Dispensing – With discharge assistant – With movable nozzle interconnected therewith
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-29
2001-02-13
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
With discharge assistant
With movable nozzle interconnected therewith
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186370
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device or a method of fixing a metering member, in particular a metering pump, in a receptacle containing a substance to be dispensed, and it applies more particularly to dispensers that dispense small quantities, as used in the fields of perfumes, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
It is known in the state of the art to use a ring for mounting a pump body on a receptacle. That system suffers from certain drawbacks and, in particular, requires an assembly operation that is relatively expensive given the nature of the receptacles (samples).
Another known system, disclosed by document EP-0 453 357 avoids that drawback by providing a pump body that is dimensioned so as to be suitable for being engaged as a force-fit in the receptacle. The ring then becomes pointless. To ensure that the pump is put properly into place, its body has a bottom portion of outside diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the neck of the receptacle. Tightening takes place in the neck by engaging the top portion of the pump body as a force-fit, which top portion must have an outside diameter that is slightly greater than the diameter of said neck. That device also suffers from drawbacks. Thus, since tightening is provided by the pump body itself, the dimensions thereof and in particular its outside diameter need to be of very great precision, thereby giving rise to excessive manufacturing costs. Secondly, the diameters of the necks of receptacles, in particular receptacles made of glass, can vary slightly on manufacture, and that can prevent the pump body being properly fixed in said receptacle neck. Furthermore, in some cases, engaging the pump body itself as a force-fit can lead to said pump body being compressed and can thus give rise to friction inside the pump which can spoil operation thereof.
Another device, disclosed by German Patent Document DE-31 22 982 provides for the pump body being snap-fastened to a bead on the neck of the receptacle. That device suffers from the drawback of requiring special receptacle necks and of being unsuitable for a standard neck.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,340 discloses yet another type of device in which a resilient ring is disposed fixed on the pump body and snap-fastened into a housing formed inside the receptacle. The device is complicated and costly to manufacture.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,340 discloses yet another type of device in which a resilient ring is disposed fixed on the pump body and snap-fastens into a housing formed inside the receptacle. The device is complicated and costly to manufacture.
An object of the present invention is to avoid the above drawbacks by providing a fixing device which is simple and low in cost, and which enables the body of a metering member such as a pump to be fixed in the neck of a receptacle while accommodating tolerances on the dimensions of said receptacle neck. The device of the invention can thus be adapted to any receptacle neck, whether standard or otherwise, and its dimensions can vary slightly on manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention thus provides a device for fixing a metering member having a body, such as a pump, in the neck of a receptacle containing a substance to be dispensed, said body of the metering member having a smaller-diameter portion and a larger-diameter portion, the maximum outside diameter of said body being smaller than the inside diameter of said neck, the device being characterized in that the housing is formed in said neck of the receptacle, said housing being suitable for receiving a deformable member which, in the assembled state of the fixing device, is deformed and/or compressed in such a manner that it exerts a radial force on said neck and on said body, said force serving to fix the metering member in sealed manner in the neck of the receptacle, said deformable member being placed, prior to assembly, on said smaller-diameter portion and being displaced, during assembly, on said larger-diameter portion of the body of the metering member, by being deformed and/or compressed in the housing.
This implementation makes assembly very easy. Installing the deformable member on the smaller diameter portion is done very easily since the deformable member is not subjected to any stress. Thereafter, the deformable member is deformed solely on the larger diameter portion and not over the full height of the pump body during engagement thereof in the neck of the receptacle. Assembly is thus easier and more reliable. In particular, this deformation and/or compression is obtained by applying a vertical force to the body of the metering member, said force being transmitted to the deformable member.
Advantageously, said portions of different diameters of the body of the metering member are interconnected by a conical portion such that deformation and/or compression of the deformable member takes place in progressive manner during assembly.
Advantageously, the housing has a cross-section that is approximately square or rectangular in shape.
Advantageously, said deformable member possesses, prior to assembly of the fixing device, a shape that is different from that of the housing, assembly of the fixing device forcing said deformable member by deformation and/or compression to take up substantially the shape of said housing, such that said deformable member exerts forces on the walls of said housing.
In another aspect, the invention also provides a method of fixing a metering member such as a pump having a pump body with a larger-diameter top portion and a smaller-diameter bottom portion in the neck of a receptacle containing a substance to be dispensed, said neck having an annular housing, the method being characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting in:
placing a deformable member on said smaller-diameter portion of the body of the metering member;
placing the metering member on the neck of the receptacle, said deformable member being received in said housing of the neck; and
engaging the body of the metering member by force in the neck of the receptacle so that the deformable member is displaced on said larger-diameter portion of the body of the metering member, by being deformed and/or compressed in the housing, thereby providing sealed fixing of said metering member in the neck of the receptacle.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3129854 (1964-04-01), Boehm et al.
patent: 5277340 (1994-01-01), Van Brocklin
patent: 5299703 (1994-04-01), Cater
patent: 5873491 (1999-02-01), Garcia et al.
patent: 6010039 (2000-01-01), Bougamont
patent: 358758 (1961-11-01), None
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patent: 31 22 982 A1 (1982-12-01), None
patent: 453357 (1991-10-01), None
patent: 2699433 (1994-06-01), None
patent: 2189778 (1987-11-01), None
de Pous Olivier
Faucon Thierry
Jouillat Claude
Bonderer David A.
Rockey Milnamow & Katz Ltd.
Shaver Kevin
Valois S.A.
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