Duo distributor

Abstract

A dual distributor comprising an external reservoir (R1) and an internal reservoir (R2), and two pumps (P1, P2) communicating respectively with one of the reservoirs (R1, R2), characterized in that the internal reservoir (R2) comprises an external casing (R21) and an internal sleeve (R22) extending inside the external casing (R21), one pump (P1) of the pumps (P1, P2) communicating with the external reservoir (R1) through this internal sleeve (R22), the other pump (P2) of the pumps (P1, P2) communicating directly with the internal reservoir (R2). (See Figure 2 for abbreviations.)

Description

Title of the invention: Dual dispenser

[0001] The present invention relates to a dual dispenser comprising two reservoirs, namely an external reservoir and an internal reservoir, and two pumps communicating respectively with the reservoirs. Generally, a common push button allows the two pumps to be actuated simultaneously. The preferred field of application for the invention is cosmetics, but it can also be applied to pharmaceuticals, drugstores, or the food industry.

[0002] In the prior art, US patent 2001025859A1 is already known, describing a particular type of dual dispenser comprising a single mixing pump that draws fluid products from two nested tanks. More specifically, a small tank suspended from the pump is arranged inside a larger tank on which the pump is mounted. The pump is equipped with two dip tubes: a short one extending into the small tank and a long one extending into the large tank through the small tank. The seal between the long dip tube and the small tank is not addressed in this patent, but appears to be problematic. Furthermore, filling the small tank is technically impossible.

[0003] The present invention is distinguished from the prior art document at first glance in that the dual dispenser of the invention comprises two pumps, and not a single mixing pump, so that the two pumps can be standard, with different or identical doses. Furthermore, the present invention seeks to simplify as much as possible the filling and assembly operations of the dispenser, and in particular the insertion of the pump's dip tube from the external reservoir.

[0004] To this end, the invention proposes that the internal reservoir comprise an outer casing and an internal sleeve extending inside the outer casing, one of the pumps communicating with the external reservoir through this internal sleeve, the other pump communicating directly with the internal reservoir. It is understood that the internal reservoir is located inside the external reservoir.

[0005] Advantageously, the inner sleeve defines an internal space that communicates with the external reservoir. It can be said that the internal space of the inner sleeve forms an extension of the external reservoir or that it is an integral part of the external reservoir.

[0006] Advantageously, the external reservoir pump includes a dip tube that extends through the inner sleeve into the external reservoir. Alternatively, the dip tube can be said to protrude beyond the inner sleeve into the external reservoir. The dip tube is immersed in the fluid product of the external reservoir, which rises in the inner sleeve. There is no seal between the dip tube and the internal sleeve. This makes it easy to insert the dip tube into the internal sleeve. Furthermore, the pump can also extend inside the internal sleeve.

[0007] According to an interesting feature of the invention, the inner sleeve can extend in an off-center or eccentric manner inside the outer casing. The inner sleeve then lacks rotational symmetry. This allows the dip tube to open into the external reservoir at the outlet of the inner sleeve in a central or axial position relative to the external reservoir, even when the pump is mounted in an off-center or offset manner. The inner sleeve forces the dip tube to bend. Advantageously, the lower end of the inner sleeve defines a minimum passage cross-section. The inner sleeve can then be considered a funnel, which facilitates the insertion, guidance, and passage of the dip tube into the external reservoir. The upper end of the inner sleeve can define the maximum passage cross-section to facilitate the insertion of the free end of the dip tube.The inner sleeve can then decrease in cross-sectional area towards its lower end.

[0008] According to a practical embodiment, the inner sleeve and the outer casing can be two separate pieces, the inner sleeve defining a lower end that is in sealed contact with the outer casing, this lower end opening directly into the external reservoir. Alternatively, the inner sleeve and the outer casing can be made as a single piece, particularly when the inner sleeve has a cylindrical shape, for example, an oval cross-section.

[0009] According to another feature, the inner sleeve may have an upper end that communicates with the external reservoir via a pressure-balancing conduit. In its normal operating and storage position, the upper end is not immersed in the fluid but is surrounded by air, so that air can directly communicate between the inner sleeve and the external reservoir to maintain the two volumes at the same pressure. More specifically, the distributor may include a pump support forming two receiving chambers, one for the two pumps, one communicating with the inner sleeve and the other communicating with the inner reservoir. The pump support forms a main section of a pressure-balancing conduit that connects the inner sleeve to the external reservoir.

