FR2845355A1 - Container or dispenser for fluid products such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, comprising cam surface on dispenser body to expand fixing skirt - Google Patents

Abstract

A container comprises a neck (10) that receives the body (20) of a dispenser fitted in it with the aid of a fixing element having a skirt (31) and sleeve (32). One section of the body is in the form of a cam (204) that expands the skirt to retain it in the container neck, while its enlarged upper section (207) locks and seals in the sleeve.

Description

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser

  comprising a fluid reservoir formed with an opening, a dispensing member formed with a body and a fastener for securing the body in the opening. This type of dispenser is frequently used in the field of perfumery, cosmetics or even pharmacy to dispense fluid products such as perfumes, lotions, creams,

  gels, liquid or even powdery pharmaceutical products.

  There are several techniques for fixing a dispensing member in the opening of a reservoir. As a result, there are several types of fasteners that cooperate with either the inside of the opening or the outside of the opening. For example, there has been a long history of crimp rings or screw-on rings. These two techniques allow a fixation on the outside of the opening. Also known fasteners by snapping and / or locking on the outside of the opening. A well-known configuration uses a ring forming an outer skirt provided internally with a fastening head or a continuous fastening bead. The skirt may be continuous or split to form tabs separated by slots. On the other hand, the opening is in the form of a neck defining an outer wall formed with a reinforcement delimited at its lower part by a shoulder 20 towards the inside. The fastening heads or the drawstring are intended for

  engage with this shoulder inwardly and the skirt is then locked in position by a trim band that surrounds the skirt. A variant even provides for using the lower edge of the trim band to creep the bottom of the skirt so as to deform inwardly under the reinforced portion of the neck.

  There are still other types of fastener for fixing inside the opening. For example, a very simple technique can be mentioned consisting of forcing the fastener member or even directly the body of the dispensing member into the opening in the manner of a plug. More elaborate techniques provide one or more recesses within the inner wall of the opening for receiving projecting portions of the fastener. It is then an internal snap. With this technique, it is necessary to exert a relatively strong thrust on the fastener, or even sometimes on the dispensing member, to embed the fastener inside the opening. In addition, the fact of embedding or force-fitting the fixing member in the opening creates an overpressure inside the reservoir, which can be harmful in the case where the reservoir presents

a very weak capacity.

  The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art by defining a fixing member inside the opening 10 which requires almost no pushing force on the fastener and which does not create overpressure inside the tank. In addition, the fixation is very safe. To achieve these objects, the present invention provides a fluid dispenser comprising: a fluid reservoir formed with an opening, a dispensing member formed with a body, and a fastener for securing said body in the opening, said fixing member comprising a skirt for engaging in the opening and a sleeve for engaging around the body, characterized in that the body forms a cam section for deforming the skirt outwardly in contact with each other in the opening. Thus, the body of the fastener serves as a tool for bringing the skirt into the final assembly position. It should be noted that the skirt cooperates with the opening at the level where it is in pressed contact, and preferably does not extend below the opening inside the tank. In the case where the opening is formed by a neck defining an inner wall, the skirt cooperates with this inner wall and does not extend below the neck where the neck is

connected to the tank body.

  Advantageously, the body comprises an enlarged section on which the

  sleeve comes into tight sealing engagement in final mounting position.

  Advantageously, the body comprises an intermediate section located above the cam section and below the widened section, the skirt coming into engagement with this intermediate section in the final mounting position, the sleeve being in engagement with this front intermediate section. that the skirt

  come into engagement with the cam section.

  Advantageously, the body comprises a reduced section located below the cam section, the skirt being engaged with this reduced section when the sleeve is engaged with the intermediate section. Thus, the sleeve is initially engaged and momentarily held in position at the intermediate section of the body, and is then moved along the body so as to engage the enlarged section, with which it defines a tight sealing engagement corresponding to the final position of assembly. On the other hand, the skirt is initially engaged on the body at the reduced section, and is then moved along the body passing over the cam section to arrive at the final position of engagement with the intermediate section. One can of course imagine that the cam section and the intermediate section do not form

  only one profiled section, for example frustoconical.

