Product dispensing device having a helical bellows
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023783468
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-08-30
- Filing Date
- 2023-08-25
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-09
AI Technical Summary
Existing dispensing devices for liquid to pasty products face challenges in finding an optimal balance between rigidity and flexibility for ergonomic actuation and precise distribution, and often suffer from residual product drying out and forming a plug in the distribution conduit.
A dispensing device with a pump body, a sliding push button, a dosing chamber of variable volume, elastically deformable bellows, and non-return valves, where the outlet valve is axially mounted on the push button to create a suction effect when sliding, and an intermediate cavity to store product, preventing air intake and ensuring complete emptying of the conduit.
The solution provides ergonomic actuation, precise distribution, and prevents residual product from drying out by ensuring complete emptying and minimizing contamination, while maintaining a sealed system to prevent air interaction.
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] DESCRIPTION
[0002] TITLE: Product dispensing device comprising a helical bellows
[0003] Technical field of the invention
[0004] The present invention relates to the field of devices for dispensing a liquid to pasty product to be dispensed, in particular a cream, an ointment or a paste, in particular for cosmetic use.
[0005] The invention relates more particularly to dispensing devices mounted on the neck of a container containing a liquid or a cream.
[0006] Technical background
[0007] It is known in the prior art, for example WO2019 / 102106A1, dispensing devices mounted on the neck of a container containing a liquid or a cream, comprising a pump motor with a dosing chamber, for example delimited by a bellows. An inlet valve and an outlet valve make it possible to open or close respectively the inlet and the outlet of this chamber.
[0008] When the pump is operated by pressing the push button, pressure is generated inside the pump which, on the one hand, opens the outlet valve and allows the product to exit, and on the other hand, closes the inlet valve and prevents it from flowing back into the container. When the push button is released, the bellows forming an elastic return means, this bellows generates a return force on the push button, which then rises. By relaxing, the bellows generates a vacuum inside the pump. This vacuum causes, on the one hand, the opening of the inlet valve and the suction of the product contained in the container and its passage into the dosing chamber and, on the other hand, closes the outlet valve and prevents air from being sucked into the device.
[0009] To ensure proper operation of the dispensing device, it is not easy to find the optimal compromise between the rigidity and flexibility of the flexible elements forming the pump motor in order to guarantee ergonomic actuation by the user and precise dispensing of the product dose. In addition, after dispensing the product dose, there is generally a little product remaining in the pump dispensing conduit, between the dosing chamber and the external orifice. This remaining product can dry out between two uses of the pump and form a dry product plug.
[0010] There is therefore a need to improve existing distribution systems.
[0011] Summary of the invention
[0012] The invention proposes a device for dispensing liquid to pasty products comprising:
[0013] - a pump body designed to be mounted on a product tank,
[0014] - a push button mounted to slide in the pump body along a main axis between an inactive axial position and an axial distribution position,
[0015] - a dispensing conduit arranged in the push button so as to allow the dispensing of a dose of product,
[0016] - a variable volume dosing chamber comprising a chamber inlet communicating with a supply conduit intended to be connected to the reservoir and a chamber outlet communicating with the distribution conduit,
[0017] - an elastically deformable bellows which laterally delimits the dosing chamber and which elastically forces the push button towards its inactive position,
[0018] - a first non-return valve, called the inlet valve, arranged so as to open or close the chamber inlet under the exertion respectively of a pressure reduction or an increase in pressure in the metering chamber,
[0019] - a second non-return valve, called the outlet valve, arranged between the chamber outlet and the distribution duct,
[0020] - an intermediate cavity arranged between the dispensing duct and the outlet valve so as to be able to store a determined quantity of product, characterized in that the outlet valve is mounted so as to slide axially on the push button between a high position and a low position, so as to cause a suction effect sucking the product from the dispensing duct towards the intermediate cavity when the push button slides from its dispensing position towards its inactive position.
