EP1203731A1 - Fluid dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

The dispenser consists of a sleeve (1) containing a package (2) for the fluid product which has a detachable flap (25) at one end for opening it. The flap is detached after sliding the end of the package from the sleeve, with the movement of the package limited by a stop system formed by slits (16) in the sleeve edges and projections (26) on the inner package.

Description

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser comprising a fluid product packaging intended to contain a fluid product and a case in which the fluid product packaging is housed. Such a distributor is described in particular in the document WO 00/21853 which describes a dispenser integrating a packaging under the shape of a thermoformed shell sealed with a film. The hull of the packaging is further covered by a flap which conceals partially or completely the hull. Part of the flap can also extend over the film which forms the rear face of the packaging. In others terms, the packaging is placed inside a case which covers partially or completely the packaging. The conditioning, in addition to define a reservoir for the fluid product, also defines an orifice for distribution which is closed before the first use by an element removable shutter intended to be folded, broken or torn to reveal the dispensing orifice. The removable closure element consists of a connected part of the hull and the sealing film. The flap that covers the packaging on the side of the thermoformed shell does not extend over the removable closure element so that it remains permanently exposed and accessible. Consequently, part of the packaging is visible, which is not particularly aesthetic.

Another document of the prior art, namely the document DE 9309740 on which the preamble of the main claim is based, describes a dispenser of the same type comprising a packaging of fluid product placed in a case. Unlike art document above mentioned in which the packaging is fixed inside of the case, the packaging is here slidably mounted inside the case of so that it is possible to extract the packaging from the case. The packaging is maintained inside the case by the engagement of a relief formed by the shell inside a cutout of the case. He is not describes in this document how the opening of the packaging is carried out. Anyway, the packaging includes an opening of distribution closed before use by a removable element. This element removable can be a part of the shell and / or the film or even a tab glued to the dispensing orifice, which can be removed to form or unmask a dispensing orifice which communicates with the reservoir.

To open the packaging of this German document, it is necessary to completely remove the packaging from the case as can see it in the single figure of this document. The sliding of packaging inside the case is therefore completely free and without limit. It follows that once having removed the packaging from its case, the user ends up with two separate items, the packaging and the case, and it's necessary to reintroduce the packaging in the case to find the distributor in its original state, which can be an operation relatively complicated. The user will tend to get rid the case which is therefore not very useful after the first use from the distributor. The case therefore contributes to the aesthetic effect of the dispenser in an unused state.

The present invention aims to improve such a dispenser of fluid product so that it is possible to open the package without however dismantle the distributor. Another object of the present invention is to preserve the aesthetics of the dispenser even after opening the conditioning. Yet another goal is to facilitate the opening of the conditioning by encouraging the user to opt for an operation particular opening.

• un conditionnement de produit fluide définissant un réservoir de produit fluide et un orifice de distribution, et un élément d'obturation amovible obturant l'orifice de distribution,
• un étui dans lequel le conditionnement de produit fluide est monté coulissant de manière à extraire le conditionnement de son étui pour retirer l'élément d'obturation amovible,

   caractérisé en ce qu'il est prévu des moyens de butée pour limiter le coulissement du conditionnement dans l'étui.These objects are achieved according to the invention by a fluid product distributor comprising:

• a fluid product packaging defining a fluid product reservoir and a dispensing orifice, and a removable closure element closing the dispensing orifice,
• a case in which the fluid product packaging is slidably mounted so as to extract the packaging from its case to remove the removable closure element,

characterized in that abutment means are provided to limit the sliding of the packaging in the case.

It is therefore not possible to completely extract the packaging of the case by a simple sliding. The case, which advantageously forms a open envelope on two opposite ends, provides access to conditioning so the user can pull or push the packaging to slide it inside the case. The invention provides sliding or pulling stop abutment means on the packaging to extract it from the case. So we can slide the packaging in the case over a limited distance which corresponds advantageously to the width of the removable closure element so to reveal only substantially the removable closure element when arrives at the sliding stop.

According to a practical embodiment, the stop means by pull or push can include at least one slider engaged in a respective slot having at least one first end of slot against which the slider abuts at the end of sliding.

