Fluid transfer device

p0001The present invention relates to a fluid transfer device.

p0002There are already transfer devices comprising in particular a sleeve provided with a supply upstream end and an outlet downstream end optionally sealed by a stopper.

p0003Such devices are typically used on containers of viscous liquid products. In this use, the upstream end of the sleeve communicates, at the bottom, with the container on which it is fixed, while its upper downstream end opens to the outside in a direction inclined relative to the axis of said container.

p0004However in such devices, the inclination or curvature of the sleeve is fixed at the manufacturing stage. In some cases, there is provided a free rotation of the sleeve along its axis of revolution, thereby slightly changing the orientation of the downstream end of discharge.

p0005However, the setting options are limited and are insufficient, especially for applications where it is necessary to give the sleeve complex geometries in order to bring the product in hard to reach areas.

p0006In addition, traditional devices are bulky, the fact that the sleeve protrudes beyond the upper part of the container.

p0007The present invention aims to solve the above technical problems or at least mitigate them.

p0008This object is achieved according to the invention, by means of a fluid transfer device comprising a sleeve provided with a supply upstream end and a downstream discharge end, optionally closed by a stopper, characterized in that said sleeve is rotatable in all directions and stably, remanent and reversible, being formed of a succession of articulated segments, consisting of a rigid wall downstream and upstream of an elastically deformable wall capable of s' retract, at least partially, under said downstream wall for allowing, by click, compression and / or bending of said sleeve.

p0009According to an advantageous characteristic, the upstream and downstream walls are inclined inwardly of the sleeve and are connected to the larger diameter by an arcade.

p0010Preferably, the inclination between the upstream and downstream walls is in the unfolded state of between 30 ° and 90 °.

p0011Said bridge is tangent to the downstream wall for stiffening and describes a quarter meridian before connecting to the upstream wall, thereby forming a first articulation to said wall.

p0012According to another characteristic, said segments are separated by a peripheral groove whose downstream edge forms a second joint to the upstream wall.

p0013In general, the sleeve generatrices define a cylinder of revolution optionally.

p0014According to a particular embodiment, the upstream and downstream walls of the segments are frustoconical and are joined by a yoke ring so as to define the substantially annular segments.

p0015According to another embodiment, the sleeve has a section consisting of two semicircles connected by straight segments tangent.

p0016Alternatively, the downstream end of the sleeve has a thread for screwing on a cap.

p0017According to another variant, the diameter of the segments, that is to say, if applicable, that of the arch joining surface, is variable from the upstream end to the downstream end of the sleeve.

p0018Another object of the invention is a use of the above device by integration in a packaging to ensure discharge of said product from a liquid product container.

p0019The device of the invention allows to direct the downstream end relative to the upstream end of the sleeve in complex geometries, stable remanent and reversible.

p0020It can be used as an attachment to a container or as an independent tool and can even serve as a connecting element between two fluid conduit sections.

p0021The compression of the sleeve reduces the overall packaging footprint, which has advantages in ecological terms for disposable packaging. Furthermore, bending the sleeve provides both flexibility and ease of use.

p0022In the folded state, the sleeve therefore takes up very little space, which has further advantages economically and aesthetically. Under these conditions, it can easily integrate with a product of conditioning, being equipped with a cap or hooded inside a cover.

p0023This device is, in particular, its application in the field of maintenance or DIY products, lubricants, drugs, cosmetics ....

p0024The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, accompanying drawings, in which:<ul><li>1a, 1b, 1c and 1d show side views of a first embodiment of the device of the invention in different positions;</li><li>2a shows a partial sectional view of the embodiment of Figures 1a to 1d in the position of Figure 1a;</li><li>2b shows a partial sectional view of the embodiment of Figures 1a to 1d in the position of Figure 1c;</li><li>3 shows a top view of the embodiment of Figures 1a to 1d in the position of Figure 1a or 1b.</li><li>4a and 4b show side views of an application of the embodiment of Figures 1a to 1d, respectively</li></ul> in the positions of Figures 1b and 1c.

p0025The device of the invention as shown in Figures 1a-1d is used to transfer fluids and particularly liquids.

p0026For this purpose, it comprises a sleeve 1 provided with an upstream end 1a fluid supply and a discharge end 1b of said fluid.

p0027Preferably, the upstream end 1a has a supply port 10a while the downstream end 10b 1b has a dispensing orifice, formed by the opening of a neck 2, realized in one piece with the sleeve 1 or in the form of an insert.

p0028According to the invention, the sleeve 1 can be oriented in all directions from the extended position of Figure 1a to take the positions shown in Figures 1b, 1c or 1d.

p0029The sleeve 1 is here formed in the manner of a bellows, of a succession of three segments 11, 12, 13 articulated.

