Cartridge for containing and dispensing products in general

Abstract

 A cartridge (1) for containing and dispensing products in general, comprising an outer body (2) which contains a bag (3) of the product to be dispensed which is closed, at least at the dispensing end, by a closure clip (10), the cartridge further comprising at least one extractor (20) which can engage the clip (10) and is accessible from the outside of the outer body (2) for the removal of the clip (10) from the bag (3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cartridge for containing and dispensing products in general.

[0002] As is known, cartridges for containing products which are, generally, provided by a plurality of components which are contained separately in a bag arranged inside a rigid outer body, are currently commercially available.

[0003] The bag is closed by a clip or fastening ring, which must be removed when the product is to be dispensed in order to use it.

[0004] Known solutions, such as for example the one disclosed in EP 0754633, entail extracting the end provided with the ring from the mouth of the outer containment body and removing the ring by cutting the bag by means of scissors, cutters or the like, which are not always immediately available to the user.

[0005] This solution is scarcely practical, because in many cases it is very difficult to extract the end from the mouth of the cartridge and because the resins contained in the bag can dirty the tools that are used.

[0006] Other known solutions, such as for example the one disclosed in WO 2004/076078, entail providing the bag with a clip, arranged at the dispensing end, which is fastened less tightly than the clip at the other end, so that by applying adequate pressure to the bag the clip slides off without having to use tools to cut the bag.

[0007] This solution suffers the drawback that the clip, once expelled from the bag, remains in the cartridge dispensing port, and in some cases causes difficulties; moreover, the need to provide a relatively loose fastening in order to allow expulsion can lead in some cases to inappropriate opening of the bag.

[0008] Moreover, the bag can have a relatively short inlet portion, with the risk that the two components might mix within the cartridge, making it impossible to reuse the cartridge.

[0009] The aim of the invention is to eliminate the drawbacks noted above by providing a cartridge for containing and dispensing products in general which allows to open the bag without having to resort to external tools and without having difficulties in removing the dispensing end of the bag.

[0010] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a cartridge in which it is possible to remove the closure clip completely, so that it does not remain inside the cartridge and thus does not constitute a hindrance for correct dispensing of the products.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge which, thanks to its particular constructive characteristics, is capable of giving the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in use.

[0012] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge which can be obtained easily starting from commonly commercially available elements and materials and is also competitive from a merely economical standpoint.

[0013] This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a cartridge for containing and dispensing products in general, according to the invention, comprising an outer body which contains a bag of the product to be dispensed which is closed, at least at the dispensing end, by a closure clip, characterized in that it comprises at least one extractor which can engage said clip and is accessible from the outside of said outer body for the removal of said clip from said bag.

[0014] Further characteristics and advantages will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a cartridge for containing and dispensing products in general, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the cartridge in a closure position;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the initial step of the extraction of the clip;

Figure 3 illustrates the separation of the clip;

Figure 4 is a view of the application of a dispensing nozzle on the open bag;

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the detail of the extractor and of the bag;

Figure 6 is a view of the extractor applied to the end of the bag.

[0015] With reference to the figures, the cartridge for containing and dispensing products in general according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises an outer body 2, which generally has a cylindrical shape and is made of substantially rigid plastic material and inside which there is a bag 3 which is advantageously of the type provided internally with two or more components which are accommodated in separate compartments formed by the bag.

[0016] The bag 3 has, at the dispensing end, a clip 10, which is typically formed by a flattened metallic ring, which clamps the end that is arranged at an inlet 11 provided at the axial end of the body 2.

[0017] A peculiarity of the invention consists in that at least one extractor 20 is provided which can engage the clip 10 and is accommodated in the inlet 11 with one of its portions, which arranges itself outside said inlet so as to allow to grip the extractor.

[0018] The extractor 20 is constituted by a fork-like portion 21, which defines a recessed seat 22, which arranges itself below the clip 10, with the end of the bag arranged outwardly.

[0019] The extractor 20 has upright portions 23 which end with a connecting portion 24, which constitutes the grip element for the extractor.

[0020] In order to stiffen the assembly, an upper crossmember 25 and a lower crossmember 26 are provided and join the uprights.

[0021] The uprights and the fork-like portion 21 in practice constitute a guiding element for the correct translational motion of the extractor 20 within the inlet, so as to allow extraction of the clip, which is arranged, as mentioned earlier, above the fork 21 and is coupled to containment notches 27 provided on the internal parts of the uprights 23.

[0022] With the cartridge according to the invention, the extractor 20 is arranged in the inlet so that the connecting portion 24 protrudes from the inlet and is arranged below a closure cap 30.

[0023] To proceed with use, it is necessary first of all to act on the extractor 20, gripping the grip part 24 and applying a pulling action which first of all allows to extract the end of the bag and, by continuing the pulling action, allows to extract the clip 10 from the end of the bag, which correctly arranges itself in the inlet.

[0024] Once the clip 10 has been extracted, a conventional dispensing nozzle 40 is applied and the cartridge is ready for use, and the arrangement of the end of the bag at the inlet avoids the formation of undue mixing of components, which would cause problems in subsequent reuses of the cartridge.

[0025] From what has been described above it is therefore evident that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, and in particular the fact is stressed that a cartridge is provided which can be opened without having to resort to tools of any kind, further having a correct positioning of the end of the bag in the inlet, so as to achieve the correct dispensing flow of the products used and without causing undue mixing of such products.

[0026] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

[0027] Thus, for example, it is possible to extract the closure clip by means of external tools or elements which are connected to the inside or to the outside of the cap.

[0028] All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

[0029] In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements.

[0030] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. MI2006A000928 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0031] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A cartridge for containing and dispensing products in general, comprising an outer body which contains a bag of the product to be dispensed which is closed, at least at the dispensing end, by a closure clip, characterized in that it comprises at least one extractor which can engage said clip and is accessible from the outside of said outer body for the removal of said clip from said bag.

2. The cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that said extractor is accommodated at least partially in said outer body.

3. The cartridge according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said outer body forms an inlet inside which said extractor is positioned so that at least one portion can be accessed from the outside of said inlet.

4. The cartridge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said extractor comprises a fork-like portion which defines a recessed seat which can be arranged below said clip.

5. The cartridge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said extractor comprises upright portions which end with a connecting portion which forms the grip element for said extractor.

6. The cartridge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an upper crossmember and a lower crossmember which join said uprights.

7. The cartridge according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said uprights define, above said fork, containment notches for the placement of said clip.

Drawing