Patent Publication Number: US-2006006129-A1

Title: Dispenser head configured to be snap-fastened, a device including such a dispenser head, and a packaging device including such a dispenser head

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This non-provisional application claims the benefit of French Application No. 04 07415 filed on Jul. 2, 2004, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/588,764 filed on Jul. 19, 2004, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND  
      The present invention relates to a dispenser head fastened onto a container. The present invention also relates to devices, such as packaging devices, for example, for packaging a cosmetic product or a care product, including such a dispenser head.  
      A first closure cap is known that includes a base portion for fastening onto the neck of a flask. The base portion is provided with a sealing skirt with axial symmetry and a bottom edge that is curved inwardly. The bottom edge is undercut and is difficult to unmold. To make unmolding easier, the bottom edge may be notched so as to form a plurality of petals that are curved inwardly.  
      Other closure caps are also known having a base portion that includes a sealing skirt that is circularly symmetrical and two fastener tabs that are disposed on either side of the sealing skirt for snap-fastening on the neck of the flask. Such closure caps have been widely sold.  
     SUMMARY  
      The petals of the first closure cap described above complicate production of the mold used to manufacture the cap. In addition, the flexibility of the petals makes the petals vulnerable to being deformed before the dispenser head is assembled on the flask or while the dispenser head is being assembled thereon. Such deformation may prevent the sealing skirt from being inserted in the neck or may impair sealing.  
      In the other closure caps described above, while the base portion is being assembled, the fastener tabs move apart, causing the wall on which the sealing skirt is fastened to deform, thereby causing the sealing skirt to become ovalized. This may sometimes lead to the sealing skirt being damaged during assembly, thereby resulting in poor sealing. This problem went unnoticed for a long time.  
      Exemplary embodiments of the invention seek to further improve such closure caps. More generally, exemplary embodiments of the invention seek to further improve dispenser heads including a base portion for fastening by snap-fastening on a container including a neck.  
      In exemplary embodiments, a sealing skirt may include an outer surface that is not circularly symmetrical and that has a shape adapted to reducing a risk of the sealing skirt being damaged while it is being inserted in the neck.  
      In exemplary embodiments, a shape of an orifice defined by a free end of the sealing skirt may be different from a shape of the neck. For example, for a neck with an internal surface of circular cross-section, the shape of the orifice defined by the sealing skirt may be oblong.  
      For a sealing skirt with an outer surface that is not continuous and that includes, for example, at least one slot or notch formed between petals, an envelope corresponding to the outer surface is obtained by replacing the slot or the notch with a solid portion lying in continuity with the outer surface of the portions of the sealing skirt bordering the slot or the notch. Thus, for the above-mentioned known sealing skirt including petals and axial symmetry, the envelope is the circularly symmetrical surface that would be generated by the skirt rotating about its axis of symmetry.  
      In exemplary embodiments, deformation of the sealing skirt while the base portion is being fastened onto the neck is anticipated, and is taken into consideration when choosing the shape of the outer surface of the sealing skirt. This may ensure that while the dispenser head is being assembled on the associated container, the free edge of the sealing skirt is inscribed completely within an opening of the neck. Thus, while the sealing skirt is being pushed into the neck, the bottom edge of the skirt does not come into abutment against the top edge of the neck, thereby preventing said edge from catching thereon, which could result in the sealing skirt or the neck being damaged.  
      Exemplary embodiments of the invention thus make it possible to reduce a risk of leakage once the dispenser head has been assembled, to work with less rigid manufacturing tolerances, and/or to work with different materials, for example, materials that are less rigid than materials conventionally used.  
      Where appropriate or desired, exemplary embodiments of the invention may also enable the sealing skirt to be made without petals, thereby making the dispenser head easier to manufacture, and avoiding drawbacks associated with such petals.  
