EP0549049B1 - Assembly for dispensing at least one fluid product - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispenser for a fluid substance, esp. used in cosmetics or pharmaceuticals, consists of a cap (1) which fits onto the container (2) and made with at least one outlet channel (8). The/each outlet channel has a system which closes its outlet, made in the form of a shutter (9a) which is able to deform elastically and interact with a seat (8e). The deforming shutter and seat form a self-closing valve which is opened by the pressure of the fluid passing through it but closes once the pressure stops. The shutter is pressed towards the seat by a support which limits its deformation. The pressure which expels the fluid from the container can be of various types, e.g. a pump piston or flexible bulb.

Description

The present invention relates to a distribution assembly for one or more fluid product (s) in the form of a liquid or cream (or paste) of varying thickness. This set makes it possible in particular to distribute cosmetic or pharmaceutical products.

Numerous dispensing assemblies are known comprising a container containing the product to be dispensed, on which a dispensing head is fixed, removably or not. This dispensing head includes a device allowing the user to activate the dispensing, and at least one dispensing channel communicating, on the one hand, with the container containing the product to be dispensed, and, on the other hand, with the 'outside.

In a known manner, when there are several products to be distributed, the container can comprise several parts, either because it consists of several independent containers, or because it consists of a single container divided by internal partitions into several compartments, each of the containers or compartments being connected to a channel of the same dispensing 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 that after the distribution of the product, part of it remains in the distribution channel. This part of the product is in contact with air during the air intake from the dispensing head and, possibly, during storage. The product can therefore be degraded by oxidation or contaminated by impurities and microorganisms in the air and, consequently, during a subsequent distribution, the distributed product may have lost its qualities and even become harmful.

In US-A-4,099,651, it has been proposed to solve this problem by a closure system which opens only under the pressure of the product to be dispensed. This patent describes a dispensing head comprising a tubular element fixed to the end piece of a flexible tube; the tubular element contains, over at least part of its length, a flat partition which protrudes from the tubular element: two product outlet channels are thus defined. A sleeve of elastic material is fitted over the tubular element and over the part of the planar partition which projects beyond it. The closure system consists of the edge of the sleeve of elastic material which rests on the two opposite faces of the end of said planar partition; this edge is in contact with these two faces of the partition when there is no distribution, deviates from these faces when there is distribution of the product to be distributed and returns by elasticity in contact with these faces when ceases the distribution.

However, in such a closure system, the contact between the edge of the sleeve and the face of the partition is only ensured by the elasticity of the edge area of the sleeve and this frequently results in a very insufficient seal at rest, whatever the contact surface between the edge of the sleeve and each of the faces of the partition, in particular when the product dispensed is viscous.

The present invention aims to provide for the distribution assemblies, a closure system which is perfectly sealed at rest, that is to say when there is no product distribution, which opens only under the pressure of the product to be dispensed, and which practically does not allow, by itself, air intake. This system is, therefore, aseptic by itself, which is not the case for the patent 4,099,651 cited above.

US-A-3 820 689 has already described a dispensing head according to the first part of claim 1 or 3 which comprises a dispensing channel provided at its end with a closure system constituted by an elastically deformable lip, which rests on a seat: the lip can rest on its seat or move away from it elastically to allow distribution. The dispensing head has a second valve associated with the closure system, but this valve is constituted by a flap, which is directly fixed on the deformable dome generating the dispensing. The opening and closing precision of the valve thus formed is therefore insufficient; the opening of this valve can take place by deformation of the deformable dome during the distribution and, in this case, the second valve can not play its role.

GB-A-2 083 142 describes a dispensing pump comprising a dispensing head, in which the closure of the dispensing chamber consists of two flexible lips. This device also includes a second valve constituted by a dome-shaped blade of flexible material carrying an incision: this valve opens by deformation of a part of the dome which constitutes it and, consequently, the opening or closing of this valve is imprecise and unreliable.

The object of the invention is to provide an assembly, the dispensing head of which ensures effective pumping of the product by itself.

