Connector for a system for closing a bottle and / or a dispenser of fluid product
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-05-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-08
AI Technical Summary
Existing fluid product dispensers face challenges in achieving a secure, adaptable connection with bottle necks of varying diameters and lengths, leading to issues with chattering and removal prevention, which compromises the integrity of the contents and the ability to reuse the dispenser with different bottles.
A connection system featuring a body with two or more positioning means that extend along an axis, including a thinned part with flexible frustoconical skirts and vent holes, allowing for radial force against the bottle neck to prevent chattering and secure attachment, while a third positioning means under the neck prevents removal, accommodating axial and radial variations.
The connection system effectively prevents chattering and removal from the bottle neck, ensuring a secure and adaptable fit for different bottle dimensions, maintaining the integrity of the fluid product and allowing for easy transfer of the dispenser between bottles without contamination.
Smart Images

Figure EP2024064211_05122024_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Connection for a bottle closure system and / or a fluid dispenser Field of invention
[0001] The invention relates to a connector for a fluid product refill and / or a fluid product dispenser comprising a bottle. The invention also relates to a system for closing a bottle comprising such a connector. The invention also relates to a fluid product refill comprising the closing system and a bottle containing a fluid product. The invention also relates to a fluid product dispensing assembly comprising such a connector and a fluid dispensing system fixed to the connector. The invention also relates to a fluid product dispenser comprising such a dispensing assembly and a bottle containing a fluid product. The invention also relates to a method for dispensing a fluid product.
[0002] The fluid product is of the lotion, gel, perfume, or cream type for example, used for cosmetic purposes or for pharmaceutical treatments.
[0003] The term “bottle” shall be understood without restriction of materials or volume. The bottle may be made of glass, plastic, metal or any other material. State of the art
[0004] Fluid dispensers are known that include a dispensing system mounted on a bottle containing a fluid. The dispensing system typically includes a pump and a push button. The pump is designed to draw the fluid from the bottle to an outlet orifice, by actuating the push button. To save money, it is advisable to keep the dispensing system and only discard the bottle when it is empty. The dispensing system can then be attached to another filled bottle.
[0005] While the dispensing system must be able to communicate with the fluid inside this other bottle, it is imperative that the contents of this other bottle are not directly accessible. Indeed, such a situation would endanger the integrity of the contents of the bottle. The bottle could be filled with any other product not corresponding to the expected product corresponding to the indications given on the bottle. A bottle has therefore been provided whose neck is provided with a connector at least partially closing the bottle. A pump of a dispensing system cooperates with this connector in such a way that it communicates with the contents of the bottle to be aspirated and dispensed. The connector must thus be fixed to the neck of the bottle in a non-removable manner and be capable of fixing the pump in a removable manner. Thus, at least one end of the pump body must be removably fixed to the connector.
[0006] It is important to be able to fix such a connector in necks of varying diameters and lengths. On the one hand, there is a dispersion of dimensions, in particular of the dimensions of the necks, within a production of bottles of a given reference. On the other hand, it is advantageous to be able to equip more than one reference of bottles, comprising necks of different internal diameters and lengths, with a single connector reference. For this purpose, it is known to provide a pump body with flexible fins in its upper part. These fins exert a radial force against the inner wall of the neck. It is thus possible to prevent radial flapping of the pump within the neck.
[0007] However, the internal diameter of bottle necks and the largest external diameter of pump bodies, generally located at their upper part, are often standardized and the two dimensions are generally close. Thus, in many configurations, there is little space left between the neck wall and the upper part of the pump body to accommodate a wall of a fitting provided with radial structures.
[0008] On the other hand, since the fitting must be fixed irremovably in the neck, it is advantageous to provide it with means preventing its removal and adapting to a variation in the length of the neck.
[0009] The problem to be solved is therefore to obtain an irremovable connection in a bottle neck, the connection being adapted to the axial and radial dimensional variations of the neck.
[0010] The present invention therefore aims to overcome the various drawbacks stated above by means of a connector for a fluid product refill and / or a fluid product dispenser comprising a bottle, said connector comprising a body extending along an axis and comprising a first body part and a second body part provided with a section smaller than a section of the first body part, said connector being characterized in that it comprises at least two means for positioning the connector in said bottle spaced along said axis and in that said positioning means extend from said second part of the body.
[0011] The main idea of this invention is that the positioning means preventing on the one hand the flapping of the fitting in the neck and on the other hand its withdrawal from the neck are arranged at a thinned part of the fitting, which provides the necessary space for their radial extension.
