Fluid dispensing device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a fluid dispensing device (1; 100) comprising: a housing (2; 102) including an orifice (21; 212), the housing (2; 102) configured to accommodate at least a portion of a spray delivery device (30; 130) including a container (32; 132) and an outlet (40; 140) through which a fluid contained in the spray delivery device (30; 130) can be discharged; the fluid dispensing device comprising: a mechanical biasing member (50; 150) reversibly transitionable between a preloaded state and an unloaded state, the mechanical biasing member (50; 150) configured to store, in the preloaded state, mechanical energy effective to generate a spray discharge of the spray delivery device (30; 130); and a closure (3; 102) securable to the housing (2; 102) and movable between a closed position and an open position relative to the housing (2; 102). 3), wherein when in the open position the container (32; 132) of the spray delivery device (30; 130) is accessible from outside the housing (2; 102), a closure (3; 103), and further comprising a safety device (10; 110), the safety device (10; 110) configured to: - prevent movement of the closure (3; 103) from a closed position towards an open position as long as the mechanical biasing member (50; 150) is in a preloaded state; - prevent release of mechanical energy of the mechanical biasing member (50; 150) unless the closure (3; 103) is in the closed position; or - release at least a portion of the mechanical energy of the preloaded mechanical biasing member (50; 150) during and through movement of the closure (3; 103) from the closed position towards the open position.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of fluid dispensing devices, and in particular to a fluid dispensing device configured as a nasal inhaler. Further, the present disclosure relates to an aerosol device configured to dispense a fluid or liquid substance by spraying or atomization. [Background technology]

[0002] Fluid dispensing devices operable to atomize a liquid substance are known per se. Such devices typically include a nozzle or orifice. When a user applies force to an actuation lever or button, the fluid is dispensed through the nozzle or orifice. Such devices may be arranged to dispense a single dose or may comprise a container that provides a reservoir for the fluid, thus enabling and supporting the dispensing of multiple doses.

[0003] The effectiveness of the dispensing action depends on how the user actuates the device: when the actuation force applied by the user is relatively low, or when the action induced by the user is relatively slow, dispensing of fluid is less efficient.

[0004] So-called preloaded or pre-biased fluid dispensing devices are described, in which the force required for the dispensing procedure is provided by a biasing member. Such preloaded fluid dispensing devices may be configured to remain in a preloaded state for a relatively long time. When using preloaded fluid dispensing devices, there may be some risk of uncontrolled, premature or accidental dispensing of a fluid dose. In some fluid dispensing devices, a container containing the fluid to be dispensed or delivered is replaceably or interchangeably arranged in the fluid dispensing device. Replacing an empty container may require access to the interior of the fluid dispensing device. In particular, in preloaded or pre-biased types of fluid dispensing devices, uncontrolled release of mechanical energy during container replacement should be avoided. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] It is therefore desirable to provide an improved fluid dispensing device of the preloadable type that is less susceptible to uncontrolled, premature, or accidental dispensing actions, especially during container exchange. The fluid dispensing device should provide a relatively simple, effective, and intuitive approach to prevent uncontrolled, premature, or accidental release of mechanical energy during container exchange. Intentional prevention of uncontrolled, premature, or accidental dispensing of fluid should be easily implementable. Each prevention mechanism should be reliable, robust, and durable throughout the life of the fluid dispensing device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In one independent aspect, the present disclosure relates to a fluid dispensing device. The fluid dispensing device includes a housing. The housing includes an orifice, and the housing is configured to accommodate at least a portion of a spray delivery device. The spray delivery device includes a container and an outlet. A fluid, such as a liquid medicament, contained in the spray delivery device, particularly contained in the container, can be discharged through the outlet, typically by spraying.

[0007] When properly positioned in or attached to the housing, the outlet of the spray delivery device may cooperate with the orifice of the fluid dispensing device. The fluid dispensing device further includes a mechanical biasing member reversibly transitionable between a preloaded state and an unloaded state. The biasing member is configured to store mechanical energy in the preloaded state. The mechanical energy storable in the mechanical biasing member is effective to generate the spray discharge of the spray delivery device. In other words, the biasing member is operable to induce the spray discharge action of the spray delivery device when the spray delivery device is assembled inside or to the housing of the fluid dispensing device.

[0008] The fluid dispensing device further includes a closure securable to the housing of the fluid dispensing device. The closure is movable relative to the housing between a closed position and an open position. When in the open position, at least the container of the spray delivery device or the entire spray delivery device is accessible from outside the housing of the fluid dispensing device. When in the closed position, the spray delivery device or at least the container of the spray delivery device remains inaccessible from outside the housing.

[0009] The fluid dispensing device further includes a safety. In one example, the safety is configured to prevent movement of the closure from the closed position toward the open position as long as the mechanical biasing member is in a preloaded state. Alternatively, movement of the closure from the closed position toward the open position is prevented by the safety as long as the mechanical biasing member is transitionable from a preloaded state to an unloaded state. Here, the safety is configured to block or prevent movement of the closure from the closed position toward and / or to the open position as long as the biasing member is in or remains in a preloaded state.

[0010] In a further example, the safety is configured to prevent release of the mechanical energy of the mechanical biasing member unless the closure is in the closed position. Alternatively, according to a third example, the safety is configured to release at least some or all of the mechanical energy of the preloaded mechanical biasing member during and / or through movement of the closure from the closed position toward and / or to the open position.

[0011] The safety device is configured and operable to prevent uncontrolled release of mechanical energy stored in the mechanical biasing member during and / or for replacement of the container or the entire spray delivery device. In this way, uncontrolled release of the spray delivery device can be prevented in configurations where the fluid dispensing device undergoes a reconfiguration, particularly when an empty container or the entire spray delivery device assembled in the fluid dispensing device is replaced.

[0012] The safety device is further operable and configured to maintain the assembly, and thus the assembled configuration of the fluid dispensing device, which may otherwise distort when the mechanical energy of the mechanical biasing member is released in an uncontrolled manner, such as when the closure is in or transitioned to the open position.

[0013] In these examples, the safeties are configured to prevent movement of the closure from the closed position toward and to the open position as long as the mechanical biasing member is in a preloaded state, and the closure is substantially locked and cannot be opened and transitioned to the open position. Transition of the closure from the closed position toward and / or to the open position requires, as a prerequisite, transition of the mechanical biasing member from a preloaded state to an unloaded state. When the unloaded state is reached or approached, the safeties can release the respective locks. The safeties then enable and / or support transition of the closure from the closed position toward and to the open position.

[0014] In another example, the safety device is configured to prevent release of mechanical energy of the mechanical biasing member unless the closure is in the closed position, the safety device being operatively engaged with the mechanical biasing member, directly or indirectly. Wherein the safety device is configured to determine whether the closure is in the closed position. The safety device is configured and operative to maintain the mechanical biasing member in a preloaded state as long as the closure is in the open position and / or as long as the closure is not in the closed position. Wherein the safety device prevents uncontrolled release of mechanical energy of the mechanical biasing member. Release of mechanical energy from the mechanical biasing member is only possible when the closure is in the closed position. In all other positions of the closure, release of mechanical energy from the mechanical biasing member is blocked and / or prevented.

[0015] In a further example, when the safety is configured to release at least a portion or all of the mechanical energy of a preloaded mechanical biasing member during and / or through movement of the closure from a closed position toward an open position, the safety serves to controllably dissipate at least a portion of the mechanical energy of the mechanical biasing member. In such an example, transition of the closure from a closed position toward and to an open position is possible even though the mechanical biasing member is preloaded.

[0016] However, here, during the movement of the closure from the closed position towards the open position, the mechanical energy of the preloaded mechanical biasing member is released, and when the closure reaches the open position, the mechanical energy of the preloaded mechanical biasing member is reduced, and the remaining or residual mechanical energy stored in the mechanical biasing member is no longer available to generate the spray discharge of the spray delivery device, and / or the remaining mechanical energy is no longer available to distort or reposition the assembly of replaceable components within the housing of the fluid dispensing device. Here, during the movement of the closure from the closed position towards the open position, the closure remains fixed or attached to the housing until the open position is reached.

[0017] According to a further example, the safety device includes a carrier. The carrier can be mechanically engaged with the spray delivery device or the movable member of the spray delivery device. For example, the carrier can be coupled and / or fixed to the spray delivery device or the movable member thereof. The carrier and the spray delivery device or the movable member of the spray delivery device can be, for example, frictionally engaged or are actually frictionally engaged. In a further example, they can be engaged or are positively engaged by a positive fit.

[0018] The carrier is mechanically engaged with the mechanical biasing member. The carrier is movable within the housing from an unbiased position toward and to a biased position against the force effect of the mechanical biasing member. Thus, the carrier is transitionable from the biased position to the unbiased position by the action of the mechanical biasing member. The carrier is effective to transmit the force effect of the mechanical biasing member to the spray delivery device or to a movable member of the spray delivery device.

[0019] In particular, the carrier provides a mounting and / or receptacle for the spray delivery device within the housing of the fluid dispensing device, such that the spray delivery device and / or its movable member can be removably positioned on the carrier and thus within the housing of the fluid dispensing device.

[0020] According to a further example, when in the biased position, the carrier is engaged with the closure. When in the biased position, the carrier prevents the movement of the closure from the closed position towards the open position. Here, the carrier acts as a closure lock that is effective to keep the closure in the closed position as long as the carrier is in the biased position. The closure, and therefore the closure lock, can be moved from a locked state to an unlocked state by moving the carrier towards and / or to the unbiased position under the action of the mechanical biasing member. In this way, it is somehow ensured that the closure is movable from the closed position towards the open position only when the carrier is in the unbiased position and the mechanical biasing member is in an unloaded state. When opening the housing of the fluid dispensing device by moving the closure from the closed position towards and to the open position, the mechanical biasing member is in an unloaded state.

[0021] According to a further example, the closure can be coupled to the housing by a threaded or bayonet joint. To transfer the closure from the closed position to the open position, the closure rotates relative to the housing about the longitudinal axis as the axis of rotation. To transfer the closure from the closed position to the open position, the closure undergoes a helical movement about the longitudinal axis. According to the lead of the threaded engagement of the closure with the housing and / or according to the lead of the bayonet joint, the closure undergoes a combined rotational and longitudinal movement about the longitudinal axis. The threaded engagement can be of the self-locking type. The lead of the mutually corresponding threaded or helically slotted portions of the housing and the closure is therefore selected such that the force effect emanating from the mechanical biasing member is insufficient to initiate the release of the threaded connection of the housing and the closure.

[0022] In this example, the closure is releasably connectable to the housing. Once the open position is reached, the closure can be decoupled from the housing and therefore removed from the housing.

[0023] In other examples, the closure is permanently connected to the housing. The closure may be pivotally connected to the housing via and by a pivot joint.

[0024] According to a further example, the carrier is non-rotatably locked to the housing and slidably displaceable relative to the housing along the longitudinal axis. Thus, when the carrier is in the biased position, it is in a first longitudinal position. When the carrier is in the unbiased position, it is in a second longitudinal position. Transitioning the carrier from the biased position toward and to the unbiased position involves longitudinal displacement of the carrier from the first longitudinal position toward and to the second longitudinal position. In the first longitudinal position, the carrier may be operably engaged and locked to the closure. When in the second longitudinal position, the carrier may be operably disengaged and thus unlocked from the closure.

[0025] Engagement and disengagement of the carrier with the closure involves or is accompanied by displacement of the carrier relative to the housing along the longitudinal direction.

[0026] Furthermore, when the carrier is slidably displaceable relative to the housing along the longitudinal axis, the carrier may be non-rotatably locked to the housing. In this way, the carrier may be non-rotatably locked to the closure, especially when the carrier is in the biased position and thus in the first longitudinal position. This is particularly advantageous when the closure is coupled to the housing by a screw joint or a bayonet joint. Here, as long as the carrier is in the biased position or in the first longitudinal position, the rotational movement of the closure relative to the housing is blocked by the non-rotatable lock with the carrier, and the carrier itself is non-rotatably locked to the housing.

[0027] Displacement of the carrier from the first longitudinal position toward and / or to the second longitudinal position disengages the carrier from the closure. Upon reaching at least the second longitudinal, and therefore unbiased, position, the closure is free to rotate relative to the housing. Thus, a bayonet or threaded joint between the housing and the closure can be released or opened.

[0028] Thus, by way of further example, the closure is non-rotatably engaged or non-rotatably locked to the carrier when the carrier is in the biased position, and the closure is rotatably released from the carrier when the carrier is in or approaching the unbiased position.

[0029] According to a further example, the fluid dispensing device includes a releasable interlock configured to maintain the biasing member in a preloaded state. The fluid dispensing device further includes a manually actuable trigger. The trigger is operably engaged with the interlock and configured to release the interlock when the trigger is actuated.

[0030] Release of the interlock induced by trigger actuation releases the biasing member from the preloaded state and allows the biasing member to transition to an unloaded state, thus releasing mechanical energy to induce or effectuate spray emission from the spray delivery device.

