FR2853697A1 - PUMP AND CONTAINER THUS EQUIPPED - Google Patents

Abstract

The pump has a pump body with an opening (24) to communicate a pumping chamber with an interior of a receptacle. A lip (40) is fixed on the body to prevent communication between the chamber and receptacle, after the displacement of mobile assembly in a product distribution direction from a rest position. Another lip (41) is placed above the former lip to prevent the communication across an interior of the body and the opening. An independent claim is also included for a receptacle equipped with a pump.

Description

The present invention relates to a pump intended to be mounted on a

  container and allowing to distribute a product in different positions, in particular head up or head down.

  Patent application FR 2 528 122 discloses a pump making it possible to distribute a product upside or upside down, comprising a pump body and a movable assembly in the pump body, defining therewith a variable volume pumping. The pump body has an opening allowing the product contained in the container to enter the pumping chamber when the pump is used upside down. The movable assembly comprises a lip making it possible to isolate the aforementioned opening from the pumping chamber after a certain depression in the pump body. If the pump is kept upside down for a long period, a risk of product leaking through this opening is not excluded, especially if the product is not very viscous.

  The invention aims in particular to provide a pump which has a relatively simple structure while making it possible to satisfactorily distribute a product, even a low viscosity product, head up or head down.

  The subject of the invention is, according to one of its aspects, a pump intended to be fixed to a container, comprising: - a fixed part comprising a pump body, - an assembly movable relative to the pump body and defining with 20 a pumping chamber of variable volume, at least one opening in the pump body allowing the pumping chamber to communicate with the interior of the container and arranged so as to allow head-down operation of the pump, - an air return passage between the fixed part and the mobile assembly, this passage being distinct from said opening, that is to say not comprising said opening, - a first lip arranged for, at least after a displacement of the movable assembly from a rest position in the direction of dispensing of the product, apply sealingly to the pump body and prevent communication through said opening between the interior of the container and the pumping, and - a second lip located above the first when the pump is viewed head up, this second lip being arranged for, at least when the movable assembly is in an end position in the pump body , apply tightly to the pump body and prevent communication through the interior of the pump body and said opening between the interior of the container and the exterior.

  The invention can make it possible to produce the pump with an air return passage 5 which can extend at least partially in the pump body, for example by virtue of a clearance formed between a rod of the mobile assembly and the part fixed. This can avoid having to use complex and costly sealing means to be produced between the aforementioned rod and the fixed part.

  The invention also makes it possible, in the case where the air intake is effected by means of a clearance between the rod and the fixed part, to reduce the risk of product leakage in the event of holding the pump upside down, that this either at rest or when the mobile assembly is in an end-of-travel position in the pump body, since the second lip can prevent the product entering through the opening from gaining through the interior of the pump body the return passage air and flow out of the pump.

  Preferably, the pump comprises an annular seal intended to be inserted between the fixed part and the upper end of the neck of the container on which the pump is mounted, this seal comprising a radially inner portion which on the one hand can apply to the pump body to prevent the product contained in the container from flowing outwards and on the other hand can deviate therefrom under the effect of a depression in the container so allow air to be taken in. Alternatively, the seal does not apply to the pump body. However, the clearance between the seal and the pump body is then small enough to prevent the passage of the product, while allowing the passage of air.

  In an exemplary implementation of the invention, the pump comprises a base part allowing the pump to be fixed on the container, the pump body being fixed, in particular by snap-fastening, on this base part.

  The aforementioned return air passage can be formed at least partially between this base part and the pump body.

  In an exemplary implementation of the invention, at least one of the first 30 and second lips is arranged to be applied permanently to the pump body, and preferably the two lips are applied permanently to the pump body.

  The first lip may have a substantially frustoconical shape diverging in the direction of the pumping chamber and the second lip an arcuate shape concave towards the interior surface of the pump body, applying by lower and upper edges on the pump body.

  In the case where the pump is pre-compression, the movable assembly may include a shutter arranged to close a product outlet passage when the volume of the pumping chamber increases and to release this passage when the volume of the pumping decreases and the product pressure in the pumping chamber reaches a predefined value.

  It is not beyond the scope of the present invention when the pump includes other pre-compression mechanisms or is not pre-compression.

  The mobile assembly may include an interior space into which the product outlet passage opens and in which the shutter is disposed.

  This shutter may comprise a tubular body closed at its upper end by a substantially frustoconical portion, capable of closing the outlet passage of the product.

