EP0410857A1 - Assembly for dispensing at least one product, especially cosmetics, in cream, fluid or powder form - Google Patents

Abstract

Dispensing assembly for products in cream, fluid or powder form, comprising, on a container (2) with a flexible pouch or with a follower piston, a push-button (8) forming a pump body sliding on a hollow piston (10) capable of being closed by a first valve (13), the outlet orifice for the product in the push-button (8) being equipped with a second valve (25) opening only in the dispensing direction of the product. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a distribution assembly for at least one product, in particular a cosmetic product, in the form of a cream, liquid or powder.

Numerous dispensing assemblies are known comprising a container containing the product to be dispensed, on which a dispensing head is fixed or not. Depending on the number of products to be distributed, the distribution head may contain one or more product distribution channels.

In a known manner when there are several products to be distributed, the container may comprise several parts, either that it consists of several independent containers, or that it is divided by internal partitions into compartments, each of the containers or compartments being connected to a channel of the same distribution head. The dispensing head may also contain a compartment for a product different from that contained in the container, this compartment being connected to the distribution channel for the product contained in the container or to a different channel.

It is known to use containers constituted by a flexible tube or pocket in which the vacuum is gradually produced during the dispensing, or containers containing a follower piston which progressively rises in the container towards the dispensing opening as and as the product is dispensed, the dispensing head having no air intake.

The present invention aims to provide a distribution head, forming a self-priming pump without air intake comprising, on the one hand, a tubular body which carries a first valve closed during dispensing of product and which forms a piston and, on the other hand, a push-button, which slides on the piston forming a pump body and which is provided with a second valve opening under the pressure of the product to be dispensed.

The subject of the present invention is therefore a distribution assembly for at least one product, in particular a cosmetic product, in the form of a cream, liquid or powder, comprising, on the one hand, a flexible container or a follower piston and, on the other hand, a dispensing head comprising at least one outlet channel for the product (s) to be dispensed and a push button for controlling the dispensing of the said product (s), characterized in that the dispensing head comprises a fixed tubular body communicating with the container and provided at its end opposite to said container with a first valve, which opens only if there is a relative overpressure on the side of the container, the push button of said head forming a pump body, inside which leaks said tubular body, which constitutes the piston of said pump body, said push button containing at least one outlet channel for the product to be dispensed provided on its o opening of a second valve outlet, which opens only if there is a relative overpressure of the interior of the channel with respect to the exterior, a return means being disposed between a fixed part integral with the tubular body and a movable part secured to the push button.

The second valve can be any valve that opens only in the direction of distribution.

According to a first embodiment, the second valve is a bell valve constituted by two coaxial capsules assembled by fitting, the first capsule disposed on the container side being of relatively rigid material and the second capsule, disposed on the outside being of elastic material, the two capsules being provided with openings arranged in coaxial circles, the first capsule comprising a first cylindrical skirt, facing towards exterior, surrounding all the openings of said first capsule and the second capsule comprising a second cylindrical skirt turned towards the container, surrounded by the openings of said second capsule and capable of fitting into the first skirt so as to close the communication between the openings of the first and second capsules, when there is no dispensing of product, the communication between the openings can be established by elastic deformation of the second capsule under the pressure of the product, when the push button is moved towards the container, the second skirt returning to fit into the first re skirt when the product stops pushing.

According to a second embodiment, the second valve is formed by the closure system of a distribution assembly which is the subject of the European patent application filed by the applicant claiming priority from the same French application 89,10000 as for the present application and entitled "Distribution assembly of at least one fluid product, in particular cosmetic or pharmaceutical". Such a closure system is formed by a shutter, which is part of a piece of elastically deformable material of the dispensing head, and by a seat, which is part of another piece of the dispensing head, the shutter. being in sealed contact with the associated seat when there is no distribution, moving away from said seat by elastic deformation under the pressure of the product to be distributed and returning by elasticity in contact with the seat, the shutter being subjected to the action of a constraint member tending to keep it applied to the seat with which it cooperates.

