FR2777868A1 - Protection device for container dispensing nozzle - Google Patents

Abstract

The container (2) enclosing a liquid or paste product has a dispensing nozzle (4) with an outlet orifice (5) either free or attached to a vaporizer (6). The means for protecting the nozzle or atomizer are constituted by a movable sleeve (13) located around the nozzle or atomizer and able to be moved vertically (F) from top to bottom or bottom to top by the user relative to a fixed externally threaded element (14) surrounding the nozzle or atomizer.

Description

DEVICE FOR PROTECTING A TIP

DISPENSING A CONTAINER AND

CONTAINING THE MATERIAL

  The present invention relates to a device for protecting a dispensing nozzle of a container and the container comprising it. These containers are of the type formed by a container intended to contain a liquid, pasty or gaseous product, the distribution of which is effected by means of a nozzle generally constituted by a neck surmounting the

  said container and provided with an outlet.

  The container may consist of a bottle generally reserved for liquid or gaseous products, or by a tube with regard to pasty products. It could in fact be a container intended to contain a product of any kind and whatever

its field of application.

  In all cases, it will be necessary to use means for closing or protecting the outlet orifice of the dispensing nozzle, in order to avoid

  accidental and directional product flow.

  This orifice is sometimes free and closed or released on demand by a screw cap, or by a cap snap-in elastically on a peripheral boss produced around the neck of the container, on

  which must be put in place said cap.

  In other cases, the outlet is subject to a sprayer that can be operated manually by

pressure on a pusher.

  Such vaporizers, known per se, are commonly used in perfumery and the containers on which they are arranged are

  generally constituted by glass bottles.

  It is easy to understand that, as in the previous case, the presence of a vaporizer also requires protection at the level of the pusher, to avoid accidental impulses when carrying the bottle in luggage, or quite simply in a handbag.10 To avoid this drawback, we therefore sometimes resort to a protective cap, but it often turns out that it does not stay in place on

the bottle, during transport.

  This is how other devices for protecting the dispensing nozzle, aiming to eliminate the removable cap, have been devised and consist in integrating the vaporizer into a cap which is

fixed, relative to the bottle.

  This so-called "SPRAY-CAP" device effectively prevents the cap from being released since it is fixed but does not prevent access to the vaporizer pusher, even if it is integrated into the cap. The outlet or nozzle remaining free of course, this therefore does not prevent any directional and occasional spraying which may prove dangerous for the eyes, in particular

  if the bottle is handled by a child.

  Are also known means for locking the pusher of the vaporizer, but in this case as in the previous one, the outlet orifice of the nozzle

  vaporizer also remains free.

  The object of the present invention is not only to remedy all of the aforementioned drawbacks but also to propose a device for protecting a dispensing nozzle, the handling of which is simple.

  and effective, while giving it an innovative character. This last point is an important advantage on the commercial level, when it is a very competitive field5, like perfumery for example.

  To this end, the invention relates to a container of the type formed: from a container intended to contain a liquid or pasty product; a dispensing nozzle for said product constituted by a narrowed neck surmounting said container and provided with an outlet orifice either free or subject to a sprayer actuable manually by pressure on a pusher; means of protection of the dispensing nozzle or of the vaporizer. This container is characterized in that the means for protecting the dispensing nozzle or the vaporizer are constituted by a movable element disposed peripherally around the nozzle of the

  vaporizer and likely to be used in displacement

  vertical cement, from top to bottom or bottom to top, by a user, relative to a corresponding fixed element surrounding the nozzle or the sprayer of the container with which it cooperates so

  captive by means of transla-

  tion and complementary guidance, according to a predetermined stroke, so as to obtain, depending on the relative position of the movable element, the release or, on the contrary, the obturation of the outlet orifice of the nozzle or that of its vaporizer which is directed in both cases along an axis substantially perpendicular to that of said movable member. The present invention also relates to the characteristics which will emerge during the

  description which will follow and which should be

  considered in isolation or according to all their

possible technical combinations.

  This description given by way of example not

  limiting, will better understand how the invention can be realized, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 and 2 show a front view of a bottle equipped with a device for protecting its dispensing nozzle according to the invention, respectively in

  closed position and in open position.

  FIG. 3 is a top view of a bottle according to views 1 and 2, equipped with a protection device,

according to the invention.

  Figures 4 and 5 show on an enlarged scale views in principle, in partial section, of a device for protecting the dispensing nozzle of a bottle according to Figures 1 to 3, respectively in a closed position and in a open position. By way of nonlimiting example, the container 1 generally designated in the figures is a bottle which is formed by a container 2 intended to contain a

liquid product 3.

  The container or bottle 1 also consists of a dispensing nozzle 4 for the liquid 3, constituted by a narrowed neck surmounting said container 2 and provided with an outlet orifice 5 which is, according to the

  present embodiment, subject to a vapori-

  sator 6 manually operable by pressing a

pusher 7.

