Abstract:
A fluid product dispensing device comprising a reservoir (B), a pump (P) including two pump elements adapted to slide relative to each other in a longitudinal direction and an outer casing (R) provided with a nozzle ( 10 ) dispensing the product and an actuator for expelling a dose of product through the nozzle each time an action is exerted by the user of the actuator which comprises a pressing element ( 7, 8 ) accessible from outside the casing (R) and a force returning member, the pressing member being mobile substantially transversely to press on the force returning member between two longitudinal end parts, the transformation by the force returning member of the thrust force (F) exerted by the user into a longitudinal sliding force (F 2 ) increasing while the thrust is being exerted.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a fluid, gaseous, liquid or pasty product, of the type comprising a reservoir containing several doses of product, to the neck of which is mounted fixedly a pump equipped with a hollow control stem sliding in a pump body in a direction called longitudinal, and a casing in which said reservoir is housed, said casing being equipped with a nozzle for dispensing the product, connected by a connecting means to said hollow control stem, and with a means for actuating the pump in order to expel a dose of product via the dispensing nozzle on each action exerted by a user on said actuating means. 
     In spraying product devices, for example atomizers, a precompression stroke or a precompression effect is generally provided, on actuating the pump, in order to liberate the product with enough ejection force to provide a spray of the product at the spray nozzle. The purpose of this precompression stroke of the pump is to force the user to exert, with his finger or his hand, a large force on the actuating button during this precompression stroke. Thus the finger or the hand of the user is carried by its impetus until the button is depressed to the bottom, since, beyond the precompression stroke, the product can be ejected by the pump and therefore the button is less resistive to its depression. It is possible to expel the whole dose of product at high speed, when the force exerted by the user exceeds the precompression value, which may be, for example, about 25 N. 
     When it is desired, for size, ergonomic or other reasons, that the actuating member is moved in a direction other than that of the stroke of the control stem of the pump, it is possible to provide between them an inclined double-ramp system, a first ramp interacting with the actuating means, a second ramp being connected to the control stem of the pump, so that the gliding of the two ramps one against the other causes the control stem to slide in the pump body. However, in such a system, the friction between the two ramps is great enough so that after the precompression stroke, the user&#39;s finger is not driven enough by its impetus to press to the bottom on the actuating means, but is impeded by the resistive force of friction between the ramps. There is therefore no tilting effect after the precompression stroke, which leads to expelling the complete dose of product at a speed which is high enough to ensure that it is sprayed. In order to reduce this friction, it is possible to provide ramps with a shallow slope, but in this case the actuating stroke is too large. If ramps with a shallower slope are chosen, the actuating stroke is smaller, but in this case friction is very great. 
     Document U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,582 describes a pump system, in a variant of which the pump is actuated by a trigger assembly comprising a pivotally-mounted trigger and a Y-shaped element. This system has a complex outer shape with projecting moveable parts which are accessible from the outside, which increases the risk of inadvertent dismantling and is detrimental to its ergonomics. Furthermore, it does not relate to dispensing devices comprising a casing in which a reservoir equipped with a pump is housed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aim of the invention is to remove the aforementioned drawbacks and to provide a device for dispensing product comprising a reservoir equipped with a pump and a casing in which said reservoir is housed, which makes it possible to eject the product at a high enough speed, and in which the position of the dispensing nozzle is independent of the position of the means for actuating the pump. 
     To this end, the subject of the invention is a device for dispensing a fluid, gaseous, liquid or pasty product, comprising a reservoir containing several doses of product, a pump comprising two pump elements, that is a hollow stem and a pump body fitted onto said reservoir, said two elements being capable of sliding one with respect to the other in a direction called longitudinal in order to pump said product, and an outer casing equipped with a nozzle for dispensing the product, which nozzle is connected by a connecting means to said hollow stem, and with a pump actuating means to expel a dose of product via the dispensing nozzle on each action exerted by the user on said actuating means, said actuating means comprising a bearing member which is accessible from the outside of the casing and a member for transmitting force, said member for transmitting force having two longitudinal end parts, one, called moveable, of which is capable of bearing on one of said two pump elements in order to make it slide longitudinally and the other, called stationary, of which is locked in translation with respect to said outer casing in the aforementioned longitudinal direction, it being possible for said bearing member to move essentially transversely in order to bear on said member for transmitting force between said two longitudinal end parts, so as to be able to deform said member for transmitting force between a rest position, in which at least one intermediate portion of said transmission member has a nonzero curvature, and an active position, in which the curvature of said intermediate portion is small, in order to increase the longitudinal extension of said member for transmitting force by causing a sliding of said hollow stem toward the inside of said pump body, characterized in that said reservoir is housed at least partially in said casing, said member for transmitting force being arranged such that the transformation, by said member for transmitting force, from the pushing force exerted by the user on said bearing member into a longitudinal sliding force exerted on said first pump element increases throughout the push, which makes it possible to ensure that said longitudinal sliding force ejects the dose of product at a velocity which is high enough to provide a spray via said nozzle. 