The subject of the present invention is therefore a distribution assembly for at least one fluid product, assembly comprising a container and a distribution head provided with a push button and containing at least one distribution channel for the product (s) ( s) to be dispensed, a closure system (F) constituting a first valve located at the terminal part, opening onto the outside of the (or each) distribution channel, said system (F) being formed by at least one obturator which is part of a piece of elastically deformable material of the dispensing head and by at least one seat which is part of another part of the dispensing head, the obturator (s) being in contact with their associated seat when there is no dispensing, moving away from said seat by elastic deformation under the pressure of the product to be dispensed and coming back into contact with said seat when dispensing ceases, the dispensing head comprising a second valve associated with the closure system (F), characterized in that the second valve is a bell valve composed of two capsules fixed one on the other by fitting, the lower capsule being made of relatively rigid plastic and the other capsule being relatively flexible so as to be able to deform, that the two capsules are each provided with a skirt turned towards one another by forming a tight seal and being able to slide against each other until separating by leaving a space between them during the deformation of the capsule and that the capsules have openings which can only be brought into communication when the skirts are separated.

According to one embodiment, the push button comprises a flexible membrane accessible from the outside, which acts as a piston allowing the internal volume of the dispensing head to be modified.

The present invention also relates to a distribution assembly for at least one fluid product, assembly which comprises a container and a distribution head provided with a push button and containing at least one distribution channel for the product (s) ( s) to be dispensed, a closure system (F) constituting a first valve located at the terminal part, opening onto the outside of the (or each) distribution channel, said system (F) being formed by at least one obturator which is part of a piece of elastically deformable material of the dispensing head and by at least one seat which is part of another part of the dispensing head, the obturator (s) being in contact with their associated seat when there is no dispensing, moving away from said seat by elastic deformation under the pressure of the product to be dispensed and coming back into contact with said seat when dispensing ceases, the dispensing head comprising a s second valve associated with the closure system (F) and a flexible blade forming a dome accessible from the outside, characterized in that the base of the flexible blade extends on the side opposite to the opening of the channel by a plate held by a cover and carrying a lug which cooperates with a wall to form the second valve.

Advantageously, the (or each) shutter (s) is subjected to the action of a constraint member tending to keep it (or them) applied (s) on the seat with which it (s) cooperates (s) to seal the closing contact.

It is understood that the tightness mentioned in the definition below is only ensured with production imperfections. According to the invention, it must be sufficient to prevent practically any aspiration of air through the closure system after the end of the dispensing of the product, whatever the viscosity of the product to be dispensed. Since the seal is somewhat dependent on the contact area between the shutter and the seat, the invention provides for choosing a contact of sufficient size for sealing to be ensured.

According to the present invention, the closure system therefore forms a valve or a valve which can only open in one direction: the direction of distribution of the product.

The closure system according to the invention, which, in practice, consists only of a small contact area between a shutter of flexible material and a seat, has the advantage of being able to adapt to all of the dispensing heads. , whether they are mounted on welded tubes, distributors with follower piston or flexible bag or on rigid bottles. It can also easily be integrated with dispensing heads having very variable aesthetic shapes. Indeed, the flexible part comprising the shutter and the part carrying the seat of the shutter can have various shapes.

The push button according to claim 1 may advantageously include a flexible membrane accessible from the outside which acts as a piston by modifying the volume of the internal space. The volume of the pump body formed can be arranged parallel to or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the assembly, the push-button being actuated parallel or perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

It can be provided that part of the wall of the dispensing head is made of thin elastic material, so that it can be pierced using a hypodermic needle; said needle is used either to create a vacuum and, consequently, to eliminate the air and suck the product contained in the container in the dispensing head, without contaminating the dispensing orifice, or to create an overpressure which makes it possible to purge the dispensing head using a sterile gas, for example nitrogen. The thinned part can constitute a portion of the blade fitted with a closure system lip.

To better understand the object of the invention, we will describe below, purely by way of illustration and not limitation, several embodiments shown in the accompanying drawing.

• la figure 1 représente un ensemble de distribution comportant deux valves avec actionnement de la pompe par un dôme flexible ;
• la figure 2 représente en agrandi, le détail de la valve inférieure ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe axiale d'une autre réalisation d'un ensemble à deux valves formant pompe, où l'obturateur fait partie d'un tore élastique ;
• la figure 4, enfin, est une vue de dessus dudit tore élastique.

