ES2325342T3 - DISTRIBUTOR OF FLUID PRODUCT WITH A FLEXIBLE BAG. - Google Patents

Abstract

Distributor of fluid products comprising: - a deformable flexible bag (24) arranged to contain the corresponding fluid product, constituted on the basis of a flexible material, having an open end defined by a peripheral part of said material, - a support (30) fixed to said bag, said support having a connection structure (32) received in the said open end of the bag and fixed in a sealed manner to the indicated material of the bag, the said connection structure (32) comprising said support (30) a plurality of spaced parallel flanges (46, 52) on which the integral material of the bag is welded, said support defining a passage opening (72) that establishes communication with the inside of the bag, - a body hole (80) that receives the said bag and that the indicated support is fixed, - a manual pump (14) mounted on the said support (30), extending e towards the inside of the said passage opening (72), this pump presenting an entrance in communication with the interior of the said bag and an outlet, said pump presenting a radially extending mounting flange (140), fixed to the said support for holding the pump between these two elements, - a clamping element defining an opening (192) located in a manner aligned with the said passage opening (72) and at least one fixing surface around said opening, presenting the said support or the indicated fastening element a cord (202), while the other element has a groove (74) arranged to receive the indicated cord, said support being provided and / or the said fastening element bending in a manner elastic to adapt to the relative displacement of the said cord and the aforementioned groove to engage mutually, engaging, characterized in that the flange (140) of the pump (14) which da fixed by clamping between the support (30) and the clamping element (130).

Description

Fluid product distributor with a bag flexible.

The present invention refers to a distributor of fluid products and, more particularly, at a set of components that can be coupled to constitute a type distributor comprising a manual pump and a bag flexible deformable designed to contain the corresponding product fluid.

Preferably, the flexible bag is filled under vacuum and is fixed to the hand pump. Flexible bag It is arranged inside a protective envelope which advantageously allows the penetration of the ambient air into the defined space between the flexible bag and the envelope. While Usually such a bag can work in a way satisfactory, it would be desirable to provide an improved conception from such a distributor so that it can be manufactured more easily.

In particular, it would be advantageous to provide an improved conception that could incorporate a manual pump conventional type. Such an improved conception would facilitate the fixation of the flexible pump, as well as its filling with the corresponding fluid product, fixing the pump, and the assembly of other components with a minimum number of stages of manufacturing or special manufacturing operations.

In addition, it would be beneficial to produce the indicated improved distributor so that it comprised only a limited number of components, which could be coupled with relatively quickly, with reduced costs and without the need for respect manufacturing and coupling tolerances relatively weak

It would be equally advantageous that different parts of the distributor components could be modified with relative ease in order to obtain different external configurations that could be desired in views for utilitarian or aesthetic purposes.

In the document EP-A-O 486 355 describes a distributor corresponding to the preamble of the first claim.

According to the invention, a distributor It can be easily assembled from a set of components. He filling with the product is preferably performed under vacuum. In a preferred embodiment, this operation results facilitated by organizing the components in two subsets. A first subset can be filled with the fluid product under vacuum, and then the second subset over the first to constitute the complete distributor.

For the constitution of the first subset can be assembled three components. One of the components is a flexible bag intended to contain the fluid product. The bag comprises a material flexible and has an open limb defined by one part peripheral material.

The second component of the first subset is constituted by a support fixed to the bag. The support has a connection structure ready to be received at the open end of the bag. The support connection structure is in solidarity waterproof to the integral material of the bag. The support presents a opening that is in communication with the outside of the bag.

The third component of the first subset is constituted by a body hollow or envelope that receives the bag and is fixed to the support preferably by crimping. According to a preferred way of realization, the envelope is substantially rigid in the greater part of its height and has a bottom that can serve as a base to position the distributor in a sensitive position vertical. Preferably, the base has one or more holes ventilation to allow ambient air to penetrate the inside the envelope around the bag.

