Fluid product dispensing device for bottles with increased product recovery potential

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fluid product dispensing device (14), adapted to cooperate with a bottle (12) having a bottom surface (T) and a neck (42) defining an opening (40), comprising: - a pump (16) including a pump body (22); - a dip tube for extending through the opening; and - a tool (50) for manually retrieving product from the bottle, comprising: - a sleeve (52), attached to the pump body, for extending tightly over the neck through the bottle opening, having a flexible outer sheath (56) in which the dip tube extends; - a product retrieval element (54), carried by the sleeve, equipped with a blade for bearing against the bottom surface. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 5

Description

Title of the invention: Fluid product dispensing device for bottles with increased product recovery potential. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the general field of fluid product packaging, and more particularly concerns a dispensing device intended to be associated with a bottle to extract the fluid product it contains. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

[0002] Fluid product dispensers are classically presented in the form of an assembly consisting of a bottle containing a fluid product, such as a lotion, a cream or a gel, and a dispensing device attached to the bottle to allow the extraction of the fluid product.

[0003] Typically, a dispensing device, particularly in the cosmetic or pharmaceutical fields, is equipped with a pump, an outlet nozzle, and a dip tube that connects to the outlet nozzle by extending into the bottle to be immersed in the product. The pump, often activated by a push button which the user presses, generates a suction effect that draws the product along the dip tube to be collected at the outlet nozzle.

[0004] In practice, this conventional architecture does not allow for the recovery of all the product initially contained in the bottle. At the end of the bottle's emptying process, i.e., when pumping no longer draws in any more product, and due to its high viscosity, a residual portion of this product often coats the bottom and the internal lateral walls of the bottle, remaining out of reach of the dip tube.

[0005] Given the often expensive nature of the product, users tend at the end of emptying to remove the dispensing device from the bottle in order to try to recover this residual part that cannot be pumped.

[0006] To facilitate this process, it is known, notably from document US2017128990A1, to mount a spatula-shaped component on the dip tube. This component, forming an extension of the dip tube, allows the dispensing device to be used like a spoon to manually collect the remaining product from the bottom of the bottle.

[0007] It has been observed that extracting the product using this solution is difficult and often results in drips falling onto the user's hands or clothing. Therefore, this solution can be improved.

[0008] The idea behind the invention is to propose a solution to simplify this manual product retrieval process by means of a distribution device. Description of the invention

[0009] To this end, the invention relates to a fluid product dispensing device adapted to be reversibly detached from and reattached to a bottle, intended to contain a fluid product, which is provided with a neck defining an access opening to the interior of this bottle and internally delimited by a bottom surface, the dispensing device comprising: — a pump including a pump body; — a fluid product outlet nozzle; — a dip tube with a longitudinal axis designed to extend through the opening of the bottle to provide a routing path for the fluid product from inside the bottle to the outlet nozzle when the pump is activated, this dip tube being longitudinally delimited by a first end which is rigidly supported by the pump body and by a second end designed to extend into the bottle to form an inlet for the fluid product into the dip tube; and — a tool for manually recovering product from the bottle; in which the tooling includes: - a sleeve intended to extend through the opening of the bottle while being centered on the longitudinal axis, the sleeve comprising a flexible outer sheath in which the dip tube extends, this outer sheath being delimited longitudinally by a first end attached to the pump body and a second end defining an orifice for the passage of the fluid product towards the second end of the dip tube, the outer sheath being shaped to present a longitudinal section that is both flexible and oversized relative to the opening of the bottle to allow its passage through this opening in a tight fit on the neck; - a product recovery device carried by the sleeve and adapted to pass through the opening, this recovery device comprising: — a foot extending from the second end of the outer sleeve; and — a blade which extends the foot and is adapted to come to rest against the bottom surface of the bottle when the dispensing device is attached to the bottle, the blade being adapted to form a receptacle for product which can be dispensed when the dispensing device is detached from the bottle.

[0010] The invention also relates to a distribution device thus defined, in which at least one groove is formed along the longitudinal section of the outer sleeve casing to delimit, together with the neck of the bottle, an air communication channel between the outside and the inside of the bottle.

[0011] The invention also relates to a distribution device defined as follows, in which sealing means are provided between the outer casing of the sleeve and the dip tube to ensure the conveyance of the fluid product entering through the opening towards the second end of the dip tube.

[0012] The invention also relates to a distribution device defined as follows, in which the second end of the outer casing is extended, internally to the sleeve, by a base in which the second end of the dip tube engages to form sealing means.

