Device for dispensing a fluid product and method for priming same

Abstract

Device comprising a dispenser (10) assembled on a reservoir (20) containing one or several fluid-product doses, the dispenser having a pump body (11) containing a chamber (12), and a head (15) having an orifice (16) provided with a removable cap (50) forming a closure for the orifice, the head being movable axially with respect to the pump body, a piston (35) secured to the head being designed to slide in the chamber between an upper abutment position, in which the volume of the chamber is maximum, and a lower abutment position, in which the volume of the chamber is minimum, wherein, when the dispenser is being assembled on the reservoir, the protective cap (50) is in a sealed position closing off the dispensing orifice (16) and the piston is in its lower abutment position, the chamber being filled with the fluid product by moving the piston from its lower abutment position to its upper abutment position, and the fluid product being dispensed by moving the piston from its upper abutment position to its lower abutment position.

Description

[0001] Fluid product dispensing device and its priming method

[0002] The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a fluid product, in particular for nasal dispensing of one or two doses of pharmaceutical fluid product, and its priming method.

[0003] A disadvantage of some nasal fluid dispensing devices, particularly those using a pump with a metering chamber to define the volume of the dose dispensed at each actuation, is the need to prime the pump to replace the air initially contained in the metering chamber with fluid. This priming is generally achieved by one or more actuations of the device, with a consequent possible loss of fluid.

[0004] The present invention aims to provide a fluid product dispensing device which does not reproduce the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0005] More particularly, the present invention aims to provide such a device which does not require any priming.

[0006] The present invention also aims to provide such a device which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

[0007] The present invention therefore relates to a device for dispensing fluid product comprising a dispenser assembled on a reservoir containing one or more doses of fluid product, said dispenser comprising a pump body containing a metering chamber, and a dispensing head comprising a dispensing orifice provided with a removable protective cap forming a shutter for said dispensing orifice, said dispensing head being axially movable relative to said pump body, a piston, integral with said dispensing head, being adapted to slide in said metering chamber between a high stop position, in which the volume of said metering chamber is maximum, and a low stop position, in which the volume of said metering chamber is minimum, in which, when assembling said dispenser on said reservoir,said protective cap is in the position for sealing said dispensing orifice and said piston is in its lower stop position, said piston being adapted to slide once from its lower stop position to its upper stop position to fill said dosing chamber with the fluid product from said reservoir, and said piston being adapted, after removal of said protective cap, to slide once from its upper stop position to its lower stop position to dispense said fluid product through said dispensing orifice in one or more doses.,

[0008] Advantageously, a hollow rod is arranged in said dispensing head, said hollow rod defining a first part of an expulsion channel connecting, upon actuation, said dosing chamber to said dispensing orifice, said hollow rod comprising said piston.

[0009] Advantageously, an insert is arranged in the dispensing head, between said dispensing orifice and said hollow rod, to define upstream of said dispensing orifice a second part of the expulsion channel.

[0010] Advantageously, said dosing chamber comprises on the lower axial side an opening connected to said reservoir, in particular via a dip tube, said opening being closed by a closure element forming a valve which opens when said dosing chamber is filled and which closes at the start of each actuation.

[0011] Advantageously, said reservoir contains at least two doses of fluid product distributed in successive actuations, said device comprising dose separation means, to stop the actuation stroke of said piston before its low stop position.

[0012] According to a first advantageous variant, said dispensing head comprises at least one internal radial projection, and said pump body and / or an element integral with said pump body comprises at least one external radial projection, each internal radial projection abutting axially against a respective external radial projection after dispensing the first dose, so that rotation is necessary between said radial projections in order to be able to dispense another dose.

[0013] According to a second advantageous variant, said dispensing head comprises at least one internal radial projection, said dose separation means comprising a removable ring, arranged radially around said pump body and / or around an element integral with said pump body, each internal radial projection abutting axially against said removable ring after dispensing the first dose, so that a radial withdrawal of said removable ring is necessary to be able to dispense another dose.

