System for fastening a dispensing pump on the neck of a bottle containing a fluid product

A system for fastening a dispensing pump on the neck of a bottle containing a fluid product, the system including a sleeve having an interior collar for fastening of the pump and a lower skirt provided with fasteners for fastening the sleeve on the bottle, the system further including a hoop slidably mounted around the skirt between a top position wherein the fasteners are free and a bottom position wherein the fasteners are constrained by the hoop, the system further including an exterior collar mounted around the interior collar by the intermediary of a device for displacing the exterior collar between a bottom usage position and a top dismounting position, the hoop at the bottom position being attached to the exterior collar in order to actuate the displacement of the collar towards its top position by driving the hoop relatively to the skirt on a stroke that is sufficient to release the fasteners.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority of French patent application No. 09 03712 filed on Jul. 28, 2009, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a system for fastening a pump for dispensing on the neck of a bottle containing a fluid product, as well as a bottle for dispensing a fluid product comprising a pump fixed to the means of such a system. In particular, the bottle allows for the conditioning and the dispensing of a liquid or of a cream, for example a perfume, for a cosmetic or pharmaceutical application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such bottles comprising a body defining a reservoir for conditioning the product are known, a neck surmounting said body by defining an upper opening for said reservoir, and a pump mounted in said upper opening by arranging the means of supplying of said pump inside said reservoir. As such, the pump makes it possible to restore the product conditioned in the reservoir.

In order to provide for the positioning and the fastening of the pump in relation to the body, a system can be used comprising a sleeve having a collar bearing means of fastening of the pump and a lower skirt with provided means of fastening of said sleeve on said bottle.

The system for fastening further comprises a hoop slidably mounted around the skirt between a top position wherein the means of fastening are free in such a way as to allow for the positioning of said skirt around the neck and a bottom position wherein the means of fastening are constrained by said hoop in order to provide the sealed fastening of the sleeve on said neck.

In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,553 discusses the use of a skirt provided with claws which has an open configuration in order to allow for its positioning around the neck, said claws being pulled back and maintained in position under the neck during the sliding of the hoop towards its bottom position.

The hoop, in particular made of rigid material, as such forms a tool for pulling back claws and makes it possible to provide the maintaining over time of the claws in folded position, in particular relatively to the variations in temperature. Furthermore, it can procure an aesthetic effect by forming trim for masking the neck, the junction zone between the body and the neck (referred to as the shoulders of the body), as well as possibly the lower portion of the pump.

The problem that arises with the use of such systems according to prior art is that the fastening of the pump is irremovable. Or, in terms of ecological recycling problems at the end of the lifespan of the bottle, it is current to facilitate the separation of the pump constituted substantially of plastic and metal materials, from the body often carried out in a category of different plastic material or glass.

In order to solve this problem, the use of sleeves which can be screwed on the neck is known. However, perfumers, cosmeticians or pharmacists do not generally desire that the sleeves can be unscrewed and rescrewed easily by the user, in particular for reasons of possible degradation of the product distributed or of a change in the purpose of the bottle.

In addition, the screwable sleeves necessarily leave an unsightly functional spacing between the bottom of said sleeve and the shoulders of the body. Also, their screwing on the filling lines is slow and therefore expensive. Moreover, the screwable sleeves must be screwed on the filling lines according to a very precise torque that has to be perfectly complied with in order to provide for their sealing on the neck.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims to perfect the prior art by proposing in particular a system for fastening a pump on the neck of a bottle which allows for their quasi-irreversible separation at the end of recycling, and this by having an advantageous aesthetics and simplicity in terms of fastening.

To this effect, and according to a first aspect, the invention proposes a system for fastening a dispensing pump on the neck of a bottle containing a fluid product, said system comprising a sleeve having an interior collar bearing means of fastening of the pump and a lower skirt provided with means of fastening of said sleeve on said bottle, said system further comprising a hoop slidably mounted around the skirt between a top position wherein the means of fastening are free in such a way as to allow for the positioning of said skirt around the neck and a bottom position wherein the means of fastening are constrained by said hoop in order to provide the sealed fastening of the sleeve on said neck, said system further comprising an exterior collar mounted around the interior collar by the intermediary of a device for displacing said exterior collar between a bottom usage position and a top dismounting position, the hoop in the bottom position being attached to the exterior collar in order to actuate the displacement of said collar towards the top position by driving said hoop relatively to the skirt on a stroke that is sufficient to release the means of fastening.