[0013] The invention also relates to a distribution device defined as follows, in which the sleeve is secured to the pump body by snapping.

[0014] The invention also relates to a distribution device defined as follows, in which the snapping of the sleeve onto the pump body corresponds to the engagement of a collar formed at the first end of the sleeve in a groove of the pump body.

[0015] The invention also relates to a distribution device thus defined, in which the outer casing of the sleeve is formed of elastomer.

[0016] The invention also relates to a distribution device thus defined, in which the tooling is formed in one piece.

[0017] The invention also relates to a fluid product distribution assembly comprising: - a bottle, intended to contain a fluid product, which is internally delimited by a base surface and which is provided with a neck defining an access opening to the interior of the bottle; and - a fluid product dispensing device adapted to be reversibly detached from and reattached to the bottle, the dispensing device comprising: — a pump including a pump body; — a fluid product outlet nozzle; — a dip tube with a longitudinal axis designed to extend through the opening of the bottle to provide a routing path for the fluid product from inside the bottle to the outlet nozzle when the pump is activated, this dip tube being longitudinally delimited by a first end which is rigidly supported by the pump body and by a second end designed to extend into the bottle to form an inlet for the fluid product into the dip tube; and — a tool for manually recovering product from the bottle; in which the tooling includes: - a sleeve intended to extend through the opening of the bottle while being centered on the longitudinal axis, the sleeve comprising a flexible outer sheath in which the dip tube extends, this outer sheath being delimited longitudinally by a first end attached to the pump body and a second end defining an orifice for the passage of the fluid product towards the second end of the dip tube, the outer sheath being shaped to present a longitudinal section that is both flexible and oversized relative to the opening of the bottle to allow its passage through this opening in a tight fit on the neck; - a product recovery device carried by the sleeve and adapted to pass through the opening, this recovery device comprising: — a foot extending the outer casing of the sleeve; and — a blade which extends the foot and is adapted to come to rest against the bottom surface of the bottle when the dispensing device is attached to the bottle, the blade being adapted to form a receptacle for product which can be dispensed when the dispensing device is detached from the bottle.

[0018] The invention also relates to a distribution assembly defined as follows, in which - the foot is flexibleally shaped and protrudes from the second end of the outer sheath of the sleeve; - The blade extends along the longitudinal direction in line with the base; and - the bottle and the dispensing device are configured to ensure that the blade rests against the bottom surface of the bottle through elastic deflection of the base. Brief description of the drawings

[0019] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description that follows, for an understanding of which reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which: - [Fig.l] is a perspective and exploded view of a product dispenser, comprising a bottle and a pump dispensing device which is installed on the bottle; - [Fig.2] is a cross-sectional view of the product dispenser conforming to [Fig.1] in which the dispensing device is mounted on the bottle; - [Fig.3] is a detailed view of the pump of the product dispensing device conforming to [Fig.1], including in particular a pump body which carries a dip tube which is inserted into the bottle; - [Fig.4] is a perspective view of the distribution device conforming to [Fig.1] and enhanced with tooling according to an example of an embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.5] illustrates the engagement in the bottle of the product distribution device equipped with the tooling according to the invention, this tooling comprising a sleeve which is carried by the pump body extending around the dip tube and a product recovery element carried by the sleeve; - [Fig.6] is a perspective and sectional view along line AA of [Fig.5] of the distribution device according to the invention; - [Fig.7a] - [Fig.7d] successively illustrate the tooling installation protocol according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.8] is a detailed view of the sealing solution between the dip tube and the tooling sleeve; - [Fig.9] is seen in perspective and in section along line BB of [Fig.5] of the distribution device according to the invention; - [Fig. 10] is a detailed view of the engagement of the recovery organ in the opening of the bottle; - [Fig. 11] is a view corresponding to that of [Fig.5] when the dispensing device is installed on the bottle; - [Fig. 12] illustrates the dynamics of product recovery using the tooling at the end of emptying the bottle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] With reference to figures 1 to 3, a fluid product dispenser 10 is presented in the context of the invention in the form of an assembly comprising a bottle 12, intended to contain fluid product, and a product distribution device 14 which is installed on the bottle 12.

[0021] The dispensing device 14 corresponds to an actuator that extracts the product from the bottle by pumping. This device 10 includes, in particular, a pump 16, a dip tube 18 designed to extend into the bottle, and an outlet nozzle 20 that communicates with the dip tube 18. The pump 16 routes the fluid along the dip tube 18 to the outside through the outlet nozzle 20.