[0021] According to other characteristics of the invention:
[0022] - the outlet valve comprises a tubular body which is mounted to slide axially on an internal cylindrical portion of the push button;
[0023] - the tubular body comprises at least one stop surface provided to cooperate with an associated support surface arranged on the internal cylindrical portion of the push button in order to define the low position;
[0024] - the tubular body and the internal cylindrical portion of the push button each comprise an undercut portion which forms the stop surface and the support surface respectively;
[0025] - the tubular body of the outlet valve comprises an upper end cylindrical portion which is received axially in an annular slot delimited towards the inside by the internal cylindrical portion and towards the outside by a peripheral cylindrical wall of the push button;
[0026] - the outlet valve comprises a peripheral lip which extends from the external wall of the tubular body and which bears against an associated surface of the bellows in the closed position;
[0027] - the bellows comprises at least one internal shoulder portion, on the side of its upper axial end, and the peripheral lip rests at least partly on said internal shoulder portion when the push button occupies a locked angular position;
[0028] - the bellows comprises an upper collar designed to bear axially against an upper rim formed in the push button and an upper tubular extension which comprises a window capable of being aligned radially with the distribution duct, in an unlocked angular position of the push button, and capable of being offset radially relative to the distribution duct, in a locked angular position of the push button, so that the upper tubular extension closes the distribution duct on the inner side in the locked position;- the upper end wall of the push button is inclined with a downward slope towards the side opposite the distribution duct, and the upper tubular extension has a beveled shape at its upper free end so that the uppermost part of the upper tubular extension is generally radially aligned with the distribution duct when the push button occupies its locked position;
[0029] - the bellows comprises, in the vicinity of its lower end, a lower collar intended to come into axial support against a lower rim formed in the pump body, and a lower tubular extension which is mounted tightly in an annular housing formed in the pump body;
[0030] - each collar comprises at least one keying element which is designed to cooperate with a complementary keying element formed in the pump body, so as to allow only one angular position for mounting the bellows in the pump body;
[0031] - the keying elements of the collars are each constituted by two opposite notches and the notches of the upper collar are radially aligned with the notches of the lower collar;
[0032] - the pump body comprises two partially cylindrical axial tabs whose circumferential dimension is substantially equal to the circumferential dimension of each notch formed in the lower collar, so as to prevent pivoting around the main axis of the lower collar;
[0033] - the bellows is formed of beads in the form of helical coils. Brief description of the figures
[0034] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the reading of the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:
[0035] [Fig. 1] is an exploded perspective view which schematically represents a dispensing device in accordance with the teachings of the invention and an associated reservoir; [Fig. 2] is a sectional view along plane 2-2 which schematically represents the dispensing device of figure 1 when the push button occupies a locked and inactive position;
[0036] [Fig.3] is a sectional view along plane 3-3 which schematically represents the dispensing device of figure 2 when the push button occupies an unlocked and inactive position;
[0037] [Fig. 4] is a view similar to that of Figure 3 which schematically represents the dispensing device of Figure 2 when the push button occupies an intermediate actuating position after an axial displacement of the push button by an axial movement corresponding to the relative displacement of the outlet valve with respect to the push button from a low stop position to a high stop position, the product not having started to fill the dispensing conduit;
[0038] [Fig.5] is a view similar to that of Figure 3 which schematically represents the dispensing device of Figure 2 when the push button occupies its low position in which the bellows which equips it is compressed and the product has been expelled from the dosing chamber by the dispensing conduit;
[0039] [Fig.6] is a view similar to that of Figure 3 which schematically represents the dispensing device of Figure 2 at the start of the return to the inactive position, the push button having moved by a distance corresponding to the axial movement allowing the outlet valve, which does not move at this stage, to return to its low stop position by causing suction of the product contained in the dispensing conduit towards an intermediate cavity;
[0040] [Fig.7] is a view similar to that of Figure 3 which schematically represents the dispensing device of Figure 2 at the end of the rise of the push button to its inactive high position;
[0041] [Fig.8] is a view is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 which illustrates the locking of the dispensing device of Fig. 2;
[0042] [Fig.9] is a side view and [Fig.12] is a top view which represent the bellows equipping the dispensing device of figure 1 before assembly; [Fig.10] is a view similar to that of figure 9 and [Fig.13] is a view similar to that of figure 12 which represent the bellows in a slightly compressed state corresponding to its state mounted in the dispensing device before actuation of the push button;
[0043] [Fig.11] is a view similar to that of Figure 9 and [Fig.14] is a view similar to that of Figure 12 which show the bellows in a compressed state corresponding to the low position of the push button;
[0044] [Fig.15] is a view similar to that of Figure 12 which represents an alternative embodiment of the distribution device in which the reservoir has a non-return valve which allows it to be vented.
