Abstract:
A fluid dispenser head, such as a pusher, includes an inlet duct, and a dispenser orifice in dispensing communication with the inlet duct. The dispenser head further includes diversion means for selectively interrupting dispensing communication between the inlet duct and the dispenser orifice, and for establishing filling communication with a filling duct formed by the dispenser head and exiting outside the dispenser head.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/759,760, filed Feb. 1, 2013, and priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) of French patent application No. FR-12.62506, filed Dec. 20, 2012. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser head, such as a pusher, including an inlet duct, and a dispenser orifice in dispensing communication with the inlet duct. This type of dispenser head is frequently mounted on the actuator rod of a pump or a valve that is itself mounted on a reservoir so as to constitute, in this way, a fluid dispenser. Advantageous fields of application of the present invention are the fields of perfumery, cosmetics, and pharmacy. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the field of refillable dispensers, that have more recently become known under the name “travel” dispensers, the reservoir of the refillable dispenser is often provided with a filling valve through which fluid coming from a source dispenser is inserted into the reservoir so as to fill it. In general, the source dispenser is a conventional dispenser having a reservoir that presents a capacity that is much greater than the capacity of the refillable or travel dispenser. In general, the source dispenser includes a pump that is provided with an actuator rod that is axially movable down and up. In order to make it possible to fill the refillable dispenser, it is necessary to perform a prior operation of removing or pulling off the pusher from the source dispenser in order to access the free end of the actuator rod of the pump that is fitted to the source dispenser. From there, the user may press the free end of the actuator rod against the inlet of the filling valve of the refillable dispenser, and may depress the actuator rod of the source dispenser so as to dispense a dose of fluid through the actuator rod and the filling valve that is forced into its open state. This operation may be repeated several times until the reservoir of the refillable dispenser is full once again. It thus suffices for the user to put the pusher back into place on the actuator rod of the source dispenser. 
     However, the operations of removing the pusher and of putting it back into place on the free end of the actuator rod can cause various difficulties. Removing or pulling off the pusher requires traction that is completely axial in order to avoid damaging the pusher, the actuator rod, or even internal component elements of the pump. Very often, the user tends to pull the pusher sideways, which causes the actuator rod to bend. This can damage the pump. Then, once the pusher has been removed from the actuator rod, it may be misplaced or lost. Finally, the operation of putting the pusher back into place on the actuator rod requires pressure to be applied that is completely axial in order to avoid damaging either the pusher or the actuator rod, as in the above-mentioned removal operation. As a result, it is also possible to damage the pump during the operation of putting the pusher back into place. Furthermore, it is not possible to put the pusher back into place on the actuator rod without depressing it, thereby causing unwanted fluid to be dispensed, and that may consequently be troublesome. In addition, repeated operations of removing the pusher and of putting it back into place on the actuator rod naturally cause wear and fatigue of the parts that may cause the pump to be damaged. 
     In the prior art, attempts have already been made, without success, to apply the dispenser orifice of the pusher of the source dispenser against the inlet of the filling valve of the refillable dispenser. It can easily be understood that this operation is not convenient, in particular as a result of the axis of the dispenser orifice of the pusher being, in the vast majority of configurations, perpendicular to the axis along which the actuator rod of the pump of the source dispenser moves. It is thus necessary simultaneously to press the dispenser orifice of the pusher against the filling valve and to move the pusher perpendicularly: that requires great dexterity. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to remedy the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art by defining a fluid dispenser head, such as a pusher, that may be mounted on the actuator rod of a pump of a source dispenser so as to fill a refillable or travel dispenser. The dispenser head of the invention should make it possible to fill the reservoir of the refillable dispenser through its filling valve, but without removing the head of the actuator rod of the pump of the source dispenser, and without using the dispenser orifice of the pusher. 
     To do this, the present invention proposes that the dispenser head includes diversion means for selectively interrupting dispensing communication between the inlet duct and the dispenser orifice, and for establishing filling communication with a filling duct formed by the dispenser head and exiting outside the dispenser head. In other words, the diversion means make it possible to divert the path of the fluid away from the dispenser orifice and towards the filling duct that is for putting into contact with the inlet of a filling valve of a refillable or travel dispenser. 
