Device for dispensing a fluid product

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for dispensing a fluid product, comprising a reservoir (1) of the syringe type containing the fluid product, a piston (2) integral with a piston rod (3) being slidably mounted in the reservoir (1) for dispensing the fluid product, the device comprising a metering system for splitting the stroke of the piston (2) into at least two partial strokes, the metering system comprising at least two locking elements (10a, 10b) which are mounted so as to pivot on the piston rod (3) between a locking position, in which a locking element prevents any axial movement of the piston rod (3) in the reservoir (1), and a movement position, in which the piston rod (3) can move axially in the reservoir (1), the metering system comprising energy accumulation means for generating resistance to the actuation of the piston rod (3), the energy accumulation means being formed by each locking element (10a, 10b) when said locking element is in an unlocking position intermediate between the locking position and the movement position.

Description

[0001] Fluid product dispensing device

[0002] The present invention relates to a fluid product dispensing device comprising a dosing system.

[0003] Fluid product dispensing devices, for example of the double-dose type, are well known. They comprise a reservoir containing several doses of fluid product to be dispensed in several successive actuations. When the reservoir is of the syringe type, with a piston secured to a piston rod which slides in a cylindrical reservoir, there are dosing systems which allow the piston stroke to be separated into several partial strokes, one for each dose. These dosing systems are often complex and therefore expensive to manufacture and assemble, and generally require the addition of one or more additional parts.

[0004] Furthermore, when a nasal spray head is associated with a syringe-type reservoir, a disadvantage of existing devices concerns the quality of the spray generated, which may depend on the actuation carried out by the user, in particular the speed and force of actuation, and differ between the two doses. However, to guarantee good reproducibility of the spray, it is desirable to generate a calibrated spray, i.e. one whose properties are substantially similar for the two doses, regardless of the way in which the user actuates the device.

[0005] Documents EP2832452 and W02004028703 describe state-of-the-art devices.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a fluid product dispensing device which does not reproduce the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0007] The present invention aims in particular to provide a fluid product dispensing device which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

[0008] The present invention also aims to provide a fluid product dispensing device which makes it possible to ensure a calibrated and reproducible spray for each dose, in particular independently of the way in which the user operates the device.

[0009] The present invention also aims to provide a fluid product dispensing device which guarantees precise dosage for each dose.

[0010] The present invention therefore relates to a device for dispensing fluid product comprising a reservoir of the syringe type containing fluid product, a piston secured to a piston rod being slidably mounted in said reservoir to dispense said fluid product, said device comprising a metering system for dividing the stroke of said piston into at least two partial strokes, said metering system comprising at least two locking elements pivotally mounted on said piston rod between a locking position, in which it prevents any axial movement of said piston rod in said reservoir, and a movement position, in which said piston rod can move axially in said reservoir, said metering system comprising energy accumulation means, to generate resistance to the actuation of said piston rod,said energy accumulation means being formed by each blocking element when it is in an unlocked position, intermediate between said blocking position and said displacement position.,

[0011] Advantageously, each locking element comprises a body pivotally connected to said piston rod by an articulation, in particular a bridge of deformable material, said articulation elastically urging each locking element towards its locking position.

[0012] Advantageously, said tank is formed by a hollow cylinder open on its two front and rear axial sides, with a rear opening and a front opening.

[0013] Advantageously, in the locking position, said body projects radially away from the piston rod beyond the radial dimension of said rear opening of said reservoir, and in the displacement position, said body is brought back radially inwards to be able to return with said piston rod inside said reservoir. Advantageously, said body comprises at an end edge opposite said articulation a notch, formed by a first axial wall portion in the locking position and a second radial wall portion in the locking position, said notch cooperating in the locking position with said rear opening of said reservoir.

[0014] Advantageously, said intermediate position is defined by a rounded notch, formed between a third axial wall part in the locking position, and a rounded and curved wall extending radially outwards.

[0015] Advantageously, said locking elements are molded in a single piece with said piston rod.

[0016] Advantageously, said reservoir contains two doses of fluid product, said dosing system comprising two blocking elements.

[0017] These and other advantages and characteristics of the present invention will become more clearly apparent from the following detailed description, given with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, and in which:

[0018] Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a fluid product dispensing device comprising a dosing system according to an advantageous embodiment, before use,

[0019] Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, before distribution of a first dose,

[0020] Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, after distribution of the first dose and before distribution of a second dose,

[0021] Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3, after distribution of the second dose,

[0022] Figure 5 is a partial schematic perspective view of the dosing system of Figures 1 to 4,

[0023] Figure 6 is a detail view, showing a locking element of the metering system in a first locking position,

[0024] Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, showing the locking member in a second unlocked position, and Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7, showing the locking member in a third displacement position.