  In a manner known per se, this comprises a pump 8 fixed on the neck 4 and of which a lower hollow endpiece 9 is connected to a dip tube or cannula 10 immersed freely in the liquid 3, so that a manual action on the pusher 7 creates an air depression5 causing a rise of liquid 3 towards an outlet orifice 11 or nozzle produced in the

  pusher 7 which is fitted and in communication with the pump 8 via a hollow tube 12 or "STEM".

  According to the invention, the means for protecting the dispensing nozzle 4 or the vaporizer 6 are constituted by a movable element 13 disposed peripherally around the nozzle 4 or the vaporizer 6 and capable of being stressed in vertical displacement F, from top to bottom or from bottom to top, by a user, with respect to a corresponding fixed element 14 surrounding the nozzle 4 or the sprayer 6 of the container 1 and with which it cooperates, in a captive manner, by means of additional translation and guidance, according to a predetermined stroke L. In this way, it is obtained, depending on the position of the movable element 13, the release or, on the contrary, the locking and closing of the outlet orifice, of the nozzle 4 or of that of its vaporizer 6, which is directed in both cases along a substantially perpendicular axis

  to that xx 'of said movable element 13.

  According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the movable element 13 is constituted by a

  cylindrical sleeve open at both ends.

  More specifically, the cylindrical sleeve 13 constituting the movable element has an internal bore 15 in at least one lower peripheral zone from which a thread 16 is produced capable of cooperating with a complementary thread 17 produced on an external peripheral wall 14a of the fixed element 14, so as to constitute the means of translation and of guiding said sleeve 13 by

compared to the latter 14.

  According to a variant, not shown, the fixed element 14, on an external peripheral wall 14a from which the thread 17 complementary to that of the sleeve 13 is made, is constituted by the same neck 4 of the

containing 1.

  But according to the present embodiment, the fixed element 14, on an external peripheral wall

  (14a) from which the complementary thread (17) is made

  shut up to that (16) of the sleeve 13, is also cylindrical and open at its two ends, its hollow internal part 18 decomposing into: a lower zone 18a whose internal peripheral end is constituted by a bead 19 able to cooperate fixedly, after elastic snap-fastening, with a also peripheral groove made on the neck 4 of the container 2 to be retained there; a free intermediate zone 18b intended for housing the pump body 8 of the vaporizer 6; an upper zone 18c also free intended for the vertical sliding of a lower part 7a of the pusher 7 which is fitted on the aforementioned hollow tube or "STEM" 12, movable in vertical translation by pressure from the user, and interposed between the pump 8, which it actuates via the pusher 7, and

  the outlet or nozzle 11 produced therein

  this. According to another characteristic of the invention, the height Hi of the internal upper zone 18c of the fixed element 14 is at least equal to the length H2

  the stroke of the pusher 7 of the vaporizer 6.

  Furthermore, the height H3 of the sleeve constituting the movable element 13 is equal to that H4 of the fixed element 14, so that their peripheral end surface 13a and 14a are flush with each other, in a low or open position of the movable sleeve

13 (see Figure 5).

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the external wall 14a of the fixed element 14 is threaded 17 over its entire height with the exception of an upper end part 10 having a peripheral shoulder 21 forming an external flange, against which end-of-travel butte up, a corresponding shoulder 22 formed in the internal bore 15 of the movable sleeve 13 delimiting its zone

threaded lower 16.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the relative height H5 of the internal smooth zone 15 of the movable element 13, relative to that H6 of its threaded lower zone 16 is such as to allow, on the one hand the outcrop of the flat end surface 7b of the pusher 7 of the vaporizer 6 in the relaxed position, with that 13a of the movable element 13, when the latter is unscrewed completely upwards for a locking position of the vaporizer 6, and on the other hand the release of the upper part 7c of height H7 from the pusher 7 of the vaporizer 6, from the outlet or nozzle 11, when the movable sleeve 13 is screwed completely down, in order to allow said pusher 7 , at least one complete stroke H2 of predetermined value, under the effect of manual pressure from the user,

  corresponding to a spray.

  Furthermore, the movable sleeve 13 comprises immobilization means constituted by a nut brake (not shown) acting at the end of the upward stroke and corresponding to a locking position. It could of course also be an immobilization, for example by ovalization of the last

  thread of the fixed element 14 or of the movable sleeve 13.

  As can be seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the movable sleeve 13 also includes, for example, grooves 23 made vertically on its outer periphery so as to offer better

taken in rotation.

