JP4017580B2 - Dispenser - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a device for dispensing fluids, in particular cosmetics or care products.

  Dispenser devices having rotating parts that can be actuated to turn on and off the communication between the interior of the receptacle and the dispensing orifice are described in particular in US Pat. Nos. 648,278, 3,690,521, Nos. 4,961,515, 5,246,148 and 5,303,850 are known. The dispenser devices described in these U.S. Patents are not designed to prevent impurities, e.g., sand particles, from entering the interior, and are suitable for use on the beach as a cosmetic or care product. For example, it is not perfectly suitable for dispensing sunscreens.

  FR-A-2,711,620 has a "clean" orifice with a check valve made of an elastomeric material for the purpose of preventing impurities, for example sand particles, from entering the interior. It proposes a dispenser device, also called "capsule". Nevertheless, such dispenser devices are relatively complex in structure and expensive to manufacture.

  There is a need for further improvements in devices for dispensing fluid substances, particularly by facilitating manufacture, particularly when the sunscreen is to be dispensed.

The present invention has a first portion that secures such a desire to the receptacle and a second portion that is rotatable relative to the first portion, the second portion entering the receptacle. Between the dispensing position where the material being discharged can exit the dispenser through a dispensing orifice that is directly open to the outside, and a closed position where material is prevented from passing from the receptacle to the dispensing orifice. The dispenser is filled by providing a dispenser characterized in that the dispensing orifice is formed between two surfaces belonging to each of the two parts.
These two surfaces leave a clearance (gap) behind them, which clearance is narrow enough to prevent sand from entering the interior of the device, for example, 0.5 millimeters (mm) or less, Alternatively, it may be selected to be about 0.2 mm.

  According to the present invention, the dispenser device can be manufactured relatively inexpensively. This is because the dispense orifice does not have an elastomeric check valve. In addition, the present invention can avoid problems regarding deterioration of the check valve material or compatibility or compatibility between the check valve material and the substance to be dispensed. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to have a dispenser orifice that is clean in appearance. This is because the area around it is easy to clean. The fact that the first part and the second part need to be rotated relative to each other to be in the dispensing position can reduce the risk of accidental opening of the instrument, for example in a handbag.

The above aspects should be concentric.
The dispensing orifice may be constituted by a gap that is at least partially in the form of an annular sector.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the dispensing orifice is open to the outside in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the second part.

  The dispensing orifice may be made substantially at the top end of the instrument when the receptacle with the instrument is standing on a surface as a horizontal plane.

  The second part may have a top wall with an opening, for example an edge in the form of a circle, with an opening constituting one of the faces, the first part being a second part It is good to have an end wall which fits into the opening of a part and an edge, for example, the edge of a circular shape, comprises the other of the said surfaces. The top wall may not be cylindrical.

  The end wall and the top wall are advantageously provided with outer surfaces that substantially extend from one another (neglecting the dispensing orifice). This contributes to an improvement in the appearance of the dispenser device, and can thereby easily clean the vicinity of the dispensing orifice.

  The first part and the second part may be beneficially made by molding from plastic materials of different colors so that the user can easily locate the dispensing orifice. Can do.

  The dispense orifice benefits from a large area that allows the second portion to rotate about a tilting pivot axis and / or can accumulate before the material is removed by the user. To receive, it may be provided away from the center of the top wall of the second part.

  In the dispensing position, the top wall of the second part should also be inclined when the receptacle with the dispenser device is standing on a level surface. The material exiting the dispensing orifice tends to flow down onto the top wall of the second portion under gravity if the fluidity of the material is sufficient. By placing the dispense orifice off center, the size of the surface through which the material can flow before exiting the top wall can be increased, thus facilitating removal of the material.

  The distance between the two surfaces constituting the dispensing orifice should be constant. This spacing may also not be constant, for example when the two parts are in the dispensing position, since the dispensing is preferentially from the region of the dispensing orifice where the spacing is at its maximum.

  The first part may have a tubular extension whose top end is closed by the above-mentioned top wall, this extension comprising at least one lateral opening, the second part comprising two parts An inner skirt configured to close the side opening when the is in the closed position and to allow the substance to travel through the side opening toward the dispensing orifice when the two parts are in the dispensing position It is good to have.