     In addition, in the aforementioned previous system, the forces to which the Y-shaped element is subjected are large because of the acute angle between its two members at the start of the stroke, such that the stabilization of the Y-shaped element and the fatigue at the junction of the members are problematical. 
     According to a particular characteristic of the invention, said member for transmitting force comprises two toggle joint lever arms hinged directly or indirectly one with respect to the other at said intermediate portion, the free ends of the two arms opposed to said hinge forming respectively said longitudinal end parts of said member for transmitting force, said two arms forming together an obtuse angle in said rest position and remaining unaligned in said active position, without going through an aligned position of the two arms. 
     Advantageously, the two toggle joint lever arms are hinged via a central piece guided transversely in translation in said casing. 
     Advantageously, the bearing member is integral with the hinge between the two aforementioned arms. 
     Advantageously, the bearing member is able to bear on said member for transmitting force on either side of said toggle joint hinge, on reinforcing ribs carried by the two toggle joint lever arms. 
     Preferably, the free end of the toggle joint lever arm which forms said stationary end of the member for transmitting force is hinged about a fixed point of the casing. 
     As a variant, the free toggle joint lever arm end which forms said stationary end of the member for transmitting force is able to be displaced in translation in a substantially transverse direction of the casing, the corresponding toggle joint lever arm being able to act as bearing member. 
     Advantageously, said member for transmitting force comprises two additional arms hinged respectively to each of said toggle joint lever arms at the free ends thereof, said additional arms being hinged together at their respective ends opposite said toggle joint lever arms in order to form a hinged quadrilateral. 
     Preferably, the hinge of said additional arms of the quadrilateral is kept transversely in gliding contact with a substantially longitudinal guiding rib of said device in order to be able to slide against said guiding rib during the actuation of said pump. 
     Advantageously, that one of said additional arms which is hinged to said stationary end of the member for transmitting force is stopped against an oblique stop rib of said device in said rest position. 
     Preferably, said guiding rib and said stop rib are formed contiguously on an inner face of said casing. 
     According to another characteristic of the invention, said member for transmitting force comprises an elastically deformable cylindrical sleeve arranged with its axis in a direction which is substantially transverse and substantially perpendicular to the direction of the bearing force of said bearing member, said sleeve exhibiting in said rest position a substantially elliptical section, the major axis of which coincides with the direction of said bearing force and the minor axis of which coincides with said longitudinal direction, the ends of said minor axis forming respectively said longitudinal end parts of said member for transmitting force, said sleeve being deformed during the thrust exerted by the user on said bearing member such that its major axis is shortened whilst its minor axis is elongated. 
     Preferably, the parts of said sleeve at the ends of said major axis are respectively in gliding contact with a longitudinal wall of said bearing member and with a substantially longitudinal guiding rib of said casing. 
     Advantageously, said stationary end part of the member for transmitting force is offset with respect to the axis of said hollow stem. 
     Advantageously, said first pump element is said hollow stem, said movable end part of the member for transmitting force is hinged on an end piece mounted fixedly to the free end of the hollow stem in order to bear on said hollow stem, said end piece carrying the aforementioned connecting means. 
     Preferably, the aforementioned connecting means is a flexible tube or a deformable bellows or one or more pieces which can be moved with respect to the casing. 
     According to yet another characteristic of the invention, said first pump element is said pump body and said movable end part of the member for transmitting force bears on a substantially transverse wall carried by said pump body, said pump body and said reservoir being moveable in said direction which is longitudinal with respect to said casing. 
