Device for dispensing a fluid product

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for dispensing a fluid product, comprising a reservoir (10) containing fluid product and a dispensing head (20) provided with a dispensing opening (21) and with a radial flange (23) forming a finger rest during actuation, the reservoir (10) being axially movable relative to the dispensing head (20) during actuation, a plunger-stopper (50) being movable in the reservoir (10) in order to dispense fluid product through the dispensing opening (21) during actuation, the device comprising a blocking member (100) which blocks the axial movement of the reservoir (10) in the dispensing head (20), the blocking member (100) being movable and / or deformable between a blocking position and a release position, the device comprising fins (110) arranged on or above the radial flange (23), the fins (110) being movable between a rest position in which the blocking member (100) is in the blocking position and a bearing position in which the blocking member (100) is moved and / or deformed into the release position, the blocking member (100) comprising a hollow axial sleeve (101) which is assembled around the dispensing head (20), above the radial flange (23).

Description

[0001] Fluid product dispensing device

[0002] The present invention relates to a fluid product dispensing device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a single-dose nasal fluid product dispensing device for dispensing a pharmaceutical fluid product into the nose of a user via a single nasal spray.

[0003] A disadvantage of existing nasal fluid dispensing devices is the risk of unwanted actuation if the device is dropped.

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

[0005] More particularly, the present invention aims to provide a fluid product dispensing device which avoids the risks of unwanted actuation, for example in the event of the device being dropped.

[0006] The present invention also aims to provide such a device in which the risk of unwanted actuation in the event of a fall is minimal or even zero.

[0007] The present invention also aims to provide such a device which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

[0008] The present invention therefore relates to a fluid product dispensing device comprising a reservoir containing fluid product and a dispensing head provided with a dispensing orifice and a radial flange forming a finger rest during actuation, said reservoir being axially movable relative to said dispensing head during actuation, a piston stopper being movable in said reservoir to dispense fluid product through said dispensing orifice during actuation, said device comprising a locking member which blocks the axial movement of said reservoir in said dispensing head, said locking member being movable and / or deformable between a locking position and a release position, said device comprising fins arranged on or above said radial flange, said fins being movable between a rest position,in which said locking member is in the locking position, and a support position, in which said locking member is moved and / or deformed into the release position, said locking member comprising a hollow axial sleeve which is assembled around said dispensing head, above said radial flange.,

[0009] Advantageously, said reservoir is formed by a hollow, blind body, comprising a bottom and a single opening which, in the rest position, is sealed in a sealed manner by said piston stopper.

[0010] Advantageously, the device comprises a hollow insert inserted and fixed in said dispensing head, said insert comprising a piercing tip for piercing said piston stopper and thus connecting said reservoir to said dispensing orifice during actuation.

[0011] Advantageously, said drilling tip is produced separately and then assembled in said insert, in particular by force fitting or by overmolding.

[0012] In an advantageous variant, said drilling tip is molded in one piece with said insert.

[0013] Advantageously, said hollow axial sleeve comprises at least one axial extension, advantageously two diametrically opposed axial extensions, extending axially upwards and each provided with a radial projection extending radially inwards, each axial extension being associated with a respective fin which extends radially outwards from said hollow axial sleeve.

[0014] Advantageously, each axial extension forms with its associated fin an approximately V-shaped and substantially rigid assembly.

[0015] Advantageously, said dispensing head comprises at least one lateral opening, advantageously two diametrically opposite lateral openings, each adapted to cooperate with a radial projection of said blocking member such that in the blocking position of said blocking member, each radial projection passes through a lateral opening and is positioned between an upper edge of an actuating body receiving said reservoir and said neck of said reservoir, such that in the blocking position of said blocking member, an upward axial thrust on said actuating body is blocked by said radial projections, preventing axial movement of said actuating body, and therefore of said reservoir, in said dispensing head.

