EP3814019A1

EP3814019A1 - Fluid product dispenser

Info

Publication number: EP3814019A1
Application number: EP19749774.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Frédéric Duquet; Francis Moreau
Original assignee: Aptar France SAS
Current assignee: Aptar France SAS
Priority date: 2018-06-29
Filing date: 2019-06-28
Publication date: 2021-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2039-06-28
Also published as: EP3814019B1; FR3083146A1; US11292020B2; KR20210025053A; WO2020002854A1; CN112384306A; FR3083146B1; US20210252537A1; CN112384306B

Abstract

Disclosed is a fluid product dispenser comprising: - a fluid product receptacle (1); - an applicator (2); and - a dispensing module (3) between the receptacle (1) and the applicator (2), characterized in that the dispensing module (3) includes an air pump (4) for delivering air into the receptacle (1) as well as a fluid product duct (54) connecting the receptacle (1) to the applicator (2).

Description

Fluid dispenser

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir, an applicator, and a dispensing module disposed between the reservoir and the applicator. The preferred field of application of the present invention is of course that of cosmetics, but it can also be used in pharmacies, in household products or in food.

In the prior art, numerous distributors are already known using a pump mounted on a fluid reservoir and supporting an applicator, the pump having the function of withdrawing fluid by suction from the reservoir and delivering it under pressure to the applicator. The pump comprises a pump chamber provided with an inlet valve and an outlet valve, the fluid entering the pump chamber through the inlet valve and leaving the pump chamber through the outlet valve. . The document FR2978684 is a perfect example. In order to withdraw the fluid from the tank, the pump must be equipped with a dip tube or the tank must include a follower piston. In both cases, this is visible when the tank is made of a transparent material.

On the other hand, it is also known from the prior art to produce certain dispensers / applicators in the form of a pen, with a generally elongated configuration, so that they can be handled in the manner of a pen, which provides increased application precision. This is the case of the document FR2852933, which describes a dispenser comprising a pump with lateral actuation in the form of a flexible cuff, on which the user presses with a finger, normally the index finger, to put the fluid product under pressure. in a pump chamber. The disadvantage of this dispenser comes from the fact that the fluid product is directly in contact with the material constituting the flexible cuff, which can interact in a harmful manner with the fluid product. Indeed, we know that elastomers, which are often used in the manufacture of flexible parts, are likely to release components into the fluid products with which they are in prolonged contact.

It is therefore an object of the invention to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art by defining another type of dispenser / applicator, in particular of “pen” configuration, in which there is no longer any risk of contamination. or deterioration of the fluid product due to the presence of elastomer or other flexible material. A decorrelation between actuation and distribution is also sought, in order to soften or dampen the distribution, which thus becomes more controllable and precise. Another emptying of the tank and of the distribution module is another object of the invention.

To do this, the present invention provides a fluid dispenser comprising:

- a fluid reservoir,

- an applicator, and

- a distribution module disposed between the reservoir and the applicator, the distribution module comprising an air pump for sending air into the reservoir and a fluid conduit connecting the reservoir to the applicator.

Thus, the flow of pressurized air descends into the reservoir and part of the fluid product pressurized in the reservoir by the injection of pressurized air rises in the fluid product conduit which passes through the distribution module to supply the 'applicator. We can say that the air and fluid flows cross within the distribution module, which is centrally, medially or interposed between the reservoir and the applicator.

The use of an air pump also generates a kind of damping at the level of the distribution of the fluid product, since the air is compressible and acts on the fluid product. The user perceives a certain softness, since the pressure which he exerts to actuate the air pump is not directly transmitted to the fluid product. Advantageously, the fluid dispenser can have an elongated configuration along a longitudinal axis X, the reservoir, the applicator and the dispensing module extending along the longitudinal axis X, with the dispensing module interposed between the reservoir and the 'applicator. We are then typically in a “pen” configuration.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the air pump can connect the tank through a one-way outlet valve. On the other hand, the air pump can connect the outside through a one-way inlet valve. Preferably, the unidirectional outlet valve and the unidirectional inlet valve are formed by a one-piece valve member.

According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the air pump comprises a deformable actuating wall.

According to one embodiment, the air pump can comprise a one-piece air flush forming a pump chamber and a deformable actuating wall.

According to a practical embodiment, the distribution module can include:

- a module body forming the fluid product conduit and means for fixing to the reservoir,

- a cap forming receiving means for the applicator, and

- the air pump in the form of a monobloc air flush forming a pump chamber and a deformable actuating wall of the air pump.

