ES2349593T3 - DISTRIBUTION ELEMENT OF FLUID PRODUCT AND DISTRIBUTOR THAT INCLUDES AN ELEMENT OF THIS TYPE. - Google Patents

Abstract

Fluid product distribution element intended to be associated with a reservoir (2) of fluid product having a neck (21), said element comprising: - a body (1 ') that delimits at least in part a product chamber (10) fluid, said body being provided with fixing means (11) on the neck of the tank, said body comprising a fluid product inlet that connects the inside of the tank with the fluid product chamber, - a push button (3 ') mounted on the body axially movable between a rest position and a sunken position, and - a spring (5 ') requesting the button in the rest position, - the spring being fully housed inside the button, characterized in that: - the body It is made of transparent or translucent material, and because the element further comprises an axially movable piston element (4 ') inside the button (3'), the spring (5 ') requesting the piston element ( 4 ') and the button (3') in the rest position, with the spring resting on one side on the body (1 ') and on the other hand on the piston element (4').

Description

Fluid product distribution element and distributor comprising such an element.

The present invention relates to an element of distribution of fluid product generally intended for associate with a fluid product reservoir to together constitute a fluid product distributor. It is an element of distribution whose drive is generally performed in a manner manual with the help of a user's finger. The fluid product is distributed in the form of a stream of fine powdered droplets, of a jet or even in the form of a portion of fluid product, particularly in the case of viscous product, such as creams Cosmetics A fluid product distribution element of this type can be used especially in the fields of perfumery, the cosmetic or even the pharmacy to distribute more products or less viscous.

The present invention deals, more particularly, but not exclusively, with a type of distribution element that is usually referred to as the "pump-button". Such designation is explained by the fact that the distribution element comprises a push button that not only forms a distribution hole, but also defines a part of a fluid product chamber in which the fluid product is selectively pressured. In the case of a pump, it is a pump chamber. A particular feature of this pulsator pump lies in the fact that an internal surface of the pulsator, generally substantially cylindrical, serves as a sealed sliding cylinder for a piston that travels in sealed contact in this cylinder in order to selectively uncover the orifice of distribution. This piston is, in general, a differential type piston that travels in response to a variation of fluid product pressure inside the chamber. This differential piston must be distinguished from the main piston whose displacement is generated by the actuation of the button. Thus, in such a pulsator pump, there is a differential piston and a main piston, which can be moved in sealed contact in respective cylinders. The main cylinder for the main piston may also be formed by the
button.

This is the case especially in the pump described in WO 97/23304. The button comprises a support wall on which a pressure is exerted with the help of a finger to press the button. In addition, the button comprises a skirt that extends down from the support wall. This skirt forms a first watertight sliding cylinder for a differential piston and a second main cylinder for the piston Main pump. The differential piston is dissociated from the main piston The differential piston is requested moving away from the support wall by a spring that serves at the same time as recovery spring and precompression spring. The cylinder Differential piston slip is formed with a conduit  output leading to a sprayer incorporated in a housing formed in the skirt of the button. This sprayer forms a distribution hole at which the product comes out distribution element fluid. In addition, the accommodation formed by the skirt is done with a swirl system that acts together with the sprayer to confer to the fluid product a swirling movement before exiting through the hole of distribution. When pressed on the button, the piston main rises in the main cylinder of the button, which it has the effect of displacing the differential piston by sliding watertight inside the differential cylinder. This has as compress spring effect: differential piston travels then upwards towards the support wall of the button. The active sealing lip of the differential piston, which is directly in contact with the fluid product, it slides into the Bottom of the cylinder located under the exit channel. When the differential piston reaches the level of the outlet duct, the Pressurized fluid product in the chamber is ejected from the chamber at through the duct and reaches the sprayer where it is put in swirl and ejected through the distribution hole.

The present invention therefore addresses mainly, but not exclusively, of this type of element distribution best known by the term "pump-button". The present invention addresses, even more particularly, though not exclusively, of elements of pump-button type distribution used as sample. In this case, the small distribution element Small size and capacity is mounted on a small tank size, usually designated with the term "vial". This bottle is usually made of stretched glass, although it can also be made of plastic or metal material. In the very general field of samples, and more particularly in the field of perfumery, perfume samples are presented to often in the form of a glass bottle with a stopper. This stopper can be made in two parts, namely a base part fixedly mounted on the vial at the level of its opening, and a cover part that can be mounted tightly, although removable on the base part.