[0016] Advantageously, the device comprises an actuating body receiving said reservoir, said actuating body comprising a radial disc connected to said actuating body by one or more breakable bridges, said radial disc cooperating with a part of said dispensing head to form a precompression threshold that the user must overcome during actuation to break said breakable bridges and thus actuate the device.

[0017] Advantageously, said reservoir contains a single dose of fluid product dispensed in a single actuation.

[0018] These and other characteristics and advantages 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: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a fluid product dispensing device according to an advantageous embodiment, before assembly of the blocking member, Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the device of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, in position after assembly of the blocking member and before actuation thereof, Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the device of Figure 3, Figure 5 is an enlarged view of part P1 of Figure 4, Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 3, in position after actuation of the blocking member and with the piston in the rest position,Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the device of Figure 6, Figure 8 is an enlarged view of part P2 of Figure 7, Figure 9 is a view similar to that of Figure 6, after actuation of the piston, and Figure 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the device of Figure 9.,

[0019] The terms "axial" and "radial" refer to the longitudinal central axis A of the device. The terms "top" and "bottom" refer to the upright position of the device shown in the figures.

[0020] Referring to the figures, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the device is a single-dose device, that is to say that the reservoir contains a single dose of fluid product dispensed in a single actuation.

[0021] In the embodiment, a reservoir 10 containing fluid product to be dispensed, typically a liquid, is arranged inside a body forming a dispensing head 20. This dispensing head 20 comprises an axially oriented dispensing orifice 21. This dispensing orifice 21 is used to dispense a dose of fluid product out of said dispensing head 20 when the device is actuated by a user.

[0022] The dispensing head 20 comprises an elongated nasal tip comprising at its proximal axial end said dispensing orifice 21, as well as a lateral body 24, connected to said nasal tip 22 at a radial flange 23.

[0023] In the advantageous embodiment described in the drawings, a hollow insert 60 is arranged in the dispensing head 20, upstream of said dispensing orifice 21, said hollow insert 60 defining a central expulsion channel 61 and, in cooperation with the bottom wall of the dispensing head 20, a spray profile (not visible in the drawings) directly upstream of said dispensing orifice 21.

[0024] The channel 61 terminates at its lower end with a drilling tip 40. This drilling tip 40 may be molded in one piece with the insert 60. Alternatively, it could be made separately, for example from metal or another synthetic material than that of the insert, then assembled in said insert, for example by force fitting or by overmolding. The drilling tip 40 extends axially downwards beyond the elongated cylindrical body of the insert 60.

[0025] The reservoir 10 is advantageously formed by a hollow and blind body, comprising a single opening defining a neck 11 and closed by a piston-stopper 50. In the example shown, which is a single-dose unit, the reservoir 10 contains a single dose of fluid product to be dispensed by a single actuation of the device. The piston-stopper 50 is movable in the reservoir 10 between a rest position and an end-of-actuation position to dispense said fluid product through the dispensing orifice 21 during actuation.

[0026] Actuating means 30 are advantageously provided to enable the device to be actuated.

[0027] In the embodiment of the figures, these actuating means 30 comprise an actuating body 31 movable relative to the dispensing head 20, said actuating body 31 cooperating with said reservoir 10 to move it axially relative to the dispensing head 20, in the direction of the dispensing orifice 21.

[0028] To actuate the device, the user presses on the bottom wall 32 of the actuating body 31, to move the latter together with the reservoir 10 axially in the dispensing head 20, thus causing the piercing of the piston-stopper 50 by the piercing tip 40 and the distribution of the dose of fluid through the dispensing orifice 21. In the absence of an actuating body 31, the user could press directly on the bottom of the reservoir 10. During such actuation, the reservoir 10 is therefore pushed axially in the direction of the dispensing orifice 21, so that the piercing tip 40 will pierce the piston-stopper 50. The contents of the reservoir 10 are then connected to the dispensing orifice 21 and the user's pressure on the actuating body 31 moves the piston-stopper 50 in the reservoir 10 to ensure the distribution of the fluid product.

