Patent Publication Number: US-2015083757-A1

Title: Container for a fluid product, and dispenser using such a container

Description:
The present invention relates to a fluid reservoir including a bottom and an opening. The reservoir is for associating with a dispenser member, such as a pump or a valve, so as to constitute a fluid dispenser. In addition, the present invention also relates to a fluid dispenser including a reservoir of the invention. Advantageous fields of application of the present invention are the fields of perfumery, cosmetics, and pharmacy. 
     In the prior art, fluid reservoirs already exist, each having an opening that is closed or sealed by means of a film that is mounted in leaktight manner on the opening of the reservoir. When the reservoir is then associated with a dispenser member, the film is perforated in such a manner as to create fluid communication between the reservoir and the dispenser member. That type of reservoir may be in the form of a cartridge or refill that may be replaced by another once empty. It may thus be said to be a replaceable or interchangeable reservoir. 
     In the prior art, document U.S. 2006/0054633 is also known, which describes a reservoir have an opening that is provided with an inlet valve formed by a ball that is urged against a seat by a spring. The ball is pushed out of contact with its seat by a pin that is formed by a specific pump for associating with the reservoir. Sealing between the reservoir and the pump is formed by a tube that comes into engagement at the outside of the valve seat that forms a sealing sleeve. When the pump is removed from the reservoir, the ball is urged against its seat by the spring, such that the reservoir is once again sealed. The reservoir in that document presents a structure that is complex as a result of using a ball valve and a sealing sleeve for co-operating with the tube of the pump. In addition, the pump also presents a structure that is complex, given that it must be provided with a pin that makes it possible to push the ball of the valve, and with a particular tube that is able to co-operate with the sleeve of the reservoir. 
     Documents FR 358354 and FR 358564 describe bottles each having a neck in which a ball is engaged in hermetic manner. By means of a pusher in the form of a tube, the ball may be pushed so as to cause it to fall by gravity to the bottom of the bottle. Such bottles are not adapted for mounting a pump or a valve so as to constitute a fluid dispenser. 
     An object of the present invention is to remedy the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art by defining a removable reservoir of simple structure that is initially sealed by a sealing ball and that has an opening suitable for being unblocked merely by putting into place a dispenser member, such as a pump of standard design. Another object of the present invention is to use a single thrust member both for moving the sealing ball away from the opening of the reservoir and for providing sealing between the reservoir and the dispenser member. 
     To do this, the present invention proposes a fluid reservoir including a bottom and a duct that defines an opening, a sealing ball being engaged in the duct in such a manner as to close the opening hermetically, the ball being movable by an external thrust member in such a manner as to cause the ball to fall by gravity to the bottom of the reservoir so that the opening is thus unblocked; 
     the fluid reservoir being characterized in that the duct is connected to a dip tube that extends into the proximity of the bottom of the reservoir, the duct presenting a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the dip tube, the ball being in leaktight engagement in the duct before being pushed into the dip tube in which it falls freely to the bottom of the reservoir. 
     The dip tube is thus incorporated with the reservoir, such that the pump or valve that is mounted thereon does not need to have a dip tube. It is also easier to dislodge the ball from the duct with the inlet of the pump or valve, which is hard, rather than with a dip tube, which is very often flexible. The sealing ball is not a valve ball, and is used only for initially closing or sealing the opening of the reservoir. As soon as it is pushed by the external thrust member, it falls freely into the reservoir and no longer performs any function, except to inform the user that the dispenser member has been connected to the reservoir correctly. To do this, naturally it is necessary for the reservoir to be transparent or at least translucent. 
     In an advantageous first embodiment, the ball is held captive by the dip tube. Advantageously, the duct and the dip tube are formed as a single piece by an insert. The duct may be considered as a local narrowing or constriction of the dip tube, situated at the opening of the reservoir. Once the ball has been disengaged from the narrowing or constriction, it falls freely inside the dip tube, given that the inside diameter of the dip tube is greater than the diameter of the ball. By holding the ball captive in the dip tube, it is prevented from moving freely inside the reservoir. This may improve the appearance of the reservoir. 
     According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the opening is formed by a duct that includes a projecting internal sealing bead, the sealing ball being in leaktight engagement in the duct, below the bead. Not only is the ball prevented from being removed from the duct because of the bead, but the position of the ball inside the duct is also fixed. The sealing bead comes into bearing contact with an element of the dispenser member, e.g. the external thrust element. In a variant that is not preferred, the ball may be arranged above the bead. 
     According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the opening is formed by a duct that includes a projecting internal sealing bead, the ball being in leaktight engagement with the projecting internal sealing bead. The ball may be arranged below or above the bead, or even at the bead. The contact between the ball and the bead forms a leaktight annular contact that may be in addition to the contact between the ball and the duct. 