[0025] The terms "axial" and "radial" refer to the longitudinal central axis of the dispensing device. The terms "forward" and "backward" refer to the direction of flow of the fluid product when the device is actuated.

[0026] The figures show a fluid product dispensing device according to an advantageous embodiment. This device comprises a reservoir 1 which contains at least two doses of fluid product, generally a liquid, which are dispensed in at least two successive actuations. The following description will be made with reference to a two-dose device, in which the reservoir 1 contains two doses of fluid product dispensed in two successive actuations, but it is understood that the invention also applies to devices comprising more than two doses, for example three or four doses.

[0027] The tank 1 is preferably formed by a hollow cylinder open on its two front and rear axial sides, with a rear opening 1a and a front opening 1b.

[0028] The tank 1 is advantageously provided with a collar 4 at its rear axial end edge which surrounds the rear opening 1a of the tank.

[0029] Suitable dispensing means are provided in the reservoir 1 for dispensing its contents. Typically, these dispensing means comprise a piston 2 slidably mounted in the reservoir and secured to a piston rod 3 actuated by the user at the time of actuation.

[0030] The piston rod 3 advantageously comprises at its rear axial end edge a support flange 5 on which the user presses during actuation.

[0031] The front opening 1b of the reservoir 1 can receive a dispensing head (not shown), advantageously in a removable manner, for example by means of a Luer Lock type attachment. This dispensing head can be a spray head, in particular nasal, but it is understood that other embodiments could be envisaged, in particular conventional injection syringes, comprising a needle for dispensing the fluid product. The device comprises a dosing system for dividing the actuation stroke of the piston 2 into at least two partial strokes, each for dispensing a respective dose.

[0032] According to the invention, the dosing system comprises at least two locking elements 10a, 10b pivotally mounted on the piston rod 3, each locking element corresponding to a dose.

[0033] Preferably, the locking elements 10a, 10b are molded in one piece with the piston rod 3.

[0034] Each locking element 10a, 10b is pivotally mounted on the piston rod 3 between a locking position, in which it prevents any axial movement of the piston rod 3 in the reservoir 1, and a displacement position, in which the piston rod 3 can move axially in the reservoir 1.

[0035] Each locking element 10a, 10b comprises a body 11a, 11b pivotally connected to the piston rod 3 by an articulation 12a, 12b, in particular a bridge of deformable material. This articulation 12a, 12b elastically biases each locking element 10a, 10b towards its locking position.

[0036] In the locking position, the body 11a, 11b projects radially away from the piston rod 3 beyond the radial dimension of the rear opening 1a of the reservoir 1. In the displacement position, the body 11a, 11b is brought radially inwards so that it can return with the piston rod inside the reservoir 1.

[0037] The body 11a, 11b comprises at an end edge opposite said articulation 12a, 12b a notch 13a, 14a respectively 13b, 14b, formed by a first axial wall part 13a, 13b in the locking position and a second radial wall part 14a, 14b in the locking position.

[0038] This notch cooperates in the locking position with the peripheral edge of the rear opening 1a of the reservoir 1, as visible in Figure 6. Thus, in this locking position, the locking element 10a, 10b prevents any axial movement of the piston rod 3 in the direction of the front opening 1b of the reservoir 1, and therefore any dispensing of fluid product.

[0039] The dosing system comprises energy accumulation means, to generate resistance to the actuation of the piston rod 3. The user must therefore apply to the piston rod 3 a force at least equal to a predetermined threshold, which generates an accumulation of energy in his hand which will be released suddenly at the moment when this resistance is overcome. This makes it possible to guarantee at each actuation a distribution of the complete dose with reproducible distribution parameters.

[0040] According to the invention, these energy accumulation means are formed by each locking element 10a, 10b when it is in an intermediate unlocking position between the locking position and the displacement position.

[0041] This intermediate position can advantageously be defined by a rounded notch 15a, 16a respectively 15b, 16b, formed between a third axial wall part 15a, 15b in the locking position, and a rounded and curved wall 16a, 16b extending radially outwards.

