ON / OFF DIFFUSER

Description

technical field

[0001] The invention relates to an ON / OFF type distribution diffuser according to the preamble for distributing a product from an extraction device of a container, such as a valve of a pressure vessel. Previous technique

[0002] Such ON / OFF type diffusers are commonly used, particularly for operating pressurized containers such as aerosol or foam generators. To indicate to the user the locked or unlocked position of the hood, it is common practice to place a pair of markings on the base and the hood, symbolizing the locked and unlocked positions, and an index that alternately aligns with one or the other mark. However, the markings indicating the locked and unlocked positions are not always clear and are frequently difficult for the user to see.

[0003] We know from document EP 2 004 538 a broadcaster according to the preamble.

[0004] US patent 2019 / 201639 A1 describes a diffuser with a rotating and sliding cover relative to a base attached to the container. To activate the valve, the cover is rotated downwards. This diffuser does not have a finger puller to open the valve when the device is in the unlocked position. Rotating the cover alone is sufficient to depress the valve stem. The cover has a notch, and the base has an information panel marked "OFF" and "ON".

[0005] US patent 2,573,624 A1 discloses a pressure vessel with an integrated diffuser. A rotating, movable hood is placed on top of the hood. The hood has a curved rib that, in the locked position, presses against the nozzle and locks the finger grip. In the unlocked position, the rib is not over the nozzle, and the finger grip can be pressed to activate the button. An arrow can be applied to the cup of the pressure vessel. This arrow is hidden by the hood in the locked position or visible through an opening in the hood in the unlocked position. Alternatively, the hood can be fitted with an arrow that is always visible and aligned with the nozzle in the unlocked position.

[0006] The objective of the invention is to develop the means of indication so that they are more easily visible and identifiable by the user. Another objective is to allow the means of indication to be used to provide other information to the consumer. Description of the invention

[0007] According to the invention, the indication means consist of a notch formed in one of the two parts (the base and the cover), and an information panel located in the other part (the cover and the base), such that the information panel is situated directly behind the notch, inside the dispensing device, regardless of the relative position of the cover with respect to the base between the locked and unlocked positions. The information panel bears a first mark for the unlocked position and a second mark for the locked position, the first mark being opposite the notch when the cover is in the unlocked position and the second mark being opposite the notch when the cover is in the locked position. Compared to index systems, this embodiment has the advantage of being more visible and more easily recognizable.

[0008] The notch can be made in an outer skirt of the base or hood, preferably in an edge of said skirt facing the part containing the information wall. Instead of a notch made on the edge of the skirt, it could be shaped like an opening made further from the edge in the skirt.

[0009] According to the invention, the markings extend through the entire thickness of the information wall, allowing the eye to see what lies behind the information wall when the marking is aligned with the notch. The part containing the notch has an inner wall that extends at least behind the notch, leaving a gap between the notch and the inner wall. The information wall is positioned within this gap. Thus, the markings on the information wall reveal the inner wall behind them when aligned with the notch. The effect is even more striking when the color of the information wall contrasts with the color of the inner wall. By selecting specific color combinations, it is possible to provide the user with additional information about the product inside the container.For example, green could be chosen for the information panel and white for the inner panel (or vice versa) to indicate that the diffuser is made with recyclable materials. A specific shade within a color gradient could also be chosen to indicate the concentration of a product in a range, with the lowest concentration being lighter than the highest concentration. For instance, a light pink could be chosen for the lowest concentration, a darker pink for a medium concentration, and red for the highest concentration.

[0010] The outlet conduit can be fixed either to the inner face of the finger joint or to the base.

[0011] Limiting mechanisms can be implemented to restrict the relative rotation of the hood with respect to the base to the two extreme positions defined by the locked and unlocked positions. This ensures that the hood cannot exceed these two extreme positions.

[0012] The means of limiting rotation may include, among other things, a first end of the information wall and a stop made in the part provided with the notch, the first end of the information wall being in contact with the stop when the cover is in the locked or unlocked position.