[0031] According to a further example, the safety device is configured to block actuation of the trigger or block release of the interlock as long as the carrier is in the biased position. In this manner, the safety device is configured to prevent release of mechanical energy of the mechanical biasing member as long as the carrier is in the biased position and / or as long as the mechanical biasing member is in a preloaded state. Here, the safety device is configured to prevent uncontrolled release of mechanical energy as long as the carrier is in the biased position.

[0032] In a further example, the safety device is configured to block the actuation of the trigger or block the release of the interlock as long as the closure is in the open position and / or the closure is not in the closed position. Here, the safety mechanism may be implemented or configured to allow the actuation of the trigger and / or allow and support the release of the interlock only when the closure is in the closed position. In this way, uncontrolled release of mechanical energy from the mechanical biasing member during replacement operation of the spray delivery device or its container can be substantially prevented.

[0033] According to a further example, the closure is engaged with at least one of the interlock and the trigger. The closure is transferable or movable from a closed position to an open position only when the interlock is released or the trigger is actuated. In this manner, opening of the closure requires a prior release of the mechanical biasing member. Thus, opening or transferring the closure to an open position requires transferring the mechanical biasing member to an unloaded state by transferring the interlock to an unlocked state and / or transferring the trigger to an actuated position.

[0034] In both configurations, i.e., when the trigger is in the actuated position or the interlock is in the unlocked state, the mechanical energy of the mechanical biasing member is substantially released and the mechanical biasing member assumes or approaches an unloaded state.

[0035] According to a further example, the trigger is displaceable from a rest position to an actuated position relative to the housing, in which the trigger can be depressed or actuated to release the interlock, such that in the rest position the trigger is ready to be actuated.

[0036] In some examples, the trigger is actuatable along a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal direction of the housing. When in a rest position, the trigger is engaged with the closure, and when in an actuated position, the closure is disengaged from the trigger. When the trigger is engaged with the closure, the closure is substantially locked to the housing. By actuating the trigger, and thus by moving the trigger along the transverse direction, the closure lock between the closure and the housing can be released. In this manner, transition of the closure from a closed position toward and / or to an open position requires actuation, such as depression of the trigger.

[0037] According to a further example, at least one of the trigger and the interlock is operatively engaged with the closure, the at least one of the trigger and the interlock being transitionable to an unlocked or actuated state only when the closure is in the closed position.

[0038] Here, the safety device provides a mechanical coupling between the closure and at least one of the interlock and the trigger. The release of the interlock and / or the actuation of the trigger requires that the closure is in the closed position. Otherwise, the unlocking of the interlock and / or the actuation of the trigger is substantially blocked by the safety device as long as the closure is in the open position and / or when the closure is not in the closed position. In this way, it is ensured that the release of mechanical energy of the mechanical biasing member can only take place when the closure is in the closed position. An inadvertent release of mechanical energy while the closure is open can be substantially prevented.

[0039] According to a further example, the fluid dispensing device includes a protective cap. The protective cap is configured to correspond to the outlet of the spray delivery device. The protective cap is further configured to fit onto the housing at least in a closed position relative to the housing. In the closed position, the protective cap covers an orifice of the housing. The protective cap is displaceable between the closed position and an open position. In or before reaching the open position, the protective cap may no longer cover or block the orifice.

[0040] In some examples, the protective cap is mechanically engaged with at least one of the interlock and the trigger when in the closed position. Typically, when in the closed position and covering the orifice, the protective cap substantially blocks and impedes a dispensing action of the fluid dispensing device, which may be initiated and / or performed by a mechanical biasing member.

[0041] In some examples, actuation of the trigger to release the interlock and / or to release the biasing member is substantially blocked or impeded so long as the protective cap is in the closed position. Additionally, manipulation or actuation of the interlock can be substantially blocked and impeded so long as the protective cap is in the closed position, where the interlock remains in a locked state, in which the mechanical biasing member is held and / or secured in a preloaded state.

[0042] In some examples, the dispensing operation of the fluid dispensing device is substantially blocked as long as the protective cap is in the closed position, whereby uncontrolled, premature, or accidental dispensing of fluid can be substantially prevented as long as the protective cap is in the closed position.

[0043] In some examples, the protective cap is at least one of removably connectable to the housing, pivotably connected to the housing, or slidably connected to the housing, and transitioning the protective cap from a closed position to an open position includes one of removing, pivoting, or sliding the protective cap relative to the housing to open and expose the orifice of the housing and / or the outlet of the spray discharge device.

[0044] According to a further example, the protective cap is mechanically engaged with at least one of the interlock and the trigger when in the closed position. Thus, when in the closed position, the protective cap is operable or configured to block actuation of the trigger. To this end, the protective cap may include a blocking portion for engaging or cooperating with the trigger. The blocking portion of the protective cap prevents actuation, e.g., depression of the trigger relative to the housing, as long as the protective cap is in the closed position.

[0045] In other examples, the protective cap covers the trigger when and as long as it is in the closed position. Here, the trigger is located near a portion of the housing that is covered by the protective cap when in the closed position. At least a portion of the protective cap covers and / or blocks the trigger when and as long as the protective cap is in the closed position. In this way, the trigger remains inaccessible to the user as long as the protective cap is in the closed position. Simply, the trigger cannot be actuated to dispense or deliver a dose of fluid. Thus, in these examples, the protective cap is operable to block the trigger, cover the trigger, and / or block release of the interlock when and as long as the protective cap is in the closed position.

[0046] Thus, when the protective cap is in the closed position, the protective cap, or a portion thereof, may be operably engageable with not only the trigger, but also the interlock. The protective cap may be operably engageable only with the interlock when in the closed position. The protective cap may also be operably engaged with both the interlock and the trigger when in the closed position.

[0047] According to a further example, the fluid dispensing device includes a closure lock engaged with the housing and engaged with the closure. The closure lock is transitionable between a locked state in which the closure is locked to the housing and an unlocked state in which the closure is movable relative to the housing. Transition of the closure from a closed state toward and to an open state is only possible when the closure lock is in the unlocked state. As long as the closure lock is in the locked state, the closure is substantially locked to the housing and cannot move from a closed position toward and / or to an open position.

[0048] According to another example, the closure lock includes a latch on one of the housing and the closure. Additionally, the closure lock includes a latch keeper on the other of the housing and the closure. The closure lock is in a locked state when the latch is engaged with the latch keeper. The closure lock is in an unlocked state when the latch and the latch keeper are disengaged. The latch may be mechanically biased, for example by a locking spring, which is effective to engage the latch with the latch keeper as soon as the latch is aligned with the latch keeper. In this manner, a self-actuating closure lock may be implemented.

[0049] As long as the closure lock is in the locked state, movement, e.g., rotation, of the closure relative to the housing is substantially prevented, and thus the closure lock substantially prevents the housing from being opened as long as the closure lock is in the locked state.

[0050] According to a further example, the closure lock is operably engaged with at least one of an interlock, a trigger, and a protective cap. The closure lock is transitionable from a locked state toward or to an unlocked state by at least one of the interlock, the trigger, and the protective cap. Transitioning the closure lock from a locked state toward or to an unlocked state may require the interlock to be unlocked, thus resulting in a release of mechanical energy of the mechanical biasing member. Similarly, transitioning the closure lock to the unlocked state may require the trigger to be actuated, also resulting in a release of mechanical energy of the mechanical biasing member.

[0051] In a further example, transition of the closure lock from a locked state towards and to an unlocked state may require the protective cap to be in a closed position. Typically, when in the closed position, the protective cap holds the interlock and / or trigger in a locked or rest position, respectively. In this manner, when mechanically engaged with the protective cap, the closure lock can transition from a locked state to an unlocked state exclusively only when the protective cap is in the closed position, in which actuation of the trigger and / or unlocking of the interlock are substantially blocked by the protective cap.

[0052] The requirement that the closure lock be unlocked only when the protective cap is in the closed position has the added advantage that the orifice of the housing is substantially covered and closed by the protective cap, so that even in the situation where the mechanical energy of the mechanical biasing member is inadvertently released during exchange of the container or the spray delivery device, there is no possibility of uncontrolled dissipation of fluid in the vicinity of the fluid dispensing device.

[0053] According to another example, a fluid dispensing device includes a closure locking rod slidably disposed within a housing. The closure locking rod includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end is configured to engage one of an interlock, a trigger, and a protective cap. The second end of the closure locking rod is configured to engage a closure lock.

[0054] In this manner, the movement or configuration of at least one of the interlock, trigger, and protective cap can be transferred to the closure lock by and / or through the closure lock rod. In some examples, the closure lock and closure may be located at a bottom portion of the housing. The interlock, trigger, and / or protective cap may be located at an upper portion of the housing and thus at an opposite end relative to the closure. In this manner, the closure lock rod provides a mechanical interlock between at least one of the interlock, trigger, and protective cap and the closure lock.

[0055] According to another example, the mechanical biasing member further includes a first end and a second end, the first end being operably engaged with the spray delivery device, and the second end being engaged with a closure or housing of the fluid dispensing device.

[0056] By disposing the mechanical biasing member between the spray delivery device and the closure, the advantage is provided that the mechanical biasing member can release at least a portion of its mechanical energy during the movement of the closure from the closed position toward and to the open position. The transition of the closure from the closed position to the open position may require the displacement of the closure along a path that includes at least some length along the longitudinal extension of the housing. When the mechanical biasing member also extends along the longitudinal direction, the movement of the closure along the respective path from the closed position toward the open position is accompanied by a respective unloading of the mechanical biasing member. The displacement path of the closure between the closed position and the open position may be such that the mechanical energy of the mechanical biasing member is substantially released or unloaded when the closure reaches the open position. During the displacement along the displacement path and before reaching the open position, the closure remains fixed to the housing.

[0057] According to a further example, the movement of the closure from the closed position towards the open position includes the movement of the closure along an extension of the mechanical biasing member extending from the first end to the second end such that the distance between the first end and the second end increases. Here, the mechanical biasing member can be implemented as a compression spring and can be compressed along a longitudinal direction against a restoring force of the compression spring. Thus, the mechanical biasing member is configured to maximize the longitudinal distance between the first end and the second end. Mechanical energy is stored by the mechanical biasing member by drawing the first end and the second end towards each other and / or by moving one of the first end and the second end towards the other of the first end and the second end.

[0058] In a further example, the closure forms a bottom end of the housing. Here, the closure may be threadedly engaged with the housing or the closure may be secured to the housing by a bayonet joint. Whether using threaded engagement between the closure and the housing or a threaded joint and a bayonet joint, the transition of the closure from the closed position toward and to the open position is accompanied by a respective displacement of the closure along the longitudinal direction of the housing. Such movement is accompanied by an increase in the distance of the first end of the mechanical biasing member relative to the second end of the mechanical biasing member. Thus, when the closure is moved from the closed position toward the open position, the mechanical biasing member undergoes an unloading or dissipation of mechanical energy.

[0059] According to another example, the closure includes a compartment that accommodates at least a portion of the container. By transitioning the closure from a closed position to an open position, the compartment of the closure undergoes movement relative to the container located within the housing. When the compartment reaches the open position, at least a portion of the container located within the compartment when the closure is in the closed position is now accessible from outside the housing. A user can now grasp the container and remove it from the housing. The container can be replaced with a new container and the closure can be reattached or returned to the closed position.

[0060] According to a further example, the compartment of the closure accommodates a mechanical biasing member and a pressing piece. Here, the pressing piece is engaged or connectable with a first end of the mechanical biasing member. The pressing piece is further engageable with a container of the spray delivery device. The pressing piece can be displaceable in the compartment against the action of the mechanical biasing member. In some examples, the pressing piece is slidably disposed in the compartment. The pressing piece can be displaceable against the action of the mechanical biasing member when engaged with the spray delivery device, particularly the container of the spray delivery device.

[0061] In this way, during the transition of the closure from the open position towards and to the closed position, the pressing piece may come into contact with, for example, a bottom portion of the container of the spray delivery device. When the closure undergoes a closing movement relative to the housing, the contact of the pressing piece with the container may result in a displacement of the pressing piece relative to the compartment and relative to the closure, against the action of the mechanical biasing member.

[0062] According to another example, the compartment includes a septum having an aperture therethrough. When the closure is in a closed position, at least a portion of the container extends into the compartment through the aperture. The aperture is sized to receive the container therethrough. The aperture may include an inner cross-section that corresponds to an outer cross-section of the container. In this manner, the container is configured to extend into the compartment through the aperture in the septum.

[0063] In a further example, the inner cross section of the through hole of the bulkhead is smaller than the cross section of the pressing piece. In this way, the pressing piece and the mechanical biasing member are permanently located in the compartment of the closure. Even if mechanical energy is dissipated from the mechanical biasing member in an uncontrolled manner, the pressing piece and the mechanical biasing member cannot fall out of the compartment through the through hole.

[0064] Typically, the pressing piece is located between the first end of the mechanical biasing member and a partition of the compartment. The partition of the compartment may be located opposite a bottom portion of the compartment. The bottom portion of the compartment may coincide with a bottom portion of the closure.

[0065] The closure itself may form the bottom portion of the housing.

