초록 ▼

The invention relates to a packaging and dispensing device for a liquid or semi-liquid product, including: a movable spray head including at least one container supplying an outlet member; and at least one stationary base including a second container which can be connected to the above-mentioned fir

The invention relates to a packaging and dispensing device for a liquid or semi-liquid product, including: a movable spray head including at least one container supplying an outlet member; and at least one stationary base including a second container which can be connected to the above-mentioned first container via coupling element so that the product can be transferred from the second container in the base to the first container in the movable spray head in order for at least the product in the movable spray head to be refilled. The invention is characterized in that a miniature electric pump, known as a transfer pump, powered by an electrical power supply element and controlled by a control element, is disposed between the first and second containers to allow the product to be conveyed through the coupling element.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A packaging and dispensing device (10) for a liquid or semi-liquid product comprising a movable spray head (12) comprising at least one first reservoir (16) feeding an outlet member (18), and at least one fixed base (14), comprising a second reservoir (20), which can be connected to the first res

1. A packaging and dispensing device (10) for a liquid or semi-liquid product comprising a movable spray head (12) comprising at least one first reservoir (16) feeding an outlet member (18), and at least one fixed base (14), comprising a second reservoir (20), which can be connected to the first reservoir (16) of the movable spray head (12) via coupling means (22) to allow product to be transferred from the second reservoir (20) of the base (14) to the first reservoir (16) of the movable spray head (12) in order at least to allow said movable spray head (12) to be refilled with product, a miniature electric pump (24), known as the transfer pump, being powered by an electrical power supply means (140) and controlled by control means (142) and being interposed between the first and second reservoirs (16, 20) to allow product to be conveyed through the coupling means (22), characterized in that the coupling means (22) comprise complementary two-way (34, 36) coupling elements (30, 32), said ways (34, 36) comprising on the one hand a first way (34) which is capable of connecting to the first reservoir (16) a part of the second reservoir (20) which is positioned below a second associated product level (N2) for the second reservoir (20) and, on the other hand, a second way (36) which is capable of connecting to the second reservoir (20) a duct (38) known as the overflow and/or vent duct, which opens above a first associated product level (N1) for the first reservoir (16). 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the coupling elements (30, 32) are able to move between a closed first configuration associated with the removal of the movable spray head (12), in which configuration the two ways (34, 36) are simultaneously closed, and an open second configuration associated with the coupling of the movable spray head (12) and of the base (14), in which configuration the two ways (34, 36) are simultaneously open. 3. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each way (34, 36) can be selectively opened or closed by associated electrically operated valves. 4. The device (10) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the coupling elements (30, 32) comprise: a female member (30), borne by the movable spray head (12), and into an internal bore (40) of which there opens at least one radial end (42) of a first duct (44) of the spray head (12), associated with the first way (34), which is connected to the first reservoir (16) and a radial end (46) of a second duct (48) of the spray head (12), associated with the second, overflow, way (36), which is connected to the first reservoir (16) above the first associated level (N1) for the first reservoir (16), said female member (30) comprising at least one introductory opening (50) communicating with its bore (40),a substantially cylindrical intermediate spool (52) which is slideably mounted and is elastically returned by a return spring (53) in the bore (40) of the female member (30), said spool (52) being able to move between a rest position to which it is returned elastically in the bore (40) of the female member (30) and in which it stops off the ends (42, 46) of the first and second ducts (44, 48) of the spray head (12), and a coupling position in which the spool (52) is urged against the action of the return spring (53) to uncover the ends (42, 46) of the first and second ducts (44, 48) of the spray head,a substantially cylindrical male member (32) of a diameter at most equal to that of the introductory opening (50), through which there passes a first base duct (54) which is connected to the second reservoir (20) below a second associated level (N2) for the second reservoir (20) and a second base duct (56) which is connected to the second reservoir (20), the ends (58, 60) of which open radially at the periphery of said male member (32), said male member (32) being able to be introduced into the opening (50) of the female member (30) in order to urge the spool (52) against the action of the return spring (53) in order to uncover the ends (42, 46) of the first and second ducts (44, 48) of the spray head (12) opening into the bore (50) and then in order to make the radial ends of the first and second base ducts (54, 56) open on to the radial ends (58, 60) of the first and second ducts (44, 48) of the spray head (12) in order to open the two ways (34, 36). 