WO2018069654A1

WO2018069654A1 - Distributor filling cartridge

Info

Publication number: WO2018069654A1
Application number: PCT/FR2017/052812
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alex Milian
Original assignee: Aptar France Sas
Priority date: 2016-10-14
Filing date: 2017-10-12
Publication date: 2018-04-19
Also published as: FR3057474B1; EP3525937A1; BR112019003584A2; BR112019003584B1; FR3057474A1; EP3525937B1; ES2841651T3

Abstract

Filling cartridge (C) connected to a distributor (D) comprising a reservoir (1) to refill it with fluid product, the cartridge (C) comprising a container (5) containing the fluid product and a connection nozzle (6) connected to the distributor (D) to make the fluid product pass from the container (5) to the reservoir (1), characterised in that the connection nozzle (6) comprises: - a connection accessory (60) for the container (5), - an external fastening collar (64), and - an internal sleeve (61) internally forming a passage for the fluid product (62) and externally a sliding, sealed wall (63), suitable for coming into sealed radial contact with the fluid product distributor (D).

Description

Dispenser filling cartridge

The present invention relates to a filling cartridge for a fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir. The preferred fields of application of the present invention are those of perfumery, cosmetics or even pharmacy. The invention also relates to an assembly consisting of a fluid dispenser and a filler cartridge.

In the field of perfumery, WO2013 / 017803 discloses an applicator dispenser comprising a removable member provided with an applicator which is adapted to be removed axially by sliding out of a base piece which comprises a bucket of which the bottom is pierced with an injection port connected to a dip tube. More specifically, the removable member is unscrewed from the base piece, which causes its sliding axial displacement: at the end of unscrewing, the removable member can be completely removed and separated from the base piece to be able to put the applicator in contact with a suitable surface, such as the skin. During unscrewing, a depression is formed between the base piece and the removable member, so that the fluid stored in a reservoir is sucked through the dip tube and the injection port to fill the applicator. It can also be seen in this document WO2013 / 017803 that the applicator is formed by a tubular internally defining a sampling and application space.

In general, this type of dispenser applicator comprises a reservoir of average capacity, or very small, of the order of a few tens of milliliters. Once empty, it would be interesting to be able to fill it again fluid product. However, because of the presence of the integrated dip tube to the base piece which is permanently mounted on the tank, it is not possible to perform a filling by gravity or single payment. The present invention therefore aims to overcome this disadvantage of the prior art by defining a filling cartridge, in particular for an applicator dispenser of the type described in WO2013 / 017803, for performing a filling easy, fast, and without risk of loss or defilement. In other words, the filling cartridge must be able to be mounted quickly on the dispenser ensuring a perfect seal. The use of certain elements of the dispenser is sought, in order to minimize the number of parts constituting the filling cartridge.

To do this, the present invention proposes a filling cartridge intended to be connected to a fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir for reloading fluid, the filling cartridge comprising a container containing fluid and a fluid nozzle. connection intended to be connected to the fluid dispenser for passing the fluid product from the container to the fluid reservoir,

the connection tip comprising:

a junction appendix for the container,

an outer fastener ring adapted to cooperate with the fluid dispenser for removably attaching the fill cartridge to the fluid dispenser, and

an inner sleeve which extends inside the outer fixing ring, the inner sleeve internally forming a fluid product passage communicating the inside of the container with the outside, the inner sleeve forming externally a leaktight sliding wall adapted to come in radial sealing contact with the fluid dispenser for temporarily sealing between the filling cartridge and the fluid dispenser.

It may be noted that the fixing or mechanical holding and sealing functions are separate, distinct and decorrelated, with the fixing ring on one side and the inner sleeve on the other side, the sealed sliding wall of which generates a radial contact. sliding tight, and not not an axial contact by crushing a joint. As a result, the sealed contact is established regardless of the axial position of the ring relative to the distributor.

Advantageously, a vent passage extends between the external fixing ring and the inner sleeve. On the other hand, the outer ring of attachment can be connected to the inner sleeve through an annular radial flange which forms at least one vent hole in communication with the vent passage. Thus, in addition to fixing and sealing, the connection tip also ensures the venting of the reservoir.

