U.S. patent application number 10/181212 was filed with the patent office on 2003-05-22 for fluid product dispenser with gripping member.
Invention is credited to Decottignies, Laurent.
Application Number | 20030094464 10/181212 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8846167 |
Filed Date | 2003-05-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030094464 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Decottignies, Laurent |
May 22, 2003 |
Fluid product dispenser with gripping member
Abstract
A fluid dispenser comprising: a flexible pouch containing a
fluid, said pouch being provided with an opening; a pouch support
to which the opening of the pouch is fixed; and a dispensing
member, such as a pump, for drawing off fluid from the flexible
pouch when a pusher is pressed; said flexible pouch not being
provided with a rigid shell surrounding or enclosing the flexible
pouch, said fluid dispenser being characterized in that it further
comprises handle means via which the dispenser is held for the
purpose of pressing on the pusher, said handle means leaving the
flexible pouch apparent, at least in part.
Inventors: |
Decottignies, Laurent;
(Cergy, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Family ID: |
8846167 |
Appl. No.: |
10/181212 |
Filed: |
November 18, 2002 |
PCT Filed: |
January 15, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR01/00116 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/105 ;
222/470; 222/95 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05B 11/3052 20130101;
B05B 11/00412 20180801; B65D 75/5883 20130101; B05B 11/0005
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/105 ; 222/95;
222/470 |
International
Class: |
B65D 035/56 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 21, 2000 |
FR |
00/00782 |
Claims
1/ A fluid dispenser comprising: a flexible pouch containing a
fluid, said pouch being provided with an opening; a pouch support
to which the opening of the pouch is fixed; and a dispensing
member, such as a pump, for drawing off fluid from the flexible
pouch when a pusher is pressed; said flexible pouch not being
provided with a rigid shell surrounding or enclosing the flexible
pouch, handle means being provided via which the dispenser is held
for the purpose of pressing on the pusher, said handle means
leaving the flexible pouch apparent, at least in part, the handle
means being situated outside the flexible pouch, said fluid
dispenser being characterized in that the handle means comprise a
plurality of handles situated substantially symmetrically on either
side of the dispensing member, each handle being suitable for being
held by a respective finger of a hand.
2/ A dispenser according to claim 1, in which there are two handles
suitable for being held respectively by the index finger and by the
middle finger, the thumb serving to actuate the pusher.
3/ A dispenser according to any preceding claim, in which the
handle means are fixed to the pouch support.
4/ A dispenser according to any preceding claim, in which the
handle means are made integrally with the pouch support.
5/ A dispenser according to any preceding claim, in which the
handle means surround that portion of the pouch support to which
the pouch is fixed.
6/ A dispenser according to any preceding claim, in which the
handles are implemented in the form of holes or notches (42)
through which the fingers can pass.
7/ A dispenser according to any preceding claim, in which the
flexible pouch has a capacity to be held in the hand that is
insufficient for actuating the dispensing member.
8/ A dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the
handles are implemented in the form of two arcuate tabs that can be
held by means of two fingers.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser
comprising a flexible pouch containing fluid, a flexible pouch
support to which the pouch is fixed, e.g. by sealing, and a
dispensing member such as a pump for drawing off fluid from the
flexible pouch when a pusher is pressed.
[0002] In the prior art, numerous dispensers exist that use
flexible pouches and pumps. In general, the flexible pouch is
positioned inside a rigid shell which serves firstly to protect the
flexible pouch and secondly to make it easier to take hold of the
dispenser. If the rigid shell is removed from such a dispenser, it
becomes very difficult to hold its flexible pouch because of the
floppy and deformable nature of the flexible pouch. It is therefore
almost impossible to use such a dispenser in the absence of the
rigid shell. This applies particularly when the flexible pouch is
made up of laminated sheets of material that offer only very
limited stiffness.
[0003] An object of the present invention is to define a dispenser
that has a flexible pouch with no rigid shell and that is easy to
hold for the purpose of pressing on the pusher to actuate the
pump.
[0004] To this end, the present invention provides a fluid
dispenser having the characteristics of claim 1. Claim 1 defines
genuine handle means that differ clearly from a prior art rigid
shell precisely because there is no rigid shell surrounding or
enclosing a flexible pouch in the dispenser of the present
invention.
[0005] In a first embodiment, the handle means are situated outside
the flexible pouch.
