EP3034176A1 - System for actuating a member for dispensing a fluid product - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for actuating a member (1) for distributing a fluid product, said system comprising a push button (18) whose body (19) has a well (20) for mounting on a tube (21) for feeding said member, said system comprising a ring (24) in which said push button is axially displaceable over an actuating stroke of the member (1) and a reversible locking device of said actuation by preventing said displacement , the locking device comprising an insert (30) mounted in the ring (24) with a possibility of relative rotation, said insert having means (34, 45) for rotationally fastening to the member (1) and at least one stop (34, 41) deformable, said locking device further comprising a structure integral in rotation with the ring (24) and arranged for, by rotation of said ring relative to the insert (30), deform the stop (34). , 41) between an active state in the which said stop is disposed on the actuating stroke to come into interference with the body (19) and an inactive state in which said stop is spaced from said stroke.

Description

The invention relates to a system for actuating a dispensing member of a fluid product, a dispensing member equipped with such an actuating system, and a bottle on which such a member is fixed.

In a particular application, the fluid product is for cosmetic use or for pharmaceutical treatments, especially in the form of liquid, gel or cream.

Dispensing members are known, for example formed by a pump, which comprise an actuating pushbutton whose body has a mounting well on a pressurized feed tube of the product, and a distribution path of said product up to 'to an exit passage.

Thus, by pressing on the body of the push button, it actuates the displacement of the tube on a dispensing stroke / aspiration of the product by the pump, in order to be able to return the product through the outlet passage in the form of a nut or of a continuous stream.

For aesthetic and / or functional reasons relative to its fixing, the dispensing members are conventionally equipped with a ring in which the push button is axially displaceable over the actuating stroke of the dispensing member.

Furthermore, to prevent unintentional actuation of the dispensing member by accidental support on the push button, it is known to equip said body with a cover covering said push button between two uses. It has also been proposed to equip the distribution members with a reversible locking device for its actuation by preventing the push button movement on its actuating stroke. However, the embodiments according to the prior art are complex, especially to maneuver.

The invention aims to improve the prior art by proposing in particular a system for actuating a dispensing member of a fluid product. a reversible locking device actuation which is simple to perform and maneuver, while providing a reliable locking of the actuation of the body between two uses.

For this purpose, and according to a first aspect, the invention proposes a system for actuating a dispensing member of a fluid product, said system comprising a push button whose body has a mounting well on a tube of fed from said member and a delivery path of said product to an outlet passage, said system comprising a ring in which said push button is axially displaceable over an actuating stroke of the dispensing member and a reversible locking device of said actuation by preventing said displacement, the locking device comprising an insert which is mounted in the ring with a possibility of relative rotation, said insert having means for securing in rotation to the dispensing member and at least one deformable stop, said device locking member further comprising a structure integral in rotation with the ring, said structure being arranged for, by rotatio n of said ring with respect to the insert, deforming the stop between an active state in which said stop is disposed on the actuating stroke to come to interfere with the body by preventing actuation and an inactive state in which said stop is spaced apart from said stroke to allow actuation.

According to a second aspect, the invention proposes a dispensing member comprising a tube for supplying a fluid product under pressure, said member being equipped with such an actuation system in which the well is mounted on said tube to feed the distribution path, said member being equipped with a fixing system on a reservoir in which the fluid product is conditioned.

According to a third aspect, the invention proposes a dispensing bottle having a container for conditioning a fluid product, said reservoir being surmounted by a neck on which the fastening system of such a dispenser member is fixed allowing supply of said organ as a packaged product.

• les figures 1 et 2 représentent un flacon de distribution selon un respectivement un premier et un deuxième modes de réalisation de l'invention ;
• les figures 3 sont des représentations partielles du flacon selon le premier mode de réalisation dans lequel le dispositif de verrouillage de l'actionnement du système d'actionnement est en état actif, respectivement en vue latérale partiellement coupée longitudinalement (figures 3a et 3b) et en vue de dessus coupée transversalement (figure 3c) ;
• les figures 4 sont des représentations partielles du flacon selon le premier mode de réalisation dans lequel le dispositif de verrouillage de l'actionnement du système d'actionnement est en état inactif, respectivement en vue latérale partiellement coupée longitudinalement (figures 4a) et en vue de dessus coupée transversalement (figure 4b) ;
• les figures 5 sont des représentations partielles du flacon selon le deuxième mode de réalisation dans lequel le dispositif de verrouillage de l'actionnement du système d'actionnement est en état actif, respectivement en vue latérale partiellement coupée longitudinalement (figures 5a et 5b) et en vue de dessus coupée transversalement (figure 5c) ;
• les figures 6 sont des représentations partielles du flacon selon le deuxième mode de réalisation dans lequel le dispositif de verrouillage de l'actionnement du système d'actionnement est en état inactif, respectivement en vue latérale partiellement coupée longitudinalement (figures 6a) et en vue de dessus coupée transversalement (figure 6b).

