Trigger dispensing device with elastic return element

Abstract

A trigger dispensing head (6) for a device (1) for dispensing a product comprises a particularly robust elastic element (18), having outer branches (36, 38) with a rectangular cross-section and bases (82,84) at the rear end. The actuation force however allows for comfortable use by virtue of the special nozzle (24).

Description

DESCRIPTION"TRIGGER DISPENSING DEVICE WITH ELASTIC RETURN ELEMENT"Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention is in the field of trigger dispensing devices for the delivery of a product, usually a liquid, intended for example for household hygiene, the care of fabrics or garments, personal hygiene, hobby activities, and countless others. In particular, the subject matter of the present invention is a trigger dispensing head that may be applied to a bottle, a dispensing device consisting of the dispensing head applied to the bottle, and the individual components of the dispensing head.Prior art

[0002] The Applicant is the holder of numerous International Applications in relation to trigger dispensing devices and the parts thereof.

[0003] In order to comply with increasingly stringent regulations regarding the environmental sustainability of consumer products, the components of such devices are now made of plastics materials, generally of different families or, as in the example illustrated in International Application PCT / IB2024 / 052154 on behalf of the Applicant, belonging to the same family.

[0004] Further needs do however exist in the industry.

[0005] On the one hand, trigger dispensing devices are required that are capable of dispensing an increasingly greater quantity of product for each individual actuation; this would, of course, result in a greater actuation force on the part of the user and therefore more pronounced tensional states for some of the components of the device, such as the elastic return element and the trigger. The service life of such components should, as a result, generally decrease.

[0006] However, again in order to comply with the most recent regulations, it is necessary for such devices to maintain constant performance also for long term usages so that, once the product is depleted, they may be reused by means of well-known refills.

[0007] Furthermore, it is necessary to limit the actuation force on the part of the user so that using the device is sufficiently comfortable.

[0008] These are clearly conflicting needs.Object of the invention

[0009] The object of the present invention is to implement a trigger dispensing device that meets the needs of the industry and overcomes the drawbacks mentioned above.

[0010] Such object is achieved by a trigger dispensing device according to claim 1. The dependent claims thereof describe further advantageous embodiments of theinvention.Brief description of the figures

[0011] The features and advantages of the dispensing device according to the present invention will become apparent from the following description, given as a non-limiting example in accordance with the figures in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0012] - Figure 1 shows a trigger dispensing device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] - Figure 2 is a cross-section of a trigger dispensing head, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] - Figures 3a and 3b are an elastic trigger-element assembly, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] - Figure 4 depicts an elastic trigger-element assembly and some enlargements;

[0016] - Figure 5 shows an elastic element and a frame, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] - Figures 6a and 6b are orthogonal views of an elastic trigger-element assembly, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] - Figure 7a is a plan view from above of an elastic trigger-element assembly, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] - Figure 7b is a cross-sectional view of the elastic element of Figure 7a;

[0020] - Figure 8a is a front view of a nozzle of the dispensing head, according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

[0021] - Figure 8b is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle of Figure 8a.Detailed description of the invention

[0022] A trigger dispensing device 1 comprises a bottle 2, provided with a neck 4, and a trigger dispensing head 6, removably applicable to the neck 4.

[0023] The trigger dispensing head 6 comprises a pressure chamber 8 for containing the product to be dispensed, a suction duct 10 suitable for putting the inner compartment of the bottle 2 in communication with the pressure chamber 8, a dispensing duct 12 suitable for placing the pressure chamber 8 in communication with the external environment, and actuation means suitable for being manually actuated for suctioning the product and dispensing it into the external environment.

[0024] For example, said actuation means comprise a trigger 14 which may be operated manually between an advanced or resting position and a retracted or working position, a piston 16 operatively connected to the trigger and configured to operate together with the pressure chamber8 for suctioning and dispensing the product, and an elastic element 18 suitable for permanently biasing the trigger 14, directly or indirectly, towards the advanced position.

[0025] According to one embodiment variant, the trigger and the elastic return element are made in one piece, from a plastics material, for example by injection molding. According to a further embodiment variant, the elastic return element is made separately from the trigger and is functionally engaged directly or indirectly therewith.