  The dispensing orifice may communicate with a chamber formed between the first and second portions when these portions are in the dispensing position. The chamber may occupy a sector around the pivot axis of the second part, and this sector is less than one full revolution. The chamber may be formed, for example, between a recess provided in the tubular extension and a notch extending axially within the radially inner surface of the inner skirt of the second portion. The chamber volume is preferably small enough to prevent material build-up, which can later dry if not used. The chamber volume and shape allows substantially all of the material contained in the receptacle to be sucked back into the receptacle during the inflow of air that occurs as the receptacle returns to its initial shape. It is good to be selected. However, it is assumed that the receiver has a variable volume and has shape memory characteristics.

  Said side opening may be constituted by an annular lip extending from a recess provided in the tubular extension. The annular lip can constitute an annular slot between itself and the inside of the recess.

  The axis of rotation of the second part should be inclined with respect to the axis of the skirt used for attachment to the receptacle, which in some cases coincides with the axis of the neck of the receptacle. The pivot axis of the second part does not have to be vertical when the receptacle with the dispenser device stands on a surface as a horizontal plane. By tilting the rotation axis, the user can easily confirm the dispensing position with respect to the closed position. The pivot axis may be included in the vertical plane when the receptacle with the dispenser device is standing on the surface as a horizontal plane.

  The first portion and the second portion are configured such that the transition from the closed position to the dispensing position is accomplished by rotating the second portion at least a quarter turn, eg, a half turn relative to the first portion. However, such a transition can be accomplished in several other ways.

  The first part and the second part may be configured to be prevented from moving axially relative to each other. One of these two parts can be snapped onto the other part, and at least one of these two parts has a bead or groove on the same axis as the pivot axis of the second part. For example, one of the two portions may have an annular bead and the other may have at least one recess shaped to snap onto the annular bead during manufacture of the dispenser device. The two parts may be in a fixed axial position relative to the pivot axis of rotation relative to the other of the parts. The dispenser orifice may have an axis that defines the direction in which the substance is dispensed, and the first and second portions may be prevented from moving axially relative to the axis.

  The first part and the second part need not be provided with a hinge connecting them together. The dispensing orifice may be permanently formed between the faces belonging to each of the first part and the second part, regardless of whether the dispenser device is in the dispensing position or the closed position. .

  The invention also according to one of its features, alone or in combination with the above-mentioned features, a first part fixed to the receptacle and a second rotatable with respect to the first part. And a second portion has a dispensing position through which the substance contained in the receptacle can exit the dispenser through a dispensing orifice that is directly open to the outside, and the substance passes from the receptacle to the dispensing orifice. Rotating between the first part and the closed position, wherein a dispensing orifice is formed between two faces belonging to each of the two parts, the first part and the second part Each of the portions has an outer surface, and one of the surfaces is continuous with the other.

  The invention also according to one of its features, alone or in combination with the above-mentioned features, a first part fixed to the receptacle and a second rotatable with respect to the first part. And a second portion has a dispensing position through which the substance contained in the receptacle can exit the dispenser through a dispensing orifice that is directly open to the outside, and the substance passes from the receptacle to the dispensing orifice. Rotating between the first part and a closed position in which the dispensing orifice is formed between two faces belonging to each of the two parts, one of the faces being An instrument is provided that is rotatably supported around each other.

  The invention also according to one of its features, alone or in combination with the above-mentioned features, rotates around the axis of rotation with respect to the first part fixed to the receptacle and the first part. A second portion suitable for the dispensing, wherein the second portion has a dispensing position through which the substance contained in the receptacle can exit the dispenser through a dispensing orifice that is directly open to the outside; Between a closed position in which passage from the receptacle to the dispensing orifice is prevented, rotating about the axis of rotation relative to the first part, the dispensing orifice between the two faces belonging to each of the two parts An instrument is formed, characterized in that the axis of rotation is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the receptacle.

The present invention also provides a receptacle comprising a dispenser device as described above. The receptacle may be made by molding the material in a mold that constitutes a joining plane, the receptacle having a body with a top wall.
Advantageously, the top wall has at least one step extending along the joining plane over at least a majority of the distance between the neck and the periphery of the top wall.

Such a step serves to reinforce the strength of the top wall, especially against stresses applied while the dispenser device is secured on the top wall.
Thus, if the strength is equal, the thickness of the material used can be reduced, or if the thickness of the material is equal, it can withstand a large level of stress and, for example, increase the manufacturing throughput. Can do.

