US20050061834A1 - Fixing device and a fitting method for fixing a dispenser member to a reservoir opening - Google Patents

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.

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 toFIG. 1, in an intermediate fitting position;
• FIG. 3 is a view similar toFIGS. 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 to3;
• FIG. 5 is a view in an intermediate fitting position;
• FIG. 6 is a view in a final fitted position for the embodiment shown inFIGS. 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 toFIG. 7 in an intermediate fitting position; and
• FIG. 9 is view in a final fitted position of the third embodiment shown inFIGS. 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 anopening41 in afluid reservoir4. 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, theopening41 is formed by aneck40 which is connected to ashoulder44 which already forms a portion of a body of the reservoir that serves to contain the fluid. Theneck40 projects from saidshoulder44 and internally defines theopening41. Advantageously, theneck40 is symmetrical about an axis of symmetry X. Theneck40 has an inside wall that defines theopening41. 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 atop periphery42 at which a sealingbead421 may be formed that projects upwards. On its outside wall, theneck40 forms aperipheral reinforcement423 which projects outwards. Saidreinforcement423 connects to the low portion of the neck via ashoulder43 which is directed downwards and outwards. Saidshoulder43 serves as a fastening zone for fastening to the various fixing devices of the invention. The design of saidneck40 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 adispenser member3 which may be a pump or a valve. In conventional manner, the dispenser member has abody30 that defines an inlet inserted in theneck40 or even in the body of the reservoir. In this example, thebody3 is provided with aperipheral collar31 which projects outwards. The bottom face of saidcollar31 may be provided with aneck gasket34 serving to come into compression against theperipheral edge42 of theneck40 to provide sealing. Theperipheral bead421 helps to improve the sealing by locally compressing the gasket more strongly. Thebody30 is associated with adispenser head32 which may, for example, incorporate a dispensing orifice in the form of a spray nozzle. Thedispenser head32 may also serve as a pusher that is designed to be pressed for the purpose of actuating the dispenser member. For example, areturn spring33 may urge thedispenser head32 back into its rest position. Thus, the user presses on the top surface of thedispenser head32 to compress thespring33 and to dispense a metered quantity or “dose” of fluid from thebody30. 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 fixingring1 and aband2. 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 fixingring1 substantially comprises means for receiving thedispenser member3 and means for fixing to theneck40 of the receptacle.
• More precisely, in this example, the fixingring1 is provided with atop bushing11 and with abottom skirt12. Thebushing11 has anoutside wall111 and aninside wall112. Thebushing11 also has a freetop end115. Thebushing111 connects to thebottom skirt112 by forming an inwardly-extendingshoulder113 which faces downwards. Saidshoulder113 serves to come into engagement with an outer margin of theradial collar31 formed by thebody30 of thedispenser member3. The inwardly-extendingshoulder113 comes into abutment with the top face of thecollar31, and theskirt12 extends around the edge of thecollar31. Thus, thebushing111 is positioned above thecollar31. The inside diameter of the bushing at itsinside wall112 is smaller than the outside diameter of thecollar31.
• Theskirt12 also has aninside wall122 and anoutside wall121. Because of the presence of the inwardly-extendingshoulder113, theinside wall122 of theskirt12 is situated radially further out than theinside wall112 of thebushing11. In other words, the diameter of theskirt12 at itsinside wall122 is larger than the inside diameter of thebushing11 at itsinside wall112. Theoutside wall121 of theskirt112 may be exactly circularly cylindrical. It may have an outside diameter that is slightly smaller than the outside diameter of theoutside wall111 of thebushing11 outside therecess114. However, it is also possible for theoutside wall121 to extend in alignment with theoutside wall111 so that they have the same outside diameter. In the embodiments of the invention, theskirt12 is not continuous, but rather it is made up of a plurality ofsegments123 which are separated byvertical slots125. Theslots125 may extend to the level of thebushing11, or they may stop short thereof. Thus, the height of the skirt is essentially formed bysegments123 and byslots125 in alternation. However, it is possible to devise variant embodiments in which theslots125 do not extend to the level of thebushing111, so that the skirt remains continuous over a top portion. Theinside wall122 of thesegments123 of theskirt12 is provided with fastening or snap-fastening heads124 which project radially inwards. For example, it is possible to provide twoheads124 persegment123. It is also possible to provide one continuous bead segment in place of the two heads124. Theheads124 are formed at thebottom end126 of theskirt12. More precisely, they extend over the bottom halves of thesegments123. Said heads124 serve to come into abutment under theshoulder43 of the neck, as can be seen inFIGS. 2, 3,5,6,8, and9. In this configuration, the topperipheral edge42 of theneck40 is pressed against the bottom face of thegasket34, optionally with thebead421 which penetrates relatively deep into thegasket34. Secure and leaktight fixing is thus achieved.