     Advantageously, the inlet duct is accessible from a bottom face of the head, the filling duct opens out on a top face of the head, remote from the inlet duct, and the dispenser orifice advantageously opens out on a side face of the head. Thus, when the filling duct is pressed against the filling valve of a refillable dispenser, the actuator rod of the pump of the source dispenser is depressed and a dose of fluid is dispensed through the inlet duct and the filling duct, the path towards the dispenser orifice being interrupted. It should be observed that a dispenser head with an inlet duct oriented downwards and with a dispenser orifice opening out sideways corresponds to the structure of a conventional pusher in the fields of perfumery, cosmetics, and pharmacy. The user presses on the top face of the dispenser head with one or more fingers so as to exert an axial force, so as to move the dispenser head and thus depress the actuator rod of the pump of the source dispenser. The filling duct of the invention thus extends in the same axis as the inlet duct and the actuator rod of the pump. It is thus easy to apply the filling duct against a filling valve of a travel dispenser, and to exert a force that is sufficient to actuate the actuator rod of the pump of the source dispenser. 
     In a practical embodiment, the head includes an outlet channel upstream from the dispenser orifice, and a connection chamber that connects the inlet duct to the outlet channel, the diversion means comprising a movable member that is arranged in the connection chamber for selectively closing the outlet channel. Advantageously, the filling duct connects the connection chamber to the outside. Preferably, the movable member selectively closes the filling duct. This last characteristic is optional, given that it suffices to close the outlet of the filling duct, e.g. by means of a cover, such that the filling duct is thus in the form of a blind borehole. In other words, it suffices for the movable member of the diversion means to close the outlet channel that leads to the dispenser orifice so as to redirect or divert the flow of fluid under pressure coming from the inlet duct, towards the filling duct, and beyond that through the filling valve and into the reservoir of a refillable or travel dispenser. 
     In a practical embodiment, the movable member is axially movable. Advantageously, the movable member includes a channel lip for selectively closing the outlet channel, and forms the filling duct that is engaged on a spike is suitable for closing it selectively. The movable member may thus be in the form of a rigid part that is axially movable in translation against a return spring. In the rest position, the outlet channel is opened and the spike closes the inlet of the filling duct, and in the depressed position, the outlet channel is closed and the inlet of the filling duct is opened. 
     In a variant embodiment, the movable member is elastically deformable. Advantageously, the filling duct is radially deformable. The movable member may thus be in the form of a deformable stopper that may be driven in axially in such a manner as to generate radial deformation, making it possible to open the inlet of the filling duct and to close the inlet of the outlet channel. 
     In another practical embodiment, the movable member is movable in turning. Advantageously, the movable member comprises a turnable actuator ring that is accessible on a side face of the head. The movable member is thus in the form of a turnable part that makes it possible to close and open the inlet of the outlet channel leading to the dispenser orifice. 
     In another advantageous aspect of the invention, the filling duct opens out to the outside at a projecting connection stud for coming into contact with a filling valve of a refillable dispenser. By way of example, the connection stud may be inserted into an appropriate housing that is arranged at the inlet of the filling valve of the refillable dispenser. Advantageously, the head may further include a cover for closing the filling duct from the outside. The cover may be connected to the body of the pusher or to the movable member. 
     The present invention also defines a dispenser assembly comprising:
         a source dispenser including a fluid reservoir on which there is mounted a dispenser member, such as a pump, provided with a dispenser head as defined above; and   a refillable dispenser including a filling valve;       

     the filling duct being pressed against the filling valve in such a manner as to actuate the dispenser member of the source dispenser and to open the filling valve, such that the fluid coming from the source dispenser is transferred into the refillable dispenser. 
     A principle of the present invention is to provide a dispenser head with a filling duct that is dedicated to connecting to a filling valve of a refillable or travel dispenser. Another principle is to divert the flow of fluid that arrives under pressure in the inlet duct, and that is normally for directing towards the dispenser orifice, towards a filling duct that is adapted to connect to a filling valve of a travel dispenser. The dispenser head may thus be fitted on a conventional dispenser that forms part of a range that also incorporates a refillable dispenser. Still more generally, the dispenser head of the present invention could replace any conventional dispenser head, even if the dispenser is not for forming part of a range that incorporates a refillable dispenser. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings which show three embodiments of the invention by way of non-limiting example. 