     Preferably, said hollow stem lies on the other side of said transverse wall with respect to said member for transmitting force, the free end of said hollow stem being mounted fixedly in a wall of the casing carrying said nozzle, said connecting means being a duct formed through said casing wall. 
     Advantageously, the dispensing nozzle is carried fixedly by the casing. 
     Preferably, the aforementioned bearing member comprises a flexible membrane mounted fixedly in the wall of the casing. 
     Advantageously, said casing forms an outer packaging completely containing said reservoir. The whole device can then be designed with a simple shape and quite small size, for example a flat parallelepipedal shape, in order to be easily put away in the pocket of an item of clothing. Said reservoir may advantageously be formed from a pocket made of a flexible plastic film. 
     Preferably, said member for transmitting force is contained in said outer casing. The toggle joint hinge or hinges may be formed by film hinges. 
     The invention will be better understood, and other aims, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear more clearly, during the detailed explanatory description which follows of several embodiments of the invention, given solely by way of nonlimiting illustration, with reference to the appended schematic drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In these drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a partial view in longitudinal section of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention, in the rest position; 
     FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but in the active position, at the end of the actuating stroke of the pump; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mounting piece designed to be inserted into the container of FIG. 1, said mounting piece being in its position as molded; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3, but showing said mounting piece in a folded service position; 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic view in longitudinal section of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention, in its rest position; 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but in the active position, at the end of the actuating stroke of the pump; 
     FIG. 7 is a partial view in longitudinal section of a third embodiment of the device according to the invention, in the rest position; 
     FIG. 8 is a partial view in longitudinal section of a fourth embodiment of the device of the invention, in the rest position; 
     FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, but in the active position, at the end of the actuating stroke of the pump, the spray nozzle being secured in translation with the control stem of the pump; 
     FIG. 10 is a vector diagram showing the actuating forces on sliding the control stem of the pump with a device according to the invention; 
     FIG. 11 is a partial view in longitudinal section of a fifth embodiment of the device of the invention, in the rest position; 
     FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11, but in the active position, at the end of the actuating stroke of the pump; 
     FIG. 13 is a partial view in longitudinal section of a sixth embodiment of the device of the invention, in the rest position; 
     FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13, but in the active position, at the end of the actuating stroke of the pump; 
     FIG. 15 is a view in longitudinal section, along the line XV—XV of FIG. 16, of a sixth embodiment of the device of the invention, in the rest position; 
     FIG. 16 is a view in longitudinal section, along the line XVI—XVI of FIG. 15, of the device of FIG. 15 in the rest position; 
     FIG. 17 is a view in longitudinal section along the line XVII—XVII of FIG. 18 of a sixth embodiment of the device of the invention, in the active position, at the end of the actuating stroke of the pump; 
     FIG. 18 is a view in longitudinal section, along the line XVIII—XVIII of FIG. 17, of the device of FIG. 17 in the active position, at the end of the actuating stroke of the pump; 
     FIG. 19 is a partial view in perspective of the mounting piece of FIG. 3 in another variant embodiment; 
     FIG. 20 is a partial view in perspective of a variant embodiment of the toggle joint of FIG. 4 corresponding to the mounting piece of FIG.  19 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to FIGS. 1 to  4 , a bottle B is seen which is designed to contain several doses of product, the neck  1  of which is equipped with a pump P. The pump P comprises a pump body  2  secured to a collar  3  which is crimped onto the neck  1  of the bottle B and a hollow control stem  4  which is capable of sliding in the pump body  2 , in order to eject a dose of product. The pump P is connected to a dip tube  5  which extends down to the bottom of the bottle B (see FIGS.  5  and  6 ). 
     The bottle B is housed (at least partially) in a larger container or casing R, for example made of plastic, which forms an outer packaging for the bottle. By way of example, the container R may be made of transparent plastic, with a coat of metalized varnish on the inner surface of the container in order to conceal the inside of the container R. Advantageously, the container R consists of two half-shells made of plastic which are welded one to the other. 
