Abstract:
A mounting device for mounting a valve on a container and a dispenser containing a product under pressure fitted with such a mounting device are both provided. The mounting device includes: a first fastening device configured to fasten the mounting device to an open edge of the container; a second fastening device configured to fasten the dispensing valve on the mounting device; a first groove formed between the first and second fastening devices; and a locking device intended to be positioned in the first groove so as to allow the first fastening device to be clamped onto the open edge, wherein the action of clamping is a result of radial enlargement of a bottom of the first groove.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device for mounting a dispensing valve on a container containing a product that is to be dispensed, with the aid of a pressurized gas, and to a dispenser equipped with such a device. More specifically, the present invention is aimed at improving dispensers commonly known as “aerosol dispensers”. 
     Dispensers of the “aerosol” type are currently used for packaging and dispensing products in various fields, such as the field of cosmetics, dermopharmaceuticals, household or food, in the field of paint, health and hygiene, in the field of technical products, adhesives, insecticides, plant-treatment products, etc. In general, these products are dispensed in the form of a jet of liquid, gel, spray or foam/mousse. 
     Conventionally, an “aerosol” dispenser of this kind is made up of a container containing the product that is to be dispensed, of a dispensing valve collaborating with the dispensing head, such as a push-button equipped with an outlet orifice. A mounting device is provided for mounting the dispensing valve in a leaktight manner on the container. Actuation of the dispensing head makes it possible to set up a communication between the inside of the container and the dispensing orifice through actuation of the valve. Under the effect of a pressure inside the container, as a result, for example, of the action of a propellant gas, packaged in the container, actuation of the dispensing valve by the user causes a dose of product to be ejected. 
     Customarily, particularly in the case of “aerosol” dispensers, the dispensing valve is mounted on the container by means of a valve holder cup, generally made of metal. A cup such as this is obtained in a conventional way by stamping then drawing a roundel, made, for example, of tin plate. 
     A valve holder cup such as this must, in general, fill two functions: on the one hand, it must hold the dispensing valve in a leaktight manner inside the cup while allowing an actuation and dispensing means, such as an emerging valve stem, to pass to the outside, and on the other hand, it must be capable of being mounted in a leaktight manner on the open edge of the product container. In certain cases, the valve holder cup must also hold together various constituent parts of the valve which are located inside the valve body. 
     In the known way, the valve holder cup is mounted on the container and the valve is mounted in the cup by crimping or expansion rolling a portion of the cup onto the valve body and onto the open edge of the container, respectively. 
     The robustness of the mounting of the valve of the container is of prime importance because the internal pressure there may be inside an aerosol dispenser may be as high as 12 bar or even 15 bar. Metal valve holder cups mounted by crimping or expansion rolling are suitable for withstanding these pressures. However, there is a risk that this type of valve holder cup may be damaged by the product that is to be dispensed, particularly when this product contains corrosive components, unless that surface of the cup which comes in contact with the product is coated with a lacquer or some other inert thermoplastic layer. 
     However, mounting a valve holder cup provided with such a protective layer has the drawback that, during the crimping or expansion rolling of the cup, the protective lacquer or the anti-corrosion layer may become damaged. 
     Document FR-A-2 508 136 discloses an aerosol dispenser, in which the dispensing valve is mounted using a plastic device. However, this mounting device is designed to hold together the various components of the valve itself and at the same time mount this device on a product container. Furthermore, this mounting device is made up of various components which are complicated to mould and the assembly of which involves a number of stages. What is more, this device is ill-suited to the mounting of a conventional valve, available on the market at an economically viable price. Furthermore, the mounting device itself, according to FR-A-2 508 136, is relatively expensive. Finally, this device is unable to compensate for the manufacturing tolerances there are between the valve body and the open end of the product container. 