       In the figures: 
         FIG. 1  is a vertical section view through a dispenser including a dispenser head in a first embodiment of the invention, in its normal state of use; 
         FIG. 2  is a view of the  FIG. 1  dispenser head in its state for filling a refillable dispenser; 
         FIG. 3  is a view similar to the view in  FIG. 1  in a second embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a view of the  FIG. 3  dispenser head in the filling state; 
         FIG. 5  is a greatly enlarged view of a detail of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIGS. 1 and 3  in a third embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6  in the filling state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the three embodiments shown in the figures, the dispenser head T, T′, and T″ of the invention forms an integral part of a fluid dispenser S that may be entirely conventional. The dispenser S, that may be referred to as a source dispenser, comprises a fluid reservoir S 1  that defines a neck S 2  inside which there is fastened a dispenser member S 3  that is provided with an actuator rod S 5 . A fastener ring S 4  makes it possible to fasten the dispenser member S 3  in the neck S 2  of the reservoir S 1 . The dispenser member S 3  may be a conventional pump or valve that is not described in detail below. The actuator rod S 5  is of an entirely conventional type and defines an internal delivery channel that communicates, in selective manner, with a fluid chamber through an outlet valve. The actuator rod S 5  is axially movable down and up against a return spring. The dispenser heads T, T′, and T″ of the three embodiments of the invention are mounted, in conventional manner, on the free end of the actuator rod S 5 . The dispenser heads may also be referred to as pushers or pushbuttons on which the user may exert axial pressure, so as to move the actuator rod S 5  down and up. This operation is entirely conventional for a fluid dispenser in the fields of perfumery, cosmetics, and pharmacy. 
     Reference is made below to  FIG. 1  in order to describe in detail the structure of the dispenser head T in the first embodiment of the invention. The head T comprises three distinct component elements, namely a body  1 , a nozzle  2 , and a cap  3 . The three parts may be made by injection molding an appropriate plastics material. They are preferably made as a single piece. 
     The body  1  includes an outer skirt  10  inside which there extends a connection sleeve  11  that internally defines an inlet duct  12 . The sleeve  11  and its duct  12  are accessible from the bottom face of the head T that is oriented towards the dispenser member S 3 . The free top end of the actuator rod S 5  is force-fitted inside the connection sleeve  12 . Beyond the inlet duct  12 , the body defines a chamber  13  that communicates sideways with an outlet channel  14  that leads to the nozzle  2  that is force-fitted on a tenon  15  of the body. The nozzle  2  forms a dispenser orifice  21  via which the fluid is dispensed, e.g. in the form of spray. The dispenser orifice  21  opens out on the side face of the head T. This characteristic is entirely conventional for a spray pusher. The cap  3  is mounted in turnable manner on the body  1  to turn about an axis that coincides with the axis of the actuator rod S 5 . The cap  3  essentially comprises a movable member  30  and a cover  35  that are connected together by a hinge  36 . The movable member  30  defines a filling duct  31  that advantageously extends in alignment with the actuator rod S 5 . At its top end, the filling duct  31  is bordered by a projecting connection stud  32  having a function that is explained below. The cover  35  advantageously includes a pin  37  that is adapted to be inserted in leaktight manner in the connection stud  32  so as to close the outlet of the filling duct  31 . At its bottom end, the filling duct  31  is blind: it is closed by a projecting appendage  33  that is arranged in the connection chamber  13 . However, the filling duct  31  is provided with a side opening  314  that puts the inside of the duct  31  into communication with the connection chamber  13  and with the outlet channel  14  that leads to the dispenser orifice  21 . The movable member  30  also includes a turnable actuator ring  34  that advantageously extends upwards in register with the skirt  10  of the body  1 . 
     In the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 , it is possible to press axially by means of a finger on the cover  35  that forms the top face of the head. Fluid is then delivered through the actuator rod S 5 . In the head, dispensing communication is established between the inlet duct  12  and the outlet channel  14  through the connection chamber  13 . Some fluid may indeed penetrate into the filling duct through the side opening  314 , but it cannot escape therefrom, since the top end of the duct  31  is closed in leaktight manner by the closure pin  37  of the cover  35 . Thus, the fluid under pressure that is delivered through the actuator rod S 5  flows through the connection chamber  13  and the outlet channel  14  so as to reach the dispenser orifice  21  from where it is dispensed, e.g. in the form of spray. The  FIG. 1  dispenser head T may thus be used in conventional manner, given that the filling duct  31  is completely without effect. 
