EP1974830A1 - Distribution nozzle comprising an axially attached sealing sleeve - Google Patents

Abstract

The nozzle has a rigid body (1) provided with an external air distribution channel (2), and an elastically deformable sleeve (4) provided with a front lip that is arranged against a distribution orifice. The lip is inversely displaced between a stable closing state and an opposed opening state of the orifice. The sleeve is connected on the body through maintaining units. The maintaining units limit axial displacements of a rear part (4b) and other part of the sleeve, respectively, where the other part is arranged between the rear part and lip of the sleeve.

Description

The invention relates to a nozzle for dispensing a liquid contained in a container, and a dispensing pump comprising such a nozzle.

In a particular application, the liquid is of the gel or cream type, for example for use in cosmetics or for pharmaceutical treatments.

In known manner, a dispensing nozzle comprises a rigid body in which is formed a liquid distribution channel. In order to limit the contact between the outside air and the liquid stationing in the distribution channel, in particular to prevent drying out and / or degradation of said liquid over time, it is known to equip the nozzles with reversible closure devices the downstream orifice of the distribution channel.

In particular, such devices may be formed of an elastically deformable sleeve on which is formed a lip displaceable by applying the distribution pressure on it. The reversible closure can then be obtained by arranging the sleeve around the rigid body, with said lip in sealing contact on the downstream orifice, the displacement of said lip opening said orifice.

However, for the lip to be displaceable relative to the rigid body, the sleeve must be disposed non-adherently around the rigid body. There then arise problems of sealing between the sleeve and the rigid body, mechanical strength of said sleeve on said body and adjustment of the contact pressure of the lip on the downstream orifice.

The invention aims to solve the problems of the prior art by proposing in particular a dispensing nozzle equipped with a reversible closure sleeve of the dispensing orifice, said nozzle combining a seal and an optimal mechanical strength while allowing an adjustment of the opening and closing pressure.

For this purpose, according to a first aspect, the invention proposes a dispensing nozzle for a liquid contained in a receptacle, said nozzle comprising a rigid body provided with a dispensing channel which is intended to be placed in communication with the dispenser. interior of the container, said channel comprising a dispensing orifice opening into the front wall of said body, said nozzle further comprising an elastically deformable sleeve which is non-adheringly disposed and in tight contact around at least a portion of the periphery of the container; rigid body, said sleeve being provided with at least one front lip which is arranged facing the dispensing orifice, said lip being arranged for, by application of the liquid distribution pressure on it, to be reversibly movable between a state stable closure and a constrained state of opening of said orifice, wherein the attachment of said sleeve on said rigid body is made in combination by a first means for retaining the axial displacement of the rear portion of said sleeve relative to said rigid body and by a second means for retaining the axial displacement of another part of said sleeve relative to said rigid body, said other part being disposed between the rear part and the front lip of said sleeve.

According to a second aspect, the invention proposes a pump intended to be mounted on a container so as to allow the distribution of a liquid contained in said container, said pump comprising a distribution path whose downstream end is provided with a such a dispensing nozzle.

• la figure 1 est un vue partielle et en coupe longitudinale d'une pompe comprenant une buse de distribution selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention, en position de repos ;
• les figures 2 sont des vues agrandies de la partie cerclée référencée A sur la figure 1, montrant la lèvre du manchon respectivement en position de fermeture (figure 2a) et en position d'ouverture (figure 2b) ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective du corps rigide de la buse selon la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective du manchon élastiquement déformable de la buse selon la figure 1 ;
• les figures 5 sont des vues de la buse selon la figure 1, respectivement en perspective (figure 5a) et en coupe longitudinale selon l'axe de la traverse (figure 5b).

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the description which follows, made with reference to the appended figures, in which:

• the figure 1 is a partial view in longitudinal section of a pump comprising a dispensing nozzle according to one embodiment of the invention, in the rest position;
• the figures 2 are enlarged views of the circled part referenced A on the figure 1 , showing the lip of the sleeve respectively in the closed position ( figure 2a ) and in the open position ( figure 2b );
• the figure 3 is a perspective view of the rigid body of the nozzle according to the figure 1 ;
• the figure 4 is a perspective view of the elastically deformable sleeve of the nozzle according to the figure 1 ;
• the figures 5 are views of the nozzle according to the figure 1 , respectively in perspective ( figure 5a ) and in longitudinal section along the axis of the cross member ( figure 5b ).