[0026] Preferably, moreover, the piston 16 is sealingly translatable inside a cylinder 17, along a piston axis X, and an end segment 13 of the dispensing duct 12 extends along a dispensing axis Z parallel to and spaced apart from the piston axis X.

[0027] The dispensing head 6 further comprises suction valve means that are suitable, during a product dispensing step, for preventing the product from returning from the pressure chamber 8 to the suction duct 10, and, during a product suction step, for allowing the product to pass from the suction duct 10 to the pressure chamber 8. For example, said suction valve means comprise a shutter 20, for example spherical, operating between the suction duct 10 and the pressure chamber 8.

[0028] The dispensing head 6 further comprises dispensingvalve means suitable, in a product dispensing step, for allowing the product to pass from the pressure chamber 8 to the dispensing duct 12, and, in a product suction step, to prevent the product from returning from the dispensing duct 12 to the pressure chamber 8. For example, said dispensing valve means comprise a sliding lip 22 operating between the dispensing duct 12 and the pressure chamber 8.

[0029] Further, preferably, the dispensing head 6 comprises a nozzle 24 applied to the end of the end segment 13 of the dispensing duct 12.

[0030] For example, the dispensing head 6 comprises a frame 26, preferably in one piece, of plastics material, suitable for being applied to the neck of the bottle, in which the pressure chamber 8 delimited by the cylinder 17, the suction duct 10 and the dispensing duct 12 are obtained. The trigger 14 is applied to the frame 26 and the piston 16, moved by the trigger 14, translates sealingly inside the cylinder 17; the nozzle 24 is also applied to the frame 26, at the end of the end segment 13 of the dispensing duct 12.

[0031] The elastic element 18 is supported by the frame 26 and abuts against an abutment portion of the frame 26, or a shell 28, in order to oppose the actuation force and deform itself.

[0032] The elastic element 18 extends along a main axis K which, when the elastic element 18 is correctly mounted, for example correctly applied to the frame 26, is coplanar to the piston axis X, parallel to, or intersecting, said piston axis X. The main axis K lies on a main plane Pk which is preferably a plane of symmetry for the elastic element 18. Furthermore, the elastic element 18 extends along the main axis K between a front zone 32, intended for interaction with or connection to the trigger 14, and an opposite rear zone 34.

[0033] The elastic element 18 comprises a first outer branch 36 and a second outer branch 38; each outer branch 36, 38 extends from the front zone 32 to the rear zone 34 and has a rectangular cross section, obtained on a plane orthogonal to the main axis K.

[0034] Each outer branch 36, 38 is therefore delimited at the top by a flat upper face 40 and at the bottom by a flat lower face 42. Furthermore, each outer branch 36, 38 is delimited externally by an arched outer side face 44 and an arched inner side face 46.

[0035] The cross-section A of each outer branch 36, 38 increases from the front zone 32 towards an intermediate position M with respect to the rear zone 34 and then decreases from the intermediate position M towards the rear zone 34.

[0036] At the intermediate position M, the surface of the cross-section A is greatest.

[0037] Having defined a thickness T of the outer branch 36, 38 as the distance between the upper face 40 and the lower face 42, and a width W of the outer branch 36, 38 as the distance between the outer side face 44 and the inner side face 46, at the intermediate position M, the ratio R1 = W / T is between 2.2 and 3.0 (2.2 < R1 < 3.0), preferably between 2.4 and 2.8 (2.4 < R1 < 2.8), preferably approximately equal to 2.75.

[0038] At the rear zone 34, the elastic element 18 comprises a first segment 50 folded inwards in a U shape, joined to the first outer branch 34, and a second segment 52 folded inwards in a U shape, joined to the second outer branch 36.

[0039] Furthermore, the elastic element 18 comprises a first inner branch 62 and a second inner branch 64; each inner branch 62, 64 extends from the respective folded segment 50, 52 towards the front zone 32.

[0040] The first inner branch 62 comprises, in turn, a first substantially straight segment 62a, joined to the first folded segment 50, and a second substantially straight segment 62b, joined to the first segment 62a; in the same way, the second inner branch 64 comprises, in turn, a first substantially straight segment 64a, joinedto the second folded segment 52, and a second substantially straight segment 64b, joined to the first segment 64a.

