WO2023175203A1

WO2023175203A1 - Fluid dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2023175203A1
Application number: PCT/ES2022/070142
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roger OLLER MAS; Rubén Caño Bailador; Josef George GLEIXNER
Original assignee: Quadpack Industries S.A.
Priority date: 2022-03-15
Filing date: 2022-03-15
Publication date: 2023-09-21

Abstract

The invention relates to a fluid dispenser comprising a first outer container (1) with a mouth (8) and a second inner container (2) disposed inside the first container and formed by a retractable bag, the size of the mouth (8) being sufficiently large to allow the second container (2) to pass therethrough, as well as comprising ribs (15, 16) for guiding and positioning the first container (1) relative to the second container (2), and a dispensing pump (3) having at least one button (6) that takes fluid from the second container (2), said second container (2) being topped with a disk (7) disposed on top of the mouth (8) of the first container (1), having a first hole (9) for the passage of the dispensing pump (3), and having a joint (14) with a through-hole disposed on top of the disk (7).

Description

FLUID DISPENSER

DESCRIPTION

Fluid dispenser of the type comprising a first, exterior container, with a mouth, inside of which a second, interior container is arranged, formed by a retractable bag, the size of the mouth being sufficient for the passage of the second container, with a ribs that guide and position the first container with respect to the second container, a dispensing pump with at least one button that takes the fluid from said second container, the second container ending superiorly in a disc that is arranged over the mouth of the first container, with a first hole for the passage of the dispensing pump and a joint with a through hole that is arranged on the disc, characterized in that: the first container comprises in the upper part of the container an external thread passage, which defines a first root and a first ridge that defines two first flanks, one upper and one lower, the first lower flank having an angle of inclination (a) with respect to the horizontal of between 12 to 18°, comprising an internal thread pitch that is threaded into the thread pitch exterior belonging to said internal thread passage to first fixing means, which defines a second root and a second crest that defines two second flanks, one upper and one lower, the second lower flank having an angle of inclination (a) with respect to horizontal between 12 to 18°, the first fixing means block the dispensing pump and press the entire joint which in turn presses the disc against the mouth of the first container, immobilizing the second container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Different containers of substances that are activated by a pump are known in the state of the art. Thus, European Patent No. 2243557 (ES2538798) “DEVICE FOR CONTAINING FLUID SUBSTANCES IN AIR-TIGHT CONDITIONS AND FOR DISPENSING THEM” belongs to the state of the art, from 2010, in the name of LUMSON SPA, which refers to a device for containing fluid substances in airtight conditions and dispensing them, comprising a rigid container with a neck that defines an opening that provides access to the cavity of the container and that is provided with an external thread, and a bag made of thermoplastic material housed in the container and which has, in turn, a neck from which a flange extends radially that defines an orifice to provide access to the cavity of the bag and to house the body of a manually operable pump to remove the fluid substance from the bag. bag and supplying it to the outside through the dispensing stem of the pump, the pump body being pressed to form a seal on said bag flange by means of a second annular cap, the device comprising a first annular cap screwed onto the neck of the container and fixed to the bag, the second annular cap being locked in the first annular cap, coupling means being provided between said first and second annular caps to make said first and second annular caps torsionally rigid with respect to each other so so that a rotation imposed on the second annular cap of the pump results in a corresponding rotation of the first annular cap, thus facilitating the extraction of the empty bag from the container as a consequence of the removal of the pump from the container, being finally provided at least one passage for the entry of air from the outside of the container to the intermediate space that exists between the interior surface of the container and the external surface of the bag housed therein, characterized in that the second annular cap is fixed to the bag by means of the flange sandwiched between said second annular cap and the first annular cap.

Also known is European Patent No. 1433534 “Container for fluid storage”, from 2003, in the name of D. Masuda MASATOSHI, which refers to a container for the storage of fluids. wherein a part of the fluid storage includes an outer container, an inner container, and a coupling material that forms an internal space protected from the outside between the inner container and the outer container of the container. When the volume of the internal container is reduced, the internal space is depressurized and receives force in a direction towards the internal space from the outside. Consequently, air flows into the internal space from the outside by the action of a mechanism to prevent leakage of the coupling material.

