WO2019073180A1

WO2019073180A1 - Device for dispensing liquid-to-pasty products and module-forming closure device therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2019073180A1
Application number: PCT/FR2018/052531
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pascal Hennemann; Joey KURTZ
Original assignee: Promens Sa
Priority date: 2017-10-12
Filing date: 2018-10-11
Publication date: 2019-04-18

Abstract

The present invention relates to a modular closure device (7) for a device for dispensing a product, comprising: – an outlet nozzle (9) comprising: an outlet orifice (15) at the front, a rear opening, a product intake orifice, – top valve comprising a shut-off member (17) that closes of the outlet orifice, a deformable membrane (22) that seals the rear opening closed, designed so that a depression inside the nozzlee forces the shut-off member toward its closed position, and a rigid frame extending between the outlet orifice and the membrane; – a bell housing having an end wall and base opening opposite this end wall, the edges of the base opening being fixed to the nozzle, the membrane sealing the base opening closed. The invention also relates to a dispensing device comprising this closure device.

Description

DEVICE FOR DISPENSING PAST LIQUID PRODUCTS AND CLOSURE DEVICE FORMING A MODULE

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of devices for dispensing a product to be dispensed liquid to pasty, including a cream, an ointment or a paste, especially for cosmetic use. State of the art

FR2976981 A1 discloses a two-valve pump closure device having a top closing valve of the hole of the outlet nozzle of the push button. This high closing valve operates with a pressure difference on each side of the fixed diaphragm that separates the inside of the pump from the outside. When the internal pressure is greater than the external pressure, the membrane deforms and pushes back the top valve which opens the exit hole of the nozzle.

This is what happens when the pump is operated by pressing the push button; a pressure is generated inside the pump that opens the top flap and allows the product to exit. When the push button rises, it generates a lower vacuum inside the pump, depression necessary to suck the product contained in the tank in the dose chamber, which causes the opposite deformation on the membrane of the top valve, which advance and allows to close the exit hole of the nozzle.

With only this membrane, there is a risk that this operation is disrupted when the system is subjected to a lower external pressure, for example in aircraft cabins or in the mountains, which in this case causes untimely opening and no voluntary exit hole of the push button because in this case the pressure inside the system is then higher than the external pressure. To remedy this problem, the document FR2976981A1 adds to the rear of the top valve a closed sealed bell for maintaining a stable and constant pressure behind the membrane of the top valve, which prevents inadvertent opening in case of slight depression at the outside the system.

However, the device of FR2976981A1 requires a closed bell at the rear of the top valve; it is a complex system to assemble and the displacement of the membrane of the high valve is in a closed bell of small volume, which limits the opening movement of the top valve. Indeed when it moves in the bell, the high valve creates an overpressure inside the sealed bell, which limits its opening.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to remedy the operating problems of the prior art cited above.

For this purpose, a first object of the invention is a closure device intended to be mounted in a device for dispensing a product to be dispensed liquid to pasty, said closure device forming a module consisting of:

an outlet nozzle comprising a cavity and outer walls delimiting said cavity, said outer walls having a plurality of through-holes and apertures: an outlet hole at the front of the nozzle, a rear opening, and an intake hole intended to be connected to a dosing chamber of a pump motor of the dispensing device,

- a high valve formed solely by:

a shutter, arranged inside the cavity and movable between an advanced position in which it closes the exit hole and a retracted position in which it releases this exit hole,

a deformable membrane and sealingly closing the rear opening and secured to the shutter, and a rigid skeleton extending between a first end closing the exit hole in said advanced position and a second end carrying the membrane,

a bell having a bottom and a base opening opposite this bottom, the edges of the base opening being fixed to the nozzle, the membrane also sealingly closing the base opening.

According to the invention, in this closure device, the membrane has a flexibility and the closure device is arranged in such a way that a depression inside the cavity causes a deformation of the membrane towards the inside of the cavity. cavity, so that the membrane then pushes the shutter to the advanced position.

According to the invention, particularly according to the preceding paragraph, the closure device can form a module consisting of only these parts: the nozzle, a high valve, and the bell. That is to say, we have only three separate pieces assembled between her. Indeed in this case, the top valve forms a single piece with respect to the assembly of the module, since the shutter and the membrane are joined together by the skeleton, thus forming an integral element to be assembled with the nozzle and the bell .