According to a second aspect, the invention proposes a bottle for dispensing a fluid product, comprising a body defining a reservoir for conditioning of said product, a neck surmounting said body by defining an upper opening for said reservoir, and a pump mounted in said upper opening by arranging the means of supplying of said pump inside said reservoir, said bottle further comprising such a system for fastening, the pump being attached to the interior collar and the means of fastening of the skirt being constrained by the hoop in the bottom position in order to provide for the sealed fastening of the sleeve on the neck.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the description, the terms of positioning in the space are taken in reference to the position of the system for fastening shown in the figures.

In relation with the figures, a bottle intended to contain a fluid product for the purposes of its dispensing is described hereinbelow. In particular examples, the product can be a liquid or a cream, for example a perfume, for a cosmetic or pharmaceutical application.

The bottle comprises a body1which can be formed from rigid material, in particular glass or a plastic material, in order to define a reservoir for conditioning the product. The body1is surmounted by a neck2formed of a single part with said body by defining an upper opening for the reservoir. According to an embodiment, the neck2is of the carnette type such as made standard by the FEA standard in Europe, without the invention being restricted to such a type of neck.

The bottle for dispensing further comprises a pump3mounted in the upper opening by arranging the means of supplying of said pump inside the reservoir. The pump shown comprises a body of which the periphery is mounted without clamping in the opening.

The body of the pump3has a lower portion which is provided with a supplying orifice, the means of supplying comprising a plunger tube4having an upper portion fixed in the orifice and a lower portion arranged against the bottom of the reservoir.

Moreover, the pump comprises a push-button5provided with a dispensing orifice6. According to a known embodiment, the button5actuates in reversible translation a nozzle on a dispensing stroke and a piston is also mounted on the nozzle between a state for sealing and a state for supplying orifices of the nozzle. However, the invention is not restricted to a particular embodiment of the pump3.

The bottle can also be provided with a protective cover of the pump between two uses. Alternatively, the pump can be lockable, in particular by rotation of the push-button between a position of dispensing and a position wherein the pressing on the push-button is blocked.

In order to provide for the positioning and the fastening of the pump3on the neck2, the bottle further comprises a system for fastening comprising a sleeve7which can be carried out in a one-piece manner of ductile material, in particular plastic material of the polyolefin type.

In the upper portion, the sleeve7has an interior collar8which bears means of fastening of the pump3. In the embodiment shown, an armature of association of the pump3is formed in the interior collar8in order to render said pump integral with the sleeve7. In an alternative not shown, the sleeve7can be integrated into the body of the pump3, for example by forming an extender for said pump, the means of fastening then being permanent.

In particular, the armature of association comprises an orifice9wherein the pump3is mounted with the push-button5arranged above the sleeve7, said armature further comprising a groove for the snap-fitting10of a bead11formed on the body of the pump3.

The sleeve7also has a lower skirt12which extends axially from a part under the interior collar8, said skirt being provided with means of fastening of said sleeve on the bottle. In particular, the skirt12can be deformed between a mounting configuration wherein said skirt can be positioned around the neck2and a clamping configuration of said skirt around said neck in order to provide for the fastening. For this, the skirt12can form an interior envelope with respectively conical geometry for the positioning and cylindrical for the fastening.

In the embodiment shown, the skirt12has an upper crown13under which extend claws14forming means of fastening. Moreover, the crown13is connected to the lower end of the interior collar8by the intermediary of an inward shoulder15.

The system for fastening further comprises a hoop16made of a single part, in particular of rigid material such as a metal and for example aluminium. The hoop16is slidably mounted around the skirt12between a top position wherein the means of fastening are free in such a way as to allow for the positioning of said skirt around the neck2and a bottom position wherein the means of fastening are constrained by said hoop in order to provide the sealed fastening of the sleeve7on said neck.

As such, the fastening of the pump3on the bottle is carried out by attaching said pump to the interior collar8, the means of fastening of the skirt12being constrained by the hoop16in the bottom position in order to provide the sealed fastening of the sleeve7on said neck2.

