump closure 16 further includes a recessed portion 48, which serves to allow a user to more easily release the folding nozzle 14, when the nozzle is in the folded position.
  • the actuator 12 is also an injection molded component with a hollow interior.
  • the actuator 12 has an exterior wall 50 having a generally oval shaped perimeter with a recessed portion 52 at a front end.
  • the recessed portion 52 is bounded at one end by a first engaging wall 54 and a second engaging wall 56 and by an abutment wall 106 which extends between first engaging wall 54 and the second engaging wall 56.
  • the recessed portion 52 is configured to receive the nozzle 12 when the nozzle is in the folded position.
  • the actuator is configured such that it is slidably received within the opening 46 of the pump closure 16, wherein the exterior wall 50 of the actuator slides within the retaining wall 34 of the pump closure 16 and the first engaging wall 54 of the actuator 16 slidably engages the first retaining member 36 of the pump closure 16; and wherein the second engaging wall 56 of the actuator 12 slidably engages the second retaining wall 38 of the pump closure 16.
  • the actuator 12 also features a top portion 62 having a front edge portion 58 and a rear edge portion 60, where the top portion 62 slopes downwardly from the front edge portion 58 to the rear edge portion 60. (Best shown in Figs. 3-5 .)
  • the sloping top portion 62 assists a user in depressing the actuator with a finger or thumb.
  • Formed within the actuator 12 is a generally, centrally located vertical tube 64, having a wall 72.
  • the wall 72 has a cylindrical interior surface 82. A portion of the wall 72 forms a face 80 of the recessed portion 52.
  • the wall 72 is of sufficient thickness in this area such that the face 80 of the recessed portion 52 is a generally rectangular flat surface.
  • the wall 72 is open at a lower inlet end 68, radially closed at an upper end 70, and has a rectangular opening 66 disposed adjacent the upper end 70 of the tube 64, wherein the rectangular opening 66 extends through the face 80 of the recessed portion 52 and the cylindrical interior surface 82 of the wall 72.
  • the first side engagement wall 54 and the second side engagement wall 56 of the actuator 12 are each equipped with a dimple or small circular depression 78 adjacent the top edge 58 of the actuator 12.
  • the dimples 78 engage with generally circular protrusions 84 located at an inlet end 86 of the nozzle 12.
  • the generally circular protrusions 84 of the nozzle 14 snap into the dimples 78 of the actuator 12.
  • the inlet end 86 of the nozzle 14 is rounded so as to be rotatable within a matching rounded portion 96 of the actuator 14.
  • the nozzle 14 of the actuator assembly 10 has a hollow, generally rectangular body 92, having the inlet end 86, an outlet end 88, and a flow passage 90 therebetween.
  • the inlet end 86 has an inlet flow area 87 and the outlet end 88 has an outlet flow area 89.
  • the flow passage 90 has a constant, rectangular cross-section and, in this case, the inlet flow area 87 and the outlet flow area 89 are the same.
  • the flow passage 90 may also have a circular or square cross-section and may be of other cross-sectional shapes if desired.
  • the flow passage 90 of the nozzle 14 may have a varying cross-section such that, for example, the outlet area 89 is larger than the inlet area 87.
  • Figs. 17-19 depict such an alternative embodiment.
  • the outlet end 88 of the nozzle 14 has a front face 98.
  • the front face 98 engages the first and second snap elements 40 and 42 of the pump closure 16.
  • the inlet end 86 of the nozzle 14 is in fluid communication with the rectangular opening 66 of the tube 64 of the actuator 12.
  • the actuator assembly 10 is assembled and installed on a hand operated foam pump as follows. First, the generally circular protrusions 84 of the nozzle 14 snap into the dimples 78 of the actuator 12. The inlet end 86 of the nozzle 14 is rounded and fits within the rounded portion 96 of the actuator 14. The nozzle is foldable between an open position, (see Fig. 3 ), and a closed position (see Fig. 5 .) In the closed position, the front face 98 of the nozzle 16 engages the first and second snap elements 40 and 42 of the pump closure 16.
