Assembly for dispensing a fluid product

The present invention relates to a fluid product distribution assembly, more particularly suitable for distributing pasty products, such as creams, gels, ointments, etc. The present invention will find a privileged application in the fields of cosmetics, pharmacy or even perfumery.

In the prior art, document FR 2 822 808 is already known which describes a fluid product distribution assembly comprising a distributor and a conditioning 10 that envelops the distributor. The distributor is presented in the form of a relatively flat bag that defines a distribution hole in one of its edges. This distribution hole is initially sealed by a plug that can be removed, especially by plucking. The conditioning conceals the bag, but defines a notch in which the removable cap is placed. For this, the notch is defined on a lateral edge of the conditioning.

The drawback with this type of distribution set is that it is difficult for the user to recover the fluid product distributed by the distributor. Indeed, after having removed the removable cap, the user presses the conditioner, which is intended to crush the distributor bag. Accordingly, fluid product is distributed through the distribution hole 25 located at the bottom of the conditioning notch. It is understood that it is not easy to recover the product at the bottom of a small notch. Thus, it often happens that fluid product is spread inside the packaging just next to the distribution hole. This prior art distribution set 30 is therefore not truly adapted for the distribution of pasty products such as creams. Rather, it is appropriate for more fluid products, such as perfume, that are sprayed. There is no recovery of fluid product directly at the outlet of the distribution hole. 35

Another conditioning set is known from FR 2 822 809.

The present invention therefore aims to define a fluid product distribution assembly more suitable for the distribution of pasty or creamy product. 5 The fluid product must be easily recovered by the user without spreading everywhere. The assembly must be able to grip easily to allow the user to easily recover the fluid product. The set must also be aesthetic and allow a simple and wide addition of 10 indications of any kind, such as a brand, a logo, a decorative element or a text.

To achieve these different objects, the present invention proposes a fluid product distribution assembly, comprising a fluid product distributor comprising a fluid product reservoir and a sealing element, the reservoir comprising at least one flexible sheet provided with a cut-out opening in the sheet, the sealing element being mounted in said opening, and a flexible coating that envelops the distributor, twenty the covering comprising a window through which the sealing element can be accessed, characterized in that the opening and the window define respective peripheral edges overlapping planes. Contrary to the prior art distribution assembly, in which the distribution hole is located laterally at one edge, the distribution hole of the present invention is located in the flexible sheet, that is, away from the edges of the sheet and of the coating. The distribution hole is therefore located on a substantially flat surface which therefore favors the recovery of the distributed fluid product. According to the invention, the opening and the window define respective flat peripheral edges that are positioned one above the other in an overlapping manner. Preferably, the distributor is fixed so

definitive in the coating. However, it can also be conceived to be able to remove the distributor from its coating. Advantageously, the sealing element comprises definitive or removable maintenance means suitable for fixedly receiving the peripheral edge of the window. Preferably, the maintenance means comprise an external peripheral channel in which the edge of the window is housed, advantageously by snap fit. Thus, it is not even necessary to glue the distributor inside the lining. However, in certain cases, an alternative or additional bonding is performed.

According to another aspect of the invention, the window is initially closed by a removable cover. Advantageously, the cover is formed by the lining and delimited by predetermined areas of breakage. Before the first use, the user removes the removable cover and thus accesses the sealing element. Preferably, the removable cover cannot be replaced, so that its removal indicates to the user that it is the first use of the assembly. The removable cover therefore fulfills a safety function of first use. In addition, the removable cover aesthetically completes the coating so that a decorative element can extend throughout the coating, including the cover.

According to a practical embodiment, the distributor comprises a front sheet and a back sheet, advantageously connected forming a single piece, the sheets being sealed to each other by their peripheries, the front sheet forming the opening, advantageously cut in a substantially central manner in the front sheet, the sealing element comprising a peripheral flange on which a peripheral edge of the opening is fixed, advantageously by welding. On the other hand, the coating can comprise a front face and a back face, advantageously connected to each other forming a single piece, the front face forming the window, advantageously cut substantially centrally on the front sheet, the distributor being arranged between the front face and rear face with the shutter element located at the window level. Advantageously, the coating further comprises a sealing flap, advantageously connected forming a single piece to the front face, the rear face being fixed to this flap to re-close the container on the distributor. The coating thus forms a kind of case whose face is perforated by a window. The window can have the most diverse forms possible. Advantageously it may be centered, or on the contrary be eccentrically arranged. The coating can be made from a single sheet of paper, cardboard, plastic material, metal or a mixture thereof.

According to an interesting embodiment of the invention, the sealing element defines a fluid product distribution hole, advantageously arranged in a fluid product recovery cuvette, and comprises a removable sealing cover suitable for sealing the hole and for covering advantageously the 20 recovery tray. Thus, in each distribution of fluid product, the user can recover it in the recovery tank and then seal the distribution hole by closing the sealing cover again.

