Patent Publication Number: US-9409684-B2

Title: Dispenser member for dispensing a care product, makeup, or a toiletry

Description:
The invention relates to dispenser members for dispensing fluids, e.g. care products, toiletries, or makeup. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Document FR 2 838 070, in particular, discloses a fluid container that is provided with a dispenser member that includes a push-button that, when actuated, causes a slider to retract so as to open an orifice of a fluid dispenser nozzle. 
     The composition of toiletries, care products, or makeup is becoming more and more complex, such that their properties and their behavior constantly require novel dispenser members to be designed. 
     Such dispenser members perform numerous functions. They should be sufficiently leaktight in their closed positions. They should be easy to use. The fluid should not cause the shutter to stick to the nozzle. The fluid should not dry on the outside of the nozzle, possibly causing it to be squirted or deflected while being dispensed, or possibly causing lumps or flakes to be included in the dispensed fluid. It is desirable for the volume that is occupied by the fluid between the nozzle and the pump that serves to bring it as far as the dispenser member, i.e. the “dead” volume, to be as small as possible. This makes the mechanism easier to operate, and avoids fluid stagnating for a long period in this volume. Furthermore, it is desirable that the dispenser member is inexpensive. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is in such a context that an object of the invention is to provide a novel fluid dispenser member. 
     To this end, the invention provides a fluid dispenser member that includes:
         a nozzle;   a shutter of the nozzle; and   at least one magnet that is suitable for moving the shutter relative to the nozzle.       

     Thus, the presence of the magnet(s) make(s) it possible to simplify the mechanism considerably, in particular by reducing the number of parts that it is made up of, thereby also making it easier to assemble. Moving the shutter by magnetic interaction does not require direct contact between any of the parts. Furthermore, by means of the invention, the mechanism may be configured so as to have a dead volume that is very small and a cost price that is moderate. 
     Advantageously, the magnet or one of the magnets is suitable for moving the shutter in the opposite direction to the nozzle. 
     Advantageously, the magnet or one of the magnets is suitable for moving the shutter in the direction of the nozzle. 
     Preferably, the member includes:
         a first magnet that is suitable for moving the shutter in the opposite direction to the nozzle; and   a second magnet that is suitable for moving the shutter in the direction of the nozzle.       

     Thus, magnetic interaction is implemented both for opening the nozzle and for closing it. It is thus possible to eliminate providing a return spring for moving the shutter in one of the two directions. And the mechanism may have a particularly small number of parts. 
     In an embodiment, the magnet or at least one of the magnets is mounted to move relative to the shutter. 
     Provision may be made for the magnet or at least one of the magnets to be fastened rigidly to the shutter. 
     Thus, it is not necessary to provide a ferromagnetic material in the shutter for it to interact with the magnet. 
     Provision may also be made for the member to include:
         a magnet-carrier that is mounted to move relative to the nozzle and to the shutter;   a pump; and   a return spring for returning the magnet-carrier, the spring being outside the pump.       

     Preferably, the shutter includes a piston that is arranged such that fluid pressure at a feed orifice of the member tends to move the shutter in the opposite direction to the nozzle. 
     Thus, the flow pressure from the pump is exerted on the shutter so as to urge said shutter in the opening direction. It is thus possible to reduce the size of the means for moving the shutter in order to open it. This arrangement also makes it possible to accelerate the movement of the shutter. 
     Advantageously, the nozzle and the shutter present mutual contact faces that slope relative to a direction of movement of the shutter relative to the nozzle. 
     Such faces make it possible to constitute a small contact zone between the shutter and the nozzle, thereby reducing the risks of the shutter sticking to the nozzle by means of any fluid that might be interposed between them. 
     Advantageously, the member presents a fluid outlet duct, the duct including portions in relief for guiding the shutter. 
     The portions in relief reduce the contact area between the shutter and the other parts of the mechanism, and thus correspondingly reduce the friction opposing its movement while the nozzle is being opened and closed. And they reduce the risks of the shutter sticking in the duct. Nevertheless, the portions in relief allow the fluid to pass along the shutter. 