  The invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

The illustrated packaging and dispensing device 1 is an example illustrated in one direction with respect to the receptacle 10 having the neck 11 of the axis Z and the first portion 30 and the first portion 30 fixed to the two portions. Has a dispenser device 20 composed of a second portion 40 that can rotate about a pivot axis X that is less than 45 ° with respect to the axis Z, for example, slightly less than 10 °. In the illustrated example, the first portion 30 and the second portion 40 are made of non-elastomeric plastic materials having different colors.
The receptacle 10 has a body 12 which is oval in cross section, in particular in the illustrated example having an oval cross section.

  As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first portion 30 has a tubular outer skirt 31 designed to occupy a position that forms an extension of the outer surface of the receptacle 10.

  A lateral wall 32 extending generally perpendicular to the axis X forms an inward extension of the top of the outer skirt 31, which is a tubular extension whose base is connected to the lateral wall 32 about the axis X 33 is supported.

  The first portions 30 extend into the outer skirt 31 and are each in the form of an arc on the radially inner surface and engage with a recess provided in the neck 11 as will be described in detail below. It further includes an assembly skirt 34 having two teeth 35 designed to do so and a sealing lip 36 that presses against the radially inner surface of the neck 11.

  An annular bead 38 is provided on the extension 33 and the top end of the extension is closed by an end wall 37. The extension 33 has a side opening 50 formed by an annular lip 51 centered on an axis Y perpendicular to the axis X. An annular lip 51 extends from the recess 52 as can be seen in FIG. An annular slot 53 is formed around the annular lip 51 in the recess 52. The top of the recess is constituted by a part 37 a of the end wall 37.

  The end wall 37 has a circular shape centering on the axis X, and an edge that forms a cylindrical surface 60 having a generatrix parallel to the axis X.

  The second portion 40 has an outer skirt 41 that surrounds the extension 33 and is connected to the top wall 42.

  The transverse wall 32 has two thin splines 39 extending parallel to the minor axis of the transverse wall 32. These two splines 39 cooperate with axial ribs (not shown) formed on the radially inner surface of the outer skirt 41 to generate a hard point during the rotational movement of the second portion 40 and the first. It is intended to facilitate positioning the two parts such that this is an extension of the outer skirt 31 of the first part 30.

  Second portion 40 further includes an inner skirt 43 shaped to be secured to extension 33. For this purpose, the inner skirt 43 has an annular rib 44 configured to snap onto the annular bead 38.

  The inner skirt 43 has a notch 45 on its radially inner surface, the notch 45 extending in the axial direction and having a width slightly larger than the outer diameter of the annular lip 51. The top of the notch 45 is constituted by a part 42 a of the top wall 42. The inner skirt 43 includes an inner surface 46 outside the notch 45, and the inner surface 46 has a cylindrical shape centered on the axis X. When the dispenser device is in its closed position, the annular lip 51 abuts against the inner surface 46 in a leak-tight manner, as can be seen in FIG. 4, thereby closing the side opening 50.

  The inner skirt 43 and the extension 33 each have a slightly conical surface 70, 71, which creates an assembled and sealed condition between the second portion 40 and the first portion 30. Thus, the material is prevented from flowing downward between the extension portion 33 and the inner skirt 43. In the example shown in the drawing, the top wall 42 is a circle centered on the axis X, and has an opening that forms a cylindrical surface 80 having a generatrix parallel to the axis X. The surface 80, in cooperation with the opposing surface 60 of the end wall 37, defines an annular space that includes a fan-shaped portion that defines a dispensing orifice 90 that allows material to exit the dispenser device.

  In the illustrated example, the distance between the opposing surfaces 60 and 80 is of a substantially constant size j regardless of whether or not the substance is dispensed, but this distance varies in the circumferential direction. However, it does not depart from the scope of the present invention. As an example, FIG. 7 shows a dispensing orifice formed between two opposing surfaces 60 ', 80' that are part of the first and second parts, respectively, and are not circular around a common axis. 90 'is shown. As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 4 and 5, the top wall 42 and the end wall 37 are provided with respective top surfaces 42b, 37b that extend from each other (the annular gap existing between them is ignored). Thereby, the vicinity of the dispensing orifice 90 can be easily cleaned.

  The receptacle 10 may advantageously comprise a reinforced top as described below with reference to FIGS.

  The neck 11 is connected to the top wall 100 of the receptacle, which is elliptical in outline in the illustrated example and extends generally transverse to the axis Z of the neck 11.