According to the invention, the top valve can be formed solely by the membrane and the shutter, secured by the skeleton.

Thus, we obtain a simplified autonomous module, adapted to be coupled to a pump motor of a dispensing device, thus simplifying the assembly of the latter. In particular, the closure device is adapted to be mounted inside a push button integral with the pump motor.

The embodiment is all the more simplified that the dispensing device will require a low valve at the product inlet into the metering chamber, the shutter and the diaphragm forming the top valve of the dispensing device, in which will be mounted the closure device. This closure device thus allows the assembly of a dispensing device with only two valves, the top valve is included in this closure device. Moreover, this closure device closes in case of depression in the cavity by the very effect of this depression, so without resorting to a powerful spring to achieve this action, or without using a spring. For example, when the closure device is mounted in a dispensing device with a pump motor, during the aspiration of the liquid into the metering chamber, in particular when the push button is released, the cavity enters into depression, which causes the closing of the exit hole.

In addition, despite a simple assembly of the module, it nevertheless retains good guidance of the shutter and a good transmission of the closing force of the membrane to the shutter, particularly at its end to close the exit hole through the skeleton rigid.

It should be noted that the first end can close the exit hole in said indirectly advanced position, the portion of the shutter closing this exit hole being directly in its extension, the first end thus pressing the closing shutter on the exit and closing so this last via this portion. In particular, the first end is at a base of the stud, this stud extending between its base at a free end of the stud.

The closure device according to the invention may optionally have one or more of the following characteristics taken separately or in combination:

the edges of the base opening are attached to the nozzle so that the bell and the nozzle take the edges of the membrane in a vise; it is a simple way of assembling the membrane to the nozzle and the bell while separating them in a sealed manner;

the membrane is formed of a flexible material bi-injected on said skeleton; this makes it possible to make the upper flap more securely as a single piece;

the shutter is arranged to force into the exit hole when the membrane pushes the shutter towards said advanced position;

the shutter has a radially compressible flexible end; the shutter is flush with the outer surface of the nozzle at the edge of the exit hole;

the bell also has at least one vent communicating between the inside and the outside of the bell;

the top flap comprises a soft bi-injected coating on the skeleton, this coating covering a first end of the skeleton so as to form a stud and extending to the second end of the skeleton forming the membrane substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis skeleton; thus the nipple can form the portion of the shutter that directly obturates the outlet; this also strengthens the cohesion of the high valve in one piece;

this coating extends to the second end of the skeleton forming a cup substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the skeleton, the cup forming the membrane;

the membrane is elastic so as to generate, when deformed, an elastic restoring force at the level of the flexible membrane, when its surface is stressed by pressure differences on each side of the membrane;

the closing device is devoid of means for returning the shutter to the advanced position other than the membrane.

Another subject of the invention is a liquid-to-pasty product dispensing device comprising:

a pump motor with a dosing chamber,

- a bottom flap to open or close the entrance of this room,

- housing,

- A closure device according to the invention, housed in the housing, and arranged so that the intake hole is in communication with the interior of the metering chamber.

The dispensing device according to the invention may optionally have one or more of the following characteristics taken separately or in combination: the housing is open at the top so that the closing device is mounted from above in the housing;

the pump motor comprises:

a push button, in which the housing is formed, and a cap covering the closure device over and closing the housing;

the dispensing device comprises a connection member to a pasty liquid product container, and in this dispensing device, the pump motor further comprises:

o a push button movable relative to the connecting member between a low position and a high position,

a piston fixed relative to the connecting member, the piston comprising a top opening communicating on one side with the inside of the metering chamber and being intended on the other side to be in communication with the contents of the container, a flexible pouch delimiting the dosing chamber laterally, fixed at the top to the push-button and at the bottom to the piston, an elastic return means arranged in such a way that its constraint increases when the push-button moves towards its low position ,

the flexible bag and the piston being arranged so that when the push button is in the up position, the flexible bag is arranged above the piston, so that when the push button goes down to the lower position the flexible bag collapses on the piston, causing a pressure increase in the metering chamber, and when the push button rises to the up position the flexible bag deploys above the piston, causing a decrease in pressure in the dosing chamber, the bottom valve being arranged to open or close the chamber inlet under the exercise respectively a decrease in pressure or a pressure increase in the metering chamber;