     In the variant of FIGS. 1 and 2, the side wall of the container R comprises an opening  6  through which a rubber membrane  7  is forcedly snap-fitted. The rubber membrane  7  comprises a relatively thick cylindrical wall  7   a,  which is designed to be fitted to a shoulder of the aforementioned opening  6  of the wall of the container R, and a portion substantially in the shape of a flexible disk  7   b  of small thickness lying inside said thick cylindrical wall  7   a,  said membrane  7  comprising, in its center, a thicker portion  7   c  making a housing to receive and retain the head of a substantially mushroom-shaped plastic pushing device  8 . 
     At its top, the container R comprises a housing in which an end piece  9 , capable of receiving a spray nozzle  10 , known per se, is mounted. A locking ring  11  is mounted around the end piece  9  in the thickness of the top wall of the container R in order to lock the end piece  9  in place on the wall of the container. The upper end piece  9  extends inside the container R via an offset cylindrical end piece  9   a  which is capable of receiving the upper end of a flexible tube  12 , the lower end thereof being fitted in a lower end piece  13 , which is extended by another coaxial end piece  13   a  which is mounted on the smaller-diameter upper end  4   a  of the aforementioned control stem  4 . 
     As is visible in FIGS. 1 and 2, foam  14  is inserted between the bottle B and the inner wall of the container R in order to hold the bottle in place. 
     As is more visible in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper end pieces  9  and  9   a  are borne by a substantially horizontal lug  15   a,  which is an integral part of a support member  15 . The support member  15  consists of a flat vertical plate  16  with raised side edges  17 , the flat plate  16  being designed to bear against an inner side wall of the container R. The aforementioned upper lug  15   a  is connected, on either side of the aforementioned end pieces  9  and  9   a,  to a first U- or fork-shaped arm  18 , via two film-hinges  18   a.  The opposite end of the first arm  18  is connected via a hinge  19  to a second arm  20 , also substantially U-shaped. The two arms  18  and  20  and the hinge  19  together form a means of transmitting force through an angle using a toggle joint. The overall shape of the toggle joint is an H, hinged on the horizontal bar of the H. The two branches of the second fork-shaped arm  20  are connected via a film hinge  20   a  to a small plate  21  which bears on either side of its plane the aforementioned lower end pieces  13  and  13   a.  The small plate  21  also comprises two side lugs  21   a  which are designed to engage in a groove  17   a  made in the aforementioned raised edges  17  of the support member  15 . The grooves  17   a  serve to guide the sliding of the control stem  4 . 
     Each arm  18 ,  20  comprises side reinforcement ribs  18   b,    20   b  and a transverse reinforcement rib  18   c,    20   c,  in the vicinity of the hinge  19 . 
     The second arm  20  may also comprise a flexible tongue  22  which is capable of bearing against the bottom of the plate  16 , in the mounted position, as shown in broken line in FIG. 1, in order to provide the elastic return movement of the toggle joint to its rest position. 
     Advantageously, the support member  15  is in one piece with the end pieces  9 ,  9   a,  the toggle joint  18  to  20 , the small plate  21  and the end pieces  13  and  13   a  and, where necessary, the elastic tongue or tongues  22 . In the position illustrated in FIG. 3, the whole of the aforementioned support member  15  is shown in its position as obtained on being taken from the mold. The entire support member is therefore molded. Note, in FIG. 3, that the demolding direction is substantially vertical, and that the arms  18  and  20  forming the toggle joint are in a position aligned both with the small plate  21  and the lug  15   a.    
     In a variant shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, on the one hand the support member  15  with the plate  16 , the raised edges  17  and the end pieces  9  and  9   a  and, on the other hand, the toggle joint  18  to  20 , the small plate  21  and the end pieces  13  and  13   a,  together with, if required, the elastic tongue or tongues  22 , form two distinct assemblies obtained separately by molding. In this case, the first arm  18  comprises at each fork end  18   a  a cylinder  59  arranged transversely in order to form a pivot pin for the arm  18  instead of the film hinges. The lug  15   a  of the support member  15  is, in this case, replaced by an upper wall  31  which completely closes the support member  15  from one edge  17  to the other, this upper wall still bearing the aligned end pieces  9  and  9   a  and, on its lower face, on each side of the end piece  9   a,  there are two longitudinal lugs  33  between which the wall  31  has a transverse recess  60 , the lugs  33  and the recess  60  forming a substantially semicylindrical bearing in which each pivot pin  59  of the arm  18  is engaged in order to form a pivot connection. 
