FR3078061A1 - FLUID PRODUCT DISPENSER. - Google Patents

Abstract

Fluid dispenser comprising: - a fluid reservoir (1), - a valve (2) comprising a return spring (24), - a dispensing head (3) comprising: - a dispensing nozzle (4) connected at the valve (2), - a pusher (5) for moving the dispensing nozzle (4), the dispensing head (3) further comprising: - a limited thrust member (61) which transmits the axial force of the pusher (5) to the dispensing nozzle (4) to move axially on a limited stroke, - a thrust release member (75) which acts on the limited thrust member (6) releasing the tip of distribution (4) of the axial force of the pusher (5) at the end of the limited axial stroke, so that the dispensing nozzle (4) returns to its rest position and the valve (2) closes.

Description

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir containing fluid under pressure, a valve through which the fluid under pressure is discharged, and a dispensing head which cooperates with the valve for dispensing fluid through a dispensing orifice. The dispensing head comprises a dispensing nozzle connected to the valve and defining a supply conduit which connects the valve to the dispensing orifice, as well as a push-button for moving the dispensing tip along an actuation axis X between a rest position in which the valve is closed and a depressed position in which the valve is open. By pressing the button, the valve opens and the pressurized fluid passes through the dispensing nozzle and exits at the dispensing orifice. The distribution continues continuously as long as the pusher remains depressed, and the valve thereby open, the dispensing nozzle being urged towards its rest position by an internal return spring of the valve. This type of dispenser can be described as an aerosol and finds a preferred application in the fields of cosmetics or even pharmacy, without excluding food and household products.

A particular type of aerosol uses an outer shell which contains a flexible bag mounted at the inlet of the valve. A pressurized gas is introduced between the shell and the bag to put the latter under pressure. In addition, the fluid to be dispensed can be introduced under pressure into the flexible bag, so that the fluid can thus be stored under a pressure of the order of 8 bars at the start and still close to 3 bars when the bag is almost empty. This type of aerosol, without propellant mixed with the fluid to be dispensed, is known by the designation of "Bag on Valve" and provides many advantages, such as total separation between the fluid and the propellant and a restitution approaching 100%.

The object of the present invention is to produce a dispenser with a discrete or metered distribution, similar to that of a pump, but using a dispenser of the aerosol type with continuous distribution, as described above, and in particular an aerosol of the "Bag on Valve". More specifically, a problem of the invention is to intervene between the pusher and the dispensing nozzle so that a conventional press on the pusher generates a short-term distribution which is independent of the duration of the press on the pusher. , but only the support force which is that of a conventional aerosol pusher. In other words, a press, even if prolonged, on the pusher must produce a short, succinct or ephemeral spray or jet, the duration of which is reproducible.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the dispensing head further comprises:

a limited thrust member which transmits the axial thrust force from the pusher to the dispensing end piece to move it axially over a limited stroke which is however sufficient to open the valve, a thrust release member which acts on the limited thrust by releasing the dispensing endpiece from the axial pushing force of the pusher transmitted by the limited thrust member at the end of the limited axial travel, so that the dispensing endpiece returns to its rest position and the valve closes.

Thus, the total stroke of the pusher must be at least equal to the limited axial stroke of the dispensing nozzle and preferably slightly or clearly greater, in particular at the end of the stroke, in order to guarantee the release of the dispensing nozzle at the end of its limited axial travel. The pusher can therefore continue its race after the release of the dispensing nozzle. The pusher can thus remain depressed, but this has no effect on the dispensing of fluid, since the valve has already closed. The user can press the pusher quite normally, regardless of the length of its support. It is only the speed of support that could marginally influence the duration of the distribution.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the dispensing nozzle can comprise an axial support flange and the limited thrust member can comprise at least one axial support profile which selectively engages the axial support flange for drive the dispensing tip over its limited axial travel. The end of the limited axial travel is characterized by the disengagement of the axial support profile from the axial support flange. In other words, the axial support profile is only engaged against the axial support flange during the limited axial travel.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the thrust release member may include cam means for moving said at least one axial support profile radially outward to release the axial support flange. Preferably, said at least one axial support profile can be formed on an elastically deformable tab. On the other hand, the cam means may comprise a conical surface on which the elastically deformable tab slides while deforming radially outwards, at least until the axial support flange is released from said at least one axial support profile. The support profile, while pressing axially on the support flange therefore moves outwards under the stress of the conical surface which deforms the elastic tab until the flange escapes from the profile. From this moment, the dispensing tip is returned to its rest position by the internal spring of the valve.

According to a practical embodiment, the conical surface can be formed by a covering piece which is fixedly mounted on the fluid reservoir, and which advantageously guides the pusher in its axial movement.