     In a practical embodiment, the reservoir comprises a reservoir body forming the bottom, and an insert forming the duct and the opening, the insert also forming a collar that extends radially outwards from the duct, the collar coming into engagement with the reservoir body. The ball may thus be pre-mounted in the duct of the insert before fitting and fastening the insert on the reservoir body. The insert may be fastened on the reservoir body by any means, e.g. leaktight snap-fastening, leaktight force-fitting, heat-sealing, adhesive, etc. Naturally, the reservoir may also be made as a single piece. 
     The present invention also defines a fluid dispenser comprising a pusher and a dispenser member, such as a pump, that is mounted in removable manner on a reservoir as defined above, the dispenser member including a thrust member that is suitable for being inserted into the opening of the reservoir, so as to push the ball and cause it to fall to the bottom of the reservoir. Thus, the combination of the dispenser member and the reservoir makes it possible to disengage the ball from the opening of the reservoir, thereby establishing communication between the reservoir and the dispenser member. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the thrust member is formed by an inlet tube that communicates upstream with a chamber of the dispenser member, the inlet tube coming into leaktight engagement in the opening of the reservoir, so as to establish communication between the reservoir and the chamber. Thus, the inlet tube performs two functions, namely the function of pushing the ball out of the duct, and the function of providing sealing between the reservoir and the dispenser member. Sealing may be improved by the presence of a sealing bead inside the duct. 
     In another embodiment, the thrust member is formed by a dip tube that communicates upstream with a chamber of the dispenser member, the dip tube being connected to an inlet tube that comes into leaktight engagement in the opening of the reservoir, thereby establishing communication between the reservoir and the chamber. Thus, the dip tube pushes the ball out of the duct, and the inlet tube provides sealing with the duct. Provision may even be made for the dip tube to be made integrally with the inlet tube, such that the inlet tube may be considered as forming an integral part of the dip tube. In this configuration, it can be considered that the dip tube also performs two functions, namely the function of pushing the ball, and the function of providing sealing between the reservoir and the dispenser member. 
     In an advantageous embodiment, the dispenser includes a casing that surrounds the pusher, the dispenser member, and a portion of the reservoir, such that the casing is movable relative to the reservoir by moving the pusher relative to the dispenser member. 
     The spirit of the invention resides in sealing a reservoir, preferably a removable reservoir, very simply by means of a ball that is disengaged from the opening of the reservoir by a thrust element of a dispenser member (e.g. a pump), and that falls by gravity into the reservoir. An advantageous characteristic is that the thrust element also performs a sealing function for sealing between the reservoir and the dispenser member. The presence of a dip tube incorporated with the reservoir makes it possible to use a dispenser member without a dip tube, and to hold the ball captive by the dip tube once disengaged from the opening. The reservoir of the invention may be used with any standard or conventional pump, given that they all include an inlet tube that connects with a pump or valve chamber through an inlet valve. 
     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 vertical section view through a fluid dispenser including a reservoir, in a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a view of the  FIG. 1  reservoir in its initial state before being associated with the  FIG. 1  dispenser member; 
         FIG. 3  is a view similar to the view in  FIG. 1  showing a reservoir in a second embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a view similar to the view in  FIG. 2  for the  FIG. 3  reservoir in its initial state. 
     
    
    
     Reference is made firstly to  FIGS. 1 and 2  for a general description of the various component elements of a fluid dispenser of the invention. The dispenser comprises three essential component elements, namely a fluid reservoir R, a dispenser member  4 , which in this embodiment is a pump, that is mounted on the fluid reservoir R, and a pusher  5  that is mounted on the dispenser member  4 . Optionally, the dispenser also includes a casing  6  that envelops or surrounds the pusher  5 , the dispenser member  4 , and at least a portion of the reservoir R, as can be seen in  FIG. 1 . 
     The dispenser member  4  is a pump including a pump chamber  40  that is defined between an inlet valve  41  and an outlet valve  43 . In order to reduce the volume of the pump chamber  40 , a piston  42  is provided that slides in leaktight manner in a cylinder. The dispenser member  4  also includes an actuator rod  44  through which the fluid that is put under pressure in the pump chamber  40  is driven. At its bottom end, below the inlet valve  41 , the dispenser member  4  forms an inlet tube  45  in which a dip tube  46  is engaged. In a variant, the dip tube  46  may be made integrally with the inlet tube  45 , such that the inlet tube  45  forms part of the dip tube. In  FIG. 1 , it should be observed that the diameter of the dip tube  46  is smaller than the diameter of the inlet tube  45 , given that the dip tube  46  is engaged inside the inlet tube  45 . Even for an integral embodiment, it is preferable for the dip tube  46  to present a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the inlet tube  45 . This design is entirely conventional for a pump in the fields of perfumery, cosmetics, and pharmacy. 