[0045] Detailed description of the invention
[0046] In the following description, identical, similar or analogous elements will be designated by the same reference numbers.
[0047] Figures 1 and 2 show a device 10 for dispensing liquid to pasty product, or pump, in accordance with the teachings of the invention. The dispensing device 10 comprises a pump body 12 which is designed to be mounted on a product reservoir 14, for example by screwing.
[0048] The dispensing device 10 comprises a push button 16 slidably mounted in the pump body 12, along a main axis A1, between an inactive axial position, which is illustrated in FIG. 2 and an axial dispensing position, which is illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0049] In Figure 1, a protective cover 13 is shown which is intended to be mounted on the reservoir 14 so as to protect the push button 16 and a product dispensing orifice.
[0050] Note that Figures 2 to 8 illustrate several axial and angular operating positions which will be explained later.
[0051] In the remainder of the description, without limitation, elements will be designated as upper or lower, conventionally considering a vertical orientation along the main axis A1.
[0052] A dispensing conduit 18 is arranged in the push button 16 so as to allow the dispensing of a dose of product from a variable volume dosing chamber 20. The dosing chamber 20 is interposed between the dispensing conduit 18 located downstream of the product dispensing circuit, and the reservoir 14 located upstream of the product dispensing circuit.
[0053] The dosing chamber 20 comprises a chamber inlet 22 in communication with a supply conduit 24 intended to be connected to the reservoir 14 and a chamber outlet 26 in communication with the distribution conduit 18.
[0054] The supply conduit 24 is here formed from a tube which is made in a single piece by molding with the pump body 12, along the main axis A1, and which plunges inside the reservoir 14 to allow the product to be dispensed to be taken from it.
[0055] The dispensing device 10 also comprises an elastically deformable bellows 28 which laterally delimits the dosing chamber 20 and which elastically biases the push button 16 towards its inactive position, here upwards. The bellows 28 is preferably made in one piece by molding from an elastomeric material.
[0056] A first non-return valve, called the inlet valve 30, is arranged so as to open or close the chamber inlet 22 under the exertion respectively of a pressure reduction or an increase in pressure in the metering chamber 20.
[0057] A second non-return valve, called the outlet valve 32, is arranged between the chamber outlet 26 and the distribution conduit 18, so as to open the chamber outlet 26 when dispensing a dose of product and to close the chamber outlet 26 at the end of this dispensing.
[0058] An intermediate cavity 34 is arranged between the distribution conduit 18 and the outlet valve 32 so as to be able to store a certain quantity of product.
[0059] Advantageously, the outlet valve 32 is mounted so as to slide axially on the push button 16 between a high position, which is illustrated in particular in FIG. 4, and a low position, which is illustrated in particular in FIG. 2. The sliding of the outlet valve 32 makes it possible to cause a suction effect sucking the product from the dispensing conduit 187 towards the intermediate cavity 34 when the push button 16 slides from its dispensing position towards its inactive position.
