Patent Publication Number: US-8109412-B2

Title: Dispensing nozzle for a dispenser of fluid product

Description:
The present invention relates to a dispenser head for associating with a dispenser member, such as a pump or a valve, so as to form a fluid dispenser. The fluid can be dispensed in any way, e.g. in the form of spray, a jet, a string, or a glob. In general, the head includes a connection sleeve for connecting to a pump or valve outlet. The sleeve is internally connected to a fluid dispenser orifice via an internal channel. The fluid can thus flow from the outlet of the pump or of the valve through the internal channel as far as the dispenser orifice where the user can recover the fluid. This type of dispenser head is very frequently used in the fields of cosmetics, perfumery, or even pharmacy. 
     Dispenser heads of this type can be adapted to dispense various kinds of fluid ranging from more viscous fluids, such as gels, creams, and pastes, to less viscous fluids, such as lotions and fragrances. Taking, for example, viscous fluids such as creams, pastes, and gels: dispensing is generally performed in the form of thick lumps of fluid that are similar to strings or globs. The user is thus constrained to recover the dispensed fluid directly at the outlet of the dispenser orifice. Recovery is generally performed by means of one or more fingers, or by a specific applicator. In order to make it easier to recover the viscous fluid, the dispenser head can, for example, be formed with a spout at the end of which the dispenser orifice is situated. It is thus easy for the user to place the fingers or the hand under the spout, and to dispense the fluid directly onto the finger or the hand. Alternatively the dispenser head naturally need not be provided with such a spout, such that it is necessary to press the fingers, the hand, or the specific applicator against the dispenser head just below the dispenser orifice. Conventionally, the user is constrained to recover the fluid as soon as it leaves the dispenser orifice. As a result, it can happen that the fluid is not recovered correctly: the fluid may be dispensed poorly onto the fingers, the hand, or the specific applicator, for example. It can also happen that recovery fails, and the fluid drops onto the floor. In any event, it is necessary to have good co-ordination between dispensing and recovery, given that they are completely distinct. 
     An object of the present invention is to remedy the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art by defining a dispenser head for which recovery of the fluid is easier for the user. 
     To do this, the present invention proposes a dispenser head for associating with a dispenser member, such as a pump or a valve, so as to form a fluid dispenser, the head including a connection sleeve for connecting to an outlet of the dispenser member, the sleeve being connected to a fluid dispenser orifice via an internal channel, the head being characterized in that it further includes a fluid collection dish for collecting the fluid at the outlet from the dispenser orifice, the dish defining a bottom that is situated below the dispenser orifice under normal conditions of use of the head, such that the fluid drops by gravity into the dish. Thus, the dispenser orifice is not obstructed or clogged with the fluid that has been dispensed. With this head, the user proceeds initially to dispense fluid into the collection dish, and then recovers the fluid from the dish. As a result, the dispensing of the fluid and the recovery of the fluid by the user are actions that are completely independent from each other, since they are separated by an intermediate stage in a collection dish. 
     In another advantageous aspect of the invention, the dish may define a bottom, and a side that is substantially vertical under normal conditions of use of the head, the dispenser orifice being formed in the vertical side, such that the fluid can flow by gravity into the bottom of the dish. The dish advantageously defines an access rim that is substantially horizontal, and that is situated opposite the vertical side. The access rim makes it very easy for the user to recover the fluid accumulated in the collection dish. Advantageously, the bottom of the dish is deeper in the proximity of the vertical side and slopes gently up to the access rim. In an advantageous embodiment, the access rim extends over a fraction of the outer periphery of the head. Thus, the user can easily recover the fluid by wiping the bottom of the dish. 
     In another advantageous aspect of the invention, the dispenser head may further include a pusher that overlies the dish. Advantageously, the dish partially surrounds the pusher. In this way, the dish can be made with a wide variety of shapes, while conserving a large capacity for the dish. The bottom of the dish is advantageously connected to the pusher via the vertical side. 
     In another advantageous aspect of the invention, the sleeve defines an axis X, and the pusher defines an axis Y that is parallel to the axis X, but that is offset therefrom. This means that the thrust axis of the pusher is offset relative to the axis of the pump or of the valve. This is a characteristic that can be implemented independently of the fact that the dispenser head includes a collection dish. This is therefore a characteristic that can be protected on its own. However, in combination with a collection dish, this makes it possible to offset the pusher to one side of the head and to use the space made available in this way for the collection dish that can therefore present maximum capacity for a given dispenser head. 
