Device for dispensing a fluid product

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for dispensing a fluid product, comprising a dispensing head (1) provided with a bore (2), the head being assembled on a pump comprising:-a pump body (14) having a pump chamber (14a), the pump body having a lower opening (29) closed by an inlet valve (20) held in position by a valve holder (21) mounted in the pump body; -a piston (16) sealingly sliding in the pump body around a hollow axial rod (15) connected to the head, the rod being provided with an inner axial passage (15a) closed on the underside and having a radial bore (17b), the piston having, on an outer radial edge, an outer sealing lip (16a) configured to seal against the pump body, and the piston has, on the inner radial edge, an inner sealing lip (16c) configured to seal the radial bore (17b) when it is in a non-operative state; -a resilient return member (50) for biasing the pump towards its non-operative position and guiding it back to it after each actuation, the valve holder having an axially upwardly projecting sleeve (22), the upper edge (22a) of which mechanically abuts the piston during activation to move the piston (16) axially upwardly, and the elastic return member (50) being adapted to return the pump back to its non-operative position after each actuation. Thus, the radial hole (17b) is opened and air in the pump chamber (14a) is discharged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a fluid product. Background Art

[0002] Documents FR2343137 and FR2403465 describe a device having a pump comprising a pump body in which a piston is movable and slidably mounted on an actuating rod, wherein the thrust exerted by the user on the rod is transmitted to the piston via a spring, so that by actuating the actuating rod, the piston moves relative to the rod.

[0003] Document WO2020128269A1 describes an improved version of the above-mentioned pump.

[0004] However, these pumps have certain disadvantages. They include two metal springs, which are therefore disadvantageous from a recovery point of view. In addition, they include a gland that cooperates with the return spring and is necessary to enable the pump to be primed. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a device for dispensing a fluid product which does not reproduce the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[0006] The present invention also aims to provide a device for dispensing a fluid product which improves recovery by removing the metal spring.

[0007] The present invention therefore also aims to provide a device for dispensing a fluid product which simplifies priming.

[0008] The present invention also aims to provide a device for dispensing a fluid product that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a device for dispensing a fluid product, the device comprising a dispensing head provided with a dispensing hole, the dispensing head being assembled on a pump, the pump comprising:

[0010] a pump body having a pump chamber, said pump body having an upper opening closed by a piston and a lower opening closed by an inlet valve, the inlet valve being held in place by a valve holder mounted in said pump body,

[0011] - the piston sliding sealingly in the pump body around a hollow axial rod connected to the dispensing head, the hollow axial rod being provided with an internal axial channel which is axially closed on the lower side and communicates with the outside through radial holes, the piston having on an external radial edge an external sealing lip configured to seal against the pump body, and the piston having on an internal radial edge an internal sealing lip configured to seal the radial holes when the piston is in a non-operating state,

[0012] - an elastic return member which biases the pump towards its inoperative position and which guides the pump back towards this inoperative position after each actuation,

[0013] The valve holder has an axial sleeve protruding axially upwards, the upper edge of which mechanically abuts against the piston, in particular the inner sealing lip, during activation to move the piston axially upwards relative to the rod, thereby opening the radial hole and discharging the air contained in the pump chamber.

[0014] Advantageously, the elastic return member is non-metallic.

[0015] Advantageously, the elastic return member is a bellows arranged between the dispensing head and a component mounted on the pump body, such as a fixing ring.

[0016] Advantageously, a hollow axial insert is fixed in said hollow axial rod, said hollow axial insert having said radial hole.

[0017] Advantageously, a fixing ring is provided to fix the pump body on the reservoir, wherein a neck seal is interposed between the fixing ring and the pump body, an annular seal being provided to ensure sealing of the fixing ring with the pump body.

[0018] Advantageously, in the inoperative position, an upper axial edge of said piston sealingly engages said annular seal.

[0019] Advantageously, a vent is provided in the pump body to allow the product expelled by the pump to be replaced by air at each actuation.

[0020] Advantageously, said piston comprises at least one deformable lip which, during actuation, engages with the frustoconical portion of said hollow axial rod so as to produce a pre-compression.

[0021] Advantageously, said upper edge of said axial sleeve comprises at least one opening to enable the passage of air during start-up.