     The invention also provides a container, such as a bottle, that includes a member of the invention. 
     An article is also provided that comprises such a container and a fluid that forms part of at least one of the following types:
         a care product;   makeup; and   a toiletry.       

     Other characteristics and advantages of the invention appear further from the following description of an embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dispenser member of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective and section view on plane II-II of a container including the  FIG. 1  member; 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  show, on the same section plane, the  FIG. 1  member with the nozzle in its closed and open positions respectively, the remainder of the container being shown in simplified manner; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial section view on plane V-V of the  FIG. 1  member; and 
         FIGS. 6 to 10  are perspective views of respective parts of the mechanism of the  FIG. 1  member; 
     
    
    
     MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 to 5  show a dispenser member  2  for dispensing a viscous fluid  10 , and its pump  4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the member  2  with its pump is for forming part of a container such as a bottle  6  including a fluid reservoir  8 . The pump body  4  includes a bottom inlet duct  13  having a bottom end that extends into the bottom portion of the reservoir so as to dip into the fluid  10 . The member  2  is mounted in the top portion of the reservoir that it closes, and it is associated with a decorative hoop  11 . 
     The member  2  includes a push-button  16  that forms the top of the member, that emerges from the hoop  11 , and that has a base that penetrates into the top of said hoop. The push-button  16 , shown in particular in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , presents a top face  18 , specifically in the shape of a disk, and a cylindrical side face  19  having a circular section in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis  14 . The button  16  is movably mounted to slide relative to the reservoir  8  along the axis  14 . 
     The pump, of a type known per se and not described in detail herein, includes the pump body  4  and a pump seat  20  that connects the pump body to the reservoir. The body includes a top outlet or flow duct  22  that emerges from the top of the body and that is parallel to the axis  14 , as is the bottom duct  13 . The top duct  22  is fastened rigidly to a sleeve  24  of the push-button, and is movably mounted to slide relative to the pump body along the axis  14 . As a result, when the user presses on the face  18 , the button  16  is caused to descend integrally with the duct  22 , relative to the reservoir and to the hoop, thereby pumping fluid  10  from the duct  13  into the body  4 , then into the outlet duct  22 , and into the button  16  inside the sleeve  24 . 
     In this configuration, the hoop  11  presents four outer faces  12  that succeed one another around a main axis  14  of the member. In section, in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis, the hoop presents a shape that is generally rectangular, the rectangle tapering in size from the base of the hoop to its top. Other forms of hoop may also be suitable. 
     The button  16  presents a transverse housing  26  that is perpendicular to the axis  14  and that intersects said axis. The internal duct of the sleeve  24  opens out via its top end into the housing  26 . The housing presents an external end  31  that opens out into the side face  19 , specifically at the portion in relief  28  that projects from said side face. The end  31  forms a dispenser nozzle for dispensing fluid. 
     The housing  26  receives an internal shutter  30 , or pin, that is movably mounted to slide in the housing along the direction of said housing relative to the push-button. The shutter  30 , shown in particular in  FIG. 8 , presents a shape that is generally circularly symmetrical about its longitudinal axis. It presents a front portion  32 , and a rear portion  34  of diameter that is greater than the front portion. 
     The front portion  32  extends in a front portion of the housing  26  that forms a fluid transfer duct. This portion of the duct presents a generally cylindrical shape having a circular section in a plane that is perpendicular to its axis. It presents portions in relief  36  that are formed specifically by rectilinear elongate splines that project radially from the cylindrical face and along the slide direction. The splines  36  are spaced apart from one another and they are distributed regularly around the axis of the duct. In this configuration, they are three in number, this number being non-limiting. The flat top of each spline is in contact with the front portion  32  of the shutter, such that said shutter is guided to slide in the front portion of the housing  26  bearing against the three splines. Between them and around the front portion  32  of the shutter, the splines form channels for conveying the fluid in the front portion of the housing and as far as the nozzle  31 . 