[0012] In addition, the presence of at least two positioning means at the level of the thinned part of the connector allows a first positioning means, located inside the neck of the bottle, to provide a function of preventing flapping and a second positioning means, located under the neck of the bottle, to provide a function of retaining the connector in the event of an attempt to remove the connector from the neck, by coming into contact under the neck of the bottle.
[0013] At least three positioning means may be provided arranged at the second part of the coupling body. These three axially spaced means allow the coupling to be adapted to axial dimensional variations of the necks. For shorter necks, one positioning means located inside the neck provides a function of preventing flapping, and at least one of the other two, located under the neck, prevents the coupling from being removed. For longer necks, two positioning means, housed in the neck, provide the function of preventing flapping and the third positioning means, located under the neck, prevents the coupling from being removed.
[0014] According to different embodiments of the invention, which may be taken together or separately:three positioning means extend from said second part of the connector body.The three positioning means extend radially from said second part of the connector body.the first part of the connector body, the second part of the connector body and said positioning means are formed in a single piece.the positioning means are flexible. This allows the positioning means to deform during penetration of the connector into the neck of the bottle and to exert a radial force against the internal wall of the neck.at least one positioning means comprises a frustoconical skirt.the skirt forms a hinge connection with said second part of the connector body. This hinge connection allows greater flexibility of the positioning means.in the rest position the skirt moves away from said axis in the direction of said first part.This orientation of the skirt makes it possible to provide a stop function against an internal wall of the bottle reservoir and thus to oppose the withdrawal of the connector from the bottle. The skirt comprises a plurality of slots which cut the skirt into a plurality of fins. These slots make it possible to increase the flexibility of the skirt and thus facilitate its deformation. In addition, they are capable of ensuring fluid communication, in particular air communication between a vent hole provided in the connector and the bottle reservoir. The fins are four in number. The second connector body part comprises a frustoconical part connecting the second connector body part to the first connector body part. This geometry provides a space for housing the positioning means in a rest position as well as in a deformed position. The second connector body part comprises a nozzle. A dip tube is housed in said nozzle.the dip tube extends into the reservoir of the bottle. the second part of the connector body comprises a chimney capable of receiving one end of the pump body. the chimney and the outer tip are connected by an orifice provided in said connector. the chimney comprises a chamfered face, which allows easy insertion of the pump body and a sealed connection between the pump body and the connector. Thus, it is possible to avoid a leak of fluid between the pump body and the connector. said sealed connection is made at one end of the pump body. Thus the rest of the pump body is not in contact with fluid when it is sucked in by the pump. It is not contaminated by the fluid. the second part of the connector body comprises at least one vent hole capable of ensuring fluid communication, in particular air communication between an inner part of the connector and the reservoir.said at least one vent hole is located on said frustoconical portion of said second fitting body portion. said second fitting body portion comprises four vent holes.
[0015] The invention further relates to a system for closing a bottle comprising a connector as described above and a cap, said cap being removably mounted on the connector.
[0016] According to different embodiments of the invention, which may be taken together or separately: the cap comprises an internal skirt which ensures sealed contact with the connector. the internal skirt is housed inside the cap. the internal skirt penetrates at least partially inside the connector. the cap and the connector are integral with each other so that the closure system can be delivered in a single element. the cap is removably secured to the connector. the internal skirt is tightly mounted against an internal wall of the connector. Thus, the two parts of the closure system are integral with each other. the connector comprises a ring on the internal wall of the connector cooperating in a sealed manner with the internal skirt. the cap comprises first fixing means capable of cooperating with the neck of the tank. the first means for fixing the cap are located on an external skirt of the cap.The first means of fixing the hood consist of a thread.
[0017] The invention further relates to a fluid product refill comprising the closure system as described above, said closure system being mounted on the bottle as described above. The bottle contains a fluid product and comprises a neck and a reservoir. The neck comprises a first internal wall extending along said axis of the body of the connector of the closure system. The reservoir comprises a second internal wall in the vicinity of the first internal wall and extending in a direction transverse to the axis. The connector is at least partially inserted into said bottle. At least one positioning means comes into contact with the first internal wall of the neck and at least one positioning means abuts or is capable of abutting against the second internal wall in the event of an attempt to remove the connector from the bottle.
[0018] The invention further relates to a fluid product dispensing assembly comprising the connector as described above and a fluid dispensing system removably mounted with the connector.
