EP1444051B1 - Fluid dispenser - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir defining a substantially rigid neck, a substantially rigid shell inside which the tank is placed and a dispensing member, for example a pump, engaged in the neck of the reservoir to take fluid product. In general, in such a distributor putting in a reservoir and a substantially rigid shell, the reservoir is often in the form of a flexible pocket that defines one or more walls deformable. To make the flexible pouch integral with the substantially rigid collar, it There are several techniques. We can for example weld the opening of the pocket flexible on a pocket support made from a material substantially rigid. Another technique is to realize the pocket and the collar in one piece by extrusion blow molding or injection blow molding. To impart rigidity to neck, it is made with a wall thickness much greater than that of the pocket flexible.

For example, document JP 2001 16335 7A and FR-2 791 643 disclose a reservoir monobloc produced by injection blow molding or extrusion blow molding according to the preamble of claim 1. This reservoir comprises a deformable body intended to contain fluid and a part substantially rigid upper which defines a neck. Below the collar, the part substantially rigid extends in the form of a bell whose outer diameter is substantially equal to that of the flexible body. For fixing this tank in a rigid outer shell, it is provided on the outer periphery of the bell rigid several snap rings and a projecting flange for cooperate with the rigid shell at its upper opening. By therefore, it can be said that the reservoir incorporates holding means allowing to fix the tank in place inside the rigid outer shell. Since these holding means are integrated in the tank, they do not may cooperate only with a rigid outer shell of a special type adapted to the reception of this particular tank. In other words, it is practically impossible to use a particular tank with a hard shell any which is not specially adapted to its reception.

The present invention aims to overcome this disadvantage of the art aforementioned prior art defining a fluid dispenser fluid reservoir and rigid shell in which the holding in place of the tank in the rigid shell is easy and fast whatever the rigid shell used. The purpose of this invention is therefore to provide adaptability in the maintenance of the tank in any rigid shell.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a fluid dispenser comprising at least one fluid reservoir defining a neck substantially rigid, a substantially rigid hull closing the tank, and a dispensing member engaged in the neck of said at least one reservoir for take fluid product, characterized in that it further comprises an element hold with both the neck of the tank and the rigid shell of to hold the tank in place in the rigid hull. The element of maintenance is a separate part reported on the tank neck and cooperating on the other hand with the rigid shell. Since most rigid shells are circular cylindrical, it is very easy to make a holding element specially adapted to the diameter of the rigid shell. So with a tank whatever and any hull it is still possible to maintain the tank in place in the rigid shell. That's where the capacity comes from adaptation of the dispenser according to the invention.

For fixing the holding element on the neck of the tank, the element for holding may comprise a substantially central mounting housing adapted to receive the neck of the tank. Advantageously, the holding element defines an access passage leading to the substantially central housing of so that the neck of the tank can be engaged in the central housing by the access passage. Thus, to adapt the holding element to the neck of the tank, it simply provide a housing with an equal or slightly superior to a part of the collar and to engage the collar in this housing through the specially designed access passage. In this way, it is possible to climb a holding element on a neck of any shape. The shape of the element of keeping may be particularly simple, for example in the form of a plate having an outline adapted to the rigid shell and surrounding at least partially the neck of the tank.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the neck can form a constriction at which the holding member engages the neck.

Advantageously, the reservoir comprises a deformable wall. The holding element can therefore allow the tank to be suspended inside. of the hull.

