FR3083784A1 - DEVICE FOR FIXING A PRODUCT DISPENSING PUMP ON A BOTTLE AND ASSEMBLIES COMPRISING SAID DEVICE OR COMPONENTS OF SAID DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for fixing a pump (2) for dispensing product on a bottle (3) intended to contain the product to be dispensed by the pump (2), said device comprising an insert (50), capable of be reversibly mounted on the bottle (3) leaving the filling of said bottle (3) free, and a support (60), configured to make the pump (2) integral with said device, said support (60) being able to be permanently fixed to the insert (50).

Description

The invention relates to a device for fixing a product dispensing pump on a bottle as well as various assemblies comprising said device or components of said device. It is particularly intended for fixing a pump for dispensing a liquid product, a lotion or a cream, in particular a perfume, a cosmetic product or a pharmaceutical product.

Fixing devices are known for removing the pump in order to refill the bottle. Indeed, particularly in the perfume sector, once the product has been fully used and the bottle is empty, the end user wants to be able to fill the bottle rather than buying a new one, knowing that the bottle is itself has a significant impact on the sale price.

A first type of device known in this sense provides for fixing the pump by screwing it. Such an operation has the advantage of allowing simple and reliable fixing. It is therefore advantageous for the end user. It allows in particular not to risk losing product by avoiding having to make complex manipulations of the pump or the bottle. This is especially appreciated since the bottle is full and the risk of spilling the product is high. However, for the manufacturer who performs the filling, fixing the pump by screwing represents an unwanted complexity.

To overcome this drawback, it has been proposed removable fixing devices of the pump making it possible to avoid screwing the industrialist in charge of filling the bottle by replacing it with simple pump fixing movements, such as translations of pieces. However, the operations allowing the end user to remove and re-attach the pump, although still possible, are not entirely satisfactory. Indeed, the part of the device in play was deformed during the initial fixing of the pump on the bottle. The withdrawal of the pump and especially the new fixing of it on the bottle by the end user then depend on the good deformation of the part at the time of the initial fixing of the pump.

The invention proposes to improve the situation and for this purpose relates to a device for fixing a product dispensing pump on a bottle intended to contain the product to be dispensed by the pump, said device comprising an insert, suitable for be reversibly mounted on the bottle leaving free filling of said bottle, and a support, configured to make the pump integral with said device, said support being adapted to be fixed permanently on the insert.

By "final fixation" means a fixation which does not allow the two parts to be separated without risking irreversible damage to the fixing device or at least without risking being unable to reassemble them one on the other operationally, in particular from the point of view of a tight closure of the bottle in the event of an attempt to reposition the pump on the latter. By "leave free" means that which does not prevent or which does not restrict the possibility of filling the bottle.

Thus, according to the invention, it is no longer the part configured to make the pump integral with the fixing device which is reversibly fixed on the bottle but a separate part, namely the insert. The reversible nature of this attachment is therefore more easily controllable. In addition, by using an additional part, namely the support, it is possible to choose fixing methods allowing the manufacturer in charge of the initial filling of the bottle to avoid having to carry out complex operations, such as screwing, to installing the pump. The insert leaving the filling free, the initial fixing of the insert on the bottle can be carried out before filling, which simplifies the operations. In addition, once in the hands of the end user, even the insert is removed from the bottle by removing the pump. Thus, the bottle is bare which facilitates its recycling compared to a bottle still carrying a plastic part.

According to different embodiments of the invention, which can be taken together or separately:

- said insert forms a sleeve, a ferrule and / or an overlap, the insert is suitable for being screwed onto the bottle,

said insert comprises a ring carrying a thread,

- said ring of the insert comprises external ribs configured to anchor, in particular in rotation, in the support,

- said support is configured to hold said pump,

said support is capable of being fixed to said insert by snap-fastening,

- as a variant, said support comprises a deformable part configured to allow, in a first configuration, mounting of the support on the insert, and, in a second configuration, the final fixing of the support on the insert,

said support is able to be fixed to said insert by crimping,

- the device further comprises an actuating part of the deformable part, making it possible to pass the device from the first configuration to the second configuration,

- the actuating part is formed of a decorative part,

- the actuation part is configured to allow the passage of a pump actuation button,

- the actuating part comprises a ring having internal ribs for anchoring, in particular in rotation, in the support,

said device comprises a localized seal for coming into tight contact against said bottle,

- Said seal being held between said insert and said support.

