EP2135682B2 - Dispenser for a liquid product comprising a deformable fixing ring for retaining the dispensing pump which can be unscrewed - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a dispensing bottle for a fluid product, in particular a liquid or a cream, for example a perfume, a cosmetic product or a pharmaceutical product.

Such bottles are known comprising a body defining a product conditioning tank, a neck surmounting said body by defining an upper opening for said tank, and a pump mounted in said upper opening by disposing the supply means of said pump to the tank. interior of the reservoir. Thus, the pump makes it possible to return the packaged product to the tank.

To ensure the positioning and fixing of the pump relative to the body, one can use a sleeve which is integral with the pump, said sleeve being arranged to surround a side wall of the neck during assembly of the pump. Then, by deformation of said sleeve, the positioning is made and the sealing of the pump.

According to one embodiment, the sleeve may be made of deformable material, in particular aluminum, to be deformed by crimping under the neck.

According to another embodiment, the sleeve may be made of plastic material to include claws that are folded under the neck during the deformation step. To do this, US-4773553 discloses the use of a sliding ring around the sleeve between a high position and a low position, said claws being arranged to be folded during the displacement in the low position of said ring.

This ring, in particular made of rigid material, thus forms a tool for folding the claws and ensures the maintenance over time of the claws in the folded position, in particular relatively temperature variations. In addition, it can provide an aesthetic effect by forming the masking cap of the neck, the junction zone between the body and neck (called shoulders of the body), and possibly the lower part of the pump.

The document EP-0 704 251 discloses a dispensing bottle comprising a fixing device which comprises a fixing ring and a hoop which comes to force itself on said ring, said ring having snap tabs on the neck of a container.

In addition, the document FR-984,684 discloses a container closure method comprising a neck, externally provided with a thread, the document EP-0 704 250 describes an unscrewable cover member and the document FR-1,440,904 discloses a plugging capsule inserted by pressure and removed by rotation.

The problem with the use of the deformable sleeves according to the prior art is that the fixing of the pump is irremovable. However, for ecological recycling problems at the end of life of the bottle, it is timely to facilitate the separation of the pump consisting essentially of plastic and metal, the body often made of a different category of plastic or glass.

To solve this problem, it is known to use sleeves that are screwable on the neck. However, perfumers, cosmeticians or pharmacists do not generally want the sleeves can be easily screwed and revivable by the user, for reasons of possible degradation of the product dispensed or change of assignment of the bottle.

In addition, the screw sleeves necessarily leave an unsightly functional play between the bottom of the sleeve and the shoulders of the body. Also, their screwing on the filling lines is slow and therefore expensive.

The invention aims to improve the prior art by proposing in particular a dispensing bottle in which the pump is fixed relative to the body allowing their almost irreversible separation for recycling purposes, and this having an advantageous aesthetic and simplicity of assembly.

The document WO 2009/150351 which is part of the state of the art according to Art. 54 (3) EPC, discloses a dispensing bottle according to the preamble of claim 1.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a dispensing bottle according to claim 1.

• la figure 1 est une représentation partielle et en perspective d'un flacon de distribution selon un mode de réalisation qui ne fait pas partie de l'invention, dans laquelle la pompe est en cours de montage dans l'ouverture du col, la jupe du manchon étant en configuration de montage ;
• les figures 2 et 3 sont des représentations partielles respectivement en perspective (figure 2) et en coupe longitudinale (figure 3) du flacon selon la figure 1, dans lesquelles la pompe (dont les organes ne sont pas représentés en coupe) est pré-positionnée dans l'ouverture du col et la jupe est en configuration de montage ;
• lafigure 4 est une représentation analogue à la figure 3 montrant la jupe en configuration de serrage pour assurer le positionnement et la fixation de la pompe par rapport au corps ;
• la figure 5 est une représentation partielle du mode de réalisation selon les figures précédentes qui ne fait pas partie de l'invention, illustrant le dévissage du manchon après fixation de la pompe par rapport au corps ;
• les figures 6 et 7 sont des vues latérales montrant respectivement la réalisation des filets de vis du flacon selon les figures précédentes (figure 6), et une variante de cette réalisation (figure 7) ;
• la figure 6a montre en coupe la réalisation d'un filet de vis selon la figure 6 ;
• les figures 8 et 9 sont des représentations analogues respectivement aux figures 3 et 4 d'un flacon de distribution selon l'invention ;
• la figure 10 est une représentation en coupe longitudinale de la pièce intermédiaire selon la réalisation des figures 8 et 9 ;
• la figure 11 est une représentation en perspective de dessous du manchon selon la réalisation des figures 8 et 9.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the description which follows, made with reference to the appended figures in which:

• the figure 1 is a partial and perspective representation of a dispensing bottle according to an embodiment which does not form part of the invention, in which the pump is being mounted in the opening of the neck, the skirt of the sleeve being in mounting configuration;
• the Figures 2 and 3 are partial representations respectively in perspective ( figure 2 ) and in longitudinal section ( figure 3 ) of the bottle according to the figure 1 , in which the pump (whose members are not shown in section) is pre-positioned in the opening of the neck and the skirt is in mounting configuration;
• Figure 4 is a representation similar to figure 3 showing the skirt in clamping configuration to position and secure the pump relative to the body;
• the figure 5 is a partial representation of the embodiment according to the preceding figures which does not form part of the invention, illustrating the unscrewing of the sleeve after fixing the pump relative to the body;
• the Figures 6 and 7 are side views respectively showing the production of screw threads of the bottle according to the preceding figures ( figure 6 ), and a variant of this embodiment ( figure 7 );
• the figure 6a shows in section the realization of a net screw according to the figure 6 ;
• the Figures 8 and 9 are representations analogous respectively to Figures 3 and 4 dispensing bottle according to the invention;
• the figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional representation of the intermediate piece according to the embodiment of Figures 8 and 9 ;
• the figure 11 is a perspective view from below of the sleeve according to the embodiment of Figures 8 and 9 .

In the description, the spatial positioning terms are taken with reference to the position of the bottle shown in the figures.

In connection with the figures, there is described below a bottle for containing a fluid for distribution. In particular examples, the product may be a liquid or a cream, for example a perfume, a cosmetic product or a pharmaceutical product.

The bottle may be formed of a rigid material, in particular glass or plastic material, to comprise a body 1 defining a product conditioning tank. The body 1 is surmounted by a neck 2 formed in one piece with said body by defining an upper opening for said tank. In the embodiment described, the collar 2 is of carnette type as standardized by the FEA standard in Europe, without the invention being limited to such a type of collar.

The dispensing bottle also comprises a pump 3 mounted in the upper opening by arranging the supply means of said pump inside the reservoir. The pump shown comprises a body 4 whose periphery is mounted without tightening in the opening.

The body 4 has a lower portion which is provided with a feed orifice, the feed means comprising a dip tube 5 having an upper part fixed in the orifice and a lower part disposed against the bottom of the tank.

Furthermore, the pump comprises a push button 6 equipped with a dispensing orifice 7. According to a known embodiment, the button 6 operates in reversible translation a nozzle on a dispensing stroke and a piston is also mounted on the nozzle between a state shutter and a supply state of the orifices of said nozzle. However, the invention is not limited to a particular embodiment of the pump 3.

To ensure the positioning and attachment of the pump 3 relative to the body 1, the bottle further comprises a sleeve 8 which comprises an outer casing of revolution. According to the embodiment of the figure 1 , an association armature of the pump 3 is formed in the casing so as to make said pump integral with said sleeve. The sleeve 8 may be made integrally of ductile material, in particular polyolefin plastic.

In the figures, the sleeve 8 is an insert on the pump 3. According to another embodiment, the sleeve may be integrated with the body 4 of the pump 3, for example by forming a stent for said pump.