[0013] The means for limiting rotation can also be designed such that the part equipped with the information wall has a guide wall extending in a different angular sector, relative to the principal axis, than the information wall, the end of the guide wall opposite the first end of the information wall serving as the means for limiting rotation. This end of the guide wall bears against the stop when the cover is in the unlocked or locked position.

[0014] The actuation member of the outlet conduit may consist of a nozzle configured to cooperate with the stem of the nozzle of a male type valve or the seat of a female type valve of a pressure vessel, in particular an aerosol generator or a foam generator.

[0015] It is preferable to provide locking mechanisms to prevent the relative rotation of the cover with respect to the base when the cover is in the unlocked and / or locked position. These locking mechanisms can consist of one or more raised sections on one of the two parts, preferably the part with the information panel, and one or more raised sections on the other part, preferably the part with the notch. A raised section on the first part works in conjunction with a raised section on the second part to hold the cover in the unlocked or locked position.

[0016] The dispensing device is designed to be attached to the container, preferably at the base. For this purpose, it may be equipped with fastening means. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] The invention is described in more detail with the aid of an example embodiment shown in the figures which illustrate: [ Fig. 1 ] : Exploded views of a diffuser equipped with information means according to the invention, (a) in the unlocked position and (b) in the locked position; [ Fig. 2 Side views of the diffuser figure 1 , (a) in the unlocked position and (b) in the locked position; [ Fig. 3 ] : The base of the diffuser figure 1 , view (a) from above, (b) in side section, (c) in perspective from below and (d) in perspective from above; Fig. 4 ] : The diffuser cover of the figure 1 , seen (a) from above, (b) from below, (c) from below perspective and (d) from above perspective; [ Fig. 5 ] : A cross-sectional view of the diffuser at the outlet duct, (a) in the unlocked position and (b) in the locked position of the diffuser; [ Fig. 6 ] : An enlarged view of the information means in the locked position of the broadcaster. Ways to implement the invention

[0018] The invention relates to an information device for an ON / OFF type diffuser (1) intended for a product distribution device contained in a container, such as the valve of an aerosol generator or a manual pump of a cosmetic product.

[0019] The diffuser consists of at least two parts that can rotate relative to each other about a main axis (A) between an unlocked position, in which the diffuser can cooperate with the dispensing device on which it is mounted, and a locked position, in which it cannot cooperate with the dispensing diffuser. For simplicity, the following description will refer to a diffuser intended for an aerosol generator closed by a male-type valve equipped with a nozzle (also known as a stem) whose stem protrudes from a valve cup. Those skilled in the art will understand that, with very few modifications, the same diffuser can be used for a female-type valve, and more generally, the invention can be applied, among other things, to a diffuser that can be mounted on the dispensing stem of a hand pump such as those found in soap dispensers, for example.

[0020] The diffuser (1) shown in the figures consists of a base (10) for attachment to the cup or housing of the aerosol generator, a cover (20) with a finger grip (221) for operating the valve, and an outlet conduit (30). The cover can pivot relative to the base between an open position in which the finger grip can be inserted to operate the valve and a locked position in which the finger grip cannot be inserted to operate the valve.

[0021] The base (10) is provided with a tubular skirt (11) with a circular upper edge (111). An annular radial wall (12) extends from the inner face of the skirt, preferably from its central portion, towards the center of the diffuser, leaving a passage opening (121). This passage opening allows free passage for the valve nozzle stem and / or the lower end of the diffuser outlet duct. A tubular inner wall (13) with a circular cross-section projects upwards from the radial wall. The skirt (11), the passage opening (121) in the radial wall, and the inner wall (13) are concentric around the main axis (A). To lighten the diffuser and avoid sink marks, openings (122) can be provided in the radial wall between the skirt (11) and the inner wall (13).Fastening means (112) are provided on the inner face of the skirt for attaching the base (1) to the valve or housing of an aerosol generator. A notch (113) is formed in the upper edge (111) of the skirt.

