U.S. patent application number 14/898290 was filed with the patent office on 2016-05-26 for diffuser.
This patent application is currently assigned to LINDAL FRANCE SAS. The applicant listed for this patent is LINDAL FRANCE SAS. Invention is credited to Dominique Fournet.
Application Number | 20160145032 14/898290 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48980174 |
Filed Date | 2016-05-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160145032 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fournet; Dominique |
May 26, 2016 |
DIFFUSER
Abstract
A diffuser (1) for dispensing a product has a base (10); a push
button (20) with a channel (23) opening at one end on an outlet
(24) for the product; a cap (30) connected to the base by a hinge
(17, 17') so as to be movable between a closed position folded down
on the base while isolating the push button (20) and the outlet
opening (24) from the outside, and an upright open position,
providing access to the push button and freeing the outlet;
tamper-evident means (40, 18) made up of a strip (40) and a
shoulder (18), one being fastened to the cap (30) and the other to
the base (10), so that, with the cap in the closed position, the
shoulder is snapped behind an abutment (43) formed in the strip
without being able to free itself otherwise than by tearing off the
strip.
Inventors: |
Fournet; Dominique;
(Belleville sur Meuse, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LINDAL FRANCE SAS |
Briey |
|
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
LINDAL FRANCE SAS
Briey
FR
|
Family ID: |
48980174 |
Appl. No.: |
14/898290 |
Filed: |
June 11, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
June 11, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2014/062125 |
371 Date: |
December 14, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/153.07 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/757 20130101;
B65D 83/205 20130101; B65D 83/40 20130101; B05B 11/0032 20130101;
B65D 83/228 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/22 20060101
B65D083/22; B65D 83/20 20060101 B65D083/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 24, 2013 |
FR |
13 56024 |
Claims
1. Diffuser for dispensing a product contained in a container, said
diffuser being equipped with a base to fasten the diffuser to a
container; a push button equipped with a channel opening at one end
on means for cooperating with a dispensing device of a container
and at the other end on an opening outlet through which the product
contained in a container can exit; a cap connected to the base by a
hinge so as to be movable between a closed position in which the
cap is folded down on the base while isolating the push button and
the outlet opening from the outside, and an open position in which
the cap is upright, providing access to the push button and freeing
the outlet opening, tamper-evident means that must be partially
torn off upon the first use to make it possible to move the cap
from the closed position to the open position, the tamper-evident
means being made up of both a strip and a shoulder, one being
fastened to the cap and the other to the base, the strip being
fastened to the cap or to the base by connecting means which can
easily be torn by hand, and the shoulder being placed on the base
or the cap so that when the cap is placed in the closed position,
the shoulder is snapped behind an abutment formed in the strip
without being able to free itself except by tearing off the
strip.
2. The diffuser according to claim 1, wherein the strip is fastened
to the cap or to the base by a plurality of bridges extending from
a face of an edge of the strip to the cap or to the base, wherein
the face of the edge of the strip between two particular bridges
forms the abutment behind which the shoulder is snapped.
3. The diffuser according to claim 1, wherein the strip is fastened
to the cap and the shoulder is formed in the base.
4. The diffuser according to claim 3, wherein the strip has an
L-shape constituted by a vertical branch and a transverse branch,
and in that the cap is equipped with a recess, the top of the
vertical branch being connected by first bridges to the top,
considering the cap in the closed position, of the recess, and the
free end of the transverse branch being connected to the lower
portion, considering the cap in the closed position, of the
cap.
5. The diffuser according to claim 1, wherein the shoulder is
wedge-shaped with an inclined surface and a radial surface, the
radial surface cooperating with the strip to block the cap in the
closed position.
6. The diffuser according to claim 1, wherein the push button is
connected to the base by a tab so as to be movable toward a side of
the base opposite the cap when the cap is in the closed
position.
7. The diffuser according to claim 1, wherein the outlet opening is
provided with a nozzle for generating a spray.
8. The diffuser according to claim 2, wherein the strip is fastened
to the cap and the shoulder is formed in the base.
9. The diffuser according to claim 8, wherein the strip has an
L-shape constituted by a vertical branch and a transverse branch,
and in that the cap is equipped with a recess, the top of the
vertical branch being connected by first bridges to the top,
considering the cap in the closed position, of the recess, and the
free end of the transverse branch being connected to the lower
portion, considering the cap in the closed position, of the
cap.
10. The diffuser according to claim 2, wherein the shoulder is
wedge-shaped with an inclined surface and a radial surface, the
radial surface cooperating with the strip to block the cap in the
closed position.