     At the leading end of the housing, the inner face of said housing presents a beveled or frustoconical segment. At its leading end, the shutter  30  presents a face of complementary frustoconical shape for which the above-mentioned end of the housing forms a seat. The two surfaces thus come to bear surface on surface against each other when the shutter  30  closes the nozzle  31 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The bottle is thus closed in leaktight manner with regard to the fluid  10 . This position is the advanced or closed position of the shutter. For dispensing fluid, the shutter occupies a retracted position or an open position in which its leading end lies at a distance from the nozzle  31 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , and thus enables the fluid to escape via the nozzle. 
     The rear portion  34  of the shutter lies beside the axis  14  and is situated remote from the nozzle  31  regardless of the position of the shutter in the housing. In its rear portion, the housing  26  does not have any portions in relief, such that the cylindrical face of the portion  34  is in leaktight surface on surface contact with the cylindrical face of the rear portion of the housing. The shutter  30  presents a shoulder  40  at the junction between its front and rear portions  32 ,  34  that, because of the position occupied by the shutter, may be subjected to the delivery pressure of the pump. Under the effect of the pressure, the portion  34  thus forms a piston that slides in the cylinder formed by the rear portion of the housing. Given this arrangement, the pump pressure as transmitted by the fluid, when it appears, tends to cause the shutter to retract so as to open the nozzle whenever the user presses on the button  16 . 
     At its rear end, the shutter  30  carries a magnet  42 . In this configuration, the magnet is in the shape of a disk and is fastened rigidly on the axis of the body of the shutter so as to present circular symmetry. 
     With reference to  FIG. 10  in particular, the member  2  includes a magnet-carrier  44  that, in the present embodiment, carries a top magnet  46  and a bottom magnet  48  that is situated below the top magnet. The two magnets are fastened rigidly to the magnet-carrier on the side of said magnet-carrier that is directed towards the shutter  30 . 
     The magnet  42  may be fitted on the shutter  30  and, by way of example, may be adhesively bonded to said shutter or embedded in the plastics material of the shutter. The same applies for the magnets  46  and  48  of the magnet-carrier  44  that are received in the cavities  47  of said magnet-carrier. 
     In the present embodiment, the member includes a cover  50  that is fastened rigidly to a rear portion of the button  16  that is shaped for this purpose. To this end, in this embodiment the button  16  presents two splines  54  of dovetail section that project from a plane rear face  56  of the button. The cover  50  presents a plane front face  58  that is shaped by two channels  60  that are also of dovetail section and of shape that is complementary to the shape of the splines  54  that they receive. This assembly makes it possible to fasten the cover rigidly to the button by sliding it parallel to the axis  14  until it comes into axial abutment against the top of the button  16 . The cover presents a housing  52  that extends along a direction that is parallel to the axis  14 , and in which the magnet-carrier is received. 
     The stroke of the push-button along the axis  14 , relative to the pump seat  20 , is limited at its two ends by two abutments that are not shown and that, by way of example, are situated in the pump body  4  since they already limit the stroke of the duct  22  to which the button is rigidly fastened. 
     The member  2  includes a return spring  62  having a helix that has an axis that is parallel to the axis  14 . The spring presents a top end that is in axial abutment against the bottom face of the cover  50 , and a bottom end that is in axial abutment against a bottom shoulder  64  that is formed on the magnet-carrier. The spring holds the magnet-carrier in abutment against the pump seat  20 . In this embodiment, it should be observed that the spring is independent and distinct from a spring  21  that is provided in the pump for operating said pump, and that tends to push the duct  22  upwards relative to the remainder of the pump body  4 . 
     The magnet-carrier  44  is thus stationary relative to the pump seat  20 , and the push-button  16  with the cover  50  is slidably movable relative to the magnet-carrier along a direction that is parallel to the axis  14 . 
     The top magnet  46  is arranged and positioned so that it tends, by magnetic interaction, to repel the magnet  42  of the shutter when the two magnets are in alignment, as in the closed position of the nozzle shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The magnet thus causes the shutter to press against the nozzle seat, and holds said nozzle in its closed position. 