The second subset is constituted from two main components and preferably comprises one or two additional components. The first of these components is a fastener that can be attached to the support of the first sub-assembly, preferably by snapping or snapping. The fixing element has an opening that is aligned with the opening of the support, and at least one fixing surface around the opening. A second component of the second sub-assembly is constituted by a manual pump that can be mounted between the support and the fixing surface of the clamping element. When the pump is correctly assembled, it extends inside the support opening and inside the opening of the clamping element. The pump has an opening to establish communication with the inside of the bag
deformable, and an exit that protrudes beyond the clamping element. This pump also comprises a flange.

The second subset preferably comprises a third component that is a joint independent designed to guarantee between the pump and the support on which it is mounted being retained by the clamping element

In addition, the second subset may optionally comprise a fourth component in the form of a cover or cap that is ready to be mounted on the outlet end of the pump and that can be removed by the user when the latter wishes to use the distributor.

Typically, the first sub-assembly is mounted by fixing waterproof way of the envelope on the support. Then the flexible bag can be filled with the corresponding product fluid, in the course of a vacuum filling procedure a through the opening of the support.

Then it can be mounted on the first subset the second subset constituted by the pump and the clamping element, in such a way that this fastener be fixed on the support. This operation is also performed under vacuum and preferably the board to which reference has been made is arranged on the pump before mounting the latter and the fastener on the support.

In case the distributor understands a cap, this cap can be initially fixed to the element of support above the pump before assembling the second subset over the first subset.

According to the invention, the distributor comprises the features listed in claim 1. The clamping element is thus crimped on the support keeping the pump trapped between them. Advantageously, said support has an annular wall that defines the indicated opening and that ends in a limb upper, this annular wall presenting an outer surface that defines the expressed groove in the form of an annular groove open to the outside, the indicated fastener comprises an annular sleeve arranged to receive the expressed annular wall of said support, the indicated flange is a flange that extends outward from the referred sleeve.

Advantageously, the connection structure it comprises a first set of spaced parallel flanges and a second set of spaced parallel flanges that extend from opposite way giving the connection structure a geometry noticeably diamond shaped. Preferably, each of the Flange sets comprises three flanges. The opening of the bag is It is therefore welded to the outer edges of the flanges in view to the constitution of a sealing barrier at the level of each One of these flanges. In fact, the material of the bag flexible welded on each flange in view of the formation of a complete peripheral welding bead. The multiplication of the flanges increases in the same proportion the number of sealing barriers. As a result of the welding is carried out only on the outer edges of the flanges, and not on a continuous flat surface, these flanges they experience a softening or partial fusion what guarantees a perfect quality of the welded joint. For other part, the rhomboidal shape or with an eye configuration allows an easy adaptation of the opening of the bag on the structure connection, taking into account that the flexible bag is often consisting of two sheets of material welded between yes.

Advantageously, said structure of connection comprises a hollow structure that protrudes down and which has a cylindrical opening defining a part of the total opening,

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two coplanar walls that extend radially outward to from the aforementioned hollow structure, and

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every one of the indicated flanges of the first and second referred flange set extends from the expressed structure hollow and from the aforementioned walls in a direction that by It will usually be perpendicular to these walls.

Preferably, the width of those referred flanges will decrease when moving away from the aforementioned opening.

According to another feature, each of the walls comprise an extreme part that extends beyond The flanges. These two extreme parts that come in the form of tabs with their two rhombus-shaped limbs at the level of which joins the integral material of the flexible bag. These two extreme parts, when welding of the bag on the connection structure, they become partially melted and become thinner than the opening of the bag at the point where it leaves the structure of Connection can be perfectly unitive. It is avoided in this way. any risk of leaks at this level.

According to another interesting feature of the invention, said support comprises at least one protruding rib outward, said said body at least one step that extends inwards, and at less an element between said support and said body is is able to flex resiliently to adapt to the relative displacement of the indicated rib and the expressed step to prey establishing a snag. Advantageously, said support comprises a plurality of ribs and the indicated body has a plurality of steps, each of said ribs being available to snag with one of the indicated steps. Apart and in addition to conform the connection structure for the bag, the support defines means that allow it to be crimped on the rigid envelope. Under these conditions, these three elements - support, bag and envelope- can be previously mounted in order to constitute the first subset that has been made previously mentioned. It is only necessary to fill the flexible bag and mount the pump on the support to obtain a distributor full.

