Title of Invention: Fixing device and a fitting method for fixing a dispenser member to a reservoir opening
Abstract: 
A fixing device for fixing a dispenser member (3) to an opening (41) in a fluid reservoir (4), said device having an axis of symmetry (X) and comprising a fixing ring (1) provided with means (113) for receiving the dispenser member (3) and with means (12) for fixing to the opening in the reservoir, said ring having a peripheral outside wall (111, 121), and a band (2) mounted on the ring so as to lock the ring on the reservoir opening, said band having an inside wall (21) designed to come into contact with the outside wall of the ring, said fixing device being characterized in that the outside wall of the ring is provided with at least one recess (114) and the inside wall (21) of the band is provided with at least one projecting profile (24) serving to come into engagement in the recess in the ring. 

Detailed Description: 

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
 This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of pending U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/518,338, filed Nov. 10, 2003, and priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) of French patent application No. FR-03.11097, filed Sep. 22, 2003.


TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
 The present invention relates to a fixing device and to a fitting method for fixing a dispenser member such as a pump or a valve to an opening in a fluid reservoir. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
 In general, said opening is formed by a neck which projects from a reservoir body serving as a storage volume for storing the fluid. In the context of the present invention, the device has an axis of symmetry and comprises a fixing ring provided with means for receiving the dispenser member and with means for fixing to the opening in the reservoir. In addition, the fixing device further comprises a band designed to surround the ring, the band having an inside wall designed to come into contact with the outside wall of the ring. That type of fixing device having a ring and a band is in frequent use in the fields of perfumes, cosmetics, or indeed pharmaceuticals. 
 In general, the fixing ring has a peripheral skirt designed to come into position around the opening in the reservoir to obtain fixing. Conventionally, the opening in the reservoir is formed by a neck which is provided with a peripheral reinforcement that projects outwards. The reinforcement thus forms a downwardly-facing shoulder which serves as a fastening zone for fastening to the skirt. In conventional manner, the skirt is provided with fastening heads advantageously distributed uniformly around the inside periphery of the skirt. In a variant, said fastening heads may be replaced with a continuous peripheral bead also serving to come into engagement under the shoulder of the neck. The skirt may be continuous over its entire periphery, or else split so as to form segments separated by slots. Each segment may be provided with one or more fastening heads. 
 For fitting such a fixing ring provided with a skirt having heads or a bead, it is necessary for the skirt to be deformed radially outwards as it passes over the peripheral reinforcement formed by the neck. After passing over said peripheral reinforcement, the skirt can return once again to its original position, with its heads or its bead in engagement under the shoulder of the reinforcement. The skirt can then return to its advantageously cylindrical initial state. In order to lock the fixing ring in place on the neck, a locking band is fitted to the fixing ring. The inside wall of the band comes around or in engagement with the outside wall of the skirt so that the skirt can no longer deform radially outwards. Thus, the fastening profiles (heads or continuous bead) are permanently locked under the shoulder of the reinforcement. That is a technique which is now conventional for fixing a dispenser member such as a pump or a valve to a reservoir opening conventionally formed by a neck. 
 Documents EP 0 653 359 and EP 0 707 895 show fixing devices of that type. In Document EP 653 359, the skirt is split and provided with fastening heads, whereas in Document EP 0 707 895, the skirt is continuous and provided with internal projections similar to fastening heads. Naturally, it is essential for the band to be fitted to the ring only once the ring has been fitted to the opening in the reservoir, so that it is possible for the skirt to be deformed radially outwards during fitting. In both of the above-mentioned prior art documents, the fixing ring is provided with outwardly-projecting profiles designed to form an abutment zone for abutting against the bottom end of the band. The projecting profiles have strength sufficient to enable the ring to be put in place on the opening in the reservoir by pressing on the band which itself bears against projecting profiles. Thus, by exerting pressure on the band, it is possible, in a first stage, to fit the ring to the opening in the reservoir, and, in a second stage, by pressing harder, it is possible to cause the band to deform or to break the projecting profiles so as to enable it to engage permanently around the ring and more particularly around the skirt, thereby locking the ring to the opening in the reservoir. Thus, in both of those documents, elements that project outwards relative to the substantially cylindrical outside wall of the ring are used in association with the bottom end edge of the band so as to pre-position the band temporarily on the ring. 