it is a simple form of implementation allowing in particular to reduce dead volumes; the flexible bag is arranged so that it collapses while turning on itself, its side walls then wrapping around the piston; the pocket can thus have a very simple form;

the flexible bag is connected to the bottom valve so as to define therewith the bottom of the metering chamber; this further simplifies the realization of the pocket;

the flexible pouch and the bottom flap form a single piece made of a single material; the realization of the device is further simplified;

the flexible pouch has a bottom pierced with an inlet orifice, which is arranged so as to be pressed against a portion of the piston that is offset relative to the aperture at the top under the exercise of a pressure increase; in the metering chamber, and away from it under the effect of a decrease in pressure in the metering chamber; thus the portion of the bottom of the pocket around the inlet orifice forms the bottom flap; when this portion of the bottom deviates from the piston, a passage is then released between the aperture and the inlet opening; it is a very simple form of embodiment in which, thanks to a simple hole, the pocket forms both the side walls and the bottom of the metering chamber and the bottom flap;

the bottom of the flexible bag has one or more attachments to the piston, these fasteners being distributed around an area encompassing the inlet orifice and the top opening; this makes it possible to form a hinge of the edges of the inlet orifice, the portion of the bottom between these fasteners and comprising the inlet orifice thus forms the bottom flap; these fasteners may in particular be protruding projections of the bottom surface of the bottom of this pocket;

the elastic return means is a coil spring arranged around the piston and the flexible bag and clamped between the push button and the connecting member; it is a compact form of realization;

the flexible bag is open at the top, and comprises a neck defining the opening of the flexible bag, the neck being clamped between a wall of the push button and a fixing ring, this wall forming the ceiling of the dosing chamber; this simplifies the assembly of the flexible bag; the flexible pouch may in particular be made of flexible material of Shore A between 30 and 90 and / or Thermo Plastic Elastomer;

the dispensing device according to the invention is arranged to deliver doses of product of 0.20 milliliters (ml) to 5.0 ml; the device is particularly suitable for such doses.

In the present application, the terms "up" and "down", "upper" and "lower", "front" and "back" are applied according to the orientation of the various elements as they are illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 9 to 15. Brief description of the figures

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of the following nonlimiting examples, for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings, among which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a pump motor and a closure device according to a first embodiment of the invention, before assembling them together in order to form a dispensing device according to a first embodiment, the closure device is here represented on a scale larger than that of the pump motor;

- Figure 2 is a vertical section of the elements of Figure 1;

- Figure 3 shows the elements of Figure 1 but at the same scale, the closure device being ready to be positioned from above in a dedicated housing of the pump motor;

- Figure 4 shows the dispensing device of the preceding figures assembled with a push button cap;

- Figure 5 shows one of the isolated elements of Figure 2, here the push button;

- Figure 6 shows one of the isolated elements of Figure 2, here the outlet nozzle;

FIG. 7 illustrates the closure device of FIG. 2 taken in isolation - Figure 8 a sectional view of one of the isolated elements of Figure 7, here the bell, but in a transverse plane, orthogonal to the sectional plane of Figure 7 and passing through a longitudinal axis of the shutter;

- Figure 9 is the same view as Figure 7 but in a slight forward perspective;

- Figures 10 to 13 illustrate the operation of a dispensing device according to a second embodiment of the invention;

- Figures 14 and 15 show a vertical sectional view of a dispensing device according to a third embodiment, respectively in the deployed position and in the compressed position.

detailed description

Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a first embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention. Here, this dispensing device is a cosmetic dispensing pump composed of:

of a pump motor assembly 1 with a push button 2, a connecting member, here a connecting ring 3, on the reservoir containing the cream (this tank is not shown), a bottom valve 4, a chamber of dosage 5 and a return means 6 in the form of elastically deformable bellows;

a first embodiment of a closure device 7 according to the invention, here in three parts comprising a top valve 8, an outlet nozzle 9 and a bell 10 for the leakproof attachment of the top valve, this closure device 7 being here assembled vertically on the top of the push button;

a covering cap 1 1 of the push button 2.

According to the invention, as here, the assembly forms a cosmetic pump with two valves, with a part of the closure device, namely the end of the nozzle 9 and its outlet hole 15 protruding out of the dispensing device.