Advantageously, said rib presents an inclined cam-shaped surface. On the other hand, the indicated body has an inclined cam-shaped surface above the expressed step. In this way, the two surfaces Shaped inclined cam can cooperate with each other to facilitate the hooking of the support on the envelope.

According to one aspect of the invention, the said body has an emptying above the indicated step ready to receive the expressed rib.

Preferably, the said integrating material of the bag is a thermo-weldable thermoplastic material, being molded the indicated support from a thermoplastic material heat-sealable, the expressed connection structure being heat sealed of said support to said bag.

The invention will now be described by making reference to the accompanying drawings in which, by way of example not limiting, there is an embodiment of the present invention.

In these drawings:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a complete distributor mounted from components according to an embodiment of the invention,

- Figure 2 is a sectional view Large-scale and exploded cross-section of some of the distributor components,

- Figure 3 is a sectional view cross-sectional scale of the same distributor represented in the Figure 1 with the cap properly positioned,

- Figure 4 is a top plan view of the support corresponding to the section line 4-4 of figure 2,

- Figure 5 is a top plan view of the support,

- Figure 6 is a partial view, a larger scale, in cross section along the line 6-6 of Figure 3,

- Figure 7 is a sectional view partial transverse on a larger scale along the line 7-7 of figure 3,

- Figure 8 is a sectional view Large-scale cross section along the section line 8-8 of Figure 3, and

- Figure 9 is a partial view in perspective and exploded view of the envelope and the support of the bag.

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In figure 1 a distributor according to the invention, designated as a whole with reference number 10. The distributor is available of distributing a fluid product, typically a liquid, a cream, a paste or an analogous product. This distributor is therefore appropriate within the fields of cosmetics, perfumery and pharmacy.

The distributor 10 comprises a box on the that a manual pump 14 is mounted. This pump 14 can belong to a conventional type that presents a pumping chamber in which a piston that can be operated is arranged exerting a pressure on a button 16 to distribute a certain amount of fluid product at the orifice level of distribution 18. On pump 14 it can be mounted removably an optional cap 14 (figures 1 and 3).

The distributor 10 comprises a flexible bag deformable 24 containing the corresponding fluid product. This bag 24 is constituted from a flexible material. This material can be a thermoplastic material, preferably heat-weldable, such as a polyvinyl chloride film, of polypropylene or analog. The bag 24 can be constituted from two sheets or sheets of the indicated material that are welded each other through three of its edges, as noted with reference 26 in figure 3, to define a bag that be closed for the most part and have a limb open

The open end of the bag 24 is tightly attached to a support 30 (fig. 3). This stand 30 it comprises a connection structure 32 (fig. 3) that is received in the open end of the bag 24. The connection structure 30 it comprises a hollow structure 36 that protrudes downward and that defines a generally cylindrical opening 38 that communicates with the inside the deformable bag 24.

As shown in Figure 3, the connection structure 32 comprises two coplanar walls 41 and 42 that extend radially outward from the hollow structure 36. As shown in Figure 5, of according to a preferred embodiment, wall 41 it has a distal end portion of reduced thickness 56. Of a analogously, wall 42 has a distal end portion of reduced thickness 58.

A first set of ribs or parallel flanges spaced 46, for example, in number of three, extends laterally outward on one of the sides from walls 41 and 42 and from the hollow structure 36.

As shown in Figure 8, a second set of spaced parallel flanges 52, for example, in number three, extends laterally in the opposite direction to from the other side of walls 41 and 42 and from the hollow structure 36, so that the connection structure 32 It presents a configuration that is substantially rhombus shaped or eye.

Preferably, the flanges become more narrow as they move away from opening 38, that is, the width of these flanges decreases as the distance increases from the opening 38. As shown in the figure 5, the connection structure 32 has a configuration that is to a certain extent similar to that of an open human eye in which the opening 38 develops pupil functions and the structure that the surround develops functions of the white of the eye.