 Once the band is in the final fitted position on the ring, another problem arises related to fixing the band stably to the ring. It is necessary to prevent any removal of the band, which would enable the ring to be removed, since the skirt would then be free again to deform outwards. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
 In the prior art, snap-fastening or crimping systems have already been provided for snap-fastening or crimping the band to the ring. Document EP 0 704 251 also discloses providing the band with slanting or vertical splines projecting from the inside wall of the band and which are designed to bite into the material of which the ring is made. 
 An object of the present invention is to remedy the above-mentioned problem of the prior art by defining a device having a fixing ring and a band and in which the band is pre-positioned on the ring and/or the band is permanently fixed to the ring more easily and more securely. In order to achieve these objects, the present invention proposes for the outside wall of the ring to be provided with at least one recess and for the inside wall of the band to be provided with at least one projecting profile serving to come into engagement in the recess in the ring. Thus, the band is genuinely snap-fastened to the ring. 
 In one embodiment, the profile being engaged in the recess corresponds to a final fitted position in which the band is finally fitted to the ring. In which case, the profile on the band does not serve for pre-positioning the band on the ring. 
 In another embodiment, the profile being engaged in the recess corresponds to an intermediate fitting position in which the band is intermediately fitted to the ring. In-which case, the recess in the ring does not serve for permanently fixing the band to the ring, but rather merely for pre-positioning it temporarily. 
 According to a characteristic common to both embodiments, said at least one recess extends in a plane perpendicular to the axis. The recess may, for example, be in the form of an annular groove or of a plurality of groove segments that extend annularly. 
 In another aspect of the invention, the inside wall has a top end and a bottom end, said at least one projecting profile being formed closer to the top end than to the bottom end, and advantageously in the vicinity of the top end. This embodiment is particularly well adapted to fixing the band finally to the ring. 
 In a variant embodiment, the inside wall has a bottom end, said at least one projecting profile being formed at said bottom end, said at least one profile coming into engagement in said at least one recess in an intermediate fitting position. This embodiment is more particularly adapted to pre-positioning and then finally fixing the band to the ring. Advantageously, said at least one profile comes into engagement under the bottom edge of the ring in a final fitted position. This characteristic may be protected independently: for example, the ring may be recess-free so that the projecting profile on the band merely snap-fastens under the ring in the final fitted position. 
 In another aspect of the invention that is common to all of the embodiments, the band has an outside wall provided with at least one recess. Advantageously, said at least one recess is situated axially at the same level as said at least one projecting profile. Preferably, said at least one recess and said at least one projecting profile are formed by an inwardly-extending deformation of the band. It is thus possible to fit a cap to the fixing device, the cap being provided with an inside projection designed to come into engagement in said at least one recess in the band. The combination of the recess and of the projection forms a snap-fastening fixing system enabling the cap to be held securely to fixing device. Thus, the band being deformed, which generates an outside recess and an inside projecting profile, serves for intermediately fixing and/or for permanently fixing the band to the ring, and also for temporarily fixing a cap to the band. 
 In a practical embodiment, the ring comprises a top peripheral bushing and a skirt that extends downwards from the bushing, the skirt forming segments which are separated by slots, each segment forming at least one fastening head which projects inwards, said at least one recess being formed at the level of the bushing. 
 The invention also defines a method of fitting a fixing device as defined above to an opening in a reservoir, which opening is provided with a fastening shoulder, in which method said at least one projecting profile remains engaged in said at least one recess until the fastening heads are in engagement under the fastening shoulder of the opening in the reservoir.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
 The invention is described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings which show three embodiments of the invention by way of non-limiting example. 