In the description, the terms of positioning in space are taken with reference to the position of the pump represented on the figure 1 .

In connection with the figures, there is described an embodiment of a dispensing nozzle of a liquid contained in a container (not shown). In an exemplary application, the liquid is a gel or a cream, for cosmetic use or for pharmaceutical treatments.

The nozzle comprises a rigid body 1 which is provided with a distribution channel 2 intended to be placed in communication with the interior of the container, said channel comprising a dispensing orifice 3 opening into the front wall of said body. In the figures, the body 1 and the orifice 3 have a similar geometry, namely of oval section. In an exemplary embodiment, the rigid body 1 is molded, for example PBT (Poly (butylene terephthalate)) or a polymer of the PET family (Poly (ethylene terephthalate)).

In the embodiment of the figure 1 , the distribution is carried out by means of a pump on which the nozzle is mounted. However, the nozzle can find its application in other modes of distribution, for example by being mounted on a manually deformable container to allow dispensing.

The nozzle further comprises a resiliently deformable sleeve 4 which is provided with at least one front lip 5 disposed facing the dispensing orifice 3. In one embodiment, the sleeve 4 is made of elastomeric polymer of the EPDM type ( Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer), SEBS (Styrene-Ethylene-Butylene-Styrene) or SBS (Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene).

The lip 5 is arranged for, by application of the liquid distribution pressure on it, to be reversibly movable between a stable state of closure ( figure 2a ) and a constrained state of opening ( figure 2b ) of said orifice. To enable this reversible displacement of the lip 5, the sleeve 4 is non-adheringly disposed and in tight contact around at least a portion of the periphery of the rigid body 1.

Thus, when no distribution force is applied to the lip 5, the latter is elastically pressed onto the dispensing orifice 3 so as to block it and thus isolate the contents of the channel 2 from the outside air ( figure 2a ). Then, by applying the dispensing pressure, the lip 5 deforms elastically to allow the liquid to be dispensed through the orifice 3 ( figure 2b ). Finally, the cancellation of the distribution pressure leads to an elastic return of the lip 5 in the closed position. In particular, this embodiment makes it possible to limit, between two uses, the drying out of the liquid, in particular of a cream, as well as a possible degradation and / or contamination of the liquid in the event of prolonged exposure to the outside air.

According to one embodiment, the sleeve 4 is overmolded non-adherently on the rigid body 1, which allows it to perfectly fit the shapes. In addition, by a suitable choice of materials and / or operating conditions of the overmoulding, it is possible to benefit from the differential shrinkage between the molded body 1 and the over-molding of the sleeve 4, so as to increase the clamping force of said sleeve around said body rigid. Moreover, as represented on the figure 5b , the periphery of the body 1 is provided with a chamfer 6 which is formed in line with the overmolding point of the sleeve 4, so as to facilitate the distribution of the material by forming a local extra thickness in said sleeve.

In the embodiment shown, the dispensing orifice 3 has an insert which is centered axially so as to form liquid passages around it, the sleeve 4 comprising a radial lip 5 which surrounds said insert sealingly in its closed state. More specifically, the insert is formed of a cross member 7 extending along the major axis of the orifice, so as to form two passages 3a, 3b for two symmetrical plies, respectively upper and lower. This embodiment makes it possible to improve the exit of the liquid, in particular by forming a flow of substantially axial liquid by bringing the two sheets together.

The front face of the sleeve 4 comprises an orifice 4a in which the crosspiece 7 is arranged in a sealed manner, and the radial lip 5 has an oval geometry which is formed around said orifice. In addition, the crosspiece 7 is provided in axial projection relative to the orifice 3, and a flat surface 8 is formed all around the orifice 3. Thus, by providing a thickness of the crossbar 7 similar to that of the sleeve 4 , the aesthetics of the end of the nozzle in the closed position can be improved by making it substantially flat.

In addition, in its closed state, the lip 5 is in sealing contact on the flat surface 8 and on the periphery of the crosspiece 7, which improves the seal. Moreover, in this embodiment, the lip 5 has a geometry similar to that of the periphery of the body 1, which contributes to a good distribution of the forces exerted on said lip during its opening.

