U.S. patent application number 12/520024 was filed with the patent office on 2010-04-22 for fluid product dispensing head.
Invention is credited to Xavier Brahim.
Application Number | 20100096417 12/520024 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38222296 |
Filed Date | 2010-04-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100096417 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brahim; Xavier |
April 22, 2010 |
FLUID PRODUCT DISPENSING HEAD
Abstract
A fluid dispenser head for associating with a fluid dispenser
member (5), such as a pump or a valve, the head comprising an
outlet nozzle (1, 2) via which the fluid is dispensed out from the
head, the nozzle including an elastically-deformable part (1) that,
in use, forms a fluid dispenser orifice in the form of a
self-sealing slot comprising two edges that are in mutual leaktight
contact in the absence of fluid under pressure in the nozzle, the
dispenser head being characterized in that the dispenser orifice
does not exist before the head is used for the first time, the
orifice being created by the fluid under pressure while the head is
being used for the first time, or by the user.
Inventors: |
Brahim; Xavier; (Conches en
ouche, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Family ID: |
38222296 |
Appl. No.: |
12/520024 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
December 17, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR07/52532 |
371 Date: |
June 18, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/541.4 ;
222/494 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05B 11/007 20130101;
B65D 83/7538 20130101; B05B 11/0072 20130101; B05B 11/3001
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/541.4 ;
222/494 |
International
Class: |
B65D 47/10 20060101
B65D047/10; B65D 35/38 20060101 B65D035/38 |
Claims
1. A fluid dispenser head for associating with a fluid dispenser
member, such as a pump or a valve, the head comprising an outlet
nozzle via which the fluid is dispensed out from the head, the
nozzle including an elastically-deformable part that, in use, forms
a fluid dispenser orifice in the form of a self-sealing slot
comprising two edges that are in mutual leaktight contact in the
absence of fluid under pressure in the nozzle, the dispenser head
being characterized in that the dispenser orifice does not exist
before the head is used for the first time.
2. A dispenser head according to claim 1, in which the part
includes a zone of weakness defining a slot starter that is
suitable for tearing under the pressure of the fluid, the orifice
thus being created by the fluid under pressure while the head is
being used for the first time.
3. A dispenser head according to claim 2, in which the slot starter
is formed by the wall thickness of the part being reduced
locally.
4. A dispenser head according to claim 1, in which the nozzle
further includes a tube on which the deformable part is mounted,
the tube internally defining a fluid outlet channel.
5. A dispenser head according to claim 4, further including a body
defining an internal fluid duct and a reception housing for
receiving the tube in such a manner as to extend the duct by the
outlet channel of the tube.
6. A dispenser head according to claim 5, in which the body
includes a connection sleeve for connecting on an actuator rod of a
dispenser member.
7. A dispenser head according to claim 4, in which the part
comprises a front dispenser wall forming the dispenser orifice
after use, and a fastener ring engaged around the tube.
8. A dispenser head according to claim 7, in which the part is
situated entirely outside the body.
9. A dispenser head according to claim 4, in which the part is
molded onto the tube.
10. A dispenser head according to claim 4, in which the part is
dual-injected with the tube.
11. A dispenser head according to claim 5, further including a
cover in which the body is housed, the part projecting laterally
from the cap.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser head for
associating with, or mounting on, a fluid dispenser member, such as
a pump or a valve. Such dispenser heads are frequently used in the
fields of perfumery, cosmetics, or even pharmacy, in combination
with a pump or a valve for dispensing fluids of very diverse
viscosities.
[0002] In general, dispenser heads include an outlet nozzle via
which fluid is dispensed out from the head. The user can thus
collect the fluid at the nozzle. In the field of cosmetics, nozzles
are frequently used that fluid is dispensed not as a spray, but on
the contrary, in the form of a thread, a strip, or a glob. In
addition, it is advantageous for the nozzle simultaneously to
ensure that the fluid to be dispensed does not spoil. Thus, it is
already known to use the nozzle as a closure member. The nozzle may
include an elastically-deformable part that forms a fluid dispenser
orifice in the form of a self-sealing slot comprising two edges
that are in mutual leaktight contact in the absence of fluid under
pressure in the nozzle. The self-sealing slot may be made by
slitting the elastically-deformable part after it has been molded.
The slot remains closed at rest and opens only when the fluid under
pressure arrives at the slot and forces the two edges apart,
thereby opening a dispenser orifice.
[0003] In addition to the need to preserve the fluid, it is
increasingly required that first use is guaranteed. There already
exist various first-use safety means that guarantee to the user
that the dispenser has not been used beforehand. It is already
known to cover the dispenser head with a film that the user removes
before first use. When the dispenser head is in the form of an
axially movable pusher, it is also known to block the movement of
the pusher by means of a ring that the user pulls off before first
use. Systems involving an adhesive tab stuck on the dispenser
orifice are also used as first-use safety means.