[0060] According to the embodiment shown here, the outlet valve 32 comprises a tubular body 36 which is mounted to slide axially on an internal cylindrical portion 38 of the push button 16. The tubular body 36 comprises a first stop surface 40 which is provided to cooperate with a first associated bearing surface 42 arranged on the internal cylindrical portion 38 of the push button 16 in order to define the low position, and a second stop surface 41 which is provided to cooperate with a second associated bearing surface 43 arranged on the internal cylindrical portion 38 in order to define the high position.
[0061] The tubular body 36 and the internal cylindrical portion 38 of the push button 16 each comprise an undercut portion which forms the first stop surface 40 and the first bearing surface 42 respectively.
[0062] The stop surfaces 40, 41 and the support surfaces 42, 43 delimit an axial movement d1 of the outlet valve 32 relative to the push button 16, the function of which will be described later.
[0063] The tubular body 36 of the outlet valve 32 here comprises an upper end cylindrical portion 44 which is received axially in an annular slot 46 delimited towards the inside by the internal cylindrical portion 38 and towards the outside by a peripheral cylindrical wall 48 of the push button 16.
[0064] It is noted that the intermediate cavity 34 here has an annular shape since it extends all around the tubular body 36 of the outlet valve 32 and around the peripheral cylindrical wall 48 of the push button 16.
[0065] According to the embodiment shown, the outlet valve 32 comprises a peripheral lip 50 which extends from the external wall of the tubular body 36 and which bears against an associated surface of the bellows 28 in the closed position. The peripheral lip 50 is mounted here curved upwards, inside the bellows. It is designed to be elastically supported against the bellows 28 so as to be able to be retracted by elastic deformation when it is a question of allowing the product to be dispensed to pass towards the intermediate cavity 34 and the dispensing conduit 18, and so as to seal the dosing chamber 20 in other cases.
[0066] Preferably, the push button 16 is pivotally mounted around the main axis A1, relative to the pump body 12, between a locked angular position, which is illustrated by FIG. 2, and an unlocked angular position, which is illustrated by FIGS. 3 to 7.
[0067] In the locked angular position, the passage between the intermediate cavity 34 and the distribution conduit 18 is closed to prevent any contamination of the product contained in the intermediate cavity 34 by contaminants contained in the outside air, to limit interactions with the outside environment (anti-drying, dust, etc.). In addition, the push button 16 is locked in axial sliding which prevents any unwanted manipulation. To obtain this locking, suitable locking members (not shown) can be arranged in the pump body 12 and in the push button 16, these locking members being retracted in the unlocked angular position.
[0068] In the unlocked angular position, the passage between the intermediate cavity 34 and the dispensing conduit 18 is open to allow the dispensing of a dose of product, and the push button 16 is free to slide axially.
[0069] Advantageously, the bellows 28 comprises at least one internal shoulder portion 52, on the side of its upper axial end 54. The peripheral lip 50 is designed to rest at least partly on the internal shoulder portion 52 when the push button 16 occupies its locked angular position.
[0070] The bellows 28 is shown in more detail in Figures 9 to 14 in several positions. Figures 9 and 12 show the bellows 28 before mounting in the dispensing device 10. Figures 10 and 13 show the bellows 28 in a slightly axially compressed state, when it is mounted in the dispensing device 10 and the latter occupies its unlocked angular position, before actuation of the dispensing device 10, as illustrated in Figure 3. Figures 11 and 14 show the bellows 28 in an axially compressed state corresponding to the low position of the push button 16, as illustrated in Figure 6.
[0071] According to the embodiment shown, the bellows 28 comprises an upper collar 56 designed to bear axially against an upper rim 58 formed in the push button 16 and an upper tubular extension 60 which comprises a window 62 capable of being aligned radially with the dispensing duct 18, in the unlocked angular position of the push button 16. The window 62 thus forms a passage for the product to be dispensed between the dispensing duct 18 and the intermediate cavity 34. In the locked angular position of the push button 16, the window 62 is offset radially relative to the dispensing duct 18, so that the upper tubular extension 60 closes the dispensing duct 18 on the inside.