The coupling of the sleeve 4 on the rigid body 1 is formed by a first means for retaining the axial displacement of the rear portion of said sleeve relative to said rigid body. In the embodiment shown, the first retaining means is formed by a rear radial surface 9 which is formed on the periphery of the rigid body 1. More specifically, the rear radial surface 9 is formed by a radial dimension change of the periphery of the body 1, between a front zone 1a on which the sleeve 4 is disposed and a rear zone 1b devoid of said sleeve. In the embodiment described, the front zone 1a has a radial dimension greater than that of the rear zone 1b. In addition, the rear zone 1b forms back range of association.

The rear portion 4b of the sleeve 4 is then provided to bear axially on the radial surface 9, in particular by providing that said rear portion comes to cover said surface. To do this, the rear portion 4b can come to coat the rigid body 1 on either side of the junction between the front 1a and rear 1b areas.

However, other embodiments of the first retaining means can be envisaged, either by having different geometries, or by welding or gluing of the rear part of the sleeve 4 on the periphery of the rigid body 1.

The coupling of the sleeve 4 on the rigid body 1 is also achieved by a second means for retaining the axial displacement of another portion of said sleeve relative to said rigid body, said other portion being disposed between the rear portion 4b and the front lip 5 said sleeve.

The combination of the first and the second retaining means makes it possible in particular to limit the axial displacement of the sleeve 4 relative to the body 1, by elastic deformation thereof. Thus, it improves the seal between the body 1 and the sleeve 4, in particular at the lip 5. In addition, the holding of the attachment is also improved relative to the external mechanical stresses that the nozzle undergoes in the context of its use, but also relative to the stresses exerted on the sleeve 4 during the distribution of the liquid. Furthermore, the adjustment of the sealing force exerted by the lip 5 on the orifice 3 becomes easier in that the deformation of the sleeve 4 is more localized, in particular by being substantially limited at the level of the lip 5.

In the embodiment shown, a second retaining means is formed by a rear radial surface 10 which is formed on the periphery of the rigid body 1, the sleeve 4 being axially supported on said radial surface. In particular, the radial surface 10 is formed in a recess 11 formed on the periphery of the rigid body 1, the sleeve 4 filling said recess. On the FIGS., the periphery of the rigid body 1 has two recesses 11 of revolution which are spaced axially so as to form two radial surfaces 10 extending around the periphery of the periphery of the rigid body 1.

According to embodiments not shown, the second retaining means may have a different geometry or be made by welding or bonding an intermediate portion of the sleeve 4 on the periphery of the rigid body 1.

In connection with the figures, there is described a second embodiment of a second retaining means which is formed by a chamfer 12 made on the edge of the front wall of the rigid body 1. As shown, the chamfer 12 may be provided in combination with the recesses 11 described below, or only one of the two embodiments described can be used as the second retaining means.

The chamfer 12 is formed by a recess formed on the periphery of the rigid body 1, the front surface of said recess extending to the front edge of the rigid body 1 at a divergent angle. Thus, on the front end of the chamfer 12, a line of rotation 12a of the lip 5 with respect to the rigid body 1 is formed. In this embodiment, the opening of the lip 5 limits the deformation of the sleeve 4 to a simple rotation. of said lip, which allows a good control of the sealing forces exerted by the lip 4, as well as the forces required to open the dispensing orifice 3.

In addition, the divergence of the chamfer 12 improves the seal between the sleeve 4 and the body 1, avoiding the introduction of liquid between them, especially when closing the lip 5.

Moreover, in the case of overmolding with differential shrinkage between the sleeve 4 and the body 1, the presence of the chamfer 12 makes it possible to limit a possible detachment of the lip 5 from the orifice 3 by axial withdrawal of said sleeve.

For example, a contact pressure of the lip 5 on the downstream orifice 3 of the order of 200 to 500 mbar is acceptable to form an airtight seal while retaining the possibility of opening said lip by application of the distribution pressure. This pressure can be obtained by using a sleeve 4 whose material has a Shore A hardness of the order of 35. However, the use of materials whose Shore A hardness is between 15 and 80 makes it possible to adjust the pressure of opening / closing the lip 5 according to the specific sealing needs and / or the compressibility of the pump and / or the viscosity of the liquid to be dispensed.

