Abstract:
A device for stoppering a container and drawing off a fluid includes a fixed piece, fixed to the container, with a lateral fluid output opening and a passage that allows air to enter. Another, movable piece includes a tube with a lateral fluid output opening. This tube can move in rotation inside the fixed piece and also in axial translation between a maximum “pushed-in” position and an extracted position so that lateral openings can be brought into coincidence through rotating the movable piece. The movable piece has an internal skirt enabling the channeling of fluid toward the output opening to prevent leakage through the passage for the entry of air. The fixed piece includes a guide for displacing the movable piece with respect to the fixed piece from the maximum “pushed-in” position to the extracted position that displays a coincidence of the openings.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Field of the Invention 
   The invention concerns a device for stoppering a container and drawing off a fluid product contained in said container. 
   Such devices are already known, in particular according to the patent EP 0 815 030 originating from the Applicant. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
   Devices are already known, in particular according to European Patent No. 0 815 030, which originated from the applicant, that include: 
   a fixed piece comprising a part for fixing to the container and a pouring part of general cylindrical shape, continuing said fixing part towards the outside of the container, the pouring part being open at its two axial ends and having a lateral fluid output opening and means defining a passage allowing the entry of air into the device during pouring of the fluid; 
   a movable piece comprising a transverse end wall from which there project in the same direction on the one hand a tube of general cylindrical shape, open at its free axial end and having at least one lateral fluid output opening, and on the other hand an external skirt making it possible to grip and operate the movable piece from the outside. 
   The tube is mounted with a tight fit in the pouring part of the fixed piece so that the movable piece is: 
   movable rotationally in the fixed piece; 
   and movable in axial translation with respect to the fixed piece. 
   To that end, the fixed piece and the movable piece comprise first means designed for defining a first axial position of the movable piece with respect to the fixed piece, referred to as the maximum pushing-in position, in which the lateral openings in the two pieces are offset axially so that it is not possible for them to be brought into coincidence. These first means comprise for example a tamper-resistant band which, as long as it is not torn off, connects the external skirt to the fixed piece. 
   The fixed piece and the movable piece also comprise second means designed for defining a second axial position of the movable piece with respect to the fixed piece, referred to as the extraction position, in which the lateral openings in the two pieces can be brought into coincidence by rotation of the movable piece. These second means comprise for example flanges latching with one another. 
   Such devices generally give satisfaction. However, they have a number of drawbacks. 
   When the movable piece is in the extraction position, with coincidence of the lateral openings in the two pieces (fixed and movable), the container is tilted in order to pour out the fluid contained in this container, the fluid output opening in the fixed piece thus being situated towards the bottom. 
   There is then a risk of leakage of fluid through the passage allowing the entry of air, in particular when the container is full, or when the user exerts pressure on the container. 
   Furthermore, the rotation of the movable piece with respect to the fixed piece is totally free, both when the movable piece is in the maximum pushing-in position and when it is in the extraction position. 
   This, on the one hand, can lead to wear of the latching flanges by friction between the pieces when the movable piece is in the maximum pushing-in position. In that way, the keeping of the movable piece in the extraction position risks being impaired. 
   On the other hand, when the movable piece is in the extraction position, the free rotation of this piece does not allow easy positioning of the openings in the two pieces with respect to one another, thus preventing accurate adjustment of the flow rate of the fluid poured out. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The aim of the invention is to solve these problems. 
   To that end, the invention concerns a stoppering and drawing-off device of the aforementioned type, in which the movable piece also comprises an internal skirt projecting from the transverse wall in the same direction as the tube, between said tube and the external skirt, said internal skirt having an axial length such that, when the movable piece is in the extraction position, the free end of the internal skirt is situated facing the pouring part of the fixed piece. 
   In that way, during pouring of the fluid, the fluid contained in the container cannot escape through the passage allowing the entry of air but is channelled, in the annular space contained between the tube and the internal skirt, towards the fluid output opening in the fixed piece. 
   The pouring part comprises for example a prominence projecting towards the outside, substantially diametrically opposite the fluid output opening, said prominence defining a passage allowing the entry of air into the device, when the movable piece is in the extraction position and during pouring of the fluid. 
