DEVICE FOR STORING AND DISTRIBUTING A FLUID PRODUCT

Abstract

DEVICE FOR STORING AND DISPENSING A FLUID PRODUCT The invention relates to a pipette assembly, comprising: a pipette defining a first chamber for storing a first content which is in the form of a liquid, the pipette having a proximal end and a distal end opposite to the proximal end, the distal end defining a distal opening which opens into the first chamber; an actuator arranged on the proximal end of the pipette, the actuator being configured to evacuate the first content in the first chamber out of the pipette through the distal opening when it is actuated;A sealing component arranged on the distal end of the pipette, wherein the sealing component is arranged in a closed position in which the distal opening is blocked and a fluid-tight seal is formed between the sealing component and the pipette, thus preventing the initial contents from flowing out of the pipette through the distal opening; wherein the pipette assembly is configured such that the sealing component is pushed by the initial contents into the first chamber upon actuation of the actuator so as to be displaced from the closed position, thus allowing the initial contents to be evacuated from the pipette through the distal opening. The invention also relates to a device for storing and dispensing the fluid product comprising the pipette assembly and a container. Figure for abstract: none;

Description

Title of the invention: DEVICE FOR STORING AND DISTRIBUTING A FLUID PRODUCT FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a device for storing and dispensing a fluid product, in particular a cosmetic product, which is obtained by mixing different contents as desired by the user. The present invention also relates to a pipette assembly that may be part of the device. BACKGROUND

[0002] Many fluid products, particularly cosmetics, are formed as mixtures of different components. For various reasons, it may not be desirable to pre-form the mixture and store it in a conventional single-chamber container before dispensing the product to the user. For example, some cosmetic mixtures are unstable, and their effectiveness can decrease considerably over time. Consequently, devices for storing and dispensing fluid products have been developed that allow different components to be stored separately until the user wishes to mix them to form the final product.

[0003] One type of device provides a separate container for storing a first contents, which is to be installed on a main container by the user so that the first contents can be emptied from the separate container and mixed with a second contents in the main container. Afterward, the separate container is to be removed from the main container and a pipette is to be installed on the main container to dispense the resulting mixture.

[0004] Another type of device features a push rod disposed inside and extending along the longitudinal direction of a dip tube. The distal portion of the dip tube has a larger internal diameter than the proximal portion. The push rod is positioned near a button on the proximal end and rests against the inner wall of the proximal portion of the dip tube to form a seal on the distal end of the push rod. When the button is pressed, the push rod moves distally, thus allowing the liquid to flow from the proximal to the distal end of the dip tube around the push rod.

[0005] Another type of device proposes a dip tube receiving a first cosmetic contents. A discharge orifice at the distal end of the dip tube is received into a container and is closed by a sealing cap. During the first Using the dip tube, the dip tube is lifted and removed from the container, while the sealing cap is blocked by a brush near an opening of the container and separated from the dip tube.

[0006] There remains a need for an improved device which further facilitates manufacturing and use. SUMMARY