  It will also be noted that the pusher 7 is flared at its upper part 7e relative to its lower part 7a and 7c, so as to compensate for the difference between the internal diameter Dl of the mobile element 13 compared to the internal diameter D2 of l 'fixed element 14 so as not to create a concentric gap between the internal bore 15 of the movable sleeve 13 and the wall 7a, 7c of the pusher 7, which would be unsightly and would constitute a housing conducive to the accumulation of dust or any other matter. This also prevents the plunger from being torn off when raising the

sleeve 13.

  Finally, in order to obtain better harmony of the assembly, the diameter D3 of the movable sleeve 13 is less than the diameter D4 of the container 2 containing the

liquid 3.

Claims (10)

  1. Container (1) of the type formed by a container (2) intended to contain a liquid or pasty product (3); a dispensing nozzle (4) of said product (3) constituted by a narrowed neck surmounting said reci-5 pient (2) and provided with an outlet orifice (5) either free or subject to a vaporizer ( 6) manually operable by pressing a pusher (7); means for protecting the dispensing nozzle (4) or the sprayer (6), characterized in that the means for protecting the nozzle (4) consist of a movable element (13) disposed peripherally around the nozzle (4) of the vaporizer (6) and capable of being urged in vertical displacement (F), from top to bottom or from bottom to top, by a user, relative to a corresponding fixed element (14) surrounding the nozzle (4) or the sprayer (6) of the container (1) and with which it cooperates, in a captive manner, by means of complementary translation and guide means,   according to a predetermined stroke (L), so as to obtain   depending on the position of the movable element 13, the release or on the contrary the directional closure of the outlet orifice, of the nozzle (4) or of that (11) of its vaporizer (6), which is directed in both cases along an axis substantially perpendicular to that (xx ') of said movable element (13). 2. Container according to claim 1 characterized in that the movable element (13) consists of a   cylindrical sleeve open at both ends.   3. Container according to claim 2 characterized in that the cylindrical sleeve (13) constituting the movable element comprises an internal bore (15) in at least one lower peripheral zone from which a thread (16) is produced capable of cooperating with a thread complementary (17) produced on an external peripheral wall (14a) of the fixed element (14), so as to constitute the means for translating and guiding said sleeve (13) relative to the latter (14). 4. Container according to claim 3 characterized in that the fixed element (14), on a peripheral wall   external (14a) is made the complementary thread (17)   shut up to that (16) of the sleeve (13), is constituted by the very neck (4) of the container (1).   5. Container according to claim 4 characterized in that the fixed element (14), on a peripheral wall   external (14a) from which the thread (17) is made   complementary to that (16) of the sleeve (13), is also cylindrical and open at its two ends, its hollow internal part (18) breaking down into: a lower zone (18a) whose internal peripheral end consists of a bead (19) able to cooperate fixedly, after elastic snap-fastening, with a groove (20) also peripheral formed on the neck (4) of the container (2) to be retained there; a free intermediate zone (18b) intended for housing a   pump body (8) of the vaporizer (6); a su-   also free for the vertical sliding of a lower part (7a) of the pusher (7) which is fitted onto a hollow tube or "STEM" (12), movable in vertical translation by pressure from the user, and interposed between the pump (8) which it actuates by means of the pusher (7), and the outlet or nozzle (11) made In this one.   6. Container according to claim 5 characterized in that the height (Hi) of the upper internal zone   (18c) of the fixed element (14) is at least equal to the length (H2) of the stroke of the pusher (7) of the vaporiser sator (6).   7. Container according to one of claims 2 to 5   characterized in that the height (H3) of the sleeve constituting the movable element (13) is equal to that (H4) of the fixed element (14), so that their peripheral end surface (13a and 14a ) is flush with each other, in a low or open position of the movable sleeve (13).   8. Container according to one of claims 2 to 6   characterized in that the outer wall (14a) of the element   fixed ment (14) is threaded (17) over its entire height with the exception of an upper end part having a peripheral shoulder (21) forming an external flange, against which abuts at the end of the race, a corresponding shoulder (22) formed in the internal bore (15) of the movable sleeve   (13) delimiting its threaded lower zone (16).   9. Container according to claim 8 characterized in that the relative height (H5) of the internal smooth zone (15) of the movable element (13), relative to that (H6) of its threaded lower zone (16) is such as to allow, on the one hand, to be flush with the flat end surface (7b) of the pusher (7) of the vaporizer (6) in the released position, with that (13a) of the movable element (13), when the latter is unscrewed completely upwards for a locking position of the vaporizer (6), and on the other hand the release of the upper part (7c) of height (H7) of the pusher (7) of the vaporizer (6), o from the outlet orifice (11), when the movable sleeve (13) is completely screwed down, in order to allow said pusher (7) at least one complete stroke (H2) of predetermined value , under the effect of manual pressure from the user,   corresponding to a spray.   10. Container according to one of claims 3 to 9   characterized in that the movable sleeve (13) comprises immobilization means constituted by a nut brake (not shown) acting at the end of the upward stroke, and corresponding to a locking position.