11. The diffuser according to claim 3, wherein the shoulder is
wedge-shaped with an inclined surface and a radial surface, the
radial surface cooperating with the strip to block the cap in the
closed position.
12. The diffuser according to claim 4, wherein the shoulder is
wedge-shaped with an inclined surface and a radial surface, the
radial surface cooperating with the strip to block the cap in the
closed position.
13. The diffuser according to claim 8, wherein the shoulder is
wedge-shaped with an inclined surface and a radial surface, the
radial surface cooperating with the strip to block the cap in the
closed position.
14. The diffuser according to claim 9, wherein the shoulder is
wedge-shaped with an inclined surface and a radial surface, the
radial surface cooperating with the strip to block the cap in the
closed position.
15. The diffuser according to claim 2, wherein the push button is
connected to the base by a tab so as to be movable toward a side of
the base opposite the cap when the cap is in the closed
position.
16. The diffuser according to claim 3, wherein the push button is
connected to the base by a tab so as to be movable toward a side of
the base opposite the cap when the cap is in the closed
position.
17. The diffuser according to claim 4, wherein the push button is
connected to the base by a tab so as to be movable toward a side of
the base opposite the cap when the cap is in the closed
position.
18. The diffuser according to claim 5, wherein the push button is
connected to the base by a tab so as to be movable toward a side of
the base opposite the cap when the cap is in the closed
position.
19. The diffuser according to claim 2, wherein the outlet opening
is provided with a nozzle for generating a spray.
20. The diffuser according to claim 3, wherein the outlet opening
is provided with a nozzle for generating a spray.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a diffuser for dispensing a product
contained in a container, wherein the diffuser is equipped with a
base for fastening it to a container and a push button equipped
with a channel opening at one end on means for cooperating with a
dispensing device of a container and at the other end on an outlet
opening through which the product contained in a container can
exit.
[0002] The diffusers of the preamble find many applications,
particularly for aerosol bottles. However, they have the
disadvantage that the push button can be actuated unintentionally
and that dirt can come to clog the outlet opening.
[0003] This can be avoided by pushing down a removable cap on the
diffuser. But this removable cap runs the risk of being lost. In
addition, it is important to guarantee the originality of the
container before the first use.
[0004] The aim of the invention is to propose diffusers according
to the preamble which do not have the disadvantages mentioned
above.
[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention in that
the diffuser is further equipped with [0006] a cap connected to the
base by a hinge so as to be movable between a closed position in
which it is folded down on the base while isolating the push button
and the outlet opening from the outside, and an open position in
which it is upright, providing access to the push button and
freeing the outlet opening, [0007] tamper-evident means that must
be partly torn off upon the first use to make it possible to move
the cap from the closed position to the open position, [0008] the
tamper-evident means being constituted by both a strip and a
shoulder, one being fastened to the cap and the other to the base,
the strip being fastened to the cap or to the base by connection
means that can easily be torn by hand, and the shoulder being
placed on the base or the cap so that, when the cap is placed in
the closed position, the shoulder is snapped behind an abutment
formed in the strip without being able to free itself other than by
tearing off the strip.
[0009] Thanks to the hinge, the cap is not likely to be misplaced.
In addition, by isolating the push button and the outlet opening
from the outside when the cap is in the closed position, the
diffuser is not likely to be inadvertently actuated and the spray
nozzle cannot be soiled before the first use. This diffuser is
simple to manufacture. It is sufficient to mold a base having a cap
and to provide on one of these parts a strip which can be torn off
and on the other part a shoulder that can be locked behind an
abutment formed in the strip. At the first closing of the cap, the
shoulder snaps behind the abutment formed in the strip without
being able to be disengaged therefrom other than by tearing off the
strip. The tamper-evident means are an integral part of the
diffuser so that it is not necessary to provide an additional step
to put them in place.
[0010] The strip is preferably fastened to the cap or to the base
by a plurality of bridges extending from the face of an edge of the
strip to the cap or to the base. In addition, the face of the edge
of the strip between two individual bridges forms the abutment
behind which the shoulder is snapped.
[0011] It is particularly advantageous to fasten the strip to the
cap and to provide the shoulder in the base. For example the strip
can be provided with an L-shape made up of a vertical branch and a
transverse branch, and the cap can be equipped with a recess. In
this case, the top of the vertical branch can be connected by first
bridges to the top, considering the cap in the closed position, of
the recess, and the free end of the transverse branch to the lower
portion (311), considering the cap in the closed position, of the
cap.
