WO2002102680A1

WO2002102680A1 - Fluid product dispensing assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2002102680A1
Application number: PCT/FR2002/001995
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frédéric Duquet; Firmin Garcia; Hervé PENNANEACH
Original assignee: Valois Sas
Priority date: 2001-06-14
Filing date: 2002-06-11
Publication date: 2002-12-27
Also published as: CN1516668A; CN1235778C; FR2825984A1; EP1409367A1; DE60214001T2; EP1409367B1; FR2825984B1; BR0210431A; DE60214001D1; ES2269756T3; JP2004529832A

Abstract

The invention relates to a fluid product dispensing assembly comprising: a fluid product dispenser (1) defining a fluid product reservoir (11), a deformable actuating wall (12), and a dispensing outlet (13); and a covering element (2) defining an envelope (21, 22) which encases the dispenser (1), depression of the actuating wall occurring across said envelope. The invention is characterized in that the covering element also comprises a hinged flap (23, 24) which can fold down onto the envelope (21,22) to cover it, the lid being attached to the envelope by means of a lateral edge (25). Said flap comprises an outer side (23) and an inner side (24) which comes into contact with the envelope when the flap is closed down onto said envelope.

Description

Fluid product distribution assembly

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser assembly comprising a fluid dispenser and a covering. The fluid dispenser defines a fluid reservoir, a deformable actuating wall, and an outlet. By pressing on the actuating wall, the volume of the reservoir decreases, which causes an increase in pressure inside the reservoir which has the effect of discharging fluid product through the outlet orifice, for example in the form a spray of sprayed product. On the other hand, the covering defines an envelope which surrounds the dispenser, optionally leaving its apparent outlet orifice, the depression of the actuating wall being effected through the envelope. Consequently, the fluid dispenser is not visible, since it is hidden by the covering of the covering. The user indeed presses on the envelope, substantially at the level of the actuating wall of the dispenser. The envelope may however have a window through which part of the dispenser is partially visible.

A fluid dispenser that can be used in this type of dispensing assembly is for example described in document FR 2 791 645. In this document, a dispenser is described which, in the initial storage state before use, has a thickness very weak. This is possible because the spring which makes it possible to return the deformable actuating wall to its rest position is completely compressed. The outlet is initially closed by a removable closure element which prevents air from entering the interior of the tank. The reservoir then contains only a very small quantity of fluid, and the spring is completely compressed in a practically flat state.

Such a dispenser of the prior art can easily be placed in a covering envelope so as to completely surround it with the exception of the outlet orifice. It is advantageous that the envelope has a notch or a pre-cut allowing easy removal of the removable closure element to unmask the outlet orifice. Although the dispenser envelope already offers an acceptable surface for affixing an indication, such as the brand, nature and use of the product, it is sometimes necessary to have more affixing surface. In addition, the simple envelope surrounding the dispenser is not particularly aesthetic. In the case of perfume for example, it may be advantageous for the dispensing assembly to evoke the shape of the perfume bottle sold commercially.

To remedy these drawbacks of the prior art, the present invention provides that the covering also comprises a hinged flap that can be folded down on the envelope so as to come into superposition, the flap being secured to the envelope by a lateral edge, the flap comprising an internal face intended to come into contact with the envelope when the flap is folded over the envelope and an external face. The addition of this hinged foldable flap on the envelope doubles the useful apposition surface of the dispensing assembly, and also makes it possible to protect the envelope particularly at the level where it covers the deformable actuating wall of the dispenser. The distribution assembly is then in the form of a small booklet, which in the closed state presents the external face of the articulated flap, and which in the open state presents the internal face of the envelope and the internal face of the shutter. Once opened, the user can activate the dispenser by pressing on the envelope.

Advantageously, the external face incorporates a raised part defining an internal volume, said raised part projecting forward from the external face. Thus, in the closed state, only the raised part of the external face of the shutter is visible, the dispenser being completely masked by the envelope and the shutter folded down. Advantageously, the raised part has the shape of a perfume bottle. Thus, the user can immediately recognize the shape of the perfume bottle actually sold on the market. Therefore, the distribution assembly according to the invention is particularly suitable for use as a freely distributed sample in stores for promotional and test purposes. After activating the dispenser, the user can buy a perfume bottle whose shape and design appear already on the external face of the flap at the level of the raised part. Thus, this distribution / sample assembly makes it possible on the one hand to take cognizance of the intrinsic characteristics of the perfume and on the other hand to recognize the perfume bottle actually sold on the market. In short, this distribution set gives a double indication linked to the content and the container of the perfume. Of course, the perfume can be replaced by any fluid product, such as a lotion, a lacquer, a solvent, a solvent, etc.

Although a relief shape is preferred, it is also possible that the external face of the flap only comprises a two-dimensional graphic representation.

However, the raised part is preferred and may for example contain a product: this product may be identical to that of the distributor, but it may also be the product associated with the product of the distributor or a product of the same range as that of the distributor. For example, the dispenser may contain a perfume and the raised portion may contain a cream or makeup.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the internal face of the flap is provided with a peelable or tear-off part forming an opening for accessing the rear of the raised part. Preferably, the raised part forms part of an insert engaged between two sheets respectively forming the external face and the internal face of the flap. It is thus possible to extract the insert from the shutter by the internal face by removing the tear-away or peelable part.

