FR2838108A1 - Cosmetic fluid dispensing capsule comprises body with dispensing channel and sealing element transverse to channel with passage delimited by sealing lip, and rod with sealing zone complementary to that of channel - Google Patents

Abstract

The dispensing capsule comprises a body (8) having a dispensing channel (14) extending along a longitudinal direction (16). A sealing element (10) extending transversely in the channel has a passage (20) delimited by a peripheral sealing lip (22). A rod (12), integral with the body, has a sealing zone (32) with a complementary cross section to that of the passage. The sealing lip can move between tight contact with the rod, preventing passage of the fluid through the capsule, and an inactive position where there is a space (34) between the rod and the sealing lip, allowing fluid to pass through the capsule.

Description

The object of the invention is a capsule intended to distribute a fluid,

  in particular a cosmetic fluid.

  This is more particularly to prevent a foreign body, such as a grain of sand or dust from entering the bottle on which the capsule is intended to be placed, or that the fluid does not spill alone

when the bottle is overturned.

  The object of the invention is to propose a simple, inexpensive solution, practical to use and in particular making it possible to dose easily.

the quantity of product desired.

  To do this, the invention proposes that: the capsule comprises: a body having a fluid distribution channel extending in a longitudinal direction, a closure element extending substantially: 5 transversely to the direction longitudinal in the distribution channel and having a passage of determined section delimited by a peripheral sealing lip, a rod secured to the body and having a sealing zone of section substantially complementary to that of said passage, - said sealing element either movable under the action of a pressure exerted in the shutter channel on one side of the shutter element, between: an active position in which said shutter lip: 5 comes closely into contact with the rod around the entire sealing area, thus preventing the passage of fluid through the capsule, À and an inactive position in which there is a space between the rod and the lip shutter, to allow the fluid to

cross the capsule.

  Thus, in the absence of action on the bottle, the closure element closes the distribution channel. By pressing on the body of the bottle, an overpressure is created inside the bottle. This overpressure then exerts a force on the closure element tending to bring the closure lip away from the closure zone of the rod and thus to allow the product to exit through the space between the rod and the closure element. The shutter element 0 then returns to the active position. The quantity of product delivered is therefore proportional to the pressure exerted on the bottle. Advantageously, the closure element comprises a membrane

elastically deformable.

  Thus, by its only deformation the membrane will move away from the obturation area of the rod, which avoids having to provide a mechanism

  complex or an additional room.

  According to another additional advantageous characteristic, in the active position, the membrane extends perpendicular to the surface of the

rod carrying the obturation zone.

  Thus, when the inside of the bottle is under pressure, the sealing lip is brought away from the sealing zone, by movement in the opposite direction, which allows air to enter and thus prevents the bottle from remaining compressed. . In addition, advantageously the membrane has in section a

  tapered profile from the periphery of the passage to the closure lip.

  A more pronounced deformation of the membrane is thus obtained near the obturation lip and thereby a more efficient operation.

satisfactory from the capsule.

  According to another advantageous characteristic, the closure element also advantageously comprises an elastically deformable portion in accordion extending substantially in the direction

  longitudinal, obtained in one piece with the membrane.

  Thus, the stresses imposed on the elastically deformable material are lower, which makes it possible to use a material which is less

  expensive and increase the robustness of the capsule.

  In order to further improve the robustness of the capsule, in accordance with the invention, the rod further comprises a distribution zone adjoining the 0 obturation zone and having a section substantially smaller than that of said obturation zone, the lip shutter coming next to the area of

  distribution when it is in the inactive position.

  Thus, the pressure to be exerted on the membrane to create a space

  given between the stem and the sealing lip can be reduced.

  Advantageously, the rod has a conical portion carrying the distribution zone, or as a variant the distribution zone has, in section in the longitudinal direction, a convex shape. We obtain

  thus convergent fluid jets.

  According to another advantageous characteristic aimed at preventing the bottle from remaining compressed, in accordance with the invention, the rod further comprises a suction zone adjoining the obturation zone and having a section substantially smaller than said obturation zone, the obturation zone being arranged between the distribution zone and the zone of

suction.

  Furthermore, to avoid any leakage of cosmetic fluid during transport of the bottle, even in the event of unexpected pressure on the bottle, in accordance with the invention, the capsule also comprises a cap movable between an active position in which it comes into contact. of the closure member to prevent relative movement between the closure member and the rod, and an inactive position in which it releases

the shutter element.

  The invention will appear even more clearly in the description.

  which follows, made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a view in median section of a capsule according to the invention, mounted on a bottle, cap closed, - Figure 2 is a view of the zone marked II in FIG. 1 of the capsule alone, - FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment according to the invention, - FIG. 4 illustrates a second alternative embodiment according to the invention, FIG. 5 illustrates a third alternative embodiment according to the invention, - Figure 6 illustrates a fourth alternative embodiment according to the invention, - Figure 7 illustrates a fifth alternative embodiment according to the invention

to the invention.

  Figure 1 illustrates an assembly 3 comprising a capsule 1 mounted

on a flexible bottle 2.

  The bottle contains a cosmetic product 4 in fluid form and has in the upper part a neck 6 on which the capsule 1 is

fixes tightly.

