ES2245251B1 - Fluid dispenser has cover and piston rod that are combined in rigid form to end in debilitated zone, such that cover and piston rod define a component that can be manufactured in unique manufacturing stage - Google Patents

Abstract

The fluid dispenser includes an annular piston that is in contact to the internal surface of a shell, and is provided with a piston rod. A cover (15) is provided to cover the upper inner section of the shell. The cover and piston rod are combined in a rigid form to end in a debilitated zone. The cover and piston rod define a component that can be manufactured in a unique manufacturing stage. - The shell defines a pumping chamber having an upper end, an internal surface, and a bottom. The fluid dispenser also includes a button switch, and a hollow shank defining an upper edge and a lower end. A spring exerts a force over the button switch.

Description

Fluid dispenser component, manufacturing and dispensing procedure correspondent.

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a dispenser of fluids comprising: [a] a shell defining a chamber of pumping and presenting an upper end, an internal surface and a bottom, [b] a hollow pushbutton, [c] a hollow rod that defines a upper edge and a lower edge, [d] an annular piston that externally it is in contact with the internal surface of the coquilla and that internally is in contact with the hollow rod, [e] a spring that exerts a force on the button that tends to separate it from the upper end, and [f] an inner sheath that covers an upper inner section of the shell. The invention also Its purpose is to manufacture a dispenser of fluids as indicated above and a component of said fluid dispenser

State of the art

Dispensers are known as previously indicated. For example in the Spanish patent ES P9800915, dated request 30.04.1998, describes a fluid dispenser that has a defining shell of a pumping chamber, a hollow button, movable between a position extended and a retracted position, a hollow shank integral with the push button, a sliding annular piston along the surface internal of the shell, adjustable to the stem and presenting a annular projection oriented towards the bottom of the chamber, a spring and a valve The piston comprises a plug part that is applied to the free end of the stem, becoming integral with it. The piece comprises an annular cavity in communication with the interior of the stem as well as an annular groove which, adjusting to the annular projection is suitable for incommunicating the annular cavity of the pumping chamber

A variant of this dispenser comprises additionally an inner sheath that covers inside and superiorly the shell and which is equipped with two internal grooves axially oriented, two sections of annular internal grooves upper and two sections of lower annular internal grooves. He button has two external projections that: [i] in the position Extended pushbuttons are apt to slide swivel to along the upper annular internal groove sections, [ii] in the retracted position of the button are suitable for sliding swivel along the inner annular groove sections lower, and [iii] in the movement between the two positions extended and retracted are suitable for sliding axially to along the axially oriented internal grooves. This case It allows the pump to lock both with the button in position upper as with the button in its lower position.

Summary of the invention

The invention aims at a dispenser such as the one indicated above that has a more manufacturing cost reduced. This purpose is achieved through a dispenser of fluids of the type indicated at the beginning characterized in that the sheath and hollow rod are rigidly connected to each other Through a weakened area.

Effectively injecting the two strips Together it allows you to save a stage in the injection process, saves a stage in the assembly process, and means also savings from the logistic point of view and administrative. However later, during the pump operation, between both parts has to be relative movement possible (the pumping movement). The proposed solution is to inject the two pieces as one, of so that there is a physical union between the two, but that this union Physical between the two is a weakened area. At the moment description and claims it will be understood that the weakened area, It is an area such that, when the set of both pieces is subjected to a tensile or compression effort, a break occurs precisely in the weakened area and not elsewhere in the complex. That is, when exerting an effort to separate both components it is guaranteed that the break will take place in the weakened area and not On another site.

Preferably the weakened area is suitable for be broken by a manual force exerted on the stem or the push button mounted on the rod. Indeed, a solution preferred is that the whole of the sheath and the stem hollow, once mounted on the shell, are separated by a axial effort made by a machine during the stage of assembly, for example taking advantage of the stage of enliquetado of the push button on the upper end of the stem. However another preferred solution is that the assembly of all the set and even the pump supply and be a user the one that breaks the joint between the sheath and the stem when using the pump for the first time. In this way the union between the cover and the stem through the weakened union can serve, on the one hand, of guarantee seal, and, on the other hand, of safety to prevent accidental pump drives during transport or storage thereof, with the consequent loss of liquid. However in this case it is it is necessary that the weakened area can be broken by force that the user can reasonably perform on it.

