Device for dispensing a fluid product

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for dispensing a fluid product, the device comprising a first subassembly (100) and a second subassembly (200), the first subassembly (100) comprising a reservoir (101) provided with a neck (102), an assembly ring (110) being attached to the neck of the reservoir, the second subassembly (200) comprising a dispensing member (210), such as a pump, and a dispensing head (220) on which the user presses in order to actuate the dispensing member, the dispensing member (210) being secured in an assembly member (230) provided with a radial projection (232), the assembly ring (110) comprising, on its radially outer surface, at least one attachment profile (120) suitable for cooperating with the radial projection (232) in order to removably attach the second subassembly (200) to the first subassembly (100).

Description

Fluid product dispensing device

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for distributing a fluid product.

[0002] A device of this type generally includes a reservoir containing the fluid product to which a distribution device, such as a pump, is attached.

[0003] One disadvantage of this type of device is that when the reservoir is empty, it generally cannot be replaced, and the entire device must be discarded.

[0004] Documents FR3112090, FR3083784, FR2377946, FR3098800, FR2948641 and FR3090596 describe state-of-the-art devices.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a fluid product distribution device that does not reproduce the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0006] The present invention aims in particular to provide a fluid product distribution device that is rechargeable, i.e. an empty tank can be replaced by a full tank, by reusing the distribution element.

[0007] The present invention also aims to provide a fluid product distribution device that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble and reliable to use.

[0008] The present invention therefore relates to a fluid product distribution device comprising a first sub-assembly and a second sub-assembly, said first sub-assembly comprising a reservoir having a neck, an assembly ring being fixed to said neck of said reservoir, said second sub-assembly comprising a distribution element, such as a pump, and a distribution head on which the user presses to actuate said distribution element, said distribution element being fixed in an assembly element having a radial projection, said assembly ring having on its radially external surface at least one fixing profile adapted to cooperate with said radial projection to removably fix said second sub-assembly to said first sub-assembly, each fixing profile comprising an inlet passage, a transverse transition passage and an outlet passage,said inlet passage connecting to a receiving chamber intended to receive said radial projection in the fixed position, said receiving chamber comprising a radially flexible inlet lug provided with a radially thicker head and defining an axial stop wall, said inlet passage being funnel-shaped to guide said radial projection towards said receiving chamber.

[0009] Advantageously, said assembly member comprises two diametrically opposed radial projections and said assembly ring comprises two diametrically opposed fixing profiles, each fixing profile cooperating with a respective radial projection to assemble, fix and disassemble said two subassemblies.

[0010] Advantageously, said inlet leg is a flexible axial leg.

[0011] Alternatively, said entry leg is attached to a flexible arm that extends transversely.

[0012] Advantageously, said outlet passage includes a radially flexible outlet leg provided with a radially thicker head and defining an axial stop wall.

[0013] Advantageously, said exit passage is funnel-shaped.

[0014] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0015] -This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fluid product distribution device according to a first advantageous embodiment, before assembly of the pump onto the reservoir.

[0016] -This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fluid product distribution device of an advantageous variant of the first embodiment, in the pump assembly position on the tank.

[0017] -this is a view similar to that of the, in the position of disassembling the pump from the tank,

[0018] -This is a detailed side view of an assembly ring according to the first advantageous embodiment,

[0019] -this is a schematic detail view of part A of the,

[0020] -this is a schematic detail view of part B of the,

[0021] -This is a schematic perspective view of a fluid product distribution device according to a second advantageous embodiment, before assembly of the pump onto the reservoir.

[0022] -This is a schematic detail view of the device, at the beginning of the pump assembly phase on the tank,

[0023] -This is a schematic detail view of the device during the assembly phase of the pump on the tank.

[0024] -this is a view similar to that of the, at the end of the assembly phase of the pump on the tank, and

[0025] -laest a view similar to that of figures 9 and 10, during the disassembly phase of the tank pump.

[0026] The following description will be made with reference to several modes and variants of embodiment, but it is understood that other implementations of the invention are possible.

[0027] Throughout the description, the terms "up" and "down" refer to the upright position of the device, as shown in particular in Figures 1 to 3. The terms "axial" and "radial" refer to the longitudinal central axis of the device.

