Fluid dispenser

Abstract

A fluid dispenser for dispensing fluid in liquid or powder form, the fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir ( 30 ) of variable volume, said reservoir defining at least one movable wall ( 31, 32 ) that can be moved to vary the volume of the reservoir, the dispenser further comprising a dispensing orifice ( 311 ) in communication with the reservoir so that fluid from the reservoir can be delivered through the dispensing orifice when the volume of the reservoir is reduced; said fluid dispenser being characterized in that it further comprises actuating means ( 1, 2 ) making it possible, in a first stage, to increase the volume of the reservoir by drawing air into the reservoir, and then, in a second stage, to reduce the volume of the reservoir by delivering air and fluid through the dispensing orifice.

1 / A fluid dispenser for dispensing fluid in liquid or powder form, the fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir ( 30 ) of variable volume, said reservoir defining at least one movable wall ( 31 ,  32 ;  1 ′,  2 ′) that can be moved to vary the volume of the reservoir, the dispenser further comprising a dispensing orifice ( 311 ;  15 ′) in communication with the reservoir so that fluid from the reservoir can be delivered through the dispensing orifice when the volume of the reservoir is reduced; 
 said fluid dispenser being characterized in that it further comprises actuating means ( 1 ,  2 ;  1 ′,  2 ′) making it possible, in a first stage, to increase the volume of the reservoir by drawing air into the reservoir, and then, in a second stage, to reduce the volume of the reservoir by delivering air and fluid through the dispensing orifice.  
 
     
     
         2 / A dispenser according to  claim 1 , in which the actuating means comprise a press zone ( 11 ) and a backing zone ( 12 ), the press zone being moved towards the backing zone generating an increase and then a decrease in the volume of the reservoir.  
     
     
         3 / A dispenser according to  claim 1 , in which the actuating means comprise a front flexible plate ( 1 ;  1 ′) and a back flexible plate ( 2 ,  2 ′) between which the reservoir is situated, the front plate being secured to the back plate at respective opposite edges ( 11 ,  12 ) so that bringing the opposite edges ( 11 ,  12 ) of the front plate ( 1 ) closer together by said front plate flexing leaves the opposite edges ( 21 ,  22 ) of the back plate ( 2 ) static relative to each other and leaves the back plate ( 2 ) stress-free in said first stage, and then, in said second stage, brings the opposite edges ( 21 ,  22 ) of the back plate closer together by said back plate flexing with curvature going in the same direction as the curvature of the front plate, so that the two plates squeeze the reservoir between them.  
     
     
         4 / A dispenser according to  claim 3 , in which the front plate ( 1 ) defines the press zone ( 11 ) and the backing zone ( 12 ).  
     
     
         5 / A dispenser according to  claim 3 , in which at least one edge ( 11 ) of the front plate ( 1 ) is provided with a flap ( 111 ) defining a groove ( 112 ) into which the corresponding edge ( 21 ) of the back plate ( 2 ) is engaged loosely.  
     
     
         6 / A dispenser according to  claim 5 , in which the groove ( 111 ) forms an abutment end-wall ( 11 ) which, at rest, is separated from the respective edge ( 21 ) of the back plate ( 2 ), so that the edge ( 21 ) of the back plate ( 2 ) comes into abutment against the abutment end-wall ( 11 ) of the groove ( 111 ) only after the edges ( 11 ,  12 ) of the front plate ( 1 ) have come closer together to a certain extent.  
     
     
         7 / A dispenser according to  claim 3 , in which the front plate ( 1 ) has a curvature at rest that tends to become accentuated as the press zone ( 11 ) moves towards the backing zone ( 12 ).  
     
     
         8 / A dispenser according to  claim 3 , in which the front plate ( 1 ) is provided with an opening ( 14 ) at which the dispensing orifice of the reservoir ( 311 ) is positioned.  
     