[0029] It should be noted that the present invention could also be applied to devices without a piercing tip suitable for piercing a piston stopper, such as for example described in documents WO2019122671, WO2021 069823, W02022090675, WO2022101589, W02022208014.

[0030] Advantageously, the actuating body 31 comprises a radial disc 35 connected to the actuating body by one or more breakable bridges 36, notably visible in FIG. 17. This disc 35 cooperates with a part of the dispensing head 20 to form a precompression threshold that the user must overcome during actuation to break the breakable bridges 36 and thus actuate the device. These breakable bridges 36 provide security against unwanted actuation, but during an axial fall of the device, it is not excluded that the inertia of the device is sufficient to break the breakable bridges and thus the security provided by the breakable bridges 36 is not sufficient.

[0031] According to the invention, the device comprises a locking member 100 which blocks the axial movement of the reservoir 10 in the dispensing head 20. The locking member 100 is movable and / or deformable between a locking position and a release position. The user must first move and / or deform the locking member 100 to its release position before being able to actuate the device by axially moving the reservoir 10 in the dispensing head 20.

[0032] According to the invention, the device comprises fins 110 arranged on or above the radial flange 23, said fins being movable between a rest position, in which the locking member 100 is in the locking position, and a support position, in which the locking member 100 is moved and / or deformed into the release position.

[0033] Advantageously, the invention provides that the movement and / or deformation of the locking member 100 towards its release position is carried out when the user takes the device in hand, by pressing his fingers on the radial flange 23 of the dispensing head 20. Thus, the present invention makes it possible to guarantee safety in the event of the device falling, without requiring an additional movement of the user to actuate the device. When the user takes the device in hand, he places two fingers on the fins 110 arranged on or above the radial flange 23 of the dispensing head 20, and presses with the thumb on a distal axial bottom 32 of said actuating body 31.By pressing to actuate the device, he will first move the fins 110 with his fingers towards their support position, which moves and / or deforms the blocking member 100 towards its release position, and then the thumb will move the actuating body 31 to dispense the dose.

[0034] According to the invention, the locking member 100 is assembled around the dispensing head 20, above the radial flange 23.

[0035] The locking member 100 comprises a hollow axial sleeve 101 which is assembled, in particular with friction, on the distribution head 20.

[0036] The axial hollow sleeve 101 comprises at least one axial extension 102, advantageously two diametrically opposed axial extensions 102, extending axially upwards and each provided with a radial projection 105 extending radially inwards.

[0037] Each axial extension 102 is associated with a respective fin 110 which extends radially outward from the hollow axial sleeve 101. In the example shown, there are therefore two diametrically opposed fins 110 which, when the locking member 100 is assembled on the dispensing head 20, are positioned above the radial flange 23 forming a finger rest. Thus, when the user takes the device in his hand, his fingers are no longer placed on the radial flange 23 but on the fins 110. Advantageously, each axial extension 102 forms with its associated fin 110 an assembly approximately in the shape of a V and substantially rigid.

[0038] The dispensing head 20 comprises at least one lateral opening 22, advantageously two diametrically opposite lateral openings 22, each adapted to cooperate with a radial projection 105 of the blocking member 100 when the latter is assembled on the dispensing head 20.

[0039] As can be seen in Figure 5 in particular, in the locking position of the locking member 100, each radial projection 105 passes through a lateral opening 22 to position itself between an upper edge 310 of the actuating body 31 and the neck 11 of the reservoir 10. Thus, in this locking position, an upward axial thrust on the actuating body 31 is blocked by the radial projections 105, preventing axial movement of said actuating body 31, and therefore of the reservoir 10, in the dispensing head 20. Any risk of accidental actuation is therefore prevented.