  The shutter may further comprise an annular lip, outside the tubular body, capable of being applied to a wall delimiting the abovementioned interior space, this annular lip, when the pump is observed head up, having a substantially frustoconical shape diverging upward and lying below the passage or passages communicating said interior space and the pumping chamber.

  The shutter can be returned to its closed position by an elastic return element arranged in the interior space, this elastic return element being for example a helical spring working in compression.

  Advantageously, the pump comprises an elastic return element capable of returning the mobile assembly to its rest position. This elastic return element can be placed in the pumping chamber and include a helical spring working in compression. This return element could also, without departing from the scope of the present invention, be arranged outside the pumping chamber, in particular if it is desired to avoid contact with the product.

  In an exemplary implementation of the invention, the pump body is arranged to allow the attachment of a dip tube.

  The pump comprising a suction valve closing when the volume of the pumping chamber decreases and opening when the volume of the pumping chamber increases, this valve can be arranged so as to allow the supply of the pumping chamber in product through the dip tube when the pump is used head up.

  The invention also relates to a container equipped with a pump as defined above.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, of an example of non-limiting implementation thereof, and on examining the appended drawing, in which: - Figure 1 shows, schematically and partially, in axial section, a pump according to an exemplary implementation of the invention, the movable assembly being in its rest position, - Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, after depressing the push-button, and FIG. 3 schematically and partially represents a detail of the pump of FIG. 2.

  The pump 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is intended to be mounted on a neck 52 of a container 53, visible in FIG. 3, containing a product P to be dispensed, for example a product of low viscosity such as a perfume.

  This pump 1 comprises a fixed part 2 and a mobile assembly 3 which can move along an axis X relative to the fixed part 2.

  The latter comprises a base part 4 comprising a mounting skirt 5, internally threaded, intended to be secured to the neck 52 of the container 53 by screwing 25 in the example considered. The base part 4 could be fixed otherwise on the neck of the container without departing from the scope of the present invention, by snap-fastening, bonding, welding or crimping for example.

  The fixed part 2 further comprises a pump body 16 defining with the movable assembly 3 a pumping chamber 17, of variable volume.

  The movable assembly 3 comprises a piston 30 produced in one piece with a hollow rod 31 at the upper end of which a push button 25 is fixed.

  The mounting skirt 5 is extended upwards by a neck 7, surrounding a central portion 8 of the base part 4. This central portion 8 comprises two tubular walls 9 and 12, coaxial, connected together by an annular wall 11 to their upper end, and defines an annular groove open downwards, into which the pump body 16 is engaged.

  The central portion 8 is connected, at its lower end, to the neck 7 by an annular wall 10 extending perpendicular to the axis X. The tubular wall 12, radially innermost, defines a passage 13 for the rod 31 of the mobile assembly 3. This passage 13 defines at its lower end a frustoconical surface 13a of axis X, diverging downwards, against which a corresponding frustoconical surface 3 la of the rod 31 can sealingly bear, converging towards the top, when the pump is at rest, as illustrated in Figure 1.

  The radially outermost tubular wall 9 has, on its radially inner face, a bead 14 allowing the snap-fastening of the pump body 16 to the base part 4, the pump body 16 having for this purpose its upper end an annular bead 23.

  The base part 4 carries an annular seal 51 intended to be inserted between the annular wall 10 and the upper end of the neck 52 of the container 53, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

  The radially inner portion 51a of the seal 51 is normally applied against the pump body 16 to prevent the product contained in the container from flowing outward.

  The pump body 16 has in the example considered a cylindrical portion 16a of revolution around the axis X and comprises at its lower end a nozzle 18 used for fixing a dip tube 19.

  The endpiece 18 defines the seat of a ball suction valve 20. The latter is retained in its housing by at least one lug 21 of the pump body 16.

  According to one aspect of the invention, the pump body 16 has an opening 24, located in the example considered substantially mid-height thereof, and 30 for placing the pumping chamber 17 in communication with the inside the container when the mobile assembly 3 is at rest, the volume of the pumping chamber then being maximum.

  The push button 25 has a dispensing orifice 26 produced with a conventional nozzle with swirl channels 27, attached to the rest of the push button, which allows the product P to be dispensed in the form of a spray.

  The rod 31 has a channel 29 allowing the product to reach this orifice 26. 5 In the example considered, the piston 30 has first 40 and second 41 annular lips.