[0028] The device comprises two subsets, a first subset 100 and a second subset 200.

[0029] The first sub-assembly 100 comprises a reservoir 101 equipped with a neck 102.

[0030] An assembly ring 110 is fixed to the neck 102 of the tank 101 in any known manner, for example, by screwing, snap-fitting, or crimping. Advantageously, a sealing gasket 103 is provided between the assembly ring 110 and the neck 102 of the tank 101, for example, located inside the neck 102 as shown in Figures 1 to 3. It should be noted that this gasket 103 could be located elsewhere. Depending on the shape and material of the assembly ring 110, the sealing gasket 103 could be omitted, with the sealing then being achieved directly by the assembly ring 110 on the neck 102 of the tank 101.

[0031] The assembly ring 110 is fixed to an internal body 111 provided with an internal sealing element 112, the function of which will be described later.

[0032] Advantageously, the internal body 111 includes a dip tube 113 extending at least partially towards the bottom of the reservoir 101, in a conventional manner.

[0033] The second subassembly 200 includes a distribution element 210, preferably a pump. The following description will refer to a pump 210. Alternatively, the pump could be replaced by a valve, in particular a metering valve.

[0034] The pump 210 includes a pump body 211. A piston 212 slides in a sealed manner inside said pump body 211 with each actuation to distribute a dose of product from the reservoir 101.

[0035] The internal structure of pump 210 will not be described in further detail below, as the present invention applies to all types of pumps, and is in no way limited by the specific characteristics of the pumps given as examples in the figures.

[0036] In a conventional manner, the piston 212 is integral, in particular monobloc, as shown in the drawings, with an actuating rod 213 on which is assembled a distribution head 220 which the user presses to actuate the pump 210.

[0037] The pump body 211 is fixed in an assembly member 230 adapted to cooperate removably with the assembly ring 110 of the first sub-assembly 100 to ensure the removable fixing of the pump 210 on the tank 101.

[0038] The pump body 211 can be fixed in a turret 214. A ferrule 215 can be assembled inside the pump body 211, cooperating with the piston 212 to define its rest position. In the examples in Figures 1 to 3, the ferrule 215 is formed as a single unit with the turret 214.

[0039] As can be seen in the figure, the assembly member 230 may include an internal sleeve 231 having at least one radial projection 232 which extends radially inwards and which, when the second sub-assembly is assembled onto the first sub-assembly, cooperates with the assembly ring to achieve the fastening.

[0040] This internal sleeve 231 is fixed in the assembly member.

[0041] Alternatively, as seen in Figures 2 and 3, said at least one radial projection 232 can be formed directly on said assembly member 230.

[0042] Advantageously, two diametrically opposed radial projections 232 are planned.

[0043] The assembly ring 110 has an internal axial sleeve 114 which extends axially inside the neck 102 and an external axial sleeve 115 which extends axially outside the neck 102.

[0044] The internal axial sleeve 114 is connected to the internal body 111 with the interposition of the internal sealing element 112.

[0045] The external axial sleeve 115 is fixed to the external lateral wall of the neck 102 in a known manner, for example by screwing as shown in the figure. Other fixing methods are possible.

[0046] According to the invention, the assembly ring 110 has on its radially external surface at least one fixing profile 120, preferably two diametrically opposed fixing profiles 120, each fixing profile 120 being adapted to cooperate with a respective radial projection 232 to fix the second subassembly 200 onto the first subassembly 100 and to disassemble the second subassembly 200 from the first subassembly 100.

[0047] Each fixing profile 120 includes an inlet passage 121, a transverse transition passage 122 and an outlet passage 123.

[0048] The inlet passage 121 connects to a receiving chamber 124 intended to receive the radial projection 232 in the fixed position.

[0049] The receiving chamber 124 has a radially flexible inlet leg 125 with a radially thicker head 125' and defining an axial stop wall 125''.

[0050] Thus, during assembly, the radial projection 232 of the assembly member 230 slides axially downwards in the inlet passage 121, as seen in Figure 1. When it reaches the receiving chamber 124, as seen in Figure 1, it meets the head 125' of the inlet lug 125, and it will deform the latter radially inwards to snap into place under the axial stop wall 125'', as seen in Figures 5 and 10.

