DEVICE FOR PACKAGING AND DISPENSING SINGLE-DOSE AND TWO-DOSE A FLUID PRODUCT

Abstract

The device for packaging and dispensing a product (8) comprises a rigid body (1) comprising a dispensing nozzle (2) pierced with a channel (5), a central hollow space (19), a piston (17) comprising a channel (4), a reservoir (7) containing the product (8) which can slide in a sealed manner around the piston (17) and a pusher (16) allowing the movement of the reservoir (7) around the piston (17) in order to compress the product (8) and eject it outside the device. One or more recesses (36, 36') are provided in the reservoir (7) and cooperate with the piston (17) in order to allow the filling of said reservoir (7). Figure for the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: DEVICE FOR PACKAGING AND DISPENSING SINGLE-DOSE AND DOUBLE-DOSE PRODUCTS FLUID Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of packaging, and more specifically to that of the packaging and distribution of a liquid or semi-fluid product intended to be stored and distributed in portions or doses.

[0002] The invention more particularly relates to a device for packaging and dispensing a product capable of containing and dispensing one or two sterile doses, preferably in nasally sprayed form. Prior art

[0003] A device of this type is known as described in patent FR2400620 which allows the distribution of one or two sterile doses via the nasal route by means of the movement of a reservoir containing the product to be distributed around a piston equipped with means of sliding sealed with the reservoir. This piston is pierced with a channel and is integral with a body provided with a distribution element equipped with a channel connected to the channel of the piston and allowing the product to be expelled outside the device, as well as lateral protrusions which allow the user to hold the device when it is pressed. This reservoir is driven by a pusher pressed by the user and the movement of which is determined by recesses with which the body is provided and which collaborate with at least one projection located on the pusher. The device thus makes it possible to distribute the product by compression of the latter between the walls of the reservoir and the piston, thus releasing one or two precise doses of product.The volume of these doses is determined by the displacement of the projection of the pusher in the recesses of the body between two stops.

[0004] The disadvantage of this device as described in the above-cited patent lies in the fact that it does not describe any means for filling the reservoir with the exact required quantity of the product to be dispensed.

[0005] Another disadvantage of the device as described in patent FR2400620 is that it does not include any described means allowing the user to view the number of doses remaining to be used.

[0006] There is a need to efficiently dispense a liquid or semi-fluid product that can be stored and dispensed sterilely in the form of a single dose or two doses independent of each other with a device that can be filled accurately and that indicates to the user the number of doses. remaining to be used.

[0007] More generally, the invention aims to remedy certain drawbacks of similar devices of the state of the art and to propose such a device which is better suited to the various requirements of practice than known devices. SUMMARY

[0008] In order to improve the situation, the invention proposes a device for packaging and dispensing a product, generally liquid or semi-fluid, comprising: - a rigid body extending between two ends around a longitudinal axis, delimiting a central hollow space, the rigid body comprising a distribution nozzle provided with an axial channel at one of the two ends, a preferably cylindrical tubular skirt provided at the other end and one or more lateral protrusions; - a piston provided with a rod secured to the dispensing nozzle and comprising an axial channel in communication with the channel of said dispensing nozzle, the piston being carried by the rigid body; - a preferably cylindrical reservoir containing the product to be dispensed, open at one end of this reservoir and capable of moving longitudinally in the rigid body so as to insert the reservoir into the central hollow space along said longitudinal axis and in a sealed manner around the piston and; - a rigid pusher capable of moving longitudinally along the longitudinal axis of the rigid body; with the particularity that the pusher is actuable and allows the product to be expelled towards the outside of the device in the form of a single dose or two identical successive doses when it is activated by the user, that it causes the reservoir to move in the central hollow space and that the product contained in said reservoir is compressed against a wall of the piston and expelled outside the device through the channel located inside said piston then the channel located in the dispensing nozzle, that the rigid body carries or comprises means for guiding the pusher,the guide means including one or more recesses in the form of grooves located in the skirt of said body or in a complementary part and cooperating with at least one projection in the form of a projecting lateral lug with which the pusher is provided and characterized in that the assembly composed of the reservoir and the piston comprises means allowing precise filling of the product, these means including either one or more recesses located on the reservoir and cooperating with the piston, or a stopper located in the bottom of the reservoir, or a seal located on the piston rod and cooperating with the body and / or in that the pusher comprises means for displaying the number of doses remaining to be dispensed, these means including printed or molded markers.

