Liquid product dispenser

Abstract

A dispenser comprising a reservoir (R) and a dispensing head (T) mounted on the reservoir (R), wherein the reservoir (R) comprises an inner pouch (P) containing the fluid product and an outer shell (S) containing the inner pouch (P), the shell (S) comprising an elastically deformable shell body (S1) and a rigid shell neck (S2), the pouch (P) comprising a flexible pouch body (P1) and a rigid pouch neck (P2), the flexible pouch body (P1) being disposed inside the shell body (S1), the pouch neck (P2) being disposed inside the shell neck (S2), and wherein the dispensing head (T) comprises an air inlet valve (24, S2) and a sealing element (161) in permanent airtight contact with the pouch neck (P2), the air inlet valve comprising a valve seat, characterized in that the valve seat of the air inlet valve is formed by the hull neck (S2). "Figure for the abbreviation: figure 2"

Description

Title of the invention: Fluid product dispenser

[0001] The present invention relates to a fluid product dispenser comprising a flexible internal pocket and an elastically deformable external shell. The preferred fields of application of the present invention are those of cosmetics, perfumery, drugstore, food or even pharmacy.

[0002] In the prior art, document EP3414018 is known, which describes a fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir and a dispensing head mounted on the fluid reservoir. The reservoir comprises an internal pouch containing the fluid and an external shell containing the internal pouch. The external shell comprises an elastically deformable shell body and a rigid shell neck. The internal pouch comprises a flexible pouch body and a rigid pouch neck. The flexible pouch body is arranged inside the elastically deformable shell body and the rigid pouch neck is arranged inside the rigid shell neck. The dispensing head comprises an air inlet valve and a sealing element in permanent sealed contact with the rigid pouch neck.This air inlet valve comprises a movable valve member in the form of an umbrella, which can move relative to a valve seat formed by the dispensing head. Therefore, it is imperative that the dispensing head is mounted in a perfectly sealed manner on the rigid shell neck. In addition, the movable valve member is mounted horizontally on the dispensing head, which is not easy. Furthermore, the internal flexible bag is formed from a bag welded to a rigid bag support. Therefore, a welding operation and an operation of inserting the flexible bag into the deformable external shell are required.

[0003] The present invention proposes to overcome the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior art by defining a dispenser that is simpler to assemble and with fewer areas to be sealed. The invention also proposes another type of tank, which does not need to be assembled.

[0004] To do this, the present invention proposes that the air inlet valve comprises a valve seat, which is formed by the shell neck. Thus, it is no longer the dispensing head which forms the air inlet valve seat, as in document EP3414018, but directly the neck of the shell. In other words, the air inlet valve is here formed between the dispensing head and the outer shell. The simple mounting of the dispensing head on the tank is sufficient to constitute the air outlet valve, whereas a laborious mounting operation is required in document EP3414018.

[0005] Advantageously, the air inlet valve comprises a flexible sealing lip, integral with the dispensing head, which comes into selective sealed contact with the neck of shell, so that outside air can penetrate between the outer shell and the inner pocket, momentarily breaking the sealed contact between the sealing lip and the shell neck. Thus, the flexible sealing lip constitutes the only sealing point between the head and the outer shell.

[0006] Advantageously, the rigid shell neck comprises an internal wall, the flexible sealing lip coming into selective sealed contact with this internal wall. The lip is thus engaged inside the neck of the external shell. It goes without saying that the sealing lip is annular, since the internal wall of the shell neck is obviously annular or cylindrical.

[0007] According to one aspect of the invention, the rigid pocket neck may be at least locally spaced from the inner wall of the rigid shell neck, so as to define between them an air passage connecting the distributor exterior to the pocket and shell bodies through the air inlet valve. The air passage does not pass through either the shell neck or the pocket neck.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the inner wall of the rigid shell neck extends beyond the rigid pocket neck, the flexible sealing lip coming into selective sealing contact with the inner wall above the pocket neck. It can also be said that the pocket neck is located axially recessed inside the shell neck.

[0009] According to a characteristic of the invention, the dispensing head may comprise a head body forming the sealing element in permanent sealed contact with the rigid pocket neck and supporting the flexible sealing lip in selective sealed contact with the rigid shell neck.

[0010] Advantageously, the head body comprises an internal tube forming at its free end the sealing element which is engaged in a sealed manner in the rigid pocket neck, the internal tube receiving internally a fluid product outlet valve.