The user immediately sees that this sample it comprises a deposit part, a base part and a cover part. The base part constitutes the contact surface or the joint between the lid part and the deposit part.

In general, the base part and the cover part They are made of economical plastic materials, which are generally translucent or transparent. Therefore it can be seen through the base part and / or the cover part.

The purpose of the present invention is make a fluid product distribution element, and more generally a distributor of fluid product, which presents globally the general appearance of a conventional plug formed by a base part and a cover part.

For this, the present invention proposes a fluid product distribution element intended to be associated with a fluid reservoir that has a neck, said element comprising a body that delimits at least a fluid product chamber part, said body being provided with fixing means on a neck of the tank, comprising said body a fluid product inlet that connects the interior of the reservoir with the fluid chamber, a mounted push button on the body axially displaceable between a position resting and a sunken position, and a spring that requests the button in rest position, characterized in that the spring It is fully housed inside the button and the body is  made of transparent or translucent material. So in comparison with a conventional prior art plug, the button visually acts as a cover element, while that the body visually acts as a fixed base part over the tank or the bottle. By fully accommodating the spring in inside the button, the spring is not visible by the user. On the other hand, when making the body of plastic material transparent or translucent, visually resembles the part of Classic base of a conventional plug. The spring is the component more easily visible of the distribution element, since It is conventionally made of steel. Therefore it is important in the framework of the present invention hide it inside the button, which can be made in turn of a material opaque, white or colored plastic.

The purpose sought by housing the spring inside the push button is to hide all the elements visible constituents of the pump inside an element opaque.

Advantageously, the button comprises a skirt side mounted around an internal guide bushing formed by the body. Preferably, the skirt and the cap they comprise complementary stop means defining the position standby ... The button can thus move axially around of a body part.

According to another feature of the invention, the fixing means are made in one piece with the body, and are intended to advantageously engage around the neck. The distribution element further comprises an element. piston axially movable inside the push button, requesting the spring the piston element and the button in resting position

According to the invention, the spring is supported by a side on the body and on the other hand on the element of piston.

According to another feature, the piston element forms a mobile inlet valve element adapted to lean tightly on an inlet valve seat formed by the body. According to one embodiment, the element Piston is fully housed inside the button. Be thus dispenses with the use of a steel ball as moving element of inlet valve. In effect, it could be seen through the transparent or translucent body, which would harm the aesthetics of the distribution element, and because of that distributor as a whole.

Also housing the piston element in the button, all functional parts of the distribution element they are housed and hidden inside the button preferably opaque.

Thus, for the user, the element of distribution of the invention is presented globally or generally in the form of a conventional plug formed by a base part and a cover part. Therefore, the distribution element can be integrated into a product range composed at the same time by plugs and distribution elements.

The present invention also defines a fluid product distributor comprising a reservoir of fluid product and a distribution element as it has been described above in this document. Advantageously, the body is in tight contact with the neck of the tank. Not that way it is necessary to use a neck joint to perform the tightness between the body and the tank. In effect, the board, which in general it is made from an elastomeric material, it is opaque, and therefore visible through the body and / or the reservoir.

According to another feature of the invention, the tank, body and button have an outside diameter identical maximum, so that the distributor looks cylindrical overall, advantageously circular. This tubular aspect is also reinforces because the body fixing means are arranged around the neck of the tank and when the button is It extends around the body.

The invention will now be described more. extensively in reference to the attached drawings that give by way of non-limiting examples two embodiments of the invention.

In the figures: Figure 1 is a view in vertical cross section through a distribution element according to a first embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2a is a cross-sectional view. vertical through a fluid product distributor that puts in practice a distribution element according to a second form of embodiment of the invention in rest position, and

Figure 2b is a view similar to Figure 2a in driven position.

