Dispenser for a composition in the form of powder in a container, and container of the feeding bottle type provided with such a dispenser

A dispenser for a powder in a container, containing a receptacle including an end wall provided with at least one orifice, an adapter including a tubular body provided with a transverse partition provided with at least one orifice, the receptacle being rotatable on the adapter between a closed position of the dispenser, in which the orifice in the receptacle and the orifice in the adapter are not aligned with one another, and an open position of the dispenser, in which the orifice in the receptacle and the orifice in the adapter are positioned in line with one another, and a sealing component comprising an upper annular part and a lower annular part arranged so as to ensure sealing between the container and the adapter and between the adapter and the container, respectively, when the adapter is mounted on the container.

FIELD

The invention relates to a dispenser for a composition being presented in the form of powder in a container as well as a container provided with such a dispenser.

The dispenser is intended, in particular, but not exclusively, to be implemented with a feeding bottle.

BACKGROUND

A dispenser of powder for a feeding bottle is known from application GB2489721, comprising a powder container and a connector to the feeding bottle wherein the connector comprises a coupling adapted to releasably fix the connector to a feeding bottle, and wherein the powder container is coupled so that it can be removed to the connector. The powder container comprises a baseplate defining one or more holes and the connector comprises a sealing plate defining one or more holes corresponding to the base element holes. The powder container is mounted rotatably with respect to the connector to define a closed angular configuration wherein the baseplate is located in the vicinity of the sealing plate and the hole(s) of the sealing plate is/are misaligned with the corresponding base element hole(s), such that the powder in the powder container is sealed there, and an open angular configuration wherein the two hole clearances are aligned to make it possible for the powder to flow outside of the powder container.

The dispenser of the abovementioned application however has a major disadvantage relating to the sealing of the assembly when the dispenser is mounted on the feeding bottle. This indeed does not have a reliable sealing between the connector and the feeding bottle with which it is coupled, due to the sealing being achieved only by the gripping of the neck of the feeding bottle in a channel arranged at the level of the wall of the adapter. Moreover, the sealing in the closed position of the dispenser between the connector and the powder container is also not totally ensured, this remaining dependent on the clamping of the powder container on the connector. It is indeed necessary that the powder container is sufficiently screwed, such that the sealing plate, wedged between the powder container and the connector ensures the sealing function thereof. An insufficient clamping can generate a clearance between the powder container and the container such that in case of unintended turning of the feeding bottle, the liquid contained in it comes into communication with the powder contained in the powder container.

SUMMARY

The invention aims to overcome this problem by proposing a dispenser of a powder composition, of which the sealing, when it is mounted on a container, is ensured.

The invention also aims for a dispenser that is simple to handle, which could be mounted and dismounted quickly and easily on a container and in particular on a feeding bottle and that is easy to clean.

The invention also aims to propose a dispenser comprising a reduced number of components.

The invention also aims to propose a container, like for example, a feeding bottle, provided with such a dispenser.

To this end, and according to a first aspect, the invention proposes a dispenser for a powder composition in a container, comprising a component forming a receptacle to contain the powder composition to be dispensed in the container, said component comprising an end wall provided with at least one orifice, a component forming an adapter comprising a tubular body provided with a transverse partition provided with at least one orifice and fixing means capable of engaging with complementary fixing means supported by the receptacle, the receptacle being rotatable on the adapter between a closed position of the dispenser, wherein the orifice of the receptacle and the orifice of the adapter are not aligned with one another and an open position of the dispenser wherein the orifice of the receptacle and the orifice of the adapter are positioned in line with one another so as to make it possible for the flow of the powder composition contained in the receptacle outside of the latter. The dispenser according to the invention is noteworthy in that it further comprises a sealing component comprising an upper annular part arranged to ensure sealing between the container and the adapter and a lower annular part arranged to ensure sealing between the adapter and the container when the adapter is mounted on the container.

Advantageously, the upper and lower annular parts are connected to one another by at least one connecting arms passing through the orifice of one of the components.

Advantageously, the sealing component forms a part overmoulded on one of the components.

Advantageously, the sealing component is supported by the adapter.

Advantageously, the upper annular part comprises a partition comprising at least one orifice located in line with the orifice of one of the components.

Advantageously, the partition comprises at least one protruding zone of complementary shape to the orifice of one of the components and arranged to be engaged in the orifice of the component located in line with which the zone is placed when the dispenser is in the closed position.

Advantageously, the receptacle is coupled reversibly with the adapter.

Advantageously, the receptacle comprises fixing means capable of engaging with complementary fixing means of an additional component, like for example, a lid or a ring for holding a teat when the container in question is a feeding bottle body.

The invention also relates to a container provided with a dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims.

The invention also relates to a feeding bottle to dispense a liquid comprising a feeding bottle body having, at one of the ends thereof, an opening, a dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, coupled with said end of the feeding bottle body and a teat held on the dispenser by means of a retaining ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Below, the terms “lower”, “upper”, “above”, “below”, “inner”, “outer”, referring to the orientation of the feeding bottle and to these components such as represented in the figures.

With respect toFIGS. 1 to 4, a feeding bottle1equipped with a dispenser3is described, making it possible for the dispensing of a determined quantity of milk powder.

The feeding bottle1comprises a feeding bottle body2intended to contain a liquid surmounted on the dispenser3, a teat S coupled reversibly with the dispenser3via a holding ring4.

The dispenser3comprises two components, one constituting a receptacle6to contain the milk powder to be dispensed in the body of the feeding bottle2, the other component constituting an adapter8making it possible for the coupling of the receptacle to the body of the feeding bottle2. The adapter can also and indifferently be designated as a connector.

