EP4175760B1 - Fluid dispenser - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a refillable fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir defining a neck, a dispensing member, such as a pump, mounted on the neck of the fluid reservoir for drawing fluid, a fixing member for fixing the dispensing member to the neck of the fluid reservoir, and a dip tube connected to the inlet of the dispensing member and which extends into the fluid reservoir.

The preferred field of application of the present invention is that of perfumery, without forgetting cosmetics or even pharmacy.

In the prior art, numerous refillable dispensers are already known, often referred to as "portable dispensers". They comprise a reservoir of reduced volume, of the order of 5 to 20 ml, and are refillable using a source of fluid product capable of injecting fluid product under pressure through a filling valve. The source generally comprises a valve stem which is applied against the outer edge of the filling orifice. Each time the valve stem is pushed against the filling orifice, a dose of fluid product is injected.

At the end of the filling operation, the valve stem is moved away from the filling flap, but a small amount of fluid remains present. Sometimes, a small drop may separate from it. This residual fluid can then contaminate an object brought into contact with the filling orifice or onto which the small drop falls.

There is therefore a cleanliness issue with the filling hole with these portable dispensers. This is one of the main reasons why they are not more widely available in stores. Users do not want to spread their perfume all over their belongings, especially those in their handbags, since portable dispensers are often carried in handbags.

The present invention aims to propose another type of refillable dispenser that does not include a filling valve. The filling operation must be intuitive, quick and without risk of contamination.

To do this, the present invention proposes that the dip tube is secured to the fluid reservoir by means of a support which forms at least one filling window which communicates directly with the interior of the fluid reservoir. As for the fixing member, it allows removal of the dispensing member, so as to access the support to fill the fluid reservoir through said at least one filling window. The support is integrated into a fixed part mounted on the fluid reservoir and the dispensing member is secured to a movable part removably mounted on the fixed part. Thus, the removable mounting of the movable part on the fixed part is done independently of the neck of the reservoir. The support comprises an annular support plate extending above the neck and supporting a pump seal.

Advantageously, the fixed part comprises a fixing ring forming first removable fixing means which cooperate with second removable fixing means formed by the movable part.

According to another aspect of the invention, the fixing ring can hold the pump seal on the support. This pump seal has the function of ensuring sealing between the fixed and moving parts.

In a practical embodiment, the holder may form a gripping skirt engaging around the neck, the securing ring locking the gripping skirt around the neck. Alternatively, the securing ring may directly engage the neck and hold the holder in the neck.

Since the dip tube remains in place in the tank, there is no risk of it becoming dirty. In fact, it is mainly the dip tube that is likely to lose fluid once removed from the tank. It is immersed in the fluid and is filled with fluid. The pump, once removed, can easily be placed on a surface without soiling it: it can be placed upside down on the pusher, if possible. Filling is not done through the dip tube, but through the filling window(s), which preferably have an increased flow section, in order to avoid creating a phenomenon of overflow, then overflow.

Advantageously, the support can form at least one vent window to allow air to escape from the fluid reservoir when it is filled with fluid. Thus, the flows of fluid and air intersect in the support. Different configurations for the filling and vent windows can dictate the nature of the flow passing through them. In general, the fluid favors the window that offers it the least pressure drop and the air is then forced to escape through the other window that has a greater pressure drop. Preferably, said at least one filling window and said at least one vent window are located at the same axial height. Thus, filling stops as soon as air can no longer escape from the reservoir.

Advantageously, the support can form a sealed connection end piece in which the inlet of the dispensing member is engaged, the dip tube being in fluid communication with this sealed connection end piece. The sealed connection end piece can be movable between an extended rest position and a retracted engagement position, elastic means biasing the sealed connection end piece in the extended rest position, so that the sealed connection end piece, in the retracted engagement position, is elastically biased against the inlet of the dispensing member. This elasticity also makes it possible to mount pumps of different sizes (lengths). This elasticity can also be used to vary the size of the filling and venting windows. Their passage section can be maximum in the retracted engagement position and minimum in the extended rest position. According to a practical embodiment, the support can comprise a peripheral body in which the sealed connection end piece slides against the elastic means. In the retracted engagement position, the sealed connection tip can seal the filling and vent windows in a sealed or non-sealed manner. A filling source can thus be provided which is introduced into the support so as to push the sealed connection tip back into the retracted engagement position.