     Document DE-B-11 50 399 describes a plastic mounting device of the aforementioned kind. This device comprises a ring which, once a valve holder cup has been mounted on the product container, provides the cup with shape stability. The cup has a “U”-like structure in which the ring is inserted. The “U” is formed by a bottom and two lateral walls, of identical thickness. The thickness of these walls is relatively important. The cup is clipped on the container by means of an annular bulge situated on an external lateral wall of the “U”. The mounting of the ring in the groove causes a radial extension of the external sidewalls of the groove. This mounting system has the drawback that it requires close dimensional tolerances on the cup, on the valve body and on the opening of the container, and the risk of leakage cannot be excluded. Furthermore, like in the prior-art device described hereinabove, this mounting system is ill-suited to the attaching of a conventional valve available commercially. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     So, one of the objects of the present invention consists in providing a leaktight and reliable mounting of a valve on any kind of container, using means which are simple and easy to implement, and to do so in particular for containers with wide manufacturing tolerances. This is the case, in particular, with containers made of glass, blow-moulded plastic and certain metal containers, for example those made of aluminium or tin plate, which have a non-machined open end. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for mounting a dispensing valve, particularly a conventional valve, on a product container, which is easy to produce and which has the lowest possible cost price. 
     Furthermore, according to yet another object of the invention, the mounting device is to be suitable for dispensing valves of different sizes and types, for example valves, the body of which consists of an elastomeric material, as described in Patent Application EP-A-0 850 851 in the name of the applicant company. 
     So, a first aspect of the present invention relates to a device for mounting a dispensing valve on a container of product under pressure, comprising: 
     a) first mounting means for fastening the device to an open edge of the container; 
     b) second mounting means for fastening the said dispensing valve on the said mounting device; 
     c) a first groove formed between the first and second mounting means; and 
     d) locking means intended to be positioned in the said groove so as to allow the said first mounting means to be clamped onto the said open edge, said clamping being a result of radial enlargement of a bottom of said first groove. 
     In general, the radial deformation is made permanent. 
     This arrangement allows the valve simultaneously to be locked in the mounting device and the mounting device itself to be held on the open end of the container. 
     In addition, a second aspect of the present invention provides an aerosol dispenser equipped with a mounting device according to the first aspect, for dispensing a product using a propellent gas. 
     Advantageously, the first and second mounting means and the first groove form a valve holder cup made entirely of plastic, particularly as a single piece. Alternatively, they may be made of metal, provided that a certain amount of deformation of the groove is achievable without the need to resort to conventional expansion rolling or crimping methods. 
     To this end, the first groove may comprise a portion, for example a bottom, with a deformable wall, particularly of lesser thickness, so that it can be deformed, particularly radially. Advantageously, the valve holder cup is shaped so that the force needed for deformation is relatively low, by comparison with the deformation force needed to perform expansion rolling or crimping. Advantageously, the deformable wall is annular, continuous or discontinuous. 
     According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the deformation of the said deformable wall is performed by locking means which have a shape, particularly an annular shape, at least one portion of which is of a thickness to, in the mounted position, collaborate with a corresponding portion of the first and/or second mounting means. Thus, by causing an enlargement of at least part of the said groove, the first external mounting means are locked in leaktight manner against the open edge of the container. 
     Advantageously, the locking means may further comprise an annular element capable of improving the clamping of the first mounting means on the open edge of the container. Hence, the first external mounting means may form a second open groove, opposite the first, forming a U-shaped portion for gripping the open edge of the container. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, the first mounting means are positioned between the said open edge of the container and the said annular element of the locking means. 
     As a preference, means are provided for locking the locking means in the said first groove. An arrangement such as this may be provided, for example, by a bulge/groove system that can be snap-fastened together. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the said groove comprises deformable connecting means capable of allowing the said groove to be enlarged as the locking means are introduced into it, so as to clamp the said first mounting means onto the open edge of the container. 
     Thus, the second internal mounting means are permanently pressed against a lateral wall of the valve body. At the same time, the external first mounting means engage in leaktight manner against an open end edge of the container. 