[0022] The hood (20) includes a skirt (21) consisting of a tubular wall and at least partially closed at its top by a summit wall (22). Opposite the summit wall, the skirt (21) of the hood has a lower edge (211). In the example shown here, the upper edge (111) of the base skirt and the lower edge (211) of the hood skirt are substantially the same shape, and more generally, the shape of the two skirts is chosen to form, at least in the unlocked and / or locked position, a substantially continuous envelope. In this example, the two skirts have a substantially circular cross-section, at least at their interface.

[0023] The top wall (22) of the hood is provided with the finger joint (221) which is articulated to the rest of the top wall by a strip of material (222) constituting an elastic hinge.

[0024] The outlet conduit (30) is fixed to the inner face of the finger joint (221). At one end, the outlet conduit (30) has an actuating member (31) designed to cooperate with the stem of a valve nozzle. At the other end, the outlet conduit has an outlet opening (32). The outlet opening (32) may be surrounded by an annular channel (33) in which a nozzle can be placed. Depending on the requirements, the outlet opening (32) may open into the top wall (22) of the hood or, as in the case shown here, into the skirt (21) of the hood, in which case the outlet conduit is divided into a vertical section beginning with the nozzle and an inclined section, generally substantially horizontal, ending with the outlet opening.

[0025] In an alternative embodiment not shown, the outlet conduit can be fixed to the base. In this case, the outlet conduit is divided into a vertical section and an inclined section, generally substantially horizontal, and the finger joint (221) presses against the top of the vertical section. If the outlet opening (32) of the outlet conduit is located at the level of the cover, a passage opening aligned with the outlet opening (32) in the open position must be provided in the cover.

[0026] The skirt (21) of the hood has, opposite the exit opening (32), a depression (212) allowing the user's finger to press on the finger resting flat on it.

[0027] The hood is further provided with an internal wall (23) of circular section which extends towards the base from the skirt (21), in the part located below the outlet opening (32) of the outlet conduit, or from the summit wall in the part of the sagging (212).

[0028] The cover is rotatably housed on the base. To achieve this, retaining means are provided, one part (131) being located at the top of the outer face of the inner wall (13) of the base and the other part (231) in the lower part of the inner face of the inner wall (23) of the cover. In this example, these are latching means distributed in two segments around the perimeter of the inner wall (13) of the base and in one segment around a large portion of the perimeter of the inner wall (23) of the cover.

[0029] An information panel (24) is positioned inside the hood skirt, extending from the inner wall (23). It has a circular cross-section. It is sized to fit behind the notch (113) in a gap formed by an annular groove (14) delimited by the skirt (11), the inner wall (13) of the base, and partially by the radial wall (12) where it is not perforated. Two markings (241, 242) are made in the information panel. The first marking (241) is located opposite the notch (113) when the diffuser is in the unlocked position, while the second marking (242) is located opposite the notch when the diffuser is in the locked position. The information panel passes behind the notch between these two extreme positions. The markings are chosen to symbolize the concepts of opening and closing.In this example, the mark for the unlocked position is shaped like an arrow, while the mark for the locked position is shaped like two vertical bars. Other marks could be chosen, such as the words "ON" and "OFF" or an open padlock and a closed padlock, etc. In an embodiment not covered by the text of the claims, the marks could be printed on the information panel, engraved (recessed), or molded (raised). For greater visibility, and in accordance with the invention, the marks extend through the information panel, revealing the inner wall (13) of the skirt behind them. If the cover and the base are not the same color, the mark stands out more due to the contrast effect.

