[0001] The invention relates to a fluid connector for coupling a first container and a second container and transferring said fluid between said first container and said second container. The invention relates also to an assembly comprising a first container for conditioning a fluid and a second container for dispensing said fluid, said first container and said second container being connected to each other by such a connector.

[0002] Fluid includes for example cosmetic care, make-up, perfuming product, cleaning agents or any pharmaceutical product. In these applications, for practical, environmental or aesthetic reasons, it may be desirable to be able to transfer the fluid from a first container, less convenient for everyday use, to a second container, more practical. Most of the time, the first container, termed hereafter source product or refill, is made from a cheaper material and designed for a single use. In contrast, the second container is generally made from a noble and high-quality material, enabling it to be used multiple times. The second container will be termed hereafter refillable dispenser.

[0003] The use of connectors for mechanically and fluidically coupling a refill to a refillable dispenser has been disclosed by the prior art. For example, French patent No 2 707 601 discloses a connector comprising two opposite threadings configured to receive respectively a threaded neck of a refill and a threaded neck of a refillable dispenser. The disadvantage of such a connector is that screwing operation onto a refill on one hand, and onto a refillable dispenser on another hand, is time consuming. Moreover, it often happens that the torque of screwing is too high, leading thus to a damage of the threaded neck of the refill or the threaded neck of the refillable dispenser. In the case of the refillable dispenser, designed to be used multiple times, the damage of the corresponding neck leads to discarding the whole container. Furthermore, for refillable dispensers not provided with a threaded neck, such a connector cannot be used.

[0004] The present invention aims to improve prior art by proposing a connector for mechanically and fluidically coupling a refill to a refillable dispenser with a particularly easy and intuitive gesture, while preserving the refillable dispenser for reuse. [0005] To this effect, the invention proposes a fluid connector for coupling a first container and a second container, said connector comprising a first coupling member coupleable to said first container and a second coupling member coupleable to said second container, said first coupling member and said second coupling member being connected to each other so that said fluid flows between said first container and said second container. According to the invention, the first coupling member is moveably mounted with respect to the second coupling member and designed to press said second coupling member against the second container upon a relative displacement of said first coupling member over said second coupling member.

[0006] The invention may also include any of the following characteristics, taken individually or in any technically possible combinations which form as many embodiments of the invention:

- the first coupling member and the second coupling member are configured so that a transfer of the fluid is blocked before the relative displacement between said first coupling member and said second coupling member, said transfer being enabled upon said relative displacement;

- the first coupling member comprises a sleeve and a core;

- the sleeve covers at least partially the core;

- the first coupling member comprises an annular chamber for receiving a neck of the first container;

- the core defines the annular chamber;

- the annular chamber is provided with a threading configured to receive a threading of the neck of the first container;

- the annular chamber has a bottom provided with an anti-leakage gasket;

- the sleeve is configured to slide at least partially over the second coupling member;

- the first coupling member comprises a second chamber configured to receive the second coupling member;

- the core and the sleeve define the second chamber;

- the second coupling member comprises a stem configured to slide in an internal peripheral wall of the core;

- the internal peripheral wall is provided with a cap; - the stem is configured to transfer the fluid from the first container to the second container;

- the stem comprises a first channel for the fluid flowing and a second channel for an air flow;

- the first channel is provided with a plunger extending towards the second container;

- the stem is configured to pierce the cap upon sliding during the relative displacement of the first coupling member over the second coupling member;

- the second coupling member further comprises at least one flexible finger;

- the flexible fingers are formed by a plurality of circumferentially distributed longitudinal slots cut into a lower edge of the second coupling member;

- the second coupling member further comprises a skirt joining the stem and the plurality of flexible fingers;

- the flexible fingers are arranged between a first position in which said flexible fingers are disengaged with respect to a flanged neck of the second container, and a second position in which said flexible fingers are pressed against said flanged neck;

- the sleeve comprises a free edge actuating the flexible fingers;

- the skirt forms a cavity in which the plunger of the stem is arranged;

- the second channel of the stem communicates with the cavity;

- the second coupling member is provided with air vents;

- the skirt has an upper portion and a lower flanged portion;

- the skirt has a rib arranged at the bottom of the upper portion;

- the rib is configured to provide a seal tight closure on the second container;