[0022] In the example shown in the figures, the pump 16 is in the conventional form of a hand-operated push-button pump. It should be noted, however, that the invention is not limited to this particular pump architecture.

[0023] As illustrated in detail in [Fig. 3], the pump 16 comprises a pump body 22 in the form of a part of revolution, with longitudinal axis AX. This pump body 22 defines a chamber 24 and a connecting sleeve 26 which extends the chamber 24 centered on the longitudinal axis AX.

[0024] The connecting sleeve 26 is shaped to receive by fitting a first end 18a of the dip tube 18. This first end 18a forms an outlet for the fluid which has traveled along the dip tube 18 towards the outlet nozzle 20.

[0025] Also, this connecting sleeve 26 provides support for an inlet valve 28 preventing the return of fluid from the chamber 24 to the dip tube 18.

[0026] The pump 16 also includes an actuating rod 30 installed in the pump body 22. This actuating rod 30 is fitted with a push button 32 installed in a cylinder 34, commonly called a sliding barrel, defined by the pump body 22. The push button 32 is equipped with an elastic return element 36 which passively maintains it at a predetermined distance from the chamber 24.

[0027] The actuating rod 30 and the push button jointly define an internal channel 38 which connects the chamber 24 to the outlet nozzle 20. The internal channel 38 is closed at the junction between the push button 32 and the actuating rod 30 by an outlet valve 39 preventing the return of fluid from the outlet nozzle 20 to the chamber 24.

[0028] In practice, initially, pushing the push button 32 towards the chamber 24, against the force exerted by the elastic element 36, maintains the seal of the inlet valve 28 and mechanically opens the outlet valve 39, allowing the fluid to flow along the internal channel 38 towards the outlet nozzle 20. Subsequently, the elastic return element 36 returns to its rest position, causing the push button 32 to move. This movement mechanically closes the outlet valve 39 and creates a vacuum in the chamber 24. This vacuum opens the inlet valve 28, allowing the fluid to flow from the dip tube 18 to the chamber 24 by suction.

[0029] In the example shown in the figures, the retention of the dispensing device 14 on the bottle 12 is ensured by screwing it on after the dip tube 18 is inserted, in a direction denoted I, through an opening 40 in the bottle 12, delimited by a cylindrical neck 42, to be immersed in the product. This insertion is carried out by engaging the dip tube 18 by its second end 18b, opposite the first end 18a, which forms the inlet of the fluid initially contained in the bottle 12 into the dip tube 18.

[0030] In detail, the pump 16 includes a ring 44 rigidly supported by the pump body 22 by surrounding it radially around the axis AX. This ring 44 is provided with a tapped hole 46 intended to cooperate with an external thread 48 formed on the outer surface of the neck 42 once the dip tube 18 has been lowered sufficiently into the bottle 18 to allow their engagement by means of a rotational movement.

[0031] As can be seen in detail in [Fig.3], the pump body 22, and more particularly the connecting sleeve 26, advantageously extends into the bottle 12 once the dispensing device 14 is screwed onto the neck 42. As understood, the connecting sleeve 26 is shaped in this embodiment to be able to pass through the opening 40 of the bottle 12 during the assembly of the dispensing device 14 onto the bottle 12.

[0032] It is also recommended that the dip tube 18 be able to extend linearly in the bottle 12, i.e. without having to distort, in line with the pump body 22. In concrete terms, this amounts to dimensioning the dip tube by ensuring that there can remain a space measured longitudinally, noted e on the [Fig.2], between the second end 18b of the dip tube 18 and the bottom of the bottle marked by T.

[0033] The idea behind the invention lies in the desire to instrument the distribution device 14 to allow a user to manually and in a controlled manner retrieve product from the bottle 12, in particular when the actuation of the pump 16 no longer allows it.

[0034] To this end, the major feature of the invention consists of enriching the distribution device 14 as described on the basis of [Fig.1] to 3 with a tooling 50.

[0035] In the following, the tooling 50 will be described in relation to its intended location, namely as an integral part of the distribution device 14.

[0036] With reference to figures 4 to 10, the tooling 50 comprises a sleeve 52 and a product recovery member 54 which is carried by the sleeve 52.

[0037] The sleeve 52 is in the form of a generally cylindrical and hollow body attached to the pump 16. It extends the pump 16 centered on the axis AX, radially surrounding the dip tube 18 along its longitudinal length. As understood, the dip tube 18 extends inside the sleeve 52, both being supported by the pump 16.

