Device for dispensing a fluid product

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for dispensing a fluid product, the device comprising a body (1) that accommodates a reservoir (10) intended to contain a fluid product and a plunger (20) that slides inside the reservoir (10), the body (1) and the plunger (20) comprising dose fractionation means (15, 16, 17; 25) for separating the fluid product to be dispensed, contained in the reservoir (10), into at least two doses intended to be dispensed over a plurality of consecutive actuations of the device, the dose fractionation means comprising a lug (25) rigidly attached to the plunger (20) that slides inside a first axial groove (15) rigidly attached to the body (1), the first groove (15) comprising a shoulder (17) that blocks the lug (25) after the first dose of fluid product has been dispensed, the shoulder (17) separating the first axial groove (15) from a second axial groove (16) that is parallel to, and laterally offset from, the first axial groove (15), the movement of the lug (25) from the first axial groove (15) to the second axial groove (16) created by rotating the lug (25) relative to the axial grooves (15, 16), the device comprising biasing means (40, 60; 17a, 25a) to urge the lug (25) laterally away from the second groove portion (16) at the end of the actuation stroke.

Description

[0001] Fluid product dispensing device

[0002] The present invention relates to a device for dispensing fluid product.

[0003] Fluid product dispensing devices are well known. They generally comprise a reservoir, dispensing means and a dispensing head. The dispensing head may be a spray head, for example of the nasal type.

[0004] Some dispensing devices comprise a reservoir 10 of the syringe type and a piston 20 sliding in said reservoir between a retracted position and a depressed position. When the product contained in the reservoir is to be dispensed in two or more successive doses, the device comprises dose splitting means.

[0005] Document W02023047067A1 describes a two-dose device in which the dose-splitting means comprise two parallel vertical grooves offset laterally and connected by a horizontal shoulder, with a lug secured to the piston sliding in the first groove during the first actuation and abutting against the horizontal shoulder to stop the first actuation stroke. To be able to dispense the second dose, the user must turn the piston and therefore the lug to bring it opposite the second groove. A disadvantage of this type of structure is that if the user presses sufficiently hard and / or with a slightly off-axis actuation force, there is a risk that the lug will slide on the horizontal shoulder and pass directly into the second groove, thereby dispensing two doses in a single actuation.

[0006] Documents WO2013145789, W02004028703, WO2012002938, US6382465 and US4962868 describe other devices of the state of the art.

[0007] The present invention aims to provide a fluid product dispensing device which does not reproduce the aforementioned drawbacks. The present invention aims in particular to provide a fluid product dispensing device which guarantees perfect separation of the doses by preventing the accidental dispensing of two doses during actuation.

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

[0009] The present invention thus relates to a fluid product dispensing device comprising a body receiving a reservoir intended to contain a fluid product and a piston sliding in said reservoir, said body and said piston comprising dose splitting means for separating the fluid product to be dispensed contained in said reservoir into at least two doses intended to be dispensed during several successive actuations of said device, said dose splitting means comprising at least one lug, integral with one of said piston and said body, sliding in at least one first axial groove, integral with the other of said piston and said body, each first groove comprising a shoulder for locking said respective lug after dispensing the first dose of fluid product,said shoulder separating said first axial groove from a second axial groove parallel and laterally offset from said first axial groove, said lug passing from said first axial groove to said second axial groove by rotation of said lug relative to said axial grooves, said device comprising biasing means for, at the end of the actuation stroke, biasing said lug laterally away from said second groove part, said biasing means being formed directly on said lug and on said shoulder, said shoulder comprising an inclined part, said lug comprising a complementary profile, with an inclined surface, which at the end of the first stroke cooperates with said inclined part of said shoulder, said shoulder comprising a flat part and said lug comprises a flat surface, which cooperates with the flat part of the shoulder.,

[0010] Advantageously, said inclined portion of the shoulder is located on the outside, on the side opposite said second axial groove. Alternatively, said inclined portion is located on the inside.

[0011] Advantageously, said body and / or said piston comprise(s) energy accumulation means requiring the application of at least one predetermined force to enable the spraying of said fluid product to be dispensed.

[0012] Advantageously, said at least one lug is integral with said piston and said at least one first axial groove is formed in said body.

[0013] Alternatively, said at least one lug is integral with said body and said at least one first axial groove is formed in said piston.