  The first lip 40 is of substantially frustoconical shape, diverging towards the bottom of the pumping chamber 14 and bears in a sealed manner on the internal surface of the cylindrical portion 16a of the pump body 16. This first lip 40 is located at 1 0 above the opening 24 when the pump is in its rest position, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

  The second annular lip 41 is located above the first 40, and is also applied in leaktight manner to the internal surface of the cylindrical portion 16a of the pump body 16. This second lip 41 has in the example considered a 15 arcuate shape, concave towards the inner surface of the body 16, and is applied by lower edges 41a and upper 41b on the body 16.

  The rod 31 is extended below by a hollow end piece 32, closed at its lower end.

  This end piece 32 is for example fixed by snap-fastening on the rod 31, 20 and comprises an external shoulder 33 on which abuts at its upper end a helical spring 34 working in compression, which rests by its lower end on the bottom of the pump body 16.

  Passages 36 are made between the pumping chamber 17, outside the end piece 32, and the interior space 35 thereof, to allow the product 25 contained in the pumping chamber 17 to reach the channel 29 when the volume of the pumping chamber 17 decreases.

  The movable assembly 3 comprises, in the interior space 35, a shutter 42 movable between a closed position closing the channel 29 and a dispensing position allowing the product to flow in the channel 29 to the orifice 26.

  The shutter 42 comprises a tubular body 43, of axis X, closed at its upper end by a frustoconical portion 44 capable of being applied against a seat produced in the rod 31, for closing the channel 29 when the pump is at rest , as shown in Figure 1.

  The shutter 42 also comprises an annular lip 46 outside the tubular body 43, capable of being applied to the interior surface of the end piece 32.

  This annular lip 46 has, when the pump is viewed head up, a frustoconical shape diverging upwards, and is positioned below the passages 36 making the interior space 35 communicate with the pumping chamber 17.

  A helical spring 45 working in compression recalls the shutter 42 in its closed position at rest, as can be seen in Figure 1. This spring 45 10 bears at its lower end against the bottom of the end piece 32 and at its upper end against the base of the lip 46.

  When a vacuum prevails inside the container, air can be drawn into it by circulating between the neck 7 and the push-button 25 and when the latter is pressed, in the clearance existing between the rod 31 and the tubular wall 12, between the latter and the pump body 16, between the annular wall 11 and the body 16, then between the tubular wall 9 and the pump body 16 and finally between the seal 51 and the body 16.

  FIG. 2 shows the air return path 50.

  Between the tubular wall 9 and the body 16, the air can circulate thanks to diametrically opposite axial grooves produced in the bead 14. The radially inner portion 51a of the annular seal 51 can deviate slightly from the pump body 16, to allow the air circulating between the tubular wall 9 and the pump body 16 to reach the interior of the container, as can be seen in FIG. 3.

  The operation of pump 1 is as follows.

  It is assumed that the pump 1 is used head up, being initially in its rest position illustrated in FIG. 1. It is assumed that the pumping chamber 17 is filled with product, following a previous actuation cycle of the pump .

  To dispense product, the user exerts downward pressure on the push button 25, and the movable assembly 3 moves relative to the pump body 16, so that the pressure of the product contained in the pumping chamber 17 increases, the ball 20 being pressed against its seat.

  The shutter 42 remains in its closed position of the channel 29 until the pressure of the product in the interior space 35 above the annular lip 46 is sufficient to overcome the return force of the spring 45.

  When the mobile assembly 3 is sufficiently depressed, the pressure exerted by the product on the lip 46 causes the shutter 42 to move downward, which frees access to the channel 29.

  Continued movement of the mobile assembly 3 relative to the pump body 16 causes the product contained in the pumping chamber 17 and the interior space 35 to be expelled.

  During this movement, the first lip 40 isolates the pumping chamber 17 from the opening 24 and the second annular lip 41 makes it possible to isolate the opening 24 from the air intake passage.

  During the movement of the mobile assembly 3, the spring 34 is compressed.

  When the user stops pressing the push-button 25, the spring 34 15 drives the mobile assembly 3 upwards and the spring 45 brings the shutter 42 back to its position for closing the channel 29.

  The continuation of the upward movement of the mobile assembly 3 relative to the pump body 16 is accompanied by the aspiration of product into the pumping chamber 17 under the effect of the vacuum which is created therein.

  The air intake can be carried out along the path 50, to compensate inside the container for the volume of product withdrawn by the pump 1.

  When the latter returns to its rest position, the product can remain inside the pumping chamber 17 because the ball 20 tends, under the effect of its weight, to be pressed against its seat and to close the communication between the dip tube and the pumping chamber 17.

