WO1998000354A1

WO1998000354A1 - Closing device for the dispensing opening of a fluid product dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO1998000354A1
Application number: PCT/FR1997/001149
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marcel Coggiola; Claude-Georges Martin
Original assignee: Valois S.A.
Priority date: 1996-06-28
Filing date: 1997-06-26
Publication date: 1998-01-08
Also published as: EP0929473B1; DE69701745T2; DE69701745D1; FR2750406B1; EP0929473A1; FR2750406A1

Abstract

The invention discloses a closing device for the dispensing opening (5) of a fluid product dispenser, the said dispenser comprising a container (2), dispensing means (1) and actuating means (4), characterised in that the said closing device comprises a movable cap (10) which, in closed position, sealingly closes the said opening (5), the said cap (10) comprising fixing means (15) to hold fixedly the said cap (10) on the dispenser and avoid an unwanted removal of the cap (10).

Description

Device for closing the dispensing orifice of a dispenser for fluid products -

The present invention relates to a device for closing the dispensing orifice of a dispenser for fluid products.

It is known in the prior art to use a removable cover to close the dispensing orifice of such a dispenser.

It is also known to provide a device preventing actuation of the dispenser when this actuation is not desired. However, these two types of devices are generally produced separately, which implies higher complexity and higher manufacturing and assembly costs. In addition, these various devices oblige the user to carry out several manipulations before using the dispenser.

Document EP-0 461 895 discloses a removable cover which, when it is in place, prevents actuation of the device. The closure of the dispensing orifice is achieved by the side wall of the cover. The tightness of such a device is therefore not completely guaranteed.

The present invention aims to provide a closure device which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

The present invention also aims to provide such a closure device which is easy to use for the user of the dispenser.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a closure device which guarantees a completely sealed closure of the dispensing orifice of a dispenser and which simultaneously prevents, when it is in the closed position, actuation of this dispenser. . The present invention therefore relates to a device for closing the dispensing orifice of a dispenser for fluid products, said dispenser comprising a container, a dispensing member and an actuating member, said shutter device comprising a removable cover which, in the closed position, closes said orifice and cooperates with said dispenser so as to prevent any actuation of the actuating member, the bottom wall of the cover comprising a shutter element which seals the dispensing orifice, in the closed position of the cover.

Preferably, the dispensing member is mounted on the container by a fixing ring, said cover in its closed position pressing on an end portion on said fixing ring. Thus, even if the user presses strongly on said cover when it is in the closed position, the dispenser pump is not actuated.

Advantageously, said cover comprises fixing means such as latching means which, in the closed position of the cover, come into engagement with the actuating member to fix said cover in its closed position.

Advantageously, said cover further comprises a deformable support zone adapted to deform under the effect of pressure exerted by the user, so as to release said fixing of the cover on the actuating member. The use of the closure device of the invention is therefore particularly simple, since the user only has to carry out a single operation to remove the cover, namely to press on said deformable support area, or to put it in place, namely to snap said cover into the actuating member.

Advantageously, said cover is permanently connected to said dispenser and is articulated between its closed position and a position of use where it releases 1 actuation of the dispenser and opens the dispenser orifice. In this way, the cover of the invention cannot be lost when it is put in the open position and the fact that it is permanently connected to the dispenser forces the user to replace it after actuation of the dispenser, this which is a guarantee against a possible forgetting to replace the cover. Thus, the job security function is guaranteed every time before and after use of the dispenser. Advantageously, an end portion of the cover cooperates with a compression portion which has a certain elasticity allowing axial compression to achieve the snap-fitting of the cover. This implementation further facilitates the establishment and removal of the cover of the invention. In fact, when it is in the closed position, and the user presses on the support zone to release the snap, said elasticity acts to slightly move the cover towards a position where it no longer seals tightly. dispensing orifice. The user therefore only has to press on the support area and must not pull hard on the cover to remove it.

Advantageously, said cover, in its position of use, is tilted by 90 ° relative to its closed position.

Advantageously, said closure element is made of elastomeric material and is, in the closed position of the cover, compressed between the bottom wall and said orifice. This compression of the closure element made of elastomeric material advantageously facilitates the removal of said cover when the latter is not in its articulated embodiment. Indeed, the elasticity of said compressed elastomer part allows said cover, after pressing on the support zone by the user, to be released from its snap-fastening. Preferably, the elasticity of the compression part of the cover is less than the elasticity of the elastomeric material of the closure element, so that a pressure on the cover during and after it is snapped does not risk actuate the actuating member.