The elastically deformable material constituting the shutter is preferably made of natural or synthetic elastomer. Among the elastomers which can be used, there may be mentioned, for example, styrene-butadiene copolymers, nitrile rubbers, polychloroprene or neoprene, EPDM rubber, polyurethanes, silicone rubber and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers.

Advantageously, the shutter is constituted by a lip of elastically deformable material, forming part of a part of elastically deformable material constituted by a blade.

The contact zone between said lip and the seat can consist of a plane portion, which has, for example, the shape of a rectangle; the blade may protrude slightly from the seat so as to form a spatula for the direct application of the product distributed on a surface, in particular on the skin in the case of a cosmetic product.

The seat can be either of rigid material or of elastically deformable material; in the latter case, the part comprising the seat may be a second blade of elastic material, substantially parallel to the blade carrying the lip.

In the case where the shutter comprises a lip, which is part of a blade made of elastically deformable material, the constraint member can be constituted by a rigid element holding said piece of elastically deformable material up to the edge of the lip; it can also cooperate with said piece of elastic material by a rib / groove system or by pushing through an appropriate surface on an excess thickness of the blade.

The first valve can be arbitrary as soon as it opens only if there is a relative overpressure on the side of the container. One can use, for example, a non-return valve comprising either a pivoting flap or a ball.

Preferably, the first valve is integral with the seal provided between the tubular body and the push button forming the pump body.

The return means external to the tubular body is preferably a spring working in compression.

Preferably, the tubular body is arranged on a plate which is used for fixing the flexible bag or which closes the follower piston container containing the product to be dispensed. This plate can carry a cylindrical wall coaxial with the tubular body and surrounding the latter: the return means rests on the free edge of this cylindrical wall.

Preferably, the push button comprises a cylindrical skirt sliding outside the tubular body and a cylindrical part sliding outside the cylindrical wall of the plate on which the tubular body is disposed, the edges of the skirt and the cylindrical part being connected by a flat surface on which the return means comes to bear; in a variant, the cylindrical skirt and the capsule, which is adjacent to it, are molded in one piece.

The dispensing head is preferably covered during storage by a protective cover.

The distribution assembly according to the invention operates as follows:

User presses push button which slides on the tubular body, the first valve closing the tubular body which can then act like a piston. The compressed product then causes the opening of the second valve and is distributed outside as long as the push button is in motion. When the user ceases to exert pressure on the push button, the return means returns the push button to the storage position, and the second valve closes; a depression is created inside the push-button, which causes the opening of the first valve and an aspiration of the product to be dispensed contained in the container, in the volume formed, at least partially, by the push-button forming pump body.

To better understand the object of the invention, there will be described below, purely by way of illustration and not limitation, two embodiments shown in the accompanying drawing.

• - la figure 1 est une coupe axiale d'un premier mode de réalisation de l'ensemble de distribu­tion selon l'invention ;
• - la figure 1a est une coupe axiale d'une variante de la tête de distribution de ce premier mode de réalisation ;
• - la figure 2 est une vue en coupe d'un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'ensemble de distri­bution selon l'invention ;
• - la figure 3 est une vue en perspective éclatée de la seconde valve de l'ensemble de distribu­tion de la figure 2.

On this drawing :

• - Figure 1 is an axial section of a first embodiment of the distribution assembly according to the invention;
• - Figure 1a is an axial section of a variant of the dispensing head of this first embodiment;
• - Figure 2 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the dispensing assembly according to the invention;
• FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the second valve of the distribution assembly of FIG. 2.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the dispensing assembly is designated by 1. It comprises a flexible tube 2 on which is fixed a dispensing head designated by 3 as a whole. The flexible tube 2 is protected by a rigid enclosure 4 provided with a cap 5 which protects the dispensing head 3. The flexible tube 2 is provided with a neck 6 which carries an external screw pitch 7.

