EP3002063B1 - Refillable vial for dispensing a fluid product - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a refillable bottle dispensing a fluid, and an assembly comprising such a bottle and a product source for filling said bottle.

In particular, the refillable bottle allows the dispensing of a liquid product, for example a cosmetic care, makeup or perfume product, or a pharmaceutical product.

The refillable bottle comprises a body in which a product conditioning tank is formed, as well as a dispensing device of the packaged product which is sealingly mounted on said body. In particular, the dispensing device may comprise sampling means in the form of a manually operated pump which is fed with conditioned product, said pump being arranged to distribute the product under pressure, for example in the form of an aerosol . Alternatively, the dispensing device may comprise means for applying the product, for example in the form of a ball.

In an exemplary application, the refillable vials according to the invention allow the distribution of product samples, especially for a volume of packaged product in the reservoir which is between 1 and 10 ml. In particular, the samples thus distributed can allow a customer to test the product, the bottles then being called sample vials. Alternatively, the bottles can be called "bag" in that they can easily transport a reduced volume of product, as opposed to bottles of higher capacity which are usually heavy and bulky because affluent.

In these applications, for example for logistical, practical or environmental recycling reasons, it may be desirable to be able to recharge the reservoir product from a source of said product. Indeed, it is impractical for a user to fill the tank with using a small funnel and unecological to discard an empty flask to replace it with a full constituent refill.

Refillable bottles are already offered for sale, in which the body is equipped with a tank filling valve which is arranged to allow the communication of a product source with said tank for filling.

The document EP-2,708,286 discloses such a refillable bottle in which the valve comprises a communication conduit between the source and the reservoir, said conduit having a seat equipped with a valve which is movable relative to said seat between a sealed position and an open position of said driven under the effect of the gravity which is induced by the positioning of the bottle respectively in a straight position and in a returned position.

This solution does not give complete satisfaction in that the conduit of the valve opens into the tank via a passage which, being formed at the interface between the valve and the seat, is small and symmetrical. This results in a possible product retention by capillarity in the passage, which makes uncertain the initiation of gravity flow during filling of the bottle, including the need to shake said bottle after turning.

The invention aims to improve the prior art by proposing in particular a bottle in which the priming of the filling is made reliable, and this while ensuring a good seal and a good functioning of the valve, in particular in the guiding of the valve between its closing and opening positions.

For this purpose, according to a first aspect, the invention proposes a refillable dispensing bottle for dispensing a fluid product comprising a body in which a reservoir for packaging said product is formed, said bottle comprising a dispensing device for said conditioned product which is mounted so seal on said body, said bottle being equipped with a tank filling valve which is arranged to allow the communication of a source of product with said tank for filling, said valve comprising a communication conduit between said source and said reservoir, said duct having a seat equipped with a valve which is movable relative to said seat between a sealing position and an opening position of said duct when the bottle is in an inverted position, the valve having a top sleeve wherein the valve is movably mounted forming inside said sleeve a downstream portion of the conduit which opens into the tank via a passage, said upper sleeve having a cylindrical geometry of revolution in which is formed a notch which is arranged so that the passage is asymmetrical.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides an assembly comprising such a refillable bottle and a product source for filling said refillable bottle, said source comprising a product reservoir which is equipped with a base arranged to allow the waterproof connection of the filling valve on the source tank by putting the conduit in communication with said tank.

• les figures 1 sont des représentations partielles d'un flacon remplissable selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention, respectivement en coupe longitudinale (figure 1a) et en perspective coupée (figure 1b) ;
• les figures 2 sont des représentations en vue de face (figure 2a) et en perspective (figure 2b) montrant la douille du flacon de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une représentation partielle en perspective vue de dessous du flacon des figures 1 montrant la soupape de remplissage ;
• les figures 4 sont des représentations partielles du socle d'une source de produit formant un ensemble avec le flacon de la figure 1, respectivement en perspective vue de dessus (figure 4a) et en perspective coupée (figure 4b) ;
• les figures 5 sont des représentations partielles et en coupe longitudinale de la connexion du flacon remplissable de la figure 1 sur la source des figures 4, respectivement en position droite de fermeture étanche (figure 5a) et en position retournée d'ouverture du passage en vue du remplissage (figure 5b).

