GB2221957A

GB2221957A - A device for dispensing doses of a pasty product

Info

Publication number: GB2221957A
Application number: GB8918002A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Antonin Goncalves
Original assignee: LOreal SA
Current assignee: LOreal SA
Priority date: 1988-08-19
Filing date: 1989-08-07
Publication date: 1990-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 2009-08-07
Also published as: GB8918002D0; DE3927339A1; ES2014865A6; CH679575A5; FR2635473A1; IT1232522B; IT8967710A0; GB2221957B; FR2635473B1

Abstract

The device comprises a cylindrical reservoir (2) provided at one end with dispensing means (D). A rack (3) is disposed substantially coaxially inside the reservoir, and there is a piston (5) having a catch (6) mounted on the rack. The reservoir (2) is disposed within a covering barrel (12) to which the rack (3) is connected, the assembly being designed so that the dispensing means (D) can be displaced to release a product dose. The dispensing means (D) comprise a valve (C) formed in particular by a ball (25) capable of opening to allow the dose of product (P) to pass, and of being applied against its seat by spring fingers (26) so as to close the reservoir (2) when the dispensing means (D) reassume their rest position under the action of return spring (21). <IMAGE>

Description

1 2221957 1 A DEVICE FOR DISPENSING DOSES OF A PASTY PRODUCT The present

invention relates to a device for dispensing doses of a pasty product, of the kind comprising a cylindrical reservoir provided at one end with dispensing means, a rack disposed substantially coaxially inside the reservoir, and a piston in the reservoir and having a catch on the rack, the assembly being such that the piston can be displaced towards the dispensing means but is blocked against movement in the opposite direction, the reservoir being disposed in a covering barrel to which the rack is connected, and the assembly being designed so that the dispensing means can be displaced to cause a product dose to emerge.

The invention concerns more particularly, but not exclusively, a device for dispensing doses of toothpaste, because it is in this field that its application seems to be most effective.

The dispensing devices of this kind are, generally speaking, relatively satisfactory. However, the pasty product contained in the reservoir tends to dry out after a certain time.

Accordingly the present invention provides a device for dispensing doses of a pasty product, comprising a cylindrical reservoir; a valve at one end of the cylindrical reservoir dispensing means and capable of opening to release a dose of product, and of being applied against its seat so as to close the reservoir when no product dose is to be dispensed; a rack disposed substantially coaxially inside the reservoir; and a piston with a catch mounted on the rack, the assembly being such that the piston is able to be displaced towards the valve but is blocked by the rack against movement in the opposite direction, wherein the reservoir is disposed within a covering barrel to which the rack is connected, and the assembly being designed so that the valve is displaceable 2 relative to the reservoir to cause a product dose to emerge. The isolation of the product contained in the reservoir from the atmosphere is improved, and the drying out of the paste is delayed and even suppressed.

Advantageously, the dispensing means comprise a dispensing nose and a nose support displaceably mounted for translation on the upper end of the reservoir remote from the piston when the reservoir is full. Thus the only movable components in the upper portion of the reservoir are of small dimensions.

A biasing spring, in particular a helical spring, is mounted around a skirt fixed to the nose support, and is compressed between a transverse stop provided on the nose support and a shoulder provided on the reservoir. The-upper portion of the reservoir is formed by a collar which has a diameter smaller than that of the reservoir and which is surrounded by the skirt of the nose support, the latter being retained against the spring by a flange of the covering.

The nose support includes a transverse wall orthogonal to the axis of the reservoir, this wall being provided with an opening in which the valve is disposed.

This valve may include a ball placed on the opening, the dispensing nose including means, such as tongues of a plastic material, to retain the ball elastically on the opening.

In another possibility, the valve is formed by a disc, made in particular of a plastic material, which is substantially coaxial with the reservoir and mounted in an opening of the nose support, ribs being provided above this opening to ensure that the disc is held in a position near the closed position.

The dispensing nose and its support can form two different parts, or be made from a single moulded part.

Preferably, there is a cover having an internal skirt to surmount the nose of the dispensing means when the 1 3 device is not in use.

The piston can be provided with a cap comprising a skirt for ensuring the seal against the internal surface of the cylindrical wall of the reservoir.

Apart from the features set out above, the invention consists of a certain number of other features which will be discussed in greater detail below in connection with particular embodiments described merely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- FIGURE 1 is an axial section of the dispensing device in accordance with the invention; and FIGURE 2 is a part view, similar to Figure 1, of a variant of the embodiment of the device, but on an enlarged scale.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a device 1 may be seen for dispensing doses of a pasty product P. This device 1 comprises a cylindrical reservoir 2 containing the product P and provided at one end with dispensing means D.

A circular section rack 3 is disposed substantially coaxially inside the reservoir 2 and is fixed at its end remote from the dispensing means D to a bottom plate 4 closing the corresponding end of the reservoir 2.