Advantageously, the tank may be of the aforementioned type, ie with a flexible pouch defining at least one deformable wall. However, any type of tank, such as a rigid glass tank, can be used in the present invention. It is obvious, however, that this invention will find a preferred application with flexible pouch reservoirs since they have no support inside the rigid hull. It is precisely by the use of the holding element that the pocket tank flexible finds an outfit inside the rigid shell.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the distributor comprises in in addition to a fixing member provided with receiving means for the body of distribution and fixing means cooperating with the neck of the reservoir, said fastening means comprising an inner sleeve in sealed engagement with the collar of the tank. Advantageously, the fastener comprises a skirt device engaged with the hull. Preferably, the fastener blocks the holding element in the hull. Thus, the positioning of the sleeve internally, advantageously inside the neck of the reservoir, is precise in that the outer skirt blocks the holding element which itself is fixed in position on the collar. The skirt can even come to bear on the holding element. Else the inner sleeve does not need to incorporate stop means to limit its commitment within the cervix. Setting Fixing member is simple from the moment the tank is held in place in the rigid shell by means of the holding element. he simply engage the sleeve in the rigid collar until the end lower of its peripheral skirt comes into engagement snapped into the shell. The element of maintenance can even play a role of reference for the setting in place of the fastener, in the case where the skirt abuts on the element keeping. On the other hand, the holding element is permanently blocked in the rigid shell which further improves its maintenance. The organ of fixation and the holding element therefore cooperate together to improve the stability of the reservoir and the dispenser member.

In another aspect, the shell internally forms a bearing zone on which the holding element bears.

On the other hand, the holding element can be constituted by a plate plane cut out.

Advantageously, the holding element forms a separate part of the dispensing member and the shell, said at least one member of distribution being received and fixed on the holding element, said element of maintenance being reported, and advantageously fixed in place, in the hull.

In one embodiment, the holding member may comprise two fixing housing adapted to each receive a tank neck.

The invention will now be further described with reference to accompanying drawings giving by way of non-limiting example an embodiment of the invention.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe transversale verticale à travers un distributeur de produit fluide selon une première forme de réalisation de l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue en plan d'un élément de maintien selon l'invention,
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe transversale verticale de la partie supérieure d'un réservoir selon l'invention,
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe transversale verticale de la partie supérieure d'une coque rigide selon l'invention, laissant apparaítre l'intérieur de la coque,
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective éclatée latéralement d'une partie d'un distributeur selon une seconde de forme de réalisation de l'invention, et
• les figures 6 et 7 sont des vues correspondant à la figure 5 à l'état monté.

In the figures:

• FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a fluid dispenser according to a first embodiment of the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a plan view of a holding element according to the invention,
• FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the upper part of a tank according to the invention,
• FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the upper part of a rigid shell according to the invention, revealing the inside of the shell,
• FIG. 5 is a laterally exploded perspective view of a portion of a dispenser according to a second embodiment of the invention, and
• Figures 6 and 7 are views corresponding to Figure 5 in the assembled state.

A fluid dispenser according to the invention comprises four essential components, namely a tank 1, an outer shell 2, a holding member 3 and a dispensing member 5 which may be a pump. In addition, for fixing the pump 5 in the container 1, it is preferable to use an additional constituent element, namely a fastener 4. Optionally, the dispenser may be provided with a hood 6 allowing protect the dispenser 5.

The reservoir 1 shown in the figures is a particular reservoir produced by extrusion blow molding or injection blow molding. It is therefore a flexible pouch type tank defining at least one deformable wall. More specifically, the tank 1 comprises a body 10 closed at its end lower by a tank bottom 11 and defining at its upper end a shoulder 12 which is extended by a neck 14. The reservoir 1 is here made of monobloc way. Its body 10 and its bottom 11 are made with a thickness lower wall than that of the shoulder 12 and especially the neck 14. In Accordingly, the body 10 and the bottom 11 define deformable flexible walls while the shoulder 12 has a certain rigidity and that the neck 14 presents the greatest rigidity. We can clearly see in Figures 1 and 3 that the wall thickness increases progressively at the level of the shoulder 12 to reach its maximum at the neck 14. FIG. variant of the tank of Figure 1 with a collar design somewhat different. However, these two passes are totally equivalent in function.