[0006] Advantageously, the handle means comprise a plurality of
handles. Preferably, the handles are situated substantially
symmetrically on either side of the dispensing member. A
particularity of the present invention lies in the fact that each
handle is suitable for being held by a respective finger of a hand.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment, there are two handles
suitable for being held respectively by the index finger and by the
middle finger, the thumb serving to actuate the pusher. The
distributor is then used in the manner of a conventional syringe
for which the index finger and the middle finger oppose the thumb
to exert pressure.
[0007] In a practical embodiment, the handles are implemented in
the form of holes through which the fingers can pass. In a variant,
the handles are implemented in the form of notches for the fingers.
In another embodiment, the handles are implemented in the form of
two arcuate tabs that can be held by means of two fingers.
[0008] According to a characteristic of the invention, the handle
means are fixed to the pouch support. Advantageously, the handle
means are made integrally with the pouch support. In certain
embodiments, the handle means surround that portion of the pouch
support to which the pouch is fixed.
[0009] Another embodiment of the invention makes provision for the
handle means to comprise a substantially rigid element disposed
inside the flexible pouch. It is then possible to take hold of the
dispenser by the pouch which has stiffness imparted to it by the
rigid element. The advantage of this embodiment is that it does not
adversely affect the appearance of the dispenser because it is
totally invisible. In addition, the flexible pouch always retains
the same presentable appearance. Advantageously, said substantially
rigid element is connected to the pouch support. In addition, said
substantially rigid element extends along the opposite side edges
of the flexible pouch.
[0010] The spirit of the invention lies in the fact that the
dispenser having a flexible pouch is of minimalist design, i.e. it
incorporates only those component elements which are essential for
using it. To this end, the conventional rigid shell is omitted and
replaced by suitable handle means making the dispenser convenient
to use.
[0011] The invention is described more fully below with reference
to the accompanying drawings which give embodiments of the present
invention by way of non-limiting example.
[0012] In the drawings:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a front view of a dispenser of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a vertical section view through the top portion of
the dispenser of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the dispenser of FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to the FIG. 1 view, but
showing a second embodiment of a dispenser of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a vertical section view through a dispenser in a
third embodiment of the invention;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a partially exploded perspective view of the
dispenser of FIG. 5; and
[0019] FIGS. 7 and 8 are section views through two other
embodiments of the invention.
[0020] In all of the embodiments shown in the figures, the fluid
dispenser of the invention comprises a flexible pouch 1 containing
fluid, a pouch support 2 to which the flexible pouch 1 is fixed,
usually by sealing, and a dispensing member 3, preferably a pump,
for drawing off fluid from the flexible pouch.
[0021] The flexible pouch is made of a flexible material whose
capacity for being held in the hand is very poor. This capacity for
being held in the hand is not sufficient to enable the pump to be
actuated.
[0022] For example, the flexible pouch 1 may be made up of two
sheets of a heat-sealable composite that are connected together by
sealing around the periphery except at an opening serving to be
sealed to the pouch support 2.
[0023] To this end, the pouch support 2 is provided with a sealable
appendage 21, advantageously provided with sealable ribs 211 to
which the opening of the pouch 1 is sealed. Above the sealable
appendage 211, the pouch support 2 defines a platform 2 from which
a fixing bushing 23 provided with a snap-fastening profile 231
projects upwards. The pump 3 is provided with or includes a fixing
ring 32 internally forming a snap-fastening profile 34 serving to
co-operate with the profile 231 of the bushing 23. In the
embodiments shown in the figures, the fixing ring 32 internally
forms a snap-fastening bead 34 serving to come into engagement
under a rim 231 that projects outwards.
[0024] Once the pump 3 is fitted to the pouch support to which the
flexible pouch is sealed, the dispenser is operational and it is
possible to dispense fluid by actuating the pump by pressing on the
pusher 35.
[0025] This is an entirely conventional design for a dispenser
having a flexible fluid pouch that is normally provided with a
rigid shell inside which the flexible pouch is placed.
[0026] In the present invention, the rigid shell is omitted and
replaced by handle means 4 that leave the flexible pouch entirely
or at least partially apparent.
[0027] In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 6, the handle means 4 are
situated outside the pouch, so that it is not necessary to take
hold of the dispenser by the pouch.
[0028] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the handle means
4 are in the form of a one-piece body, e.g. made of a molded
plastics material, forming a plurality of handles 42, two such
members being formed in these embodiments. More precisely, the body
4 comprises a plate 41 that is substantially eye-shaped, as shown
in FIG. 3, and from which a peripheral skirt 44 extends downwards.