      In exemplary embodiments, when the fastener means act on the sealing skirt while the base portion is being assembled on the associated container, to cause the sealing skirt to deform in a manner that tends to elongate said sealing skirt in an ovalizing direction, the sealing skirt may, in proximity of a free edge thereof, be made with an outer surface envelope that is oblong in cross-section and elongate along a major axis that is substantially perpendicular to the ovalizing direction. Thus, deformation to which the sealing skirt is subjected during assembly may tend to circularize the free edge thereof, thereby making the sealing skirt easier to insert in the neck. For example, the oblong shape of the envelope may be obtained by curving the sealing skirt inward, over at least one angular sector about the axis thereof.  
      Exemplary embodiments of the invention may advantageously be applied to a closure cap including a base portion and a lid hinged on the base portion. The lid may be arranged to take a closure position in which the lid closes at least one dispenser orifice of the base portion and a dispensing position in which the dispenser orifice is released.  
      In exemplary embodiments, the sealing skirt may be connected to a top wall of the base portion by an annular portion with a substantially cylindrical outside surface for bearing in a leaktight manner against an inside surface of the neck.  
      In exemplary embodiments, the dispenser head may comprise two fastener tabs, for example, disposed facing each other on either side of the sealing skirt. In exemplary embodiments, the dispenser head may comprise more than two fastener tabs.  
      In exemplary embodiments, while the base portion is being snap-fastened on the associated container, the two fastener tabs may move apart. Each fastener tab may be connected on a radially outer side thereof to at least one stiffening web. The at least on stiffening web may be connected to the top wall of the base portion.  
      In exemplary embodiments, the sealing skirt may include an oblong-shaped free edge, with a major axis that is substantially perpendicular to a line interconnecting the fastener tabs. The line may preferably be situated in a mid-plane of the fastener tabs. Thus, while the base portion is being assembled, the free edge of the sealing skirt may tend to become more circular, thereby reducing the risk of the sealing skirt coming into abutment against the neck.  
      In exemplary embodiments, over at least one angular sector about the axis thereof, the sealing skirt may include a portion with an inside surface that is substantially cylindrical, preferably tapering, and with a generator line that is substantially parallel to the axis of the sealing skirt. Said portion(s) may make it easier to unmold the base portion during manufacture of the dispenser head. The taper angle may be about 0° 30′, for example, or may be greater depending on the flexibility of the skirt.  
      In exemplary embodiments, the sealing skirt may include two opposite first portions with substantially cylindrical inside surfaces, which may preferably taper, and two opposite second portions with inside surfaces that slope inward, at least in part, toward the free edge of the sealing skirt.  
      The first portions may include an outside surface with a cylindrical and conical shape. The second portions may include an outside surface that is rounded and outwardly convex.  
      In exemplary embodiments in which the dispenser head comprises fastener tabs, the second portions may be situated facing the fastener tabs of the base portion.  
      In other exemplary embodiments, fastener means for fastening the base portion onto the associated container may comprise two fastener arms extending generally perpendicularly to the axis of the sealing skirt and configured to move apart while the dispenser head is being assembled. The arms may include facing concave faces and may interconnect two support tabs that are disposed on either side of the sealing skirt. During assembly, moving the arms apart may tend to bring the support tabs closer together and may tend to ovalize the sealing skirt in an ovalizing direction that is substantially perpendicular to a line interconnecting the fastener tabs. For example, the line may be situated in a mid-plane of the fastener arms.  
      In such embodiments, the sealing skirt may be advantageously made with an oblong-shaped free edge with a major axis that is substantially perpendicular to the ovalizing direction.  
      In exemplary embodiments, regardless of the particular fastener means used, the dispenser orifice may be off-center relative to the axis of the sealing skirt.  
      In exemplary embodiments, the dispenser orifice may be extended by an annular sealing lip extending inside the sealing skirt.  
      In exemplary embodiments, the dispenser head may include a lid that is connected to the base portion by a film-hinge.  
      In exemplary embodiments, the dispenser head may include an outer skirt with a cross-section that is generally oblong-shaped. The fastener tabs or the support tabs of the fastener arms may generally extend transversely to a major axis of the outer skirt.  
      In exemplary embodiments, the free edge of the sealing skirt may be set back from the free edge of the fastener means, for example, from the free edge of the fastener tabs or from the free edge of the fastener arms. In other exemplary embodiments, the free edge of the sealing skirt may be axially situated substantially at a same level as the fastener means.  
      Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a packaging device comprising: a container including a neck; and a dispenser head configured to be snap-fastened on the neck, the dispenser head including a base portion including a sealing skirt that is engaged in the neck and fastener means for fastening onto the neck, the fastener means tending to ovalize the sealing skirt in an ovalizing direction during assembly, the sealing skirt including an oblong-shaped free edge with a major axis that is substantially perpendicular to the ovalizing direction.  
      Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a packaging device comprising: a container including a neck; and a dispenser head configured to be snap-fastened on the neck, the dispenser head including a base portion including a sealing skirt and two fastener tabs configured to fasten on the neck, the tabs tending to move apart during assembly, the sealing skirt comprising two first portions with tapering inside surfaces and two second portions, each disposed between the two first portions, the two second portions including inside surfaces that are undercut, at least in part, the second portions being situated substantially facing the fastener tabs.  
      Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a packaging device comprising: a container including a neck; and a dispenser head configured to be snap-fastened on the neck, the dispenser head including a base portion including a sealing skirt and two support tabs supporting fastener arms on the neck, the support tabs tending to move closer together during assembly, the sealing skirt comprising two first portions with tapering inside surfaces and two second portions with inside surfaces that are undercut, at least in part, each first portion being disposed between the two second portions, and being situated substantially facing the support tabs.  
      Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a packaging device comprising: a container including a neck; and a dispenser head configured to be snap-fastened on the neck, the dispenser head including a base portion which includes a sealing skirt with a free edge that deforms while the base portion is being assembled on the container, the sealing skirt having substantially no inwardly-directed portion on portions of a periphery thereof that tend to be displaced toward a center during assembly, the sealing skirt comprising at least one second portion of the periphery thereof located between the first portions.  
      Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a dispenser head, considered in isolation. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The invention may be better understood on reading the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments thereof, and on examining the accompanying drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic perspective view of an exemplary packaging device including a dispenser head;  
       FIG. 2  is an elevation view of the receptacle neck shown in isolation, without the dispenser head;  
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of the dispenser head shown in isolation;  
       FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view taken along IV-IV of  FIG. 3 , the dispenser head being shown in place on the associated container;  
       FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the dispenser head shown in isolation;  
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along VI-VI of  FIG. 5 ;  
       FIG. 7  shows an enlarged partial cross-sectional view in detail of  FIG. 4 ;  
       FIG. 8  shows an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of one fourth of the sealing skirt;  
       FIG. 9  shows an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a detail IX of  FIG. 8 ;  
       FIG. 10  shows an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of an exemplary detail of the hinge connecting the lid to the base portion;  
       FIG. 11  is a diagram showing the base portion of an exemplary dispenser head shown in isolation; and  
       FIG. 12  is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view taken along XII-XII of  FIG. 11 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
       FIG. 1  shows an exemplary packaging device  1  comprising a flask  2  and a dispenser head  3  that is fastened onto the flask  2 . The flask  2  may be made integrally as a single piece with a neck  4  of axis X by molding thermoplastic material, for example, a polyolefin or a polyethylene terephthalate (PET).  
      For example, the flask  2  may be for containing a liquid for application to the body, to the face, and/or to the hair, such as a shampoo or a conditioner.  
      The dispenser head  3  may comprise a base portion  7  arranged to be snap-fastened on an annular flange  5  of the neck  4  and lid  8  that is hinged onto the base portion  7 .  
      Where appropriate or desired, the neck  4  may include indentations (not shown) for co-operating with at least one corresponding portion in relief of the base portion  7 , so as to define angular positions for the base portion  7  on the flask  2 . The neck  4  may include an internal surface of circular cross-section.  
      The liquid contained in the flask  2  may be dispensed via a dispenser orifice  10  passing through a top wall  11  of the base portion  7 . As shown, the lid  8  may include a pin  13  arranged to close the orifice  10  in a sealed manner, once said lid  8  is folded down on the base portion  7 .  
