Device for dispensing a fluid product

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a dispenser device for dispensing a fluid or powder composition, the dispenser device comprising: a dispenser head provided with a dispenser outlet formed at an end of a hollow sleeve; an air ejector including a piston that slides in the air chamber between a rest position and a dispensing position; a reservoir fixed in the dispenser head and containing a single dose of powder, the reservoir comprising an air inlet connected to the air ejector and a powder outlet connected to the dispenser outlet; and an indicator in a first state in a rest position before actuation and transitioning to a second state after actuation, the transition from the first state to the second state informing a user that the nasal dispenser device has been actuated.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to dispenser devices for dispensing fluid or powder compositions and more particularly to devices for dispensing single doses of compositions contained in a reservoir by a stream of air under pressure.

[0002] Documents WO 99 / 46055 and WO 02 / 45866 disclose devices of this type. A disadvantage of these devices is that it may be difficult to know whether the device has been used, especially for a novice user. Thus, the user may manipulate the device thinking it contains a dose to be dispensed, when in fact it is empty.

[0003] Document FR 3 007 992 and document WO 2014 / 147 329 describe other prior art devices.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a fluid or powder dispenser device which does not have the above mentioned disadvantages.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a fluid or powder dispenser device that gives clear information to the user so that the user can know whether the device has been actuated.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a fluid or powder dispenser device that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

[0007] Thus, the present invention provides a dispenser device for dispensing a fluid or powder composition, the dispenser device comprising a dispenser head, an air ejector and a reservoir, wherein the dispenser head is provided with a dispenser outlet formed at the end of a hollow sleeve, the air ejector is used to generate an air flow when the device is actuated, the air ejector comprises a piston sliding in an air chamber between a rest position and a dispensing position, the air chamber comprising a cylindrical body in which the piston slides in an airtight manner, the reservoir contains a single dose of the composition, the reservoir comprises an air inlet connected to the air ejector and a composition outlet connected to the dispenser outlet, the air inlet comprises a composition retainer member for retaining the composition in the reservoir before the composition is dispensed, and the composition outlet is closed by a closure element press-fitted in the composition outlet of the reservoir. The device also comprises a mechanical opening system cooperating with the closure element to mechanically expel the closure element from its closed position when the device is actuated. The device also includes an indicator, which is in a first state in a rest position before actuation and is converted into a second state after actuation. The conversion from the first state to the second state informs the user that the device has been actuated. The first state is a visible state and the second state is an invisible state. The device includes a pusher element fixed to the piston and pressed by the user during actuation. The dispenser head includes a skirt arranged around the air chamber. The pusher element extends axially outward from the skirt in its rest position before actuation and is arranged inside the skirt after actuation. The pusher element includes an indicator that is visible before actuation and invisible after actuation.

[0008] Advantageously, the indicator is formed by a coloured strip extending around the pusher element.

[0009] These characteristics and advantages, as well as others, emerge more clearly from the following detailed description of a number of embodiments given by way of non-limiting examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] Figure 1a is a schematic side view of a fluid or powder dispenser device shown in a rest position prior to actuation thereof in an embodiment not covered by the present invention;

[0011] Figure 1b is with Figure 1a A schematic cross-sectional view similar to the view in FIG.

[0012] Figure 2a is shown as after actuation Figure 1a a schematic side view of the device;

[0013] Figure 2b is with Figure 2a A schematic cross-sectional view similar to the view in FIG.

[0014] Figure 3 is a schematic side view of a fluid or powder dispenser device shown in a rest position prior to actuation thereof in an advantageous embodiment of the invention; and

[0015] Figure 4 is shown as after actuation with Figure 3 A similar view to the view in .

[0016] More specifically, the invention relates to a device of the type disclosed in document WO 02 / 45866. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to this type of device, but on the contrary, it is applicable to any type of fluid or powder dispenser device of the single-dose type (i.e. comprising a reservoir containing only a single dose to be dispensed in a single actuation).

[0017] In the following description, the terms "top", "bottom", "upwardly" and "downwardly" are relative to the upright position of the device shown in the drawings. The terms "axially" and "radially" are relative to the Figure 1a , Figure 1b , Figure 2a and Figure 2b With respect to the longitudinal center axis A of the device shown in .