     The operation of the device according to the invention will now be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 1,  2  and  10 . 
     In the rest position illustrated in FIG. 1, the control stem  4  of the pump P is in an upward-projecting position and the toggle joint has an opening angle θ 1  between the arms  18  and  20 , for example of the order of 115° in FIG.  10 . In this position, the pushing device  8  bears against the transverse ribs  18   c  and  20   c  of the two arms  18  and  20 , on either side of the hinge  19 , without however coming into contact with said hinge. If a leaf spring  22  has been provided, the latter is slightly folded with its free end bearing against the bottom of the plate  16 , as shown in FIG.  1 . The flexible tube  12  has a shape substantially bent into a V inside the container R. 
     When a user exerts a bearing force F on the central portion  7   c  of the membrane  7 , to the right of the pushing device  8 , the membrane  7  is deformed toward the inside of the container, to take a substantially concave shape, with the concavity turned outward by virtue of its curved shape in its rest state, as is visible in FIG.  2 . The pushing device  8  then bears on the aforementioned ribs  18   c  and  20   c  in order to push back the arms  18  and  20 . However, as the upper end  18   a  of the first arm  18  is fixed with respect to the container R, it is the lower end  20   a  of the second arm  20  which is moved downward, depressing the control stem  4  inside the pump body in order to expel a dose of product toward the spray nozzle  10 , the jet of sprayed product being shown by J. The flexible tube  12  is deformed to take a more elongated position. As is visible in FIG. 2, the two arms  18  and  20  take a relative position which is more aligned than is the case in FIG. 1, without however being completely aligned, so as to prevent the two arms  18  and  20  from tilting to the other side of their unstable alignment position. It will also be noted that the upper end  18   a  of the first arm  18  is not aligned with the axis of the control stem  4 , although that can be envisioned. In the end-of-stroke position where the product is ejected, shown in FIG. 2, the two arms  18  and  20  together form an angle θ 2  of about 145° in FIG.  10 . By way of example, the pushing device  8  is displaced by a distance d 1  of about 4 mm in a transverse direction in order to move the hinge  19  between its two positions illustrated in FIG. 10, and the lower end  20   a  of the second arm  20  is displaced over a height d 2  of about 4 mm. We therefore have a system for transmitting force in which a transverse bearing force F is transformed into a longitudinal or vertical displacement force F 2 . 
     In FIG. 10, the balance of forces on the actuating member is shown in a vector diagram. F denotes the transverse bearing force exerted by the user and transmitted by the pushing device substantially at the hinge  19 . The force F 3  is the reaction of the support member  15  on the free end  18   a  of the first arm  18 , at the pivot connection. The force F 2  exerted on the control stem  4  by the free end  20   a  of the second arm  20  is the longitudinal resultant which causes the control stem  4  to slide in the pump body  2 , against pressure and other forces which resist it. F may, for example, have a value of about 35.7 N, F 3  a value of about 21.6 N and F 2  a value of about 25 N. The point  18   a  may be offset by about 4 mm with respect to the longitudinal axis A of the control stem. 
     Given that the toggle joint opens during the transverse stroke of the pushing device, the transformation of the pushing force F exerted by the user into a longitudinal sliding force F 2  exerted on the control stem increases throughout the push. This is because the leverage from the pushing force F with respect to the pivot pin of the second arm  20  at its end  20   a  increases during the stroke of the hinge  19 , represented by an arc of a circle C, while the leverage with respect to the hinge  19  from the forces which resist sliding of the stem  4  decrease. Thus, for resistive forces of constant value, the thrust F needed to overcome said resistive forces, and therefore to actuate the pump P, decreases. This increasing transmission effect combines with the precompression effect of the pump to result in a resistive force opposing the thrust by the user which decreases during the pushing stroke. 
     Once the initial resistive force is overcome, the movement of the user therefore tends to continue by entrainment, causing acceleration of the pushing device, which makes it possible to provide a pressure for ejecting the dose of product which is enough to cause satisfactory spraying or atomization of the jet J by the spray nozzle  10 . 
