EP3974065B1

EP3974065B1 - A fluid substance dispensing device

Info

Publication number: EP3974065B1
Application number: EP21198320.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Valentino STENGHEL; Giancarlo FONTANARI; Marco Cazzolli; Alfeo TECCHIOLLI
Original assignee: Coster Technologie Speciali SpA
Current assignee: Coster Technologie Speciali SpA
Priority date: 2020-09-24
Filing date: 2021-09-22
Publication date: 2023-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 2041-09-22
Also published as: IT202000022504A1; EP3974065A1

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a fluid substance.
In particular, it refers to a manually operated device for dispensing a fluid substance such as a cosmetic product, like a soap, a gel, a perfume, a home care product, a product for cleaning, for disinfection, etc.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventional dispensing devices comprise a movable piston for activating a hollow stem inside a compression chamber. The movement counters the action of a spring and is generated by pressure applied by a user to a dispenser button.
Normally, the spring counter to which the piston moves is made of metal and - even when the device is in the resting condition - is slightly compressed or preloaded, which can lead to the malfunction thereof.
Furthermore, the presence of metal inside devices which are generally made of plastic can generate recyclability problems.
Last but not least, the metal spring is one of the most expensive and heaviest components of commonly known dispensing devices.
WO2011/036217-A1 describe a known pump.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing device which is improved with respect to the prior art and which overcomes the technical drawbacks thereof.
A further object of the invention is to provide a device which is more reliable than the commonly known ones, even after long storage periods prior to the sale thereof, and therefore prior to a first activation thereof.
This and other objects are achieved by means of a dispensing device according to the technical teachings of the claims appended hereto.
Advantageously, the device may be equipped with a main spring made of an elastomeric or plastic material.
Another advantage is that the device is less expensive and more environmentally friendly than those according to the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further features and advantages of the innovation will become clearer in the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the device, illustrated - by way of a non-limiting example - in the drawings annexed hereto, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of the device according to the present invention when in a position prior to a first activation thereof;
Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of the device in Figure 1, after a first activation, with the piston in the lower stroke limit position;
Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of the device in Figure 1, with the piston in an upper stroke limit position after a first activation;
Figures 4, 5, and 6 show an elastic element of the device in Figure 1 in three possible operating positions with, respectively, the elastic element unloaded, with a preload, and with a maximum load;
Figure 7 shows a detail of the piston and the stem, before a step to assemble the device; and
Figure 8 and Figure 9 show enlarged details of the parts circled in Figures 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the figures stated, reference number 1 is used to denote, as a whole, a fluid substance dispensing device.
The device 1 comprises a cup-shaped body 2 within which a piston 3 slides in a sealed manner. The piston may feature a single or multiple sealing lips (as shown here).
The cup-shaped body 2 may be permanently fastened to an interconnection element 30, which may, in turn, be fastened to a tubular element 25. The tubular element may be secured (for example, in a sealed manner) to a collar 23 equipped with a flange 23A on top of which a ring nut 24 rests, for example of the threaded variety, for securing the device to a conventional container (not shown) within which the fluid substance 1 is housed.
Obviously, other configurations are possible in addition to the one described above, all of which would be familiar to a person skilled in the art.
The piston 3 is coupled with a hollow stem 4 for the movement of the piston 3 within the cup-shaped body 2.
Therefore, the stem movement drives the piston movement, at least when in an operating configuration.
The piston 3 and the cup-shaped body 2 define, at least partially, a compression chamber 5, which comprises at least one valve element 6 for supplying the fluid substance to the said compression chamber 5.
The valve element 6 can be fluidically connected to a suction tube 31, housed in the container, in a conventional manner. Obviously, the suction tube 31 may not be present (for example, in the event that the device is coupled with a deformable bag within which the substance is housed).
In the solution shown, the valve element is a ball, preferably made of plastic.
The hollow stem 4 can be moved counter to an elastic element 7.
In the configuration described, the elastic element 7 may be an elastic traction element, preferably an elastomer membrane spring.
Usable elastomeric materials include, for example: thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), Styrenic thermoplastic elastomers (TPE-S), SEES, copolyesters (COPA), vulcanised thermoplastic elastomers (TPSiV), and thermosetting materials (silicone rubbers).
The elastic element 7 is more clearly visible in Figures 4, 5, and 6, in which it is illustrated in different operating conditions.
The elastic element 7 may feature a first end 7B fixed to the stem 3.
For example, an end part of the stem may be coupled to a sleeve 34 which is snap fastened onto the said stem, and the first end 7B may be sandwiched between the sleeve 34 and a flange 35 which extends from the stem.
The sleeve 34 may act as a (sealed) coupling with a dispenser button 36 of the conventional kind.