- the first coupling member and the second coupling member are mounted in a helical motion relative to each other to follow the relative displacement of said first coupling member over said second coupling member;

- the first coupling member and the second coupling member are mounted in a translational motion relative to each other to follow the relative displacement of said first coupling member over said second coupling member;

- the first coupling member or the second coupling member comprises a face provided with a spirally extending groove;

- the first coupling member or the second coupling member comprises a face provided with a vertical slot; - the first coupling member or the second coupling member is provided with a tab configured to slide into said groove and/or said vertical slot;

- the helical motion between the first coupling member and the second coupling member has the same clockwise or counter clockwise direction as the screwing of the first container into the annular chamber.

[0007] Other objectives and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, made in reference to the annexed figures, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is an axial cross-sectional cut view showing in perspective the connector of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an axial cross-sectional cut view of the connector of Fig. 1 coupled to a first container and a second container;

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the second container (Fig. 4a) and a detail of said embodiment (Fig. 4b);

Fig. 5 shows an exploded view of the second container of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 shows one step of coupling between the first container and the second container using the connector of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 shows a fluid flowing between the first container and the second container using the connector of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 shows one step of uncoupling between the first container and the second connector;

Fig. 9 shows the reassembling operation of the second container for reuse with a first step (figure 9a) and a second step (figure 9b).

[0008] In the description, the terms of positioning in space are taken in reference to the straight position of the connector with a top end designed to receive the refill in an inverted position and the bottom end designed to receive the refillable dispenser in a straight position.

[0009] With regard to the figures, the invention relates to a fluid connector 1 for coupling a refill 6 to a refillable dispenser 8. [0010] The fluid connector 1 comprises a first coupling member 2 configured to be coupled to a neck 61 of the refill 6 and a second coupling member 4 configured to be coupled to a neck 81 of the refillable dispenser 8. The first coupling member 2 and the second coupling member 4 are connected to each other so that the fluid flows between the refill 6 and the refillable dispenser 8.

[0011] As best shown by figures 2 and 3, the first coupling member 2 comprises a sleeve 21 which is provided with a core 22 forming an annular chamber 23 configured to receive the neck 61 of the refill 6. In particular, the annular chamber 23 comprises an external peripheral wall 24 and an internal peripheral wall 25 which are transversally joined to each other by a ring-shaped base 26. The ring-shaped base 26 forms a bottom of the annular chamber 23.

[0012] According to the embodiment shown, the external peripheral wall 24 comprises an inner face 24a which is provided with a threading 24b configured to engage a threading 62 formed on the neck 61 of the refill 6. The threading 62 is best shown in figure 3. Still according to the embodiment shown, the bottom 26 of the annular chamber 23 is provided with an anti-leakage gasket 27.

[0013] The second coupling member 4 includes a circular plate 41 and a skirt 42 which extends downwardly from an outer edge of said plate and defines with said circular plate a cavity 43. In particular, the circular plate 41 comprises a top face 41a and a bottom face 41b. The skirt 42 comprises an upper portion 44 having an outer face 44a and an inner face 44b, and a lower flanged portion 45 which comprises a free edge 45a provided with a plurality of radial flexible fingers 46.

[0014] The flexible fingers 46 are formed by a plurality of circumferentially distributed longitudinal slots 47 cut into the lower edge 45a of the lower flanged portion 45. In particular, referring back to figure 1, each flexible finger 46 includes a tab 46a attached to the flanged portion 45 of the skirt 42 and a terminal end 46b joined to said tab by a transversal crease line 46c. [0015] Advantageously, the skirt 42 includes an annular rib 48 configured to provide a seal tight closure on the flanged neck81 of the ref illable dispenser 8, said rib being formed at the bottom edge of the upper portion 44 of said skirt. More precisely, the annular rib 48 is configured to fit around a lip 83a protruding upwardly from a top edge 83 of the refillable dispenser 8. Such an arrangement makes it easier to position the connector 1 with respect to the refillable dispenser 8.

[0016] The second coupling member 4 is positioned in a second chamber 28 formed in the first coupling member 2, said second chamber being adjacent and complementary to the annular chamber 23 of said first coupling member. In particular, the second chamber 28 is delimited by the ring-shaped base 26 and the internal peripheral wall 25 of the core 22. The second chamber 28 is further delimited by a peripheral wall 29 aligned with the external peripheral wall 24 of the core 22, and by a bottom part 21a of the sleeve 21.

