EP0988234B1 - Container equipped with a dispensing nozzle with retractable cover - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention concerns a container of the type made up of a receptacle (2) hermetically containing a product (3) in a liquid, gas or pasty state to be distributed, an end piece (4) for distributing the product (3) and means for protecting the distribution end piece (4).The means for protecting the distributor end piece (4) are made up of a sleeve (8) able to slide freely on said end piece (4) by means of activation means (9A, 9A', 9B, 9B') belonging to it so that said sleeve (8) automatically ensures protection by covering the end piece (4) when the container (1) is placed, or on the other hand freeing it under solely the effect of the inertia of the sub-unit (8-9-11).

Description

The present invention finds its application in the field of containers, of the type constituted by a container hermetically enclosing a product in the liquid state, gaseous or pasty, to distribute and a mouthpiece distribution of the produced product to an end part top of the container.

The invention is equally suitable for a container whose the dispensing nozzle is simply constituted by a narrowed neck of a container needing to be opened or closed, only to a vaporizer.

In the latter case, a pump is crimped, fitted or clipped, in known manner, on the neck of the container and can be operated manually by pressing a button comprising a nozzle, nozzle or nozzle for releasing the product.

The actuation of the pump is obtained by exerting successive pressures on the dispensing nozzle when the latter controls a pump.

Whatever the type of dispensing nozzle surmounting the container, it is always necessary to protect so as to preserve the product contained in the container or in the case of a sprayer, protect the pusher.

For these reasons, the containers have means of protecting their dispensing tip. generally constituted by caps capable of being screwed directly onto an external peripheral part of the neck which is threaded to cooperate in screwing with a corresponding threaded bore, made in a bore of said cap.

Depending on the case, these caps may also be forcibly engaged through means elastic snap formed inside the cap, cooperating with corresponding rigid means obtained of material or attached to the neck of the container intended for receive the cap.

The dispensing tip mentioned above, very commonly used in the perfume industry, also needs to be protected and for that, we have usually use these types of caps, basically so as to avoid impulses accidents that may occur on the push button of the pump, when the container is in baggage, a handbag or even a toiletry bag.

It is also for the sake of general aesthetics of the containing that the pump plunger must be concealed by even a cap, when the container is placed on a support and that it is not used.

Of course, in the case of a cap for vaporizer, it is also necessary, to create closing means as above, ensuring the connection effective between the cap and the container, these means causing the implementation, for their realization, of a complex and expensive tools, also involving specialized workforce.

In addition, for the user, all the hood closure involve movements of rotation in the case of a screw cap or else axial forces in the case of a cap attachment by snapping on the container neck.

Another solution to protect the dispensing tip of a container is exposed in the application FR-A-2 686 002, in which the container is housed completely in a case. The housing has a cylindrical support on which the container is placed. This support, undergoing rotation, move the container upwards to remove the tip from distribution or downwards to retract the end piece back into the housing. The preamble of claim 1 is based on this state of the art.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a container whose dispensing tip would effectively protected by functional means and effective requiring absolutely no intervention or user manipulation, actually implementing automatically.

• un récipient renfermant hermétiquement un produit à l'état liquide, gazeux ou pâteux, à distribuer,
• un embout de distribution du produit réalisé à une partie d'extrémité supérieure du récipient et constitué par un col rétréci de celui-ci pouvant être ouvert ou fermé ou, s'agissant d'un vaporisateur, par une pompe sertie sur un col et actionnable manuellement par pressions sur un poussoir, comportant un gicleur, buse ou ajutage de libération du produit,
• des moyens de protection de l'embout de distribution,

   caractérisé en ce que les moyens de protection de l'embout distributeur sont constitués par un manchon de section de forme correspondante, qui est susceptible de coulisser librement sur ledit embout, à proximité de l'extrémité supérieure du récipient, par l'intermédiaire de moyens d'actionnement qui lui sont propres et qui se prolongent également librement à l'autre extrémité opposée du récipient, au-delà de son plan inférieur, pour constituer avec le manchon, un sous-ensemble formant une certaine masse, libre en montée ou en descente par rapport au récipient, de manière à ce que ledit manchon assure automatiquement la protection par recouvrement périphérique latéral de l'embout lorsque le contenant est posé sur un support fixe, ou au contraire sa libération au moins sous le seul effet de l'inertie du sous-ensemble lorsqu'il est soulevé dudit support, lors d'une utilisation.To this end, the invention relates to a container of the type consisting of:

• a container hermetically enclosing a product in the liquid, gaseous or pasty state, to be dispensed,
• a nozzle for dispensing the product produced at an upper end portion of the container and constituted by a narrowed neck thereof which can be opened or closed or, in the case of a vaporizer, by a pump crimped on a neck and actuable manually by pressing on a pusher, comprising a nozzle, nozzle or nozzle for releasing the product,
• means for protecting the dispensing nozzle,

characterized in that the means for protecting the dispensing nozzle consist of a sleeve of correspondingly shaped section, which is capable of sliding freely on said nozzle, near the upper end of the container, by means its own actuation and which also extend freely at the other opposite end of the container, beyond its lower plane, to constitute with the sleeve, a sub-assembly forming a certain mass, free in ascent or in lowering in relation to the container, so that said sleeve automatically provides protection by lateral peripheral covering of the nozzle when the container is placed on a fixed support, or on the contrary its release at least under the sole effect of inertia of the sub-assembly when it is lifted from said support, during use.

In fact, the main interest of the invention lies in the fact that the dispensing tip, for example a vaporizer, is effectively protected by the sleeve automatically retractable, acting as a cap, without being one.

The present invention also relates to characteristics that will emerge during the description which will follow and which should be considered individually or in all their technical combinations possible.

• les figures 1 et 2 représentent en coupe verticale, un contenant selon un exemple de réalisation de l'invention, respectivement en position de non-utilisation et d'utilisation de l'embout de distribution, en l'occurrence un vaporisateur ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'un contenant selon l'exemple de réalisation des figures 1 et 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe longitudinale correspondant à la perspective éclatée de la figure 3.

This description, given by way of nonlimiting example, will make it easier to understand how the invention can be implemented, with reference to the attached drawings in which:

• Figures 1 and 2 show in vertical section, a container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, respectively in the position of non-use and use of the dispensing nozzle, in this case a vaporizer;
• Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a container according to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2;
• FIG. 4 is a view in longitudinal section corresponding to the exploded perspective of FIG. 3.

The container 1 according to the invention, shown on the set of figures, consists on the one hand, of a container 2 hermetically enclosing a product 3 to liquid, gaseous or pasty state, to be distributed and, on the other part, of a nozzle 4 for distributing the product 3 produced at an upper end part of the container 2 and constituted in the present case, being a vaporizer, by a pump 4 set on a narrowed neck 6 of container 2 and manually operable by pressure on a pusher 5 comprising a nozzle, nozzle or nozzle 7 product release 3.

According to the invention, the container 1 comprises means for protecting the dispensing nozzle 4 which are constituted by a sleeve 8 of section of corresponding shape, which is capable of sliding freely on said nozzle 4, near the end upper of container 2, by means of actuation means 9A, 9A ', 9B, 9B' which are specific to it and which also extend freely at the other opposite end of container 2, beyond its lower plane has , to constitute with the sleeve 8, a subassembly 8-9 forming a certain mass, free up or down relative to the container 2, so that said sleeve 8 automatically provides protection by lateral peripheral covering of the nozzle 4 when the container 1 is placed on a fixed support b , or on the contrary its release at least under the sole effect of the inertia of the sub-assembly 8-9 when it is lifted from said support b , when a use.

According to the embodiment shown in the Figures, the means for actuating the sleeve 8 are formed by at least two lateral arms 9A, 9B diametrically opposite, extending the sleeve 8 to its lower part 8a and joined by two arms opposite 9A ', 9B' under the container 2 which they surround and from which they slide freely by through two corresponding slides 10A, 10B - 10A ', 10B', arranged on the side faces of said container 2 and with which they cooperate.