Advantageously, the weakened area is suitable for be broken by a force greater than 10 Newton, exerted on the rod or the push button mounted on the rod. Both in the case that it is desired that the weakened area be broken during the process of assembly as in the case that you want it to be broken by the user final interest that a small force accidentally applied not be enough to accidentally break the weakened area. In In this sense it is convenient that there is a minimum, greater or equal value to 10 Newton to ensure that the holster and stem assembly They can be manipulated without accidentally separating. Alternatively, it is advantageous that the weakened area is suitable for withstand the fall of the dispenser (or the piece formed by the sheath and stem attached) from a height less than or equal to 50 cm on a metal surface without breaking. Indeed, it interests that the weakened area support without breaking the manipulation during pump assembly and eventually during subsequent packing and transport of it. Apart from possible blows manuals, the piece that makes up the case and the stem attached (and the dispenser already mounted) will be subjected to a series of transports and automated manipulations that involve small bumps and shaking For example, in the demolding stage, the piece just injected usually falls from a certain height on a ramp that the Guide to a container or similar. It has been observed that it is desirable that the weakened area supports the fall of the piece from a height  less than or equal to 50 cm without breaking, and preferably that support the fall from a height less than or equal to 100 cm without breaking.

On the other hand it is advantageous that the weakened area is capable of being broken by a force less than 200 Newton, exerted on the rod or the button mounted on the rod. Indeed, since the weakened area must be the zone of preferential breakage, if this area is very resistant it is necessary reinforce the entire rest of the cover and stem assembly to prevent it from breaking through another area.

The weakened area may be designed as various ways Thus, for example, it can be an annular surface continue to extend between the sleeve and the stem. Nap annular surface is of a sufficiently small thickness, may Do the weakened zone function now. However preferably the weakened area is formed by bridges of material that They extend between the sleeve and the stem. Effectively by joining the sheath and stem through discrete bridges, the force Total to be applied is concentrated in small points, so These points may be higher. This is important since preferably these bridges are used for filling the cavity corresponding to the rod during the operation of injection. A better filling of this cavity is obtained by having discrete bridges but with a pitch diameter "relatively large" than having a continuous annular groove,  but of a thickness much smaller than the diameter of the bridges.

Once the pump assembly is assembled, the piston is mounted on the lower end of the rod, and can slide along a section of the stem, called the zone of slippage, as is known by a person skilled in the art and as described in the cited Spanish patent ES P9800915. Advantageously, the weakened area is arranged outside the area of  glide. Effectively the sliding zone should allow a smooth and uniform sliding of the piston, so that all the pumping mechanism work properly. If the area is positioned weakened in the sliding zone, it is very difficult to guarantee that there are no irregularities on it after the breakage of the weakened area These irregularities could cause a irregular and not very smooth operation of the pump.

The spring is arranged around the stem responsible for exerting a force on the button to force that separates from the upper end of the shell. Usually this spring protrudes above the shell and could be seen by The pump user. In the pump described in the Spanish patent ES P9800915, is a shank with a formed skirt substantially by a cylindrical surface that surrounds the upper end of the stem leaving an intermediate space in the The spring is housed. In the present case it is not possible to provide stem of a skirt of this type due to problems of demolding of the piece. Therefore it is preferable that the button comprises a tubular projection that houses an end of the spring inside. This tubular projection is equivalent to the indicated skirt previously and allows to cover the spring from the view of the Username.

Advantageously the cover is provided with minus one axially oriented internal groove (preferably two) and at least one angularly oriented internal groove (preferably two) and communicated with the internal groove oriented axially, and the rod has at least one external shoulder (preferably two) suitable for sliding along the slots In this way the dispenser is provided with a mechanism of push button lock in extended position, in position retracted, or in both positions. In the Spanish patent ES P9800915 a mechanism of this type is already described. It basically consists of that the external projection of the stem travels through the internal groove axially oriented of the sheath during normal movements of  pumping. If the internal groove oriented angularly of the sheath is facing the external shoulder when the rod is in its extended position, then it is possible to make a turn of the button so that the external highlight travels through the internal slot angularly oriented. This way the external highlight is no longer is aligned with the axially oriented internal groove and is not it is possible to move the button to its retracted position: you have therefore a push button lock mechanism in position extended. In a similar way a mechanism of Push button lock in its retracted position: by turning the button when in its retracted position so that the external highlight travels an angular groove internally oriented and faced with the external highlight when the button is on the retracted position. The external highlight will be misaligned again with the internal groove oriented axially and the button will remain locked in the retracted position.

