Dispenser of a fluid product, associated refill and associated receptacle

Abstract

The invention provides a dispenser (10) for a fluid product configured to be removably mounted on a fluid product reservoir (18), the dispenser (10) comprising a device for dispensing and distributing the fluid product, the device comprising an actuator (50) and a piston assembly, characterized in that the piston assembly comprises at least one lower piston (38) configured to be mounted inside a distribution body of the dispenser (10) and at least one upper piston (52) configured to be mounted inside an actuating head (14) of the dispenser (10) housing the actuator (50). Figure 2

Description

Description Title of the invention: Dispenser of a fluid product, refill associated and associated receptacle Technical field of the invention

[0001] = The invention relates to a dispenser of a fluid product configured to be mounted reversibly on a fluid product reservoir.

[0002] — The invention also relates to a fluid product refill on which a body of distribution of such a distributor can be mounted.

[0003] = The fluid product is of the lotion, gel, perfume, serum or cream type for example, used for cosmetic purposes or for pharmaceutical treatments. Technical background

[0004] There are distribution systems designed to equip receptacles and allowing precise and low-dose product sampling and distribution. These systems are classically called droppers.

[0005] These systems include a flexible bulb allowing suction and / or dis- delivery of the product into a pipette housed in a reservoir containing the product.

[0006] A first pressure allows the aspiration of the product and a second pressure allows the distribution of the product.

[0007] = An adjustment of the dose to be withdrawn and dispensed can be obtained by pressing more or less important on the flexible bulb. However, this does not allow for adjustment accurate and may lead to possible product waste or even contamination of this by releasing the surplus product into the tank, or even a overdose.

[0008] — Furthermore, these systems are generally adapted to single-use receptacles and not to rechargeable receptacles, that is to say designed to allow a change of the product, including but not limited to after use complete of it, via a refill that can be changed freely.

[0009] = Interchangeability allows certain parts to be kept, such as a hood, a actuating mechanism, a base, a decorative casing, a dis- head tribution, an actuating head, a distribution body, etc. which is particu- particularly advantageous when these pieces are made from precious materials and / or decorated, or are complex pieces.