[0022] Advantageously, each opening is formed by a notch made in said upper edge of said sleeve. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] These and other characteristics and advantages will emerge more clearly during the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are given as non-limiting examples and in which:

[0024] Figure 1is a schematic cross-sectional view of a device for dispensing a fluid product in a non-operating position according to a first advantageous embodiment of the invention, the device comprising a pump for dispensing a fluid product,

[0025] Figure 2 and Figure 3 are shown before and during actuation, respectively. Figure 1 Detailed schematic cross-sectional view of the pre-compression device,

[0026] Figure 4 is a detailed schematic cross-sectional view of a device for dispensing a fluid product in an actuated position during activation according to a second advantageous embodiment of the invention, the device comprising a pump for dispensing a fluid product,

[0027] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Detailed schematic perspective view of the valve holder of the device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] In the description, the terms "upper", "lower", "top" and "bottom" refer to the upright position of the device shown in the drawings. The terms "axial" and "radial" refer to the vertical center axis of the pump.

[0029] Figure 1 A pump according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention is shown which improves prior art pumps such as those described in document WO2020128269A1.

[0030] The pump comprises a pump body 14 which contains a pump chamber 14 a. The pump body 14 is axially open on both sides, wherein the upper opening is closed by the piston 16 and the lower opening 29 is closed by the inlet valve 20 .

[0031] The fixing ring 10 is arranged to fix the pump body 14 on the neck of a reservoir (not shown), wherein the neck seal 11 is interposed between the fixing ring 10 and the pump body 14. The annular seal 13 ensures the sealing of the fixing ring 10 and the pump body 14.

[0032] A piston 16 sealingly slides in the pump body 14 around a hollow axial rod 15 having a first internal axial passage 15a.

[0033] The first internal axial channel 15a opens axially towards the top of the stem 15 for connection to the dispensing head 1 provided with the dispensing orifice 2 .

[0034] The dispensing head 1 comprises a nose tip 3 intended to be at least partially inserted into the nostril during use, and a radial flange 4 forming a support for the user's finger during actuation.

[0035] The first inner axial channel 15 a is also axially open towards the bottom, and the hollow axial rod 15 receives the hollow axial insert 17 .

[0036] The hollow axial insert 17 comprises a second internal axial channel 17 a which opens axially upwards into the first internal axial channel 15 a of the hollow axial rod 15 .

[0037] The second internal axial channel 17 a is axially closed towards the bottom and the hollow axial insert comprises radial holes 17 b to connect the second internal axial channel 17 a with the outside of the hollow axial insert 17 .

[0038] Alternatively, the rod 15 and the insert 17 may be formed from one single piece, for example by moulding.

[0039] A non-metallic resilient return member 50 is provided to bias the pump towards its inoperative position and to guide the pump back towards the inoperative position after each actuation.

[0040] In the example shown, this elastic return member 50 is formed by a bellows arranged between the dispensing head 1 and the fixing ring 10, which elastically biases the dispensing head towards its inoperative position. During actuation, this bellows 50 is compressed so that after actuation, the compressed bellows will return elastically towards its inoperative position, thereby driving the dispensing head 1 towards its inoperative position, which in turn returns the piston 16 towards its inoperative position by sucking the next dose of fluid into the pump chamber 14a.

[0041] The outer radial edge of the piston 16 forms an outer sealing lip 16 a for ensuring sealing relative to the inner surface of the pump body 14 .

[0042] The upper axial edge 16 b of the piston 16 ensures sealing against the annular seal 13 in the non-operating state.

[0043] The pump body 14 is closed towards the bottom by an inlet valve 20 which is held in place by a valve holder 21. This inlet valve 20 closes, in a known conventional manner, a lower opening 29 which communicates with the interior of the reservoir and to which a dip tube 29a can be connected.

[0044] The rod 15 comprises a shoulder 23 for limiting the upward movement of the rod 15 by coming into abutment with the annular seal 13 .

[0045] The upper edge 16 b of the piston 16 should be in abutment against the annular seal 13 when the pump is in a non-operating state.

[0046] The seal between the piston 16 and the hollow axial insert 17 is ensured by an inner portion of the piston 16 , which is preferably conical, forming an inner sealing lip 16 c .