The invention also relates to a set of a bottle and an insert of the fixing device as described above.

The invention also relates to a set of a pump and a support for the fixing device as described above.

The invention further relates to a set of a bottle, a pump and a fixing device as described above.

According to different embodiments of the invention, which can be taken together or separately:

- said bottle has an opening for introducing the product,

said insert leaves said orifice free,

- a free edge of the insert is located substantially at the same level as a free edge of a neck of the bottle.

The invention will be better understood in the light of the following description which is given for information only and which is not intended to limit it, accompanied by the accompanying drawings:

- Figure 1 illustrating, schematically, in perspective, a longitudinal sectional view of a pump, a portion of a bottle and a first embodiment, according to the invention, of a fixing device from the pump to the bottle,

FIGS. 1a and 1b respectively illustrating, schematically, in perspective, the portion of the bottle and an insert of the fixing device of FIG. 1, before and after mounting one on the other,

FIG. 1c schematically illustrating, in perspective, a view in longitudinal section of the pump and of a support for the fixing device of FIG. 1,

FIG. 1d schematically illustrating in perspective a view in longitudinal section of the pump and of the support of the fixing device of FIG. 1 c mounted on the insert and the portion of the bottle illustrated in FIG. 1 b,

- Figure 2 schematically illustrating a longitudinal sectional view of a pump, a portion of the bottle and a second embodiment, according to the invention, of a device for fixing the pump on the bottle,

FIG. 2a reproducing FIG. 2 during assembly, the pump and the fixing device being in the course of assembly on the bottle,

- Figure 2b reproducing Figure 2 after removal of the pump to fill the bottle.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention relates to a device 1 for fixing a pump 2 for dispensing product on a bottle 3 intended to contain the product to be dispensed by the pump 2.

In Figures 1 and 2, the bottle 3 is shown partially. It comprises a body, not shown, and a neck 5. Said body may have any desired shape. Said bottle 3 has an orifice 4 for introducing the product, located at a free end of the neck 5. Preferably, said neck 5 has a thread 6, here on an external lateral surface of said neck 5. Said bottle is, for example, in glass.

The pump 2 illustrated in the figures is described below. However, this is only a particular example of a pump that can be fixed using the fixing device according to the invention and said device can be used with any other example of pumps.

Said pump 2 comprises, for example, a pump motor 10 and a push button 12.

Said pump motor 10 comprises a metering chamber 14 provided with an inlet valve 16 and a discharge valve 18.

The inlet valve 16 is here formed of a ball valve. Depending on the position of the ball 20 relative to a surface 22 for supporting the ball, formed at the bottom of the metering chamber 14, the inlet valve 16 is open or closed. As long as the pressure in the metering chamber 14 is higher than that in the bottle 3, the ball 20 is bonded to its support 22 and the inlet valve 16 is closed. If the pressure in the metering chamber is lower than that in the bottle, the ball 20 comes off its support surface 22 and allows the introduction of product into the metering chamber 14.

The discharge valve 18 is formed, for example, of a valve 24 and a piston 26. The valve 24 and the piston 26 are configured to move in the metering chamber 14, in particular along a longitudinal axis of said chamber 14, in order to compress its content. They are also movable relative to one another, in particular along said longitudinal axis of the chamber 14. As long as the pressure in the chamber is below a certain threshold, the valve 24 is in contact with the piston 26 and the check valve. discharge 18 is closed. From said threshold, the valve 24 detaches from the piston 26 and the relief valve 18 is opened. The product is then expelled from the dosing chamber.

Said pump motor 10 also here comprises an actuating rod 28. At one of its ends, said actuating rod 28 is connected to the valve 24. Said actuating rod 28 is formed by a tube defining a circulation duct 32 in communication with the discharge valve 18 via passages 34 formed at the end of the rod connected to the valve 24. Said rod 28 is configured to drive the piston 26 in its displacement in compression the contents of the dosing chamber 14.