The second end 7A of the elastic element 7 may be sandwiched between the tubular element 25 and the collar 23.
With reference once again to Figures 5-7, it should be noted that at least one elastically extendable element 7C may be positioned between the first end 7B and the second end 7A. The element 7C may be continuous or may feature lighter or thicker sections or windows 7D in order to calibrate the elastic response thereof.
In this configuration, the elastic element is made as one piece with a single elastomeric material but there is nothing to prevent it being made of several assembled pieces. And obviously it may also have a different configuration from the one illustrated here.
The stem 4 has a first seat 8 for coupling with the piston 3. In the first seat 8, the piston may be conventionally movable (i.e. sliding axially along the stem in a limited manner) so as to clear or close up a fluid passageway 20 connected to the cavity of the stem 4 for dispensing the fluid substance.
According to the invention, the stem 4 also features a second seat 9 for coupling with the piston 3 so that, when the piston 3 is coupled to the stem 4 by means of the second seat 9, the elastic element 7 is essentially devoid of elastic deformation (as shown in Figure 5, in which the elastic element is shown in the resting condition), while when the piston 4 is coupled to the stem by means of the first seat 8, the elastic element 7 is elastically deformed (for example as shown in Figure 6, in a configuration with a pre-set preload).
In this document, the term "essentially devoid of elastic deformation" means that the elastic element is in a resting condition, i.e. not taut, or in such a configuration that it does not tend to yield or have reduced elastic capacity even after a long time.
Upon a first activation of the device (and therefore following the application of pressure to the dispenser button 36 and until the piston 3 reaches the stroke limit thereof), the piston 3 moves from the second seat 9 to the first seat 8. See Figure 2.
This takes place following a related movement of the stem 4 with respect to the piston 3 (which encounters a stop at the stroke limit) upon the first activation of the device.
The first seat 8 is configured to prevent the passage of the piston to the second seat 9 during normal device operation.
The term 'normal device operation' means operation to dispense a fluid substance.
This does not prevent a specific system or means being featured to return the piston to the second seat 9, for example in preparation for a long period of non-use of the device. For example, the device may be operated by means of a particular rotation of the stem or the application of considerable traction to the dispenser button (and consequently the stem), with dedicated means or systems.
The second seat 9 may be nearer a free end 4A of the stem than the first seat 8.
Furthermore, the second seat 9 may feature a first step 13 which permanently limits the movement of the piston (towards the bottom of the compression chamber 5). The second seat 9 may also feature a ramp surface 14, positioned between the first seat 8 and the second seat 9, which facilitates the passage of the piston 3 from the second seat 9 to the first seat 8 in the event of a related movement of the stem with respect to the piston (or upon the first activation, when the piston 3 is at the lower stroke limit and further pressure is applied to the dispenser button).
Advantageously, when the piston 3 is housed in the second seat 9, it is essentially fixed with respect to the stem.
The first seat 8 features a first step 15 and a second step 16 which permanently limit or permanently prevent the movement of the piston 3 with respect to the stem 4.
Therefore, when it is in the first seat 8, the piston may be free to move axially with respect to the stem (for example to clear or close the hole 20 during the various dispensing and suction steps within the compression chamber 5), or it may be fixed, depending on the type of pumping motor featured.
Figure 7 shows that the piston 3 may feature a throughhole 10 into which the stem 4 is inserted.
In this case, the first seat 8 may be defined by a first annular groove 8A machined on the stem 4 externally; the second seat 9 may also be defined by a second annular groove 9A machined on the stem 4 externally.
A different configuration of the device may envisage the elastic element 7 being a compression spring M, preferably made of plastic.
For example, the compression spring 7 may be positioned between a flange 35 on the stem 4 and a tubular element 25 for connection between the collar 23 or the ring nut 24 and the cup-shaped body 2. Regarding this aspect, see Figure 1 in which the position of such an elastic element M is shown with a discontinuous line.
The invention described above is particularly advantageous when used in combination with an elastic element 7 made of an elastomeric material chosen from those described above or with a spring made of a plastic material such as: PP, PE, POM, PBT, PK.
As is known, the elastic elements of this type suffer from a permanent load condition (the condition to which conventional devices are subject during transportation, storage, and display in stores prior to use, due to the preload to which they are subjected) which tends to relax them (make them yield) and therefore to compromise the elastic capacity thereof.
With the present invention, it is possible to release the elastic element (or the spring), or rather keep it in a 'non-working' condition (for example undeformed) until the device is used for the first time, so as to make the use thereof more reliable, thus preventing yielding or breakage of the elastic element which would therefore compromise device operation.
Furthermore, use of an elastic element made of plastic or elastomer allows the elimination of metal from the device, thereby reducing the costs and weight thereof and improving the recyclability thereof, which is beneficial in terms of environmental impact.
Various embodiments of the innovation have been disclosed herein, but further embodiments may also be conceived according to the annexed claims.