According to another practical embodiment, the distribution module can include:

a module body forming means for fixing to the reservoir and a lower part of the fluid product conduit,

- a cap forming receiving means for the applicator and an upper part of the fluid conduit, and

- A flexible sleeve connecting the module body to the cap so as to form between them the air pump, the flexible sleeve forming a deformable actuating wall of the air pump. Advantageously, the module body forms valve seats for a one-piece valve member respectively forming a one-way outlet valve connecting the air pump to the tank and a one-way inlet valve connecting the exterior to the air pump.

In a practical embodiment as in the other, all the constituent elements of the dispenser are mounted along a single axis, namely the longitudinal axis X.

According to another interesting feature, the air pump extends next to or around the fluid duct.

Finally, it may be advantageous to produce the fluid reservoir with a transparent material, without a dip tube or a follower piston.

The spirit of the invention lies in the fact of using an air pump to pressurize the reservoir, this air pump being integrated in a module on which is mounted both the reservoir and the applicator, so that the fluid product from the reservoir passes through this module to reach the applicator. The use of a "double flow" valve to manage the air inlet and the air outlet of the air pump is particularly advantageous.

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

In the figures:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a fluid dispenser according to a first embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a side view of the dispenser of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a view in vertical cross section through the dispenser of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the dispenser of the preceding figures,

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 for a second embodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the dispenser of FIG. 5. Reference is made to FIGS. 1 to 4 to describe in detail the various constituent elements of this fluid dispenser according to the first embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, we can immediately notice that the dispenser has a generally elongated shape along a longitudinal axis X. The dispenser generally looks like a pen or a felt. It can also be noted that the dispenser is wider in Figure 1 than in Figure 2, so that its cross section is oblong, ovoid or ellipsoidal. It can also be noted that the dispenser generally comprises three parts, namely a reservoir 1 located at the bottom, an applicator 2 located at the top and a dispensing module 3 which is located axially between the reservoir 1 and the applicator 2. More specifically, the reservoir 1 is connected to the module 3 at its upper part and the applicator 2 is also connected to the module 3 at the lower part. At the level of the distribution module 3, it can be noted that it includes a deformable actuating wall 41, which is located at the greatest curvature of the dispenser.

The fluid reservoir 1 can be made from any suitable material, and preferably from a transparent or translucent material, so that one can see the fluid that it contains. The tank 1 has an elongated configuration along the longitudinal axis X and defines on one side a closed bottom and on the other side a neck 1 1.

The applicator 2 is here in the form of an elongated tip along the longitudinal axis X. The applicator 2 comprises a fixing heel 21 which is engaged with the dispensing module, as will be seen below.

The applicator 2 also includes an internal channel 22 which ends in a dispensing orifice 23 situated at the upper end of the applicator. Any suitable material can be used to make the applicator 2, and advantageously a flexible material which confers a certain deformability on the applicator. This is only a particular, non-limiting embodiment. Indeed, the applicator can be of any kind, without departing from the scope of the invention. The applicator could also be in the form a piece of porous material, a spatula or a brush. In itself, the nature and the function of the applicator 2 is not critical for the present invention, insofar as it comprises a fixing heel 21 capable of coming into engagement with the distribution module 3.

The distribution module 3, in this first embodiment of the invention, comprises four constituent elements, namely an air pump 4, a module body 5, a one-piece valve member 6 and a cover 7.

The air pump 4 is, in this embodiment, in the form of a one-piece air flush, which can for example be produced by injection blowing. The pump 4 defines at its lower end an opening 42 and provided laterally with a deformable actuating wall 41, which advantageously projects. The pump 4 internally forms a pump chamber 40.

The module body 5 can advantageously be produced in a single piece and comprises at its lower end a fixing skirt 51 intended to come into sealing engagement with the neck 11 of the tank 1. Inside this fixing skirt 51, the module body 5 defines an air outlet channel 52 and a fluid inlet well 53, which are arranged substantially side by side. The air outlet channel 51 communicates at its upper end with a valve housing 56 in which is received the one-piece valve member 6. More specifically, with reference to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the valve housing 56 defines two separate valve seats 561 and 562, which cooperate with the one-piece valve member 6 so as to define an air outlet valve and an air inlet valve. The two valve seats 561 and 562 of the valve housing 56 are substantially concentric and the one-piece valve member 6 comprises an external movable lip 62 and an internal movable lip 61. The internal movable lip 61 in cooperation with the internal valve seat 561 constitute the air outlet valve, while the external movable lip 62 in collaboration with the external valve seat 562 form the air inlet valve which is supplied with outside air from a vent passage 57. On the other hand, the outlet well 53 communicates downstream with a fluid product conduit 54 which leads to the applicator 2, as will be seen below.

We see in Figure 3 that the pump 4 is mounted on the module body 5 with its opening 42 engaged in the valve housing 56. It can be noted that the pump 4 extends next to the fluid conduit

54.