In the two embodiments of figures 1 and 2a, 2b, the distribution element of the invention is intended to be mounted or associated with a reservoir 2 of fluid product comprising a neck-shaped opening 21. This neck 21 it can form an outer peripheral thickening so that it defines a lower step, which will be used for hitching or fixing of the distribution element on the tank. He deposit comprises, in a classical manner, a deposit body bottom sealed by a bottom and that defines in its part upper one neck 21. Advantageously, the body of the reservoir can have a cylindrical shape at least part of its height and preferably at full height. The section of the cylindrical part  it can be advantageously circular, so that the deposit It has a general circular cylindrical tubular configuration. Obviously, the particular form of the deposit is not limiting for the present invention, which refers more particularly to distribution element

The neck 21 may be devoid of the step lower. The coupling of the distribution element can be carried out also inside the neck.

The distribution element, in the two modes of embodiment of the figures, is a precompression type pump. It is more particularly a type pump "pump-button" in the defined direction previously. However, the present invention can be applied to other types of pumps that are not push-button pumps. Do not However, in the two embodiments represented in the figures, the distribution element or pump comprises the following constituent elements, namely a body 1, a button 3, a piston element 4 and a spring 5. For the second embodiment of figures 2a and 2b, these references Numeric include an apostrophe.

The 1, 1 'body is preferably made of molded injected plastic material. According to the invention, the Plastic material used is transparent or at least translucent so that it can be seen through the body.

The body 1, 1 'is provided with means 11 of fixing, which in this case are advantageously carried out in one piece with the body. These fixing means 11 comprise a outer peripheral skirt intended to extend around the neck 21. For fixing the skirt on the neck, the skirt form one or several internal fixing profiles 111 destined (s) to be coupled under the step formed by the part thickened neck 21. The placement of skirt 11 on the neck can be made by insertion as a sleeve to pressure, and the final fixation is done by hooking to pressure under the step of the neck. Optionally, it can be provided for aeration step 112, as depicted in the Figure 1, to allow outside air to enter the tank a as the fluid product is removed by the element of distribution.

The skirt can also get caught in the neck.

The skirt 11 may have an external wall substantially cylindrical whose outer diameter is noticeably equal to that of the tank body, so that the skirt 11 is extends in the alignment of the tank, as can be seen in the figures. The skirt 11 thus contributes to attenuate or hide the throttling performed by the neck 21.

The 1, 1 'body is fixed thanks to the skirt 11 over the neck tightly. The tightness can be done with the help of a neck seal 113 that is crushed over the edge upper neck, as in figure 1. More precisely, the body forms an annular plate 12 that compresses the seal 113 when the profiles 111 of the skirt 11 are coupled under the step of the neck 21. Skirt 11 extends downward from the periphery external plate 12. In the second embodiment of the Figures 2a and 2b, there is no neck joint. The tightness is then guarantees by means of a sealing sleeve 18 that enters in tight contact with the inner wall of the neck 21. It is preferred this second embodiment because it allows avoiding the use of a joint, which is usually made of material opaque, therefore visible. Indeed, in the second mode of embodiment, the body 1 'is directly fixed on the neck 21 without using any additional parts, so that the user directly perceives that the body is fixed on the neck, since the body is made of a plastic material transparent or translucent.

The body 1, 1 'also forms a tube 14 submerged extending from the plate 12 into the interior of the tank 2. The submerged tube 14 and the sealing sleeve 18 they are the only elements of the body, and even of the element of distribution, which penetrate inside the neck of the tank. On the other hand, the body 1, 1 'forms a valve seat 13 of entry. This seat 13 is formed in figure 1 substantially at the level of the junction of the tube 14 submerged with the plate 12. A ball 6 rests selectively and tightly on seat 13 and It guarantees the function of moving element of inlet valve. In change, in the embodiment of figures 2a and 2b, the seat 13 is made at the end of a duct 17 of inlet that extends substantially in the extension of the tube 14 submerged. The submerged tube 14 extends downward from the plate 12, while the inlet duct 17 extends towards up from this same plate 12. Seat 13 of the valve input is made by a protruding peripheral cord radially inwards. This seat 13 acts together with a 6 'mobile inlet valve element that will be detailed more later in this document.