According to the embodiment of the figure 1 the outer casing is formed on an annular upper axial surface 9 which is surmounted by an annular axial extension 10, the armature comprising a lower radial wall 11 which extends internally from the junction zone between the upper span 9 and its extension 10.

In addition, the armature comprises an upper radial wall 12 which is provided with an orifice in which the pump 3 is mounted with the push button 6 disposed above the sleeve 8, said upper radial wall being connected to the lower radial wall 11 by means of an inner axial wall 13. Moreover, in order to secure the sleeve 8 to the pump 3, the inner axial wall 13 comprises a groove 14 for snapping a groove 15 formed on the body 4 of the pump 3.

As shown more particularly on the figure 11 the sleeve 8 has an upper radial wall 31 and an axial bearing 32, said radial bearing having an orifice 33 in which the body 4 of the pump 3 is slidably mounted.

In the embodiments shown, the mounting of the pump 3 in the opening is made with the interposition of an annular seal 16 between the upper wall of the neck 2 and the radial walls 11, 31 of the sleeve 8, said wall Moreover, the body 4 of the pump 3 can be tightly tightened in the opening of the body 1 so as to be exempt from the presence of the seal.

The sleeve 8 also comprises a deformable skirt 18 between a mounting configuration ( Figures 1-3 and 8 ) in which said skirt is positionable around an outer side wall 19 of the neck 2 and a clamping configuration ( figures 4 and 9 ) of said skirt around said side wall for securing.

In the embodiments shown, the skirt 18 has lugs 20 which are foldable radially towards the center from the mounting configuration to the clamping configuration. To do this, the bottle further comprises a ring 21 slidably mounted around the outer casing of the sleeve 8 between a high position and a low position. Thus, the skirt 18 may be deformed in the clamping configuration when the ring 21 is moved downwards.

More specifically, in the embodiment of the figure 1 , the ring is made in one piece, in particular rigid material such as metal and for example aluminum. Furthermore, the outer casing has an outer diameter formed on the upper axial span 9 and its extension 10, the tabs 20 in mounting configuration extending in relief from said diameter. In combination, the ring 21 has an inside diameter which is arranged to allow the sliding of said ring around the sleeve 8 by ensuring the folding of the tabs 20 as well as maintaining them in the clamping configuration.

In this embodiment, when the pump 3 is mounted in the opening, the ring 21 is held in the up position on the extension 10 ( Figures 1 to 3 ). Indeed, the variation in diameter between the outer casing and the lugs 20 allows the axial locking of the ring 21 in the high position and, the presence of the extension 10, provides a fitting length sufficient to maintain said ring in this position despite the forces induced before fixing.

In the embodiment of Figures 8 and 9 the ring 21 is in two parts: an outer body 21a and an intermediate piece 21b mounted in said body, the body 21a being conventionally made of metal material and the piece 21b of plastic material. The body 21a has a geometry similar to that of the ring 21 according to the figure 1 and the part 21b has a configuration similar to that of the sleeve 8 according to the figure 1 , with the exception of the skirt 18 which is dissociated from said piece.

In particular, the piece 21b has an annular axial bearing having an upper portion 35 and a lower portion 36 extending on either side of an inner radial bearing surface 37. In addition, the piece 21b has an inner axial bearing surface. 38 which is surmounted by a radial bearing surface 39 for mounting the pump 3.

In this embodiment, the ring 21 is mounted around the sleeve via the part 21b. Thus, in mounting configuration ( figure 8 ), the ring 21 is held in the up position on the sleeve 8 and a sliding of said ring via the body 21a causes the folding of the skirt 18 in the clamping configuration via the part 21 b. In addition, Figures 8 and 9 , the sliding of the ring 21 causes that of the pump 3 in the neck 2 since it is secured to the part 21 b.