     The pusher  5  is engaged on the free end of the actuator rod  44  of the dispenser member  4 . The pusher includes a dispenser orifice  51  that advantageously makes it possible to dispense the fluid in the form of spray. By pressing on the pusher  5 , the actuator rod  44  is moved, driving the piston  42  with it, in such a manner as to reduce the working volume of the pump chamber  40 . The inlet valve  41  is thus closed, and the outlet valve  43  opens when the pressure inside the pump chamber  40  reaches a predetermined threshold. From that moment on, the fluid under pressure in the chamber  40  can flow through the actuator rod  44  so as to reach the dispenser orifice  51 . As soon as the pressure on the pusher  5  is relaxed, the actuator rod  44  returns into its rest position under the action of the return spring. The pump chamber  40  thus increases in volume, the outlet valve  42  closes, and the inlet valve opens so as to suck the fluid contained in the reservoir up through the dip tube  46  and the open inlet valve  41 . This operation is entirely conventional for a pump associated with a pusher in the fields of cosmetics, perfumery, and pharmacy. 
     The casing  6 , which is an optional element, surrounds the pusher  5  with the exception of the dispenser orifice  51 , the dispenser member  4 , and a portion of the reservoir R, as can be seen in  FIG. 1 . Thus, in order to actuate the dispenser, it is necessary to move the reservoir R relative to the casing  6 . In this way, the pusher  5  is moved relative to the dispenser member  4 , or, more precisely, the pusher  5  pushes down the actuator rod  44  and the piston  42  in such a manner as to dispense a dose of fluid through the orifice  51 . The casing  6  may extend around the reservoir R into the proximity of the bottom  12 , if so desired. Conversely, the casing  6  need extend only into the proximity of the top end of the reservoir R, if so desired. 
     The fluid reservoir R may be made as a single piece, but preferably it is made as two distinct pieces that are fitted one on the other, namely a reservoir body  1  and an insert  2 . The body  1  comprises a side wall  11  of any shape that is closed, at its bottom end, by a bottom  12 , and that defines, at its top end, a neck  13 . The body  1  may be made out of any appropriate material, e.g. glass, plastics material, metal, etc. The insert  2  includes a duct  21  that defines an opening  20  that puts the inside of the body  1  into communication with the outside. The duct  21  is substantially cylindrical but may internally define one or more projecting sealing beads  24  that locally reduce the flow section of the duct  21 . At its top end, the duct  21  forms an inlet bevel  23  that makes it easier to access the duct  21 . The insert  2  also includes a collar  22  that extends radially outwards from the duct  21 . In the embodiment in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the duct  21  extends downwards from the inner periphery of the collar  22 . In a variant, the duct  21  may extend upwards from the inner periphery of the collar  22 . The first function of the collar  22  is to assemble the insert  2  on the reservoir body  1 . Assembly may be achieved using any technique, such as adhesive, heat-sealing, snap-fastening, or interfitting, for example. In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the collar  22  is heat-sealed or adhesively-bonded on the top edge of the neck  13  of the reservoir body  1 . 
     In the invention, a sealing ball  3  is housed in leaktight manner inside the duct  21 , in such a manner as to close or seal the opening  20  of the reservoir. This implies that, at least locally, the inside diameter of the duct  21  is smaller than the diameter of the ball  3 . 
     The ball is preferably made of a material that is more dense than the fluid: by way of example, it is possible to use a metal, glass, or a plastics material that is more dense than the fluid, so that the ball does not float, but, on the contrary, sinks. When the duct  21  is provided with an internal sealing bead  24 , it is preferable for the ball  3  to be received below the bead  24 . Preferably, the ball  3  may come into contact with the bead  24  in such a manner as to create an additional sealing zone. The bead  24  also makes it possible to fix the position of the ball  3  inside the duct  21 . Specifically, it suffices to engage the ball  3  in the duct  21  via its bottom end, and to push it until it comes into abutment against the bead  24 . It is then clear that the ball  3  is positioned correctly inside the duct  21 . This initial sealing position is shown in  FIG. 2 . Naturally, the reservoir R is already full of fluid, e.g. perfume, a lotion, a serum, a cream, etc. In a variant, it is possible to envisage positioning the ball  3  above the bead  24 , optionally in contact with said bead. Provision may also be made to position the ball  3  at the bead  24 , without the ball coming into contact with the cylindrical portion of the duct  21 . 