The dispensing head comprises a push button 8 and a plate 9 fixed on the edge of the rigid casing 4 carrying, in its center, a tubular body 10 forming a piston.

The push button 8 comprises a cylindrical part 11 provided, in the upper part, with a lateral extension forming a spout 12 which constitutes the part comprising the seat; the cylindrical part 11 is closed by a transverse wall 17 whose spout 12 forms a radial extension. On the transverse wall 17 rests an elastic blade 13 having a bevel, the end of which forms the lip 14. The edge of the spout 12 carries a bead 15 forming a seat. The lip 14 and the bead 15 of the spout 12 constitute a valve 25 which opens only in the direction of distribution. The elastic blade 13 is covered except at the level of the lip 14 by a rigid cover 16 forming a constraint member, fixed on the cylindrical part 11.

The transverse wall 17 constitutes the bottom of the cylindrical part 11; said bottom comprises in its central zone, an opening for the passage of the product; this opening opens into a channel 18 hollowed out in the transverse wall 17 and in the spout 12; the channel 18 opens to the outside at the level of the product outlet slot, which is delimited by the lip 14 and the bead 15.

The push button 8 comprises a skirt 19 coaxial with the cylindrical part 11 and situated radially inside the latter. A compression spring 20 is placed in the annular space surrounding the skirt 19 and rests on the transverse wall 17.

The push button 8 is slidably mounted on the tubular body 10 provided in the center of the plate 9. The plate 9 is circular; it is fixed by snap-on rigid enclosure edge 4. On the upper edge of the tubular body 10 is attached a valve 21 having a flap 21 is pivotable; the shutter 21a is obtained by molding with a sheath of which it can close one end. The sheath encloses the upper part of the tubular body 10 so that the flap 21 a can form a valve which closes the end of the tubular body. The sheath externally carries two sealing lips 21 b bearing on the internal surface of the skirt 19. Between the flap 21 a and the transverse wall 17 is thus defined an internal space E which decreases when the spring 20 is compressed.

A cylindrical wall 22, coaxial with the tubular body 10 and integral with the plate 9, surrounds said tubular body 10 over a fraction of its length. The spring 20 tends to move the push button away from the plate 9, the maximum distance being defined by the cooperation of two annular end beads carried respectively by the cylindrical part 11 and the cylindrical wall 22. The cylindrical wall 22 is extended , on the opposite side of the plate 9, to form an internally threaded sleeve 23 into which the neck 6 of the flexible tube can be screwed 2. An extension 23 a of the tubular body 10, is formed on the side of the plate 9 where there is no not said tubular body; it is intended to enter with gentle friction into the neck 6 of the tube 2 in order to ensure its centering. An air inlet 24 is provided in the bottom of the rigid enclosure 4.

The operation of the distribution assembly 1 is as follows:

When the cap 5 has been removed, the user can press the cover 16 of the push button 8 by compressing the spring 20, which causes the reduction of the space E, the compression of the product therein, the closing of the valve 21 and, finally, the exit of the product contained in the channel 18 and in the internal space E of the push button 8 , through the valve 25 formed by the lip 14 and the bead 15 of the spout 12; the tubular body 10 closed by the valve 21 acted as a piston to ensure the distribution. When the user stops exerting pressure on the push button 8, the spring 20 recalls said push button 8 towards the high position of FIG. 1, which creates a depression in the space E and causes the opening of the valve 21 and a product transfer between the tube 2 and the internal space E of the push button forming the pump body.

It can be seen that, in this embodiment, the spring 20 is outside the product at all stages of storage and distribution, which avoids any contact with the product distributed and, consequently, any pollution. On the other hand, the dispensing head 3 constitutes a self-priming pump, without air intake: the product to be dispensed is therefore never in contact with the air before it is dispensed.

