FR2692559A1 - Security system for dispensing container - includes locking piece movable between locking position of operating tube and actuating position permitting dispensing of product - Google Patents

Abstract

The system is for use on a container which has a product outlet incorporating an operating tube (5). The locking piece (15) has a shaped opening (16,17) which interacts with the operating tube to prevent its movement when in the locked position. The product outlet may be either a valve or a pump. The locking piece is engaged in the operating tube. A shoulder (16) is arranged on the tube which prevents movement through the opening in the locking position. USE/ADVANTAGE - As a tamperproof closure for containers of spray products such as perfumes. Prevents unauthorised use esp. by children.

Description

 The present invention relates to a safety device for a packaging container provided with a dispensing member comprising an operating rod.

 Many packaging containers are known which are provided with a dispensing member such as a valve or a pump, for example in the field of cosmetics and perfumes.

 Such valves or pumps are generally of the pressure opening type, that is to say that the distribution of the product contained in the container is obtained by an axial displacement of the operating rod resulting from a pressure applied to it. this.

 For security reasons, it is desirable to be able to block the dispensing member in the closed position, to prevent undesired actuation of the valve or of the pump, or to make the actuation of the dispensing member complex to prevent its triggering by a child.

 The present invention aims to provide a safety device making it possible precisely to avoid such an undesired actuation of the valve or of the pump of a packaging container.

 The present invention relates to a safety device for a packaging container, provided with a dispensing member comprising an operating rod, characterized in that it comprises a movable locking part between a locking position of the rod. maneuver and at least one position allowing the actuation of said operating rod, said part and the operating rod having bearing surfaces capable of cooperating in the locking position of the locking part to axially immobilize said operating rod.

 The device according to the invention is therefore of particularly simple use, since it suffices to manipulate a single locking piece to at will block and release the operating rod.

 By operating rod is meant either a valve rod when the container is provided with a valve, in particular in the case of an aerosol container, or a pump rod when the container is equipped with a pump.

 Advantageously, the locking piece is engaged on the operating rod.

 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the operating rod passes through a lumen formed in the locking piece and has a shoulder bearing on a bearing surface of said piece delimiting said lumen in the blocking position of said locking piece.

 The light formed in the locking piece preferably has an elongated shape allowing a guided movement of said piece.

 In the locking position of the locking piece, the operating rod is locked axially with its shoulder resting on the bearing defining the lumen of the locking piece.

 In another position of the locking piece, the light has been moved relative to the operating rod and has dimensions around it which are sufficient to allow the shoulder of said operating rod to pass through the light in the event of pressure exerted on the operating rod.

 In a preferred embodiment, the locking piece is pivotally mounted, preferably about an axis parallel to the axis of said operating rod.

 In a preferred variant of this embodiment, the lumen of the locking piece extends in an arc which is centered on the pivot axis of the locking piece and which is enlarged by one end. to the other of this arc.

 Preferably, the lumen has a section whose ends are substantially the same shape as the section of the operating rod, for example circular.

 The end of the lumen which has the narrowest passage has a section which advantageously corresponds to the section of the operating rod outside the shoulder, while the end which has the widest passage has a section advantageously greater than that of said shoulder.

 In this variant, the locking piece is preferably made in the form of a plate.

 In this case, the light is produced in the thickness of the plate and the edges of this light constitute the bearing surface for the shoulder of the operating rod.

 Advantageously, the locking piece has the shape of a disc, preferably knurled on at least part of its periphery.

 Thus we can rotate the locking piece by exerting with a finger a tangential force on the knurled peripheral part of the disc.

 In addition, the locking piece may have a rim which thickens its knurled part and facilitates its handling.

 To avoid shearing of the operating rod during excessively rough handling of the device according to the invention, the locking piece may include stop means which limit the movements of the locking piece between its blocking position and its or its positions allowing the operation of said operating rod.

 Thus, the locking part does not exert any stress on the operating rod.

 For this purpose, a rim of the locking piece, which makes it possible to knurl on a surface of greater thickness, can also serve as a stop against the upper part of the body of the container, in each of the positions of the locking piece.

 Advantageously, one can have a return spring on the locking piece to bring the latter into the locking position of the operating rod. This return spring can be an integral part of the locking piece.

 The present invention also relates to a packaging container, comprising a body provided with a dispensing member comprising an operating rod, a cover mounted on this body covering said operating rod and comprising an actuating member of the operation, characterized in that it comprises a safety device as described above.

 In the embodiment in which the locking piece of said security device is pivotally mounted, the cover of the container advantageously comprises an axis constituting the pivot axis of said locking piece.

 In this embodiment, the cover preferably comprises a lateral slot into which said locking piece engages.

In order to better understand the invention we will now describe embodiments given by way of examples and without any limiting character with reference to the accompanying drawing in which
FIG. 1 represents a perspective view, partially cut away and in axial section of the upper part of a container according to a first embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 2 is a sectional view along II-II of FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 in which the locking piece has been operated,
FIG. 4 is a view in axial section of a container according to a second embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 4 of a container according to a third embodiment of the invention, and
- Figure 6 is a sectional view along VI-VI of Figure 5.