[0047] In the non-operating state, the radial holes 17b are aligned with the internal sealing lip 16c so as to be completely closed. Thus, the seal between the outside and the inside of the reservoir is ensured by the contact between the upper edge 16b of the piston 16 and the annular seal 13 on the one hand and the contact between the internal sealing lip 16c and the hollow axial insert 17 on the other hand.

[0048] In order to achieve pre-compression during actuation, which makes it possible in particular to ensure good dispensing of the entire dose without the risk of a partial actuation stroke, the piston 16 may comprise at least one deformable lip 16d cooperating with the frustoconical portion 15b of the hollow axial rod 15 . Figure 2 and Figure 3 This pre-compression is illustrated. In a variant, the frustoconical portion can also be made on the hollow axial insert 17 .

[0049] In the non-operating state, the lip 16d is substantially undeformed, and at the beginning of the actuation stroke, the lip 16d will cooperate with the frustoconical portion 15b, which will gradually deform the lip 16d. This elastic deformation creates a resistance to actuation and thus a pre-compression, which requires a certain threshold force to actuate the pump.

[0050] Furthermore, this elastic deformation of the lip 16d elastically biases the piston 16 towards its inoperative position in which its internal sealing lip 16c closes the radial orifice 17b of the hollow axial insert 17. Thus, after each actuation, as soon as the user releases his pressure on the dispensing head 1, the piston 16 automatically returns to its position in which it closes the radial orifice 17b, thereby enabling the pump chamber 14a to be filled with another dose of fluid product drawn from the reservoir.

[0051] A vent (not shown) may advantageously be provided in the pump body 14 to allow the product expelled by the pump 14 to be replaced by air at each actuation.

[0052] The pump described above operates as follows. In the non-operating state, the sealing inside the reservoir (not shown) is ensured by the neck seal 11 between the ring 10 and the reservoir (not shown), by the annular seal 13 between the ring 10 and the pump body 14, by the contact between the upper edge 16b of the piston 16 and the annular seal 13 and by the inner sealing lip 16c of the piston 16 abutting against the hollow axial insert 17.

[0053] The reservoir, which is not shown in the figures and which may be any reservoir, is filled with a liquid to be dispensed, in particular a liquid to be sprayed, in particular a medicament liquid.

[0054] The fixing ring 10 can be made of plastic material. The fixing ring 10 can be threaded, crimped, snap-fitted or fixed on the reservoir in other ways.

[0055] The user must first prime the pump by operating it to expel air until the pump chamber 14a is filled with liquid. During priming, the air contained in the pump chamber 14a is compressed, and by the mechanical abutment between the valve holder 21 and the piston 16, the insert 17 and the rod 15 can move relative to the piston 16 to open the radial holes 17b and discharge the compressed air. When the pump is returned to the inoperative position, liquid is sucked into the pump chamber 14a through the dip tube 29a in a known manner.

[0056] According to the present invention, the valve retainer 21 comprises an axial sleeve 22 protruding axially upward, the upper edge 22a of the axial sleeve 22 cooperating with the piston 16, in particular the inner sealing lip 16c, during start-up to move the piston 16 axially upward, thereby opening the radial hole 17b and discharging the air contained in the pump chamber 14a.

[0057] Advantageously, if Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the upper edge 22a of the axial sleeve 22 may include one or more openings 22b to allow air to pass through during startup. Figure 4 As can be seen in FIG. 1 , even in the case of contact between the upper edge 22a of the sleeve and the inner sealing lip 16c of the piston over the entire circumference, the discharge of air is ensured. Advantageously, each opening 22b can be formed by a notch made in the upper edge 22a of the sleeve 22.

[0058] The invention thus makes it possible to achieve reliable priming without the use of additional components, such as glands, interposed between the piston 16 and the rod 15 and / or the piston 16 and the insert 17 , as is the case in the pump of document WO 2020128269 A1.

[0059] After priming, the pump is ready to dispense a dose of liquid at each actuation.

[0060] To perform such an actuation, the user presses axially on the dispensing head 1 to push in the rod 15. In the case of an incompressible liquid, the piston 16 moves around the insert 17 while deforming the deformable lip 16d on the frustoconical profile 15b of the rod 15. When the pressure is sufficient to overcome the deformation resistance of the deformable lip 16d, the piston 16 does not cover the radial holes 17b, thereby expelling the liquid from the pump chamber 14a.

