Device for packaging and dispensing a liquid or semi-liquid substance

• US 5,788,124 A
• Filed: 04/12/1996
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sofab
• Original Assignee: Sofab
• Inventors: Lompech, Herve, Amiel, Pierre, Dumont, Pierre, Bougamont, Jean-Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Bomberg, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US08/631,001
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 222/207, 222/321.1, 222/321.7, 222/321.9, 222/256, 222/257, 222/260
• US Class Current: 222/207
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/028 Pistons separating the content remaining in the container from the atmospheric air to compensate underpressure inside the container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1076 Traction springs, e.g. stretchable sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1094 having inlet or outlet valves not being actuated by pressure or having no inlet or outlet valve
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0033 the piston being a follower-piston and the dispensing means comprising a hand-operated pressure-device at the opposite part of the container

Abstract

A device for packaging and dispensing a liquid or semi-liquid substance (P) in which a substance (P) in a receptacle (1), which is closed in a sealed manner firstly at a top by a cap (2) and secondly at a bottom by an internally movable punt (5), is compressed. The device includes an elastically deformable membrane (4) received in the top of the receptacle (1). The membrane (4) is formed by a substantially frustoconical axial valve (40) having a top portion provided with a central ejection orifice (41), a middle portion running into a channel section ring (42) and a bottom portion provided with a stretchable thin skirt (43) connected to a flange (44). The skirt (43) extends upwards along an internal wall of the receptacle (1). The flange (44) fixes the membrane (4) to the receptacle (1). A nozzle-forming tube (3) passes axially through the cap (2) of the receptacle (1). The tube (3) has a top end (31) projecting outside the receptacle (1) and an internal bottom end. The bottom end is provided with an element for bearing against the membrane (4) and a closure element (33) for closing the ejection orifice (41).

Claims

1. A device for packaging and dispensing a liquid or semi-liquid substance (P), comprising:

a receptacle including a top and a bottom;

the top closed in a sealed manner firstly by a cap (2) and the bottom closed by an internally movable punt (5);

means for compressing the substance including an elastically deformable membrane (4) received in the top of the receptacle (1), said membrane (4) including a substantially frustocononical axial valve (40);

a top portion provided with a central ejection orifice (41), a middle portion terminating at a channel section ring (42) and provided with a stretchable thin skirt (43) connected to a flange (44), said skirt (43) extending upwards along an internal wall of the receptacle (1) and said flange (44) arranged to cooperate with the receptacle so as to fix the membrane (4) to the receptacle (1); and

a nozzle-forming tube (3) passing axially through the cap (2) of the receptacle (1), said tube (3) having a top end (31) projecting outside the receptacle (1), an internal bottom end provided with an element (32a) for bearing against the membrane (4) and a closure element (33) for cooperating with axial valve (40) of the membrane (4) for closing the ejection orifice (41).

2. A device for packaging and dispensing a liquid or semi-liquid substance (P) according to claim 1, wherein said cap (2) covers the top of the receptacle (1) such that the flange (44) is held between the cap (2) and the receptacle (1) for fixing the membrane (4) to the receptacle (1).

3. A device for packaging and dispensing a liquid or semi-liquid substance (P) according to claim 1, wherein said element for bearing against the membrane (4) further includes a peripheral hood (32) surrounding the closure element.

4. A device for packaging and dispensing a liquid or semi-liquid substance (P) according to claim 3, wherein said hood (32) has a bottom edge which includes a tapering rim (32a).

5. A device for packaging and dispensing a liquid or semi-liquid substance (P) according to claim 1, wherein said closure element for closing the ejection orifice (41) comprises a central nose (33) surrounded by a cavity (34) which communicates with an internal duct (31a) of the tube (3) via a lateral opening (35).

6. A device for packaging and dispensing a liquid or semi-liquid substance (P) according to claim 1, wherein said movable punt (5) comprises an element that is slidable towards the tube (3) and is self locking in the receptacle against reverse motion, said element being substantially cylindrical having a convex and elastically deformable top wall (51) arranged so as to be continuously in contact with the substance (P) and having a peripheral side wall (52) arranged so as to frictionally jam against an internal side face of the receptacle (1) to provide the self-locking effect.

7. A device for packaging and dispensing a liquid or semi-liquid substance (P) according to claim 6, wherein said top wall (51) of the movable punt (5) has a peripheral edge (50) with a profile that serves to scrape the substance (P) on the internal side face of the receptacle (1) when the punt (5) slides toward the tube (3) and serves to seal the bottom of the receptacle (1).

8. A device for packaging and dispensing a liquid or semi-liquid substance (P) according to claim 6, wherein said movable punt (5) further comprises a set of downwardly sloping flexible blades (53) beneath the top wall (51), said blades having ends which bear against the internal side face of the receptacle (1) to reinforce the locking of the punt (5).

9. A device for packaging and dispensing a liquid or semi-liquid substance (P) according to claim 1, wherein said top end (31) of the tube (3) is covered by a dispensing endpiece (6).