Patent Description:
In recent years, there has been a considerable increase in attention to environmental problems, by both consumers and manufacturers, also in the sector to which the present invention relates. In such a context, one of the most common needs is to produce the entire trigger dispenser, or at least the dispensing head, with plastic materials belonging to the same family, and in particular to the polyolefin family. This makes it possible to effectively recycle the entire dispensing head without having to separate the components.

Obviously, such a need is having a considerable impact on the design and manufacturing of the devices at issue, whose numerous components (e.g., at least a dozen for a usual trigger dispensing head) were each made of the most appropriate material to meet functional requirements, such as chemical compatibility, and mechanical strength and reliability.

In the specific sector of mini-triggers, the manufacturing of the operating spring on the trigger has proven to be particularly difficult because it is easily subject to yielding due to the new materials to be used and the small dimensions compared to those of the dispensing heads used in other sectors. The yielding of the spring results in a malfunctioning of the dispensing head because the trigger does not return to the resting position and neither does the piston connected to it so that the piston chamber does not fill adequately and the desired dose of the product is not dispensed. Examples of trigger dispensing heads with ineffective control of their elastic return elements are disclosed in documents <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

It is the purpose of the present invention to make a trigger dispensing head for mini-trigger that meets the needs of the industry while overcoming the drawbacks discussed above at the same time.

Such an object is achieved by a dispensing head according to claim <NUM>. The dependent claims further identify advantageous embodiments.

The features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, given by way of non-limiting example, according to the accompanying figures, in which:.

With reference to the figures in the accompanying figures, reference numeral <NUM> as a whole indicates a trigger dispensing device, e.g., for containing liquid personal care products, e.g., for dispensing sun care or air care products.

The dispensing device <NUM> comprises a bottle <NUM> for containing the product to be dispensed, provided with a neck <NUM> having a central neck axis Z, and a dispensing head <NUM> with trigger <NUM> for manual actuation, applied to the neck <NUM> of the bottle <NUM>, e.g. by means of a bayonet or threaded connection (<FIG>).

According to an embodiment, the dispensing head <NUM> comprises a frame <NUM> for supporting the other components of the head, typically made in one piece of plastic material, preferably chosen from the group of polyolefins, e.g., by injection molding (<FIG>).

The frame <NUM> comprises a connecting portion <NUM> for the preferably releasable connection to the neck <NUM> of the bottle <NUM>. For example, the connecting portion <NUM> comprises an annular skirt 12a coaxial to the neck <NUM>, thus having a skirt axis J coincident with the neck axis Z, provided with a plurality of windows <NUM> and fins <NUM>, e.g., flexible, for connecting by snapping with elements provided on the neck, and a base 12b closing the skirt 12a on top, the skirt preferably lying on a base plane P orthogonal to the neck axis Z.

The frame <NUM> further comprises a first annular wall <NUM> which delimits a piston chamber <NUM> which extends along a piston axis X incident to the skirt axis J, e.g., orthogonally thereto.

The head <NUM> further comprises a piston <NUM>, operatively connected to the trigger <NUM>, sealably sliding in the piston chamber <NUM> with reciprocating motion, to aspirate the liquid product from the bottle into the piston chamber in a step of suction and to dispense liquid product from the piston chamber to the outside in a step of dispensing.

The piston <NUM> and the piston chamber <NUM> are an example of pumping means adapted to be actuated by the trigger <NUM> to aspirate the liquid product from the bottle in a step of suction and to dispense the liquid product outside in a step of dispensing.

The frame <NUM> further comprises a second annular wall <NUM> which delimits a dispensing pipe <NUM> which extends along a dispensing axis Y incident to the skirt axis J, e.g., orthogonally thereto. Preferably, the dispensing axis Y is parallel to and spaced apart from the piston axis X and preferably on the side opposite to the connecting portion <NUM> relative to the piston axis X.

A sagittal plane S is defined for the head <NUM>, e.g., a symmetry plane, containing the piston axis X and the dispensing axis Y, and preferably passing through the skirt axis J; the sagittal plane S subdivides the head <NUM> into a right half-part R and a left half-part L, with reference to the dispensing direction of the product, which occurs frontally.

