Fluid dispensing device

Abstract

A fluid discharge device comprising a body (10), a container (20) preferably made of glass and including a neck (21), a discharge member (30) such as a pump or valve attached to the container (20), a lateral actuation system (40) fixed to the body (10) and having a lever (42) pivotally attached to the body (10), and at least one lateral protrusion (25) formed on the container (20), specifically on or directly below its neck, which cooperates with the lateral actuation system (40), specifically with the lever (42), during operation. The lateral projections (25) are two parallel lateral projections (25) extending symmetrically from each side of the container (20), and a radial recess (24) is defined between the two parallel lateral projections (25), and the radial recess (24) cooperates with the main body (10) to guide the container (10) axially during operation. [Selected figure] Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to fluid ejection devices, and more particularly to nasal spray devices for medication. [Background technology]

[0002] Fluid ejection devices are known in the art. Fluid ejection devices typically include a container containing a fluid, with a discharge member attached to the container. The discharge member, such as a pump or valve, is actuated by a discharge head to selectively eject fluid from the container. The discharge head has a discharge orifice through which fluid is sprayed, for example, into a user's nose in the case of a nasal spray device. Many such devices are activated by a user manually moving the container and the discharge head axially toward each other to activate the discharge member. However, such devices have the following drawbacks: When a user applies axial force to activate the device, particularly in the case of a nasal spray device, the discharge head may move within the user's nostril, potentially resulting in injury to the user or incomplete or improper delivery of fluid upon activation. To address this issue, laterally actuated devices have been proposed. These devices typically include a lever pivotally attached to the body. An inner portion of the lever is configured to move one of the discharge head and the container relative to the other to activate the discharge member. However, such devices are typically quite complex and have a high part count, making them relatively expensive to manufacture and assemble, and the interface between the radial movement of the lateral actuation system and the axial movement of the discharge member to effect actuation is often complex and prone to failure.

[0003] Patent Documents 1 to 11 disclose conventional devices. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] German Patent No. 19610456 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. WO2002 / 20168 [Patent Document 3] French Patent Application Publication No. 2812826 [Patent Document 4] U.S. Patent No. 3,739,941 [Patent Document 5] International Publication No. WO2001 / 03851 [Patent Document 6] International Publication No. WO2003 / 095007 [Patent Document 7] International Publication No. WO2005 / 075105 [Patent Document 8] International Publication No. WO2006 / 109021 [Patent Document 9] International Publication No. WO2009 / 153512 [Patent Document 10] International Publication No. WO2009 / 068877 [Patent Document 11] European Patent Application Publication No. 1170061 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluid ejection device that does not suffer from the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a fluid delivery device, particularly a nasal spray device, whose safe and reliable operation is assured and which does not pose a risk of injury to the user.

[0007] More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fluid ejection device that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention thus provides a fluid dispensing device comprising: a body, a container, preferably made of glass, including a neck; a dispensing member, such as a pump or valve, attached to the container; a lateral actuation system having a lever fixed to and pivotally attached to the body; and at least one lateral protrusion formed on the container, specifically on or directly below the neck, which cooperates with the lateral actuation system, specifically the lever, during actuation. The lateral protrusions are two parallel lateral protrusions extending symmetrically from each side of the container, with a radial recess defined between the two parallel lateral protrusions. The radial recess cooperates with the body to guide the container axially during actuation.

[0009] Advantageously, the lateral projections have rounded surfaces which cooperate with the lateral actuation system, in particular with the levers.

[0010] Advantageously, the at least one lateral projection is integrally formed with the container.

[0011] Advantageously, the discharge member is a pump and includes a piston sliding along its body. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] The detailed description and accompanying drawings that follow will clarify the features and advantages of the invention by way of non-limiting examples. [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an apparatus in a standby state in accordance with an advantageous embodiment; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the device in operation; [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an assembly comprising a container and a pump assembled thereto, according to a first modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a container according to a second modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. [Figure 5] 3 is another schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a container according to a second modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] In the following description, the terms "axial," "lateral," and "radial" refer to directions relative to the longitudinal axis A shown in FIGS.

[0014] The fluid ejection device shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a body 10. Advantageously, the body 10 incorporates an ejection orifice 5. Alternatively, the ejection orifice may be formed in an ejection head that is assembled and fixed to the body.