According to a practical embodiment, the container may be a collapsible flexible pouch which is sealed, for example by welding, to the joint appendix. It is then sufficient for the user to crush the pocket in his hand to transfer the fluid from the container to the reservoir through the connection tip.

According to an advantageous aspect, the junction appendage is removably mounted, for example by screwing, on the inner sleeve, the junction appendage advantageously comprising a self-sealing lip which comes into sealing contact with the inner sleeve. It is thus possible to change the container without having to remove the connection tip of the dispenser. This also allows to use a portion of the dispenser to form the connection tip, as will be seen below.

Advantageously, the connection tip may comprise a check valve, advantageously at the junction appendix. This valve makes it possible to manipulate the filling cartridge without the risk of losing fluid at the slightest pressure. In addition, the valve prevents the entry of outside air into the container.

Furthermore, the present invention also defines an assembly comprising a filler cartridge as defined above and a fluid dispenser comprising:

a base part mounted on a reservoir of fluid, the base part comprising a dip tube and a bucket in which is formed a injection port connected to the plunger tube, the bucket being provided with an annular piston, the base part also comprising a fixing sleeve, and

- A removable member removably mounted along a sliding axis on the base member, the removable member comprising a gripping appendage, a tubing adapted to slide along a sliding axis sealingly against the piston on a tight axial stroke and an applicator capable of retaining a dose of fluid produced from the suction injection orifice generated by the sealed sliding of the tubing against the piston, the applicator comprising a sampling and application space formed in the tubing, the fluid product being injected into this sampling and application space through the dip tube and the injection orifice, the removable member also comprising a fixing ring in removable engagement with the fixing sleeve,

assembly in which the connection tip of the filling cartridge is removably mounted on the base member with the inner sleeve penetrating into the cup, the sealing sliding wall in sealing contact with the piston and the outer ring of attachment. taken with the fixing sleeve.

Thus, the piston is used to recreate a radial seal between the filler cartridge and the dispenser. The attachment sleeve is also used to mechanically hold the cartridge on the dispenser. It can be said that the connection tip performs the same functions of fixing and sealing as the removable member.

In addition, the base piece can form at least one venting window that directly communicates the outside of the bucket with the inside of the fixing sleeve. The venting of the reservoir, during filling, is therefore the same way as when removing the removable member.

According to an interesting characteristic, the junction appendage is, on the one hand, removably mounted on the inner sleeve and the gripping appendage is, on the other hand, mounted removably on the tubing, so that after removal of the gripping appendage, the junction appendix can be mounted on the tubing, which then serves as an inner sleeve, while the fixing ring acts as external fixing ring. It can thus be said that the removable member, devoid of its gripping appendage, is the connecting end, devoid of its junction appendix.

It is thus possible to imagine a kit comprising one or more containers (equipped with their junction appendages) and a single truncated connection piece (sleeve + crown), so that the user can either connect a container to the removable member of which he has removed the grip appendix, either connect the truncated connection tip and insert it into the base piece after removing the detachable member.

The spirit of the invention resides in a refill or refill cartridge which takes advantage of the characteristics of the fluid dispenser to ensure good resistance and a perfect seal on the dispenser, during fluid transfer. Mutualizing the constituent elements of the dispenser is a further aspect of the invention, which reduces the number of parts and the risk of fluid loss.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, giving by way of non-limiting examples two embodiments of the invention.

In the figures:

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a fluid dispenser that can be refilled by means of the filling cartridge of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the dispenser of FIG. 1 being refilled with the filling cartridge of the invention,

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

FIG. 4 is a view showing the dispenser of FIG. 3 in the open state, and Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 for a second embodiment of the invention.

Reference is first made to FIG. 1 to describe in detail the structure and operation of a fluid dispenser applicator that can be filled or refilled with the fill cartridge of the invention.

The dispenser, designated D, firstly comprises a fluid reservoir 1 which is truncated. The tank 1 forms a neck 1 1 which is quite conventional, with an external reinforcement for hanging. The fluid reservoir 1 may be of any kind and be made of any material, since the reservoir is not a critical element for the present invention.

In addition to the tank 1, the dispenser comprises two other component parts, namely a base part 2 which is fixedly mounted on the tank 1 and a removable member 3 which is removably mounted on the base part 2.