The use of a monobloc bag with a flexible bag made by extrusion blow molding or injection blow molding to illustrate the present invention should not be considered as limiting: on the contrary, we could very well have use another type of tank such as a pocket tank flexible whose pocket is welded to a separate pocket support. We would have can also use a conventional rigid wall tank made of plastic or even in glass. However, the use of a flexible pouch is preferred for illustration of the present invention since this type of tank does not have proper attire.

According to the invention, the neck 14 of the reservoir is formed with a throat 13 which defines a portion of reduced diameter. The throttle 13 of Figures 1 and 3 is formed just above the shoulder 12 and just below a part reinforced by the neck 14. The constriction 13 can be formed to another place of the neck 14, for example near its upper end. However, the positioning of the constriction 13 in FIGS. 1 and 3 corresponds to a classic form of tank neck which usually presents a throttling at the level where the neck 14 is connected to the shoulder 12.

The outer shell 2 is made of a suitable material (plastic, glass, metal, etc.) to give it a certain rigidity. Shell external 2 comprises a body 20, here cylindrical, closed at its end lower by a bottom shell 21. At its upper end, the body 20 is open and defines an upper portion 22 defining at its wall one or more snap-in strings or snap-fasteners 23. This part 22 is also provided with bearing or stop means 25 which present here in the form of ends of ribs 24 which extend over the body height 20. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4, the inner wall of the body is formed with eight ribs 24 defining eight abutment or support ends 25 located just below the cords or rods It is easily understood that a disc having a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the shell 20 can rest so stable on the eight ends 25. The ribs 24 extend over the height of the body 20 to improve the stability of the tank 1 inside the hull 2. Good understood, the function filled by the ends 25 of the ribs 24 can be filled by other means such as a peripheral radial flange which protrudes inwards. We can still imagine simple shaped studs on the inner wall of the body 20.

According to the invention, a holding element 3 is used to maintain the tank 1 in place inside the shell 2. This holding element 3 is here in the form of a simple washer part of which has been removed. In Indeed, with reference to FIG. 2, the holding element is in the form of a capital "c". We can of course imagine other forms for the holding element whose functions will now be described. The element 3 engages with both the neck 14 of the tank 1 and the shell 2 at the level of its upper part 22. More specifically, the holding element cooperates with the throat 13 of the neck 14 and with the abutment ends 25 of the shell 2. For this, the holding element comprises a central housing 31 which the edge 34 has a shape allowing its adaptation around strangulation 13 of the neck 14. Advantageously, to allow the introduction of the 14 in the housing 31, the holding member 3 forms an access passage 32 which opens into the housing 31. Thus, the holding element 3 can be engaged around the neck 14 at the level of the constriction 13 by passing the throat of the neck through the access passage 32. The access passage 32 is widely open to dwelling 31, but still limits the entrance to so that the edge 34 of the housing 31 can surround the constriction 13 on more than half of its circumference. Thus, a good stable fixation of the element 3 around the constriction 13 is made.

The holding element 3 also has an outer edge 33 which allows the engagement of the holding member within the body 20 of able to rest on the abutment ends 25. In the form of embodiment shown in the figures, the shell 2 and the throttle 13 of the neck 14 are circular cylindrical: thus, it is easy to realize the element of holding 3 in the form of a simple washer with an inner edge 34 circular and an outer edge 33 also circular. However, we can imagine other shapes for edges 34 and 33 without modifying their functions at the neck 14 and the hull 2.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the holding element 3 is of a engages around neck 14 at its throttle 13 and comes from other part bears on the abutment ends 25 formed inside the shell 2. In this way, the tank 1 is maintained perfectly stable at the inside of the hull 2. One can even notice that the bottom 11 of the tank 1 is located away from the bottom 21 of the shell 2. It can be said that the tank 1 is suspended inside the shell 2 by means of the holding element 3.

The holding element can be made particularly simple as we have seen above, ie from a simple washer perfectly flat that can be cut or punched into a plate. The holding element 3 is preferably made of plastic, but it can also be made of metal or any other material appropriate. Of course, one can imagine more complicated forms for the holding element 3.