The object of the invention is also a manufacturing procedure of a fluid dispenser, where the dispenser comprises: [a] a shell defining a chamber of pumping and presenting an upper end, an internal surface and a bottom, [b] a hollow pushbutton, [c] a hollow rod that defines a upper edge and a lower edge, [d] an annular piston that externally it is in contact with the internal surface of the coquilla and that internally is in contact with the hollow rod, [e] a spring that exerts a force on the button that tends to separate it from the upper end, and [f] an inner sheath that covers an upper inner section of the shell, where the procedure of  manufacturing is characterized in that it comprises an injection stage of a component that simultaneously conforms the sheath and the stem joined together in a rigid way through an area weakened In this way the procedure of Dispenser manufacturing is simplified because by a single Injection stage both components are obtained, it is not necessary a stage of assembly of a component in the other, is only One-piece logistics and administrative management required instead of two, etc. Additionally, it must be taken into account that These types of pumps can be customized by the end customer. One form of customization is usually color. In this sense it they usually inject in certain colors the visible pieces of the dispenser set, and in a standardized color (usually transparent), those components not visible. So, in the bomb described in the Spanish patent ES P9800915, it is necessary to inject in color the following four elements: the push button, the thread which fixes the dispenser on the neck of the bottle, the cover and the stem. However, in the dispenser according to the invention, it is enough to inject only three elements in color: the button, the thread that fixes the dispenser on the neck of the bottle and the set formed by the cover and the stem. For the both the logistics savings by joining two pieces in one is so much more important because it is colored pieces, that is, I don't know it is about two pieces in total but two pieces for each color defined for that dispenser.

As already indicated above it can be provided that the weakened area is broken by the end user at use the dispenser for the first time, it can be broken by the customer from the dispenser manufacturer, which will usually be a manufacturer of cleaning products, cosmetics, perfumery, etc., which mount the dispenser in a bottle filled with liquid corresponding, or it can be broken by the manufacturer of the dispenser. In this sense it is advantageous that the process of according to the invention additionally comprise a stage of breakage of the weakened area. Preferably the breaking stage is Simultaneously with a stage of mounting the button on the rod. In fact, the button is usually mounted on the stem by Enclosed For this the procedure comprises a stage of positioning of the push button on the stem and a subsequent push button compression on the rod until the force of Enclosed In this sense you can take advantage of the movement of compression to exert superior force and break the area weakened

It should be noted that, once the area is broken weakened, the dispenser can be confused with a dispenser conventional. However, if it has been manufactured using a procedure according to the invention will have had the advantages cited above. Therefore it should be understood that the invention It also aims at a fluid dispenser manufactured by the method according to the invention. Usually it will be inevitable that the weakened area, once broken, remains Appreciable as a small burr or "scar."

The object of the invention is also a component of a fluid dispenser, where the dispenser it comprises: [a] a shell that defines a pumping chamber and that it has an upper end, an inner surface and a bottom, [b] a hollow push button, [c] a hollow shank that defines an edge top and bottom edge, [d] an annular piston that externally it is in contact with the internal surface of the coquilla and that internally is in contact with the hollow rod, [e] a spring that exerts a force on the button that tends to separate it from the upper end, and [f] an inner sheath that covers an upper inner section of the shell, characterized in that simultaneously conforms the sheath and the stem joined together of a rigid shape through a weakened area. Effectively, As can be seen from everything described above, the invention is compatible with virtually any dispenser and manufacturing process thereof. The invention is totally concentrated in the manufacture of this component that conforms simultaneously the cover and the stem, and that presents an area weakened between them. Previously several have already been described optional improvements to the dispenser, which were really directly related to the component that conforms Simultaneously the cover and the stem. In this sense the invention also aims at a component that conforms simultaneously the cover and the stem and that additionally understand the improvements Optional described above.

Brief description of the drawings

Other advantages and features of the invention they are appreciated from the following description, in which, without no limiting character, a preferred mode of embodiment of the invention, mentioning the drawings that are accompany. The figures show:

Fig. 1, a side elevation view of a longitudinal section of a dispenser according to the state of The technique.

Fig. 2, a side elevation view of a longitudinal section of a dispenser according to the invention.

Fig. 3, a perspective view of a section longitudinal of a component according to the invention.

Fig. 4, a perspective view of a section longitudinal of the sheath corresponding to the component of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5, a perspective view of a stem corresponding to the component of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6, a side elevation view of a longitudinal section of the component of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7, a side elevation view of a longitudinal section of the component of Fig. 3, rotated 90 ° with respect to the view of Fig. 6.

Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

Figure 1 shows a dispenser like the described in Spanish patent ES P9800915. The dispenser it comprises a nozzle 1 that defines a pumping chamber 3 and that It has an upper end, an internal surface and a bottom. A Push button 5 is mounted on the upper end of a rod 7. A piston 9 is mounted on the lower end of the rod 7 annular that externally is in contact with the internal surface of the shell 1 and that internally is in contact with the rod 7. During the pumping movement the piston 9 moves to the stem length 7 a length long enough to open a step that allows fluid communication between the camera pumping 3 and the inside of the rod 7. A spring 11 exerts a force on button 5 so that it tends to move it away from upper end of the pumping chamber 3. The upper end of the Spring 11 is covered by a tubular projection 13 of the stem 7. The dispenser also comprises a sheath 15 that covers the section upper bottom of the shell 1. This case 15 has two internal grooves angularly oriented 17 in its lower part and two others in its upper part, and the stem 7 has two external highlights 19 which, in figure 1, are housed precisely in the angular grooves oriented angularly 17 arranged at the top of the cover 15. The cover 15 it also comprises two internal axially oriented grooves 21, not visible in figure 1, turning the button 5 about 90 ° with respect to the position shown in figure 1, then the highlight 19 is aligned with the internal grooves oriented axially 21 and the pumping movement can be performed.

The invention is clearly seen in the Figure 3. This figure shows the component according to the invention that simultaneously forms a cover 15 and a rod 7 of a dispenser substantially similar to that described above, where the sheath 15 and the stem 7 are joined between yes in a rigid way through a weakened area formed by bridges 23 of material extending between the sheath 15 and the stem 7. Figures 4 and 5 show the cover 15 and the stem 7 separately, that is, as they will be broken once the bridges 23 that unite them. Stem 7 has two projections 19 that They are suitable for sliding along two internal grooves axially oriented 21 arranged in the sheath 15. In the example concrete of figures 3 to 5 the cover 15 and the stem 7 have a button 5 locking mechanism that allows locking only when button 5 is in its extended position. So, the cover 15 comprises two angular grooves internally oriented 17 communicating with axially oriented internal grooves 21 and that allow the highlights 19 to move along when turning button 5 about 90 ° from the position of pumping. At the beginning of the angular grooves internally oriented 17 there are some small bumpers 25 that force a small effort to perform the rotation of the button 5. This allows prevent the push button 5 from being in the locked position of inadvertently and / or the locked button 5 is unlocked also in an inadvertent way.

The component according to the invention that simultaneously forms a cover 15 and a rod 7 is a piece of plastic material shaped by injection. As such piece formed by injection comprises a first section of general food, which is the section that faces the feed duct (or feed ducts if there are more than one) through which the plastic material to fill flows the mold cavity corresponding to the piece in question. Preferably the feed duct (or the ducts of feeding in case they are more than one) is located in a point corresponding to the sheath 15. Therefore, the stem 7 will be filling of plastic material through the weakened area, in the example of fig. 3 specifically through bridges 23. From this way the weakened area defines a second section of food, which is the food section responsible for allow the passage of molten plastic material to the stem. Advantageously the second feed section is larger than the first feeding section, and very advantageously the second feeding zone is greater than 1.2 times the first section of feeding. It is particularly preferred that the second section power supply is between 1.4 times and 3 times the First feeding section. Indeed, this way you get an optimal combination of the various parameters involved: injection speed, pressure and temperature of injection, material to be injected, subsequent mechanical resistance of the weakened area, etc.

Figures 6 and 7 clearly show the bridges 23 that make up the weakened area that joins the sheath 15 with the stem 7. In the concrete example of the figures, the union between the cover 15 and the stem 7 is made through four bridges 23. However, it is possible to design other solutions that include different amounts of bridges (2, 3, 6, etc.) or even others geometries, such as a continuous annular zone that extends between the sheath 15 and stem 7.

Figure 2 shows a dispenser of according to the invention comprising a cover 15 and a stem 7 as described above. It can be seen that the end upper spring 11 is covered by a tubular projection 13 arranged on button 5. On a rod 7 according to the invention would not be possible to comprise a tubular projection 13 of this type since it would not be possible to unmold the set formed by rod 7 and sheath 15.