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the description which follows, made with reference to the appended figures, in which:

• the Figures 1 and 2 represent a dispensing bottle according to a respective first and second embodiment of the invention;
• the figures 3 are partial representations of the bottle according to the first embodiment in which the locking device of the actuation of the actuating system is in active state, respectively in lateral view partially cut longitudinally ( Figures 3a and 3b ) and in top view cut transversely ( figure 3c );
• the figures 4 are partial representations of the bottle according to the first embodiment in which the locking device of the actuation of the actuating system is in the inactive state, respectively in lateral view partially cut longitudinally ( Figures 4a ) and in top view cut transversely ( figure 4b );
• the figures 5 are partial representations of the bottle according to the second embodiment in which the locking device of the actuation of the actuating system is in active state, respectively in lateral view partially cut longitudinally ( figures 5a and 5b ) and in top view cut transversely ( figure 5c );
• the figures 6 are partial representations of the bottle according to the second embodiment in which the locking device of the actuation of the actuating system is in the inactive state, respectively in lateral view partially cut longitudinally ( Figures 6a ) and in top view cut transversely ( figure 6b ).

In the description, the spatial positioning terms are taken with reference to the position of the bottle shown in the figures.

In relation to the figures, a system for actuating a fluid product dispensing member 1, a dispensing member 1 equipped with such an actuating system, and a bottle intended to contain, are described below. a fluid product and on which is mounted such a member 1 for dispensing said fluid product. In particular examples, the product may be a liquid, a gel or a cream, for cosmetic use or for pharmaceutical treatments.

The bottle may be formed of rigid material, in particular glass or plastic material, to comprise a body 2 defining a reservoir 3 for packaging the product. The body 2 is surmounted by a neck 4 formed in one piece with said body. The dispensing bottle also comprises a dispensing member 1 mounted on the neck 4 by arranging the means 5 for supplying said member inside the reservoir 3, in order to allow said member to be supplied with a packaged product.

In the embodiments shown, the dispensing member 1 comprises a pump which has a body whose periphery is mounted without clamping in the neck 4. The body has a lower part which is provided with a feed orifice, the feed means 5 comprising a dip tube having an upper portion secured in the orifice and a lower portion extending into the reservoir 3.

The dispensing member further comprises a system for allowing its attachment to the neck 4 of the bottle, said system having a bushing 6 intended to be sealingly attached to said neck. In the embodiments shown, the fixing sleeve 6 comprises an armature 7 which has an outer envelope of revolution, the dispensing member 1 being secured to said armature inside said casing.

In connection with the figures, the armature 7 comprises an annular bearing surface 8 on which the outer casing is formed, as well as a radial wall 9 which overcomes said annular bearing surface. In addition, the frame 7 comprises an upper wall 10 which is provided with an orifice in which the dispensing member 1 is mounted, said upper wall being connected to the radial wall 9 via a wall 11. Furthermore, to ensure the attachment of the frame 7 to the dispensing member 1, the wall 11 comprises a groove 12 latching a groove 13 formed on the body of said dispensing member.

In the embodiments shown, the attachment of the dispensing member 1 on the neck 4 is made with the interposition of an annular seal 14 between the top wall of the neck 4 and the radial wall 9 of the frame 7 said upper wall further having a sealing ring 15. Alternatively, the body of the dispensing member 1 can be tightly tightened in the neck 4 so that it can be relieved of the presence of the gasket. seal.

The frame 7 also comprises a skirt 16 having a mounting configuration ( Figures 1, 2 ) in which said skirt is positionable around an outer side wall of the neck 4 and a clamping configuration ( Figures 3-6 ) of said skirt around said side wall for securing.

In the embodiments shown, the skirt 16 has lugs 16a arranged to snap under the outer side wall of the neck 4 in mounting configuration. Alternatively, the skirt 16 may have tabs 16a which are foldable radially from the mounting configuration to the clamping configuration.

