FR2768946A1 - Dispenser for container of fluid product e.g. cosmetic creams - Google Patents

Abstract

The dispenser has an inlet valve for selectively connecting the pump chamber with the container, and an outlet valve in the form of a deformable flap which prevents the product from contacting the outside air when dispensing is completed. The dispenser (1) has an inlet valve (28) connecting the pump chamber (11) selectively with the container (4), and an outlet valve (33). The pump chamber has a deformable wall (3) to reduce the volume when deformed with part of it forming a shutter for the outlet valve to prevent the product from contacting the outside when the valve is closed. The deformable shutter seals against a seat (26) and moves away from it when the wall is deformed, while the container has a follower piston or comprises a supple pouch to avoid drawing in air.

Description

 The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser such as a cream comprising a dispensing device mounted on a reservoir containing the fluid, said dispensing device comprising a pump chamber provided with an inlet valve and a valve. Release. To reduce the volume of the pump chamber, the latter is formed with a manually deformable wall element. This type of device finds an application in the field of the distribution of fluid products, and more particularly in the field of cosmetics for dispensing cream.

 Document US-3 162 334 discloses a pasty product dispenser comprising a pump, the pump chamber of which is partially produced from a flexible wall element. This flexible wall element fulfills the function of a pusher which can be pressed manually using a finger to reduce the volume of the pump chamber. As an outlet valve, a flexible washer is provided which is able to deform under the effect of the pressure inside the pump chamber. Thus, when the pressure is sufficient, the deformable washer leaves its seat thus allowing the fluid inside the chamber to be forced into an intermediate space which communicates through an orifice with a distribution tube.

 With this dispenser, the product that remains inside the dispensing tube is in contact with the ambient air so that the product can oxidize and thus alter its characteristics. In addition, it is necessary to provide several parts to ensure the functions of pusher and outlet valve.

On the other hand, document EP-0 289 244 discloses another dispenser in which a flexible part performs the function of a deformable wall to reduce the volume of the pump chamber and of the outlet valve. However, in this device, the deformation of the elastic part is ensured by
It is by means of a rigid push button that can be operated manually. On the other hand, the outlet valve formed by the elastic piece allows the product to flow into an intermediate annular space before reaching the dispensing orifice. Consequently, the fluid which remains accumulated in the intermediate space is exposed to the open air and can thus oxidize.

 The object of the present invention is to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art by defining a device for dispensing a fluid product, the actuation of which is ensured by manual crushing of a flexible wall and in which the product is not in no case exposed to the open air, which guarantees its qualities.

 To do this, the present invention relates to a fluid dispenser such as a cream comprising a dispensing device mounted on a reservoir containing the fluid, said dispensing device comprising a pump chamber provided with a valve. inlet selectively communicating the pump chamber with the reservoir and an outlet valve, the pump chamber being formed with a manually deformable wall element capable of reducing the volume of the pump chamber when deformed, characterized in that a part of the deformable wall element realizes the outlet valve in the form of an end closure member which selectively closes an outlet orifice, so that the fluid product does not remain in contact with the air at the outlet of the dispensing device.

Unlike the aforementioned distributors of the prior art, the outlet valve of the present invention simultaneously performs the shutter function in that it closes the outlet orifice. Thus, using a single piece, namely the deformable wall element, it guarantees both the function of manual pusher and end shutter. By manual actuation, it should be understood that one acts directly using one or more fingers on the deformable wall and not by means of another part.

 According to one embodiment, the shutter member forms a deformable flap sealingly resting on a seat when the dispenser is at rest and deformed out of contact with said seat to clear the outlet orifice when the wall element is deformed. The sealed contact of the flap on its seat is ensured by the elastic memory of the flap. A suitable material for this kind of use is for example an elastomeric thermoplastic.

 Advantageously, the dispensing device comprises a substantially rigid body mounted on the reservoir, the deformable wall element being tightly secured to said body to form together said pump chamber.

 Preferably, the body forms said seat for the shutter member.

 According to a practical form, the shutter member forms with the body a dispensing spout.