[0010] — Such refills must be simple in design and be designed so as to limit contamination of the new product with the old one. In other words, the parts preserved, that is to say reusable, must not be in contact and be soiled by the product. Only exchangeable parts can be exchanged. There is therefore a need for a solution that can resolve at least some of the drawbacks of the prior art while maintaining a system that is advantageously simple and economical to manufacture. Summary of the invention Thus, the invention relates to a dispenser of a fluid product configured to be removably mounted on a fluid product reservoir, the dispenser comprising a device for withdrawing and dispensing the fluid product, the device comprising an actuator and a piston assembly, characterized in that the piston assembly comprises at least one lower piston configured to be mounted inside a dispensing body of the dispenser and at least one upper piston configured to be mounted inside an actuating head of the dispenser housing the actuator. In other words, the piston assembly is composed of two separate parts, that is, two different parts that can be separated and independent of each other at a given time. These two separate parts called lower piston and upper piston can be assembled and cooperate together so as to play the role of a piston assembly for the collection and / or distribution of the fluid product. During operation of the dispenser, the lower piston belonging to a distribution body is in contact with the fluid product. On the other hand, the upper piston belonging to a reusable actuating head is never in contact with the fluid product. Thus, only the disposable and interchangeable part is in contact with the fluid product, thus avoiding any contamination by the fluid product of the reusable part, in particular contamination of the new product with the old one. According to different embodiments of the invention, which may be taken together or separately: -the lower and upper pistons are two separate pieces assembled together in a reversible manner, - the lower and upper pistons are linked in translation to each other so that an axial translation movement of one causes the axial translation of the other and the collection and / or distribution of a dose of fluid product - the lower and upper pistons are rotationally linked to each other, - the upper piston is housed in the lower piston, - the distributor includes connecting means allowing the lower piston and the upper piston to be connected in translation, - the connecting means are a bayonet system, - the connection between the lower piston and the upper piston is carried out by a translational movement then rotation of one and / or the other of the lower and upper pistons, - the connecting means are an annular bead located on an internal surface of the lower piston and an annular groove located on an external surface of the upper piston, - the upper piston and / or the lower piston are configured to be irreversibly mounted respectively on the distribution body and the actuator, - the fluid product is a cosmetic product or a pharmaceutical product, - the actuator is movable in axial translation relative to the tank, - the dispensing body further comprises a closing ring configured to be reversibly attached to the refill, - the closing ring comprises an outer wall defining an internal housing in which the lower piston is mounted, - the actuating head further comprises a connecting ring allowing the connection between the actuator and the closing ring, - the actuator is movable in axial translation relative to the connecting ring, - the closing ring and the connecting ring are fixed relative to each other, - the connecting ring is mounted reversibly on the closing ring, - the dose of fluid product is taken and / or distributed by a vertical translation movement of the actuator, - the dose of fluid product is taken and / or distributed by axial pressure on the actuator, - the actuating head comprises a return means so that the actuator returns to a position of use after actuation, - the return means is a spring located between the piston and an external casing of an actuating head, The invention also relates to a refill for a fluid product receptacle configured to removably receive an actuating head, at least one part of which translates to allow suction and dispensing of the fluid product, the refill comprising: - a dispensing body comprising a pipette configured to allow storage of fluid product for dispensing, and - a reservoir configured to contain the product (fluid and receive the pipette, the dispensing body ensuring the sealing of the reservoir when the pipette is housed in it. Such a design makes it possible to have a cosmetic product refill comprising a pipette and waterproof although free from an actuating head, which is particularly advantageous when the actuating head is complex and by comparison more expensive to manufacture than the reservoir, for example. This results in a rechargeable receptacle in which the user can keep the actuator head for later use, for example with other refills. The refill can be changed freely with minimal mess as the pipette can remain housed in the reservoir when the actuator head is assembled to the refill. The invention also relates to a refill comprising a dispensing body of a dispenser as described above and a fluid product reservoir, on which the dispenser can be removably mounted, the lower piston being mounted inside the dispensing body. According to different embodiments of the invention, which may be taken together or separately: - the closing system comprises a sealing means cooperating with the actuating head, - the dispensing body comprises a closing ring configured to be removably attached to the reservoir, - the refill includes a closing cap, - the refill includes a lower piston configured to allow the suction and dispensing of the fluid product, - the lower piston is part of a piston assembly configured to allow the suction and distribution of the fluid product, - the sealing means is the lower piston which ensures the watertight closure of the tank, - the lower piston is irreversibly mounted on the refill, - the refill further comprises a closing ring