[0014] According to a third advantageous variant, said dose separation means comprise a removable ring, arranged axially in said dispensing head, a lower edge of said removable ring abutting axially, after dispensing the first dose, against said pump body and / or against an element integral with said pump body, so that removal of said removable ring is necessary to be able to dispense another dose.

[0015] Advantageously, said pump body comprises at least one axial extension which, after dispensing the last dose, projects axially through said dispensing head, thus forming an end-of-use indicator.

[0016] Advantageously, said removable protective cap is connected in a captive manner to said dispensing head by a connection.

[0017] Advantageously, said removable protective cap comprises a first use indicator, fixed on said dispensing head, and which detaches from said removable protective cap when the latter is removed from said dispensing head.

[0018] Advantageously, said removable protective cap comprises at least one axial tab, which in the closed position penetrates inside said dispensing head, each axial tab comprising a snap-in projection cooperating with a part of said dispensing head to prevent the removal of said cap, each axial tab being locked in its snap-in position by an axial extension of said pump body, which prevents any deformation of said axial tab, so that when said metering chamber is filled, by axial displacement of said dispensing head relative to said pump body, the blocking of said axial tab by said axial extension is removed, allowing the removal of said cap.

[0019] The present invention also relates to a method for priming a fluid product dispensing device, comprising the following steps:

[0020] - provide a tank containing at least one dose of fluid product,

[0021] - providing a dispenser comprising a pump body containing a metering chamber, and a dispensing head comprising a dispensing orifice provided with a removable protective cap forming a shutter, said dispensing head being axially movable relative to said pump body, a piston integral with said dispensing head being adapted to slide in said metering chamber between a high stop position in which the volume of said metering chamber is maximum, and a low stop position, in which the volume of said metering chamber is minimum, said method comprising the following steps:

[0022] - assembling said distributor on said tank, by inserting said pump body into said tank with said removable protective cap in the closed position and said piston in the lower stop position,

[0023] - axially moving said piston once between its lower stop position and its upper stop position, to fill said metering chamber from said reservoir,

[0024] - remove said removable protective cap, and

[0025] - axially moving said piston once between its upper stop position and its lower stop position, to dispense one or more doses of fluid product through said dispensing orifice.

[0026] Advantageously, said reservoir contains at least two doses of fluid product which are loaded into the dosing chamber during the axial movement of said piston between its low stop position and its high stop position, said device comprising dose separation means for stopping the actuation stroke of said piston before said low stop position, to dispense said fluid product in at least two doses. These characteristics and advantages and others of the present invention will appear more clearly during the following detailed description, made with reference to the attached drawings, given as non-limiting examples, and in which:

[0027] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fluid product dispensing device according to a first advantageous embodiment, after assembly of the dispenser on the reservoir,

[0028] Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, after loading the fluid product into the pump chamber,

[0029] Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, after dispensing the first dose,

[0030] Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3, before distribution of the second dose,

[0031] Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 4, after distribution of the second dose,

[0032] Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fluid product dispensing device according to a second advantageous embodiment, after assembly of the dispenser on the reservoir,

[0033] Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 6, after loading the fluid product into the pump chamber,

[0034] Figure 8 is a view similar to that of Figure 7, after dispensing the first dose,

[0035] Figure 9 is a view similar to that of Figure 8, after dispensing the second dose,

[0036] Figure 10 is a schematic perspective view of the dose separation element of the second embodiment,

[0037] Figure 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fluid product dispensing device according to a third advantageous embodiment, after assembly of the dispenser on the reservoir,

[0038] Figure 12 is a view similar to that of Figure 11, after loading the fluid product into the pump chamber, Figure 13 is a view similar to that of Figure 12, after dispensing the first dose,

[0039] Figure 14 is a view similar to that of Figure 13, after dispensing the second dose,

[0040] Figure 15 is a schematic perspective view of the dose separation element of the second embodiment,

[0041] Figure 16 is a schematic perspective view of a fluid product dispensing device according to a fourth advantageous embodiment,