  • the actuator 12 is slid within the opening 46 of the pump closure 16.
  • the actuator is configured such that the exterior wall 50 of the actuator slides within the retaining wall 34 of the pump closure 16.
  • the first engaging wall 54 of the actuator 16 slidably engages the first retaining member 36 of the pump closure 16 and the second engaging wall 56 of the actuator 12 slidably engages the second retaining wall 38 of the pump closure 16.
  • a stem 100 of a prior art hand operated pump 18 such as Pump No. F2 ( https://www.albea-group.com/en/products/product-catalog/f2.html ), manufactured by Albéa Group, 1,av durison de Gaulle /ZAC des Barbanniers, Le Signac / 92635 Gennevilliers Cedex, France, is press fit into the inlet end 68 of the centrally located tube 64 of the actuator 12.
  • the stem 100 of the prior art hand operated pump 18 will typically include a shoulder 102. The stem 100 is pressed into the centrally located tube of the actuator 14 until the centrally located tube 64 bottom outs on the shoulder 102 of the stem 100.
  • the pump closure 16 is snap fit over the circular lip 32 on the pump body 20, such that the circular lip 32 engages the circular groove 30 of the pump closure 16 and thereby secures the pump closure 16 to the pump body 20.
  • a gasket 104 is placed on the underside of the circular lip 32 of the pump body 20 and the hand pump 18 is inserted into a dispenser bottle (not shown).
  • the dispenser bottle will typically include external threads and is secured to the pump closure 16 by means of mating internal screw threads 28 formed on the pump closure 16.
  • the pump actuator assembly 10 of the present invention with the nozzle 14 in the closed position, will be shipped installed on a hand pump 18 and the resulting assembly attached to a dispenser bottle (not shown).
  • This configuration is shown in Fig. 5 .
  • the actuator 12 cannot be depressed and thus the hand pump cannot be operated because first, second and third abutment faces or surfaces 108, 110 and 112, of the nozzle 14 (see Fig. 2 ), abut corresponding first, second and third abutment faces or surfaces 114, 116 and 118 on the pump closure 16 (see Fig. 2 ). This ensures against inadvertent operation of the hand pump during shipping.
  • nozzle 14 is unfolded or opened.
  • the actuator 12 may then be depressed to operate the hand pump 18.
  • Fig. 4 shows the nozzle 12 in its fully depressed position.
  • the amount of depression of the nozzle 12 is determined by the travel limits of the hand pump 18.
  • the nozzle 14 and the centrally located tube 64 of the actuator 12 are in fluid communication and the centrally located tube 64 of the actuator 12 is in fluid communication with the hand pump 18 via the stem 100 of the hand pump which is in fluid communication with the contents of a dispenser bottle.
  • An actuator assembly 10 comprising a pump closure 16, an actuator 12 and folding nozzle 14, has been presented.
  • the new actuator assembly 10 eliminates the protrusion created by conventional nozzles or trigger handles of prior art actuators.
  • the folding nozzle 14 of the new actuator assembly 10 helps to prevent the closure 16 of the actuator assembly 10 from loosening and unlocking during shipping.
  • the folding nozzle 14 of the actuator assembly 10 of the present invention is configured so as to lock the actuator 12 in place and prevent operation of a hand pump when the nozzle 14 is folded.
  • the folding nozzle 14 also substantially reduces the likelihood of parts breakage during shipping of a filled product, again by eliminating trigger handles or other conventional nozzle types which protrude from the side of the actuator.
  • the ability of the actuator assembly 10 of the present invention to resist loosening and unlocking during shipping is further enhanced by providing an actuator assembly 10 that is free of any sharp edges, surface discontinuities or protrusions that may catch on other containers or packaging during shipping.
  • a second embodiment 210 of the actuator assembly of the present invention is presented.
  • the second embodiment 210 is similar with the first embodiment 10 in the manner in which the nozzle locks or snaps to the closure.