configured to be reversibly attached to the refill, the closing ring comprises an outer wall defining an internal housing in which the lower piston is mounted, - the lower piston is configured to allow a tight closure of the refill. - the refill comprises a pipette, an upper end of which is connected to the piston and a lower end of which is configured to be immersed in the reservoir when the dispenser is mounted on the reservoir, the pipette allowing the storage of the dose of fluid product with a view to being dispensed, - the refill is made of a single material. The invention also relates to a receptacle for a fluid product comprising a refill as described previously and an actuating head. The invention also relates to a receptacle for a fluid product on which a dispenser as described above is reversibly mounted. Brief description of the figures The invention will be better understood, and other characteristics and advantages thereof will appear during the reading of the detailed description which follows, of at least two examples of embodiment of the invention given as purely illustrative and non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which: - [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of a receptacle comprising a reservoir and a dispenser for fluid product according to the invention; - [Fig.2] is a longitudinal sectional view of the receptacle of [Fig.1]; - [Fig.3] is a perspective view of a refill of the receptacle of [Fig.1]; - [Fig.4] is a longitudinal sectional view of the refill of [Fig.3]; - [Fig.5] is a longitudinal sectional view of a device for collecting and dispensing the receptacle of [Fig.1]; - [Fig.6] is a longitudinal sectional view of an actuating head of [Fig.5] - [Fig.7] is a perspective view showing an assembly variant between the lower piston and the upper piston. Detailed description of the invention By convention, the “axial” direction corresponds in the figures to that of the main X axis of a dispenser 10 for a fluid product configured to receive a sampling and dispensing device 12, and the “radial” direction is orthogonal to the axial direction. In the detailed description of the figures which follow, the terms “upper” and “lower” or “top” and “bottom” will be used in a non-limiting manner in reference to the axial direction. Similarly, the terms "outer or external" and "inner or internal" are used in reference to the radial direction, with an outer element being radially further from the X-axis than an inner element. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a dispenser 10 for fluid product mounted in a removable / reversible manner on a reservoir 18. The distributor 10 and the reservoir 18 form a receptacle 11 for fluid product. The fluid product is of the lotion, gel, perfume, serum or cream type for example, used for cosmetic purposes or for pharmaceutical treatments. The distributor 10 comprises, in its upper part, an actuating head 14, and in its lower part, a distribution body 15. The removable connection between the distributor 10 and the reservoir 18 is made via the distribution body 15. The actuator head 14 is configured to be reversibly mounted on the dispensing body 15. When the actuating head 14 is detached from the dispensing body 15, then the assembly formed by the reservoir 18 and the dispensing body 15 forms a refill 16. In other words, the refill 16 is intended to be removably mounted with the actuating head 14 to constitute the dispenser 10 mounted on the reservoir 18. The term "removable" means that the refill 16 is equipped with the actuating head 14 with the possibility of removing it, without causing destruction or deformation of one of the two elements. Thus, the refill 16 is intended to be able to be changed, in particular but not exclusively after the complete use of the fluid product. The distributor 10 comprises a sampling and distribution device 12. An example of the embodiment of a refill 16 is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. In this exemplary embodiment, the refill 16 has a main axis which extends in the axial direction, merged with the main X axis of the distributor 10. Top-up 16 includes: - the reservoir 18 configured to contain the fluid product, and - the distribution body 15. The distribution body 15 comprises: - a 42 pipette, - a closing system ensuring the sealing of the reservoir 18 when the distribution body 15 is mounted on the reservoir 18, - a lower piston 38. The pipette 42 is configured to allow storage of fluid product for dispensing and to be housed within the reservoir. The reservoir 18 is configured to contain the fluid product and receive the pipette 42. The closure system ensures the sealing of the reservoir 18 when the pipette 42 is housed in it. The reservoir 18 comprises a longitudinal wall 20 and an upper opening 22. The longitudinal wall 20 delimits an internal volume in which the fluid product can be stored. The upper opening 22 is delimited by a neck 24 connected to the longitudinal wall 20 by a frustoconical shoulder 26. The reservoir 18 is here associated with a closing ring 28 configured to be removably attached to the reservoir 18. To do this, the closing ring 28 comprises closing means 30 cooperating with closing means 32 of the reservoir 18. The closing means of the closing ring 28 are located on an internal surface of an external wall 34 defining an internal housing 36. The means for closing the tank 18 are located on an external surface of the bottleneck 24, This is a thread system 30, 32. The closing ring 28 can thus be fixed and / or removed from the reservoir 18 by a rotational movement of one relative to the other. The external wall 34 of the closing ring 28 defines in particular the internal housing 36 in which the lower piston 38 is mounted. In this embodiment, the internal housing 36 further comprises an internal skirt 40 into which the lower piston 38 is inserted. In this exemplary embodiment, the internal skirt 40 is further extended by the pipette 42. Thus, the internal skirt 40 forms a storage chamber 96 in fluid connection with the pipette 42, a chamber in which the lower piston 38 slides. More precisely, the lower part of the internal skirt 40 is connected to an upper end of the pipette 42. An opposite