Patent Application
20170001211
The present application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 15175355.5 filed Jul. 3, 2015. The present application claims priority to and the benefit of all the above-identified application, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing a viscous or liquid product from a reservoir.
In the prior art, dispensing devices are provided with an actuator and a pump mechanism, the actuator being directly coupled with the pump mechanism. To avoid an involuntary actuation of the pump mechanism, dispensing devices are also known to be provided with a mechanism which allows two different configurations: a first configuration in which the actuation of the actuator is blocked and a second configuration in which the pump mechanism can be activated by pressing the actuator.
However, there is still a need for improvement in this area.
To meet this aim, aspects of the present invention provide a dispensing device for dispensing a viscous or liquid product from a fluid reservoir, said dispensing device comprising an actuator, a controlling member, a dispensing member, a collar, configured to be linked to the reservoir, and an extender, said dispensing device being configured so that an actuation of the controlling member causes a relative movement of the actuator and the collar thanks to which the dispensing device reversibly switches from a first configuration, in which the dispensing member is unable to be activated, to a second configuration in which the actuator is coupled in translation with the extender, so that when the actuator is pushed down it activates the dispensing member.
According to different embodiments, which can be taken together or separately:
Aspects of the invention also provides a receptacle comprising a reservoir and a dispensing device as described above.
The invention is more fully described below with reference to the accompanying drawings which show an embodiment of the invention by way of non limiting example.
In the following description, the terms for spatial positioning are taken with reference to the position of the dispensing device as shown in the above-mentioned
Aspects of the invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing a viscous or liquid fluid stocked in a fluid reservoir. Said reservoir, not shown, may comprise a neck and a body. The body of the reservoir can be cylindrical or polygonal and is designed to stock the fluid. Advantageously, the dispensing device is designed to be reversibly connectable to the neck of said reservoir. The dispensing device can be fastened, for example by screwing, on the neck of said reservoir. In this case, a surface of the neck can be threaded.
Referring to
The dispensing member 3 can be a pump mechanism or a valve mechanism. Here, the dispensing member 3 is a pump mechanism. Said pump mechanism 3 advantageously comprises an actuator rod 36, a pump body and a feed tube 37. The extender 5 and the activator rod 36 are coupled in axial translation, meaning that they move simultaneously in translation, which causes an actuation of the pump mechanism 3 and a distribution of product.
Referring to
Advantageously, the outer sleeve 150 of the actuator 1 comprises one or several, here three, grooves or recesses 161. These recesses 161 radially recess toward an inside of the actuator 1. The radial direction is here defined orthogonal to the axial direction. Here, the recesses 161 have a rectangular transversal section, said transversal section being orthogonal to the axial direction. These recesses 161 are longitudinal and extend along the direction of extension of the outer sleeve 150, that is to say in the axial direction. In other words, each one of these longitudinal recesses 161 extends axially along the outer sleeve 150. The recesses 161 extend from a free end of the outer sleeve 150 of the actuator 1. They are evenly distributed along the periphery of the outer sleeve 150. It should be noted that the recesses 161 of the outer sleeve 150 do not extend up to the thrust surface 131. Advantageously, when the dispensing device is fully assembled, the recesses 161 cannot be seen by the user.
As will be hereinafter described, the recesses 161 are designed to engage with the controlling member 2, allowing the actuator 1 to axially slide into the controlling member 2.
The inner sleeve 140 of the actuator 1 is joined to the outer sleeve by the thrust surface 131. The inner sleeve 140 has an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface being parallel to and facing the outer sleeve 150. Here, the inner sleeve 140 comprises one or several, here three, lugs 120 on its inner surface. These lugs 120 are evenly distributed along the periphery of the inner surface of the inner sleeve 140. Said lugs 120 are substantially cylindrical and extend inwardly and radially from the inner surface of the inner sleeve 140. As will hereinafter be described, they are designed to engage with the collar 5.
The actuator 1 further comprises one or several, here three, tabs 110 also arranged on the inner surface of the inner sleeve 140. Here, these tabs 110 are located at a junction between the thrust surface 131 and the inner surface of the inner sleeve 140. Said tabs 110 extend radially and inwardly from the inner surface of the inner sleeve 140 and axially from the lower side of the thrust surface 131. Here, these tabs 110 are slightly rectangular but they could have a different general shape.