   According to other characteristics, the fixed piece comprises: 
   third means intended to cooperate with complementary means provided on the movable piece, so as to limit to a reduced value the amplitude of the rotational movement of the movable piece with respect to the fixed piece in the two directions when the movable piece is in the maximum pushing-in position, and to permit the axial displacement of said movable piece towards the extraction position; 
   fourth means intended to cooperate with complementary means provided on the movable piece, so as to allow the movable piece to be kept in the extraction position and to limit the amplitude of the rotational movement of the movable piece with respect to the fixed piece between a position where the lateral openings in the two pieces coincide perfectly and a position where no area of the opening in the movable piece is in coincidence with an area of the opening in the fixed piece. 
   The invention thus makes it possible to limit the rotation of the movable piece with respect to the fixed piece, and also to guide and facilitate the displacement of the movable piece with respect to the fixed piece from the maximum pushing-in position to the extraction position with coincidence of the openings. 
   The user is thus guided so as to displace the movable piece along the shortest path. The regulation of the flow rate is facilitated and improved thereby. 
   According to the invention, the internal skirt comprises at least one rib projecting towards the axis of the tube, and the fixed piece comprises at least one limit stop projecting towards the outside of the pouring part of the fixed piece, the rib being intended to cooperate with the limit stop so as to limit the amplitude of the rotational movement of the movable piece with respect to the fixed piece in a first direction, when the movable piece is in the maximum pushing-in position or in the extraction position. 
   According to one possible implementation, the tube comprises two diametrically opposite fluid output openings, and the internal skirt comprises at least one rib situated at substantially 90° from each opening. 
   The limit stop projecting from the pouring part can be situated towards the free end of said pouring part, the axial height of said limit stop being small compared with the axial height of the pouring part. For example, the limit stop is substantially diametrically opposite the lateral fluid output opening. 
   Furthermore, the pouring part can comprise a ramp which is substantially flat and orthogonal to the axis of the pouring part, projecting towards the outside of the pouring part and extending over part of the periphery of the pouring part, said ramp being situated towards the free end of said pouring part, but at a distance therefrom, and being intended to prevent the movable piece from being displaced from its extraction position towards its maximum pushing-in position. 
   The distance between the free end of the pouring part and the ramp can be substantially equal to the axial height of the limit stop projecting from the pouring part. 
   According to other characteristics, a first end of the ramp is situated in proximity to, but at a distance from, the limit stop projecting from the pouring part, in a second direction opposite to the first direction, so as to limit the amplitude of the rotational movement of the movable piece with respect to the fixed piece in said second direction, when the movable piece is in the maximum pushing-in position. 
   The ramp extends from its first end in the second direction to a second end, said second end of the ramp being continued by a wall substantially parallel to the axis of the pouring part and directed towards the free end of the pouring part, said wall being intended to cooperate with a rib of the movable piece so as to limit the amplitude of the rotational movement of the movable piece with respect to the fixed piece in the second direction, when the movable piece is in the extraction position. 
   Thus, when the movable piece is in the maximum pushing-in position, the rib is placed between the limit stop projecting from the pouring part of the fixed piece and the first end of the ramp; when the movable piece is in the extraction position, the rib is situated between the limit stop projecting from the pouring part of the fixed piece—a position in which the rib is not in contact with the ramp and where no area of the opening in the movable piece is in coincidence with an area of the opening in the fixed piece—and the wall continuing the second end of the ramp—a position in which the rib is in contact with the ramp and where the lateral openings in the two pieces coincide. 
   Moreover, the fixed piece can comprise at least one internal flange defining a groove in which a flange projecting towards the outside of the tube of the movable piece is able to be engaged, so as to keep the movable piece axially in its extraction position corresponding to the second position. 
   The internal flange extends for example over two diametrically opposite arcs each extending over approximately 90°. 
   Furthermore, the first means comprise a tamper-resistant band which, as long as it is not torn off, connects the external skirt to the fixed piece and keeps the movable piece in an axial maximum pushing-in position, corresponding to said first axial position, and in a defined angular position, and in that, after tearing off of said tamper-resistant band and translational movement of the movable piece with respect to the fixed piece towards said second axial position, the second means permit a rotation of the movable piece with respect to the fixed piece in order to make it possible to bring the lateral openings in the two pieces selectively into coincidence with a view to the dispensing of the product. 