[0038] In the context of the invention, it is recommended that the sleeve 52 surround the dip tube 18 without hindering its installation in the bottle 12, nor altering its function of collecting and routing the fluid product towards the outlet nozzle 20.

[0039] In this regard, the sleeve 52 is designed to be able to pass through the opening 40, as illustrated in [Fig.5], and allow a passage of fluid product contained in the bottle 12 towards the inlet end 18b of the dip tube 18.

[0040] In detail, the sleeve 52 is delimited by a tubular outer casing 56 which is bounded longitudinally by two open ends 56a, 56b extending on either side of the ends 18a, 18b of the dip tube 18, of which: - a first end 56a at which the sleeve 52 is attached to the pump 16; and - a second end 56b which defines an orifice 58 aligned longitudinally with the inlet end 18b of the dip tube 18. This orifice 58 thus allows the fluid contained in the bottle 12 to access the dip tube 18.

[0041] The sleeve 52 is advantageously made integral with the pump 16 by snapping the tubular outer casing 56 onto the pump body 22, and more specifically onto the connecting sleeve 26.

[0042] In the example of the figures, this snap-fit ​​connection is ensured by engaging an inner collar 60, formed at the first end 56a of the outer envelope 56, in a groove 62 formed on the outer surface of the connecting sleeve 26.

[0043] As illustrated in detail in Figures 7a to 7d, the assembly of the sleeve 52 onto the pump 16 consists of inserting the dip tube 18 into the sleeve 52, like a sword into its scabbard. The dip tube 18 is inserted by first engaging its second end through the first end 56a of the outer casing 56, until the collar 60 meets the groove 62. Before reaching the groove 62, the collar 60 slides over a portion of the connecting sleeve 26 forming a flare 64. This flare 64 induces a local elastic expansion of the outer casing 56 at the collar 60, shown by arrows in [Fig. 7c]. This elastic expansion is observed because the connecting sleeve 26 flares out to the point of presenting upstream of the groove 62 an outside diameter D64 which is greater than the inside diameter D60 of the outer envelope 56 measured at the collar 60, as shown in [Fig.7b].The outer casing 56 seeks to regain its original shape by elastic return, it follows that the collar 60 engages spontaneously in the groove 62 once it reaches its radial alignment, thus resulting in the snapping of the sleeve 52 onto the pump body 22.

[0044] The snap-fitting of the sleeve 52 onto the pump 16 as described corresponds to a preferred embodiment according to the invention. It should be noted, however, that any other assembly solution may be used as a substitute, such as, for example, direct bonding, sealing, or crimping of the sleeve 52 onto the pump 16, or assembly using an interface piece.

[0045] As stated previously, the orifice 58, defined at the second end 56b of the outer casing 56 of the sleeve 52, provides a routing path for the fluid contained in the bottle 12 towards the inlet end 18b of the dip tube when the pump 16 is actuation.

[0046] With reference to [Fig. 8], the advantageous aim of the invention is to ensure a satisfactory seal between the sleeve 52 and the dip tube 18 as the fluid passes through the opening 58, so that it is conveyed in its entirety to the inlet end 18b of the dip tube 18, following the path denoted V. Specifically, this involves preventing the formation of a leak path F, schematically represented in dotted lines, allowing a portion of the fluid to bypass the inlet end 18b to fill the available space between the outer casing 56 of the sleeve 52 and the dip tube 18. Indeed, any bypass of fluid product passing through the sleeve 52 is equivalent to a loss, which goes against the objective sought within the framework of the invention, namely to maximize the potential for product recovery by the user.

[0047] Thus, to guarantee this seal, it may be possible, according to the illustrated example, to form an annular base 66 extending from the opening 58 and internally to the sleeve 52. This base 66, advantageously formed in one piece with the outer casing 56, forms a continuous material centered on the longitudinal axis AX to receive, by fitting, the inlet end 18b of the dip tube 18 when it is inserted into the sleeve 52. As can be understood, engaging the dip tube 18 in the base 66 allows the fluid contained in the bottle 12 to be guided towards the second end 18b forming the inlet mouth of the dip tube 18.

[0048] It should be noted that the invention is not limited to this particular fitting solution described on the basis of [Fig. 8], and more generally is not limited to the dip tube 18 contacting the sleeve 52 to achieve a satisfactory seal. By way of example, a sealing gasket may be provided between the outer casing 56 and the dip tube 18 to form an interface preventing the fluid from bypassing the inlet end 18b of the dip tube 18.

