Fluid product refill

Abstract

Fluid product refill comprising a fluid product reservoir (R) and a dispensing head (T) mounted on the reservoir (R), the dispensing head (T) comprising a fluid product outlet conduit (15) and an air inlet conduit (16), the fluid product outlet conduit (15) defining an inlet opening (151) and an outlet opening (152), the air inlet conduit (16) defining an inlet opening (161) and an outlet opening (162), the dispensing head (T) further comprising a sleeve (22) connected to an elastically deformable bellows (21), the sleeve (22) being slidably engaged around the fluid product outlet conduit (15) and air inlet conduit (16), so as to close the fluid product outlet opening (152) and air inlet opening (161) in the rest position and to clear them in the open position by deformation of the sleeve (22). "Figure for the abridged version: Figure 3"

Description

Title of the invention: Fluid product refill

[0001] The present invention relates to a fluid product refill comprising a reservoir and a dispensing head mounted on the reservoir. The dispensing head comprises a fluid product outlet duct and an air inlet duct. The fluid product outlet duct defines a fluid product inlet opening and a fluid product outlet opening, while the air inlet duct defines an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening. The refill of the invention is handled by a user, who holds the refill in one hand and the bottle to be filled in the other hand. He then places the refill upside down on the bottle or places the bottle upside down on the refill and then turns the assembly over. The refill is therefore handled manually. The preferred fields of application of the present invention are those of cosmetics, perfumery, drugstore, food or pharmacy.

[0002] In the prior art, document EP2500277A1 is known, which describes a fluid product refill comprising a reservoir and a rotary-actuated dispensing head. The dispensing head comprises, on the one hand, a fixed part fixedly mounted on the reservoir and forming a fluid product outlet duct and an air inlet duct and, on the other hand, a rotary part to be screwed onto the bottle to be filled and forming a fluid product inlet duct and an air outlet duct. The rotation of the rotary part relative to the fixed part allows the alignment of the ducts and the crossing of the fluid product and air flows by simple gravity. The closing of the dispensing head after filling is not automatic: it is carried out by a reverse rotation.Thus, a filling operation requires the unscrewing of the rotating part on the threaded neck of the bottle to be filled, the relative rotation of the fixed part with respect to the fixed part in an opening direction, the relative rotation of the fixed part with respect to the fixed part in a closing direction, and finally the unscrewing of the rotating part from the neck of the filled bottle. It is also necessary to manage the correct sequencing of all these rotations.

[0003] Document US2007277902Al also describes a manual refill, the head of which The dispenser comprises a movable tube and a fixed valve that closes one end of the movable tube. The head screws onto the threaded neck of the bottle to be filled, which has the effect of moving the movable tube away from the fixed valve against a return spring. The fluid product can then flow by gravity, while the air is evacuated in the opposite direction. The disadvantage with this refill is that the return spring is in contact with the fluid product. In addition, the spring is metallic, so the refill is not recyclable. Furthermore, as in document EP2500277A1, the refill must be screwed and unscrewed from the bottle. Finally, the product conduits fluid and air are the same, so there is a conflict between the fluid product and the air, which inevitably leads to a blockage of the flows.

[0004] The present invention proposes to remedy the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior art by defining a manual, recyclable refill, with a minimum of parts, whose fluid product is protected, whose actuation is easy and intuitive and whose flows do not compete.

[0005] To this end, the present invention proposes a fluid product refill comprising a reservoir and a dispensing head mounted on the reservoir, the dispensing head comprising a fluid product outlet duct and an air inlet duct, the fluid product outlet duct defining a fluid product inlet opening and a fluid product outlet opening, the air inlet duct defining an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening, the dispensing head further comprising a sleeve connected to an elastically deformable bellows, the sleeve being slidably engaged around the outlet and inlet ducts so as to close the fluid product outlet and air inlet openings in the rest (or closed) position and to release them in the open (or actuated) position by deformation of the sleeve.

[0006] Thus, the cuff, which acts as a movable valve member acted upon in return by the bellows, is arranged outside the conduits. The same applies to the bellows.