  When the pump is used upside down, the pumping chamber 17 can be filled through the opening 24 thanks to the fact that the air can be evacuated through the dip tube. The product is dispensed in the same way as in the head-up position.

  When the pump 1 is upside down, at rest, the fact that the first lip 40 30 is applied in a sealed manner to the pump body 16 makes it possible to avoid a risk of product leakage due to the play existing between the rod 31 and the central portion 8 of the base portion 4.

  This risk of product leakage is also prevented or reduced if the pump is upside down with the mobile assembly 3 in its end-of-travel position, by pressing the second lip 41 on the pump body 16.

  The parts of pumps with and without return air marketed under the reference M300 by the company CALMAR, a subsidiary of the company SAINT-GOBAIN, can advantageously be used to manufacture a pump according to the invention.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the example of implementation which has just been described.

  The pump body can in particular comprise not one, but several openings 24.

  Throughout the description, including the claims, the expression "comprising a" must be understood as being synonymous with "comprising at least one", unless otherwise specified.

Claims (17)

  1. Pump (1) intended to be fixed on a container, comprising: - a fixed part comprising a pump body (16), - a movable assembly (3) relative to the pump body (16) and defining therewith ci a pumping chamber of variable volume (17), - at least one opening (24) in the pump body allowing the pumping chamber to communicate with the interior of the container and arranged so as to allow operation upside down of the pump, - an air return passage between the fixed part (2) and the movable assembly (3), this passage being distinct from said opening (24), - a first lip (40) arranged for, after displacement of the movable assembly from a rest position in the direction of dispensing of the product, apply sealingly to the pump body (16) and prevent communication through said opening (24) between the interior of the container and the pumping chamber (17), and - a second lip (41) located above essus of the first, when the pump is observed head up, this second lip being arranged to, at least when the movable assembly is in an end position in the pump body, apply tightly on the pump body and preventing communication through the interior of the pump body and through said opening between the interior of the container and the exterior.   2. Pump according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises an annular seal (51) intended to be inserted between the fixed part and the upper end (52) of the neck of the container on which the pump is mounted, this seal 25 comprising a radially inner portion (51a) applying to the pump body to prevent the product contained in the container from flowing outwards, and able to move away from it under the effect of a vacuum to allow air to enter from the outside to the inside of the container.   3. Pump according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a base part (4) allowing the pump to be fixed on a container, the pump body (16) being fixed, in particular by snap-fastening , on this basic part.   4. Pump according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the air return passage is formed at least partially between the base part (4) and the pump body (16).   5. Pump according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the first (40) and second (41) lips is arranged to be permanently applied to the pump body (16) , and preferably the two lips are permanently applied to the pump body.   6. Pump according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first lip (40) has a substantially frustoconical shape 10 diverging in the direction of the pumping chamber.   7. Pump according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second lip (41) has a concave arcuate shape towards the inner surface of the pump body, applying by lower and upper edges on the body of pump.   8. Pump according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile assembly (3) has a product outlet passage and a shutter (42) arranged to close this passage when the volume of the pumping chamber increases and to clear this passage when the volume of the pumping chamber decreases and the product pressure in the pumping chamber reaches a predefined value.   9. Pump according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the movable assembly includes an interior space (35) into which the product outlet passage opens and in which the obturator (42) is disposed.   10. Pump according to one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the obturator comprises a tubular body (43) closed at its upper end by a substantially frustoconical portion (44), capable of closing the outlet passage of the product.   11. Pump according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the shutter further comprises an annular lip (46), outside the tubular body, capable of coming to be applied on a wall delimiting the interior space (35 ), this annular lip 30, when the pump is viewed from above, having a substantially frustoconical shape diverging upwards and lying below the passage (s) (36) making the interior space (35) communicate with the pumping chamber .   12. Pump according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the shutter is returned to its closed position by an elastic return element (45) disposed in the interior space (35), l 'elastic return element is preferably a helical spring working in compression.   13. Pump according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an elastic return element (34) capable of returning the mobile assembly to its rest position.   14. Pump according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the elastic return element (34) is arranged in the pumping chamber (17).   15. Pump according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pump body (16) is arranged to allow the attachment of a dip tube (19).   16. Pump according to the preceding claim, comprising a suction valve (20) closing when the volume of the pumping chamber decreases and opening when the volume of the pumping chamber increases, characterized in that this valve is arranged to allow the supply of product to the pumping chamber via the dip tube when the pump is used head up.   17. Container equipped with a pump according to any one of the preceding claims.