[0030] Limiting means are provided to restrict the relative rotational movement of the cover within the base between the two extreme positions. In the example shown here, when the diffuser is in the locked position, the end (243) of the information wall located near the unlocked position mark (241) bears against a stop (141) formed on the base, at the bottom of the groove (14). To limit rotation in the opposite direction, a second stop could be provided that would cooperate with the other end of the information wall. In this example, a guide wall (25) is provided, which has a circular arc cross-section around the principal axis (A). The information wall (24) and the guide wall (25) extend in different angular sectors so that they do not overlap.A gap is provided between the first end (243) of the information wall and the first adjacent end (251) of the angular guide wall. This first end (251) of the guide wall is dimensioned to bear against the stop (141) when the diffuser is in the unlocked position. The angular distance between the first end (243) of the information wall and the first end (251) of the guide wall corresponds to the angular distance between the two extreme positions. It could be envisaged that the two walls (24, 25) would meet at their ends opposite the first ends (234, 251), forming a single arc-shaped wall, interrupted only by the gap between these two ends (243, 251).

[0031] One raised section (231) can be placed on the inner wall, the information wall, or the guide wall of the cover, and two raised sections (132, 133) can be placed on the inner wall of the base. They are positioned such that the raised section of the cover (231) must overcome one of the two raised sections (132, 133) of the base to reach each of the two extreme positions. The cover is thus locked in the corresponding extreme position and cannot move out of it on its own. The effort required to make the two raised sections (231 / 132, 231 / 133) intersect is, however, easily overcome by hand.In the example shown here, the cover's extension (231) is positioned on the inner face of the inner wall (23), in the angular sector between the two ends (243, 251) that serve as limiting means, while the two base extensions (132, 133) are positioned on the outer face of the inner wall (13), on either side and equidistant from the stop (141). The angular distance between the two base extensions (132, 133) is slightly less than the angular distance between the two ends (243, 251) that serve as limiting means. It goes without saying that it would have been possible to place two extensions on the cover and only one on the base.

[0032] A blade (26) can be placed on the inner wall, the information wall, or the guide wall of the hood, in the same radial position as the hood's ridge (232), but on the opposite face of the wall in question. This blade (26) penetrates the groove (14) deeply enough to contact the stop (141) when the hood is rotated. As the rotation continues, the blade deforms until it passes the stop and produces a slight click, indicating to the user that the diffuser has moved from one position to the other.

[0033] Disengagement means are provided to allow the nozzle tip (31) to be separated from the nozzle stem when switching from the unlocked to the locked position. For this purpose, an inclined ramp (123) is provided on the radial wall (12) of the base, and a rib (223) is provided on the inner face of the finger joint (221). During rotation from the unlocked to the locked position, the rib (223) slides along the ramp (123), which lifts it, and with it, the finger joint (221) and the outlet conduit (30). This is clearly visible in the... figures 5a and 5b .

[0034] The outlet opening (32) of the outlet conduit (30) is placed above the base, so that it remains permanently unobstructed, regardless of the position of the notch (113).

[0035] The invention can be applied not only to diffusers with a finger joint articulated on a hood, but also to diffusers whose finger joint is fixed relative to the hood so that the entire hood pivots around a support point when the user presses on its top face.

[0036] These indicators can also serve as communication tools for the brand to reach the consumer, thanks to a selection of symbols and contrasting colors. Furthermore, the locked and unlocked positions are more clearly defined physically, and because reaching either position is more easily felt and / or visualized by the consumer, the device becomes more reliable and secure during use.

[0037] The invention can be generalized to openings not covered by the claims for dispensing a product without necessarily requiring a specific extraction device. A cap rotating around a base is sufficient to open or close an outlet. Thus, the indication means can be used for an opening and closing system for a bottle, flask, or stand-up flexible pouch (such as a Doypack®). List of references

[0038] 1Diffuser 10Base 11 Skirt 111 Upper edge 112 Fixing means 113 Notch 12 Radial wall 121 Passage opening 122 Days 123 Inclined decoupling ramp 13 Inner wall 131 Retaining means 132 1st< Overthickness 133 2nd< Overthickness 14 Annular groove 141 Stop serving as a means of limiting relative rotation 20Cover 21 Skirt 211 Lower edge 212 Sagging 22 Top wall 221 Finger joint 222 Hinge. 223 Decoupling rib 23 Inner wall 231 Retaining means 232 Overhang 24 Information wall 241 Unlocked position mark 242 Locked position mark 243 First end serving as a means of limiting relative rotation 25 Guide wall 251 First end serving as a means of limiting relative rotation 26 Blade 30 Product outlet 31 Tip / Actuating member 32 Outlet opening 33 Annular channel AA Main axis