     When the user releases the pressure exerted on the pushing device  8 , the spring integral to the pump may automatically push back the toggle joint to its rest position; however, it is also possible to provide one or more flexible leaves  22  in order to contribute to returning the toggle joint to its rest position. 
     The vertical sliding of the small plate  21  is guided by the lugs  21   a  which slide in the grooves  17   a  of the edges  17  of the support member  15 . 
     In the variant illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the same reference numbers are used to denote identical pieces, while similar elements are represented by reference numbers increased by 100. 
     In this variant, the aforementioned support member is removed, the upper end pieces  109 ,  109   a  being borne by a small plate  115  fixed directly to the upper wall of the container R, and the lower end pieces  113  and  113   a  being borne directly by the control stem  4  of the pump P. Here, the toggle joint consists of an upper arm  118  hinged at  118   a  to an upper washer  115   a  mounted fixedly under the aforementioned small plate  115 , of a lower arm  120  hinged at  120   a  to a lower small plate  121 , the two arms  118  and  120  being hinged to a central piece  119  which then acts as a pushbutton. The end pieces  113  and  113   a  project on either side of the small plate  121 . This central piece  119  is in contact with a membrane  107  having a substantially spherical-cap shape which is inserted through the opening  6  in the wall of the container R. This membrane  107  comprises a flange which projects peripherally at its base  107 a while its central spherical portion projects outward from the container. Advantageously, the central piece  119  is guided in a transverse direction (by means not shown) in order to prevent said piece  119  from tilting about one of its hinges connecting it with the arms  118  and  120 . So, if the user exerts a force F, as indicated in FIG. 6, on the membrane  107 , which leads to giving it a substantially concave depressed shape, the piece  119  is moved transversely so as to open the angle formed by the toggle joint, but not so far that said piece tilts upward or downward, which otherwise would not allow the vertical sliding movement to be transmitted to the control stem  4 . 
     Otherwise, the operation of the variant illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 is similar to that of the first variant. 
     A third variant is illustrated in FIG. 7, in which the elements identical to those of the first variant bear the same reference numbers, while similar elements bear the reference numbers increased by 200. 
     In FIG. 7, the aforementioned flexible tube is replaced by an elongated bellows  212 , the upper end of which is fitted in an upper end piece  209   a  and the lower end of which is directly fitted on the free end  4   a  of the control tube  4  of the pump P. The upper end piece  209   a  is borne by a small plate  215 , from the other side of which the end piece  209 , intended to receive the spray nozzle  10 , is made to project. Under this small plate  215 , a washer  215   a  is mounted, which washer is extended by a film hinge  218   a  of the first arm  218  of the toggle joint. The other end of the first arm  218  is connected via the hinge  219  to the second arm  220 , the lower end of which is connected via a film hinge  220   a  to a small plate  221  which is mounted around the lower end of the bellows  212 . The aforementioned hinge  219  is extended by a pushing device  208  which can be directly accessible from the outside of the container (not shown in FIG.  7 ). 
     The operation of this variant remains similar to that of the two aforementioned variants. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 show a fourth variant, in which the spray nozzle  10  is borne by a moveable hollow connecting piece  312  of elongated shape which is borne directly at its lower end by the control stem  4  of the pump P. This moveable piece  312  comprises an axial passage  313  which opens out at its lower end onto the hollow control stem  4  and at its upper end onto the spray nozzle  10  which here is positioned perpendicularly to the axis of the container R. This piece  312  is capable of sliding vertically with respect to a guide sleeve  309  which extends into the container R from its top. Consequently, in this variant, the outlet nozzle  10  for the product can be moved with respect to the container R, while in the other variants it was stationary with respect to the container. 
     In addition, in this variant, an elastomeric sleeve is provided over the whole perimeter of the side wall of the container R, so as to be able to be compressed by tightening said sleeve in one hand. In fact, in this variant, the elastomeric sleeve is directly connected at its lower end, in a recess  1   a , to the top of the bottle B and at its upper end to the upper wall of the container R using a semi-toric retaining ring  306 . Inside the container R, that is to say in the space defined between the top of the bottle B and the upper wall of the container R, a plurality of substantially vertical segments  308  are provided, which are regularly distributed over the entire perimeter of the container and are in contact with the inner face of the elastomeric sleeve  307 . The segments  308  are capable of being moved radially toward the axis of the device. These segments act as bearing member. Each segment  308  is extended by an upper arm  318  which slides in a transverse and radial direction with respect to the axis of the device. This first arm  318  is connected via a hinge  319  to a second lower arm  320  which is connected by a film hinge  320   a  to the aforementioned piece  312 . The arm  318 , the hinge  319  and the second arm  320  together form a toggle joint, in the sense of the invention. 