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an improved device for storing and dispensing a fluid product obtained by mixing different contents, in which said contents are stored separately until the mixture is desired by the user. In particular, the present invention provides a device that allows the separate storage of individual contents and the easy mixing of these contents, that has a simple structure, does not require a large number of components, and / or offers a great user experience.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, a pipette assembly is proposed comprising: a pipette defining a first chamber for storing a first content which is in the form of liquid, the pipette having a proximal end and a distal end opposite to the proximal end, the distal end defining a distal opening which opens into the first chamber; an actuator arranged on the proximal end of the pipette, the actuator being configured to evacuate the first content in the first chamber out of the pipette through the distal opening when it is actuated;a sealing component arranged on the distal end of the pipette, wherein the sealing component is arranged in a closed position in which the distal opening is blocked and a fluid-tight seal is formed between the sealing component and the pipette, thus preventing the first contents from flowing out of the pipette through the distal opening; wherein the pipette assembly is configured such that the sealing component is pushed by the first contents into the first chamber upon actuation of the actuator so as to be displaced from the closed position, thus allowing the first contents of the pipette to be evacuated through the distal opening.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the sealing component has a spherical shape.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the sealing component has a basic portion a flat which is exposed on the outside of the pipette, and an upper portion extending from the base portion, in which the upper portion engages in an inner wall of the distal end of the pipette, thus forming a fluid-tight seal between the sealing component and the pipette.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the upper portion of the sealing component comprises a first section extending from the base portion and having a truncated sphere shape, and a second section extending from the first section and having a cylindrical shape.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the pipette includes a receiving portion located at the distal end to receive the sealing component inside, in which the receiving portion includes a section whose inner wall has the shape of a truncated sphere.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the sealing component is made of glass or a resilient material, preferably PP, PET, PETG or PCTA.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the pipette is made of PP, PET, PCTA or PETG.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the actuator comprises a button and a fixed piston at the distal end of the button, the actuator is configured to be actuated by pushing the button, and in which the piston is configured to move distally upon actuating the actuator, resulting in an increase in pressure exerted on the sealing component by the first content, as a consequence of which the sealing component is displaced from the closed position.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the piston includes a distal surface oriented towards the distal end of the pipette, in which the distance between the distal surface of the piston and the level of liquid of the first content in the first chamber is not greater than 80% of the complete stroke of the piston, preferably not greater than 61% of the complete stroke of the piston, before the actuator is actuated.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the first chamber includes a portion that tapers towards the distal end of the pipette.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, a device for storing and dispensing a fluid product is proposed, comprising: a pipette assembly according to the present invention; and a container defining a second chamber for storing a second content; in which the pipette assembly can be removably mounted on the container, the distal end of the pipette being received in the second chamber of the container.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the second content is different from the first content.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the container comprises a threaded neck portion, and The pipette assembly further includes a cap, the cap comprising a threaded inner side wall, in which the pipette assembly can be removably mounted on the container by connecting the neck portion of the container to the inner side wall of the cap by a threaded connection.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the device further comprises a wiper arranged at the neck portion of the container, the wiper circumferentially surrounding the pipette when the pipette is mounted on the container.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the cap has a passage through which the button extends, in which the button further comprises a graduated portion having graduations on its outer wall, in which the button can be pushed to a position in which any one of the graduations is aligned with the top of the cap, to allow a corresponding and predetermined quantity of contents inside the second chamber to then be drawn into the first chamber.

[0023] The above and other aspects of this disclosure will be more readily understood from the detailed description, claims, and drawings. The detailed description and specific examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Brief description of the drawings

[0024] Implementations of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0025] [Fig.1A] [Fig.1A] is a schematic perspective view of the storage and distribution device for a fluid product according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] [Fig.1B] [Fig.1B] is a schematic perspective view of the pipette assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is an exploded schematic view of the device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] [Fig.3A] [Fig.3A] is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the pipette assembly and a wiper attached to it according to the first embodiment;

[0029] [Fig.3B] [Fig.3B] is a partial enlarged view of a distal part of the pipette assembly according to the first embodiment;

[0030] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a schematic perspective view of the pipette according to the first embodiment;

[0031] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a schematic perspective view of the actuator according to the first embodiment;

[0032] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the device in the inactivated state where the pipette assembly is sealed according to the first embodiment;

[0033] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a cross-sectional view of the device in an activated state where the pipette assembly is unsealed according to the first embodiment;

[0034] [Fig.8A] [Fig.8A] is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the pipette assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] [Fig.8B] [Fig.8B] is a schematic partial enlarged view of a distal part of the pipette assembly according to the second embodiment;

[0036] [Fig.9] [Fig.9] is a schematic perspective view of the sealing component according to the second embodiment.

[0037] In the drawings, similar numerical references may be used to designate similar and / or identical features. The drawings are not necessarily to scale. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The following description is purely exemplary and is not intended to limit this disclosure, its application, or its uses. In all drawings, corresponding numerals indicate similar or corresponding parts or features. It should be understood that, although expressions relating to directions such as "up," "down," "back," "lower," "upper," "left," and "right" are used with reference to the drawings or specific embodiments, these expressions are used for explanatory purposes and are not intended to require specific orientations unless otherwise indicated. These directions are simply provided as a reference in relation to the examples given but may be modified in other applications.

[0039] Figure 1A is a schematic perspective view of the device 1 for storing and dispensing a fluid product according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As used here, the fluid product may refer to a product capable of flowing, in particular a liquid product. The device 1 comprises a pipette assembly 10 and a container 20. Figure 1B is a schematic perspective view of the pipette assembly 10 of the device 1 as shown in Figure 1A.