[0041] The first segment 62a of the first inner branch 62 has a first transverse distance Ja from the first segment 64a of the second inner branch 64 greater than a second transverse distance Jb between the second segment 62b of the first inner branch 62 and the second segment 64b of the second inner branch 64 (Ja > Jb).

[0042] Preferably, at the front end, the second segment 62b of the first inner branch 62 is joined to the second segment 64b of the second inner branch 64 by means of a front transverse segment 70. Preferably, moreover, the first segment 62a of the first inner branch 62 is joined to the first segment 64a of the second inner branch 64 by means of a rear transverse segment 72.

[0043] The elastic element 18 further comprises a first base 82 raised with respect to the upper face 40 of the first outer branch 36, located at a rear end of the first outer branch 36, the first folded segment 50 and a rear end of the first inner branch 62; the elastic element 18 further comprises a second base 84 raised with respect to the upper face 40 of the second outer branch 38, located at a rear end of the second outer branch 38, the second folded segment 52 and a rear end of the second innerbranch 64.

[0044] Preferably, moreover, the elastic element 18 further comprises a plurality of first fins 92 protruding from the second segment 62b of the first inner branch 62 towards the inner side face 46 of the first outer branch 36 and a plurality of second fins 94 protruding from the second segment 64b of the second inner branch 64 towards the inner side face 46 of the second outer branch 38.

[0045] The elastic element 18 further comprises, for each outer branch 36, 38, at the front zone 32, an end foot 90, curved below the upper face 40 and the lower face 42.

[0046] The elastic element 18 is made in one piece of plastics material, preferably belonging to the polyolefin family, such as polypropylene (PP) or recycled polypropylene (rPP).

[0047] The nozzle 24 is applied to the end of the end segment 13 of the dispensing duct 12 and has an outlet hole 242 that is coaxial to the end segment 13 of the dispensing duct 12, having a diameter DI, for example of between 0.8 and 1.0 millimeters, preferably equal to 0.9 millimeters, and an axial length LI, for example of between 0.4 and 0.7 millimeters, for example equal to 0.6 millimeters .

[0048] The outlet hole 242 is supplied by a chamber 244 of the nozzle 24, delimited by a frusto-conical side surfaceconverging towards said outlet hole 242, having a maximum diameter D2 of between 1.3 and 1.6 millimeters, for example equal to 1.4 millimeters.

[0049] A plurality of radial arms 246 open into the chamber 244, for example three in number, angularly equally spaced, each having an inlet width W3 between 0.40 and 0.50 millimeters, for example equal to 0.46 millimeters. Each arm 246 extends along a curved axis and has a passage section that increases radially outwards and an axial depth L3 of between 0.50 and 0.80 millimeters, for example equal to 0.53 millimeters.

[0050] Advantageously, the aforesaid nozzle, by virtue of an adequate modulation of the product pressure at the outlet, makes it possible to limit the actuation force for the dispensing of the product to between 30 and 40 N, preferably to 31 N.

[0051] The nozzle is made in one piece of plastics material, preferably belonging to the same family, for example a polyolefin plastics material, such as PP or rPP. Alternatively, the nozzle is made of HDPE (high- density polyethylene).

[0052] Innovatively, the trigger dispensing head according to the present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art and meets the needs of the industry.

[0053] In particular, advantageously, the dispensingdevice, object of the invention, is capable of dispensing a substantial dose of product, and the special elastic return element ensures repetitive use of the trigger dispensing device for a large number of cycles, in consideration of a negligible reduction in the amount of product dispensed.

[0054] At the same time, advantageously, so as to ensure comfortable use, the dispensing head according to the invention requires a moderate actuation force, generally of between 30 and 40 N.

[0055] In particular, the dispensing device, object of the invention, is capable of dispensing a nominal dose of product of approximately 1.6 - 1.7 milliliters, thereby keeping the piston stroke below 10 millimeters; in this regard, the Applicant has found that keeping the piston stroke below 10 millimeters is decisive in preventing yielding of the elastic injection molded element made of polypropylene (PP) or recycled polypropylene PCR (rPP).