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

• the figures 1 are partial representations of a refillable bottle according to one embodiment of the invention, respectively in longitudinal section ( figure 1a ) and cut perspective ( figure 1b );
• the figures 2 are representations in front view ( figure 2a ) and in perspective ( figure 2b ) showing the socket of the bottle of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a partial perspective view from below of the bottle of figures 1 showing the filling valve;
• the figures 4 are partial representations of the pedestal of a product source forming a set with the bottle of the figure 1 , respectively in perspective from above ( figure 4a ) and cut perspective ( figure 4b );
• the figures 5 are partial representations and in longitudinal section of the connection of the refillable bottle of the figure 1 on the source of figures 4 , respectively in the right sealing position ( figure 5a ) and in the open position of opening of the passage for filling ( figure 5b ).

In the description, the terms of positioning in space are taken with reference to the straight position of the refillable bottle as shown in particular on the figures 1 and 5a .

In connection with the figures, described below a refillable bottle for containing a fluid for distribution. In particular examples, the product may be liquid, in particular a cosmetic care, make-up or perfume product, or a pharmaceutical product.

The refillable bottle comprises a body 1 in which a container 2 for packaging the product is formed. According to a particular application, the tank 2 may have a capacity of between 1 and 10 ml so as to allow the distribution of product samples.

In the embodiments shown, the body 1 is rigid, in particular having sufficient rigidity so that the volume of the reservoir 2 remains substantially constant, even if the internal pressure varies. The body 1 may be integral, for example produced by injection-blow molding or extrusion-blow molding, or in several parts injected and then assembled, for example by ultrasonic welding, or by laser, or by rotary friction, made of rigid plastic material, metal, for example aluminum, or glass.

The bottle comprises a device (not shown) for dispensing the packaged product which is sealingly mounted in the body 1. In particular, the dispensing device may comprise a manually operated pump. by means of a push button, said pump being fed with the product via a dip tube 3 which is arranged in the tank 2.

However, the invention is not limited to a method of dispensing the product. In particular, other types of means for taking the product from the tank 2 can be envisaged. The dispensing device may also comprise means for applying the product, for example in the form of a ball.

The bottle is equipped with a filling valve 4 of the tank 2 which is arranged to allow the communication of a source 6 of product with said tank for filling. In connection with the figures, the body 1 has a lower opening 1a which is equipped with the filling valve 4, and an upper opening in which the dispensing device is mounted, for example by means of a hoop.

The lower opening 1a is formed in the bottom of the body 1 and the filling valve 4 has a socket 5 with a lower sleeve 5a which extends axially peripherally under said opening. Thus, there is formed a conduit 7 for communication between the product source and the reservoir 2, an upstream portion of said conduit extending into the lower sleeve 5a. In the figures, the sleeve 5 is attached under the body 1, but it could also be formed in one piece with it.

The communication duct 7 has a seat 8 equipped with a valve 9 which is movable relative to said seat between a closed position and an open position of said duct when the bottle is in an inverted position ( figure 5b ). In particular, the seat 8 is formed on an upper end of the lower sleeve 5a, the valve 9 being movable in axial translation between its closed and open positions.

Advantageously, the valve 9 is arranged to be movable between its closing and opening positions under the effect of gravity which is induced by positioning the refillable bottle respectively in an upright position ( figure 5a ) and in an inverted position ( figure 5b ). Thus, the filling is effected by simple gravitational flow through the conduit 7 between the source 6 of product and the reservoir 2 to be filled, the filling can be achieved by a simple gesture mounting the refillable bottle in the upright position on the source 6 followed by a flip of the refillable bottle assembly - product source 6.

Alternatively, the valve 9 may be arranged to be moved into the open position under the effect of an additional action of the user, for example by actuating the movement of the valve 9, to allow the flow by gravity of the produced when the bottle is in the inverted position.