Claims

1. Dispensing device (1) for dispensing a product from an extraction device of a container, such as a valve of a pressurized container, comprising: - a base (10); - a cap (20) provided with a finger pad (221) allowing the extraction device of the container to be actuated; and - an outlet conduit (30) provided at a first end with an actuating member (31) intended to cooperate with the extraction device of the container when the finger pad (221) is actuated, and at the second end with an outlet opening (32), the cap (20) being mounted on the base (10) so that it is rotatable relative to the base around a main axis (A) between an unlocked position in which the actuating member (31) of the outlet conduit can open the extraction device of the container when the finger pad is actuated, and a locked position in which the actuating member (31) of the outlet conduit cannot open the extraction device even when the finger pad is actuated, indicating means being provided to indicate to the user the relative position of the cap (20) with respect to the base (10), which indicating means are constituted by - a notch (113) or an opening made in one of the two parts among the base (10) and the cap (20); and by - an information wall (24) placed in the other of the two parts among the cap (20) and the base (10), so that the information wall (24) is located behind the notch or the opening, inside the dispensing device, regardless of the relative position of the cap with respect to the base between the locked position and the unlocked position, the information wall having a first, unlocked position mark (241) and a second, locked position mark (242), the first mark facing the notch or the opening when the cap is in the unlocked position and the second mark facing the notch or the opening when the cap is in the locked position; the part which is provided with the notch (113) or the opening being equipped with an inner wall (13) which extends at least behind the notch (113) or the opening, leaving a gap between the notch or the opening and the inner wall, gap in which the information wall takes place, and the marks (241, 242) passing through the thickness of the information wall so as to reveal the inner wall (13) behind them when they are aligned with the notch or the opening, the color of the information wall preferably being in contrast relative to the color of the inner wall (13).

2. Dispensing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the notch (113) or the opening is made in an outer skirt (11) of the base (10) or of the cap (20).

3. Dispensing device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the notch is made in an edge (111) of said outer skirt directed towards the part provided with the information wall.

4. Dispensing device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the opening is made farther from said outer skirt.

5. Dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outlet conduit (30) is fixed to the inner face of the finger pad (221).

6. Dispensing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the outlet conduit (30) is fixed to the base.

7. Dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that limiting means are provided to limit the relative rotation of the cap (20) with respect to the base (10) to the two extreme positions defined by the locked position and the unlocked position.

8. Dispensing device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the rotation limiting means comprise, among others, a first end (243) of the information wall and an abutment (141) made in the part which is provided with the notch or the opening, the first end (243) of the information wall bearing against the abutment (141) when the cap is in the locked or unlocked position.

9. Dispensing device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the part provided with the information wall (24) is equipped with a guide wall (25) extending over an angular sector relative to the main axis (A) different from the information wall (24), the end (251) of the guide wall facing the first end (243) of the information wall serving as rotation limiting means, said end (251) of the guide wall bearing against the abutment (141) when the cap is in the unlocked or locked position.

10. Dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating member of the outlet conduit is constituted by an endpiece (31) configured to cooperate with the rod of the stem of a valve of the male type or the seat of a valve of the female type of a pressurized container, in particular of an aerosol dispenser or a foam dispenser.

11. Dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that blocking means are provided to block the relative rotation of the cap with respect to the base when the cap is in the unlocked position and / or in the locked position, these blocking means preferably being constituted by one or more extra thicknesses (232) made on one of the two parts, preferably on the part provided with the information wall (24), and one or more extra thicknesses (132, 133) made on the other of the two parts, preferably on the part provided with the notch (113) or the opening, an extra thickness of the first part cooperating with an extra thickness of the second part to retain the cap in the unlocked or locked position.

12. Dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with fixing means (112) for fixing it to the container, preferably by the base.