      In the exemplary embodiment shown, the base portion  7  may include, on a portion of a periphery of a top wall  11  thereof, a decorative bead  15  made in a color that is different from a color of the top wall  11 , so as to make the device  1  more attractive. The bead  15  may be made integrally, i.e., monolithically, with the rest of the dispenser head by dual-injection molding. Alternatively, the bead  15  may be made on the periphery of the lid  8 .  
      The base portion  7  may include an outer skirt  18  of oblong cross-section, downwardly extending the top wall  11  at the periphery thereof.  
      The outer skirt  18  may be made with a flat  60 , which may make it easier to open the lid  8 .  
      In the exemplary embodiment shown, the lid  8  may be connected to the base portion  7  by a hinge, shown in  FIG. 10 , comprising a film-hinge  20 , and a tab  9  for accumulating elastic energy, so as to assist in closing the lid  8 .  
      The dispenser orifice  10  may be extended downward by an annular sealing lip  22 . Said annular sealing lip  22  may be configured so that the tubular pin  13  fits in a leaktight manner therein while the lid  8  is being folded down against the base portion  7 . The pin  13  may be advantageously configured so that when the dispenser orifice  10  passes into the closed position, a click is produced.  
      As shown in  FIG. 4 , the dispenser head  3  may include a sealing skirt  30  that is arranged to bear in a leaktight manner against an inside surface  31  of the neck  4  and fastener means for fastening the base portion  7  onto the neck  4 .  
      In the exemplary embodiment shown, the fastener means may comprise two fastener tabs  40  and  41 , each occupying a circular arc, as shown for example, in  FIG. 5 . Each fastener tab  40 ,  41  may be provided on a facing concave face thereof, in proximity of the bottom end, with a tooth  42  for snap-fastening on the neck  4  below the flange  5 .  
      The sealing skirt  30  may be tubular and include an axis Y that substantially coincides with the axis X when the dispenser head  3  is in place on the flask  2 .  
      The dispenser orifice  10  may be off-center relative to the axis Y, as shown for example in  FIGS. 5 and 6 .  
      In the exemplary embodiment shown, the fastener tabs  40  and  41  may be stiffened over their entire height, on radially outer sides thereof, by webs of material  46 . Each web of material  46  may extend from the top wall  11  toward the flask  2  and may have a triangular shape when observed from the front, in a direction that is perpendicular to the major axis Z of the outer skirt  18 .  
      In the exemplary embodiment shown, the sealing skirt  30  may include a free edge  36  that is situated in a plane perpendicular to the axis Y, above bottom ends  47  of the fastener tabs  40  and  41 , so that said fastener tabs  40 ,  41  come to bear against the neck  4  before the sealing skirt  30  is engaged in the neck  4 .  
      In the drawings, it should be observed that, in the exemplary embodiment, the sealing skirt  30  is continuous, having no slot or notch opening in the free edge  36  thereof.  
      While the fastener tabs  40  and  41  are being snap-fastened on the neck  4 , said tabs may tend to move apart, thereby generating stresses on the top wall  11 . Such stresses may modify the initial shape of the sealing skirt  30  by elongating the sealing skirt  30  along an ovalizing direction, which, in the exemplary embodiment shown, coincides with the major axis Z.  
      To prevent such a modification of the shape of the sealing skirt  30  from generating any risk of damage to said sealing skirt  30  while the sealing skirt  30  is being inserted in the neck  4 , the bottom edge  36  may not be circular. The shape of the envelope of the outer surface of the sealing skirt  30  may take into account the way the base portion  7  deforms while the dispenser head  3  is being assembled on the flask  2 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 5 , the free edge may be oblong-shaped, different from the circular shape of the neck, being elongate along a major axis W that is substantially perpendicular to the major axis Z of the outer skirt  18 . A ratio a/b of half the major-axis a over half the minor-axis b may be not less than 1.02, for example, not less than 1.1.  
      In the exemplary embodiment shown, the sealing skirt  30  may be made with two first portions  51  including substantially cylindrical and conical outer surfaces and two inwardly-curved second portions  50  disposed facing the tabs  40  and  41  and each extending between two first portions  51 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 8 , for example.  