In the embodiment shown, the upright position corresponds to the normal position of use of the refillable bottle, in which the dispensing device is arranged upwards. Alternatively, the refillable bottle in the upright position can be oriented differently, provided that the valve 9 is there in the closed position under the effect of gravity.

The refillable bottle in the upright position can be mounted and connected to the source 6 of product without inducing product transfer, in particular because of the lack of pressurization of said product. Then, the inverted position corresponds to a rotation of the refillable bottle assembly - product source 6 for disposing said source above the tank 2 to induce flow filling. On the figures 5 , the rotation is 180 ° but it could have a different angle, provided it is sufficient to open the valve 9 under the effect of gravity.

After filling, the refillable bottle - product source 6 is returned to the initial position before disconnecting said bottle for later use. In particular, this reversal induces the closure of the valve 9 under the effect of gravity.

In relation with the figures, the valve 9 comprises an annular bearing surface 10 which, in the closed position, comes into sealing engagement with a complementary bearing surface 11 of the seat 8 ( figures 1 and 5a ), said range in the open position being disposed at a distance from said complementary bearing ( figure 5b ).

Furthermore, the valve 9 is equipped with a weight 12 whose weight is sufficient to move said valve between its open and closed positions. In particular, the ballast 12 induces a tight plating force of the annular bearing surface 10 on the complementary bearing surface 11 and guarantees the detachment of said bearing surfaces during overturning.

The valve 9 comprises a peripheral cage 13 under which the annular bearing surface 10 is formed, an attached ballast 12, for example based on metal, being fixed in said cage. Alternatively, the ballast 12 may be integrated with the valve 9, in particular by making said valve based on a material of high density, for example a polymer loaded with metal particles or directly metal material.

Furthermore, the interface between the annular bearing surface 10 and the complementary bearing surface 11 is equipped with a seal 14 to seal the valve 9 in the closed position. In relation with the figures, the valve 9 comprises a lower skirt 15 which extends axially from the annular bearing surface 10 and on the outer periphery of which the seal 14 is mounted, in order to be interposed between the bearing surfaces 10, 11.

The valve 9 comprises a lower rod 16 which extends under the cage 13. In the embodiment shown, the upper end 16a of the rod 16 is snapped into a lower orifice of the cage 13, but said rod could be formed in one piece with said cage.

The rod 16 is slidably mounted in a tube 17 secured to the lower sleeve 5a, said rod and said tube being arranged to define the end of the race. displacement of the valve 9 in the open position. To do this, the rod 16 is equipped with a tip 16b which cooperates with a lower edge 18 of the tube 17 to form a bottom end stop. In the embodiment shown, the tip 16b is integrated in the rod 16. Alternatively, the tip 16b can be attached to the rod 16.

Furthermore, the cage 13 is equipped with a cover 19 which makes it possible to isolate the ballast 12 from the contact with the packaged product in the tank 2. In addition, the cover 19 forms a bell 20 which is integral with the valve 9 while being disposed in the tank 2, said bell being arranged for, in the upright position ( figures 1 and 5a ), be in communication with said reservoir and, in the inverted position ( figure 5b ), to be isolated from said tank so as not to be filled with the product from the source 6.

Thus, during the emptying of the tank 2, a volume of air is formed which, during the overturning, is retained in the bell 20 to be released into said tank during the return to the upright position, which makes it possible to guarantee the presence of a sky of air in said tank after filling. In particular, the air sky allows expansion of the product during a rise in temperature without exceeding the allowable pressure in the tank 2.

The cover 19 has an axial peripheral wall 19a which extends on a radial bottom wall 19b, the bell 20 being formed inside said walls to form a retention volume which is open at the top. In particular, the walls 19a, 19b are arranged so that the retention volume in the inverted position is not in flow communication with the duct 7.

The tube 17 is mounted in the lower sleeve 5a via at least one rib 21. In particular, three ribs 21 may be provided to form three openings in the communication duct.