lower end of the pipette is open and configured to be immersed in the reservoir 18 when the closing ring 28 is mounted on the reservoir 18. The fluid connection between the chamber and the pipette 42 is closed when the lower piston 38 is located in the lower position inside the chamber. The pipette 42 allows the storage of the dose of fluid product taken for dispensing. The closing ring 28, the internal skirt 40, the pipette 42 and the lower piston are part of the dispensing body 15. The lower piston 38 is held in the internal skirt 40 of the closing ring 28 using an annular external bead 44 of the lower piston 38 cooperating with an upper end of the internal skirt 40. The upper end of the internal skirt 40 is in particular provided with slots defining flexible tongues, the upper ends of which comprise a shoulder 46. Advantageously, the shoulder 46 has a lower surface cooperating with the external bead 44 of the lower piston 38 so as to hold it in the internal housing 36. The lower piston 38 is thus axially connected to the closing ring 28. Preferably the connection is irreversible. In other words, the lower piston 38 is irreversibly mounted inside the distribution body 15. Advantageously, the lower piston 38 ensures a tight closure to the reservoir 18. The lower piston 38 is thus a sealing means cooperating with the closing ring 28 so as to ensure the leaktight closure of the reservoir 18. Thus, when the dispensing body 15 is mounted on the reservoir 18, the refill 16 thus formed is leaktight. In the embodiment shown, the refill 16 further comprises a closing cap 48. The cap 48 is arranged on an upper end of the dispensing body 15, in particular on an upper peripheral rim of the closing ring 28. The cover 48 is removably mounted on the refill 16, here the closing ring 28. The cover 48 is for example heat-sealed on the upper end of the refill 16. The cover 48 provides protection, for example hygienic protection, of the internal housing 36 in particular, of the lower piston 38, in particular during its storage before use with an actuating head 14. Preferably, the seal 48 is disposable. In other words, the seal 48 is removed and then discarded after the first use of the fluid product, that is to say when the actuating head 14 is mounted on the refill 16, and more precisely on the dispensing body 15, itself mounted on the reservoir 18. Advantageously, the cover 48 is made of disposable material. This may be, for example, paper or a recyclable material. Advantageously, the refill 16 is made of a single material. In other words, the reservoir 18 and the dispensing body 15 (the closing ring 28, the internal skirt 40, the pipette 42 and the lower piston 38) are made of the same material, or at least of similar materials. Similar materials are understood to mean materials that will have at least one common recycling circuit. The use of the same material, or at least similar materials, to make the different parts of the refill 16 is particularly interesting for their recycling after use of the fluid product. Indeed, the presence of different materials presents disadvantages during recycling where the parts must be separated. The use of the same material makes it possible to throw away all the parts of the refill 16 together without having to disassemble it, which facilitates recycling. The material may be selected from polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET), a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), polyethylene (PE), such as low density polyethylene (LDPE) and / or high density polyethylene (HDPE), a composite material, a post-consumer recycled (PCR) material and / or a similar material. Preferably, the material is selected from polypropylene, polyterephthalate, post-consumer recycled polypropylene, post-consumer recycled polyterephthalate, or a mixture thereof. Polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate are two plastics whose recycling cycle is well known. The tank 18 can also be made of glass, wood, metal, plastic, hybrid material or mixtures of these. Since the disassembly of the actuating head 14 and the dispensing body 15 and the disassembly of the dispensing body and the reservoir 18 are easily carried out, the fact that the reservoir 18 is made of a different material does not complicate recycling, each of the parts being recycled in a separate recycling cycle. The actuating head 14 comprises an actuator 50, an upper piston 52 and a connecting ring 54 allowing the connection between the actuator 50 and the closing ring 28 of the distribution body 15. In other words, the connecting ring 54 makes it possible to fix the actuating head 14 to the dispensing body 15 via the closing ring 28 thereof. Preferably, the connecting ring 54 is reversibly mounted on the closing ring 28, so that the actuating head 14 is removable relative to the dispensing body 15. Advantageously, the closing ring 28 and the connecting ring 54 are connected in rotation, as well as axially. In other words, the closing ring 28 and the connecting ring 54 are fixed relative to each other when the actuating head 14 is connected to the dispensing body 15. On the other hand, the actuator 50 is movable in axial translation relative to the connecting ring 54. Preferably, the actuator is a push button. The actuator 50, the upper piston 52 of the actuating head 14 and the lower piston 38 of the dispensing body 15 form a sampling and dispensing device 12, an example of which is illustrated in [Fig.5]. Preferably, the lower piston 38 is configured to be irreversibly mounted inside the dispensing body 15 and the upper piston 52 is configured to be irreversibly mounted inside the actuator 50. In the embodiment illustrated here, the lower piston 38 is a cylindrical part of circular cross-section. The lower piston 38 comprises a longitudinal wall 55 which extends from a closed lower end defining a bottom 56 to an opposite open upper end 58. The longitudinal wall 55 has an external surface and an internal surface and delimits a housing. The outer surface of the lower piston 38 includes the annular outer bead 44 which cooperates with the upper end of the inner skirt 40 of the closing ring 28 so as to be held therein. The inner surface of the lower piston 