   According to one possible implementation, the fixed piece is fixed by screws to the neck of the container, and in that the fixed piece comprises, on its fixing part, a tamper-resistant ring cooperating by latching with the neck. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The other characteristics of the invention emerge from the following description of one embodiment, said description being given with reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the device according to the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a view in side elevation of the movable piece of the device; 
       FIG. 3  is a view in side elevation of the fixed piece of the device, showing part of the movable piece; 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the fixed piece; 
       FIG. 5  is a view in axial section of the fixed piece of the device along the line V—V of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a view in axial section of the device when the tamper-resistant band has not yet been torn off; 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of the detail A of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the device, when the tamper-resistant band has not yet been torn off, along the line VIII—VIII of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the device, when the tamper-resistant band has not yet been torn off, along the line IX—IX of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a sectional view, similar to that of  FIG. 6 , showing the tamper-resistant band torn off and the axial displacement, towards the extraction position, of the movable piece; 
       FIG. 11  is a sectional view, similar to that of  FIG. 10 , the movable piece having been turned by 90° about its axis and the device being tilted, so as to allow flowing of the fluid; 
       FIG. 12  is a sectional view of the device along the line XII—XII of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 12 , the movable piece being in an intermediate position with respect to the positions of  FIGS. 10 and 11 , which allows an intermediate flow rate. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   A dispenser  1  in accordance with the invention is intended for stoppering a container such as a plastic bottle (not depicted) and drawing off a fluid product contained in said container. 
   The dispenser  1  comprises a fixed piece  2  intended to be fixed to the neck of the container and a movable piece  3  cooperating with the fixed piece  2 , intended for controlling and adjusting the drawing off of the fluid contained in the container. 
   In the entire description, the terms “upper” and “lower” are used for simplification purposes, considering that the axis of the device is substantially vertical, the fixed piece  2  being situated above the movable piece  3 . It should be understood however that the device can be situated in any position whatsoever in space. 
   The fixed piece  2  comprises a part  4  for fixing to the container and a pouring part  5  of general cylindrical shape, continuing said fixing part  4  towards the outside of the container. 
   The fixing part  4  comprises an external skirt  6  provided with an internal thread  7 , and an internal skirt  8  intended to cooperate with the internal surface of the neck in order to provide sealing between the fixed piece  2  and the neck. 
   The external skirt  6  has, at a distance above the thread  7 , a discontinuity in alignment towards the inside, forming an annular shoulder  9  joining the internal skirt  8  substantially at half its axial height. 
   The lower part of the internal skirt  8  has a first annular flange  10 , facing the external skirt  6 , said first flange  10  being intended to be in contact with the internal surface of the neck. 
   The upper part of the internal skirt  8  has, towards its end part, a second annular flange  11 , projecting towards the outside, and whose function will be explained later. 
   The upper end part of the internal skirt  8  is connected to the pouring part  5  of the fixed piece  2  by an annular shoulder  12  extending towards the inside of said fixed piece  2 . 
   Finally, the fixing part  4  comprises a tamper-resistant band  13  connected by breakable bridges  14  or a line of lower resistance to the free end of the external skirt  6 . The tamper-resistant band  13  comprises hooking projections  15 , directed towards the axis of the fixed piece  2 , intended to cooperate with the neck of the container. 
   The fixing part  4  is continued, towards the internal edge of the annular shoulder  12 , by the pouring part  5 , which extends axially upwards in the figures, that is to say towards the outside of the container. 
   The pouring part  5  comprises first of all a cylindrical skirt  16  of small axial length, comprising at its lower free end two circular rows of internal flanges  17  forming a groove  18 . 
   Each of the rows of flanges  17  extends over substantially 90° of angle, said two rows being substantially diametrically opposite, as depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
   The pouring part  5  also comprises a cylindrical part  19  which comprises a lateral fluid output opening  20 , said opening  20  being situated at a distance above the annular shoulder  12  and being provided with a rim  21  extending radially towards the outside and forming a pouring lip. In the implementation depicted, the opening  20  is situated substantially half-way along the cylindrical part  19 , in line with a row of internal flanges  17 . 
   The pouring part  5  also comprises a prominence  22  projecting towards the outside of the cylindrical part  19 , said prominence being substantially diametrically opposite the fluid output opening  20 , and defining a passage allowing the entry of air into the device  1  during pouring of the fluid. 
   Finally, the pouring part  5  comprises means making it possible to limit the displacement of the movable piece  3  with respect to said fixed piece  2 . 
   On the one hand, the pouring part  5  comprises a limit stop  23  projecting towards the outside of the cylindrical part  19 , from the prominence  22 , said limit stop  23  being substantially diametrically opposite the fluid output opening  20 . 