[0014] These and other advantages and characteristics of the present invention will appear more clearly during the following detailed description, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, and in which:

[0015] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a dispensing device according to a first embodiment, before the first actuation,

[0016] Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, during actuation,

[0017] Figures 3a to 3d are detailed cross-sectional views of the state-of-the-art dose fractionation means,

[0018] Figures 4a and 4b are detailed cross-sectional views of the dose fractionation means according to a first advantageous embodiment, just before the end of the first actuation stroke,

[0019] Figures 5a and 5b are views similar to those of Figures 4a and 4b, at the end of the first actuation stroke,

[0020] Figures 6a and 6b are views similar to those of Figures 5a and 5b, at the start of the second actuation stroke,

[0021] Figures 7a and 7b are views similar to those of Figures 6a and 6b, during the second actuation stroke,

[0022] Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a dispensing device according to a second advantageous embodiment of the present invention, before the first actuation, Figure 9 is a view similar to that of Figure 8, just before the end of the first actuation stroke,

[0023] Figure 10 is a view similar to that of Figure 9, at the end of the first actuation stroke, and

[0024] Figures 11 and 12 are detailed cross-sectional views of two alternative embodiments of the dose fractionation means according to the second embodiment.

[0025] The terms "axial" and "radial" refer to the longitudinal central axis A of the dispensing device shown in Figure 2.

[0026] The dispensing device comprises a reservoir 10 of the syringe type and a piston 20 sliding in said reservoir between a retracted position and a depressed position. The reservoir 10 can be fixed in a body 1. Alternatively, the reservoir 10 can be molded in a single piece with said body 1.

[0027] The reservoir 10 or the body 1 may receive a dispensing head, which may comprise a needle or a cannula in the case of an injection device, or a nasal or oral dispensing head, in particular a spray head for generating a spray.

[0028] Optionally, a sampling needle may be attached to the reservoir 10, and a spray head provided with a dispensing orifice may be removably assembled onto said sampling needle. In the sampling phase, the spray head is removed to expose the sampling needle, which may then be inserted into a container containing fluid product to be drawn into the reservoir 10 through said sampling needle. After this sampling phase, the spray head is replaced around said sampling needle, which makes it possible to dispense the fluid product contained in the reservoir 10 in the form of a spray, for example for a nasal spray.

[0029] The piston 20 comprises a piston element 22 secured to an actuating rod 21 actuated by the user at the time of dispensing, in particular by manually pressing on an end collar 23 of the piston rod 21. The piston element 22 may be made in one piece with the piston rod 21, for example by molding a plastic material, or form a separate element fixed, for example overmolded, to said piston rod. In this case, the piston element 22 may be made of a material different from the piston rod 21.

[0030] The body 1 comprises an upper part 11 intended to receive or form the reservoir 10 and a lower part 12 intended to cooperate with the actuating rod 21 of the piston 20. A radial flange 13 forming a finger rest is advantageously provided between said first and second parts 11, 12 of the body 1.

[0031] To distribute the contents of the reservoir 10 in several doses, in particular two doses, the device comprises dose splitting means adapted to split the actuation stroke of the piston 20 into several partial strokes, in particular two partial strokes.

[0032] Figures 3a to 3d illustrate state-of-the-art splitting means, in particular as described in document W02023047067A1.

[0033] In this implementation, the lower part 12 of the body 1 comprises a first axial groove 15 which cooperates with a lug 25 of said piston rod 21. This lug 25 projects radially outwards and slides in said first groove 15 during the first actuation of said dispensing device. Advantageously, two diametrically opposite first axial grooves 15 may be provided, as well as two diametrically opposite lugs 25.

[0034] The first axial groove 15 comprises a shoulder 17 forming a dose-splitting means. Thus, the first axial groove 15 extends axially by a second axial groove 16 offset laterally or angularly. Thus, when the piston 20 is actuated to dispense the fluid contained in the reservoir 10, the lug 25 of the piston 20 slides axially in the first axial groove 15, and this lug 25 is stopped by said shoulder 17. This defines the first dose, by cutting the actuation stroke of the piston 20 in the reservoir 10. The user must then turn the piston 20 slightly to bring the lug 25 opposite the second axial groove 16 in order to be able to dispense the second dose. Of course, the invention also applies to devices containing more than two doses, for example three or four doses.

[0035] Advantageously, the first and second axial grooves 15, 16 comprise energy accumulation means, such as for example bosses 18, 19, which can cooperate with the lug 25 at the start of each actuation stroke to force the user to exert at least sufficient force on the piston 20 to overcome the resistance generated by said energy accumulation means. When this force is reached, the lug 25 passes beyond said energy accumulation means, which suddenly releases the energy stored in the user's hand, thus ensuring that the actuation stroke, in particular the half-actuation stroke in the example shown of a bidose, is completed in full. Of course, these energy accumulation means can be made in any suitable manner, and the bosses 18, 19 are only one example of an advantageous embodiment.For example, it is possible to envisage constrictions or breakable bridges in said grooves 15, 16.

[0036] According to the invention, the device comprises biasing means for, at the end of the first actuation stroke, biasing said lug 25 away from said second groove part 16.

[0037] This prevents the lug 25 from accidentally passing directly into the second groove 16, and thus guarantees reliable dose fractionation.

[0038] Figures 1, 2 and 4a to 7b illustrate a first embodiment.