• However, such leaktight fixing can be maintained only via theband2. In its final fitted position, as shown inFIGS. 3, 6, and9, saidband2 surrounds the outside of theskirt12 so as to lock the heads under theshoulder43. Theband2 thus has a locking function, but it also has a trim function for imparting attractive appearance, and even a protective function for protecting thering1. Theband2 is in the form of a substantially cylindrical drum having aninside wall21, anoutside wall22, atop end25 and abottom end27. Thetop end25 forms an inwardly-extending rim that defines a throughopening26. This general configuration is common to all of the bands of the embodiments shown in FIGS.1 to9.
• Reference is made below to FIGS.1 to3, for the purpose of explaining in detail the first embodiment of a fixing device of the invention. At theoutside wall111 of thebushing11, the fixingring1 is provided with arecess114 which is in the form of an indentation or of a notch in thewall111 which may be circularly cylindrical. In other words, the diameter of thebushing11 at therecess114 is smaller than the outside diameter at thewall111. Therecess114 may extend over the entire periphery of thebushing11 so as to form a continuous annular groove. Thegroove114 has an end wall flanked by two side walls that respectively meet up with theoutside wall111. The outside diameter of thebushing11 at thewall111 outside therecess114 may be identical to or slightly larger than the outside diameter of theskirt12 at theoutside wall121. In other words, thebushing11 may project very slightly outwards relative to theskirt12. Theband2 has an inside diameter at itsinside wall21 which is identical to or slightly smaller than the outside diameter of thebushing11 at itsoutside wall111. Preferably, most of theinside wall21 of the band is cylindrical. It is thus possible to engage theband2 over thebushing11 in tight-fitting manner so that theband2 can be held in place or pre-positioned on thering1. Theband2 can be engaged over the ring in the manner shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, i.e. with itsbottom end27 situated level with the top end of theskirt12. Thering1 and theband2 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, theinside wall21 of theband2 is provided with a projectingprofile24 which extends radially inwards. Saidprofile24 may be in the form of a continuous peripheral rib which therefore has an inside diameter smaller than the inside diameter at theinside wall21. The projectingprofile24 is situated closer to thetop end25 than to thebottom end27. The projectingprofile24 may, for example, be situated in the middle of the top half of theband2. When the fixing device is fitted to a reservoir neck, theband2 is pre-positioned or pre-fitted on thering1 in the manner shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. In addition, thedispenser member3 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 theneck40 in the manner shown inFIG. 1. Thebody30 is inserted into theopening41 while the skirt starts engaging around theneck40. The assembly is lowered over the neck until theheads124 of theskirt12 come into engagement under theshoulder43 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 theperipheral reinforcement423. This is made possible by means of theslots125 which thus make it possible for thesegments123 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, theband2 is still pre-positioned on thering2 with itsbottom end27 situated substantially level with the top end of theskirt12. This is made possible by means of the tight-fitting contact between theband2 and thering1 at theoutside wall111 of thebushing11. Thering1 is fitted to theneck40 by exerting pressure that may be applied either to thedispenser head32 or to theband2. In which case, it is necessary for the tight-fitting contact between theband2 and thering1 to be strong enough to enable theband2 to remain in place while theskirt12 is being fitted around theneck40. As soon as the operation of fitting theskirt12 to the neck is finished, force is applied to thetop end25 of theband2, thereby moving the band relative to thering1. Theband2 is thus moved until its projectingprofile24 comes to be received in therecess114 formed in thebushing11 of thering1. This is shown inFIG. 3. The projectingprofile24 being engaged in therecess114 thus permanently snap-fastens theband2 to thering1. It is not even necessary for thebottom end27 of theband2 to come into contact with theshoulder44. Neither is it necessary for the inwardly-extendingrim25 of theband2 to come into abutting contact against thetop end115 of thebushing11. However, it is possible. In this final position, theinside wall21 of theband2 can come into contact with theoutside wall121 of theskirt12. Theheads124 are thus locked under theshoulder43. A small gap may however remain between the band and the skirt.