  • the first and second embodiments also function the same and the individual components parts, i.e. the nozzle, closure and actuator, have the same features.
  • the second embodiment of the actuator assembly 210 of the present invention comprises an actuator 212, a folding nozzle 214 and a pump closure 216.
  • the actuator assembly 210 is mounted on a commonly available prior art, hand operated foam pump 218, typically by means of a snap fit between the pump closure 216 and a pump body 220 of the hand operated foam pump 218.
  • One such suitable prior art foam pump for use with the actuator assembly 10 of the present invention is Pump No. F2 ( https://www.albea-group.com/en/products/product- catalog/f2.html) , manufactured by Albéa Group, 1,av du General de Gaulle /ZAC des Barbanniers, Le Signac / 92635 Gennevijn Cedex, France.
  • the pump closure 216 of the actuator assembly 210 is an injection molded part having a generally cylindrical body 222 and a generally dome shaped top 224. As shown in Fig. 9 and Figs. 10-12 , the pump closure 216 is hollow having a generally cylindrical interior wall 226, which features a plurality of screw threads 228. The plurality of screw threads 228 allow the pump closure 216 to be screwed onto a dispenser bottle (not shown).
  • the pump closure includes a circular groove 230 which engages a circular lip 232 on the pump body 220, i.e. the pump body 220 is attached to the closure 216 via a snap-fit between the circular lip 232 of the pump body 220 and the circular groove 230 of the closure 216.
  • the generally dome shaped top 224 of the pump closure 216 includes a raised wall 234 having a generally oval shaped perimeter wherein the raised wall 234 includes a vertical plate portion 236.
  • the vertical plate portion 236 includes a lock bead 238.
  • a region of the dome shaped top 224 of the closure 216, interior of the raised wall 234, is cutaway to form a generally oval shaped opening 246 which corresponds to a generally, oval shaped exterior wall 250 of the actuator 212. Received within the opening 246 is the actuator 212.
  • the generally dome shaped top 224 of the pump closure 216 further includes a recessed portion 248, which serves to allow a user to more easily release the folding nozzle 214, when the nozzle is in the folded position.
  • the actuator 212 is also an injection molded component with a hollow interior.
  • the actuator 212 has an exterior wall 250 having a generally oval shaped perimeter with a recessed portion 252 at a front end.
  • the recessed portion 252 is bounded at one end by a first engaging wall 254 and a second engaging wall 256 and by the vertical wall portion 236 which extends between first engaging wall 254 and the second engaging wall 256.
  • the recessed portion 252 is configured to receive the nozzle 212 when the nozzle is in the folded position.
  • the actuator is configured such that it is slidably received within the opening 246 of the pump closure 216, wherein the exterior wall 250 of the actuator slides within the raised wall 234 of the pump closure 216.
  • the actuator 212 also features a top portion 262 having a front edge portion 258 and a rear edge portion 260, where the top portion 262 slopes downwardly from the front edge portion 258 to the rear edge portion 260. (Best shown in Figs. 10-12 .)
  • the sloping top portion 262 assists a user in depressing the actuator with a finger or thumb.
  • Formed within the actuator 212 is a generally, centrally located vertical tube 264, having a wall 272.
  • the wall 272 has a cylindrical interior surface 282. A portion of the wall 272 forms a face 280 of the recessed portion 252.
  • the wall 272 is of sufficient thickness in this area such that the face 280 of the recessed portion 252 is a generally rectangular flat surface.
  • the wall 272 is open at a lower inlet end 268, radially closed at an upper end 270, and has a rectangular opening 266 disposed adjacent the upper end 270 of the tube 264, wherein the rectangular opening 266 extends through the face 280 of the recessed portion 252 and the cylindrical interior surface 282 of the wall 272.
  • the first side engagement wall 254 and the second side engagement wall 256 of the actuator 212 are each equipped with a dimple or small circular depression 278 adjacent the top edge 258 of the actuator 212.