[0019] According to different embodiments of the invention, which may be taken together or separately: the dispensing system comprises a pump mounted tightly against a wall of the connector. the dispensing system is removably secured to the connector so that the dispensing assembly can be delivered in a single element. said wall is an internal wall of the connector. the pump is housed at least partially inside the connector. the dispensing system comprises second fixing means capable of cooperating with the neck of the reservoir. the second fixing means of the dispensing system consist of a thread. the neck of the bottle comprises fixing means capable of cooperating removably alternately with the first fixing means of the cap and the second fixing means of the dispensing system.Thus, it is possible to remove the cap from the neck of the bottle, the connector remaining in the bottle, then to attach a fluid distribution system to the connector and finally to remove said distribution system from said connector when said reservoir is empty.
[0020] The invention further relates to a fluid dispenser comprising the dispensing assembly and the bottle containing a fluid as described above, said dispensing assembly being mounted on said bottle. The bottle comprises a neck and a reservoir, the neck comprises a first internal wall extending along said axis (X). The reservoir comprises a second internal wall in the vicinity of the first internal wall and extending in a direction transverse to the axis (X). At least one positioning means comes into contact with the first internal wall of the neck and at least one positioning means comes into abutment or is capable of coming into abutment against the second internal wall in the event of an attempt to remove the connector from the bottle.
[0021] The invention further relates to a method for dispensing a fluid product using a fluid product dispenser and a fluid product refill as described above. The dispenser comprises a first connector and a first bottle. The dispensing system comprises actuation means. The fluid product refill comprises a second connector and a second bottle containing a fluid product. The method comprises the following steps:
[0022] - dismantle the distribution system from the first connector which remains permanently in the first bottle,
[0023] - remove the refill cover from the second connector which remains permanently in the second bottle,
[0024] - mount the distribution system on the second connection,
[0025] - actuate said actuating means to distribute said fluid. Presentation of Figures
[0026] The invention will be better understood, and other aims, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear more clearly during the detailed explanatory description which follows, of at least one embodiment of the invention given by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the appended schematic drawings.
[0027] On these drawings:
[0028] - the figures, and represent a connection according to the invention respectively in a perspective view, in a sectional view and in a top view;
[0029] - represents a system for closing a bottle according to the invention;
[0030] - represents a refill of fluid product according to the invention;
[0031] - represents a distribution assembly according to the invention;
[0032] - represents a fluid product dispenser according to the invention.
[0033] - the figures represent a product dispenser according to the invention, the fluid dispenser comprising a bottle comprising a narrow neck and the fluid dispenser comprising a bottle comprising a wide neck.
[0034] - the figures represent the different stages of a fluid product distribution process. Detailed description
[0035] In the following description, elements having an identical structure or similar functions are designated by the same references.
[0036] Figures 1a, 1b and 1c show a connector 1. This connector 1 comprises a first body part 1a and a second body part 1b. The first body part 1a and the second body part 1b extend substantially along an axis X. The first body part 1a is cylindrical in shape and has an outer diameter d1 and the second body part 1b comprises a cylindrical section 3 with a diameter d2 smaller than the diameter d1. The second body part 1b also comprises a frustoconical section 4 forming a junction between the first body part 1a and the cylindrical section 3 of the second body part 1b. The second body part 1b is provided with means 2 for positioning the connector 1 in a bottle 20. At least two axially spaced positioning means 2.1 and 2.2 are provided. The positioning means 2.1 and 2.2 each take the form of a frustoconical skirt.This truncated skirt moves radially away from said axis X in the direction of the first body part 1a. The skirts 2.1 and 2.2 may be provided with slots 13 which thus divide each skirt 2.1 and 2.2 into several fins 2.1a, 2.1b…., 2.2a, 2.2b…. In a preferred embodiment, four slots 13 are provided on each skirt 2.1 and 2.2, thus forming four fins 2.1a to 2.1d and 2.2a to 2.2d on each skirt 2.1 and 2.2. The slots 13 make it possible on the one hand to increase the flexibility of the positioning means 2.1 and 2.2 and on the other hand to ensure air communication between the exterior of the first body part 1.a and a reservoir 22 of the bottle 20 in which the connector 1 is positioned, as will be seen later. The skirts 2.1 and 2.2 are deformable. In particular, the junction of the skirts 2.1 and 2.2 on the second body part 1b forms a hinge connection allowing the skirts 2.1 and 2.2 to be folded towards the first body part 1a.In one embodiment, three positioning means 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 are provided, in this case three frustoconical skirts, as described above, in particular provided with slots cutting the skirts into a plurality of fins, for example four fins, as described above.
[0037] In a preferred embodiment, the positioning means are provided on the cylindrical section 3 of the second body part 1b. A space 15 is formed between the frustoconical section 4 and an inner face of a bottle neck in which at least one frustoconical skirt 2.1, in this case the one closest to said frustoconical section 4, can fold back when the connector is introduced into a bottle 20. One or more skirts could also be provided on the frustoconical part 4 of the second body part 1b.