[0010] On the other hand, the distributor may include a common seal that makes tight contact with both the outer reservoir, the outer casing, and the inner sleeve. Advantageously, the common seal is compressed onto the outer reservoir, the outer casing, and the inner sleeve by the pump support.

[0011] Preferably, the outer casing is supported by the external reservoir and the The inner sleeve is supported by the outer casing.

[0012] The spirit of the invention lies in extending the external reservoir inside the internal reservoir, so that the external reservoir extends both around and inside the internal reservoir, which can thus have an annular cross-section. This extension of the external reservoir is formed by the internal space of the internal sleeve, which also forms the inner wall of the internal reservoir. The external reservoir and the internal sleeve together form a kind of concentric siphon, which communicates via fluid in its lower part, but also via air in its upper part through a pressure equalization or internal venting duct. This ensures that the level of the fluid product is the same in the external reservoir and in the internal sleeve.The funnel-shaped or decreasing cross-section design of the internal sleeve is advantageous for mounting the dip tube, which is guided by the internal sleeve until it reaches the bottom of the external tank.

[0013] The invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, giving by way of non-limiting example one embodiment of the invention.

[0014] In the figures:

[0015] [Fig-1] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the duo distributor according to a mode of realization of the invention,

[0016] [Fig.2] Fig.2 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a dis tributary duo of the invention along a vertical plane passing through the two pumps,

[0017] [Fig.3] The [Fig.3] is a view similar to that of the [Fig.1] along a vertical plane per pendulum to that of [Fig.l] and passing through the plane of the vent duct.

[0018] Reference may be made interchangeably to Figures 1, 2 and 3 to describe the structure of a dual distributor according to a non-limiting embodiment of the invention. The dual distributor comprises two reservoirs arranged one inside the other, namely an external reservoir RI and an internal reservoir R2.

[0019] The external reservoir RI can be in the form of a shell comprising a side wall RI 1, generally cylindrical in shape, a base R12 for keeping the dispenser upright, and a neck RI3, optionally equipped with attachment means. The neck R13 connects the side wall via two internal shoulders R14 and R15, which are arranged in concentric steps. Their functions will be described below. The external reservoir RI can advantageously be made of a transparent material to allow its contents to be seen.

[0020] The inner reservoir R2 is disposed inside the outer reservoir RL. The reservoir R2 comprises an outer casing R21 and an inner sleeve R22 which extends inside the outer casing R21. The outer casing R21 comprises a generally cylindrical barrel R211, which extends into a bottom R212 forming a central opening R213. At its upper end, the outer casing R21 forms An annular collar R214 rests on the internal shoulder R14 of the external reservoir RI. The barrel R211 forms an internal shoulder R216 near the annular collar R214. The internal shoulder R14, the annular collar R214, and the internal shoulder R216 may be circular. The barrel R211 and the base R212 extend inside the external reservoir RI with a distance separating them, so as to form a usable, cup-shaped volume V1. The internal sleeve R22 comprises a body R220 that terminates in a lower end R222, which is hermetically sealed into the opening R213 by means of a sealing ring R23. At its upper end, the body R220 defines a mouth R224, the cross-section of which is significantly larger than that of the lower end R222. The R220 body thus has a general funnel-shaped configuration with a progressively decreasing passage cross-section. On the [Fig.[2] We can see that the body R220 defines two opposing walls, R221 and R222, which are different: wall R222 is straight and vertical, while wall R221 is initially straight and vertical from the mouth R224, then oblique and straight again at the lower end R222. In [Fig. 3], we can see that the opposing walls of the body R220 are symmetrical and have a configuration similar to wall R221, but with a less steep oblique section. We can observe that the mouth R224 is positioned eccentrically, off-center, or offset within the neck R214. However, the lower end R222 is positioned perfectly axially or centered, so that the body R220 extends off-center within the outer shell R21. More specifically, the internal sleeve R22 also defines a support ring R225, which extends around the mouthpiece R224, but in an off-center manner.The support ring R225 forms a platform that extends in a crescent shape around the mouthpiece R224. This platform forms a passage opening R226, which provides direct access to the internal reservoir R2. The support ring R225 rests on the internal shoulder R216 of the outer casing R21. In [Fig. 2], the mouthpiece R224 and the passage opening R226 are shown side by side. In [Fig. 3], the mouthpiece R224 is shown centered within the support ring R225. The support ring R225 can be circular, but the mouthpiece R224 can have any shape, geometric or otherwise.