Advantageously, the dispensing head further comprises a return spring for returning the pusher and the limited thrust member to an initial position, this return spring advantageously being formed by the limited thrust member. This return spring can possibly be dispensed with in the case where the elasticity of the elastic tab (s) is sufficiently powerful.

According to another interesting aspect of the invention, said at least one axial support profile can be located in axial distance from the axial support flange, when the pusher and the limited thrust member are in the initial position and the dispensing nozzle in the rest position, so that the pusher and the limited thrust member performs an initial dead stroke before said at least one axial support profile comes into contact with the axial support flange.

According to a preferred embodiment, the limited thrust member may comprise several elastically deformable tabs separated by axial slots, each elastically deformable tab internally forming an axial support profile, advantageously in the form of a shoulder oriented downwards. , the dispensing end piece comprising an axial section having a connection end connected to the valve and forming the axial support flange, the dispensing end piece advantageously comprising a transverse section forming the dispensing orifice.

According to a preferred application, the fluid reservoir includes a flexible pocket pressurized by an external gas. This is then in the case of a "Bag on Valve", which is particularly advantageous with the present invention, because the residual pressure in the flexible bag is still high (about 3 bars), when it is almost empty. In fact, this residual pressure makes it possible to generate a dose of fluid product which is substantially identical or approaching the dose of fluid product when the bag is full with 8 bars of pressure. With a conventional aerosol with propellant mixed with the fluid to be dispensed, the residual pressure is too low to generate an acceptable dose.

The spirit of the invention resides in the fact of decoupling the pusher (on which one presses) from the part (dispensing nozzle) which directly actuates the valve to release it at a given point in time of the stroke of the pusher so that the valve can close independently of the pressing force exerted on the pusher. The pusher can then be fully depressed while the valve is closed again. Temporary thrust means are therefore required to drive the dispensing tip and release means to stop the drive of the dispensing tip.

The invention will now be described more fully with reference to the drawings giving by way of nonlimiting example an embodiment of the invention.

In the figures:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a dispenser according to an embodiment of the invention,

FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c are perspective views from different angles of the limited thrust member used in the dispenser of FIG. 1, and

Figures 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f and 3g are views in vertical cross section through the dispenser of Figure 1 illustrating an actuation cycle of the dispenser.

The dispenser of FIG. 1 comprises two separate sub-assemblies, namely a fluid reservoir 1 and a dispensing head 3. Advantageously, the dispensing head 3 can be completed with a removable protective cover 8.

The fluid reservoir 1, comprises in this nonlimiting embodiment, a rigid external container 12 containing a flexible pocket 11. The external container 12 is provided with a mounting cup 21 on which is mounted a valve 2. The pocket flexible 11 is fixed in leaktight manner to the valve 2. The flexible pocket 12 is pressurized by means of a gas G which is present between the can 12 and the pocket 11. Initially, when the pocket 11 is full, the gas G may be at a pressure of the order of 8 to 12 bars, and when the bag 11 is empty or almost empty, the gas G may also be at a pressure of approximately 2 to 5 bars. This fluid reservoir 1 is often called a “Bag on Valve”, in the sense that the flexible bag 11 is (directly or indirectly) mounted on the valve 2. It should be noted that there is no gas propellant inside the pocket 11.

In a variant not shown, it is also possible to use a fluid product tank 1 equipped with a valve 2, but the tank of which contains a mixture of fluid product and propellant gas.

As can be seen in FIG. 3a, the valve 2 comprises a receiving housing 22 for the distribution nozzle 4, as well as a seal 23 which can seal with this distribution nozzle 4. The valve 2 also comprises a return spring 24 which urges it into a closed state.

The dispensing head 3 here comprises four constituent elements, apart from the removable protective cover 8, namely a dispensing tip 4, a pusher 5, a limited thrust member 6 and a trim piece 7. All of these pieces can be made by injection / molding of suitable plastic material. The pusher 5 and the covering part 7 may possibly be made of another material, such as for example metal.

The dispensing nozzle 4 is the part which makes it possible to convey the fluid product coming from the valve 2 to a dispensing orifice 41, at the level of which the fluid product leaves the dispenser, for example in the form of foam, of jet , spray, cord or hazelnut. The dispensing end piece 4 firstly comprises a connection end 43 which is sealingly engaged in the housing 22 of the valve 2, being surrounded by the seal 23. This connection end 43 is part of a section axial which forms on its external periphery an axial support flange 46 which projects outwards. We can say that this axial support flange 46 forms an upwardly facing shoulder. The dispensing nozzle 4 also comprises a transverse section 45 which extends radially outwards from the upper end of the axial section 44. The axial section 44 and the transverse section 45 are crossed by a supply duct 42 which defines at its downstream end the dispensing orifice 41. In the figures, it can be seen that the transverse radial section 45 extends substantially at right angles to the axial section 44. The radial section could however have other orientations. The dispensing orifice 41 preferably opens laterally.