[0066] In some examples, the aperture in the bulkhead may be further sized to receive the carrier therethrough. In this way, the aperture may perform a dual or two-fold function. On the one hand, the aperture prevents disassembly of the mechanical biasing member when the closure is in the open position. On the other hand, the aperture provides a longitudinal guide for the sliding displacement of the carrier relative to the housing and / or relative to the closure.

[0067] According to another independent aspect, the transition of the mechanical biasing member between the preloaded state and the unloaded state includes a movement of at least a portion of the mechanical biasing member along the longitudinal direction, where at least one of the closure and the container is movable along an exchange direction for container exchange. The exchange direction extends transversely to the longitudinal direction. In this way, the mechanical force emanating from the mechanical biasing member extends non-parallel, e.g. also perpendicular to the exchange direction in which the container is movable relative to the housing for container exchange, so that an inadvertent release of mechanical energy can be substantially prevented and / or the inadvertent release of mechanical energy does not substantially affect the spray delivery device. In such an example, the safety device is simply provided or configured by the non-parallel alignment of the exchange direction with the longitudinal direction.

[0068] In this manner, inadvertent delivery or expulsion of a dose of fluid from the spray delivery device can be substantially prevented during container replacement and / or when the closure is in the open position.

[0069] According to another example, the spray delivery device or a part thereof is disposed in the housing. The outlet of the spray delivery device is aligned with or in line with the orifice. Typically, the spray delivery device includes a first member, e.g., a movable member, and a second member, e.g., a container. One of the first member and the second member is engaged or attached to the housing of the fluid dispensing device, and the other of the first member and the second member is attached or engaged to a mechanical biasing member.

[0070] In some examples, the second member of the device, e.g., the container, is stationary fixed within the housing. Here, the first member, e.g., the movable member, is operably engaged with at least one of the biasing member and the mechanical coupler. In another example, it is the first member, e.g., the movable member, that is fixed within the housing of the fluid dispensing device. At this time, at least one of the biasing member and the mechanical coupler is engaged, attached, or fixed to the second member of the spray delivery device, e.g., fixed to the container. In any configuration, the biasing member is operable to provide a dispensing force effective to induce a displacement or movement of the first member relative to the second member of the spray delivery device.

[0071] According to one example, the spray delivery device includes a movable member and a container, the container providing a reservoir for the fluid. The movable member is displaceable relative to the container between a preload position and an ejection position. Additionally, the spray delivery device includes an outlet as described above. Movement of the movable member relative to the container is effective to eject a spray jet from the outlet. In some examples, the outlet is integrally formed with the movable member. The outlet is then movable relative to the container. In other examples, the outlet is stationary relative to the container. The movable member is then movable relative to both the outlet and the container.

[0072] Typically, the reservoir of the spray delivery device is at least partially filled with the drug or agent. The reservoir may include a pre-filled reservoir that is pre-filled with the respective drug or agent. The reservoir, and thus the entire spray delivery device, may be pre-assembled within the housing and thus within the fluid dispensing device.

[0073] According to a further example, at least one of the outlet and the container of the spray delivery device is fixed in the housing of the fluid dispensing device, wherein the movable member of the spray delivery device is mechanically engaged or coupled with a mechanical biasing member. In this manner, a displacement of the movable member of the spray delivery device relative to the container induced by the biasing member can be provided.

[0074] In another example, the outlet of the spray delivery device is fixed to the movable member of the spray delivery device.The container of the spray delivery device is then mechanically engaged or coupled with a mechanical biasing member.Both the outlet and the movable member of the spray delivery device are fixed not only to each other but also to the housing of the fluid dispensing device, and it is the container of the spray delivery device that is mechanically engaged and thus fixed or coupled to the mechanical biasing member.In this way, the biasing member can directly or indirectly, i.e., through a mechanical coupler, induce the displacement, e.g., longitudinal movement, of the container relative to the movable member of the spray delivery device.In this way, a dose of fluid can be dispensed.

[0075] The outlet and the movable member may be interconnected or integrally formed. Thus, the outlet may be incorporated into or integrated with the movable member. It is particularly advantageous when the outlet and / or the movable member of the spray delivery device are connected to the housing of the fluid dispensing device, and typically the outlet of the spray delivery device is in direct fluid communication with the nozzle of the fluid dispensing device.

[0076] In some further examples, the spray delivery device includes a base, where an outlet of the spray delivery device is movable relative to the base to release a dose of fluid through the outlet, in some examples, one of the base and the outlet is a movable member of the spray delivery device that is movable relative to the other of the base and the outlet by a mechanical biasing member.

[0077] Typically, one of the base and the outlet is coupled to the housing and the other of the base and the outlet is coupled to or mechanically engaged with a mechanical biasing member.

[0078] According to some examples and another independent aspect, the fluid dispensing device includes a housing as described above and includes a mechanical biasing member as described above. The fluid dispensing device further includes a closure securable to the housing and movable relative to the housing between a closed position and an open position. When in the open position, the container of the spray delivery device is accessible from outside the housing. Instead of a safety device, at least the container of the spray delivery device is positioned outside or away from the flow of force emanating from the mechanical biasing member.

[0079] Here, the container of the spray delivery device can be releasably attached to the base of the spray delivery device, and the base of the spray delivery device can be fixedly or removably connected to the housing of the fluid dispensing device. In such an example, the mechanical biasing member is only effective between the base and the outlet of the spray delivery device. The base can be immovably attached or immovably fixed to the housing, and the outlet of the spray delivery device can be displaced relative to the base under the action of the mechanical biasing member. In another example, the base of the spray delivery device can be displaced relative to the outlet of the spray delivery device under the action of the mechanical biasing member, but here, the base can be slid between, for example, a first and a second stop position in the housing, and the base of the spray delivery device remains fixed or assembled in the housing of the fluid dispensing device even when the closure is open.

[0080] The terms "drug" or "medicament" are used interchangeably herein to describe a pharmaceutical formulation containing one or more active pharmaceutical ingredients or their pharma- ceutically acceptable salts or solvates, and optionally a pharma- ceutically acceptable carrier. An active pharmaceutical ingredient ("API"), in its broadest sense, is a chemical structure that has a biological effect on humans or animals. In pharmacology, drugs or medicines are used to treat, cure, prevent, or diagnose diseases or otherwise improve physical or mental well-being. Drugs or medicines can be used for a limited duration or periodically for chronic disorders.

[0081] As described below, drugs or agents may include at least one API or combinations thereof in various types of formulations for the treatment of one or more diseases. Examples of APIs may include small molecules with molecular weights of 500 Da or less, polypeptides, peptides, and proteins (e.g., hormones, growth factors, antibodies, antibody fragments, and enzymes), carbohydrates and polysaccharides, as well as nucleic acids, double-stranded or single-stranded DNA (including naked and cDNA), RNA, antisense nucleic acids such as antisense DNA and RNA, small interfering RNA (siRNA), ribozymes, genes, and oligonucleotides. Nucleic acids may be incorporated into molecular delivery systems such as vectors, plasmids, or liposomes. Mixtures of one or more drugs are also contemplated.

[0082] The drug or agent can be contained in a primary package or "drug container" adapted for use in a drug delivery device. The drug container can be, for example, a cartridge, syringe, reservoir, or other rigid or flexible vessel configured to provide a chamber suitable for storage (e.g., short-term or long-term storage) of one or more drugs. For example, in some cases, the chamber can be designed to store the drug for at least one day (e.g., from one day to at least 30 days). In some cases, the chamber can be designed to store the drug for about one month to about two years. Storage can be at room temperature (e.g., about 20° C.) or at refrigerated temperatures (e.g., from about −4° C. to about 4° C.). In some cases, the drug container can be or include a dual-chamber cartridge configured to separately store two or more components of a pharmaceutical formulation to be administered (e.g., an API and a diluent, or two different drugs), one in each chamber. In such cases, the two chambers of the dual-chamber cartridge can be configured to allow mixing between two or more components prior to and / or during administration to the human or animal body. For example, the two chambers can be configured to be in fluid communication with each other (e.g., via a conduit between the two chambers) and to allow mixing of the two components by a user, if desired, prior to administration. Alternatively or additionally, the two chambers can be configured to allow mixing upon administration of the components to the human or animal body.

[0083] The drugs or agents contained in the drug delivery devices described herein can be used for the treatment and / or prevention of many different types of medical disorders. Examples of disorders include, for example, diabetes or complications associated with diabetes, such as diabetic retinopathy, thromboembolic disorders, such as deep vein thromboembolism or pulmonary thromboembolism. Further examples of disorders are acute coronary syndromes (ACS), angina, myocardial infarction, cancer, macular degeneration, inflammation, hay fever, atherosclerosis and / or rheumatoid arthritis. Examples of APIs and drugs are those found in handbooks such as Rote Liste 2014 (e.g., but not limited to, main groups 12 (antidiabetic agents) or 86 (oncology agents)) and the Merck Index, 15th edition.

[0084] Examples of APIs for the treatment and / or prevention of type 1 or type 2 diabetes or complications associated with type 1 or type 2 diabetes include insulin, e.g., human insulin, or a human insulin analog or derivative, glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1), a GLP-1 analog or GLP-1 receptor agonist, analog or derivative thereof, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitor, or a pharma-ceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, or any mixture thereof. As used herein, the terms "analog" and "derivative" refer to a polypeptide having a molecular structure that is formally derivable from the structure of a naturally occurring peptide, e.g., the structure of human insulin, by deletion and / or replacement of at least one amino acid residue present in the naturally occurring peptide and / or by addition of at least one amino acid residue. The added and / or replaced amino acid residue can be either a codable amino acid residue or another naturally occurring residue or a purely synthetic amino acid residue. Insulin analogs are also referred to as "insulin receptor ligands". In particular, the term "derivative" refers to a polypeptide having a molecular structure formally derivable from the structure of a naturally occurring peptide, e.g., the molecular structure of human insulin in which one or more organic substituents (e.g., fatty acids) are attached to one or more of the amino acids. Optionally, one or more amino acids present in the naturally occurring peptide are deleted and / or replaced by other amino acids, including non-codeable amino acids, or amino acids, including non-codeable ones, are added to the naturally occurring peptide.

[0085] Examples of insulin analogues are Gly(A21), Arg(B31), Arg(B32) human insulin (insulin glargine); Lys(B3), Glu(B29) human insulin (insulin glulisine); Lys(B28), Pro(B29) human insulin (insulin lispro); Asp(B28) human insulin (insulin aspart); human insulin in which the proline in position B28 may be replaced by Asp, Lys, Leu, Val or Ala and in which the Lys in position B29 may be replaced by Pro; Ala(B26) human insulin; Des(B28-B30) human insulin; Des(B27) human insulin and Des(B30) human insulin.

[0086] Examples of insulin derivatives are e.g. B29-N-myristoyl-des(B30) human insulin, Lys(B29)(N-tetradecanoyl)-des(B30) human insulin (insulin detemir, Levemir®); B29-N-palmitoyl-des(B30) human insulin; B29-N-myristoyl human insulin; B29-N-palmitoyl human insulin; B28-N-myristoyl-LysB28ProB29 human insulin; B28-N-palmitoyl-LysB28ProB29 human insulin; B30-N-myristoyl-ThrB29LysB30 human insulin. ; B30-N-palmitoyl-ThrB29LysB30 human insulin; B29-N-(N-palmitoyl-gamma-glutamyl)-des(B30) human insulin, B29-N-omega-carboxypentadecanoyl-gamma-L-glutamyl-des(B30) human insulin (insulin degludec, Tresiba®); B29-N-(N-lithocholyl-gamma-glutamyl)-des(B30) human insulin; B29-N-(ω-carboxyheptadecanoyl)-des(B30) human insulin and B29-N-(ω-carboxyheptadecanoyl) human insulin.

[0087] Examples of GLP-1, GLP-1 analogs and GLP-1 receptor agonists include, for example, lixisenatide (Lyxumia®), exenatide (exendin-4, Byetta®, Bydureon®, a 39 amino acid peptide produced by the salivary glands of the flathead monster), liraglutide (Victoza®), semaglutide, taspoglutide, albiglutide (Syncria®), dulaglutide (Trulicity®), rExendin-4, CJC-1134-PC, PB-1023, TTP-054, langrenatide / HM-11260C (efpegrenatide), ), HM-15211, CM-3, GLP-1 Erigen, ORMD-0901, NN-9423, NN-9709, NN-9924, NN-9926, NN-9927, Nodexene, Viador-GLP-1, CVX-096, ZYOG-1, ZYD-1, GSK-2374697, DA-3091, MAR-701, MAR709, ZP-2929, ZP-3022, Z P-DI-70, TT-401 (Pegapamodtide), BHM-034, MOD-6030, CAM-2036, DA-15864, ARI-2651, ARI-2255, Tirzepatide (LY3298176), Bamadutide (SAR425899), Exenatide-XTEN and Glucagon-Xten.

[0088] Examples of oligonucleotides are, for example, the cholesterol-lowering antisense therapeutic mipomersen sodium (Kynamro®) for the treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia, or RG012 for the treatment of Alport Syndrome.