[0042] Figure 17 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fluid product dispensing device according to a fifth advantageous embodiment, after assembly of the dispenser on the reservoir,

[0043] Figure 18 is a view similar to that of Figure 17, after loading the fluid product into the pump chamber,

[0044] Figure 19 is a view similar to that of Figure 18, after removal of the removable protective cap,

[0045] Figure 20 is a view similar to that of Figure 19, after dispensing the first dose,

[0046] Figure 21 is a view similar to that of Figure 20, before distribution of the second dose, and

[0047] Figure 22 is a view similar to that of Figure 21, after dispensing the second dose.

[0048] The terms "axial" and "radial" refer to the longitudinal central axis of the device. The terms "upstream" and "downstream" refer to the direction of fluid flow during actuation. The terms "top", "bottom", "upper" and "lower" refer to the upright position of the device shown in Figures 1-9, 11-14 and 17-22.

[0049] The present invention applies to a single-dose device containing only a single dose of fluid product in the reservoir 20, but it is particularly suitable for so-called double-dose devices, where the reservoir 20 contains two doses of fluid product, dispensed in two successive actuations. The various examples shown in the drawings relate to double-dose devices. Optionally, the reservoir 20 could contain more than two doses, for example three or four doses.

[0050] According to the invention, the device comprises a dispenser 10 assembled on a reservoir 20 containing fluid product to be dispensed, typically a pharmaceutical type liquid.

[0051] The reservoir 20 is advantageously formed by a hollow, blind body, comprising a single opening and containing one or more doses of fluid product to be dispensed. In the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures, the reservoir 20 contains two doses of fluid product.

[0052] The dispenser 10 comprises a pump body 11 containing a metering chamber 12, and a dispensing head 15 comprising a dispensing orifice 16, preferably oriented axially. This dispensing orifice 16 is used to dispense a dose of fluid product from said dispensing head 15 when the device is actuated by a user. The dispensing head 15 is axially movable relative to the pump body 11.

[0053] At rest, a removable protective cap 50 is arranged on the dispensing head 15 to seal the dispensing orifice 16. This protective cap 50, when positioned on the dispensing head 15, therefore forms a shutter for the dosing chamber 12, isolating it from the atmosphere.

[0054] The dispensing head 15 comprises an elongated nasal tip 151 comprising at its axial end said dispensing orifice 16, as well as a lateral body 152, connected to said nasal tip 151 by an approximately radial flange 153.

[0055] A hollow rod 30 is connected to the dispensing head 15, said hollow rod 30 defining a first part 31 of the expulsion channel.

[0056] An insert 32, advantageously hollow, may be arranged in the dispensing head 15 to define upstream of the dispensing orifice 16 a second part 33 of the expulsion channel. This insert not only makes it possible to limit the dead volume of this second part 33 of the expulsion channel, but also to achieve good spraying through the dispensing orifice 16. Advantageously, a spray profile may be provided directly upstream of said dispensing orifice 16, between said insert 32 and the bottom wall of the dispensing head 15.

[0057] On the opposite side, the hollow rod 30 comprises a piston 35 adapted to slide in the metering chamber 12 of the pump body 11 between a top stop position, also called top dead center, and a bottom stop position, also called bottom dead center. This piston 35 can be formed in one piece with the hollow rod 30. Alternatively, a seal, in particular an O-ring, can be assembled on the hollow rod 30 to form the piston. Other known variants are also conceivable for producing the piston 35.

[0058] The piston 35 is adapted to slide only once between its lower stop position and its upper stop position, to fill the dosing chamber 12, and only once between its upper stop position and its lower stop position, to dispense the contents of the dosing chamber 12, in one or more doses.

[0059] The fixing of the distributor 10 on the reservoir 20 can be carried out in any known manner, for example by using a fixing ring 5 to fix the pump body 11 on a neck of the reservoir. Advantageously, a neck seal 6 is interposed between the fixing ring 5 and the reservoir 20. Preferably, as shown in the drawings, the fixing ring 5 is made in a single piece with the pump body 11.