According to a practical embodiment, the external face of the flap is formed with a window through which the raised part projects. Thus, only the raised part is visible through the window and the rest where the base of the insert is arranged and hidden between the two sheets forming the hinged flap.

Similarly, the envelope comprises two sheets between which the dispenser is disposed, which is advantageously fixed to one of the sheets. According to another practical embodiment, the flap and the envelope are produced in a single piece. The cladding can be made from a single sheet of cardboard, plastic, metal or a compound thereof. The invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings giving by way of nonlimiting examples two embodiments of the invention.

In the figures: FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a distribution assembly according to the invention during assembly,

FIG. 2 is a view of the distribution assembly of FIG. 1 in the assembled and open state,

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 for a second embodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 for the embodiment of FIG. 3.

In the two embodiments which will be described below, the fluid dispenser designated by the reference numeral 1 may be the same. It may be in accordance with or identical to that described in the aforementioned document FR 2 791 645. This dispenser 1 comprises a reservoir 11 formed by two sheets welded together on their periphery. This reservoir 11 comprises one or two actuating walls 12 formed on one or both sides of the sheets welded together and forming the reservoir 11. The dispenser 1 also defines an outlet orifice 13 which is preferably a spray orifice. To hide this outlet orifice 13, a removable closure member 14 is provided which can be torn off or folded back in order to unmask the outlet orifice 13. It is also advantageous for the dispenser 1 to be provided with a return spring which makes it possible to urge the actuating wall or walls and thereby the tank in the rest position defining a maximum volume of the tank. This spring can be located inside the reservoir 11, but also outside without contact with the fluid contained in the reservoir 11. Preferably, before use, that is to say when the removable closure member 14 closes the outlet orifice 13, the reservoir 11 contains practically only fluid in very small quantities, so that its volume is minimum, or even practically zero. Because the removable closure member closes the outlet orifice 13, the air cannot enter the tank and the spring cannot relax. Consequently, it is compressed in its maximum state so that the reservoir 11 has only a very small thickness, preferably less than or equal to two millimeters. On the other hand, as soon as the removable closure member 14 is removed, the air enters the interior of the reservoir through the outlet orifice 13 and the spring can relax to bring the reservoir to its maximum useful volume. . To obtain a jet of fluid, it suffices to press the actuating wall or walls 12 against the spring to obtain a two-phase jet of air and fluid. Such a dispenser is advantageous in the context of the dispensing assembly according to the invention, but it should not be considered as unique. However, it offers advantages linked to its low thickness before use and to its very good two-phase spraying.

The covering 2 can be produced from a single sheet of paper, cardboard, plastic, metal or a compound or laminate thereof. Consequently, the covering 2 can be in one piece.

The covering 2 comprises an envelope formed by two sheets 21 and 22: the sheet 21 constituting a back or base sheet and the sheet 22 constituting a flap sheet connected to the back sheet 21 by a line of articulation and link 212. The flap sheet 22 is therefore articulated and foldable in superposition on the back sheet 21. The fluid dispenser 1 is disposed between the two sheets 21 and 22, which once folded over one another form an envelope surrounding the dispenser 1. The two sheets 21 and 22 each form a notch 211, 221 at the level of the connecting line 212, so that once folded over one another, the notches 211 and 221 come superimposed on each other to form a single notch at which the outlet orifice 13 is located, and more particularly its removable closure member 14 which is thus accessible to be removed from the orifice 13. This is clearly visible. the in FIG. 2. In place of the notch 211, 221, it is also possible that the casing 21, 22 forms a tear-away part covering the removable closure member 14. The dispenser 1 can advantageously be fixed by adhesion to one of the sheets, and preferably to the back sheet 21 before folding the flap sheet 22 onto the back sheet 21. To close the envelope, the flap sheet 22 can advantageously be glued on its periphery to the back sheet 21. The connecting line 212 forms then the upper edge of the dispensing assembly with its notch inside which is housed the removable closure member 14 of the dispenser 1.

Since the dispenser 1 is particularly flat before use, the envelope has only a very small thickness so that it seems to contain nothing. The thickness of the envelope does not exceed three millimeters. The covering 2 also forms a flap formed by two sheets 23 and 24 connected to each other by a connecting and folding line 234. The flap is also connected to the envelope 21, 22 by a flange of edge 25 which connects the back sheet 21 and the sheet 23 of the shutter. The flap is thus articulated and foldable on the envelope by pivoting around the edge flange 25. The sheet 23 constitutes a base sheet while the sheet 24 constitutes a flap sheet which can be brought by pivoting around the line 234 in superposition of the base sheet 23. The flap sheet 23 can be assembled with the base sheet 23 on their periphery as is the case for the envelope.