A document to be considered is European Patent No. EP3416748 “DISPENSING MEMBER AND DISPENSER THAT INCLUDES SAID MEMBER”, from 2017, in the name of APTAR France SAS, which refers to a dispensing member, such as a pump or valve, which comprises a body defining an inlet tube and in which a valve stem can be moved axially back and forth, the body being provided with a vent extending around the body, pointing outwardly and downwards in the direction of the tube inlet, thus defining an outer edge that is not in contact with the body, the vent is formed by a sleeve coupled axially around the body, and causing a seal between them, the sleeve forming a sealing sleeve fitted in a fluid-tight manner. around the inlet tube of the body, characterized in that the ventilation lip is located axially above the sealing sleeve.

Finally, the applicant firm itself is the holder of European Patent No. 2021382046.7 “FLUID DISPENSER”, from 2021, which refers to a fluid dispenser of the type that comprises a first, exterior container, with a mouth, in which Inside, a second container is arranged, inside, formed by a retractable bag, the size of the mouth being sufficient for the passage of the second container, with ribs that separate the first container from the second container, a dispensing pump with at least one button that takes the fluid from said second container, characterized in that: - the second container ends superiorly in a disc that is arranged on the mouth of the first container, with a first hole for the passage of the dispensing pump, and - comprises a retaining element, which is located on the disc, with a second hole for the passage of the dispensing pump, first fixing means that The retaining element is linked to the first container, some guiding elements of the button, and second fixing means that fix the retaining element to the first fixing means inside the latter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention falls within the sector of dispensers that have one or more fluids inside and a pump to extract said fluids.

The closest document is European Patent 2021382046.7 of the applicant firm itself.

This patent solves the problem of being able to recycle a large number of elements of the dispenser, and also allows the second container to be extracted from the inside of the first, without the need for the fluid inside the second container to be finished.

One of the problems is that materials such as glass, porcelain or ceramic are materials that have little friction surface, that is, to ensure that two objects are well threaded between them, the thread must contain several turns and in addition the standard requires that the inclination of the thread be 24° with respect to the horizontal since in this way the contact surface is increased.

This complicates and in many cases prevents containers with a single turn of thread from being held with the element that is threaded to them, since they end up coming loose due to lack of contact/friction surface. The present invention goes one step further and aims to ensure that both the first container and the first fixing means that are threaded into the first container can be manufactured in different materials such as wood, metals, glass, porcelain, ceramics, plastics, etc. . and the rest of the elements such as pumps, second container, fixing means, etc. can continue to be used. without having to change its configuration, being able to use standard elements.

Furthermore, due to the size of the containers, it is intended that with a single turn of the thread the dispenser can be completely closed and safe, and this is complicated with the current thread pitches, where a single turn of the thread makes the first container becomes unsafe if it is picked up and lifted from the lid, and the fluid in the second container is not properly secured.

This is achieved because the first lower flank of the external thread pitch has an angle of inclination (a) with respect to the horizontal of between 12 to 18°, and the second lower flank of the internal thread pitch has an angle of inclination (a ) with respect to the horizontal of between 12 to 18°. This specific angle allows that when the thread is turned, the second lower flank contacts the ring and the first lower flank contacts the second upper flank, blocking the first fixing means on the first container.

Furthermore, this inclination (a) increases the lower contact surface of the two lower flanks (first and second) and allows the closure to be ensured.