  In one embodiment, the aperture is formed by a neck having an upper end and an inner wall defining a tapered opening section near the top end and a recessed section extending below the d section. opening narrowed, the skirt comprising a sealing zone coming into final position in sealing contact with the narrowed opening section and a fixing zone coming into final contact position

squeezing with the recessed section.

  Alternatively, the opening may have a substantially cylindrical inner wall. In this case, the portion of the skirt that comes into contact with the inner cylindrical wall of the opening provides both sealing and fixing. According to one embodiment, the skirt forms tabs separated by slots. In this case, the tabs formed by the skirt only guarantee the attachment, and the seal is provided by the upper part of the skirt which is not split but which is still deformed against the inner wall of the opening. According to another aspect of the invention, the body forms a collar

  upper under which the sleeve abuts in the end position.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the sleeve comprises an inner wall forming a retaining ring adapted to engage tightly with the intermediate section to hold the fixing member in place on the body during its introduction into the neck, before reaching its final mounting position. On the other hand, the skirt may comprise an inner wall formed with a

  cam ring for engaging the cam section.

  In another aspect, the skirt comprises a lower lip in contact

  with the body. In this case, the skirt may be in contact with the intermediate section 10 only with the cam rod and the lower lip.

  According to another characteristic, the fixing member comprises a support flange intended to come freely resting on the opening without force-feeding. Thus, the dispensing member may be pre-engaged inside the fastener with the sleeve located at the intermediate section and the skirt 15 at the reduced section. This subassembly can then be easily introduced into the opening without sealing contact or friction until the support flange bears on the opening. So, it is not created from

  overpressure inside the tank.

  The invention will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings giving by way of non-limiting example two embodiments.

of the invention.

  In FIGS. 1 to 3 show three successive steps of mounting a dispenser according to a first embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 3, and FIGS. 1 to 7 are views similar to Figures 1 to 3 for a second

  embodiment of the invention.

  Reference will first be made to FIGS. 1 to 4 to explain the first embodiment of the invention. The partially illustrated dispenser comprises three constituent elements, namely, a reservoir 1 forming a neck 10 which defines an opening which communicates with the interior of the reservoir, a dispensing member 2 which may be a pump or a valve, and an organ fixing 3

  for fixing the dispensing member 2 in the neck 10.

  In this first embodiment, the tank 1 may be typically a glass tank which is used as a bottle particularly in the field of perfumery. The neck 10 of this reservoir comprises an upper end wall 12 of annular shape which can advantageously be provided with a sealing profile 122. The neck 10 further comprises an inner wall 11 which is connected to the end wall 12 by an inlet chamfer 121. Below this inlet chamfer 121, the inner wall 11 forms a narrowed opening section 111 which may advantageously be substantially

  cylindrical. Below this narrowed opening section 111, the inner wall 11 forms a recessed section 112 whose internal diameter is greater than that of the narrowed opening section 111. Below the recessed section 112, the inner wall 111 forms a rounded section 113 which connects to the inner wall of the shoulder which connects the neck 10 to the tank body (not shown).

  This is a very classic design for a glass tank neck

made by blowing.

  The dispensing member 2 comprises a body 20 inside which an actuating rod 21 is displaceable by pressing on a pusher 22 mounted at the upper end of the rod 21. The body 20 defines at its lower end a inlet sleeve 201 which defines an inlet for communicating the interior of the tank with the interior of the body 20. Above the sleeve 201, the body forms a transition section 202 which flares outwardly from frustoconical and / or cylindrical manner. Above this transition section 202, the body forms a cylindrical reduced section 203. This

  section 203 is connected upwardly to a cam section 204 which is here of frustoconical shape flaring outwardly and upwardly. Beyond this cam section 204, the body forms a cylindrical intermediate section 205.

  Beyond this section 205, the body forms a joining section 206 which tapers here frustoconically outwardly and upwardly. Beyond this junction section 206, the body forms an enlarged section 207 which is

  advantageously of cylindrical shape. Finally, beyond this enlarged section 207, the body forms an upper flange 208 which protrudes outwardly.