On this drawing :

• FIG. 1 represents a distribution assembly comprising two valves with actuation of the pump by a flexible dome;
• Figure 2 shows in enlarged view, the detail of the lower valve;
• Figure 3 is an axial sectional view of another embodiment of an assembly with two valves forming a pump, where the shutter is part of an elastic torus;
• Figure 4, finally, is a top view of said elastic torus.

FIG. 1 schematically represents a dispensing assembly 2101 in which the product to be dispensed is contained in a flexible bag 2102 protected by a rigid enclosure 2110 provided with an air intake opening 2110 a . The dispensing head 2103 is of the type with lateral outlet fitted with a nozzle 2103 a and which acts as a pump. Said head 2103 comprises a piece 2104 comprising the seat on which is fixed the flexible pocket 2102 and which is fixed on the edge of the rigid enclosure 2110. A blade 2105 is placed on the piece 2104 comprising the seat and is held by a cover 2106. The part 2104 comprising the seat is constituted by a plate 2141 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the assembly 2101 generally having the form of a disc provided with a spout. At the end of the spout, the piece 2104 comprises a bead 2104 a having an oblique flat surface 2104 d forming a seat facing the axis of the assembly and towards the container. It has a cylindrical skirt facing the cover 2142 which surrounds the blade except at the end of the spout 2103 a and a skirt 2143 facing downwards, onto which the flexible tube is welded. The part is pierced in the vicinity of its axis with a circular opening 2144 on which is fixed a non-return valve with bell constituted by a valve 2113 illustrated in more detail in FIG. 2.

This bell valve consists of two capsules 2114 and 2115, the lower capsule 2114 being of relatively rigid plastic and the capsule 2115, being relatively flexible so as to be able to deform. The two capsules are fixed to each other by fitting. The two capsules 2114 and 2115 are each provided with a skirt 2116 and 2117 turned towards one another by forming a tight seal and capable of sliding against each other until separating leaving a space between them during the deformation of the capsule 2115. The capsules 2114 and 2115 have openings 2118 and 2119 respectively which can only be brought into communication when the skirts 2116 and 2117 are separated.

The blade 2105 has, in the beak 2103 , a bevelled part 2105 a which bears in a sealed manner on the surface 2104 d forming a seat and a thinned part in the form of a dome 2111, the dome having at its base a diameter greater than that of the bell valve 2113. Between the dome 2111 and the closing system F, the blade 2105 is hollowed out with a channel 2105 b . The cover 2106 covers the blade except in its part corresponding to the closing system F and it is provided in its center with a circular opening 2161 through which the dome 2111 projects outside.

The device of Figure 1 operates as described below. When the user wishes to distribute the product contained in the flexible tube 2102, he presses on the elastic dome 2111 which reduces the internal space E contained under said dome 2111, the valve 2113 being closed. The product contained in the space E and in the channel 2105 b undergoes an overpressure and opens the closing system F. When the user stops pressing on the dome 2111, the closing system F closes again and the dome resumes its forms by elasticity which causes the formation of a depression in the internal space E. The valve 2113 opens and product is transferred from the flexible tube 2102 in the space E.

FIG. 3 schematically represents a distribution assembly 2501, the distribution head 2503 of which forms a pump because it comprises two valves. The distribution assembly 2501 comprises a flexible pocket 2502 protected by a rigid enclosure 2510 provided with an air intake opening 2510 a . The dispensing head comprises, firstly, a piece 2504 comprising the seat, secondly, an O-ring piece 2505 molded in one piece with a flexible blade forming a dome 2507 and carrying a lug 2508 forming part of a second valve 2513, and, thirdly, a cover 2506.

The part 2504 comprising the seat has the general shape of a disc fixed on the upper edge of the rigid enclosure 2510 and it is provided with a cylindrical inner skirt 2541 on which the flexible pocket 2502 is welded. On a portion of its periphery, it is hollowed out of a groove 2542 having in section the shape of a segment of circle in which opens a radial channel 2543 dug in the part 2504. At a point diametrically opposite to the outlet of the channel 2543 the part 2504 is dug by a channel 2544 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the assembly 2501 which opens into the flexible pocket 2502 at one end and is in communication with a notch 2545 of the part 2504, separated from the channel 2544 by a wall 2546 parallel to the axis of the assembly 2501 whose upper edge is beveled.