That is to say, while the second lower flank is closed with the thread by having a greater contact surface on the first upper flank, the closure is progressively secured, which is definitively fixed when the turn of the thread ends, which is already the first lower flank which exerts contact against the second upper flank. An object of the present invention is a fluid dispenser of the type that comprises a first, exterior container, with a mouth, inside of which a second, interior container is arranged, formed by a retractable bag, the size of the mouth being sufficient to the passage of the second container, with ribs that guide and position the first container with respect to the second container, a dispensing pump with at least one button that takes the fluid from said second container, the second container ending superiorly in a disc that is arranged on the mouth of the first container, with a first hole for the passage of the dispensing pump and a gasket with a through hole that is arranged on the disc, characterized in that: the first container comprises an external thread passage in the upper part of the container , which defines a first root and a first crest that defines two first flanks, one upper and one lower, the first lower flank having an angle of inclination (a) with respect to the horizontal of between 12 to 18°, comprising a thread pitch internal thread that is threaded to the external thread pitch belonging to said internal thread pitch belonging to first fixing means, which defines a second root and a second crest that defines two second flanks, one upper and one lower, the second lower flank having an angle of inclination (a) with respect to the horizontal of between 12 to 18°, the first fixing means block the dispensing pump and press the entire joint, which in turn presses the disc against the mouth of the first container, immobilizing the second container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to facilitate the explanation, this report is accompanied by five sheets of drawings in which a practical case of implementation has been represented, which is cited as an example, not limiting the scope of the present invention:

Figure 1 is a general view of the object of the present invention, Figure 2 is a section along line ll-ll of figure 1,

Figure 3 is a detail of a section of the mouth area of the first container at the beginning of the thread closure,

- Figure 4 is an exploded view of the object of the invention,

- Figure 5 is a detail of the external thread, and

- Figure 6 is a detail of a section of the mouth area of the first container at the end of the thread closure, with the fixing means closing the first container.

CONCRETE EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Thus, Figure 1 illustrates a first container 1, a lid 5 and second fixing means 32.

Figure 2 shows the first container 1, a second container 2, a dispensing pump 3, first fixing means 4, the lid 5, a button 6, a disc 7, a mouth 8, a first hole 9, a joint 14, ribs 15, 16, an outlet tube 19, an external thread passage 30 and the fixing means 32.

Figure 3 shows the first container 1, the second container 2, the first fixing means 4, the cover 5, the mouth 8, a ring 28, the external thread pitch 30, a first root 33, a first ridge 34, a first upper flank 35, a first lower flank 36, an internal thread pitch 37, a second root 38, a second ridge 39, a second upper flank 40 and a second lower flank 41.

Figure 4 exemplifies the first container 1, the second container 2, an assembly 29, the dispensing pump 3, the first fixing means 4, the lid 5, the button 6, the disc 7, the mouth 8, the first hole 9, the joint 14, the outlet tube 19, the thread passage 30 with its threads 31 and the fixing means 32. Figure 5 shows the external thread pitch 30, the first root 33, the first crest 34, the first upper flank 35 and the first lower flank 36.

Finally, Figure 6 illustrates the first container 1, the first fixing means 4, the ring 28, the external thread pitch 30, the first upper flank 35, the first lower flank 36, the internal thread pitch 37, the second upper flank 40 and the second lower flank 41.

Thus, the device of the present invention is formed by a fluid dispenser of the type that comprises a first outer container 1, with a mouth 8, inside of which a second inner container 2 is arranged, formed by a retractable bag, being the size of the mouth 8 sufficient for the passage of the second container 2. This allows the entry and exit at the user's will of the second container 2 from the interior of the first container 1.

The second container has ribs 15,16 that guide and position the first container 1 of the second container 2.

It also comprises a dispensing pump 3 with at least one button 6 that takes the fluid from said second container 2 and dispenses it to the outside.

The second container 2 ends superiorly in a disc 7 that is arranged on the mouth 8 of the first container 1. The second container has a first hole 9 for the passage of the dispensing pump 3 and a joint 14 with a through hole that is arranged on the disc 7. Optionally, it could be manufactured in a single piece, for example, bi-injected the second container 2 and disc 7. This makes it easier to place them and remove the second container 2 to replace it.

The first container 1 comprises in the upper part of the container an external thread passage 30. Said external thread passage 30 defines a first root 33 and a first ridge 34 that defines two first flanks, an upper one 35 and a lower one 36. Likewise, the first lower flank 36 has an angle of inclination (a) with respect to the horizontal of between 12 to 18° (Fig.4).

