IP Library Granted Patent US 7,798,375
Granted Patent B2
US 7,798,375 · App. 10/578,407 · Granted Sep 21, 2010

Pump for distributing a fluid product

Assignee: Valois S.A.S.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,798,375
App. No.
10/578,407
Granted
Sep 21, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pump for distributing a fluid product is provided. The pump includes: a pump body ( 10 ); a pump chamber ( 20 ); at least one first piston ( 72 ) sliding inside the pump chamber ( 20 ) for distributing the fluid product; a distribution orifice ( 45 ); an obturator ( 38 ) that can be displaced and/or deformed between a closed position of the distribution orifice ( 45 ) and an open position of the distribution orifice ( 45 ), the chamber including an inlet valve ( 70 ) separating the pump chamber ( 20 ) from a dip tube ( 18 ) extending toward a fluid product reservoir ( 60 ); and a bypass passage ( 74 ) provided between the dip tube ( 18 ) and the pump chamber ( 20 ), the bypass passage ( 74 ) being placed upstream from the inlet valve ( 70 ) and connecting the pump chamber ( 20 ) to the dip tube ( 18 ) when the pump is primed.

Claims (24)

1. Fluid product dispensing pump comprising:

a pump body ( 10 );

a pump chamber ( 20 );

at least a first piston ( 72 ) sliding in the said pump chamber ( 20 ) to dispense the fluid product;

a dispensing orifice ( 45 ); and

a closer ( 38 ) displaceable or deformable between a closing position of the dispensing orifice ( 45 ) and an open position of the dispensing orifice ( 45 ),

wherein said pump chamber ( 20 ) comprises an inlet valve ( 70 ) separating the pump chamber ( 20 ) from a dip tube ( 18 ) extending to a reservoir ( 60 ) of fluid product, said inlet valve ( 70 ) comprising an inlet valve seat ( 71 ), and

a bypass passage ( 74 ) being provided between the said dip tube ( 18 ) and the said pump chamber ( 20 ), the said bypass passage ( 74 ) being arranged upstream of the said inlet valve ( 70 ), the said bypass passage ( 74 ) being a lateral hole formed in said inlet valve seat ( 71 ), and the said bypass passage connecting the pump chamber ( 20 ) to the dip tube ( 18 ) when the pump is primed.

2. Pump according to claim 1 , in which the pump body ( 10 ) is made in a single piece with the said closer ( 38 ).

3. Pump according to claim 1 , in which the inlet valve ( 70 ) comprises the inlet valve seat ( 71 ) fixed to the first piston ( 72 ) and a valve element ( 75 ), the said first piston ( 72 ) sliding in a leak tight manner in the said pump body ( 10 ), the said pump body ( 10 ) comprising an opening ( 32 ) cooperating with the first piston ( 72 ) at the time of priming to open the said bypass passage ( 74 ) and to enable air contained in the pump chamber ( 20 ) to escape through the dip tube ( 18 ) in the reservoir ( 60 ) before the pump is actuated for the first time.

4. Pump according to claim 1 , in which the said pump comprises a dispensing head ( 40 ) incorporating the said dispensing orifice ( 45 ).

5. Pump according to claim 4 , in which the said closer ( 38 ) comprises a second piston ( 34 ) cooperating in a leak tight manner with the head ( 40 ) in any position, and a third piston ( 35 ) that can be moved with respect to the said head ( 40 ) between a sealed closing position and an open position, the said third piston ( 35 ) separating the dispensing chamber ( 20 ) into two parts, a first part ( 21 ) of the dispensing chamber arranged between the closer ( 38 ) and the said third piston ( 35 ) and a second part ( 23 ) of the dispensing chamber arranged between the said third piston ( 35 ) and the said second piston ( 34 ).

6. Pump according to claim 5 , in which the said second part ( 23 ) of the pump chamber ( 20 ) is connected to the said bypass passage ( 74 ).

7. Pump according to claim 6 , in which when the third piston ( 35 ) moves to its open position during actuation in which it connects the said first and second parts ( 21 , 23 ) of the pump chamber ( 20 ), a part of the product contained in the said pump chamber ( 20 ) may be discharged through the said bypass passage ( 74 ) into the dip tube ( 18 ) and into the reservoir ( 60 ).

8. Pump according to claim 6 , in which the second part ( 23 ) of the pump chamber ( 20 ) is connected to the said bypass passage ( 74 ) through a passage ( 33 ) provided between the said second and third pistons ( 34 , 35 ).

9. Pump according to claim 5 , in which the said second and third pistons ( 34 , 35 ) are made in a single piece.

10. Pump according to claim 5 , in which the said second piston ( 34 ) is made in a single piece with the said closer ( 38 ).

11. Pump according to claim 5 , in which the said closer ( 38 ) is elastically loaded by a spring ( 50 ), towards its closing position and said closer ( 38 ) is displaced towards its open position by pressure of the product contained in the pump chamber ( 20 ).

12. Pump according to claim 11 , in which the closer ( 38 ) moves or deforms in the axial direction with respect to the said pump body ( 10 ), the said third piston ( 35 ) being moved into the open position from a predetermined axial displacement or deformation of the said closer ( 38 ).

13. Pump according to claim 3 , in which the valve element ( 75 ) is a ball.

14. Pump according to claim 1 , in which a single spring ( 50 ) tends to move the said first piston ( 72 ) towards its rest position and the said closer ( 38 ) towards its closed position.

15. Pump according to claim 14 , in which the said spring ( 50 ) is not in contact with the fluid product.

16. Pump according to claim 1 , in which the said first piston ( 72 ) and the said inlet valve seat ( 71 ) are made in a single piece with an attachment element ( 15 ) such as a snap fittable, crimpable or screwable ring adapted to fix the said pump onto a fluid product reservoir ( 60 ).

17. Fluid product dispensing device comprising a fluid product reservoir ( 60 ), characterised in that it comprises a pump according to claim 1 .

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 10, 2012
From: VALOIS
To: APTAR FRANCE SAS
Reel/Frame 028930/0885 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2007
From: LE MANER, FRANCOIS
To: VALOIS S.A.S.
Reel/Frame 019103/0328 →
Priority Claims (1)
FR 03 13094 · Nov 7, 2003 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20070272713A1 · Nov 29, 2007