The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser comprising: a reservoir; a dispenser member, such as a pump or a valve; a fastener ring for fastening the pump or the valve on an opening of the reservoir; a pusher that is axially displaceable so as to displace the actuator rod; and a dispenser endpiece defining a dispenser orifice. Such fluid dispensers are commonly used in the fields of perfumery, cosmetics, or even pharmacy.
In the field of cosmetics, dispensers are often made with a projecting endpiece, e.g. in the form of a nozzle. The dispenser orifice is situated at the free end of the endpiece or nozzle. By means of the projecting endpiece, it is easier for the user to collect the fluid, especially if it is a viscous fluid, such as a cream, a gel, a pomade, etc. The endpiece is generally mounted in stationary manner on the part to which it is connected. Conventionally, the endpiece is mounted on the pusher that is axially displaceable. In a variant, it is also possible to mount the endpiece on a part that is independent of the pusher and that is stationary relative to the reservoir. In order to protect the endpiece, it is also known to provide it with a cap, making it possible to mask the dispenser orifice in such a manner that the fluid situated in the dispenser orifice is no longer in contact with the air. It is thus possible to avoid deterioration of the fluid in the dispenser orifice. However, this requires the user to remove the cap and put it back into place each time the dispenser is used. There is also a risk of losing the cap.
An object of the present invention is to protect the dispenser endpiece by making it movable relative to the part from which it projects, in such a manner as to be able to retract it.
To do this, the present invention proposes a fluid dispenser comprising: a fluid reservoir provided with an opening; a fluid dispenser member, such as a pump or a valve, said member comprising a body and an actuator rod that is displaceable down and up along an axis X; a fastener ring for fastening the dispenser member on the opening of the reservoir; a pusher that is axially displaceable down and up so as to displace the actuator rod; and a dispenser endpiece defining a dispenser orifice; the fluid dispenser being characterized in that it further comprises displacement means that are suitable for displacing the endpiece both in turning about the axis X and in radial translation, the radial distance between the endpiece and the axis X varying as the endpiece turns about said axis X, such that the endpiece is displaceable between an extended position remote from the axis X and a retracted position close to the axis X. Thus, the dispenser endpiece is retracted radially as it is turned. In other words, it is the turning of the dispenser endpiece that causes the endpiece to be displaced radially inwards or outwards depending on the turning direction. The endpiece thus follows a complex path that is substantially helical.
In an advantageous embodiment, the displacement means comprise: a rotary actuator member that turns about the axis X, the endpiece being constrained to turn with said actuator member; and a cam path that is prevented from turning relative to the reservoir; the radial distance between the path and the axis X varying along the path, the endpiece being engaged with the cam path in such a manner that it follows the cam path while it is being turned by the actuator member. Thus, it is the turning of the actuator member that forces the dispenser endpiece to be displaced along the cam path, which is itself prevented from turning relative to the actuator member or relative to the reservoir.
In another embodiment, the cam path is formed by a cam element that is mounted on a ferrule that is mounted in stationary manner relative to the reservoir, the cam element being prevented from turning relative to the ferrule, but being capable of being displaced axially, the pusher being in engagement with the ferrule via a second threaded cam path, the pusher being turned by the actuator member, the pusher being displaced axially relative to the ferrule and to the actuator member by following the second threaded cam path while said pusher is being turned by the actuator member, such that turning the actuator member simultaneously causes both the rotary axial displacement of the pusher and the rotary radial displacement of the endpiece. In this event, the pusher is displaced axially as it turns, and simultaneously the dispenser endpiece is displaced radially as it turns. The pusher and the endpiece are turned simultaneously. A dispenser is thus created having an actuator member that both causes the pusher to rise and the endpiece to be extended out therefrom. By turning the actuator member in the opposite direction, the pusher descends, and simultaneously the endpiece retracts radially. Advantageously, the pusher is axially displaceable in such a manner as to be housed entirely in the actuator member with the endpiece in its retracted position, that is masked by the actuator member. In this way, not only is the endpiece retracted in its housing, but the housing is also covered by the actuator member. In another characteristic, the pusher comprises a body and a cover, the body forming a rotary housing for the endpiece, the cam path being disposed between the body and the cover. The cam path is thus held captive in the pusher, while enabling the pusher and the cam path to turn relative to each other.