[0040] Figure 2 is an exploded schematic view of device 1 as shown in Figure 1A. As can be seen in Figures 1B and 2, the pipette assembly 10 comprises a cap 11, a seal 12, a pipette 14, a sealing component 13 mounted on the pipette 14, a spring 15, a piston 16, and a button 17. Device 1 may further include a wiper 30, which can be attached to the pipette assembly 10 or to the container 20.

[0041] Figure 3A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the pipette assembly 10 and the wiper 30 attached thereto according to the first embodiment. Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the pipette 14 according to the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 3A and Figure 4, the pipette 14 includes a proximal end 141 defining a proximal opening and a distal end 142 defining a distal opening. Each of the proximal and distal openings leads into a first chamber 140 defined by the pipette 14. A first content 51, which is in the form of a liquid, is received into the first chamber 140. A sealing component 13 is arranged on the distal end 142 of the pipette 14 in a closed position, so as to block the distal opening of the pipette 14 and to form a fluid-tight seal between the sealing component 13 and the pipette 14. The first contents 51 received in the first chamber 140 can thus be sealed against the environment outside the pipette 14.

[0042] Figure 3B is a partial enlarged view of a distal portion of the pipette assembly 10 according to the first embodiment. As shown, the pipette 14 includes a receiving portion 40 located at its distal end 142. The sealing component 13 is received by the receiving portion 40 when it is in the closed position. In the illustrated embodiment, the receiving portion 40 forms a bulge at the distal end 142 of the pipette 14. The receiving portion 40 includes a sealing section 41 which cooperates with the sealing component 13 to form a fluid-tight seal between them. In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing component 13 is a spherical ball. It will be appreciated that other shapes for the sealing component 13 are also possible.In the illustrated embodiment, the inner wall of the sealing section 41a has the shape of a truncated sphere, i.e. a spherical segment, which is complementary to the shape of a corresponding portion of the sealing component 13.

[0043] The sealing component 13 may be made of glass or a resilient material, preferably PP, PET, PETG, or PCTA. The pipette 14, in particular the receiving portion 40 of the pipette 14, may be made of a resilient material, preferably PP, PET, PCTA, or PETG. By way of non-limiting example, the sealing component 13 may be made of glass and the receiving portion 40 of the pipette 14 may be made of PTCA or PP. By way of another non-limiting example, the sealing component 13 may be made of HDPE or PP and the receiving portion 40 of the pipette 14 may be made of PCTA, PET, or PP.

[0044] During manufacturing, after pouring the first contents 51 into the first chamber 140, the sealing component 13 can be easily installed on the pipette 14 by simply pushing the sealing component 13 into the distal end 142 of the pipette 14. During this process, at least one of the sealing component 13 and the receiving portion 40 of the pipette 14 is slightly deformed to allow the sealing component 13 to move into the closed position.

[0045] When the sealing component 13 is placed in the closed position, the sealing section 41 extends from a first end 411 located near the top of the sealing component 13, through a horizontal median plane of the sealing component 13, to a second end 412 located at the lower half of the sealing component 13. The second end 412 of the sealing section 41 is adjacent to the horizontal median plane of the sealing component 13 or at least not far from it.

[0046] The configuration as illustrated is advantageous in that, on the one hand, the sealing component 13 can be easily installed on the pipette 14 in the closed position to form a reliable fluid-tight seal and, on the other hand, it can also be easily moved from the closed position to unseal the first chamber 140 as desired.

[0047] Another advantage of the spherical shape of the sealing component 13 is that it offers an aesthetically pleasing visual impression to the user, which is very important in the field of cosmetics, especially when the container 20 is made of transparent material.

[0048] In addition, the spherical shape of the sealing component 13 eliminates the need to carefully orient the sealing component 13 during installation.

[0049] In the illustrated embodiment, the first chamber 140 includes a portion that tapers towards the distal end 142 of the pipette 14. This reduces the volume of the sealing component 13 required to seal the pipette 14.

[0050] In the illustrated embodiment, as part of the first chamber 140, a distal fluid channel is formed at the distal end 142 of the pipette 14. With reference to [Fig. 3B], the distal fluid channel includes a first section 42, which is located immediately above the sealing component 13, and a second section 43, which extends proximally (i.e., upwards in [Fig. 3B]) from the first section 42. The first section 42 is generally cylindrical in shape with a smaller diameter than the sealing component 13, and is vertically aligned with the center of the sealing component 13. The second section 43 is tapered towards the distal direction, having a truncated cone shape. Such a design of the distal fluid channel helps to direct and concentrate the liquid pressure from the first content 51 to a suitable region on the sealing component 13 in a suitable direction.This effectively facilitates pushing the sealing component 13 out of the closed position with the first content 51 when required.