[0089] Examples of DPP4 inhibitors are linagliptin, vildagliptin, sitagliptin, denagliptin, saxagliptin, berberine.

[0090] Examples of hormones include pituitary or hypothalamic hormones or regulatory active peptides and their antagonists, such as gonadotropins (follitropin, lutropin, chorion gonadotropin, menotropin), somatropine (somatropin), desmopressin, terlipressin, gonadorelin, triptorelin, leuprorelin, buserelin, nafarelin, and goserelin.

[0091] Examples of polysaccharides include glycosaminoglycans, hyaluronic acid, heparin, low molecular weight heparin or very low molecular weight heparin or derivatives thereof, or sulfated polysaccharides, such as the above-mentioned polysaccharides in polysulfated form, and / or their pharma- ceutically acceptable salts. An example of a pharma-ceutically acceptable salt of polysulfated low molecular weight heparin is enoxaparin sodium. An example of a hyaluronic acid derivative is Hylan G-F20 (Synvisc®), sodium hyaluronate.

[0092] The term "antibody" as used herein refers to an immunoglobulin molecule or an antigen-binding portion thereof. Examples of antigen-binding portions of an immunoglobulin molecule include F(ab) and F(ab')2 fragments that retain the ability to bind to an antigen. An antibody can be a polyclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody, a recombinant antibody, a chimeric antibody, a deimmunized or humanized antibody, a fully human antibody, a non-human (e.g., murine) antibody, or a single chain antibody. In some embodiments, an antibody has effector function and is capable of fixing complement. In some embodiments, an antibody has reduced or no binding ability to Fc receptors. For example, an antibody can be an isotype or subtype, an antibody fragment, or a mutant that does not support binding to Fc receptors, e.g., has a mutation or deletion of the Fc receptor binding region. The term antibody also includes antigen-binding molecules based on tetravalent bispecific tandem immunoglobulins (TBTIs) and / or dual variable region antibody-like binding proteins (CODVs) with crossover binding region orientation.

[0093] The term "fragment" or "antibody fragment" refers to a polypeptide (e.g., antibody heavy and / or light chain polypeptide) derived from an antibody polypeptide molecule that does not include the full-length antibody polypeptide but comprises at least a portion of the full-length antibody polypeptide that is still capable of binding to an antigen. An antibody fragment can include truncated portions of a full-length antibody polypeptide, but the term is not limited to such truncated fragments. Antibody fragments useful in the present invention include, for example, Fab fragments, F(ab')2 fragments, scFv (single-chain Fv) fragments, linear antibodies, monospecific or multispecific antibody fragments, such as bispecific, trispecific, tetraspecific and multispecific antibodies (e.g., diabodies, triabodies, tetrabodies), monovalent or multivalent antibody fragments, such as bivalent, trivalent, tetravalent and multivalent antibodies, minibodies, chelating recombinant antibodies, tribodies or bibodies, intrabodies, nanobodies, small modular immunopharmaceuticals (SMIPs), binding domain immunoglobulin fusion proteins, camelized antibodies, and VHH-containing antibodies. Additional examples of antigen-binding antibody fragments are known in the art.

[0094] The term "complementarity determining region" or "CDR" refers to short polypeptide sequences in the variable regions of both heavy and light chain polypeptides that are primarily responsible for mediating specific antigen recognition. The term "framework region" refers to amino acid sequences in the variable regions of both heavy and light chain polypeptides that are not CDR sequences and are primarily responsible for maintaining the proper arrangement of the CDR sequences to allow antigen binding. Although the framework region itself typically does not directly participate in antigen binding, as is known in the art, certain residues in the framework region of a particular antibody may be directly involved in antigen binding or may affect the ability of one or more amino acids in the CDR to interact with the antigen.

[0095] Exemplary antibodies are anti-PCSK-9 mAb (eg, alirocumab), anti-IL-6 mAb (eg, sarilumab), and anti-IL-4 mAb (eg, dupilumab).

[0096] Pharmaceutically acceptable salts of any of the APIs described herein are contemplated for use in the drug or medicament in the drug delivery device. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, for example, acid addition salts and base salts.

[0097] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications (addition and / or removal) of the various components of the APIs, formulas, devices, methods, systems, and embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the full scope and spirit of the invention, and that the invention encompasses such modifications and all equivalents thereof. Furthermore, the examples shown herein may be combined. The configuration of a device disclosed in connection with only one example may be applied to additional examples or embodiments disclosed herein as well.

[0098] Various benefits, advantages, and configurations of a number of examples of fluid dispensing devices are described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0099] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an example of a fluid dispensing device. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the device according to FIG. [Diagram 3] 3 shows the device of FIG. 2 after removal of the protective cap and after actuation of the trigger. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 illustrates the device of FIG. 3 during or after a dispensing operation. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 shows the device with the closure removed from the housing. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 shows a diagram of the device during replacement of the spray delivery device. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 shows another example of a safety device for a fluid dispensing device. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the upper part of the closure of the device according to FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a trigger for a fluid dispensing device in more detail. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 illustrates another example of a fluid dispensing device in an initial configuration. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 shows the device of FIG. 10 with the protective cap removed. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 illustrates the device of FIG. 10 during or after a dispensing operation. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 shows the device of FIG. 12 after or during removal of the closure. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 shows the device according to FIG. 13 with the protective cap in the closed position. [Figure 15] FIG. 14 shows the device of FIG. 13 during replacement of the spray delivery device. [Figure 16] FIG. 15 shows the device according to FIG. 14 during replacement of the spray delivery device. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is a front view of another example of a fluid dispensing device. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a side view of the device of FIG. 17. [Figure 19] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view through the device of FIG. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 shows the device of FIG. 19 after actuation of the trigger. [Figure 21] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view through the device of FIG. 19 rotated 90°. [Figure 22] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view through the device of FIG. 17 with the trigger in the rest position. [Diagram 23] FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view according to FIG. 22 with the trigger in the actuated position. [Figure 24] FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view according to FIG. 21 with the closure in the open position. [Diagram 25] FIG. 25 illustrates the configuration of FIG. 24 during replacement of the spray delivery device. [Figure 26]FIG. 13 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through another example of a fluid dispensing device with a protective cap in a closed position. [Figure 27] 27 shows the device of FIG. 26 during and after actuation of the trigger. [Figure 28] FIG. 28 shows the device of FIG. 27 during or after a dispensing operation. [Figure 29] FIG. 29 shows the device of FIGS. 26-28 during the process of replacing the protective cap on the housing. [Diagram 30] FIG. 30 shows the device of FIGS. 27-29 with the closure removed from the housing. [Diagram 31] FIG. 31 shows the device of FIG. 30 during replacement of the container of the spray delivery device. [Diagram 32] FIG. 2 is a top view of an example closure. [Diagram 33] FIG. 13 is a side view of another example of a fluid dispensing device. [Diagram 34] FIG. 34 is another side view of the fluid dispensing device of FIG. 33 rotated 90 degrees with the longitudinal axis as the axis of rotation. [Diagram 35] FIG. 35 shows the configuration of the device of FIG. 34 during release of the protective cap. [Diagram 36] FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view through the device of FIGS. 33-35. [Figure 37] FIG. 37 shows the device of FIG. 36 with the protective cap in an open position. [Figure 38] FIG. 38 shows the device of FIG. 37 after or during actuation of the trigger. [Figure 39] FIG. 39 shows the device of FIG. 38 during and after dispensing a dose of fluid. [Diagram 40] FIG. 40 shows the device of FIGS. 33-39 with the closure removed from the housing. [Diagram 41] FIG. 41 shows the device of FIG. 40 during replacement of the container of the spray delivery device. [Diagram 42] FIG. 2 is a top view of an example closure. [Diagram 43]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a closure lock in a locked state. [Diagram 44] FIG. 13 illustrates the closure lock of the closure in an unlocked state. [Diagram 45] FIG. 13 shows the closure lock in a locked state, with the closure locked to the housing of the fluid dispensing device. [Figure 46] FIG. 1 illustrates another example of a fluid dispensing device. [Figure 47] FIG. 1 illustrates a further example of a spray delivery device. [Figure 48] FIG. 2 illustrates a first type of spray delivery device in an initial configuration. [Figure 49] FIG. 49 illustrates the spray delivery device of FIG. 48 during a dosing operation. [Figure 50] FIG. 49 shows the device of FIGS. 48 and 49 during recovery. [Figure 51] FIG. 2 illustrates a second type of spray delivery device in an initial configuration. [Figure 52] FIG. 52 illustrates the spray delivery device of FIG. 51 during a dosing operation. [Figure 53] FIG. 13 illustrates a second type of nebulizer delivery device during recovery. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0100] FIG 1 shows a side view of one example of a fluid dispensing device 1 configured as a nasal inhaler. The fluid dispensing device 1 includes a housing 2. The housing 2 is configured to accommodate a spray delivery device 30 as shown in cross section in FIG 2. The housing 2 includes an orifice 21 at an upper or distal end configured to dispense a quantity of fluid provided to or provided by the spray delivery device 30. The fluid dispensing device 1 further includes a protective cap 90. In the closed position as shown in FIG 2, the protective cap 90 covers the entire upper section or end of the housing 2, and in particular covers the orifice 21.

[0101] Generally, it is sufficient that only a portion of the protective cap 90, i.e., the cap portion 90a, covers at least a portion of the orifice 21. In the closed position shown in Figures 1 and 2, an interior space 91 of the protective cap 90, which is, for example, cup-shaped with a hollow interior, substantially covers the orifice 21.

[0102] The interior of the housing 2 is provided with a receiving space 26 configured to receive and hold at least a portion of the spray delivery device 30. The spray delivery device 30 may be pre-assembled within the housing 2 and is replaceably assembled and positioned within the housing 2. The spray delivery device 30 shown in Figure 2 represents either a first or second type of spray delivery device, which will be described in more detail with respect to Figures 48-53.

[0103] In Figs. 48-50, a first type of spray delivery device 30 is shown. In Figs. 51-53, a second type of spray delivery device 130 is shown. The spray delivery device 30 includes a container 32 configured to receive and hold a quantity of liquid substance, and thus a fluid intended for administration. Furthermore, the spray delivery device 30 includes a movable member 35 that is movable relative to the container 32. Furthermore, the spray delivery device 30 includes an outlet 40. In the first type of spray delivery device 30 shown in Figs. 48-50, the movable member 35 and the outlet 40 are interconnected and fixed. The movable member 35 and the outlet 40 may even be integrally formed. Here, the outlet 40 may be considered as a first member of the spray delivery device 30, and the container 32 may be considered as a second member of the spray delivery device 30.

[0104] Optionally, the spray delivery device 30 further includes a base 45 attached to the top or outlet end of the container 32. The container 32 opens towards the base 45. The base 45 further includes a hollow chamber 38. A tube 31 is connected to the base 45. The tube 31 may be implemented as a suction tube and extends to the interior of the container 32. The tube 31 is in flow communication with the hollow chamber 38. A spring 42 is provided inside or outside the chamber 38. The spring 42 is configured to bias the movable member 35 away from the container 32, thus in a vertical or upward direction as shown in FIG. 48. Furthermore, the base 45 includes an inlet valve 33. The inlet valve 33 is disposed between the tube 31 and the chamber 38. Furthermore, the base 45 includes an outlet valve 36 disposed between the chamber 38 and the outlet 40. As shown in FIG. 48, the top or free end of the movable member 35 is in flow communication with the chamber 38 via an elongated rigid hollow shaft 41.

[0105] In the initial configuration shown in Fig. 48, the chamber 38 is filled with liquid substance withdrawn from the interior of the container 32. Now, when a user applies pressure to the movable member 35 effective to move the movable member 35 towards the container 32, the shaft 41 enters the chamber 38 and displaces the fluid inside the chamber 38. The fluid can only escape through the hollow shaft 41 towards the outlet 40. During the displacement of the movable member 35 relative to the container 32, the inlet valve 33 is closed, thus preventing the fluid inside the chamber 38 from re-entering the container 32.

[0106] After release of the movable member 35, the spring 42 is operable to move the movable member 35 and the container 32 away from each other. In the configuration shown in FIG. 50, the spring 42 is operable to displace the movable member 35 away from the container 32. This creates a negative pressure in the chamber 38, thus drawing by suction a further dose of fluid from the container 32 through the tube 31 and into the chamber 38. The chamber 38 is then refilled and the first type spray delivery device 30 is ready for a subsequent dosing procedure, which may be initiated by repeatedly depressing or displacing the movable member 35 relative to the container 32.

[0107] A second type of spray delivery device 130 shown in Figs. 51-53 also operates according to a similar principle. The same or similar components compared to the spray delivery device 30 shown in Figs. 48-50 are given the same reference numbers, increased by 100. Again, the spray delivery device 130 includes a container 132, a movable member 135, and an outlet 140. Furthermore, the spray delivery device 130 includes a base 145 attached to the outlet end of the container 132. A tube 131 connected to a chamber 138 of the spray delivery device 130 is disposed inside the container 132. An inlet valve 133 is provided between the chamber 138 and the tube 132. An outlet valve 136 is provided at the free end of the outlet 140. The outlet valve 136 may be implemented as a duckbill valve.