In an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the endpiece is connected to the actuator rod via a flexible hose. The hose makes it possible to interconnect, with a considerable degree of freedom, the end of the actuator rod of the dispenser member and the dispenser endpiece that is displaced simultaneously in turning and in radial translation. The end of the hose that is connected to the dispenser endpiece must follow a path that is substantially or partially helical. Consequently, it is necessary for the hose to present good deformability characteristics without kinking.
In an embodiment, the cam path is axially displaceable down and up with the pusher. In a variant, the cam path is stationary relative to the reservoir. In this event, the dispenser endpiece is not mounted on the pusher. In another aspect of the invention, the pusher forms the rotary actuator member, the endpiece being constrained to turn with the pusher. In this event, it is the pusher that the user turns so as to force the endpiece to follow the cam path. It is even possible to say that the pusher and the rotary actuator member are the same member. In a variant, the endpiece is constrained to turn with the pusher, the pusher being turned by the rotary actuator member which is a part that is distinct from the pusher, the actuator member being prevented from moving in axial translation. In this event, the actuator member and the pusher are separate parts, the pusher being capable of being displaced axially relative to the actuator member that remains stationary relative to the reservoir. In contrast, the actuator member may be turned.
In another aspect of the invention that is advantageous, the endpiece is disposed in a rotary housing in which it is displaceable radially. The endpiece is held captive in the rotary housing, but it is forced to slide inside the housing since it is constrained to follow the cam path.
In an embodiment of the invention, the cam path is formed by a cam element that is mounted on the fastener ring. The cam element is thus in engagement with the fastener ring in such a manner as to prevent said cam element from turning, the cam element optionally being capable of being displaced axially relative to the ring.
In another aspect of the invention, the cam path is formed by a cam element comprising a plate that is provided with a rib defining the cam path, the endpiece including a groove in which the rib is slidably housed.
In another advantageous aspect of the invention, the pusher includes a window through which the cam element is visible. Given that the cam element is prevented from turning relative to the reservoir, it remains stationary in turning even if the pusher is rotary. In this way, it is possible to provide the cam element with any marking, such as a logo or a trademark, for example, that is not going to be turned. Thus, the logo or the trademark is always oriented correctly relative to the front face of the reservoir, for example.
An advantageous principle of the invention lies in the dispenser endpiece being displaced radially: to do this, an actuation movement is generated that causes the endpiece to be displaced radially. The actuation movement can be a rotary movement or some other movement, e.g. an axial movement.
The invention is described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings which show three embodiments of the invention by way of non-limiting example.
In the figures:
a and 2b are diagrammatic horizontal cross-section views through the
a and 5b are vertical-section views through the
Reference is made firstly to
The reservoir 1 comprises a reservoir body (not shown) which is terminated at its top end by a neck 12 defining an opening 11, putting the inside of the reservoir into communication with the outside. The neck 12 includes an annular shoulder 13 that is directed downwards. The shoulder is formed by annular reinforcement that projects radially outwards. This is a fairly conventional design for a reservoir in the fields of perfumery, cosmetics, or even pharmacy. The reservoir can be made of glass, of plastics material, or of metal.
In this embodiment, the dispenser member is a pump. It comprises a pump body 21 which forms a fastener collar 22 at its top end. The pump also comprises an actuator rod that is axially displaceable down and up along an axis X. In the rest position shown in
The fastener ring 3 includes fastener means 31 for coming into engagement below the annular shoulder 13 of the neck 12 of the reservoir. By way of example, the fastener means 31 can be in the form of a fastener head or in the form of a continuous annular bead that is suitable for being housed below the shoulder 13. The ring can optionally be provided with an outer covering 35. In addition, the fastener ring 3 forms a reception housing 32 in which the collar 22 of the pump body 21 is received, advantageously by snap-fastening. Above the housing 32, the ring forms a sleeve 33 having an outer wall that includes grooves 34. The grooves 34 extend over all or part of the height of the sleeve 33 and are open upwards. Instead of the fastener bead or heads, it is possible to provide a thread that is adapted to be screwed onto a reservoir neck that is tapped.