[0011] Advantageously, the fluid product outlet valve comprises a movable valve member and a valve seat, the valve seat being formed by an insert fixedly engaged in the internal tubing, this insert advantageously forming upstream of the valve seat capillary retention means for retaining fluid product inside the insert.

[0012] Preferably, the flexible sealing lip is formed by a ring arranged around the internal tubing, advantageously by overmolding.

[0013] Advantageously, the head body forms a distribution orifice and a fixing sleeve engaged with the rigid shell neck.

[0014] According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the fluid product reservoir is obtained by a blowing process, so that the flexible pocket body and the elastically deformable shell body are initially in intimate contact over all their respective extents. Such a blowing process is described in document EP2148770.

[0015] Advantageously, the elastically deformable shell body and the rigid shell neck of the outer shell are made in a single piece, the flexible pocket body and the rigid pocket neck of the inner pocket are also made in a single piece.

[0016] The spirit of the invention lies in the fact that the seal between the reservoir and the dispensing head also serves as an air inlet valve, which allows outside air to enter between the bag and the shell. From an assembly point of view, the reservoir is produced by a preform blowing process, so that it constitutes an entity which does not require assembly. On the other hand, the dispensing head is easy to assemble, because all its constituent elements are mounted axially, except for the ring (which forms the sealing lip) which can be overmolded onto the head body.

[0017] 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.

[0018] In the figures:

[0019] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is an exploded perspective view of a product dispenser fluid of the invention,

[0020] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a vertical cross-sectional view through the dispenser of fluid product of [Fig.l], and

[0021] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a greatly enlarged view of a portion of the distributor of fluid product of [Fig.2].

[0022] The fluid product dispenser of the invention comprises a fluid product reservoir R and a dispensing head T which is mounted on the fluid product reservoir R. It can thus be said that the dispenser comprises two separate entities, which can be assembled by an axial movement.

[0023] The fluid product reservoir R comprises an outer shell S and an inner pocket P arranged inside the outer shell S. This is more visible in [Fig. 2]. The outer shell comprises an elastically deformable shell body SI and a rigid shell neck S2. As for the inner pocket P, it comprises a flexible pocket body PI and a rigid pocket neck P2. The outer shell S is made in a single piece: the shell neck S2 being connected in a single piece to the shell body SL II. The same is true for the flexible pocket, whose pocket neck P2 is connected in a single piece to the pocket body PL. Thus, the necks P2 and S2 are rigid, while the bodies PI and SI are flexible. The rigidity of the necks comes from the increased wall thickness, while the deformability of the bodies comes from a low wall thickness. The shell body SI is elastically deformable, so that it returns to its initial state as soon as the pressure is released.In contrast, the pocket body PI is simply flexible and does not return to its initial shape after pressure release. To allow the return to its initial state of shell body SI while leaving the pocket body deformed, it is necessary for outside air to penetrate between the outer shell S and the pocket in . inner P. Thus, the pocket body PI initially pressed against the shell body SI can gradually separate from it as outside air penetrates between the shell S and the pocket P. It can be seen in Figures 2 and 3 that a passage or space E is provided between the two necks S2 and P2. This passage E allows outside air to enter between the two necks and reach the bodies SI and PI. This passage E does not pass through the neck S2 or P2, but extends between the internal wall of the shell neck S2 and the internal wall of the pocket neck P2.

[0024] According to an advantageous embodiment, the reservoir R is produced by means of a blowing process, which comprises firstly producing preforms for the outer shell S and the inner pocket P. Once these preforms have been produced, advantageously by moulding, the pocket preform is introduced into the shell preform and pressurised air, possibly heated, is injected into the preform from close by, so that the pocket body swells, comes into intimate contact with the shell body SI, which is in turn enlarged. The preforms can be heated at the bodies, leaving the necks at a lower temperature, so that they do not undergo deformation. This is how a reservoir R is obtained, as shown in [Fig. 2], with the pocket body PI pressed over its entire extent against the shell body SI, while the necks S2 and P2 are at least locally spaced so as to define this passage or space E.

[0025] In more detail, it can be seen that the shell neck S2 defines an upper annular edge S3, an internal wall section S4 and an external annular collar S5. As for the pocket neck P2, it is arranged inside the shell neck S2 with its upper annular edge P3 which is set back inside the shell neck P2, leaving the internal wall section S4 free. It can also be said that the shell neck S2 projects beyond the pocket neck P2: the upper annular body P3 being arranged axially below the internal wall section S4.