As will hereinafter be described, said tabs 110 are arranged and designed to transmit a force, exerted by the user in the pushing direction on the upper side of the thrust surface 131, to the extender 5.
One or several, here three orifices 101 are arranged through a center of the thrust surface 131. Advantageously, these orifices 101 extend from the lower side of the thrust surface 131 to its upper side. They allow a fluid communication from the inside of the dispensing device to the outside of it. The orifices 101 substantially axially extend through the thrust surface 131.
Moreover, the actuator 1 comprises an exit channel 130 which axially and downwardly extends from the lower side of the thrust surface 131. Here, the exit channel 130 substantially extends concentrically with the inner sleeve 140 and the outer sleeve 150 of the actuator 1. This exit channel 130 is located at the center of the thrust surface 131 and surrounds the orifices 101 of the thrust surface 131. As will hereinafter be described, the exit channel 130 is configured to engage with the extender 5.
As illustrated at
The extender 5 further comprises one or more, here three, rib structures 501 that are designed on and extend from the upper side of the circular plate 571. The rib structures 501 extend orthogonally and upwardly from the circular plate 571. In other words, the rib structures 501 extend from the upper side of the circular plate 571.
Each one of these rib structures 501 is designed to respectively cooperate with one of the tabs 110 of the actuator 1 so as to transmit the force exerted by the user in the pushing direction from the actuator 1 to the actuator rod 36 of the pump mechanism 3, in one configuration of the dispensing device.
The extender 5 further comprises a central opening 535 which is located at a center of the circular plate 571. This central opening 535 allows a fluid communication between the reservoir and the exit channel 130 of the actuator 1. It extends from the upper side to the lower side of the circular plate 571. In other words, the central opening 535 passes axially through the center of the circular plate 571. The extender 5 also comprises a communication tube 530. This communication tube 530 orthogonally extends from the upper side of the circular plate 571 of the extender 5, at a periphery of the central opening 535. In other words, the communication tube 530 extends upwardly from the periphery of the central opening 535. An outer diameter of the communication tube 530 is substantially identical to an inner diameter of the exit channel 130 of the actuator 1 so that the communication tube 530 can engage with and slide in the exit channel 130.
Advantageously, as illustrated in the
The outer casing 201 of the controlling member 2 is designed to be grasped by the user. It can be rotated around the axial direction relative to the collar as well as relative to the reservoir when the collar is fastened to the reservoir.
The controlling member 2 further comprises a peripheral ring 211 and an inner sleeve 221. The peripheral ring 211 advantageously radially and inwardly extends from an inner surface of the outer casing 201, said radial direction being orthogonal to the axial direction of the controlling member 2. Said peripheral ring 211 here comprises a central opening from a periphery of which axially extends the inner sleeve 221 of the controlling member 2. In other words, the inner sleeve 221 and the outer casing 201 of the controlling member are joined to each other by the peripheral ring 211. In other words, the peripheral ring 211 acts as a radial junction between the outer casing 201 and the inner sleeve 221. Advantageously, the longitudinal sticks 234 of the controlling member 1 axially extend on the inner surface of the outer casing 201 from an upper side the peripheral ring 211. In other words, the sticks 234 orthogonally extend from the peripheral ring 211 in an upward direction. It should be noted that the upper side of the peripheral ring 211 is here arranged to face the lower side of the thrust surface 131 of the actuator 1.
The controlling member 2 is designed to axially engage with the collar 4. An inner surface of the inner sleeve of the controlling member 2 is provided with one or several, here three, axial ribs 256 and a peripheral rim 223. The peripheral rim 223 and the axial ribs 256 are designed to act as a snap-fastener system, said system being arranged to fasten the controlling member 2 to the collar 4 as will hereinafter be described. This snap-fastener system is configured to engage with the collar and block any axial translation of the controlling member 2 and the collar 3 relative to each other while a rotation of the controlling member is allowed.