38 includes an annular inner groove 60. The inner groove 60 is located near the upper end 58 of the lower piston 38. The upper end 58 of the lower piston 38 further comprises slots defining flexible tabs providing radial flexibility to the upper end 58 of the lower piston 38. In the embodiment illustrated here, the upper piston 52 is a cylindrical part of circular cross-section and comprising an upper portion 62 and a lower portion 64 of different diameters and connected to each other by a shoulder 66. The upper portion 62 has a larger diameter than the lower portion 64. The upper piston 52 includes a longitudinal wall 67 which extends from a small diameter open lower end 68 to an opposite large diameter open upper end 70. The upper portion 62 of the upper piston 52 delimits an upper housing in which the actuator 50 is housed. The lower portion 64 of the upper piston 52 defines a rod 72 extending from the open lower end 68 to the opposite shoulder 66 connected to the upper portion 62 of the upper piston 52. The rod 72 is configured to be inserted into the housing of the lower piston 38, when the actuating head 14 is mounted on the dispensing body 15. The rod 72 includes an annular external bead 74 located near the upper portion 62 of the upper piston 52. The external bead 74 cooperates with the internal groove 60 of the lower piston 38 so that the lower piston 38 and the upper piston 52 are linked in translation and together form a piston assembly 76, the actuation of which allows the fluid product to be sampled and / or dispensed. Thus, the piston assembly 76 is formed of two separate parts: the lower piston 38 and the upper piston 52. Their actuation is obtained via the actuator 50. Thus, advantageously, the distributor 10 comprises connecting means which make it possible to connect in translation the lower piston 38 and the upper piston 52. In the example shown here, the connecting means are the external bead 74 of the rod of the upper piston 52 and the internal groove 60 of the lower piston 38 which cooperate together when the actuating head 14 is mounted on the distribution body 15. To facilitate the insertion of the rod 72 of the upper piston 52 into the lower piston 38, that is to say to facilitate the mounting of the actuating head 14 on the distribution body 15, and to ensure its retention, the upper end 58 of the lower piston 38 further comprises slots defining flexible tabs providing a radial flexibility at the upper end of the lower piston 38. In another exemplary embodiment, the connecting means are a bayonet system as illustrated in [Fig.7]. In such a bayonet system, the lower piston 38 comprises, for example, at least one notch, for example L-shaped, and the upper piston 52 comprises at least one tenon (or vice versa) cooperating with the notch. The connection between the lower piston 38 and the upper piston 52 is then carried out by a translational movement then a rotational movement of one and / or the other of the lower and upper pistons 38, 32. In the assembly variant illustrated in [Fig. 7], the lower piston 38 comprises two L-shaped notches 77 and the upper piston 52 comprises two radially projecting tenons 79. Each of the tenons 79 cooperates with a notch 77 so that the lower piston 38 and the upper piston 52 are axially and rotationally connected and an axial translational movement of one causes the axial translation of the other and the withdrawal and / or dispensing of a dose of fluid product. In this assembly variant, the notches 77 have a horizontal ramp 77a extending annularly and a vertical ramp 77b opening through an upper opening 77c at the level of the upper end 58 of the lower piston 38. When mounting the actuating head 14 on the dispensing body Ç, each of the tenons is inserted at the level of the upper opening 77c. Then a downward vertical translation movement, followed by a rotational movement, allows the lower piston 38 to be assembled with the upper piston 52. The lower piston 38 and the upper piston 52 are thus linked axially and in rotation so that an axial translational movement of one causes the axial translation of the other and the collection and / or dispensing of a dose of fluid product. Advantageously, at least one movement of the actuator 50 causes an actuation of the piston assembly 76 to allow the withdrawal and / or dispensing of the dose of fluid product. Advantageously, the actuator 50 has a position of use in which the dose of fluid product is defined. In this embodiment, the actuating head 14 comprises an outer casing 90 rotationally connected to the actuator 50 via the connecting ring 54. In this embodiment, the dose of product can be taken by a vertical translational movement of the actuator 50. This axial translational movement can be obtained by axial pressure on the actuator 50 as in the example shown here. The axial pressure causes a displacement of the piston assembly 76, that is to say of the lower piston 38 and the upper piston 52. The release causes the piston assembly 76 to rise, causing the product in the pipette 42 to rise into a storage chamber 96 defined in the housing of the closing ring 28 and delimited in the upper part by the bottom of the lower piston 38. Another vertical translational movement of the actuator 50, such as a new axial pressure on the actuator 50, allows the distribution of the fluid product stored in the storage chamber. This other axial pressure causes a new movement of the piston and the distribution of the fluid product. Advantageously, the actuating head 14 comprises a return means so that the actuator 50 returns to a position of use after actuation. This may be, as in the example shown here, a spring 98 located between the piston assembly 76 and the external casing 90 of an actuating head 14. In another embodiment not shown, the dispenser 10 may include a cover. The cover is intended to cover the actuator head 14. Preferably, the cover is removable. The cover is capable of occupying at least one open position in which the cover is separated from the actuating head 14 in particular to allow the actuating of the dispenser 10 and the sampling and / or dispensing of the fluid product and a closed position in which the cover is integral with the actuating head 14.