The sleeve 5 also has an upper sleeve 5b in which the valve 9 is movably mounted forming inside said upper sleeve a downstream portion of the conduit 7 which opens into the tank 2 via a passage 22. In relationship with the figures, the upper sleeve 5b extends axially from the upper end of the lower sleeve 5a where the seat 8 is formed, the passage 22 being formed at the interface between the peripheral cage 13 of the valve 9 and the inner wall said upper sleeve 5b, and therefore downstream of the interface between the valve 9 and the seat 8.

In the embodiment shown, the upper sleeve 5b is formed in one piece with the lower sleeve 5a, the sleeve 5 being mounted in the lower opening 1a so that the lower sleeve 5a extends axially below said opening the upper sleeve 5b extending axially in said body from said opening. In particular, the upper sleeve 5b has an outer wall which is arranged in tight contact against the inner wall of the body 1, said outer wall further having a groove in which the periphery of the lower opening 1a is snapped.

Alternatively, the upper sleeve 5b and the lower sleeve 5a can be made in two different parts, the sleeve 5 being formed in particular by assembling said parts before mounting in the lower opening 1a.

The upper sleeve 5b has a cylindrical geometry of revolution in which is formed a notch 23 which is arranged so that the passage 22 is asymmetrical. In particular, the indentation 23 forms in the upper sleeve 5b upper edges 23a and lower 23b which extend from the seat 8 at a maximum and minimum axial distance respectively.

Thus, when the valve 9 is in the open position ( figure 5b ), the notch 23 makes it possible to open the passage 22 on a section of maximum dimensions at the lower edge 23b, which allows, at this level, to break the capillary phenomenon at the interface between the valve 9 and the upper sleeve 5b, and thus facilitate the initiation of the product flow during filling of the tank 2.

Furthermore, the presence of the upper edge 23a ensures proper guiding of the valve 9 between its closed and open positions, in particular by limiting the radial movements of said valve when the bottle is tilted in one or the other positions upright and returned, such deflections may be detrimental both for the opening of the valve 9, and thus the filling of the reservoir 2, that for its closure.

In the embodiment shown, the notch 23 is formed by a circular helical ramp 24 which extends between the upper edges 23a and lower 23b of the upper sleeve 5b, a pan 25 axially connecting said edges.

Thus, along the notch 23, the axial dimensions of the upper sleeve 5b vary progressively between the maximum dimension of the upper edge 23a and the minimum dimension of the lower edge 23b, which allows both to limit the capillarity to the valve interface 9 / upper sleeve 5b and provide axial guidance of said valve on a larger dimension.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the helical ramp 24 extends angularly over a course of between 350 ° and 370 °. In particular, good results have been obtained by extending the ramp 24 over a different angular travel of 360 °, which allows to incline the pan 25 axially.

Furthermore, the inner wall of the upper sleeve 5b is equipped with flutes 26 for guiding the displacement of the valve 9 inside said sleeve, said flutes being angularly distributed over said inner wall and each having an axial dimension which is substantially equal to the local axial dimension at their angular position on said inner wall.

The source 6 of product comprises a reservoir 27 of product, in particular formed inside a bottle 27a with a capacity greater than that of the refillable bottle. In another embodiment, the source reservoir is formed inside a flexible bag which can be filled with product without air or gas for the proper preservation of said product.

The source reservoir 27 is equipped with a base 28 which is arranged to allow the sealed connection of the filling valve 4 to said source reservoir by putting the conduit 7 in communication with it. To do this, the filling valve 4 is equipped with a sealed connection device of the bottle on the source 6 of product, the base 28 being equipped with a connecting device which is complementary to that of the filling valve 4.

In the figures, the base 28 comprises a collar 29 for mounting on the neck 30 of the source bottle 27a, said collar being fixed on said neck by means of a band 31. The collar 29 has an upper opening 32 which is surmounted by a sleeve 33 extending axially peripherally. Furthermore, an annular seal 34 is interposed between the sleeve 33 and the neck 30.

Advantageously, the base 28 is devoid of means for pressurizing the filling product. Thus, the bottle 27a can not be diverted from its source role since without propellant or internal pressure. In particular, the sleeve 33 may be provided with a cap for closing the opening 32 between two fills.