 In the Figures: 
 FIG. 1 is an exploded view in vertical section through a first embodiment of a fixing device provided with a dispenser member ready to be fitted to a reservoir neck; 
 FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, in an intermediate fitting position; 
 FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, in a final fitted position; 
 FIG. 4 is an exploded vertical section view through a variant embodiment that is a variant of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3; 
 FIG. 5 is a view in an intermediate fitting position; 
 FIG. 6 is a view in a final fitted position for the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5; 
 FIG. 7 is an exploded view in vertical section through a third embodiment of the invention, immediately before fitting; 
 FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 in an intermediate fitting position; and 
 FIG. 9 is view in a final fitted position of the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
 In all three embodiments, the fixing device of the invention is designed to be fitted permanently to an opening 41 in a fluid reservoir 4. The reservoir may be identical in all of the embodiments of the invention. However, it may also be of different shapes, colors, or appearances. In this example, the opening 41 is formed by a neck 40 which is connected to a shoulder 44 which already forms a portion of a body of the reservoir that serves to contain the fluid. The neck 40 projects from said shoulder 44 and internally defines the opening 41. Advantageously, the neck 40 is symmetrical about an axis of symmetry X. The neck 40 has an inside wall that defines the opening 41. Said inside wall may be cylindrical or else slightly recessed. For example, it may have a narrowed through section below which the inside wall of the neck is recessed to a small extent. The neck also has a top periphery 42 at which a sealing bead 421 may be formed that projects upwards. On its outside wall, the neck 40 forms a peripheral reinforcement 423 which projects outwards. Said reinforcement 423 connects to the low portion of the neck via a shoulder 43 which is directed downwards and outwards. Said shoulder 43 serves as a fastening zone for fastening to the various fixing devices of the invention. The design of said neck 40 is entirely conventional for a reservoir made of glass, or even of plastic. 
 In all of the embodiments, the various fixing devices of the invention are associated with a dispenser member 3 which may be a pump or a valve. In conventional manner, the dispenser member has a body 30 that defines an inlet inserted in the neck 40 or even in the body of the reservoir. In this example, the body 3 is provided with a peripheral collar 31 which projects outwards. The bottom face of said collar 31 may be provided with a neck gasket 34 serving to come into compression against the peripheral edge 42 of the neck 40 to provide sealing. The peripheral bead 421 helps to improve the sealing by locally compressing the gasket more strongly. The body 30 is associated with a dispenser head 32 which may, for example, incorporate a dispensing orifice in the form of a spray nozzle. The dispenser head 32 may also serve as a pusher that is designed to be pressed for the purpose of actuating the dispenser member. For example, a return spring 33 may urge the dispenser head 32 back into its rest position. Thus, the user presses on the top surface of the dispenser head 32 to compress the spring 33 and to dispense a metered quantity or “dose” of fluid from the body 30. Such a design for a dispenser member, be it a pump or a valve, is entirely conventional, and, in any event, the particular design of the dispenser member is not at all critical for the present invention. 
 All of the various fixing devices of the invention are made up of two component elements, namely a fixing ring 1 and a band 2. In the various embodiments of the invention, the structures of the fixing ring and of the band are substantially identical, similar, or akin to each other. 
 The fixing ring 1 substantially comprises means for receiving the dispenser member 3 and means for fixing to the neck 40 of the receptacle. 
 More precisely, in this example, the fixing ring 1 is provided with a top bushing 11 and with a bottom skirt 12. The bushing 11 has an outside wall 111 and an inside wall 112. The bushing 11 also has a free top end 115. The bushing 111 connects to the bottom skirt 112 by forming an inwardly-extending shoulder 113 which faces downwards. Said shoulder 113 serves to come into engagement with an outer margin of the radial collar 31 formed by the body 30 of the dispenser member 3. The inwardly-extending shoulder 113 comes into abutment with the top face of the collar 31, and the skirt 12 extends around the edge of the collar 31. Thus, the bushing 111 is positioned above the collar 31. The inside diameter of the bushing at its inside wall 112 is smaller than the outside diameter of the collar 31. 