[0004] An object of the present invention is to guarantee first use
of a dispenser head having an orifice that is in the form of a
self-sealing slot. Another object of the present invention is to
ensure first-use safety without adding an additional part.
Naturally, it is an object of the present invention to produce the
dispenser head inexpensively. Another object is to avoid the user
having to remove an element that must then be thrown away. An
object of the invention is to eliminate any removable element.
[0005] To do this, the present invention proposes a fluid dispenser
head for associating with a fluid dispenser member, such as a pump
or a valve, the head comprising an outlet nozzle via which the
fluid is dispensed out from the head, the nozzle including an
elastically-deformable part that, in use, forms a fluid dispenser
orifice in the form of a self-sealing slot comprising two edges
that are in mutual leaktight contact in the absence of fluid under
pressure in the nozzle, the dispenser head being characterized in
that the dispenser orifice does not exist before the head is used
for the first time. In a first embodiment, it is the user who
creates the dispenser orifice by piercing, slitting, or tearing the
elastically-deformable part while the dispenser head is being used
for the first time. In a second embodiment, the part includes a
zone of weakness defining a slot starter that is suitable for
tearing under the pressure of the fluid, the orifice thus being
created by the fluid under pressure while the head is being used
for the first time. The slot starter is preferably formed by the
wall thickness of the part being reduced locally. The fluid under
pressure that arrives at the slot starter deforms the part until it
ruptures at the starter. The dispenser orifice is thus created
without the user having to intervene. As soon as the pressure of
the fluid drops, the newly-created orifice closes: more precisely,
the two opposite edges of the newly-created slot return into mutual
leaktight contact.
[0006] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the nozzle
further includes a tube on which the deformable part is mounted,
the tube internally defining a fluid outlet channel.
Advantageously, the head further includes a body defining an
internal fluid duct and a reception housing for receiving the tube
in such a manner as to extend the duct by the outlet channel of the
tube. The body preferably includes a connection sleeve for
connecting to an outlet of an actuator rod of a dispenser member.
The tube advantageously serves as a mechanical and fluid-flow
connection element between the elastically-deformable part and the
body of the head. Firstly, the tube serves as a support to the
deformable part, and secondly the tube is inserted into the
reception housing of the body. This nozzle design comprising a tube
and a deformable part can be implemented separately, i.e.
independently of whether or not the deformable part is initially
closed.
[0007] In another advantageous aspect of the invention, the part
comprises a front dispenser wall forming the dispenser orifice
after use, and a fastener ring engaged around the tube.
Advantageously, the part is situated entirely outside the body.
[0008] According to another characteristic, the part is molded onto
the tube. In a variant, the part can be dual-injected with the tube
in a single mold.
[0009] In yet another aspect of the invention, the head further
includes a cover in which the body is housed, the part projecting
laterally from the cap.
[0010] An advantageous principle of the present invention is to use
the elastically-deformable part as first-use safety means by not
forming the dispenser orifice, such that it is closed before the
head is used for the first time. The dispenser orifice of the
invention is thus characterized by its non-existence before first
use.
[0011] The invention is described more fully below with reference
to the accompanying drawings which show two embodiments of the
invention by way of non-limiting example.
[0012] In the figures:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a vertical section view through a fluid dispenser
head constituting a first embodiment and mounted on a dispenser
member, the head being in its configuration before first use;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a view of the FIG. 1 nozzle after first use;
and
[0015] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a nozzle
constituting another embodiment, in its configuration before first
use.
[0016] Reference is made firstly to FIG. 1 in order to describe in
detail the structure of a fluid dispenser head constituting a first
embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the dispenser head
is in the form of a pusher for mounting on the outlet of an
actuator rod 52 of a dispenser member 5 that can be a pump or a
valve. The dispenser member includes a body 51 in which the
actuator rod 52 is axially movable down and up. The rod 52 projects
out from the body 51 and internally defines a delivery duct 53. By
pressing on the dispenser head (that serves as pusher), the
actuator rod 52 moves axially inside the body 51. Fluid is then
delivered through the duct 53 and the head until it reaches a
dispenser orifice. This configuration is entirely conventional in
the fields of perfumery, cosmetics, or even pharmacy.
[0017] The dispenser head includes a body 3 that in general is made
by injection molding a hard plastics material. The body 3 includes
a connection sleeve 31 connected to the free end of the actuator
rod. The body 3 internally defines a duct 32 that extends the duct
53 formed inside the rod 52. In addition, the body 3 forms a
reception housing 33 into which the duct 32 opens out.
