Patent Publication Number: US-11040364-B2

Title: Dual dispenser

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a National Stage of Application No. PCT/FR2018/051543 filed Jun. 26, 2018, claiming priority based on French Patent Application No. 1756112 filed Jun. 30, 2017. 
     The present invention relates to a dual dispenser comprising two pumps each associated with a respective one of two fluid reservoirs. Each of the two pumps comprises a stationary pump body and an actuator rod that is axially movable over an axial stroke. The dual dispenser also includes a common dispenser head having an outlet channel that forms a dispenser orifice for dispensing the fluids coming from the actuator rods of both pumps. The advantageous fields of the invention are the fields of cosmetics and of pharmacy. 
     In the prior art, adjustable-dose dual dispensers are already known. In a widespread embodiment, the dispenser comprises a rotary ring that internally forms a ramp or annular steps that serve as an axial abutment for a pusher, thereby limiting the actuation stroke and consequently the dose of fluid that is dispensed. Rings having a ramp make it possible to vary doses continuously, and rings having steps make it possible to vary doses in steps. The outside of the rotary ring forms a grip member that the user can grip so as to turn the ring. Markings or sliders are provided on the rotary ring or in direct proximity thereof so as to inform the user about the precise position of the ring, and thus about the adjusted dose settings. 
     The present invention seeks to define a dual dispenser in which the adjustment of doses is more discreet by eliminating the rotary grip ring that is clearly visible and that makes the dispenser look very technical. In other words, an object of the invention is to preserve a rotary ring that is suitable for limiting the heights of the strokes of the actuator rods, but that makes the grip member as discreet as possible. An object of the invention is to combine the grip member with another member of the dispenser so as to incorporate it seamlessly. 
     To do this, the present invention proposes that the common dispenser head comprises:
         a cap that is mounted on the actuator rods and that forms the dispenser orifice;   a pusher that is mounted on the cap so as to move it axially downwards and upwards, the pusher also being mounted on the cap so as to turn relative thereto; and   an adjustment insert that is arranged below the cap and that is secured to the pusher in such a manner as to turn with it, the cap coming into abutment against the adjustment insert, thereby limiting the axial stroke of the actuator rods.       

     Thus, it is the rotary pusher that performs the additional function of a grip member for gripping and actuating the adjustment insert. It can also be said that the stroke-limiting function and actuation function are separate functions, with the limiting function being provided by the adjustment insert, and the function of actuating the adjustment insert being provided by the pusher. The actuator member of the adjustment insert is combined with the pusher, which, in conventional manner, has as its main function actuating the actuator rods of the pumps. As a result, it is possible to mask or to conceal the actuator member of the adjustment insert completely, giving little information, if any, about the additional function of the pusher. The dispenser may thus present a conventional configuration, namely that of a dispenser comprising only one reservoir and only one pump. 
     Advantageously, the cap presses the adjustment insert against the pump bodies at the end-of-stroke of the pusher. Thus, the adjustment insert is sandwiched between the cap and the pump bodies. 
     In an advantageous embodiment, the adjustment insert includes an adjustment plate that forms two through openings for passing both actuator rods. The adjustment plate is sandwiched between the cap and the pump bodies. Advantageously, the through openings are bordered by abutment areas having axial heights that are different. Preferably, the adjustment plate presents different wall thicknesses at the abutment areas. The through openings may present a kidney shape. 
     In another advantageous aspect of the invention, the adjustment insert is connected to the pusher via an axial pin that passes through the cap, the pusher forming a housing in which the axial pin is received and prevented from turning. Thus, the cap is interposed between the pusher and the adjustment plate, with the axial pin passing through the cap in central manner. The pusher and the adjustment insert turn together about an axis passing along the axial pin, while the cap that is arranged between them does not turn. The pusher also moves axially, taking the cap with it. Furthermore, the axial pin of the insert can slide, with or without friction, in the housing of the pusher. Advantageously, the axial pin presents a polygonal cross-section that is adapted to co-operate with the housing of the pusher so as to be constrained to turn therewith, and so as to slide axially relative thereto. Turning of the pusher may be limited by the adjustment insert that is engaged around the actuator rods. Advantageously, the cap includes two connection sleeves that come into abutment against the abutment areas. In a variant, the tops of the pump bodies could come into abutment with the abutment areas. 
     According to another advantageous characteristic, the dispenser orifice is engaged in a slot that is formed by a covering hoop, the dispenser orifice being moved axially in the slot by pressing on the pusher. The pusher may be engaged in the covering hoop, thereby masking the adjustment insert and the cap, except for its dispenser orifice that is engaged in the slot. 
     The spirit of the invention resides in incorporating or positioning the actuation of the dose adjustment means in a conventional member of the dispenser, and in particular in its pusher, so that the dual dispenser still has the conventional configuration of a single dispenser (one reservoir and one pump). Connecting the pusher to the adjustment insert through the cap constitutes an advantageous characteristic. 
     The invention is described below in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show an embodiment of the invention by way of non-limiting example. 
    