[0009] Thanks to these arrangements, it is possible to fill the reservoir with the required quantity of product allowing one or two doses of product to be dispensed, the air and any excess product being eliminated thanks to the recesses located in the upper part of the reservoir, or by introducing the product into the reservoir by means of an injector perforating a plug located in the bottom of the reservoir. It is also possible to view and indicate to the user the number of doses remaining using visible marks on the actuable part of the pusher.

[0010] According to a particular feature, the recesses of the reservoir are in the form of one or more grooves located in the part cooperating with the piston.

[0011] Preferably the skirt of the pusher is provided with means for ensuring sealing with the body.

[0012] According to another feature, the stopper located in the bottom of the reservoir is made of an elastic material allowing the passage of a needle-shaped injector for filling the product but not allowing the passage of the product from the inside of the reservoir to the outside of the device when the injector has been removed.

[0013] Preferably the bottom of the pusher is provided with an orifice allowing the injector to pass through.

[0014] The air contained in the reservoir escapes to the outside of the device by means of the channels of the piston and the distributor tip during the injection of the product by the injector.

[0015] Optionally, the marks indicating the number of doses remaining are produced by printing lines on the actuable part of the pusher. These marks are masked as the pusher moves inside the skirt of the body.

[0016] Preferably, these marks come directly from the molding of the pusher. They can be either raised or hollow.

[0017] In embodiments, the device has one or more of the following features: - the recess(es) of the tank are located at the open end of said tank and they allow air or any excess product to escape when the tank is mounted inside the hollow space of the body. - any excess product escapes from the tank by the action of the piston towards the hollow central volume located inside the body. - the skirt of the pusher is arranged so as to slide freely and in a sealed manner inside the body. - the seal between the pusher skirt and the inside of the body is achieved by a side-by-side adjustment between the two parts. - the seal between the skirt of the pusher and the inside of the body is achieved by a preferably circular seal located between these two parts. - the seal between the skirt of the pusher and the inside of the body is achieved by a circular and flexible lateral outgrowth of said skirt. - pressing the plunger into the body when dispensing the first dose creates pressure in the central hollow space of the body. - the pressure created in the central hollow space of the body allows an elastic return of the pusher after dispensing the first dose. - the volume of the central hollow space of the body can be determined according to the desired pressure in order to allow the elastic return of the pusher. - the elastic cap is force-fitted into an orifice located in the bottom of the tank. Brief description of the drawings

[0018] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention emerge from the description given below, with reference to the appended drawings, which represent, by way of non-limiting examples, embodiments and implementations of the subject of the invention. In these drawings:

[0019] [Fig-1] is a schematic axial sectional view of an example of a device according to the invention when not stressed, representing a rigid body provided with two lateral tabs perpendicular to its axis, comprising a skirt provided with one or more grooves at one end and a dispensing nozzle at the other end, said dispensing nozzle being provided with a longitudinal channel allowing the passage of the product, a cap mounted on the end of the dispensing nozzle, a rigid part located inside the rigid body, assembled integrally with the latter and crossed by a channel connected to the channel of the nozzle and comprising a piston at its end, a reservoir in which the product to be dispensed is located, capable of moving longitudinally and provided at its open end with one or more grooves and a pusher capable of moving longitudinally inside the hollow space of the body by driving the reservoir.

[0020] [Fig.2] is an enlarged axial sectional schematic view of the tank provided with two grooves at its open end.

[0021] [Fig.3] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the tank provided with a groove.

[0022] [Fig.4] is a schematic sectional view showing a seal located between the pusher and the body.

[0023] [Fig.5] is a schematic axial sectional view of a sealing lip with the body located on the pusher.

[0024] [Fig.6] is a schematic axial sectional view of a device in which the body is provided with a complementary part in which the recesses, the skirt of the pusher is provided with a projection, the bottom of the tank has an elastic plug and the pusher is provided with an orifice located in alignment with said seal.

[0025] [Fig.7] is an enlarged schematic sectional view showing a needle for filling the product into the reservoir through the elastic stopper.

[0026] [Fig.8] is a schematic axial sectional view of a device in which the piston rod is provided with a circular flexible lip sealing with the interior of the body.

[0027] [Fig.9] is a schematic sectional view showing the markers enabling the user to view the number of doses available.

