Liquid product dispenser.

Abstract

A fluid product dispenser comprising: - a rigid reservoir (1,100) forming a filling opening (14,114), - a dispensing orifice (17) for said fluid product (P) in communication with the reservoir (1,100), - an actuator (5,500) closing the filling opening (14,114), said actuator (5,500) comprising a ring (2,200) and a deformable diaphragm (3,300) for applying pressure to dispense the fluid product (P) through the dispensing orifice (17), characterized in that said ring (2,200) is rigid. Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 1b

Description

Title of the invention: Fluid product dispenser. Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a fluid product dispenser.

[0002] The fluid product is of the type lotion, gel, perfume, or cream for example, used for cosmetic purposes or for pharmaceutical treatments. Technical background

[0003] From EPI 106530, a fluid product dispenser is known, comprising a reservoir and a dispensing orifice communicating with the reservoir and allowing the fluid product to be dispensed in the form of drops. A cover seals the dispensing orifice. The reservoir includes a filling opening. This opening is closed by an actuator comprising a ring and a deformable diaphragm made from a single thermoplastic piece. The ring includes a cylindrical peripheral wall that provides the grip on the reservoir. When the reservoir is filled, there is an air gap between the fluid product and the deformable diaphragm, so that by pressing on the deformable diaphragm, the volume of air is compressed, which causes the fluid to be dispensed through the dispensing orifice.

[0004] According to EPI 106530, the reservoir is made of a rigid plastic material and the actuator of a flexible plastic material. Thus, the dispenser is made from two different materials, which poses a problem in terms of recyclability. Recyclability requires that the fluid dispenser comprise a single material or, failing that, two materials, one of which must be significantly predominant by weight compared to the other. Therefore, a fluid dispenser made of a single material or, alternatively, of two materials, one rigid and the other flexible, is required, with the flexible material being present in a smaller quantity compared to the rigid material than in the prior art EPI 106530.

[0005] On the other hand, it is required that the reservoir and the ring be able to be decorated using various techniques such as hot stamping or metallization. With a flexible ring, this is not possible, and the fluid dispenser then takes the form of an unsightly assembly consisting of a reservoir with a decorated side surface surmounted by a ring whose lack of decoration reflects its purely mechanical function.

[0006] On the other hand, the ergonomics are unpleasant in that the user is likely to feel the deformation of the ring when handling the fluid dispenser and this detracts from the perceived value of the dispenser.

[0007] Finally, the ring is most often connected to the reservoir by a mechanical snap-fit ​​connection. The robustness of this connection depends on the rigidity of the materials. Since the ring of the distributor according to the prior art is made of a flexible material, its attachment to the reservoir is not optimized, which can lead to the unintended opening of the reservoir and leakage of the fluid product. Summary of the invention

[0008] The fluid product dispenser according to the invention is characterized primarily in that it comprises a rigid reservoir forming a filling opening, a fluid product distribution orifice in communication with the reservoir, an actuator closing the filling opening and comprising a ring and a deformable diaphragm allowing pressure to be exerted to distribute the fluid product through the distribution orifice.

[0009] The invention is characterized primarily in that the ring is rigid.

[0010] With this term "rigid", we refer to a material that is not easily deformed under pressure exerted with the fingers, that is to say by manual pressure.

[0011] Because the ring is rigid, it can be decorated. Furthermore, it is more securely held on the reservoir opening and cannot be accidentally detached. When handling the fluid dispenser, the user feels the rigidity of the ring between their fingers, which contributes to the perceived value of the dispenser.

[0012] Since both the reservoir and the ring are rigid, they can be made of the same material. Only the diaphragm, which is much lighter than the ring and the reservoir, may need to be made of a different material. This facilitates the recycling of the fluid dispenser, compared to a dispenser with a ring made of a different material than the reservoir.

[0013] According to the different modes of the process, which may be taken together or separately:

[0014] - the ring and the reservoir are made of the same material.

[0015] - the material comprises polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0016] - the ring and / or the reservoir are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0017] - the membrane comprises polyethylene (PE).

[0018] - the membrane is made of polyethylene (PE).

[0019] - the membrane is a thermoformed part.

[0020] - the membrane comprises polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0021] - the membrane is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0022] - the thickness of the membrane is less than 0.5 millimeters.

[0023] - the thickness of the membrane is less than 0.35 millimeters.

[0024] - the thickness of the membrane equal to 0.3 millimeters.