Still according to the embodiment chosen, the lateral arms 9A, 9B and 9A ', 9B' constituting the means for actuating the sleeve 8 are inscribed in a geometric figure identical to that in which the corresponding slides 10A are inscribed, 10B and 10A ', 10B' of the container 2, their spacing c in the transverse direction, for a given contact line w , being substantially corresponding to that of the bottom of the slides they espouse, while a clearance j is provided in the axial direction, equivalent to the desired stroke, and which is at least equal to the height h of the visible part of the pump to be protected or released.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the total height H of the subassembly formed by the upper lateral arms 9A, 9B surmounted by the sleeve 8 and by the lower lateral arms 9A ', 9B', that is to say the height between the top of the sleeve 8 and the opposite ends of the lower lateral arms 9A ′, 9B ′ is at least equal to the sum of the height H1 of the container 2, dispensing nozzle 4 included, and the vertical clearance j predetermined as a function of the value of the desired sliding of the protective sleeve 8.

As all of the drawings, the geometric figure in which the container 2, consists globally of two trunks of cone 2a, 2b, joined together by their large base circular 2e whose base lengths L are identical, the small base 2c of one 2b is enclosed and constituting the bottom of container 2, while the small base 2d of the other 2a is open to receive integrally the nozzle of the distributor 4.

Therefore, and logically, the figure geometric in which the arms are inscribed 9A, 9B, 9A ', 9B' of the sleeve 8, is generally consisting of a rhombus surmounted by said sleeve 8, generally cylindrical, and joined at their ends lower by a frusto-conical appendix 11.

Still according to the present nonlimiting exemplary embodiment, the container partially surrounded by the sleeve sub-assembly 8 - actuating arm 9 is contained in a generally spherical external element 12A, 12B constituting both a decorative covering for the assembly and a gripping grip thereof, said spherical external decor element 12A, 12B fixedly enclosing the container 2 of the product 3, only the sleeve sub-assembly 8 - actuating arm 9 being free to slide axially from bottom to top or vice versa , on the one hand, thanks to its axial clearance clearance j in the grooves 10 of said container 2 and to an upper concentric opening 13 through which the dispensing nozzle 4 opens permanently and the sleeve 8 at an occasional frequency and, d on the other hand, thanks to a lower concentric opening 14 through which the appendage 11 formed at the opposite ends d opens at the same occasional frequency es actuating arm 9A ', 9B' of said sleeve 8.

According to a nonlimiting exemplary embodiment, the upper actuating arms 9A, 9B are connected with the lower actuating arms 9A ', 9B' by by means of pawns 15 arranged on the ones and corresponding housings 16 arranged on the others (figure 3). This assembly can also be reinforced by bonding or other means of joining.

Also, as shown particularly well Figures 3 and 4, the spherical external element is consisting of two separate hemispheres 12A, 12B, for allow container 2 to be incorporated therein, as well as subassembly consisting of the sleeve 8 and the arms 9. The two hemispheres 12A, 12B are then assembled by example by gluing, ultrasonic welding, clipping, etc.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the protection sub-assembly distributor 4 constituted by the sleeve 8 and its arms actuation 9 may include different means of locking (not shown), in the closed position, for safe transportation.

As finally shown in the figures, the sphere 12 constituted by the hemispheres 12A, 12B can possibly receiving an internal lining 17 doubling sphere 12.

In this case, we can imagine that the sphere 12 constituted by the hemispheres 12A, 12B would be transparent, while the internal covering 17 would have colored facets, capable of providing color changes, for example red with yellow or green reflections with blue reflections, which would fluctuate depending on the angle from which look at the container, actually so as to get special effects for decorative and aesthetic purposes.

It is obvious that the example which has just been described and which relates to a container whose container is form with double trunk of cone overturned and whose covering exterior is generally spherical. could be from all other forms, such as presenting a globally cylindrical or globally cubic shape or parallelepiped or any other form, without as far out of the principle of the invention of get protection from a dispensing tip from automatically, without any manual intervention, by means at least moved by the only inertia of their constituent mass.

If necessary, the latter could be increased by ballasting the side arms connection appendix 11 lower 9A ', 9B', initially provided hollow.