The O-ring 2505 has, in section, the shape of a circle provided with a lug 2552 at the level of the closure and it fits into the groove 2542. The dome 2507 is located above the support 2504 and it defines above said support 2504, an internal space E which communicates, on the one hand, with the channel 2543 and, on the other hand, with the notch 2545. The base of the dome 2507 is extended on the side opposite to the opening of the channel 2543 by a plate carrying a lug 2508 which cooperates with the wall 2546 to form a valve 2513. In this valve 2513, the lug 2508 rests tightly on the surface of the rim of the wall 2546. The cover 2506 is fixed to the periphery of the support 2504 and it is provided with an opening 2561 through which the dome 2507 projects. At the torus 2505, the cover 2506 is hollowed out by a groove 2562 having the shape in section, of a circle segment which adjusts to the groove 2542 to form together (in section) a larger circle segment. At the outlet of the distribution channel 2543, above it, the groove 2562 and a fraction of the groove 2542 are dug by a product supply channel 2509.

The assembly 2501 operates as follows. When the user wishes to distribute the product, he presses on the elastic dome 2507 and reduces the internal space E, the valve 2513 being closed. The product contained in this space undergoes an overpressure and exerts a thrust via the channel 2543 on the torus 2505. It causes the displacement of the latter by elasticity in the direction of the arrow f 2 , which opens the channel of brought 2509 on the outside. The product is distributed. When the user ceases to press on the elastic dome 2511 the pressure of the product to be distributed on the torus 2505 ceases and the latter resumes its place by elasticity and closes the channel 2509. The dome regaining its shape by elasticity, it occurs a depression in space E. This depression causes the valve 2513 to open, the lug 2508 moving apart by bending the rim from the partition 2546. Product contained in the bag 2502 is sucked into space E through the conduit 2544 and the notch 2545. The dispensing head is ready for a new distribution of the product.

Claims (3)

1. Assembly (2101) for dispensing at least one fluid product, which assembly comprises a container (2102) and a dispensing head (2103) that has a push button and contains at least one dispensing channel through which to dispense the product(s), a closure system (F) forming a first valve situated at the end, opening onto the exterior of the (or each) dispensing channel, the said system (F) being formed by at least one stopper (2105) that forms part of a component made of an elastically deformable material (2105) of the dispensing head and by at least one seat that forms part of another component of the dispensing head, the stopper(s) being in contact with their associated seat while there is no dispensing, coming off the said seat by elastic deformation under the pressure of the product to be dispensed and moving back into contact with the said seat when dispensing stops, the dispensing head comprising a second valve connected to the closure system (F), characterized by the fact that the second valve is a bell valve (2113) made up of two caps (2114, 2115) fitted together by engagement, the lower cap (2114) being made of a relatively rigid plastic and the other cap (2115) being relatively flexible so that it can deform; that the two caps (2114, 2115) each have a skirt (2116, 2117), which skirts extend towards each other to form a leaktight seal and can slide over each other to the point where they separate and leave a gap between themselves when the cap (2115) is deformed; and that the caps (2114, 2115) comprise openings that can only be put in communication when the skirts (2116, 2117) are separated.
2. Assembly according to Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the push button comprises a flexible membrane (2111) accessible from the outside, that acts as a plunger by enabling the internal volume of the dispensing head (2103) to be modified.
3. Assembly (2501) for dispensing at least one fluid product, which assembly comprises a container (2502) and a dispensing head (2503) that has a push button and contains at least one dispensing channel through which to dispense the product(s), a closure system (F) forming a first valve situated at the end, opening onto the exterior of the (or each) dispensing channel, the said system (F) being formed by at least one stopper that forms part of a component made of an elastically deformable material (2505) of the dispensing head and by at least one seat that forms part of another component of the dispensing head, the stopper(s) being in contact with their associated seat while there is no dispensing, coming off the said seat by elastic deformation under the pressure of the product to be dispensed and moving back into contact with the said seat when dispensing stops, the dispensing head comprising a second valve connected to the closure system (F) and a flexible strip forming a dome (2507) accessible from the outside, characterized by the fact that the base of the flexible strip is extended on the opposite side from the opening of the channel (2543) by a plate held in place by a lid (2506) and carrying a lip (2508) that cooperates with a wall (2546) to form the second valve (2513).

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