• The embodiment shown in FIGS.4 to6 constitutes a variant of the embodiment shown in FIGS.1 to3. In this variant embodiment, the fixing device is also provided with acap5 which fits over theband2. Thecap5 includes asleeve52 serving to surround theband2. Thesleeve52 may be connected to the remainder of thecap5 via asetback55 extending downwards and formed inside thesleeve52. Beyond saidsetback55, the cap may have any shape that terminates in atop wall51. Thus, thecap5 forms aninternal space50 which receives the band, the ring, and a portion of thedispenser member3. This is shown inFIG. 6. In this position, thesetback55 comes into abutment against thetop end25 of theband2. In the invention, the inside wall of thesleeve52 is provided with aprojection53 which may extend continuously or discretely. In other words, theprojection53 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 thesleeve52 is slightly larger than the outside diameter of theband2 at itsoutside wall22. However, the inside diameter at theprojection53 is smaller than the outside diameter at theoutside wall22 of theband2. In addition, theoutside wall22 of the band is provided with arecess23 which advantageously extends over the entire periphery of the band. Saidrecess23 may be in the form of a continuous annular groove or channel. Thus, the outside diameter of the band at therecess23 is smaller than the outside diameter of the band at theoutside wall22. Advantageously, saidrecess23 is situated at the same level as the projectingprofile24. It is also possible to provide saidrecess23 higher or lower than the projectingprofile24. Preferably, therecess23 and the projectingprofile24 are formed in a single operation by deforming the band inwards. This may be achieved by rolling or by knurling. Thus, both the projectingprofile24 and therecess23 result from a single annular peripheral deformation. Therecess23 is also shown in the first embodiment in FIGS.1 to3 but it is optional in that embodiment. Theband2 in the first embodiment may be exactly cylindrical at itsoutside wall22. Conversely, in the embodiment shown in FIGS.4 to6, saidrecess23 is used for receiving theprojection53 on thecap5. This is shown in FIGS.4 to6. Thecap5 is pre-fitted to the band before theskirt12 is fitted to theneck40. Theprojection53 being engaged in therecess23 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 thecap5 is finally fitted to theband2 is obtained when theprojection53 is engaged in therecess23 and optionally when thesetback55 comes into abutment against thetop end25 of theband2. The assembly made up of the ring, of the band, of the dispenser member, and of the cap is fitted by pushing on thecap5. In a first stage, thesegments123 of theskirt12 deform radially outwards on passing over thereinforcement423 until theheads124 come into engagement under theshoulder43. During said first stage of fitting, theband2 remains in place on thering1. Then, stronger pressure is exerted so that theband2 moves over thering1 to its final position shown inFIG. 6. In this position, the projectingprofile24 is in engagement in therecess114, while theprojection53 is in engagement in therecess23. Thus, the projectingprofile24 associated with itsoutside recess23 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 to9 for the purpose of describing the third embodiment of the invention in detail. In this third embodiment, the fixingring1′ also comprises abushing11 and askirt12. Theskirt12forms segments123 which are separated byslots125 which, however, do not extend to thebushing11. Therefore, the top portion of theskirt12 is continuous, i.e. slot-free. In the invention, theoutside wall121 of theskirt12 is provided with arecess114′ 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 therecess114′ is situated at the level of thebushing11, if thebushing11 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 thesegments123 separated by theslots125. In addition, theband2′ is provided with a projectingprofile24′ which, in this example, is formed at the freebottom end27′ of the band. The projectingprofile24′ may be formed by an inwardly-extending deformation of thebottom end27′. Thus, theprofile24′ may be formed by the inside bottom edge of thebottom end27′ that is deformed inwards. In the invention, the inside diameter of the band at the projectingprofile24′ is smaller than the outside diameter of thebushing11 or of theskirt12. Thus, the projectingprofile24′ can come to be received in therecess114′ when the band is engaged over the ring. This is shown inFIGS. 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 thebushing11. This can improve the temporary fixing of theband2′ to thering1′. The projectingprofile24′ being engaged in therecess114′ defines an intermediate fitting position in which theband2′ is pre-positioned on thering1′. The assembly made up of the ring, of the band, and of the dispenser member can thus be fitted to theneck4 in a manner such as to snap-fasten theheads124 under theshoulder43. During this first operation, theband2′ remains static relative to thering1′. Then, pressure is exerted on thetop end25 of theband2′ so as to move the band relative to the ring. In its final fitted position as shown inFIG. 9, the projectingprofile24′ comes to be received under thebottom end126 of theskirt12. The band is thus fixed by being hooked under the ring. The projectingprofile24′ 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 projectingprofiles24″ which come to be received in therecess114′ in the final fitted position, as shown inFIG. 9, thereby improving the strength of the ring. However, the second projectingprofiles24″ 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 anyrecess114 or114′, 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.