[0012] The shoulder can be wedge-shaped with an inclined surface
and a radial surface, the radial surface cooperating with the strip
to block the cap in the closed position.
[0013] It is preferable to connect the push button to the base by a
tab so that the push button can be moved toward the side of the
base opposite the cap when the latter is in the closed position.
The outlet opening can be provided with a nozzle for generating a
spray.
[0014] The invention is described in more detail using the
following figures:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser according to the
invention, with the cap in open position;
[0016] FIG. 2 is the same perspective view as in FIG. 1, with the
cap in closed position;
[0017] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the diffuser of FIG.
1, with the cap in open position;
[0018] FIG. 4 is the same perspective view as in FIG. 3, with the
cap in closed position;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a top view of the diffuser of FIG. 1, with the cap
in open position;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a top view of the diffuser of FIG. 1, with the cap
in closed position;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a left side view of the diffuser of FIG. 1, with
the cap in open position;
[0022] FIG. 8 is a right side view of the diffuser of FIG. 1, with
the cap in closed position;
[0023] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the diffuser of FIG. 1,
with the cap in closed position, (a) along line AA of FIG. 6 and
(b) an enlarged view in the area of the shoulder.
[0024] The diffuser shown in the figures is intended for an aerosol
bottle. It is made up principally of a base (10), a push button
(20), a cap (30) and a tamper-evident strip (40).
[0025] For reasons of clarity of the description, spatial
references are used such as "lower" and "upper" or "high" and
"low", "vertical" and "top". It should be noted that the diffuser
can be manufactured and sold independently of any bottle or
container. Accordingly, these references are made relative to the
diffuser as it is shown in the figures with the cap in the closed
position. This does not preclude the diffuser from being used in
the reverse position, that is to say, with the diffuser under the
bottle, or in any other position. Furthermore, the diffuser has a
certain symmetry so that it has a vertical main axis, marked by a
cross in FIGS. 5 and 6, which serves as a reference in particular
to describe radial surfaces perpendicular to this main axis.
[0026] The base (10) is constituted, for example, by an essentially
cylindrical or frustoconical first wall (11), equipped on its inner
face with fasteners (12) constituting means for fastening it to a
container, not shown. The first wall (11) ends at its top with a
first annular plate (13) oriented towards the center. This plate
(13) is continued upwards by an essentially cylindrical or
frustoconical second wall (14), which, in turn, ends with a second
annular plate (15) oriented towards the center. The push button
(20) is connected to the second annular plate (15) via a tab (16).
The cap (30) is connected to the base (10) in the area of the first
annular plate (13) by a film hinge (17) and in the area of the
first cylindrical wall (11) by two butterfly hinges (17'). Those
skilled in the art will recognize that the representation of these
butterfly hinges (17') in the closed position of the cap is not
correct.
[0027] The push button (20) is constituted for example by a
dome-shaped part whose top (21) is flattened, or even recessed, to
form a bearing surface for the finger. A trigger, for example an
end piece (22) forming means for cooperating with the valve of an
aerosol container, is placed on the inner face of the dome. These
cooperation means are extended by a channel (23) leading to an
outlet opening (24) provided with a nozzle.
[0028] The cap (30) is constituted for example by an essentially
cylindrical or frustoconical wall (31) closed at its top by a
slightly convex top wall (32). It is connected to the base by hinge
elements (17, 17') which are fastened to the lower part of the wall
(31) of the cap. The cap can move from a closed position in which
it is folded down on the base, while isolating the push button (20)
and the outlet opening (24) from the outside, and an open position
in which it is upright, providing access to the push button and the
outlet opening. In the closed position, the face (311) of the edge
of the wall (31) of the cap abuts against the first annular plate
(13). Preferably, the outer face of the cap, in the closed
position, is placed in the extension of the outer face of the
cylindrical or frustoconical first portion (11) of the base. In the
closed position of the cap, it is not possible to press the push
button and the opening is hidden behind the cap. It is not at risk
of being soiled. In contrast, in the open position of the cap, it
is possible to access the push button to press it. In addition, the
opening is freed and the product can be propelled along the axis of
the opening in the form of a spray or be collected in the hand, for
example in the case of a foam.