[0038] The connector 1 is provided with an end piece 5 as well as a chimney 6 housed inside the connector and which is capable of sealingly housing an end 317 of pump body 312 of a pump 311 (). Advantageously, an upper face 6a of the chimney 6 is chamfered. This chamfer thus allows easier insertion of the end 317 of the pump body 311. In addition, said upper face 6a is capable of coming into contact with a beveled face 318 of the pump body 311, which improves the retention of the pump body 312 in the chimney 6 and improves the sealing of the contact between the chimney 6 and the pump body 312. The end piece 5 and the chimney 6 are placed in communication via an orifice 7 provided in the connector 1.The end piece 5 may be provided with a dip tube 14 which plunges into the reservoir 22 of the bottle 20 to convey a fluid contained in said reservoir 22 to the end piece 5 under the suction action of the pump 311, through the orifice 7, the chimney 6 then inside the pump body 312. In another embodiment, the end piece may be without a dip tube and the fluid may penetrate from the reservoir 22 directly into the end piece 5.
[0039] The connector 1 is also provided in its second body part 1b with at least one vent hole 8 allowing fluid communication between an interior part 1c of the connector 1 and the exterior of the connector 1. In particular, fluid communication between the interior of the connector 1 and the reservoir 22 of the bottle 20 is required for the proper operation of a dispenser with air intake. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the connector 1 comprises four vent holes 8 located on the frustoconical part 4 of the second body part 1b. The number of vent holes 8 could nevertheless be greater or less than four and the vent holes 8 could be located on the cylindrical part 3 of the second body part 1b or extend over both the frustoconical part 4 and the cylindrical part 3. The vent hole(s) 8 may or may not be axially aligned with the slots 13.
[0040] The connector 1 comprises a rim 10 overhanging the first body part 1a and extending radially. Thus, the rim 10 is able to rest on an upper face 23 of a neck 21 of a bottle 20. The connector 1 comprises an inner wall 34 from which a ring 16 extends near the rim.
[0041] La represents a closure system 100 of a bottle 20. The closure system 100 comprises the connector 1, possibly provided with a dip tube 14, associated with a cap 30. The cap 30 is provided with an internal skirt 32 which penetrates inside the connector 1 and is tightly mounted against the ring 16 of the connector 1. Thus, the cap 30 and the connector 1 are secured to each other by a tight assembly and thus form said closure system 100 which can be handled in one piece. The cap 30 is provided with first fixing means 31 which cooperate with neck fixing means 24 (). The first fixing means 31 and the neck fixing means 24 are in this embodiment threads. Thus the cap 30 and therefore the closure assembly 100, can be screwed and unscrewed onto the neck 21. Then the connector 1 is positioned inside the bottle 20 and in particular, the first body part 1a is mounted at least partially inside the neck 21 ().
[0042] As appears in, an inner part 1c of the connector 1 can be placed in fluid communication with the reservoir 22 of the bottle by a fluid path comprising the vent hole(s) 8 and the slots 13 provided on the truncated cone-shaped skirts 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3.
[0043] The rim 10 of the connector 1 is placed on the upper face 23 of the neck 21. The cap 30 is provided with an internal upper face 33 which presses the rim 10 against the upper face 23 of the neck 21 so that the closure system 100 seals the bottle 20 when the cap 30 is screwed onto the neck 21.
[0044] The bottle 20 comprises the neck 21 and the reservoir 22 containing the fluid product. The neck 21 comprises an opening 28 and a first internal wall 26 extending along the axis (X) on the side of said opening 28. The reservoir 22 comprises a second internal wall 27 in the vicinity of the first internal wall 26 and extends in a direction transverse to the axis (X). Thus, the boundary between the first internal wall 26 and the second internal wall 27 is the location from which the tangent to the first and second internal walls 26 and 27 of the reservoir 22 has a direction which moves away from the direction of the axis (X). Thus, the deviation of the direction of the tangent to the second internal wall 27 from the X axis leads to a different contact angle of the positioning means with the first internal wall 26 and with the second internal wall 27. Thus, on the, the first skirt 2.1 is in contact with the first internal wall 26 and the second skirt 2.2 is in contact with the second internal wall 27. The angle formed by the first skirt 2.1 with the first internal wall 26 is different from the angle formed by the second skirt 2.2 with the second internal wall 27. At the first internal wall 26, the internal diameter is smaller than at the second internal wall 27, the diameter of which increases away from the neck 21. Thus the first skirt 2.1 in contact with the first internal wall 26 is more deformed than the second skirt 2.2 in contact with the second internal wall 27.