Advantageously, the distribution assembly may have a generally flat configuration defining a plane, the distribution opening extending along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to said plane.

A principle of the invention is to aesthetically and functionally coat a distributor whose fluid product outlet 30 is located on a substantially flat sheet. The hole is not located between two sheets, but on the contrary in a single sheet that is cut so that it forms an opening that does not extend to the edge of the sheet. Therefore, the opening will be surrounded by a sealing line that allows the sheet provided with the opening to be fixed to another element, such as another sheet.

The invention will now be described more fully in reference to the accompanying drawings which provide, by way of non-limiting examples, two embodiments of the invention.

In the figures:

- Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a fluid product distribution assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention during assembly,

- Figure 2 is a view of the distribution assembly of Figure 1 in assembled state,

- Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the distributor in the open position, 15

- Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 for a second embodiment of the invention,

- Figure 5 is a view of the distribution assembly of Figure 4 in assembled condition after removal of the removable cover, 20

- Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 for the second embodiment of the invention,

- Figure 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through the distribution assembly of Figures 1 to 3 in the closed state, 25

- Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 with the distributor in the open state, and

- Figure 9 is a perspective view of the sealing element used in the first embodiment of the invention in its state at the module outlet. 30

Reference will first be made to Figures 1 to 3 and 7 to 9 to describe in detail the first embodiment of a fluid product distribution assembly according to the invention. This assembly comprises three constituent elements, namely a reservoir 1 of fluid product, a sealing element 2 and a liner 3. The reservoir 1 and the sealing element 2 are assembled to constitute a distributor of fluid product.

The tank 1 is made of a flexible material, such as sheets formed from a complex 5 laminated of aluminum and plastic. You can also use simple sheets of plastic, paper, metal, etc. The tank is presented in the form of a flat bag comprising a front sheet 11 and a back sheet 12 that can be advantageously connected to form a single piece, that is to say with a common edge 112. The deposit can also be made from two separate sheets 11 and 12. The sheets 11 and 12 are arranged superimposed and sealed by their periphery 13. The sealing can be advantageously carried out by welding. It is therefore advantageous to use plastic sheets or with a plastic coating. Sealing can be performed throughout the periphery of the sheets, including at the level of the common edge 112. In practice, the sealing is carried out on three sides, the side formed by the common edge 112 not being sealed. According to an interesting feature of the invention, the front sheet 11 is formed with an opening 14 defining a peripheral edge 15. This opening 14 is formed in this case substantially in the center of the sheet 11. It is also possible to place this opening 14 in a non-centered manner, although always away from the outer edges of the sheet 11. In other words, the opening 14 is completely surrounded by a peripheral edge 15 formed by the sheet 11. The opening 14 thus extends in the plane of the sheet 11, as is the peripheral edge 15. 30

The sealing element 2 is located at the level of the opening 14 of the sheet 11 so as to close the opening 14. The sealing element 2 has the function of allowing the exit of the fluid product stored inside the tank 1. , the sealing element defines a fluid product distribution hole 210 that communicates the inside of the tank with the outside. Advantageously, the sealing element comprises a plugging element for sealing the distribution opening. Reference will now be made to Figures 7, 8 and 9 to describe in detail a non-limiting embodiment of a sealing element according to the invention. This sealing element comprises three pieces, although they can be made in a single piece. Thus, the sealing element comprises a bottom 21 that defines a recovery cuvette 211, the distribution hole 210 10 as well as a peripheral edging 212. The recovery tray 211 has a preferably concave configuration. The distribution hole 210 is located in the center of the cuvette 211. The peripheral edging 212 surrounds the recovery cuvette 211. The outer peripheral edge of the cuvette 211 protrudes beyond the edging 212. The second piece of the sealing element is a crown 22 which is advantageously connected to the bottom 21 by a bridge 24 of material. The crown forms an annular fastening zone 222 surrounding an outstanding annular flange 224. The flange defines an annular peripheral channel 223 which will serve as a maintenance means for the lining 3, as will be seen later in this document. The crown 22 is arranged on the edging 212 so that it surrounds the recovery tray 211. This can be seen in Figures 7 and 8. However, at the exit of the mold, as shown in Figure 9, the crown 22 is located in the same plane as the bottom 21. It is then possible to add the crown 22 on the bottom 21 by pivoting deforming the bridge 24 of material. The annular peripheral fixing zone 222 extends around the channel 223. This fixing zone 222 will serve to fix the sheet 11 of the tank. More precisely, as can be seen in Figures 7 and 8, the edge 15 of the opening 14 is sealed, advantageously by welding, over the crown fixing zone 222 22. The

Of course, instead of this particular sealing element of Figures 7 to 9, any appropriate sealing element that allows the exit of fluid product from a reservoir formed from one or two flexible sheets can be used. The removable seal cover is even optional.