As illustrated at the
In other words, each groove 420 extends helically and upwardly from a first position A to a second position B from which the groove 420 extends axially and downwardly to a third point C. The part of the groove 420 between point A and point B corresponds with the helical part 422 of the groove 420 whereas the part of the groove between point B and point C corresponds with the vertical part 421 of the groove 420.
It should be noted that each lug 120 can therefore be moved from one part of its corresponding groove 420 to the other while staying engaged in the groove 420. In other words, there is no separation or boundary between the helical part 422 and the vertical part 421 of each groove 420.
Thanks to this layout, when one of the lugs 120 of the actuator 1 moves inside the helical part 422 of its corresponding groove 420, the actuator 1 is both axially and angularly displaced relative to the collar 4. In contrast, when the lugs 120 move inside the vertical part 421 of the grooves 420, the actuator 1 is only axially displaced relative to the collar 4.
Else, the collar 4 is provided on the external surface of its body 401 with a peripheral external rim 461. The thickness of the external rim, said thickness being measured in parallel to the axial direction of the body 401, here substantially equals an axial distance between the axial ribs 256 and the internal rim 223 of the controlling member 2. This external rim 461 of the collar 4 is designed to engage with the controlling member 2, between the axial ribs 256 and the internal rim 223 thereof.
To ease an assembly of the controlling member 2 on the collar 4, the external rim 461 of the collar 4 is provided with one or more, here three, discontinuities or recesses 471, which act as entrances in that they allow each one of the axial ribs 256 of the controlling member 2 to pass through and below the external rim 461. Once the collar 4 and the controlling member 2 are assembled together, they are coupled to each other in translation.
Also, in order to ease an assembly of the actuator 1 on the collar 4, the body 401 of the collar 4 is provided with one or more axial recesses 433, here three axial recesses 433, which are configured to ease the entrance of each of the lugs 120 into its corresponding groove 420. Specifically, each one of said recesses 433 axially extends from point A of each groove 420 to the top of the body 401.
The collar 4 also comprises on the outer surface of the body 401 one or more, here six, axial boundary ribs 451. Here, these boundary ribs 451 extend downwardly from the peripheral external rim 461 of the collar 2. The ribs 451 are evenly distributed at the periphery of said body 401. These ribs 451 are designed and configured to stand as rotational abutments for the controlling member 2. In other words, the ribs 451 are designed to limit the rotation of the controlling member 2 relative to the collar 4, said rotation being here limited to one sixth of a tour. Specifically, when the collar 2 and the controlling member 2 are mounted together thanks to the snap-fastener system, each one of the ribs 256 of the controlling member 2 can only rotate around the collar body 401 in its corresponding angular sector, said angular sector being defined by the angular distance between two successive axial boundary ribs 451 of the collar 4.
In other words, each one of the ribs 256 of the controlling member 2 can rotate between two successive ribs 451 of the collar 4.
On an inferior part of its inner surface, the collar 4 is provided with a thread so that the collar 4 can be reversibly connected to an external surface of the neck of the reservoir.
Furthermore, the collar 4 is provided with tiny spurs 463 that are arranged under the external rim 461 and project downwardly from it. Each of those tiny spurs 463 has a longitudinal direction of extension parallel to a radial direction of the body 401. These spurs 463 are designed to offer a resistance to a rotation of the controlling member 2 relative to the collar 4 and/or even emit a click sound when the controlling member 2 reaches or leaves one of the two angular abutment positions defined by the corresponding boundary rib 451. The double function of these spurs 463 is, first, to prevent an involuntary change of configuration of the dispensing device and, second, to warn the user when the controlling member 2 leaves or reaches one of the abutment positions.
Else, as illustrated on
According to aspects of the invention, the dispensing device can be switched from a first configuration to a second configuration. The first configuration corresponds to the configuration of the dispensing device when each one of the lugs 120 of the actuator 1 is located at the point A of its corresponding groove 420 of the collar 4. The second configuration of the dispensing device corresponds to the configuration where each one of the lugs 120 of the actuator 1 is located at the point B of its corresponding groove 420.
In reference to
The controlling member 2 is configured to downwardly abut on the collar 4. Specifically, here, the peripheral rim 223 of the controlling member 2 is configured to downwardly abut against the peripheral external rim 461 of the collar 4.