[0007] According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the bellows is engaged around the fluid product outlet and air inlet ducts without coming into contact with the fluid product. This means that the fluid product outlet duct is separate from the bellows and alone channels the flow of fluid product. Advantageously, the bellows also does not come into contact with the air flow passing through the air inlet duct. The bellows is thus separated from the fluid product and air ducts by a peripheral dead space. Only the sleeve comes into contact with the ducts.

[0008] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the fluid product outlet and air inlet conduits may be formed by a cannula which is internally partitioned, the sleeve and the bellows being engaged around the cannula. Advantageously, the partitioned cannula passes through the sleeve and the bellows.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the fluid product outlet and air inlet conduits may be an integral part of a mounting part, which also forms a mounting ring, advantageously threaded, engaged with a neck, advantageously threaded, formed by the reservoir.

[0010] Advantageously, the cuff and the bellows are produced in a single piece in the form of a valve part, which is mounted on the mounting part, advantageously by snap-fastening.

[0011] Preferably, the mounting part and the valve part are made with a same type of plastic material, such as a polyolefin.

[0012] Ideally, the fluid product refill consists only of the reservoir, the mounting part and the valve part, with possibly a seal interposed between the reservoir and the mounting part.

[0013] According to another characteristic of the invention, the fluid product outlet and air inlet openings are axially offset. Thus, the fluid product and air conduits are differentiated.

[0014] According to another aspect of the invention, the cuff may define an annular lower edge which comes into sealing contact against a projecting annular profile formed at the lower end of the partitioned cannula. Sealing in the rest or closed position is thus improved. It is not necessary for the cuff to slide in a sealed manner around the partitioned cannula. A small amount of play is possible: this reduces frictional forces and makes actuation smoother. Sealed sliding, for example by means of a sealing lip formed by the cuff at its upper edge, is also possible.

[0015] Furthermore, the partitioned cannula may comprise a stop element, the sleeve defines an internal annular edge which comes into contact, advantageously sealed, against the stop element, in the open position. This stop in the open position may have several functions: the stop may be sealed, so that the bellows never comes into contact with the fluid product. The stop also defines a maximum deformation of the bellows, in order to preserve it. The stop also defines a maximum penetration of the partitioned cannula inside the bottle to be filled. Advantageously, the stop element is a separate part, which is engaged around the cannula. The stop element may be in the form of a simple cylinder. Thus, the configuration (length, diameter) of the stop element can be adapted according to the bellows, the sleeve and / or the height of the neck of the bottle to be filled.The stop element is then a modular part that is easy to adapt to the desired parameters. In most cases, it is sufficient to vary its length or height. This feature (stop element = separate part added around the cannula) can be implemented independently of the fact that the fluid product does not come into contact with the fluid product and could therefore be the subject of its own protection.

[0016] According to another characteristic, the air inlet duct can extend deeper into the tank than the fluid product outlet duct, so that they have different lengths. This is another way of distinguishing them, in order to avoid any flow conflict. It is also possible to differentiate the ducts by varying, for example, their passage sections.

[0017] In order to be able to penetrate bottle necks with a small internal diameter, the sleeve has an external diameter of less than nine, or even eight millimeters.

[0018] The spirit of the invention lies in integrating the functions of the moving valve member and elastic return in a single piece which is arranged outside the fluid and air conduits, so that there is no contact between the bellows and the fluid. The production of the refill in only three pieces also presents a significant advantage. Similarly, the fact of producing the dispensing head in a single plastic material facilitates its recycling.

[0019] The invention will now be described in greater detail, with reference to the attached drawings, giving by way of non-limiting example, an embodiment of the invention.

[0020] In the figures:

[0021] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] is a cross-sectional view of a fluid product refill of the invention ready to be attached to the neck of a bottle to be filled,

[0022] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a view similar to [Fig.l] with the refill plugged in with the neck of the bottle to be filled, but still in the closed position, and

[0023] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a view similar to those of Figures 1 and 2 with the refill in taken with the neck of the bottle to be filled, and in the open position.