  In summary, the body 20 forms three main cylindrical sections 203, 205 and 207 having increasing diameters and connected together by junction sections 206 or cam 204. The fastener 3 is here in the form of a ring comprising a skirt 31 in the lower part, a sleeve 32 in the upper part and a support flange 33 which extends radially outwards at the level where the

  sleeve 32 is connected to the skirt 31.

  The skirt 31 may be perfectly continuous, but preferably it is split over at least a portion of its height so as to define a solid upper crown 313, from which extend tabs 314 separated by slots 315, such as this is visible from Figures 1, 2 or 3. The skirt at the level where it forms the tabs 314 defines an outer wall forming an outer bead 312. The diameter of the skirt at the bead 312 is greater than that of the skirt at the upper continuous crown 313. Below the bead 312, the skirt is tightened substantially frustoconical. The skirt 31 always at the tabs 314 defines an inner wall forming at its lower end a lip 316. In addition, the inner wall of the skirt 31 forms a rod 311 which may for example be in the form of a series protrusion formed on each leg 314 and disposed along a circular line. It is the same for the lip 316 which can also be in the form of a series of reinforcements arranged at the lower ends of the tabs 314. Of course, it is also possible to use a continuous skirt 25 with a continuous lip 316 and a continuous ring 311. The ring 311 has a

  cam function as will be seen below.

  The sleeve 32 comprises a free annular upper end 322

  and an inner wall defining a retaining ring 321.

  On the other hand, the support flange 33 advantageously forms an annular housing 331 intended to receive the sealing profile 122 formed by the wall

  upper end 12 of the neck 10.

  Referring now to Figure 1 to explain how the fixing ring 3 is initially engaged on the body 20 before mounting the ring in the neck 10. The sleeve 32 is engaged on the intermediate section 205 of the body 20. The retaining ring 321 is in interference engagement with the intermediate section 205. Therefore, the inner diameter of the ring 321 has a diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the section 205, while the remainder of the inner wall of the sleeve 32 can have an inner diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of the section 205. Thus, the sleeve 32 is in contact with the section 205 only one level of the retaining ring 321. The skirt 31 which begins below the flange d support 33, extends partially at the intermediate section 205, but also at the cam section 204 and the reduced section 203. It can be seen in Figure 1 that the tabs 314 formed pa The skirt extends entirely at the cam section 204 and the reduced section 203. The cam rod 311 is located at the cam section 204, but does not come into contact with it. As for the lower lip 313, it comes into contact, advantageously not tight, with the reduced section 203. Only the upper continuous ring 313 is located at the intermediate section 205, without coming into contact with the section 205. Indeed, the inner wall of the ring 313 extends in the extension of the inner wall of the sleeve 32 which is in contact with the intermediate section 205 only at the level of the retaining ring 321. It is in this position initial assembly before the fixing ring 3 is engaged on the

  body 20 of the dispenser member.

  The dispensing member 2 with its fixing ring thus forms a momentary unitary assembly which is engaged in the neck 10 so as to make the skirt 31 penetrate into the neck 10 until the support flange 33 come to rest on the upper end 12 of the neck. Preferably, the maximum outer diameter of the skirt 31, located at the outer bead 312, is equal to or slightly less than the minimum inside diameter of the neck located at the reduced section 111. As a result, the skirt 31 can be engaged in the neck 10 without excessive friction or effort. However, one can also imagine that the bead 312 of the skirt 31 has an outer diameter very slightly greater than the inner diameter of the reduced section so that the skirt can be engaged with a very small pressure inside the neck 10. From In any case, the force required for the engagement of the skirt in the neck must not be greater than the holding force exerted by the retaining ring 321 at the intermediate section 205. Indeed, it is necessary to that the fixing member 3 maintains its initial position of FIG. 1 until the skirt 31 is engaged in the neck 10 with the support flange 33 resting on the neck 10. This is

shown in Figure 2.