Figure 1a shows a dispenser head 1 503 similar to that shown in Figure 1, which comprises a push-button 1508 to output side forming the pump body; this push button 1508 slides on a hollow piston 1513 carrying a shutter valve 1514, so as to modify the volume of the internal space E of the push button 1508. The rigid cover 1506 forms a constraint member; it has an opening 1561 and, at this opening, the blade 1505 is thinned in 1551. This arrangement makes it possible to pierce the blade 1505 in its thinned zone 1551 using a hypodermic needle H: thanks to the latter, it is possible to remove the air contained in space E and to aspirate the product of container 1502. It is thus possible to prime the pump system without contaminating the closing system F. It is also possible to introduce a flushing gas.

FIG. 2 represents a second embodiment of the distribution assembly according to the invention; this embodiment comprises, as a second valve, a bell valve described below.

The distribution assembly as a whole is designated by 101; it comprises a container 102 on which a distribution head 103 is fixed. The container 102 contains a follower piston 104 and its bottom is provided with an air intake opening 124. The distribution head 103 can be protected by a cap 105 which is fixed by snapping onto the container 102.

The dispensing head 103 consists of a movable push button 108 and a transverse plate 109 carrying a tubular body 110 forming a piston. The transverse plate 109 constitutes the upper wall of the container; it carries a cylindrical wall 122 surrounding the tubular body 110 over part of its length.

On the end of tubular body 110, which is opposite to the plate 109 there is fixed a first valve 121 comprising a flap 121 is pivoted; this valve is molded in one piece with a sheath fixed on the end of the tubular body 110; its structure and mounting are the same as for the valve 21. The sheath is provided with sealing lips 121 b bearing on the internal surface of the skirt 119.

The mobile push button 108 comprises a cylindrical part 111 provided laterally with two radial extensions 112 serving to support the fingers of the user. The cylindrical part 111 has, at its upper part, a transverse wall whose central zone is hollowed out and is surrounded by an annular flange 131. In the zone delimited by the flange 131, the second valve 113 of the dispensing head is put in place; this valve is applied against the flange 131 by the annular washer 117 which is formed at one end of a cylindrical skirt 119. The relative centering of the valve 113 and of the skirt 119 is ensured by a circular rib 127 provided on the washer 117 which cooperates with a groove 126 formed on one of the parts of the valve 113. A helical spring 120 bears on the end bead of the cylindrical wall 122, said bead cooperating with a bead complementary to the cylindrical part 111 to limit the stroke of the push-button in the direction of the action exerted by the spring 120. The spring 120 is arranged in the annular space comprised between the cylindrical part 111 and the skirt 119 and it is supported by a side against the washer 117 and the other against the end bead of the cylindrical wall 122. The spring 120 therefore keeps the valve 113 in abutment against the flange 131.

The valve 113 consists of two capsules fitted one inside the other 114 and 115, the lower capsule 114 being made of relatively rigid plastic and the capsule 115 being made of flexible plastic. The capsule 114 comprises a first flange 125 provided on its face on the container side with the circular groove 126. This flange 125 is connected to a cylindrical wall 128 containing a transverse disc 129 fixed to the internal surface of said wall 128; the disc 129 is pierced with openings 130 arranged on a circle in the vicinity of the periphery of the disc 129. A circular bead 131 is provided on the external surface of the cylindrical wall 128 to facilitate the fixing by fitting of the second capsule on the first capsule. The flexible material capsule 115 includes a circular collar 132 which rests on the circular collar 125 of the capsule 114. A substantially conical surface 133 extends from the collar 132 and is closed by a bowl 134 provided with a flat bottom 135. Openings 136 are provided at the junction between the conical surface 133 and the bowl 134. The flat bottom 135 of the bowl 134 is provided on its periphery with a skirt 137 which is capable of being inserted with friction soft inside the cylindrical wall 128.