[0024] The fluid product refill is intended to cooperate with a bottle F, which can be made of any suitable material, but preferably of glass. The bottle F comprises a body defining a useful volume containing the fluid product. The upper part of the body forms a shoulder Ef from which a neck Cf projects upwards. The neck is advantageously threaded and defines an upper annular edge Bf. The neck Counterfeit internally defines an opening which communicates with the useful volume of the body.

[0025] The bottle F may be associated with a dispensing head incorporating a manual pump, so as to form a fluid product dispenser. The dispensing head is preferably screwed onto the threaded neck Cf of the bottle F, so that it can be removed by unscrewing to allow the bottle F to be filled using the fluid product refill of the invention.

[0026] The bottle F is not critical for the present invention: it is sufficient for it to define an opening through which it can be filled.

[0027] The fluid product refill comprising a fluid product reservoir R and a dispensing head T mounted on the reservoir R.

[0028] The reservoir R may have a configuration similar or identical to that of the bottle F. The reservoir R comprises a shoulder Er from which a neck Cr projects. The neck Cr may also be threaded. The reservoir R is preferably rigid, but a flexible, deformable reservoir is not excluded. The reservoir R, like the bottle F, is preferably a single-piece.

[0029] The dispensing head T forms the heart of the invention. It is preferably made up of two single-piece parts 1 and 2, which are attached to one another.

[0030] First, a mounting part 1 is fixedly mounted on the neck Cr of the tank R, for example by screwing or snapping. To do this, the mounting part 1 forms a fixing ring 11, which extends around the neck Cr. The fixing ring 11 comprises internal hooking profiles, such as a thread or a snap-in profile. An annular plate 12 extends radially inwardly from the fixing ring 11. A snap-in ring 13, which extends in the extension of the fixing ring 11, forms with the annular plate 12 a snap-in housing, the function of which will be given below.

[0031] The mounting part 1 defines two conduits, namely a fluid product outlet conduit 15 and an air inlet conduit 16. These conduits 15, 16 pass through the annular plate 12, extending on either side of the annular plate 12, so that an internal part of the conduits 15, 16 extends into the neck Cr and an external part projects outwards. The external part is formed by a cannula 14, which is internally partitioned, so as to delimit two external sections of conduits. The partition 140 can be flat or curved. The internal part is formed by a sleeve 17, which is internally partitioned, so as to delimit two internal sections of conduits.

[0032] The cannula 14 is directly connected to the inner periphery of the annular plate 12. The cannula may form or be provided with a stop element 143. When integrated into the cannula 14, the stop element may be in the form of an annular reinforcement or vertical ribs. When it constitutes a separate added part, the stop element may be in the form of a simple cylinder engaged around the cannula 14. This stop profile 143 may extend as far as the annular plate 12. Then, the cannula 14 is cylindrical up to its free end, which forms an axial plug 141 for the two external sections of the conduits 15 and 16. Advantageously, the axial plug 141 forms an annular bead 142, which projects radially outwards. This bead 142 can join the cylindrical part of the cannula 14 by a truncated conical connecting section.Near the axial plug 141, the cannula 14 is pierced with two lateral openings, which communicate with the conduits 15 and 16. There is a fluid product outlet opening 152 and an air inlet opening 161. It can be noted that the fluid product outlet opening 152 is closer to the axial plug 141 than the air inlet opening 161. The opening 152 closest to the plug 141 remains, however, at a distance from the plug 141 and its bead 142. The cannula 14 is preferably circular cylindrical between the stop profile 143 and the annular bead 142: the cylindricity is however interrupted by the openings 152 and 161, which are flush.

[0033] The sleeve 17 is also connected to the internal periphery of the annular plate 12, substantially in the axial extension of the cannula 14. It can also be said that the sleeve 17 extends concentrically inside the fixing ring 11 and the neck Cr. The sleeve 17 forms a fluid product inlet opening 151, which communicates with the fluid product outlet opening 152. The fluid product inlet opening 151 is located axially inside the fixing ring 11 and the neck Cr. It can be noted that the passage section of the conduit 15 defined by the sleeve 17 is larger than that defined by the cannula 14. The sleeve 17 forms a chimney 171 which extends inside the reservoir R. This chimney 171 internally forms an internal section of the air inlet conduit 16 and defines at its free end an air outlet opening 162.