Claims

Claims

1. Dispenser (10) of a fluid product configured to be mounted dc removable manner on a reservoir (18) in fluid product, the distributor (10) comprising a device (12) for collecting and distributing the fluid product, the device (12) comprising an actuator (50) and a piston assembly (76), characterized in that the piston assembly (76) comprises at least one lower piston (38) configured to be mounted at inside a distribution body (15) of the distributor (10) and at least one upper piston (52) configured to be mounted therein of an actuating head (14) of the distributor (10) housing the actuator (50).

2. Dispenser (10) according to the preceding claim, in which the lower (38) and upper (52) pistons are two separate parts as- assembled together in a reversible manner.

3. Dispenser (10) according to the preceding claim, in which the lower (38) and upper (52) pistons are linked in translation to each other the other so that an axial translational movement of one causes the axial translation of the other and the sampling and / or distribution of a dose of fluid product.

4. A dispenser (10) according to any one of the preceding claims preceding, in which the lower (38) and upper (52) pistons are linked rotating to each other.

5. Dispenser (10) according to the preceding claim, comprising connecting means allow said lower piston to be linked in translation (38) and said upper piston (52).

6. Dispenser (10) according to the preceding claim, in which the connecting means are a bayonet system.

7. A dispenser (10) according to any one of the preceding claims preceding, in which the lower piston (38) and / or the upper piston (52) are configured to be irreversibly mounted respect- tively on the dispensing body (15) and the actuating head (14).

8. Dispenser (10) according to any one of the preceding claims- preceding, wherein the actuator (50) is configured so that a vertical translation movement of the latter causes the collection and / or the distribution of the fluid product dose.

9. A dispenser (10) according to any one of the preceding claims preceding, wherein the actuating head (14) comprises means return so that the actuator (50) returns to a position of use after actuation.

10. Refill (16) comprising a dispensing body (15) of a dis- tributor (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and a reservoir (18) in fluid product, on which can be mounted in a manner removable distributor (10), the lower piston (38) being mounted at inside the distribution body (15).

11. Refill (16) according to the preceding claim, in which the body distribution (15) further comprises a closing ring (28) configured to be reversibly attached to the refill (16), the closing ring (28) comprises an outer wall (34) defining a internal housing (36) in which the lower piston (38) is mounted.

12. A refill (16) according to the preceding claim, wherein the piston lower (38) is configured to allow a tight closure of the tank (18).

13. A refill (16) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, in which the dispensing body (15) comprises a pipette (42) of which a upper end is connected to the lower piston (38) and an opposite lower end is configured to be immersed in the tank (18) when the distributor (10) is mounted on the tank (18), the pipette (42) allowing the storage of the dose of fluid product for distribution.

14. Receptacle comprising a refill (16) according to any one of the claims 10 to 13 and an actuating head (14).

15. Receptacle comprising a reservoir (18) of fluid product on which is reversibly mounted a distributor (10) according to any one of claims 1] to 9.