The dispenser part 5 is built up from a plurality of pieces, however it could be made as a single piece. The part 5 includes a dispenser endpiece 50 which forms a dispenser orifice 51 through which the fluid that is dispensed by the dispenser leaves so that it can be collected by the user. In addition, the part 5 includes a connection sleeve 55 that is mounted in stationary manner on the free top end of the actuator rod 23. The sleeve 55 is provided with two bearing fins 54 that extend on either side of the sleeve 55. Furthermore, the part 5 includes a flexible hose 53 that interconnects the sleeve 55 and the dispenser endpiece 50. Thus, the fluid that is driven by the pump through the actuator rod 23 can flow through the hose 53 so as to reach the endpiece 50 from which it is dispensed through the dispenser orifice 51. In the invention, the endpiece 50 is provided with a guide groove 52 that extends substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the dispenser orifice 51. The part 5 can be made as a single piece by overmolding the hose 53 on the sleeve 55 and on the endpiece 50. A flexible material is preferably used for the hose 53 so as to guarantee a large degree of freedom between the sleeve 55 and the endpiece 50.
The pusher 4 includes a bearing surface 41 on which the user can press by means of one or more fingers. The bearing surface 41 is formed with a window 42. Furthermore, the pusher includes a lateral skirt 43 that is of substantially cylindrical shape. Internally, the skirt 43 forms a snap-fastener bead 44 close to its bearing surface 41. The skirt 43 also forms a side opening that serves as a housing 45 for slidably receiving the endpiece 50. In
The cam element 6 comprises a top plate 61, which, over at least a fraction of its periphery, is provided with a rib 62 that projects downwards. The rib extends along a non-circular path in such a manner that the distance between the rib 62 and the axis X varies along the rib 62. In the invention, the rib serves as a cam path for the endpiece 50. It can be seen in
It should be observed that while the dispenser is being actuated, consisting in axially displacing the pusher 4, the hose 53 is not deformed. In contrast, while the pusher 4 is being turned, the hose 53 deforms so as to follow the combined turning and radial translation movement of the endpiece 50.
In the first embodiment, the dispenser endpiece 50 is constrained to turn with the pusher 4 which acts as a rotary actuator member. The cam element 6 is prevented from turning on the ring 3, but it is displaced axially along the axis X together with the pusher 4. However, this is merely one non-limiting embodiment, as can be seen below.
Reference is made below to
The pusher 4′ includes a bearing surface 41′, and a plurality of bearing prongs 46 that come to bear against the fins 56 of the dispenser part 5. The pusher 4′ need not be free to turn.
The cam element 6′ includes a plate 61′ which forms a cam path, just as in the first embodiment. The cam element likewise includes anchor tabs 63′ formed with inner splines 64′ engaged in the grooves 34 of the sleeve 33. At their bottom ends, the tabs 63′ are snap-fastened on the bead 35. Thus, the cam element 6′ is mounted stationary on the fastener ring 3, being prevented from turning or moving axially relative thereto. It can even be envisaged to make the cam element 6′ and the ring 3 as a single piece.
In this embodiment, the dispenser further includes a rotary actuator member 7 that is distinct from the pusher 4′ and from the cam element 6′. The actuator member 7 includes a sleeve 71 that is engaged in rotary manner around the fastener ring 3. Above the sleeve 71, the actuator member 7 forms a section in which there is formed a housing 75 for providing guidance in sliding. The endpiece 50 is slidably engaged inside the housing 75. The actuator member 7 also forms an annular plate 73 that is formed with a central opening through which the bearing tabs 46 of the pusher 4′ pass. The cam element 6′ is housed inside the rotary actuator member 7 which simultaneously provides a covering function for the dispenser, masking the cam element 6′ and the fastener ring 3.
Thus, by turning the actuator member 7 about the axis X, the dispenser endpiece 50 is turned, but said dispenser endpiece is constrained to follow the cam path 62 formed by the cam element 6, as in the first embodiment. The cam element 6′ and the pusher 4′ remain stationary while the actuator member 7 is being turned. Then, by pressing on the pusher 4′, the pump 2 is actuated and fluid is dispensed through the dispenser endpiece 50, which itself remains stationary, since it is mounted on the actuator member 7 that is not axially displaceable. In contrast to the first embodiment in which the hose 53 is not deformed while the dispenser is being actuated, in this second embodiment, the hose 53 is deformed while the dispenser is being actuated since the actuator rod is displaced axially, while the dispenser endpiece 50 remains stationary.
