Tube comprising a pump-equipped head

Abstract

The invention relates to a head (10) for manufacturing a flexible tube (12) comprising: - a pump (14) including: -- a pump mechanism (15) provided with a piston sliding axially in a pump body (16) and -- a push button (20) mounted on the piston and provided with an orifice (22) for distributing the product aspirated by the pump (14); - a shoulder (32) made in one piece which is externally delimited by an annular peripheral bearing face (36), the bearing face (36) surrounding a visible portion (34) provided with a central orifice (44) in which the pump body (16) is intended to be mounted; in which the shoulder (32) includes a ring (48) formed by an annular wall which extends axially upwards surrounding the central orifice (44) to receive the push button (20) and guide its sliding.

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a tube head and a flexible tube comprising said tube head. Technical background

[0002] Flexible tubing consists of a flexible tubular sleeve, also called a "skirt," formed, for example, from a rolled and welded laminate or from an extruded tube. The flexible tubular sleeve has a tube head at its axial end, also called the upper end, through which a user can dispense the product contained within the flexible tubular sleeve. The end of the flexible tubular sleeve is closed, for example, by pinching and welding.

[0003] Flexible tubes with a pump-equipped tube head are well-known. The pump allows for the clean and repeatable dispensing of a dose of the product contained in the tube, particularly a cosmetic product such as a cream.

[0004] Furthermore, combining a flexible tube with a pump allows you to benefit from both the aforementioned advantages of the pump and the advantages of the flexible tube. The advantages of the flexible tube include its significantly reduced weight compared to a rigid container of the same capacity. Additionally, the flexible tube sleeve can be deformed during use as the product inside is extracted. The flexible tube sleeve is strong enough to form the outer casing of the tube without the need for a separate rigid outer casing.

[0005] Furthermore, when an "airless" pump is used, it extracts the product from the tube without introducing air, thus improving product preservation. The flexible tube allows the tube's volume to decrease as the product is extracted, which is not possible with a rigid container.

[0006] Pump-equipped tubes include a shoulder that is attached to the upper end of the flexible tubing during a manufacturing step. An assembly comprising the pump mounted in a bracket with a guide ring for a pump push button is then pre-assembled. This assembly may advantageously be fitted with a removable cap that covers the pump push button. This assembly is then fitted to the shoulder that has been previously attached to the flexible tubing.

[0007] Such a design involves many elements that must be manufactured and then assembled.

[0008] These numerous components pose sealing problems when using the tube. Indeed, it is necessary to ensure a good airtight seal between the shoulder and the support equipped with the guide ring. Generally, at least one of the support or shoulder components has a lip designed to ensure airtight contact with the other. However, as the tube empties, the flexible sleeve deforms to accommodate the pressure drop within the tube and push the product back up towards the pump. This deformation of the flexible sleeve creates stress on the shoulder, causing it to deform slightly and resulting in a loss of contact between the lip and the surface against which it rests.

[0009] Furthermore, from both an environmental and economic point of view, it would be preferable to reduce the amount of material used to manufacture such a flexible tube head comprising a pump and the flexible tube as a whole. Summary of the invention

[0010] The invention relates to a head for manufacturing a flexible tube having a main axis intended to contain a liquid or pasty product, comprising: a pump comprising -- a pump mechanism provided with a piston sliding axially in a pump body and -- a push button mounted on the piston and provided with an orifice for distributing the product aspirated by the pump; a shoulder made in one piece from material which is delimited externally by an annular peripheral bearing face against which an upper end section of a flexible tubular sleeve of the tube is intended to be folded down to allow its fixing, the bearing face surrounding a visible portion provided with a central orifice in which the pump body is intended to be mounted; in which the shoulder includes a ring formed by an annular wall which extends axially upwards, surrounding the central opening to receive the push button and guide its sliding.

[0011] According to another feature of the head made according to the teachings of the invention, the head includes a cap separate from the shoulder intended to cover the push button and the ring in a closed position in which the cap is fixed in a removable manner by cooperation of form with an annular section for fixing the shoulder which is radially included between the peripheral bearing face and the ring.

[0012] According to another feature of the head made according to the teachings of the invention, the annular fixing section is arranged near the bearing face so that the cap in the closed position covers the entire visible portion of the shoulder.

[0013] According to another feature of the head made according to the teachings of the invention, the annular fixing section is located at the foot of the ring so that the cap in the closed position only covers the ring and the push button, the visible portion of the shoulder located radially between the ring and the bearing face being outside the cap.

[0014] According to another feature of the head made according to the teachings of the invention, the cap is elastically snapped into place with the annular fixing section by axial interlocking.