A piston 5 having a catch 6 is mounted on the rack.

The catch 6 and the notches 7 of the rack are arranged so that the piston 5 can be displaced towards the dispensing means D, but is blocked against movement in the opposite direction by the catch 6 bearing on a transverse surface of the notch 7 which is substantially orthogonal to the axis of the rack.

The piston 5 has substantially the form of an upended top whose cylindrical skirt at its lower end _e, i.e. the end facing the bottom 4, bears against the inner surface of the reservoir 2. Provision is made for a frusto-conical wall 8 in the hollow portion of the piston 5 to cover the catch 6 on its side nearer the bottom 4, this wall 4 comprising, on its smaller diameter end, a bead 9 which brushes against the rack 3.

The convex surface of the piston 5 is covered by a cap 10 of a flexible material, in particular, an elastomeric material which comprises at its end facing the bottom 4, an edging 11 with an externally concave cross-section. This edging 11 sealingly sweeps the inner surface of the reservoir 2.

on its side facing the dispensing means D, the cap 10 comprises a frusto-conical extension t whose smaller diameter end is extended in a collar f and surrounds the rack 3, in particular so as to prevent the pasty product P from entering the space in which the catch 6 is located.

The reservoir 2 is disposed within a cylindrical covering barrel 12 and the bottom plate 4 is catch-engaged by a conventional groove/bead system at the lower portion of this barrel 12. The lower portion of the reservoir 2 comprises an outer peripheral flange 13 which is fixed against the plate 4 by means of an inner circular bead 14 provided on the inner surface of the barrel 2.

The dispensing means D comprise a dispensing nose 15 and a nose support 16 displaceably mounted for translation along the axial direction of the reservoir 2 on the upper end of this reservoir, that is to say, at the end remote-from the piston 5 when the reservoir is full.

The upper portion of the reservoir 2 is formed by a collar 17 having a diameter smaller than that of the reservoir. The nose support 16 forms a sort of cap comprising a cylindrical skirt 18 whose lower portion surrounds the collar 17 in a manner that is sufficiently leakproof to prevent escape of the paste P. The upper end of the barrel 12 forms a radially inwardly extending flange 19 which is capable of retaining a collar 20 projecting from the nose support 16. 35 A helical biasing spring 21 is mounted around the skirt 18 inside the covering barrel 12. This spring 21 is h J1 compressed between a transverse stop formed by the collar 20 and a shoulder 22 provided at the bottom of the collar 17.

The dispensing means D comprise a valve C capable of opening, to release a product dose, and of closing when the dispensing means D reassume their rest position.

In its upper portion, the nose support 16 comprises a transverse wall 23 orthogonal to the axis of the reservoir 2. This wall 23 is provided with a central opening 24 arranged in the form of a seat for the valve C which comprises a ball 25 placed on the opening 24. Flexible tongues 26, substantially parallel to the direction of the axis of the reservoir 2 in the dispensing nose 15, maintain the ball 25 elastically against the opening 24. The elasticity of these tongues 26 is sufficient to allow the ball 25 to move away from the said opening 24 under the pressure of the product P when a dose is being dispensed, in order to allow the product to pass.

In the Figure 1 embodiment, the dispensing nose 15 forms a part which is independent of the nose support 16.

This nose support comprises on its wall 23 a projecting collar 27 in which the base of the nose 15 is catch-engaged. This nose 15 comprises an outlet nozzle 28 whose axis slopes slightly upwards in relation to a direction orthogonal to the axis of the reservoir 2.

A cover 29 provided at its base with an internal thread capable of cooperating with the external thread 30 on the nose support 16, allows the dispensing nose 15 to be covered. Inside, the cap 29 comprises a skirt 31 capable of being applied in a leakproof manner against the end of the nozzle 28 when the cover 29 is placed in its covering position.

This being the case, the functioning of the dispensing device 1 of Figure 1 is as follows.

Assume that the container 2 is filled with the pasty product P as represented in Figure 1 and that the device, in particular the covering barrel 12, rests with its 6 base on a flat horizontal surface, with the axis of the device 1 vertical.

Having unscrewed the cover 29, the user depresses the nose 15 so as to drive the nose support 16 against the spring 21 over a distance which is at most equal to j (the distance between the lower edge of the skirt 18 in the high position and the shoulder 22).

Excess pressure develops inside the pasty product P; the catch 6 prevents the piston 5 from recoiling. This same excess pressure separates the ball 25 from its seat 24, so the ball pushes the tongues 26 back and spreads them apart; a dose of the pasty product emerges from the container 2, passes through the opening 24, and flows out through the nozzle 28.

When the pressure on the dispensing nose 15 is relaxed, the spring 21 causes the assembly of the nose support 16 and of the nose 15 to rise again, which produces low pressure in the reservoir 2 and causes the piston 5 to displace in the direction which moves it further away from the bottom wall 4. The catch 6 then engages a little higher up the rack 3. This low pressure also causes the ball 25 to be reapplied against the opening 24 which stops any intake of air and prevents the unpriming of the device.

