EP0453357A1 - Spraying- and metering device - Google Patents

Abstract

Spraying-metering system for liquid or viscous products, comprising a pump, of the mechanical piston and plunger type, which pump is positioned in a receptacle containing the product to be dispensed, characterised in that the body (3) of the said pump is force-fitted into the neck (7) of the receptacle (2), in that the upper portion of the said body is terminated by a flange (12) which abuts against the neck (7) and in that means are provided on the said body for ensuring the escape of the air from the receptacle, during the fitting of the body, a vent hole (9) made in the body emerging on the said means. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a manually controlled spray-metering device of the type comprising a mechanical piston and plunger pump ensuring the suction of a liquid to be sprayed which is delivered to a spray nozzle. Examples of embodiment of such devices are described in particular in EP-A-0025224 and FR-A-2374536.

In general, such spray-dosing devices are intended in particular for the distribution of liquid or viscous products, in low doses, for example samples of perfumes or cosmetics or pharmaceutical products.

• assemblage et fixation du corps sur le récipient par l'accrochage du diamètre intérieur de cette bague sur le diamètre extérieur du col du récipient ;
• fermeture du corps en retenant le mécanisme de la pompe à piston qui est soumis à l'effort d'un ressort de rappel et ;
• réalisation d'une liaison étanche entre le système vaporisateur-doseur et le col du récipient avec éventuellement l'interposition d'un joint d'étanchéité.

In currently known devices of this type (US-A-4050860 and FR-A-2374536), the body which includes the pump mechanism must be mounted on the container containing the liquid to be vaporized by means of a ring. or similar having a triple function:

• assembly and fixing of the body on the container by hooking the inside diameter of this ring on the outside diameter of the container neck;
• closing of the body by retaining the piston pump mechanism which is subjected to the force of a return spring and;
• creation of a sealed connection between the spray-metering system and the container neck, possibly with the interposition of a seal.

This ring, currently considered essential by those skilled in the art to constitute the spray-metering assembly, can be produced in various embodiments such as in particular screw-on rings, crimp rings, snap-on sleeves and other types rings of known types.

• une géométrie encombrante qui s'oppose à une miniaturisation du dispositif vaporisateur-doseur et également du récipient sur lequel il est monté et qui contient le liquide à distribuer ;
• un surcoût de fabrication, dû à la présence de la bague qui constitue un composant supplémentaire et qui impose une opération de montage également supplémentaire, ce surcoût de fabrication étant bien entendu inacceptable dans le cas d'applications grandes séries, notamment pour des échantillons de parfums où l'on recherche un faible prix de revient.

The use of such a ring, if it proves satisfactory in the context of conventional applications for spray-metering devices delivering doses of less than 50 μl, is present in the case of adaptation to small containers and / or small openings, major drawbacks, in particular:

• a bulky geometry which opposes miniaturization of the spray-metering device and also of the container on which it is mounted and which contains the liquid to be dispensed;
• an additional manufacturing cost, due to the presence of the ring which constitutes an additional component and which imposes an assembly operation also additional, this additional manufacturing cost being of course unacceptable in the case of large series applications, in particular for perfume samples where we are looking for a low cost price.

The present invention therefore proposes to provide a spray-metering device which does not have the drawbacks mentioned above of solutions according to the prior art and which makes it possible to dispense with precision of very low doses which can vary for example between 35 and 45 μl.

To this end, the invention relates to a spray-metering system for liquid or viscous products comprising a pump of the mechanical piston type positioned in a container containing the product to be dispensed, characterized in that the body of said pump is force-fitted into the neck of the container, in that the upper part of said body ends in a flange which abuts on the neck and in that means are provided on said body for ensuring the escape of air from the container, during the fitting of the body, a vent hole, made in the body leading to said means.

According to the invention, the vent hole can be placed under a shoulder of the body which is provided between the upper cylindrical part of the latter, force fitted into the neck of the container and its lower part of reduced diameter. According to a variant, the means for ensuring the escape of air during the fitting consist of a groove formed in the external cylindrical surface of the pump body onto which the vent hole opens.

According to another characteristic of the present invention, the spray-metering system comprises a jacket force fitted into the upper part of the body, this shirt ending at its upper part by a collar coming into abutment against the collar provided on said body.

According to the invention, the lower part of the piston of the pump is provided with a skirt which has an annular lip which, at rest, is held under radial stress, said lip being wedged between a flange, provided at the lower end of the piston, and the inside of the body of pump, the vent hole being able to be provided under the lip of said skirt.

• la figure 1 est une vue à grande échelle, en coupe axiale longitudinale d'un système vaporisateur-doseur selon la présente invention et ;
• la figure 2 représente le système selon la présente invention en coupe axiale longitudinale partielle.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description given below with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a large-scale view in longitudinal axial section of a metering spray system according to the present invention and;
• FIG. 2 represents the system according to the present invention in partial longitudinal axial section.