[0060] The metering chamber 12 is open on both axial sides. On the upper axial side, the piston 35, the hollow rod 30 and the removable protective cap 50 close the metering chamber 12. On the lower axial side, the metering chamber 12 has an opening 120 connected to the reservoir 20, advantageously via a dip tube 125. This opening 120 is closed by a closure element 40 forming a valve which opens when the metering chamber 12 is filled and which closes at the start of each actuation. This valve 40 can be implemented in any known manner, for example in the form of a floating seal, a split membrane or a ball. This opening 120 together with the closure member 40 therefore forms a conventional inlet valve for the metering chamber 12, allowing the latter to be filled due to the depression generated by the piston 35 which rises towards its rest position.

[0061] Thus, the invention makes it possible to produce a device without priming.

[0062] When assembling the distributor 10 on the reservoir 20, the piston 35 is positioned in the low stop position relative to the pump body 11, and the protective cap 50 is positioned on the dispensing head 15 in the closing position to seal the dispensing orifice 16. The metering chamber 12 therefore has a minimal volume after assembly, as visible in FIG. 1, with the piston 35 which is substantially in contact with the closing element 40. Only the dead volume formed by the first and second parts 31, 33 of the expulsion channel contains air.

[0063] Before the first actuation, the user manually moves the dispensing head 15 axially away from the reservoir 20, to bring the piston 35 into its upper stop position shown in FIG. 2. During this axial movement, the closure element 40 forming a valve opens under the vacuum generated by the movement of the piston 35, and the fluid contained in the reservoir is sucked into the metering chamber 12. In this upper stop position of the piston, the volume of the metering chamber 12 is maximum.

[0064] During the first actuation, the user removes the protective cap 50, places two fingers on the radial flange 153 formed on the dispensing head 15, and presses with the thumb on the bottom of the reservoir 20. During such an actuation, the reservoir 20 is therefore pushed axially towards the dispensing orifice 16, so that the piston 35 slides in the metering chamber 12. The opening 120 is closed by the pressure exerted by the fluid product on the closure member 40 forming a valve. Fluid product contained in the metering chamber 12 is thus dispensed through the expulsion channel 31, 33 towards the dispensing orifice 16.

[0065] If the device is a single-dose device, the entire fluid product contained in the dosing chamber 12 is dispensed in a single actuation. If the device is a two-dose or multi-dose device, the device comprises dose separation means, to stop the actuation stroke of the piston before the bottom dead center. Thus, if the device is a two-dose device, the actuation stroke of the piston 35 is stopped approximately halfway through so that half of the fluid product contained in the dosing chamber 12 is dispensed during the first actuation, and the other half during a second actuation.

[0066] Advantageously, the first actuation stroke corresponding to the first dose is slightly greater than the actuation strokes of the other doses, to take into account the dead volume formed by the expulsion channel 31, 33, which is filled with air before the first actuation.

[0067] In the first embodiment of Figures 1 to 5, the dose separation means require a rotation of the dispensing head relative to the reservoir 20 and / or the fixing ring 5. Thus, the lateral body 152 of the dispensing head 15 comprises at least one internal radial projection 1520, and the pump body 11 and / or the fixing ring 5 comprises at least one external radial projection 1525, said internal radial projection 1520 abutting axially against said external radial projection 1525 after the dispensing of the first dose. A rotation is then necessary between these two radial projections 1520, 1525 to be able to carry out the dispensing of another dose. Advantageously, there may be two pairs of radial projections 1520, 1525 diametrically opposed.

[0068] In the second embodiment of Figures 6 to 10, the dose separation means comprise a removable ring 60, arranged radially around the pump body 11 and / or the fixing ring 5. The internal radial projection 1520 of the dispensing head 15 abuts axially against said removable ring 60 after the dispensing of the first dose. The radial withdrawal of the removable ring 60 is then necessary to be able to carry out the dispensing of another dose.