Furthermore, the sleeve 6 comprises a collar 17 slidably mounted around the outer shell of the frame 7 between a high position and a low position. Thus, the lugs 16 of the skirt 16 can be maintained in a clamping configuration when the flange 17 is moved in the lower position.

The dispensing member 1 further comprises an actuating system for dispensing the fluid product, said system comprising a push button 18 whose body 19 has a mounting well 20 on a supply tube 21 of said member 1 and a path 22 for dispensing said product to an outlet passage 23 formed in said push button.

The actuation system further comprises a ring 24 in which the push button 18 is axially displaceable over an actuating stroke of the dispensing member 1. In the embodiments shown, the ring 24 comprises a sleeve 25 which is immobilized axially on the sleeve 6 with a possibility of rotation.

To do this, the sleeve 25 comprises a cylindrical envelope which delimits an upper housing in which the push button 18 is axially displaceable, and a lower receiving housing of the sleeve 6. In particular, the envelope comprises at least one protrusion 26 which extends radially from its inner wall and near the bottom of the lower housing, said projection being snapped under an annular bead 27 formed on the collar 17 to allow the axial immobilization of the sleeve 25 on said collar with the possibility of rotation.

The ring 24 further comprises an outer hoop 28 which is secured in rotation around the sleeve 25, said hoop can be made in one piece, in particular of rigid material such as metal and for example aluminum, or plastic material.

In particular, the inner wall of the ferrule 28 is provided with ridges 29 which become embedded in the outer wall of the casing of the sleeve 25 to allow rotationally securing said ferrule to said sleeve. To do this, optimally, the material of the band 28 may have a hardness greater than that of the sleeve 25.

To prevent unintentional actuation of the dispensing member 1 by accidental pressing on the push button 18, the actuating system further comprises a reversible locking device of said actuation by preventing the axial displacement of said push button.

The locking device comprises an insert 30 which is mounted in the sleeve 25 of the ring 24 with a possibility of relative rotation. The insert 30 has means for securing in rotation which are engaged on the bushing 6 of the dispensing member 1, as well as at least one deformable stop intended to interfere with the body 19 of the push button 18 to prevent actuation. of the organ 1 of distribution.

In particular, the insert 30 is disposed in the upper housing of the sleeve 25, so that the lower end of the body 19 of the push button 18 comes into axial interference with the deformable stop to prevent the actuation of the organ 1 of distribution.

The locking device further comprises a structure integral in rotation with the ring 24, and in particular formed inside the sleeve 25, said structure being arranged for, by rotation of the ring 24 with respect to the insert 30, to deform the abutment between an active state, wherein said stop is disposed on the actuating stroke of the dispensing member 1 to interfere with the body 19 of the push button 18 by preventing said actuation, and an inactive state, wherein said stop is removed from said stroke to allow actuation.

To do this, the structure has a circumferential ramp 31 on which the stop is disposed, said ramp extending angularly between a minimum radial dimension of disposition of the stop in a state and a maximum radial dimension of disposition of the stop in the other state.

In relation to figures 1 , 3 and 4 a first embodiment is described below, wherein the sleeve 25 has an inner plate 32 which extends between the lower and upper housing, and on which the circumferential ramp 31 is formed. In particular, the inner plate 32 comprises a slot 33 on a side wall of which is formed the circumferential ramp, and the stop comprises a finger 34 which is engaged in said light.

In the aforementioned figures, the inner plate 32 and the abutment respectively comprise two lumens 33 and two fingers 34 which are distributed symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal plane, each finger 34 being engaged respectively in a lumen 33 and comprising one end distal 35 on which the lower end of the body 19 of the push button 18 comes into axial interference when said fingers are in active state. Thus, the blocking of the pushbutton 18 in the up position is balanced axially to prevent actuation of the dispensing member 1.

In relation to Figures 3c and 4b each light 33 has a first end 36 which extends along a minimum radial dimension r with respect to the center of the upper housing and a second end 37 which extends in a maximum radial dimension R with respect to said center, the ramp 31 s extending angularly between said ends having a radial dimension which varies continuously between said minimum and maximum radial dimensions. Thus, during the rotation of the ring 24, each ramp 31 slides on the blank of a finger 34 to progressively deform said finger, and therefore said stop between its active and inactive states.

Furthermore, each end 36, 37 of a slot 33 is arranged so that the finger 34 bears against it at the end of the angular stroke of the ring 24, in order to respectively define the active state and the inactive state of the ring. deformable stop.