[0056] Furthermore, the rPP content of the dispensing head may consequently reach 70% by weight, for example aligning itself with European standards referred to as PPWR.

[0057] Furthermore, according to tests performed by the Applicant, after 10000 actuations of the dispensing device equipped with the elastic element according to theinvention, the nominal dose of the dispensed product remains within the tolerance of 0.1 milliliters (performance that is very close to that of a steel spring), without showing any tendency towards yielding. The solutions of the prior art, on the other hand, show a considerable decline in the delivered dosage, for example around 20%.

[0058] Finally, for the measurement of the actuation force (FTA) acting upon the trigger, the Applicant has developed a measurement procedure, wherein equipment made by the Applicant imposes an angular velocity upon the trigger corresponding to a rate of 60-90 actuations which is representative of the usual use with which the consumer acts upon the trigger, and a dynamometer detects the consequent action on the fulcrum between the trigger and the support frame, wherefrom the actuation force acting upon the trigger is calculated.

[0059] It is understood that a person skilled in the art, in order to meet contingent needs, could make modifications to the dispensing head described above, all of which are contained within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims.

Claims

Claims1. A dispensing head (6) for a product dispensing device (1), comprising:A) a trigger (14) manually operable between an advanced or resting position and a retracted or working position for dispensing the product, andB) an elastic element (18) at least partially deformable, suitable for biasing the trigger (14) towards the resting position; wherein the elastic element (18) extends along a main axis (K) between a front zone (32), intended for the interaction with or connection to the trigger (14), and an opposite rear zone (34) and comprises: i) a first outer branch (36) and a second outer branch (38), wherein each outer branch (36, 38) extends from the front zone (32) to the rear zone (34) and has a rectangular cross-section on a plane orthogonal to the main axis (K).

2. A dispensing head according to claim 1, wherein each outer branch (36, 38) is delimited at the top by a flat upper face (40) and at the bottom by a flat lower face (42), externally by an outer side face (44), arched and convex outwards, and internally by an inner side face (46), arched and convex inwards; and the cross-section (A) of each outer branch (36, 38)increases from the front zone (32) towards an intermediate position (M) with respect to the rear zone (34) and decreases from the intermediate position (M) towards the rear zone (34).

3. A dispensing head according to claim 2, wherein, having defined a thickness (T) of the outer branch (36, 38) as the distance between the upper face (40) and the lower face (42) and a width (W) of the outer branch (36, 38) as the distance between the outer side face (44) and the inner side face (46), at the intermediate position (M), the ratio R1 = W / T is between 2.2 and 3.0 (2.2 < R1 < 3.0), preferably between 2.4 and 2.8 (2.4 < R1 < 2.8), preferably equal to 2.75.

4. A dispensing head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at the rear zone (34), the elastic element (18) comprises a first segment (50) folded inwards in a U shape, joined to the first outer branch (34), and a second segment (52) folded inwards in a U shape, joined to the second outer branch (36); and the elastic element (18) further comprises a first inner branch (62) and a second inner branch (64), each inner branch (62, 64) extending from the respective folded segment (50, 52) towards the front zone (32).

5. A dispensing head according to claim 4, wherein thefirst inner branch (62) comprises, in turn, a first substantially straight segment (62a), joined to the first folded segment (50), and a second substantially straight segment (62b), joined to the first segment (62a), and the second inner branch (64) comprises, in turn, a first substantially straight segment (64a), joined to the second folded segment (52), and a second substantially straight segment (64b), joined to the first segment(64a).

6. A dispensing head according to claim 5, wherein the first segment (62a) of the first inner branch (62) has a first transverse distance (Ja) from the first segment (64a) of the second inner branch (64) greater than a second transverse distance (Jb) between the second segment (62b) of the first inner branch (62) and the second segment (64b) of the second inner branch (64) (Ja > Jb).

7. A dispensing head according to claim 5 or 6, wherein at a front end, the second segment (62b) of the first inner branch (62) is joined to the second segment (64b) of the second inner branch (64) by means of a front transverse segment (70).