[0015] According to another feature of the head made according to the teachings of the invention, the cap is fixed onto the annular fixing section by screwing.

[0016] According to another feature of the head made according to the teachings of the invention, the pump body is mounted directly in the central orifice of the shoulder by axial elastic fitting.

[0017] According to another feature of the head made according to the teachings of the invention, the pump body is fixed to the shoulder by elastic snap-fit.

[0018] According to another feature of the head made according to the teachings of the invention, the shoulder is made of polyethylene, in particular high-density polyethylene.

[0019] According to another feature of the head made according to the teachings of the invention, the hood is made of the same material as the shoulder.

[0020] According to another feature of the head made according to the teachings of the invention, the cap is made of polypropylene.

[0021] The invention also relates to a flexible tube comprising a head equipped with a pump and a flexible tubular sleeve intended to contain a cosmetic product, the head being made according to the teachings of the invention and an upper end section of the flexible tubular sleeve being folded down and fixed by welding against the bearing face of the shoulder.

[0022] According to another feature of the tube made according to the teachings of the invention, the flexible tubular sleeve is obtained by extrusion.

[0023] According to another feature of the tube made according to the teachings of the invention, the flexible tubular sleeve is made by winding and welding a laminate.

[0024] The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing the tube according to the teachings of the invention, characterized in that the head previously fitted with the pump and its cap in the closed position is then fixed to the flexible tubular sleeve by welding. Brief description of the figures

[0025] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the reading of the detailed description which follows, for the understanding of which reference should be made to the attached drawings which are briefly described below. There figure 1 is a perspective view representing a flexible tube head equipped with a pump implemented according to a first embodiment of the invention. figure 2 is a perspective view of a shoulder that equips the tube head of the figure 1 . There figure 3 is an axial cross-sectional view along the 3-3 section plane of the figure 1 which represents the tube head equipped with its pump. The figure 4 is an axial cross-sectional view that represents the tube head of the figure 3 assembled with a flexible tubular sleeve to form a flexible tube, the head being fitted with a cap. figure 5is a perspective view that represents the flexible tube of the figure 4 . There figure 6 is an axial cross-sectional view representing a tube head manufactured according to a second embodiment of the invention, the head being assembled with a flexible tubular sleeve and fitted with its cap. figure 7 is a perspective view of a shoulder that is part of the tube head of the figure 6 . There figure 8 is a perspective view of the tube head of the figure 6 . Detailed description of the invention

[0026] In the following description, elements designated by the same reference have the same structure or similar functions.

[0027] In the following description, we will adopt, for the sake of completeness, an axial orientation directed along the main axis of the tube, and radial directions extending orthogonally from the main axis of the tube. As indicated by arrow "A" in the figures, the axial orientation is, in particular, directed from bottom to top, from the closed end of the tube towards the tube head.

[0028] We represented at figures 1 to 8 A head 10 for manufacturing a flexible tube 12 having a principal axis "X" oriented along the axial direction "A". As will be explained later, the flexible tube 12 is formed by assembling a flexible tubular sleeve 13 with the head 10. Thus, the head 10 is a separate element from the flexible tubular sleeve 13. More specifically, the flexible tubular sleeve 13 and the head 10 are manufactured separately and then assembled in a subsequent production step.

[0029] Tube 12 is intended to contain a pasty or creamy product, in particular a cosmetic product such as a skin or lip care cream.

[0030] Tube 12 is notably devoid of a rigid casing that encloses the flexible tubular sleeve 13.

[0031] The head 10 includes in particular a pump 14 for distributing the product contained in the tube 12. For this purpose, the product is sufficiently fluid to be distributed by the pump 14. The pump 14 includes in particular a pumping mechanism 15 and a push button 20.

[0032] The pump mechanism 15 is shown schematically in figures 3 , 4 And 6Advantageously, this involves an "airless" pump mechanism 15 that does not reintroduce air into the tube with each use. Thus, with each actuation of the pump mechanism 15, the volume of product dispensed is not replenished by air or any other fluid. As a result, the tube 12 empties completely, thereby protecting the remaining product in the tube 12 from oxidation by contact with air.

[0033] Combining the flexible tubular sleeve 13 with the airless dispensing pump 14 eliminates the need for a dip tube on the pump 14 to draw the product from the bottom of the tube 12. Because the tubular sleeve 13 is flexible, it automatically deforms under the pressure drop in the tube 12, drawing the product up to the level of the dispensing pump 14 for extraction. This allows for optimal use of almost all the product contained within and reduces the amount of plastic material used to manufacture the tube 12 by eliminating the need for a dip tube.