The head <NUM> further comprises a nozzle <NUM> applied to the free end of the dispensing pipe <NUM>, e.g., to form the jet of the product during dispensing.

The head <NUM> further comprises an inlet pipe <NUM> adapted to put the compartment inside the bottle <NUM> in communication with the piston chamber <NUM>; the inlet pipe <NUM> extends from an inlet port <NUM> for the ingress of the aspirated product and an outlet port <NUM> for the ingress of the product into the piston chamber <NUM>. For example, said inlet pipe is formed in the frame <NUM>.

Furthermore, the head <NUM> comprises non-return valve means, operating along the inlet pipe <NUM>, adapted to allow the transit of the liquid product from the bottle to the piston chamber <NUM> in the step of suction and to prevent the return of the product from the piston chamber <NUM> to the bottle in the step of product dispensing.

For example, said non-return valve means comprise a ball <NUM> which in the step of dispensing closes the inlet port <NUM> of the inlet pipe <NUM>, and in the step of suction clears said inlet port <NUM>.

The head <NUM> further comprises an outlet pipe <NUM> adapted to put the piston chamber <NUM> into communication with the dispensing pipe <NUM>.

Furthermore, the head <NUM> comprises dispensing valve means, operating along the outlet pipe <NUM>, adapted to allow the transit of the liquid product from the piston chamber <NUM> towards the outlet pipe <NUM> in a step of dispensing and to prevent the ingress of air from outside the piston chamber <NUM> in the step of product suction.

For example, said valve dispensing means comprise a deformable membrane <NUM>. Preferably, a portion of the membrane <NUM> cooperates with the frame <NUM> to partially delimit the outlet pipe <NUM>.

Preferably, said dispensing valve means are precompression means, adapted to allow the transit of the product from the piston chamber <NUM> to the dispensing pipe <NUM> only when the pressure of the product in the piston chamber <NUM> exceeds a predefined threshold value.

Preferably, furthermore, said valve delivery means are of the mechanically triggered type, i.e., they are mechanically forced to go from the closing configuration to the opening configuration. For example, said dispensing valve means are biased by the piston <NUM> at a trigger position in which it mechanically interferes with the dispensing valve means to forcibly transit from the closing configuration to the opening configuration.

For example, the piston <NUM> is provided with a protrusion 22a which, in the triggered position, mechanically operates on the membrane <NUM> to make it pass into the opening configuration.

According to an aspect of the invention, the head <NUM> comprises a lower backing part <NUM> supported by the frame <NUM>.

Preferably, the lower backing part <NUM> is part of the frame <NUM> and, preferably, is located between the base 12b of the connecting portion <NUM> and the first wall <NUM> of the piston chamber <NUM>.

Preferably, furthermore, the lower backing part <NUM> extends from the right half-part R to the left half-part L, preferably continuously.

Furthermore, preferably, the lower backing part <NUM> has a flat main surface <NUM> lying on a backing part plane A incident to the base plane P; e.g., the backing part plane A forms with the base plane P on the front, i.e., on the product dispensing side, an acute (<<NUM>°) backing angle C, e.g., an angle greater than <NUM>°, preferably between <NUM> and <NUM>°, preferably equal to <NUM>°.

Preferably, furthermore, the frame <NUM> comprises a plurality of ribs <NUM>, e.g., parallel to the base plane P, which join the lower backing part <NUM> to the remaining portion of the frame <NUM>.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the head <NUM> comprises an upper backing part <NUM> supported by the frame <NUM>.

Preferably, the upper backing part <NUM> is part of the frame <NUM> and, preferably, overlies the dispensing pipe <NUM>, i.e., it is located above the dispensing axis Y relative to the piston axis X, and extends from the second wall <NUM> into the right half-part R and the left half-part L, preferably continuously.

Frontally, the upper backing part <NUM> has a seat <NUM> having an arched bottom seat surface <NUM>; a step <NUM> is placed preferably at the ingress of the seat <NUM> to achieve a coupling by snapping of the component inserted into the seat <NUM>.

The head <NUM> comprises an at least partially elastic return element <NUM> (<FIG>), preferably made in one piece, preferably of plastic material, preferably chosen from the family of polyolefins or post-consumer recycled (PCR) or post-industrial recycled (PIR) materials, typically by injection molding.