Referring to the drawings, it can be seen that the spray-metering device according to the present invention comprises, in this non-limiting exemplary embodiment, a piston pump mechanism designated as a whole by the reference 14 which is positioned on the container 2, generally made of glass or plastic, containing the product to be vaporized, this container being surmounted by an internally smooth and cylindrical neck 7. At its upper part, the piston pump 14 is provided with a dispensing plunger 1.

According to the present invention, the body 3 of the pump mechanism is fitted inside the neck 7 of the container, as can be clearly seen in the drawing. This body 3 is extended here in one piece, in its lower part, by a sampling tube 6 which is flush, as known, with the bottom of the container 2. The upper part of the body 3 ends in a flange 12 which comes in abutment on the neck 7 of the container 2. Over a height compatible with good support of the body 3 and which is here slightly greater than the inside height of the neck 7, the external part of this body is cylindrical and smooth and it comes to tighten at the inside of the neck 7, as can be seen in the figures. Sealing is therefore achieved by fitting at this level, the pump body perfectly matching the inside diameter of the neck of the container. It will be noted that the pump body 3 may preferably be made of injected thermoplastic material and of suitable quality in order to guarantee an intimate connection, therefore tight, by marrying, under elastic stress, the shape of the inside of the neck of the container.

In this exemplary embodiment which has no limiting character, the cylindrical part 15 of the body on which the tightening takes place is extended by a part 16, of cylindrical shape, the outside diameter of which is substantially smaller than that of the part upper body 15 and, in any case, smaller than the inside diameter of the neck. In the embodiment illustrated by the drawings, a shoulder 10 is provided between the upper 15 and lower 16 parts of the pump body. A lateral vent hole 9 opens onto the outside, this vent hole being located under the shoulder 10. The presence of this vent hole makes it possible to vent the pressure of the air which is generated inside the container 2 when the fitting of the pump body is carried out on the neck of the container. According to a variant, this venting can be obtained by providing an external groove which is formed in the cylindrical surface of the pump body and on which said vent hole opens.

Inside the pump body, the pump operating mechanism tends to return, under the effect of an internal return spring 17, the rod 8 at the end of which the piston 18 of the pump is mounted, this rod being surmounted by the dispensing pusher 1. In order to retain and position the rod 8 under the action of the return spring 17, a jacket 4 is provided which is force-fitted at the interior of the body 3 and which is surmounted by a collar 13 which abuts on the collar 12 of the body 3. The holding of the shirt 4 in the body 3 can be strengthened by providing hooking means such as 5 , for example in the form of hooks and grooves engaged in each other and provided respectively on the opposite faces of the body 3 and of the jacket 4, as can be clearly seen in Figure 1. In order to ensure the sealing, in their upper parts, the inner surface of the body 3 and the outer surface of the jacket 4 are smooth and cylindrical in shape and they are tight.

The lower part of the jacket 4 constitutes the upper stop of the pump mechanism and this stop positions the high point of the stroke of the pump during operation. Consequently, the height of the jacket 4 constitutes a determining factor in the dose of products which can be vaporized by the device according to the invention.

The dimensions as well as the configuration of the shirt 4 can be chosen so that these constitute the covering of the neck of the container.

The rod 8 which, under the action of the push button 1, actuates the pump mechanism, slides freely inside the jacket 4 with sufficient play, as seen in FIG. 1.

The fitting action of the pump body inside the neck of the container can be carried out by applying a pressing force on the upper part of the dispensing plunger 1. It will be noted that due to the absence of the outer ring which, in the state of the prior art, is essential for sealing between the mechanism of the pump body and the container, the dispensing plunger 1 can be of a diameter greater than that of the collar 13 of the jacket 4 or of the body 3 of the pump mechanism.

In the absence of a dispensing plunger 1, the force necessary for fitting the pump body onto the neck of the container can be applied to the flange 13.

According to the invention, the height of the fitting is practically equal to the interior height of the neck 7 of the container 2.

• l'assemblage est durablement consolidé par le serrage résultant de l'emmanchement du diamètre extérieur du corps 3 dans le diamètre intérieur du col 7 du récipient 2 ;
• la fermeture du corps pour retenir le mécanisme de la pompe qui est soumis à l'effort du ressort de rappel 17 est assurée par la présence de la chemise 4 qui est emmanchée à force à l'intérieur du corps et qui forme butée de serrage et d'étanchéité interne. Ainsi qu'on l'a vu ci-dessus, l'emmanchement de cette chemise 4 est effectué jusqu'à ce que la face inférieure de sa collerette 13 vienne en butée sur la face supérieure de la collerette 12 du corps 3. La retenue du mécanisme interne du corps de pompe peut être améliorée, ainsi qu'on l'a vu ci-dessus, par la présence des moyens d'accrochage 5, ce qui garantit la retenue de la chemise dans le corps, cette chemise tendant à être renvoyée vers le haut sous l'effet de l'action de rappel du ressort 17 et ;
• la fonction d'étanchéité est bien entendu assurée grâce à l'emmanchement serrant du diamètre extérieur du corps de pompe sur le diamètre intérieur du col du récipient.