[0034] Regardless of its specific embodiment, the pump mechanism 15 comprises a pump body 16, a piston (not shown) mounted to slide axially within the pump body 16, and a rod 18 movable with the piston. The rod 18 projects axially upwards from the pump body 16.

[0035] This is an "airless" pump mechanism 15, which includes two check valves. The piston is mounted to slide within a chamber (not shown) contained in the pump body 16. The piston and its rod 18 are elastically returned upwards. The chamber communicates with the outside via an outlet channel, at least a portion of which passes axially through the rod 18. A first check valve is arranged along the outlet channel to prevent air from entering the chamber. The chamber also communicates with the inside of the tube 12 via a second inlet channel (not shown) which opens into a portion of the lower end of the pump body 16. A second check valve is also arranged in this inlet channel to prevent the product from flowing from the chamber into the inside of the tube. Each time the pump mechanism 15 is actuation, the piston is forced downwards by axially pressing on the rod 18.This causes a reduction in the volume of the chamber filled with product, and therefore an increase in pressure. Due to the presence of the second check valve, the product can only exit through the outlet channel. When rod 18 is released, the piston is elastically returned to its original position, thus increasing the chamber volume. As a result of the pressure drop, and due to the presence of the first check valve, the product in tube 12 is drawn through the inlet channel. This causes a drop in pressure in tube 12, which deforms to reduce its internal volume and equalize the internal pressure with the external pressure.

[0036] Regardless of the embodiment of the pump mechanism 15, the pump 14 includes a push button 20 mounted on the piston rod 18. The push button has an orifice 22 for dispensing the product drawn in by the pump mechanism 15. The push button 20 is dome-shaped and internally has a recess 24 for interlocking with the free end of the rod 18. The bottom of the recess communicates with the dispensing orifice 22 via a channel 26 which is connected to the portion of the outlet channel that opens at the free end of the rod 18.

[0037] By way of non-limiting example, the distribution orifice 22 is here located at the end of a radial nozzle 28 of the push button 20.

[0038] The push button 20 also has an upper face 30 allowing it to be operated by means of a finger or the palm of the hand.

[0039] The head 10 also includes a shoulder 32 which is made from a single piece of material.

[0040] Shoulder 32, for example, is made by molding. It is made, for example, from a rigid plastic material such as polyethylene, in particular high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

[0041] The shoulder 32 has an annular wall 34 which is intended to close the tube 12 axially upwards.

[0042] The annular wall 34, for example, has a generally truncated conical and hollow shape. It extends here, widening from top to bottom. The annular wall 34 may have a complex axial shape with rounded edges and / or stepped features.

[0043] In an unrepresented variant of the invention, the annular wall 34 has a planar shape which extends in a radial plane.

[0044] The shoulder 32 is externally delimited by a face 36 with an annular peripheral bearing surface against which an upper end section of the flexible tubular sleeve 13 of the tube 12 is intended to be folded down to allow its attachment by welding, as will be explained later. The bearing surface 36 is thus located on a portion of the shoulder 32 that is intended to be contained within the flexible tubular sleeve 13.

[0045] In the embodiment shown in the figures, no element of the shoulder 32 extends radially outwards from the upper end section of the flexible tubular sleeve 13.

[0046] The bearing face 36 is located on a skirt 38 which extends axially downwards from an external and lower peripheral end of the wall 34.

[0047] The annular wall 34 is intended to form a visible portion of the shoulder 32 when assembled with the flexible tubular sleeve 13, while the bearing face 36, and the skirt 38 which carries it, are intended to form a hidden portion which is intended to be fitted inside the flexible tubular sleeve 13 of the tube 12. The skirt 38 is delimited below by a lower end edge which extends in a plane orthogonal to the main "X" axis.

[0048] The face 36 of the span thus surrounds the entire visible portion, formed by the annular wall 34.

[0049] The shoulder 32 further comprises an annular shoulder face 40 projecting upwards from the peripheral face 36. It delimits the peripheral face 36 from the annular wall 34 forming the visible part.

[0050] The bearing face 36 is stepped relative to the periphery of the visible annular wall 34 of the shoulder 20. The peripheral bearing face 36 and the shoulder face 40 thus form a rebate for receiving the folded end section of the flexible tubular sleeve 13, as will be explained later.

[0051] The annular wall 34 has in its center a radial wall 42 which extends in a radial plane, orthogonally to the axis "X" of the head 10. This radial wall 42 is provided with a central orifice 44 in which the pump body 16 is intended to be mounted.