[0108] The operating principle of the second type spray delivery device 130 is similar to that of the first type spray delivery device 30. In the initial configuration shown in FIG. 51, the chamber 138 is filled with a fluid. However, here, unlike the first type spray delivery device 30, the outlet 140 is fixed to the base 145. Rather, the movable member 135 is displaceable relative to the container 132 and relative to the outlet 140 against the action of the spring 142. As shown in FIGS. 51-53, the base 145 provides an elongated hollow shaft that allows the movable member 135 to slide under and against the action of the spring 142.

[0109] When the movable member 135 is depressed, it at least partially enters the chamber 138, displacing liquid contained in the chamber 138. During this movement, shown in Fig. 52, the inlet valve 133 is closed. Thus, liquid can only exit through the hollow rigid shaft 141 towards the outlet 140. The outlet valve 136 allows and supports dispensing and / or atomization of the fluid.

[0110] Thereafter, upon release of the movable member 135, the relaxing spring 142 is effective to displace the movable member 135 away from the container 132. Because the outlet valve 136 is substantially closed, the spring-induced movement of the movable member 135 results in a build-up of negative pressure within the chamber 138. The negative pressure acts to open the inlet valve 133 and draw an additional amount of liquid from the interior of the container 132 into the chamber 138. Here, the movable member 135 may be considered a first member of the spray delivery device 130, and at least one of the outlet 140 and the container 132 may be considered a second member of the spray delivery device.

[0111] It should be noted that both the first and second types of spray delivery devices 30, 130 are equally applicable to many of the examples of fluid dispensing devices 10, 100 described herein.

[0112] For the dispensing operation, the movable member 35,135 only needs to undergo a displacement relative to the container 32,132.

[0113] Returning to the example of the fluid dispensing device 1 shown in Figures 1-6, a first type of spray delivery device 30 is assembled inside the receiving space 26 of the housing 2. Here, the outlet 40 of the spray delivery device 30 is coupled or fixed to the orifice 21. At least one of the outlet 40 and the orifice 21 includes a jet nozzle 27 having a small diameter effective to atomize the flow of fluid dispensed through the outlet 40.

[0114] In all examples shown herein, the orifice 21 of the housing 2 of the fluid dispensing device is aligned with the outlet 40,140 of the spray delivery device 30,130.

[0115] Although not shown, there may be further examples in which the orifice 21 provides an opening for the outlet 40, 140 of the spray delivery device 30, 130, where the outlet 40, 140 may extend through the orifice 21. In other examples, the orifice 21 may include a relatively large opening in the housing 2 having a cross-section that is larger in size than the cross-section of the spray delivery device 30, 130.

[0116] In a further example, the orifice 21 of the fluid dispensing device 1, 100 may be provided by the outlet 40, 140 of the spray delivery device 30, 130. Thus, the orifice 21 of the fluid dispensing device 1, 100 may coincide with the outlet 40, 140 of the spray delivery device 30, 130; or vice versa.

[0117] In the example of Figures 1-6, the outlet 40 is coupled to or integrally formed with the movable member 35 of the spray delivery device 30. The spray delivery device 30 is mechanically engaged with a mechanical coupler 60. The mechanical coupler 60 is a component of the fluid dispensing device 1. The mechanical coupler 60 is engaged with a biasing member 50. The biasing member is here configured as a compression spring having a first end 51 that abuts or engages with the mechanical coupler 60 and further having a second end 52 opposite the first end 51 that engages or abuts with the housing 2.

[0118] Under the effect of the biasing member 50, the mechanical coupler 60 is displaceable from a preloaded or biased position shown in Figures 2 and 3 to an unloaded position shown in Figures 4-6. The mechanical coupler 60 is displaceable from an unloaded position to a preloaded position against the action of the biasing member 50. In the example illustrated herein, the biasing member 50 is located and disposed between the bottom of the housing 2 and the laterally extending struts 62 of the mechanical coupler 60. The container 32 and optionally also the base 45 of the spray delivery device 30 are fastened or fixed to the mechanical coupler 60. In that case, movement of the mechanical coupler 60 relative to the housing 2 causes movement of the container 32 relative to the outlet 40, and thus dispensing of a dose of fluid from the spray delivery device 30.

[0119] The mechanical coupler 60 is slidably displaceable inside the housing 2 according to the longitudinal guide structure 25. As shown in FIG. 2, the guide structure 25 includes at least two or even more shaft portions 28 extending parallel to a surface normal of the bottom of the housing 2. The shaft portions 28 may surround the mechanical coupler 60. The guide structure 25 thus defines a longitudinal direction along which the mechanical coupler 60 is slidably displaceable relative to the housing 2 under and against the action of the biasing member 50. Instead of the at least two or more shaft portions 28, the housing 2 may include a hollow sleeve extending into the receiving space 26 and configured and sized to slidably receive the mechanical coupler 60.

[0120] Additionally, the fluid dispensing device 10 includes an interlock 70 operable to hold the mechanical coupler 60 in the preloaded position shown in Figures 2 and 3. Additionally, the interlock 70 is operable to hold the biasing member 50 in the preloaded state shown in Figures 2 and 3. Additionally, the fluid dispensing device 10 includes a trigger 80 operably engageable with the interlock 70 to release the interlock 70 and enable the biasing member 50 to be de-biased or unloaded to displace the mechanical coupler 60 relative to the housing 2.

[0121] As shown in Figures 2-6, the mechanical coupler 60 includes at least one strut 62 extending outwardly from the outer periphery of the, for example, cylindrical, mechanical coupler 60. The mechanical coupler 60 shown in Figures 2-5 includes at least two diametrically opposed struts 62, each of which extends through a slit or aperture provided in the guide structure 25, i.e., the shaft portion 28 of the guide structure 25. Two slits 29 or grooves are provided near the upper free end of the shaft portion 28. The slits 29 provide a well-defined longitudinal guidance of the mechanical coupler 60 relative to the housing 2. Both struts 62 include an abutment 61 facing the distal or upper end of the housing 2.

[0122] The interlock 70 comprises a catch feature 71 provided on the inside of the housing 2 and a corresponding or complementary snap feature 72 provided on the mechanical coupler 60. The snap feature 72 is provided on or at an end section of a strut 62 of the mechanical coupler 60. In an initial configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, the snap feature 72 of the mechanical coupler 60 is in direct abutment with an inwardly protruding catch feature 71 fixed on the inside of the housing 2. As is evident from a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3, the strut 62 is elastically deformable to disengage the mechanical engagement of the catch feature 71 with the snap feature 72, as shown in FIG. 3. Such temporary deformation or pivoting of the snap feature 72 is obtained by depressing a trigger 80.

[0123] The trigger 80 includes an inwardly extending pin 81. The entire trigger 80 and / or its pin 81 may include a resilient material. The trigger 80 can thus be depressed inwardly and thus into the receiving space 26. One or both triggers 80 are operable to exert a respective inward force effect on the interlock 70 and thus on the inwardly deformable or inwardly pivotable struts 62, and thus disengage the mutually corresponding snap features 72 and catch features 71. As long as the catch features 71 and snap features 72 abut each other, the respective engagement of the struts 62 with the housing 2 impedes and prevents displacement of the mechanical coupler 60 towards the orifice 21.

[0124] As soon as the interlocks 70 are released, for example by simultaneously depressing oppositely located triggers 80, the respective interlocks 70 are released, causing the mechanical coupler 60 to be displaced towards the orifice 21 under the action of the relaxing biasing member 50, as shown in Figure 4. As a result, movement of the container 32 relative to the outlet 40 expels a dose of fluid through the orifice 21.

[0125] Now, after the dose has been dispensed, the protective cap 90 can be reassembled to the housing 2. The cup-shaped hollow cap 90 comprises a hollow interior 91 into which at least one longitudinal extension 92 extends. In the example shown in Figures 2-6, the protective cap 90 comprises two longitudinal extensions 92 which may be configured as rods. The top end or top end face 23 of the housing 2 comprises at least one through hole 22. In this example, two through holes 22 are provided, each through hole 22 being longitudinally aligned with the position of an abutment 61 of the mechanical coupler 60.

[0126] When the protective cap 90 is reassembled to the housing 2, the longitudinal extension 92 enters and extends through the through-hole 22 until the longitudinal extension 92 mechanically engages and thus directly abuts the abutment 61 of the strut 62 of the mechanical coupler 60. Such an abutment configuration is obtained before the protective cap 90 reaches the closed position. The protective cap 90 is further displaceable or depressable downwards and thus towards the bottom of the housing 2, thereby biasing the mechanical coupler 60 towards the bottom of the housing 2 against the action of the biasing member 50, until the initial configuration shown in FIG. 2, in which the protective cap 90 is in the closed position, is reached. As shown in FIG. 2, the interlock 70 automatically locks when or before the closed position is reached. The snap feature 72 reengages with the catch feature 71, and spring-induced displacement of the mechanical coupler 60 is substantially prevented.

[0127] In this configuration, the fluid dispensing device 1 is stored until it is to be used for an ongoing dispensing action.

[0128] As is evident from a comparison of Figures 2 and 3, the trigger 80 is disposed flush with the side wall 24 of the housing 2. Actuation of the trigger 80 as shown in Figure 3 requires further inward depression of the trigger 80. One or more triggers 80 may be integral with the side wall 24. The triggers 80 may not protrude from the side wall 24. This allows for a relatively smooth assembly of the protective cap 90 onto the housing 2 to the extent that the side wall 94 of the protective cap 90 substantially and / or completely covers the trigger 80.

[0129] In the closed position shown in FIG. 2, the two triggers 80 cannot be accessed or depressed from the outside. As long as the protective cap 90 is in the closed position, the triggers 80 are substantially inoperable. Removal or opening of the protective cap 90 is required for operation or actuation of the triggers 80, and thus release of the interlock 70. Only then are the triggers 80 accessible so that a user of the device can depress or actuate them, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this way, the fluid dispensing device 1 can be stored in a preloaded or preplugged state without substantial risk of an accidental, uncontrolled, or premature release of the dispensing action occurring.

[0130] The protective cap 90 is held in a closed position by at least one fastener, as shown in FIG. 2, where an interior of a sidewall 94 of the protective cap includes at least one fastening feature 95 configured to engage and cooperate with a correspondingly shaped counter fastening feature 96 provided on the exterior surface of the housing 2. Typically, one of the fastening feature 95 and the counter fastening feature 96 includes a protrusion configured to engage with a corresponding or complementary shaped recess in the other of the fastening feature 95 and the counter fastening feature 96. The fastening feature 95 and the counter fastening feature 96 are configured to form at least one of a positive interlock and a frictional engagement. The fastening feature 95 and the counter fastening feature 96 may include mutually corresponding snap or catch features.

[0131] In the example shown in Figures 2-6, the housing 2 is removably connectable with a closure 3. The closure 3 forms a bottom 4 of the housing 2. In the illustrated example, the closure 3 forms or constitutes a cup-shaped receptacle for the container 32 of the spray delivery device 30. A side wall of the closure 3 includes a threaded portion 7 of a shape corresponding to the threaded portion 6 of the housing 2. In this manner, the closure 3 can be removed from the housing 2 by a screwing motion with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the housing 2 as the axis of rotation.

[0132] The closure 3 includes an inwardly extending shaft portion 28. The shaft portion 28 forms a receptacle for a mechanical coupler 60. The mechanical coupler 60 may be implemented as a carrier 64 that is coupled to and / or mechanically engaged with the spray delivery device 30 or at least the container 32 thereof.

[0133] The carrier 64 is provided with struts 62. The mechanical biasing member 50, and thus the compression spring, is located radially outside the shaft portion 28. The second end 52 of the mechanical biasing member 50 abuts longitudinally with the inwardly facing bottom section of the bottom portion 4. The first end 51 of the mechanical biasing member 50 abuts with the side of the laterally extending strut 62 facing the bottom portion 4.

[0134] In the illustration of Figures 2 and 3, the carrier 64, and thus the barrel or sleeve 65 of the carrier coupled to or engaged with the spray delivery device 30, is in a biased or first longitudinal position relative to the housing 2. Release of the interlock 70 and / or actuation of the trigger 80 induces a longitudinal displacement of the carrier 64 until the carrier 64 reaches an unbiased position as shown in Figure 4. The carrier 64, and thus the mechanical coupler 60, is now in a second longitudinal position relative to the housing 2. In the biased position, the carrier 64 is non-rotatably locked to the closure 3 as long as the carrier 64 is in the first longitudinal position as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The non-rotatable lock is provided by laterally extending struts 62 that extend through longitudinally extending elongated or slotted apertures 29 in the shaft portion 28 of the closure 3.

[0135] Furthermore, the laterally outwardly located portions of the struts 62, in particular the upper ends of the struts 62, may be splined into the inner side of the side wall of the housing 2. In this way, the mechanical coupler 60, and thus the carrier 64, is non-rotatably locked to the housing 2, but can freely slide relative to the housing 2 in the longitudinal direction of the housing.

