Device For Closing A Liquid Product Dispenser

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for closing a dispenser of liquid products, comprising a push-button equipped with a lateral ejection aperture and characterized in that it comprises a bonnet enclosing said push-button and equipped with a vertical panel capable of closing the said aperture by rotating the said bonnet around a central pivot on the upper surface of the said push-button.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of pending International patent application PCT/FR2004/003393 filed on Dec. 27, 2004 which designates the United States.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for closing a dispenser of liquid products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most dispensers of cosmetic or pharmaceutical products in liquid or gel form have a push-button on top for operating an internal pump. This push-button is equipped with a discharge passage leading to the outside by way of a lateral ejection aperture.

This type of dispenser is usually enclosed in a bonnet that is moved back to cap the push-button.

It can often happen, however, that the user forgets to replace the bonnet after using the dispenser, resulting in rapid drying up of the product, at least the portion inside the terminal area of the discharge passage, causing a risk of blockage or of clogging. This problem is especially serious when the dispenser operates without air intake and when there is no complementary means of ensuring sealing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to provide a satisfactory solution to these technical problems.

According to the invention, this objects if fulfilled by means of a dispenser that includes an enclosure that covers said push-button and is equipped with a vertical panel 2 that can close up said aperture by rotating the said bonnet around a central pivot mounted on the upper surface of said push-button.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the lower surface of said bonnet includes at least one retaining lug that can engage slidingly in a curved groove in the upper surface of the push-button.

The extremity of said retaining lug should preferably comprise a hook that engages in a longitudinal lumen in the internal wall of said groove in the push-button.

According to another characteristic, the lower surface of the said bonnet comprises a guide cap in which said central pivot is rotatably encased.

Said pivot is advantageously equipped with a peripheral strip that can be snapped into a circular recess internally mounted on the said cap of the bonnet.

Said cap is preferably positioned in the base of a recess in the lower surface of the bonnet.

According to a specific variant, said panel comprises an interior protrusion that can be snapped, in the closed position, into an ejection aperture.

According to another variant, said panel extends downward by means of a heel that is configured to the shape of the ejection aperture.

For ergonomic and aesthetic reasons, it is expected that the edge of the upper surface of the hood is contiguous to the lateral wall of the push-button.

The arrangement of the invention ensures sealed closing of the ejection aperture while remaining directly connected with the dispenser at all times.

In addition, the closing depends on a resource that is integrated perfectly with the overall aesthetic appearance of the dispenser without any sharp angles.

The protrusion on the panel provides a snap closing, which provides the user with a guarantee of a sealed dispenser.

The invention is further elucidated by the following description, with references to the illustrations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1a and 1b show perspective views of one embodiment of the inventive device, in closed and open positions, respectively.

FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view of a dispenser equipped with the inventive device.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the components of the device seen in FIGS. 1a and 1b.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The dispenser depicted in FIGS. 1a and 1b is an airless dispenser (without air intake) intended for liquid cosmetics and comprising a product reservoir R, a pump P that can be actuated manually by a push-button 1. The push-button 1 is equipped with a discharge passage 11 linked to the atomizer tube T of the pump P and leading to the outside by a lateral ejection aperture 10.

In the depicted embodiment, the ejection aperture is positioned on the push-button at the end of a product supply spout 14.

The inventive device comprises a bonnet 2 that encloses the push-button 1 and is equipped with a vertical panel 20 that can close the aperture 10 by rotating around a central pivot 12 positioned on the upper surface 1a of the push-button 1.

The lower surface 2a of the bonnet 2 comprises at least one retaining lug 22 that can slidably engage in a curved groove 13 on the upper surface 1a of the push-button 1 and shown in FIG. 3. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the bonnet comprises three lugs 22.

The extremities of the lugs 22 comprise a hook 22a that can engage in a longitudinal lumen 14 in the internal wall of the groove 13 on the push-button.

In the embodiment illustrated sectionally in FIG. 2, the lumen 14 leads into the interior space of the body of the push-button 1, and the flange of the lumen 14 ensures vertical blocking of the hook 22a.

The lower surface 2a of the bonnet 2 comprises a guide cap 21 in which the said central pivot 12 is rotatably encased. The pivot 12 is equipped with a peripheral ring 12a that snaps into a circular recess 21a on the interior of the bonnet cap 21.

The bonnet is therefore doubly retained on the push-button: in the center, by the rotating connection between the pivot 12 and the cap 21 and, in the rear, by the sliding connection connecting from the stud 22 into the groove 13.

The cap 21 is positioned in the base of a cavity on the lower surface 2a of the bonnet 2.

As indicated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the panel 20 comprises an internal protrusion 20a capable of snapping in an insulated closed position in the ejection aperture 10 in the manner of a cork and, if desired, with an audible clicking sound.

For this purpose, the dimensions of the protrusion 20a are determined as a function of the cross-section of the aperture 10.

In the illustrated variant, the panel 20 extends downward by means of a heel 24 configured to match the shape of the spout 14 and that of the ejection aperture 10.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1a and 1b, the edge of the upper surface 2b of the bonnet 2 is contiguous, in its perimeter, with the lateral wall of the push-button 1 in a manner that matches the lines of the dispenser.

The lower surface 2a of the bonnet is in contact with the upper surface 1a of the push-button except for a zone situated around the guide cap 21 that corresponds to the recess 23 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

According to the variants that are not shown, contact between the two surfaces in question 1a, 2a is reinforced by means of a relief belt joined either with the perimeter of the recess 23 of the bonnet 2, or with the upper surface 1a of the push-button 1.

Claims

1. A device for closing a dispenser of liquid products, comprising a push-button equipped with a lateral ejection aperture and characterized in that it comprises a bonnet enclosing said push-button and equipped with a vertical panel capable of closing the said aperture by rotating the said bonnet around a central pivot on the upper surface of the said push-button.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper surface of the bonnet comprises at least one retaining stud engaging slidably in a curved groove in the upper surface of the push-button.

3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the extremity of the said bears a hook that can engage in a longitudinal lumen on the internal wall of the said groove of the push-button.

4. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower surface of the said bonnet comprises a guide cap in which the said central pivot is rotatably encased.

5. A device according to claim 3, characterized in that the said pivot is equipped with a peripheral ring that can snap into a circular recess on the interior of the said cap of the bonnet.

6. A device according to claim 3, characterized in that the said cap is positioned in the base of a recess on the lower surface of said bonnet.

7. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the said panel bears an interior protrusion capable of snapping in closed position in the ejection aperture.

8. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the said panel is extended downward by a heel configured to match the shape of the ejection aperture.

9. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge of the upper surface of the bonnet is in contact with the lateral wall of the push-button.

10. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the lower surface of the said bonnet comprises a guide cap in which the said central pivot is rotatably encased.

11. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that the said cap is positioned in the base of a recess on the lower surface of said bonnet.