The three functions: assembly, closing-retaining of the internal pump mechanism and sealing are obtained, according to the invention, as follows:

• the assembly is durably consolidated by the tightening resulting from the fitting of the outside diameter of the body 3 into the inside diameter of the neck 7 of the container 2;
• closing the body to retain the pump mechanism which is subjected to the force of the return spring 17 is ensured by the presence of the jacket 4 which is force fitted inside the body and which forms a tightening stop and internal sealing. As seen above, the fitting of this jacket 4 is carried out until the lower face of its flange 13 comes into abutment on the upper face of the flange 12 of the body 3. The retention of the internal mechanism of the pump body can be improved, as seen above, by the presence of the hooking means 5, which guarantees the retention of the liner in the body, this liner tending to be returned upward under the effect of the return action of the spring 17 and;
• the sealing function is of course ensured by means of the tight fitting of the outside diameter of the pump body to the inside diameter of the neck of the container.

• la jupe 19 qui, de façon connue, est prévue à la partie inférieure du piston 18 de la pompe comporte une lèvre 20 qui, au repos, est sous contrainte radiale, de manière à être maintenue coincée entre la partie inférieure du piston 18′ en forme de collerette et l'alésage intérieur du corps de pompe. Cette disposition augmente l'étanchéité et permet également de diminuer le diamètre de la pompe en évitant par exemple la réalisation d'un élément interne du type deuxième jupe pour assurer l'étanchéité sur le piston. Le renforcement du placage de la lèvre 20 contre le corps de pompe est assuré par l'action du ressort 17 qui appuie le piston 18 sur la lèvre, ce qui permet d'obtenir un effet de coincement de la lèvre.
• l'évent 9 qui, de façon classique, est prévu au travers du corps de pompe 3 peut être positionné sous la lèvre 20, ce qui permet de supprimer les fuites éventuelles entre la chemise 4 et la partie supérieure de la jupe 19, en limitant les cheminements de fuites, grâce à une pression constante dans le récipient. On notera qu'un tel positionnement du trou d'évent est rendu possible, notamment par le fait que l'invention s'applique de préférence à des récipients de faible capacité, ce qui limite l'actionnement de la pompe à quelques dizaines de pulvérisation. Ainsi, les risques d'endommagement de lèvre 20 au passage du trou d'évent sont limités.

According to the invention, the tightness of the pump is improved by the following arrangements:

• the skirt 19 which, in known manner, is provided at the lower part of the piston 18 of the pump comprises a lip 20 which, at rest, is under radial stress, so as to be held wedged between the lower part of the piston 18 ′ in flange shape and the inner bore of the pump body. This arrangement increases the seal and also makes it possible to reduce the diameter of the pump, for example by avoiding the production of an internal element of the second skirt type to ensure the seal on the piston. Reinforcement of the plating of the lip 20 against the pump body is ensured by the action of the spring 17 which presses the piston 18 on the lip, which makes it possible to obtain an effect of jamming of the lip.
• the vent 9 which, conventionally, is provided through the pump body 3 can be positioned under the lip 20, which makes it possible to eliminate any leaks between the jacket 4 and the upper part of the skirt 19, by limiting leak paths, thanks to constant pressure in the container. It will be noted that such positioning of the vent hole is made possible, in particular by the fact that the invention preferably applies to containers of low capacity, which limits the actuation of the pump to a few dozen sprays. . Thus, the risk of damage to the lip 20 in the passage of the vent hole is limited.

It will be noted that thanks to the arrangements according to the present invention, the pump can operate without a seal system.

The lower part 22 of the piston 18 of the pump is produced so as to ensure a double function: the centering of the spring 17 and the end-of-travel stop on the ball 23 provided, conventionally, in the sampling tube 6 at the top of the latter. During the fitting, the base of the piston, coming into abutment on the ball, blocks the latter thus preventing any rise of the liquid during the slight overpressure due to the fitting.

The operation of this pump is similar to that of the piston pumps of the vaporizer-metering devices according to the prior art mentioned above and will not be described again. It will be noted however that the passage of the liquid in the channel 23 of the pump body, and through the transverse channel 24 can be carried out either by deformation or by lifting of the skirt 19.