The base part 2 comprises hooking means, which may be in the form of a skirt 20, slit or not, which engages around the neck 1 1 of the tank 1. This is a quite conventional design for the fixation of a dispensing member in the fields of cosmetics, perfumery or pharmacy. The hanging of the skirt

20 around the neck 1 1 can be used to crush an annular neck seal 4 on the upper edge of the neck 1 1. The base part 2 also includes a bucket

21 which extends inside the neck 1 1 of the tank. At its lower end, the bucket 21 forms a bottom 22 which is traversed by an injection port 23. From the bottom also part a dip tube 24 which extends inside the tank 1 to near its background. Bucket 21 is provided with a piston 25 which forms a piston lip. The piston 25 is an insert which is placed in the bucket 21 and held for example by snapping. It is also possible to provide the piston by overmoulding or bi-injection. The technique of holding the piston 25 in the bucket 21 is not critical for the present invention. The base part 2 also forms at least one venting window 29 which is formed in a connecting flange which connects the bucket 21 to a fastening bushing 26 forming an internal thread 27: this window 29 thus directly communicates the outside of the bucket 21 with the inside of the fixing sleeve 28.

Optionally, the base piece 2 may comprise an outer trim band 28, which may possibly participate in maintaining the skirt 20 around the neck 1 January.

The removable member 3 comprises a gripping appendage 31 that the user can grasp between his fingers. The removable member 3 also comprises a tubing 32 of substantially cylindrical shape and internally defining a sampling and application space 33 which is open at its lower end and closed at its upper end, so as to define a blind space. More specifically, it is an axial pin 331 of the gripping appendage 31 which enters the tubing 32 and defines the closed upper end of the sampling and application space 33. The opening of the space 33 is located near the bottom 22 of the bucket 21. It can also be seen that the outer wall of the tubing 32 comes into sealing contact with the lip of the piston 25. The removable member 3 also forms a fixing ring 34 defining an external thread 35 adapted to cooperate with the internal thread 27 of the base part 2. The fixing ring 34 extends around the upper part of the pipe 32 defining between them an annular venting 36. On the other hand, the fixing ring 34 is connected to the tubing 32 by an annular flange which is pierced with a vent orifice 37 which communicates directly with the annular venting 36. Thus, the interior of the tank 1 communicates with the outside through the neck 1 1, the seal 4, the venting window 29, the venting orifice 37 and the annular venting 36. This keeps the interior of the tank at atmospheric pressure by letting in or out of the air.

Starting from the configuration shown in FIG. 1, a user can grasp the gripping appendage 31 to impart to it a rotational movement, which has the effect of unscrewing the removable member 3 from the workpiece. base 2. In doing so, the pipe 32 slides sealingly inside the piston 25, creating a vacuum inside the sampling and application space 33. This vacuum will generate a fluid suction in from the reservoir 1 through the dip tube 24 and the injection port 23. The fluid product will thus be injected into the sampling and application space 33 as indicated by the upward arrow line on the figure 1 . The injection of fluid product will continue until the space 33 is filled and even beyond, as long as the tubing 32 is in sliding contact sealing inside the piston 25. Simultaneously, the Outside air enters the tank 1, as indicated by the descending arrow line in Figure 1.

Referring now to Figure 2 to describe the first embodiment of a filling cartridge of the invention, which is implemented on the distributor D of Figure 1. In this figure 2, it can be seen that the removable member 3 has been removed from the base part 2 and a filling cartridge C has been put in place in place of the removable member 3.

This filling cartridge C firstly comprises a container 5 which contains fluid, for example a perfume, a lotion, a serum, etc. This container 5 may be in the form of a crushable flexible bag, a crushable bottle or more generally a variable volume container. A reservoir with a sliding piston that the user can push is also possible. A rigid container is also possible, but not preferred. The container 5 is truncated, like the tank 1.

The filling cartridge C also comprises a connection piece 6 which serves to connect the container 5 to the dispenser D, or more precisely on and in the base piece 2. This connection piece 6 comprises a junction appendix 60 on which the container is mounted in a sealed manner. In the case of a flexible pouch, the opening of the pouch is welded to the joint appendix 60. In some cases, the joint appendix 60 may be integral with the container 5. The connection tip 6 also comprises an inner sleeve 61 internally forming a fluid product passage 62 communicating the interior of the container 5 with the outside. The inner sleeve 61 externally forms a leaktight sliding wall 63 adapted to come into sealing radial radial contact with the piston 25 of the distributor D to achieve a temporary radial annular seal between the filling cartridge C and the distributor D. The radial contact can thus be qualified dynamic sliding contact.