As depicted in figures 6 and 7, the deformable bag 24 will preferably be heat welded or fixed through any other edge-tight system elongated peripherals of the connection structure flanges 46 and 52. In addition, deformable bag 24 is heat welded at distal end portions of reduced thickness 56 and 58 of the walls 41 and 42, respectively. In this way, the open limb of the bag 24 is fixed tightly around the periphery of the connection structure 32 of the support, but keeps in communication with the inside of the flexible bag 24 a through the opening 35 in the hollow structure 36. The support 30 it comprises a platform 60 arranged above the flanges 40 and 42 and parallel to them. Platform 60 extends to along the central walls 41 and 42 staying connected to the themselves as well as the thinned end parts 56 and 58.

From platform 60 and up a pair of stiffening ribs 62 and a pair of 64 stiffening ribs shorter. From the platform 60 also an annular wall 68 protrudes upwards which it has an upper limb 69 (fig. 2). The outer face of the surface of the annular wall 68 has an annular groove 74 open to the outside.

The annular wall 68 has an opening 70 which extends coaxially from the opening 38 in the lower hollow structure 38. Openings 38 and 70 define in set a passage opening 72 (figs. 2, 4 and 5) through the which support 30 is in communication with the interior of the bag 24. The opening 72 must be wide enough to be able to receive the lower end of the pump 14.

The support platform 60 comprises about means or a structure for connecting the support 30 to a body hollow or envelope 80 that surrounds and protects the deformable bag 24. The hollow body 80 has an open upper limb for receive the support platform 60 and has a limb of closed bottom that defines a generally flat base 84 arranged to keep the distributor in an upright position. Preferably, the base 84 has one or more holes of ventilation 86 intended to allow outside air to penetrate the interior of the defined space between the envelope and the bag flexible 24.

In its open upper limb, the envelope 80 has an inner peripheral step (fig. 9). 80 housing it presents four empty spaces 90 adjacent to step 88. The bottom of each of these emptyings 90 is defined by the step 90. The top of each of said emptyings 90 It is defined by a step above 94 (fig. 7). He upper edge of the envelope 80 located above each of the steps 94 are inclined or chamfered to define a cam-shaped surface 98 (fig. 7).

The support 30 has four elements of connection or ribs 102 intended to be received individually in each of the recesses 90 of the envelope. Each of the ribs 102 protrudes laterally from the side of the support platform 60. Each of the ribs 102 comprises an upwardly directed step 106 and a surface inclined in the form of a slide inclined inwards 112 (fig. 7).

The support 30 or the envelope 80, or both, remains in a position to deform in an elastic manner, at least in the area occupied by the ribs of the lid 102 and / or in the area occupied by the steps 94 of the envelope, so that they are able to adapt to relative displacements of the ribs of the cover 102 and of the steps of the envelope 94 to fit each other under pressure, establishing a system of hooked. This possibility is facilitated by the slip-shaped surfaces 98 of the envelope that set initially a snap fit system with the surfaces in Cam form 112 of the ribs of the platform. When apply sufficiently important opposite axial forces on the support 30 and on the envelope 80, a temporary deformation of one or both of these components in radial direction so that the ribs of the platform 102 can move beyond the inner extremities of the upper steps 94 of the envelope. The ribs 102 pass to staying between the upper steps 94 of the envelope and the internal steps 88 as shown in figure 7, establishing the expressed engagement.

After the deformable bag 24 is found fixed tightly to support 30 and after this support 30 is fixed to the hollow or enclosure body 80, as it has been described above, the resulting set can be qualified of lower or first subset subset that can be supplied to manufacturer of the corresponding fluid product to fill with this last the flexible bag 24. Next, they are installed on the first sub-assembly already filled the components additional distributor, consisting of a upper or second subset subset as described continuation.

The second subset or upper subset intended to be mounted on the lower subset comprises at least two components. One of these components of upper sub-assembly is constituted by the pump 14, and the other component is a fastener 130 (fig. 2). He button 16 can be considered as a part of the pump 14. The upper subset may preferably also comprise other additional components, such as a gasket 134 (fig. 2) and cap 20 (figs. 2 and 3). The bomb is It is initially mounted inside the clamping element 130, together with joint 134 in the event that this is used meeting.