In the first embodiment of Figure 1, body 1 also forms a crown 15 that extends towards top from plate 12. This crown 15 defines at its end Top free a main piston lip 16. On the other hand, the body 1 defines an inlet conduit 17 that is partially serrated and extending from plate 12 to prolongation from seat 13.

In the second embodiment of the figures 2a and 2b, the body 1 'forms a crown 15 that extends towards top from plate 12. The inner cylindrical wall of the crown 15 serves as the main sliding cylinder for a piston 46 principal that will be detailed later in this document. On the other hand, the body 1 'forms an internal guide bushing 19 which is provided with a stop profile 191 that extends along the outer periphery of bushing 19. Inlet conduit 17 is extends concentrically inside the crown 15, which extends in turn concentrically inside the guide bushing 19.

In the embodiments that just described, the body 1 and 1 'is advantageously made of a single piece with all the constituent elements mentioned.

The button 3, 3 ', in the two modes of embodiment, comprises an upper support wall 31 and a skirt noticeably cylindrical peripheral 32. The skirt extends towards down from the outer periphery of the support plate 31. He user can exert a supportive force with the help of one of their fingers on the supporting wall 31. The skirt 32 is provided with a distribution hole 341, which may be formed by a sprayer 34 incorporated in a suitable housing 321 formed by the skirt. This is the case of figure 1. In figures 2a and 2b, the distribution hole 342 is formed directly by the skirt In both embodiments, the button can be equipped with a swirl system that allows the fluid product form a whirlpool before being distributed through hole 341 of distribution. The swirl system, in the embodiment of Figure 1 is fed by a small channel 33.

In both embodiments, the skirt 32 of the button forms a complementary internal stop profile 324 intended to act in conjunction with the top profile 191 that is formed by the guide bushing 19 in the second mode of embodiment and which is formed by the underside of the lip 16 main piston in the embodiment of Figure 1. When these two stop profiles are mutually coupled, the button is in a rest position, corresponding to the Figures 1 and 2a. Instead, when pressed on the surface 31 support, complementary stops move away, as shown in figure 2b. The skirt of the button then approaches the fixing skirt 11.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, the button 3 intermediately forms two cylinders 322 and 323 of different diameters The upper differential cylinder 322 of lower diameter is located at the level of hole 341 of distribution, and the small channel 33 flows to the level of this cylinder. The lower main cylinder 323 of larger diameter It is located just above the 324 stop profile. The lip 16 main piston is in tight sliding contact in the inside of this main 323 cylinder.

In the second embodiment, the wall internal of the skirt forms a differential cylinder 322 that presents a diameter greater than that at the level of which the distribution hole 341.

In the two embodiments, element 4, 4 'piston comprises a differential piston 41 having a lip in sliding contact sealed inside cylinder 322 differential. The differential piston slide allows you to create an exit passage for the pressurized fluid product inside of the distribution element. The fluid product can be ejected in this way through the distribution hole. The camera pump is created in this case between the body, the push button and the piston element

To request the piston element, and by both the button, towards the rest position of figures 1 and 2a, the spring 5, 5 'acts on the piston element 4, 4'. At first embodiment, the spring 5 rests on one side on the support wall 31 and on the other hand on the piston element 4. Thus, the piston element 4 is requested moving away from the wall 31 support. In the rest position, the piston element stops over the small inlet duct 17. The pump chamber 10 is define in this case between the crown 15, the plate 12, the seat 13, the main cylinder 323 and the piston element 4. When press on the support surface 31, the ball 6 sticks against the seat 13 and the button 3 start to move with respect to the body 1. Lip 16 slides tightly in the cylinder 323 main. Simultaneously, the piston element 4 starts from slide into differential cylinder 322 towards wall 31 of support compressing the spring 5. When the piston lip 41 differential reaches the level of channel 33, a step is created for the pressurized fluid product in chamber 10. You can exit this way towards the distribution hole 341.