     Advantageously, the second mounting means may further comprise an internal profile capable of collaborating with a complementary profile formed on the side wall of the valve body. 
     The locking means may be equipped with at least one profile such as a chamfer which encourages them to enter the said groove. These locking means may be made of metal or plastic. 
     According to one particular embodiment, the mounting device may be screwmounted onto the open edge of the container. In this case, the container has a threaded neck, which is advantageous in particular when the container is made of glass. 
     Advantageously also, the first and second mounting means are made of a plastic chosen, for example, from high or low density polyethylenes, polypropylenes, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, polyamides, polycarbonates, polyester terephthalates, polyvinyl chlorides or polyacetals. 
     Hence, the first and second mounting means and the locking means may be made of one and the same plastic or two different plastics. 
     The dispenser at which the present invention is aimed comprises a container containing a product, particularly a liquid, placed under pressure by a conventional propellant, to be dispensed by actuation of the dispensing valve. The dispensing valve is mounted on an open end of the container by means of a mounting device as described hereinabove. The valve is equipped, in a way known per se, with actuating and dispensing means, such as a push-button equipped with a dispensing nozzle. 
     According to one embodiment, the open end of the container is formed by a neck, the said neck having a profile capable of engaging with a portion formed on the said external first mounting means. 
     According to one embodiment, the neck of the container may be rolled outwards with respect to the central axis of the container or alternatively may be rolled inwards with respect to the axis of the container. 
     According to one particular embodiment, the neck of the container has an edge bent towards the central axis of the container and capable of collaborating with a portion of a valve comprising a body made of an elastomeric material. 
     To allow a better understanding of the present invention, a number of embodiments of the invention depicted in the appended drawings will now be described by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting examples. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 depicts a view in axial section of a dispenser, comprising a product container fitted with a device for mounting a dispensing valve according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
     FIGS. 2 to  6  depict a partial axial section view illustrating other embodiments of mounting devices according to the invention; 
     FIG. 7 depicts a view of a locking means that can be used alternatively with the mounting devices illustrated in FIGS. 1 to  6 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 show a device  1  for mounting a dispensing valve  2  according to a first embodiment of the invention. 
     The assembly  1  comprises a container  4  intended to contain a product P to be dispensed, particularly a liquid. It also contains an appropriate amount of propellent gas G. The container  4  has a rolled neck  50  constituting an open end  8 . The container  4 , of cylindrical overall shape, has a side wall  4   b  which is of revolution about an axis X, and a closed end  4   a.  In the example in question, the container  4  is a one-piece aluminium can. It may alternatively be made of tin plate, glass or any other appropriate thermoplastic. 
     The open end  8  of the container  4  is closed by a cup  5 . The cup  5  is made of plastic, such as polyacetal, for example polyoxymethylene (POM). The cup  5  bears external first mounting means  6  and internal second mounting means  10 . 
     Thus, the cup  5  has a peripheral portion  6 ,  6   b,    6   c  which can be mounted on the neck of the container, an annular groove  12 , at least one part of which is radially deformable, and a central portion  10 ,  10   b  of cylindrical shape capable of housing and holding a dispensing valve  2 . 
     The peripheral portion is made up of a cylindrical skirt  6   c  which bears against the outer part of the neck  50 , an annular plate  6   b  positioned over the neck, the internal cylindrical portion  6  being intended to be pressed against an internal portion of the neck  50 , under the action of locking means  16 , as will be explained later on. 
     By virtue of this configuration, the peripheral portion  6 ,  6   b,    6   c  has an axial cross section in the shape of an inverted U arranged around the rolled neck  50 . An elastomeric seal  25  placed between the cup  5  and the plate  6   b  provides sealing between the container  4  and the cup  5 . The U-shaped portion  6 ,  6   b,    6   c  constitutes the said external first mounting means previously described. 
     The groove  12  is defined by the said cylindrical portion  6 , a bottom  12   a  and an external surface of the aforementioned second mounting means  10 , of approximately cylindrical shape. 