 The skirt 12 also has an inside wall 122 and an outside wall 121. Because of the presence of the inwardly-extending shoulder 113, the inside wall 122 of the skirt 12 is situated radially further out than the inside wall 112 of the bushing 11. In other words, the diameter of the skirt 12 at its inside wall 122 is larger than the inside diameter of the bushing 11 at its inside wall 112. The outside wall 121 of the skirt 112 may be exactly circularly cylindrical. It may have an outside diameter that is slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the outside wall 111 of the bushing 11 outside the recess 114. However, it is also possible for the outside wall 121 to extend in alignment with the outside wall 111 so that they have the same outside diameter. In the embodiments of the invention, the skirt 12 is not continuous, but rather it is made up of a plurality of segments 123 which are separated by vertical slots 125. The slots 125 may extend to the level of the bushing 11, or they may stop short thereof. Thus, the height of the skirt is essentially formed by segments 123 and by slots 125 in alternation. However, it is possible to devise variant embodiments in which the slots 125 do not extend to the level of the bushing 111, so that the skirt remains continuous over a top portion. The inside wall 122 of the segments 123 of the skirt 12 is provided with fastening or snap-fastening heads 124 which project radially inwards. For example, it is possible to provide two heads 124 per segment 123. It is also possible to provide one continuous bead segment in place of the two heads 124. The heads 124 are formed at the bottom end 126 of the skirt 12. More precisely, they extend over the bottom halves of the segments 123. Said heads 124 serve to come into abutment under the shoulder 43 of the neck, as can be seen in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, and 9. In this configuration, the top peripheral edge 42 of the neck 40 is pressed against the bottom face of the gasket 34, optionally with the bead 421 which penetrates relatively deep into the gasket 34. Secure and leaktight fixing is thus achieved. 
 However, such leaktight fixing can be maintained only via the band 2. In its final fitted position, as shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 9, said band 2 surrounds the outside of the skirt 12 so as to lock the heads under the shoulder 43. The band 2 thus has a locking function, but it also has a trim function for imparting attractive appearance, and even a protective function for protecting the ring 1. The band 2 is in the form of a substantially cylindrical drum having an inside wall 21, an outside wall 22, a top end 25 and a bottom end 27. The top end 25 forms an inwardly-extending rim that defines a through opening 26. This general configuration is common to all of the bands of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 9. 
 Reference is made below to FIGS. 1 to 3, for the purpose of explaining in detail the first embodiment of a fixing device of the invention. At the outside wall 111 of the bushing 11, the fixing ring 1 is provided with a recess 114 which is in the form of an indentation or of a notch in the wall 111 which may be circularly cylindrical. In other words, the diameter of the bushing 11 at the recess 114 is smaller than the outside diameter at the wall 111. The recess 114 may extend over the entire periphery of the bushing 11 so as to form a continuous annular groove. The groove 114 has an end wall flanked by two side walls that respectively meet up with the outside wall 111. The outside diameter of the bushing 11 at the wall 111 outside the recess 114 may be identical to or slightly larger than the outside diameter of the skirt 12 at the outside wall 121. In other words, the bushing 11 may project very slightly outwards relative to the skirt 12. The band 2 has an inside diameter at its inside wall 21 which is identical to or slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the bushing 11 at its outside wall 111. Preferably, most of the inside wall 21 of the band is cylindrical. It is thus possible to engage the band 2 over the bushing 11 in tight-fitting manner so that the band 2 can be held in place or pre-positioned on the ring 1. The band 2 can be engaged over the ring in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, i.e. with its bottom end 27 situated level with the top end of the skirt 12. The ring 1 and the band 2 thus constitute a temporary subassembly. The friction between the band and the ring is sufficient to hold them together, at least temporarily. 