In the embodiment illustrated, the receptacle6, of substantially cylindrical shape, comprises a side wall60, an open upper end61and an end wall62.

The end wall62delimits, with the side wall60and the open upper end61, a space63to receive the milk powder.

The end wall62is provided with several orifices64. In the embodiment illustrated, the end wall62has two orifices64arranged symmetrically with one another with respect to the longitudinal axis of the dispenser3. The orifices64have a substantially triangular shape. Of course, it is clear that orifices64can be provided which have other shapes, like in particular, a circular shape without moving away from the scope of the invention. As will however be understood later, the shape and the dimensions of the orifices will be selected so as to make it possible for a quick and easy flow of the powder contained in the receptacle6.

The receptacle6comprises an upper end portion supporting, on the outer face thereof, a helical thread65. The helical thread65is arranged to engage with the threading45arranged on the inner face of the ring for holding4the teat. The teat5is thus fixed on the receptacle6, on the side of the open upper end61, by screwing the holding ring4on the upper end portion of the receptacle6. It can be provided also that the dispenser is provided with a lid9comprising means for complementary coupling to the helical threading65of the receptacle as illustrated inFIGS. 9 and 10.

The adapter8comprises a tubular body having an upper end provided with a transverse partition82. Like the end wall62of the receptacle6, the partition of the adapter8comprises orifices84. In the embodiment illustrated, the partition82is provided with four orifices84. These orifices84are distributed over the partition so as to correspond to the two orifices64of the end wall62of the receptacle when the dispenser3is in a position called open position, described later. Said orifices84furthermore and advantageously have a shape corresponding to that of the orifices64of the end wall62of the receptacle6.

The adapter8further comprises means making it possible for a reversible coupling on the feeding bottle body2. More specifically, the adapter8comprises coupling means capable of engaging with complementary coupling means supported by the container. In the embodiment illustrated, the coupling means consist of a helical threading85arranged on the inner face of the lower end portion of the adapter8, said helical threading85being arranged to engage with the helical thread25arranged on the outer face of the upper end portion20of the feeding bottle body2.

The receptacle6is coupled reversibly to the adapter8. The coupling means are arranged to make it possible for the rotation of the receptacle6with respect to the adapter8between a position called closed position (position wherein the receptacle6is fully screwed on the adapter8and the orifices64of the receptacle6and the orifices84of the adapter8are not aligned with one another), a position called open position (position wherein the orifices64of the receptacle6and the orifices84of the adapter8are positioned opposite one another so as to make it possible for the flow of the milk powder contained in the receptacle6in the feeding bottle body) and a position wherein the receptacle6is uncoupled from the adapter8. In the embodiment illustrated, the coupling means comprise extensions86arranged on the upper end portion of the adapter8and arranged to form a discontinuous helical guiding ramp and one or more pin(s) arranged68on the lower end portion of the receptacle6(FIGS. 5 and 6). At least one of the extensions is provided, in the top part of the ramp, of a stop pad arranged to block the receptacle in the opening position.

The dispenser3further comprises a sealing component7intended to together ensure the sealing, even of the dispenser3(sealing between the receptacle6and the adapter8) and the sealing between the adapter8and the feeding bottle body2. In the embodiment illustrated, the sealing component7is supported by the adapter8and more specifically overmoulded on the adapter8(FIG. 7).

The sealing component7comprises an upper annular part70and a lower annular part71connected to one another by connecting arms72. As illustrated inFIG. 7, each connecting arm72extends through one of the orifices84of the partition of the adapter8. In the embodiment illustrated, the upper and lower annular parts70,71are connected by two diametrically opposite connecting arms72.

The upper annular part70is arranged to ensure sealing between the container6and the adapter8. It is provided with a partition73(or plate) comprising two orifices74located respectively in line with one of the orifices84of the adapter8. AsFIG. 6shows, said orifices74of the annular part70are arranged symmetrically in line with one another to the longitudinal axis of the dispenser3, and have an identical shape to the orifices84of the adapter84in line with which they are positioned.

The partition73further comprises, on the upper face thereof, two protruding zones75arranged symmetrically in line with one another with respect to the longitudinal axis of the dispenser3and inserted between the orifices74. These are advantageously zones raised with material. Said zones75advantageously have a shape complementarily to the orifice64of the receptacle6in line with which they are arranged. They are arranged to respectively block the orifice64of the receptacle6in line with which they are positioned when the dispenser3is in the closed position. The presence of zones thus raised thus makes it possible to reinforce the sealing between the receptacle6and the adapter8.

The upper annular part70furthermore has a supporting edge70aextending above the partition, and arranged to bear against the lower end portion66of the receptacle6. The upper part of the sealing component7is thus presented in the form of a cup.

The lower annular part71is arranged to ensure sealing between the adapter8and the container6when the adapter8is mounted on the feeding bottle body2. The lower annular part72is arranged to form a collar79having an upper surface bearing against a shoulder89arranged on the inner wall of the adapter8(FIG. 9).

The connecting arms72are bent so as to border the faces of the receptacle6and of the adapter8against which they bear.

FIG. 10illustrates an embodiment variant of the dispenser. In the embodiment illustrated, the dispenser is represented as provided with a lid9. In this embodiment, the zone protruding75from the upper annular part70are arranged with the edge70aso as to define a circular groove77receiving a circular extension67arranged at the lower end of the receptacle6in the closing position.

Advantageously, the transverse partition82of the adapter8comprises a central lug88capable of being housed in a central housing78arranged on the lower front side of the partition73of the sealing component.

The invention is described above as an example. It is understood that a person skilled in the art is able to achieve different embodiment variants of the invention without moving away from the scope of the invention.