The return element <NUM> comprises a pair of elastically deformable arms <NUM>, <NUM>; each arm <NUM>, <NUM> extends from a lower end <NUM> to an upper end <NUM>. Furthermore, each arm <NUM>, <NUM> is arched and has a convex, forward-facing front face <NUM> and a concave, rear-facing rear face <NUM>.

The return element <NUM> further comprises a lower joining portion <NUM>, which joins the lower ends <NUM> of the two arms <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, the lower joining portion <NUM> comprises a pair of preferably straight branches <NUM>, <NUM>; each branch <NUM>, <NUM> has a rear end <NUM> joined to a respective lower end <NUM> of the arm <NUM>, <NUM>, and a front end <NUM>. The front ends <NUM> of the two branches <NUM>, <NUM> are joined together by a lower crosspiece <NUM>, preferably arched and in particular concave above and convex below.

The return element <NUM> further comprises an upper joining portion <NUM>, which joins the upper ends <NUM> of the two arms <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, the upper joining portion <NUM> comprises an upper crosspiece <NUM>, preferably having a rounded outer surface.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment:.

When the return element <NUM> is applied to the frame <NUM> (<FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>), said return element <NUM> is arranged straddling the symmetry plane S, i.e., each arm <NUM>, <NUM> is arranged in a respective semi-part R, L of the head <NUM>; in other words, the piston chamber <NUM> is arranged between said arms <NUM>, <NUM>. The front faces <NUM> are forward-facing and the rear faces <NUM> backward-facing.

Furthermore, the upper joining portion <NUM> backs the upper backing part <NUM>, and in particular is accommodated in the seat <NUM>, preferably engaged by snapping with said upper backing part <NUM>.

Instead, the lower ends <NUM> of the two arms <NUM>, <NUM> back the lower backing part <NUM>, and are in contact with the main surface <NUM>.

The lower ends <NUM> of the two arms <NUM>, <NUM> are freely movable on the main surface <NUM> in receding and approaching relative to the upper ends <NUM> between a plurality of zones of said main surface <NUM> spaced along the skirt axis J of the skirt 12b.

The lower joining portion <NUM> is instead arranged under the piston chamber <NUM>, and in particular between the piston chamber <NUM> and the connecting portion <NUM> of the frame <NUM>.

In a resting configuration of the head <NUM> (<FIG>), in which the trigger <NUM> is not biased by the user, the lower ends <NUM> of the arms <NUM>, <NUM> of the return element <NUM> are in contact with the main surface <NUM> of the lower backing part <NUM> in a resting zone F1 of said main surface <NUM> (<FIG>).

In an intermediate actuating configuration, of the head <NUM> (<FIG>), in which the trigger <NUM> is biased by the user, the lower ends <NUM> of the arms <NUM>, <NUM> of the return element <NUM> are in contact with the main surface <NUM> of the lower backing part <NUM> in an intermediate actuating zone F2 of said main surface <NUM> (<FIG>), different from the resting zone F1.

Finally, in an end actuating configuration of the head <NUM> (<FIG>), in which the trigger <NUM> is biased by the user and at end of travel, the lower ends <NUM> of the arms <NUM>, <NUM> of the return element <NUM> are in contact with the main surface <NUM> of the lower backing part <NUM> in an end actuating zone F3 of said main surface <NUM> (<FIG>), different from the resting zone F1 and intermediate actuating zone F2.

In particular, the end actuating zone F3 is under the intermediate actuating zone F2 and the intermediate actuating zone F2 is under the resting zone F1 (consequently, the end actuating zone F3 is under the resting zone F1).

In other words, along the skirt axis J, the resting zone F1 is positioned above and distanced from the intermediate actuating zone F2. Furthermore, the intermediate actuating zone F2 is positioned above and distanced from the end actuating zone F3.

The trigger <NUM> (<FIG>) comprises a gripping portion <NUM> for the user's fingers, an engagement portion <NUM>, e.g., located at the end of the gripping portion <NUM>, for engaging with the frame <NUM>, and an actuating portion <NUM> for operating on the return element <NUM>. For example, the actuating portion <NUM> comprises two noses <NUM>, each one intended to operate on one of the arms <NUM>, <NUM> of the return element <NUM>.