[0045] In the embodiment of the, the first frustoconical skirt 2.1 is in contact with the first internal wall 26 and provides a function of tightening the connector 1 in the neck 21 to prevent flapping. The second frustoconical skirt 2.2 is in contact with the second internal wall 27 and provides a stop function to prevent a withdrawal said connector 1 from the bottle. Finally, the third frustoconical skirt 2.3 is not in contact with either of the first and second internal walls and it is able to come into abutment against said second internal wall in the event of an attempt to withdraw said connector from the neck. Thus, at least one positioning means 2.1 comes into contact with the first internal wall 26 of the neck 21, at least one positioning means 2.2 comes into abutment against the second internal wall 27 and at least one positioning means 2.3 is able to come into abutment against the second internal wall 27 in the event of an attempt to withdraw said connector 1 from the bottle 20.
[0046] It is also possible to provide that the connector 1 only comprises the frustoconical skirts 2.1 and 2.2 and is deprived of the skirt 2.3. It is also possible to provide that the connector 1 only comprises the frustoconical skirts 2.1 and 2.3 and is deprived of the skirt 2.2. Thus, at least one positioning means 2.1 comes into contact with the first internal wall 26 of the neck 21 and at least one positioning means comes into abutment (positioning means 2.2) or is capable of coming into abutment (positioning means 2.3) against the second internal wall 27 in the event of an attempt to remove the connector from the neck.
[0047] The refill 200 represents the refill 200 comprising the closure system 100 of a bottle mounted on the bottle 20. The first fixing means 31 of the closure system 100 cooperate with the neck fixing means 24. The closure system 100 comprises the connector 1 associated with the cap 30, as described previously. The positioning means 2 of the connector 1 cooperate with the first and second internal walls 26 and 27 of the bottle 20, more precisely the frustoconical skirt 2.1 is in contact with the first internal wall 26 to prevent radial flapping of the connector 1 in the neck 21. The frustoconical skirt 2.2 is in abutment against the second internal wall 27 to prevent withdrawal of the connector 1 from the bottle 20, in particular from the neck 21. The frustoconical skirt 2.3 is not in contact with an internal wall but is capable of coming into abutment against the second internal wall 27 in the event of an attempt to withdraw the connector from the bottle 20, in particular from the neck 21.The closure system 100 may comprise a dip tube 14 which extends into the reservoir 22 of the bottle 20 containing the fluid F.
[0048] La represents a distribution assembly 300 comprising a distribution system 310 and the connector 1. The distribution system 310 comprises a pump 311, itself comprising a pump body 312, and an actuating means 313 of said pump 311, in this case a push button, mounted above the pump body 312. The distribution system 310 also comprises a nozzle 314 mounted in the actuating means 313 and said nozzle 314 is provided with a distribution orifice 315 through which the fluid F is distributed. The pump body 312 is mounted integrally in the connector 1 as described previously. An end 317 of pump body 312 of generally cylindrical shape is mounted in a sealed manner in the chimney 6 of the connector 1. The chamfered face 6a of the chimney 6 comes into sealed contact with a beveled face 318 of the pump body 312.This geometry ensures a sealed connection between the connector 1 and the pump body 312 so that fluid F, during its suction, does not penetrate outside the pump body 312 into a volume V inside the connector 1. Thus, only the end 317 of the pump body is in contact with the fluid F during the pumping of the fluid F and its circulation in the chimney 6 then in the pump body 312. Advantageously, the beveled face 318 of the pump body is not in contact with the fluid F, which makes it possible to avoid contamination by mixing a first fluid F, coming from a first bottle 20, which has remained in contact with the pump body 312 and a second fluid F pumped by the same pump 311 from a second bottle 20 after a change of refill 200, as will be seen later.
[0049] The pump body 312 also comprises a cylindrical face 319 mounted tightly inside the second body part 1b of the connector 1 against an inner face 3a of the connector 1 along a bearing surface P2. The pump body 312 is thus removably secured to the connector 1. This tight mounting allows the distribution assembly 300 to be in a single piece that is easy to handle.
[0050] The distribution system 310 of the distribution assembly 300 also comprises second fixing means 316 capable of cooperating with neck fixing means 24. The distribution system 310 also comprises a plate 320, a lower face of which comes into contact with the edge 10 of the connector 1.