In this second embodiment, it should be observed that the actuator member is distinct from the pusher, and that the cam element 6′ is not displaced axially. However, turning the actuator member 7 relative to the cam element 6′ makes it possible to displace the dispenser endpiece 50 along a substantially helical path, resulting in a combined rotary and radial displacement.
Reference is made below to
The reservoir 1 includes a neck 12 in which the pump 2 is engaged. The fastener ring 3 makes it possible to fasten the pump 2 on the neck 12 in leaktight manner. The ferrule 8 is mounted stationary, both in turning and in axial displacement, on the ring 3 or on the reservoir 1. The ferrule 8 includes a base 82 forming a slide groove 827. Above the base 82, the ferrule 8 includes a bushing 83 that externally defines a second cam path 84, and that internally defines axial guide grooves (not shown). The second cam path 84 comprises a helical portion in the form of a screw thread, and an axial vertical portion that is connected to the helical portion. The bushing includes two cam paths 84 of this type. They are formed on the outer wall of the bushing 83.
The dispenser part 5 can be substantially similar or identical to those in the first two embodiments. The connection sleeve 55 is engaged on the free end of the actuator rod 23. The endpiece 50 is connected to the sleeve 55 via a flexible hose 53. Two bearing fins or arms 56 extend on either side of the sleeve 55. The rotary actuator member 7 is engaged around the ferrule 8 and forms one or more profile(s) (not shown) that are engaged in the peripheral groove 827. Thus, the actuator member 7 is secured to the ferrule 8 while being capable of turning about its own axis, about the ferrule 8. The actuator member 7 is not axially displaceable. The actuator member 7 presents a polygonal cross-section that is advantageously substantially square.
The pusher 4″ includes a body 40 forming a housing 45 in which the endpiece 50 is slidably received. In addition, the body 40 forms branches 48, each provided with a cam lug for coming into engagement in the second cam path 84 formed by the ferrule 8. The body 40 presents a cross-section of polygonal shape, advantageously substantially square, having dimensions that enable it to be engaged inside the actuator member 7. Thus, turning the actuator member 7 causes the body 40 of the pusher 4″ to turn. However, as a result of the body 40 being engaged on the second cam path 84, said body is constrained to be displaced axially as the cam lugs are displaced in the helical portions of the cam path 84. By turning the actuator member counterclockwise from the low position, the pusher is displaced axially upwards, turning about its own axis. Once they reach the top of the helical portion of the second cam path, the lugs can be displaced axially in the axial vertical portions of the cam paths. Consequently, the pusher can be displaced axially so as to press on the bearing fins or arms 56 of the dispenser part 5. This position is shown in
In addition, the cam element 6″ includes a top plate 61 that defines a rib 62 that serves as a cam path, as in the first two embodiments. Furthermore, the cam element 6″ includes two tabs 63 that are provided with axial guide splines engaged in grooves formed inside the bushing 83. As a result, the cam element 6″ can be displaced axially relative to the ferrule 8, but it is prevented from turning relative to said same ferrule. The tabs 63 of the cam element 6″ extend through the body 40 of the pusher 4″. More precisely, the branches 48 of the body 40 extend outside the bushing 83, whereas the tabs 63 of the cam element 6″ extend inside the bushing 83.
Finally, the pusher 4″ also includes a cover 49 forming an opening 495. The cover 49 is mounted on the body 40 in such a manner that the opening 495 is in alignment with the housing 45 in which the body 40 is slidably received. The plate 61 of the cam element 6″ is disposed between the body 40 and the cover 49, and is thus held captive in the pusher, while enabling the cam element 6″ and the pusher 4″ to turn relative to each other.
As in the first two embodiments, the rib 62, acting as a cam path, extends along a non-circular path in such a manner that the distance between the rib and the turning axis of the dispenser varies along the cam path. As can be seen in
In this third embodiment, the pusher is distinct from the rotary actuator member, and the endpiece 50 is mounted on the pusher. The cam element is prevented from turning, but is displaceable in axial translation. The actuator member is rotary, but is prevented from moving in axial translation.
From the three embodiments of the invention, it can be seen that it is possible to displace the dispenser endpiece 51 radially, by causing it to turn simultaneously.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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06 54737 | Nov 2006 | FR | national |
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of pending U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/899,001, filed Feb. 2, 2007, and priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) of French patent application No. FR-06.54737, filed Nov. 6, 2006.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20080116232 A1 | May 2008 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60899001 | Feb 2007 | US |