EP4417322A1

EP4417322A1 - A device for dispensing a fluid substance

Info

Publication number: EP4417322A1
Application number: EP24157122.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alfeo TECCHIOLLI; Giancarlo FONTANARI
Original assignee: Coster Technologie Speciali SpA
Current assignee: Coster Technologie Speciali SpA
Priority date: 2023-02-15
Filing date: 2024-02-12
Publication date: 2024-08-21

Abstract

A fluid substance dispensing device comprising a manually operated pump (1) equipped with a cup-shaped body (2), inside which a communicating compression chamber (3) is formed at least during a filling step achieved by means of a first filling valve element (4) and a stem (5A) which is coupled with a dispensing button (6) so that the movement of the stem (5A) towards the cup-shaped body (2) reduces the volume of the compression chamber by pushing any substance present in the compression chamber through a cavity (5B) in the said stem (5A) - and a ring nut (7) for fastening at least the cup-shaped body (2) to a container (20) to which the pump (1) can be coupled and which can contain said substance (S), the dispensing button (6) being configured to rotate at least between a first unlocked position in which it is allowed a free stroke, and a second locked position in which at least one part thereof (9, 6A) encounters a stop (10, 12A) on the pump (1) and travel of the dispensing button (6) towards the cup-shaped body is prevented; between the dispensing button (6) and the ring nut (7) or between the dispensing button (6) and the cup-shaped body (2), there is a safety system (13) formed of at least a base (11) and a mobile ring (12) which translates telescopically with respect to the base (11) so that, when the dispensing button (6) is rotated to the locked position, the mobile ring (12) is extended with respect to the base (11) and at least a first part of the base (11A) encounters a portion (12A) of the mobile ring (12) so as to prevent the mobile ring (12) lowering towards the base (11), a second part of the mobile ring (12) encountering a flange (6A) or a step on the dispensing button (6) and thereby preventing the dispensing button (6) from lowering, and when the dispensing button (6) is rotated to the unlocked position the mobile ring (12) is lowered telescopically with respect to the base (11), leaving the dispensing button (6) free to travel.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fluid substance dispensing device equipped with a safety element.
The device comprises a safety element which keeps the latter intact should it fall during transportation or use.

STATE OF THE ART

A removable annular safety element is known, for example from JP2013095462 A1 , which is snap-fitted between a dispenser and a ring nut for fastening a pump to a container.
It has been established that, upon undergoing severe drop tests (such as those envisaged for e-commerce, with the container full), the safety element described in the Japanese document comes off, leaving the pump without protection.
Moreover, the same stresses that cause the safety element to come off can cause damage to the pump, since not properly protected thereby, especially in the event of impacts which impose strain on the dispenser (and therefore the pump stem) resulting in deflection.
Last but not least, before using the device, the user must remove the safety element and normally the said element is thrown away or can be lost.
Therefore, in the event of falls when the safety element is absent, the device may break or experience malfunctions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide a fluid substance dispensing device which minimises the possibility of damage to the pump in the event of impacts, including repeated impacts following the initial use thereof.
This and other objects are achieved by means of a fluid substance dispensing device according to the technical teachings of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further features and advantages of the innovation will become clearer in the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the device, illustrated - by way of a non-limiting example - in the drawings appended hereto, in which:

Figure 1 shows a simplified perspective view of the device according to the present invention in a locked position;
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the device in Figure 1 in an unlocked position, prior to operation;
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the device in Figure 1 during operation;
Figure 4 is a simplified axial section of the device in the position in Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a simplified axial section of the device in the position in Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a simplified axial section of the device in the position in Figure 3 which also shows, in a simplified manner, a container housing a substance that can be dispensed;
Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a safety system on the device in the deactivated position, as in Figure 2 or 3;
Figure 8 shows the safety system in Figure 7 in the active position, as in Figure 1;
Figure 9 is a simplified, exploded, perspective sectional view of the device according to the present invention;
Figure 10 is a simplified, exploded perspective view of the device according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the figures stated, reference number 1 is used to denote, as a whole, a fluid substance dispensing device.
The device 50 for dispensing a fluid substance comprises a manually operated pump 1, equipped with a cup-shaped body 2 and a ring nut 7 for fastening at least the cup-shaped body 2 to a container 20 to which the pump 1 can be coupled and which contains the said substance S which the pump is intended to deliver.
Advantageously, the ring nut 7 features means for fastening to the container 20. The said fastening means can comprise a thread 61 configured to cooperate with a conventional counter thread (not shown) on the container 20.
The seal can be guaranteed, conventionally, by a gasket 60.
The ring nut 7 can be engaged, in a substantially undercut manner, with the cup-shaped body 2, for example in a groove 63 in the cup-shaped body 2 into which the said ring nut can be snap-fitted.
Inside the cup-shaped body 2 a compression chamber 3 is defined, that communicates - at least during a filling step - with a first filling valve element 4, and a stem 5A coupled with a dispensing button 6 so that the movement of the stem 5A towards the cup-shaped body 2 reduces the volume of the compression chamber 3 thus pushing a substance present in the compression chamber through a cavity 5B in the said stem 5A.
In the configuration shown, which is exemplary, the stem 5A is made as a single piece with a (membrane-like) deformable element 5 with a bell-shaped end portion 65 which, together with the bottom of the cup-shaped body, can delimit the compression chamber 3. The deformable element 5 also acts as an elastic element which returns the button to the end-of-travel position.
A tubular portion 66 can extend from the internal bottom of the cup-shaped body (Fig. 9), the said portion being tapered towards one of the free ends thereof. The valve element 4 can be featured on the bottom of the tubular portion.
The deformable element 5 can feature a projection 67 endowed with a swelling 68 which, in certain positions, cooperates sealingly with the end of the tubular portion 66.
The projection 67 can also delimit at least one passageway that allows permanent communication between the compression chamber 3 and the stem cavity 5B.
The cup-shaped body 2 can be sealed with an insert 30 which has a through-hole for the said stem 5A. The insert 30 can be snap-fitted onto the cup-shaped body 2.
A dispensing button 6 can be fitted onto the stem 5A, in a substantially sealed manner.
The dispensing button 6 is configured to rotate between at least a first unlocked position, in which the said button has free stroke movement, and a second locked position, in which at least one part of the said button 9 encounters a stop 10 of the pump 1, and the button dispenser 6 is prevented from travelling towards the cup-shaped body.
Specifically, the dispensing button 6 can feature an intermediate skirt 33 and an internal skirt 34, the latter being shaped to house a delivery valve element 35.
The stem 5A can engage sealingly between the intermediate skirt 33 and the internal skirt 34.
The intermediate skirt 33 can feature an annular tooth 69 which snap-fits into the insert 30 to prevent the dispensing button 6 being released when pulled.
Furthermore, the said part 9 can be made on the intermediate skirt while the stop 10 can be made on the said insert 30.
The insert 30 can also feature at least one recess 31 inside which the said part 9 of the dispensing button 6 slides when it is in the said (angular) unlocked position.
It must be noted that the insert 30 can also cooperate with the part 9 to angularly limit rotation of the dispensing button 6 between the locked position and the unlocked position.
The pumping configuration described above is solely an example. Obviously, a simple conventional pump can also be envisaged (therefore featuring a piston driven by the stem, a spring, and a delivery valve positioned directly in the pump body).
In this case, the dispensing button 6 will be coupled to the stem in a conventional manner and will not feature the delivery valve therewithin.