[0025] - the thickness of the membrane varies by less than 0.1 millimeter over the entire membrane.

[0026] - the membrane, the ring and the reservoir comprise polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0027] - the membrane, the ring and the reservoir are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0028] - the membrane, the ring and the reservoir are made of the same plastic component.

[0029] - part of the membrane is sandwiched between the reservoir and the ring.

[0030] - the diaphragm and the ring are mechanically linked to form the actuator.

[0031] - the membrane and the ring are linked by snap-fit.

[0032] - at least a part of the membrane penetrates through the opening of said reservoir.

[0033] - the membrane is in radial contact on an inner face of the reservoir.

[0034] - the membrane is overmolded onto the ring.

[0035] - the membrane comprises polyethylene (PE) and the ring comprises polypropylene (PP).

[0036] - the membrane is made of polyethylene (PE) and / or the ring is made of polypropylene (PP).

[0037] - the reservoir contains a fluid.

[0038] - the reservoir contains a cosmetic fluid. Brief description of the figures

[0039] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more apparent during the following detailed explanatory description of at least one embodiment of the invention given by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

[0040] On these drawings:

[0041] [Fig. la] represents a fluid product dispenser according to the invention.

[0042] [Fig. 1b] is an enlargement of [Fig. 1a] at the junction of the reservoir, of the ring and the membrane.

[0043] [Fig. 2a] represents a fluid product dispenser according to the invention according to another method of implementation.

[0044] [Fig.2b] is an enlargement of [Fig.2a] at the junction of the tank, of the ring and the membrane. Detailed description of the invention

[0045] [Fig. 1a] and [Fig. 1b] represent a dispenser according to the invention comprising a rigid reservoir 1 of substantially cylindrical shape having at one end an opening 14 for filling with a fluid product. The reservoir 1 also comprises a dispensing head 15 which can be made in one piece with the reservoir 1 at the opposite end of the reservoir 1. The dispensing head comprises a circular projection 16 carrying an orifice 17 for dispensing the fluid product.

[0046] A rigid ring 2 is mechanically attached to the reservoir near its opening 14. A deformable membrane 3 is linked to the rigid ring forming an actuator 5 which closes the opening 14. A portion of the membrane 3 is sandwiched between the reservoir 1 and the ring 2. More precisely, a periphery 36 of the membrane 3 is sandwiched between the rigid reservoir 1 and the rigid ring 2, as will be seen in more detail.

[0047] The reservoir 1 comprises a cylindrical wall 11 which terminates in a thinned portion 12 having on its outer face 12a a bead 13. The thinned portion 12 forms at its end the opening 14.

[0048] The rigid ring 2 comprises a wall 21 having a groove 22 on its inner face. The ring 2 also comprises at its end a re-entrant inner edge 23 forming a frustoconical bearing face 24 and a bottom 26. The cylindrical wall 21 comprises a rib 25 on its inner face. The re-entrant inner edge 23 and the rib 25 form a housing 27.

[0049] The outer diameter of the deformable membrane 3 includes a shoulder 35 defining the periphery 36 of the deformable membrane 3 and a frustoconical edge 34. The deformable membrane 3 is secured to the rigid ring 2 by snapping the shoulder 35 under the rib 25. The periphery 36 of the membrane 3 is then housed in the recess 27, which rests against the base 26, and is sandwiched between the wall 11 of the reservoir 1 and the ring 2. The frustoconical edge 34 makes a tight contact with the bearing edge 24 of the ring 2. Snapping the membrane 3 onto the ring 2 secures the ring 2 and the membrane 3, which together form the actuator 5 designed to close the opening 14 of the reservoir 1 and to cause the distribution of fluid product through the distribution orifice 17 by pressure on the deformable membrane 3. The membrane 3 and ring 2 are mechanically linked to form said actuator 5.

[0050] After filling the reservoir 1 with fluid through the opening 14, the actuator 5, formed by the ring 2 and the diaphragm 3, is installed around the thinned wall 12 of the cylindrical wall 11 of the reservoir 1. The inner face 21a of the wall 21 of the ring 2 slides along the outer face 12a of the thinned portion 12 until the ring 13 enters the groove 22. The outer face 21b of the wall 21 of the ring 2 is aligned with the outer face 1la of the wall 11 of the reservoir 1. so that there is no discontinuity in diameter at the junction of the ring 2 and the reservoir 1. When the ring 2 is fixed around the thinned wall 12, the actuator 5 formed by the ring 2 and the diaphragm 3 seals the opening 14 of the reservoir 1.