The connecting ring 3 allows the connection between the reservoir containing the product and the motor of the pump 1. This connecting member may be made of a plastic material, preferably polypropylene, or according to another embodiment may be molded in two materials by bi-injection, for example the first injection being made of polypropylene, and the second injection making a joint injected to improve the tight connection with the reservoir.

According to the invention, as in this example and as illustrated in FIG. 5, the push button 2 can be opened at the top and at the bottom with a partition wall 12 comprising a connecting channel 13 and a dead volume reducer 14 cooperating, as illustrated in FIG. 2, on one side with the metering chamber 5 and on the other side with the closing device 7.

According to the invention, as here, this push button 2 can be formed in one piece. Preferably, but in a nonlimiting manner, the push button 2 is molded of polypropylene.

As can be seen in Figure 2, the bellows 6 includes the bottom valve 4, the metering chamber 5 and accordion side walls, these walls on the one hand thus delimiting the metering chamber, and on the other hand forming a resilient return member of the bellows of a configuration compressed to an expanded configuration.

This bellows can, for example as here, be molded in a single material, especially polyethylene, preferably but not limited to an ultra low density polyethylene (or ULDPE for "Ultra Low Density Poly Ethylene" in English).

The metering chamber 5 cooperates here with the volume reducer 14 of the pushbutton 2.

According to the invention, the closure device 7 integrates into a single module:

The exit nozzle 9

The top valve 8

The fixing bell 10.

As can be seen in Figures 1 to 3, this module is assembled in a single assembly separately from the rest of the dispensing device.

The outlet nozzle 9, illustrated in FIG. 6, comprises walls delimiting a cavity 15a. According to the invention, as in this example, the nozzle 9 can be formed in one piece, including integrally material in one piece.

According to the invention, as here, this nozzle 9 may comprise only three orifices communicating outwardly of the nozzle 9: the outlet hole 15 at the front of the nozzle, a rear opening 15b and an admission hole 15c of product, for example cream.

As here, the nozzle 9 may comprise:

the outlet hole 15 of the product, cooperating in the closed position of this hole with a first end 17 of the top valve 8, this first end thus forming a shutter 17 of the outlet hole 15,

guide means 18 of the top valve 8, in particular of the shutter 17, here a sliding guide,

a connecting tube 19 for cooperating with the connecting channel 13 of the push button 2, visible in Figure 5, to allow the cream to pass from the metering chamber 5 to the closure device 7, entering through the hole d admission 15c,

a fastening means 21 of the fastening bell 10 which, as illustrated in FIG. 7, makes it possible to close the rear opening 15b, by tightly sealing the membrane 22 of the top valve 8, in particular the edges thereof, between a stop 23 of the fixing bell 10 and a stop 24 of the nozzle 9.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the top valve 8 comprises a rigid part 26, which serves as a rigid skeleton and flexible parts, namely here a stud 17 'situated at the front of the top valve 8 and the membrane 22, here elastic, located at the back of the top flap 8.

Here, the upper valve 8 thus performs the following functions:

a sealing function at the nipple of the end 17 of the top valve 8 with the hole 15 of the outlet nozzle 9;

a sealing function at the level of the flexible membrane 22 of the top valve 8 between the stop 24 of the outlet nozzle 9 and between the abutment 23 of the fixing bell 10, thereby sealing the rear opening 15b; a function of elastic deformation and elastic return at the level of the flexible membrane 22, and also a return function when its surface is stressed by pressure differences on each side of the membrane 22.

Here, the top valve 8 is molded in bi-injection, with for first injection the rigid skeleton 26, which is molded preferentially but not limited to polypropylene and for second injection the flexible parts forming the stud 17 'and the membrane 22, which are molded preferentially but not limited to Thermoplastic Elastomer (or TPE).

According to the invention, preferably but in a non-limiting manner, the stud 17 'and the membrane 22 are made of a TPE of Shore A hardness between 30 Shore A and 70 Shore A.