Said pump motor 10 further comprises a return spring 36, bearing between the metering chamber 14 and a stop 40 forming a shoulder for said spring 36. Said stop 40 is fixed to the actuating rod 28, here at a end of the rod 28 opposite to that connected to the valve 24.

Said pump motor may also include an orifice 41, located above the piston 26, to allow air to pass between the outside and the inside of the bottle.

The push button 12 is positioned, removably or not, on the pump motor 10, in particular on the stop 40. Said push button 12 comprises an actuating surface 42, here located on an upper face of the button 12. It further includes a spray nozzle 44, here located on a side face of the button 12. Said button 12 is configured to guide the product from a through end 48 of the conduit 32, opposite the end of the rod connected to the valve 28, to said nozzle 44.

Upstream of the intake valve 16, the pump may include a dip tube 49 allowing a withdrawal of the product from the bottle 3.

The operation of such a pump is as follows. At rest, a dose of product is present in the metering chamber 14. The inlet 16 and discharge 18 valves are closed. When the user wants to obtain the distribution of the product, he actuates the pump by pressing down on the actuation surface 42 of the push button 12. The stop 40 and the actuation rod 28 are then moved downwards by driving simultaneously the valve 24 and the piston 26, which has the effect of compressing the distribution chamber 14. Once a certain pressure threshold is reached, the valve 24 continues to run while the piston 26 is stopped. The valve 24 is then detached from the piston 26 opening the relief valve 18 and leaving free the distribution of the product which circulates consecutively in the passages 34, the conduit 32 and through the push button 12 to the nozzle 44. Once the pressure exerted by the user released, the stop 40, the actuating rod 28, the valve 24 and the piston 26 rise, under the action of the return spring 36, previously compressed during the displacement of the stop 40 downwards . This has the effect of closing the relief valve 18 and, the volume of the metering chamber 14 increasing as the valve 24 and the piston 26 rise, reducing the pressure in the metering chamber. When this becomes lower than the pressure in the bottle 3, the ball 20 lifts and the product is sucked from the bottle into the chamber through the intake valve 16. Once the pressure balance has been restored, the valve intake 16 closes and the pump is in its initial state.

To return to the fixing device 1, it comprises an insert 50 and a support 60.

The insert 50 is capable of being reversibly mounted on the bottle 3, leaving its filling free. Thus, thanks to the insert 50, the fixing device 1 can be mounted on or removed from the bottle 3 by means of a specific piece, specially adapted. In addition, even in the presence of the insert 50, the bottle 3 can be freely filled. In other words, said insert 50 leaves said orifice 4 free. It is understood by this that the insert 50 does not prevent filling of the bottle 3. In particular, the insert 50 does not entirely or even partially limit the cross-section of the 'introduction orifice 4 of the bottle 3. Still in other words, the insert 50 either does not cover the introduction orifice 4, or covers it only partially. Thus, the insert 50 can be positioned on the bottle 3 before initial filling, for example by the manufacturer of the bottle 3.

The support 60 is configured to make the pump 2 integral with said device 1. In addition, said support 60 allows a final fixing of the support 60 on the insert 50. Thus, by fixing the support 60 on the insert 50, a integral assembly comprising the pump 2, the support 60 and the insert 50, this assembly being able to be mounted on or removed from the bottle 3, reversibly, by means of the insert 50. In this way, in addition to the advantage that represents the use of a dedicated part, namely the insert 50, for mounting or removing the pump 2, there is another dedicated part, namely the support 60, for fixing the pump 2 on the bottle 3, this by effect of the connection between said support 60 and the insert 50. This operation can take place just after the initial filling. The manufacturer in charge of filling therefore sees his work made easier by avoiding screwing operations on the pump.

Said insert 50 and / or said support 60 are, for example, made of plastic material, at least one advantageously being able to creep.

As is better visible in Figures 1a and 1b, and as is also the case in the embodiment of Figures 2, 2a and 2b, the removable attachment of the insert 50 on the bottle 3 is, for example, a screw . For this, said insert 50 here comprises a ring 51 carrying a thread 52, intended to cooperate with the thread 6 of the neck 5 of the bottle 3.