[0051] La represents a dispenser 400 comprising the dispensing assembly 300 and a bottle 20 whose reservoir 22 is filled with the fluid F to be dispensed. The dispensing assembly 300 is mounted on the bottle 20. The second fixing means 316 of the dispensing assembly 300 cooperate with the neck fixing means 24. In this embodiment, the second fixing means 316 and the neck fixing means 24 are threads. When the dispensing assembly 300 is fully screwed onto the thread 24 of the neck 21, the lower face of the plate 320 of the dispensing assembly 300 presses the rim 10 of the connector 1 against an upper face 23 of the neck 21 in a sealed manner. The positioning means 2 interact with the first internal wall 26 of the bottle 20 and the second internal wall 27 of the bottle 20.
[0052] Figures 6a and 6b show a dispenser 400 comprising a dispensing assembly 300 mounted in a bottle 20. These two embodiments differ with respect to the characteristics of the neck 21 of the bottle 20. The dispenser of the has a narrower neck than the neck of the dispenser of the. Furthermore, the neck of the dispenser 6a is a little longer than the neck of the refill of the.
[0053] The neck of the distributor has a diameter only slightly greater than the diameter of the first body part 1a of the connector 1. Thus the fastening means 2, in this case the frustoconical skirts 2.1 and 2.2, fold strongly into the space 15 under the frustoconical section 4 of the second body part 1b of the connector 1. The skirts 2.1 and 2.2 are in contact with the first internal wall 26 and have the function of preventing the connector 1 from flapping in the neck 21. The frustoconical skirt 2.3 is not in contact with either of the first and second internal walls 26 and 27. It extends under the second internal wall 27 and is capable of coming into abutment against the second internal wall 27 in the event of an attempt to remove the connector from the neck 21. The first two internal skirts 2.1 and 2.2 have an anti-flap function and the third frustoconical skirt 2.3 has a function of stop. The distributor thus comprises at least one positioning means 2.1 and 2.2 coming into contact with the first internal wall 26 of the neck 21 and at least one positioning means 2.3 capable of coming into abutment against the second internal wall 27 in the event of an attempt to remove the connector 1 from the bottle 20. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that with a neck that is even a little longer, the positioning means 2.3 would be in abutment against the second internal wall 27.
[0054] The connector according to the invention is thus capable of fulfilling the anti-flickering and stop functions when it cooperates with necks of different lengths. In a long neck, the frustoconical skirts 2.1 and 2.2 are in contact with the first internal wall 26 and have a flapping prevention function and the skirt 2.3 is either in contact with the second internal wall 27 and provides a stop function for the longest necks, or is capable of coming into abutment against the second internal wall 27 in the event of an attempt to remove the connector 1 from the bottle 20 for slightly shorter necks. For necks of medium length, the truncated skirt 2.1 is in contact with the first internal wall 26 and has a flapping prevention function, the skirt 2.2 is in contact with the second internal wall 27 and provides a stop function and the skirt 2.3 is able to come into abutment against the second internal wall 27 in the event of an attempt to remove the connector 1 from the bottle 20.For short necks, the truncated cone-shaped skirt 2.1 is in contact with the first internal wall 26 and has a flapping prevention function and the skirts 2.2 and 2.3 are able to come into abutment against the second internal wall 27 in the event of an attempt to remove the connector 1 from the bottle 20.
[0055] The dispenser includes a wide neck. The first frustoconical skirt 2.1 is in contact with the first internal wall 26 and has a radial anti-flap function of the connector 1 in the neck 20. The second and third frustoconical skirts 2.2 and 2.3 are not in contact with either the first internal wall 26 or the second internal wall 27 and they extend under the second internal wall 27. They are able to come into abutment against the second internal wall 27 in the event of an attempt to remove the connector 1 from the bottle 20. In the embodiment of the, a positioning means 2, in this case the skirt 2.1, comes into contact with the first internal wall 26 of the neck 21, and two positioning means 2, in this case the second and third skirts 2.2 and 2.3, are able to come into abutment against the second internal wall 27 in the event of an attempt to remove the connector 1 from the neck.
[0056] The connector according to the invention is thus capable of fulfilling the anti-flickering and stop functions when it cooperates with necks of different widths. In a narrow neck, the frustoconical skirts 2.1 and 2.2 are in contact with the first internal wall 26 and have a flapping prevention function and the skirt 2.3 is either in contact with the second internal wall 27 and provides a stop function for the narrowest necks, or is capable of coming into abutment against the second internal wall 27 in the event of an attempt to remove the connector 1 from the bottle 20 for slightly less narrow necks. For necks of medium width, the truncated skirt 2.1 is in contact with the first internal wall 26 and has a flapping prevention function, the skirt 2.2 is in contact with the second internal wall 27 and provides a stop function and the skirt 2.3 is able to come into abutment against the second internal wall 27 in the event of an attempt to remove the connector 1 from the bottle 20.For wide necks, the truncated skirt 2.1 is in contact with the first inner wall 26 and has a flapping prevention function and the skirts 2.2 and 2.3 are not in contact with the first and second inner walls 26 and 27 and are capable of coming into abutment against the second inner wall 27 in the event of an attempt to remove the connector 1 from the bottle 20.