     The reservoir R may thus be manipulated without any risk of loss or leakage of fluid. The reservoir may be in the form of a cartridge or a refill that may be associated with the assembly constituted by the dispenser member  4 , the pusher  5 , and optionally the casing  6 . To do this, the user begins by inserting the free end of the dip tube  46  into the opening  20  until it comes into contact with the ball  3 . Then, the user presses harder, in such a manner as to push the ball  3  out of the duct  21  by means of the dip tube  46 . Once the ball has been disengaged from the duct  21 , it falls by gravity into the reservoir, down to the bottom  12 . Without any effort, the user may then insert the dip tube  46  through the opening  20  of the duct  21  until the inlet tube  45  is engaged inside the duct  21 . Once again, it suffices for the user to press harder, so as to force-fit the inlet tube  45  inside the duct  21  until in the final assembled position shown in  FIG. 1 . When the duct  21  is provided with one or more projecting sealing beads, the inlet tube  45  is engaged with its free end beyond the bead(s)  24 , such that the bead  24  locally deforms the tube  45  over its entire periphery, so as to create better sealing. Naturally, this implies that the diameter of the inlet tube  45  is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the duct  21  or of the sealing bead(s)  24 . The dip tube  46  thus extends into the proximity of the bottom  12 , and the ball  3  is free to move inside the reservoir R. By making the reservoir body  1  with a material that is opaque, the ball  3  cannot be seen. Furthermore, by making the ball  3  with a plastics material that is dense, it does not generate any noise inside the reservoir body  1 . 
     Reference is made below to  FIGS. 3 and 4  in order to describe an advantageous second embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 3 , the dispenser is shown in part only, with the top portion of the dispenser not being shown. However, the dispenser member  4 , the pusher  5 , and the optional casing  6  may be strictly identical to those of the first embodiment in  FIG. 1 . Even the inlet tube  45  of the dispenser member  4  may be identical. The same applies for the overall structure of the fluid reservoir R′ that also comprises a reservoir body  1 ′ and an insert  2 ′. The reservoir body  1 ′ includes a bottom  12  and a neck  13 . However, the neck  13  differs a little from the neck of the first embodiment in that it includes a wide inlet section  14  and a snap-fastener groove  15 . The insert  2 ′ also includes a duct  21  that may be provided internally with a sealing bead  24 . The insert  2 ′ also includes a collar  22  that differs from the collar of the first embodiment in that it comprises annular reinforcement  26  for coming into engagement with the wide section  14 , and an annular sealing rib  27  for becoming housed in the groove  15  of the neck  13 . The duct  21  also forms an inlet bevel  23  that makes it easier to access the duct  21 . The duct  21  extends downwards so as to form a dip tube  25  that extends into the proximity of the bottom  12 . It should be observed that the inside diameter of the duct  21  is smaller than the inside diameter of the dip tube  25 . 
     In the sealed initial position shown in  FIG. 4 , a sealing ball  3  is received inside the duct  21  below the bead  24 , as in the first embodiment. The ball  3  may come into contact with the bead  24 . The reservoir R′ is thus completely sealed and full of fluid. It may be manipulated by the user so as to associate it with the assembly constituted by the dispenser member  4 , the pusher  5 , and the optional casing  6 . Thus, the user may insert the reservoir R′ into the casing  6  in such a manner as to engage the inlet tube  45  of the dispenser member  4  in the bevel of the duct  21 . The user encounters a first difficulty when the inlet tube  45  comes into engagement with the bead  24 . By increasing the pressure, the user causes the inlet tube  45  to penetrate beyond the bead  24  so as to push the ball  3 , which drops freely into the dip tube  25  down to the bottom  12 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Naturally, it is necessary for the diameter of the ball  3  to the slightly greater than the inside diameter of the duct  21 , and smaller than the inside diameter of the dip tube  25 . Given that the dip tube  25  extends into the proximity of the bottom  12 , the ball  3  remains held captive by the dip tube  25 , and cannot move freely inside the reservoir R′. 
     In this second embodiment, it should be observed that the inlet tube  45 , which acts as an external thrust member, makes it possible not only to disengage the ball  3  from the duct  21 , but also to provide sealing between the reservoir R′ and the dispenser member  4 . To this end, in  FIG. 3  it should be observed that the outside diameter of the inlet tube  45  may be smaller than the inside diameter of the duct  21 , but greater than the inside diameter of the sealing bead  24 , so as to provide localized sealing only at the bead  24 . In the first embodiment in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the ball  3  is pushed by means of the dip tube  46 , and sealing is provided by means of the inlet tube  45 . However, the inlet tube  45  may be considered as an integral part of the dip tube  46 , or vice versa, such that the same thrust member performs both the functions of pushing the ball and of providing sealing. 
     In both embodiments, the ball  3  serves only to initially close or seal the opening  20  of the reservoir, and no longer performs any sealing or closing function once the reservoir is connected to the dispenser member. Incorporating the dip tube  25  with the reservoir, as in the second embodiment, makes it possible to use a dispenser member  4  that does not have a dip tube. A reservoir of the invention may be used as a removable cartridge or refill that is replaceable or interchangeable.