Advantageously, a neck seal is compressed between the annular support plate and the neck. Advantageously, the pump seal may be held in place on the annular support plate by a fixing ring which extends around the neck. Preferably, the fixing ring comprises a retracting flap which engages with the outer periphery of the pump seal. Furthermore, the fixing ring may form first removable fixing means which cooperate with second removable fixing means formed by the movable part.

According to a practical embodiment, the support may comprise a peripheral body, a transition section, a sealed connection end piece and a connection sleeve, the peripheral body and/or the transition section forming the filling window and the venting window, the sealed connection end piece receiving the inlet of the dispensing member and the connection sleeve receiving the dip tube, the sealed connection end piece being advantageously movable relative to the connection sleeve by masking/unmasking the filling and venting windows.

The spirit of the invention lies in separating the dip tube from the pump or valve to leave it in the tank, so that the risks of contamination with the pump or valve alone are reduced. Filling is done by gravity or injection through one or more filling windows, and not through the dip tube. The fixing ring and the pump seal allow a stable and leak-proof mounting of a source tank for filling the tank or another device for withdrawing the contents of the filled tank. However, the pump seal can be implemented without the fixing ring. But preferably, they are implemented together.

The invention will now be more fully described with reference to the attached drawings giving, by way of non-limiting examples, several modes of realization of the invention.

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective et en transparence d'un distributeur selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention à l'état démonté,
• La figure 2 est une vue en perspective et en coupe du distributeur de la figure 1,
• La figure 3 est une vue en coupe transversale du distributeur des figures 1 et 2, et
• La figure 4 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 2 du distributeur à l'état monté,
• La figure 5 est une vue fortement agrandie du distributeur de la figure 4,
• Les figures 6a et 6b sont des vues illustrant deux variantes de réalisation,
• La figure 7a est une vue en coupe transversale à travers un distributeur selon un second mode de réalisation de l'invention à l'état monté,
• La figure 7b est une vue similaire à la figure 7a à l'état démonté, et
• La figure 8 est une vue similaire à la figure 7a avec une source de remplissage à la place de la tête de distribution.

In the figures:

• There Figure 1 is a perspective and transparent view of a dispenser according to a first embodiment of the invention in the disassembled state,
• There Figure 2 is a perspective and sectional view of the distributor of the Figure 1 ,
• There Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the distributor of the Figures 1 and 2 , And
• There Figure 4 is a view similar to that of the Figure 2 from the distributor in the assembled state,
• There Figure 5 is a greatly enlarged view of the distributor of the Figure 4 ,
• THE Figures 6a and 6b are views illustrating two variant embodiments,
• There Figure 7a is a cross-sectional view through a dispenser according to a second embodiment of the invention in the assembled state,
• There Figure 7b is a view similar to the Figure 7a in the disassembled state, and
• There figure 8 is a view similar to the Figure 7a with a filling source instead of the dispensing head.

The dispenser of the invention comprises two separable sub-assemblies, namely a first sub-assembly comprising a fluid product reservoir R and a fixed part F mounted on the reservoir R and a second sub-assembly consisting of a dispensing head T comprising a dispensing member P, a pusher B and a movable part M used to removably mount the dispensing member P on the fixed part F of the first sub-assembly. In other words, the dispensing head T can be removed from the first sub-assembly with a simple and rapid gesture, leading to the separation of the movable part M from the fixed part F. The removable connection between these two parts can be ensured by any suitable means, such as screwing/unscrewing, magnetization, snap-fastening, bayonet, etc.

The fluid reservoir R is not critical to the invention. It can be made of any suitable material and have any shape. It is sufficient that it forms a neck R2 defining an opening. The neck R2 may protrude from a shoulder R1. The neck R2 may include an external annular reinforcement R3 which may be used for attachment.

The fixed part F essentially comprises a support 1 supporting a dip tube D and a fixing ring 2 which fulfills a double function, namely the maintenance of the support 1 on or in the neck R2 and the removable connection with the removable part M.

The support 1 is an essential part of the invention. It is used first of all to suspend the dip tube D inside the tank R, as can be seen in the Figure 2 . It is also used to fill the tank with fluid product, since the fluid product is poured into the support 1. It can be made by injection/molding of plastic material.