The cap 7 is in the form of a one-piece hollow body which receives the module body 5, the pump 4 and the one-piece valve member 6. The cap 7 defines at its lower end a receiving housing 71, in which is received, advantageously by snap-fastening, the neck 11 of the reservoir 1. At its upper end, the cap 7 defines an anchoring housing 72 in which the anchoring heel 21 of the applicator 2 is fixedly received, advantageously by snap-fastening . At the bottom of the anchoring housing 72 is formed a passage hole 73 which communicates the fluid product conduit 54 with the outlet channel 22 of the applicator 2.

Laterally, the cover 7 defines a large window 74 in which the deformable actuating wall 41 of the pump 4 is housed, as can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

Optionally, the dispenser includes a protective cover 8, which can be removably snapped onto the cover 7, to mask and protect the applicator 2.

This dispenser works as follows: the user first grasps the dispenser with one hand while holding the cap 7 between the thumb and middle finger, so as to be able to position his index finger on the wall of deformable actuation 41. In use, the reservoir 1 is located higher than the applicator 2, so that the fluid is present at the outlet well 53. By pressing on the deformable actuation wall 41, the air contained in the pump 4 is discharged through the opening 42, then forces the opening of the air outlet valve to be discharged through the air outlet channel 52 in the tank 1. This supply of air under pressure inside the tank has the effect of putting the fluid product it contains under pressure, so that part of this fluid product is then forced back through the fluid product conduit 54, then the passage hole 73 to reach the outlet channel 22 of the applicator 2. Once the fluid product has left the dispensing orifice 23, the user can apply the fluid on the desired surface, such as the skin.

As soon as the user withdraws his pressure on the deformable actuating wall 41, the latter returns elastically to its rest position, thereby creating a vacuum inside the pump 4. This vacuum has the effect of opening the air inlet valve, so that outside air can enter the distributor through the venting passage 57. The tank 1 is not subjected to any vacuum, since the air outlet valve is closed .

By pressing on the deformable actuating wall 41, the user is not even aware that he is chasing air into the reservoir, with the consequence of pushing fluid product through the conduit 54. At most, he may notice that air bubbles are released in the fluid contained in the tank. This is particularly the case when the tank is made of a transparent material. We can also note that the tank does not include a dip tube or a follower piston. The pressurized air thus rises in the reservoir 1 and the fluid under pressure descends from the reservoir to the applicator 2 through the conduit 54. The distribution module 3 thus makes it possible to cross the air flow and the product flow fluid.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, we can see a second embodiment, in which the tank 1 and the one-piece valve member 6 may be strictly identical to those of the first embodiment of Figures 1 to 4. The applicator 2 'also has a somewhat different configuration, in the form of a spatula with a dispensing orifice 23' opening laterally.

The essential difference compared to the first embodiment resides in an architecture of the distribution module 3 ’, and in particular the air pump 4’ and the fluid conduit which connects the reservoir to the applicator.

This distribution module 3 ′ also comprises a module body 5 ′ defining a fixing skirt 5 T in engagement, advantageously latched, with the neck 11 of the tank. Internally, the skirt 51 'also defines an air outlet channel 52' and a fluid outlet well 53 '. The body 5 'also defines a housing 56' for the one-piece valve member 6. In addition, the body 5 'defines a tight fixing flange 55', the function of which will be given below. Finally, the body 5 'comprises a section of tube 58' which defines the lower part of a fluid product conduit 54 'which extends from the well 53' upwards to the applicator 2 '.

The cap 7 ’also defines an anchoring housing 72’ in which the anchoring heel 21 ′ of the applicator 2 ’is received, advantageously by snap-fastening. The cap defines a 75 ’waterproof sealing collar, the function of which will be defined below. The cap T forms a tubing 74 ’which defines the upper part of the fluid product duct 54’. The tubing 74 ’is fitted around the tube section 58’. The tubing 74 ’opens into the anchoring housing 72’. The tubing 74 'with the section of tube 58' together form the fluid conduit 54 'which connects the well 53' to the housing 72 '. In addition, the cap 7 ’forms a tube 76’ which extends around the tube 74 ’, or alternatively, the tube 74’ extends inside the tube 76 ’. The function of this tube 76 ’will be given below.

The distribution module 3 'also includes a flexible cuff 4' whose lower end 42 'is in sealed engagement with the flange 55' and whose upper end 43 'is in sealed engagement with the flange 75'. The flexible cuff 4 'forms between its two ends a deformable actuating wall 41'. As can be seen in Figure 5, the flexible cuff 4 'surrounds the tubing 74' and the tube 76 '. An air pump 44 ’is thus defined by the cuff 4’, the module body 5 ’and the cover 7’. This pump 44 ’defines a chamber 40’ is of annular cylindrical shape.