The outer side wall 19 of the neck 2 is provided with at least one thread of screw 22 in relief, said net being arranged to be embedded in the skirt 18 in the clamping configuration so as to allow the unscrewing of said sleeve after fixing the pump 3. Indeed, the incrustation creates in the skirt 18 complementary hollow threads, so as to allow the transformation of a rotational force on the sleeve 8 in a translational movement thereof to separate the pump 3 of the body 1.

In particular, in the mounting configuration, the skirt 18 surrounds the side wall 19 facing the threads 22 and, during tightening, said threads are embedded in the skirt 18. To do this, the material forming the threads 22 has a hardness greater than that of the material forming the skirt 18.

The bottle according to the invention thus combines the advantages of fixing by means of a deformable sleeve 8 with the possibility of unscrewing said sleeve, without the disadvantages of each of these embodiments.

In particular, the use of a deformable sleeve 8 makes it possible to provide a ring 21 which, in the low position, abuts without play against the shoulders of the body 1 so as to perfect the aesthetics of the bottle. In the embodiment of Figures 8 and 9 , this game is still minimized by providing, at the end of folding of the skirt 18, a sliding of the body 21 with respect to the piece 21b in until the lower end of said body bears against the shoulders of the bottle ( figure 9 ).

In addition, the bottles according to the invention are particularly simple to install on the filling lines since the mounting of the pump 3 does not require any angular orientation of the neck 2. Thus, the mounting rates can be high, being even faster only with crimped sleeves since the crimping operation is eliminated.

Furthermore, the separation of the pump 3 and the body 1 is performed by an intuitive unscrewing movement, especially in the counterclockwise direction, through the ring 21. To strengthen the torsional connection between the ring 21 and the sleeve 8 necessary for unscrewing, a nesting profile, for example comprising vertical streaks in recess or in relief, can be made on the inside diameter of the ring 21.

In the realization of Figures 8 and 9 , the body 21 has an inner wall provided with vertical ridges 30 which are embedded on the outside of the part 21 b to ensure their connection with good torsional strength. In a variant, provision can be made for another mode of connection of the body 21a around the part 21b, for example by gluing.

In addition, the inner wall of the part 21b is provided with grooves 43 which are intended to be embedded in the outside of the sleeve 8 during the folding of the skirt 18. To do this optimally, the plastic material of the piece 21b may have a hardness greater than that of the sleeve 8. For example, the part 21b and the sleeve 8 may be made of a material of the same nature, in particular polyolefin such as polypropylene, but of different hardness.

In the realization of Figures 8 and 9 the torsional strength necessary for the unscrewing of the body assembly 21a - intermediate part 21b - sleeve 8 is improved, in particular by increasing the incrustation length of the ridges 30, 43 with respect to a configuration in which a corrugated ring 21 is directly mounted around a sleeve 8 according to the figure 1 . In addition, it overcomes the difficulty of producing ridges 30 of significant relief and / or cutting profile in the body 21a, in particular made by stamping a metal material.

In addition, the reuse of the bottle after unscrewing is rendered virtually impossible since the cooperation between the threads 22 and the skirt 18 is performed during tightening, which makes it virtually impossible to reposition the sleeve 8 on the neck 2 to perform a screwing. Thus, the separation of the pump 3 and the bottle is almost irreversible, which makes it possible to fulfill the constraints recycling and non reuse of the bottle after disassembling the pump 3.

According to a variant not shown, the threads 22 can be made on the side wall 19 with an irregular circular distribution, so as to make it even more difficult to screw the sleeve 8. Figures 8 and 9 , the lower end of the body 21a has a slight inner bevel 40 to further complicate the reassembly of the pump 3 on the bottle.

Finally, the incrustation of the threads 22 in the skirt 18 improves the holding of the sleeve 8 on the neck 2, so as to avoid any unpleasant play and which could be detrimental to the seal, and this despite the significant dimensional tolerances in the embodiment bottlenecks 2.