[0026] Of course, instead of this tank R obtained by a preform blowing process, it is possible to use any tank comprising an external shell containing an internal pocket. This is only a preferred manufacturing method, which has the advantage of having a tank which does not require assembly.

[0027] The dispensing head T comprises, in this particular embodiment, five constituent elements, namely a head body 1, a ring 2, an insert 3, a valve part 4 and a protective cover C, which is optional.

[0028] The head body 1 is the visible part, which connects to the reservoir R at a rim 13 which surrounds a relief S13 of the external shell S. At its upper end, the head body 1 defines an outlet or distribution orifice 11, which is arranged in the axis. Between this distribution orifice 11 and the rim 13, the head body 1 defines a dome 12, which contributes to the aesthetic effect of the dispenser. The cover C covers the head body 1 and advantageously closes the distribution orifice 11. The other constituent elements, namely the ring 2, the insert 3 and the valve part 4 are arranged inside the head body 1, so that they are not visible from the outside, once the distribution head T is mounted on the reservoir R.

[0029] First of all, the head body 1 internally forms a fixing sleeve 14, which advantageously comes into snap-fit ​​engagement with the annular collar S5 formed by the shell neck S2. This fixing ensures the stability of the dispensing head T on the reservoir R. The head body 1 also forms an internal tube 16 which extends coaxially inside the fixing sleeve 14. The free end of this internal tube 16 forms a static sealing element 161, in the form of a cylindrical lip which comes into sealing engagement inside the pocket neck P2. Since the fixing sleeve 14 is permanently mounted around the collar S5, the sealing element 161 is permanently and sealingly mounted inside the pocket neck P2. We can speak of permanent sealing.

[0030] The ring 2 is arranged around the internal tubing 16. It comprises a cylindrical part 21 in contact with the internal tubing 16 and a lower sealing lip 24, which comes into contact with the internal wall S4 of the shell neck S2. A flange 15 formed by the head body 1 can extend around the cylindrical part 21 to increase its stability. The ring 2 can be attached and axially engaged around the internal tubing 16, inside the flange 15. Alternatively, the ring 2 can be overmolded onto the head body 1. In either case, the sealing lip 24 is intended to come into sealed contact with the internal wall S4.However, in the event of a depression at the passage E, outside air can push the sealing lip 24 away from the internal wall S4, thus creating an outside air inlet passage which will reach not only the passage E but also the space between the two bodies of pocket PI and shell SL. The sealing lip 24 and the internal wall S4 of the shell neck S2 together form an air inlet valve capable of supplying the air passage E and the interface of the two bodies SI and PI with outside air: the shell neck fulfilling a valve seat function, while the sealing lip 24 fulfills a valve movable member function.

[0031] The insert 3 is mounted axially inside the internal tubing 16. It can be held in place by snap-fastening or by clamping. The insert 3 forms a housing 31 in which the valve part 4 is received. The insert 3 also forms an annular valve seat 32 which extends around an opening 33. The insert 3 extends axially to the level of the bottom of the necks S2 and P2 and internally forms vertical or axial ribs, the function of which is to retain fluid product by capillarity. This ensures that the valve part 4 is always supplied with fluid product.

[0032] As for this valve part 4, it may comprise an anchoring ring 41 received for example by snap-fastening in the housing 31, a movable valve member 42 which comes into selective sealed contact on the valve seat 32 and flexible tabs or blades 43 which connect the movable member 42 to the anchoring ring 41. Thus, the movable member 42 can move axially by deformation of the flexible tabs 43 to allow the passage of fluid product or on the contrary ensure a seal with the valve seat 32. In fact, the design of the valve part 4 is not critical for the present invention. It is sufficient that this valve part 4 fulfills a conventional function of a one-way valve by pressing on a valve seat. Very generally, the movable member 42 and the valve seat 32 together form a fluid product outlet valve, which is received in the head body 1, and more precisely in the internal tubing 16.

[0033] It should be noted that the mounting of the dispensing head T on the fluid reservoir R produces three contacts of different natures. Firstly, the fixing sleeve 14 engages with the collar S5. Secondly, the sealing element 161 comes into permanent sealing contact inside the pocket neck P2. Thirdly, the sealing lip 24 comes into non-permanent sealing contact with the shell neck S2. These three contacts operate almost simultaneously when the dispensing head T is mounted on the reservoir R. It can be noted that the passage or space E is isolated from the outside on the one hand by the permanent sealing contact between the sealing element 161 and the pocket neck P2 and on the other hand by the selective sealing contact between the sealing lip 24 and the internal wall S4 of the shell neck S2.