[0136] Thus, when the carrier 64 is in the biased or first longitudinal position as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the shaft portion 28, and thus the closure 3, remains non-rotatably locked to the mechanical coupler 60 and / or carrier 64, which in turn remains non-rotatably locked to the housing 2.

[0137] Only when the second longitudinal or unbiased position shown in Figure 4 is reached do the struts 62 disengage from the apertures 29 of the shaft portion 28. The shaft portion 28, and thus the entire closure 3, is therefore free to rotate relative to the mechanical coupler 60 and the carrier 64 and thus also relative to the housing 2. Thus, only in the unbiased position of the carrier 64 can the closure 3 be moved from the closed position towards the open position. In particular, the closure 3 can be unscrewed from the housing 2 and the threaded connection 5 between the closure 3 and the housing 2 can be disengaged.

[0138] Instead of the threaded connection shown in Figures 2 to 6, the closure 3 can also be connected to the housing 2 by a bayonet joint.

[0139] In any event, the fluid dispensing device 1 includes a safety mechanism 10 formed by the mechanical engagement of the housing 2 , the carrier 64 , and the closure 3 .

[0140] Thus, the carrier 64 may belong to the safety device 10 or may contribute to the functioning of the safety device 10 .

[0141] When the closure 3 is disconnected from the housing 2, at least the container 32 of the spray delivery device 30 is accessible from outside the housing 2. As shown in Figure 6, the container 32 or the entire spray delivery device 30 can be pulled out or removed from the housing 2. It can then be replaced with a new spray delivery device 30 or container 32.

[0142] Once the closure 3 is decoupled or removed from the housing 2, the mechanical biasing member 50 is assembled and / or attached to the closure 3, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, where a second end 52 of the biasing member 50 may be coupled or fixed to an interior of the closure 3. In other examples, the biasing member 50 may be attached to a carrier 64 and / or a mechanical coupler 60. Where a first end 51 of the mechanical biasing member 50 may be coupled to the mechanical coupler 60 or the carrier 64.

[0143] The spray delivery device 60 may be frictionally engaged with the carrier 64. In some examples, the spray delivery device 30 and the carrier 64 are engaged to one another by a positive fit.

[0144] In the illustrations of Figures 7-9, another example of the safety device 10 is shown. Here, the safety device 10 is configured to prevent movement of the closure 3 from the closed position toward the open position as long as the mechanical biasing member 50 is in a preloaded state. To transition the mechanical biasing member 50 (not shown) to an unloaded state, it is only necessary to depress or actuate the trigger 80. The trigger 80 comprises a spring 183 having one end connected to the trigger 80 and the other end connected to the housing 2. The spring 183 is configured to hold the trigger 80 in a rest position as shown in Figure 7. The trigger 80 is further engageable with the interlock 70 as shown in Figure 7. Depressing the trigger 80 results in the unlocking of the interlock 170 as described in more detail below, for example with respect to Figures 37-39.

[0145] In the example of Figures 7 and 8, the closure 3 includes a threaded portion 7, for example in the form of an external thread. The threaded portion 7 is configured to mate with a complementary shaped threaded portion 6 on the inside of the side wall of the housing 2. In the closed position of the closure 3 shown in Figure 7, an extension 87 of the trigger 80 sits in a slit or groove 8 in the side wall of the closure 3. Since the trigger 80 is fixed to the housing 2 with respect to the tangential or circumferential direction of the housing, the extension 87 acts as a latch 14 that sits in a correspondingly shaped latch keeper 15 of the closure 3.

[0146] The latch 14 is formed by an extension 87. The latch keeper 15 is formed by a slit or recess in the side wall of the closure 3. As long as the latch 14 is engaged with the correspondingly shaped latch keeper 15, the closure lock 13 formed by the latch 14 and the latch keeper 15 is in a locked state as shown in FIG.

[0147] To transition the closure lock 13 to an unlocked state, the trigger 80, and thus the latch 14 and extension 87, must be displaced inwardly relative to the latch keeper 15. By depressing the trigger 80 into the housing 2, the latch 14 is displaced relative to and disengages from the latch keeper 15. In such a configuration (not shown), while the trigger 80 remains depressed or actuated, the closure lock 13 is unlocked and the closure 3 can be rotated relative to the housing 2 to loosen or release the threaded connection 5 between the closure 3 and the housing 2.

[0148] In FIG. 9, another implementation of the trigger 180 is shown. Here, the trigger 180 includes a pin 181 engageable with a snap feature 172 including a resilient member 173. By depressing the trigger 180 inwardly against the action of the trigger spring 183, the catch feature 171 of the interlock 170 is displaced or deformed by the pin 181. The catch feature 171 can be released, thereby releasing the mechanical energy stored in the mechanical biasing member 150. Although not shown in more detail, the safety device 10 shown in FIG. 7 can be correspondingly implemented with the example of the trigger 180 and interlock 170 shown in FIG. 9. Further details of the interengagement of the trigger 180 and interlock 170 shown in FIG. 9 will become apparent from the following description of FIGS. 36-42.

[0149] In a further example of a fluid dispensing device 1 shown in Figures 10-16, the closure 3 is also removably connected to the housing 2. However, here, unlike the example of Figures 2-6, the mechanical biasing member 50 is located entirely inside a compartment 47 of the closure. The compartment 47 is surrounded by the bottom of the closure and an opposing partition wall 49. The partition wall 49 forms the upper end of the compartment 47. Inside the compartment 47, a pressing piece 48 is further arranged. The pressing piece 48 may include a pressure plate. The underside of the pressing piece 48 abuts against a first end 51 of the mechanical biasing member 50. A second end 52 of the biasing member 50 abuts against an inwardly facing portion of the bottom of the closure 3.

[0150] The septum 49 further comprises an aperture 46. The aperture is sized to receive at least the container 32 of the spray delivery device 30. In the illustrated example, the aperture 46 is sized to receive the mechanical coupler 60, and thus the carrier 64, that is mechanically secured to the spray delivery device 30.

[0151] The safety device 10 shown in Figures 10-16 is configured and operable to release at least a portion of the mechanical energy of the preloaded mechanical biasing member 50 during and through movement of the closure 3 from the closed position shown in Figures 10-12 toward the open or released position shown in Figures 13-16.

[0152] The closure 3 and the housing 2 may be interconnectable by a threaded connection 5 or by a respective bayonet joint that requires rotation of the closure 3 relative to the housing 2 about a longitudinal axis, where the extension of the mechanical biasing member 50 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. When the mechanical biasing member 50 is in a preloaded state, the closure 3 can be rotated relative to the housing 2 to remove the closure 3 from the housing 2. During such a helical movement effected by the threaded connection 5, the closure 3 is moved away from the housing 2 in a direction that leads to relaxation of the preloaded mechanical biasing member 50.

[0153] During and throughout the movement of the closure 3 from the closed position shown in Figures 10-12 towards the open position shown in Figures 13-16, the mechanical biasing member 50 undergoes a dissipation of mechanical energy and acts to bias the pushing piece 48 towards the bulkhead 49 as shown in Figures 13-16. Even when the closure 3 is disconnected from the housing 2 and the mechanical biasing member 50 is maintained in a preloaded state as shown in Figures 14 and 16, the mechanical energy stored in the mechanical biasing member 50 cannot be dissipated in an uncontrolled manner.

[0154] The pressing piece 48 is at most biased to abut against the septum 49. The biasing member 50 cannot be self-actuated disassembled from the closure 3 and remains trapped in the compartment 47. As is clear from Figs. 15 and 16, the spray delivery device 30 is replaceable by another spray delivery device in any configuration of the carrier 64. When the closure 3 is removed from the housing 2, at least the lower end of the container 32 can be grasped and pulled out of the carrier 64 or mechanical coupler 60. After assembly of another spray delivery device 30 to the carrier 64 or mechanical coupler 60, the fluid dispensing device 1 can be reassembled, thereby at least partially biasing the mechanical biasing member 50.

[0155] In the further example of Figures 17-25, the housing 2 of the fluid dispensing device 1 includes a closure 3 that remains permanently connected to the housing 2. As is evident from a comparison of Figures 21 and 24, the closure 3 is pivotally connected to the housing 2. The hinge 9 connecting the housing 2 and the closure 3 is located, for example, near a bottom end of the housing 2 opposite the orifice 21.

[0156] Here, carrier 64 is configured to support and / or receive at least a portion of spray delivery device 30. Carrier 64 includes a bottom 66 that longitudinally abuts a bottom portion of spray delivery device 30 and / or a bottom portion of container 32, as shown in FIG. 21 . A lower end opposite bottom 66 of carrier 64 abuts first end 51 of mechanical biasing member 50. An opposite second end 52 of mechanical biasing member 50 abuts housing 2.

[0157] In effect, the entire spray delivery device 30 is displaceable or slidable relative to the housing 2 under the action of the mechanical biasing member 50 .

[0158] As best seen in Figures 19 and 22, the interlock 70 includes a slider that is movable laterally relative to the housing against the action of a spring 74. The spring 74 is configured to hold the interlock 70 in a locked state, as shown in Figures 19 and 22. In the locked state, the interlock 70 abuts a shoulder portion 39 near the outlet 40 of the spray delivery device 30. As shown in Figure 22, the interlock 70 includes an aperture 75 that is sized to receive a cross section of the spray delivery device 30. However, the spring 74 biases the interlock 70 laterally with respect to the extension of the spray delivery device 30, displacing the aperture 75 with respect to the lateral position of the spray delivery device 30. Thus, the side edges of the aperture 75 abut the longitudinally facing shoulder portion 39 of the spray delivery device 30. In this manner, the entire spray delivery device 30 and carrier 64 are held and locked in the biased position.

[0159] A trigger 80 formed integral with the interlock 70 can be depressed laterally such that the aperture 75 is longitudinally aligned with the circumference of the spray delivery device 30. As shown in Figures 20 and 23, once the aperture 75 is aligned with the spray delivery device 30, the spray delivery device 30 can enter or extend through the aperture 75. Such longitudinal displacement is accomplished by unloading the mechanical biasing member 50.

[0160] Thus, the carrier 64 is moved toward the orifice 21 together with the spray delivery device 30. In the actuated position of the trigger 80 and in the unlocked state of the interlock 70 as shown in Figs. 20 and 23, the laterally projecting extension 87 of the trigger 80 enters into a correspondingly shaped recess 18 of the closure 3 provided near the top end of the closure 3. The recess 18 serves as a latch keeper 15 for receiving a correspondingly shaped latch 14 provided by the extension 87 of the trigger 80. When the extension 87 is engaged with the recess of the closure 3, the closure 3 cannot be pivoted to an open position. The closure 3 is therefore locked to the housing 2. The closure lock 13 configured by the extension 87 to engage with the recess 18 of the closure serves to lock the closure 3 in a closed position as long as the trigger 80 is depressed.

[0161] In another example not shown herein, it is contemplated that the closure lock 13 may be locked in the configuration of FIG. 22 with the trigger 80 in the rest position and the interlock 70 in the locked state. The closure lock 13 may be in the unlocked state when the trigger 80 is actuated and thus the interlock 70 in the unlocked state as shown in FIGS. 20 and 23. The extension 87 then disengages from the recess 18, thus allowing the closure 3 to be opened as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25 and the spray delivery device 30 can be replaced.

[0162] 17-25, transition of the mechanical biasing member 50 to the preloaded state may be obtained by closing the protective cap 90. Again, as described in connection with FIG. 2, the protective cap 90 may include an inwardly extending extension 92 configured to engage the carrier 64 to transition the carrier 64 from the unbiased position to the biased position against the action of the mechanical biasing member 50. The interlock 70 re-engages the shoulder portion 39 under the action of the spring 74.

[0163] In this example, the safety device 10 is configured to prevent movement of the closure 3 from the closed position toward the open position as long as the trigger 80 is in an actuated state and / or the interlock 70 is in an unlocked state.

[0164] 26-47, a further example of a fluid dispensing device 100 utilizing a second type of spray delivery device 130 is shown. Here, the container 132 is fixed inside the housing 102 of the fluid dispensing device 100, and the movable member 135 of the spray delivery device 130 is subject to displacement or movement relative to the housing 102. As will become apparent, the outlet 140 of the spray delivery device 130 is immobile relative to the container 132. The outlet 140 may be fixed to the container 132. Conversely, the movable member 135 is displaceable relative to both the container 132 and the outlet 140. Again, the outlet 140 is fixed to the housing 102. The outlet 140 is in fluid engagement with an orifice 121 provided at the upper end of the housing.

[0165] The top end of the housing 102, and thus the end surface 123 with the orifice 121, is configured to be completely covered by a removable protective cap 190. The protective cap 190 includes a cap portion 190a that is configured to fit over or block the orifice 121 of the spray delivery device 130 when the protective cap 190 is in a closed position. The cap 190 can be held in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 26, by mutually corresponding fastening features 195 and 196 on the protective cap 190 and the housing 102, respectively. The fastening features and counterfastening features 195, 196 include one of a protrusion and a recess, e.g., to provide a snap-fit ​​engagement between the protective cap 190 and the housing 102.

