Valve cover for refillable reservoir of refillable dispensing housing

Abstract

A valve cap (30), particularly suitable for pouch reservoirs, comprising a cup (34) and a crimping edge (36) for crimping a cap (70) with a valve (75), characterised in that it further comprises an end piece (31) constituting the bottom portion of the valve cap (30) and provided with first securing means (32) for securing a container (11) containing a sprayable product, and additionally provided with a channel (33) forming a channel for delivering said product to the valve.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of refillable reservoirs, in particular to housings for dispensing a product under applied pressure and housings containing such a reservoir. The housing is particularly suitable for dispensing liquid or pasty aerosol products under pressure and comprises a container for containing the product to be dispensed and a valve cap, the container and the cap being separable from each other. Background Art

[0002] Patent document EP3019420 B1 filed by the applicant relates to a bag reservoir for dispensing a shell of a pressurized product and a shell comprising the bag reservoir, which has the significant advantages of facilitating the manufacture of these reservoirs or refills on the one hand and enabling a more complete emptying of the bag body when dispensing the product in the bag on the other hand.

[0003] A first advantage of this device is that the bag is fixed to the cap rather than the valve, which makes the bag easier to fill and the container to be refilled or to hold the product to be sprayed easier to handle. It is also desirable to fill the container or bag through the opening of the dome cap with the valve, and to handle the bag on an automated production line, in which the cap acts as a support structure for advancing the bag along the filling line and for crimping the dome cap onto the cap.

[0004] Technical issues

[0005] The disadvantage of this solution is that a cap needs to be manufactured for each bag, and the cap and / or bag cannot be reused individually, which is beneficial in certain areas such as small-batch production, refillable bags, or where individuals can refill the product and reduce the amount of plastic disposed of when the bag is empty, such as by retaining the cap for reuse. In addition, this system is not suitable for rigid containers that can be separated from the valve cap. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this situation, the present invention first proposes to produce a cap with fixing means for connecting to a container with complementary connecting fixing means, said container and cap being separable from each other, for example so that the bag can be filled multiple times.

[0007] To this end, the present invention proposes a valve cover mainly for bag-type reservoirs, comprising a cup body having a crimping edge for crimping a dome cover with a valve, and an end component constituting the bottom of the cover and provided with a first fixing component for detachably connecting to a container for containing a product to be sprayed, wherein the end component comprises a channel forming a channel for transferring the product to the valve.

[0008] The cap is designed to fit various types of containers, as long as these containers comprise fixing means that are complementary to the first fixing means.

[0009] The first fixing member may be a spiral rib located on the outer surface of the end member at the bottom end of the cover.

[0010] The cover may include a circumferential flange for securing the cover to an upper edge of the tubular housing.

[0011] The crimping edge preferably comprises an annular bead for sealing to achieve a fluid-tight connection to the dome cover.

[0012] The lid is preferably provided with a widened tubular channel between the end piece and the cup body, the outer wall of which forms a supporting shoulder at the end connected to the end piece for supporting the end edge of a channel tube belonging to the container.

[0013] The tubular portion of the end piece may be designed to fit over at least one anti-crush rod.

[0014] The invention also relates to a bag-type reservoir for liquid or pasty products, comprising a bag body connected to a connector for filling and emptying the bag body, the connector comprising a product passage tube with a longitudinal axis, wherein the connector comprises a second fixing part for detachably connecting to an end part of a valve cover with a first fixing part, the second fixing part complementing the first fixing part.

[0015] The bag may comprise a neck tightly coupled to a bottom of the connector, the bottom being configured as a "sealing ring" and provided with flaps extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

[0016] The second fixing member may be a spiral rib on the inner wall of the channel tube.

[0017] The connector may include an operating ear extending in a direction perpendicular to the shaft.

[0018] The bag-type reservoir preferably comprises a stopper for closing the reservoir, said stopper comprising a stopper portion provided with third fixing means cooperating with said second fixing means, and an operating head.

[0019] The present invention also relates to a dispensing housing for dispensing liquid or pasty products, comprising a tubular housing for accommodating a bag-type reservoir and a cover combination, wherein the bag is accommodated in the tubular housing so as to be assembled and connected to the cover at a connector, wherein the edge of the annular flange of the valve cover is crimped onto the upper edge of the tubular housing via an annular ring, and the annular ring is connected to the housing via a thread, and the tubular housing includes a filling valve for pressurizing the free space in the housing with gas to pressurize the bag. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Other features, details and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and examples and an analysis of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 A perspective view showing the connecting element and the valve cover;

[0022] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the bag container with the connector assembled beneath the cover;

[0023] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view showing the connector assembled on the cover;

[0024] Figure 4 A dispensing housing with a bag-type reservoir is shown;

[0025] Figure 5 A perspective view and a cross-sectional view of the connector with the blockage are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The drawings and the following description include elements that may not only help in understanding the present invention but also help in defining the present invention where appropriate.