According to the invention, between the dispensing button 6 and the ring nut 7, or between the dispensing button 6 and the cup-shaped body 2, there is a safety system 13 which is formed of at least a base 11 and a mobile ring 12, which translates telescopically with respect to the base 11 so that, when the dispensing button 6 is rotated into the locked position, the mobile ring 12 is extended with respect to the base 11 and at least a first part of the base 11A encounters a portion 12A of the mobile ring 12 so as to prevent the mobile ring 12 from lowering towards the base 11, a second part of the mobile ring 12 encountering a flange 6A or a step on the dispensing button 6 and thereby preventing the dispensing button 6 from lowering too, and when the dispensing button 6 is rotated to the unlocked position, the mobile ring 12 is lowered telescopically with respect to the base 11, leaving the dispensing button 6 free to travel.
The mobile ring 12 can comprise at least one slider 21 engaged in a guide 22 on the dispensing button 6.
The guide can be made on a first external skirt 32 of the dispensing button 6.
Preferably, three guides 22 can be featured, which are angularly staggered by 120°, and three sliders 21 can be engaged in the said guides.
Each guide 22 can feature a portion 22B (Fig. 10) which is inclined with respect to an axis A of the dispensing button 6 in order to lower or raise the mobile ring 12 following rotation of the dispensing button 6.
The slider may engage with the said portion 22B of the guide when rotated to a position other than the said unlocked position.
As can be seen in Figure 10, the guide 22 can feature a substantially horizontal section 22C (therefore perpendicular to the axis A) in which the slider 21 is engaged when the button is in a proximal position to the locked position, and in which the mobile ring 12 is completely raised.
Furthermore, each guide 22 can include an axial portion 22A in which the slider 21 is engaged when the dispensing button 6 is rotated to the said (angular) unlocked position, with the mobile ring 12 lowered.
The dispensing button can include at least a pusher 23 (substantially a radially projecting tooth, with a tapered end) which, when the dispensing button 6 is rotated to the locked position cooperates with at least a first part of the base 11A, displacing the said base (see Figure 4) so as to cooperate with the said portion 12A of the mobile ring 12.
For example, the said first part 11A of the base 11 is a flexible fin that can extend from an annular portion 11B of the base 11 (see Figure 10).
It should be noted that there can be as many pushers as flexible fins featured, and in this case two.
Furthermore, advantageously, the mobile ring 12 and the base 11 are torsionally coupled.
For this purpose, at least two fixed ribs 25A, 25B can extend from the annular portion 11B and engage in corresponding seats 26A, 26B (or guides) on the mobile ring 12 in order to torsionally couple the base 11 and the mobile ring 12.
The operation of the safety system 13 can be easily understood by comparing Figure 7 (in which the said system is deactivated) with Figure 8, in which the said system is active.
The mobile ring 12 is translated vertically (raised or lowered) by rotation of the dispensing button 6 which acts on the sliders 21 through the guide or guides 22.
In the locked position (or in proximity thereto), the pusher 23 (or pushers) of the dispensing button 6 flex the fin or fins 11A, which then engage with the part 12A of the mobile ring 12, effectively preventing the ring mobile 12 from lowering at all.
Advantageously, the part 12A of the mobile ring is made in a lower portion 70 than the lower edge of the mobile ring 12.
It should be noted that the safety system 13 when in the active position is particular effective. In this position, the part 12B (substantially the entire free edge - facing the dispensing button 6 - of the mobile ring 12) rests - around the entire perimeter thereof or around a large part thereof - precisely on the part of the flange 6A facing the said edge.
In this way, the contact surface between the ring 12 and the dispensing button is vast and extends to the entire perimeter of the button.
This also ensures the device is protected from impacts on the dispensing button 6 which, in the absence of the safety system 12, could lead to harmful flexions discharged to the stem 5A, which would also undermine the operation of the pumping system.
To complete the description, it must be underlined that the cup-shaped body 2 can feature at least one tooth 36 which snap-fits with said base 11 and, optionally, torsional coupling means 37 between the cup-shaped body and the base element 2.
It has been shown how the invention provides a device for dispensing a fluid substance with a safety system which is activated automatically (through the raising of the ring 12) every time the dispensing button is rotated to the locked position and is deactivated automatically (through the lowering of the ring) every time the button is rotated to the unlocked position.
In this way it is impossible to lose the safety system, which is an integral part of the device and cannot be removed therefrom.
Furthermore, the activation thereof is automatic and therefore does not require external intervention by the user (apart from rotating the dispenser to the locked position).
Various embodiments of the innovation have been disclosed herein, but further embodiments may also be conceived using the same innovative concept.