The support 1 is preferably made in one piece. It comprises a cylindrical peripheral body 11, internally defining a receiving housing for the dispensing member P, as will be seen below. This body 11 is extended at its upper end by an annular support plate 12 which extends radially outwards. This plate 12 is arranged above the annular upper edge of the neck R2, with a neck seal 122 possibly crushed between them. The plate 12 thus defines a lower annular sealing surface which comes into sealed contact with the fluid reservoir. This plate 12 can also be provided on its upper face with a pump seal 121. The plate 12 thus defines an upper annular sealing surface which comes into sealed contact with the dispensing head T, as will be seen below.

The plate 12 extends on its external periphery by a hooking skirt 13 which engages around the neck R2. The skirt 13 can be split vertically or on the contrary continuous. The skirt 13 can form projecting internal profiles 131 which are housed below the reinforcement R3 of the neck R2.

The body 11 is extended at its lower end by a transition section 14, here of truncated cone shape. It is pierced with several windows 15, 16, at least one of which is a filling window 15 and at least one other is a venting window 16. The windows 15 and 16 can be identical or different in section and/or length. They are preferably arranged at the same axial height, in order to stop filling, as soon as air can no longer escape from the tank through the vent window(s) 16.

The transition section 14 connects downwards to a connecting sleeve 17 and upwards to a sealed connection end piece 18. The connecting sleeve 17 and the sealed connection end piece 18 are aligned and communicate with each other. The dip tube D is force-fitted into the connecting sleeve 17. The sealed connection end piece 18 is adapted to receive the inlet P2 of the distribution member P, as will be seen below.

The support 1 defines an internal housing 10 mainly formed by the body 11. This internal housing 10 is largely open at the top and partially closed at the bottom by the transition section 14 and the sealed connection end piece 18.

The fixing ring 2 comprises a casing 21, which is internally cylindrical so as to engage around the skirt 13 of the support 1. The casing 21 is lowered around the skirt, so as to block its projecting profiles 131 under the reinforcement R3 and to crush the neck seal 122 between the plate 12 and the upper edge of the neck R2. Externally, the casing 21 forms first removable fixing means 22, which may be in the form of screw threads or cam tracks. At its upper end, the fixing ring 2 comprises a retracting flap 23 which engages with the external periphery of the pump seal 121. Thus, the support 1 is fixedly and tightly mounted on and in the neck R2. In a variant not shown, the support 1 could be devoid of a skirt 13 and the fixing ring 2 could be provided with attachment means (snap-fastening, screwing, crimping, etc.) in direct engagement with the neck R2. In both cases, the fixing ring 2 extends around the neck R2 and holds the pump seal 121 in place on the plate 12 at its external periphery.

Furthermore, the body 11, instead of being solid, could be openwork over all or part of its height, thus forming filling windows and venting in place of or in addition to those of the transition section 14. In addition, the dip tube D may be in one piece with the connecting sleeve 17. The seals 121 and 122 could also be omitted. In this case, the plate 12 would directly form the lower and upper annular sealing surfaces, for example with deformable sealing beads or rings.

The dispensing member P of the dispensing head T may be a conventional pump or valve. It comprises a base body P1 which forms an inlet P2 at its lower end and a fixing collar P3 at its upper end. The dispensing member P also comprises an actuating rod P4, which moves back and forth in the base body P1. This rod P4 is capped by a pusher B, which the user can press to actuate the dispensing member P. This is a completely conventional design for a pump or valve in the fields of perfumery or cosmetics.

The movable part M comprises a capsule 3 forming a receiving housing 30 for the base body P1 of the dispensing member P. This housing 30 comprises an annular snap-on flange 31 which engages around and below the fixing collar P3 of the dispensing member P. The capsule 3 also comprises a connection sleeve 32 which forms second removable fixing means 33, for example in the form of one or more pins which project inwards.

Optionally, the capsule 3 can be masked with a covering band 4, which only fulfills an aesthetic function.

As can be seen from the figures 4 And 5 , the dispensing head T can be mounted on the subassembly formed by the reservoir R and the fixed part F. It can first of all be noted that the basic body P1 of the dispensing member P is arranged in the internal housing 10 of the support 1. Its inlet P2 is engaged in and the sealed connection end piece 18. It can also be noted that the capsule 3 surrounds the ring 2, with the pins 33 engaged with the threads or cam paths 22: a rotation, preferably dextrorotatory, has the effect of lowering the capsule 3 around the ring 2. This has the effect consequence that the neck seal 122 is crushed between the neck R2 and the plate 12 and that the pump seal 121 is crushed between the plate 12 and the flange 31.