8. A dispensing head according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the first segment (62a) of the first inner branch (62) is joined to the first segment (64a) of thesecond inner branch (64) by means of a rear transverse segment (72).

9. A dispensing head according to any one of claims 4 to 8 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the elastic element (18) comprises a first base (82) raised with respect to the upper face (40) of the first outer branch (36), located at a rear end of the first outer branch (36), the first folded segment (50) and a rear end of the first inner branch (62); and a second base (84) raised with respect to the upper face (40) of the second outer branch (38), located at a rear end of the second outer branch (38), the second folded segment (52) and a rear end of the second inner branch (64).

10. A dispensing head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic element (18) further comprises, for each outer branch (36, 38), at the front zone (32), an end foot (90) curved downwards.

11. A dispensing head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic element (18) is in one piece of plastic material, preferably belonging to the polyolefin family, for example polypropylene (PP) or recycled polypropylene (rPP).

12. A dispensing head according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the trigger (14) and theelastic element (18) form a single piece of plastic material, preferably belonging to the polyolefin family, for example polypropylene (PP) or recycled polypropylene (rPP).

13. A dispensing head according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a nozzle (24) for dispensing the product into the external environment, applied to an end segment (13) of a dispensing duct (12) of the dispensing head (6), wherein said end segment extends along a dispensing axis (Z).

14. A dispensing head according to claim 13, wherein the nozzle (24) has an outlet hole (242) coaxial to the end segment (13) of the dispensing duct (12), a chamber (244) which supplies the outlet hole (242), said chamber (244) being delimited by a frusto-conical side surface converging towards said outlet hole, and a plurality of radial arms (246) which supply the chamber (244), for example three in number and angularly equally spaced, wherein each arm extends along a curved axis and has a passage section increasing radially outwards.

15. A product dispensing device (1), comprising:- a bottle (2) for containing the product;- a trigger dispensing head (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, applied to the bottle (2).

16. An elastic element (18) in one piece of plasticmaterial for a product trigger dispensing head (6) wherein:- the elastic element (18) extends along a main axis (K) between a front zone (32) and an opposite rear zone (34);- the elastic element (18) comprises: i) a first outer branch (36) and a second outer branch (38), wherein each outer branch (36, 38) extends from the front zone (32) to the rear zone (34) and has a rectangular cross-section on a plane orthogonal to the main axis (K), wherein each outer branch (36, 38) is delimited at the top by a flat upper face (40) and at the bottom by a flat lower face (42), externally by an outer side face (44), arched and convex outwards, and internally by an inner side face (46), arched and convex inwards, and the cross-section (A) of each outer branch (36, 38) increases from the front zone (32) towards an intermediate position (M) with respect to the rear zone (34) and decreases from the intermediate position (M) towards the rear zone (34); iii) at the rear zone (34), a first segment (50) folded inwards in a U shape, joined to the first outer branch (34), and a second segment (52) folded inwards in a U shape, joined to the second outer branch (36); and iii) a first inner branch (62) and a second inner branch (64), each inner branch (62,64) extending from therespective folded segment (50, 52) towards the front zone (32), wherein the first inner branch (62), in turn, comprises a first substantially straight segment (62a), joined to the first folded segment (50), and a second substantially straight segment (62b), joined to the first segment (62a), and the second inner branch (64), in turn, comprises a first substantially straight segment (64a), joined to the second folded segment (52), and a second substantially straight segment (64b), joined to the first segment (64a), and wherein the first segment (62a) of the first inner branch (62) has a first transverse distance (Ja) from the first segment (64a) of the second inner branch (64) greater than a second transverse distance (Jb) between the second segment (62b) of the first inner branch (62) and the second segment (64b) of the second inner branch (64) (Ja > Jb).

17. An elastic element according to claim 16, comprising: i) a first base (82) raised with respect to the upper face (40) of the first outer branch (36), located at a rear end of the first outer branch (36), the first folded segment (50) and a rear end of the first inner branch (62); and ii) a second base (84) raised with respect to the upper face (40) of the second outer branch (38), located at a rear end of the second outer branch (38), the secondfolded segment (52), and a rear end of the second inner branch (64).

Images