Preferably, each nose <NUM> protrudes behind from the gripping portion <NUM> and ends with a contact surface <NUM> shaped to make a cam in contact with the arms <NUM>, <NUM> of the return element <NUM>, to optimize the course of the resistance action applied by the return element, perceived by the user's fingers.

Having attached the trigger <NUM> to the frame <NUM> (<FIG>), the trigger <NUM> is hinged to the frame <NUM>, preferably through the engagement portion <NUM> hinged to a pin protruding from the second wall <NUM> of the dispensing pipe <NUM>. The trigger <NUM> is preloaded by the return element <NUM> so that the noses <NUM> are permanently in contact with the front faces <NUM> of the arms <NUM>, <NUM> of the return element <NUM>.

According to a variant embodiment, the pumping means comprise a piston chamber delimited by a deformable elastic membrane.

According to a further variant embodiment, the dispensing pipe is delimited by a flexible tube connecting the piston chamber to the nozzle.

According to a yet further variant embodiment, the non-return valve means comprise a flexible membrane valve.

According to a variant embodiment, the dispensing valve means comprise a spring-piston assembly.

According to a further variant embodiment, the backing part angle is a right angle.

According to a yet further embodiment variant, the trigger is translatable relative to the frame between a resting configuration and an actuating configuration or is roto-translatable.

According to a variant embodiment, the non-return element operates directly on the piston, returning it from the actuating position to the resting position; the piston, in turn, operates on the trigger.

Innovatively, the trigger dispensing device according to the present invention makes it possible to limit incipient stresses in the return element, so that the return element does not experience yielding, even after repeated cycles of use, while still providing the necessary return action to the trigger.

This meets, in particular, the needs of the sector for what has been said about mini-triggers and the need to make them with plastic materials belonging to the same family.

In particular, advantageously, the conformation of the lower backing part and the movable lower ends on the main surface, make it possible to limit the entity of the stresses arising in the return element at every step of use of the device, thus avoiding yielding.

Advantageously, the conformation of the upper backing part and the upper ends rotatable therein, make it possible to limit the entity of the biases arising in the return element in every step of use of the device, thus avoiding yielding.

Claim 1:
A trigger dispensing head (<NUM>) for dispensing a liquid product, which can be applied to a bottle (<NUM>) of a dispensing device (<NUM>), comprising:
- a frame (<NUM>) for supporting components of the dispensing head (<NUM>), comprising a connecting portion (<NUM>) for application to the bottle (<NUM>), comprising an annular skirt (12b) having a skirt axis (J);
- a piston chamber (<NUM>) supported by the frame (<NUM>), having extension along a piston axis (X), and a piston (<NUM>) sealingly sliding in the piston chamber (<NUM>), between a resting position and a dispensing position in which the product is dispensed outside;
- a dispensing pipe (<NUM>) supported by the frame (<NUM>), fluidly in communication with the piston chamber (<NUM>), for dispensing, at the front, the product, having extension along a dispensing axis (Y), wherein the piston axis (X) and the dispensing axis (Y) lie on an imaginary sagittal plane (S); wherein the sagittal plane (S) subdivides the head (<NUM>) into a right half-part and a left half-part;
- a trigger (<NUM>) supported by the frame (<NUM>), which can be actuated to bias the piston (<NUM>) from the resting position to the dispensing position;
- an at least partially elastic return element (<NUM>), supported by the frame (<NUM>) and adapted to bias the piston (<NUM>), permanently and either directly or indirectly, from the dispensing position to the resting position, wherein the return element (<NUM>) comprises two arms (<NUM>,<NUM>), wherein each arm (<NUM>,<NUM>) has extension between a lower end (<NUM>) and an upper end (<NUM>) and is arranged in a respective half-part of the head (<NUM>) with respect to the sagittal plane (S);
- a lower backing part (<NUM>) supported by the frame (<NUM>), having a main surface (<NUM>);
wherein the trigger dispensing head (<NUM>) is characterized in that said lower ends (<NUM>) of the return element (<NUM>) are in contact with the main surface (<NUM>) and freely movable thereon in receding and approaching relative to the upper ends (<NUM>) between a plurality of zones of said main surface (<NUM>) distanced along the skirt axis (J).