5. The device (10) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the female member has the shape of a tubular sleeve (30) which comprises: a first internal portion (62) of high diameter in which the tubular spool (52) is elastically returned by a return spring (53) which is housed in the spool (52) and which bears against a transverse end wall (64) of the sleeve (30),a second internal portion (66) of smaller diameter, which with the first portion (62) delimits a shoulder face (68) against which an annular flange (70) of the tubular spool (52) is intended to abut. 6. The device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the coupling elements (22) comprise: a female member (30), borne by the movable spray head (12), into an internal bore of which there open at least a radial end (42) of a first duct (44) of the spray head (12), associated with the first way (34), which is connected to the first reservoir (16) and a radial end (46) of a second duct (48) of the spray head (12), associated with the second, overflow, way (36), which is connected to the first reservoir (16) above the first associated level (N1) for the first reservoir (16), said female member (30) comprising at least one introductory opening (50) communicating with its bore (40),a substantially cylindrical intermediate spool (52) which is slideably mounted and elastically returned in the bore (40) of the female member (30), said spool (52) having, passing substantially longitudinally through it, first and second intermediate ducts (72, 74) each having ends (76, 78) known as internal ends, opening radially at one end of the spool (52) into the internal bore (40) of the female member (30), and external ends (82, 84) opening axially at the opposite end (86) of the spool (52) into a free transverse face (88) of said spool (52), said spool (52) being able to move between a rest position, to which it is elastically returned by a spring (52) in the bore (40) of the female member (30), in which position it stops off the radial ends (42, 44) of the first and second ducts (44, 48) of the spray head (12), and a coupling position in which the spool (52) is urged against the action of the return spring (53) in order to uncover the radial ends (42, 46) of the first and second ducts (44, 48) of the spray head (12) and to allow the radial internal ends (76, 78) of the first and second intermediate ducts to coincide with the radial ends (42, 46) of the first and second ducts (44, 48) of the spray head (12), a substantially cylindrical male member (32) of a diameter at most equal to that of the introductory opening (50), through which there passes a first axial base duct (54) which is connected to the second reservoir (20) below a second associated level (N2) for the second reservoir (20) and a second axial base duct (56) which is connected to the second reservoir (20), the axial ends (58, 60) of which open into a free transverse face (90) of said male member (32), said male member (32) being able to be introduced into the opening (50) of the female member (30) in such a way that the transverse face (90) of the male member (32) acts upon the transverse face (88) of the spool (52) in order to urge the spool (52) against the action of the return spring (53) and, at the same time, in order to cause the ends of the first and second base ducts (54, 56) to open on to the external ends of the first and second ducts (72, 74) of the spool (52) in order to open the two ways (34, 36). 7. The device (10) as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the female member has the form of a tubular sleeve (30) which comprises: a first internal portion (62) of small diameter, in which a first portion (92) of the spool (52) comprising the internal ends (76, 78) of the first and second intermediate ducts is slideably mounted,a second internal portion (63) of high diameter in which an annular flange (94) of the tubular spool (52) is elastically returned by a return spring (53) which is housed around the spool (52) and which bears against a shoulder face (64) which is delimited by the first and second internal portions (62, 63) of the sleeve,a third internal portion (66) of small diameter, which with the second portion (62) delimits a shoulder face (68) against which the annular flange (94) of the tubular spool is intended to abut. 8. The device (10) as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the sleeve (30) forming the female member extends into the first reservoir (16), and in that the first internal portion (62) comprises a radial drilling (44) which opens into said first reservoir (16) or alternatively which communicates with the pump (24) connected to the reservoir (16), and which constitutes the first duct (44) of the spray head (12) associated with the first way (34), and an internal axial counterbore (48) communicating with a drilling (94) which is formed in a transverse end wall (96) of the sleeve (30) and which communicates with a tube (38) opening above the first associated level (N1) for the first reservoir, to form the second duct (48) of the spray head, associated with the second, overflow, way (36). 