The dispensing member 5, which is here a pump, comprises a body 50 which terminates at its upper end by a ratchet flange 51. pump also comprises a pusher 52 on which it is possible to press for operate its mechanism.

The pump 5 can be engaged directly in the neck 14 of the tank 1 to the way of a plug with a sealing made between the body 50 and a portion of the neck 14, for example at its constriction 13. However, according to the invention, a fastener 4 is used to fix the pump in the neck 14 of the container. This fixing member 4 comprises receiving means 41 in which is received the latching collar 51 of 5. In this way, the pump 5 is stably maintained in the fixing member 4. Below the receiving means 41, the organ of 4 defines an inner sleeve 42 to be engaged in a manner sealed in the neck 14. The sleeve 42 extends around the body 50 of the pump 5, advantageously with a space between the sleeve and the body. The organ of fastener 4 also includes a peripheral skirt 43 which extends around the receiving means 41 and the sleeve 42. In the embodiment of the Figure 1, this peripheral skirt 43 has a general ogival shape. AT near its lower end, the skirt 43 forms a socket latch 44 which is formed externally with rods adapted to cooperate with snap rings 43 formed in part 22 of the hull rigid 2. Above this sleeve 44, the skirt forms a peripheral flange 45 which extends radially outwards. This flange 45 is intended to come into support on the upper end of the part 22 of the rigid shell 2. It should be noted that the lower end of the sleeve 44 formed by the skirt 43 comes to bear on the holding member 3, itself abutting on the ends 25. Of this way, the holding member 3 is locked in position inside the shell 2, wedged between the abutment ends 25 and the free end of the sleeve 44. It should be noted that the contact of the sleeve 44 with the holding element 3 serves as reference for the positioning of the inner sleeve 42 inside the neck 14. Indeed, since the holding member 3 is fixedly mounted in position in the throat 13 of the neck 14, the sleeve 43 will also be positioned precisely in the neck 14 because of the support of the end bottom of the sleeve 44 on the holding element 3. There is therefore no need to provide special stop to limit the engagement of the sleeve 42 in the neck 14. Optionally, the peripheral skirt 43 may serve as support for a hood 6 which caps the skirt 43 and the pusher 52.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of a dispenser according to the invention which implements a holding element 3 ' intended for receiving two tanks 1 '. These tanks 1 'include each a flexible pouch 10 'attached to a pocket holder 14' which forms a collar defining an opening communicating the interior of the flexible pouch 10 ' with the outside. Although not shown, the pocket support 14 'comprises a fixing appendage, advantageously by welding, on which the opening of the flexible pouch 10 'can be advantageously fixed by welding. The support of pocket 14 'also comprises a plastron 12' which extends just below a groove 13 'which serves to fix the pocket support 14' on the element of maintaining 3 ', as will be seen below.

The holding element 3 'here comprises a base plate 30' in which is cut two housing 31 'which are open towards the edge of the plate 30 'through access passages 32'. Access passages 32 ' extend substantially opposite. The holding element 3 'forms also a ring 36 'which extends upwards from the periphery of the plate 30 '. This ring 36 'is also formed with access windows 35 'which are located just above the access passages 32'. this is visible in FIG. 5. In addition, the holding element 3 'comprises a partition 37 'which extends below the plate 30' substantially between the two dwellings 31 '.