In the embodiment shown, the inside diameter of the hoop16is arranged in order to allow for a sliding of said hoop on the crown13, the claws14in the free state being arranged in relief in relation to said crown (FIGS. 1,7). The hoop16in the top position is mounted around the crown13and, in the bottom position, the sliding of the hoop16around the claws14constrain their pulling back then their radial maintaining under the neck2(FIG. 5).

In an alternative not shown, the claws14in the free state can be arranged substantially in the axial extension of the crown13, the hoop16at the bottom position then providing the radial maintaining of said claws in order to provide the sealed fastening of the sleeve7on the neck2.

The system for fastening further comprises an exterior collar17which is mounted around the interior collar8by the intermediary of a device for displacing said exterior collar between a bottom usage position and a top dismounting position. In particular, the exterior collar17is mounted above the inward shoulder15and has a thickness substantially equal to the length of said shoulder in such a way that the exterior of said collar is substantially in the axial extension of the exterior of the crown13.

Moreover, the hoop16in the bottom position is attached to the exterior collar17in order to actuate the displacement of said collar towards its top position by driving said hoop relatively to the skirt12on a stroke that is sufficient to release the means of fastening (FIG. 7). In particular, the stroke can correspond to that relative to the passage of the hoop16from its top position towards its bottom position, the exterior collar17at the top position then making it possible to arrange the hoop16in the top position.

As such, after fastening of the pump3(FIG. 5), it is possible to dismount the fastening system—pump3unit by exerting a force adapted on the hoop16in such a way as to actuate the displacement relatively to the skirt12of the exterior collar17—hoop16unit. As such, the constraints of recyclability of the components of the bottle can be satisfied simply.

The device for displacing can be at least partially actuated in rotation by the hoop16. As such, the dismounting is carried out by an intuitive unscrewing movement, in particular in the anti-clockwise direction, by the intermediary of the hoop16. This embodiment therefore combines the advantages of a fastening by means of a deformable sleeve7with the possibility of unscrewing said sleeve, and this without the disadvantages of each one of these embodiments.

In particular, the system for fastening makes it possible to provide a hoop16which, at the bottom position, coming as a support without play against the shoulders of the body1(FIG. 5) in such a way as to perfect the aesthetics of the bottle. Furthermore, the bottles are particularly simple to install on the filling lines since the mounting of the pump3does not require screwing.

According to the embodiment shown, the dismounting is carried out by a kinematics of the bayonet type comprising a rotation followed by a translation of the exterior collar17—hoop16unit in relation to the skirt12. Alternatively, a rotation alone can be provided, the device for displacing being then arranged for transforming a force of rotation on the hoop16in a movement of translation of the exterior collar17—hoop16unit.

In order to avoid an untimely dismounting of the fastening system—pump3unit, the device for displacing can include means of locking of the exterior collar17in the bottom position, said means being deactivated by the application of a threshold force.

Furthermore, the device for displacing can include a maintaining thrust bearing of the exterior collar17at the top position on the interior collar8. As such, in the dismounting position ofFIG. 7, it is possible to unitarily remove the fastening system—pump3unit by traction on the hoop16.

According to an embodiment, the collars8,17are coaxial, the exterior collar17having an axial interior surface17aand the interior collar8having an axial exterior surface8asurrounded by said interior surface, the device for displacing being provided between said surfaces.

In particular, the device for displacing can include at least one protrusion18attached to one of the surfaces17a,8a, said protrusion being mounted in at least one slideway19attached to the other surface8a,17a, the sliding of the protrusion18in the slideway19inducing the displacement of the exterior collar17from its bottom position towards its top position.

In the embodiments shown, the interior surface17ahas two diametrically opposite protrusions18, a slideway19for each one of said protrusions being formed on the exterior surface8a. In relation with theFIGS. 2 and 3, the slideways19have:a peripheral portion20which extends over a sector of the exterior surface8a, said peripheral portion not being cross-through; anda cross-through axial upper portion21in the exterior surface8a, said portion comprising an upper opening22and communicating in the lower portion in the peripheral portion20.