 In the invention, the inside wall 21 of the band 2 is provided with a projecting profile 24 which extends radially inwards. Said profile 24 may be in the form of a continuous peripheral rib which therefore has an inside diameter smaller than the inside diameter at the inside wall 21. The projecting profile 24 is situated closer to the top end 25 than to the bottom end 27. The projecting profile 24 may, for example, be situated in the middle of the top half of the band 2. When the fixing device is fitted to a reservoir neck, the band 2 is pre-positioned or pre-fitted on the ring 1 in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In addition, the dispenser member 3 is in place inside the ring. The resulting assembly made up of the ring, of the band, and of the dispenser member is mounted on the neck 40 in the manner shown in FIG. 1. The body 30 is inserted into the opening 41 while the skirt starts engaging around the neck 40. The assembly is lowered over the neck until the heads 124 of the skirt 12 come into engagement under the shoulder 43 on the neck. In order to make it possible for said assembly to be put in place in this way, it is necessary for the skirt to deform radially outwards as it goes over the peripheral reinforcement 423. This is made possible by means of the slots 125 which thus make it possible for the segments 123 to deform independently from one another. It should be noted that the assembly made up of the ring, of the band, and of the dispenser member remains static during this first stage of fitting the ring to the neck. In other words, the band 2 is still pre-positioned on the ring 2 with its bottom end 27 situated substantially level with the top end of the skirt 12. This is made possible by means of the tight-fitting contact between the band 2 and the ring 1 at the outside wall 111 of the bushing 11. The ring 1 is fitted to the neck 40 by exerting pressure that may be applied either to the dispenser head 32 or to the band 2. In which case, it is necessary for the tight-fitting contact between the band 2 and the ring 1 to be strong enough to enable the band 2 to remain in place while the skirt 12 is being fitted around the neck 40. As soon as the operation of fitting the skirt 12 to the neck is finished, force is applied to the top end 25 of the band 2, thereby moving the band relative to the ring 1. The band 2 is thus moved until its projecting profile 24 comes to be received in the recess 114 formed in the bushing 11 of the ring 1. This is shown in FIG. 3. The projecting profile 24 being engaged in the recess 114 thus permanently snap-fastens the band 2 to the ring 1. It is not even necessary for the bottom end 27 of the band 2 to come into contact with the shoulder 44. Neither is it necessary for the inwardly-extending rim 25 of the band 2 to come into abutting contact against the top end 115 of the bushing 11. However, it is possible. In this final position, the inside wall 21 of the band 2 can come into contact with the outside wall 121 of the skirt 12. The heads 124 are thus locked under the shoulder 43. A small gap may however remain between the band and the skirt. 
 The embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 constitutes a variant of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. In this variant embodiment, the fixing device is also provided with a cap 5 which fits over the band 2. The cap 5 includes a sleeve 52 serving to surround the band 2. The sleeve 52 may be connected to the remainder of the cap 5 via a setback 55 extending downwards and formed inside the sleeve 52. Beyond said setback 55, the cap may have any shape that terminates in a top wall 51. Thus, the cap 5 forms an internal space 50 which receives the band, the ring, and a portion of the dispenser member 3. This is shown in FIG. 6. In this position, the setback 55 comes into abutment against the top end 25 of the band 2. In the invention, the inside wall of the sleeve 52 is provided with a projection 53 which may extend continuously or discretely. In other words, the projection 53 may be in the form of a continuous annular bead or in the form of discrete projection points, portions, or segments. The inside diameter of the sleeve 52 is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the band 2 at its outside wall 22. However, the inside diameter at the projection 53 is smaller than the outside diameter at the outside wall 22 of the band 2. In addition, the outside wall 22 of the band is provided with a recess 23 which advantageously extends over the entire periphery of the band. Said recess 23 may be in the form of a continuous annular groove or channel. Thus, the outside diameter of the band at the recess 23 is smaller than the outside diameter of the band at the outside wall 22. Advantageously, said recess 23 is situated at the same level as the projecting profile 24. It is also possible to provide said recess 23 higher or lower than the projecting profile 24. Preferably, the recess 23 and the projecting profile 24 are formed in a single operation by deforming the band inwards. This may be achieved by rolling or by knurling. Thus, both the projecting profile 24 and the recess 23 result from a single annular peripheral deformation. The recess 23 is also shown in the first embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 3 but it is optional in that embodiment. The band 2 in the first embodiment may be exactly cylindrical at its outside wall 22. Conversely, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, said recess 23 is used for receiving the projection 53 on the cap 5. This is shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. The cap 5 is pre-fitted to the band before the skirt 12 is fitted to the neck 40. The projection 53 being engaged in the recess 23 does not need to form strong fixing since the cap is to be removed in order for the dispenser member to be actuated. Thus, the final fitted position in which the cap 5 is finally fitted to the band 2 is obtained when the projection 53 is engaged in the recess 23 and optionally when the setback 55 comes into abutment against the top end 25 of the band 2. The assembly made up of the ring, of the band, of the dispenser member, and of the cap is fitted by pushing on the cap 5. In a first stage, the segments 123 of the skirt 12 deform radially outwards on passing over the reinforcement 423 until the heads 124 come into engagement under the shoulder 43. During said first stage of fitting, the band 2 remains in place on the ring 1. Then, stronger pressure is exerted so that the band 2 moves over the ring 1 to its final position shown in FIG. 6. In this position, the projecting profile 24 is in engagement in the recess 114, while the projection 53 is in engagement in the recess 23. Thus, the projecting profile 24 associated with its outside recess 23 serve both to fix the band permanently to the ring and to fix the cap removably to the band. 