The coating 3 comprises a front face 31 and a rear face 32, these two faces being able to be connected in one piece by means of a common edge 312. The front face 31 is formed with a window 34 defining a peripheral edge 35. In the example shown, the window 34 is located substantially in the center of the front face 31 35. On the other hand, the coating also comprises a sealing flap 33 which in this case is connected to the front face 31. The flap 33 can be formed by forming a single piece with the front face 31 defining a common edge 313, which is advantageously parallel to the edge 312 that connects the front face with the rear face. The first assembly stage consists in adding the distributor 1 against the front face 31 so that the sealing element 2 is placed in the window 34. The edge of the window can advantageously snap into the channel 223 of the sealing element 10 . The sheet 11 of the tank can also be glued to the inside of the front face 31. The second assembly operation consists of folding the flap 33 on the distributor 1 so that it is in contact with the backsheet 12. The third operation consists in lowering the rear face 32 on the distributor 1 so that the rear face 32 is in contact with the rear sheet 12. The backsheet 12 can be glued to the backside 32. The rear face 32 is finally fixed to the flap 33, advantageously by gluing or welding. The distributor 1 is then completely wrapped by the liner 3. This is represented in Figure 2. However, the distributor 1 can be seen from the open sides of the liner 3. However, it is not excluded to form the liner 3 with side flaps (not 25 shown) that allow the liner 3 to be completely closed on the distributor 1, so that it is no longer visible at all, except at the level of its sealing element 2 .

The user then only has to lift the cover 30 23 breaking the bridges 233 of material to uncover the distribution hole 210 and its recovery tank 211. By pressing on the liner 3 by bringing the front face towards the rear face, the reservoir 1 deforms and the fluid product it contains is placed under pressure so that it is forced to flow through the distribution hole 211. The user can then recover the accumulated fluid product in the recovery tank 211. After use, the user can close the cover 23 again to seal the hole 210. Referring again to Figures 7 and 8, it can be seen that the peripheral edge 35 of the window 34 extends over the crown 22 of the element 2 shutter. Advantageously, the peripheral edge 35 is inserted into the channel 223 formed by the crown 22. However, it is not excluded to fix the edge 35 on the crown, for example 10 by gluing or welding. The maintenance of the edge 35 in the channel 223 can be done by snap fit. In the absence of channel 223, the distributor 1 can be kept inside the lining 3 in any way, for example by gluing. Edge 35 can be housed around 15 of flange 224 over zone 222. This allows the distributor to be centered, and more particularly, its sealing element with respect to the window 34.

The coating 3 is made of a flexible material, such as paper, cardboard, plastic or metal. 20 Once wrapped around the distributor 1, the front face 31, and advantageously the rear face 32, have a certain flexibility that allows their deformation to approximate and move them away from each other.

Referring now to Figures 4 to 6, a second embodiment can be observed that constitutes a variant of the first. The distributor 1 may be sensitive or totally identical to that of the first embodiment. As for the lining 3, it differs from that of the first embodiment in that the window 34 is initially closed by a cover 36 which is advantageously formed by forming a single piece on the front face 31. The cover 36 is delimited by predetermined rupture zones 37 that may be previously clipped or weakened zones. To detach the window, as shown in Figure 5, it is sufficient that the user pulls the removable cover 36 to separate it from the sheet 31 in the predetermined areas 37 of breakage. Then, the user can use the set as in the first embodiment. The removable cover 36 allows the integrity of the front face 31 to be preserved so that 5 can be decorated without interruption in the window. It is possible to emboss the cover 36 to be embossed with respect to the rest of the front face 31. In this way, the cover 36 can be placed on the cover 23 and the flange 224 of the sealing element with the edge 35 of the window that is housed in the channel 223 or at least around the flange 224.

Thanks to the invention, a fluid product distribution assembly is available that can be used as a traditional boat keeping the recovery tank 211 horizontal. The user holds the assembly with one hand and presses on the front face 31 to release the fluid product. The user can then recover the product with the help of the other hand. After use, the user can close the cover again, guaranteeing a perfect seal. The coating 3 allows, of course, aesthetically improving the distributor 1, although it also allows a better resistance of the assembly in the hand and considerably increases the surface of addition of indications, such as a decorative element, a logo, a brand or any Other legal or useful indication. 25 The distribution set has a reduced thickness of the order of a few millimeters. It is relatively flat so that it fits into a plane. This allows to insert it in magazines as an advertising sample. However, it should be noted that the distribution hole 210 extends perpendicular to the plane of the assembly.