[0052] The pump mechanism 15 is more particularly mounted so that the lower end portion of the pump body 16 into which the inlet channel opens is located below the radial wall 42, inside the tube 12, while the upper end of the pump body 16 is located above the radial wall 42, outside the tube 12.

[0053] The pump body 16 is fixed to the radial wall 42 by any suitable means. Preferably, the pump body 16 is mounted directly into the central opening 44 of the shoulder 32, without the use of an intermediate part. This reduces the amount of material, particularly plastic, used to manufacture the tube 12.

[0054] The pump body 16 is fixed here by axial insertion into the central opening 44. It can be inserted from below, as illustrated in the figures 3 And 4 or from above, as illustrated in the figure 6 . In all cases, the pump body 16 has an annular stop 46 which allows the axial translation of the pump body 16 to be stopped by axial stop against a face opposite the shoulder 32.

[0055] The pump body 16 is attached to the shoulder by means of a complementary elastic snap-fit. Preferably, this is a non-reversible elastic snap-fit ​​to prevent the pump mechanism 15 from being removed once the tube 12 is filled with product.

[0056] In an alternative not shown, the pump body 16 is fixed to the shoulder 32 by screwing or welding.

[0057] The shoulder 32 includes a ring 48 formed by a cylindrical wall extending axially upwards from the periphery of the radial wall 42, surrounding the central opening 44. The ring 48 radially defines a housing for receiving the push button 20. The housing is axially defined downwards by the radial wall 42.

[0058] The ring 48 is configured to guide the push button 20 in axial sliding relative to the shoulder 32. To this end, the ring 48 has an inner face that complements the outer face of the push button 20. Thus, the ring 48 is specifically designed to guide the push button 20 and, in particular, to prevent it from jamming by becoming misaligned during its sliding motion.

[0059] The head 10 also includes a cap 50 separate from the shoulder 32. The cap 50 is intended to cover the push button 20 and the ring 48 when it is in a closed position.

[0060] In its closed position, the cap 50 is fixed in a removable manner by cooperation of form with an annular section 52 for fixing the shoulder 32. This is more particularly a section 52 of the visible annular wall 34 which is radially included between the peripheral bearing face 36 and the ring 48.

[0061] The cap 50 is elastically snapped into place with the annular section 52 by axial interlocking. This is a reversible fastening to allow easy removal of the cap 50 for use with the tube 12.

[0062] For example, one of the inner face of the cap 50 or the fixing section 52 has a bead, while the other of the inner face of the cap 50 or the fixing section 52 has a groove for receiving said bead by elastic deformation of the wall of the cap 50.

[0063] In an alternative not shown, the cap is fixed to the annular fixing section by screwing.

[0064] According to a first embodiment represented in figures 1 to 5 , the annular fixing section 52 is arranged near the bearing face 36 so that the cap 50 in the closed position covers the entire visible annular wall 34 of the shoulder 32.

[0065] The fixing section 52 here forms an external peripheral section of the visible annular wall 34.

[0066] This embodiment allows the entire head 10 of the tube 12 to be protected by means of the cap 50.

[0067] According to a second embodiment represented in figures 6 to 8 The annular fixing section 52 is located at the foot of the ring 48. The annular fixing section 52 is more particularly formed by the external face of the ring 48.

[0068] The cap 50, in its closed position, covers the ring 48 and the push-button cap 20. The visible annular wall 34 of the shoulder 32, located radially between the ring 48 and the bearing face 36, remains outside the cap 50 when it is in its closed position.

[0069] This second embodiment makes it possible to obtain an even lighter tube 12 by further reducing the amount of material, particularly plastic, for its manufacture.

[0070] Regardless of the embodiment, the cap 50 is here made of the same plastic material as the shoulder 32. This makes it easier to recycle the tube 12. The cap 50 is here made of polyethylene, in particular high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

[0071] In an alternative embodiment of the invention (not shown), the cap 50 is made of a different material than the shoulder 32, for example, polypropylene (PP). This embodiment is particularly suitable when the weight proportion of the cap 50 is relatively small compared to the weight of the rest of the head 10 and the tube 12.

[0072] This configuration of the head 10 in which the pump is directly mounted in the shoulder 32 eliminates the risk of air leakage which existed in the prior art tubes in which the pump is mounted on a support which is then attached to the shoulder.

[0073] During the manufacture of the tube 12, the head 10, produced according to the teachings of the invention, is pre-assembled. Thus, the dispensing pump 14 is mounted in the central orifice 44 of the shoulder 32, and the cap 50 is mounted in its closed position on the shoulder 32.

[0074] The skirt 38 of the shoulder 32 is then inserted into the flexible tubular sleeve 13 previously shaped into a tube.