When the case can be pulled out, it can advantageously include gripping means to allow to grasp the conditioning by pulling it out of the case. According to one embodiment practical, the gripping means include a cutout of the case revealing the packaging to enter it at the level of the element shutter. It is thus possible to grasp the removable closure element of the packaging for pulling the latter in a limited way out of the case. It is also possible to use the slides which project out of the slots in the case for moving the packaging in the case. In this case, the slides serve both as stop means in cooperation with the slots and gripping means for moving the packaging in the case.

Alternatively or in combination with the slide system engaged in a slot, the push stop means may include a notch in the case revealing the packaging to push it. The notch allows to push the packaging using with a finger to slide it into the case so as to extract the element removable closure of the case at the other end. The stop system by slide engaged in a slot can be associated with this notch of so that the user will push the packaging by engagement of his finger in the notch until the slide stops against the first end of the slot. Alternatively, we can do without the slider and the engagement of the user's finger in the notch continues until his finger comes to a stop at the bottom of the notch. In this case, it is the bottom of the notch which constitutes the stop means by push.

According to an additional characteristic, the stop means by traction may include sliding prevention means by pushing on the packaging to extract it from the case. So symmetrical, the push stop means may include means for preventing sliding by pulling on the packaging to extract it from the case. In a practical embodiment, the means prevention may include at least one slide engaged in a respective slot having a second slot end against which the slide is in abutment at the start of sliding. Ways of prevention, which constitute means of initial stop, impose on the user requires a direction of sliding by pushing or pulling. For example, when sliding is done by pulling, the user who will have initially tried to push on conditioning will understand immediately you have to pull the packaging to extract the element removable closure of the case. This can be transposed symmetrically to case of sliding by pushing. The user is thus completely assisted in the use of the fluid dispenser of the invention. In one way, the packaging cannot slide, and the other way it can slide only in a limited way.

The invention will now be described more fully with reference to attached drawings giving by way of nonlimiting examples two modes of realization of the invention.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective de l'arrière d'un distributeur selon une première forme de réalisation de l'invention laissant apparaítre le conditionnement à l'intérieur de l'étui, le distributeur étant dans un état encore non utilisé de stockage,
• la figure 2 est une vue du distributeur de la figure 1 avec le conditionnement partiellement extrait de l'étui pour laisser apparaítre l'élément d'obturation amovible,
• la figure 3 est une vue similaire à la figure 1 pour un deuxième mode de réalisation de la présente invention, et
• la figure 4 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 2 pour le distributeur selon le deuxième mode de réalisation de la figure 3.

In the figures:

• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the rear of a dispenser according to a first embodiment of the invention showing the packaging inside the case, the dispenser being in a still unused state of storage,
• FIG. 2 is a view of the dispenser of FIG. 1 with the packaging partially extracted from the case to reveal the removable closure element,
• FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 for a second embodiment of the present invention, and
• FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 for the dispenser according to the second embodiment of FIG. 3.

In the two embodiments shown in the drawings, the fluid dispenser of the invention comprises two elements components, namely a case 1 and a packaging 2 arranged so sliding inside the case 1. The case 1 is here in the form of a envelope surrounding packaging 2, leaving two ends opposite 13 and 14 open. In practice, the case 1 can be produced from a sheet of pliable flexible material folded back on itself and for example glued along two opposite longitudinal edges. In the forms of illustrated embodiment, the case 1 comprises a curved front face 12 and a flat rear face 11. The case has a substantially elongated shape with the open ends 13 and 14 located on the shortest sides then that the faces 11 and 12 are connected together on the longest sides.

In Figures 1 and 2, at the junction lines of the faces rear 11 and front 12 of the case 1 are formed with slots 16 having each a first end 161 and a second end 162. The function of these slots will be given below.

In addition, the front face 12 of the case 1 is relatively flexible and can form a deformable actuating wall on which it is possible press with a finger to push it in.

The fluid product packaging 2 disposed inside the case 1 comprises, according to an advantageous embodiment, a shell thermoformed connected to a cover film so as to define together a reservoir for the fluid product and a dispensing orifice through which the product fluid can be extracted from the tank. The thermoformed shell can advantageously define a deformable actuating wall that it is possible to deform to reduce the volume of the tank and thus push back the fluid stored inside through the dispensing orifice.