[0029] In order to show that the cap (30) has never been opened,
the diffuser is provided with tamper-evident means which keep it in
the closed position. The cap can go into the open position only
after tearing off the tamper-evident means. These tamper-evident
means are composed of a strip (40) fastened to the cap (30) by
several bridges (41) and a shoulder (18) formed on the base. In the
example shown here, the strip has an L-shape having a vertical
branch (42) and a transverse branch (43). The cylindrical or
frusto-conical wall (31) of the cap has a recess opposite the hinge
(17, 17'). Three of the bridges (41') are fastened between the top
of the vertical branch (42) of the strip and the upper portion
(312) of the recess. A fourth bridge (41'') is fastened between the
free end of the upper face of the transverse branch (43) and the
portion (311) of the wall (31) of the cap that abuts against the
first annular plate (13) of the base.
[0030] The shoulder (18) extends radially outwardly at the junction
between the cylindrical or frustoconical first wall (11) and the
annular first wall (13) of the base. In the present example, the
shoulder (18) projects outwardly beyond the cylindrical or
frustoconical wall (11). It has the shape of a wedge whose upper
face is an inclined surface (181), while the lower face forms a
radial surface (182) perpendicular to the direction of movement of
the strip. This is clearly seen in FIG. 9b. This shoulder (18) is
arranged so that when the cap (30) is closed, the shoulder is in
abutment with its radial face (182) on the upper face of the
transverse branch (43) of the strip. Thus, the shoulder is
surrounded to the right by the fourth bridge (41'') and to the left
by the first of three bridges (41') fastened to the top of the
recess (312), as shown in FIG. 8.
[0031] The diffuser is molded in the open position. It is therefore
necessary that the cap be capable of being closed once without
damaging the strip (40). This is possible due to the wedge shape of
the shoulder. During the initial closing of the cap (30), the strip
(40) comes to slide with the lower face of the transverse branch
(43) against the inclined surface (181) of the shoulder, while
being deformed elastically, until the upper face of the transverse
branch (43) of the strip has passed the lower radial face (182) of
the shoulder. At this point, the strip reassumes its initial shape
and the upper face of the transverse branch (43) of the strip comes
to be blocked against the radial surface (182) of the shoulder. To
open the cap (30), the strip (40) must be torn off by tearing the
bridges (41).
[0032] Once the strip (40) has been torn off, the recess, at the
top (312) of which the strip was fastened by means of the three
bridges (41'), forms a grip to facilitate opening the cap. It would
however be possible to provide a simpler strip, elongate, whose
bridges would all be fastened to the portion (311) of the wall (31)
of the cap abutting against the first annular plate (13) of the
base.
[0033] Rather than snapping the shoulder (18) behind the upper face
of the transverse branch (43) of the strip, it would also be
possible to provide a hollow in the face of the strip directed
towards the inside of the cap. This hollow, like the upper face of
the transverse limb of the strip in this example, serves as an
abutment for the shoulder (18).
[0034] In the example shown here, the tamper-evident means are
placed opposite the hinge (17) relative to the vertical main axis
of the diffuser. They could have been positioned differently.
Similarly, the axis of the outlet opening (24) is oriented
substantially horizontally and perpendicularly to the median
vertical plane passing through the hinge (17) and the strip (40).
Other orientations of the outlet opening are possible. Similarly,
the outlet opening could be positioned differently relative to the
hinge and/or the strip (40).
[0035] Furthermore, the strip could be fastened to the base and the
shoulder could be formed on the cap.
[0036] Although the figures illustrate a diffuser for an
aerosol-type container, the invention can of course be applied to
any type of diffuser. For example, the invention can be applied to
a bottle equipped with a pump instead of a valve. As cooperating
means for actuating the valve, a rod cooperating with a female
valve could have been provided, instead of an end piece (22)
intended to cooperate with the stem of a male valve.
LIST OF REFERENCES
1 Diffuser
10 Base
[0037] 11 1.sup.st cylindrical/frustoconical wall [0038] 12
Fastening means [0039] 13 1.sup.st annular plate [0040] 14 2.sup.nd
cylindrical/tapered wall [0041] 15 2.sup.nd annular plate [0042] 16
Push button-fastening tab [0043] 17 Film hinge [0044] 17' Butterfly
hinge [0045] 18 Shoulder [0046] 181 Inclined surface [0047] 182
Radial surface Push button [0048] 21 Flattened area [0049] 22
Cooperation means [0050] 23 Channel [0051] 24 Output
opening/Nozzle
30 Cap
[0051] [0052] 31 Cylindrical/frustoconical wall [0053] 311 Edge
face [0054] 312 Recess [0055] 31 Top wall
40 Strip
[0055] [0056] 41' Bridges [0057] 41'' Bridges [0058] 42 Vertical
branch [0059] 43 Transverse branch
* * * * *