Claims (8)

1. Container of the type consisting of:

   a receiver (2) hermetically enclosing a product (3) in the liquid, gaseous or pasty state, to be dispensed,

   a nozzle (4) for dispensing the product (3) formed at an upper end portion of the receiver (2) and consisting of a narrowed neck thereof which is adapted to be opened or closed or, in the case of a vaporiser, of a pump (4) crimped on a neck (6) and manually actuable by pressure on a pushbutton (5), comprising an atomiser, orifice or jet (7) for liberating the product (3),

   means for protecting the dispensing nozzle (4),

   characterised in that the means for protecting the dispensing nozzle (4) consist of a sleeve (8) which has a cross-section of corresponding shape and is capable of sliding freely on said nozzle (4) in the vicinity of the upper end of the receiver (2) via actuators (9A, 9A', 9B, 9B') which pertain to it and also extend freely at the other opposing end of the receiver (2), beyond its lower plane (a) to form, with the sleeve (8), a sub-assembly (8-9-11) which forms a certain mass and ascends or descends freely relative to the receiver (2) in such a way that said sleeve (8) automatically protects the nozzle (4) by providing a lateral peripheral cover when the container (1) is placed on a stationary support (b) or, on the other hand, frees it at least under the mere influence of the inertia of the sub-assembly (8-9) when it is raised from said support (b) during use.
2. Container according to claim 1, characterised in that the actuators of the sleeve (8) consist of at least two diametrically opposed lateral arms (9A, 9B) extending the sleeve (8) at its lower portion (8a) and being joined to two opposing arms (9A', 9B') below the receiver (2) which they surround and relative to which they slide freely via two corresponding slideways (10A, 10B - 10A', 10B') provided on the external lateral faces of said receiver (2) and with which they cooperate.
3. Container according to claim 2, characterised in that the lateral arms (9A, 9B and 9A', 9B') forming the actuators of the sleeve (8) are inscribed in a geometrical figure identical to that in which the corresponding slideways (10A, 10B and 10A', 10B') of the receiver (2) are inscribed, their spacing (c) in the transverse direction, for a given line of contact (w), substantially corresponding to that of the bottom of the slideways with which they mate, whereas a clearance (j) is provided in the axial direction, equivalent to the desired course, and which is at least equal to the height (h) of the dispensing nozzle (4) to be protected or freed.
4. Container according to claim 3, characterised in that the total height (H) of the sub-assembly which is formed by the upper lateral arms (9A, 9B) topped by the sleeve (8) and by the lower lateral arms (9A', 9B'), in other words the height between the top of the sleeve (8) and the opposite ends of the lower lateral arms (9A', 9B'), is at least equal to the sum of the height (H1) of the receiver (2), including dispensing nozzle (4), and the vertical clearance (j) predetermined as a function of the value of the desired sliding of the protective sleeve (8).
5. Container according to either of claims 3 or 4, characterised in that the geometric figure in which the receiver (2) is inscribed consists generally of two truncated cones (2a, 2b) which are joined together by their large circular face (2e) and of which the face lengths (L) are identical, the small face (2c) of one (2b) being enclosed and forming the bottom of the receiver (2) whereas the small face (2d) of the other (2a) is open to receive the nozzle of the dispenser (4) in an integral manner.
6. Container according to any of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the geometric figure in which are inscribed the actuating arms (9A, 9B, 9A', 9B') of the sleeve (8) consists generally of a rhombus topped by said sleeve (8), is generally cylindrical and connected at their lower ends by a truncoconical attachment (11).
7. Container according to any of claims 3 to 6, characterised in that the receiver (2) partially surrounded by the sub-assembly comprising sleeve (8) and actuating arm (9) is contained in a generally spherical external element (12A, 12B) forming both a decorative covering for the assembly and a grip thereof, said spherical external decorative element (12A, 12B) rigidly enclosing the receiver (2) of the product (3), only the sub-assembly comprising sleeve (8) and actuating arm (9) being free to slide axially upward or vice versa, on the one hand owing to its clearance (j) in the grooves (10) of said receiver (2) and to an upper concentric opening (13) through which the dispensing nozzle (4) opens permanently and the sleeve (8) with an occasional frequency and, on the other hand, owing to a lower concentric opening (14) through which the attachment (11) formed at the opposite ends of the actuating arms (9A', 9B') of said sleeve (8) opens with the same occasional frequency.
8. Container according to any of claims 2 to 7, characterised in that the sub-assembly for protecting the dispensing nozzle (4) consisting of the sleeve (8) and its actuating arms (9) comprises various means for locking it in the closed position.

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