The present invention also aims to guarantee a total tight shutter and without interruption between two actuations of the dispenser. The present invention therefore also aims to provide a closure device which guarantees a sealed closure of the dispensing orifice of a dispenser and which simultaneously prevents accidental removal of the closure device. According to another aspect, the present invention therefore relates to a device for closing the dispensing orifice of a dispenser for fluid products, said dispenser comprising a container, a dispensing member and an actuating member, said device shutter comprising a removable cover which, in the closed position, seals said orifice, said cover comprising fixing means to fix said cover on the dispenser and prevent unwanted removal of said cover. Preferably, the bottom wall of the cover comprises a closure element produced in the form of a pad of elastomeric material which, in the closed position to the cover, is compressed between the bottom wall and the dispensing orifice to close off the said cover. orifice sealingly, the attachment of the means for fixing the cover to the dispenser being greater than the force, notably axial, exerted by the compressed pad.

Preferably, said fixing means are made so that a movement other than a axial traction is necessary to release said fixing means.

Advantageously, said fixing means are latching means, so that a movement of radial compression of a part of the cover is necessary to release the latching.

Optionally, said fixing means comprise a screwing, so that a movement of rotation of the cover is necessary to release the screwing. One can also provide a bayonet system.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear during the following detailed description given by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic view in longitudinal section of a device d shutter according to a first embodiment of the invention, in the closed position, - Figure 2 is a schematic view in partial longitudinal section of a second embodiment of the shutter device of the invention, Figure 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, after release of the latching of the cover, - FIGS. 4a-4c are schematic representations of a closure device according to the invention respectively in three distinct positions, and FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, according to a second aspect of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, the fluid dispenser includes a dispensing member 1, such as a pump or a valve for example, mounted on a container 2 containing the fluid. Advantageously, said dispensing member 1 can be mounted on the container 2 by means of a fixing member 3 such as a snap-on or screwable ring. The pump 1 is actuated by means of an actuating member 4 such as a pusher, which advantageously comprises a part 4a on which the user presses with his fingers to actuate the dispenser. Advantageously, the pusher 4 incorporates a dispensing passage leading from the pump 1 to a dispensing orifice 5 Advantageously, a nozzle 19 is arranged in said dispensing passage.

According to the invention, a removable cover 10 is provided, which in its closed position shown in FIG. 1, seals the dispensing orifice 5 in a sealed manner. Advantageously, to do this, said cover comprises at its wall of bottom 18 a shutter element 20. This shutter element 20 can advantageously be made in the form of an elastomer part such as a pad, which, in the closed position of the cover 10, is slightly compressed between said orifice distribution 5 and said bottom wall 18 of the cover. In this way, sealing is guaranteed in the closed position

According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the cover 10 can be fixed in its closed position, advantageously by snap-fastening. To do this, it preferably comprises one or more latching lugs 15 which snap into part of said actuating member 4. With reference to FIG. 1, an advantageous embodiment shows that the cover 10 comprises a part lower end 11a which is snapped by means of the snap lugs 15 in said part 4a of the pusher 4 on which the user presses to actuate the dispenser. The cover 10 further comprises a support zone 11 which is radially deformable for allow the release of the snap between the snap lug 15 and the part 4a of the pusher 4. Thus, when the user wishes to put the cover in place, he presses on said cover 10, said lower end part 11a passing through an opening provided in the pusher 4 until said lugs 15 snap under said pusher 4. When the user then wishes to remove the cover to use the dispenser, he presses radially on the area of support 11, so that this support zone 11, and consequently the lower end part 11a, deform slightly radially inwards, so that the snap-in lugs 15 no longer cooperate with part 4a of the pusher 4. The cover can thus be removed. Advantageously, when a shutter element is provided, and the latter is compressed in the closed position of the cover 10, this slight compression ensures a displacement of the cover 10 upwards when the snap-in 15 has been released. Thus, the cover 10, after pressing on the support zone 11, rises slightly under the effect of the decompression of the elastomer part 20. The removal of the cover 10 is therefore facilitated.