  In the illustrated example, the receptacle 10 is made by blow-molding a plastic material with a split mold, and the joining plane P of the mold coincides with the major axis of the oval cross section of the main body 12 and the top wall 100. ing. The presence of the joining plane P can be seen on the receiver body 12 by means of a bead of material that projects only slightly from the outer surface of the receiver body 12.

  A recess or step 101 is formed in the joining plane P to form a raised part that forms some kind of stiffening “beam” on the top wall 100, thus for example at high throughput. A relatively small thickness of material can be used while still having a receptacle that can withstand the applied stresses while being secured by operating tools. In the illustrated example, such fixing is performed by snapping the teeth 35 onto the annular bead 102 of the neck 11.

In the illustrated example, the step portion 101 extends from the periphery of the top wall 100 including the shelf portion 103 to the base portion of the neck 11, and is one of the boundary portions constituting the four regions 110, 120, 130, and 140 of the top wall 100. Part.
Regions 110, 120, 130, or 140 occupy substantially a quarter of the top wall 100, each 1/4 being a half plane located on one side of the joining plane P and perpendicular to the joining plane. , Defined by the intersecting line of the half planes located on one side of the intermediate plane M including the axis Z.

  The two regions 110 and 120 are located diametrically opposite each other about the axis Z, and these regions occupy substantially the same axial position along the axis Z. The two regions 130 and 140 are also located diametrically opposite each other about the axis Z, and these regions are axially offset with respect to the regions 110 and 120 and are measured parallel to the axis Z. It is located closer to the free end of the neck 11 by a distance substantially corresponding to a height of 101.

The top wall 100 further includes a raised portion that extends in the transverse direction with respect to the joining plane P.
Specifically, in the illustrated example, the top wall 100 has two ribs 150 that are symmetrical about the axis Z and extend in the regions 110 and 120, respectively. With parallel longitudinal axes. The ribs 150 extend from a substantially zero value starting at the ledge 103 around the top wall 100 to an axis Z that increases linearly or at a constant rate towards the steps 101 to which they are connected together. It has a height measured in parallel and a width that slightly increases as it approaches the step 101.

  The top wall 100 further includes two grooves 151 that are positioned in alignment with the two ribs 150, each groove 151 having a longitudinal axis that extends along a direction generally perpendicular to the joining plane P. Yes. The groove 151 has a depth that increases linearly or at a constant rate as the distance from the step portion 101 increases.

  The width of each groove 151 increases slightly as it approaches the periphery of the top wall 100, the longitudinal edges of the groove 151 are straight, and when the top wall 100 is viewed from above as can be seen in FIG. Similarly to the rib 150, the rib 150 is positioned in a line with the straight edge.

The top wall 100 further comprises two ribs 152 located diametrically opposite about the axis Z and extending perpendicularly to the joining plane P between the neck 11 and the periphery of the top wall 100 near the short axis. ing.
The height of the rib 152 measured parallel to the axis Z increases linearly or at a constant rate from a substantially zero value around the top wall 100 as it approaches the neck 11.

The action of the dispenser device is as follows.
In the closed position, the side opening 50 is closed by the inner skirt 43 so that the dispensing orifice 90 does not communicate with the interior of the receptacle 10.
The user can place the dispenser device in the dispensing position by rotating the second portion 40 half-turn relative to the first portion 30.
This rotation creates a chamber that allows the notch 45 of the inner skirt 43 to be aligned with the recess 52, thereby allowing material to flow from the side opening 50 toward the dispensing orifice 90.

  The material is then applied, for example, to the deformable wall of the body 12 of the receptacle 10 to receive a driving force from pressure to reduce the internal volume of the receptacle, or if the fluidity of the material is If enough, it can flow towards the outlet by turning the receptacle to the head down position. As can be seen with reference to FIG. 5, when the outer skirt 41 of the second part 40 is in the dispensing position, this forms an angle with the outer skirt 31 of the first part 30 so that the user can It will be easier to see changes.

Once the dispensing is finished, for example, the main body 12 of the receptacle 10 has shape memory so that inflow of air occurs. With the slight spacing that exists between the end wall 37 and the top wall 42, the material present in the dispensing orifice 90 can be sucked back.
Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

  In particular, a dispensing orifice may be centered on the top wall of the second part, and the receptacle may have a body that is, for example, tubular and circular in cross section. The opposing surfaces of the first and second portions constituting the dispensing orifice need not be cylindrical, and this does not depart from the scope of the present invention. The corresponding openings formed in the end wall 37 and the top wall 42 may for example be chamfered or have edges with rounded axial cross sections.