• obtention de façon simple et peu coûteuse de l'accrochage du corps de pompe sur le récipient contenant le produit à vaporiser, cet accrochage étant réalisé selon un encombrement aussi réduit que possible, contrairement au système d'accrochage classique nécessitant des bagues, ainsi qu'on l'a vu ci-dessus ;
• possibilité de montage sur des tubes échantillons. La prise en main d'un tube échantillon, pour actionner un système vaporisateur-doseur monté à son extrémité, est très délicate et, l'invention permet de réaliser une pompe présentant un fonctionement très souple, ce qui autorise ce montage ;
• l'étanchéité renforcée réalisée grâce à l'invention permet de distribuer des doses très faibles, ce qui renforce l'adaptabilité du système selon l'invention à des tubes échantillons dont la contenance est très faible (de l'ordre de 1 à 2 cm³), ce qui nécessite la présence d'une pompe, parfaitement étanche, sous peine de voir diminuer, voire disparaître le contenu du tube échantillon, en quelques semaines.

Among the advantages provided by the invention, the following may be mentioned in particular:

• obtaining in a simple and inexpensive way the attachment of the pump body to the container containing the product to be vaporized, this attachment being carried out in a space that is as small as possible, unlike the conventional attachment system requiring rings, as well as we saw it above;
• possibility of mounting on sample tubes. The handling of a sample tube, for actuating a spray-metering system mounted at its end, is very delicate and, the invention makes it possible to produce a pump having a very flexible operation, which allows this assembly;
• the reinforced seal produced thanks to the invention makes it possible to distribute very low doses, which reinforces the adaptability of the system according to the invention to sample tubes whose capacity is very low (of the order of 1 to 2 cm³ ), which requires the presence of a pump, perfectly sealed, otherwise the contents of the sample tube will decrease or even disappear within a few weeks.

The device according to the present invention is preferably applied to small capacity containers intended in particular for the market for the sampling of perfumes and cosmetics. By way of nonlimiting example, the pump body can have a diameter of 5 mm compatible with a tight fitting of this body inside the necks of drawn glass containers manufactured for this use, but the closure of which is the present time provided by a simple plug making it impractical to use such sample tubes. The device according to the invention can therefore be substituted for the current stopper of these sample tubes making it possible to provide a sprayed restitution of the perfume sample or a restitution in "nuts" for products with a viscous consistency, in particular cosmetic products such as gels, oils, creams or milks. Of course, the invention can be applied to containers of larger capacity and to necks of larger diameter.

It remains to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments and / or applications described and mentioned here, but that it encompasses all variants thereof.

Claims (11)

Metering system for liquid or viscous products comprising a pump of the mechanical type positioned in a container containing the product to be dispensed, characterized in that the body (3) of said pump is force fitted into the neck (7) of the container (2) , in that the upper part of said body ends in a collar (12) which abuts on the neck (7) and in that the body (3) has a cylindrical clamping part on the neck (7) of the container which is extended by a lower part (11) of reduced external diameter onto which a vent hole (9) opens. Dosing system according to claim 1, characterized in that a shoulder (10) is provided between said upper cylindrical part of the body (3) force fitted into said neck and its lower part (11) of reduced diameter, under which opens said vent hole. Dosing system according to claim 1, characterized in that an external groove is provided in the external cylindrical surface of the pump body (3), the vent hole (9) opening onto said groove. Dosing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a jacket (4) force-fitted into the upper part of said body (3), this shirt ending at its upper part by a collar (13) coming into abutment against the flange (12) of said body. Dosing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more protruding parts (5) are provided on the outside diameter of said jacket (4), which engage in the corresponding housings provided on the internal diameter of the body. Dosing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dispensing plunger (1) of the pump serves as a support during the fitting of the pump body inside the neck (7) of the container ( 2). Dosing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the force necessary for the fitting of the pump body into the neck is supported either on the jacket (4) or on the body (3). Metering spray system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower part of the piston (18) of the pump is provided with a skirt (19) which has an annular lip (20) which, at rest, is held under radial stress, said skirt being wedged between a flange (18 ′), provided at the end of the piston, and the interior of the pump body (3). Metering spray system according to claim 8, characterized in that the vent hole (9) provided in the pump body is placed under the lip (20) of said skirt (19). Metering spray system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower part (22) of the piston (18) is produced so as to ensure a double function: the centering of the return spring (17) of the piston and the end-of-travel stop on the ball (23) serving as a valve for the pump and which is provided so as to close off the sampling tube (6), positioned at the lower end of the pump body. Metering spray system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piston (18) is shaped and dimensioned so that, when the pump body is fitted onto the neck of the container, the base of said piston abuts on said ball (73).

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