Advantageously, the nozzle may be used with a pump intended to be mounted on a container so as to allow the dispensing of a liquid contained in said container. The pump then comprises a distribution path whose downstream end is provided with the nozzle to allow the distribution of the liquid through it.

According to an embodiment not shown, the pump comprises a push button whose nozzle is an integral part.

According to the embodiment shown, the pump comprises a push button 13 provided with a channel 14 forming the downstream portion of the distribution path, the nozzle being associated with the interior of the downstream end of said channel.

The push button 13 comprises a front housing 15 in which the channel 14 opens, said housing being arranged to receive without interference at least a portion of the sleeve 4, in this case the rear part of the sleeve 4 since the nozzle is provided projecting said button button. Furthermore, the rear bearing surface 1b of association is fitted into the channel 14 which opens at the rear of the housing 15, this fitting being achieved without interposition of the sleeve 4 so as to improve its reliability.

During the priming phase of the pump, the presence of the sleeve 4 may limit the air exhaust capacity through the distribution path. Indeed, the pressure of the compressed air by the pump may not be sufficient to cause the opening of the dispensing orifice 3, and thus the evacuation of air via the nozzle. In addition, the distribution path may comprise a valve between the pump and the contents of the container, the seal of which may be less than that imparted by the sleeve 4. Moreover, in the case of a liquid of viscosity and / or high density , boot problems are all the more critical.

According to a first aspect, these problems can be overcome by adjusting the opening and closing pressure of the lip 5 so that it is strictly less than the sealing pressure of the valve, said opening and closing pressure being Moreover, it is lower than the minimum pressure of air compression in the pump, especially during the priming phase.

To overcome these problems in a second aspect, the pump may comprise an air exhaust path which is distinct from the distribution path, said exhaust path being arranged to allow evacuation of the compressed air by said pump.

Mainly, the pump shown comprises a pump body 16 intended to be secured to the container by being able to be placed in communication with the liquid, for example by means of a threaded coupling cup 17. In addition, the pump comprises a plunger tube 18 integral with the body 16. However, other means of supplying the pump are known, for example pumps without air intake.

The pump further comprises a nozzle 19 secured to the push button 13 to be actuated in translation in said body, said nozzle comprising at least one upstream orifice 20 and a channel 21 whose downstream end is in communication with the dispensing nozzle. An elastic return means 26 of the translation of said nozzle in said body is also provided.

The pump also comprises a piston 23 mounted in rubbing contact against the inner surface of said body so as to define a metering chamber 24 which is intended to be in communication with the liquid via a valve formed of a ball 25 on the figure 1 . The piston 23 is moved in translation by the nozzle 19 over a compression stroke of the metering chamber 24, said piston being arranged to close the upstream orifices 20 on the descending compression and upward suction stroke and, on a downward stroke dispensing said nozzle, to enable communication of the upstream orifices 20 with the metering chamber 24. The piston 23 is mounted around the nozzle 19 slidably, said sliding being constrained by an elastic return means 22.

The inner surface of the body incorporates air exhaust means which are arranged to, in a portion of the compression stroke, break the frictional contact of the piston 23 on said surface so as to allow air leakage from the chamber dosing 24 to the outside of the body 16.

According to one embodiment, the air exhaust means are formed to break the rubbing contact of a sealing lip 27 of the piston 23 on the inner surface of the body 16 so as to allow air to escape from the chamber of 24 dosage to the outside of the body 16. Thus, the compressed air during the priming phase is not discharged through the distribution path but directly outside the pump. This results in an increase in the suction force of the liquid during the ascent of the nozzle 19, and thus an optimization of the priming phase.

On the figure 1 , the exhaust means are formed of an area 28 of larger diameter than the nominal diameter of the inner surface of the body 16, said area being provided at the junction between the compression strokes and distribution. Thus, during the passage of the sealing lip 27 on the zone 28 of larger diameter, the latter is detached from the inner surface of the body 16 so as to break the seal punctually. In a variant, the escape means may be formed of bosses or orifices provided on the internal surface of the body 16.