The device operates as described below:

When the cap 105 has been removed, the user presses on the radial extensions 112 of the push button 108. The spring 120 is compressed. The cylindrical part 111 of the push button slides on the cylindrical wall 122, and the skirt 119 on the tubular body 110; simultaneously, the valve 121 closes. The tubular body 110 carrying the closed valve 121 acts like a piston and exerts a push on the product contained in the volume E comprised between the valve 121, the skirt 119 and the valve 113. The product passes through the openings 130 of the rigid capsule 114 and comes to deform the capsule of flexible material 115 by pushing, in particular, on the disc 135. This deformation causes the formation of a passage between the skirt 137 of the capsule 115 and the wall 128 of the capsule 114. The product can then exit through the openings 136 of the capsule 115.

When the user stops pressing the push button 108, the spring 120 returns the latter to the high position (in FIG. 2). The volume E increases and becomes depressed. In the valve 113, the capsule 115 returns to position on the capsule 114 and closes the communication between the openings 130 and 136. The valve 121 opens; part of the product contained in the container 102 is sucked into the volume E of the push-button through the tubular body 110; simultaneously, the follower piston 104 rises towards the dispensing head in the container 102.

Claims (7)

1- Distribution assembly of at least one product, in particular cosmetic, in the form of a cream, liquid or powder comprising, on the one hand, a flexible container (2, 102) or with a follower piston and, on the other hand , a dispensing head (3, 103) comprising at least one outlet channel for the product (s) to be dispensed and a push button (8, 108) for controlling (the distribution of said (or said) product (s) s), characterized in that the dispensing head (3, 103) comprises a fixed tubular body (10, 110) communicating with the container (2, 102) and provided at its end opposite to said container (2, 102) d a first valve (21, 121), which opens only if there is a relative overpressure on the side of the container, the push-button (8, 108) of said head forming a pump body inside which slides in leaktight manner said tubular body (10, 110) which constitutes the piston of said pump body, said push-button containing at least one channel rtie of the product to be dispensed provided on its outlet opening with a second valve (25, 113), which opens only if there is a relative overpressure of the inside of the channel with respect to the outside , a return means being arranged between a fixed part secured to the tubular body (10, 110) and a movable part secured to the push-button (8, 108). 2 - Dispensing assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the second valve (113) consists of two circular coaxial capsules (114, 115) assembled by fitting, the first capsule (114) disposed on the container side being of relatively material rigid and the second capsule (115) disposed on the outer side being of elastic material, the two capsules being provided with openings (130, 136) arranged in circles coaxial, the first capsule (114) comprising a first cylindrical skirt (128), facing outward, surrounding all of the openings (130) of said first capsule (114) and the second capsule (115) comprising a second skirt cylindrical (137) facing the container, surrounded by the openings (136) of said second capsule (115) and capable of fitting into the first skirt (128) so as to close the communication between the openings (130, 136) first and second capsules when there is no dispensing of product, the communication between the openings (130, 136) being able to be established by elastic deformation of the second capsule (115) under the push of the product during the displacement of the push-button towards the container, the second skirt (137) returning to fit into the first skirt (128) when the pushing of the product stops. 3 - Dispensing assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the second valve (25) is formed by a shutter (14) which is part of a part (13) of elastically deformable material of the dispensing head (103 ) and by a seat (15) which is part of another part of the dispensing head, the shutter (14) being in sealed contact with the associated seat (15) when there is no dispensing, moving away from said seat (15) by elastic deformation under the pressure of the product to be dispensed and returning by elasticity in contact with the seat (15), the shutter (14) being subjected to the action of a constraint member ( 16) tending to keep it applied to the seat with which it cooperates. 4 - Dispensing assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the shutter (14) is a lip which departs from the seat (15) by bending perpendicular to the direction of thrust of the product to be distributed. 5 - Dispensing assembly according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first valve is a non-return valve comprising either a pivoting flap or a ball. 6 - Dispensing assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the first valve (21, 121) is integral with the seal placed between the tubular body (10, 110) forming the piston and the push button (8, 108) forming the pump body. 7 - Dispensing assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the capsule (114) is molded in one piece with the cylindrical skirt (119) which laterally delimits the pump body that constitutes the push button.

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