     According to another characteristic of the invention, the dispenser orifice is formed by a self-sealing slot that defines two lips that are in leaktight contact in the absence of fluid under pressure inside the head. The slot is advantageously formed in a core of deformable flexible material, the head being made by dual-injection, the core being injected-molded into a housing formed by the head. 
     The invention is described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings which show two embodiments of the invention by way of non-limiting example. 
    
    
     
       In the figures: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fluid dispenser constituting a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the  FIG. 1  dispenser head; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the  FIG. 2  dispenser head; 
         FIG. 4  is a vertical section view through the dispenser head in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  constituting a second embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  constituting the second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     Reference is made firstly to  FIG. 1  which shows a fluid dispenser integrating a dispenser head constituting a first embodiment of the invention. The dispenser includes a reservoir  2  that can be made from any appropriate material and that can present any shape. In  FIG. 1 , the reservoir presents a circularly-cylindrical configuration. 
     A dispenser unit  3  is mounted on the reservoir  2 : the unit  3  includes a dispenser member (not shown), such as a pump or a valve. The pump or valve is mounted in a fastener ring  32  that is visible in  FIG. 1 . In conventional manner, the pump or the valve includes an actuator rod  31  that can be moved axially down and up. The rod  31  is shown in part in  FIG. 4 . The inlet of the pump or of the valve is in communication with the inside of the reservoir  2  such that the pump or the valve can take fluid stored in the reservoir  2  through its inlet. Then, by actuating the rod  31 , the fluid is caused to flow out from the pump or the valve through the rod  31 . This characteristic is entirely conventional for dispensers in the fields of cosmetics, perfumery, or even pharmacy. 
     The dispenser also includes a dispenser head that incorporates the present invention. Reference is made below to all of the figures while explaining the structure and the functions of the dispenser head. In  FIG. 4 , which is a vertical section view, it can be seen that the head  1  includes a connection sleeve  11  that, in this embodiment, is interfitted on the free end of an actuator and dispenser rod  31  forming part of a pump or a valve. The sleeve  11  defines an internal housing in which the rod can be received by force. Beyond the sleeve  11 , the head defines an outlet channel  12  that is terminated by a dispenser orifice  13 . The orifice  13  opens out into a substantially vertical wall  143  that defines a steep side of a collection dish  14 . The orifice  13  can be situated at any height in the vertical side  143 , but the orifice  13  is preferably situated generally in the proximity of the top of the vertical side  143 . The major portion of the vertical side  143  is thus situated below the orifice  13 . It can also be said that the sleeve  11  and the actuator rod  31  define a vertical actuation axis X that, in practice, coincides with the axis of the pump or of the valve. In this context, it can be said that the dispenser orifice  13  is situated axially above the foot of the side  143 . The vertical or steep side  143  extends in curved manner, defining the right-hand boundary of the dish  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 . At its foot, the side  143  is connected to the bottom  141  of the dish  14  that defines its greatest depth in the proximity of the foot of the side  143 . Starting from its deepest point, the bottom  141  slopes gently up to an access rim  142  that is substantially horizontal. The rim  142  defines the left-hand boundary of the dish  14  as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4 . The steep side  143  and the access rim  142  meet at their ends, forming transition zones. 
     As a result of the position of the orifice  13  at the top of the steep side  143 , the dispensed fluid flows or drops to the bottom  141  of the dish  14  that is situated axially lower down than the side  143 . The fluid can be squirted directly to the bottom  141  of the dish or it can flow down the side  143  to the bottom  141 . The fluid accumulated in this way in the dish  14  can be easily recovered by the user from the access rim  142 . Recovery can be performed by means of one or more fingers, or even by means of a specific applicator. It should be observed that the access rim  142  extends over a considerable portion of the outer periphery of the head, thereby making it even easier to access the dish  14 . The user can thus recover the fluid by wiping or passing from one end of the access rim  142  to the other. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the access rim  142  extends over substantially one third of the periphery of the head. With regard to the steep side  143 , it extends substantially transversally with a curve in the same direction as the rim  142 , thereby imparting a kidney shape to the dish. It should also be observed in the figures that the dispenser orifice  13  is in the form of an elongate window that follows the curve of the steep side  143 . In this way, the fluid is dispensed substantially uniformly to the bottom  141  of the dish. Instead of said single elongate orifice, it is also possible to provide a single orifice that is more point-like, or, on the contrary, it is possible to provide a plurality of distinct orifices. Provision can even be made for the head  1  to be mounted on a dispenser of the dual type, including two pumps or two valves. In this event, the collection dish is for collecting two different fluids, e.g. dispensed through two different dispenser orifices or through a single dispenser orifice. 