     
         9 / A dispenser according to  claim 8 , in which a pouch ( 3 ) defining the reservoir ( 30 ), its movable wall ( 31 ,  32 ) and the dispensing orifice ( 311 ) is disposed in fixed manner between the front plate ( 1 ) and the back plate ( 2 ) with the dispensing orifice ( 311 ) positioned at the opening ( 14 ).  
     
     
         10 / A dispenser according to  claim 3 , in which the front plate ( 1 ′) and the back plate ( 2 ′) form the reservoir ( 30 ).  
     
     
         11 / A dispenser according to  claim 1 , in which the reservoir ( 30 ) contains a piece of porous material ( 33 ) suitable for being impregnated with fluid, said piece ( 33 ) being placed in contact with the dispensing orifice ( 311 ;  15 ′).  
     
     
         12 / A dispenser according to  claim 1 , in which the front plate ( 1 ) and the back plate ( 2 ) are connected together integrally.  
     
     
         13 / A dispenser according to  claim 1 , in which a removable closure member ( 4 ) is initially positioned over the dispensing orifice ( 311 ;  15 ′) so as to maintain the reservoir at a minimum volume, in which it substantially contains fluid only, the back plate then being pressed against the front plate.  
     
     
         14 / A fluid dispenser for dispensing fluid in liquid or powder form, the fluid dispenser comprising a fluid reservoir ( 30 ) of variable volume, said reservoir defining at least one movable wall ( 31 ,  32 ;  1 ′,  2 ′) that can be moved along a first axis to vary the volume of the reservoir, the dispenser further comprising a dispensing orifice ( 311 ;  15 ′) in communication with the reservoir so that the fluid from the reservoir can be delivered through the dispensing orifice when the volume of the reservoir is reduced, said fluid dispenser being characterized in that it further comprises actuating means ( 1 ,  2 ;  1 ′,  2 ′) defining a press zone ( 11 ) and a backing zone ( 12 ), it being possible to move the press zone ( 11 ) towards the backing zone ( 12 ) along a second axis transverse to the first axis.  
     
     
         15 / A dispenser according to  claim 14 , in which the press zone ( 11 ) being moved towards the backing zone ( 12 ) generates an increase in the volume of the reservoir.  
     
     
         16 / A dispenser according to  claim 14 , in which the actuating means comprise a front flexible plate ( 1 ,  1 ′) and a back flexible plate ( 2 ;  2 ′) between which the reservoir ( 30 ) is situated, the front plate being secured to the back plate at respective opposite edges ( 11 ,  12 ) so that bringing the opposite edges ( 11 ,  12 ) of the front plate closer together by said front plate flexing leaves the opposite edges ( 21 ,  22 ) of the back plate ( 2 ) static relative to each other, and leaves the back plate stress-free.  
     
     
         17 / A dispenser according to  claim 14 , in which the press zone ( 11 ) moving towards the backing zone ( 12 ) generates a reduction in the volume of the reservoir.  
     
     
         18 / A dispenser according to  claim 17 , in which the actuating means comprise a front flexible plate ( 1 ;  1 ′) and a back flexible plate ( 2 ,  2 ′) between which the reservoir is situated, the front plate being secured to the back plate at respective opposite edges ( 11 ,  12 ) so that bringing the opposite edges ( 11 ,  12 ) of the front plate closer together by said front plate flexing brings the opposite edges ( 21 ,  22 ) of the back plate closer together by said back plate flexing with curvature going in the same direction as the curvature of the front plate, so that the two plates squeeze the reservoir between them.  
     
     
         19 / A dispenser according to  claim 16 , in which the front plate ( 1 ) defines the press zone ( 11 ) and the backing zone ( 12 ) at its opposite edges.  
     
     
         20 / A dispenser according to  claim 1 , in which the back plate has rigidity sufficient to enable the front plate to bend without the back plate bending, so as thereby to increase the volume of the reservoir.  
     
     
         21 / A dispenser according to  claim 14 , in which the back plate has rigidity sufficient to enable the front plate to bend without the back plate bending, so as thereby to increase the volume of the reservoir.