The lower sleeve 5a of the filling valve 4 is arranged to be sealingly connected to the source 6 to perform the filling by feeding the upstream portion of the conduit 7 in product from said source.

To do this, the lower sleeve 5a is arranged to slide axially relative to the base 28. In particular, the sleeves 5a, 33 are annular, the outer diameter of the lower sleeve 5a being slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 33 to allow an axial assembly without play of the refillable bottle on the source 6 of product.

In addition, the lower sleeve 5a is slightly frustoconical and may have a lower bevel to ensure tight radial tightness during axial sliding of said lower sleeve in the sleeve 33. Furthermore, the sleeve 5 comprises an annular ring 5c on which the the upper end of the sleeve 33 comes into axial abutment at the end of sliding.

To make the tightness of the valve 4 more reliable, the valve 9 is equipped with a resilient constraint device 30 for sealing in the closed position, said device being arranged to be able to be uncoupled from the valve 9 in order to release the subsequent displacement of said valve between its closing and opening positions.

In particular, the constraint device 35 ensures a static seal of the valve 4 between two fillings of the bottle, said static seal being broken by uncoupling without acting on the valve 9, in particular without actuating its movement.

Advantageously, the constraint device 35 is arranged to be uncoupled from the valve 9 by sealing connection of the refillable bottle to the source 6 of product. Thus, to be able to fill the bottle, the user only has to connect the valve 4 to the source 6 of product, and this without any additional action to uncouple the constraint device 35, which constitutes a particular gesture. simple and intuitive.

In connection with the figures, the constraint device 35 comprises a spring means 36 exerting a plating force of the valve 9 on the seat 8 in the closed position, as well as a bearing ring 37 through which said spring means is coupled to the valve 9. In particular, the support ring 37 is movable relative to the valve 9 of an active position, wherein the valve 9 is constrained by the spring means 36 in the closed position, to a position inactive, wherein the movement of the valve 9 is released from the action of said spring means.

In the embodiment shown, the spring means 36 is formed of a helical spring mounted around the stem 16 of the valve 9 being interposed in tension between the tube 17 of the lower sleeve 5a and the bearing ring 37.

The support ring 37 comprises a lower wall 38 which bears on the end piece 16b of the rod 16 when said ring is in the active position, as well as an upper wall 39 which bears on the lower edge 18 of the tube when said ring is moved to the inactive position.

Thus, insofar as the end piece 16b and the lower edge 18 together define the limit stop of the displacement of the valve 9 in the open position, the ring 37 is moved between its active and inactive positions on a displacement stroke. which is equivalent to the movement of movement of the valve 9 between its closed and open positions.

To allow its displacement, the ring 37 has an inner ring 37a which is slidably mounted around the rod 16. In particular, the inner ring 37a has a recess 40 formed on the upper wall 39 in which the lower end of the spring means 36 is arranged in support.

Furthermore, the upper end 36 of the spring means is disposed in abutment against an upper edge 41 formed inside the tube 17, the dimensions of said tube and the recess 40 being arranged so that the lower edge 18 of said tube comes resting on the upper wall 39 surrounding said cavity when the ring 37 is moved to the inactive position. Thus, in the inactive position, the spring means 36 is constrained by being trapped in a closed housing, which allows to isolate the product that passes through the conduit 7 during filling of the bottle.

The support ring 37 further comprises an outer ring 37b which is slidably mounted in the lower sleeve 5a, the inner ring 37a being mounted in said outer ring via at least one rib 37c. In relation to Figures 1b and 3 three ribs 37c are provided for this purpose to form three openings in the communication conduit.

Moreover, the sleeve 33 of the product source 6 has fingers 42 which are arranged to bear on the outer ring 37b in order to axially move the ring 37 in the inactive position during the sealed connection of the bottle to the source 6 of product .

In the embodiment shown, the sleeve 33 comprises an annular flange 43 which extends radially from its inner wall, three fingers 42 being angularly distributed on the free end of said annular flange.