      Each second portion  50  may include an outer surface  53  that is substantially toroidal except in transition zones where the outer surface  53  may be connected to the first portions  51 .  
      In the exemplary embodiment shown, the outside of each first portion  51  may include, in proximity of the free end  36  of the skirt  30 , a substantially frustoconical surface  54  that is connected at a top thereof to a substantially cylindrical surface  55  that is substantially parallel to the axis Y.  
      As shown in  FIG. 7 , for example, the tops of the first and second portions  51  and  50  may be connected, via an intermediate portion  56  of frustoconical outside shape, to a thicker annular portion  57  of outside shape that is substantially circularly symmetrical about the axis Y. The thicker annular portion  57  may be designed to come into sealing contact with the inside surface  31  of the neck  4 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 8 , the first portions  51  may be made with a substantially-cylindrical inside surface  90 , with a generator line that is substantially parallel to the axis Y of the sealing skirt. The first portions  51  may preferably taper a little, for example, tapering by about 0° 30′, thereby making it easier to unmold the sealing skirt  30 .  
      The second portions  50  may themselves be made with respective inside surfaces  91  that are undercut, at least in part. The second portions  50  may be sufficiently flexible to allow the sealing skirt  30  to be unmolded along the axis Y.  
      The fastener means for fastening the base portion  7  onto the flask  2  may be made in some other way. For example, the fastener means may comprise fastener tabs  40  and  41  of different length, for example, a length that is substantially equal to a length of the sealing skirt  30 , for reasons of appearance constraints, for example.  
      The fastener means for fastening the base portion  7  onto the flask  2  may comprise more than two fastener tabs, each fastener tab  40  or  41  being replaced by two smaller fastener tabs, for example, so as to make unmolding easier or to enable reinforcement for the flask to pass between them, for example. Each of the fastener tabs  40  and  41  may also occupy a greater angular sector than shown.  
      In the exemplary embodiment, stresses that are exerted during assembly may tend to ovalize the sealing skirt  30  in a direction that is substantially parallel to the direction in which the tabs  40  and  41  move apart.  
      This does not have to be the case, however, and the stresses that are exerted on the sealing skirt  30  may tend to elongate the sealing skirt  30  in an ovalizing direction that is substantially perpendicular to the major axis of the outer skirt  18 .  
      This may apply for the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , for example.  
      In this exemplary embodiment, the fastener means may comprise two support tabs  80  and  81  that are disposed on either side of the sealing skirt  30  and that are connected together at their ends by curved fastener arms  84  with facing concave faces. The fastener arms  84  may be configured to snap-fasten on a portion in relief of the neck, for example, an annular flange.  
      The two arms  84  may tend to move apart while clearing the portion in relief of the neck, thereby causing the support tabs  80  and  81  to move together.  
      This may tend to ovalize the sealing skirt in a direction K that is substantially parallel to the direction in which the support tabs  80  and  81  move toward each other.  
      In such an embodiment, the sealing skirt  30  may be oriented with the major axis thereof substantially parallel to a line interconnecting the support tabs  80  and  81 . The line may preferably be situated in a mid-plane of the support tabs  80  and  81 .  
      Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.  
      The dispenser head need not include a hinged lid, and may, for example, be arranged to receive a lid that is snap-fastened on the base portion, and that is suitable for being removed by being twisted or turned. Where appropriate or desired, said snap-fastenable lid may include an applicator element or may be arranged to receive an applicator, such as a brush or a powder puff, for example.  
      The dispenser head may also include a pump, where appropriate or desired. The dispenser orifice may be formed at an end of an endpiece, where appropriate or desired.  
      The container may be different from a flask and may comprise a tube, for example.  
      The outer skirt may be made with some other cross-section, for example, a circular cross-section.  
      The hinge between the lid and the base portion may be made in some other way, for example, without providing assistance in opening or closing.  
      Throughout the description, including in the claims, the term “comprising a” or “including” should be understood as being synonymous with “comprising at least one” or “including at least one” unless specified to the contrary.  
      Although the present invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.