The means for fixing the cover 10 to the dispenser can be made in any suitable form. Thus, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 5, the cover 10 can be screwed onto a thread 15 on the pusher 4. The cover could also be fixed to another element of the distributor, such as the fixing ring 3 or the container 2. Preferably, the attachment of the fastening means 15 is greater than the axial force exerted by the compressed elastomer pad 20. This avoids accidental removal of the cover 10 due to this compression of the buffer. On the other hand, the fixing means 15 are preferably made so that another movement that an axial traction is necessary to release them. Thus, if the cover 10 is fixed by snap-fastening (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3), the user must exert radial pressure on the support zone 11 in order to release the snap-in. Similarly, if the cover 10 is screwed (fig. 5), the user must unscrew it to remove it. This further prevents accidental or unwanted removal of the cover, for example due to friction or other interactions which may occur during transport. According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, when the cover 10 is in the closed position, it cooperates with the distributor so that the actuation of said distributor is prevented. In particular, said cover 10, in its closed position is supported on the fixing ring 3. Thus, when the user presses on the cover 10, the latter pressing on the fixing ring 3 at its part lower end 11a, cannot be moved so that the dispenser pump is not actuated. Similarly, when in the closed position of the cover 10, the user presses on the part 4a of the pusher 4, this part cannot be moved downwards due to the presence of the snap-in lugs 15. Security against a accidental actuation, for example during transport, is therefore total when the cover 10 is closed.

Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4, there is shown an advantageous embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, said cover 10 is permanently connected to the dispenser. It can thus be moved between a closed position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4a and a position of use, as shown in FIG. 4c, in which it is always connected to said distributor, passing through an intermediate position, as shown in Figures 3 and 4b. This implementation presents several benefits. Thus, the cover 10 being permanently connected to the dispenser, the user does not risk losing it during the actuation of the dispenser. On the other hand, due to its position of use, the user is encouraged to put it back in place after using the dispenser, which is not the case if the cover was completely separable from the dispenser. There is no risk of the user forgetting to put the cover back in place after using the dispenser. Referring to Figure 2, the cover according to this second embodiment is similar to that shown in Figure 1 except that it is permanently connected to the dispenser and that it is articulated between its closed position, such that shown in Figure 4a, and its position of use as shown in Figure 4c. The articulation is carried out at a compression part 12 which cooperates with the lower end part 11a of the cover 10. Thus, said cover 10 remains permanently linked to said pusher 4. Of course, it may also be possible to connect the cover to another part of the distributor such as for example the fixing ring 3.

Referring to Figure 2, the cover 10 includes a compression portion 12 which is supported on the fixing ring 3 when the cover 10 is closed, and a support area 11. The end 11a of this area support 11 extends near said compression part 12 and cooperates with it, for example by means of an opening 11b receiving one or more bulges or lugs 12b. It can also incorporate the latching lug (s) 15. The compression part 12 has at its upper end elements 13 having a certain elasticity which can be compressed axially to produce the latching 15. Similarly, when the lugs 15 are released by pressing on the zone support 11, the elements 13 ensure a slight displacement of the cover 10 upwards in FIG. 2 allowing it to be brought into the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4b. From this position, said cover 10 can be tilted to its position of use around the articulation axis A, advantageously by 90 ° as shown in FIG. 4c. To do this, the support zone 11 is located mainly outside of the pusher 4 but is always connected to said compression part 12, so that when the cover 10 is tilted towards its position of use, it remains connected to the dispenser.

Advantageously, the elasticity of the elements 13 of the compression part 12 is less than that of the elastomeric material forming the closure element 20, in order to avoid any displacement of the actuating member 4 (pusher) for 1 'snap cover 10 on it. This implementation also makes it possible to produce the cover 10 so as to compensate for the manufacturing tolerances. Indeed, as shown in Figure 2, one can provide, in the closed position of the cover 10, a clearance between the lower end 11a of the cover and the fixing ring 3 (as well as between another part of the cover and the compression part 12) It is the elasticity of the elements 13 of the compression part 12 which thus makes it possible to compensate for any manufacturing tolerances. Consequently, the cover 10 not necessarily being in abrupt abutment on the fixing ring 3 (or on the compression part 12), it is in this case very desirable that the effort necessary to compress the compression part 12 is greater than the effort required to compress the elastomer pad 20, to avoid actuation, even partial, of the actuating member 4 in the event of accidental pressing on the cover The compression part 12 also advantageously comprises one or more tabs 16 which, in the closed position of the cover 10 (fig. 2) rests on the fixing ring 3 and which, in the open position (fig. 3) s' presses on part of the pusher 4 and forms the hinge pin A of the cover 10 relative to the pusher 4.