 The container shown in Figure 1 is constituted by a container body 1, in particular metallic, which is equipped with a distribution valve 2 mounted at its upper part.

 The valve 2 comprises a fixing cup 3 which supports the valve mechanism of which only the upper part has been shown here.

 This mechanism includes a valve body 4, a valve stem 5 and an elastic gasket 6 intended to seal between the valve body 4 and the valve stem 5.

 The valve mechanism can be of any conventional type so that for clarity the valve has been shown only partially and its operation will not be explained here, apart from the fact that the valve stem 5 is capable of being moved axially. to allow the distribution of the packaged product in the container. As a variant, the rod 5 can be part of a distribution pump.

 The container body 1 is surmounted by a cover 7 which covers the valve 2 while being held on the container body I by snapping of a rib 8 of the cover in a groove 9 formed on said body 1.

 The cover 7 is provided with an actuating member 10 having a bearing surface.

 In line with the valve stem 5, the actuating member 10 comprises a tubular part 11 which extends in the direction of said valve stem 5 and which comes into contact with the latter.

 The tubular part 11 has an annular groove 12 below which is intended to receive the upper end of the valve stem 5 in order to center it and put its inner duct 13 in alignment with an inner duct 14 of identical section made in the tubular part It from the actuator.

 This conduit 14 opens into a nozzle, not shown, which allows the distribution of the packaged product.

 The tubular part 11 and the valve stem 5 being in permanent contact, it is understood that a pressure on the actuating member 10 creates a downward movement of the valve stem 5 and consequently the opening of the valve 2. The packaged product then engages in the conduits 13 and 14 to open into the nozzle of the actuating member 10.

 According to the invention, the container comprises a locking piece 15 which here has the shape of a flat disc, mounted to rotate about a pivot axis 19 secured to the cover 7 and parallel to the axis of the valve stem. .

 According to the invention, the valve stem 5 has bearing surfaces 16 which cooperate with bearing surfaces 17 of the locking piece 15.

 In the present case, the locking piece 15 includes a slot 18, visible in particular in FIG. 2, in which the valve stem 5 engages.

 In this case, the abovementioned bearing surfaces 16 and 17 are constituted respectively by the edges 17 of the lumen 18 and by a shoulder 16 of the valve stem 5.

 The axis 19 has a slot 20 below which divides it into two chamfered parts, which allow the latching of the locking piece on this axis, said chamfered parts having a retaining shoulder for the locking piece 15.

 The perpendicularity of the locking piece 15 relative to its pivot axis 19 is improved by a flange 22 which increases the contact surface between said piece and said axis.

 As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2, the opening 18 made in the locking piece 15 has an elongated shape extending in an arc centered on the pivot axis 19, and ends of substantially shaped shape. circular.

 The end of the lumen 18 which has the narrowest passage has a diameter substantially equal to that of the part of the valve stem located in the thickness of the locking piece 15.

 In the position of the part 15 shown in FIG. 2, the valve stem 5 is locked in the safety position, its shoulder 16 resting on the edges 17 of the slot 18 and preventing any axial displacement of the latter.

 The other end of the port 18, which has a wider passage, has a circular shape whose diameter is greater than that of the shoulder 16 of the valve stem 5, so that the latter can pass freely through the port 18 when the locking piece 15 is in the position shown in FIG. 3.

 According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking piece 15 engages in a slot 23 provided in the cover 7 which allows the manipulation of said piece 15 from outside the cover.

 In addition, the part 15 has a knurling on the part of its periphery protruding from the cover by the slot 23, a flange 24 further enabling this knurled part to be thickened.

 In addition, the rim 24 acts as a stop on the outer periphery of the fixing cup 3, respectively at 25 and 26 in the blocking position of the locking piece 15 and in the position of this piece allowing the operation of the valve stem.

 These stops make it possible to avoid shearing of the valve stem 5 in the event of excessively rough handling of the locking piece 15.

 In Figures 2 and 3 there is shown a return spring 27 formed in this case by a flexible plastic blade molded with the locking piece 15 and which is supported on the cover 1 against a rib 29 thereof. In a variant, it is possible to adapt a tension spring between the locking piece and the rib 29.

 In Figure 2 the blade 27 is at rest, the locking piece 15 is in the locked position.

 In Figure 3 the blade 27 is bandaged and exerts a torque on the locking piece 15 which opposes the maintenance in position thereof.

 In this way, as soon as the part is released, the spring returns it to its locked position.

 It is further noted that, in the embodiment described, once the valve stem in the open position, that is to say moved axially downwards, it maintains the locking piece 15 in the position of FIG. 3 Consequently, to use the container, it suffices to maneuver the locking piece 15 to release the valve stem 5, which as soon as it is pressed, itself keeps the locking piece 15 outside of its locking position. .