p0030The segments 11, 12, 13 are each constituted by an upstream wall 11a, 12a, 13a, elastically deformable and a downstream wall 11b, 12b, 13b, rigid. The upstream wall 11a, 12a, 13a may be retracted completely (Figure 1b) or partially (figures 1c and 1d) in the downstream wall 11b, 12b, 13b.

p0031The retraction of the upstream wall is accompanied by a click and allows compression of the sleeve 1 along the axis X (Figure 1b), its flexion to move the neck 2, along the Y axis by an angle β with X axis (Figure 1c) or any combination of compression in X and bending to cause the neck 2, according to the axis Y 'forming an angle θ with the X axis (Figure 1d). All positions obtained by these strains are stable, persistent and reversible.

p00322a shows a partial sectional view of the sleeve 1 in extension, in the position of Figure 1a.

p0033The upstream walls 11a, 12a and downstream 11b, 12b of the segments 11,12 are inclined inwardly of the sleeve 1 in the direction of the axis X and are connected to the larger diameter by a yoke ring 10 of axis X .

p0034In another embodiment, not shown, the diameter of the yoke, and thus that of the rings, is variable along the axis of revolution X, for example by decreasing the upstream end 1a toward the downstream end 1b, in the manner of a funnel.

p0035The angle α between the upstream and downstream walls of each segment 11, 12 is determined depending, in particular the dimensions of the sleeve, the thickness of its wall and in particular the nature of the material used for its realization. Preferably, the sleeve is made with a polymer plastic such as a polyolefin.

p0036This angle α is generally between 30 ° and 90 °, when the sleeve 1 is in the unfolded position of FIG 1a.

p0037The yoke ring 10 is tangent to the downstream wall 11b, 12b to rigidify.

p0038However, the yoke 10 describes a quarter meridian m upstream, before connecting to the upstream wall 11a, 12a, thereby defining a peripheral inflection row i which forms a first joint to said wall.

p0039The segments 11, 12, 13 are separated by peripheral grooves g which facilitate the retraction of the upstream wall 11a, 12a and increase the freedom in bending of the sleeve 1.

p0040The grooves g are, here, a U-section but may, according to a variant not shown, have a V-section

p00412b shows a partial view in section of the sleeve 1 of Figure 2a in the position of Figure 1c.

p0042In this position, the sleeve 1 is bent so as to orient the neck 2 along the Y axis by an angle β with the axis X of revolution.

p0043The upper surface of the sleeve 1 is then extended while its lower surface is compressed.

p0044The maximum deflection is when all the upstream walls 11a, 12a, 13a of the segments are retracted to the underside of the sleeve 1.

p0045During the retraction phase, the upstream walls 11a, 12a, 13a, undergo both elastic deformation and a pivot downstream over a portion of their periphery. This pivoting takes place, on the one hand about the axis of the first articulation which is tangent to the inflection line i and on the other hand, about an axis tangent to the downstream edge of the peripheral grooves g , thereby forming a second joint.

p0046At the end of retraction, the upstream walls extend substantially parallel to the downstream walls 11b, 12b, 13b corresponding who suffered no deformation or pivoting.

p0047The change of geometry of the sleeve 1 to the unfolded position (Figure 2a) to the folded position (Figure 2b) is therefore carried out by means of a combination of a strain and a double pivot upstream walls and via a unstable transitional state of maximum stress which causes a click.

p0048Figure 3 shows sleeve 1 in a top view with its downstream end 1b apparent. In this embodiment, the generatrices of the sleeve 1 define a cylinder of revolution of axis X. The section of this cylinder is made here of two semicircles connected by straight segments tangent. Generally the outer surface or shell of the sleeve 1 is obtained by sliding a complex line in a plane and called generator, on a closed line, in another plane, and called the director. The contact point is fixed on the generator. The plan of the director and the generator are perpendicular plane and the generator constantly plan contains the normal to the director at the contact point. Normal to the plane of the director, in the center of it, is the X axis of the sleeve. If the director has no geometric center, the sleeve axis is defined that direction.

p0049The segment 13b downstream wall extends to the downstream end 1b by a threaded neck 2, defining a discharge port 10b.

p0050According to another embodiment, not shown, the upstream and downstream walls are tapered to form substantially annular segments axis X. In this case, the section of the sleeve 1 is circular.

p00514a and 4b show side views of a particular application of the transfer device of the invention.

p0052In this application, the sleeve 1 is mounted on the upper part of a receptacle R.

p0053The sleeve 1 may be made in one piece with the receptacle R or screwed onto the top of said container around an outlet.

p0054The sleeve 1 is further provided with a neck 2 provided with a thread onto which is screwed a plug 3.