  The third stage of assembly consists in exerting a force of pressure F

  on the dispensing member, that is to say on its pusher or on the flange 208.

  As soon as the force becomes greater than the holding force exerted by the rod 321, the pump body 20 moves inside the fixing ring 3. In a first step, the cam rod 311 comes into contact with the This has the effect of deforming or expanding the skirt outwardly so that it comes into pressed contact against the inner wall of the neck 10. Of course, the cam action performed by the surface 204 has the effect of expanding the outer diameter of the skirt 31. Since the cam rod 311 is located substantially at the level where the tabs 314 are connected to the crown 313, both the crown 313 and the tabs 314 undergo dilation deformation. It should be noted that the lower lip 316 is still located at the reduced section 203. By continuing to exert the pressing force F on the dispensing member, its body 20 continues to move inside the ring. 3. The sleeve 32 then begins to engage with a tight seal on the enlarged section of the body 20. It is therefore preferable that the inner diameter of the sleeve 32 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the enlarged section. 207. At the same time as the sleeve 32 continues to engage the enlarged section 207, the lip 316 initially located at the reduced section 203 moves on the cam section 204 to reach the intermediate section 205. passage of the lip 316 of the reduced section 203 to the intermediate section 205 also generates an expansion deformation of the skirt, which has the effect of further increasing the outer diameter. e of the skirt, particularly at its bead 312. The final position is reached when the upper end 322 of the sleeve 32 comes into play.

  stop under the flange 208 as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.

  It may be noted that only the sleeve 32 is engaged at the enlarged section 207 by creating a cylindrical seal. The skirt 31 is entirely located at the intermediate section 205. It may also be noted that the inner wall of the skirt 31 is in contact with the section 205 only at the level of the cam rod 311 and the lower lip 316. Anywhere else, there is a gap between the skirt and the intermediate section 205. Due to the cam rod 311 and the lower lip 316, the expansion of the skirt outwardly to make tight and tight contact with the wall The inner collar 11 thus operates in two steps, namely an initial step in which the cam rod 311 engages with the cam section 204 to finally reach the intermediate section 205, and a second step during which the lip 316 follows the same path. The cam rod 311 has the effect of expanding the skirt at its crown 313 and the upper end of the tabs 314 while the lip 316 has the effect of expanding the lower end of the tabs. It will be understood that the bead 312 which is located between the rod 311 and the lip 316 undergoes expansion in two successive steps generated by the rise of the cam rod 311 and then the lip 316 on the cam section 204 to reach At the intermediate section 205. On the other hand, the ring 313, because it is continuous, and makes tight contact with the tapered opening section 111, defines an annular or cylindrical sealing area. The expanded legs 314 can only provide a function of

maintaining and blocking.

  Reference will now be made to FIGS. 5 to 7 which illustrate an alternative embodiment in which the dispensing member 2 may be strictly identical to that of FIGS. 1 to 4. In this case, the body 20 may be staggered from the same way, or at least achieved with a section

  reduced, a cam section, an intermediate section and then an enlarged section.

  The tank 1 'here comprises a neck 10' having an inner wall 11 which is substantially cylindrical over the entire height. The upper end wall of the neck 10 'may be identical to that of the previous embodiment. There is therefore no recessed portion at the inner wall 11 'of this neck 10'. As for the fastener 3 ', it may comprise an upper sleeve 32 and a support flange 33 strictly identical to those of the previous embodiment. In contrast, the skirt 31 'differs from that of the previous embodiment in that it comprises a substantially cylindrical outer wall and an inner wall forming a cam upper shoulder 311' located just below the cam section 204 in initial position of pre-assembly. This is visible in Figures 5 and 6. This camming shoulder 311 'will play the same role as the cam rod 311 of the previous embodiment. The skirt 31 'can be engaged inside the neck 10' without exerting considerable force. For example, the outer diameter of the skirt 31 'is somewhat smaller than the inner diameter of the inner wall 11' of the neck 10 '. Thus, the skirt 31 'can be deposited inside the neck 10' until the support flange 33 bears on the upper end of the neck 10 '. This is shown in FIG. 6. The cam shoulder 311 'is then still still below the cam section 204. By pressing the dispensing member 2, the camming shoulder 311' will come into contact with the cam shoulder 311 '.

  taken with the cam section 204 and then back on the intermediate section 205.