[0072] According to the embodiment shown, the upper end wall 64 of the push button 16 is inclined with a downward slope towards the side opposite the dispensing duct 18. The upper tubular extension 60 of the bellows 28 has a beveled shape at its upper free end so that the highest part of the upper tubular extension 60 is generally radially aligned with the dispensing duct 18 when the push button 16 occupies its locked position. The height of the beveled shape is adjusted relative to the upper end wall 64 of the push button 16 so that the angular pivoting of the push button 16 is not hindered by mechanical interference between the bellows 28 and the push button 16.
[0073] Preferably, the bellows 28 comprises, in the vicinity of its lower end, a lower collar 66 designed to come into axial support against a lower rim 68 formed in the pump body 12. The bellows 28 also comprises a lower tubular extension 70 which is tightly mounted in an annular housing 72 formed in the pump body 12.
[0074] Advantageously, each collar 56, 66 comprises at least one keying element which is provided to cooperate with a complementary keying element formed in the pump body 12, so as to allow only one angular position for mounting the bellows 28 in the pump body 28.
[0075] According to the embodiment shown, the keying elements of the collars 56, 66 are each constituted by two opposite notches 74, 76. The notches 74 of the upper collar 56 are radially aligned with the notches 76 of the lower collar 66. The pump body 12 here comprises two axial tabs 78, in the form of a cylindrical wall, which extend axially upwards from the base of the pump body 12. These axial tabs 78 here contribute to the axial guidance of the push button 16, a main axial wall 80 of the push button 16 being received in the radial space located between an axial wall of the pump body 12 and the main axial wall 80 of the push button 16.
[0076] The circumferential dimension of each axial tab 78 is here substantially equal to the circumferential dimension of each notch 76 formed in the lower collar 66, so as to prevent pivoting around the main axis A1 of the lower collar 66.
[0077] Preferably, the bellows 28 is formed of beads 82 in the form of helical turns, which in particular allows greater ease of manufacture by molding because such a shape is easier to demold.
[0078] Due to its helical shape, the axial compression of the bellows 28 during assembly in the distribution device 10 tends to cause a first relative angular pivoting a1 of the upper collar 56 relative to the lower collar 66. Then the axial compression of the bellows 28 during actuation of the push button 16 tends to cause a second relative angular pivoting a2 of the upper collar 56 relative to the lower collar 66.
[0079] The lower axial end of the bellows 28 being locked in pivoting by virtue of its tight mounting in the annular housing 72, only the upper tubular extension 60 and the upper collar 56 of the bellows 28 pivot.
[0080] Advantageously, the direction of rotation of the helical shape of the bellows 28 is opposite to the locking direction of the push button 16, in order to prevent the pivoting of the upper collar 56 during compression of the bellows 28 from urging the push button 16 in the locking direction when the latter is raised.
[0081] Advantageously, to take into account the pivoting of the upper collar 56 during compression of the bellows 28, the window 62 extends over a circumferential distance greater than the circumferential dimension of the distribution duct 18. According to the embodiment shown, the window 62 has an oblong shape which extends circumferentially in the wall of the upper tubular extension 60.
[0082] The position of the distribution conduit 18 relative to the upper tubular extension 60 and the window 62, in an unlocked position of the push button 16, is illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. It can be seen that in the inactive position of FIG. 10, the distribution conduit 18 is offset towards a first circumferential end 81 of the window 62 and, in the lower position of FIG. 11, the distribution conduit 18 is offset towards a second circumferential end 83 of the window 62.