[0017] According to the invention, the first coupling member 2 is slidingly mounted over the second coupling member 4 between a higher position in which said second coupling member is freely positionable around the flanged neck 81 of the refillable dispenser 8, and a lower position in which said second coupling member is radially and tightly pressed by said first coupling member against said flanged neck.

[0018] In particular, in the higher position, as shown in figure 3, the first coupling member 2 is such that a ledge 41c formed by the circular plate 41 of the second coupling member 4 is in abutment against a stop 29c formed on an inner face 29a of the peripheral wall 29. Moreover, the flexible fingers 46 are outwardly spread out with respect to a longitudinal axis of the connector 1.

[0019] In the lower position, not illustrated, the first coupling member 2 is such that an underside 26a of the ring-shaped base 26 is in abutment against the top face 41a of the circular plate 41. Moreover, the sleeve 21 of the first coupling member 2 turns down the flexible fingers 46 which fit around the flanged neck 81 of the refillable dispenser 8. For each flexible finger 46, the crease line 46c enables the rotation of the terminal end 46b with respect to the tab 46a. [0020] According to the embodiment shown, the lower flanged portion 45 of the skirt 42 is dimensioned to be slightly larger than the inner diameter of the second chamber 28. This allows for a tight coupling between the lower flanged portion 45 and the flanged neck 81 of the refillable dispenser 8 upon radial pressure exerted by the sleeve 21 of the first coupling member 2.

[0021] To achieve the sliding motion of the first coupling member 2 over the second coupling member 4, according the embodiment shown, the upper portion 44 of the skirt 42 is provided on its outer face 44a with at least one, here two spirally extending grooves 44c. The peripheral wall 29 of the first coupling member 2 has an inner face 29a provided with two corresponding tab 29b, each of said tab being configured to slide into each of the spiral groove 44c.

[0022] In particular, each spiral groove 44c comprises at least a recess not shown in which the corresponding tab 29b is engaged for locking the first coupling member 2 to the second coupling member 4. The recess is formed in the vicinity of a lower extremity of the spiral groove 44c.

[0023] In an alternative embodiment not shown, the upper portion 44 of the skirt 42 is provided with at least a vertical slot and at least a circumferential slot which are configured to be successively engaged by the tab 29b formed on the inner face 29a of the first coupling member 2. This successively allows for a translational motion and a rotational motion of the first coupling member 2 with respect to the second coupling member 4.

[0024] Other types of relative displacement between the first coupling member 2 and the second coupling member 4 are also possible.

[0025] In these embodiments described above, the first coupling member 2 and the second coupling member 4 are displaced in a reverse movement to disconnect the refillable dispenser 8 from the refill 6. [0026] In some other embodiments, the first coupling member 2 and the second coupling member 4 may be displaced according to different movement depending on whether the refill 6 and the refillable dispenser 8 are being connected or disconnected. For instance, the first coupling member 2 and the second coupling member 4 may be subjected to a translational movement upon connecting the refill 6 and the refillable dispenser 8, and to a helical movement upon disconnecting said refill and said refillable dispenser.

[0027] To allow the fluid to flow from the refill 6 to the refillable dispenser 8, the second coupling member 4 further includes a stem 49 which is mounted through an opening 41d of the circular plate 41, said stem comprising a top end 49a opposite said opening.

[0028] In particular, the stem 49 is configured to slide in a passage 25a of the internal peripheral wall 25 upon displacement of the first coupling member 2 with respect to the second coupling member 4. For this purpose, as best shown in figure 2, the stem 49 and the internal peripheral wall 25 have complementary shapes, comprising each a tube 491, 251 with a main section 491a, 251a and a tapered section 491b, 251b joined by means of a shoulder 491c, 251c. The shoulder 491c of the stem 49 and the shoulder 251c of the internal peripheral wall 25 are configured to abut each other when the first coupling member 2 is in the lower position with respect to the second coupling member 4.

[0029] Moreover, the stem 49 defines a first channel 492 for the fluid flowing and a second channel 493 for an air flow. The first channel 492 and the second channel 493 have contiguous openings 492a, 493a forming the top end 49a of the stem 49. In particular, the first channel 492 is provided with a plunger 49b extending towards the refillable dispenser 8, passing through the cavity 43. The second channel 493 communicates with the cavity

43.