[0057] It thus appears that the connector 1 is capable of performing the anti-flickering and stop functions for a majority of necks, namely those of average length and width when the connector 1 only comprises the two truncated skirts 2.1 and 2.2. A connector 1 having a third truncated skirt 2.3 makes it possible to perform the anti-flickering and stop functions also for the longest and narrowest necks.
[0058] Figures 7a to 7f illustrate a method for dispensing a fluid product. This method aims to replace a first bottle 20 empty of fluid F with a second bottle 20' of a refill 200, said second bottle being filled with fluid F. The represents a dispenser 400 comprising a dispensing assembly 300 itself comprising a dispensing system 310 mounted tightly and removably in a first connector 1. The dispensing system 310 is thus removably secured to the first connector 1. This connector 1 is itself mounted in a first bottle 20 empty of fluid F, said fluid F having already been dispensed. The dispensing assembly 300 is mounted on the neck 21 of the first bottle 20 and fixed by the cooperation of the second fixing means 316 of the dispensing assembly 300 and the neck fixing means 24. In the embodiment shown, these fixing means are threads.
[0059] La represents the distribution system 310 detached from the first connector 1, the latter remaining permanently in the first bottle 20 thanks to the positioning means 2 forming a stop. This disassembly is carried out by detaching the second fixing means 316 and the neck fixing means 24, that is to say by unscrewing the distribution system 310 from the neck 21. During this unscrewing, the distribution system 310, that is to say in particular the pump body 312 of the pump 311, slides out of the first connector 1 until the clamping surface P2 disappears by detaching the pump body 312 and the first connector 1.
[0060] La represents a refill 200. Said refill 200 comprises a closure system 100 of a second bottle 20' comprising a cap 30 removably mounted by clamping on a second connector 1' and thus made integral with the second connector 1'. Said second connector 1' is mounted as described above in the second bottle 20' filled with the fluid F.
[0061] Lamontre the cover 30 removed from the second connector 1'. The second connector 1' remains permanently in the second bottle 20' thanks to the positioning means 2' of the second connector 1' forming a stop. The disassembly is carried out by the separation of the first fixing means 31 of the cover 30 and the neck fixing means 24 of the neck 21 of the second bottle 20'. In this case, these fixing means are threads. When the cover 30 is unscrewed from the neck 21, the internal skirt 32 of the cover 30 slides on the ring 16 of the internal wall 34 of the second connector 1' until the tightening of the internal skirt on the connector disappears by separation of the cover 30 and the second connector 1'. Advantageously, the second connector 1' remaining in the second bottle 20' prevents a user from direct access to the fluid F contained in the second bottle 20' to prevent any pollution of the bottle, or even emptying the bottle followed by refilling with a lower-cost product.In fact, the second connection 1' almost completely obstructs the opening of the bottle and access to the fluid F.
[0062] The represents the distribution system 310 ready to be mounted and secured in the second connector 1' housed in the second bottle 20' filled with fluid F.
[0063] La represents a second distributor 400' thus obtained by mounting the distribution system 310 in the second connector 1' of the second bottle 20'. The mounting is carried out by cooperation of the second fixing means 316 of the distribution system 310 with the neck fixing means 24 of the neck 21 of the second bottle 20', in this case when the distribution system 310 is screwed onto the neck 21 of the second bottle 20'. The pump body 312 then slides inside the second connector 1'. The cylindrical face 319 of the pump body 312 slides and is positioned in a tight manner inside the second body part 1b on an inner face 3a according to a tightening surface P2. The pump body 312 is thus removably secured to the second connector 1'. Thus the second distributor 400' is constituted of which the second bottle 20' is filled with a fluid F to be distributed. The user can actuate the actuating means 313 to dispense the fluid F from the second bottle 20'.