[0040] When the user presses on the fins 110, these pivot slightly downwards relative to the hollow axial sleeve 101, thus causing the axial extensions 102 to pivot outwards. This moves the radial projections 105 radially outwards so that they no longer block the actuating body 31, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 8. Thus, pressure on the bottom 32 of the actuating body 31 will then move the latter axially upwards to dispense the dose of fluid, possibly after breaking the breakable bridges 36.

[0041] Thus, to actuate the device, it is necessary to simultaneously press axially on the fins 110 and on the bottom of the actuating body 31, which is impossible in the event of an accidental fall of the device. The present invention therefore ensures perfect safety against unwanted actuation in the event of the device being dropped.

[0042] An advantage of the present invention is that it does not require any additional movement or displacement of any part of the device: the user simply takes the device in hand and performs the conventional actuation movement. His fingers on the fins 110 will first move them and thus unlock the locking member, then the thumb will move the reservoir 10 in the dispensing head 20 to dispense the dose of fluid.

[0043] Of course, other variant embodiments are also conceivable, without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims A fluid product dispensing device comprising a reservoir (10) containing fluid product and a dispensing head (20) provided with a dispensing orifice (21) and a radial flange (23) forming a finger rest during actuation, said reservoir (10) being axially movable relative to said dispensing head (20) during actuation, a piston stopper (50) being movable in said reservoir (10) to dispense fluid product through said dispensing orifice (21) during actuation, said device comprising a locking member (100) which blocks the axial movement of said reservoir (10) in said dispensing head (20), said locking member (100) being movable and / or deformable between a locking position and a release position, said device comprising fins (110) arranged on or above said radial flange (23),said fins (110) being movable between a rest position, in which said locking member (100) is in the locking position, and a support position, in which said locking member (100) is moved and / or deformed into the release position, characterized in that said locking member (100) comprises a hollow axial sleeve (101) which is assembled around said dispensing head (20), above said radial flange (23). Device according to claim 1, in which said reservoir (10) is formed by a hollow and blind body, comprising a bottom and a single opening which, in the rest position, is sealed by said piston stopper (50). Device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a hollow insert (60) inserted and fixed in said dispensing head (20), said insert (60) comprising a piercing tip (40) for piercing said stopper, piston (50) and thus connect said reservoir (10) to said dispensing orifice (21) during actuation.

4. Device according to claim 3, in which said drilling tip (40) is produced separately then assembled in said insert (60), in particular by force fitting or by overmolding.

5. A device according to claim 3, wherein said piercing tip (40) is molded integrally with said insert (60).

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said hollow axial sleeve (101) comprises at least one axial extension (102), advantageously two diametrically opposed axial extensions (102), extending axially upwards and each provided with a radial projection (105) extending radially inwards, each axial extension (102) being associated with a respective fin (110) which extends radially outwards from said hollow axial sleeve (101).

7. Device according to claim 6, in which each axial extension (102) forms with its associated fin (110) an approximately V-shaped and substantially rigid assembly.

8. Device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said dispensing head (20) comprises at least one lateral opening (22), advantageously two diametrically opposed lateral openings (22), each adapted to cooperate with a radial projection (105) of said locking member (100) so that in the locking position of said locking member (100), each radial projection (105) passes through a lateral opening (22) and is positioned between an upper edge (310) of an actuating body (31) receiving said reservoir (10) and said neck (11) of said reservoir (10), so that in locking position of said locking member (100), an upward axial thrust on said actuating body (31) is blocked by said at least one radial projection (105), preventing axial displacement of said actuating body (31), and therefore of said reservoir (10), in said dispensing head (20). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an actuating body (31) receiving said reservoir (10), said actuating body (31) comprising a radial disc (35) connected to said actuating body (31) by one or more breakable bridges (36), said radial disc (35) cooperating with a part of said dispensing head (20) to form a precompression threshold that the user must overcome during actuation to break said breakable bridges (36) and thus actuate the device. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said reservoir (10) contains a single dose of fluid product dispensed in a single actuation.

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