The internal thread pitch 37, belonging to the first fixing means 4, is the one that is threaded to the external thread pitch 30.

Thus, the internal thread pitch 37 defines a second root 38 and a second crest 39, the latter defining two second flanks, an upper one 40 and a lower one 41, the second lower flank 41 having an angle of inclination (a) with respect to the horizontal between 12 to 18°.

Furthermore, the special configuration of the first fixing means 4 causes the dispensing pump 3 to be blocked and in the closing operation on the first container 1, the first fixing means press the entire joint 14 which in turn presses the disc 7 against the mouth 8 of the first container 1, immobilizing the second container 2.

That is, the first closing means 4, in addition to externally closing the first container 1, blocks the second container 2, immobilizing it.

The special angle of inclination (a) of the lower flanks 36,41 allows a wide variety of materials to be used in the manufacture of the first container 1, without having to change the rest of the elements.

In this way, when the fixing means 4 are unscrewed, all the elements that are on the fixing means 4 are removed up to the pump and the gasket 14 and the second container 2 can also be accessed, so the user could change the first container 1, use another one made of another material and reinstall the elements without having to remove any element. Optionally, depending on the materials, the inclination angle (a) of the flanks 36.41 with respect to the horizontal is between 14 and 16°.

Also optionally, in the case of using wood, for example, the angle of inclination (a) of the flanks 36.41 with respect to the horizontal is 15°.

Also optionally, it comprises second fixing means 32 that are fixed to the first fixing means 4 on the outside of the latter, and that are connected with the button 6 and the outlet tube 19. This allows rotating the second fixing means 32, when fixed to the first fixing means 4, the pump 3 and the button 6 are also extracted.

Optionally, to facilitate the opening and closing operations of the dispenser, the joint 14 is integral with the dispensing pump 3, in such a way that when the first fixing means 4 are unscrewed, the pump 4, the button 6 and the joint 14 are separated. of disk 7 and containers 1,2.

It also comprises a ring 28 below the external thread pitch 30. This ring 28 fulfills the function for manufacturing purposes, in glass containers, for example, to be able to keep the first container 1 elevated. Likewise, if it is configured close to the external thread passage 30, it could serve so that the second lower flank 41 blocks the internal thread passage 37 by contact with said ring 28.

Finally, optionally, if the embodiment included the ring 28, a ring could be configured that is arranged in the first fixing means 4 and that in the closed position is located below the ring 28 of the first container. This reinforces the connection between the first fixing means 4 and the first container 1 so that they do not separate. Thus, in a specific embodiment in an initial phase, the user has a first empty container 1 and a second container 2 filled with a product to be dispensed, for example, a hydrating fluid.

The second container 2 is then placed inside the first container 1, leaving the disc 7 centered in the mouth 8, thanks to the ribs 15,16 that position and guide it.

Next, the assembly 29 formed by the first fixing means 4, the second fixing means 32, the dispensing pump 3, the button 6 and the gasket 14 would be placed.

The first fixing means 4 is in turn fixed to the dispensing pump 3 and to the second fixing means 32. In this embodiment the first fixing means 4 are fixed to the second fixing means 32 by contact, to allow pressure and force in both opening and closing operations on the thread pitch 30.

The second fixing means 32 allows the positioning of the button 6.

The gasket 14, in this embodiment will be attached to the first fixing means 4, although it may not be (Fig. 4). The first fixing means 4, when the closing operation occurs with the first container 1, press the gasket 14 against the disc 7, immobilizing the second container 2.

In this way, when the aforementioned assembly is closed on the first and second containers 1, 2, it is done in one go.

As indicated above, one of the advantages of the present invention is that the first container 1 can be closed with a turn of the screw. This is achieved because the first lower flank 36 of the external thread passage 30 has an angle of inclination (a) with respect to the horizontal of between 12 to 18° (Fig. 5), and the second lower flank 40 of the thread passage interior 37 has an angle of inclination (a), which is the same angle of inclination as the first lower flank 36, with respect to the horizontal of between 12 to 18°.