A free edge 53 of the insert 50 is preferably located substantially at the same level as a free edge 7 of the neck 5. The free edge 7 of the neck 5 is thus surrounded by the free edge 53 of the support 50. In other words, the introduction orifice 4 of the bottle 3 is at the free edge 53 of the insert 50. The insert 50 here comprises an edge 54 opposite the free edge 53. Said opposite edge 54 may bear on the bottle 3, at the base of neck 5.

Said ring 51 of the insert 50 may include external ribs 55, configured to anchor, in particular in rotation, in the support 60, in particular under the effect of a creep of the material of said support 60. More precisely, said ring 51 and the support 60 are preferably configured to be force-fitted, a flow of the material of the support 60 subsequently taking place in the vicinity of said ribs 55, which reinforces the fixing of the support 60 on the insert 50 by preventing any movement of one relative to the other. Said ribs 55 are located for example on an external lateral surface of the ring 51.

Said ring 51 comprises an excess thickness of material forming an annular ring 56 extending radially outward from the ring 51, for example at the free edge 53. As will be detailed later, said ring 56 serves for fixing the support 60.

The ribs 55 of the insert are here located on the rod 56, the rest of the outer lateral surface of the ring being smooth. As a variant, ribs could be provided internally on the support 60 to make a rotation stop on the insert 50.

Said insert 50 can be flared downwards, here giving the part of the ring 51 having the smooth external lateral surface a frustoconical shape.

As is better visible in Figures 1c and 1d, and as is also the case in the embodiment of Figures 2, 2a and 2b, said support 60 is configured to hold said pump 2. For this it has here a cover 62 having an internal rib 64 configured to allow the pump 2 to snap in. The pump 2 has in this sense an annular thickening in the form of a rod 64 ′, intended to be housed in the internal rib 64 of the cover 62. Said internal rib 64 is in particular provided at the pump motor 10.

Said support 60 comprises, for example, an external sleeve 66, located here coaxially with respect to the cover 62 while being connected to it, in particular, by a ring 68. Said cover 62 is preferably located in the upper part of the sleeve 66.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d, said final fixing of the support 60 on the insert 50 is, for example a snap-fastening, here by means of the external sleeve 66.

For this, said external sleeve may have on an internal lateral face protrusions 70, configured to snap under the rod 56 of the insert 50. They here extend radially inwardly of the sleeve 66. They are located , for example, in the lower part of the sleeve.

Said fixing device also comprises a decorative piece 72, visible in FIG. 1, configured to conceal the insert 50 and the support 60. Here, it surrounds the latter coaxially. In the lower part, the decorative piece 72 preferably bears on the bottle 3.

Said fixing piece 72 can be fixed to the support 60. It preferably has internal ribs, not visible, making a stop, for example in rotation, on said support 60, in particular under the effect of a creep of the material of said support 60 As a variant, said ribs are located on an external surface of said support 60.

Said decorative piece 72 is preferably configured to allow the passage of the button 12 for actuating the pump 2. It has here for this an upper orifice 74 through which the button 12 is free in translation.

The fixing device 1 is configured so that, in the event of actuation, the button 12 moves towards the cover 62 of the support 60 until it is almost entirely retracted into the decor piece 72 and so that, once released, said button 12 rises to be almost entirely visible above the upper orifice 74 of said decorative piece 72.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 2, 2a and 2b, said support 60 comprises a deformable part 76, configured to allow, in a first configuration, corresponding to FIG. 2a, mounting of the support 60 on the insert 50, and , in a second configuration, corresponding to FIG. 2, the final fixing of the support 60 on the insert 50. In this way it is possible to achieve a final fixing of the support 60 on the insert 50 by crimping.

Said deformable part 76 is in particular situated on the external sleeve 66 of the support 60, preferably in a low region of said sleeve 66. It is produced for example in the form of legs spaced angularly from one another so as to be able to be folded down under the rod 56 of insert 50.

The device further comprises an actuating part 78 of the deformable part 76, making it possible to pass the device from the first configuration to the second configuration. Said actuating part 78 thus forms a hoop enabling the support 60 to be locked on the insert 50.

The actuating piece 78 preferably forms a decorative piece, taking up all or part of the structure and / or the function of the decorative piece 72 of the previous embodiment.