     The dispenser head constituting this embodiment also includes a pusher  18  on which the user can press by means of one or more fingers so as to move the dispenser head, and thus the actuator rod  31  of the pump or of the valve. In response, a dose of fluid is dispensed through the orifice  13  into the bottom  141  of the dish  14 . In this particular embodiment, the pusher  18  overlies the dish  14  and is connected to the dish via the steep wall  143  defining the orifice  13 . In other words, the pusher  18  is situated axially higher than the bottom  141  of the dish  14 . However, it can also be envisaged to position the pusher  18  at the same level as the dish or even lower, for purposes of appearance or functionality. As can be seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , the steep side  143  extends around part of the pusher  18  that, in this embodiment, presents an annular or circular shape. The pusher  18  can define a central indentation in which the user can insert a finger so as to exert pressure. The pusher  18  thus defines a thrust axis Y that is preferably parallel to the actuation axis X. However, as can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the axis Y is distinct from the axis X, since they are disposed in parallel but offset manner. Offsetting the thrust axis of the pusher from the actuation axis of the pump or of the valve is a characteristic that can be implemented independently of the fact that the dispenser head integrates a collection dish. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , it can be seen that the dish  14  presents the shape of a kidney bean forming a concave portion in which the pusher  18  is integrated. As a result, the dish surrounds the pusher at least in part, in particular via its steep wall  143 . On either side of the pusher  18 , the dish  14  is connected to the pusher  18  via two side areas  17  of complex shape. Further away, the head defines a peripheral ring  16  of varying width. The ring  16  is its widest beside the pusher  18  and its narrowest beside the access rim  142 . The asymmetrical ring  16  is then extended downwards by a cylindrical skirt  15  that is adapted to move inside or around the fastener ring  32  of the fastener unit  3 . 
     Reference is made below to  FIGS. 5 and 6  that show a dispenser head constituting a second embodiment of the invention. 
     The head presents a general configuration that is substantially similar to the configuration in  FIGS. 1 to 4 . The head includes a dish  14  that defines a bottom  141 , a steep wall  143 , and an access rim  142 . However, in this embodiment the fluid dispenser orifice is formed by a self-sealing slot  13 ′ that is formed in a core  130  made of a deformable flexible material. The slot  13 ′ comprises two opposite lips that are in leaktight contact when at rest, i.e. when there is no fluid under pressure inside the outlet channel  12 . However, when the fluid in the channel  12  exceeds a certain threshold pressure, the lips move apart so as to define an outlet passage for the fluid. The core  130  occupies a housing  131  that connects the channel  12  to the steep wall  143  of the dish. The housing  131  extends along all or part of the steep wall. The core  130  is advantageously made by dual-injection, being molded together with the remainder of the head that is made of a plastics material that is harder. In this technique, the core and its housing are molded in a single mold. In a variant, the core could be overmolded inside the head. Dual-injection or overmolding can be used for this embodiment because the housing  131  connects with the channel  12  that can be made by means of a mold pin. In addition, the core engaged between the channel  12  and the steep wall  143  is of small thickness. Once unmolded, it suffices to slit the core  130  by means of a blade so as to form the self-sealing slot  13 ′. 
     Given that the self-sealing slot is leaktight at rest, it fulfils an automatic-closure function. It can also fulfill an outlet-valve function for a pump that does not have an outlet valve. 
     Naturally, the figures show only one particular set of shapes for the pusher and the dish  14 . Without going beyond the ambit of the present invention, it is naturally possible to imagine a dish  14  with a shape that is completely different, and a pusher with a shape or a configuration that is completely different.