  This generates an expansion of the skirt 31 'which has the effect of making tight sealing contact with the inner wall 11'. Continuing to depress the dispensing member 2 in the fastener 3 ', the sleeve 32 will rise on the enlarged section 207 as in the previous embodiment until it comes into abutment with its upper end under the collar 208 of the body 20. Since the skirt 31 'is also made with a lower lip 316, it will also go up on the cam section 204 to reach the intermediate section 205. The rise of the lip 316 also generates a 30 expansion that improves or complements the tight tight grip of the skirt 31 '

against the wall 11 '.

  In this embodiment, the fixing and sealing of the fixing member 3 'is only achieved by a tight cylinder-against-cylinder tightness. In the previous embodiment, the flared portion 112 formed by the inner wall 1 1 of the neck 10 still has the effect of making a snap or lock below the narrowed opening section 111. This was all the more so

  favored by the presence of the peripheral bead 312.

Claims (13)

claims   1.- Fluid dispenser comprising: - a fluid reservoir (1; 1 ') formed with an opening (10; 10 '),   - a dispensing member (2) formed with a body (20), - a fixing member (3; 3 ') for fixing said body in the opening, said fixing member comprising a skirt (31; 31') intended to to engage in the opening and a sleeve (32) for engaging around the body, characterized in that the body forms a cam section (204) for   deform the skirt outward in pressed contact in the opening.   2. A fluid dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the body (20) comprises an enlarged section (207) on which the sleeve   (32) engages tightly tight in final mounting position.   3. A fluid dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the body (20) comprises an intermediate section (205) located above the cam section (204) and below the enlarged section (207), the skirt (31; 31 ') snugly engaging this intermediate section (205) in the final mounting position, the sleeve (32) engaging said intermediate section (205) before the skirt engages with the cam section (204).   4. A fluid dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the body (20) comprises a reduced section (203) below the cam section (204), the skirt (31; 31 ') being engaged with this reduced section (203) when the sleeve (32) is engaged with the section intermediate (205).   5.- fluid dispenser according to any one of   preceding claim, wherein the aperture is formed by a neck (10) comprising an upper end (12) and an inner wall defining a narrowed opening section (111) near the end   upper and a recessed section (112) which extends below the narrowed opening section, the skirt (31) comprising a sealing zone (313) coming into final position in sealing contact with the narrowed opening section (111) and a fixing zone (314) coming into final position in close contact with the recessed section (112). 6. Fluid dispenser according to any one of   Claims 1 to 4, wherein the opening (10 ') has a wall   substantially cylindrical internal (11 ').   7. A fluid dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the skirt forms legs (314). separated by slots (315).   8.- Dispenser of fluid product according to any one of   preceding claim, wherein the body (20) forms an upper flange (208) in which the sleeve (32) abuts in the final position.   9. A fluid dispenser according to claim 3, wherein   the sleeve (32) comprises an inner wall forming a retaining ring (321) adapted to engage tightly with the intermediate section (205) to hold the fastener (3) in place on the body (20) when his introduction into the collar.   10.- Fluid dispenser according to any one of   preceding claim, wherein the skirt (31) comprises an inner wall formed with a cam ring (311) for engaging with the cam section (204).   11.- Dispenser of fluid product according to any one of   preceding claims, wherein the skirt (31; 31 ') comprises a   lower lip (316) in contact with the body (20).   12.- fluid dispenser according to claims 10 and 11,   wherein the skirt (31; 31 ') is in contact with the intermediate section (205) only with the cam rod (311) and the lower lip (316).   13.- Fluid dispenser according to any one of   preceding claim, wherein the fastening member (3) comprises a bearing flange (33) intended to come freely against the opening (10; 10 ') without snugging in force.