  • the dimples 278 engage with generally circular protrusions 284 located at an inlet end 286 of the nozzle 212.
  • the generally circular protrusions 284 of the nozzle 214 snap into the dimples 278 of the actuator 212.
  • the inlet end 286 of the nozzle 214 is rounded so as so be rotatable within a matching rounded portion 296 of the actuator 214.
  • the nozzle 214 of the actuator assembly 210 has a hollow, generally rectangular body 292 having the inlet end 286 and an outlet end 288 and a flow passage 290 therebetween.
  • the inlet end 286 has an inlet flow area 287 and the outlet end 288 has an outlet flow area 289.
  • the flow passage 290 has a constant, rectangular cross-section and, in this case, the inlet flow area 287 and the outlet flow area 289 are the same.
  • the flow passage 290 may also have a circular or square cross-section and may be of other cross-sectional shapes if desired.
  • the flow passage 290 of the nozzle 214 may have a varying cross-section such that, for example, the outlet area 289 is larger than the inlet area 287.
  • Figs. 17-19 depict such an alternative embodiment.
  • the hollow, generally rectangular body 292 of the nozzle 214 is equipped with left and right locking grooves 240 and 242 at its outlet end 288 (see Fig. 16 ).
  • the nozzle 214 also features a centrally located raised semi-circular portion 243 at its outlet end 288.
  • the raised semi-circular portion 243 is formed on the front face 298 of the nozzle 216 and is configured such that a user may slide his or her finger-tip under the raised semi circular portion 243 to lift or pry the nozzle open from its closed position.
  • the left and right locking grooves 240 and 242 engage the lock bead 238 of the pump closure 216.
  • the inlet end 286 of the nozzle 214 is in fluid communication with the rectangular opening 266 of the tube 264 of the actuator 212.
  • the actuator assembly 210 is assembled and installed on a hand operated foam pump as follows. First, the generally circular protrusions 284 of the nozzle 214 snap into the dimples 278 of the actuator 212. The inlet end 286 of the nozzle 214 is rounded and fits within the rounded portion 296 of the actuator 214. The nozzle is foldable between an open position, (see Fig. 10 ), and a closed position (see Fig. 12 .) In the closed position, the left and right locking grooves 240 and 242 of the nozzle 216 engage the locking tab 238 of the pump closure 216.
  • the actuator 212 is slid within the opening 246 of the pump closure 216.
  • the actuator is configured such that the exterior wall 250 of the actuator slides within the raised wall 234 of the pump closure 216.
  • a stem 300 of a prior art hand operated pump 218 such as Pump No. F2 ( https://www.albea-group.com/en/products/product-catalog/f2.html ) , manufactured by Albéa Group, 1,av du General de Gaulle /ZAC des Barbanniers, Le Signac / 92635 Gennevilliers Cedex, France, is press fit into the inlet end 268 of the centrally located tube 264 of the actuator 212.
  • the stem 300 of the prior art hand operated pump 218 will typically include a shoulder 302. The stem 300 is pressed into the centrally located tube of the actuator 214 until the centrally located tube 264 bottom outs on the shoulder 302 of the stem 300.
  • the pump closure 216 is snap fit over the circular lip 232 on the pump body 220, such that the circular lip 232 engages the circular groove 230 of the pump closure 216 and thereby secures the pump closure 216 to the pump body 220.
  • a gasket 304 is placed on the underside of the circular lip 232 of the pump body 220 and the hand pump 218 is inserted into a dispenser bottle (not shown).
  • the dispenser bottle will typically include external threads and is secured to the pump closure 216 by means of mating internal screw threads 228 formed on the pump closure 216.
  • the pump actuator assembly 210 of the present invention with the nozzle 214 in the closed position, will be shipped installed on a hand pump 218 and the resulting assembly attached to a dispenser bottle (not shown). This configuration is shown in Fig. 12 . It should be noted that with the nozzle 214 folded and locked into place, i.e. the left and right locking grooves 240 and 242 of the nozzle 214 have engaged the lock bead 238 of the pump closure 216, the actuator 212 cannot be depressed (see Fig. 12 ). This feature ensures against inadvertent operation of the hand pump during shipping.