Claims

Dispensing device (1) of a fluid substance, comprising a cup-shaped body (2) in which a piston (3) slides sealingly, the piston (3) being associated with a hollow stem (4) for moving the piston (3) in the cup-shaped body (2), the piston (3) and the cup-shaped body (2) defining at least partially a compression chamber (5) which comprises at least one valve element (6) for feeding the fluid substance to the compression chamber (5), the hollow stem (4) being movable in contrast to an elastic element (7), the hollow stem (4) providing a first seat (8) for coupling with the piston (3), the stem (4) also having a second seat (9) for coupling with the piston (3), characterized in that, when the piston (3) is coupled to the stem (4) through the second seat (9), the elastic element (7) is substantially free from elastic deformation, while when the piston (4) is coupled to the stem through the first seat (8) the elastic element (7) is elastically deformed, the piston (3) moving from the second (9) to the first seat (8) at least following to a relative movement of the stem (4) with respect to the piston (3) at a first actuation of the device, the first seat (8) being configured to prevent, during normal operation of the device, the passage of the piston to the second seat (9), the first seat (8) providing a first (15) and a second step (16) which stably limit or stably prevent the movement of the piston (3) with respect to the stem (4) .
Device according to claim 1, wherein the second seat (9) is closer to a free end (4A) of the stem than the first seat (8).
Device according to claim 1, wherein the second seat (9) provides a first step (13) which stably limits the movement of the piston, and a ramp surface (14), arranged between the first (8) and the second seat (9), which helps the passage of the piston (3) from the second (9) to the first seat (8).
Device according to claim 1, wherein the piston (3) has a through hole (10) in which the stem (4) is inserted and wherein the first seat (8) is first defined by an annular groove (8A) obtained externally on the stem (4) and / or in which the second seat (9) is defined by a second annular groove (9A) obtained externally on the stem (4).
Device according to claim 1, wherein, at the first seat (8), a fluid passage (20) is provided which can be closed or open according to the position of the piston (3) with respect to the stem (4) in the first seat (8).
Device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic element (7) is a traction elastic element, preferably an elastomer membrane spring.
Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the elastic element (7) has a first end (7B) fixed to the stem (4) and / or a second end (7A) fixed to a collar (23) or to a ring nut (24) of the device, at least one elastically extensible element (7C) being arranged between the first and second ends.
Device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic element (7) is a compression spring, preferably of plastic material, and / or in which the compression spring (7) is located between a flange of the stem (4) and a tubular element (25) for connection between the collar (23) or the ring nut (24) and the cup-shaped body (2).