9. The device (10) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the fixed base comprises a housing (98) that complements at least part (100) of the spray head, the complementary two-way coupling elements (320, 32) being interposed between a wall (102) of the spray head and the end wall (104) of the housing (98) of the fixed base (14). 10. The device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the coupling elements (22) comprise: a female member (30), borne by an upper transverse wall (106) of the movable spray head (12), and into a substantially vertical internal bore (40) of which there open at least one radial end (42) of a first duct (44) of the spray head (12), associated with the first way (34), which is connected to the first reservoir (16) and an axial end (46) of a second duct (48) of the spray head, associated with the second, vent, way (36), which is connected to the first reservoir (16) above the first associated level (N1) for the first reservoir (16) and one end (47) of a third duct (49) of the spray head (12) which is associated with the second, vent, way (36) and which is in communication with the open air, said female member (30) comprising at least one introductory opening (50) communicating with its bore (40),a substantially cylindrical intermediate spool (52) which is slideably mounted and elastically returned in the bore (40) of the female member (30), said spool (52) having, passing substantially longitudinally through it, a first intermediate duct (72) having an end (76), known as the internal end, opening radially at one end (80) of the spool (52) into the internal bore (40) of the female member (30), and an end known as the external end (82) opening radially at the opposite end (86) of the spool (52) into a free transverse face (88) of said spool (52), said spool (52) having, passing substantially longitudinally through it, a second intermediate duct (74) comprising an end (78), known as the internal end, which opens axially at one end (80) of the spool into the internal bore (40) of the female member and which can be stopped off by a float (108) housed in the bore (40) of the female member, and a so-called intermediate end (84) opening radially into an intermediate part (110) of said spool (52), said spool (52) being able to move between a rest position to which it is elastically returned in the bore (40) of the female member (30) by the return spring (53) and in which it stops off the internal end (42) of the first duct (44) of the spray head associated with the first way (34) and the end (47) of the third duct (49) of the spray head associated with the second, vent, way (36) and a coupling position in which the spool (52) is urged against the action of the return spring (53) to allow the internal end (76) of the first intermediate duct (72) and the intermediate end (84) of the second intermediate duct (74) to coincide with the ends of the first and third ducts (44, 49) of the spray head (12), a substantially cylindrical male member (32) of a diameter at most equal to that of the introductory opening (50), through which there passes an axial base duct (54) which is connected to the second reservoir (20) below a second associated level (N2) for the second reservoir (20), the axial end (58) of which opens into a free transverse face (90) of said male member (32), said male member being able to be introduced into the opening (50) of the female member (30) so that the transverse face (90) of the male member (32) acts upon the transverse face (88) of the spool (52) in order to urge the spool (52) against the action of the return spring (53) and at the same time cause the end (58) of the first base duct (54) to open on to the external end (82) of the first duct (72) of the spool (52) in order to open the two ways (34, 36). 11. The device (10) as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the female member (30) comprises: an internal sleeve (112) in which the tubular spool (52) is returned elastically by a return spring (53) which bears against a transverse end wall (116) of the female member (30) and in which the float (108) is housed coaxially with said spring (53),an external sleeve (118), coaxial with the internal sleeve (112), the counterbores (120, 122) of which delimit with the internal sleeve (112) the first and third ducts (44, 49) of the spray head (12) and which comprises the transverse end wall (116) of the female member (30),a lid (124) which with the internal and external sleeves (112, 118) delimits a shoulder face (126) against which a shoulder face (128) of the tubular spool (52) is intended to abut and which comprises a drilling (50) forming the introductory opening intended to allow the passage of a reduced-diameter second portion (66) of the spool the free end of which constitutes the transverse face (88) of the spool (52) on which the transverse face of the male member (90) can act. 12. The device (10) as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that at least part of the internal (112) and external (118) sleeves extends into the first reservoir (16), said part comprising a radial drilling which opens into said first reservoir (16) or alternatively which communicates with the pump (24) connected to the reservoir (16) and which constitutes the first duct (44) of the spray head (12) associated with the first way (34), and said part comprising an axial drilling which is formed in a transverse end wall (116) of the external sleeve (118) and which communicates with the first reservoir (16) to form the second duct (48) of the spray head (12), associated with the second, vent, way (36). 