This specific angle allows that when the screw is turned, the first lower flank 36 contacts the second upper flank 40, blocking the first fixing means 4 on the first container 1 (Fig. 6).

Optionally, if the ring 28 has been configured in the vicinity, the second lower flank 41 would contact the ring 28 and the first lower flank 36 would contact the second upper flank 40 (as in the previous paragraph), blocking the first fixing means 4 about the first container 1.

Therefore, when threading begins, the second lower flank 41 is in contact with the first upper flank 35, which guides it in the descent, until the travel ends and the second lower flank 41 is immobilized by contact against the ring 28. and on the other side the first lower flank 36 immobilizes the second upper flank 40.

This operation allows it to be closed safely with a single turn of the thread, with a wide variety of materials such as glass, porcelain or ceramic, which are very slippery surfaces.

To unscrew, it would be rotated in the opposite direction, releasing the first closing means 4 of the first container 1.

The advantage of this invention is that regardless of whether the first container 1 is made of wood, metals, glass, porcelain, plastics, etc., the special configuration of the angle of inclination (a) with respect to the horizontal, which is between 12 to 18°, although very optimal at 14° and 16°, and very promising at 15°, means that having a single assembly 29 described above formed by the first fixing means 4, the second fixing means 32, the dispensing pump 3, the button 6 and the joint 14, with said inclinations, the first fixing means 4 can be threaded in the thread pitch 30, regardless of the material used in the manufacture of the first container 1, which allows considerable cost savings, that is, having a single model of assembly 29, different models of different materials of the first container 1 can be used. The present invention describes a new fluid dispenser. The examples mentioned here are not limiting of the present invention, therefore it may have different applications and/or adaptations, all of them within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1.- Fluid dispenser of the type that comprises a first exterior container (1), with a mouth (8), inside of which a second interior container (2) is arranged, formed by a retractable bag, the size being the mouth (8) sufficient for the passage of the second container (2), with ribs (15, 16) that guide and position the first container (1) with respect to the second container (2), a dispensing pump (3) with at least one button (6) that takes the fluid from said second container (2), the second container (2) ending superiorly in a disc (7) that is arranged over the mouth (8) of the first container (1), with a first hole (9) for the passage of the dispensing pump (3) and a gasket (14) with a through hole that is arranged on the disc (7), characterized in that:

- the first container (1) comprises in the upper part of the container an external thread passage (30), which defines a first root (33) and a first crest (34) that defines two first flanks, one upper (35) and a lower one (36), the first lower flank (36) having an angle of inclination (a) with respect to the horizontal of between 12 to 18°,

- comprises an internal thread pitch (37) that is threaded to the external thread pitch (30), said internal thread pitch (37) belonging to first fixing means (4), which defines a second root (38) and a second ridge (39) that defines two second flanks, one upper (40) and one lower (41), the second lower flank (41) having an angle of inclination (a) with respect to the horizontal of between 12 to 18°,

- the first fixing means block the dispensing pump (3) and press the entire joint (14) which in turn presses the disc (7) against the mouth (8) of the first container (1) immobilizing the second container (2) .

2.- Dispenser, according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle of inclination (a) with respect to the horizontal is between 14 and 16°.

3.- Dispenser, according to claim 2, characterized in that the angle of inclination (a) with respect to the horizontal is 15°.

4. Dispenser, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises second fixing means (32) that are fixed to the first fixing means (4) on the outside of the latter, and that connect with the button ( 6).

5.- Dispenser, according to claim 1, characterized in that the second container (2) and the disc (7) are bi-injected forming a single piece.

6.- Dispenser, according to claim 1, characterized in that the gasket (14) is integral with the dispensing pump (3).

7.- Dispenser, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a ring (28) below the external thread pitch (30).

8. Dispenser, according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a ring that is arranged in the first fixing means (4) and that in the closed position is located below the ring (28) of the first container.