Said actuating part 78 may in particular comprise a ring 80 having internal ribs 82 for anchoring in the support 60, in particular by a creep effect of said support. More specifically, said ring 80 and the support 60 are preferably configured to be force-fitted, a flow of the material of the support 60 subsequently taking place in the vicinity of said ribs 78, which reinforces the fixing of the actuating part 78 on the support 60 by preventing any movement of one relative to the other. As previously, as a variant, said ribs are located on an external surface of said support 60.

As is particularly the case in the various embodiments illustrated, said device may also include a seal 84, located to come into tight contact against said bottle 3.

Said seal 84 is preferably maintained between said insert 50 and said support 60. The free edge 7 of the neck 5 is here in contact with the seal 84. Said device is advantageously configured so that said free edge 7 of the neck 5 compresses the seal 84 against the support 60.

The various stages of assembly and use of the invention are repeated below, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 2a and 2b in the case of its second embodiment.

In FIG. 2a, the insert 50 having been fixed in a reversible manner on the bottle 3 which will have been previously filled, the assembly formed by the pump 2 and the support 60, accompanied where appropriate by the decorative piece and / or actuator 78, is positioned on the assembly formed by the bottle 3 and the insert 50.

In FIG. 2, the support 60 has been fixed definitively on the insert 50, here by crimping, under the action of the lowering of the actuating part 78 which will have folded down the deformable part 76 of the support 60 under the rod 56 of the insert 50. The bottle is now closed by the pump 2 and its fixing device 1.

In FIG. 2b, it can be seen that the assembly formed by the pump 2 and its fixing device 1 has been removed. The insert 50 is now permanently fixed to the support 60, a simple movement, here a unscrewing, makes it possible to remove said assembly and to have access to the interior of the bottle 3, in a single operation. To close the bottle 3, it suffices to reposition said assembly in a reverse movement.

In the two illustrated fixing modes, the final fixing of the support 60 on the support 50 is obtained by a movement dedicated to this single operation, here a translation, for example by snap-fastening or by crimping. It is therefore an operation which can be chosen so as to be easy to carry out for the manufacturer in charge of filling the bottle 3. Furthermore, the subsequent removal and mounting of the pump 2 on the bottle 3 have place via the insert 50, here by screwing / unscrewing. As it is a specific, undeformed part, this subsequent removal and mounting can be carried out reliably by the end user.

Claims (15)

1. Device for fixing a pump (2) for dispensing product on a bottle (3) intended to contain the product to be dispensed by the pump (2), said device comprising an insert (50), capable of being mounted reversibly on the bottle (3) leaving free the filling of said bottle (3), and a support (60), configured to make the pump (2) integral with said device, said support (60) being able to be fixed so final on the insert (50). 2. Device according to claim 1 wherein the insert (50) is adapted to be screwed onto the bottle (3). 3. Device according to the preceding claim wherein said insert (50) comprises a ring (51) carrying a thread (52). 4. Device according to the preceding claim wherein said ring (51) of the insert (50) comprises ribs (55) external configured to anchor in the support (60). 5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said support (60) is configured to hold said pump (2). 6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said support (60) is capable of being fixed to said insert (50) by snap-fastening. 7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said support (60) comprises a deformable part (76) configured to allow, in a first configuration, mounting of the support (60) on the insert (50) , and, in a second configuration, the final fixing of the support (60) on the insert (50). 8. Device according to the preceding claim wherein said support (60) is adapted to be fixed on said insert (50) by crimping. 9. Device according to any one of claims 7 or 8 further comprising a part (78) for actuating the deformable part (76), allowing the device to pass from the first configuration to the second configuration. 10. Device according to the preceding claim wherein the actuating part (78) is formed of a decorative piece. 11. Device according to any one of claims 9 or 10 in which the actuating part (78) comprises a ring (80) having internal ribs (82) for anchoring in the support. 12. Device according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a seal (84), located to come into tight contact against said bottle (3), said seal (84) being held between said insert (50) and said support (60) . 13. Set of a bottle (3) and an insert (50) of the fixing device according to any one of the preceding claims. 14. Assembly of a pump (2) and a support (60) of the fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 12. 15. Assembly of a bottle (3), a pump (2) and a fixing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.