[0049] As regards the recovery member 54, it advantageously takes the general form of a spatula forming an extension of the sleeve 52. This recovery member 54 is specifically designed to form a receptacle from which the user can recover the product, advantageously with their finger, once the dispensing device 14 is removed from the bottle 12.

[0050] According to a particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the figures, the recovery member 54 is specifically adapted to collect product from the bottom T of the bottle 12. In detail, the recovery member 54 comprises a blade 70, intended to contact the bottom T of the bottle 12 so as to be able to scrape the product which lines it, and a foot 72 which connects the blade 70 to the sleeve 52.

[0051] To allow the blade of 70 to extend over the bottom T of the bottle without exposing the user to product projections when removing the dispensing device 14 from the bottle 12, it is advantageously recommended that: - the recovery member 54 be shaped so that the blade 70 extends naturally in the longitudinal direction, i.e. in the absence of stress, as seen in [Fig.5]; - the foot 72 can flex when the recovery organ 54 comes to rest against the bottom T of the bottle.

[0052] With this arrangement, it is understood that the blade 70 can both adequately scrape the bottom T of the bottle 12 when the dispensing device 14 is mounted on the bottle 12, and easily extract itself from the bottle 12 by spontaneously orienting itself in the longitudinal alignment of the opening 40. During the removal of the dispensing device 14 by the user to recover product at the recovery organ 54, a risk of unexpected product splashing is thus eliminated because the blade 70 has already resumed its longitudinal orientation within the bottle 12 before passing through the opening 40. Otherwise, if the blade 70 were to extend radially along the longitudinal axis AX, it would undergo a reversal of orientation when it is extracted from the neck 42 of the bottle 12, which could lead to product splashing.

[0053] The bearing of the blade 70 against the bottom T of the bottle 12 is conditioned by the dimensioning / shape of the tooling 50 and of the bottle 12. Specifically, the longitudinal extent of the sleeve 52 as well as the size and / or shape of the recovery member 54 are defined in relation to the template of the bottle 12, so as to result in a deflection of the foot 72 which maximizes the contact surface of the blade 70 against the bottom T of the bottle 12, as illustrated in [Fig. 11].

[0054] In addition, the longitudinal extent of the sleeve 52, as well as the size / shape of the recovery element 54, are also defined so as to prevent the orifice 58 formed in the outer casing 56 from becoming obstructed by the recovery element 54, otherwise the pump 16 could become asphyxiated. In other words, it is necessary to ensure that there is always a functional clearance, denoted ef in [Fig. 11], measured longitudinally between the orifice 58 and the recovery element 54 deformed against the bottom T of the bottle 12, to guarantee the passage of the fluid product through the orifice 58.

[0055] In the example shown in the figures, the foot 72 extends an angular sector from the second end 56b of the outer casing 56 of the sleeve 52, forming a bend that ensures a radial-longitudinal orientation transition. As can be understood, the foot 72 gradually aligns itself along the longitudinal direction from its attachment to the sleeve 52 so as to impose a longitudinal orientation on the blade 70.

[0056] In this example, the outer casing 56 of the sleeve 52 is in particular chamfered at the second end 56b to ensure that the foot 72 does not protrude radially to the point of preventing its passage through the opening 40 of the bottle 12.

[0057] Also, it is advantageously suggested to form the blade 70 in one piece with the foot 72 for convenience, in a flexible material.

[0058] In such a case, to ensure that the foot 72 flexes when the component 54 comes into contact with the bottom T of the bottle so as to adapt the orientation of the blade 70 to the bottom surface of the bottle 12, rather than observing an uncontrolled deformation of the blade 70, it may be necessary, for example, to: - to form the foot 72, which is thinner than the blade 70 that is its extension, as illustrated in the figures; and / or - play on the thickness and curvature of the blade 70 to give it greater rigidity than the foot 72.

[0059] It should be noted of course that it is possible to form the blade 70 and the foot 72 separately in different materials, and in particular to form the blade in a more rigid material than that of the foot 72, before attaching them together for example via edge bonding.

[0060] As regards the shape of the blade 70, it is defined in particular according to the quantity of product that is to be recovered in one pass with the tooling 50 according to the invention.

[0061] In the example of [Fig. 10], the blade 70 is shown with a longitudinal cross-sectional area that is greater than the diameter of the opening 40 of the bottle 12, denoted D40. This feature is permitted when the blade is flexible enough to allow it to bend elastically as it passes through the neck 42.