[0030] The first coupling member 2 and the second coupling member 4 are configured so that the transfer of the fluid material is blocked until the relative displacement between said first coupling member and said second coupling member occurs. [0031] For this purpose, the internal peripheral wall 25 has a top end 25b provided with a cap 25c, the cap being a pierceable membrane. Upon a descending displacement of the first coupling member 2 with respect to the second coupling member 4, the stem 49 moves upwardly in the passage 25a of the internal peripheral wall 25 until the top end 49a of said stem pierces the cap 25c. In particular, the top end 49a of the stem 49 is beveled in order to facilitate the break of the cap 25c.

[0032] The refill 6 may be provided with an anti-tamper sealing member not shown. This sealing member is designed to maintain the integrity of the fluid in a tank 62 of said refill and comprises a weakness area configured to be pierced by the stem 49 as well as a resistant area adjacent said weakness area.

[0033] Referring to figure 4a, the refillable dispenser 8 comprises a tank 82 extended by the flanged neck 81, said tank being in communication which a pump 84 mounted onto said flanged neck by means of a mounting device 85.

[0034] In particular, as best shown by figure 4b, the mounting device 85 comprises a ferrule 86 and a collar 87 sliding over said ferrule. The ferrule 86 and the collar 87 are respectively of the same type as the second coupling member 4 and the first coupling member 2 of the connector 1 shown in figure 1. Thus, the ferrule 86 comprises at least one spiral groove configured to be engaged by a tab formed onto the collar 87. Moreover, the ferrule 86 comprises flexible fingers 88 configured to fit around the flanged neck 81 of the refillable dispenser 8.

[0035] Other types of reversible connection between the pump 84 and the refillable dispenser 8 are also possible.

[0036] To connect such a refill 6 and such a refillable dispenser 8 by means of the connector 1 according to the invention, the user first removes the pump 84 from the flanged neck 81 of said refillable dispenser (see figure 5). To do so, the user lifts the collar 87 with respect to the ferrule 86 of the mounting device 85 by rotating the collar 87 relatively to the ferrule 87, allowing thus the flexible fingers 88 to outwardly spread out with respect to a longitudinal axis of the mounting device 85.

[0037] Then, the user screws the threaded neck 61 of the refill 6 into the annular chamber 23 of the connector 1 (this step is not shown), leading to an intermediate unit. It should be noted that such an intermediate unit may be supplied to the user fully assembled.

[0038] Finally, the user positions the intermediate unit formed by the refill 6 and the connector 1 onto the tank 82 of the refillable dispenser 8, with the flexible fingers 46 surrounding the flanged neck 81 of said refillable dispenser (see figure 6). By pushing the sleeve 21 of the first coupling member 2 down over the skirt 42 of the second coupling member 4, a tight coupling between the connector 1 and the refillable dispenser 8 occurs. During this pushing motion, the tab 29b of the first coupling member 2 slides, for instance, along the vertical slot (not shown) of the second coupling member 4.

[0039] The coupling between the refill 6 and the refillable dispenser 8 through the connector 1 leads the stem 49 of the second coupling member 4 to successively pierce the cap 25c of the first coupling member 2 and the anti-tamper sealing member of the refill 6. Such a piercing allow, in one hand, the fluid to flow from the refill 6 to the refillable dispenser 8 through the first channel 492; and in the other hand, the air present in refillable dispenser 8 to flow in the reverse direction through the second channel 493 up to the refill 6 (see figure 7). This double channel embodiment separating air and fluid flows improves significantly the speed of the fluid as compared to the prior art connector.

[0040] Once the fluid transfer is completed, the fluid connector 1 can be disconnected from the refillable dispenser 8 by lifting the sleeve 21 of the first coupling member 2 with respect to the skirt 42 of the second coupling member 4 (see figure 8). This is achieved, for instance, by a helical motion between the first coupling member 2 and the second coupling member 4. Then, the pump 84 can be connected back to the refillable dispenser 8 by first positioning the mounting device 85 onto the tank 82 and around the flanged neck 81 (figure 9a), then by pushing the collar 87 down over the ferrule 86 (figure 9b) in a translational motion.