It is apparent that in the design according to the invention, the reservoir 2, the rack 3, and the covering barrel 12 are fixed. only the upper portion, constituted by the nose 15 and the nose support 16, which are relatively small in size, is movable.

During storage of the device, the seal established by the ball 25 protects the product P from the atmosphere and prevents it from drying out. The seal constituted by the valve C improves the seal possibly obtained, by means of the cover 29 which closes the nose 15.

Figure 2 shows a variant embodiment, in which those elements which are identical to, or perform functions similar to, the elements already described with reference to 7 Figure 1, are designated by reference numerals possibly followed by the suffix letter a, without their description being repeated in detail.

The valve C is formed by a disc 32 which is made in particular of a plastic material, and which is substantially coaxial with the reservoir 2 and is disposed in a recess 33 of the nose support 16a. The bottom of this recess includes the opening 24a which serves as the seat for the disc 32. The edge of this opening 24a is substantially frusto- conical, whilst the radially outer part of the disc 32 is formed by two outwardly tapering frusto-conical surfaces, i.e. they have their larger diameter ends situated near the median plane of the disc 32; the surface of the outer edge of this disc matches that of the seat 24a. 15 In the recess 33 are regularly interspaced ribs 34, for example four in number, which are orientated radially and have their bases sloping to ensure retention of the disc 32, while nevertheless allowing this disc to be raised in relation to its seat 24a. 20 The nose 15a and the nose support 16a are in this case integrally moulded. The functioning of the device of Figure 2 is similar to that described with reference to Figure 1. When pressure is exerted on the nose 15a, the disc 32 rises from its seat and releases a dose of the product P.

When the support 16a returns to its rest position, the low pressure created inside the reservoir 2 causes the disc 32 to be applied against its seat 24a and the piston to rise along the rack.

It should be noted that the piston 5 without the cap 10 can be fitted on the rack 3 at its end remote from the bottom wall 4, and can be lowered to the bottom wall. For this purpose, the catch 6 is separated from the rack to prevent the blocking of the piston. This is possible, because the cap 10 has not yet been placed in position. When the piston has been lowered as far as the bottom wall 8 4, the cap 10 is placed in position. The container 2 can then be filled from the top, the cap 10 allowing the catch 6 to operate while being protected from contact with the paste P.

1 1 9

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A device for dispensing doses of a pasty product, comprising a cylindrical reservoir; a valve at one end of the cylindrical reservoir dispensing means and capable of opening to release a dose of product, and of being applied against its seat so as to close the reservoir when no product dose is to be dispensed; a rack disposed substantially coaxially inside the reservoir; and a piston with a catch mounted on the rack, the assembly being such that the piston is able to be displaced towards the valve but is blocked by the rack against movement in the opposite direction, wherein the reservoir is disposed within a covering barrel to which the rack is connected, and the assembly being designed so that the valve is displaceable relative to the reservoir to cause a product dose to emerge.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the valve is carried by a dispensing nose on a nose support displaceably mounted for translation on that end of the reservoir which is remote from the piston when the reservoir is full.

3. A device according to claim 2, including a restoring spring mounted around a skirt integral with the nose support and compressed between a transverse stop on the nose support and a shoulder on the reservoir.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said spring is a helical compression spring.

5. A device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the upper portion of the reservoir is formed by a collar having a diameter smaller than that of the reservoir, said collar being surrounded, by a skirt of the nose support, and wherein the nose support is retained against the spring by a flange of the covering barrel.

6. A device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the nose support comprises a transverse wall orthogonal to the axis of the reservoir and provided with an opening therein defining the seat of the valve.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the valve comprises a ball placed on said opening, and the dispensing nose includes means to maintain the ball 5 elastically on the opening.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said maintaining means comprise tongues made of a plastic material.

9. A device according to claim 6, wherein the valve is a disc which is substantially coaxial with the reservoir and mounted over said opening of the nose support, ribs being provided above said opening to ensure that the disc is maintained in a position near its closed position.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein said disc is made of a plastic material.

11. A device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the dispensing nose and its support are integrally moulded.

12. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the piston is provided with a cap comprising an edging effective to ensure the seal against the inner surface of the reservoir.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the cap of the piston comprises, on the side nearer the valve a frusto-conical extension whose smaller diameter end surrounds the rack.

14. A device for dispensing doses of a pastry product, such device being constructed and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

Paed 1990 atThe Patent =cc, State House, 8671 High Holborn. London WC1R 4TP. Further copies maybe obtained from The Patent OinceSales Brancli. St Mary Cray. Orpingtor. Kei.t BR5 3F.D. Pr,rted by TAjl!jplex technIques lta, St Mary Cray. Kent. Con- 1187 1 z