[0062] In such a case, recesses 74 can optionally be formed in the blade 70 to give it the flexibility necessary for its passage at the level of the neck 42 of the bottle 12. In practice, these recesses 74 are dimensioned taking into consideration the viscosity of the product and the phenomenon of surface tension so that the product remains agglutinated to the blade 70, otherwise so that it cannot escape from the blade 70 through these recesses 74.

[0063] The invention has been described as relating to a dispensing device 14 providing a manual sampling function for product contained in a bottle 12 by means of a recovery member 54. This recovery member 54 is carried by a sleeve 52 carried by the pump 16 by enveloping the dip tube 18, and not carried directly by the dip tube 18.

[0064] This arrangement is of particular interest in the context of the invention in the sense that the sleeve 52 is designed to also perform a so-called wringing function, allowing for controlled manual recovery of the product.

[0065] In detail, the sleeve 52 performs this wringing function by means of its outer casing 56 which: - forms along a major part of its longitudinal extent a section, marked 56c on [Fig. 6], with a constant cross-section whose outer diameter is slightly greater than the diameter measured at the opening 40 of the bottle 12; and complementaryly - is formed from a flexible material, advantageously an elastomer.

[0066] This particular shaping of the outer casing 56 results in a tight fit of the neck 42 of the bottle 12 around the sleeve 52. Specifically, the passage of the sleeve 52 into the opening 40 of the bottle 12 is achieved by means of a local compression of the outer casing 56 against the inner wall of the neck 42. The outer casing 56 is thus compressed radially at the neck 42 by conforming to its surface.

[0067] Based on this, if a quantity of fluid product covers the outer casing 56 of the sleeve 52 within the bottle 12, it is expelled when the device 14 is removed from the bottle 12 because it cannot remain attached to it as it passes through the neck 42, which can be likened to a bottleneck. This dynamic will be explained in detail below based on [Fig. II].

[0068] At a time T0 called the end of emptying, the fluid product noted P is found in insufficient quantity at the bottom T of the bottle 12 to be reached by the second end 18b of the dip tube 18. The sleeve 52 having been immersed in the fluid product P, it is coated with a film of this product P.

[0069] In practice, if no product is dispensed from nozzle 20 in response to pump 16 activation, the user understands that the pumping has become ineffective. They will then attempt to manually retrieve the product using the retrieval element 54 of the dispensing device 14. To do this, the user removes the dispensing device 14, holding it by the pump 16, which serves as a gripping means protruding from the bottle 12.

[0070] During this phase of withdrawal of the distribution device 14, the tooling 50 translates through the opening 40, corresponding to the passage from time T0 to time T1 and then from time T1 to time T2, until it is completely extracted from the bottle at time T3.

[0071] As the section 56c passes through the opening 40 of the bottle, the envelope 56 is compressed against the inner surface of the neck 42. The film of product P cannot follow the envelope 56 at the base of the neck 42, namely at the intersection of the neck 42 with the sleeve 52, due to lack of space, and is therefore pushed out.

[0072] As the sleeve 52 is extracted from the bottle 12, the product trickles and accumulates along the part of the outer casing 56 still extending at this stage into the bottle 12 and along the recovery organ 54 (time T1), before finally falling under the effect of gravity to the bottom of the bottle 12 (time T2).

[0073] When the recovery organ 54 passes through the opening (time T3), marking the complete extraction of the sleeve 52 from the bottle 12, the blade 70 rubs against the neck 42. This has the effect of expelling the excess product still present on it.

[0074] Thus, once the dispensing device 14 is removed from the bottle 12, the sleeve 52 has a clean outer surface, at least along the section 56c which constitutes almost the entire extent of its outer casing 56. It follows that the user can comfortably collect the necessary and sufficient quantity of the fluid product P on the blade 70, for example with a finger, without being worried about the risk of the product dripping onto his hands or clothes.

[0075] If the user wishes to recover more product, the tool 50 should be repositioned in the bottle 12 so that the blade 70 is dipped into the product before being extracted again. It should be noted that the user can also try to operate the pump 16, since the film of product P that was removed along the sleeve 52 has fallen to the bottom of the bottle, which has raised the product level to the point of potentially reaching the dip tube 18.

[0076] The dynamics of manually recovering the product from the bottle 12 have just been explained, taking into account the situation at the end of the emptying process. It should be noted that the use of the tool 50 according to the invention is not strictly limited to this specific application.