[0075] The tubular sleeve 13 is for example made by winding and welding the two adjoining edges, in particular with overlap, of a sheet of laminate.

[0076] Alternatively, the flexible tubular sleeve 13 is produced directly in its tubular configuration by extrusion.

[0077] An upper end section 13A of the flexible tubular sleeve 13 is folded against the peripheral bearing face 36 so that the upper end edge of the flexible tubular sleeve 13 is substantially aligned against the shoulder face 40. The bearing face 36 and the upper end section 13A of the flexible tubular sleeve 13 are then fixed together.

[0078] The bearing face 36 and the upper end section 13A of the flexible tubular sleeve 13 are, for example, welded together, in particular by heating with hot air or by ultrasonic welding. For this purpose, the flexible tubular sleeve 13 has a wall having at least one internal weld layer intended to be in contact with the tube head 10. The weld layer is, for example, made of a plastic material compatible with the material forming the shoulder 32, for example polyethylene (PE).

[0079] Once this assembly operation has been completed, the tube 12 can be filled with product through the lower opening of the flexible tubular sleeve 13.

[0080] The lower end is then closed, for example by a welded pinch 54, as illustrated in the figure 5 .

[0081] The tube head 10 made according to the teachings of the invention and the tube 12 thus obtained make it possible to significantly reduce the amount of material used for its manufacture.

[0082] Furthermore, the same tube head 10 can be adapted to flexible tubular sleeves 13 of different compositions, which are tailored to the product they contain. This simplifies the manufacturing of the tube 12 and results in a tube specifically designed for the product it is intended to hold. It also allows for the flexible tubular sleeve 13 to be produced freely, without constraints related to the material or the process.

Claims

1. Head (10) for manufacturing a flexible tube (12) having a main axis (X) intended to contain a liquid or pasty product, comprising: - a pump (14) including: -- a pump mechanism (15) provided with a piston sliding axially in a pump body (16) and -- a push button (20) mounted on the piston and provided with an orifice (22) for distributing the product drawn in by the pump (14); - a shoulder (32) made in one piece from the material which is externally delimited by an annular peripheral bearing face (36) against which an upper end section (13A) of a flexible tubular sleeve (13) of the tube (12) is intended to be folded down to allow its fixing, the bearing face (36) surrounding a visible portion (34) provided with a central orifice (44) in which the pump body (16) is intended to be mounted;in which the shoulder (32) has a ring (48) formed by an annular wall which extends axially upwards surrounding the central opening (44) to receive the push button (20) and guide its sliding.

2. Head (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the head (10) has a cap (50) separate from the shoulder (32) intended to cover the push button (20) and the ring (48) in a closed position in which the cap (50) is fixed in a removable manner by form cooperation with an annular section (52) for fixing the shoulder (32) which is radially included between the peripheral bearing face (36) and the ring (48).

3. Head (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the annular fixing section (52) is arranged near the bearing face (36) so that the cap (50) in the closed position covers the entire visible portion (34) of the shoulder (32).

4. Head (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the annular fixing section (52) is located at the foot of the ring (48) so that the cap (50) in the closed position covers only the ring (48) and the push button (20), the visible portion (34) of the shoulder (32) located radially between the ring (48) and the bearing face (36) being outside the cap (50).

5. Head (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the cap (50) is elastically snapped into the annular fixing section (52) by axial interlocking.

6. Head (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the cap (50) is fixed onto the annular fixing section (52) by screwing.

7. Head (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pump body (16) is mounted directly into the central orifice (44) of the shoulder (32) by axial elastic fitting.

8. Head (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that The pump body (16) is fixed to the shoulder (32) by elastic snap-on.

9. Head (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shoulder (32) is made of polyethylene, in particular high-density polyethylene.

10. Head (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the hood (50) is made of the same material as the shoulder (32).

11. Head (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the cap (50) is made of polypropylene.

12. Tube (12) comprising a head (10) equipped with a pump (14) and a flexible tubular sleeve (13) intended to contain a cosmetic product, the head (10) being made according to any one of the preceding claims and an upper end section (13A) of the flexible tubular sleeve (13) being folded down and fixed by welding against the shoulder bearing face (36).

13. Tube (12) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that The flexible tubular sleeve (13) is obtained by extrusion.

14. Tube (12) according to claim 12, characterized in that The flexible tubular sleeve (13) is made by winding and welding a laminate.

15. Method for manufacturing the tube (12) according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the head (10) previously fitted with the pump (14) and its cap (50) in the closed position is then fixed to the flexible tubular sleeve (13) by welding.

Images