[0018] The device comprises a reservoir 30, which comprises an air inlet 31 and a composition outlet 32 ​​and contains a single dose of a fluid, liquid or powder composition. The air inlet 31 of the reservoir is connected to an air pusher 20, and the composition outlet 32 ​​of the reservoir is connected to the dispenser outlet 10 of the device. The composition outlet 32 ​​is closed by a closure element 50 pressed into the composition outlet 32. The air inlet 31 is provided with a composition retainer member 40, which is suitable for retaining the composition in the reservoir 30 before the device is actuated. The air pusher 20 is manually actuated by a user and is suitable for generating an air flow through the reservoir 30 to convey the composition contained in the reservoir 30 toward the dispenser outlet 10.

[0019] The reservoir 30 is fixed (particularly tightly fitted) in a dispenser head 1 comprising a dispenser outlet 10. Advantageously, the dispenser head 1 comprises a finger rest 2 extending radially to facilitate actuation. A hollow cannula 3 extends axially upwards from the finger rest 2 and terminates at the dispenser outlet 10. Preferably, the hollow cannula 3 has a small radial dimension to be suitable for insertion into a nostril during actuation. On the opposite side of the finger rest 2, the dispenser head 1 comprises a skirt 5 extending axially downwards from the finger rest 2.

[0020] The device comprises a mechanical opening system 61, 62, which is preferably fixed to the air ejector 20, i.e., it is actuated at the same time as the air ejector 20 is actuated, and is suitable for cooperating with the closure element 50 to mechanically eject the closure element 50 from its closed position when the device is actuated. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the mechanical opening system comprises a set of rods 61, 62, which have a first rod portion 61 fixed to the air ejector 20 and a second rod portion 62 pushed by the first rod portion 61 when the device is actuated. At the end of the actuation stroke of the set of rods 61, 62 (i.e., at the dispensing position), the set of rods 61, 62 cooperates with the closure element 50 to mechanically eject the closure element 50 from its closed position.

[0021] Advantageously, the composition holder member 40 can be made integrally with the second rod portion 62. Thus, the composition holder member 40 can be made in a sealed and airtight manner before the device is actuated, the air pressure generated by the air ejector 20 penetrating into the reservoir 30 only when the holder member 40 moves together with the second rod portion 62 by being pushed by the first rod portion 61.

[0022] like Figure 1b and Figure 2b As shown in FIG. 5 , the closing element 50 may be spherical, for example a ball made of a plastic material.

[0023] Figure 1b and Figure 2b The air ejector 20 shown in the figure comprises a piston 21 sliding in an air chamber 22, which is manually actuated by the user. The air chamber 22 can be formed by a hollow axial cylinder, which is made integrally with the finger rest 2 of the dispenser head 1, the bottom side of the air chamber 22 being open and closed by the piston 21. Therefore, advantageously, the skirt 5 of the head is arranged around the air chamber 22, and in particular, the skirt 5 can be formed by a hollow cylinder fastened (e.g., snap-fastened) in the finger rest 2 of the dispenser head 1.

[0024] Advantageously, in order to protect the piston 21 , the bottom edge of the skirt 5 surrounds the bottom edge of the air chamber 22 and comprises a radial flange 7 extending radially inwards below said bottom edge of the air chamber 22 .

[0025] Advantageously, actuation of the device is performed by means of a pusher element 25 assembled on said piston 21 .

[0026] The piston 21 is fixed to the first rod portion 61 , advantageously the piston 21 is formed integrally with the first rod portion 61 .

[0027] When it is desired to actuate the device, the user first places a finger on the finger rest 2 of the dispenser head 1 and subsequently places the thumb on the pusher element 25 and applies an axial actuation force that moves the first rod portion 61 and the piston 21 towards the dispensing position. The piston 21 of the air ejector cooperates in an airtight manner with the air chamber 22 so that the air contained in said air chamber 22 is gradually compressed during actuation.

[0028] After the initial actuation stroke for compressed air, the axial top end of the first rod portion 61 is in contact with the holder member 40 and thus with the second rod portion 62 .