  Throughout this specification, with respect to the number of components, the term “comprises a” means “comprises at least of” unless otherwise specified. Should be understood to be synonymous with.

It is a partial schematic perspective view of the packaging and dispensing device as an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the instrument of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows the first part of the dispenser device just about to be fixed to the receptacle alone. FIG. 2 is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 1 in a closed position. FIG. 2 is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 1 in a dispensing position. It is the elements on larger scale which show a dispensing orifice. FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing a modified embodiment of the dispensing orifice. It is a figure which shows a receiver independently. It is an IX arrow top view of FIG. It is a X arrow side view of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Packing / dispensing instrument 10 Receiving device 20 Dispenser 30 First part 32 Lateral wall 34 Assembly skirt 36 Sealing lip 40 Second part 42 Top wall 45,52 Chamber 50 Side opening 90 Dispensing orifice 101 Step part

Claims (15)

A receptacle (10) containing a cosmetic or care substance and having a dispenser, the dispenser being fixed to the receptacle (10) and rotating with respect to the first part A second part (40) suitable for carrying out from the dispenser through a dispensing orifice (90) in which the substance contained in the receptacle is directly open to the outside. Rotating relative to the first portion between a dispensing position where it can exit and a closed position where material is prevented from passing from the receptacle to the dispensing orifice;
A dispensing orifice (90; 90 ') is formed between the two faces (60, 80; 60', 80 ') belonging to each of the two parts, the dispensing orifice (90; 90') being At least partly constituted by a gap in the form of an annular sector,
The second portion (40) has a top wall (42) with an opening having an edge that constitutes one of the faces (60), and the first portion (30) Having an end wall (37) that engages with the opening of the second portion, the end wall (37) having an edge that constitutes the other (80) of the surfaces. Characteristic receptacle.   The two surfaces (60, 80; 60 ', 80') are spaced apart from each other by a distance sufficiently short to prevent sand from entering the interior. A receiver.   3. A receptacle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the two surfaces (60, 80; 60 ', 80') are spaced apart by less than 0.5 mm.   2. A receptacle according to claim 1, characterized in that the dispensing orifice (90; 90 ') is eccentric in the top wall (42).   5. A receptacle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two faces (60, 80; 60 ', 80') are concentric and have a circular cross section.   The first part (30) has a tubular extension (33) that is closed at the top end and has at least one lateral opening (50), and the second part (40) has 2 When one part is in the closed position, the side opening (50) is closed, and when two parts are in the dispensing position, the substance passes from the side opening to the dispensing orifice (90; 90 '). Receiving device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has an inner skirt (43) configured to be able to.   The dispensing orifice (90; 90 ') communicates with the chamber (45, 52) formed between the first part (30) and the second part (40) when the dispenser is in the dispensing position. A receiver according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   8. A receptacle according to claim 7, characterized in that the chamber (45, 52) extends over a sector around the axis of rotation of the second part, the sector being less than one full revolution.   Receiving device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivot axis (X) of the second part (40) is inclined with respect to the axis (Z) of the neck of the receiver. vessel.   The first part (30) and the second part (40) are configured to move from a closed position to a dispensing position by half-rotating the second part. A receiver according to any one of the above.   11. A receptacle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first part (30) and the second part (40) are configured not to move relative to each other in the axial direction.   It has no check valve, The receptacle as described in any one of Claims 1-11 characterized by the above-mentioned.   13. A receptacle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first part (30) and the second part (40) are made of plastic materials of different colors.   2. A receptacle according to claim 1, which contains a sunscreen or a suntan lotion. A first part (30) fixed to the receptacle (10) and a second part (40) suitable for rotation relative to the first part (30), wherein the second part is A dispensing position in which the substance contained in the receptacle can exit the dispenser through a dispensing orifice (90) that opens directly out, and a closed position in which the substance is prevented from passing from the receptacle to the dispensing orifice. Between the two parts (60, 80; 60 ', 80') belonging to each of the two parts, and the dispensing orifice is formed between the two parts (60, 80; 60 ', 80'). The orifice (90; 90 ') is constituted by a gap, at least partly in the form of an annular sector, and the second part (40) constitutes one of the faces (60). Top wall with an opening with edges (4 ), The first part (30) has an end wall (37) that engages the opening of the second part, and the end wall (37) is the other of the faces (80 ) Which comprises
The first portion and the second portion each have an outer surface, and one of the surfaces is continuous with the other.

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