[0166] As shown in FIGS. 26-29 , the movable member 135 of the spray delivery device 130 is fixedly coupled to a mechanical coupler 160. The mechanical coupler 160 is slidably displaceable inside the housing 102 by the guide structure 125. The mechanical coupler 160 engages with a biasing member 150. One end 151 of the biasing member 150 abuts an inwardly facing portion of the housing 102, and a second end 152 of the biasing member 150 engages or abuts the mechanical coupler 160. In this manner, the mechanical coupler 160, and thus the movable member 135 attached thereto, can be displaced relative to the housing 102 against the action of the biasing member 150.

[0167] In the initial configuration shown in Fig. 26, the mechanical coupler 160 is in a preloaded position. The mechanical coupler 160 is held in the preloaded position by an activated interlock 170. The interlock 170 includes a resilient member 173, for example in the form of a deformable leg 174 attached to or integrally formed with the housing 102. The leg 174 is provided with a catch feature 171 for engaging with a snap feature 172 of the mechanical coupler 160. In this way, the mechanical coupler 160 is prevented from moving towards the bottom of the housing 102 under the effect of the relaxing biasing member 150. Again, the biasing member 150 is implemented as a helically wound compression spring.

[0168] The trigger 180 is integral with or flush mounted to the side wall 124 of the housing 102. The trigger 180 may include a resiliently depressible knob or button 182. The interior of the housing 102, and thus the receiving space 126, is further provided with a bridge piece 176 that provides a mechanical link between the trigger 180 and the leg 174, and thus between the trigger 180 and the interlock 170. The bridge piece 176 may belong to the trigger 180 or may be integrally formed therewith. The bridge piece 176 includes one end that engages or abuts an inner portion of the trigger 180. The bridge piece 176 includes an opposite second end that abuts or engages with the leg 174 or the resilient member 173 of the interlock 170.

[0169] As shown in Fig. 27, when the trigger 180 is depressed, the respective movement is transmitted via the bridge piece 176 to the elastic member 173, thus resulting in a releasing movement of the catch feature 171 relative to the snap feature 172. As a result, the mechanical coupler 160, previously blocked by the interlock 170, is now allowed to move towards the container 132 under the action of the relaxing biasing member 150, as shown in Fig. 28. Since the mechanical coupler 160 is fixedly connected to the movable member 135, a dispensing operation is performed and a portion of the fluid is expelled through the outlet 140 and the orifice 121, as shown in Fig. 22.

[0170] Now, the protective cap 190 must be reassembled to the housing 2 in order to bias the biasing member 150 and to move the biasing member 150 to the preloaded state as shown in FIG. 26. As previously mentioned, the protective cap 190 includes a cup-shaped hollow interior 191. The protective cap 190 further includes a longitudinal extension 192. As shown in FIG. 23, the extension 192 includes a rack portion 168 and thus a number of teeth facing the mechanical coupler 160. The mechanical coupler 160 includes a corresponding rack portion 163 facing the side wall 124 and thus the trigger 180. Between the rack portions 163, 168 is provided a pinion 166 rotatably mounted on the housing 102.

[0171] In the configuration shown in Figures 28 and 29, the free end of the elastic member 173 enters the receptacle 167 of the mechanical coupler 160 and is therefore prevented from relaxing back to the initial configuration shown in Figure 20. The elastic member 173 is now engaged with the side wall of the receptacle 167. In order to provide the elastic return movement of the elastic member 173, the mechanical coupler 160 must be displaced back to the preloaded position shown in Figure 26. The capture and longitudinal guidance of the free ends of the elastic member 173 and legs 174 in the receptacle 167 is accompanied by a respective displacement of the bridge pieces 176. Thus, even when the trigger 180 is released, the bridge pieces 176 are in a depressed position as they are secured to the elastic member 173.

[0172] The bridge piece 176 may further comprise a guide structure 177 effective to keep the rack portion 168 of the longitudinal extension 192 engaged with the pinion 166. The further rack portion 163 of the mechanical coupler 160 is permanently engaged with the pinion 166. Starting with the configuration shown in FIG. 29, now when the protective cap 190 is pushed to the closed position, the rack portion 168 of the longitudinal extension 192 remains engaged with the pinion 166. When the protective cap 190 is moved closer to the closed position shown in FIG. 26, the pinion 166 begins to rotate, thus transmitting a respective opposite motion to the rack portion 163. When the protective cap 190 is moved closer to the bottom of the housing 102, the mechanical coupler 160 is moved further away from the bottom and towards the top surface 123.

[0173] This movement continues until the interlock 170 is again activated and the catch feature 171 of the resilient member 173 is aligned with the recessed portion of the snap feature 172. Once the catch feature 171 and the snap feature 172 are properly aligned, the resilient member 173 is allowed to flex outwardly, thus resulting in engagement of the catch feature 171 and the snap feature 172. The interlock 170 is then activated and thus engaged. The mechanical coupler 160 is prevented from moving under the action of the biasing member 150. The biasing member 150 is kept in the preloaded state shown in Figs. 26 and 27. Furthermore, the lateral or relaxation movement of the resilient member 173 has the further effect that the bridge piece 176 abuts the inside of the trigger 180 as shown in Fig. 26. The longitudinal extension 192 , which is bent toward the pinion 166 by the guide structure 177 of the bridge piece 176 , also relaxes to its initial state, and accordingly, the rack portion 168 of the longitudinal extension 192 disengages from the pinion 166 .

[0174] Again, as is evident from FIG. 26, side wall 194 of protective cap 190 completely covers trigger 180, thus impeding and substantially blocking any actuation of trigger 180 as long as protective cap 190 is in the closed position.

[0175] In the example shown in Figures 26-32, a further safety device 110 is implemented with the fluid dispensing device 100. Again, the housing 102 includes a closure 103 forming a bottom 104 of the housing 102. As is evident from Figures 30 and 31, the closure 103 includes a threaded portion 107 that is complementary to a threaded portion 106 of the housing 102. The threaded portions 106, 107 are effective to form a threaded connection 105 between the housing 102 and the closure 103. The threaded connection 105, which may also be implemented as a bayonet connection, allows the closure 103 to be removed from the housing 102. As shown in Figures 27-32, the closure 103 includes a cup-shaped compartment 147 configured to receive the container 132 of the spray delivery device 130.

[0176] By transitioning the closure from the closed position shown in FIGS. 27-29 to the open position shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, access to at least the container 132 of the spray delivery device 130 is made possible. Thus, when the closure 103 is disconnected from the housing 102, a user can easily grasp the container 132 and replace the container 132. As shown in FIG. 31, the spray delivery device 130 includes an elongated tube 131 that extends from a movable member 135 of the spray delivery device to the interior of the container 132. In the illustrated example, the container 132 may be removably or releasably coupled to the movable member 135. The container 132 may include a pierceable seal at an upper end, which is pierced by the tube 131 when the container 132 is coupled to the movable member 135.

[0177] As mentioned above, the movable member 135 is connected and mechanically engaged with the mechanical coupler 160, which provides a carrier 164 for the spray delivery device 130. The carrier 164, and therefore the mechanical coupler 160, is movable only for a limited longitudinal distance relative to the housing 102. In the unbiased position shown in FIG. 29, the carrier 164 abuts against an abutment surface 129, which protrudes inwardly from the side wall of the housing 102, for example. When abutting against the abutment surface 129 by the action of the biasing member 150, the carrier 164 cannot be moved further by the biasing member 150. When the closure 103 is removed from the housing 102 starting from the configuration shown in FIG. 29, the container 132 is located outside or away from the flow of force of the mechanical biasing member 150.

[0178] 26-32 is not subject to motion relative to the housing 102 and therefore may generally be positioned outside the flow of forces provided by the mechanical biasing member 150 to initiate spray emission of the spray delivery device 130. For example, the base 145 of the spray delivery device 130 may be fixed to the housing 102, such that the occurrence of spray delivery under the action of the relaxing mechanical biasing member 150 induces only relative motion of the movable member 135 with respect to the base 145 of the spray delivery device 130.

[0179] When the base 145 is secured to the housing 102, the container 132 can be relatively easily replaced without risk of the mechanical biasing member 150 undergoing self-actuated disassembly when the closure 103 is removed from the housing 102.

[0180] The cross sections according to Figures 26-31 show a longitudinal section AA along an L-shaped section through the elliptical housing 102 according to the schematic diagram at the bottom of Figure 26. From the top view of the closure 103 shown in Figure 32 it is immediately clear that the threaded portion 107 is located in the center of the closure 103 and that the closure 103 is symmetrical along the two main axes of its ellipse.

[0181] The safety device 110 shown in Figures 26-32 is implemented by locating and fixing the base 145 to the housing 102 and providing a mechanical biasing member 150 between the housing 102 and the movable member 135 of the spray delivery device 130. In this way, the replaceable container 132 is located outside the flow of forces emanating from the biasing member 150. The mechanical biasing member can be in either a preloaded or unloaded state to open the closure 103. There is no need to block or prevent the release of mechanical energy of the mechanical biasing member 150 when the closure 103 is transitioned to the open position.

[0182] Further examples of fluid dispensing device 100 are shown in Figures 33-45. In Figure 33 the fluid dispensing device is shown from a side view and in Figure 34 in an orientation rotated 90° about its longitudinal axis. Figure 33 shows a front view with a protective cap 190 pivotally attached to the housing 102.

[0183] The cross-sectional view of Fig. 36 represents cross-section BB along the L-shaped line shown at the bottom of Fig. 36. Protective cap 190 is pivotally mounted to housing 102 and is pivotable about pivot axis 198. Protective cap 190 includes a hollow interior 191. An elongated projection 192 extends inwardly from the top of the cap toward the inside of protective cap 190. As previously mentioned, elongated projection 192 is configured and operative to enter and pass through slit-shaped through-hole 122 provided in top end surface 123 of housing 102.

[0184] The protective cap 190 may further include a handle section 193 located between extensions 199 of a sidewall 194 of the protective cap 190. In the closed position shown in FIG. 30, the extensions 199 substantially cover at least one trigger 180. The trigger 180 includes an elongated pin 181 that extends into the interior of the housing 102. In addition, the trigger 180 includes a button 182 that is spring biased by a spring 183 in a receptacle 128 provided in the sidewall 124 of the housing 102.

[0185] In the closed position, the handle 193 may be snap-fit ​​with the housing 102, as shown in Figure 34, where the inside of the protective cap 190 is provided with a fastening feature 195 configured to engage with a corresponding counter fastening feature 196 provided on the outside of the housing 102.

[0186] Additionally, inwardly extending protruding abutments 197 are provided that are configured to engage the end surface 123 of the housing 102 , particularly the corners of the end surface 123 , to limit closing movement of the protective cap 190 .

[0187] In this example, the biasing member 150 is located between the mechanical coupler 160 and the movable member 135 of the spray delivery device 130. The container 132 of the spray delivery device 130 is fixedly mounted inside the housing 102. An auxiliary spring 155 is further provided which engages with the housing 102 and the mechanical coupler 160. A first end 156 of the auxiliary spring 155 abuts an extension 162 of the mechanical coupler 160, as best shown in FIG. 37. A catch feature 171 of an interlock 170 is provided and positioned on the end of the extension 162 facing away from the relatively planar or disc-shaped mechanical coupler 160. A complementary snap feature 172 is provided on a free end of an elastic member 173 connected to or integrally formed with the movable member 135 of the spray delivery device 130.

[0188] Similar to the previous examples, the longitudinal extension 192 is effective to apply a displacement force to the abutment 161 of the mechanical coupler 160 to activate the interlock 170. Here, the interlock 170 is formed between the mechanical coupler 160 and the movable member 135 of the spray delivery device 130. As shown in FIG. 36 , there is an interengagement or abutment of the catch feature 171 of the mechanical coupler 160 and the snap feature 172 of the movable member 135 of the spray delivery device 130.

[0189] The mutually corresponding fastening and counterfastening features 195, 196 serve to keep the protective cap 190 in a closed position and the auxiliary spring 155 in a biased state as shown in FIG. 30. When the protective cap 190 is pivoted to the open position shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, there is no further downward force acting on the mechanical coupler 160. To that extent, the auxiliary spring 155 is operable to displace the assembly of the mechanical coupler 160 and the movable member 135 away from the container 132. Because both the movable member 135 and the mechanical coupler 160 undergo a common displacement relative to the housing 102, induced by the auxiliary spring 155, the biasing member 150 is kept in a preloaded state during this translational movement.

[0190] This movement induced by the secondary spring 155 aligns the snap feature 172 with the pin 181 of the trigger 180. The trigger 180 is then depressed, causing the snap feature 172 to disengage from the catch feature 171. The mechanical coupler 160 is kept in engagement with the top or end face 123 of the housing 102 by the secondary spring 155. After release of the interlock 170, the movable member 135 is then subjected to movement relative to the housing 102 and relative to the mechanical coupler 160 by the relaxing movement of the biasing member 150. As a result, the movable member 135 is moved towards the container 132 and a predetermined amount of fluid or medicament is expelled through the orifice 121, as shown in FIG.