[0083] It is noted that the inlet valve 30 is preferably made of a single piece of elastomeric material. It comprises a flexible membrane that is elastically deformable, here in the form of a disc, to allow the product to pass towards the metering chamber 20 when the latter is under vacuum, and to close the chamber inlet 22 during dispensing of the product or in the inactive position of the dispensing device 10. The inlet valve 30 comprises a central body 84 which allows it to be force-fitted into a suitable housing of the pump body 12.
[0084] An example of such an inlet valve 30 is described and shown for example in document WO2018 / 162850A1.
[0085] The dispensing device 10 described and shown in the figures is here of the type without air intake, or "airless" according to English terminology. This is why the reservoir 14 here comprises a sliding bottom wall 86 which makes it possible to adjust the volume of the reservoir 14 to the volume of product remaining in the reservoir 14.
[0086] According to an alternative embodiment, which is shown schematically in Figure 15, the dispensing device 10 applies to a device of the venting type, that is to say comprising an atmospheric pressure orifice 90. In this case, the atmospheric pressure orifice 90 can be arranged in the bottom wall of the pump body 12 and provided with a venting non-return valve 92 of the same type as the inlet valve 30, mounted in the opposite direction to allow a regulated entry of air into the reservoir 14 in order to replace the dispensed product with air.
[0087] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the tubular body 36 of the outlet valve 32 extends downwards, inside the metering chamber 20, by a closed portion 88. This closed portion 88 allows the outlet valve 32 to cover the internal cylindrical portion 38 of the push button 16 by reducing the volume of the metering chamber 20.
[0088] The operation of the distribution device 10 according to the invention will now be described by considering the different operating steps illustrated by Figures 2 to 8.
[0089] Figure 2 illustrates the dispensing device 10 in the mechanically and hydraulically locked position. In fact, the push button 16 occupies its locked angular position in which the passage between the dispensing conduit 18 and the intermediate cavity 34 is closed by the upper tubular extension 60 of the bellows 28, which prevents any circulation of the product towards the outside. In addition, a mechanical locking member (not shown) blocks any axial sliding of the push button 16 downwards. For example, the lower axial ends of the main axial wall 80 of the push button 16 are located opposite an associated stop surface formed in the pump body 12.
[0090] It is noted that the dispensing device 10 has been described here in an already initiated configuration, that is to say that the product has already been dispensed, the product filling the dosing chamber 20 and the intermediate cavity 34.
[0091] From the position illustrated in Figure 2, to be able to start dispensing product, a user must pivot the push button 16 around its axis A1 to its unlocked angular position illustrated in Figure 3. This pivoting makes it possible to bring the window 62 opposite the dispensing orifice 18 to allow the expulsion of the product towards the outside. From the unlocked angular position illustrated in Figure 3, the user exerts a downward axial pressure on the push button 16. This axial pressure causes a reduction in the volume of the metering chamber 20 and an expulsion of product through the chamber outlet 26, thanks to the elastic deformation of the outlet valve 32. During this phase, the pressure increases in the metering chamber 20 which prevents the opening of the inlet valve 30.
[0092] Figure 4 illustrates the start of the dispensing of the product, after a slight axial movement of the push button 16, the product first filling the dispensing conduit 18. At the start of this downward axial movement, the outlet valve 32 slides axially by a distance corresponding to its axial movement d1 along the internal cylindrical portion 38 of the push button 16. Throughout the duration of the dispensing of the product, the outlet valve 32 maintains its upper stop position.
[0093] Figure 5 illustrates the end of the dispensing of the product, when the push button 16 has reached a lower axial stop position and practically emptied the dosing chamber 20. In this axial position, the outlet valve 32 is still in its upper axial stop position relative to the internal cylindrical portion 38 of the push button 16.