[0051] With reference to [Fig. 3A] and [Fig. 4], the pipette 14 further comprises a flange 144 and a projection 145 extending circumferentially from the proximal end 141 of the pipette. The flange 144 is disposed between a lower inner surface of the cap 11 and an upper surface of the seal 12. The flange 144 and the projection 145 are fixed to the inner side of the cap 11 on their outer circumferences. The seal 12 is attached to the outer surface of the pipette 14 by a tight fit.

[0052] In the illustrated embodiment, the inner diameter of the pipette 14 varies in its longitudinal direction. A notch 143 is formed by a difference in inner diameter adjacent to the proximal end 141 of the pipette 14. The The notch 143 can serve as a stop to support the spring 15, as explained in more detail below.

[0053] An actuator is arranged on the proximal end 141 of the pipette 14. The actuator can be operated by the user to expel the initial contents 51 from the first chamber 140 out of the pipette 14 through the distal opening of the pipette 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator is incorporated in the form of a button 17 and a piston 16 attached thereto. However, it is understood that other types of actuators are also possible.

[0054] With reference to [Fig. 5], the button 17 includes a proximal end 171 where a plate portion is provided, and a distal end 172 to which the piston 16 is attached. The button 17 further includes a stem portion 174 extending between the proximal and distal ends 171, 172 of the button 17. The spring 15 is arranged around the stem portion 174 of the button 17, one end of the spring 15 being attached to the button 17 and the other end of the spring 15 being supported on the notch 143 formed by the pipette 14. The button 17 is forced by the spring 15 in the proximal direction, i.e., the upward direction in [Fig. 3A]. The button 17 is provided with a boss 175 on the proximal side of the stem portion 174.

[0055] As shown in [Fig.3A], the cap 11 is provided with a passage in its upper surface 111, through which a part of the button 17 extends. Under the action of the spring 15, the button 17 can be forced so that the boss 175 comes to rest against the inner side of the cap 11, which prevents further movement of the button 17 in the proximal direction.

[0056] Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the device 1 in its inactivated state before first use. As can be seen, the cap 11 is removably mounted on the container 20 by means of a threaded connection between a threaded neck portion 21 of the container 20 and a threaded inner side wall of the cap 11. As the cap 11 is screwed onto the container 20, the seal 12 is compressed and provides a fluid-tight seal at the interface between the cap 11 and the container 20. The seal 12 can, for example, be a PE foam seal or a rubber seal.

[0057] The container 20 defines a second chamber 200 in which a second content 52 is stored. As shown in [Fig.6], the distal end 142 of the pipette 14 is received in the second chamber 200 of the container 20. The sealing component 13 is in the closed position, so that the first content 51 and the second content 52 remain separate from each other.

[0058] If desired, the device 1 can be switched by the user to an activated state where the pipette 14 is unsealed. [Fig. 7] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the device 1 in the activated state. As shown in [Fig. 7], the button 17 is pressed and the sealing component 13 is moved from the closed position. The movement of the component The sealing element 13 unlocks the distal opening of the pipette 14, so that the first contents 51 in the first chamber 140 can flow out of the pipette 14 through the distal opening. The first and second contents 51, 52 can thus be mixed to form the fluid product to be applied by the user.

[0059] The operation of device 1 is now explained with reference to the figures 6 and 7. Before activation of device 1, the first contents 51 and the second contents 52 are stored separately from each other in the first chamber 140 and the second chamber 200, respectively, as shown in [Fig. 6]. To activate device 1, the user presses button 17, which causes the piston 16 to move downwards with the button 17, as shown in [Fig. 7]. The air above the first liquid contents 51 received in the first chamber 140 of the pipette 14 is compressed, and the first contents 51 are pushed out. This results in an increase in the pressure exerted by the first content 51 on the sealing component 13. In response to such increased pressure, the sealing component 13 is moved out of the sealing position, thereby unsealing the pipette 14 and allowing the first content 51 to be evacuated from the pipette 14 through the distal opening.

[0060] When the button 17 is released by the user, it returns to its initial position under the action of the spring 15, at which time the fluid product in the second chamber 200 of the container 20 can be aspirated into the first chamber 140 of the pipette 14. The user can then unscrew the cap 11 of the container 20, separate the pipette 14 from the container 20 and apply the fluid product as required.