  The capsule 1 essentially comprises a body 8, an element

shutter 10 and a rod 12.

  The body 8 has a substantially cylindrical distribution channel 14 of circular section, extending in a direction

  longitudinal 16 and delimited by a peripheral surface 14a.

  The closure element 10 comprises an elastically deformable membrane 18 and a tubular part 24. The membrane 18 has substantially the shape of a disc having at its center a passage 20 delimited by a peripheral lip 22, so that the membrane extends between the lip 22 and a peripheral zone 19 linked to the closure element. Said tubular part 24 comes into close contact with the peripheral surface 14a of the distribution channel, in order to maintain the membrane substantially transversely to the longitudinal direction 16 inside the passage 20. It is obtained in one piece with the membrane 16 and realizes o the seal between the body 8 and the closure element 10, so that the cosmetic product 4 contained in the bottle 2 can only come out of it by the

passage 20.

  The rod 12 extends in the longitudinal direction 16 at the center of the distribution channel 14. It is linked at a first end 12a to a support plate 26 extending transversely relative to the longitudinal direction 16 and obtained in one piece with the rod 12. The support plate 26 is fixed to the body 8 and pierced with lights 28 through which the

cosmetic product 4.

  The rod 12 also has at a second end 12b, free and zo opposite the first, a conical surface 30. This conical surface 30 has a sealing zone 32 of substantially complementary section

  from that of passage 20, here it is circular and full.

  In the absence of any action exerted on the bottle, the lip 22 comes closely into contact with the rod 12 in the closure zone 32, along a continuous annular line, so that the passage 20 is completely closed and

that the fluid 4 cannot flow.

  The membrane 18 then extends perpendicular to the conical surface 30 of the rod 12, so that it is not planar, but slightly conical (between 10 and 30), hollow. This form is obtained by molding. In addition, its thickness gradually decreases by approximately 40% (+ 10%) from the value E in the peripheral zone 19 to the value e of the lip

seal 22.

  When the user wishes to collect cosmetic product 4, he turns over the bottle 4, so as to bring product into the

  dispensing 14, then it creates an overpressure in the bottle, here by pressing it.

  The pressure is communicated to the distribution channel 14 via the slots 28 and deforms the membrane 18 outwards, in concave form, as illustrated in phantom on the left side of FIG. 2. The lip 22 then moves away from 0 the shutter zone 32 and provides a space 34 between it and the rod 12 to

  through which the fluid 4 escapes as illustrated by the arrow 36.

  When the user releases his pressure on the bottle, said bottle relaxes and tends to suck in a volume of air equivalent to the volume of cosmetic fluid dispensed. Consequently, there is an underpressure in the

  bottle which deforms the membrane 18 inwards.

  A space 38 is then created between the lip 22 and the rod 12 allowing the air to penetrate inside the bottle, as illustrated by the arrow 40. Then, the

  lip 22 returns to seal against the closure zone 32 of the rod 12.

  The capsule also comprises a cap 42 articulated relative to the body 8 between an active position illustrated in FIG. 1 and an inactive position in which the cap is away from the rod 12 and from the member 18. This cap 42 comprises a tubular chimney 44 coming to be applied on the membrane 18 to prevent it from deforming when the cap is in the closed active position. The capsule is provided with means of

  locking 46 to keep the cap in the closed position on the body 8.

  Figure 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment essentially different from the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 by the shape of the rod. The marks have been increased by 100 for the corresponding elements

to those of Figures 1 and 2.

  In the absence of any action exerted on the bottle, the sealing lip 122 comes into contact with the rod 112 in a sealing zone 132 carried by a cylindrical surface 148 of circular section. The membrane 118 extending perpendicularly to the cylindrical surface 148 is then substantially plank near the lip 122. The membrane then curves in its zone

  peripheral 119 for its connection with the tubular part 124.

  The free end 112b of the rod 112 is formed by a distribution zone 150, adjoining the obturation zone 132, opposite which the lip 122 is then disposed. Said distribution zone is substantially o spherical, in order to direct the jet of cosmetic product escaping via the space 134 between the lip 122 and the distribution zone 150, when an overpressure is exerted in the bottle, as illustrated by arrow 136 on the

left half of Figure 3.

  As described above, when the pressure is released, it creates a space 138 between the lip 122 and the rod 112 allowing the air to re-enter the bottle, via the distribution channel 114, as illustrated by the arrow 140

  on the right half of figure 3.

  FIG. 4 illustrates another variant embodiment which differs essentially from the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 by the form of the membrane. Benchmarks increased by 200 for items

  corresponding to those of Figures 1 and 2.

  The membrane 218 forms an acute angle with the conical surface 230 carrying the closure zone 232. The distribution of product via the space 234 along the arrow 236 is carried out in accordance with what has been described above. However, the more the bottle is under pressure, the more strongly the lip 222 is pressed against the closure zone 232, so that air cannot penetrate inside the bottle. This realization allows consequently

  to prevent cosmetic product 204 from coming into contact with air.