[0051] The deformable membrane comprises a wall 3I which penetrates through the opening 14 into the reservoir 1. The outer wall 31a of said wall 31 bears radially on the inner face 12b of the thinned portion 12. Thus, the membrane 3 is in radial contact with an inner face 12b of the reservoir 1.

[0052] The deformable membrane 3 has a convex dome shape in its central part 37. When the user presses on this dome, the membrane deforms, causing a decrease in the reservoir's volume and resulting in the distribution of a drop of fluid product through the dispensing orifice 17 of the dispensing head 15. The deformable membrane 3 includes a concave shape 39 in its center, at the bottom of which is located an injection point 38 in the form of a small protrusion. Thus, when the fluid product dispenser is activated, the user's finger does not come into contact with this injection point, which would create an unpleasant sensation.

[0053] As previously mentioned, the reservoir 1 and the ring 2 are both made of rigid plastic material, which allows for easy decoration of both the ring 2 and the reservoir 1, for example by hot stamping or metallization. The rigid ring does not deform when handled by the user, thus improving the perceived value of the fluid dispenser.

[0054] In one embodiment, the reservoir 1 and the ring 2 are made of the same material, which facilitates recycling.

[0055] In one embodiment, the reservoir 1 and the ring 2 are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or of a material comprising polyethylene terephthalate.

[0056] As has been seen, the membrane 3 is deformable. In one embodiment, the membrane 3 is made of polyethylene (PE) or of a material comprising polyethylene (PE).

[0057] The distributor also includes a cover 4 which seals the distribution orifice 17. The cover 4 includes a well 48 which encloses the circular projection 16 of the distribution head 15. The well 48 has a bottom 47 which comes into contact with the end of the distribution head 15 and closes the distribution orifice 17. The cover 4 also includes on its inner face a thread 48 which cooperates with a thread 18 on the outer face of the distribution head 15.

[0058] In an alternative embodiment, the ring 2 and the membrane 3, as shown in [Fig. 1a] and [Fig. 1b], are made in one piece by overmolding the membrane onto the ring. In this embodiment, the ring 2 is made Preferably made of polypropylene (PP) or a material containing polypropylene. This material provides the necessary rigidity while allowing for overmolding. The membrane 2 is made of polyethylene (PE) or a material containing polyethylene. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, according to this overmolding embodiment, the rib 25 and the shoulder 35 are not required. This snap-fit ​​structure is no longer necessary. The ring 2 and the membrane 3 overmolded onto the ring 2 form the actuator 5.

[0059] [Fig.2a] and [Fig.2b] represent a distributor comprising a 300 membrane manufactured using a thermoforming process. The distributor of [Fig. 2a] and [Fig. 2b] comprises a reservoir 100 and a cap 400 similar to those of [Fig. 1a] and [Fig. 1b], which will therefore not be described further. The distributor of [Fig. 2a] and [Fig. 2b] also includes a ring 200 which, although different from ring 2 of [Fig. 1a] and [Fig. 1b], is snapped onto the reservoir 100 in the same manner. The attachment of the ring 200 to the reservoir 100 will not be described further.

[0060] The thermoforming process of membrane 300 makes it possible to obtain a very thin membrane. In particular, the thickness of the membrane thus obtained is significantly less than the thickness of a membrane obtained by an injection molding process, in which the molten plastic material cannot penetrate very thin mold sections. Thus, membrane 300 of the dispenser in [Fig. 2a] and [Fig. 2b] is thinner than membrane 3 of dispenser 1 in [Fig. 1a] and [Fig. 1b]. The thickness of the thermoformed membrane 300 is less than 0.5 millimeters, preferably less than 0.35 millimeters, and preferably equal to 0.3 millimeters.

[0061] The thermoforming process of membrane 300 makes it possible to obtain a membrane of substantially constant thickness. In one embodiment, the thickness of the membrane varies by less than 0.1 millimeter over the entire membrane.

[0062] Thus, for a given material, thermoforming makes it possible to obtain thinner and therefore more flexible membranes than an injection molding process allows. It is therefore possible to obtain membranes with the required flexibility by thermoforming, even with a material that would not allow this by injection molding. In one embodiment, the deformable membrane 300 is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or a material containing polyethylene terephthalate, as are the ring 200 and the reservoir 100. The fluid product dispenser of [Fig. 2a] and [Fig. 2b] is thus advantageously made of a single material and is recyclable without the need for material separation.