Three seals are thus made simultaneously. A first seal is made at the level of the engagement of the inlet P2 in the sealed connection end piece 18: it guarantees that the distribution member P is only supplied through the dip tube D. This seal can be radial, as illustrated in the Figure 6a or on the contrary axial, as illustrated on the Figure 6b , where the sealed connection tip 18a is provided with a small O-ring 18b. A second seal is made at the neck seal 122: it guarantees that the fluid product stored in the reservoir R cannot leak between the neck R2 and the support 1. A third seal is made at the pump seal 121: it guarantees that the fluid product stored in the reservoir R cannot leak between the support 1 and the base body P1 of the dispensing member P. the internal housing 10 communicates with the reservoir R through the dip tube D, but also through the filling 15 and venting 16 windows.

Of course, the dispensing head T can be removed or separated from the first subassembly by unscrewing the capsule 3, for example by imparting a levorotatory rotation to the hoop 4. Once the head T is removed, the internal housing 10 is widely open to the outside: a user can then fill the reservoir R by pouring fluid product into the internal housing 10, which communicates with the reservoir through the filling windows 15. Simultaneously, the air contained in the reservoir R escapes through the vent windows 16. The user can easily control the filling operation by observing the level of fluid product inside the housing 10. Once filling is complete, the head T can be put back in place by screwing.

THE Figures 7a, 7b and 8 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention, which differs only in its support 1', which comprises two separate parts, movable relative to each other. This support 1' is part, with the ring 2, of a fixed part F'.

This support 1' comprises a first part which is formed by a peripheral body 11', a plate 12, a skirt 13, a transition section 14' and a connecting sleeve 17'. The plate 12 and the skirt 13 are identical to those of the first embodiment. The body 11' is pierced with several windows 15', 16', while the transition section 14' is free of them. The sleeve 17' extends inside the body 11': the dip tube D is engaged in the sleeve 17'.

This support 1' comprises a second part 180 which forms a sealed connection end piece 18', a piston 181 and a spring 182. The sealed connection end piece 18' is similar or identical to that of the first embodiment. However, it is axially movable in the body 11' against the spring 182 which extends around the sleeve 17' and bears at the bottom of the transition section 14'. The piston extends around the sealed connection end piece 18' and comes into sealed or non-sealed contact with the internal wall of the body 11'. The sealed connection end piece 18' and the piston 181 can thus slide in the body 11' between a retracted engagement position shown in the Figure 7a and an extended resting position shown on the Figure 7b . It should be noted that the piston 181 is located axially below the windows 15, 16 on the Figure 7a and above windows 15, 16 on the Figure 7b . Communication between the reservoir and the outside through the windows 15, 16 is cut off in the extended rest position. Thus, the risk of spilling fluid contained in the reservoir is very greatly reduced, since it now only communicates through the dip tube D. The part 180 therefore fulfills a shutter role when the head T is removed. In addition, the spring 182 urges the sealed connection end piece 18' against the inlet P2 of the dispensing member P, which improves the seal between them. The sliding of the sealed connection end piece 18' can also be used to mount dispensing members P of different sizes or heights.

On the figure 8 , a filling source S has been mounted on the first subassembly in place of the head T. This source S comprises a source reservoir S1, a mounting ring S2 and a nozzle S3. The mounting ring S2 can be screwed onto the fixing ring 2 in place of the capsule 3. A Once screwing is complete, the S3 nozzle has moved the 18' sealed connection tip into the retracted engagement position, as in the Figure 7a . The windows 15', 16' are open and the fluid product from the source tank S2 can flow by gravity into the tank R through one of the windows 15' or 16'. In order to impose the flows, the nozzle S3 comprises a short fluid product conduit S4 and a long air conduit S5, which extends into the source tank S2 by a chimney S6. The descending fluid product will take the short conduit S4, while the ascending air will take the long conduit S5.