Pump 14 has a mounting flange 140 extending radially (figs. 2 and 3) to be positioned above or below the annular wall 68 of the support 30. Preferably, in order to ensure a perfect seal, the gasket 134 is disposed between the pump flange 140 and the upper extremity 69 of support 30. However, depending on the materials used for the constitution of the pump 14 and / or of support 30, the board 134. can be dispensed with variant, the joint 134 can be an integral part of the flange of pump 140 or upper end 69 of bracket 30.

Pump 14 can be any pump without air intake and comprises an internal chamber (not visible) in the that a piston is arranged (not visible). This piston is is mounted on a hollow drive rod 146 which is extends beyond the upper extremity of the pump body 14. Push button 16 is mounted on said rod 146. By means of a pressure exerted on the button, the lowering of the piston in the inner chamber, so that the product fluid that occupies this chamber is driven through the hollow stem drive 146 and through the distribution hole 18.

The fastener 130 comprises a convex cap 160 that gives the set a configuration External nice. The lower extremity of the cap 160 has a flange 162 protruding laterally. In four points around of the cap 160, above the flange 162, there are small ones protrusions 166 protruding outwards (figs 1 and 7). Each of these protuberances 166 is available to set a crimp with a bump or cord 170 that is extends radially inwards at the bottom of the cap 20. This cap 20 and / or the bottom of the bowl 160 of the clamping element can be elastically deformed in views to adapt to the relative movements between the cap 20 and bowl 160 when that cap is installed on the distributor. The cap and / or the bowl may deform sufficiently to allow cap flange 179 to pass to position below the bumps 166 of the bowl 160. This constitutes a crimp system.

An annular sleeve 190 protrudes down to from the cover 160 on the fastener 130 (fig. 2). He sleeve 190 defines an opening or passage 192 that adapts to the annular wall 58 of the support 30 and the part of the pump 14 which protrude upwards (fig. 3).

From the annular sleeve 190 of the element of clamp extends radially inwardly an annular flange 196 that is ready to snag or snap with the upper surface of the pump flange 140 (fig. 6). He sleeve 190 also comprises a cord 202 that extends inward and that is ready to be received in the annular groove 74 provided in the annular wall 68 of the support. The annular wall of the support 68 or the sleeve of the clamping element 90, or both, can be elastically deformed at least in the area of the cord 202 and / or the groove 74, in order to be able to adapt to the relative displacements of the cord 202 and the groove 74 to snap by snap fit.

By way of preferred variant, the element of clamping can comprise a means of crimping on its periphery external willing to cooperate with body 80 determining the fixing of the support 30 by snap fit between said elements. For this purpose it is sufficient that the fastener be find, for example, a crimping flange and that the hood is provided with an edge that has a groove of hooked. In this case, it is not necessary that the element clamp cooperate by hooking with the support, as is the case in the embodiment described above, in which the cord 202 starts to be engaged in slot 74. However, it fits perfectly imagine the combination of the two systems of hooked.

It should be noted that the characteristics that allow to fix the support to the body can be put into practice regardless of the characteristics related to the structure of connection of the support. In other words, the fixing technique of the bag on the support and the support fastening technique to The envelope are independent.

Typically, pump 14 is initially found arranged in the fastener 130. If desired, it fits also the possibility of initially mounting the cap 20 by hooked on the clamping element 130 above the pump 14. In this case, this upper subset is ready to be mounted on the support 30 of the lower subset. When both sub-assemblies are correctly coupled such as shown in figures 3 and 6, the pump flange 140 is trapped between the flange 196 of the clamping element and the upper extremity 69 of the support wall and the extremity upper 69 of the annular wall 68 of the support. Preferably, the gasket 134 is disposed between the pump flange 140 and the upper end 69 of the support wall to ensure a Perfect degree of tightness.

Before coupling the two subsets together, the lower sub-assembly must be filled with the corresponding fluid product. Preferably, the operation of filling is carried out under vacuum. Next, always under empty, the subset is placed in position upper on bracket 30 of subassembly lower so that a crimp is established between the support 30 and the fastener 130. The set of components of according to the invention it can be easily manufactured from thermoplastic materials of a relatively reduced cost. In these conditions, distributors made from expressed set of components can be considered distributors single use only.