[0015] A container 20 containing a fluid to be dispensed is arranged inside the main body. A discharge member 30 is attached to a neck 21 of the container 20 by a known method, in particular by means of a fixing ring. The discharge member 30 may be a pump or a valve. The unit formed by the container 20 and the discharge member 30 is movable axially inside the main body 10 during operation. This allows a single dose of fluid to be dispensed through the discharge port 5.

[0016] The discharge member 30 is advantageously a pump, which includes a piston sliding through its body, and the construction of such discharge members is known and therefore, for the sake of simplicity, is not shown in detail.

[0017] To operate the device, the main body 10 includes a lateral actuation system 40. Advantageously, the lateral actuation system 40 includes a lever 42 mounted on the main body 10 so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis P. The lever 42 cooperates in operation with the unit formed by the container 20 and the discharge member 30.

[0018] The lateral actuation system 40 cooperates with at least one lateral protrusion 25. The lateral protrusion 25 is formed on the container 20, in particular on or directly below its neck 21, for example during molding of the container 20.

[0019] In the embodiment shown, the lateral projection 25 cooperates directly with the cam surface 43 of the lever 42. Alternatively, a mobile element can be provided, which is mounted to swing inside the lever 42 and which is capable of cooperating with at least one lateral projection 25 of the container 20.

[0020] In the present invention, two parallel lateral projections 25 extend symmetrically from each side of the container 20. This configuration allows the lateral projections 25 on one side and the other side to be arranged separately on both sides of the longitudinal axis A, thereby reducing the dimensions of the lever 42 and eliminating the need to orient the container 20 during assembly. Another advantage of this configuration is that the radial recess 24 defined between the two parallel lateral projections 25 can be used to axially guide the container 20 during movement. This guidance is achieved in particular by providing a portion of the body 10 with a shape suitable for this guidance.

[0021] In a first variant shown in Figure 3, the lateral projection 25 is located on the neck 21 of the container 20. In a second variant shown in Figures 4 and 5, the lateral projection 25 is located directly below the neck 21 in the upright position shown in the figure.

[0022] Preferably, the container 20 is made of glass, so that the lateral projections 25, also made of glass, have a favorable coefficient of friction in contact with the lateral actuation system 40, and in particular with the levers 42. This configuration avoids the need to siliconize the lateral projections 25, as is usually necessary when friction occurs between plastic parts.

[0023] Advantageously, the lateral projection 25 has a rounded contact surface which cooperates with the cam surface 43 of the lever 42 .

[0024] Therefore, according to the present invention, not only is it possible to reduce the number of parts by not providing a mating ring for cooperating with the lateral actuation system, but it is also possible to simplify the assembly method by eliminating the siliconization step required for such a mating ring.

[0025] Although the present invention has been described based on an embodiment, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art can make any beneficial modifications without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. 1. A fluid ejection device, comprising: A main body (10); A container (20) preferably made of glass, including a container body, a neck portion (21) above the container body, and a tapered portion interposed between the container body and the neck portion (21) and having a width wider than that of the neck portion (21) in a side view as it moves downward from the neck portion (21); a discharge member (30), such as a pump or valve, attached to the neck (21) of the container (20) using a fixing ring; a lateral actuation system (40) fixed to the body (10) and having a lever (42) pivotally mounted on the body (10) about a pivot axis (P); at least one lateral protrusion (25) formed directly on the tapered portion of the container (20) and cooperating with the lateral actuation system (40), in particular with the lever (42), during actuation; Equipped with The lateral protrusions (25) are two parallel lateral protrusions (25) extending symmetrically from each side of the container (20), A radial recess (24) is defined between the two parallel lateral projections (25) on each side of the container (20), The radial recess (24) cooperates with the body (10) to guide the container (20) axially during the operation; The lever (42) is provided with a cam surface (43) that contacts the lateral protrusion (25) at a downstream side in the swing direction around the swing axis (P), As the lever (42) swings, the cam surface (43) moves obliquely relative to the axial direction while contacting the lower part of the lateral protrusion (25), applying an upward force component to the lateral protrusion (25), thereby pushing up the container (20). A fluid ejection device comprising:

2. The lateral projection (25) has a rounded surface that cooperates with the lateral actuation system (40), in particular with the lever (42). The fluid ejection device according to claim 1 .

3. The at least one lateral projection (25) is integrally formed with the container (20).

3. The fluid ejection device according to claim 1, wherein the ejection head is a nozzle.

4. The discharge member (30) is a pump and includes a piston that slides along its body.

4. The fluid ejection device according to claim 1, wherein the ejection head is a nozzle.

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