[0077] In practice, manually recovering the product may become necessary in the event of an untimely malfunction of the pump 16, which may occur regardless of the amount of product remaining in the bottle 12.

[0078] In such a case, the dispensing device 14 according to the invention is particularly effective since it allows for convenient and mess-free product retrieval by the user with each pass. Indeed, assuming that a significant quantity of product remains in the bottle, the wringing function provided by the sleeve 52 always ensures, with each insertion-extraction cycle of the dispensing device 14, a clean and controlled retrieval of product by the user. As can be understood, even if the tooling 50 is again immersed in product once reinserted into the bottle 12, the film of product P that spontaneously adheres to the sleeve 52 will be expelled during the next withdrawal phase of the dispensing device 14.

[0079] It should also be emphasized that in the example shown in the figures, the inner surface of the sleeve 56 of the sleeve 52 extends away from the dip tube 18 along the section 56c. This feature, combined with the elasticity of the sleeve 56, allows the sleeve 52 to be inclined relative to the axis of the opening 40 of the bottle 12 during its insertion, by compressing a local portion of its circumference onto the neck 42. In this way, it is possible to orient it so that the organ of Recovery 54 can come into contact with the side walls of the bottle, marked L in [Fig.2]. As understood, the user can thus recover not only the fluid remaining on the bottom T of the bottle but also on its side walls L.

[0080] In practice, during the installation of the dispensing device 14 on the bottle 12, the friction of the sleeve 52 against the inner surface of the neck 42, as well as the resistance to penetration that the fluid product can oppose, tends to distort the outer casing 56 which is flexible.

[0081] This deformation, which could negatively impact the functionality of the tooling 50, is nevertheless prevented, or at least substantially limited, by the plunger tube 18 which extends rigidly in the sleeve 52 by acting like a skeleton.

[0082] The formation of the base 66 in one piece with the outer casing 56 of the sleeve, to receive by fitting the second end 18b of the plunger tube 18 as described with reference to [Fig.8] for sealing purposes, is advantageously retained as a particularly powerful solution to also guarantee optimal axial stability of the sleeve 52.

[0083] It should be noted that, in general, it is suggested to form the tooling 50 as a single piece, in particular by molding.

[0084] Also, since the sleeve 52 is oversized in relation to the opening 40 defined by the neck 42 of the bottle 12 to ensure the wringing function, it is advantageously recommended to cut at least one groove 76 along the section 56c to maintain an air communication channel between the outside and the inside of the bottle 12.

[0085] In the example in the figures, the sleeve 52 defines four grooves 76 open radially on the outside, in other words cut from the peripheral surface of the outer envelope 56. These grooves 76 extend longitudinally along the section 56c, being distributed at regular intervals around the axis AX.

[0086] As seen in section on [Fig.9], these grooves 76 prevent uninterrupted surface contact of the sleeve 52 against the inner surface of the neck 42 by delimiting, together with the neck 42, channels C which allow air circulation between the outside and the inside of the bottle 12.

[0087] This air communication between the outside and inside of the bottle 12 is preferred to avoid the occurrence of a "suction" effect during the sliding of the tooling through the opening 40 defined by the neck 42.

[0088] It should be noted that the invention is not limited to the number of grooves formed, nor even to their orientation, provided that air communication between the outside and inside of the bottle is established. By way of example, it may be possible to form a single groove that extends helically along section 56c.

[0089] The dispenser 10 according to the invention has been described as comprising a bottle 12, intended to contain fluid product, which is provided with a neck 42 defining an opening 40; and a dispensing device 14 with a pump 16 which includes: - a dip tube 18 carried by the pump 16 and inserted through the opening 40 to ensure the routing of the fluid product to the outside; - a tool kit 50 which includes: — a flexible sleeve 52 carried by the pump 16 surrounding the dip tube 18, this sleeve 52 being slightly oversized in relation to the opening 40 to ensure a spin function; — a recovery unit 54 comprising a foot 72 carried at the end of a sleeve 52 and a blade 70 which extends the foot to scrape the product from the bottom of the bottle.

[0090] It should be emphasized that the invention is not strictly limited to the recovery element 54 ensuring product recovery at the bottom T of the bottle. A different conformation of the foot 72 and the blade 70 may be used to scrape product from the side wall of the bottle without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0091] It should also be noted that the sleeve 52 can support several recovery elements, for example one intended to scrape the bottom T of the bottle, and another intended to scrape the side wall of the bottle.