In addition, the dimensions of the lower sleeve 5a and the fingers 42 are arranged to allow said lower sleeve to bear axially against the rim 43 and to be placed in close contact between said fingers and the inner wall of the sleeve 33 during the sealed connection, to improve the sealing of said connection.

Claims (14)

1. Refillable bottle for dispensing a fluid product, comprising a body (1) in which a container (2) intended for packaging said product is formed, said bottle comprising a device for dispensing said packaged product which is mounted on said body in a sealed way, said bottle being equipped with a valve (4) for filling the container (2) which is arranged to allow a product source (6) to be brought into communication with said container in order to fill said container, said valve comprising a conduit (7) for communication between said source and said container, said conduit having a seat (8) equipped with a flap valve (9) which is moveable relatively to said seat between a sealed closed position and an open position of said conduit when the bottle is in an upside-down position, the valve (4) having a upper sleeve (5b) in which the flap valve (9) is moveably mounted by forming, inside said sleeve a downstream portion of the conduit (7) which discharges into the container (2) by means of a passage (22) said bottle being characterised in that said upper sleeve has a geometry which is cylindrical in revolution and in which a notch (23) is formed which is arranged so that the passage (22) is asymmetrical.
2. Refillable bottle according to claim 1, characterised in that the flap valve (9) is arranged so as to be moveable between closed and open positions thereof under the effect of gravity which is caused by positioning the bottle in an upright position and in an upside-down position respectively.
3. Refillable bottle according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the notch (23) is formed by a circular spiral ramp (24) which extends between the upper (23a) and lower (23b) edges of the sleeve (5b), one side (25) axially connecting said edges.
4. Refillable bottle according to claim 3, characterised in that the spiral ramp (24) extends at an angle over a path of between 350° and 370° and which is different from 360° so that the side (25) is axially inclined.
5. Refillable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the upper sleeve (5b) is mounted on top of the seat (8), the passage (22) being formed at the interface between the periphery of the flap valve (9) and the inner wall of the sleeve (5b).
6. Refillable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the upper sleeve (5b) is equipped with protrusions (26) for guiding the movement of the flap valve (9) within said sleeve.
7. Refillable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the flap valve (9) comprises a peripheral cage (13) under which an annular bearing surface (10) is formed which, in closed position, comes into sealed abutment with a complementary bearing surface (11) of the seat (8), said bearing surface, in the open position, being arranged at a distance from said complementary bearing surface.
8. Refillable bottle according to claim 7, characterised in that the interface between the annular bearing surface (10) and the complementary bearing surface (11) is equipped with a seal (14).
9. Refillable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the valve (4) has a lower sleeve (5a) in which an upstream part of the conduit (7) is formed, said sleeve being arranged such that it can be connected in a sealed way to the source (6) in order to carry out the filling by supplying said upstream part of the conduit with product from the source (6).
10. Refillable bottle according to any one of claims 2 to 9, characterised in that the flap valve (9) is equipped with a ballast (12) whose weight is sufficient to move said flap valve between the open and closed positions thereof.
11. Refillable bottle according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the flap valve (9) comprises a lower rod (16) which is mounted to slide in a tube (17) of the conduit (7) by defining the travel limit of the flap valve (9) in open position.
12. Bottle according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the flap valve (9) is equipped with a device (35) for elastically stressing the seal in closed position, said device being arranged such that it can be uncoupled from the flap valve (9) in order to release the subsequent movement of said flap valve between the closed and open positions thereof.
13. Assembly comprising a refillable bottle according to any one of the claims 1 to 12 and a product source (6) intended to fill said refillable bottle, said source comprising a product container (27) which is equipped with a mount (28) which is arranged to allow the filling valve (4) to be connected to the source container (27) in a sealed way by bringing the conduit (7) into communication with said container.
14. Assembly according to claim 13 when it depends on claim 9, characterised in that the lower sleeve (5a) is arranged to be able to slide axially relative to a sleeve (33) of the mount (28) in order to allow the refillable bottle to be mounted and fixed in the position in which it is connected to the source container (27).

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