Without departing from the scope of the invention, it is possible to provide a one-piece support, the body and/or the transition section of which is elastically deformable by elongation. The body could, for example, have the shape of a bellows with or without windows. In the rest position, the bellows could at least partially obstruct the windows. On the other hand, it is possible to imagine producing the reservoir and the fixed part in a single piece: the transition section would be connected to the internal wall of the neck of the reservoir, while the threads or cam tracks would be directly formed by the external wall of the neck. The reservoir would then have to include an attached bottom. The screwing/unscrewing connection can be replaced by any other removable connection, for example by magnets, snap-fastening, etc.

Claims (14)

1. A refillable fluid product dispenser comprising:

   - a fluid product reservoir (R) defining a neck (R2),

   - a dispensing member (P), such as a pump, that is mounted on the neck (R2) of the fluid product reservoir (R) for taking up the fluid product, the dispensing member (P) comprising an inlet (P2),

   - a fastening member (2, 2) for fastening the dispenser member (P) onto the neck (R2) of the fluid product reservoir (R),

   - a dip tube (D) that is connected to the inlet (P2) of the dispensing member (P) and extends into the fluid product reservoir (R),

   the dip tube (D) being secured to the fluid product reservoir (R) by means of a support (1; 1') that forms at least one filling window (15; 15') communicating directly with the inside of the fluid product reservoir (R), the fastening member (2, 3) enabling withdrawal of the dispensing member (P), thus providing access to the support (1; 1') in order to fill the fluid product reservoir (R) through said at least one filling window (15; 15'), the support (1; 1') being integrated in a fixed portion (F; F') mounted on the fluid product reservoir (R) and the dispensing member (P) is integral with a movable portion (M) removably mounted on the fixed portion (F; F'),

   characterised in that the support (1; 1') comprises an annular support plate (12) extending above the neck (R2) and supporting a pump seal (121).
2. The dispenser according to Claim 1, wherein the fixed portion (F; F') comprises a fastening ring (2) forming the first removable fastening means (22) which co-operate with the second removable fastening means (33) formed by the movable portion (M).
3. The dispenser according to Claim 2, wherein the fastening ring (2) holds the pump seal (121) on the support (1; 1').
4. The dispenser according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the support (1; 1') forms a catching skirt (13) engaging around the neck (R2), the fastening ring (2) locking the catching skirt (13) around the neck (R2).
5. The dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a neck seal (122) is compressed between the annular support plate (12) and the neck (R2).
6. The dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pump seal (121) is held in place on the annular support plate (12) by a fastening ring (2) that extends around the neck (R2).
7. The dispenser according to Claim 6, wherein the fastening ring (2) comprises an inwardly-directed rim (23) that engages the outer periphery of the pump seal (121).
8. The dispenser according to Claim 7, wherein the fastening ring (2) forms the first removable fastening means (22) which co-operate with the second removable fastening means (33) formed by the movable portion (M).
9. The dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support (1; 1') forms at least one vent window (16; 16') to allow air to escape from the fluid product reservoir (R), when it is filled with fluid.
10. The dispenser according to Claim 9, wherein said at least one filling window (15; 15') and said at least one vent window (16; 16') are located at the same axial height.
11. The dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support (1; 1') forms a sealed connection endpiece (18; 18a; 18') in which the inlet (P2) of the dispensing member (P) is engaged, the dip tube (D) being in fluid communication with the sealed connection endpiece (18; 18a; 18').
12. The dispenser according to Claim 11, wherein the sealed connector endpiece (18') is movable between an extended rest position and a retracted engaged position, elastic means (182) urging the sealed connection endpiece (18') into the extended rest position, so that the sealed connector endpiece (18'), in the retracted engaged position, is urged elastically against the inlet (P2) of the dispensing member (P), the filling window (15') and/or the vent window (16') having a flow section that is at its maximum in the retracted engaged position and at its minimum in the extended rest position.
13. The dispenser according to Claim 12, wherein the support (1') comprises a peripheral body (11') in which the sealed connector endpiece (18') slides against the elastic means (182).
14. The dispenser according to claims 9, wherein the support (1; 1') comprises a peripheral body (11; 11'), a transition section (14; 14'), a sealed connector endpiece (18; 18a; 18') and a connection sleeve (17; 17'), the peripheral body (11; 11') and/or the transition section (14; 14') forming the filling window (15; 15') and the vent window (16; 16'), the sealed connector endpiece (18; 18a; 18') receiving the inlet (P2) of the dispensing member (P) and the connection sleeve (17; 17') receiving the dip tube (D).

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