As such, when the exterior collar17is in the bottom position, each protrusion18is arranged in the blind end23of the peripheral portion20. Then, during the dismounting by actuation in rotation of the hoop16, the protrusions18slide in the peripheral portions20in order to reach the axial upper portions21and, via traction on the hoop16, the protrusions18slide in said upper portions in order to arrange the exterior collar17at the top position. In particular, the axial length of the upper portions21is sufficient to release the means of fastening of the skirt12.

In relation with theFIG. 2, the peripheral portions20extend in a radial plane, the exterior collar17then remaining in the bottom position during the sliding of the protrusions18in these portions20. In an alternative shown in theFIG. 3b, the peripheral portion20can be inclined upwards in order to imprint an ascending movement to the exterior collar17during the sliding of the protrusion18in this portion20. In an alternative not shown, the slideway19can be devoid of axial portion, the peripheral portion20extending then helicoidally in order to displace the exterior collar17from its bottom position towards its top position.

In relation with theFIG. 8, the slideways19extend over a sector of the exterior surface8aand have an axial portion19aand a helical portion19b, each protrusion18being arranged in an axial portion19ain order to guide the displacement in translation of the exterior collar17from its top position towards its bottom position. Then, during the dismounting by actuation in rotation of the hoop16, the protrusions18slide in the helical portions19bin order to displace said exterior collar in the top position.

The slideway19can have a housing24for retaining the protrusion18, said housing forming a means of locking of the exterior collar17in the bottom position. In theFIGS. 2 and 3, the housing24is formed in the vicinity of the blind end23of the peripheral portion20.

In theFIGS. 2 and 3b, the housing24extends radially in order to all for the arrangement of the protrusion18inside of it, the passage of the rear edge of said housing by the protrusion18requiring a threshold force for the unlocking of the device for displacing. According toFIG. 3b, the rear edge can be provided with a radial boss25in order to make reliable the arrangement of the protrusion18in the housing24by increasing the unlocking force.

According toFIG. 3a, the housing24is delimited by boss26which extends axially in the peripheral portion20, the passage of the protrusion18on said boss making the locking reliable and conferring the force required for the unlocking.

In relation with theFIG. 8, the housing24is formed between a radial boss25formed at the junction between the axial19aand helical19bportions in such a way as to require a threshold force of unlocking of the device for displacing. Furthermore, the axial portion19ais provided with a protrusion40which has a bevelled upper face in order to allow for the sliding of the protrusion18on it during the mounting of the exterior collar17in the bottom position and an angular lower face in order to provide for the axial locking of said protrusion in the housing24in order to lock the exterior collar17in the bottom position.

In particular, the protrusion40is arranged in such a way that the upper edge of the interior collar8forms a pre-positioning surface of the exterior collar17in the top position. Moreover, the boss40has a height such that the axial dimension of the housing24is slightly less than that of the helical portion19bin order to avoid a spacing of the protrusion18in the housing24while still favouring the sliding of said protrusion in said helical portion.

The slideway19shown is also provided with an intermediary radial boss41which makes it possible, in the event of accidental dismounting, to form a hard point on the rotating stroke in order to alert the user before the means of fastening are released.

At the end of the dismounting stroke, the helical portion19bis provided with a housing42wherein the protrusion18is arranged. In particular, the housing42is delimited laterally by a thrust bearing43which is arranged to prevent the returning of the protrusion18in the slideway19and therefore the remounting of the pump3. Furthermore, the housing42has a lower edge44which is arranged to, even in the case of axial engagement on the exterior collar17, prevent the arrangement of the hoop16in the bottom fastening position.

In the embodiment shown, the hoop16is slidably mounted around the exterior collar17between its high and low positions, more precisely around the interior surface17aof said collar. In particular, a clamping force is provided at the interface between the hoop16and the exterior collar17.

Moreover, the upper edge of the interior collar8has a radial core27which cooperates with a radial core28formed in the lower edge of the exterior collar17in order to maintain the exterior collar17in the top position on the interior collar8(FIGS. 2b,7).