     The internal mounting means  10  also define a housing which takes the body  2   c  of the dispensing valve  2 , and hold the said valve in place. 
     The valve body  2   c  has an outer annular bulge  30  which collaborates with a complementary groove  28  made on the interior face of the internal second mounting means  10 . The dispensing valve  2  is thus fixed into the cup  5  in leaktight manner. 
     Furthermore, it can be seen that the valve used is a valve with an additional gas intake, the propellent gas G being let into the valve body through an orifice  2   d  and mixed with the product P that is to be dispensed. 
     The internal second mounting means  10  at their upper end form a transverse wall  10   b  which has an axial opening  10   c.  An emerging valve stem  2   a  connected to a push-button  18  passes through this opening. Depressing the push-button  18  causes the valve to open and product P, packaged in the container  4 , to be conveyed via the valve stem  2   a  towards the dispensing orifice  20 . This orifice  20  is formed in the pushbutton. An annular seal  7  made of elastomer seals between the valve body  2   c  and transverse wall  10   b  of the cup  5 . 
     Furthermore, the valve body  2   c  comprises a feed duct  2   b  connected to a dip tube  22  extending as far as the bottom  4   a  of the container. Aside from the product P, the container  4  contains a propellent gas G exerting permanent pressure on the product P. The propellent gas G is, as is known, a compressible or liquefiable gas. 
     One of the essential parts of this embodiment of the invention consists of a locking ring  16  which is intended to clamp the external mounting means  6 ,  6   b,    6   c  onto the neck  8  of the container  4 . 
     To this end, the groove bottom  12   a  has a region of lesser thickness  14  shaped to form deformable connecting means. These connecting means form a “toggle joint” capable, when stressed, of radially enlarging at least part of the groove  12 . Thus, when the locking ring  16  is introduced into the groove  12 , the bottom of the groove  12  becomes enlarged to occupy a position like the position depicted in dotted line by the reference  6   a.    
     The operation of introducing the locking ring is made easier by the presence of two chamfers  16   a  and  16   b  formed on the lower end of the locking ring  16 . An annular bulge  17  capable, at the end of depression of the locking ring  16 , of coming to bear against the “toggle joint”  14  and of deforming it in the way described hereinabove is formed on this end. Thus, the region  14  flattens appreciably and occupies a shape as drawn in dotted line in FIG.  1 . 
     As a result, the bottom  12   a  of the groove becomes radially enlarged, mainly outwards. The formation of a radially projecting portion  6   a  is thus brought about, so that this engages with the container  4  under the rolled neck  50 . In the example in question, the first mounting means  6 ,  6   b,    6   c  at the same time position themselves in a position for clamping against the neck  50  and the internal second mounting means  10  become pressed against the valve body  2   c,  so as both to hold the valve on the container and to mount the valve body  2   c  in leaktight fashion in the centre of the cup  5 . 
     A clip-fastening system may be provided in order to ensure that the ring  16  is held reliably in the groove  12 . To this end, and as visible in the drawing, bulges  24   a  and  24   b  are formed respectively on the internal and external faces of the ring  16 , to collaborate with the grooves  26   a  and  26   b  formed in the walls of the first and second mounting means  6  and  10  respectively. 
     The reverse system may also be provided, whereby the internal face of the internal second mounting means  10  has a bulge capable of collaborating with a corresponding groove in the valve body. As an alternative, such a bulge may be shaped by forming to form a groove in the body of a conventional pump. An arrangement such as this is described, for example, in French Patent No. 98/03831 in the name of the applicant company. 
     Through the arrangement described hereinabove, the valve can be mounted in leaktight and non-removable manner on the container  4 . 
     A plastic mounting device such as this also has the following advantages: 
     it has no portion likely to be exposed to any corrosion by the product; 
     it is capable of compensating for the considerable tolerances on the neck of the container and on the valve body; 
     it is simple to produce; 
     it can be mounted in a simple mounting operation; 
     it can be made at an attractive manufacturing cost. 