The fixing bell 10 makes it possible to achieve the leaktight separation of the diaphragm 22 from the top valve 8 between the inside of the pump and the outside. It has, like any bell, a base opening 10a opposite a bottom 10b. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the membrane 22 thus seals the cavity 15a of the outlet nozzle 9 on one side and the base opening 10a on the other.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the bottom 10b of the bell 10 incorporates a vent hole 25 or vent, which makes it possible to avoid the overpressures inside the fixing bell 10 when the membrane 22 of the top valve 8 backs up under the pressure of the cream.

Figures 10 to 13 illustrate the steps of operation of a dispensing device according to a second embodiment of the invention, comprising a closure device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

This second example differs essentially in the shape of the bell 10 and the attachment thereof with the outlet nozzle 9. For the rest, the first and second exemplary embodiments are very similar and will not be further detailed. The same references have been taken over.

In the first embodiment, the bottom 10b of the bell 10 is essentially flat, with the off-axis vent, whereas in the second example, it is curved, the vent 25 being centered on the bottom. These forms are not limiting.

As can be seen in FIG. 10, the push-button 2 comprises a housing 2a open at the top and comprising a shape complementary to the rear of the bell 10, making it possible to position it by placing the closure device in the housing from the top. This complementary form is therefore in this rounded example.

In the first embodiment, the rear of the nozzle 9 forms a cylindrical sleeve fitted into the bell 10, through the base opening 10a, whereas in that of FIGS. 10 to 13, the edges of the central opening of FIG. the bell 10 are clipped inside a cylindrical sleeve formed by the rear of the nozzle 9. In general, these fastening principles allow a good tightening of the membrane 22 and are simple. They are however not limiting. The rear of the nozzle and the bell can be assembled to each other by fitting, screwing or clipping.

Even if it is only illustrated in the second example, according to the invention, the connection tube 19 can be inserted into the connection channel 13, in particular in a sealed manner. The connection tube 19 can therefore also serve as positioning means from above. The housing and generally the push button may also include other positioning means.

The operating mode is thus illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 13 for the second exemplary embodiment but can be transposed to the first exemplary embodiment.

The dispensing device is shown in FIG. 10 in the closed position. In this position, at rest, the push button 2 is raised and the top valve 8 is in the closed position.

When the dispensing system is actuated, as in FIG. 1 1, by pressing on the covering cap 1 1 of the push button, the casing assembly 1 1, push button 2, and the assembly system are lowered. closure 7, and the side walls of the bellows 6 are compressed. During this operation, the product contained in the metering chamber 5 is compressed by the reduction of volume of the bellows 6 and creates a pressure on the flexible membrane 22 of the upper valve 8, which then deforms elastically and allows the shutter 17 to move back, and thus to open the outlet hole 15 of the nozzle 9, which is also the exit hole of the closure device 7 and the dispensing device. This allows the product to exit through the outlet hole 15. The compressed product can exit only through the top valve 8, the bottom valve 4 being in the closed position, following the pressure in the metering chamber 5. When the shutter 17 is retracted to the maximum, it is as in Figure 2, in the retracted position.

At the end of the actuation, when the push button 2 is in the low position, as illustrated in FIG. 12, there is no more pressure in the metering chamber 5, the pressure equilibrates on each side of the membrane. 22 of the top valve 8, the membrane 22, which has been deformed elastically under the effect of pressure, resumes its initial position and pushes the upper valve 8 forward, so to its advanced position, thus closing the exit hole 15 of the outlet nozzle 9 through the nipple of the end 17 of the top valve 8, which comes into contact on the periphery of the outlet hole 15.

During the raising of the push button 2, as shown in Figure 13, under the effect of the restoring force generated by the side walls of the bellows 6, the push button 2 rises. The metering chamber 5 then sees its volume increase and thus creates a vacuum inside the pump 1, thus in the cavity 9a of the nozzle 9. This depression acts on the diaphragm 22 of the top valve 8 to advance even further. forward the top valve 8 and penetrate the flexible end 17 of the top valve 8 inside the outlet hole 15 of the nozzle 9, the shutter then being in its advanced position.

Here, the end 17 of the top valve 8, which is made of TPE (Thermo Plastic Elastomer) flexible material of shore A between 30 and 90, comprises a pin which is thus compressed radially when it enters the hole of outlet 15, thus making it possible to reinforce the tightness of the closure system 7, with regard to contaminants of chemical origin or of bacterial origin.