    
     
       In the figures: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a dual dispenser of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a very greatly enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the dispenser in  FIGS. 1 and 2  with the cap and the pusher removed; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the adjustment insert of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the dispenser of the above figures, shown in its mounted state; and 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  are vertical-section views through the dispenser of the above views, respectively in its rest position and in its pressed position. 
     
    
    
     Reference is made firstly to  FIG. 1  in order to describe in detail all of the component elements of the dispenser of the invention. Very briefly, the dispenser comprises a main reservoir R 1  that forms an outer shell, a casing  6  that forms a secondary reservoir R 2  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ), a cover  5  that is mounted on both of the reservoirs R 1  and R 2  and that serves to support two pumps P 1  and P 2  that are provided with respective dip tubes T 1  and T 2 . Each pump comprises a pump body P 10 , P 20 , and an actuator rod or valve rod P 11 , P 21  that slides axially downwards and upwards. The top portion of the dispenser comprises a cap  1  that is mounted on the free ends of both valve rods P 11 , P 21 , and that defines an internal channel that leads to a nozzle  15  forming a dispenser orifice O. The top portion of the dispenser also comprises a pusher  2  that is mounted on the cap  1  so as to move it axially by pressing the valve rods P 11 , P 21 . The top portion of the dispenser also comprises a covering hoop  4  that is mounted on the main reservoir R 1  so as to mask all of the component elements, except for the pusher  2  and the nozzle  15 . In the invention, the top portion of the dispenser also comprises an adjustment insert  3  that makes it possible to vary the strokes of the actuator rods P 11 , P 21 , and thus the doses of fluid dispensed by the pumps P 1 , P 2 . This is the general structure of the dispenser in this embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  shows only the top portion of the dispenser comprising the cap  1 , the pusher  2 , the adjustment insert  3 , and the covering hoop  4 . The pusher  2  includes fastener means  21  for co-operating with fastener profiles  14  formed by the cap  1 . Thus, the pusher  2  is constrained to move axially with the cap  1 . However, the pusher  2  is free to turn relative to the cap  1 . 
     The cap  1  includes two connection sleeves  11  and  12  that are adapted to come into engagement on the free ends of the actuator rods P 11  and P 21  of the two pumps. Although not shown, an internal channel connects the two connection sleeves  11  and  12  to a nozzle housing  13  that opens out sideways. The nozzle housing  13  receives a nozzle  15  that forms a dispenser orifice O. The nozzle  15  can dispense the mixture of fluid in various forms: spray, thread, glob, etc. The cap  1  also includes a vertical axial central passage  10  that extends substantially between the two connection sleeves  11  and  12 . 
     The adjustment insert  3  includes an adjustment plate  31  that forms two through openings  32  for passing the two actuator rods P 11 , P 21 . The adjustment insert  3  also includes an axial pin  34  that extends upwards from the adjustment plate  31 . The axial pin  34  presents a cross-section of polygonal shape, or of any other shape that makes it possible to prevent it from turning. The axial pin  34  may be provided with one or more snap-fastener profiles  34   a.    
     In this embodiment, the covering hoop  4  presents a bullet shape that is not limiting. The hoop is pierced with an oblong slot  45  for receiving the nozzle  15 . The vertical oblong shape makes it possible for the nozzle  15  to move axially while pressing on the pusher  2 . 
