Dispensing – With discharge assistant – With movable nozzle interconnected therewith
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-23
2001-08-28
Bomberg, Kenneth (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
With discharge assistant
With movable nozzle interconnected therewith
C222S385000, C222S542000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279786
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a device for fixing a dispenser member, such as a pump, on the neck of a receptacle containing a substance to be dispensed. More particularly, the present invention relates to fixing devices for dispensers in which the pump is not fixed to the receptacle by means of an external fixing ring which is snap-fastened or crimped on the neck of the receptacle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such fixing devices, which are particularly suitable for small-sized dispensers, are known in the state of the art. Thus, for example, document FR-2 719 292 discloses such a device for fixing a metering member in a receptacle containing the substance to be dispensed, in which the pump body is fixed directly in the neck of the receptacle by means of a ferrule which engages inside said pump body, the forced engagement of said ferrule in the pump body establishing a radial force which holds the pump body securely in the neck of the receptacle.
That device which is well adapted to certain dispensers, can turn out to be inadequate or ill-adapted to other types of dispenser.
Thus, in particular, when the same pump body needs to be fixed to receptacle necks of different diameters, the device of document FR-2 719 292 is unsuitable since the outside diameter of the pump body needs to correspond approximately to the inside diameter of the neck of the receptacle. Furthermore, although that device can accommodate manufacturing tolerances both in the neck of the receptacle and in the pump body, such accommodation is limited by the fact of the materials used for the receptacle body (generally glass) and for the pump body (generally a rigid plastics material).
Document FR-2 699 433 discloses an assembly device designed to be easy to assemble and disassemble in a manner similar to a tapering plug. That device has a rigid ring fixed to the pump body and one or more bushes of flexible material for fitting to necks of different diameters. Since the device needs to be easy to disassemble, it does not make it possible to achieve fixing that is reliable and that guarantees perfect sealing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device which overcomes the above-specified drawbacks while providing the same advantages, namely low cost for manufacturing and assembling the dispenser. Such low cost is particularly advantageous when the dispenser is used for dispensing a sample that is given away free, such as a sample of perfume.
The present invention also seeks to provide such a fixing device which makes it possible to fit the same dispenser member in receptacles having necks of different diameters.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a fixing device which is perfectly reliable and leakproof. In particular, the fixing device should not be easy to disassemble.
The present invention thus provides a device for fixing a dispenser member such as a pump on the neck of a receptacle containing a substance to be dispensed, the device being characterized in that it has a single fixing element made of a deformable material and disposed in the neck of the receptacle between the inside surface of said receptacle neck and the outside surface of the body of the dispenser member, said fixing element being, in the assembled state of the fixing device, deformed and/or compressed by the body of the dispenser member being engaged in the neck of the receptacle in such a manner that it exerts a radial force on said body of the dispenser member and on said neck of the receptacle, said radial force providing reliable and leakproof fixing of the dispenser member to the neck of the receptacle.
Preferably, the fixing element is a ferrule whose outside diameter corresponds approximately to the inside diameter of the neck of the receptacle and whose inside diameter is, prior to engagement of the dispenser member, smaller than the outside diameter of the body of the dispenser member.
Advantageously, said fixing element has a radial flange at its top end which rests on the top of the neck of the receptacle, said flange retaining the fixing element while the dispenser member is being engaged.
Preferably, said fixing element has holding means at its bottom end for fixing said fixing element beneath the neck inside the receptacle after the dispenser member has been engaged.
In particular, said holding means comprise one or more swellings of material which, prior to the dispenser member being engaged, project towards the inside of said fixing element and which, during engagement of said dispenser member are forced under the neck of the receptacle by the body of the dispenser member.
Advantageously, the body of the dispenser member has a bottom portion of small diameter which does not act or which acts little on said holding means such that interaction between the dispenser member and said holding means takes place only towards the end of engagement.
In a first embodiment, said holding means are made in the form of tabs, each having a swelling of deformable material at its bottom end.
In a second embodiment, said holding means are made in the form of an annular swelling of deformable material provided at the bottom end of the fixing element.
Advantageously, the body of the dispenser member has an external groove which, in the assembled state of the device after the dispenser member has been engaged, is situated level with said holding means, a portion of said holding means being received in said groove to fix the dispenser member relative to said fixing member.
Advantageously, the fixing element is made of a deformable flexible material such as polyethylene or a thermoplastic elastomer.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1264554 (1918-04-01), Peron
patent: 2586687 (1952-02-01), Mellon
patent: 2861839 (1958-11-01), Mellon
patent: 3129854 (1964-04-01), Boehm et al.
patent: 5158211 (1992-10-01), Meshberg
patent: 5271532 (1993-12-01), Jumel et al.
patent: 5277340 (1994-01-01), Van Brocklin
patent: 5845819 (1998-12-01), De Pous
patent: 2699433 (1994-06-01), None
patent: WO 95/29760 (1995-11-01), None
de Pous Olivier
Jouillat Claude
Bomberg Kenneth
Rockey Milnamow & Katz Ltd.
Valois S.A.
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