Claims (22)

1. Fluid dispenser comprising: [a] a nozzle (1) defining a pumping chamber (3) and having an upper end, an internal surface and a bottom, [b] a hollow button (5), [ c] a hollow rod (7) defining an upper edge and a lower edge, [d] an annular piston (9) that is externally in contact with said internal surface of said shell (1) and internally in contact with said hollow rod (7), [e] a spring (11) that exerts a force on said push button (5) that tends to separate it from said upper end, and [f] an inner sheath (15) covering a superior inner section of said shell (1), characterized in that said sheath (15) and said hollow rod (7) are rigidly connected to each other through a weakened area.
gives. 2. Dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that said weakened area is capable of being broken by a manual force exerted on said rod (7) or said push button (5) mounted on said rod (7). 3. Dispenser according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said weakened area is capable of being rotated by a force greater than 10 Newton, exerted on said rod (7) or said push button (5) mounted on said rod (7) . 4. Dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said weakened area is capable of being broken by a force less than 200 Newton, exerted on said rod (7) or said push button (5) mounted on said rod (7) . 5. Dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said weakened area is formed by bridges (23) of material extending between said sheath (15) and said rod (7). Dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said piston (9) slides along a sliding zone of said rod (7) and that said weakened zone is disposed outside said sliding zone. 7. Dispenser according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said push-button (5) comprises a tubular projection (13) which houses an end of said spring (11) inside. Dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said sheath (15) is provided with at least one axially oriented internal groove (21) and at least one angularly oriented internal groove (17) and communicated with said groove internally oriented axially (21), and because said rod (7) has at least one external shoulder (19) suitable for sliding along said grooves. Dispenser according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises two of said angularly oriented internal grooves (17), each of them at one end of said axially oriented internal groove (21). 10. Method of manufacturing a fluid dispenser, wherein said dispenser comprises: [a] a nozzle (1) defining a pumping chamber (3) and having an upper end, an internal surface and a bottom, [b] a hollow pushbutton (5), [c] a hollow rod (7) defining an upper edge and a lower edge D, [d] an annular piston (9) that is externally in contact with said internal surface of said shell (1 ) and that internally it is in contact with said hollow rod (7), [e] a spring (11) that exerts a force on said push button (5) that tends to separate it from said upper end, and [f] a sheath (15 ) internal covering an upper inner section of said shell (1), characterized in that it comprises an injection stage of a component that simultaneously forms said sheath (15) and said rod (7) joined together in a rigid way through a weakened area Method according to claim 10, characterized in that it additionally comprises a stage of breaking said weakened area. 12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that said breaking stage is simultaneous with a mounting stage of said push button (5) on said rod (7). 13. Method according to any of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that in said injection stage of said component plastic material is injected into said component through a first general feed section and because said plastic material fills said rod (7) to through a second feed section defined by said weakened area, where said second feed section is larger than said first feed section. 14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that said second feeding zone is greater than 1.2 times said first feeding zone. 15. Component of a fluid dispenser, wherein said dispenser comprises: [a] a nozzle (1) defining a pumping chamber (3) and having an upper end, an internal surface and a bottom, [b] a push button (5) hollow, [c] a hollow rod (7) defining an upper edge and a lower edge, [d] an annular piston (9) that is externally in contact with said internal surface of said shell (1) and which internally it is in contact with said hollow rod (7), [e] a spring (11) that exerts a force on said push button (5) that tends to separate it from said upper end, and [f] an inner sheath (15) that It covers an upper inner section of said shell (1), characterized in that it simultaneously forms said sheath (15) and said rod (7) joined together in a rigid manner through a weakened area. 16. Component according to claim 15, characterized in that said weakened area is capable of being broken by a manual force exerted on said rod (7) or said push button (5) mounted on said rod (7). 17. Component according to one of claims 15 or 16, characterized in that said weakened area is capable of being broken by a force greater than 10 Newton, exerted on said rod (7) or said push button (5) mounted on said rod (7) . 18. Component according to any of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that said weakened area is capable of being broken by a force less than 200 Newton, exerted on said rod (7) or said push button (5) mounted on said rod (7) . 19. Component according to any of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that said weakened area is formed by bridges (23) of material extending between said sheath (15) and said rod (7). 20. Component according to any of claims 15 to 19, characterized in that said piston (9) slides along a sliding zone of said rod (7) and that said weakened zone is disposed outside said sliding zone. 21. Component according to any of claims 15 to 20, characterized in that said sheath (15) is provided with at least one axially oriented internal groove (21) and at least one angularly oriented internal groove (17) and communicated with said groove internally oriented axially (21), and because said rod (7) has at least one external shoulder (19) suitable for sliding along said grooves. 22. Component according to claim 21, characterized in that it comprises two of said angularly oriented internal grooves (17), each of them at one end of said axially oriented internal groove (21).