 When the valve stem 5 is released, the blade 27 automatically returns the locking piece 15 to the locked position.

 It is also noted that, in the embodiment described, the locking piece 15 is supported not only on the shoulders 21 of the axis 19, but also on the lower edge of the slot 23 formed in the cover 1 as well as on the fixing cup 3.

 In the embodiment shown in Figure 4 there is a safety device according to the invention identical to that described above, except that the cover 7 of the container comprises, as actuating member 10 ', a push button comprising a nozzle 30.

 The push button 10 'passes through a circular recess 31 made on the cover 7 in line with the valve stem 5. I1 has been engaged from the inside in this orifice 31, before the cover 1 is snapped onto the body of the container.

 A circular shoulder 32 retains the button 10 ', which is pushed outwards by the valve stem 5.

 As before, the valve stem 5 has an inner conduit 13 which comes into alignment with an inner conduit 14 formed in the actuating member 10 'and which opens into a dispensing nozzle 30.

 FIG. 4 also shows a tamper-evident means 33, for example a sleeve made of heat-shrinkable plastic.

 This inviolability prohibits the operation of the locking piece 15 and guarantees that the container thus protected has never been opened.

In Figures 5 and 6, there is shown the upper part of a container according to a third embodiment of the invention;
This figure shows the container 1 fitted with the valve 2 and surmounted by a cover 7.

 This third embodiment differs from the two embodiments previously described in that the blocking part 15 is capable of moving by a translational movement under the effect of a pressure exerted on it in the direction of the valve. , as shown by an arrow F in FIG. 6.

 The blocking part 15 is slidably mounted inside two guide parts 34 which are each secured to the cover 7.

 In this embodiment, the lumen 18 of the blocking piece 15 has at one of its ends a diameter substantially equal to that of the valve stem excluding the shoulder and at its other end a diameter greater than the outside diameter of the shoulder 16 of said valve stem.

Thus, in the blocking position of the part 15, the valve stem 5 is held axially with its shoulder 16 in abutment on the edges 17 of the lumen 18, while by moving the blocking part 15 to the left, (by compared to Figures 5 and 6), it clears the light 18 the shoulder 16 and allows the operation of the valve stem.

 A return spring 27 'permanently pushes the locking piece 15 into the locking position.

 This spring is molded with the locking piece 15.

 We also note that this spring 27 'also acts as a stop member limiting the movement of the locking piece 15. Indeed, once compressed, it constitutes a wedge between the wall of the cover 7 and the locking piece 15, the light of which then completely releases the valve stem 5.

 It is understood that the embodiments which have just been described have no limiting character and that they can receive any desirable modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

 In particular, the shape of the locking piece shown here is in no way limiting the scope of the invention, as well as its movement.

 Furthermore, the return springs 27 and 27 'described here could be replaced by any elastic member performing a similar function. In particular, to replace the blade 27, a helical spring integrated into the blocking part 15 could advantageously be made to act, mounted around the axis 19 and integral with the cover 7. This helical spring would be tensioned in the operating position of the valve 5 and would return to its rest position by returning the part 15 to the blocking position.

Claims (14)

 1. Safety device for packaging container, provided with a dispensing member comprising an operating rod, characterized in that it comprises a locking part (15) movable between a locking position of the operating rod ( 5) and at least one position allowing the actuation of said operating rod (5), said part (15) and the operating rod (5) having bearing surfaces (16, 17) capable of cooperating in the position for locking the locking piece (15) for axially immobilizing said operating rod (5).  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the dispensing member (5) is a valve.  3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the dispensing member is a pump.  4. Device according to any one of claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the locking piece (15) is engaged on the operating rod (5).  5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the operating rod (5) passes through a light (18) formed in the locking piece (15) and comprises a shoulder (16) bearing on a bearing surface (17) of said piece (15) delimiting said light (18) in the blocking position of said locking piece (15).  6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the locking piece (15) is produced in the form of a plate.  7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises stop means (3,24,27 ') for limiting the displacements of the locking piece (15) between its blocking position and its position (s) allowing the operation of said operating rod (5).  8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it iI comprises a return spring (27,27 ') to return the locking piece (15) to its locked position.  9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking piece (15) is pivotally mounted, preferably about an axis (19) parallel to the axis of said operating rod (5 ).  10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the locking piece (15) has the shape of a disc, preferably knurled on a part of its periphery.  11. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the locking piece (15) is slidably mounted.  12. Packaging container, in particular of the aerosol type, comprising a body provided with a dispensing member comprising an operating rod, a cover mounted on this body covering said operating rod and comprising an actuating member of the operating rod, characterized in that it comprises a security device according to any one of the preceding claims.  13. Container according to claim 12 comprising a safety device according to any one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the cover (7) has an axis (19) constituting the pivot axis of said locking piece (15).  14. Container according to claim 13, characterized in that the cover (7) has a side slot (23) in which engages said locking piece (15).