[0034] Thus, the cannula 14 and the sleeve 17, which are both internally partitioned, jointly form the fluid product inlet conduit 15 with its inlet 151 and outlet 152 openings and the air outlet conduit 16 with its inlet 161 and outlet 162 openings.

[0035] The mounting part 1 can be made in a single piece from polyolefin or copolyester.

[0036] On the other hand, a valve part 2 is mounted around the cannula 14 of the mounting part 1. The valve part can be made in a single piece from polyolefin or elastomer. This mounting part 2 comprises a bellows 21, a sleeve 22 and a snap-on heel 23. The snap-on heel 23 is snapped into the snap-on crown 13 by bearing on the annular plate 12. The snap-on heel 23 is rigid, mainly due to its increased thickness. Alternatively, the heel could be welded or glued. The bellows 21 is connected to the snap-on heel 23 and forms several folds. The bellows 21 is elastically deformable, mainly due to its low wall thickness. The bellows 21 extends around the cannula 14 without coming into contact, in the rest position, as is the case in Figures 1 and 2. The cuff 22 is connected to the bellows 21, at its end opposite the snap-on heel 23.The machete 22 is engaged around the cannula 14 with very little play or a sealed sliding contact. It can be seen that the sleeve 22 is located at the level of the fluid product outlet 152 and air inlet 161 openings in the rest position, and comes into abutment against the annular bead 142 of the cap 141. The sleeve 21 fulfills a function of a movable valve member and the cannula 14 fulfills a function of a valve seat. As for the bellows, it fulfills a function of a return spring for the sleeve 22, which is elastically pushed back into the rest position, advantageously in sealed abutment against the annular bead 142 with its external annular edge 222.

[0037] Reference will be made successively to figures 1, 2 and 3 to describe a filling cycle of the bottle F.

[0038] In [Fig. 1], the refill is already arranged upside down, with its dispensing head T located below the R tank. The refill is ready to be combined with the F bottle, in the purpose of filling it. The cap 141 is positioned just above the opening of the neck Cf. The dispensing head is at rest, with the sleeve 22 closing the two openings 152 and 161: the external annular edge 222 of the sleeve coming into sealed contact with the annular bead 142 of the cap 141. The bellows 21 is in its most relaxed state.

[0039] In [Fig.2], the cuff 22, the two openings 152 and 161 and the plug 141 are now introduced into the neck Cf. The valve is however still closed: the cuff 22 covers the two openings 152 and 161. The first fold of the bellows 21 comes into contact with the upper annular edge Bf of the bottle F: this contact can be watertight.

[0040] From the position of [Fig. 2], the user continues to move the refill towards the bottle F, which has the effect of lowering the cannula 14 inside the neck Cf and even the body of the reservoir R, leaving the sleeve 21 static in the neck Cf. The openings 152 and 161 are thus cleared. This is shown in [Fig. 3]. It can be noted that the openings 152 and 161 are then located at the shoulder Ef. A clearance may remain between the cuff 22 and the internal wall of the neck Cf. As for the bellows 21, it is strongly compressed, but not excessively, since it is limited by the contact of the internal annular edge 221 of the cuff 22 against the stop element 143 of the cannula 14. This limitation of the deformation of the bellows 21 is particularly advantageous when the bellows 21 is made of a material having limited deformability, as is the case with polyolefins.It is not excluded that the internal annular edge 221 may form a sealing lip, which slides in leaktight manner with the cannula 14, in order to ensure that the bellows 21 never comes into contact with the fluid product.

[0041] It should be noted that a stop element 143 fitted around the cannula 14 makes it possible to easily adapt its length or diameter without touching the mounting part 1. It is thus possible to choose the configuration of the stop element to determine the maximum deformation of the bellows, the stroke of the sleeve and / or the depth of insertion of the cannula 14 into the neck of the bottle to be filled.