[0018] The dispenser head also includes an outlet nozzle that, in
this embodiment, comprises two component elements, namely an
elastically-deformable part 1 and a tube 2. The tube 2 presents a
general configuration that is substantially cylindrical with a
hollow inside forming an outlet channel 21 that extends the
internal duct 32 of the body 3. The tube 2 can be divided into two
sections, namely an external section 22 on which the deformable
part 1 is mounted, and an internal section 23 that is engaged
inside the reception housing 33. The external section 22 projects
out from the reception housing 33. The external section 22 can be
formed with external profiles that enable the deformable part 1 to
be fastened thereon. The deformable part 1 includes a front wall 11
that is situated at the outlet of the channel 21 of the tube 2. The
front wall 1 can be in contact with the tube 2 or at a distance
therefrom, as in FIG. 1. The deformable part 1 also includes a
fastener ring 13 that is engaged around the outside 22 of the tube
2. Retention of the ring on the tube is enhanced by the presence of
the fastener profiles of the outside 22. Advantageously, the
deformable part 1 can be molded onto the tube 2, or, in a variant,
the part 1 and the tube 2 can be made by a dual-injection molding
technique. The part 1 is made with a plastics material that is more
flexible than the tube 2 that must be rigid. With either technique
the nozzle forms a single-piece element made of two materials and
that is easy to handle while the head is being assembled. The
deformable part 1 is situated entirely outside the reception
housing 33. However, the part 1 could also extend inside the
housing 33. The part 1 could even penetrate into the tube.
[0019] The dispenser head also includes a cover 4 that is generally
made of metal. The cover 4 includes a top plate 41 that serves as a
bearing surface for the user's finger when the user exerts a thrust
force so as to actuate the dispenser member. The cover 4 also
includes a side skirt 42 that extends downwards and that masks the
body 3 entirely. The skirt 42 defines a side opening 43 through
which the tube 2 extends. In general, the body 3 is force fitted
inside the cover 4. In this embodiment of the invention, the cover
4 is also blocked on the body 3 by the tube 2 that is engaged
inside the housing 33, since the tube 2 projects sideways out from
the housing through the opening 43. It should also be observed that
the deformable part 1 is situated entirely outside the cover 4.
[0020] Advantageously, the deformable part 1 is made of a flexible
material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer. In the invention, the
front wall 11 is formed with a zone of weakness that, in this
embodiment, is in the form of a rupture starter 12. In FIG. 1, the
rupture starter 12 is in the form of a V-shaped groove. At the
bottom of the groove, the thickness of the wall 11 is considerably
reduced, thereby forming a zone of weakness in tearing. FIG. 1
shows the dispenser head of the invention before first use. In this
embodiment, the front wall 11 is characterized by the absence of a
dispenser orifice. There is no outlet passage for the fluid. While
the head is being used for the first time, fluid under pressure
flows up to the front wall 11 from the ducts 53 and 32 and from the
channel 21. The fluid then exerts pressure on the rupture starter
12 that gives way so as to create a self-sealing slot that serves
as a dispenser orifice. Reference can be made to FIG. 2 which shows
the outlet nozzle, namely the part 1 and the tube 2, after first
use. It can be seen that the slot starter 12 is connected to the
outside surface of the wall 11 via a slot 10 defining two edges 101
and 102 that are in mutual leaktight contact in the absence of any
fluid under pressure. The fluid under pressure has thus caused the
wall 11 to rupture at the starter 12. Thereafter, the nozzle
performs an entirely conventional function as a closure member with
its self-sealing slot.
[0021] Reference can be made to FIG. 3 which shows a variant
embodiment in which the slot starter 12' is in the form of a recess
of rectangular section. At the bottom of the recess, there can be
provided a small notch at which the wall 11 ruptures. Naturally, it
is possible to envisage a variety of shapes for the slot starter.
In general, the slot starter defines a local reduction in the
thickness of the wall 11.
[0022] In the two embodiments described with reference to figures,
it is the pressure of the fluid that creates the dispenser orifice.
Provision can also be made for the dispenser orifice to be created
by the user who pierces, slits, tears, or cuts the front wall of
the part 1. For example, it is possible to envisage that the front
wall forms a tab that the user can pull and cause the front wall to
rupture along a predetermined line. The tab remains secured to a
flexible flap that closes the dispenser orifice in leaktight manner
at rest.
[0023] The fact of mounting the deformable part on a tube that is
in turn mounted on the body of the head, is protectable in itself.
It is optional whether or not the deformable part is initially
provided with a dispenser orifice.
[0024] The invention provides a dispenser head including a closure
member that is leaktight at rest and that simultaneously serves to
guarantee first use for the user.
* * * * *