     FIGS. 2 to  7  illustrate other embodiments according to the invention. 
     In these figures, the parts which are identical to the corresponding parts in FIG. 1 bear the same reference numerals. The parts which are similar or fulfill a similar role bear the reference numerals of FIG. 1, increased by a multiple of 100. 
     A detailed description of the parts already described with reference to the preceding figures will not be given again during the description of FIGS. 2 to  7 . 
     FIG. 2 depicts a mounting device  101  consisting of a valve holder cup  105  and of a fixing ring  116 . The valve holder cup  105  comprises first  106 ,  106   b,    106   c  and second  110  mounting means and a groove  112  located between the said first and second mounting means. The bottom  114  of the groove  112  is deformable and allows an annular portion  117  of the fixing ring  116  to be forcibly introduced. The annular portion  117  has an internal chamfer  116   a  capable, in the mounted position, of collaborating with an inclined circular portion  110   a  of the internal mounting means  110 . The valve holder cup  105  comprises an annular plate  106   b  which contacts an elastomeric seal  25  resting on the rolled edge  50  of the container  4 . The annular plate  106   b  is connected to a cylindrical skirt  106   c  which presses laterally against the external portion of the rolled neck  50 . There is a rim  106   d,  designed to fit externally, by snap-fastening, under the rolled neck  50 . 
     The fixing ring  116  has an annular plate  116   b  capable of bearing against the annular plate  106   b  of the cup  105 . This annular plate  116   b  is secured to a peripheral skirt  116   b,  capable of clamping the skirt  106   c  radially against the rolled neck  50 . A bulge  24 /groove  26  system is provided to hold the fixing ring  116  in the groove  112 . Similarly, a bulge  30 /groove  28  system holds the valve body  2   c  in the cup  105 . 
     When mounting the device  101 , the valve body  2   c  is first of all introduced into the cup  105 . The seal  25  is placed in the bottom of the peripheral groove defined by the elements  106 ,  106   b,    106   c.  In the next step, the cup  105  is snap-fastened onto the neck  50  of the container by pushing it axially. By pressing in the direction of the arrows F, the fixing ring  116  is mounted, non-removably, in the groove  112 . During this operation, the cross-shaped structure of the portion  117  causes the bottom  114  of the groove  112  to enlarge (see bulge  106   a ) enough to clamp the external mounting means  106 ,  106   b,    106   c  in leaktight manner on the rolled edge  50 . At the same time, the internal mounting means  110  press in leaktight manner against the valve body  2   c.  Furthermore, the mounting device  101  can be mounted so that it is very firmly held on the container, on account of the presence of the external cylindrical skirt  116   c.  This is because this skirt  116   c  stiffens the skirt  106   c  of the cup  105  and also holds the rim  106   d  in position under the cup  105 . 
     FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of the invention similar to the one described with reference to FIG. 2, except that the fixing ring  216  of the device  201  has no external clamping skirt. The fixing ring  216  is of a somewhat different shape from the one shown in FIG.  2 . Specifically, it is in the form of a substantially cylindrical annulus. There is a chamfer  216   a  to ease its insertion into the groove  212 . The groove has a bulge  226 , the outside diameter of which is greater than that of the rest of the groove. An annular bulge  224  is provided on the fixing ring, and is intended to be housed in the said portion  226 . It should be noted that the bottom  212   a  and a lateral peripheral region  212   b  are designed to deform as the cup  205  is introduced into the neck  50 . 
     Once the cup  205  has been fitted in the neck  50 , the introduction of the fixing ring  216  into the groove  212  radially forces a bulge  206   a  of the cup  205  under the neck  50 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a mounting device  301  which can be distinguished from the device  201  through the form of the neck  60 , which is rolled in the opposite direction by comparison with the direction in which the neck  50  of FIG. 2 is rolled. An annular region  314  forming a bulge on the outside of the groove  312  allows the cup  305  to be introduced into the opening of the container  4  by deformation. Once the fixing ring  316  has been fitted, the region  314  is locked under the neck  60  by a projecting profile  324  formed on the fixing ring  316 . Note that the bottom of the groove  312   a  is inclined for ease of mounting. 