In the embodiment shown, the side wall 19 has a cylindrical envelope of revolution on which four equidistributed threads 22 are formed in relief. Each thread 22 describes a right-hand portion of a helix between a start end and an end end which are located respectively towards the body 1 and its opposite. Moreover, the threads 22 have a pointed section so as to promote their incrustation in the skirt 18.

• un angle d'ouverture α d'environ 40° ;
• une épaisseur a, par exemple de l'ordre du millimètre ;
• une hauteur b au moins égal à a/2 ;
• un rayon r d'au plus 2a/3.

More specifically, the figure 6a shows a net protruding profile 22 to obtain a good inlay, said profile having:

• an opening angle α of about 40 °;
• a thickness a, for example of the order of a millimeter;
• a height b at least equal to a / 2;
• a radius r of not more than 2a / 3.

To ensure assembly and clamping around the side wall 19, the tabs 20 define an inner envelope of respectively conical geometry in mounting configuration and cylindrical configuration clamping. In addition, the diameter of the cylindrical inner envelope is arranged so that said envelope is in tight contact with the cylindrical envelope of the side wall 19, the threads 22 being then embedded in the thickness of the skirt 18.

In particular, the tabs 20 are arranged so that the cylindrical inner envelope is delimited by a wall formed by bringing said tabs edge to edge. To do this, the lugs 20 extend from the axial bearing 9, 32 via a hinge zone. In addition, the tabs 20 are separated in pairs by a lateral space 23, said space being arranged to allow folding without interference between the tabs 20. In the figures, spaces 24 remain between each tab 20 folded. As a variant, the edge-to-edge approach can be arranged so that the folded tabs 20 are contiguous or almost adjoining to each other so as to form a continuous wall for the cylindrical inner envelope.

In the embodiment of the figure 1 which does not form part of the invention, the lugs 20 have a flat inner wall, especiallydevvisvue any screw thread recessed before tightening. In the dispensing bottle according to the invention Figures 8 and 9 , the inner wall of the lugs 20 is provided with longitudinal grooves 42, having a depth greater than the height b of the threads 22. Moreover, the lower portion of the grooves 42 has a sharp edge so as to make it virtually impossible to screw the sleeve 8.

In addition, the end of the tabs 20 is devoid of claws intended to be folded under the neck 2 during the deformation step. Thus, the axial dimension of the tabs 20 is arranged to correspond to that of the side wall 19.

In the embodiments shown, the axial span 9, 32 is in tight contact with an upper complementary surface 25 of the side wall 19, so as to allow the sleeve 8 to be positioned on the neck 2 before the pump 3 is secured by deformation of the skirt 18. In addition, the upper complementary surface 25 isdevourvue defileten havinga cylindrical surface of revolution, so as to achieve a seal at this level. In particular, it is then possible not to provide an attached seal between the sleeve 8 and the neck 2.

Thus, after filling the reservoir with the product, the pump 3 can be pre-positioned via the upper bearing 9 of the sleeve 8, the ring 21 being held in the up position on the sleeve 8. Thus, before its fixing, the pump 3 is kept sealed on the body 1 during transfers in the filling line. Then, a tubular support is applied on the ring 21 to move it in the low position and thus achieve fixation by deformation of the skirt 18 ( Figures 4, 9 ).

The side wall 19 also has a lower complementary surface 26 on which a lower surface 27 of the skirt 18 is in close contact. In particular, the lower bearing surface 27 is formed by the lower ends of each of the tabs 20 in the clamping configuration.

In the embodiments shown, the threads 22 extend strictly between the lower and upper complementary bearing surfaces 26 so that the lower complementary bearing surface 26 is also threadless by having a cylindrical surface of revolution. Thus, at the beginning of the unscrewing of the sleeve 8, it is necessary to exert a large torque which corresponds to the planing of the lower bearing surface 27 of the skirt 18 by the starting ends of the threads 22. In addition, the ring 21 remains in a low position. when unscrewing, the lower bearing 27 partially re-forms once the sleeve 8 has been unscrewed, which makes it difficult to screw said sleeve onto said collar.