  • the nozzle 214 is unfolded or opened.
  • the actuator 212 may then be depressed to operate the hand pump 218.
  • Fig. 11 shows the nozzle 212 in its fully depressed position. The amount of depression of the nozzle 212 is determined by the travel limits of the hand pump 218.
  • the nozzle 214 and the centrally located tube 264 of the actuator 212 are in fluid communication and the centrally located tube 264 of the actuator 212 is in fluid communication with the hand pump 218 via the stem 300 of the hand pump which is in fluid communication with the contents of a dispenser bottle.
  • a second embodiment of an actuator assembly 210 comprising a pump closure 216, an actuator 212 and folding nozzle 214, has been presented.
  • the new actuator assembly 210 eliminates the protrusion created by conventional nozzles or trigger handles of prior art actuators.
  • the folding nozzle 214 of the new actuator assembly 210 helps to prevent the closure 216 of the actuator assembly 210 from loosening and unlocking during shipping.
  • the folding nozzle 214 of the actuator assembly 210 of the present invention is configured so as to lock the actuator 212 in place and prevent operation of a hand pump when the nozzle 214 is folded.
  • the folding nozzle 214 also substantially reduces the likelihood of parts breakage during shipping of a filled product, again by eliminating trigger handles or other conventional nozzle types which protrude from the side of the actuator.
  • the ability of the actuator assembly 2 10 of the present invention to resist loosening and unlocking during shipping is further enhanced by providing an actuator assembly 210 that is free of any sharp edges, surface discontinuities or protrusions that may catch on other containers or packaging during shipping.
  • the nozzle 314 has an inlet end 386 and an outlet end 388.
  • the inlet end 386 has an inlet flow area 387 and the outlet end 388 has an outlet flow area 389.
  • the outlet flow area 389 is larger than the inlet flow area 287, i.e. the flow passage 390 of the nozzle 314 has a varying cross-section, in this case a tapered cross-section 392 as shown in Fig. 19 .
  • This invention is an actuator assembly for a hand pump that may be industrially applied to the packaging and transport of threaded containers or bottles containing foamable liquids.
  • the actuator assembly includes an actuator, a foldable nozzle and a closure, wherein the assembly includes snap-lock retaining features that secure the nozzle against inadvertent opening when in the folded position.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)

Claims (13)

  1. Ensemble d'actionneur (10; 210) pour une pompe actionnée à la main (18 ; 218) comprenant :
    un actionneur (12 ; 212) ayant un corps creux, une buse (14; 214) ayant une extrémité d'entrée (86 ; 286) et une extrémité de sortie (88 ; 288) avec un passage d'écoulement (90 ; 290) entre elles, et une fermeture (16 ; 216) ayant un corps creux (22) ;
    dans lequel la buse (14 ; 214) est configurée pour se fixer à l'actionneur (12 ; 212) et se plier entre une position ouverte et une position fermée ;
    dans lequel l'actionneur (12; 212) est configuré avec un périmètre de forme généralement ovale ayant une surface avant rectangulaire plate évidée (52 ; 252) pour la réception de la buse (14 ; 214) lorsque la buse (14 ; 214) est dans la position fermée, l'actionneur (12 ; 212) ayant une extrémité supérieure inclinée fermée (62; 262) et une extrémité inférieure ouverte ;
    dans lequel l'actionneur (12 ; 212) comprend un tube interne orienté verticalement (64 ; 264), le tube (64; 264) ayant une paroi intérieure circulaire (72; 272), une extrémité supérieure radialement fermée (70 ; 270) et une extrémité inférieure radialement ouverte (68 ; 268), dans lequel le tube (64; 264) comprend en outre une ouverture (66; 266) en communication de fluide avec le passage d'écoulement (90; 290) de la buse (14 ; 214) au niveau de son extrémité d'entrée (86 ; 286) ;