[0051] The device is then assembled, and the axial stop wall 125'' prevents separation by simple axial traction of the first and second sub-assemblies 100, 200.

[0052] During assembly, the pump body 211 enters the internal axial sleeve 114 of the assembly ring 110 and connects to the internal body 111 by passing through the internal sealing element 112, as seen in Figures 2 and 3. This internal sealing element 112 can have any suitable shape adapted to achieve sealing around the pump body 211.

[0053] To disassemble the two subassemblies, the second subassembly 200 must first be rotated relative to the first subassembly 100. This allows the radial projection 232 to be moved laterally within the transition passage 122, bringing it face to face with the exit passage 123, as shown in the figure. The second subassembly 200 can then be easily disassembled from the first subassembly 100 by simple axial traction, with the projection 232 sliding axially upwards within the exit passage 123.

[0054] The present invention thus provides a device that is very easy to assemble, by simple axial insertion and clipping of one sub-assembly onto the other, and to disassemble, by simple rotation and pulling. Another advantage of the invention is that it is not necessary to exert axial pressure on the distribution head 220 during assembly, which could potentially actuate the pump 210 simultaneously, since the user can manipulate the assembly member 230 to perform assembly and disassembly.

[0055] The inlet passage 121 is funnel-shaped to guide the radial projection 232 towards the receiving chamber 124.

[0056] In the first embodiment, the input leg 125 is a flexible axial leg, as seen in figures 4 to 6.

[0057] In the second embodiment, the input leg 125 is attached to a flexible arm 127 which extends transversely, as seen in figures 7 to 11.

[0058] In the first embodiment, the exit passage 123 has a radially flexible exit tab 126 with a radially thicker head 126' defining an axial stop wall 126''. In this embodiment, during disassembly, when the projection 232 slides axially upwards in the exit passage 123, it encounters the head 126' of the exit tab 126, and it will deform the tab radially inwards to pass beyond the axial stop wall 126''. Thus, it is impossible to assemble the radial projection 232 via the exit passage 123, since the latter is blocked by the axial stop wall 126''.

[0059] In the second embodiment, the outlet passage 123 is approximately funnel-shaped, as seen in figures 7 to 11.

[0060] Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it is understood that this description is not limiting and that a person skilled in the art may make any useful modification to it without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the attached claims.

Claims

A fluid product dispensing device comprising a first subassembly (100) and a second subassembly (200), said first subassembly (100) comprising a reservoir (101) having a neck (102), an assembly ring (110) being fixed to said neck of said reservoir, said second subassembly (200) comprising a dispensing element (210), such as a pump, and a dispensing head (220) which the user presses to actuate said dispensing element, said dispensing element (210) being fixed in an assembly element (230) having a radial projection (232), said assembly ring (110) having on its radially external surface at least one fastening profile (120) adapted to cooperate with said radial projection (232) to removably fix said second subassembly (200) to said first subassembly (100), each fastening profile (120) having a passage entry (121),a transverse transition passage (122) and an exit passage (123), said inlet passage (121) connecting to a receiving chamber (124) intended to receive said radial projection (232) in the fixed position, said receiving chamber (124) having a radially flexible inlet tab (125) provided with a radially thicker head (125') and defining an axial stop wall (125''), characterized in that said inlet passage (121) is funnel-shaped to guide said radial projection (232) towards said receiving chamber (124). Device according to claim 1, wherein said assembly member (230) comprises two diametrically opposed radial projections (232) and said assembly ring (110) comprises two diametrically opposed fixing profiles (120), each fixing profile (120) cooperating with a respective radial projection (232) to assemble, fix and disassemble said two sub-assemblies (100, 200). Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said inlet leg (125) is a flexible axial leg. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said inlet leg (125) is integral with a flexible arm (127) which extends transversely. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said outlet passage (123) comprises a radially flexible outlet leg (126) provided with a radially thicker head (126') and defining an axial stop wall (126''). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said outlet passage (123) is funnel-shaped.

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