[0039] In this first embodiment, the stressing means comprise a radial projection 40 secured to the piston rod 21, which, when the lug 25 approaches the shoulder 17, will cooperate with a projecting rib 60 of the body 1, said projecting rib 60 comprising an inclined front end edge 61. Optionally, two diametrically opposite radial projections 40 may be provided, as well as two diametrically opposite projecting ribs 60.

[0040] The radial projection 40, which advantageously has a rounded axial edge, will cooperate with said inclined front end edge 61, which will stress it laterally on the side of the inclination, as visible in figures 4b and 5b.

[0041] The radial projection 40 and the lug 25 being integral with the same part, in this case the piston rod 21, the lug 25 is also stressed laterally on one side.

[0042] The inclination of the inclined front end edge 61 is thus chosen to urge the lug 25 laterally away from the second axial groove 16, which makes it possible to avoid the risk of unwanted simultaneous actuation of the first and second doses.

[0043] As seen in Figures 6a and 6b, when the user wishes to dispense the second dose, he must move the piston rod in rotation to bring the lug 25 opposite the second axial groove 16. This rotational movement generates a slight displacement of the piston rod axially upwards to allow the passage of the radial projection 40 over the rib 60.

[0044] It should be noted that in this first embodiment, the radial projection 40 could alternatively be integral with the body 1, and the projecting rib 60 could be formed on the piston rod 21.

[0045] Figures 8 to 12 illustrate a second embodiment according to the invention.

[0046] In this second embodiment, the stressing means are formed directly on the lug 25 and on the shoulder 17.

[0047] Thus, the shoulder 17 comprises an inclined part 17a, the lug 25 comprising a complementary profile, with an inclined surface 25a, which at the end of the first stroke cooperates with the inclined part 17a of the shoulder.

[0048] The shoulder also comprises a flat part 17b and the lug 25 also comprises a flat surface 25b, which cooperates with the flat part 17b of the shoulder.

[0049] In the example of Figure 11, the inclined portion 17a of the shoulder is located on the outside, on the side opposite the second axial groove 16, whereas in the example of Figure 12, it is the opposite, the inclined portion 17a is located on the inside. When the lug 25 approaches the shoulder 17, at the end of the first actuation stroke, the inclined portion 17a of the shoulder will urge the lug 25 away from the second axial groove 16.

[0050] When the user wishes to dispense the second dose, he must move the piston rod in rotation to bring the lug 25 opposite the second axial groove 16. This rotational movement generates a slight displacement of the piston rod axially upwards to allow the lug 25 to pass over the inclined part 17a of the shoulder 17.

[0051] It should be noted that the invention has been described above with reference to two embodiments in which the lug 25 is integral with the piston rod 21 and the grooves 15, 16 are formed in the body 1. Alternatively, the lug 25 could be integral with the body 1 and the grooves 15, 16 could be formed in the piston rod 21.

[0052] Although the present invention has been described with reference to several embodiments and variants thereof, it is understood that a person skilled in the art may make any useful modifications thereto, without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A fluid product dispensing device comprising a body (1) receiving a reservoir (10) intended to contain a fluid product and a piston (20) sliding in said reservoir (10), said body (1) and said piston (20) comprising dose-splitting means (15, 16, 17; 25) for separating the fluid product to be dispensed contained in said reservoir (10) into at least two doses intended to be dispensed during several successive actuations of said device, said dose-splitting means comprising at least one lug (25), integral with one of said piston (20) and said body (1), sliding in at least one first axial groove (15), integral with the other of said piston (20) and said body (1), each first groove (15) comprising a shoulder (17) for locking said respective lug (25) after dispensing the first dose of fluid product,said shoulder (17) separating said first axial groove (15) from a second axial groove (16) parallel and laterally offset from said first axial groove (15), said lug (25) passing from said first axial groove (15) to said second axial groove (16) by rotation of said lug (25) relative to said axial grooves (15, 16), said device comprising biasing means (40, 60; 17a, 25a) for, at the end of the actuation stroke, biasing said lug (25) laterally away from said second groove part (16), characterized in that said biasing means (17a; 25a) are formed directly on said lug (25) and on said shoulder (17), said shoulder (17) comprising an inclined part (17a), said lug (25) comprising a complementary profile, with a surface inclined (25a), which at the end of the first stroke cooperates with said inclined part (17a) of said shoulder (17),said shoulder (17) comprising a flat part (17b) and said lug (25) comprises a flat surface (25b), which at the end of the first stroke cooperates with the flat part (17b) of the shoulder., 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said inclined portion (17a) of the shoulder is located on the outside, on the side opposite said second axial groove (16).

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein said inclined portion (17a) is located inside.

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said body (1) and / or said piston (20) comprises energy accumulation means (18, 19) requiring the application of at least one predetermined force to enable the spraying of said fluid product to be dispensed.

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said at least one lug (25) is integral with said piston (20) and said at least one first axial groove (15) is formed in said body (1)- 6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which said at least one lug (25) is integral with said body (1) and said at least one first axial groove (15) is formed in said piston (20).

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