[0042] As soon as the open position of the valve shown in [Fig. 3] is reached, the fluid stored in the reservoir R can flow by gravity through the fluid outlet conduit 15 by entering through the fluid inlet opening 151 and exiting through the fluid outlet opening 152. In the opposite direction, the air contained in the bottle F is evacuated through the air inlet conduit 16 by entering through the air inlet opening 161 and exiting through the air outlet opening 162. The filling can be completed in two different ways. Either the user decides to remove the refill from the bottle F by extracting the cannula 14 from the neck Cf, while the bottle F is not yet filled: the valve closes with the sleeve 21 which returns to its position of rest, in which it closes the two openings 152 and 161. Either the user waits until the bottle F is completely filled to remove the refill from the bottle F. The flow of the fluid product stops automatically, as soon as the level of fluid product in the bottle F has reached the openings 152 and 161. Due to the relatively low positioning of the two openings 152 and 161 in the neck Cf, it is guaranteed that the filling of the bottle F is not excessive.

[0043] Thanks to the refill of the invention, the fluid product does not come into contact with the bellows 21 and the two fluid product ducts 15 and air ducts 16 are selectively closed by the sleeve 21. The production of the refill in only three elements, namely the reservoir R, the mounting part 1 and the valve part 2 (and possibly a neck seal) is particularly advantageous. Similarly, the production of the mounting part 1 and the valve part 2 with the same plastic material (polyolefin) facilitates recycling of the dispensing head. Preferably, the reservoir R is also made of polyolefin, so that the refill does not need to be disassembled for recycling.

Claims

Claims

1. A fluid product refill comprising a fluid product reservoir (R) and a dispensing head (T) mounted on the fluid product reservoir (R), the dispensing head (T) comprising a fluid product outlet duct (15) and an air inlet duct (16), the fluid product outlet duct (15) defining a fluid product inlet opening (151) and a fluid product outlet opening (152), the air inlet duct (16) defining an air inlet opening (161) and an air outlet opening (162), characterized in that the dispensing head (T) further comprises a sleeve (22) connected to an elastically deformable bellows (21), the sleeve (22) being slidably engaged around the fluid product outlet (15) and air inlet (16) ducts,so as to close the fluid product outlet (152) and air inlet (161) openings in the rest position and to release them in the open position by deformation of the sleeve (22).,

2. Fluid product refill according to claim 1, in which the bellows (21) is engaged around the fluid product outlet (15) and air inlet (16) conduits without coming into contact with the fluid product.

3. Fluid product refill according to claim 2, in which the fluid product outlet (15) and air inlet (16) conduits are formed by a cannula (14) which is internally partitioned, the sleeve (22) and the bellows (21) being engaged around the cannula (14).

4. A fluid product refill according to claim 3, wherein the cannula (14) passes through the cuff (22) and the bellows (21).

5. Fluid product refill according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the fluid product outlet (15) and air inlet (16) conduits form an integral part of a mounting part (1), which also forms a mounting ring (11), advantageously threaded, engaged with a neck (Cr), advantageously threaded, formed by the fluid product reservoir (R).

6. Fluid product refill according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the sleeve (22) and the bellows (21) are produced in a single piece in the form of a valve part (2), which is mounted on the mounting part (1), advantageously by snap-fastening.

7. Fluid product refill according to claim 6, in which the mounting part (1) and the valve part (2) are made with a same type of plastic material, such as a polyolefin.

8. Fluid product refill according to claim 6 or 7, consisting solely of the fluid product reservoir (R), the mounting part (1) and the valve part (2), with possibly a seal interposed between the fluid product reservoir (R) and the mounting part (1).

9. A fluid product refill according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid product outlet (152) and air inlet (161) openings are axially offset.

10. A fluid product refill according to claim 3, wherein the sleeve (22) defines an annular lower edge (222), which comes into sealing contact against a projecting annular profile (142) formed at the lower end of the cannula (14).

11. Fluid product refill according to claim 3, in which the cannula (14) comprises a stop element (143), the sleeve (22) defines an internal annular edge (221), which comes into contact, advantageously sealed, against the stop element (143), in the open position.

12. A fluid product refill according to claim 11, wherein the stop element (143) is a separate part, which is engaged around the cannula (14).

13. A fluid product refill according to any preceding claim, wherein the air inlet duct (16) extends deeper into the fluid product reservoir (R) than the fluid product outlet duct (15), such that they have different lengths.

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