     FIG. 5 shows a mounting device  401  which can be mounted on a container neck  70 . The neck  70  is formed simply by bending the free edge  71  of the container  4  inwards. To mount the valve holder cup  405  on the neck  70 , the first mounting means  406 ,  406   b,    406   c  have an annular hook  406   d  projecting inside the U formed by the first mounting means and capable of positioning itself under the free edge  71  of the neck  70 . The annular hook  406   d  may be continuous or discontinuous. 
     A fixing ring  416  is intended to be housed axially in a groove  412  which has a deformable bottom  412   b.  The outer face of this fixing ring has, towards the bottom, a bulge  424 . Towards the top, the outer face of the fixing ring has a frustoconical profile  416   a,  the cross section of which decreases progressively towards mid-height of the ring  416 . The frustoconical profile  416   a  collaborates with a complementary frustoconical portion  406   a  formed on the cup  405 . 
     Once the fixing ring  416  has been forcibly introduced in the direction of the arrows F, the bulge  424  is housed in a corresponding profile  414  made near an outer portion of the bottom  412   b  of the groove  412 . The bottom of the groove  412   b  is thus solidified and the hook  406   d  placed in a non-removable position. 
     FIG. 6 shows a mounting device  501  suited to the mounting of a valve holder cup  505  on a neck  80  of a container  4  made, in particular, of glass. This neck has an external screw thread  82 . The external screw thread  82  is capable of collaborating with a complementary screw thread  506   d  formed on the inside of a peripheral skirt  506   c,  which skirt is secured to the valve holder cup  505 . As described previously, the bottom  512   a  of the groove  512  is deformable so that a bulge  506   a  can fit in underneath the neck  80  (see bulge  506   a ). Once the fixing ring  516  has been forcibly introduced, the bottom  512   a  is solidified, simultaneously causing the cup to be fastened non-removably on the container  4 , and sealing the mounting assembly. 
     FIG. 7 diagrammatically illustrates an alternative form of the fixing ring  616 . This fixing ring  616  defines a number of fixing fins  616   a,    616   c.  This ring has an annular overall structure, the width d 2  of which is intended to be housed in one of the grooves  12  . . .  512 . For this purpose, the width d 2  is slightly less than the width d 1  of the groove ( 512 , see FIG.  6 ). Internal notches  616   b  delimit the fins  616   c,  and face radially towards the axis X. Likewise, external notches  616   d  delimit the fins  616   a  and face outwards. 
     The ring  616  is made, for example, by stamping a thin bronze plate, so that the fins  616   a,    616   c  are elastically deformable with respect to the overall plane of the ring  616 . 
     When this ring  616  is introduced into the groove of the valve holder cup, the free end of the fins comes into contact with the first and second mounting means. The fins deform elastically and exert constant lateral pressure on a corresponding part of the first and second mounting means. Thus, they cause at least one portion of the groove to enlarge. Thus, the function of the fixing ring  616  is similar to the function of the rings  16  . . .  516  described previously. 
     In all the embodiments described hereinabove, the ring  6  . . .  516 , by deforming the wall of the groove  12  . . .  512 , simultaneously fixes the cup  5  . . .  505  in leaktight manner on the container, and fixes the valve body  2  in leaktight manner in the cup. Thus, using the ring, an internal portion of the groove exerts a clamping effect around the valve body, while an external portion of the cup expands radially under the open edge of the container. This arrangement makes it possible in particular to compensate for the wide variations in tolerance on the various constituent parts and culminate in a leaktight mounting able to withstand high internal pressures. 
     In the foregoing detailed description, reference was made to some particular embodiments of the invention. It is obvious that variations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed hereinafter.