[0063] The ring 200 comprises on an inner face a groove 205 and an inner cylinder 203 connected to said inner face by a bridge 203d. The inner cylinder 203 of the ring 200 enters through an opening 114 of the reservoir 100. The bridge 203d and the groove 205 form a housing 207 to receive and retain an edge 305 of the membrane 300. A first portion 306b of the membrane 300 proximal to the edge 305 is pressed against an outer wall 203b of the inner cylinder 203, and a second portion 306a of the membrane 300 proximal to the first portion 306b of the membrane 300 is pressed against an inner wall 203a of the inner cylinder 203. Thus joined, the ring 200 and the membrane 300 form an actuator 500 for closing the opening 14 of the reservoir 1. The membrane 300 and the ring 200 are mechanically linked to form said actuator 500.

[0064] A portion of the membrane 300 is sandwiched between the reservoir 100 and the ring 200. In particular, the first portion 306b of the membrane is radially sandwiched between an inner face 102b of a wall 102 of the reservoir 100 and the outer face 306b of the inner cylinder 306 of the deformable membrane 300. Thus, the membrane 300 is in radial contact with an inner face 102b of the reservoir 100.

[0065] Following the contour of the inner cylinder 203 of the ring 200, the deformable membrane 300 also enters the interior of the reservoir 100.

[0066] This embodiment is particularly advantageous in that the membrane is blocked not only radially by the sandwiching between the inner cylinder 203 of the ring 200 and the inner face 102b of the reservoir 100, but also axially, the rim 305 of the membrane 300 being snapped under the rib 205 of the ring 200. This embodiment is made possible precisely by the thermoforming process which allows the membrane to be given any shape, whereas a plastic injection process prohibits excessively sharp curves under penalty of cracking of the part under stress.

[0067] The thermoforming process is particularly advantageous in that it eliminates the need for an injection point and consequently it is not necessary to create a concave shape 39 on the membrane 300 as shown in [Fig.lb].

[0068] The deformable membrane 300 made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or in a material comprising polyethylene terephthalate is substantially transparent and allows the fluid product (P) inside the tank 100 to be seen with a very aesthetic magnifying effect.

[0069] For the dispensers according to each mode described, the reservoir contains a fluid, in particular a cosmetic fluid.

Claims

Demands

1. Fluid product dispenser (P) comprising: - a rigid reservoir (1,100) forming a filling opening (14,114), - a distribution orifice (17) of said fluid product (P) in communication with said reservoir (1,100), - an actuator (5,500) closing the filling opening (14,114), said actuator (5,500) comprising a ring (2,200) and a deformable diaphragm (3,300) allowing pressure to be exerted to distribute said fluid product (P) through said distribution orifice (17), characterized in that said ring (2,200) is rigid.

2. Distributor according to claim 1 characterized in that said ring (2,200) and said reservoir (1,100) are made of the same material.

3. Dispenser according to claim 2 characterized in that said material comprises polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

4. Dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the membrane (3,300) comprises polyethylene (PE).

5. Distributor according to claim 1 characterized in that the membrane (3,300) is a thermoformed part.

6. Dispenser according to claim 5 characterized in that the membrane (3,300) comprises polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

7. Distributor according to claim 5 or claim 6 characterized in that the thickness of the membrane (3,300) is less than 0.5 millimeters, preferably less than 0.35 millimeters, preferably equal to 0.3 millimeters.

8. Distributor according to any one of claims 5 to 7 characterized in that the thickness of said membrane (3,300) varies by less than 0.1 millimeter over the whole of the membrane.

9. Dispenser according to any one of claims 5 to 8 characterized in that the membrane (3,300), the ring (2,200) and the reservoir (1,100) comprise polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

10. Distributor according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that a part (36,306b) of the membrane (3,300) is sandwiched between the reservoir (1,100) and the ring (2,200).

11. Distributor according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that at least a portion of the membrane (3,300) penetrates through said opening of said reservoir.

12. Distributor according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the membrane (3,300) is in radial contact on an inner face (12b, 102b) of the reservoir (1,100).

13. Distributor according to claim 1 characterized in that the membrane (3,300) is overmolded onto the ring (2,200).

14. Dispenser according to claim 14 characterized in that the membrane (3,300) comprises polyethylene (PE) and the ring (2,200) comprises polypropylene (PP).

15. Dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that said reservoir (1,100) contains a fluid product (P), in particular a cosmetic fluid product (P).

Images