Patent Publication Number: US-5026193-A

Title: Distributor and applicator device with a manual closing member

Description:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new distributor and applicator device for opening and closing a container, such a device being operated by a simple axial pressure exerted on one or several knobs protruding from the device. 
     The part forming the distributor of the device of the invention may be absolutely of any type. 
     The device of the invention provides also for the sealing of a container whatever the position of its closing member. Actually the content of a flask on which the device is mounted can flow out only when this flow is authorized. 
     Due to its constitution, the device of the invention can be made simply with a small number of parts which can be manufactured by injection moulding of plastics material. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention, the distributor part and applicator device with a manual closing member including a plug connected to neck of a container and provided with a closing finger leaving flowing apertures free and controlling passage of a ring leading to a distributor of a product contained in the container and directed to an applicator member, is characterized by a socket placed around the neck and mobile axially, this socket including a ring for cooperating with the closing finger and at least one knob protruding through at least one aperture of the distributor part fixed to the container, this knob being axially guided by the at least one aperture in which it slides for axially displacing the socket. 
     Various other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     An embodiment of the invention is shown, by way of a non limiting example, in the accompanying drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional elevation view of the device of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line II--II of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line III--III of FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially along line IV--IV of FIG. 2. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
     The drawings show in a schematic way a container 1, for example a flask having a neck 2. 
     The shape in cross-section of the container 1 may be absolutely of any type. The drawings show that this shape may be, for example, substantially ovoidal the smaller sides being flat and the greater sides arcuate. 
     The top of the neck 2 supports a plug 3 covering the neck 2 and advantageously fixed by a retaining keeper 4 entering a groove 5 of the neck 2. 
     The plug 3 defines inside the neck 2 a cylindrical socket 6 having a base 7 (FIG. 1) which is formed with apertures 8 (FIG. 2). The base 7 supports a closing finger 9 having a frustoconical end. 
     A socket 10 is slidably engaged on the neck 2 and has a transverse wall 11 from which protrude: a lower sealing skirt 12, an upper sealing skirt 13 and a ring 14 with a frustoconical inner wall for bearing on the frustoconical end of the closing finger 9. 
     The lower sealing skirt 12 is applied against the inner wall of the socket 6 while the upper sealing skirt 13 bears against the wall of a sleeve 15 extended by a distributor part generally designated by reference numeral 16. 
     The socket 10 forms in addition at least one actuating knob 17, and preferably two actuating knobs as, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The knob or knobs 17 are provided to protrude through one or several apertures 18 formed in the side wall 19 of the distributor part 16. 
     The side wall 19 of the distributor part 16 is fixed by any convenient means to the container 1, for example by means of a retaining keeper 20 entering a groove 21. The distributor part 16 includes at least one distribution hole 22 formed inside the sleeve 15. 
     As shown in the above disclosure, the distributor part 16 is fixed with respect to the container 1 and the same applies to the plug 3. On the contrary, the socket 10 can slide along the neck 2 so that the ring 14 will act as a closing element in cooperation with the closing finger 9. 
     If desired and for preventing the socket 10 from rotating with respect to the neck 2, cooperating rib and groove means 23 may be formed between the socket 10 and the neck 2. It is also possible to prevent a rotation of the socket 10 simply by guiding the socket 10 via its knob or knobs 17 inside the aperture or apertures 18 of the distributor 16. 
     The distributor part 16 may comprise one or several applicator members, each formed for example of a cylinder 24 having pins 25, 26 one of which, in the present case the pin 26, being formed by a plug 27 engaged inside the cylinder 24. This embodiment in two parts facilitates a simple manufacture by injection moulding of plastics material or the like. 
     The pins 25, 26 are engaged via a resilient deformation in depressions 28, 29 of flanges 30, 31 formed by the distributor part 16 which, in the same manner as the other hereabove described parts, may be made in a simple manner by injection moulding of plastics material. 
     The cylinder 24 may be replaced, in a manner known in the art, by any other applicator of same kind such as balls, rings, etc., top of the distributor part 16 being then of course conformed in an appropriate manner. 
     When the various parts are in the position shown in the drawings, the ring 14 will bear on the frustoconical portion of the closing finger 9 and, consequently, the container 1 is closed and the product contained therein cannot flow toward the hole 22 via the apertures 8 and the annular channel separating the socket 6 from the outer wall of the closing finger 9. 
     By acting on one at least of the knobs 17 in order to displace it in direction of the arrow f 1  (FIG. 2), the socket 10 is lifted as well as the ring 14. Consequently, the product contained in the container can now flow toward the hole 22, the tightness being however permanently ensured by the lower sealing skirt 12 and the upper sealing skirt 13 which are displaced together with the socket 10. 
     In addition to the preceding disclosure, the device will advantageously comprise a cover 32 conformed so as to have at least one shoulder 33 corresponding to the knobs 17. In this manner, when the cover 32 is put in position, it displaces automatically the knobs 17 in the direction contrary to the arrow f 1 , the effect of which is to provide for an automatic closing of the device even if this closing has been inadvertently forgotten prior to putting the cover 32 in position. 
     The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and described in detail and various modifications can be carried out thereto without departing from its scope. In particular, the distributor part 16 can comprise no applicator members of the cylindrical type, but be only conformed so that its upper surface forms by itself an applicator, or in a manner that it provides simply for a distribution via the distributor hole 22, or an end-piece or a nozzle placed in the distribution hole 22. Likewise, the outer wall of the plug 3 can be used directly as a guide for the socket 10, thereby avoiding to have to provide a particular conformation for the outer wall of the neck 2. In a simplified alternative, the socket 10 can be reduced in height in order to form only the knobs 17, guiding of the socket 10 being performed by the lower skirt 12 and the upper skirt 13.