   The substantially parallelepipedal limit stop  23  extends axially from the upper end  24  of the cylindrical part  19  over a small axial length compared with the height of said cylindrical part  19 , for example over less than a quarter of this height. 
   On the other hand, the pouring part  5  comprises a ramp  25 , which is substantially flat and orthogonal to the axis of the pouring part  5 , projecting towards the outside of the pouring part  5 . The ramp  25  extends over part of the periphery of the pouring part, for example over approximately 90° of angle. 
   The ramp  25  is situated towards the upper end  24  of the cylindrical part  19 , at a distance therefrom, the distance between the upper end  24  and the ramp  25  being substantially equal to the axial height of the limit stop  23 . 
   A first end of the ramp  25  is situated in proximity to, but at a distance from, the limit stop  23 , and is continued by a first wall  26  extending axially towards the fixing part  4  over a small length. 
   A second end of the ramp  25 , situated on one side of the first end of the ramp  25  not comprising the limit stop  23 , is continued by a second wall  27  extending axially substantially as far as the upper end  24  of the cylindrical part  19 . 
   A first direction of rotation R 1  about the axis of the fixed piece  2 , going from the first wall  26  towards the limit stop  23 , and a second direction of rotation R 2 , opposite to the first direction of rotation R 1 , going from the limit stop  23  to the second wall  27 , going past the first wall  26  (see  FIG. 3 ), are defined. 
   The movable piece  3  is now described. 
   The movable piece  3  comprises a transverse end wall  28 , from which there project in the same direction a tube  29  of general cylindrical shape, an external skirt  30  making it possible to grip and operate the movable piece from the outside, and an internal skirt  31 , situated between the tube  29  and the external skirt  30 . 
   The tube  29  is open at its free axial end and has two substantially diametrically opposite lateral fluid output openings  32 ,  32 ′. 
   The tube  29  comprises, towards its free axial end, a flange  33 , projecting towards the outside of the tube  29 , able to be engaged in the groove  18  of the fixed piece  2 . 
   The tube  29  is mounted with a tight fit in the pouring part  5  of the fixed piece  2  so that the movable piece  3  is movable rotationally and translation-wise in the fixed piece  2 . 
   The external skirt  30  is continued, towards its free end, by a tamper-resistant band  34  which can be torn off by pulling a tab  35 , and by a ring  36  provided with an internal annular flange  37  capable of cooperating with the second annular flange  11  of the fixed piece  2 . 
   Finally, the internal skirt  31  comprises a rib  38  projecting towards the axis of the tube  29  and extending axially over substantially the entire axial height of said internal skirt  31 . 
   The rib  38  is situated at substantially 90° from each fluid output opening  32 ,  32 ′ in the tube  29 , and is intended to cooperate with the limit stop  23  of the pouring part  5  of the fixed piece  2 . 
   The internal skirt can also comprise a second rib  38 ′. 
   A description is now given of the different positions that the movable piece  3  can take with respect to the fixed piece  2 . 
   Before the device  1  placed on the neck of a container is opened for the first time, the movable piece  3  is situated in the position illustrated in  FIGS. 6 to 9 . 
   The ring  36 , latched behind the second annular flange  11  of the fixed piece  2 , connected to the tamper-resistant band  34 , keeps the movable piece  3  fixed to the fixed piece  2 . 
   The movable piece is then in its so-called maximum pushing-in position. In this position, the free end of the internal skirt  31  is situated in proximity to the annular shoulder  12  of the fixing part  4 , and the tube  29  goes inside said fixing part  4 . The openings  32 ,  32 ′ in the tube  29  and the opening  20  in the cylindrical part  19  of the fixed piece  2  are offset axially, so that they cannot be brought into coincidence. 
   The rib  38  of the movable piece  3  is situated between the limit stop  23  of the pouring part  5  of the fixed piece  2  and the first wall  26  of the ramp  25 . 
   Upon first use, the tamper-resistant band  34  is pulled off, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
   The movable piece  3  is then no longer fixed to the fixed piece  2 , and can be displaced on the one hand rotationally, in the directions R 1  and R 2 , and on the other hand in axial translation upwards. 
   When the movable piece  3  is in the maximum pushing-in position, the displacement of the movable piece  3  rotationally with respect to the fixed piece  2  is limited, in the two directions R 1 , R 2 , to a reduced value, by the limit stop  23  and the first wall  26  of the ramp  25 , via the rib  38 . 