The plate 41 is provided with a through hole in its center, through
which the fixing bushing 23 extends, and through which the fixing
ring 32 may optionally extend. The body 4 forms two opposite
portions that are thinner and that are provided with respective
handle holes 42 formed as shown in FIG. 1. The handle holes 42 are
situated substantially on either side of the pump 3 and of the
pouch support 2. The peripheral skirt 44 has a height such that the
body masks the top portion of the flexible pouch 2 where its
opening is fixed to the sealable appendage 21.
[0029] The body 4 is fixed to the dispenser by any mechanical
means, e.g. by snap-fastening, as shown in FIG. 4. The body
internally forms a snap-fastening profile 45 serving to co-operate
with the platform 22 formed by the pouch support 2. The
snap-fastening profile 45 comes into engagement under the platform
22, and the plate 41 of the body 4 acts as an abutment surface for
fixing the body permanently to the pouch support 2. Naturally, this
snap-fastening technique makes it quick and simple to fit the body
4 and requires only a limited amount of tooling.
[0030] In a variant shown in FIG. 4, the handle holes are replaced
with handle notches 42.
[0031] In these embodiments, regardless of whether they have handle
holes or handle notches 42, it is easy to take hold of the
dispenser by using two fingers, e.g. the index finger and the
middle finger, which are placed in the holes or notches 42, and the
dispenser is actuated by means of the thumb that is pressed against
the pusher 35. The device is thus easy to hold without having to
hold it by its pouch, whose capacity for being held in the hand is
poor.
[0032] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the handle 4 forms
two tabs 42 that extend over circular arcs in opposite directions.
The tabs 42 serve as handle elements that are held using two
fingers of one hand, in general the index finger and the middle
finger, so as to leave the thumb free for pressing on the pusher
35. The two tabs 42 thus take up the reaction force opposing the
force exerted on the pusher 35. It is thus possible to actuate the
dispenser by using only three fingers.
[0033] The tabs 42 thus extend over circular arcs on either side of
the pump 3 in diametrically opposite manner. Naturally, it is
possible to imagine variants in which the two tabs 42 are not
disposed exactly symmetrically relative to the pump 3. The two tabs
42 are fixed either to the pouch support member or directly to the
pump 3. The two tabs 42 may be formed integrally with one of those
two elements, but preferably the two tabs 42 are fixed to a holding
plate 41 that serves for fixing to the dispenser. In advantageous
and practical manner, the tabs 42 and the holding plate 41 are
molded in one piece, e.g. of a plastics material. For fixing the
holding plate 41 to the dispenser, it is possible to use any
technique, such as, for example, screw-fastening, snap-fastening,
or indeed sealing. In the preferred embodiment shown in the
accompanying drawings, the support plate 41 forms a snap-fastening
recess 43 serving to co-operate with the pouch support member 2,
advantageously at its bushing 22. As shown more particularly in
FIG. 2, the recess 43 is open so that the holding plate 41 may be
snap-fastened to the bushing 22 by sliding it sideways, thereby
momentarily enlarging the opening of the recess 43 as the plate 41
passes over the maximum diameter of the busing 22. Beyond the
maximum diameter of the bushing 22, the opening of the recess 43
becomes smaller again so as to clamp the bushing 22. Naturally, it
is possible to imagine a holding plate 41 provided with a closed
recess 43 so that the plate 41 can be put in place on the bushing
22 by engaging it from above before the pump is put in place. In
the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the bushing 22 forms an external
peripheral bead 23 under which the plate 41 is snap-fastened. As
shown, the plate 41 is snap-fastened in a recess formed by the
appendage 21 and by the bead 23. Naturally, it is possible to
imagine variants in which the bushing 22 is not provided with such
a snap-fastening bead 23 but is exactly cylindrical so that the
plate 41 with a closed recess 43 is engaged from above onto the
bushing 22 and the plate 41 is fixed permanently by the bottom end
33 of the fixing ring 32 of the pump 3. This applies in FIG. 5, in
which it is possible to omit the bead 23.
[0034] With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, two other embodiments are
shown, in which the handle means are disposed inside the flexible
pouch 1 so that they are not visible and therefore do not adversely
affect the appearance of the dispenser. In both versions, the
handle means comprise a substantially rigid element 4 that imparts
stiffness to the flexible pouch 1 so that it is possible to take
hold of it without it deforming too much. In addition, it thus
retains a substantially identical shape even when it is empty or
nearly empty. To impart such stiffness to the pouch, the rigid
element 4 may, for example, extend along the opposite side edges of
the pouch, thereby forming an internal frame. In FIG. 7, the
element is a U-shaped element with the web disposed at the bottom
of the pouch, whereas, in FIG. 8, the rigid element 4 is connected
to the pouch support 2.
* * * * *