[0042] Thus, as visible in Figure 7, in the intermediate position, it is the rounded notch which cooperates with the peripheral edge of the rear opening 1a of the reservoir 1. This cooperation requires the application of a threshold force on the piston rod 3 to be overcome and bring the blocking element 10a, 10b towards its displacement position shown in Figure 8. The domed surface 16a, 16b will generate a resistance to actuation that the user will have to overcome, thus generating the desired accumulation of energy, and when the threshold force is applied to the piston rod 3, the domed surface 16a, 16b will slide along the peripheral edge of the rear opening 1a of the reservoir 1, allowing the dispensing of a dose.

[0043] Advantageously, the two-dose dosing system is entirely molded in a single piece with the piston rod 3. The operation of the invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 4 which illustrate an actuation sequence for a two-dose device.

[0044] In Figure 1, the reservoir 1 of the dispensing device has been filled with fluid product.

[0045] To calibrate the dosage to be dispensed during two successive actuations, the piston rod 3 is moved axially relative to the reservoir

[0046] I to bring the notch 13a, 14a of the first locking element 10a into abutment against the rear opening 1a of the tank 1, at the level of the collar 4.

[0047] It should be noted that figures 1 and 2 are not necessarily to scale, and the axial displacement of the piston rod 3 to bring the first locking element 10a into abutment against the reservoir 1 may be very short.

[0048] Figure 2 shows the device in position before dispensing the first dose. In this position, the first locking element 10a is in the locking position.

[0049] To dispense the first dose, the user presses radially on the first locking element 10a, in particular on its curved surface 16a, to pivot it radially inwards into its intermediate position.

[0050] The user can then press axially on the piston rod 3, and from a threshold actuating force, the first locking element 10a will pivot radially inwards into its displacement position, and the first dose will be dispensed.

[0051] The accumulation of energy in the user's hand ensures perfect distribution of the first dose.

[0052] The end of the first partial actuation stroke is formed by the second blocking element 10b which in turn cooperates with the rear opening 1a of the tank 1, as visible in figure 3.

[0053] To be able to dispense the second dose, the user acts in the same way as for the first dose, by first pressing radially on the second locking element 10b to bring it into its intermediate position, then axially on the piston rod. Although the present invention has been described with reference to an embodiment thereof, it is understood that it is not limited thereby, but that on the contrary a person skilled in the art can make any useful modifications thereto, without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. Device for dispensing a fluid product comprising a reservoir (1) of the syringe type containing fluid product, a piston (2) secured to a piston rod (3) being slidably mounted in said reservoir (1) to dispense said fluid product, said device comprising a metering system for dividing the stroke of said piston (2) into at least two partial strokes, said metering system comprising at least two locking elements (10a, 10b) pivotally mounted on said piston rod (3) between a locking position, in which it prevents any axial movement of said piston rod (3) in said reservoir (1), and a movement position, in which said piston rod (3) can move axially in said reservoir (1), said metering system comprising energy accumulation means, to generate resistance to the actuation of said piston rod (3),characterized in that said energy accumulation means are formed by each blocking element (10a, 10b) when it is in an unlocked position, intermediate between said blocking position and said displacement position., 2. Device according to claim 1, in which each locking element (10a, 10b) comprises a body (11a, 11b) pivotally connected to said piston rod (3) by an articulation (12a, 12b), in particular a bridge of deformable material, said articulation (12a, 12b) elastically urging each locking element (10a, 10b) towards its locking position.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein said reservoir (1) is formed by a hollow cylinder open on its two front and rear axial sides, with a rear opening (1a) and a front opening (1b).

4. Device according to claim 3, in which, in the locking position, said body (11a, 11b) projects radially away from the piston rod (3) beyond the radial dimension of said rear opening (1a) of said reservoir (1), and in the displacement position, said body (11a, 11b) is brought back radially inwards to be able to return with said piston rod (3) inside said reservoir (1).

5. Device according to claim 4, in which said body (11 a, 11 b) comprises at an end edge opposite said articulation (12a, 12b) a notch (13a, 14a; 13b, 14b), formed by a first axial wall part (13a, 13b) in the locking position and a second radial wall part (14a, 14b) in the locking position, said notch cooperating in the locking position with said rear opening (1a) of said reservoir (1).

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said intermediate position is defined by a rounded notch (15a, 16a; 15b, 16b), formed between a third axial wall part (15a, 15b) in the locking position, and a rounded and curved wall (16a, 16b) extending radially outwards.

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said locking elements (10a, 10b) are molded in a single piece with said piston rod (3). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said reservoir (1) contains two doses of fluid product, dosing system comprising two locking elements (10a,

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