    dans lequel la fermeture (16; 216) comprend une ouverture de forme généralement ovale (46; 246) configurée pour correspondre au périmètre de l'actionneur de forme généralement ovale (12 ; 212), dans lequel l'actionneur (12 ; 212) est reçu de manière coulissante dans l'ouverture de forme généralement ovale (46; 246) de la fermeture (16 ; 216) ;
    un moyen pour empêcher l'enfoncement de l'actionneur (12 ; 212) lorsque la buse (14 ; 214) est dans la position fermée ;
    un moyen pour fixer l'actionneur (12 ; 212) à une sortie de fluide d'une pompe actionnée à la main (18 ; 218) ;
    un moyen pour fixer la fermeture (16; 216) à une pompe actionnée à la main (18 ; 218) ; et
    un moyen pour retenir la buse (14 ; 214) dans la position fermée pour empêcher l'ouverture par inadvertance de la buse (14 ; 214) ;
    caractérisé en ce que :
    le moyen pour retenir la buse (14 ; 214) dans la position fermée pour empêcher l'ouverture par inadvertance de la buse (14 ; 214) comprend une languette d'encliquetage (40, 42 ; 238) sur la fermeture (16; 216), dans lequel la languette d'encliquetage (40, 42 ; 238) met en prise la buse (14 ; 214), lorsque la buse (14 ; 214) est dans la position fermée.
  2. Ensemble d'actionneur (10; 210) pour une pompe actionnée à la main (18; 218) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le moyen pour fixer la fermeture (16 ; 216) à la pompe actionnée à la main (18; 218) comprend une rainure circulaire (30; 230) formée sur une surface intérieure de la fermeture (16; 216) qui met en prise une lèvre circulaire (32 ; 232) d'un corps (20; 220) de la pompe à main (18; 218).
  3. Ensemble d'actionneur (10) pour une pompe actionnée à la main (18) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le moyen pour empêcher l'enfoncement de l'actionneur (12) lorsque la buse (14) est dans la position fermée comprend une surface de butée (114, 116, 118) sur la fermeture (16) qui met en prise une surface de butée (108, 110, 112) sur la buse (14), lorsque la buse (14) est dans la position fermée.
  4. Ensemble d'actionneur (10; 210) pour une pompe actionnée à la main (18; 218) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'ouverture centrale de forme généralement ovale (46 ; 246) de la fermeture (16; 216) est bordée par une paroi de retenue (34 ; 234) concernant le périmètre de l'ouverture centrale de forme généralement ovale (46 ; 246).
  5. Ensemble d'actionneur (10; 210) pour une pompe actionnée à la main (18; 218) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'extrémité d'entrée (86; 286) de la buse (14 ; 214) a une zone d'écoulement d'entrée et l'extrémité de sortie (88; 288) de la buse (14 ; 214) a une zone d'écoulement de sortie, dans lequel la zone d'écoulement de sortie est supérieure à la zone d'écoulement d'entrée.
  6. Ensemble d'actionneur (10; 210) pour une pompe actionnée à la main (18; 218) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'extrémité d'entrée (86; 286) de la buse (14 ; 214) a une zone d'écoulement d'entrée et l'extrémité de sortie (88; 288) de la buse (14 ; 214) a une zone d'écoulement de sortie, dans lequel la zone d'écoulement de sortie est de la même taille que la zone d'écoulement d'entrée.
  7. Ensemble d'actionneur (10; 210) pour une pompe actionnée à la main (18; 218) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le passage d'écoulement (90; 290) de la buse (14 ; 214) a une section transversale généralement rectangulaire.
  8. Ensemble d'actionneur (210) pour une pompe actionnée à la main (18) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la buse (214) a une partie semi-circulaire relevée (243) au niveau de son extrémité de sortie (288), dans lequel la partie semi-circulaire relevée (243) sert de languette digitale pour permettre à un utilisateur d'ouvrir la buse (214) par traction à partir de sa position fermée.