Furthermore, the threads 22 may have a section of increasing dimension from their starting end to their end end. Thus, the unscrewing torque of the sleeve 8 is increasing so as to avoid the phenomena of self-unscrewing over time. Alternatively, the threads 22 having a section of increasing size may be used in combination with a side wall 19 of frustoconical shape converging upwardly, so that the outer casing of the threads 22 remains cylindrical.

In addition, as shown on the figure 7 the threads 22 may have at least one discontinuity 28 to multiply the planing phenomena of the inner wall of the skirt 18 by the threads 22. Thus, it is possible to increase the unscrewing torque to be applied.

Claims (11)

1. Bottle for dispensing a liquid product, comprising a body (1) defining a reservoir for the packing of said product, a neck (2) overmounting said body by defining an upper opening for said reservoir, and a pump (3) mounted in said upper opening by arranging the means of supplying (5) said pump inside said reservoir, said bottle further comprising a sleeve (8) in order to position and fix said pump in relation to said body, said sleeve comprising a skirt (18) deformable between a mounting configuration wherein said skirt can be positioned around a side wall (19) of the neck (2) and a fitting configuration of said skirt around said side wall in order to provide for the fastening, the side wall (19) of the neck (2) being provided with at least one relief screw thread (22), said thread being arranged to be embedded in the skirt (18) in the fitting configuration in such a way as to allow for the unscrewing of said sleeve after fastening of the pump (3), the skirt (18) having lugs (20) which can be folded back radially from the mounting configuration towards the fitting configuration, the lugs (20) having an inner wall which is provided with longitudinal striations (42), said bottle being characterised in that the striations have a depth that is greater than the height of the thread or threads.
2. Bottle for dispensing according to claim 1, characterised in that the lugs (20) delimit an interior envelope of geometry respectively tapered in the mounting configuration and cylindrical in the fitting configuration, said interior cylindrical envelope being in fitting contact on the side wall (19).
3. Bottle for dispensing according to claim 2, characterised in that the lugs (20) are arranged so that the interior cylindrical envelope is delimited by a wall formed by bringing said lugs edge to edge.
4. Bottle for dispensing according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the sleeve (8) has an axial surface (9, 32) which is in fitting contact on a complementary upper surface (25) of the side wall (19), in such a way as to allow for the positioning of said sleeve on the neck (2) before the fastening of the pump (3) by deformation of the skirt (18).
5. Bottle for dispensing according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that it further comprises a sliding ring (21) around the sleeve (8) between a high position and a low position, the skirt (18) being deformed in the fitting configuration during the displacement in low position of said ring.
6. Bottle for dispensing according to claims 4 and 5, characterised in that the axial surface (9) of the sleeve (8) is surmounted by an extension (10) whereon the ring (21) is maintained in high position during the mounting of the pump (3) in the opening.
7. Bottle for dispensing according to claim 5, characterised in that the sleeve (8) has an outer diameter whereon the lugs (20) extend in relief, the ring (21) having an inner diameter which is arranged in order to allow for the sliding of said ring around said sleeve by providing the folding back of said lugs as well as their maintaining in the fitting configuration.
8. Bottle for dispensing according to any of claims 5 to 7, characterised in that the ring (21) has a body (21a) and an intermediate portion (21b) mounted in said body.
9. Bottle for dispensing according to claim 8, characterised in that the intermediate portion (21b) has an inner wall provided with striations (43) which are intended to be embedded on the exterior of the sleeve (8) during the deformation of the skirt (18).
10. Bottle for dispensing according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the body (21a) has an inner wall provided with striations (30) which are embedded on the exterior of the intermediate portion (21b) in order to provide for the connection.
11. Bottle for dispensing according to claim 10, characterised in that the body (21a) is connected to the portion (21b) with a possibility of sliding between them.

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