Once the two flap sheets 22 and 24 folded down and connected to their base sheets 21 and 23, the flap can be folded over the envelope so that the flap sheet 24 comes into contact with the flap sheet 22 The distribution assembly is then presented in the form of a booklet with the base sheet 23 forming the cover, the flap sheets 24 and 22 forming the inside of the booklet and the base sheet 21 forming the rear face of the booklet. The edge flange 25 connects the two sheets of the booklet in the manner of a conventional book. The base sheet 23 of the articulated flap forms the outer face of the flap while the flap sheet 24 forms the internal face of the flap. The addition of a flap makes it possible to double the useful surface for affixing the dispensing assembly and also makes it possible to hide and protect the dispenser 1 placed in the envelope. This is a very simple reahsation for the distribution assembly according to the invention. According to a more elaborate advantageous embodiment, the shutter can include an insert 3 forming a raised part 31 which projects on the external face, that is to say on the base sheet 23 of the shutter. A window 231 can be cut out from the base sheet 23, and the raised part 31 is housed in this window 231 by projecting forward when the booklet is closed. Thus, only the raised part 31 is visible through the window 231, the rear face of the insert 3 being completely masked by the flap sheet 24 which completes the articulated flap.

The raised portion 31 of the insert 3 may for example be in the form of a bottle which may advantageously have the appearance of the real perfume bottle sold commercially and a sample of which is available from the distributor 1. In In reality, the raised part does not form a bottle of perfume in its entirety, but only the visible side face of the perfume bottle. The raised part may for example be in the form of a half of perfume bottle cut transversely along a vertical plane.

The insert 3 can for example be produced from an advantageously thermoformed shell to which is connected for example by welding an opercular film. The insert 3 thus forms a flat periphery 32 and the raised part 31 is located in a substantially central manner. Once disposed at the window 231, the flap sheet 24 can be folded over the base sheet 23 so that the flat periphery 32 is trapped between the two sheets 23 and 24 and the raised portion 31 visible and projecting at through the window 231. It is thus not even necessary to fix the insert 3 between the two sheets 23 and 24.

In an alternative embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the raised portion 31 of the insert 3 may contain a fluid which may be identical to that of the dispenser 1, but which may also be of another nature. The insert 3 is then in the form of a package with its raised portion 31 forming a reservoir. The insert 3 can also form a tear-away or folding tab 34 allowing an opening to be made at a line of least resistance 33. The product stored inside the raised part can then be extracted from the insert 3 for example by pressing and pressing the part in relief 31. The insert 3 which is arranged and trapped inside the flap is advantageously accessible after removal of a tear-off or peel-off part 241 formed by the flap sheet 24. This tear-off or peel-off part 241 can be removed at level of line of least resistance 242 as can be seen in FIG. 2. The insert 3 can then be removed from the shutter for use.

It should be noted that the outlet orifice 13 of the distributor 1 is located on an edge of the covering, in this case on the upper edge adjacent to the edge flange 25, or more generally the hinge edge of the flap . Advantageously, the axis of the outlet orifice extends in the plane of the dispenser and of the covering. Thus, the shutter does not cut, or even interfere, the jet of fluid at the outlet of the orifice, even if the shutter is folded over the dispenser. Consequently, the dispenser can be actuated while the flap is folded down by simply pressing the insert. This is particularly advantageous, especially if the insert looks like a real commercial distributor. The user can then press directly on the effigy of the dispenser and a jet of fluid, advantageously sprayed, is emitted. In this case, the dispenser is completely hidden.

Thanks to this articulated and foldable flap on the envelope, the apposition surface is considerably increased, but this flap can also serve as a support for an aesthetic representation of a bottle, or more advantageously still for a promotional packaging of fluid product.

Claims

claims

1.- Fluid product distribution assembly comprising:

a fluid product distributor (1) defining a fluid product reservoir (11), a deformable actuating wall (12) and an outlet orifice (13), and

- a covering (2) defining an envelope (21, 22) surrounding the dispenser (1), the insertion of the actuating wall being effected through the envelope, characterized in that the covering also comprises a articulated flap (23, 24) foldable on the envelope (21, 22) so as to come into superposition, the flap being integral with the envelope by a lateral edge

(25), the flap comprising an external face (23) and an internal face (24) intended to come into contact with the envelope when the flap is folded over the envelope.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, in which the external face (23) incorporates a raised part (31) defining an internal volume, said raised part projecting forward from the external face.

3.- assembly according to claim 2, wherein the raised portion

(31) has the shape of a perfume bottle.

4.- The assembly of claim 2, wherein the raised portion

(31) contains a product.

5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein the internal face (24) of the flap is provided with a peelable or tear-off part (241) forming an opening for accessing the rear of the raised part (31).

6.- Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer face (23) of the flap is formed with a window (231) through which the raised part (31) protrudes.

7.- assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the raised part (31) is part of an insert (3) engaged between two sheets (23, 24) respectively forming the outer face (23) and the inner face (24) of the shutter.

8.- assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the envelope comprises two sheets (21, 22) between which is disposed the dispenser (1), which is advantageously fixed to one of the sheets.

9. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flap and the envelope are made in one piece.

10.- assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispenser (1) has a thickness less than or equal to 2 mm before use.

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