[0061] According to the present invention, the increased pushing force of the first liquid content 51 is used to move the sealing component 13. In other words, the sealing component 13 is pushed out of the closed position by the first liquid content 51 without requiring any additional components to move the sealing component 13. Unsealing the pipette 14 can thus be achieved with a reduced number of components having simple structures. This considerably simplifies the manufacture and assembly of the device 1.

[0062] On the other hand, the pipette 14 can be easily unsealed by simply pressing the button 17, which does not require much effort from the user. This contributes to a better user experience of the device 1.

[0063] As shown in [Fig. 7], the sealing component 13 is free to move inside the container 20 after the pipette 14 has been unsealed. In this case, the sealing component 13 is no longer attached to the other components of the pipette assembly 10 and can move away from the distal opening of the pipette 14. Consequently, the flow of the first contents 51, the second contents 52, and the fluid product the resulting can be optimized, as the obstruction to fluid flow caused by the sealing component 13 is minimized.

[0064] Preferably, the distance L (see [Fig. 3A]) between the distal surface of the piston 16 and the liquid level of the first contents 51, before the button is first pressed by the user, is small. It may not exceed 80% of the full stroke of the piston 16, preferably not exceeding 61% of the full stroke of the piston 16, the full stroke of the piston 16 being defined as the maximum distance that the piston 16 can travel during use. With a full stroke of 16.5 mm, the distance L may, for example, not exceed 13 mm, preferably not exceeding 10 mm.

[0065] Preferably, the first content 51 is different from the second content 52. The first content 51 may, for example, be an active formula, and the second content 52 may, for example, be a basic formula. The second content 52 is preferably in fluid form, more preferably also in liquid form.

[0066] Optionally, before first use, the container 20 can be fitted with a closure (not shown) by means of which the second chamber 200 is sealed. In this case, the user can choose a suitable pipette assembly 10 containing a first contents 51 suitable for use with a suitable container 20 containing a second contents 52 suitable according to their own needs. The user can then remove the closure from the container 20, properly position the pipette 14 relative to the container 20, and unseal the pipette 14 by pushing the button 17 so as to form a desired fluid product. In this way, the present invention also offers the possibility of more flexible choices.

[0067] The device 1 may further include a wiper 30 that can wipe the fluid product from the outer wall of the pipette 14 when the pipette 14 is removed from the container 20. Unwanted leakage of the fluid product can thus be prevented, and the wall of the pipette 14 can appear clean to the user. The wiper 30 can also help to ensure a better seal of the fluid contents in the container 20. Before the pipette assembly 10 is mounted on the container 20, the wiper 30 can be initially attached to the pipette assembly 10, in particular to the seal 12, as shown in [Fig. 3A]. When the pipette assembly 10 is mounted on the container 20 by screwing the cap 11 onto the container 20, the wiper 30 is attached to the inside side of the neck portion 21 of the container 20, for example by snap-fit ​​or tight fit.After which, the wiper 30 remains fixed at the neck portion 21 of the container 20, even if the pipette assembly 10 is unscrewed and removed from the container 20. When the pipette 14 is mounted on the container 20, the wiper 30 circumferentially surrounds the pipette 14.

[0068] The wiper 30 has external ribs configured to butt against the neck portion 21 of the container 20 for a reliable connection between the wiper 30 and the container 20. The wiper 30 may further include internal ribs configured to butt against the outer surface of the pipette 14.

[0069] With reference to Figures 5 and 6, the button 17 may further include a graduated portion 173, on which graduations are present indicating the quantity of fluid to be aspirated. In the illustrated embodiment, a series of parallel indentation lines 1731, 1732, 1733, 1734 are present in the form of graduations. When the distal end 142 of the pipette 14 is immersed in the fluid and the button 17 is pressed by the user in certain positions, one of the corresponding indentation lines will align with the upper surface 111 of the cap 11. By observing the position of the graduations relative to the cap 11, the user can determine the distance traveled by the button 17 and thus the quantity of fluid to be aspirated into the first chamber 140 after the button 17 is released.This allows the user to aspirate a predetermined amount of contents into the first chamber 140 and obtain precise dosing control. By way of non-limiting example, the first, second, third and fourth indentation lines 1731, 1732, 1733, 1734 correspond respectively to 0.5 mL, 0.4 mL, 0.3 mL and 0.2 mL of fluid product to be aspirated.