[0069] Figure 10 shows in detail an example of a removable ring 60.

[0070] In the third embodiment of Figures 11 to 15, the dose separation means comprise a removable ring 70, arranged axially in the dispensing head 15, in particular in the radial flange 153. A lower edge 75 of said removable ring 70 abuts axially against the pump body 11 and / or the fixing ring 5 after the dispensing of the first dose. The removal of the removable ring 70 is then necessary to be able to carry out the dispensing of another dose.

[0071] Figure 15 shows in detail an example of a removable ring 70.

[0072] Figure 16 shows a fourth embodiment, in which the removable protective cap 50 is captively connected to the dispensing head 15 by a connection 55. This implementation can be applied to all other embodiments of the invention.

[0073] In addition, the protective cap may include a first-use indicator 52, fixed to the dispensing head 15, and which detaches from the cap 50 when the latter is removed from said head. In a known manner, this first-use indicator may be connected to the cap by breakable bridges which break when the cap 50 is removed. This implementation may also apply to all other embodiments of the invention.

[0074] In addition, the pump body 11 comprises at least one axial extension 100 which, after dispensing the last dose, projects axially through the radial flange 153 of the dispensing head 15, thus forming an end-of-use indicator.

[0075] The fifth embodiment of Figures 17 to 22 is similar to the first embodiment of Figures 1 to 5, and only the differences will be described below.

[0076] A first difference concerns the cap 50 which cannot be removed from the dispensing head 15 until the metering chamber 12 has been filled. This can advantageously be achieved by at least one axial tab 51 of the cap 50, which in the closed position penetrates inside the dispensing head 15. Each axial tab 51 comprises a snap-in projection 53 which cooperates with a part of the dispensing head 15, in particular the radial flange 153, to prevent removal. Each axial tab 51 is locked in its snap-fastened position by an axial extension 100 of the pump body 11, which prevents any deformation of said axial tab 51. When the metering chamber 12 is filled, by axial displacement of the dispensing head 15 relative to the pump body 11, the locking of the axial tab 51 by the axial extension 100 is removed, as visible in Figure 18.The cap 50 can then be removed from the dispensing head 15, by axial traction, which deforms the axial tab 51 to allow unclipping of the snap-on projection.

[0077] Advantageously, said axial extension 100 forms, after dispensing the last dose, the end of use indicator described with reference to FIG. 16.