[0021] Thus, the outer casing R21 and the inner sleeve R22 define a usable volume V2. The sleeve R22, or more precisely its body R220, also defines an internal space E which communicates with the usable volume VI through the lower end R222 of the inner sleeve R22. The external reservoir RI thus defines a total usable volume which corresponds to the sum of the usable volume VI and the internal space E. In other words, it can be said that the usable volume VI of the external reservoir RI is extended inside the inner sleeve R21 which defines the space internal E. As can be seen in the figures, the usable volume VI and the internal space E are initially filled by a first fluid product Fl, which therefore extends both around and inside the internal reservoir R2. As for this internal reservoir R2, it is initially filled with a second fluid product F2, which can be identical to the fluid product Fl, or preferably different.

[0022] Filling the RI and R2 tanks is extremely simple. For example, the RI tank can be half-filled, and the R2 tank can then be inserted into the partially filled RI tank. Then, simply fill the R2 tank. Alternatively, the RI tank can be filled through the internal sleeve R22, and then the R2 tank.

[0023] The dual dispenser of the invention also includes two pumps PI and P2, the PI pump being associated with the internal reservoir RI and the P2 pump being associated with the internal reservoir R2. The PI and P2 pumps may be identical, or preferably different, particularly with regard to their doses.

[0024] Since the design of the pumps PI and P2 is not critical to the present invention, it will not be described in detail. However, it can be said that each pump PI, P2 comprises a pump body P12, P22, in which an actuating rod P12, P22 is axially movable in a reciprocating motion. The pumps PI, P2 also each comprise a dip tube P13, P23: the dip tube P13 extending inside the inner sleeve R22 and defining a lower end located near the bottom R12 of the external reservoir RL. As for the dip tube P23, it extends straight inside the inner reservoir R2 to near the bottom R212.

[0025] It should be noted that the dip tube P13 is slightly bent, due to the offset design of the inner sleeve R21, so as to position the lower end of the dip tube P13 substantially axially or centrally with respect to the bottom R12 of the external reservoir RL. The funnel-shaped design of the inner sleeve R21 allows the lower end of the dip tube P13 to be easily inserted through the opening R224. The constricting body R220 then guides the dip tube P13 towards the lower end R223 and beyond into the external reservoir RL. Indeed, it can be seen in [Fig. 1] that the pump PI is offset from the lower end R223 so that the dip tube P13 must be deflected following the funnel shape of the inner sleeve R21.

[0026] The dual distributor of the invention also includes a pump support S which defines two receiving housings SI and S2 for the two pumps PI and P2 respectively. The pump bodies P1 and P2 can, for example, be received by snapping into the receiving housings SI and S2. Pump PI can extend inside the opening R224 of the inner sleeve R22 and pump P2 can extend inside the outer casing R21 by passing through the passage opening R226 of the R225 support ring.

[0027] To ensure the tanks are leak-proof, a neck seal J is also provided, which is compressed onto the internal shoulder R15 of the external tank RI, onto the annular flange R214 of the external casing R21, onto the upper edge of the mouth R224 and onto the support ring R225 of the internal sleeve R22. The compression of this neck seal J is ensured by the pump support S.

[0028] As can be seen in [Fig. 3], the dual distributor also defines a pressure balancing duct Q that connects the internal space E of the inner sleeve R22 with the usable volume VI of the outer reservoir RI. The upper part of the reservoirs is not filled with fluid, but with air. Thus, the pressure balancing duct Q allows air to connect the inner sleeve R22 and the outer reservoir RI, so that the pressure is always identical in these two spaces. As a result, the level of the fluid Fl in the internal space E and in the usable volume VI is identical. In more detail, the pressure balancing duct Q comprises a main section S12, which extends horizontally through the support S, and two vertical sections J1 and J2, which are formed through the seal J. One of the vertical sections J1 extends through the annular flange R214 to R215.The pressure equalization duct Q forms a kind of air bridge that spans the internal reservoir R2. This is visible in [Fig.3].