[0027] Figure 1 A valve cap 30 is shown for adapting to a rigid or flexible container to form a reservoir with a dispenser, particularly a bag-type reservoir as described below.

[0028] The cap comprises a cup body 34 with a crimping edge 36 for crimping a dome cap 70 with a valve 75, and comprises an end piece 31 at the other end from the cup body, constituting the bottom of the cap 30 and having a first fixing part 32 for connecting to a container 10 containing the product to be sprayed, said end piece comprising a channel 33 forming a channel for transferring the product to the valve.

[0029] Figure 2 A particular use case is shown in which the lid is used to constitute a bag-type reservoir for liquid or pasty products, comprising a flexible bag-type container 11 connected to a connector 20 assembled under the lid 30 .

[0030] like Figure 2 and Figure 5 The connector 20 shown is a connector for filling and emptying a container and comprises for this purpose a product passage tube 21 with a longitudinal axis A.

[0031] The connector 20 includes an operating ear 25 extending in a direction perpendicular to the axis.

[0032] For example Figure 2 As shown, the bag body 11 includes a neck 12 tightly connected to a bottom 23 of the connector 20 .

[0033] like Figure 1 As shown, the bottom of the connector is configured as a "sealing ring" with a flap 24 extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis A to achieve a sealed connection between the bag and the connector.

[0034] In order to assemble the connector 20 under the cover 30 , the connector 20 comprises a second fixing part 22 that is complementary connected to the first fixing part 32 so as to detachably fix the connector to the end part of the cover with the first fixing part 32 .

[0035] according to Figure 2 、 Figure 3 and Figure 5 In the example shown, the second fixing member and the first fixing member are complementary spiral ribs, allowing the connector to be threaded onto the cap. The conduit 21 of the connector has a first spiral rib that is screwed onto the tubular end member 31 of the cap. The first fixing member 32 of the end member is a second spiral rib that is complementary to the first spiral rib, allowing the connector to be screwed onto the end member of the cap. Other embodiments of the fixing members are also possible, such as an annular rib on the end member with an inclined slope that engages with a second annular rib in the conduit.

[0036] according to Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the end piece 31 constitutes the bottom portion of the cap adapted to be inserted into the duct 21 of the connector and comprises a channel 33 forming a passage for transferring the product to the cap outlet.

[0037] Especially according to Figure 3 As shown, the cup body 34 is surrounded by an annular flange 35. Figure 4 As shown, it is used to fix the cover to the upper edge of the tubular housing 50.

[0038] The circumferential wall of the cup 34 ends at the outlet of the cover in a crimping edge 36 with an annular bead 36a for sealingly fixing the dome cover 70 with the valve 75, as shown. Figure 5 The fluid-tight fastening can be achieved in a known manner, for example by crimping the flange of the dome onto the bead.

[0039] According to this embodiment, the cap is provided with a widened tubular channel 37 between the end piece 31 and the cup 34, the outer wall of which forms a support shoulder 38 at the end connected to the end piece, for supporting the end edge 26 of the conduit 21 of the connector or the neck of a rigid container that is screwed to the bottom of the cap.

[0040] However, the cover can be designed in a different manner so that it can fit directly over the valve without the dome cover, in which case the widened tubular channel extends all the way to the top of the cover to fit directly over the valve.

[0041] For example Figure 1 As shown, at the other end of the cup body 34, according to the example that the container 11 is a flexible bag, the end member 31 is provided with an anti-crushing rod 40, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown, when the bag-type reservoir is fixed to the cover, the rod is inserted into the interior of the bag body 11. As shown in this embodiment, the anti-crush rod includes a tubular end 41, which is inserted into the tubular channel 33 of the bottom of the cover.

[0042] Figure 4 A dispensing housing for liquid or pasty products is shown, comprising a tubular housing 50 for accommodating a bag-type reservoir comprising a bag body 11 and a connector 20 assembled on a cap 30. The cap is fixed to the housing in a liquid-tight manner, with the edge 35a of the annular flange 35 of the cap being pressed tightly against the upper edge 51 of the tubular housing by an annular ring 80. To this end, the annular ring 80 comprises a flange for pressing against the circumference of the annular flange of the cap and has an internal thread 81 that is screwed onto an external thread 81 of the housing.

[0043] In order to allow the housing to be filled with gas, such as air, to pressurize the bag and discharge the product therein when the product outlet valve 75 is opened, the tubular housing comprises a filling valve 52 for pressurizing the free space within the housing with gas to pressurize the bag 11 .