13. The device (10) as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the female member (30) is borne by a horizontal upper wall (132) of the movable spray head (12). 14. The device (10) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the spray head (12) comprises a spray pump (134) housed in a neck (136) of the first reservoir (16) and in that the female member (30) is housed in said neck (136) in a support (137) that is common to both the pump (134) and the female member (30). 15. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the transfer pump (24) is a miniature pump of piezoelectric type. 16. The device (10) as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the electric transfer pump (24) is housed in a first casing (26) of the movable spray head (12). 17. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the electric transfer pump (24) is housed in a second casing (28) of the fixed base (14). 18. The device (10) as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the electrical power supply means (140) comprises a cell, notably a miniature cell of the lithium cell type. 19. The device (10) as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the electric power supply means (140) comprises an accumulator battery that can be recharged by means of a source of electrical power. 20. The packaging device (10) as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that the electric power supply means (140) is autonomous and notably comprises a photovoltaic panel or alternatively a manual generator of electrical current of the dynamo type. 21. The packaging device (10) as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that the accumulator battery (140) can be connected to an electrical network directly or via a transformer, notably to a domestic AC mains network via a plug and/or a dedicated base station, or alternatively can be connected to a motor vehicle on-board DC electric network via an outlet of the cigarette lighter type or alternatively to a personal computer serial peripheral DC power supply circuit via a so-called “USB” serial connector. 22. The packaging device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the control means (142) comprises a switch (162, 164, 165, 166, 167) that controls the electrical power supply means (140). 23. The packaging device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the control means (142) comprises an electronic circuit (168) that forms a switch. 24. The device (10) as claimed in claim 23, characterized in that the triggering of the electronic circuit (168) that forms a switch is brought about by the stopping-off of a photoelectric cell (170). 25. The device (10) as claimed in claim 23, characterized in that the triggering of the electronic circuit (168) that forms a switch is brought about by the coupling of the complementary two-way coupling elements (30, 32). 26. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the spray head (12) or alternatively the base (14) comprises a casing (26, 28) housing the miniature transfer pump (24), the electrical power supply means (140) for said pump, and a means (142) of controlling said pump. 27. The packaging device (10) as claimed in claim 26, characterized in that the casing (26, 28) consists of a cap fitted over the associated reservoir (16, 20). 28. The device (10) as claimed in claim 26, characterized in that the pump (24) is borne by an intermediate element secured to the casing (26, 28). 29. The device as claimed in claim 26, characterized in that the pump (24) is fixed to an internal wall of the casing (26, 28). 30. The device (10) as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the miniature pump (24) of piezoelectric type comprises at least one variable-volume chamber (150) to which the product is admitted via a first membrane (158) that forms a one-way valve and from which the product is ejected via a second membrane (160) that forms a one-way valve, the variable-volume chamber (150) comprising at least one fixed wall (152) and one moving membrane (154) capable of being moved by a piezoelectric actuator (156) in order to cause the volume of the chamber (150) to vary. 31. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the movable spray head (12) comprises a miniature electric spray pump, notably of piezoelectric type, interposed between the first reservoir (16) and the outlet member (18), which is powered by an electrical power supply means for the movable spray head and which is controlled via control means. 32. The device (10) as claimed in claim 31, characterized in that the electrical power supply means for the spray pump comprises a rechargeable accumulator battery which can be connected via the coupling means (30, 32) to the source of electrical power used for recharging the rechargeable accumulator battery (140) of the base (14).