The set of components can be easily coupled in view of the constitution of a distributor that remains in Conditions to be easily used. Except for what affects the cap 20, the components cannot be easily separated, and the complete distributor protects the product against any oxidation or external contamination.

Regarding the connection structure 32 of support 30, which defines a set of parallel flanges spaced, this structure allows easy bag welding deformable, while ensuring perfect tightness, as a consequence of the flange edges as well as the end parts 58 and 56 partially melt at the time of carry out the welding stage. Each of the edges of the molten ribs in the manner indicated constitutes a perfect sealing barrier. In addition, the end portions 56 and 58 that are partially melt during welding provide a perfect transition element at the level at which the two join each other material sheets integral to the bag.

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References cited in the description

This list of references cited by the applicant is directed exclusively to help the reader and not form part of the European patent document. Even if in conception maximum care has been observed, errors cannot be excluded or omissions and the OEB declines any responsibility in this sense.

Patent documents cited in the description

EP 0486355 A [0005]

Claims (9)

1. Distributor of fluid products comprising:

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a deformable flexible bag (24) arranged to contain the corresponding fluid product, consisting of a material flexible, which has an open limb defined by one part peripheral of said material,

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a support (30) fixed to said bag, said support presenting a connection structure (32) received at said end open from the bag and fixed tightly to the indicated material member of the bag, comprising the expressed structure of connection (32) of said support (30) a plurality of flanges spaced parallels (46, 52) on which the integral material of the bag, said support defining a passage opening (72) that establishes communication with the interior from the bag,

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a hollow body (80) that receives said bag and is fixed the indicated support,

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a manual pump (14) mounted on said support (30), extending into the expressed passage opening (72), presenting this pump an entry in communication with the inside the referred bag and an outlet, presenting said pump a radially extending mounting flange (140), fixed to the referred support to hold the pump between these two elements,

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a clamping element defining an opening (192) located of manner aligned with said passage opening (72) and at least one fixing surface around said opening, presenting the expressed support or the indicated fastening element a cord (202), while the other element has a groove (74) ready to receive the indicated cord, with the referred support and / or the said flexion clamping element in an elastic way to adapt to the relative displacement of the expressed cord and the aforementioned slot to fit each other, snagging

characterized in that the flange (140) of the pump (14) is fixed by clamping between the support (30) and the clamping element (130). 2. Distributor according to claim 1, in the that said support comprises an annular wall (68) that defines the indicated passage opening (72) and ending at one end upper, the indicated annular wall presenting a surface exterior presenting the said groove (74) in the form of a annular groove open outwards, including the indicated fastener an annular sleeve (190) arranged to receive the expressed annular wall of the indicated support, and the expressed cord (202) a cord that extends inwards on the said sleeve. 3. Distributor according to any of the claims 1 and 2, wherein on said body (80) is find a fastener (130) holding clamped between both elements the support (30). 4. Distributor according to one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the clamping element (130) is It is equipped with receiving means for the pump (14). 5. Distributor according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said support (30) It has at least one protruding rib on the outside (102), the indicated body (80) comprising at least one step which extends inwards (94), and being available to less an element between the expressed support and the indicated body of flex flexibly to adapt to displacement relative of said rib and of the expressed step to fit one in another, establishing a crimp. 6. Distributor according to claim 5, in the that said support (30) has a plurality of ribs and the indicated body (80) has a plurality of steps, each of those ribs being available Unzip on one of these steps. 7. Distributor according to claim 5 or 6, in which said body has a recess (90) above the indicated step ready to receive the said rib. 8. Distributor according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the connection structure (32) comprises a first set of spaced parallel flanges (46) and a second set of spaced parallel flanges (52) that extend opposite, conferring on the connection structure (32) a substantially diamond-shaped geometry. 9. Distributor according to claim 8, in the that the referred material of the bag is a material thermo-weldable thermoplastic, the indicated support being molded to from a thermoplastic thermo-weldable material, and the expressed thermally welded connection structure to the referred bag.