[0044] For example Figure 1 As shown, the anti-crush bar includes two legs 40a, 40b connected by a curved crossbar 40c to separate the two sides of the bag and allow the product to enter the conduit 33 when the bag is flattened by the gas in the shell.

[0045] In order to maintain the stability of the bag when it is filled but not assembled to the lid, a stopper 60 is provided for sealing the bag container, such as Figure 5 shown.

[0046] The blocking portion includes an operating head 61, which is a patterned operating head in this case, and a blocking portion 62, which has a third fixing member 63 that is complementary to the second fixing member 22. The third fixing member 63 is a helical rib that is similar to the helical rib on the end member of the cap that serves as the second fixing member. Similarly, other types of fixing members can also be provided as long as they can retain the blocking portion of the blocking portion within the conduit of the connector.

[0047] The cap of the present invention is particularly well-suited for use with bags having connectors as described above, but may also be used with rigid or semi-rigid containers.

[0048] The present invention is not limited to the examples described above, but encompasses any variations foreseeable by a person skilled in the art, which fall within the scope of the claimed protection. In particular, the cap can be used with non-bag-type containers, such as bags or rigid or semi-rigid containers with retaining rings. Furthermore, the first and second retaining members are not limited to helical ramps or ribs, but can also be implemented, for example, by providing an annular rib within the conduit and an O-ring on the end member, which, when the connector and cap are in the assembled position, is positioned behind the annular rib and maintains this assembled state.

Claims

1. A bag container for liquid or pasty products, comprising: a.- A valve cover (30) comprising a cup (34) having a crimping edge (36) for crimping a dome cover (70) with a valve (75), characterised in that it also comprises an end piece (31) constituting the bottom of the valve cover (30), the end piece also being provided with a first connecting element for detachably connecting a container (11) for containing a product to be sprayed, the end piece comprising a channel (33) forming a channel for transferring the product to the valve, b. a bag (11) fixed to a second connecting element (20) complementary to the first connecting element, the second connecting element comprising a product passage tube (21) having a longitudinal axis (A) for filling and emptying the bag, It is characterized in that the first connecting element includes a first fixing component (32), the second connecting element (20) includes a second fixing component (22) that cooperates with the first fixing component (32), the shapes of the first fixing component and the second fixing component are designed to detachably fix the bag body to the end component of the valve cover (30), and the bag body (11) includes a neck (12), which is tightly combined with the bottom (23) of the second connecting element (20).

2. The bag container for liquid or pasty products according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second connecting element (20) also includes an operating ear (25) which extends in a direction perpendicular to the axis and enables the bag to be disassembled.

3. The valve cover (30) for the bag-type container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The first fixing member (32) is composed of a spiral rib.

4. The valve cover (30) according to claim 3, comprising a circumferential flange (35) for fixing the valve cover to the upper edge of the tubular housing (50).

5. The valve cover (30) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: The crimping edge includes an annular curling edge (36a) to seal the dome cover (70) to achieve a liquid-tight connection.

6. The valve cover according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that The valve cover is provided with a widened tubular channel (37) between the end piece (31) and the cup body (34), and its outer wall at the end connected to the end piece forms a supporting shoulder (38) for supporting the end edge (26) of the channel tube (21) belonging to the container.

7. The valve cover according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that The tubular portion of the end piece (31) is shaped to fit at least one anti-crush rod (40).

8. The bag body for the bag-type container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The bag (11) comprises a neck (12) which is tightly coupled to a bottom (23) of a connector (20), the bottom being configured as a "sealing ring" and provided with a flap (24) extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A).

9. The bag according to claim 8, characterized in that: The second fixing member (22) comprises a spiral rib on the inner wall of the channel tube (21).

10. The bag according to claim 8 or 9, comprising a stopper (60) for closing the reservoir, the stopper comprising a stopper portion (62) provided with a third fixing member (63) cooperating with the second fixing member (22), and an operating head (61).

11. A dispensing housing for liquid or pasty products, comprising a tubular housing (50) for accommodating a bag-type reservoir according to claim 1 or 2, the bag-type reservoir comprising a bag body according to any one of claims 8 to 10 and a valve cover according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that: The bag body (11) is accommodated in a tubular housing so that it is assembled with a valve cover (30) at a second connecting element (20), wherein an edge (35a) of an annular flange (35) of the valve cover is crimped onto an upper edge (51) of the tubular housing via an annular ring (80), the annular ring being connected to the housing via threads (53, 81), the tubular housing comprising a filling valve (52) for pressurizing the free space within the housing with gas to pressurize the bag body (11).

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