In particular, the fingers 34 form means for securing rotation of the insert 30 to the dispensing member 1. To do this, the insert 30 has a ring 38 on which the fingers 34 extend axially, said ring being mounted in the sleeve 6 being interposed between the flange 17 and the wall 9 of the frame 7. Moreover, the flange 17 has two orifices 39 distributed symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal plane, a finger 34 being immobilized angularly in one of said orifices, respectively.

In relation to figures 2 , 5 and 6 , a second embodiment is described below, in which the ring 24 has a ring 40 on the inside of which the circumferential ramp 31 is formed. In particular, the casing of the sleeve 25 comprises an upper portion on which is formed the ring 40, the circumferential ramp 31 being formed on the inner wall of said ring so as to extend in the upper part of the upper housing.

Furthermore, the insert 30 has a deformable ring 41 which is mounted in the ring 40 and which has an upper wall 42 on which the lower end of the body 19 of the push button 18 comes into axial interference when the stop is in active state .

In particular, the fact that the upper wall 42 extends circumferentially and continuously about a longitudinal axis makes it possible to axially balance the blocking of the push button 18 in the up position to prevent the actuation of the dispensing member 1 .

To ensure the rotation of the ring 41 to the dispensing member 1, the sleeve 6 comprises at least one projection 43 on which said ring is angularly immobilized.

More specifically, the armature 7 comprises four projections 43 formed on the wall 9 and distributed in pairs symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal plane, the collar 17 having two orifices 44 in each of which a pair of projections 43 is arranged extending axially. . Furthermore, the ring 41 comprises two lower recesses 45 which are distributed symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal plane and in each of which a pair of projections 43 is intended to be arranged to angularly immobilize said ring.

As represented in particular on Figures 5c and 6b , the ring 41 has two radial dimensions respectively minimum and maximum, said dimensions being arranged with the dimensions of the ramp 31 so that said ring interferes with the body 19 of the push button 18 when the maximum dimensions of said ramp and said ring are arranged next to ( figures 5b and 5c ), and so that said ring does not interfere with said body when a maximum dimension and a minimum dimension of said ring and said ramp are arranged opposite ( figures 6 ).

To do this, the ring 41 and the ring 40 each have an elliptical geometry which, by a relative offset of 90 °, successively form a substantially cylindrical bore in an inactive state ( figure 6b ) and a substantially elliptical bore in the active state ( figure 5c ).

More precisely, the ring 41 and the ring 40 each have two wall portions 46, 47 with a minimum radial thickness a, c and two wall portions 48, 49 with a maximum radial thickness A, C, the wall portions 46 , 48, 47, 49 having the same radial thickness a, A, c, C being arranged opposite in pairs.

Thus, when the thickest wall portions 47, 49 of the crown 40 and the ring 41, and therefore their respective maximum radial thicknesses A, C, are disposed facing each other in pairs, the ring 41 is deformed so that forming an elliptical bore whose small diameter forms a minimum radial dimension enabling the thickest wall portions 47 of the abutment to interfere with the body 19 of the push button 18.

Likewise, when the thickest wall portions 47, 49, and thus the maximum radial thicknesses A, C, of one of the ring 40 and the ring 41 are arranged opposite the wall portions 46, 48, the finer, therefore the minimum radial thicknesses a, c, of the other of said ring and said ring, the ring 41 is deformed so as to form a cylindrical bore whose diameter forms a maximum radial dimension allowing the wall portions 46 , 47 of the stop to be removed from the actuating stroke of the push button 18.

Advantageously, this second embodiment makes it possible to activate or deactivate the locking device independently of the direction of rotation of the ring 24, which facilitates said activation, and thereby the use of the bottle.

Moreover, the ring 40 and the ring 41 have a relative rotation interface which is provided with means for indexing the state of the ring 41.

In connection with the figures, the ring 40 comprises four axial grooves 50 which are formed on the circumferential ramp 31 by being spaced two by two at an angle of 90 °. Similarly, the ring 41 comprises two axial projections 51 which are formed on an outer wall of said ring being spaced two by two at an angle of 180 °, said projections being intended to be engaged in two diametrically opposite grooves 50 to have said ring in one or the other of its states.

Thus, to move the ring 41 from one state to another, it is sufficient to rotate the ring 24 over an angular stroke of 90 °, first to clear the projections 51 of the grooves 50 defining the first state, and until said projections engage in the grooves 50 defining the second state.