     In  FIG. 2 , it should immediately be observed that the cover  35  is open and that the movable member  30  has been turned through 180°. Such turning could be performed by holding the movable member  30  by its turnable actuator ring  34 . The connection stud  32  thus points upwards: the filling duct  31  is accessible from the top face of the head. In this “filling” configuration, the projecting appendage  33  is now arranged in such a manner as to close the inlet of the outlet channel  14 . In contrast, filling communication is still established between the actuator rod S 5  and the flow duct  31  through the connection chamber  13  and the side opening  314 . By pressing on the movable member  30 , the actuator rod S 5  is depressed and fluid under pressure is delivered through the actuator rod, the chamber  13 , the opening  314 , and the filling duct  31 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , a refillable dispenser R is mounted on the movable member  30  of the head T. In conventional manner, the refillable or travel dispenser R comprises: a fluid reservoir R 1 ; a filling valve R 2 ; a dispenser member R 3 , such as a pump or a valve; a fastener ring R 4  that holds the dispenser member R 3  in stationary and leaktight manner on the reservoir R 1 ; and a pusher R 5  that is mounted on the actuator rod of the dispenser member R 3 . By way of example, the filling valve R 2  may comprise a movable member R 21  in the form of a ball that is urged against a seat R 22  by resilient means R 23 , e.g. in the form of a resilient blade. The filling valve R 2  forms a reception housing R 20  in which the connection stud  32  of the filling duct  31  may be received in leaktight manner. Thus, by pressing the refillable dispenser R against the movable member  30  with sufficient force, the actuator rod S 5  is depressed and fluid under pressure is delivered through the rod S 5 , the connection chamber  13 , the side opening  314 , the filling duct  31 , and the filling valve R 2  that is forced into its open state, such that the fluid may reach the reservoir R 1  of the refillable dispenser R. Given that the filling duct  31  is aligned on the same axis as the actuator rod S 5 , it suffices to push the two dispensers axially towards each other in order to actuate the dispenser member S 3  of the source dispenser S. It is not possible to dispense any fluid through the dispenser orifice  21 , given that the projecting appendage  33  closes or interrupts dispensing communication between the connection chamber  13  and the outlet channel  14  that leads to the dispenser orifice  21 . 
     Reference is made below to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5  in order to describe the second embodiment of a dispenser head T′ of the invention. The head T′ comprises a body  1 ′, a nozzle  2 ′, and a slider  3 ′. 
     On the bottom face of the head, the body  1 ′ also defines an inlet duct  12 ′ that leads to a connection chamber  13 ′ from which there stems an outlet channel  14 ′ that connects to the nozzle  2 ′ that forms a side dispenser orifice. A spike  16 ′ extends upwards in axial and central manner inside the connection chamber  13 ′. The spike  16 ′ includes one or more grooves  161  that are recessed in the side wall of the spike  16 ′. By way of example, one of the grooves  161  extends upwards in register with the inlet duct  12 ′. The grooves  161  do not extend as far as the free end of the spike, which free end thus forms a complete annular periphery that serves as a leaktight seat, as described below. The body  1 ′ also forms a cover  17 ′ that is advantageously formed integrally with the remainder of the body. The cover  17 ′ forms a leaktight closure pin  19 ′. 
     The slider  3 ′ constitutes a movable member that is axially movable down and up against a spring  36 ′ that bears against the body  1 ′ at the bottom wall of the connection chamber  13 ′. The slider  3 ′ is thus urged by the spring  36 ′ against an abutment that defines the rest position of the movable member. By way of example, the abutment may be formed on a disk  35 ′ that is guided axially inside the body  1 ′. In addition, the slider or movable member  3 ′ defines a filling duct  31 ′ having a top end that extends through a projecting connection stud  32 ′ having a function that is to come into leaktight contact with a filling valve of a travel or refillable dispenser. The filling duct  31 ′ is accessible from the top face of the head, when the cover  17 ′ is open. The bottom end of the filling duct  31 ′ is formed by a tube  34 ′ that is engaged around the spike  16 ′ that projects into the connection chamber  13 ′. In the rest position shown in  FIG. 3 , the tube  34 ′ is in leaktight contact with the spike  16 ′. The slider or movable member  3 ′ also includes a collar  33 ′ called a channel lip elsewhere that extends coaxially around the tube  34 ′. In the rest position shown in  FIG. 3 , the collar  33 ′ is positioned just above the inlet of the outlet channel  14 ′ and thus does not close it. The cover  17 ′ is closed in such a manner that its closure pin  19 ′ penetrates in leaktight manner into the connection stud  32 ′. In this rest and dispensing configuration, the fluid delivered through the actuator rod S 5  penetrates into the connection chamber  13 ′, then flows through the outlet channel  14 ′ so as to reach the nozzle  2 ′ and its dispenser orifice. Communication to the filling duct  31 ′ is closed off by the leaktight contact of the tube  34 ′ with the spike  16 ′. 