[0029] Continued actuation causes the retainer member 40 to move axially upward inside the reservoir 30, away from the position of the retainer member 40 sealingly closing or closing the air inlet 31. Therefore, at this time, the compressed air in the air chamber 22 can penetrate into the reservoir 30. At the same time, the axial top end of the second rod portion 62 contacts the closure element 50.

[0030] Thus, continued actuation causes the closure element 50 to move axially upwards and away from its closed position.

[0031] When the seal of the closure element 50 is broken, the closure element is ejected from the reservoir 30 to enable the fluid or powder to be dispensed under the effect of compressed air. The closure element 50 is thus caught in the spline of the dispenser head 1, which in particular prevents any risk of the closure element being ejected from the dispenser head 1. Figure 2a and Figure 2b The dispensing position at the end of the actuation stroke and after dispensing the composition is shown in FIG.

[0032] In the present invention, the device includes an indicator that can inform the user about the state of the device, i.e., before actuation or after actuation. The indicator switches from a first state in a rest position before actuation to a second state after actuation, and the switch from the first state to the second state informs the user that the device has been actuated.

[0033] In the present invention, the indicator is clearly visible before actuation and disappears after actuation.

[0034] Figure 1a , Figure 1b and Figure 2a , Figure 2b Embodiments are shown which are not covered by the present invention but which describe the device as a whole in a specific manner.

[0035] Figure 3 and Figure 4 An advantageous embodiment of the invention is shown.

[0036] In this embodiment, the indicator 100 is formed on the exterior of the pusher element 25 .

[0037] like Figure 3 As shown in , therefore, in the rest position before actuation, the pusher element 25 extends axially outwards from the skirt 5. Thus, the indicator 100 is visible. Figure 4 As shown in , after actuation, the pusher element 25 has moved axially inside the skirt 5. As a result, the pusher element 25 is no longer visible from the outside, and the indicator 100 is likewise no longer visible from the outside.

[0038] Advantageously, the indicator 100 may be formed by a colored strip extending around said pusher element 25. Of course, other embodiments are possible, in particular regarding the shape and size / dimensions of the indicator formed on the pusher element 25.

[0039] The invention has been described above with reference to embodiments, however, naturally any modifications can be made to the invention by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A nasal dispenser device for dispensing a powder, the nasal dispenser device comprising: A distributor head (1) provided with a distributor outlet (10) formed at the end of a hollow sleeve (3); an air ejector (20) for generating an air flow when the nasal dispenser device is actuated, the air ejector comprising a piston (21) which slides in an air chamber (22) between a rest position and a dispensing position, the air chamber (22) comprising a cylindrical body in which the piston (21) slides in an airtight manner; as well as a reservoir (30) fixed in the dispenser head (1), the reservoir (30) containing a single dose of powder, the reservoir (30) comprising an air inlet (31) connected to the air ejector (20) and a powder outlet (32) connected to the dispenser outlet (10), the air inlet (31) comprising a powder retainer member (40) for retaining the powder in the reservoir (30) before the powder is dispensed, and the powder outlet (32) being closed by a closing element (50) press-fitted in the powder outlet (32) of the reservoir (30); The nasal dispenser device further comprises a mechanical opening system (61, 62) cooperating with the closure element (50) to mechanically expel the closure element (50) from a closed position of the closure element (50) when the nasal dispenser device is actuated; The nasal dispenser device further comprises an indicator (100) which is in a first state in a rest position before actuation and which is converted to a second state after actuation, the conversion from the first state to the second state notifying a user that the nasal dispenser device has been actuated, the nasal dispenser device being characterized in that, The first state is a visible state, and the second state is an invisible state, the nasal dispenser device comprises a pusher element (25) fixed to the piston (21), and the user presses the pusher element (25) during actuation, the dispenser head (1) comprises a skirt (5) arranged around the air chamber (22), the pusher element (25) protrudes axially outward from the skirt (5) in a static position of the pusher element (25) before actuation and is completely arranged inside the skirt (5) after actuation, and the pusher element (25) comprises an indicator (100) that is visible before actuation and invisible after actuation.

2. The nasal dispenser device of claim 1, wherein: The indicator (100) is formed by a colored strip extending around the pusher element (25).

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