Claims

Dispensing device of a fluid substance, comprising a manually operated pump (1), equipped with a cup-shaped body (2) inside which a compression chamber (3) is defined, the compression chamber (3) communicating at least during a phase of loading with a first filling valve element (4), and a stem (5A) associated with a dispensing button (6) so that the movement of the stem (5A) towards the cup-shaped body (2) reduces the volume of the compression chamber so as to push a substance possibly present in the compression chamber through a cavity (5B) of said stem (5A), and a ring nut (7) for fastening at least the cup-shaped body (2) to a container (20) to which the pump (1) can be associated and which can contain said substance (S), the dispensing button (6) being configured to rotate at least between a first unlocked position in which it travels freely, and a second locked position in which at least one of its part (9, 6A) encounters a stop (10, 12A) of the pump (1) and the stroke of the dispensing button (6) towards the cup body is prevented, characterized by in that between the dispensing button (6) and the ring nut (7) or between the dispensing button (6) and the cup-shaped body (2) a safety system (13) is provided, formed by at least one base (11) and a mobile ring (12) which translates telescopically with respect to the base (11) so that, when the dispensing button (6) is rotated in the locked position the movable ring (12) is extended with respect to the base (11) and at least a first part of the base (11A) abuts a portion (12A) of the movable ring (12) so as to prevent a lowering of the mobile ring (12) towards the base (11), a second part of the mobile ring (12) resting on a flange (6A) or a step of the dispensing button (6) thus preventing the lowering of the dispenser button (6), and when the dispensing button (6) is turned to the unlock position the movable ring (12) is telescopically lowered with respect to the base (11) leaving the stroke of the dispensing button (6) free.
Device according to claim 1, wherein the movable ring (12) comprises at least one slider (21) engaged in a guide (22) of the dispensing button (6), the guide (22) providing an inclined part (22A) with respect to an axis (A) of the dispenser button (6) to lower or raise the movable ring (12) as a result of a rotation of the dispensing button (6), the cursor being engaged in said part (22A) of the guide when it is rotated in a position other than said unlocked position.
Device according to claim 2, wherein the guide (22) provides an axial portion (22B) in which the cursor (21) is engaged when the dispensing button (6) is rotated in said unlock position.
Device according to claim 1, wherein the movable ring (12) and the base (11) are torsionally coupled.
Device according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing button (6) provides at least one pusher (23) which, when the dispensing button (6) is rotated in the locked position, cooperates with said at least one first part of the base (11A) moving it to cooperate with said portion (12A) of the movable ring (12).
Device according to claim 4, wherein said first part (11A) of the base (11) is an elastically flexible fin.
Device according to the preceding claim, wherein said flexible fin (11A) extends from an annular portion (11B) of the base (11).
Device according to claim 4 and claim 7, wherein at least two fixed ribs (25A, 25B) extend from the annular portion (11B) and engage in corresponding seats (26A, 26B) of the movable ring (12) to torsionally couple the base (11) and the movable ring (12).
Device according to claim 1, wherein the cup-shaped body (2) is closed by an insert (30) which has a passage hole for said stem (5A), the insert (30) having said stop (10) and at least one recess (31) in which said part (9) of the dispensing button (6) slides when it is in said unlocked position.
Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing button (6) has a first outer skirt (32) on which said guide (22) is made, an intermediate skirt (33) on which said part (9) is made, and an internal skirt (34) shaped to house a delivery valve element (35).
Device according to claim 1, wherein the cup-shaped body (2) provides at least one tooth (36) which snap-engages with said base (11), and optionally, torsional coupling means (37) between the cup-shaped body and the base element (2).