The connection piece 6 also comprises an external fixing ring 64 provided with an external thread 65 adapted to threaded engagement with the internal thread 27 of the base piece 2, as shown in FIG. 2. The internal sleeve 61 extends inside the external fixing ring 64 by forming between them a venting passage 68. Moreover, the external fixing ring 64 is connected to the inner sleeve 61 via an annular radial flange 66 which forms at least one vent hole 67 in communication with the vent passage. Thus, the interior of the tank 1 communicates with the outside through the neck 1 1, the neck gasket 4, the venting window 29, the venting hole 67 and the venting passage 68. This makes it possible to keep the inside of the tank at atmospheric pressure by letting in or out of the air.

Thus, it is possible to transfer the fluid product from the container 5 to the tank 1 through the passage 62, the bucket 21, the injection port 23 and the plunger tube 24, as indicated by the descending arrow line in FIG. At the same time, the air from the tank 1 can be evacuated by following the ascending arrow line in FIG. 2. Because of the high pressure drop across the dip tube 24, gravity flow is slow, if not impossible. It is therefore preferable to assist the transfer of fluid product by manually crushing the container 5. The crushing can continue until complete filling of the tank 1.

Referring now to Figures 3 to 5, we will see a second embodiment, wherein a portion of the removable member 3 will serve to form part of the connection tip. In Figure 3, the dispenser D, which is only partially shown, may be similar or identical to that of Figure 1, except that the gripping appendage 31 'is removably mounted on the tubing 32' . More specifically, the free upper end of the pipe 32 'forms an external thread 321 and the gripping appendage 31' forms an internal thread 312. Other removable mounting modes are also possible, such as snap-fastening, tightening, bayonet, etc. Thus, the gripping appendage 31 'can be removed from the remainder of the removable member 3', and in doing so, the axial pin 31 1 is extracted from the tubing 32 ', which is then open through from one side to the other , as can be seen in FIG. 4, so that it thus defines a passage of fluid product. The removable member 3 'is then truncated and reduced to its pipe 32' to which is associated its fixing sleeve 26.

According to the invention, this reduced removable member (tubing 32 '+ sleeve 26) can be integrated into a connecting piece 6' of very close design to that of FIG. 2. Indeed, the tubing 32 'has a very close design that of the inner sleeve 61 and the sleeve 26 is similar or identical to the ring 64. It is therefore sufficient for the connecting piece 6 'to integrate a junction appendix 60' which has an internal thread 601 so as to be able to screw on the external thread 321 of the tubing 32 ', as shown in FIG. 5. The container 5 is mounted on the joint appendix 60', which can advantageously form a self-aligning lip 602 which comes into sealed contact in the tubing 32 . It is also possible to provide a non-return valve 603 on the junction appendix 60 ': this valve 603 may be a self-locking slot valve.

In practice, the user removes the gripping appendage 31 'of the removable member 3' and instead assembles the junction appendix 60 '. More specifically, the removable member 3 'can be completely removed from the base part 2, then the gripping appendage 31' is unscrewed by maintaining the removable member 3 'by the sleeve 26. Then, the junction appendix 60 'is screwed on the threaded pipe 32' to form a filling cartridge C according to the invention, which is finally put in place on the base part 2 to perform the filling operation.

Without departing from the scope of the invention, a check valve may be provided in the first embodiment of Figure 1 in the fluid passage 62 at the inner sleeve 61 or the junction appendix 60. The tip 6 is shown as being made integrally, but it is preferable to achieve it in at least two parts. In the second embodiment, the grip appendage 31 'is screwed onto the threaded tubing 32' and the junction appendix 60 'is also threaded. In place of a thread, one can very well imagine other types of removable fastening means, such as friction clamping, snapping or bayonet.

Thanks to the filling cartridge of the invention, it is possible to reload fluid dispensers, and more particularly applicator distributors, with ease, efficiency and safety, in particular because the radial contact between the leaktight sliding wall 63 of the inner sleeve and the fluid dispenser (piston 25) is effected by means of a watertight slide.