  9. Ensemble d'actionneur (10; 210) pour une pompe actionnée à la main (18; 218) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'actionneur (12 ; 212), la fermeture (16; 216) et la buse (14 ; 214) sont dépourvus de bords taillants, de discontinuités de surface ou de saillies qui peuvent s'accrocher sur d'autres récipients ou emballage pendant l'expédition, lorsque la buse (14 ; 214) est dans la condition pliée.
  10. Ensemble d'actionneur (10; 210) pour une pompe actionnée à la main (18; 218) comprenant :
    un actionneur (12 ; 212) ayant un corps creux, une buse (14 ; 214) ayant une extrémité d'entrée (86 ; 286) et une extrémité de sortie (88 ; 288) avec un passage d'écoulement (90 ; 290) entre elles, et une fermeture (16 ; 216) ayant un corps creux (22) ;
    dans lequel la buse (14 ; 214) est configurée pour se fixer à l'actionneur (12 ; 212) et se plier entre une position ouverte et une position fermée ;
    dans lequel l'actionneur (12 ; 212) est configuré avec un périmètre incurvé ayant une surface avant évidée (52 ; 252) pour la réception de la buse (14 ; 214) lorsque la buse (14 ; 214) est dans la position fermée, l'actionneur (12 ; 212) ayant une extrémité fermée (62 ; 262) et une extrémité inférieure ouverte ;
    dans lequel la buse (14 ; 214) a une partie semi-circulaire relevée (243) au niveau de son extrémité de sortie (88 ; 288), dans lequel la partie semi-circulaire relevée (243) sert de languette digitale pour permettre à un utilisateur d'ouvrir la buse (14 ; 214) par traction à partir de sa position fermée ;
    dans lequel l'actionneur (12 ; 212) comprend un tube interne orienté verticalement (64 ; 264), le tube (64 ; 264) ayant une paroi intérieure circulaire (72 ; 272), une extrémité supérieure radialement fermée (70 ; 270) et une extrémité inférieure radialement ouverte (68 ; 268), dans lequel le tube (64 ; 264) comprend en outre une ouverture (66 ; 266) en communication de fluide avec le passage d'écoulement (90; 290) de la buse (14 ; 214) au niveau de son extrémité d'entrée (86 ; 286) ;
    dans lequel la fermeture (16; 216) comprend une ouverture incurvée (46; 246) configurée pour correspondre à l'ouverture incurvée de l'actionneur (12 ; 212), dans lequel l'actionneur (12 ; 212) est reçu, de manière coulissante, dans l'ouverture incurvée (46 ;246) de la fermeture (16; 216) ;
    un moyen pour empêcher l'enfoncement de l'actionneur (12 ; 212) lorsque la buse (14 ; 214) est dans la position fermée ;
    un moyen pour fixer l'actionneur (12 ; 212) à une sortie de fluide d'une pompe actionnée à la main (18 ; 218) ;
    un moyen pour fixer la fermeture (16; 216) à une pompe actionnée à la main (18 ; 218) ; et
    un moyen pour retenir la buse (14 ; 214) dans la position fermée pour empêcher l'ouverture par inadvertance de la buse (14 ; 214) ;
    dans lequel :
    le moyen pour retenir la buse (14 ; 214) dans la position fermée pour empêcher l'ouverture par inadvertance de la buse (14 ; 214), comprend une languette d'encliquetage (40, 42 ; 238) sur la fermeture (16; 216), dans lequel la languette d'encliquetage (40, 42 ; 238) met en prise la buse (14 ; 214), lorsque la buse (14 ; 214) est dans la position fermée.
  11. Ensemble d'actionneur (10; 210) pour une pompe actionnée à la main (18; 218) selon la revendication 10, dans lequel l'extrémité d'entrée (86; 286) de la buse (14 ; 214) a une zone d'écoulement d'entrée et l'extrémité de sortie (88 ; 288) de la buse (14 ; 214) a une zone d'écoulement de sortie, dans lequel la zone d'écoulement de sortie est supérieure à la zone d'écoulement d'entrée.