     In this variant, the piece  312 , the toggle joint and the pushing device  308  form a single molded piece. 
     A fifth embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. The elements similar or identical to those of the first embodiment bear the same reference number increased by 400. 
     In this variant, the casing R is formed by a container  448  in which the bottle B is housed and by a lid  440  fitted on the container  448  in order to close its longitudinal end face in the extension of the pump stem  404 . The lid  440  has a substantially flat upper wall  458  and an annular sleeve  454  engaged longitudinally in the container  448  in order to hold the lid  440  in place transversely. To the right of the nozzle  410 , the sleeve  454  has a longitudinal notch  457  to enable the lid  440  to pass around said nozzle  410  during assembly. A lug for attaching the nozzle  410  is engaged in a transverse groove  455  at the bottom of the notch  457  in order to immobilize the nozzle  410  transversely with respect to the casing R. 
     The pushbutton  408  is guided in translation transversely into an opening  423  of the side wall of the container  448  and an opening  456  of the sleeve  454  aligned therewith. It has a bearing surface  424  substantially aligned with said side wall in the rest position and depressed in said casing R in the active position. The button  408  comprises an elastic tongue  425  which can be deformed between a substantially straight state in the rest position and a state in which it is bent against a pin  453  of the lid  440  in the active position of the pushing device  408 , in order to exert a return force on the latter toward its rest position. In the rest position, a pin  426  of the button  408  comes up against the sleeve  454  of the lid  440 . 
     The longitudinal face  408   a  opposite the bearing face  424  is in gliding contact against the hinge  419  of at least one, and preferably two, toggle joint(s), each one formed by a hinged quadrilateral composed of four arms  418 ,  420 ,  427  and  428 . While the two arms  418  and  420  correspond to those of the first embodiment, the two arms  427  and  428  are arranged substantially symmetrically to the latter with respect to the longitudinal sliding axis A of the pump stem  404 . The hinge  429  opposite the hinge  419  is in gliding contact against a longitudinal rib  430  of the lid  440 . The hinge  418   a  between the arms  418  and  428  is in gliding contact with a transverse rib  432 . In the rest position, the arm  428  comes up along an oblique rib  437 . The ribs  430 ,  437  and  432  are formed contiguously on the inside of the sleeve  454 . 
     The end piece  413  fitted on the pump stem  404  has a shoulder on which rests a washer  434  on the transverse surface of which rests the hinge  420   a  opposite the hinge  418   a.  The upper end of the end piece  413  opens transversely into the deformable bellows  412  connecting the end piece  413  to the nozzle  410 . During a transverse push on the pushbutton  408 , the hinge  429  being locked transversely against the rib  430 , the transverse extension of the hinged quadrilateral decreases while its longitudinal extension increases. Since the hinge  418   a  is locked by the rib  432 , it is the hinge  420   a  which is displaced longitudinally thereby causing, via the washer  434  and the end piece  413 , actuation of the pump stem  404 . During this movement, the hinge  429  glides against the rib  430 , the hinge  418   a  against the rib  432 , the hinge  420   a  against the washer  434  and the hinge  419  against the surface  408   a  of the pushing device  408 . 
     At the end of the stroke of the pushing device, the hinge  419  comes up against a step  435  of the surface  408   a  and the hinge  420   a  against a step  436  on the washer  434 . The mechanical advantages of the hinged quadrilateral are identical to those of the toggle joint of the first embodiment. This hinged quadrilateral in addition has a greater resistance to fatigue because of the better distribution of forces. 
     The sixth embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 differs from the previous one solely in the use of a deformable sleeve in place of each hinged quadrilateral. The elements similar or identical to those of the first embodiment now bear the same reference number increased by 500. 