Claims

claims

1. - Filling cartridge (C; C) intended to be connected to a fluid dispenser (D) comprising a fluid reservoir (1) for reloading fluid product, the filling cartridge (C; C) comprising a container (5) containing fluid and a connection tip (6; 6 ') for connection to the fluid dispenser (D) for passing the fluid from the container (5) to the fluid reservoir (1), the connection tip (6; 6 ') comprising:

a junction appendix (60; 60 ') for the container (5),

an outer fixing ring (64; 34) adapted to cooperate with the fluid dispenser (D) for fixing the filling cartridge (C; C) removably on the fluid dispenser (D), and

an inner sleeve (61; 32 ') extending inside the outer fixing ring (64; 34), the inner sleeve (61; 32') internally forming a fluid passage (62) communicate the inside of the container (5) with the outside,

characterized in that the inner sleeve (61; 32 ') externally forms a sealed sliding wall (63) adapted to come into radial sealing contact with the fluid dispenser (D) to temporarily seal the cartridge filling (C; C) and the fluid dispenser (D).

2. - Filling cartridge (C; C) according to claim 1, wherein a venting passage (68; 36) extends between the outer fixing ring (64; 34) and the inner sleeve (61; ').

3. - Filling cartridge (C; C) according to claim 2, wherein the external fixing ring (64; 34) is connected to the inner sleeve (61; 32 ') via a radial flange. ring (66) which forms at least one vent hole (67; 37) in communication with the vent passage (68; 36).

4. - Filling cartridge (C; C) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the container (5) is a crushable flexible pouch which is sealed, for example by welding, on the junction appendix (60; 60 ').

5. - Filling cartridge (C; C) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the junction appendix (60 ') is removably mounted, for example by screwing, on the inner sleeve (32'). , the junction appendix (60 ') advantageously comprising a self-aligning lip (602) which comes into sealing engagement with the inner sleeve (32').

6. - Filling cartridge (C; C) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting piece (6 ') comprises a check valve (603), preferably at the junction appendix (60). ').

7. An assembly comprising a filling cartridge (C; C) according to any one of the preceding claims and a fluid dispenser (D) comprising:

- a base piece (2) mounted on a fluid reservoir (1), the base piece (2) comprising a dip tube (24) and a bucket

(21) in which is formed an injection port (23) connected to the dip tube (24), the cup (21) being provided with a piston (25), the base piece (2) also comprising a bushing fastening (26), and

- A removable member (3) removably mounted on a sliding axis on the base member (2), the removable member (3) comprising a gripping appendix (31), a tube (32) slidable according to a sliding axis sealingly against the piston (25) on a sealed axial stroke and an applicator (33) adapted to retain a dose of fluid produced from the injection orifice (23) by suction generated by the sealed sliding of the tubing (32) against the piston (25), the applicator comprising a sampling and application space (33) formed in the tubing (32), the fluid product being injected into this sampling and application space (33) through the dip tube ( 24) and the injection port (23), the removable member (3) also comprising a fixing ring (34) detachably engaged with the fixing sleeve (26),

an assembly in which the connection tip (6; 6 ') of the filling cartridge (C; C) is removably mounted on the base member (2) with the inner sleeve (61; 32') penetrating the cup (21), the sealed sliding wall (63) in sealing contact with the piston (25) and the outer fixing ring (64; 34) engaged with the fixing sleeve (26).

8. - The assembly of claim 7, wherein the base part (2) forms at least one venting window (37) which communicates directly outside the bucket (21) with the inside of the fixing sleeve (26).

9. - The assembly of claim 7 or 8, wherein, firstly, the junction appendix (60 ') is removably mounted on the inner sleeve (32'), and secondly, the gripping appendage (31 ') is detachably mounted on the tubing (32'), so that after withdrawal of the gripping appendage (31 '), the joint appendix (60') can be mounted on the tubing (32 '), which then acts as an internal sleeve (61), while the fixing ring (32) acts as an external fixing ring (64).

10.- The assembly of claim 9, wherein the removable member (3), devoid of its gripping appendix (31), is the connection tip (), devoid of its junction appendix ().

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