 Preferably but not necessarily, the body is provided with the inlet valve. Indeed, it can also be envisaged to integrate the inlet valve into the manually deformable wall element.

 When the fluid to be dispensed has a high viscosity, provision may be made for the deformable wall element to be provided with elastic return means for returning it to its rest position.

 In an advantageous application, the dispensing device is of the type without air intake, the reservoir being of the follower piston or flexible bag type.

 When the distribution device operates with air intake, the distribution device and the tank are provided with venting grooves. In this case, there is provided a deformable flange section integral with the dispensing device to close off the vent when the dispenser is at rest.

 The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, giving by way of nonlimiting example, several embodiments of the present invention.

In the drawings - Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of
through a distributor according to the invention mounted on a
tank - Figure 2 is a front view of the dispenser of the
Figure 1 - Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the
distributor of Figures 1 and 2; and - Figures 4 and 5 are overall section views
cross-section of two other embodiments of a
dispenser according to the invention.

 We will first refer to Figures 1 and 2 to explain the general principle of the present invention. The dispenser according to the invention essentially comprises three constituent parts, namely a reservoir 4, and a dispensing device produced in two parts: as regards the reservoir, it will be seen later that it is possible to use practically n ' any type of tank with or without return air. In reality, the invention more particularly resides in the distribution device referenced as a whole by the reference numeral 1 in the figures.

 The distribution device 1 defines an internal distribution chamber 11 which communicates with the reservoir 4 by means of an inlet valve 28 disposed in a sealed manner on a valve seat 27. On the other hand, the pump chamber 11 communicates with the outside via an outlet valve 33. As mentioned above, the dispensing device 1 is made in two parts designated by the reference numerals 2 and 3.

Part 2 forms a substantially rigid body which is snapped onto the neck 42 of the reservoir 4. To do this, the neck 42 of the reservoir 4 is produced with notches or grooves 43 which cooperate with ribs 23 formed in a skirt snap 21 formed by the rigid body 2. This method of snap fastening should not be considered as the only possible; it can also be envisaged to fix the rigid body 2 on the neck 42 of the reservoir 4 by screwing or by crimping. Above the fixing skirt 21, the rigid body 2, forms an annular bottom wall 29 at the center of which is formed the valve seat 27 which supports the valve 28.

On the other hand, from the underside of the wall 29 extends downward an annular retaining flange 22, the external cylindrical surface of which is in contact with the internal surface of the neck 42 of the reservoir 4. This thus ensures a perfectly stable maintenance of the body 2 on the reservoir 4. From the bottom wall 29, the rigid body 2 extends asymmetrically upward, ending in a dispensing spout 26. The wall section beyond of the bottom wall 29 is designated by the reference 25 and has a substantially complex shape as can be seen in FIG. 1. In fact, this wall 25 extends from the straight edge of the body 2 at the level of the bottom wall 29, then gradually upwards on the left of FIG. 1 to form the dispensing spout 26.

All along the edge of the wall element 25, there is provided a latching bead 24 which extends to the level of the spout 26 as can be seen in FIG. 2.

 To form the distribution chamber 11, a manually deformable wall element 3 cooperates with the body 2 so as to form a closed internal volume. The deformable wall element 3 can be made of a flexible material such as an elastomeric thermoplastic which gives it good flexibility as well as good return qualities. However, if the return is not sufficient to return the wall element to its rest position, provision may be made to form the wall element 3 with elastic return tabs 34 which extend downwards to come in contact with the bottom wall 29 of the body 2. Thus, when the wall element 3 at its thrust zone 31 is deformed by the user's finger, the tabs 34 come into contact with the bottom wall 29 and elastically deforms as long as the pressure is exerted. On the other hand, as soon as the user releases his pressure, the tabs return to their original position by pushing the thrust zone 31 back into its rest position. For fixing the deformable wall element 3 to the body 2, it is provided that the periphery of the wall element is formed with a latching groove 32 which cooperates with the latching bead 24 formed along the edge of the wall 25 of the body 2. It is essential that this snap-fastening of the groove 32 on the bead 24 is perfectly sealed. This can be easily achieved due to the flexible nature of the deformable wall element 3 which comes into contact with a rigid surface formed by the body 2.

