Dispensing – Outlet element operated by pressure of contents
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-12
2004-12-07
Nicolas, Frederick C. (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Outlet element operated by pressure of contents
C222S212000, C222S213000, C222S494000, C222S562000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06827241
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sealing device for a container, making it possible to preserve the product contained in said container from contact with the ambient air or from soiling with a foreign body originating from outside the container.
This container may in particular be a “tube”, that is to say an envelope one longitudinal end of which has a neck and the other longitudinal end of which is closed by squeezing and assembling, particularly by welding, the walls of this envelope.
The product may be any product which it is important be protected against contact with the air or against dirt, particularly a cosmetic product, a food product or a product for medical use.
The invention also relates to a sealing device for a container as a structure of a container intended to contain two substances separately and to allow these substances to mix at the time of their use.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
International (PCT) application No. WO 97/47531 describes a sealing device comprising a cylindrical part intended to be inserted in the neck of a container and two ducts for the flow of the product contained in this container. Said cylindrical part comprises a groove giving it the shape of a “diabolo” and is covered with an elastomer diaphragm which hugs it closely. This diaphragm, through its elastic deformation as a result of pressure on the container, allows the product to flow out between it and said cylindrical part, and is pressed against this cylindrical part in the absence of such pressure, which means that it acts like a valve.
This device is satisfactory in practice but does, however, have the disadvantage of entailing that the shapes of said cylindrical part and of said diaphragm exactly complement each other, failing which sealing is not obtained. This complementing of shapes entails recourse to overmolding techniques which are relatively complicated to implement.
In addition, it is not precluded for there to be a space between said cylindrical part and the diaphragm, in which space a quantity of product may stagnate. This quantity of product may be contaminated with air to a greater or lesser extent, and this is not desirable in the case of a cosmetic product, a food product or products for medical use. The stopper described in this same prior international application is not suitable to every type of container, and this is a certain impediment in practice.
Document GB-A-214 548 describes a sealing diaphragm which has to be stretched out to be placed over a sealing bearing surface with which it is intended to collaborate. This stretching leads to significant difficulties in the manufacture of the container.
Document WO 98/14387 describes a sealing membrane of cylindrical shape placed over a sealing bearing surface of corresponding cylindrical shape and housed thereon by means of the engagement of an annular projection secured to the diaphragm in a groove formed in said sealing bearing surface. Aside from the difficulties in fitting it, the seal obtained does not seem to be perfect.
Furthermore, an existing container generally comprises a screw-on stopper, which, although affording the product contained in the container good protection is, on the other hand, relatively difficult to manufacture and handle. Other containers have flip-up lids, which are easier to manufacture and to manipulate than screw-on stoppers but which would not perfectly protect the product contained in the container from air or dirt.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a diaphragm-type sealing device of the aforementioned type which is easier to manufacture, by means of a molding technique which is relatively simple and inexpensive to perform, making it possible to obtain a perfect seal and which can be suited to any type of container, particularly those which have caps fitted onto their neck.
Another object of the invention is to effectively dispense with the risk of contamination by the ambient air or of soiling with foreign bodies, with the quantity of product that can stagnate between the product outlet orifice from the container and the diaphragm that forms the diaphragm.
The device comprises, in a way known per se, a diaphragm valve consisting of a part forming the valve seat, in which part a duct for the flow of the product contained in the container is made, and of a diaphragm made of elastically deformable material fitted closely over this seat-forming part; this diaphragm, through elastic deformation, the result of pressure exerted on the product contained in the container allows this product to flow out between it and the seat-forming part, and in the absence of such pressure, presses against this seat-forming part to shut off the flow of product and close the container in a sealed manner.
According to the invention,
said seat-forming part has a conical or cylindro-conical overall shape and has a cross section which increases toward the orifice via which the product flows out of said valve;
said diaphragm has a conical or cylindro-conical overall shape corresponding to that of said seat-forming part, this shape being such that this diaphragm can be fitted closely onto or into this seat-forming part, and
said diaphragm and said container comprise respective bearing means collaborating with one another when the sealing device is mounted on the container so as to hold the diaphragm in its position of close fitting onto or into said seat-forming part.
Thus, according to the invention, said seat-forming part and said diaphragm can be produced independently of one another then assembled together by push-fitting to constitute the sealing device; said bearing means of the diaphragm with respect to the container therefore allow the diaphragm to be immobilized axially with respect to the seat-forming part.
This seat-forming part and this diaphragm can therefore be manufactured using molding techniques which are relatively conventional and simple to operate, and the sealing device according to the invention is no longer, as it was in the prior art, dependent on a close fitting engagement into the neck of the bottle.
The seat-forming part and the diaphragm are advantageously shaped to allow the diaphragm to be stretched out circumferentially slightly over the seat-forming part or to allow this diaphragm to be contracted circumferentially slightly in the seat-forming part, in said position of close fitting.
This circumferential stretching or this circumferential shrinking make it possible to absorb any respective dimensional variations in the seat-forming part and in the diaphragm as a result of the tolerances on the manufacture thereof.
Said bearing means may advantageously extend over the entire circumference of the diaphragm and be shaped to be able to constitute a seal between the part of the container forming the product reservoir and the neck of the container and/or between this neck and a part such as a cap that the end of the container may take.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the seat-forming part is molded with a part, particularly a cap, intended to be mounted, for example by snap-fastening, on the neck of the container.
Advantageously, in this case,
the diaphragm comprises a bulge which, when said part is fitted onto the container, bears against a bearing surface formed in the neck of the container, and/or
the diaphragm has a collar projecting radially outward and shaped so that, when said part is fitted onto the container, it is gripped between the neck and this part.
Advantageously, the seat-forming part has a rib projecting from its wall, radially and toward the outside thereof, this rib being situated between the duct via which the product can be introduced between the seat-forming part and the diaphragm and the duct via which this product escapes from between this seat-forming part and this diaphragm toward the outlet orifice, the two orifices of these ducts situated closest to each other being formed near this rib.
Said rib thus collaborates with the diaphragm to form a linear seal that marke
Nicolas Frederick C.
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
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