     Reference is made below to  FIGS. 3 and 4  in order to explain in detail the structure of the adjustment insert  3  and its co-operation with the valve rods P 11  and P 21 . As mentioned above, both valve rods P 11  and P 21  extend through the through openings  32  that are formed by the adjustment plate  31  of the adjustment insert  3 . It should be observed that the through openings  32  are arranged symmetrically about the axial pin  34 , and advantageously they present a kidney shape. It can easily be understood that the adjustment plate  31  can be moved in turning about a vertical axis that passes along the axial pin  34 , such that the actuator rods P 11  and P 21  move inside the through openings  32 . It should also be observed that the through openings  32  are bordered by abutment areas  33   h ,  33   l , and  33   i  having axial heights that are different. This can be seen more clearly in  FIG. 4 . The intermediate abutment areas  33   i  form ramps that make it possible to connect the upper abutment areas  33   h  to the lower abutment areas  33   l . Thus, for a single through opening  32 , the abutment areas are connected together so as to form a continuous closed loop that defines the edge of the through opening  32 . The upper abutment areas  33   h  correspond to a maximum thickness of the adjustment plate  31 , while the lower abutment areas  33   l  correspond to a minimum thickness of the adjustment plate  31 . Thus, depending on how they are positioned in the through openings  32 , the valve rods P 11  and P 21  are either bordered mainly by the upper abutment areas  33   h , or they are bordered mainly by the lower abutment areas  33   l.    
     In  FIG. 5 , the dispenser can be seen in its mounted state, in which only the main reservoir R 1 , the covering hoop  4 , the pusher  2 , and the nozzle  15  positioned in the oblong slot  45  in the covering hoop  4 , are visible. By pressing on the pusher  2 , the nozzle  15  is moved axially in the oblong slot  45  and it dispenses a mixture of fluids. 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , it should immediately be observed that the cap  1  is interposed between the pusher  2  and the adjustment plate  31  of the adjustment insert  3 . The axial pin  34  of the adjustment insert  3  passes through the vertical axial central passage  10  of the cap  1  and comes to be engaged inside a housing  23  that is formed in the pusher  2 . The housing  23  presents a cross-section that co-operates with the axial pin  34  of polygonal cross-section, in such a manner as to prevent any relative turning between the pusher  2  and the adjustment insert  3 . By way of example, the pin  34  and the housing  23  may present a section that is square, hexagonal, or cross- or star-shaped. The pin  34  is thus prevented from turning in the housing  23 , such that the adjustment insert is constrained to turn with the pusher  2 . However, the pin  34  can slide axially, freely or with a little friction, in the housing  23  over a small axial stroke that can be limited by the snap-fastener profile  34   a . This is why a small amount of clearance  24  can be seen in the housing  23  above the axial pin  34 . The cap  1  is mounted so that it does not turn, because it is engaged on the actuator rods P 11  and P 21 . Thus, the pusher  2  and its adjustment insert  3  can turn about a vertical axis that passes along the axial pin  34 , over an angular stroke that is limited by the through openings  32 . In this non-limiting embodiment, the angle through which the pusher and the insert can turn lies in the range about 45° to about 60°. Naturally, the angle may be varied by modifying the shape, or more particularly the length, of the through openings  32 . 
     It should be observed that the connection sleeves  11  and  12  come into contact or into abutment with the top face of the adjustment plate  31  at the abutment areas that border the through openings  32 . In  FIG. 6 , the connection sleeves  11  and  12  come into abutment with the upper abutment areas  33   h  that correspond to the maximum thickness of the adjustment plate  31 . In  FIG. 6 , which corresponds to the rest state, the actuator rods P 11  and P 21  are extended as far as possible, such that the adjustment plate  31  is arranged at a distance from the pump bodies P 10  and P 20 . 
     It should be understood that by turning the pusher  2 , the adjustment insert is turned, thereby moving the through openings  32  relative to the valve rods P 11 , P 21 . Starting from the position shown in  FIG. 6  that corresponds to the valve rods P 11 , P 21  being situated at the upper abutment areas  33   h , the pusher can be turned so as to bring the valve rods P 11  and P 21  to the lower abutment areas  33   l.    