[0078] Of course, alternative embodiments are possible, without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims A fluid product dispensing device comprising a dispenser (10) mounted on a reservoir (20) containing one or more doses of fluid product, said dispenser (10) comprising a pump body (11) containing a dosing chamber (12), and a dispensing head (15) comprising a dispensing orifice (16) provided with a removable protective cap (50) forming a shutter of said dispensing orifice (16), said dispensing head (15) being axially movable relative to said pump body (11), a piston (35), integral with said dispensing head (15), being adapted to slide in said dosing chamber (12) between an upper stop position, in which the volume of said dosing chamber (12) is maximum, and a lower stop position, in which the volume of said dosing chamber (12) is minimum, characterized in that during the assembly of said dispenser (10) on said reservoir (20),said protective cap (50) is in the position of hermetically sealing said dispensing orifice (16) and said piston (35) is in its lowered stop position, said piston (35) being adapted to slide once from its lowered stop position to its upper stop position to fill said dosing chamber (12) with the fluid product from said reservoir (20), and said piston (35) being adapted, after removal of said protective cap (50), to slide once from its upper stop position to its lowered stop position to dispense said fluid product through said dispensing orifice (16), in one or more doses. Device according to claim 1, wherein a hollow rod (30) is disposed in said dispensing head (15), said hollow rod (30) defining a first portion (31) of an expulsion channel connecting, during actuation, said dosing chamber (12) to said dispensing orifice (16),said hollow rod (30) comprising said piston (35). A device according to claim 2, wherein an insert (32) is disposed in the dispensing head (15), between said dispensing orifice (16) and said hollow rod (30), to define upstream of said dispensing orifice (16) a second part (33) of an expulsion channel. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said dosing chamber (12) has on its lower axial side an opening (120) connected to said reservoir (20), in particular via a dip tube (125), said opening (120) being closed by a sealing element (40) forming a valve which opens when said dosing chamber (12) is filled and which closes at the beginning of each actuation.A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said reservoir (20) contains at least two doses of fluid product dispensed in successive actuations, said device comprising dose separation means for stopping the actuation stroke of said piston (35) before its lowered stop position. A device according to claim 5, wherein said dispensing head (15) comprises at least one internal radial projection (1520), and said pump body (11) and / or an element integral with said pump body (11) comprises at least one external radial projection (1525), each internal radial projection (1520) abutting axially against a respective external radial projection (1525) after the dispensing of the first dose, such that a rotation is necessary between said radial projections (1520, 1525) in order to dispense another dose.Device according to claim 5, wherein said distribution head (15) comprises at least one internal radial projection (1520), said dose separation means comprising a removable ring (60). arranged radially around said pump body (11) and / or around an element integral with said pump body (11), each internal radial projection (1520) abutting axially against said removable ring (60) after the first dose has been dispensed, such that a radial withdrawal of said removable ring (60) is necessary to dispense another dose. Device according to claim 5, wherein said dose separation means comprise a removable ring (70), arranged axially in said dispensing head (15), a lower edge (75) of said removable ring (70) abutting axially, after the first dose has been dispensed, against said pump body (11) and / or against an element integral with said pump body (11), such that a withdrawal of said removable ring (70) is necessary to dispense another dose.A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said pump body (11) comprises at least one axial extension (100) which, after dispensing the last dose, protrudes axially through said dispensing head (15), thus forming an end-of-use indicator. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said removable protective cap (50) is captively connected to said dispensing head (15) by a linkage (55). A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said removable protective cap (50) comprises a first-use indicator (52), fixed to said dispensing head (15), and which detaches from said removable protective cap (50) when the latter is removed from said dispensing head (15). A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said removable protective cap (50) has at least one axial tab (51), which in the closed position penetrates inside said distribution head (15), each axial tab (51) having a latching projection (53) cooperating with a part of said distribution head (15) to prevent the removal of said cap (50), each axial tab (51) being locked in its latched position by an axial extension (100) of said pump body (11), which prevents any deformation of said axial tab (51), so that when said dosing chamber (12) is filled, by axial displacement of said distribution head (15) relative to said pump body (11), the locking of said axial tab (51) by said axial extension (100) is removed, allowing the removal of said cap (50).A method for priming a fluid product distribution device, comprising the following steps: - provide a reservoir (20) containing at least one dose of fluid product, - to provide a distributor (10) comprising a pump body (11) containing a dosing chamber (12), and a dispensing head (15) comprising a dispensing orifice (16) provided with a removable protective cap (50) forming a shutter, said dispensing head (15) being axially movable relative to said pump body (11), a piston (35) integral with said dispensing head (15) being adapted to slide in said dosing chamber (12) between an upper stop position in which the volume of said dosing chamber (12) is maximum, and a lower stop position, in which the volume of said dosing chamber (12) is minimum, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps: - assemble said distributor (10) onto said reservoir (20), by inserting said pump body (11) into said reservoir (20) with said removable protective cap (50) in the closed position and said piston (35) in the lower stop position, - to move said piston (35) axially only once between its lower stop position and its upper stop position, in order to fill said dosing chamber (12) from said reservoir (20), - remove said removable protective cap (50), and - axially move said piston (35) once between its upper stop position and its lower stop position, to distribute one or more dose(s) of fluid product through said distribution orifice (16). Method according to claim 13, wherein said reservoir (20) contains at least two doses of fluid product which are loaded into the dosing chamber (12) during the axial movement of said piston (35) between its lower stop position and its upper stop position, said device comprising dose separation means to stop the actuation stroke of said piston (35) before said lower stop position, to distribute said fluid product in at least two doses.

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