The dispensing orifice for the packaging 2 is closed before use by a removable closure element 24 which is connected to the rest of the conditioning by a line of least resistance 27. It is thus possible to fold, break or tear the removable closure element 24 along the line 27 to reveal the dispensing orifice.

The packaging 2 is placed inside the case 1 with the shell thermoformed facing the front face 12 and the cover film facing the rear face 11. The bending of the front face 12 of the case 1 is explained by the makes the thermoformed shell form a salient relief useful for defining the tank. Conversely, the rear face 11 is flat and extends in contact with the film. opercular which is itself completely flat.

We can see in Figures 1 and 3 that the case 1 has a length substantially equal to the length of packaging 2 and a width slightly higher. Packaging 2 is thus completely masked by case 1, and this is particularly true at the face before 12. Consequently, in the still unused part of FIGS. 1 and 3, the case hides the removable closure element 24.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the packaging further comprises two lateral tabs 26 which make protruding laterally outward in the opposite direction. These tabs 26 are engaged inside the slots 16 formed by the case 1. The width of the packaging 2 at the tabs 26 is greater than the width of the case 1 at the slots 16 so that the tabs 26 protrude from on either side of the case 1 through the slots 16.

The slots 16 of the case 1 have a length greater than the length tabs 26 so that the tabs 26 can move to the interior of the slots 16 in the manner of slides. These slides 26 can therefore move between the two ends 161 and 162 of the slots 16. It is easily understood that the sliding of the packaging 2 to the interior of the case 1 is limited by the engagement of the slides 26 to inside the slots 16, and more particularly by the abutment of the slides 26 with the ends 161 and 162 of the slots 16.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the slides 26 are in abutment with the ends 162 of the slots 16 when the packaging is in its initial state fully housed inside the case 1 as shown in Figure 1. However, the slides 26 come into abutment of the ends 161 of the slots 16 when the removable closure element 24 is extracted by sliding out of the case 1. Advantageously, the stop of the slides 26 on the ends 161 corresponds to the alignment of the line of lesser distance 27 with the end 14 of the case 1 so as not to reveal that the removable closure element 24.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the extraction of the packaging 2 out of the case 1 can be done by pulling on the packaging 2 by gripping it at its closing element removable 24, and more particularly at a portion 25 of this removable closure element 24. This part 25 of the closure element removable is made visible by cutting the case 1 at its face rear 11 on the edge of the opening 14. It is thus possible to grasp the packaging 2 at part 25 through cutout 15 in the case 1. By entering part 25, the user can pull on the packaging 2 so that it slides inside the case 1. The sliding of the packaging 2 inside the case 1 will be quickly limited by placing in abutment of the slides 26 against the ends 161 of the slots 16 of the case 1. We are then in the state shown in FIG. 2, and the user can fold, break or tear off the removable closure element 24 which projects out of case 1 up to the level of the line of least resistance 27. In tearing off the removable closure element 24, the distributor finds its original configuration characterized by the case 1.

It is also possible to slide the packaging into the case by the slides 26 which project out of the slots. We then have more need the cutout 25 to pull on the packaging. Entering the conditioning at the level of the slides also amounts to pulling the conditioning.

It should be noted that the user in the presence of a distributor according to the Figures 1 and 2, cannot push the packaging 2 inside the case 1 since the slides 26 are in abutment against the ends 162 of the slots 16 in the initial position in which the packaging 2 is fully included inside the case 1. The ends of the slots 162 thus constitute means preventing the sliding by pushing of the packaging 2 inside the case 1. The other ends of slots 161 for their part constitute sliding stop means by traction after a limited sliding distance. The combination of means of prevention and stop imposes on the user a mandatory sense sliding to extract the packaging from the case.

One can of course imagine other embodiments for stop and / or prevention means which make the packaging interact 2 and case 1.

We will now refer to Figures 3 and 4 which show a second embodiment of the invention. Packaging 2 inside the case 1 can be substantially identical to that of FIGS. 1 and 2, that is to say with a thermoformed shell sealed with a film, a sealing element 24 being removably connected to the rest of the package 2 by a line of least resistance 27 allowing the closure element 24 to be folded, broken or torn along line 27.

The packaging 2 of this second embodiment differs however from that of FIGS. 1 and 2 in that it is devoid of tongues side 26 forming slides.