Moreover, the projections 51 and / or the grooves 50 may be arranged so that the provision of said protrusions in two of said grooves is accompanied by a characteristic clipping noise, in order to indicate to the user of the bottle that the activation or the deactivation of the locking device has been correctly performed.

Claims (18)

System for actuating a fluid product dispensing member (1), said system comprising a push button (18) whose body (19) has a mounting well (20) on a tube (21) of fed from said member and a path (22) for dispensing said product to an outlet passage (23), said system comprising a ring (24) in which said push button is axially displaceable on an actuating stroke of the member (1) of distribution and a reversible locking device of said actuation by preventing said displacement, said system being characterized in that the locking device comprises an insert (30) which is mounted in the ring (24) with a possibility of relative rotation , said insert having means (34, 45) for rotationally fastening to the dispensing member (1) and at least one deformable abutment (34, 41), said locking device further comprising a structure integral in rotation with the ba gue (24), said structure being arranged for, by rotation of said ring relative to the insert (30), deforming the stop (34, 41) between an active state in which said stop is disposed on the actuating stroke to interfere with the body (19) by preventing actuation and an inactive state in which said stop is spaced from said stroke to allow actuation. Operating system according to claim 1, characterized in that the ring (24) has an outer ring (28) which is secured in rotation about a sleeve (25) in which the insert (30) is rotatably mounted. , the structure being formed inside said sleeve. Operating system according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the structure has a circumferential ramp (31) on which the stop (34, 41) is arranged, said ramp extending angularly between a minimum radial dimension (r, c) arrangement of the stop (34, 41) in a state and a maximum radial dimension (R, C) of disposition of the stop (34, 41) in the other state. Actuating system according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the sleeve (25) has an inner plate (32) on which the circumferential ramp (31) is formed. Operating system according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the stop comprises a finger (34) which is engaged in a slot (33) of the structure, the ramp (31) being formed by a side wall of said light. Operating system according to claim 5, characterized in that the finger (34) has a distal end (35) on which the body (19) comes into axial interference when said finger is in active state. Operating system according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the insert (30) has a ring (38) on which at least one finger (34) extends axially. Operating system according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the finger (34) forms means for securing rotation of the insert (30) to the member (1) distribution. Actuating system according to claim 3, characterized in that the ring (24) has a ring (40) on the inside of which the circumferential ramp (31) is formed. Actuating system according to claim 9, characterized in that the insert (30) has a deformable ring (41) which is mounted in the ring (40), said ring having an upper wall (42) on which the body (40) 19) comes into axial interference when the stop (41) is in the active state. Actuating system according to claim 10, characterized in that the ring (41) has two radial dimensions respectively minimum (a) and maximum (A), said dimensions being arranged with the dimensions (c, C) of the ramp (31) for said ring interferes - respectively does not interfere - with the body (19) when the maximum dimensions (A, C) - respectively a minimum dimension (a, c) and a maximum dimension (A, C) ) - are arranged opposite. Actuating system according to Claim 11, characterized in that the ring (41) and the ring gear (40) each have an elliptical geometry which, by a relative offset of 90 °, successively form a substantially cylindrical bore in an inactive and elliptical state. in active state. Actuating system according to one of Claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the ring gear (40) and the ring (41) have a relative rotation interface which is provided with indexing means (50, 51) the state of the ring (41). A dispensing member (1) comprising a tube (21) for supplying fluid under pressure, said member being equipped with an actuating system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the well (20) is mounted on said tube for supplying the distribution path (22), said member being equipped with a fixing system on a reservoir (3) in which the fluid product is conditioned. Delivery member (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that the fastening system has a sleeve (6) intended to be sealingly attached to the reservoir (3), the ring (24) being immobilized axially on said bushing with a possibility of rotation, the means (34, 45) for securing in rotation of the insert (30) being engaged on said sleeve. Dispensing member according to claim 15 when dependent on claim 8, characterized in that the sleeve (6) has an orifice (39) in which a finger (34) is angularly immobilized. Dispensing member according to claim 15 when dependent on claim 10, characterized in that the sleeve (6) comprises at least one projection (43) on which the ring (41) is angularly immobilized. Dispensing bottle having a reservoir (3) for packaging a fluid product, said reservoir being surmounted by a neck (4) on which the system for fixing a dispensing member (1) according to any one of the claims 14 to 17 is fixed by allowing the supply of said body in packaged product.

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