     In  FIG. 4 , it can be seen that the cover  17 ′ is open and that the slider or movable member  3 ′ has been depressed against the spring  36 ′. The tube  34 ′ is thus positioned at the axial groove  161  of the spike  16 ′. The leaktight contact between the tube  34 ′ and the spike  16 ′ is broken and fluid communication is established between the connection chamber  13 ′ and the flow duct  31 ′. In addition, the collar  33 ′ is now positioned facing the inlet of the outlet channel  14 ′ and closes it in leaktight manner. Dispensing communication is thus interrupted between the chamber  13 ′ and the outlet channel  14 ′. This can be seen more clearly in  FIG. 5 . This filling configuration makes it possible for the fluid delivered through the actuator rod S 5  to pass through the connection chamber  13 ′, to flow through the grooves  161  of the spike  16 ′ so as to arrive in the filling duct  31 ′, and from there through a filling valve of a refillable dispenser. 
     Reference is made below to  FIG. 6  in order to describe the dispenser head T″ in the third embodiment of the invention. The head T″ comprises a body  1 ″, a nozzle  2 ″, and a stopper or movable member  3 ″. 
     The body  1 ″ defines an inlet duct  12 ″ that communicates directly with a connection chamber  13 ″ at the center of which there projects a spike  16 ″. The chamber also communicates with an outlet duct  14 ″ that leads to the nozzle  2 ″ that forms a dispenser orifice through which the fluid is dispensed, e.g. in the form of spray. 
     The stopper or movable member  3 ″ is made out of an elastically-deformable flexible material having shape memory. It includes an annular peripheral anchor band  35 ″ that is in leaktight stationary engagement with the body  1 ″. Inside the annular band  35 ″, the stopper  3 ″ forms a lip  33 ″. Inside the lip  33 ″, the stopper  3 ″ forms a filling duct  31 ″ having a top end that is surrounded by a connection stud  32 ″ for coming to bear in leaktight manner against a filling valve of a refillable dispenser. The bottom end of the filling duct  31 ″ is formed by a ring  34 ″ that is engaged around the spike  16 ″. In the dispensing configuration shown in  FIG. 6 , the lip  33 ″ does not close the outlet channel  14 ″ that leads to the nozzle  2 ″. In addition, the ring  34 ″ bears in leaktight manner around the spike  16 ″, such that communication between the chamber  13 ″ and the filling duct  31 ″ is interrupted. Thus, by pressing on the cover  17 ″ having a closure pin  19 ″ that closes the outlet of the filling duct  31 ″, the fluid coming from the actuator rod S 5  passes through the chamber  13 ″ and flows through the outlet channel  14 ″ so as to reach the nozzle  2 ″ from where it is sprayed. 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , it can be seen that the cover  17 ″ is open and that the stopper or movable member  3 ″ has been subjected to elastic deformation caused by downward axial pressure. Deforming the stopper  3 ″ causes the lip  33 ″ to plug the inlet of the outlet channel  14 ″ and to lift the ring  34 ″ off from the spike  16 ″. As a result, filling communication is established between the connection chamber  13 ″ and the filling duct  31 ″. Dispensing communication between the chamber  13 ″ and the outlet channel  14 ″ is interrupted. By way of example, the stopper  3 ″ may be caused to deform by a filling valve in bearing contact against the connection stud  32 ″. 
     In all three above-described embodiments, the dispenser head incorporates diversion or redirection or bypass means that interrupt dispensing communication between the connection chamber and the outlet channel that leads to the dispenser orifice, and that redirect the flow of fluid through a filling duct that may be connected to a filling valve of a refillable dispenser. All of the deviation or diversion means use a movable member that is either turnable, moves in translation, or is deformable, and that closes the outlet channel  14 ′ and establishes communication with the outside through the filling duct. In the first embodiment in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the cover  35  is necessary, whereas in the other two embodiments, the cover  17 ′ and  17 ″ is optional. The inlet and filling ducts are in alignment, but remote from each other, whereas the dispenser orifice preferably faces sideways. 
     By means of the invention, it is possible to fill a refillable dispenser from a source dispenser without having to remove the pusher from the source dispenser, and to do so in a manner that is very simple, since it suffices to press the refillable dispenser against the source dispenser.