[0028] The device as ready for use is presented vertically. The dispensing tip is directed upwards and the skirt of the rigid body is directed downwards. The terms "up" and "down" refer to this upright position of the device as shown in [Fig.l]. The term longitudinal refers to a position parallel to the axis located in the length of the body. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] The device as shown in [Fig.l], including a rigid body 1 comprising a dispensing nozzle 2 pierced with a channel 5, a skirt 9 provided with a groove 10, two tongues 15 and 15', a central hollow volume or space 19, a cap 6 mounted on the end of the nozzle 2, a reservoir 7 containing the product 8 to be dispensed, a piston 17 comprising a rod 3 pierced with a channel 4, and a pusher 16, is in the configuration at the time of filling with the product 8.

[0030] The reservoir 7 is cylindrical in shape. It has a bottom closed at its lower end and an opening at the upper end. The walls of said reservoir 7 slide in a sealed manner around the piston 17. The upper part of said reservoir has a recess 36.

[0031] The interior of the cap 6 forms a seal with the exterior part of the dispensing nozzle 2.

[0032] The preparation of the device for use takes place as follows.

[0033] Previously, the reservoir 7 has been filled with the product 8 and introduced into the skirt 18 of the pusher 16.

[0034] The assembly consisting of the reservoir 7 and the pusher 16 is introduced along the axis X inside the central hollow space 19 of the body 1.

[0035] The walls of the reservoir 7 slide around the piston 17 and the air contained in said reservoir 7 escapes through the recess 36 inside the central space 19 of the body 1.

[0036] The introduction of the assembly composed of the pusher 16 and the reservoir 7 is stopped when the lower face of the piston 17 is in contact with the liquid 8.

[0037] Given the difficulty of precisely stopping the introduction of the pusher 16 and reservoir 7 assembly at the moment of contact of the liquid 8 with the lower face of the piston 17, the reservoir 7 will be filled before its introduction into the body 1 with a quantity of the product 8 slightly greater than the quantity necessary to dispense one or two doses.

[0038] Under the effect of the pressure exerted by the piston 17, the surplus product 8 escapes through the recess 36 inside the central space 19 of the body 1.

[0039] [Fig. 4] shows a seal 37, preferably an O-ring, ensuring the seal between the internal wall of the body 1 and the external wall of the skirt 18 of the pusher 16, preventing any excess product 8 previously ejected from the reservoir 7 by the pressure exerted by the piston 17 from escaping outside the device.

[0040] [Fig. 5] represents another sealing solution between the body 1 and the pusher 16 produced by molding a flexible lip 35 belonging to the pusher and thus avoiding the manufacture and assembly of an additional seal.

[0041] [Fig.6] represents an alternative solution for filling the product 8 into the reservoir 7.

[0042] In this option the bottom of the reservoir 7 is provided with an elastic stopper 32 and the bottom of the pusher with an orifice 33.

[0043] The filling of the product 8 takes place in the following manner.

[0044] The assembly composed of the pusher 16 surrounding the reservoir 7 empty of product 8 is placed inside the central hollow space 19.

[0045] The plug 6 is not in place.

[0046] As shown in [Fig.7] a filling needle 34 of the product 8 is introduced through the orifice 33 of the pusher 16 then through the elastic stopper 32.

[0047] The product 8 is then introduced inside the reservoir 7 and the air expelled by the arrival of the product 8 escapes outside the device by passing through the channels 4 and 5. A precise volumetric dosage makes it possible to stop the filling before the product 8 escapes outside the device.

[0048] [Fig. 8] shows a lip-shaped seal 38 located on the rod 3 of the piston 17. With this arrangement it is possible to fill the reservoir 7 with product 8 before placing it in the hollow space 19 of the body 1 and then to place the piston 17 in the reservoir so that the lower face of the latter is in contact with the product 8 and then to introduce this assembly composed of the reservoir 7 and the piston 17 inside the space 19.

[0049] The lip 38 facilitates the introduction of the rod 3 into the dispensing nozzle 2. Pressure is created inside the reservoir 7 by the frictional resistance of this introduction. No exit of product 8 can take place, the lip 38 forming a seal between the rod 3 of the piston 17 and the inside of the body 1 on the one hand and the previously placed plug 6 preventing any exit of the product 8 outside the device via the channel 5 of the dispensing nozzle 2.

[0050] [Fig.9] shows marks 31 and 31' located on the visible part of the pusher 16. These marks can either be printed or come from the molding of the pusher 16 by being made in relief or in hollow.

[0051] Other embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0052] It is possible to make the piston 17 from a flexible material so as to facilitate the placement of the tip 3 in the body 1 so as to make the lip 38 unnecessary.

[0053] A device for collecting any excess product 8 during filling using the filling needle 34 may be provided at the end of the channel 5.

[0054] A double needle 34 may be provided for injecting the product 8 into the reservoir 7 while sucking out the air contained in the latter.

[0055] The injection of the product 8 inside the reservoir 7 can be carried out when the assembly composed of the pusher 16 and the reservoir 7 has been previously introduced into the space 19 of the body 1 so that the bottom of said reservoir 7 is in contact with the lower face of the piston 17. The cap 6 has not been put in place and the air contained in the reservoir 7 escapes through the channels 4 then 5 to the outside of the device. Under these conditions the volume of the reservoir 7 is reduced to zero. With the cap 6 in place the injection of the product 8 by means of the filling needle 34 into the reservoir 7 creates an overpressure inside the latter and causes the reservoir to move downwards.

[0056] An arrangement of the grooves 10 or 10' located in the skirt 9 of the body 1 or in the complementary part 23 allows the lug 14 to move so as to allow the pusher 16 to be pushed in when the assembly composed of said pusher 16 and the reservoir 7 is placed inside the space 19 of the body 1.

[0057] In a variant, the bottom of the pusher 16 does not include an orifice and initially the reservoir 7 is introduced alone into the hollow space 19 of the body 1 in such a way that the bottom of said reservoir 7 is in contact with the lower face of the piston 17.

[0058] The cap having been put in place, the product 8 is introduced into the reservoir 7 using the filling needle 34 and the pressure created inside said reservoir 7 causes the latter to move downwards.

[0059] When the reservoir 7 is completely filled with product 8, the filling needle 34 is removed and the pusher 16 is put in place.

[0060] Under these conditions, the longitudinal movement of the pusher 16 during the dispensing of the first dose will create an overpressure in the central volume 19 and this overpressure will cause said pusher 16 to be pushed downwards.

Claims

Claims

1. Device for packaging and dispensing a product, generally liquid or semi-fluid, comprising: - A rigid body (1) extending between two ends around a longitudinal axis (X) delimiting a central hollow space (19), the rigid body (1) comprising a distribution nozzle (2) provided with an axial channel (5) at one of the two ends, a tubular skirt (9) preferably cylindrical provided at the other end and one or more lateral protrusions (15, 15'); - A piston (17) provided with a rod (3) secured to the dispensing nozzle (2) and comprising an axial channel (4) in communication with the channel (5) of said dispensing nozzle (2), the piston (17) being carried by the rigid body (1) - A reservoir (7) preferably cylindrical containing the product to be dispensed (8), open at one end of this reservoir and capable of moving longitudinally in the rigid body (1) so as to insert the reservoir (7) into the central hollow space (19) along said longitudinal axis (X) and in a sealed manner around the piston (17) and; - A rigid pusher (16) capable of moving longitudinally along the longitudinal axis (X) of the rigid body (1); with the particularity that the pusher (16) is actuable and allows the product (8) to be expelled towards the outside of the device in the form of a single dose or two identical successive doses when it is activated by the user, that it causes the movement of the reservoir (7) in the central hollow space (19) and that the product (8) contained in said reservoir (7) is compressed against a wall of the piston (17) and expelled outside the device through the channel (4) located inside said piston (17) then the channel (5) located in the dispensing nozzle (2), that the rigid body (1) carries or comprises means for guiding the pusher (16), the guiding means including one or more recesses in the form of grooves (10, 10') located in the skirt (9) of said body (1) or in a complementary part (23) and cooperating with at least one projection in the form of a projecting lateral lug (14.14') whose pusher (16) is provided and characterized in that the assembly composed of the reservoir (7) and the piston (17) comprises means allowing precise filling of the product (8), these means including either one or more recesses (36, 36') located on the reservoir (7) and cooperating with the piston (17) or a stopper (32) located in the bottom of the reservoir (7) or a seal (38) located on the rod (3) of the piston (17) cooperating with the body (1) and / or in that the pusher (16) comprises means for displaying the number of doses remaining to be dispensed, these means including printed or molded markers (31, 31').

2. Device according to claim 1 in which the recesses (36,36') consist of longitudinal grooves located at the open end of the reservoir (7).

3. Device according to claim 1 in which means make it possible to achieve a seal between the pusher (16) and the body (1), these means including either a preferably circular seal (37) or a flexible lip (35) belonging to said pusher (16).

4. Device according to claim 1 in which the plug (32) located in the bottom of the reservoir (7) is made of an elastic material which can be perforated.

5. Device according to claim 4 in which the bottom of the pusher (16) comprises an orifice (33).

6. Device according to claim 1 in which the sealing gasket (38) consists of a flexible circular lip belonging to the rod (3) of the piston (17).

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