The tanks can be received and mounted on the holding element 3 ' in a manner substantially similar to that of the previous embodiment. Indeed, the constriction 13 'formed by the neck of the pocket support 14' is intended for to be inserted and advantageously held by snapping inside a housing 31 'formed by the base plate 30' of the holding member 3 '. The edge 34 'of housing 31' thus engages in the throat or groove 13 ' by surrounding it advantageously on more than half of its perimeter. A fixation is thus achieved. On the other hand, as can be seen in Figure 6, the plastron 35 'engages under the plate 30'. Thus, fixation is ensured by the engagement of the constriction 13 'in the housing 31', and the stability is ensured by the positioning of the plastron 12 'under the plate 30'. We will understand easily from Figures 5 and 6 that the tanks can be put in place on the holding member 3 'by engaging their pocket support 14' through the 35 'windows and 32' access passages. Once the tanks are mounted on the holding element 3 ', as shown in FIG. 6, this subassembly unit can be engaged in one piece inside a shell 2 ', such as shown in FIG. 7. This shell 2 'comprises a barrel 20' which can advantageously be elongated, oval or ellipsoidal. As in the previous embodiment, although this is not shown, the shell 2 'may be internally provided with bearing surfaces allowing receive the plate 30 '. It can also be noted that the crown 36 'can be omitted, but it still allows a better stability of the element of holding 3 'in the shell 2'. Once the holding element 3 'with its tanks inserted in the shell 2 ', as shown in FIG. tanks 1 'are prisoners of the holding member 3', since the barrel 20 'of the shell 2' closes the windows 35 'through which the tanks have been engaged in housing 31 '.

To obtain a complete fluid dispenser, it is then sufficient to fill the two tanks and mount dispensing devices using a fixing member, as in the previous embodiment.

Thanks to the invention, virtually any tank can be kept in position inside a rigid shell of any shape thanks with the use of a holding element according to the invention which makes the connection between the neck 14 of the tank and the hull with remarkable adaptability.

Claims (13)

1. A fluid dispenser comprising:

   at least one fluid reservoir (1) defining a substantially rigid neck (14);

   a substantially rigid casing (2) containing the reservoir (1) ;

   a dispenser member (5) engaged in the neck (14) of said at least one reservoir (1) in order to withdraw the fluid; and

   a holding element (3) engaged both with the neck (14) of the reservoir (1) and with the rigid casing (2) in such a manner as to hold the reservoir in place in the rigid casing;

      the fluid dispenser being characterized in that the holding element (3) forms a piece that is separate from the casing and from said reservoir, the neck being positioned and fixed on the holding element, and said holding element being positioned in the casing.
2. A dispenser according to claim 1, in which the holding element (3) includes a substantially central fixing housing (31) designed to receive the neck (14) of the reservoir.
3. A dispenser according to claim 2, in which the holding element (3) defines an access passage (32) opening out on the substantially central housing (31) in such a manner that the neck (14) of the reservoir can be engaged in the central housing (31) via the access passage (32).
4. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, in which the neck (14) forms a narrowing (13) via which the holding element (3) becomes engaged with the neck (14).
5. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, in which the holding element is presented in the shape of a plate surrounding, at least in part, the neck of the reservoir.
6. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, in which the reservoir (1) includes a reservoir bottom (11) remote from the neck (14), and the casing (2) also includes a casing bottom (21), said reservoir bottom (11) not coming to bear against the casing bottom (21).
7. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, in which the reservoir (1) includes a deformable wall (10, 11), and is advantageously made integrally as a single piece by injection blow-molding or by extrusion blow-molding.
8. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, further including a fixing member (4) provided with reception means (41) for receiving the dispenser member (5), and fixing means (42) co-operating with the neck (14) of the reservoir, said fixing means (4) including an inner sleeve (42) in sealed engagement with the neck of the reservoir.
9. A dispenser according to claim 8, in which the fixing member (4) includes a peripheral skirt (43) in engagement with the casing (2).
10. A dispenser according to claim 8, in which the fixing member (4) blocks the holding element (3) in the casing (2).
11. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, in which the inside of the casing (2) forms a bearing zone (25) onto which the holding element (3) comes to bear.
12. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, in which the holding element is constituted by a plane cutout plate.
13. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, in which the holding element includes two fixing housings each designed to receive a reservoir neck.

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