[0070] In addition, a signaling device may be provided to provide a signal, for example a sound or a "click" sensation, related to the dosage. For example, a raised bump may be present at each graduation mark. When the button 17 is pressed, the raised bump at one or more graduation marks may strike a part of the cap 11, producing a click sound.

[0071] Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in [Fig.8A] and [Fig.9].

[0072] Figure 8A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a pipette assembly 60 according to a second embodiment. Figure 8B is a schematic partial enlarged view of a distal portion of the pipette assembly 60 according to the second embodiment. The configuration of the pipette assembly 60 according to the second embodiment is identical or similar to that of the first embodiment in many respects, and the similarities will not be explained in detail for the sake of brevity.

[0073] As shown in Figures 8A and 8B, the pipette assembly 60 includes a pipette 64, which is sealed at its distal end by a sealing component 63. The main difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment lies in the shape of the sealing component 63 and that of the fluid channel at the distal end of the pipette 64.

[0074] According to the second embodiment, the sealing component 63 is a stopper comprising a flat base portion 631 which is exposed outside the pipette 64 and an upper portion which engages in an inner wall of the distal end of the pipette 64. The pipette 64 includes a receiving portion 70 located at the distal end to receive the sealing component 63 and form a fluid-tight seal between the two.

[0075] With reference to [Fig. 8B] and [Fig. 9], the upper portion of the sealing component 63 comprises a first section 632 extending from the base portion 631 and a second section 633 extending from the first section 632. The first section 632 has the shape of a truncated sphere, i.e., a spherical segment, and the second section 633 has a cylindrical shape. The inner wall of the receiving portion 70 of the pipette 64 has a shape that is complementary to the shape of the sealing component 63. In the embodiment, the receiving portion 70 comprises a first section 71 having an inner wall with the shape of a truncated sphere, and a second section 72 having a cylindrical inner wall. The receiving portion 70 may further include a third section 73 which engages the transition portion between the flat base portion 631 and the first truncated spherical section 632 of the sealing component 63.

[0076] Within the first chamber defined by the pipette 64, a distal fluid channel is formed at the distal end of the pipette 64. The distal fluid channel includes a cylindrical section 74 that is located immediately above the sealing component 63 when the sealing component 63 is in the closed position. The cylindrical section 74 extends coaxially with and has substantially the same diameter as the second cylindrical section 633 of the sealing component 63. This is advantageous because a centered and concentrated fluid pressure can be applied to the sealing component 63 to more effectively move the sealing component 63 from the closed position when desired.

[0077] The flat base portion 631 facilitates the installation of the sealing component 63 in the closed position because it facilitates the gripping and handling of the sealing component 63.

[0078] The pipette assembly 60 according to the second embodiment functions similarly to the first embodiments. When the button 17 is pressed by a user to an appropriate degree, the sealing component 63 is pushed by the first contents 51 into the first chamber so as to be displaced from the closed position, thus allowing the first contents 51 of the pipette 64 to be evacuated through the distal opening. Once the pipette 64 is unsealed, the sealing component 63 is no longer attached to the other components and is free to move in the second chamber 200 defined by the container 20.

[0079] As in the first embodiment, the sealing component 63 may be made of glass or a resilient material, preferably PP, PET, PETG, or PCTA. The pipette 64, in particular the receiving portion 70 of the pipette 64, may be made of a resilient material, preferably PP, PET, PCTA, or PETG.

[0080] Although the present invention has been described in terms of examples of embodiments, it is not limited to them. The detailed description should be interpreted as being only an example and does not describe all possible embodiments of this disclosure. Numerous variations of embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention(s) disclosed herein.

[0081] A person skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations and combinations can be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or inventions disclosed herein, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations should be considered as falling within the scope of the inventive concept(s).