[0191] When the lid or protective cap 190 is closed again, the longitudinal extension 192 enters the slit-shaped through-opening 122 in the end face 123 of the housing 102. There, the longitudinal extension 192 engages with the abutment section 161 of the mechanical coupler 160. As a result, the mechanical coupler 160 is displaced towards the container 130 until the interlock 170 is re-engaged and the auxiliary spring 155 reaches the preloaded state shown in FIG.

[0192] The mechanical coupler 160 and the movable member 135 each include two diametrically opposed corresponding snap features 172 and catch features 171, respectively. Furthermore, the fluid dispensing device 100 may include two triggers 180. In this manner, any forces related to preloading of the biasing member 150 and the auxiliary spring 155, as well as any forces for disengaging the interlock 170, may be symmetrically distributed and introduced to the respective components of the fluid dispensing device 100. Also, the protective cap 190 may include two longitudinal extensions 192 to apply a relatively symmetric biasing force to the mechanical coupler 160.

[0193] Again, as long as protective cap 190 is in the closed position, actuation of trigger 180 is substantially blocked.

[0194] In the example of Figures 33-45, the safety device 110 includes a closure lock 113. The closure lock 113 is operable to prevent transition of the closure 103 from a closed position, shown in Figures 36-39, to an open position, shown in Figures 40 and 41. The closure lock 113 includes a latch 114 provided on the closure 103. The closure lock 113 further includes a latch keeper 115 on or within the housing 102. When the closure 103 is in the closed position, the latch 114 is engaged with the latch keeper 115.

[0195] In the detailed views of Figures 43-45, the closure 103 comprises a latch 114 slidably arranged in or on the closure 103. The latch 114 is displaceable against the action of a restoring element 117, implemented for example as a return spring, which serves to bias the latch 114 into a latched position in which at least a part of the latch 114, for example the upper end, projects beyond the upper end of the closure 103. The latch 114 is provided with a bevelled edge 118 at its free end, and thus at the projecting portion.

[0196] The closure 103 can be coupled to the housing 102 by a threaded or bayonet joint through the mating interaction of a threaded portion 107 of the closure 103 with a correspondingly configured threaded portion 106 of the housing 102. When the closure 103 is assembled and secured to the housing 102, the beveled edge 118 can act to bias the latch 114 to a retracted position, as shown in FIG.

[0197] 44, in which the closure 103 reaches a closed position, the latch 114 is longitudinally aligned with the aperture 119 or recess provided in the portion of the housing 102 adjacent the upper side of the closure 103. As shown in FIG. 45, under the effect of the restoring element 117, the latch 114 is urged upwardly into the aperture 119. In this configuration, mutual rotation of the closure 103 relative to the housing 102 is substantially blocked.

[0198] To transition the closure lock 113 to the unlocked state shown in Fig. 44, the closure lock rod 116 is biased downwardly and engages the free end of the latch 114. The closure lock rod 116 includes a second end 116b configured to displace the latch 114 to the configuration shown in Fig. 44, in which the latch 114 is retracted within the closure 103 and no longer protrudes from the closure 103.

[0199] The closure locking rod 160 is engaged with another restoring element 120, implemented, for example, as a compression spring. The restoring element 120 acts to displace the closure locking rod 116 away from the closure 103 such that the latch 114 protrudes from the closure 103. The closure locking rod 116 extends through the housing 102. The closure locking rod 116 includes a first end 116a located at or near the top end of the housing 102. The first end 116a is configured to mate or engage with a correspondingly shaped pin 189 of the protective cap 190.

[0200] 37 to the closed position shown in FIG. 40, the pin 189 engages the first end 116a of the closure locking rod 116 and urges the closure locking rod 116 downward against the action of the restoring element 120. When the closure 103 is properly coupled to the housing 102 and the latch 114 is properly aligned with the latch keeper 115, the closure locking rod 116 is pushed, for example, downward toward the closure 103, thereby urging the latch 114 out of engagement with the latch keeper 115.

[0201] In this manner, the safety device 110 is operable to prevent movement of the closure 103 from the closed position toward the open position as long as the mechanical biasing member 150 is in a preloaded state or as long as the mechanical biasing member 150 is transitionable from a preloaded state to an unloaded state. Additionally, the safety device 110 is configured to prevent transition of the closure 103 from the closed position toward and to the open position as long as the protective cap 190 is in the open position and unless the protective cap 190 has reached the closed position.

[0202] In another example (not shown), the closure locking rod 116 is operatively engaged with one of the interlock 170 and the trigger 180. The closure locking rod 116 reaches the released or unlocked configuration shown in FIG. 44 only upon release of mechanical energy in the mechanical biasing member, for example, by actuation of the trigger 180 and / or by transitioning of the interlock 170 to an unlocked state. In this manner, the safety 110 is configured to prevent movement of the closure 103 toward the open position as long as the mechanical biasing member 150 is in a preloaded state.

[0203] 46 and 47, the movable member 135 of the spray delivery device 130 includes a threaded portion 139 on or at the movable member 135, where the entire spray delivery device 130 may be removably attached and secured by the threaded portion 139 to a correspondingly shaped threaded portion of the housing 102. The fluid dispensing device 100 includes a carrier 164 including a carrier sleeve 165 having female threads that mate with the male threaded portion 139 of the movable member 135.

[0204] The container 132 and possibly also the base 145 are non-rotatably locked to the movable member 135. When the closure 103 is removed from the housing 102, the bottom end of the container 132 protrudes from the bottom end of the housing 102 and can be easily grasped by a user. The user can apply torque to loosen the threaded connection between the movable member 135 and the carrier 164. In this manner, the entire spray delivery device 130 can be replaced with another spray delivery device 130. [Explanation of symbols]

[0205] 1 Fluid dispensing device 2. Housing 3. Closures 4 Bottom 5. Linked 6 Threaded part 7 Threaded part 8 Slit 9 Hinge 10 Safety equipment 13 Closure Lock 14 Latch 15 Latchkeeper 18 Recess 20. Housing 21 Orifice 22 Through hole 23 End face 24 Side wall 25 Guidance Structure 26 Containment Space 27 Jet Nozzle 28 Shaft part 29 Aperture 30 Spray Delivery Device 31 tube 32 Container 33 Inlet valve 35 Movable parts 36 Outlet valve 38 Chamber 39 Shoulder area 40 exit 41 Axis 42 Spring 45 Base 46 Through Hole 47 Compartments 48 Pressing piece 49 Bulkhead 50 biasing member 51 First end 52 Second end 60 Mechanical Coupler 61 Contact part 62 Strut 63 Corner 64 Career 65 Sleeve 66 Bottom 70 Interlock 71 Catch function 72 Snap function 73 Elastic Members 74 Spring 75 Aperture 80 Trigger 81 pin 87 Extension 90 Protective Cap 90a Cap part 91 Hollow interior 92 Extension 94 Side wall 95 Fastening Function 96 Counter-fastening function 100 Fluid dispensing device 102 Housing 103 Closures 104 Bottom 105 Consolidated 106 Screw part 107 Screw part 110 Safety equipment 113 Closure Lock 114 Latch 115 Latchkeeper 116 Closure lock rod 116a first end 116b Second end 117 Restoration Element 118 Beveled Edge 119 Through Hole 120 Restoration Element 121 Orifice 122 Through Hole 123 End face 124 Side wall 125 Guidance Structure 126 Containment Space 128 Receptacle 129 Contact surface 130 Nebulization Delivery Device 131 tube 132 Container 133 Inlet valve 135 Movable parts 136 Outlet valve 138 Chamber 139 Screw part 140 Exit 141 Axis 142 Spring 145 Base 147 Compartment 150 biasing member 151 First end 152 Second End 155 Auxiliary spring 156 First End 157 Second End 160 Mechanical Coupler 161 Contact part 162 Extension 163 Rack part 164 Career 165 Sleeve 166 Pinion 167 Receptacle 168 Rack part 170 Interlock 171 Catch function 172 Snap function 173 Elastic Members 174 Legs 176 Bridge piece 177 Guidance Structure 180 Trigger 181 Pin 182 Buttons 183 Spring 189 Pin 190 Protective Cap 190a Cap part 191 Hollow interior 192 Extension 193 Handle 194 Side wall 195 Fastening Function 196 Fastening Function 197 Contact part 198 Pivot Axis 199 Extension

Claims

1. A fluid dispensing device (1;100) comprising: A housing (2; 102) including an orifice (21; 212), the housing (2; 102) configured to accommodate at least a portion of a spray delivery device (30; 130) including a container (32; 132) and an outlet (40; 140) through which a fluid contained in the spray delivery device (30; 130) can be discharged. The fluid dispensing device comprises: a mechanical biasing member (50; 150) reversibly transitionable between a preloaded state and an unloaded state and configured to store mechanical energy in the preloaded state effective to generate a spray emission of the spray delivery device (30; 130); a closure (3; 103) securable to the housing (2; 102) and movable relative to the housing (2; 102) between a closed position and an open position, wherein when in the open position a container (32; 132) of the spray delivery device (30; 130) is accessible from outside the housing (2; 102); a releasable interlock (70; 170) configured to hold the biasing member (50; 150) in a preloaded state; a manually actuatable trigger (80; 180) in operative engagement with the interlock (70; 170) and configured to release the interlock (70; 170) upon actuation; and a safety device (10; 110) comprising: configured to prevent movement of the closure (3; 103) from the closed position towards the open position so long as the mechanical biasing member (50; 150) is in a preloaded state; The fluid dispensing device.

2. The fluid dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the safety device (10; 110) includes a carrier (64; 164) mechanically engageable with the spray delivery device (30; 130) or a movable member (35; 135) of the spray delivery device (30; 130), the carrier (64; 164) being engaged with a mechanical biasing member (50; 150) and movably disposed within the housing from an unbiased position towards and to a biased position against the force effect of the mechanical biasing member (50; 150).

3. The fluid dispensing device of claim 2, wherein when in the biased position, the carrier (64; 164) is engaged with the closure (3; 103) to prevent movement of the closure from the closed position towards the open position.

4. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the closure (3; 103) is engaged with at least one of an interlock (70; 170) and a trigger (80; 180), and the closure (3; 103) is transferable or movable from a closed position to an open position only when the interlock (70; 170) is released or the trigger (80; 180) is actuated.

5. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one of the trigger (80; 180) and the interlock (70; 170) is operably engaged with the closure (3; 103) and can be moved to an unlocked or activated state only when the closure (3; 103) is in a closed position.

6. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a protective cap (90) configured to accommodate the outlet (40; 140) of the spray delivery device (30; 130), the protective cap (90; 190) being configured to fit onto the housing (2; 102) at least in a closed position relative to the housing (2; 102) in which the protective cap (90; 190) covers the orifice (21).

7. A fluid dispensing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a closure lock (13; 113) engaged with the housing (2; 102) and the closure (3; 103), wherein the closure lock (13; 113) is transitionable between a locked state in which the closure (3; 103) is locked to the housing (2; 102) and an unlocked state in which the closure (3; 103) is movable relative to the housing (2; 102).

8. 8. The fluid dispensing device of claim 7, wherein the closure lock (13; 113) includes a latch (14; 114) on one of the housing (2; 102) and the closure (3; 103) and a latch keeper (15; 115) on the other of the housing (2; 102) and the closure (3; 103), the closure lock (13: 113) being in a locked state when the latch (14; 114) is engaged with the latch keeper (15; 115), and the closure lock (13: 113) being in an unlocked state when the latch (14; 114) and the latch keeper (15; 115) are disengaged.

9. 9. The fluid dispensing device of claim 7 or 8, wherein the closure lock (13; 113) is operably engaged with at least one of the interlock (70; 170), the trigger (80; 180), and the protective cap (90; 190), and the closure lock (13; 113) is transitionable from a locked state towards or to an unlocked state by at least one of the interlock (70; 170), the trigger (80; 180), and the protective cap (90; 190).

10. 10. The fluid dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising a closure locking rod (116) slidably disposed within the housing (102), the closure locking rod (116) including a first end (116a) and a second end (116b), the first end (116a) configured to engage with one of an interlock (170), a trigger (180), and a protective cap (190), and the second end (116b) configured to engage with the closure lock (113).

11. A fluid dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the mechanical biasing member (50; 150) comprises a first end (51; 151) and a second end (52; 152), the first end (51; 151) being operatively engaged with the spray delivery device (30; 130) and the second end (52; 152) being engaged with the closure (3; 103).

12. A fluid dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the transition of the mechanical biasing member (50; 150) between the preloaded state and the unloaded state comprises movement of at least a portion of the mechanical biasing member (50; 150) along the longitudinal direction, and at least one of the closure (3; 103) and the container (32; 132) is movable along an exchange direction for exchange of the container (32; 132), the exchange direction extending transversely to the longitudinal direction.

13. A fluid dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the spray delivery device (30; 130) or a part thereof is arranged inside the housing (2; 102) and the outlet (40; 140) of the spray delivery device (30; 130) coincides with or is aligned with the orifice (21; 121).

14. 14. The fluid dispensing device of claim 13, wherein the spray delivery device (30; 130) comprises a base (45; 145), and the outlet (40; 140) is movable relative to the base (45; 145) to release a dose of fluid through the outlet (40; 140).

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