As for the case 1, it differs from that of Figures 1 and 2 in that it is devoid of lateral slots 16 and of the cutout 25 at the opening 14. On the other hand, the case 1 comprises a notch 165 located on the face rear 11 at the opening 13. The packaging 2 is visible and accessible through the notch 165. More precisely, this is the part lower of the opercular film 21 opposite the removable closure element 24 which is visible through the notch 165.

By pushing for example with a finger on the packaging 2 at the notch 165, the packaging is moved by sliding inside the case 1 so as to extract the element removable closure 24 of the case 1 at the other end 14. The user can push on packaging 2 until his finger comes to a stop against the edge of the notch 165 which thus constitutes abutment means sliding by push. When the lower edge of the packaging is aligned with the bottom of the notch 165, the removable closure element 24 is entirely extracted from case 1 with the line of least resistance 27 aligned with the edge of the opening 14.

In this second embodiment, the stop means by thrust does not incorporate means preventing sliding by traction on packaging 2 to extract it from the case 1. The embodiment Figures 3 and 4 is a very simple embodiment which is extremely easy to perform.

It is however possible on the same distributor to combine the thrust notch 165 of FIGS. 3 and 4 with the slides 26 engaged in the slots 16 of Figures 1 and 2. In others terms and more generally it is possible to combine the notch 165 with thrust abutment means advantageously integrating or optionally means to prevent extracting the packaging in pulling on it. By integrating for example the system of slides and slots of Figures 1 and 2 in the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, it is impossible to slide the packaging by pulling on the conditioning at the level of the notch 165 since the slides 26 are initially in abutment against the slot ends 162. Conversely, it is possible to push on the packaging so as to slide the slides 26 into the slots 16 until they come into abutment against the slot ends 161. The arrival of slides 26 abutting the ends 161 can advantageously correspond with the alignment of the lower edge of the packaging with the bottom of notch 165. In this case, two thrust stop means are integrated in the same distributor, which is not a problem. It is also envisaged that the slots 16 are longer at the level of the ends 161 so that the slides 26 do not come into abutment with the ends of slots 161 when the lower edge of package 2 is aligned with the bottom of the notch 165. In this case, the sliders and slots only performs a function to prevent to extract the conditioning by traction.

The means of abutment by traction or by pushing, advantageously combined with sliding prevention means, allow facilitate the use of such a dispenser by imposing the direction and limiting the sliding of the packaging inside the case.

Claims (13)

Fluid dispenser comprising: a fluid product packaging (2) defining a fluid product reservoir, a dispensing orifice and a removable closure element (25) closing the dispensing orifice, a case (1) in which the fluid product packaging (2) is slidably mounted so as to extract the packaging from its case to remove the removable closure element, characterized in that stop means (16, 26, 265) are provided to limit the sliding of the packaging in the case. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the means abutment (16, 26) comprise sliding abutment means by pulling on the packaging to extract it from the case. A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the means of the traction stop include means for preventing sliding by pushing on the packaging to extract it from the case. Dispenser according to any one of the claims previous, in which the case comprises gripping means to allow the packaging to be grasped by pulling it out of the case. The dispenser of claim 4, wherein the means grip comprise a cutout (15) of the case (1) leaving appear the packaging to enter it at the element level shutter (25). A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the means abutment comprises means for sliding abutment by push on the packaging to extract it from the case. A dispenser according to claim 6, wherein the means stopper include a notch (165) of the case leaving appear the packaging to push it. Dispenser according to claim 2, 6 or 7 in which the stop means comprise at least one slide (26) engaged in a respective slot (16) having at least a first slot end (161) against which the slider abuts in end of sliding. The dispenser of claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the push stop means include means prevention of sliding by pulling on the packaging to extract it from the case. A dispenser according to claim 3 or 9, wherein the prevention means comprise at least one slide (26) engaged in a respective slot (16) having a second slot end (162) against which the slider abuts in start of sliding. Dispenser according to any one of the claims previous, in which the stop means limit the sliding packaging out of the case so as not to reveal substantially as the removable closure element (25). Dispenser according to any one of the claims previous, in which the case (1) forms an open envelope on two opposite ends (13, 14). Dispenser according to any one of the claims previous, in which the fluid reservoir defines a wall deformable actuation which can be pressed to reduce the tank volume.

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