 According to the invention, the outlet valve is formed by a shutter member 33 which is produced by the deformable wall element. This shutter member is in the form of a deformable flap 33 which seals against the end of the spout 26 which forms an outlet valve seat. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the deformable flap 33 has a substantially rectangular shape and partially rests on the end of the latching bead 24 and on the upper part of the spout 26.

 The functions of pusher, piston and outlet valve are therefore carried out in the present invention by a single element, namely the manually deformable wall element 3 which, by virtue of its thrust zone, reduces the volume of the distribution pump chamber 11 and, by its deformable flap, distribute a dose of product as soon as the pressure inside the distribution pump chamber 11 is sufficient. It should also be noted that the deformable wall element is of a very simple and inexpensive embodiment, as is the rigid body 2.

 Referring to Figure 3, there is shown an alternative embodiment in which the dispensing device 1 operates with air intake. To do this, the body 2 was provided with a dip tube 271 and with a venting system in the form of grooves 421 and 422 produced in the neck 42 of the tank 4. In addition, so that the fluid product is not constantly in contact with the surrounding air, the annular retaining flange 22 has been locally thinned to form a deformable blade 221 which ensures the passage of air only from the outside to the inside when depression was created inside the tank 4.

 The two other embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5 represent applications in which the dispensing device 1 of the invention operates without air intake. In FIG. 4, the reservoir 4 comprises a shell 41, rigid or not, which includes inside a flexible pocket 44 which is fixed in leaktight manner at the neck 42 of the reservoir. Thus, as fluid is dispensed by the dispensing device 1, the flexible bag 44 collapses on itself, which allows operation without air intake.

In Figure 5, there is shown a follower piston system which also operates without air intake. To do this, the reservoir 4 is formed with a rigid outer shell 41 in which a follower piston 45 moves from the bottom up. As a dose is dispensed by the dispensing device 1, the follower piston 45 rises in the rigid shell 41 by a corresponding distance.
it is therefore possible to use a distribution device according to the invention on any type of tank operating with or without air intake.

Claims (10)

Claims  1.- Fluid product dispenser such as a cream comprising a distribution device (1) mounted on a reservoir (4) containing the fluid product, said distribution device (1) comprising a pump chamber (11) provided with an inlet valve (28) selectively communicating the pump chamber (11) with the reservoir (4) and an outlet valve (33), the pump chamber (11) being formed with a deformable wall element manually (3) capable of reducing the volume of the pump chamber (11) when deformed, characterized in that a part (33) of the deformable wall element (3) realizes the outlet valve in the form of an end closure member which selectively blocks an outlet orifice, so that the fluid does not remain in contact with air at the outlet orifice of the dispensing device.  2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the shutter member forms a deformable flap (33) resting in a sealed manner on a seat (26) when the dispenser is at rest and deformed out of contact with said seat (26). for clearing the outlet orifice when the wall element (3) is deformed.  3. A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the dispensing device (1) comprises a substantially rigid co.rps (2) mounted on the reservoir (4), the deformable wall element being tightly secured to said body ( 2) to form together said pump chamber (11).  4. A dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the body (2) forms said seat (26) for the shutter member (33).  5. A dispenser according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the shutter member (33) forms with the body (2) a dispensing spout.  6. A dispenser according to claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the body (2) is provided with the inlet valve (28).  7. - Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the deformable wall element (3) is provided with elastic return means (34) to return it to its rest position.  8. - Distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the distribution device (1) is of the type without air intake, the reservoir (4) being of the follower piston type (45) or with flexible bag ( 44).  9. - Distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the distribution device (1) and the reservoir (4) are provided with venting grooves (421, 422).  10. A dispenser according to claim 9, wherein there is provided a deformable flange section (221) integral with the dispensing device (1) to close the vent when the dispenser is at rest.