Claims (15)

Nozzle for dispensing a liquid contained in a container, said nozzle comprising a rigid body (1) provided with a distribution channel (2) which is intended to be placed in communication with the interior of the container, said channel comprising a dispensing orifice (3) opening into the front wall of said body, said nozzle further comprising an elastically deformable sleeve (4) which is non-adheringly disposed and in tight contact around at least a portion of the periphery of the rigid body (1), said sleeve being provided with at least one front lip (5) which is arranged facing the dispensing orifice (3), said lip being arranged for, by application of the liquid distribution pressure on it being reversibly movable between a stable state of closure and a constrained state of opening of said orifice, said nozzle being characterized in that the attachment of said sleeve to said rigid body is carried out in combination by first means for retaining axial displacement of the rear portion (4b) of said sleeve relative to said rigid body and second means for retaining axial displacement of another portion of said sleeve relative to said rigid body, said other portion being disposed between the rear portion (4b) and the front lip (5) of said sleeve. Dispensing nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that a first retaining means is formed by a rear radial surface (9) which is formed on the periphery of the rigid body (1), the rear part (4b) of the sleeve ( 4) being axially supported on said radial surface. Dispensing nozzle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a second retaining means is formed by a rear radial surface (10) which is formed on the periphery of the rigid body (1), the sleeve (4) being axial support on said radial surface. Dispensing nozzle according to claim 3, characterized in that the periphery of the rigid body (1) has two recesses (11) which are spaced apart axially so as to form two radial surfaces (10), the sleeve (4) filling said recesses. Dispensing nozzle according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a second retaining means is formed by a chamfer (12) formed on the edge of the front wall of the rigid body (1). Dispensing nozzle according to claim 5, characterized in that the chamfer (12) is formed by a recess formed on the periphery of the rigid body (1), the front surface of said recess extending to the front edge of the rigid body ( 1) from a divergent angle. Dispensing nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the downstream orifice (3) has an insert (7) centered axially so as to form liquid passages (3a, 3b) around it, the sleeve (4) comprising a radial lip (5) which surrounds said insert sealingly in its closed state. Dispensing nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the rigid body (1) comprises an associated rear bearing surface (1b), said bearing being devoid of sleeve (4). Dispensing nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sleeve (4) is overmolded non-adherently on the rigid body (1). Pump intended to be mounted on a container so as to allow the dispensing of a liquid contained in said container, said pump comprising a distribution path whose downstream end is provided with a dispensing nozzle according to any one of the claims 1 to 9. Pump according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises a push button (13) provided with a channel (14) forming the downstream portion of the distribution, the dispensing nozzle being associated with the interior of the downstream end of said channel. Pump according to claim 11, characterized in that the push button (13) comprises a front housing (15) into which the channel (14) opens, said housing being arranged to receive without interference at least a portion of the sleeve (4). Pump according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the opening and closing pressure of the lip (5) is strictly less than the sealing pressure of a valve provided in the distribution path between the pump and the contents of the container, said opening and closing pressure being furthermore lower than the minimum pressure of air compression in the pump. Pump according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that it comprises an air exhaust path which is distinct from the distribution path, said exhaust path being arranged to allow evacuation of the air compressed by said pump. Pump according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises: - a pump body (16) intended to be secured to the container being able to be placed in communication with the liquid; - A nozzle (19) secured to the push button (13) to be actuated in translation in said body, said nozzle comprising at least one upstream orifice (20) and a channel (21) whose downstream end is in communication with the nozzle of distribution ; - Elastic return means (26) of the translation of said nozzle in said body; - a piston (23) mounted in frictional contact against the inner surface of said body so as to define a metering chamber (24) which is intended to be in communication with the liquid via a valve (25), said piston being displaced in translation by the nozzle (19) on a compression stroke of the metering chamber (24), said piston being arranged to close the upstream orifices (20) on the upward suction suction downward stroke and, on a downward distribution stroke of said nozzle, to allow the implementation communicating the upstream ports (20) with the metering chamber (24); wherein the inner surface of the body (16) incorporates air exhaust means which is arranged to, in a portion of the compression stroke, break the frictional contact of the piston (23) on said surface so as to allow air leakage from the metering chamber (24) to the outside of the body (16).

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