The pusher 5 is a cup-shaped part comprising an upper bearing wall 51 located on the axis X and a peripheral skirt pierced with a notch 52. The pusher 5 also comprises a mounting bush 56 which extends towards the down inside the bucket. This socket 56 has a perfectly or partially cylindrical shape. Advantageously, the pusher 5 comprises an external attachment profile 53, the function of which will be given below.

According to the invention, the pusher 5 does not act directly on the dispensing nozzle 4, but by means of the limited thrust member 6, which is made integral with the pusher 5 by means of a chimney 65 in engagement with the mounting sleeve 56. Ideally, the pusher 5 and the limited thrust member 6 could be produced in a single piece, but for reasons of ease of molding, they are produced separately, then brought back one over the other permanently. As can be seen in FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c, the limited thrust member 6 also includes a crown 60 which extends downwards, substantially in the extension of the chimney 65. This crown 60 comprises several legs elastically deformable 61 which are separated by axial slots 61a. Each tab 61 internally forms an axial support profile 62, in the form of a downward facing shoulder. Each tab 61 also defines a free sliding end 63.

The limited thrust member 6 also includes spring leaves 64, which are three in number here. The blades 64 extend helically around the crown 60. These blades 64 can be replaced by a conventional spring.

The covering part 7 is visible in detail in FIG. 3a. this covering part 7 comprises an outer jacket 71 which is pierced with a window 72 for the passage of the dispensing nozzle 4. Advantageously, this jacket 71 may include a profile for the attachment of the pusher 5 at its level. attachment profile 53. The covering part 7 also comprises an annular mounting housing 73 in which the hemmed edge of the cup 21 is received. The covering part 7 then extends radially inwards by forming a flange annular 23, then a conical surface 75.

In FIG. 3a, one can see how the various constituent elements of the dispensing head are arranged. The axial section 44 of the dispensing nozzle 4 extends inside the crown 60. The profiles d 'axial support 62 are located a short distance axially above the support flange 46. The free sliding ends 63 are disposed axially away from the conical surface 75. The transverse section of the dispensing nozzle 4 extends through the notch 52 of the pusher 5 and through the window 72 of the covering part 7. It can also be noted that the spring blades 64 bear on the annular flange 74 of the covering part 7.

FIG. 3a corresponds to a rest position, the valve 2 being closed, the dispensing nozzle 4 pushed back as much as possible by the spring 24 of the valve 2 and the pusher 5 also pushed as much as possible by the spring blades 64. The surface upper support 51 of pusher 5 may even protrude slightly beyond the covering part 5.

From this rest position, a user can press on the bearing surface 51 of the pusher 5 so as to push it along an actuation axis X inside the covering part 7, which is mounted fixedly on the reservoir 1. The pusher 5, and its limited thrust member 6, will first travel a dead stroke, that is to say that it generates no effect on the distribution of fluid. The limited thrust member 6 will thus move until the axial support profiles 52 come into contact with the axial support flange 46, which is shown in FIG. 3b. The free sliding ends 63 can simultaneously come into contact with the conical surface 75. In this position, the dispensing nozzle 4 has not yet moved and the valve 2 is closed. There is no fluid product distribution yet. The displacement of the pusher 5 and of its limited thrust member 6 into this position is made against the spring blades 64, which press more strongly on the annular flange 74.

From the position of FIG. 3b, the user continues to press on the bearing surface 51 of the pusher 5, which has the effect of driving in the dispensing nozzle 4, since it is driven by its radial support flange 46 which is biased by the axial support profiles 62 of the crown 60. The valve 2 opens and the fluid product is thus discharged through the supply duct 42 to its orifice 41 .

It should be noted in FIG. 3c that the axial support profiles 62 have already shifted radially outwards, under the action of the conical surface 75 on which the free sliding ends 63 of the legs 61 slide. in other words, the axial support profiles 62 move axially downward, but simultaneously move radially outward.

This combined movement of the axial profiles 62 continues until they are no longer engaged with the axial support flange 46, which is shown in FIG. 3e. The legs 61 are then sufficiently spaced apart by the conical surface 75 for the collar 56 to disengage from its grip with the profiles 62. The position shown in FIG. 3e is extremely ephemeral, since the dispensing end piece 4 is directly returned to its rest position by the spring 24 of the valve 2, as shown in FIG. 3f. The flange 46 is then located axially above the profiles 62. The pusher is fully depressed, while the dispensing nozzle 4 is in its rest position. The elastic blades 64 are deformed to the maximum.

From position 3f, the user can release his pressure on the bearing surface 51, so that the pusher 5 and its limited thrust member 6 can return to their rest position under the action of the spring blades 64 This is shown in Figure 3g, which corresponds to Figure 3a. The complete actuation cycle is then completed. We again find ourselves with the profiles 62 located axially above and away from the flange 46. The free sliding ends 63 are again arranged axially away from the conical surface 75.