The operation of this dispenser according to this second embodiment is generally only that of the first embodiment. In fact, when a user presses on the deformable actuating wall 41 ′, air is pressurized inside the cuff 4 ′. The air outlet valve opens, so that the air flow passes through the outlet channel 52 'and arrives in the tank 1. Consequently, the pressure of the fluid product stored in the reservoir 1 increases and part of this fluid is discharged through the well 53, then through the section of tube 58 ', the tubing 74' to reach the outlet channel 22 'of the applicator 2' . The fluid dispensed comes out of the dispensing orifice 23 ', and the user can apply the fluid to the desired surface. As soon as it releases the pressure on the deformable actuating wall 41 ′, outside air enters the distributor through the vent hole 57 ′ and opens the air inlet valve to restore atmospheric pressure to inside the flexible cuff 4 '.

In this second embodiment, it is possible to actuate the air pump by deforming the deformable actuating wall 41 ’between the thumb and the index finger. This is possible, given that the cuff 41 ’is cylindrical and that the deformable actuating wall 41’ therefore extends all around the distribution module 3 ’. The deformation of the wall 41 'is however limited by the tube 76'.

Thanks to the invention, there is a fluid dispenser / applicator which can be in the form of a pen or a felt, with a lateral actuating wall which does not act directly on the fluid product. , but via air, which is pressurized in an air pump. The air chamber of this air pump can extend next to the fluid channel which connects the reservoir to the applicator, or as a variant, it can extend all around this duct, as in the second mode of realization of the invention. The advantage of this air pump also lies in the fact that the reservoir 1 can contain only fluid, and does not need a dip tube or a follower piston. The 3 or 3 ’distribution module of the invention can be placed between any reservoir and any applicator.

Claims

claims

1 Fluid product dispenser comprising:

- a fluid reservoir (1),

- an applicator (2; 2 ’), and

- a distribution module (3; 3 ’) disposed between the reservoir (1) and the applicator (2; 2’),

characterized in that the distribution module (3; 3 ') comprises an air pump (4; 44') for sending air into the tank (1) and a fluid product duct (54; 54 ') connecting the reservoir (1) to the applicator (2; 2 ').

2. A fluid dispenser according to claim 1, in which the distribution module (3; 3 ') comprises receiving housings (71, 72; 51', 72 '), in which the fluid reservoir (1 ) and the applicator (2; 2 ') are respectively received, advantageously by snap-fastening.

3. A fluid dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, having an elongated configuration along a longitudinal axis X, the reservoir (1), the applicator (2; 2 ') and the dispensing module (3; 3') extending along the longitudinal axis X, with the distribution module (3;

3 ’) interposed between the reservoir (1) and the applicator (2; 2’).

4. A fluid dispenser according to claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the air pump (4; 44 ’) connects the reservoir (1) through a one-way outlet valve (61, 561).

5. A fluid dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the air pump (4; 44 ') connects the exterior through a one-way inlet valve (62, 562).

6. A fluid dispenser according to claims 4 and 5, in which the unidirectional outlet valve (61, 561) and the unidirectional inlet valve (62, 562) are formed by a one-piece valve member (6).

7. A fluid dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the air pump (4; 44 ’) comprises a deformable actuating wall (41; 41’).

8. A fluid dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the air pump (4) comprises a single piece forming a pump chamber (40) and a deformable actuating wall (41).

9. A fluid dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the distribution module (3) comprises:

- a module body (5) forming the fluid conduit (54) and fixing means (51) on the reservoir (1),

- a cap (7) forming receiving means (72) for the applicator (2), and

- the air pump (4) in the form of a monobloc air flush forming a pump chamber (10) and a deformable actuating wall (41) of the air pump (4).

10.- Fluid product distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the distribution module (3 ’) comprises:

- a module body (5 ') forming fastening means (51') on the reservoir (1) and a lower part of the fluid conduit (54 '), - a cap (7 ') forming receiving means (72') for the applicator (2 ') and an upper part of the fluid conduit (54'), and

- a flexible cuff (4 ') connecting the module body (5') to the cover (7 ') so as to form between them the air pump (44), the flexible cuff (4') forming a wall of deformable actuation (41 ') of the air pump (44').

1 1.- fluid dispenser according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the module body (5; 5 ') forms valve seats for a one-piece valve member (6) respectively forming a one-way outlet valve (61 , 561) connecting the air pump (4; 44 ') to the tank (1) and a one-way inlet valve (62, 562) connecting the exterior to the air pump (4; 44').

12.- Fluid product distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the air pump (4; 44 ’) extends next to or all around the fluid product duct (54; 54’).

13. A fluid dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reservoir (1) is transparent and devoid of dip tube.