The closure cap 10 shown in FIG. 2 therefore advantageously combines the following three functions: it seals the dispensing orifice of the dispenser in a sealed manner; in the closed position, it prevents actuation of the dispenser; and it is permanently connected to the dispenser so that the user is practically obliged to return it to the closed position after use of the device. Although the invention has been described in relation to a particular embodiment, particularly with regard to the articulation of the cover on the dispenser when the latter is permanently connected to the dispenser, other implementations of such a articulation are possible and fall within the scope of the present invention. Likewise, it is possible to fix, by snap-fastening or by other means, the cover on another element to the dispenser, such as for example the pump fixing ring on the container. In addition, although transport security has been described with reference to an embodiment where the lower end of the cover is supported on the fixing ring, one can also consider other equivalent possibilities. Thus, in the articulated embodiment (Figures 2, 3 and 4), part of the cover could abut against an area of the compression part to prevent actuation of the dispenser. In addition, although the figures represent a dispenser provided with a nasal plunger, the invention applies to any type of dispenser for fluid products, whatever the shape of the plunger.

Claims

claims

1.- Device for closing the dispensing orifice (5) of a dispenser for fluid products, said dispenser comprising a container (2), a dispensing member (1) and an actuating member (4), said closure device comprising a removable cover (10) which, in the closed position, closes said orifice (5) and cooperates with said distributor so as to prevent any actuation of the actuating member (4), characterized in that that the bottom wall (18) of the cover (10) comprises a closure element (20) which seals the dispensing orifice (5) in the closed position of the cover (10).

2.- Device according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing member (1) is mounted on the container (2) by a fixing ring (3), said cover (10) in its closed position supported by a end part (11a) on said fixing ring (3).

3.- Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said cover (10) comprises fixing means (15) such as latching means which, in the closed position of the cover (10), engage with the actuating member (4) for fixedly holding said cover

(10) in its closed position.

4.- Device according to claim 3, wherein said cover further comprises a deformable support area

(11) adapted to deform under the effect of pressure exerted by the user, so as to release said fixing (15) of the cover (10) with the actuating member (4).

5.- Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cover (10) is permanently connected to said distributor and is articulated between its closed position and a position of use where it releases the actuation of the distributor and opens the distributor orifice (5).

6.- Device according to claim 3 and 5, wherein an end portion (11a) of the cover (10) cooperates with a compression portion (12) which has a certain elasticity allowing axial compression to achieve the snap ( 15) of the cover (10).

7. - Device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said cover (10), in its position of use, is tilted by 90 ° relative to its closed position.

8.- Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said closure element (20) is made of elastomeric material and is, in the closed position of the cover (10), compressed between the bottom wall (18) and said orifice (5).

9.- Device according to claims 6 and 8, wherein the elasticity of the compression part (12) of the cover (10) is less than the elasticity of the elastomeric material of the closure element (20), so that a pressure on the cover (10) during and after it snaps does not risk actuating the actuating member (4).

10.- Device for closing the dispensing orifice (5) of a dispenser for fluid products, said dispenser comprising a container (2), a dispensing member (1) and an actuating member (4), characterized in that said closure device comprises a removable cover (10) which, in the closed position, seals said orifice (5), said cover (10) comprising fixing means (15) to fix said cover securely (10) on the dispenser and avoid unwanted removal of said cover (10).

11.- Device according to claim 10, wherein the bottom wall (18) of the cover comprises a closure element (20) made in the form of a pad in elastomeric material which, in the closed position of the cover (10), is compressed between. the bottom wall (18) and the dispensing orifice (5) for sealing said orifice, the attachment of the fixing means (15) of the cover (10) to the dispenser being greater than the force exerted by the compressed pad (20).

12.- Device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said fixing means (15) are made so that a movement other than an axial traction is necessary to release said fixing means (15).

13.- Device according to claim 12, wherein said fixing means (15) are latching means, so that a radial compression movement of a portion of the cover (10) is necessary to release the latching .

14.- Device according to claim 12, wherein said fixing means (15) comprise a screwing, so that a rotational movement of the cover (10) is necessary to release the screwing.