[0061] The liquid is quickly discharged through the radial holes 17b, the second internal channel 17a and the first internal channel 15a towards the dispensing head 1 assembled on the pump.

[0062] After this, the user stops applying pressure to the rod 15. The deformable lip 16d immediately biases the piston 16 back to its inoperative position, which ensures the closure of the radial holes 17b and closes the pump chamber 14a relative to the dispensing head 1. At the same time, the bellows 50 returns the dispensing head 1 to its inoperative position, which drives the rod 15 and the insert 17 upward. This creates a depression in the pump chamber 14a, so that the liquid is sucked in through the hole 29, thereby raising the valve 20, while the air replaces the liquid in the reservoir by passing through the central opening of the annular seal 13 around the rod 15 and through the vent 35. When the upper edge 16b of the piston 16 comes into contact with the annular seal 13, air can no longer enter and the piston 16 is blocked, the pump returns to its inoperative position and is ready for another actuation.

[0063] Figure 1 The advantage of the pump shown in is that it comprises no metal parts, which on the one hand makes the manufacture and assembly of the pump uncomplicated and therefore inexpensive and on the other hand facilitates recycling.

[0064] Another advantage is that the pump ensures reliable priming without intermediate parts between the piston and the rod and / or between the piston and the insert.

[0065] The invention has been described with reference to advantageous embodiments, but it is understood that modifications may be proposed thereto by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, such as that defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for dispensing a fluid product, the device comprising a dispensing head (1) provided with a dispensing hole (2), the dispensing head being assembled on a pump, the pump comprising: a pump body (14) having a pump chamber (14a), the pump body (14) having an upper opening closed by a piston (16) and a lower opening (29) closed by an inlet valve (20), the inlet valve (29) being held in place by a valve holder (21) fixed in the pump body (14), - the piston (16) sliding sealingly in the pump body (14) around a hollow axial rod (15) connected to the dispensing head (1), the hollow axial rod (15) being provided with an internal axial channel (15a) which is axially closed at the bottom and communicates with the outside through a radial hole (17b), the piston (16) having an external sealing lip (16a) on an external radial edge configured to seal against the pump body (14), and the piston (16) having an internal sealing lip (16c) on an internal radial edge configured to seal the radial hole (17b) when the piston (16) is in a non-operating state, an elastic return member (50) for biasing the pump towards a non-operating position of the pump and for guiding the pump back to the non-operating position after each actuation, Characterized in that the valve retainer (21) comprises an axial sleeve (22) protruding axially upward, the upper edge (22a) of the axial sleeve (22) mechanically abuts against the piston (16), in particular the inner sealing lip (16c) during startup, so that the piston (16) moves axially upward relative to the rod (15), thereby opening the radial hole (17b) and discharging the air contained in the pump chamber (14a).

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The elastic return member (50) is non-metallic.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein: The elastic return member (50) is a bellows arranged between the dispensing head (1) and a component fixed to the pump body (14), such as a fixing ring (10).

4. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein A hollow axial insert (17) is fixed in the hollow axial rod (15), the hollow axial insert (17) having the radial hole (17b).

5. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein A fixing ring (10) is arranged to fix the pump body (14) on the reservoir, wherein a neck seal (11) is interposed between the fixing ring (10) and the pump body (14), and an annular seal (13) is arranged to ensure the sealing between the fixing ring (10) and the pump body (14).

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein: In the non-operating position, the upper axial edge (16b) of the piston (16) sealingly cooperates with the annular seal (13).

7. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein A vent is provided in the pump body (14) to allow the product expelled by the pump to be replaced by air at each actuation.

8. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The piston (16) comprises at least one deformable lip (16d) which, during actuation, cooperates with the frustoconical portion (15b) of the hollow axial rod (15) to produce a pre-compression.

9. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The upper edge (22a) of the axial sleeve (22) comprises at least one opening (22b) to allow air to pass through during start-up.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein: Each opening (22b) is formed by a notch made in the upper edge (22a) of the sleeve (22).

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