[0064] Although the present invention has been described above by way of examples of its preferred embodiments, it is understood that it may be modified without departing from the spirit and nature of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
Connector (1) for a refill (200) of fluid product (F) and / or a fluid product dispenser (400) comprising a bottle (20), said connector (1) comprising a body extending along an axis (X) and comprising a first body part (1a) and a second body part (1b) provided with a section smaller than a section of the first body part (1a), said connector (1) being characterized in that it comprises at least two positioning means (2.1, 2.2) of the connector in said bottle (20) spaced along said axis (X) and in that said positioning means (2.1, 2.2) extend from said second body part (1b). Fitting (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises at least three positioning means (2.1, 2.2, 2.3) extending from said second part of the body (1b). Connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said positioning means (2.1, 2.2, 2.3) are deformable. Connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said positioning means (2.1, 2.2, 2.3) comprises a frustoconical skirt. Fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second body part (1b) comprises a frustoconical section (4) connecting the second body part (1b) to the first body part (1a) of the fitting (1). Connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second body part (1b) comprises a chimney (6) capable of receiving an end (317) of the pump body (312). Connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first body part (1a) comprises at least one vent hole (8) capable of ensuring fluid communication between an interior part (1c) of said connection (1) and a reservoir (22) of the bottle (20). Closure system (100) for a bottle comprising the connector (1) according to one of the preceding claims and a cover (30), characterized in that said cover (30) is removably mounted on said connector (1). Closure system (100) for a bottle according to claim 8, characterized in that said cap (30) comprises an internal skirt (32) tightly mounted against a ring 16 of an internal wall (34) of said connector (1) and first fixing means (31) capable of cooperating with a neck (21) of said bottle (20). Refill (200) of fluid product comprising the closure system (100) of a bottle according to one of claims 8 to 9 mounted on a bottle (20) containing a fluid product (F), said bottle (20) comprising a neck (21) and a reservoir (22), the neck (21) comprising a first internal wall (26) extending along said axis (X), the reservoir (22) comprising a second internal wall (27) in the vicinity of said first internal wall (26) and extending in a direction transverse to the axis (X), characterized in that said connector (1) is at least partially inserted into said bottle (20) such that at least one of said positioning means (2.1, 2.2) comes into contact with the first internal wall (26) of said neck (21) and at least one of said positioning means (2.1, 2.2) comes into abutment or is capable of coming into abutment against said second internal wall (27) in the event of an attempt to remove said connector (1) from the bottle (20). Refill (200) of fluid product according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the connector comprises at least three positioning means (2.1, 2.2, 2.3) extending from said second part of the body (1b), at least one of said positioning means (2.1) coming into contact with the first internal wall (26) of said neck (21), at least one of said positioning means (2.2) coming into abutment against said second internal wall (27) and at least one of said positioning means (2.3) is capable of coming into abutment against said second internal wall (27) in the event of an attempt to remove said connector (1) from the bottle (20). Fluid product dispensing assembly (300) comprising the connector (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7 and a fluid dispensing system (310) removably mounted on said connector (1). Fluid product dispensing assembly (300) according to claim 12 characterized in that said fluid dispensing system (310) comprises a pump (311) mounted tightly against an inner face (3a) of said connector (1) and second fixing means (316) capable of cooperating with a neck (21) of said bottle (20). Fluid product dispenser (400) comprising the dispensing assembly (300) according to one of claims 12 and 13 mounted on a bottle (20) containing a fluid product (F), said bottle (20) comprising a neck (21) and a reservoir (22), the neck (21) comprising a first internal wall (26) extending along said axis (X), the reservoir (22) comprising a second internal wall (27) in the vicinity of said first internal wall (26) and extending in a direction transverse to the axis (X), characterized in that said connector (1) is at least partially inserted into said bottle (20) such that at least one of said positioning means (2.1, 2.2) comes into contact with the first internal wall (26) of said neck (21) and at least one of said positioning means (2.1, 2.2) comes into abutment or is capable of coming into abutment against said second internal wall (27) in the event of an attempt to remove said connector (1) from the bottle (20). A method of dispensing a fluid product (F) using:- a fluid product dispenser (400) according to claim 14, said dispenser comprising a first connector (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7 and a first bottle (20), said dispensing system (310) comprising actuating means (313), a refill (200) of fluid product according to one of claims 10 and 11, said refill (200) comprising a second connector (1') according to one of claims 1 to 7 and a second bottle (20') containing a fluid product (F), the method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps:- dismantling the dispensing system (310) from the first connector (1), the first connector (1) remaining permanently in the first bottle (20),- dismantling the cover (30) of the refill (200) from the second connector (1'), said second connector (1') remaining permanently in the second bottle (20'),- mounting the refill ... the second connector (1') remaining permanently in the second bottle (20'),- mounting the refill system (310) from the first connector (1), the first connector (1) remaining permanently in the first bottle (20),- dis distribution (310) on the second connection (1'),- actuating said actuating means (313) to distribute said fluid (F).,