[0094] Figure 6 illustrates the start of the rise of the push button 16. In this ascending phase, under the effect of the elastic return exerted by the bellows 28 upwards, over an axial distance substantially equal to the axial movement d1, the outlet valve 32 begins by returning to its lower axial stop position, as in Figure 3. A vacuum is generated inside the bellows 28 which has the effect of moving the outlet valve 32 downwards. The relative movement of the outlet valve 32 relative to the push button 16 causes a suction phenomenon in the intermediate cavity 34 since the volume of the latter increases slightly thanks to the relative movement of the outlet valve 32. This suction phenomenon is used to empty the distribution conduit 18, the product which was contained in this distribution conduit 18 filling the volume available in the intermediate cavity 34.It is noted that the value of the axial movement d1 is chosen as a function of the volume of the distribution conduit 18, so as to be sufficient to ensure complete emptying of the distribution conduit 18.
[0095] Figure 7 illustrates an intermediate step during the rise of the push button 16, showing the opening of the inlet valve 30, thanks to the depression caused in the dosing chamber 20, and the progressive filling of the dosing chamber 20 with the product coming from the reservoir 14.
[0096] Figure 8 illustrates the return to a locked angular position of the push button 16, which in particular makes it possible to close the intermediate cavity 34 by means of the upper tubular extension 60 of the bellows 28, and which makes it possible to isolate the product contained in the intermediate cavity 34 from the outside air.
[0097] It is noted that the hydraulic locking obtained in the locked angular position also makes it possible to prevent the product from coming out in the event of a vacuum outside the dispensing device 10, for example in the case of air travel.
[0098] Even in the unlocked position illustrated in Figure 3, where the passage is open to the intermediate cavity 34, the product contained in the intermediate cavity 34 is better protected than when it fills the distribution conduit 18. In fact, the surface area of the product in contact with the air is reduced and moved away from the outer end of the distribution conduit 18. In addition, the quantity of product in the volume of the intermediate cavity 34 makes it possible to slow down the drying of the product.
[0099] LEGEND
[0100] 10: distribution device
[0101] 12: pump body
[0102] 13: protective cover
[0103] 14: tank
[0104] 16: push button
[0105] 18: distribution duct
[0106] 20: dosing chamber
[0107] 22: room entrance 24: supply duct
[0108] 26: room exit
[0109] 28: bellows
[0110] 30: inlet valve
[0111] 32: outlet valve
[0112] 34: intermediate cavity
[0113] 36: tubular body
[0114] 38: internal cylindrical portion
[0115] 40, 41: abutment surfaces
[0116] 42, 43: support surfaces
[0117] 44: upper end cylindrical portion
[0118] 46: annular slit
[0119] 48: peripheral cylindrical wall
[0120] 50: peripheral lip
[0121] 52: internal shoulder portion
[0122] 54: upper axial end
[0123] 56: upper collar
[0124] 58: upper edge
[0125] 60: upper tubular extension
[0126] 62: window
[0127] 64: upper end wall
[0128] 66: lower collar
[0129] 68: lower edge
[0130] 70: lower tubular extension
[0131] 72: annular housing
[0132] 74, 76: notches
[0133] 78: axial tab
[0134] 80: main axial wall
[0135] 81: first circumferential end
[0136] 82: bead
[0137] 83: second circumferential end
[0138] 84: central body
[0139] 86: back wall 88: closed portion
[0140] 90: atmospheric pressure vent
[0141] 92: air vent check valve
[0142] A1: main axis a1: first angular pivot a2: second angular pivot d1: axial movement
Claims
CLAIMS 1. Device (10) for dispensing liquid to pasty product comprising: - a pump body (12) intended to be mounted on a product tank (14), - a push button (16) slidably mounted in the pump body (12) along a main axis (A1) between an inactive axial position and an axial distribution position, - a dispensing conduit (18) arranged in the push button (16) so as to allow the dispensing of a dose of product, - a metering chamber (20) of variable volume comprising a chamber inlet (22) in communication with a supply conduit (24) intended to be connected to the reservoir (14) and a chamber outlet (26) in communication with the distribution conduit (18), - an elastically deformable bellows (28) which laterally delimits the dosing chamber (20) and which elastically biases the push button (16) towards its inactive position, - a first non-return valve, called the inlet valve (30), arranged so as to open or close the chamber inlet (22) under the exertion respectively of a pressure reduction or an increase in pressure in the metering chamber (20), - a second non-return valve, called the outlet valve (32), arranged between the chamber outlet (26) and the distribution duct (18), - an intermediate cavity (34) arranged between the dispensing duct (18) and the outlet valve (32) so as to be able to store a determined quantity of product, characterized in that the outlet valve (32) is mounted so as to slide axially on the push button (16) between a high position and a low position, so as to cause a suction effect sucking the product from the dispensing duct (18) towards the intermediate cavity (34) when the push button (16) slides from its dispensing position to its inactive position. Dispensing device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the outlet valve (32) comprises a tubular body (36) which is mounted to slide axially on an internal cylindrical portion (38) of the push button (16). Dispensing device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the tubular body (36) comprises at least one stop surface (40, 41) provided to cooperate with an associated bearing surface (42, 43) arranged on the internal cylindrical portion (38) of the push button (16) in order to define the low position.Dispensing device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the tubular body (36) and the internal cylindrical portion (38) of the push button (16) each comprise an undercut portion which forms respectively the stop surface (40) and the bearing surface (42). Dispensing device (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the tubular body (36) of the outlet valve (32) comprises an upper end cylindrical portion (44) which is received axially in an annular slot (46) delimited towards the inside by the internal cylindrical portion (38) and towards the outside by a peripheral cylindrical wall (48) of the push button (16).Dispensing device (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the outlet valve (32) comprises a peripheral lip (50) which extends from the external wall of the tubular body (36) and which comes to bear against an associated surface of the bellows (28) in the closed position. Dispensing device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the bellows (28) comprises at least one internal shoulder portion (52), on the side of its upper axial end, and in that the peripheral lip (50) rests at least. partly on said internal shoulder portion (52) when the push button (16) occupies a locked angular position.
8. Dispensing device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bellows (28) comprises an upper collar (56) intended to bear axially against an upper rim (58) formed in the push button (16) and an upper tubular extension (60) which comprises a window (62) capable of being aligned radially with the dispensing duct (18), in an unlocked angular position of the push button (16), and capable of being offset radially relative to the dispensing duct (18), in a locked angular position of the push button (16), so that the upper tubular extension (60) closes the dispensing duct (18) on the inner side in the locked position.
9. Dispensing device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the upper end wall (64) of the push button (16) is inclined with a downward slope towards the side opposite the dispensing duct (18), and in that the upper tubular extension (60) has a beveled shape at its upper free end so that the highest part of the upper tubular extension (60) is generally aligned radially with the dispensing duct (18) when the push button (16) occupies its locked position.
10. Dispensing device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bellows (28) comprises, in the vicinity of its lower end, a lower collar (66) designed to come into axial support against a lower rim (68) formed in the pump body (12), and a lower tubular extension (70) which is mounted tightly in an annular housing formed (72) in the pump body (12).
11. Dispensing device (10) according to the preceding claim taken in combination with claim 8, characterized in that each collar (56, 66) comprises at least one element of keying which is provided to cooperate with a complementary keying element formed in the pump body (12), so as to allow only one angular position of mounting of the bellows (28) in the pump body (12).
12. Dispensing device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the keying elements of the collars (56, 66) are each constituted by two opposite notches (74, 76) and in that the notches (74) of the upper collar (56) are radially aligned with the notches (76) of the lower collar (66).
13. Dispensing device (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the pump body (12) comprises two partially cylindrical axial tabs (78) whose circumferential dimension is substantially equal to the circumferential dimension of each notch (76) formed in the lower collar (66), so as to prevent pivoting around the main axis (A1) of the lower collar (66).
14. Dispensing device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bellows (28) is formed of beads in the form of helical turns.