[0029] It can thus be said that the internal space E communicates with the useful volume VI both in the lower part through the end R222 and in the upper part through the pressure balancing conduit S12.

[0030] The pump support S is mounted on the neck R13 of the external reservoir RI by means of a cover C that engages with both the pump support S and the neck R13. Finally, the two actuating rods P12 and P22 are capped by a common plunger B, which defines a common outlet port Bl. Alternatively, it is also possible to provide two separate outlet ports, one for pump PI and the other for pump P2. The plunger B is axially guided inside the cover C, and the common outlet port Bl moves axially through a window Cl in the cover C, as can be seen in [Fig. 1]. From the outside, the dual distributor only reveals the external reservoir RI, the cover C, the plunger B, and the common outlet port BL. When the external reservoir RI is transparent, the outer casing R21 of the internal reservoir R2 is also visible.

[0031] The internal reservoir R2 is here formed by the sealed assembly of two parts, namely the outer casing R21 and the inner sleeve R22. This two-part embodiment is explained by the fact that the inner sleeve R22 has a complex shape lacking an axis of symmetry. However, other embodiments can be imagined, in which the body R220 of the inner sleeve R21 has a axial symmetry, so as to be cylindrical. In this case, it could be considered to make the outer casing R21 and the inner sleeve R22 as a single piece.

[0032] In this embodiment, the dip tube P13 is attached to the inlet of the pump PI. Without departing from the scope of the invention, it could also be imagined that the dip tube PI3 is made in one piece or integral with the internal sleeve R22. In this case, the pump PI would be fitted, when mounted on the pump support S, into a fitting formed at the inlet of the dip tube.

[0033] In this embodiment, the outer casing R21 extends axially or centrally inside the reservoir RI. Without departing from the scope of the invention, other less symmetrical or central shapes for the outer casing R21 can be imagined.

[0034] Thanks to the invention, a dual distributor is provided in which the external reservoir extends or continues inside the internal reservoir. The internal sleeve thus defines a supplementary reservoir for the external reservoir and also allows the PI pump to be received in an offset position while the lower end P131 of the PI3 dip tube is positioned axially in the center.

Claims

Demands

1. A dual dispenser comprising an external reservoir (RI) and an internal reservoir (R2), and two pumps (PI, P2) communicating respectively with the reservoirs (RI, R2), the internal reservoir (R2) comprising an external casing (R21) and an internal sleeve (R22) which extends inside the external casing (R21), one pump (PI) among the pumps (PI, P2) communicating with the external reservoir (RI) through this internal sleeve (R22), the other pump (P2) among the pumps (PI, P2) communicating directly with the internal reservoir (R2), characterized in that the internal sleeve (R22) and the external casing (R21) are two separate parts, the internal sleeve (R22) defining a lower end (R222) which is in tight contact with the external casing (R21), this lower end (R222) opening directly into the external reservoir (RI).

2. Dual distributor according to claim 1, wherein the inner sleeve (R22) defines an internal space (E) which communicates with the external reservoir (RI).

3. Dual distributor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pump (PI) of the external reservoir (RI) comprises a dip tube (P13) which extends through the internal sleeve (R22) into the external reservoir (RI).

4. Dual distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner sleeve (R22) extends in an off-center manner inside the outer casing (R21).

5. Dual distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner sleeve (R22) includes a lower end (R222) which defines a minimum passage section.

6. Dual distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner sleeve (R22) defines an upper end which communicates with the external reservoir (RI) through a pressure balancing conduit (Q).

7. A dual distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a pump support (S) forming two receiving housings (S1, S2) respectively for the two pumps (P1, P2), one receiving housing (S1) communicating with the inner sleeve (R22) and the other receiving housing (S2) communicating with the internal reservoir (RI), the pump support (SI, S2) forming a main section (S12) of a pressure balancing conduit (Q), which connects the internal sleeve (R22) to the internal reservoir (RI).

8. Dual distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a common seal (J) which makes tight contact with both the external reservoir (RI), the external casing (R21) and the internal sleeve (R22).

9. Dual distributor according to claim 8, wherein the common seal (J) is compressed on the external reservoir (RI), the external casing (R21) and the internal sleeve (R22) by the pump support (S).

10. A dual distributor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer casing (R21) is supported by the outer reservoir (RI) and the inner sleeve (R22) is supported by the outer casing (R21).

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