[0082] List of digital references

[0083] 1 device for storing and distributing a fluid product

[0084] 10 pipette assembly according to the first embodiment

[0085] 11 cap

[0086] 111 upper surface of the cap

[0087] 12 joint

[0088] 13 sealing component

[0089] 14 pipette

[0090] 140 first chamber

[0091] 141 proximal end of the pipette

[0092] 142 distal end of the pipette

[0093] 143 step

[0094] 144 bridle

[0095] 145 protrusion

[0096] 15 spring

[0097] 16 piston

[0098] 17 button

[0099] 171 proximal end of the button

[0100] 172 distal end of the button

[0101] 173 graduation portion

[0102] 1731 first line of indentation

[0103] 1732 second indentation line

[0104] 1733 third line of indentation

[0105] 1734 fourth indentation line

[0106] 174 portion stem

[0107] 175 bossage

[0108] 20 container

[0109] 200 second chamber

[0110] 21 portion col [YES] 30 testers

[0112] 40 receiving portion

[0113] 41 sealing section

[0114] 411 first end of the sealing section

[0115] 412 second end of the sealing section

[0116] 42 first section of the distal fluid channel

[0117] 43 second section of the distal fluid channel

[0118] 51 first content

[0119] 52 second content

[0120] 60 pipette assembly according to the second embodiment

[0121] 63 sealing component

[0122] 631 basic portion

[0123] 632 first section of the sealing component

[0124] 633 second section of the sealing component

[0125] 64 pipette

[0126] 70 receiving portion

[0127] 71 first section

[0128] 72 second section

[0129] 73 third section

[0130] 74 cylindrical section

Claims

Demands

1. Pipette assembly (10, 60), comprising: a pipette (14, 64) defining a first chamber (140) for storing a first content (51) which is in liquid form, the pipette (14, 64) having a proximal end (141) and a distal end (142) opposite the proximal end (141), the distal end (142) defining a distal opening which leads into the first chamber (140); an actuator arranged on the proximal end (141) of the pipette (14), the actuator being configured to discharge the first content (51) in the first chamber (140) out of the pipette (14) through the distal opening when actuated;a sealing component (13, 63) arranged on the distal end (142) of the pipette (14), wherein the sealing component (13, 63) is arranged in a closed position in which the distal opening is blocked and a fluid-tight seal is formed between the sealing component (13, 63) and the pipette (14, 64), thus preventing the first contents (51) from flowing out of the pipette (14, 64) through the distal opening; in which the pipette assembly (10, 60) is configured so that the sealing component (13, 63) is pushed by the first contents (51) into the first chamber (140) when the actuator is actuation so as to be moved from the closed position, thus allowing the first contents (51) to be evacuated from the pipette (14, 64) through the distal opening.

2. Pipette assembly (10, 60) according to claim 1, wherein the sealing component (13) has a spherical shape.

3. Pipette assembly (10, 60) according to claim 1, wherein the sealing component (63) has a flat base portion (631) which is exposed outside the pipette (64) and an upper portion extending from the base portion (631), wherein the upper portion engages in an inner wall of the distal end of the pipette (64), thus forming a fluid-tight seal between the sealing component (63) and the pipette (64).

4. Pipette assembly (10, 60) according to claim 3, wherein the upper portion of the sealing component (63) comprises a first section (632) extending from the base portion (631) and having the shape of a truncated sphere, and a second section (633) extending from the first section (632) and having a cylindrical shape.

5. Pipette assembly (10, 60) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pipette (14, 64) includes a receiving portion (40, 70) located at the distal end (142) for receiving the sealing component (13, 63), wherein the receiving portion (40, 70) comprises a section whose inner wall has the shape of a truncated sphere.

6. Pipette assembly (10, 60) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing component (13, 63) is made of glass or a resilient material, preferably PP, PET, PETG or PCTA.

7. Pipette assembly (10, 60) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pipette (14, 64) is made of PP, PET, PCTA or PETG.

8. Pipette assembly (10, 60) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator comprises a button (17) and a piston (16) fixed to the distal end of the button (17), the actuator being configured to be actuated by pushing the button (17), and wherein the piston (16) is configured to move distally upon actuating the actuator, resulting in an increase in pressure exerted on the sealing component (13, 63) by the first contents (51), as a consequence of which the sealing component (13, 63) is displaced from the closed position.

9. Pipette assembly (10, 60) according to claim 8, wherein the piston (16) includes a distal surface oriented towards the distal end of the pipette (14, 64), wherein the distance (L) between the distal surface of the piston (16) and the level of liquid of the first contained in the first chamber (140) does not represent more than 80% of the complete stroke of the piston, preferably not more than 61% of the complete stroke of the piston, before the actuator is actuated.

10. Device (1) for storing and dispensing a fluid product, comprising: the pipette assembly (10, 60) according to any one of claims 1 to 9; and a container (20) defining a second chamber (200) for storing a second content (52); in which the pipette assembly (10, 60) can be removably mounted on the container (20), the distal end of the pipette (14, 64) being received in the second chamber (200) of the container (20).

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