The use of the depression acting on the diaphragm 22 to force the end 17 of the top valve 8 to force into the outlet hole 15 of the nozzle 9 avoids having to use an elastic return means powerful to perform this operation. This also allows the top valve 8 to open more easily, because it will not have to counter the strength of the powerful elastic return means.

Here, as generally speaking according to the invention, the closing device can therefore be devoid of return means other than the membrane, in particular without any elastic return means other than the membrane, such as a spring, such as a coil spring (s).

Moreover, the return of the pin 17 'of the high valve into the outlet hole 15 of the nozzle 9 makes it possible to reduce to the maximum, or even to eliminate, the dead volumes linked to the hole and to have the stud 17' which is flush with the outside of the exit hole 15 of the nozzle, thus avoiding the stagnation of cream outside the closure system 7.

During the same time, the depression generated in the metering chamber 5 opens the bottom valve 4 which allows the cream to fill the metering chamber 5 and to drop the vacuum inside the dispensing device. The pump is ready for operation for a new product dispensing cycle.

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate a third exemplary embodiment of dispensing device according to the invention, here pump 101.

In this mode, the closure device 7 is identical to that used in the example of Figures 10 to 13. It will therefore not be more detailed. The cap 1 1 and the top of the push-button 102 are likewise identical and enclose the closure device 7 between them.

Here, the metering chamber 105 is, as in the previous example, also delimited laterally by flexible side walls 160 sagging on itself and thus decreasing the volume of the metering chamber 105 to expel the fluid that it contains. However, instead of being delimited by a bellows 6, the metering chamber 105 is in this third example delimited by a flexible pouch 106.

In this third exemplary embodiment, the pump 101 also comprises a connection member 103 to a liquid product container. pasty, not shown, especially thanks to a connecting groove 131 sealingly clipping on the neck of the container.

The push-button 102 is movable with respect to the connection member 103 between a low position, illustrated in FIG. 15, and a raised position, illustrated in FIG.

According to the invention, as here, the connecting member 103 can form a piston, in particular central, which extends to a level below the level of the connection groove 131. The inside of the piston 130 thus forms a suction channel for the product in the container. The outside of the piston forms in the connecting member a protruding projection upwards.

Around this piston 130, the connecting member 103 forms a sliding groove 135 facing upwards and inside which the skirt 120 of the pushbutton 102 slides.

The piston 130 comprising an upper face having a top opening 134 opening on the bottom in the suction channel.

A flexible pouch 106 is arranged in the pump 101 inside the space defined between the skirt 120 and the outer wall of the connecting groove 131. This pocket 106 is fixed at the top to the push-button 102 and at the bottom to the piston 130.

The pocket 106 is here of a simple form.

This pocket 106 has a bottom pierced with an inlet port 166. This bottom is arranged to be pressed against a portion of the upper surface of the piston 130, as well as against the aperture 134 of the latter, when the pressure increases. in the metering chamber 105, namely during the delivery of a fluid contained in the latter to the closure device 7. This fluid is the air at the priming of the pump 1 and the product once the pump 1 primed .

The upper face of the piston 130 has a pin 133 offset from the top opening 134, and arranged to forcefully enter the inlet orifice 166 when the bottom plate against the upper face of the piston 130, closing thus sealing the inlet orifice 166. The bag 106 and thus here the dosing chamber 105 are closed at the top by a wall 1 12 of the push button 102, above which the closure device 7 is housed.

The connection tube 19 of the latter is housed in a connecting channel 1 13 of this wall 1 12, which opens into the dosing chamber

105 by a metering outlet communicating directly with the inlet hole 15c of the closing device 7.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, when the push-button 102 is in the up position, the pocket 106 is arranged above the piston 130.

When the push-button 102 goes down to the down position, the pocket

106 collapses on the piston 130, turning on itself, its side walls 160 then winding around the piston 130, as can be seen in Figure15.

This collapse causes a decrease in the volume of the metering chamber 105, and thus an increase in pressure in the latter, causing the product to flow out of the metering chamber 105 through the inlet hole 15c, thus causing the opening of the closing device 7, and therefore the dispensing of the product out of the pump 101.

The pump motor therefore comprises the connection member 103, the pocket 106, the push button 102, the closure device 7 and the cap 1 1. 11 also comprises an elastic return means, here formed by a spring 165 with turns, which is compressed during the descent of the pushbutton 102.