[0092] Finally, in the example shown in the figures, the sleeve 52 is formed with a circular longitudinal cross-section to conform to the contour of the opening 40 defined by the neck 42 of the bottle 12, which is defined as having a circular cross-section. It is understood, however, that the invention is not limited to this particular shape.

[0093] In practice, any shape of the opening 40 of the bottle 40 can be used, such as parallelepiped, square, oval, or oblong. The sleeve 52 is then shaped to correspond to the shape of the opening 40. In such a case, a method of attaching the dispensing device 14 to the bottle 12 other than by screwing must be provided, given that the sleeve 52 cannot rotate within the opening 40.

Claims

1. Demands Fluid product distribution device (14) adapted to be reversibly detached and attached to a bottle (12), intended to contain a fluid product (P), which is provided with a neck (42) delimiting an opening (40) for access to the interior of this bottle (12) and which is internally delimited by a bottom surface (T); the distribution device (14) comprising: — a pump (16) including a pump body (22); — a fluid product outlet nozzle (20) (P); — a dip tube (18) with a longitudinal axis (AX) intended to extend through the opening (40) of the bottle (12) to provide a routing path for the fluid product (P) from inside the bottle (12) to the outlet nozzle (20) when the pump (16) is actuated, this dip tube (18) being longitudinally delimited by a first end (18a) which is rigidly supported by the pump body (22) and by a second end (18b) intended to extend into the bottle (12) to form an inlet for the fluid product (P) into the dip tube (18); and — a tool (50) for manually recovering (54) product (P) from the bottle (12); the tooling (50) comprising: - a sleeve (52) intended to extend through the opening (40) of the bottle (12) while being centered on the longitudinal axis (AX), the sleeve (52) comprising a flexible outer sheath (56) in which the dip tube (18) extends, this outer sheath (56) being delimited longitudinally by a first end (56a) attached to the pump body (22) and a second end (56b) defining an orifice (58) for the passage of the fluid product (P) towards the second end (18b) of the dip tube (18), the outer sheath (56) being shaped to present a longitudinal section (56c) that is both flexible and oversized relative to the opening (40) of the bottle (12) to allow its passage through this opening (40) in a tight fit on the neck (42); - a product recovery element (54) carried by the sleeve (52) and adapted to pass through the opening (40), this recovery element (54) comprising: — a foot (72) extending the outer casing (56) of the sleeve (52); and — a blade (70) which extends the foot (72) by being adapted to bear against the bottom surface (T) of the bottle (12) when the dispensing device (14) is attached to the bottle (12), the blade (70) being adapted to form a receptacle for receptacled product when the dispensing device (14) is detached from the bottle (12); the dispensing device being characterized in that: the sleeve (52) is secured to the pump body (22) by snap-fitting.

2. Dispensing device (14) according to claim 1, in which at least one groove (76) is formed along the longitudinal section (56c) of the outer casing (56) of the sleeve (52) to delimit, together with the neck (42) of the bottle (12), an air communication channel between the outside and the inside of the bottle (12).

3. Dispensing device (14) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein sealing means are provided between the outer casing (56) of the sleeve (52) and the dip tube (18) to ensure the flow of the fluid product (P) entering through the orifice (58) to the second end (18b) of the dip tube (18).

4. Dispensing device (14) according to claim 3, in which the second end (56b) of the outer casing (56) is extended, internally to the sleeve (52), by a base (66) in which the second end (18b) of the dip tube (18) engages to form sealing means.

5. Dispensing device (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the snapping of the sleeve (52) onto the pump body (22) corresponds to the engagement of a collar (60) formed at the first end (56a) of the sleeve (52) in a groove (62) of the pump body (22).

6. Dispensing device (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer casing (56) of the sleeve (52) is formed of elastomer.

7. Dispensing device (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tooling (50) is formed in one piece.

8. Fluid product distribution assembly (10) comprising:

9. - a bottle (12), intended to contain a fluid product (P), which is internally delimited by a bottom surface (T) and which is provided with a neck (42) defining an opening (40) for access to the interior of this bottle (12); and - a distribution device (14) according to any one of the preceding claims. Distribution assembly (10) according to claim 8, in which - the foot (72) is flexible and protrudes from the second end (56b) of the outer casing (56) of the sleeve (52); - the blade (70) extends along the longitudinal direction in line with the foot (72); and - the bottle (12) and the dispensing device (14) are configured to impose a bearing of the blade (70) against the bottom surface (T) of the bottle (12), opposite the opening (40), by means of an elastic deflection of the foot (72).

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