  12. Ensemble d'actionneur (10; 210) pour une pompe actionnée à la main (18; 218) selon la revendication 10, dans lequel l'extrémité d'entrée (86; 286) de la buse (14 ; 214) a une zone d'écoulement d'entrée et l'extrémité de sortie (88 ; 288) de la buse (14 ; 214) a une zone d'écoulement de sortie, dans lequel la zone d'écoulement de sortie est de la même taille que la zone d'écoulement d'entrée.
  13. Ensemble d'actionneur (10; 210) pour une pompe actionnée à la main (18; 218) selon la revendication 10, dans lequel l'actionneur (12 ; 212), la fermeture (16; 216) et la buse (14 ; 214) sont dépourvus de bords taillants, de discontinuités de surface ou de saillies qui peuvent s'accrocher sur d'autres récipients ou emballage pendant l'expédition, lorsque la buse (14 ; 214) est dans la condition pliée.
EP18913642.7A 2018-04-05 2018-10-09 Actionneur de pompe à mousse avec buse pliante adaptée pour l'e-commerce Active EP3638086B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US15/946,436 US10493478B2 (en) 2017-07-14 2018-04-05 Hand pump with folding nozzle
US16/150,147 US10252284B2 (en) 2017-07-14 2018-10-02 Foam pump actuator with folding nozzle suitable for e-commerce
PCT/US2018/054935 WO2019194864A1 (fr) 2018-04-05 2018-10-09 Actionneur de pompe à mousse avec buse pliante adaptée pour l'e-commerce

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3638086A1 EP3638086A1 (fr) 2020-04-22
EP3638086A4 EP3638086A4 (fr) 2020-07-15
EP3638086B1 true EP3638086B1 (fr) 2022-12-07

Family

ID=68101243

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP18913642.7A Active EP3638086B1 (fr) 2018-04-05 2018-10-09 Actionneur de pompe à mousse avec buse pliante adaptée pour l'e-commerce

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3638086B1 (fr)
CN (1) CN111741703B (fr)
CA (1) CA3070487C (fr)
WO (1) WO2019194864A1 (fr)

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JPH0669161U (ja) * 1993-03-05 1994-09-27 大和製罐株式会社 ポンプ式泡出し容器
FR2711620B1 (fr) * 1993-10-21 1995-12-22 Oreal Ensemble de distribution équipé d'un organe de fermeture unidirectionnel.
FR2743544B1 (fr) * 1996-01-16 1998-02-20 Valois Dispositif de distribution de produit fluide pourvu d'une double securite
US5875936A (en) * 1996-01-22 1999-03-02 Chesebrough-Pond's Usa Co., Division Of Conopco, Inc. Refillable pump dispenser and refill cartridge
DE19641151A1 (de) * 1996-10-07 1998-04-09 Focke & Co Weichbecher-Verpackung sowie Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Herstellen derselben und anderer Verpackungen
US6540117B2 (en) * 2001-03-30 2003-04-01 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Dosing pump for liquid dispensers
JP4091828B2 (ja) * 2002-11-27 2008-05-28 日産ディーゼル工業株式会社 自動折り装置
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WO2008088095A1 (fr) * 2007-01-16 2008-07-24 Young-Joo Lee Dispositif de pompage avec buse amovible
ES2703533T3 (es) * 2012-08-30 2019-03-11 Zhejiang Jm Ind Co Ltd Dispensador de polvo
CN104797346B (zh) * 2012-09-19 2017-12-19 阿米纳克及合伙人有限责任公司 软管端喷洒器
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA3070487A1 (fr) 2019-10-10
CN111741703B (zh) 2021-12-14
WO2019194864A1 (fr) 2019-10-10
EP3638086A1 (fr) 2020-04-22
CN111741703A (zh) 2020-10-02
EP3638086A4 (fr) 2020-07-15
CA3070487C (fr) 2024-02-27

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