     Conversely, the bottom magnet  48  is arranged and positioned so that it tends to attract the magnet  42  of the shutter when said bottom magnet is placed in alignment with said shutter, as in  FIG. 4 . It thus causes the nozzle to open and holds it in its open position. 
     In this configuration, the hoop  11  presents four outer faces  12  that succeed one another around a main axis  14  of the member. In section, in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis, the hoop presents a shape that is generally rectangular, the rectangle tapering in size from the base of the hoop to its top. Other forms of hoop may also be suitable. 
     The member functions as follows. 
     At rest, the member lies in the configuration shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  in which the nozzle  31  is closed by the shutter  30  under the effect of the magnets  42  and  46  that lie on the same axis and that are separated only by a wall of the cover  50 . The button  16  occupies its high position. It is held in this position mainly by the spring  21  of the pump and in part by the spring  62 . 
     When the user wishes to obtain some of the fluid  10 , the user presses on the disk  18  so as to push the button down against the force of the springs. 
     During this movement that takes the shutter with it, the magnet  42  moves down relative to the magnets  46  and  48 . It thus ceases to lie on the same axis as the top magnet  46  and passes into alignment with the bottom magnet  48  so that it is then subjected to its magnetic attraction, through the wall of the cover  50 . 
     In addition, as explained above, the movement of the button delivers fluid into the sleeve  24  in which the fluid pressure tends to increase. The pressure is exerted on the piston  34  against the magnetic repulsion force whereby the top magnet  46  repels the magnet  42  and thus the shutter. 
     This attraction, and specifically the pre-loading resulting from the fluid pressure, causes the shutter to retract so as to open the nozzle  31  and cause the fluid to escape from the member. The bottom magnet  48  holds the nozzle open while the user maintains pressure on the button. 
     Specifically, the length of the stroke of the button is greater than the center-to-center distance between the magnets  46  and  48 . Thus, the shutter moves down lower than the magnet  48  in order to cause the nozzle to open before the button is fully depressed, so as to enable the fluid to be properly dispensed. 
     When the user releases the pressure, the push-button rises under the effect of the springs  21  and  62  returning. The shutter thus returns to the height of the top magnet  46  and is subjected to the repulsion from said top magnet. The shutter thus slides until the nozzle  31  is closed. 
     In the present embodiment, the magnet-carrier  44  is mounted in the cover  50 , with two portions in relief  72  at the top of said magnet-carrier being guided to slide in a top portion of the duct  52  by two side ways  70 . In order to mount the magnet-carrier in the cover, its top is inserted via the bottom end of the duct  52 , forcing in the portions in relief  72  that rub against a narrow bottom portion of the duct until they reach the recesses  70  in which they can slide without substantial friction. Beyond a predetermined stroke, the bottom shoulder  64  of the magnet-carrier limits its upward movement relative to the cover. The magnet-carrier is thus held captive in the cover. The two parts may be pre-assembled, then transported and stored in this configuration, before being mounted on the member  2 . 
     In this embodiment, the member is assembled as follows. 
     The shutter  30  fitted with its magnet  42  is inserted into the housing  26  of the push-button via the rear end of the housing. 
     Once the magnet-carrier is fitted with the magnets  46  and  48 , the spring  62  is installed on the magnet-carrier, then said magnet-carrier is installed in the cover  50 , as mentioned above. 
     The cover  50  is then slid onto the splines  54  of the button  16 , thereby enclosing the shutter in the housing  26 . 
     In order to assemble the container, the pump and the hoop  11  are mounted on the bottle. The pump and the hoop are snap-fastened on the neck of the bottle, and the hoop thus locks the pump assembly on the neck. Finally, the push-button  16  with its shutter  30  and the magnets is mounted on the top duct  22  of the pump. In a variant, the push-button could be pre-assembled with the pump before said pump is mounted on the bottle. 