Claims (13)

1. 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;11) 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;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;114′) and the inside wall (21) of the band is provided with at least one projecting profile (24;24′,24″) serving to come into engagement in the recess in the ring.

2. A fixing device according toclaim 1, in which the profile (24;24″) being engaged in the recess (114;114′) corresponds to a final fitted position in which the band is finally fitted to the ring.

3. A fixing device according toclaim 1, in which the profile (24′) being engaged in the recess corresponds to an intermediate fitting position in which the band is intermediately fitted to the ring.

4. A fixing device according toclaim 1, in which said at least one recess (24;24′;24″) extends in a plane perpendicular to the axis (X).

5. A fixing device according toclaim 1, in which the inside wall (21) has a top end (25) and a bottom end (27;27′), said at least one projecting profile (24,24″) being formed closer to the top end than to the bottom end, and advantageously in the vicinity of the top end.

6. A fixing device according toclaim 1, in which the inside wall (21) has a bottom end (27′), said at least one projecting profile (24′) being formed at said bottom end, said at least one profile (24′) coming into engagement in said at least one recess (114′) in an intermediate fitting position.

7. A fixing device according toclaim 6, in which the outside wall (121) has a bottom edge (126), said at least one profile (24′) coming into engagement under the bottom edge in a final fitted position.

8. A fixing device according toclaim 1, in which the band has an outside wall (22) provided with at least one recess (23).

9. A fixing device according toclaim 8, in which said at least one recess (23) is situated axially at the same level as said at least one projecting profile (24).

10. A fixing device according toclaim 8, in which said at least one recess and said at least one projecting profile are formed by an inwardly-extending deformation of the band.

11. A fixing device according toclaim 8, further comprising a cap (5) provided with an inside projection (53) designed to come into engagement in said at least one recess (23) in the band.

12. A fixing device according toclaim 1, in which the ring comprises a top peripheral bushing (11) and a skirt (12) that extends downwards from the bushing, the skirt forming segments (123) which are separated by slots, each segment forming at least one fastening head (124) which projects inwards, said at least one recess (114,114′) being formed at the level of the bushing.

13. A method of fitting a fixing device according toclaim 12 to an opening (41) in a reservoir (4), which opening is provided with a fastening shoulder (43), in which method said at least one projecting profile (24′) remains engaged in said at least one recess (114′) until the fastening heads (124) are in engagement under the fastening shoulder (43) of the opening in the reservoir.

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