In relation with theFIG. 2, the openings22of the slideways19emerge in the radial core27. As such, via elastic deformation of the exterior collar17which is crossed by the axial portions21of the slideways19, the protrusions18can be arranged in the slideways19then the clamping force conferred by the hoop16on the exterior collar17makes it possible to make the cooperation of the cores27,28reliable in order to be able to maintain the exterior collar17in the top position on the interior collar8. In particular, the maintaining can be sufficient to resist a traction force on the hoop16during the dismounting of the fastening system—pump3unit.

In relation with theFIG. 8, the axial portions19aas well as the housing42emerging in the radial core27in such a way as to allow for the pre-positioning of the exterior collar17in the top position and the maintaining of said collar on the interior collar8after dismounting.

Moreover, in order to drive in displacement the exterior collar17—hoop16unit relatively to the skirt12, the actuating force, in particular in rotation, of the device for displacing is less than that of the displacement of the sleeve7.

For this, it can be provided that the clamping at the interface between the hoop16and the exterior collar17be greater than the clamping at the interface between said hoop and the skirt12. For example, the outside diameter of the crown13can be slightly less than that of the exterior collar17.

The force for the displacement of the sleeve7can also be increased by providing friction zones. In particular, in the embodiment shown, the system for fastening comprises an annular seal29which is arranged in the sleeve7in order to be on the one hand in axial engagement on the upper wall of the neck2and on the other hand in axial engagement on the extension of the lower wall of the inward shoulder15, said engagements conferring a resistive force with regards to the rotation of said sleeve in relation to said neck.

Furthermore, the upper wall has a core in relief30increasing the resistive force, this core able to be continuous or interrupted. In an alternative not shown, the core can be a hollow groove. Alternatively, the body of the pump3can be maintained, possibly in a leaktight manner, in the opening of the body1.

Moreover, the neck2and/or the sleeve7can be provided with reciprocal means of retaining in rotation, the retaining force conferred by said means being greater than the torque required to actuate in rotation the exterior collar17from its bottom position towards its top position.

In relation with theFIG. 6, the neck2has at least one rotating stop31bearing claws14in folded position. InFIG. 6a, stop bearings are formed under the neck2, the section of these stops can be rectangular or triangular. In particular, the number of stop bearings31can be equal or be a sub-multiple or a multiple of the number of claws14in order to avoid obstructing of the pump3during the positioning of the device for fastening on the neck2. InFIG. 6a, four stop bearings31are provided to cooperate with eight claws14.

FIG. 6bshows the carrying out of stop bearings31on the exterior periphery of the neck2. More precisely, the lower portion of the periphery of the neck2has two diametrically opposite cavities32, said cavities emerging under said neck. The claws14in folded position are inserted into said cavities in such a way that the edges of said cavities form stop bearing31.

In the embodiment shown, the hoop16at the bottom position and the exterior collar17have reciprocal means of fastening. As such, after arrangement in the bottom position, the hoop16is attached to the exterior collar17in order to allow for their joint displacement, in particular in rotation.

Furthermore, the means of fastening are interrupted on the interface between the hoop16in the bottom position and the skirt12, in such a way as to not drive the sleeve7in displacement together to the exterior collar17—hoop16unit.

In relation withFIG. 4, the means of fastening include axial streaks32which are formed on the interior of the hoop16, substantially on the upper half of the sliding zone of said hoop. The streaks32are arranged in order to be incrusted in the exterior collar17during the sliding of the hoop16in the bottom position, in such a way as to make the driving in rotation of said exterior collar by said hoop reliable. Alternatively, the cooperation of grooves in ribs can be used.

Moreover, in the bottom position, the lower end of the streaks32extends across from the exterior collar17in such a way that said streaks are not incrusted in the skirt12. Furthermore, in the top position, the lower end of the streaks32can be incrusted in the exterior collar17in order to make the maintaining of the hoop16in position reliable during the mounting of the fastening system—pump3unit on the neck2.

In relation withFIG. 5a, the lower end of the streaks32have catches33which can be obtained via impacting. The catches33extend interiorly in order to be engaged under the exterior collar17when the hoop16is in the bottom position.

As such, the fastening of the exterior collar17—hoop16unit is made reliable in rotation as well as in traction and this, without creating streaks32of substantial relief and/or with a cutting-edge profile in the hoop16, in particular carried out by stamping of a metal material.