Then, the spring 165 recalls the push button 102 to the high position, the latter causes the top of the pocket 106 in its race. The pocket 106 then unrolls and unfolds over the piston 130, causing a decrease in pressure in the metering chamber 105, and thus a suction.

During this pressure decrease, as in the previous example, the closure device closes. In contrast, the bottom valve 104 opens. Resulting product suction in the metering chamber 105.

In this third embodiment, the suction causes the bottom of the pocket 106 to separate from the top of the piston 130. The inlet orifice 166 thus disengages from the stud 133. Moreover, a passage is formed in this way. passing between the bottom of the pocket 106 and the portion of the upper face of the piston 130 against which this bottom was plated. This passage communicates between the aperture 134 and the inlet port 166. Thus the product can be sucked into the flexible pouch 106.

Thus, in a general manner in this third exemplary embodiment, the pocket 106 can form both the bottom and the walls 160 that fall from the metering chamber, thus forming the variable volume dosing chamber, and forming both the bottom flap 104.

The flexible pouch 106 may in particular be made of flexible material of TPE type shore A between 30 and 90.

Here the inlet port 166 and the pin 133 are centered relative respectively to the bottom of the pocket 106 and the piston 130. The top opening 134 is off-center.

The fasteners of the pocket 106 can be varied.

According to the invention as here, the pocket 106 is open at the top, and comprises a neck 161 delimiting the upper opening of the pocket 106. The neck 161 is clamped between the wall 1 12 of the pushbutton 102 and a fixing ring 140, this wall forming the ceiling of the metering chamber 105. In addition to a simplified mounting of the flexible bag 106, the edge of the neck 161 thus forms the seal between the top of the pocket 106 and the wall 1 12. With a simple piece thus performs an additional function.

According to the invention as here, the pocket 106 may comprise a fixing sleeve 162 projecting from the bottom of this pocket and outside the volume defining the metering chamber 105. The attachment sleeve 162 is fitted into a circular central groove the piston surrounding the pin 133 and the top opening 134. Alternatively, the attachment sleeve 162 may be overmoulded in this top groove.

The summit groove here is centered on the nipple 133.

The fixing ring 140 may comprise a downward wall serving to guide the side walls 160 of the pocket 106, when they collapse. This downstream wall may, as here, be of a diameter such that it has a clearance with the piston 130, so as to descend around it during the discharge and so that the side walls 160 are wound on them same between this downward wall and the piston 130, as can be seen in FIG. 15. The guiding is thus improved.

The turns of the spring 165 are here arranged around the piston and this downward wall, thus of the pocket 106.

In the illustrated examples, the pump 1 once primed delivers a dose of 1.5 ml of products when the pushbutton 2, 102 goes from its high position to its low position.

In general, according to the invention, the closure device 7 and the dispensing device 1, 101 may have one or more of the following features and functionalities:

The closure device consists, in particular only, of a set of three parts assembled on the pump;

The top valve has at its end a flexible nipple which enters the outlet hole of the nozzle;

The top valve is molded in bi-injection with a first rigid injection of PP type for the skeleton and a second injection of TPE type soft material for the membrane and the end teat;

The membrane of the high valve has a large surface to be able to operate at low pressures, that is to say less than 2 bars, and especially at pressures below 0.4 bars;

The closure device is assembled from the top of the push button;

The top valve fixing bell has a vent to have the atmospheric pressure inside the bell, the internal volume of which is in contact with the side of the diaphragm opposite the side of the diaphragm vis-a-vis the nozzle;

- The re-entry of the pin of the high valve in the exit hole of the nozzle makes it possible to reduce to the maximum, or even to eliminate, the dead volumes linked to the exit hole and to have the nipple that is flush with the outside of the hole Release the nozzle, thus avoiding the stagnation of cream on the outside of the closure system;

A sealing function at the pin of the end of the top valve with the outlet hole of the nozzle;

A sealing function at the level of the flexible diaphragm of the top valve between the nozzle and the bell, in particular between the stop of the outlet nozzle and between the stop of the fixing bell.

A function of elastic deformation and elastic return at the flexible membrane, when its surface is stressed by pressure differences on each side of the flexible membrane.