  FIG. 5 also illustrates an alternative embodiment. The marks have been increased by 300 for the elements corresponding to those of FIGS. 1 ct 2. The tuLular part 324 of the closure element 310 has a shape in elastic accordion which can be deformed substantially along the longitudinal direction. The surface 348 carrying the closure zone 332 is then substantially cylindrical, here of circular section. The membrane 318 extending perpendicular to the cylindrical surface 348 is then

  substantially planar near lip 322.

  0 The free end 312b of the rod 312 is formed by a zone of

  distribution 350 substantially conical, adjoining closure zone 332.

  When an overpressure is exerted in the bottle, this pressure is exerted on the membrane 318 which then moves in the longitudinal direction by deforming the tubular part 324 in accordion. The lip 322 then arrives opposite the distribution zone 350 having a cross section smaller than that of the passage 320, so that there exists between the lip 322 and the rod 312 a space 334 through which the cosmetic product escapes. 304, such

  illustrated by arrow 336 on the left half of Figure 5.

  Conversely, when the pressure on the bottle is interrupted, it s.

  creates an underpressure on the membrane 318, which moves the lip 322 towards the end 312a of the rod 312, by deforming the part 324 in an accordion. the lip 322 is then opposite a suction zone 352 of the rod 312 having a section smaller than that of the passage 320. The air penetrates akrs into the bottle i'espace 338, as illustrated by the arrow 340 on the right side

in Figure 5.

  FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment which differs essentially from the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 in that the member comprises an accordion-shaped portion similar to that illustrated in FIG. 5. The marks have been increased by 200 for the items

  corresponding to those of figure 4.

  As described in connection with FIG. 5, the distribution of proluit is obtained by deformation of the part 424 in accordion and as described in relation to FIG. 4, the air cannot penetrate inside the bottle. The sealing element 10 is made of an elastically deformable thermoplastic material, preferably silicone (SI), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) or an elastomeric thermoplastic, such as a polyurethane (PU), a block copolymer. styrene butadiene (SBS) or an olefinic copolymer consisting of polypropylene and propylene ethylene

diene monomer (PP-EPDM).

  Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiments which have just been described by way of nonlimiting examples. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 7, one could modify the constitution of the obturation element compared to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5. In FIG. 7, the references have

  been increased by 200 for the elements corresponding to those in figure 5.

  As illustrated, the membrane 518 could be constituted by a rigid disc and the elastically deformable accordion part in each direction could in particular be replaced by an elastic washer 554 and a compression spring 556. The sealing of the membrane 518 with the distribution channel 514 and obturation area 532 could then be

  produced by O-rings 558.

  This realization is however more complex and therefore less important.

  satisfactory than those illustrated in Figures 1 to 6.

  Rev end ic ations 1. Capsule (1) for distributing fluid, in particular cosmetic fluid (4, 104), comprising: - a body (8) having a distribution channel (14, 114, 544) or fluid extending in a longitudinal direction (16), - a closure element (10) extending substantially transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction in the channel, this distribution and having a passage (20) of determined section delimited by a peripheral sealing lip (22, 122, 222, 322), 0 - a rod (12, 112) integral with the body and having a sealing zone (32, 132, 232, 332, 532) of section substantially complementary to that of said passage, in which capsule, said obturation element is movable under the action of a pressure exerting in the obturation channel, between: 5. an active position in which said obturating lip i comes closely into contact with the rod all around the area shutter, thus preventing the pa ssage of the fluid through the capsule, and an inactive position in which there is a gap (34, 134, 234, 334) between the rod and the sealing lip, in order to

  allow the fluid to pass through the capsule.

  2. Capsule according to claim 1, characterized in that the closure element comprises an elastically deformable membrane (18, 118, 218, 318). 3. Capsule according to claim 2, characterized in that in the active position, the membrane extends perpendicular to the surface of the rod

  bearing the obturation zone (30, 148, 348).

  4. Capsule according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the membrane has in section a tapered profile from the

  periphery of the passage (19, 119) towards the sealing lip (22, 122).

  5. Capsule according to any one of claims 2 to 4,

  characterized in that the shutter element further comprises an elastically deformable portion in accordion (324, 424) extending sensiblcment in the longitudinal direction, obtained integrally with the membrane

  6. Capsule according to any one of claims 2 to 5,

  characterized in that the rod further comprises a distribution zone o (150, 350) adjoining the obturation zone and having a section substantially smaller than that of said obturation zone, the obturation lip (122, 322) coming next to the distribution area when cllc

is in the inactive position.

  7. Capsule according to claim 6, characterized in that the cic distribution cic is substantially conical. 8. Capsule according to claim 6, characterized in that the zonc cic distribution present in section in the longitudinal direction unc formc

convex (150).

  9. Capsule according to any one of the preceding claims,

  characterized in that the rod further comprises a suction zone (? s52) adjoining the obturation zone (332) and having a section substantially smaller than said obturation zone, the obturation zone being disposed c

  between the distribution area (350) and the suction area.

  10. Capsule according to any one of the preceding claims,

  characterized in that it further comprises a cap (42) movable cotrc an active position in which it comes into contact with the closure element (10) to prevent relative movement between the closure element and the rod (12), and an inactive position in which it frees