     For the magnets  42 ,  46 , and  48 , the magnets sold by Supermagnete under the references S-02-01-N and S-03-01-N could be used, for example. Those magnets are disk shaped, have a height of 2 millimeters (mm), and they have diameters of 2 mm and 3 mm respectively. They present type N48 magnetization for attraction forces of 130 grams (g) to 210 g respectively. Other magnets may be suitable. 
     In order to achieve suitable sealing at the contact of the piston  34  with the rear of the housing  26 , it suffices to provide suitable manufacturing tolerances and surface states. A sealing gasket may also be provided. 
     It can be seen that this mechanism is particularly simple and comprises a small number of parts. The only parts that are movable relative to one another in operation are the push-button  16 , the shutter  30 , the magnet-carrier  44 , and the spring  62 , making a total of four in this embodiment. 
     By relying on the magnetic interaction exerted by one or more magnets, the member makes it possible to do without levers or ramps, and avoids causing the shutter to be moved merely by fluid or air pressure. 
     The dead volume occupied by the fluid downstream from the pump and upstream from the nozzle is no more than the volume of the sleeve  24  plus the volume of the front portion of the housing  26  that is not occupied by the shutter. It is thus particularly small. There is no large zone in which fluid stagnates. 
     This mechanism makes it possible to actuate the pump as soon as the push-button starts to be depressed. In this respect, there is thus no dead stroke. As a result, the action of the user is more effective and produces a better yield. Furthermore, the fluid follows a short path between leaving the pump and being dispensed via the nozzle  31 . 
     In particular, the shape of the nozzle  31  and the arrangement of the mechanism avoids the problems of the fluid drying at the nozzle, of the fluid being deflected or squirted while it is being dispensed, or the presence of lumps in the dispensed fluid. 
     Apart from the magnets and the spring, all of the components of the dispenser member may be made by injection-molding plastics material. 
     The fluid  10  may be makeup, toiletries, or care products. It may be a cream or an emulsion. It may be used for the face or the body. It may be viscous to a greater or lesser extent, indeed it may be a paste. 
     Naturally, numerous modifications could be applied to the invention without going beyond the ambit thereof. 
     Provision could be made for the magnet-carrier  44  to be fastened rigidly to the pump seat  20  and for the return spring  62  associated with the magnet-carrier to be eliminated. 
     The progressive loading of the piston  34  by the pressure exerted by the pump could be eliminated. 
     It is not essential to provide three magnets for implementing the invention. 
     Provision could thus be made for the magnet-carrier to carry only one magnet  46  that is suitable for repelling the magnet of the shutter, so as to place said shutter in its closed position. By way of example, a return spring could be used that is suitable for bearing against the push-button and against the shutter so as to move said shutter towards its open position when the magnet  42  is no longer subjected to the repulsion of the magnet  46 . Conversely, provision could be made for the magnet-carrier to carry only the magnet  48  that is suitable for attracting the magnet of the shutter so as to open the nozzle, associating with said shutter a return spring that moves the shutter so as to close the nozzle when it is no longer subjected to the attraction of the magnet. 
     In another embodiment, the two magnets  46  and  48  could be made in the form a single magnet that is suitable on its own for attracting and repelling the magnet  42  depending on the position occupied by said magnet  42 . 
     It is also possible to provide a single magnet that is placed either on the shutter, or on the magnet-carrier or some other support, so as to move the shutter when a portion made of ferromagnetic metal is attracted by the magnet against the return force of a spring. 
     It is possible to give the magnets diameters that are different from the diameters mentioned above, or to give them a shape that is oval, rectangular, or square. 
     It is possible to arrange the housing  26  as a circularly-cylindrical housing that opens out to the front face of the push-button  16 . The shutter is inserted into the housing from the front face of the push-button, and a separate element is then inserted that includes both guide splines  36  for guiding the shutter, and the fluid dispensing nozzle  31 . The shutter is thus guided in the same way as described above. This structure makes it possible to fabricate the shutter with a cover that is made integrally with the remainder of the push-button.