   As regards axial displacement, this is permitted, but guided, between the limit stop  23  and the first wall  26  of the ramp  25 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   In the extreme up position, referred to as the extraction position, the flanges  33  of the tube are engaged in the grooves  18  of the fixed piece  2 , so as to allow the movable piece  3  to be kept in this extraction position. 
   The lateral openings  20 ,  32 ,  32 ′ in the two pieces  2 ,  3  are situated substantially at the same axial distance. As the movable piece  3  is movable rotationally in the fixed piece  2 , the openings  32 ,  32 ′ in the movable piece  3  can therefore be brought into coincidence with the opening  20  in the fixed piece  2  by rotation of the movable piece  3 . 
   In the extraction position, the movable piece  3  can be displaced rotationally between a position in which no area of the opening  32 ,  32 ′ in the movable piece  3  is in coincidence with an area of the opening  20  in the fixed piece  2  and a position in which one of the openings  32 ,  32 ′ in the movable piece  3  is in perfect coincidence with the opening  20  in the fixed piece  2 . 
   In the aforementioned first position, no fluid flow is possible ( FIG. 10 ), whilst, in the aforementioned second position, the flow rate of the fluid is a maximum ( FIGS. 11 and 12 ). It should be noted that the ring  36  has not been depicted in  FIG. 11 . Intermediate positions are possible, which makes it possible to regulate the flow rate ( FIG. 13 ). This regulation is all the easier since the ramp  25  serves as a bearing surface for the internal skirt  31 , allowing the movable piece  3  to be kept in the extraction position, since, on account of their discontinuity, the flanges  17  of the fixing part  4  no longer perform this function. 
   The container is tilted in order that the liquid can be poured out ( FIG. 11 ). A passage of air is possible owing to the presence of the prominence  22  of the cylindrical part of the fixed piece  2 , which facilitates the flowing of the fluid out of the container. 
   The axial length of the internal skirt  31  is such that, when the movable piece  3  is in the extraction position, the free end of the internal skirt  31  is situated facing the pouring part  5  of the fixed piece  2  (see  FIG. 11 ). 
   If there is pressure inside the container, for example when the container is full or if a user presses said container, the fluid contained in the container can flow out through the opening  32 ′ in the tube  29  which is not in coincidence with the opening  20  in the fixed piece  2 , and through the air passage formed at the prominence  22 . 
   On account of the presence of the internal skirt  21 , and its axial length, the fluid is channelled in the annular space contained between the tube  29  and the internal skirt  31 . Under the effect of gravity (the device being tilted as depicted in  FIG. 11 ), this fluid is directed towards the opening  20  in the fixed piece  2 , and flows out from the aforementioned annular space towards the outside of the device, a gap  39  being provided for that purpose between the free end of the internal skirt  31  and the rim  21  of the opening  20 . 
   The invention therefore makes it possible to recover the fluid leaking through the passage intended to allow the entry of air, and to direct it in proximity to the desired fluid flow opening. Thus, on the one hand, the device makes it possible to avoid an undesirable leakage, and on the other hand to lose a certain amount of fluid. 
   When the movable piece  3  is in the extraction position, the rib  38  is situated between the limit stop  23  projecting from the pouring part  5  of the fixed piece  2 —a position in which the rib  38  is not in contact with the ramp  25  and where no area of one or other of the openings  32 ,  32 ′ in the movable piece  3  is in coincidence with an area of the opening  20  in the fixed piece  2 —and the second wall  27  of the ramp  25 —a position in which the rib  38  is in contact with the ramp  25  and where the lateral openings  20 ,  32 ,  32 ′ in the two pieces  2 ,  3  coincide. 
   The rotational movement of the movable piece  3  with respect to the fixed piece  2 , in the extraction position, is limited in the direction R 1  by the limit stop  23 , and in the direction R 2  by the second wall  27  of the ramp  25 , via the rib  38 . 
   The displacement from the maximum pushing-in position to the extraction position, with coincidence of the openings  20 ,  32 ,  32 ′, is guided by the limit stop  23 , the ramp  25  and the walls  26 ,  27  of said ramp  25 . 
   This displacement has to take place according to the arrows depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 10 , so that the displacement of the movable piece  3  with respect to the fixed piece  2  from the maximum pushing-in position to the extraction position with coincidence of the openings  20 ,  32 ,  32 ′ is guided and facilitated.