Claims

1. Closing device (7) intended to be mounted in a device for dispensing a product to be dispensed liquid to pasty, said closure device forming a module consisting of:

- an outlet nozzle (9) comprising a cavity (15a) and outer walls defining said cavity, said outer walls having a plurality of through holes and openings: an outlet hole (15) at the front of the nozzle, a rear opening (15b), and an intake hole (15c) for connection to a metering chamber (5) of a pump motor (1) of the dispensing device,

a top valve (8) formed solely by:

o a shutter (17), arranged inside the cavity and movable between an advanced position in which it closes the exit hole and a retracted position in which it releases this exit hole, o a membrane (22) deformable and sealingly closing the rear opening and secured to the shutter, and

a rigid skeleton (26) extending between a first end closing the exit hole in said advanced position and a second end carrying the membrane,

- a bell (10) having a bottom (10b) and a base opening (10a) opposite this bottom, the edges of the base opening being fixed to the nozzle (9), the membrane also sealingly sealing base opening, the membrane having a flexibility and the closure device being arranged in such a way that a depression inside the cavity causes a deformation of the membrane towards the inside of the cavity, so that that the membrane then pushes the shutter towards said advanced position.

2. Closure device (7) according to claim 1, characterized in that the edges of the base opening (10a) are fixed to the nozzle (9) so that the bell (10) and the nozzle take the edges of the diaphragm (22) in a vise.

3. Closure device (7) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the membrane (22) is formed of a flexible material bi-injected on said backbone.

4. Closure device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shutter (17) is arranged to forcely enter the outlet hole (15) when the membrane (22) pushes the shutter towards said advanced position.

5. Closure device (7) according to claim 4, characterized in that the shutter (17) has a radially compressible flexible end.

6. Closure device (7) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bell (10) also has at least one vent (25) communicating between the inside and outside of the bell.

7. Closure device (7) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the top valve (8) comprises a flexible coating bi-injected on the skeleton (26), the coating covering a first end of the skeleton to form a pin (17 ') and extending to the second end of the skeleton forming the membrane (22) substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the skeleton.

8. Closure device (7) according to claim 7, characterized in that this coating extends to the second end of the skeleton (26) forming a cup substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the skeleton, the cup forming the membrane (22).

9. Closure device (7) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the membrane (22) is elastic so as to generate, when deformed, an elastic return force at the level of the flexible membrane when its surface is stressed by pressure differences on each side of the membrane.

10. Closure device (7) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is devoid of return means of the shutter (17) to the advanced position other than the membrane (22).

1 1. Liquid-to-pasty product dispensing device comprising: a pump motor (1) with a metering chamber (5; 105),

- a bottom flap (4; 104) to open or close the entrance of this room,

- a housing (2a),

- A closure device (7) according to one of the preceding claims, housed in the housing, and arranged so that the intake hole

(15c) is in communication with the interior of the metering chamber.

12. Dispensing device according to claim 1 1, wherein the housing (2a) is open at the top so that the closure device (7) is mounted from above in the housing.

13. Dispensing device according to claim 1 1 or 12, comprising a connection member (103) to a pasty liquid product container, and wherein the pump motor (1) further comprises:

- a push button (102) movable relative to the connecting member between a low position and a high position,

- a piston (130) fixed with respect to the connecting member, the piston comprising a top opening communicating on one side with the inside of the metering chamber (105) and being intended on the other side to be in communication with the contents of the container,

a flexible bag (106) delimiting the dosing chamber laterally, fixed at the top to the push-button and at the bottom to the piston,

an elastic return means (165) arranged in such a way that its constraint increases when the push-button moves towards its low position,

the flexible bag and the piston being arranged so that when the push button is in the up position, the flexible bag is arranged above the piston, so that when the push button goes down to the lower position the flexible bag collapses on the piston, causing a pressure increase in the metering chamber, and when the push button rises to the up position the flexible bag deploys above the piston, causing a decrease in pressure in the dosing chamber, the bottom valve being arranged to open or close the top opening under the exercise respectively a decrease in pressure or an increase in pressure in the metering chamber.

14. Dispensing device according to claim 13, wherein the flexible bag (106) is arranged so that it collapses while turning on itself, its side walls (160) then wrapping around the piston (130).

15. Dispensing device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the flexible bag (106) and the bottom valve (104) form a single piece made of a single material.