In the second embodiment, the element 4 'piston forms a lip 46 of main piston in contact watertight slider inside the crown 15 that serves as main cylinder On the other hand, the piston element 4 'is crossed from one side to another by a step 44 that defines a part of the pump chamber 10. This pump chamber 10 is defined between the crown 15 and the inlet duct 17, by step 44 and a defined space between the upper surface of the piston 41 differential and the bottom surface of the support wall 31. By on the other hand, the piston element 4 'forms the mobile element 6' of inlet valve that acts together tightly and selective with the inlet valve seat 13. 5 'spring request the piston element 4 'towards the wall 31 of support for. For this, the spring 5 'rests on one side on a step of the guide bushing 19 and on the other hand under the piston 41 differential. This corresponds to the resting position of the figure 2nd. The passage between the pump chamber 10 and the hole 341 of distribution is prevented by a tight contact formed between the differential piston 41 and the support wall 31. Instead, when is pressed on the support wall 31, the main piston 41 is slide into cylinder 15 compressing spring 5 '. This has as an effect, move the piston element 4 'away from the Support surface 31 compressing the spring further. When he 4 'piston element detaches from the support wall 31, is created a passage between the pump chamber 10 and the hole 341 of distribution, so that the pressurized fluid product can get out.

It can be emphasized that, in the two modes of embodiment of the invention, the spring 5, 5 'is fully housed or inscribed inside button 3, 3 '. The push button it is preferably made of opaque plastic material or of color, so that the spring is not visible inside the button. It is in this respect a characteristic interesting of the invention, since the user cannot see the spring, even with the body made of transparent material or translucent.

Another interesting feature of the second embodiment lies in the fact that element 4 'of piston is also fully housed or inscribed inside the 3 'push button. In this way it is not visible by the user. By consequently, the distribution element has the appearance of a conventional plug, and not a pump. The user sees that the distribution element consists only of two pieces, in this case, the transparent or translucent body and the button, which It can resemble a conventional lid part.

Another interesting feature lies in the fact that the outer wall of the skirt 32 of the button extends  advantageously in the alignment of the fixing skirt 11, and also of the tank body 2. Thus, the distributor constituted by a reservoir and a distribution element according to the invention It has a general circular cylindrical tubular appearance.

The type of pump, in this case, a "pump-button" should not be considered as the only type of pump capable of implementing this invention. However, the pump-button is advantageous because it allows to host certain constituent elements of the pump inside a single and same element, in this case, the push button Because of this, the body can be transparent, what which further increases the appearance of simple plug.

Claims (9)

1. Fluid product distribution element intended to be associated with a reservoir (2) of fluid product that has a neck (21), said element comprising: - a body (1 ') that delimits at least in part a fluid product chamber (10), said body being provided with fixing means (11) on the neck of the tank, comprising said body a fluid product inlet that connects the interior of the reservoir with the fluid chamber, - a button (3 ') mounted on the body of axially movable way between a rest position and a sunken position, and - a spring (5 ') requested by the button in resting position, - the spring being fully housed in the inside of the button, characterized in that: - the body is made of material transparent or translucent, and because the element also includes an element (4 ') axially movable piston inside the push button (3 '), the spring (5') requesting the piston element (4 ') and the push button (3 ') in rest position, the spring resting on a side on the body (1 ') and on the other hand on the element (4') of piston. 2. Distribution element according to claim 1, wherein the button comprises a skirt (32) side coupled around an internal bushing (15; 19) of guided formed by the body. 3. Distribution element according to claim 2, wherein the skirt and the cap comprise complementary stop means (324, 191) defining the position of repose. 4. Distribution element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the means (11) of fixing are made in one piece with the body, and are intended to be advantageously coupled around the neck. 5. Distribution element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the element (4 ') of piston forms a mobile element (6 ') adapted inlet valve to rest tightly on a valve seat (13) of entrance formed by the body. 6. Distribution element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the element (4 ') of Piston is fully housed inside the button. 7. Distributor of fluid product comprising a fluid product reservoir and a distribution element according to any one of the preceding claims. 8. Distributor according to claim 7, in the that the body is in tight contact with the neck of the Deposit. 9. Distributor according to claim 7 or 8, in which the tank, the body and the button have a diameter identical maximum exterior, so that the distributor has a cylindrical overall appearance, advantageously circular.