[0034] Thanks to these three almost simultaneous contacts, the assembly of the distributor of the invention is greatly facilitated. In addition, it can be noted that the valve part 4 is mounted axially in the insert 3, which is itself mounted axially inside the internal tubing 16. The same is true for the ring 2, which can be mounted axially around the internal tubing 16. Thus, all the constituent elements of the dispensing head can be assembled by simple axial movements.

[0035] Without departing from the scope of the invention, an alternative embodiment can be provided, in which the sealing lip 24 comes into selective sealed contact with the external wall of the shell neck S2. The ring 2 could then be connected (for example by overmolding) to the fixing sleeve 14, to the dome 12 and / or to the flange 15. Thus, more generally, it can be said that the air inlet valve is formed by the sealing lip 24 and the shell neck S2.

[0036] Still without departing from the scope of the invention, it is possible to provide a double or even triple sealing lip, with several superimposed lips.

Claims

Claims

1. A fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir (R) and a dispensing head (T) mounted on the fluid reservoir (R), wherein the fluid reservoir (R) comprises an internal pouch (P) containing the fluid and an external shell (S) containing the internal pouch (P), the external shell (S) comprising an elastically deformable shell body (SI) and a rigid shell neck (S2), the internal pouch (P) comprising a flexible pouch body (PI) and a rigid pouch neck (P2), the flexible pouch body (PI) being arranged inside the shell body (SI), the pouch neck (P2) being arranged inside the shell neck (S2), and wherein the dispensing head (T) comprises an air inlet valve (24, S2) and a sealing element (161) in permanent sealed contact with the pouch neck (P2), the air inlet valve comprising a valve seat,characterized in that the valve seat of the air inlet valve is formed by the shell neck (S2).,

2. Fluid product dispenser according to claim 1, in which the air inlet valve comprises a flexible sealing lip (24), integral with the dispensing head (T), which comes into selective sealed contact with the shell neck (S2), so that outside air can penetrate between the external shell (S) and the internal pocket (P) by momentarily breaking the sealed contact between the sealing lip (24) and the shell neck (S2).

3. Fluid product dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, in which the shell neck (S2) comprises an internal wall (S4), the sealing lip (24) coming into selective sealed contact with this internal wall (S4).

4. Fluid product dispenser according to claim 3, in which the pocket neck (P2) is at least locally spaced from the internal wall (S4) of the shell neck (S2), so as to define between them an air passage (E) connecting the exterior of the dispenser to the pocket (PI) and shell (SI) bodies through the air inlet valve (24, S2).

5. A fluid dispenser according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the inner wall (S4) extends beyond the pocket neck (P2), the sealing lip (24) coming into selective sealed contact with the inner wall. (S4) above the pocket collar (P2).

6. Fluid product dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the dispensing head (T) comprises a head body (1) forming the sealing element (161) in permanent sealed contact with the pocket neck (P2) and supporting the sealing lip (24) in selective sealed contact with the shell neck (S2).

7. Fluid product dispenser according to claim 5, in which the head body (1) comprises an internal tube (16) forming at its free end the sealing element (161), which is engaged in a sealed manner in the pocket neck (P2), the internal tube (16) internally receiving a fluid product outlet valve (32, 42).

8. Fluid product dispenser according to claim 7, in which the fluid product outlet valve comprises a movable valve member (42) and a valve seat (32), the valve seat (32) being formed by an insert (3) fixedly engaged in the internal tubing (16), this insert (3) advantageously forming upstream of the valve seat (32) capillary retention means (34) for retaining fluid product inside the insert (3).

9. Fluid product dispenser according to claim 7 or 8, in which the sealing lip (24) is formed by a ring (2) arranged around the internal tubing (16), advantageously by overmolding.

10. Fluid product dispenser according to any one of claims 6 to 9, in which the head body (1) forms a dispensing orifice (11) and a fixing sleeve (14) engaged with the shell neck (P2).

11. Fluid product dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the fluid product reservoir (R) is obtained by a blowing process, so that the pocket body (PI) and the shell body (S2) are initially in intimate contact over their entire respective extent.

12. Fluid product dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the shell body (SI) and the shell neck (S2) of the external shell (S) are made in a single piece, the pocket body (PI) and the pocket neck (P2) of the internal pocket (P) are also made in a single piece.

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