     In  FIG. 7 , the dispenser is in a pressed or actuated state that corresponds to the pusher  2  being pressed axially. The assembly formed by the pusher  2 , the insert  3 , and the cap  1  has moved downwards by pressing down the valve rods P 11  and P 21 . It should be observed that the adjustment plate  31  is thus in abutment against the pump bodies P 10  and P 20 . As a result of the adjustment plate  31  being interposed between the connection sleeves  11 ,  12  and the pump bodies P 10 , P 20 , the valve rods P 11  and P 21  are not pressed down fully, thereby limiting the axial stroke of the valve rods, and thereby reducing the volume of the dose of fluid that is dispensed. The adjustment plate  31  thus acts as a spacer between the sleeves  11 ,  12  and the pump bodies P 10  and P 20 . By turning the pusher  2  and, as a result, the adjustment plate  31 , it is possible to increase the volume of the doses that are dispensed by positioning the lower abutment areas  33   l  around the connection sleeves  11 ,  12 . The sleeves can thus penetrate into the adjustment plate  31  until they come into abutment with the lower abutment areas  33   l . This requires the adjustment insert  3  to move a little relative to the pusher  2 , which is made possible by the small amount of clearance  24  that is situated at the top of the housing  23  and into which the axial pin  34  can penetrate. 
     It is thus possible to vary the doses of fluid that are dispensed, very simply by turning the pusher  2 . It can thus be said that the actuator member of the adjustment insert  3  is formed or constituted by the pusher  2 . This makes it possible for the dispenser to have a configuration that is entirely conventional, as can be seen in  FIG. 5 . Specifically, the dispenser does not make it apparent that it has two reservoirs and two pumps, and furthermore, it does not have a specific actuator member for adjusting the doses of fluid that are dispensed, given that it is the pusher  2  that performs this function. 
     In the figures, the abutment areas  33   h ,  33   l ,  33   i  are situated on the same side as the axial pin  34 . In a variant, the abutment areas could be situated on the opposite side of the adjustment plate and could co-operate with the top portions of the pump bodies P 10 , P 11  or with washers engaged around the valve rods and bearing against the top portions of the pump bodies P 10 , P 11 . 
     In the figures, the adjustment plate  31  forms two stable abutment areas, namely the upper area  33   h  and the lower area  33   l . Without going beyond the ambit of the invention, the adjustment plate  31  could form more than two stable abutment areas, e.g. providing one or more stable intermediate areas instead of the unstable intermediate area  33   i.    
     In the embodiment described, there is a dispenser orifice in common. However, it is possible to envisage a dispenser orifice having two fluid outlets, but without that going beyond the ambit of the invention. 
     In  FIGS. 6 and 7 , it can also be seen that the casing  6  forms the secondary reservoir R 2  together with a sleeve  62  that bears against an internal shoulder of the reservoir R 1 . Thus, the dip tube T 1  draws a fluid contained in the secondary reservoir R 2 , while the dip tube T 2  draws directly from the main reservoir R 1  so as to dispense another fluid that is advantageously different from the fluid in the secondary reservoir R 2 . The cover  5  is mounted both on the casing  6  and on the main reservoir R 1  and supports both pump bodies P 10  and P 20  in stable and leaktight manner. These characteristics are not in any way limiting for the invention. 
     The invention thus provides a dual dispenser for dispensing a dose that is adjustable by means of the pusher. This makes it possible to make a dual dispenser having the appearance of a single dispenser that comprises only one reservoir, one pump, and one pusher. As a function of information marked on the dispenser, the user is made aware to a greater or lesser extent about the additional function of the pusher.