Thus, during a complete actuation cycle, we find the following phases:

1- dead stroke of pusher 5,

2- drive of the distribution nozzle 4,

3- release of the dispensing nozzle 4,

4- release of the pusher.

The dispensing of fluid takes place only in the drive phase of the dispensing nozzle 4 until it is released, which marks the closing of the valve 2 and the end of the dispensing.

The user, when he presses on the support surface 51 of the pusher 5, does not realize the progress of the different phases of the above written. He presses push-button 5 naturally and instinctively, so that there is no downtime between the different phases described above. The drive of the dispensing nozzle 4 by the limited thrust member 6 takes place only over part of the total stroke of the pusher 5. The proportion of the stroke corresponding to the drive of the dispensing nozzle 4 can be adjusted by varying the length of the legs 61 and the inclination of the conical surface 75. The radial projection of the profiles 62 also influences the length of the drive stroke. The brevity of the distribution therefore depends on the length of stroke corresponding to the drive of the distribution nozzle 4.

Thanks to the invention, it is possible to transform a valve fluid dispenser, which by definition, provides a continuous dispensing of fluid product, into a pseudo pump dispenser, in the sense that the dispensing of fluid product is automatically completed, from when you push the plunger all the way down.

Claims (11)

claims 1 Fluid product dispenser comprising: - a fluid reservoir (1) containing fluid under pressure, - a valve (2) through which the fluid under pressure is discharged, the valve (2) comprising an internal return spring (24), a dispensing head (3) which cooperates with the valve (2) for dispensing fluid product through a dispensing orifice (41), the dispensing head (3) comprising: - a dispensing nozzle (4) connected to the valve (2) and defining the dispensing orifice (41), as well as a supply conduit (42) which connects the valve (2) to the dispensing orifice (41) - a pusher (5) for moving the dispensing nozzle (4) along an actuation axis X between a rest position in which the valve is closed and a depressed position in which the valve is open, the dispensing nozzle (4) being urged towards its rest position by the internal return spring (24) of the valve (2), characterized in that the dispensing head (3) further comprises: - a limited thrust member (6) which transmits the axial thrust force from the pusher (5) to the dispensing end piece (4) to move it axially over a limited stroke which is however sufficient to open the valve (2), - a push release member (75) which acts on the limited push member (6) by releasing the dispensing end piece (4) from the axial push force of the push stick (5) transmitted by the push member limited (6) at the end of the limited axial stroke, so that the dispensing nozzle (4) returns to its rest position and the valve (2) closes. 2, - A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing nozzle (4) comprises an axial support flange (46) and the limited thrust member (6) comprises at least one axial support profile (62 ) which selectively engages the axial support flange (46) to drive the dispensing nozzle (4) over its limited axial travel. 3. - A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the thrust release member (75) comprises cam means for moving said at least one axial support profile (62) radially outward to release the flange d 'axial support (46). 4, - A dispenser according to claim 3, wherein said at least one axial support profile (62) is formed on an elastically deformable tab (61). 5. - A dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the cam means comprise a conical surface (75) on which the elastically deformable tab (61) slides while deforming radially outward, at least until the axial support flange (46) is released from said at least one axial support profile (62). 6. - A dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the conical surface (75) is formed by a covering piece (7) which is fixedly mounted on the fluid reservoir (1), and which advantageously guides the pusher (5 ) in its axial displacement. 7, - A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the dispensing head (3) further comprises a return spring (64) for returning the pusher (5) and the limited thrust member (6) in an initial position, this return spring (64) being advantageously formed by the limited thrust member (6). 8. - A dispenser according to claims 2 and 7, wherein said at least one axial support profile (62) is located axially away from the axial support flange (46), when the pusher (5) and the limited thrust member (6) are in the initial position and the dispensing nozzle (4) in the rest position, so that the pusher (5) and the limited thrust member (6) perform an initial dead stroke before said at least one axial support profile (62) comes into contact with the axial support flange (46). 9, - Distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the limited thrust member (6) comprises several elastically deformable tabs (61) separated by axial slots (61a), each elastically deformable tab (61) forming internally an axial support profile (62), advantageously in the form of a downward-facing shoulder, the dispensing nozzle (4) comprising an axial section (44) having a connection end (43) connected to the valve (2) and forming the axial support flange (46), the dispensing end piece (4) advantageously comprising a transverse section (45) forming the dispensing orifice (41). 10. - Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the dispensing orifice (41) opens laterally and the pusher (5) comprises a bearing surface (51) located on the actuation axis X. 11, - Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the fluid reservoir (1) comprises a flexible pocket (11) pressurized by an external gas.