 Reference is made below to FIGS. 7 to 9 for the purpose of describing the third embodiment of the invention in detail. In this third embodiment, the fixing ring 1′ also comprises a bushing 11 and a skirt 12. The skirt 12 forms segments 123 which are separated by slots 125 which, however, do not extend to the bushing 11. Therefore, the top portion of the skirt 12 is continuous, i.e. slot-free. In the invention, the outside wall 121 of the skirt 12 is provided with a recess 114′ which forms a continuous peripheral groove or channel which extends all the way around the skirt. Defined in another way, it is possible to consider that the recess 114′ is situated at the level of the bushing 11, if the bushing 11 is defined as extending to the level at which the skirt is split with slots. In which case, the skirt is constituted solely by the portion made up of the segments 123 separated by the slots 125. In addition, the band 2′ is provided with a projecting profile 24′ which, in this example, is formed at the free bottom end 27′ of the band. The projecting profile 24′ may be formed by an inwardly-extending deformation of the bottom end 27′. Thus, the profile 24′ may be formed by the inside bottom edge of the bottom end 27′ that is deformed inwards. In the invention, the inside diameter of the band at the projecting profile 24′ is smaller than the outside diameter of the bushing 11 or of the skirt 12. Thus, the projecting profile 24′ can come to be received in the recess 114′ when the band is engaged over the ring. This is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. It is also possible to make provision for the inside wall of the band to come into tight-fitting contact against the outside wall of the bushing 11. This can improve the temporary fixing of the band 2′ to the ring 1′. The projecting profile 24′ being engaged in the recess 114′ defines an intermediate fitting position in which the band 2′ is pre-positioned on the ring 1′. The assembly made up of the ring, of the band, and of the dispenser member can thus be fitted to the neck 4 in a manner such as to snap-fasten the heads 124 under the shoulder 43. During this first operation, the band 2′ remains static relative to the ring 1′. Then, pressure is exerted on the top end 25 of the band 2′ so as to move the band relative to the ring. In its final fitted position as shown in FIG. 9, the projecting profile 24′ comes to be received under the bottom end 126 of the skirt 12. The band is thus fixed by being hooked under the ring. The projecting profile 24′ serves, in this example, to pre-position the band on the ring, and to hold the band on the ring in the final fitted position. Advantageously, the inside wall of the band may also be provided with other projecting profiles 24″ which come to be received in the recess 114′ in the final fitted position, as shown in FIG. 9, thereby improving the strength of the ring. However, the second projecting profiles 24″ are optional. The band may also be provided with a cap. 
 This technique of fixing the band below the ring may be implemented independently of the technique of pre-positioning the band on the ring. The ring may thus be exempt from any recess 114 or 114′, only the band then being formed with a projecting profile serving to come into engagement with the ring. 
 By means of the invention, it is possible to pre-position the band on the ring simply and accurately. It is also possible to fix the band to the ring permanently and stably. 
 The fixing ring is preferably made of an injection-molded plastics material, while the band is preferably made of metal. However, plastic may be used for the band. 



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