Also, the pump mechanism 3 is configured to downwardly abut against the collar 4. Specifically, here, the pump mechanism 3 further comprises a shoulder 304 which downwardly abuts against an internal sleeve 494 of the collar 4.
We will now describe the mechanical interaction of the components described above with each other. We consider here the assembled dispensing device, the lugs 120 being at the point A. This corresponds to the first configuration of the dispensing device. This configuration corresponds to a retracted position of the actuator 1 inside the controlling member 2 (Cf.
To be able to use the dispensing device, the user has to rotate the controlling member 2 counter clockwise (or to the right) relative to the collar 4. This manipulation allows the dispensing device to be switched from the first configuration to the second configuration.
Here, because the collar 4 is fastened to the neck of the fluid reservoir, a rotation of the controlling member 2 relative to the reservoir corresponds to an equivalent rotation of the controlling member 2 relative to the collar 4. The actuator 1 being coupled in rotation to the controlling member 2, a rotation of the controlling member 2 causes a rotation of the actuator 4. Specifically, when the controlling member 2 rotates counter clockwise (or to the right), each lug 120 of the actuator 1 moves inside its corresponding groove 420, along the helical part 421 thereof. At the same time, each one of the tabs 110 of the actuator 1 slides along an oblique part of the rib structures 501 of the extender 5. As a result, the actuator 1 axially moves up relative to the controlling member 2. While doing so, the movement of the actuator 1 relative to the collar 4 is a combination of a rotation and of an axial translation. The controlling member 2 can be rotated counter clockwise (or to the right) until it reaches the angular abutment position where each one of the internal ribs 256 of the controlling member abuts against another one of the six external ribs 451 of the collar 4.
During the above described rotation of the controlling member 2 relative to the collar 4, that is to say when the dispensing device is switched from one configuration to the other, the actuator 1 is decoupled from the extender 5 and from the activator rod 36.
When the controlling member 2 has just been rotated to the right and has reached one of the abutment positions, each one of the lugs 120 of the actuator is located at the point B of its corresponding guiding track 420. This situation corresponds to the second configuration of the dispensing device. In this configuration, the dispensing member 3 can be activated by a pushing of the actuator 1 by the user. In this configuration, each one of the tabs 110 of the actuator 1 is in contact with and abuts on an upper end of its corresponding rib structure 501 without any interaction of an intermediate component. Here, the actuator 1 cannot be lifted up because each one of the lugs 120 would abut against a superior edge of its corresponding guiding tracks 420. In this case, the user has a choice between rotating the controlling member 2 clockwise (or to the left) to get back to the first configuration or pushing the actuator 1 down to activate the pump mechanism 3. Specifically, if the user presses the thrust surface 131 of the actuator 1, the thrust surface 1 drives the tab 110 which then drives the extender 5 which drives the activator rod 36 of the pump mechanism 3.
In other words, an actuation of the actuator 1 causes the activator rod 36 to be moved down which activates the pump mechanism 3 and allow a dispensing of the fluid through the orifices 101 of the actuator 1. Simultaneously, the lugs 120 of the actuator are moved down along the vertical part 421 of the guiding tracks 420.
During the axial translation of the actuator 1, when the extender 5 is coupled in translation with the actuator 1, the notches 552 of the extender 5 are designed to slide against the internal ribs 452 of the collar 1.
As already said, advantageously, the collar 4 can be disconnected from the reservoir by an actuation of the controlling member 2. Specifically, once the controlling member 2 has reached one of the rotational abutment positions, if the user then forces the rotation of the controlling member 2 relative to the reservoir toward said abutment position, it leads to either a tightening or a loosening of the connection between the reservoir and the collar 4.
It should be noted that advantageously the pump mechanism 3 can be fastened to the collar 4.
It should also be noted that the dispensing device is configured so that the whole assembly of its components can be done by simple axial translations.
Moreover, advantageously, the dispensing device is configured so that a disconnection of the collar 4 from the reservoir causes a disconnection of the dispensing device as a whole from said reservoir.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15175355.5 | Jul 2015 | EP | regional |