     The substantially cylindrical sleeve  538  is placed with its axis in a transverse direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of pushing of the button  508 . It has a substantially elliptical section, the major axis of which coincides with the direction of displacement of the pushing device  508  and the minor axis of which coincides with the longitudinal sliding direction of the pump stem  504 . When the button  508  is pushed from its rest position to its active position, the parts of the sleeve  538  located at the ends  519  and  529  of said major axis are brought together transversely between the surface  508   a  and the rib  530 , respectively. The sleeve  538  of substantially constant perimeter is then deformed by moving the ends  518   a  and  520   a  of said minor axis apart, which causes the washer  534  to move away from the rib  532  and the pump stem  504  to slide in the course [sic]  502 . Here, the washer  534  exhibits a central depression  539  designed to stabilize transversely the sleeve  538 . The mechanical advantages of the actuating member formed by the sleeve  538  are similar, in terms of transfer of forces, to those of the toggle joint of the first embodiment. Preferably, a similar sleeve is arranged on each side of the pump stem  504 . 
     A seventh embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. The elements similar or identical to those of the first embodiment bear the same reference number increased by 600. 
     In this variant, the casing R has a shape which is substantially that of a block of square section, two diagonally opposite corners  647  of which are cut substantially perpendicularly to said diagonal and the thickness of which is substantially equal to a quarter of the length. The casing R has a container  648  having at mid-thickness a substantially semicircular outer peripheral groove  641 , and is closed on its upper face by a lid  640 . The deformable membrane  607  is formed by a substantially central thinned part of the lid  640  and has in its rest position, visible in FIG. 16, a convexity directed outward from the casing R. On its inner face, the membrane bears the thicker portion  607   c  in gliding contact with the hinge  619  of at least one, preferably two, toggle joint(s), each one formed by the two arms  618  and  620 . 
     The nozzle  610  is mounted substantially at mid-thickness in a side wall  649  of the container  648  on the inner face of which the pump control stem  604  is directly engaged. A duct  612  through the wall  649  connects the stem  604  to the nozzle  610 . At the level of the duct  612 , the wall  649  has a part  646  projecting toward the inside of the casing R. In this embodiment, the bottle is replaced by a reservoir B with rigid wall  644  completely enclosed in the casing R and able to move longitudinally therein under the action of the toggle joint  618  to  620 . The reservoir B has a shape substantially in the form of a capital E with a base  650  from which extend longitudinally two side wings  651  and a central throat  601  forming the neck of the reservoir in which the pump body  602  is mounted fixedly. 
     The throat  601  is closed at its end by a transverse plate  643  through which the pump body  602  passes and which has two end parts projecting transversely from each side of the throat  601  toward the side wings  651 . The plate  643  attached to the reservoir B acts as a bearing surface for each arm  620  of the toggle joint whose free end  620   a  is engaged in a notch  645  of the plate  643  in order to form a pivot connection therewith. The other arm  618  of each toggle joint has its free end  618   a  longitudinally locked in translation by a pin  642  formed at the bottom of the container  648 . When the toggle joint is opened by a transverse push exerted on the membrane  607 , the entire reservoir B and pump body  602  slide longitudinally toward the nozzle  610  around the pump stem  604 , thus causing a dose of product to be expelled. In order to slide around the pins  642 , the base  650  of the reservoir B has two longitudinal grooves  652 . During this sliding, the hinge  619  glides longitudinally over the thick portion  607   c  of the membrane  607 . The mechanical advantages of the two toggle joints for this embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment. 
     The seventh embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18 has, compared to the sixth embodiment, a different design of the reservoir B. The elements similar or identical to those of the first embodiment bear the same reference number increased by 700. 
     In this variant, the reservoir B is formed by a pocket, the wall  744  of which is made of a flexible plastic film. The reservoir B is substantially U-shaped with a base  750  and two side wings  751 . The pump body  702  is attached directly to the middle of the base  750  between the two wings  751  and bears the plate  743 . Two grooves  752  under the base  750  allow it to slide longitudinally around the pins  742  of the casing R. As is visible in FIG. 18, the membrane  707  has, in the active position, a convexity directed inward from the casing R. 
     Although the invention has been described in connection with several particular exemplary embodiments, it is quite obvious that it is in no way limited thereto and that it comprises all the technical equivalents of the means described together with their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention.