Device for dispensing a fluid product

Abstract

The invention relates to a device comprising a reservoir containing at least one dose of fluid, a head (10) comprising an orifice (12), and dispensing means (2, 3; 20) for dispensing a dose of fluid upon each actuation, the device comprising a rod (14) fixed to the head, the rod being provided with a channel (14a) closed axially at the lower side and communicating with the outside via a radial orifice (14'), a sleeve (40) being arranged around the rod, the sleeve being movable and / or deformable between closed and open positions, the sleeve comprising an elastically deformable part (41) for generating a pre-compression during the actuation, and a first internal lip (42) forming an outlet valve, the first internal lip closing the radial orifice in the closed position and opening the radial orifice in the open position, the elastically deformable part (41) of the sleeve (40) comprising a hollow cylindrical perforated tube provided with deformation ribs.

Description

Fluid product dispensing device

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for distributing fluid products, in particular a nasal spray device.

[0002] There are several types of nasal spray delivery devices.

[0003] One type of device includes syringes associated with spray heads to generate a spray, in particular a nasal spray.

[0004] A second type of device includes fluid product distribution pumps.

[0005] In both cases, pre-compression during actuation is generally desirable. This allows energy to be stored in the user's hand at the start of the actuation, and this energy is then abruptly released upon activation to ensure perfect atomization of the entire dose of fluid to be dispensed. This typically requires one or more additional parts, which complicates the manufacturing and assembly of the device.

[0006] Furthermore, these devices generally contain one or two metal springs, which is not advantageous from a recycling point of view.

[0007] Documents FR3138655 and WO2022263771 describe state-of-the-art devices.

[0008] The present invention aims to provide a fluid product distribution device that does not reproduce the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0009] The present invention also aims to provide a fluid product distribution device that improves recycling by eliminating metal parts.

[0010] The present invention also aims to provide a fluid product distribution device that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, in particular by reducing the number of parts.

[0011] The present design therefore relates to a fluid product distribution device comprising a reservoir containing at least one dose of fluid product, a distribution head comprising a distribution orifice and distribution means for dispensing a dose of fluid product with each actuation, said device comprising an axial rod fixed to said distribution head, said axial rod being provided with an internal axial channel closed axially on the lower side and communicating with the outside by a radial orifice, a sleeve being disposed around said axial rod, said sleeve being movable and / or deformable between a closed position and an open position, said sleeve comprising on the one hand an elastically deformable part to generate a pre-compression during actuation, and on the other hand a first internal lip forming an outlet valve,said first internal lip closing said radial orifice in the closed position and opening said radial orifice in the open position, said elastically deformable part of said sleeve comprising a hollow cylindrical tube with perforations and provided with deformation ribs.

[0012] According to a first advantageous embodiment, said distribution means comprise a syringe piston and an actuating rod, said syringe piston sliding axially in a syringe-shaped reservoir.

[0013] Advantageously, said distribution head is integral with a connecting member, which defines a central axial channel and which includes fastening means, notably of the Luer type, for attaching to said syringe-shaped reservoir.

[0014] Advantageously, said axial rod is interposed between said connecting member and said distribution head.

[0015] According to a second advantageous embodiment, said distribution means comprise a pump having a pump body containing a pump chamber, said sleeve having an external lip forming a piston sliding in said pump body between a rest position and an actuation position, an elastic return member being provided to return said pump to its rest position after each actuation.

[0016] Advantageously, said pump body has an upper opening closed by said sleeve and a lower opening sealed by an inlet valve, held in place by a valve holder fixed in said pump body, said sleeve sliding in a sealed manner in said pump body around said hollow axial rod connected to said distribution head, said sleeve having on a radially external edge said external lip forming a piston, and on a radially internal edge said first internal lip forming an outlet valve, to seal in a sealed manner at rest said radial orifice.

[0017] Advantageously, said sleeve includes fastening means for fixing said sleeve to said axial rod.

[0018] Advantageously, the said elastic return element is non-metallic.

[0019] Advantageously, said elastic return member is a bellows disposed between said distribution head and a part fixed on said pump body, such as a fixing ring.

[0020] Advantageously, a fixing ring is provided to fix said pump body onto a tank with interposition of a neck seal, a ring seal being provided to ensure the sealing of said fixing ring with said pump body.

[0021] Advantageously, in the rest position, an upper axial edge of said sleeve cooperates in a watertight manner with said ring seal.

[0022] Advantageously, said sleeve includes a second internal lip cooperating in a watertight manner with said axial rod in all positions.

[0023] These features and advantages, and others, will become clearer in the following detailed description, made with reference to the attached drawings, given as non-limiting examples, and on which:

[0024] This is a schematic perspective view, cut out, of a fluid product distribution device according to a first advantageous embodiment, in its rest position.

[0025] Figures 2 and 3 are schematic views of a variant embodiment of the device, respectively in its rest and actuation positions.

[0026] cf

[0027] This is a schematic perspective view of a deformable element, according to a first embodiment variant.

[0028] laest a cutaway view of the deformable element of the,

[0029] This is a schematic perspective view, cut out, of a fluid product distribution device according to a second advantageous embodiment, in its rest position.

[0030] This is a detailed view of the device, in the pre-compression position.

[0031] laest a view similar to that of the, in actuation position, and

[0032] laest a schematic perspective view of a deformable element, according to a second embodiment variant.

[0033] In the description, the terms "upper," "lower," "top," and "bottom" refer to the upright position of the device as shown in the figures. The terms "axial" and "radial" refer to the longitudinal central axis of the device.

[0034] Figure 10 represents a spray head mounted on a syringe-type reservoir 1. Preferably, the reservoir 1 contains a single dose of fluid product, generally a liquid, which is dispensed in a single actuation. However, it should be noted that the reservoir 1 could contain more than one dose, with dose-splitting means to dispense the reservoir contents in several successive actuations.

[0035] Conventionally, suitable dispensing means can be provided within the syringe 1 to distribute its contents. Typically, these dispensing means comprise a syringe plunger 2 attached to an actuating rod 3, which is operated by the user during dispensing. Of course, different dispensing means could be considered, for example, automatic dispensing means such as auto-injectors, or devices with a compressible reservoir to expel the fluid product, such as flexible bags or Blow Fill Seal (BFS) devices. However, since these dispensing means are not directly involved in the present invention, they will not be described in further detail below.

[0036] The spray head 10 comprises a body 11 with a spray orifice 12. Preferably, as shown in the drawings, the spray head 10 is of the nasal type, with an elongated body 11 to penetrate a nostril and the spray orifice 12 located at the distal axial end of said body, in the direction of fluid flow during actuation. Advantageously, an insert 13 is located upstream of the spray orifice 12 to generate a spray, for example, by means of a well-known spray pattern (not shown in the drawings).

[0037] The body 11 is integral with a connecting member 15, which defines a central axial channel 16 and which includes fastening means 17 for attaching to a reservoir 1, in particular a syringe body as shown in the figure. Preferably, the body 11 of the dispensing head 1 is fixed to the connecting member 15, but these two parts could also be formed as a single unit, for example by additive manufacturing.

[0038] Advantageously, the fastening means 17 are adapted to cooperate with a standard Luer 5 type fastening provided on the front end of the syringe 1. In a well known manner, and as seen in the figure, these fastening means 17 comprise at least one external radial projection adapted to cooperate with an internal thread of said standard Luer 5 type fastening of the syringe 1.

[0039] The device includes an outlet valve forming pre-compression means enabling the generation of a calibrated spray through the spray orifice 12.

[0040] The outlet valve is formed by a sleeve 40 mounted to slide between an open position and a closed position in said connecting member 15 around an axial rod 14. This axial rod 14 is interposed between the connecting member 15 and the body 11. The axial rod 14 is hollow and has an axial channel 14a and a radial orifice 14' opening laterally into said connecting member 15. In the closed position, a first internal lip 42 of the sleeve 40 closes the radial orifice 14', as seen in the figure, and in the open position, the first internal lip 42 has moved axially upwards to open the radial orifice 14'.

[0041] According to the invention, an elastically deformable portion 41 of said sleeve 40, acting as a spring, forces said sleeve 14 towards its closed position, in which it closes said radial orifice 14'. Upon a predetermined pressure exerted by the fluid on the sleeve 40, said elastically deformable portion 41 deforms, as shown in the figure. This causes the sleeve 40 to move from its closed position to its open position. It is therefore this elastically deformable portion 41 of the sleeve 40 that determines the pre-compression threshold above which the outlet valve opens.

[0042] Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a variant embodiment of sleeve 40.

[0043] Advantageously, the elastically deformable part 41 has cutouts 48 arranged in a staggered or helical pattern over a portion of the height of the sleeve 40, so that this elastically deformable part 41 can compress like a spring during actuation, and return elastically to its undeformed position after actuation.

[0044] Other implementations of the elastically deformable part 41 are possible, for example in the form of a bellows, as will be described in particular below with reference to the second embodiment of figures 6 to 9.

[0045] The sleeve 40 advantageously includes an external lip 44 to ensure sealing between the sleeve 40 and the connecting member 15.

[0046] The sleeve 40 advantageously includes a second internal lip 43 cooperating in a sealed manner with the axial rod 14 in all positions of the sleeve 40.

[0047] To perform the actuation, the user presses axially on the actuation rod 3 to push the syringe piston 2 into the syringe 1. When the fluid pressure is sufficient to overcome the resistance to deformation of the elastically deformable part 41, the sleeve 40 uncovers the radial orifice 14', allowing the expulsion of the fluid.

[0048] Lare represents a pump 20 according to a second advantageous embodiment, which improves upon a prior art pump such as described for example in document WO2020128269A1.

[0049] This pump 20 comprises a pump body 22 containing a pump chamber 21. The pump body 22 is axially open on both sides, with a top opening, advantageously closed by a sleeve 40 having an external lip 44 forming a piston, and a bottom opening, advantageously closed by an inlet valve 30.

[0050] A fixing ring 5 is provided to fix the pump body 22 onto the neck of a reservoir (not shown), preferably with the interposition of a neck seal 6. A ring seal 7 ensures the sealing of the fixing ring 5 with the pump body 22.

[0051] The sleeve 40 slides in a sealed manner in the pump body 22, between a rest position and an actuation position, around a hollow axial rod 14 having an internal axial channel 14a.

[0052] To ensure sealing, a second internal lip 43 of the sleeve 40 cooperates in a sealing manner with the axial rod 14 in all positions of the sleeve 40.

[0053] Advantageously, the sleeve 40 is fixed to the axial rod 14. In the example of figures 6 to 8, the sleeve 40 has fixing means 46, such as flats, which cooperate with the shoulder 18 of the axial rod 14.

[0054] The internal axial channel 14a opens axially towards the top of the rod 14 to connect to a distribution head 10 provided with a body 11 and a distribution orifice 12.

[0055] Towards the bottom, the internal axial channel 14a is advantageously closed axially, and the axial rod 14 has a radial orifice 14' to connect the internal axial channel 14a with the pump chamber 21.

[0056] An elastic return element 50, advantageously non-metallic, is provided to move the pump towards its rest position, and return it to this rest position after each actuation.

[0057] In the example shown, this elastic return element 50 is formed by a bellows located between the distribution head 10 and the retaining ring 5, which elastically forces the distribution head towards its rest position. During actuation, this bellows 50 is compressed, so that after actuation, the compressed bellows elastically returns to its uncompressed position, carrying the distribution head 10 with it towards its rest position. This, in turn, returns the sleeve 40 to its rest position, drawing the next dose of fluid into the pump chamber 21. More precisely, when the axial rod 14 returns to its rest position after actuation, it carries the sleeve 40 with it, so that the external lip 44, acting as a piston, draws the next dose of fluid into the pump chamber 21.

[0058] The pump body 22 is advantageously closed downwards by the inlet valve 30, held in place by a valve holder 31. This inlet valve 30 closes the lower opening of the pump body, communicating with the interior of the tank, and to which a dip tube 29 can be connected in a conventional and well-known manner.

[0059] The axial rod 14 advantageously has a shoulder 18, which serves in particular to limit the upward movement of the rod 14, by forming a stop with the ring seal 7.

[0060] When the pump is at rest, an upper edge 45 of the sleeve 40 is advantageously applied against the ring seal 7.

[0061] The seal between the sleeve 40 and the axial rod 14 is ensured by the second internal lip 43 of the sleeve 40.

[0062] At rest, the radial orifice 14' is advantageously aligned with the first internal lip 42, so as to be perfectly closed.

[0063] To achieve pre-compression during actuation, which notably ensures good distribution of the entire dose without risk of partial actuation stroke, the sleeve 40 includes an elastically deformable part 41.

[0064] This elastically deformable part 41 comprises a hollow cylindrical tube with perforations and deformation ribs, as seen in the figure.

[0065] According to the invention, the sleeve 40 therefore forms a single multi-functional monobloc piece, performing the following functions: - the outer lip 44 forms the piston of the pump, which expels the fluid product during the actuation stroke, and which draws in the next dose of fluid product during the return stroke, - the first inner lip 42 forms the outlet valve of the pump, and - the elastically deformable part 41 forms the pre-compression element of the pump.

[0066] At the beginning of the actuation stroke, the force exerted by the user on the distribution head 10 will be transmitted via the shoulder 18 of the rod 14 to the sleeve 40.

[0067] From a threshold force, the elastically deformable part 41 will be able to deform by folding back.

[0068] The resistance to this elastic deformation generates a resistance to actuation, and therefore a pre-compression, which requires the application of said threshold force to achieve the actuation of the pump.

[0069] After each actuation, as soon as the user releases pressure on the dispensing head 10, the sleeve 40 automatically returns to its position of closing the radial orifice 14', thus allowing the pump chamber 21 to be loaded with a new dose of fluid product drawn from the reservoir.

[0070] A vent (not shown) may advantageously be provided in the pump body 22 to allow the product expelled by the pump to be replaced by air at each actuation.

[0071] The pump described above operates as follows. At rest, the seal inside the reservoir (not shown) is ensured by the neck seal 6 between the ring 5 and the reservoir (not shown), by the ring seal 7 between the ring 5 and the pump body 22, by the contact between the upper edge 45 of the sleeve 40 and the ring seal 7, and by the second internal lip 43 of the sleeve 40 against the hollow axial rod 14.

[0072] The reservoir, not shown in the drawings, and which can be any type, is filled with a liquid, in particular a pharmaceutical one, to be distributed, especially to be sprayed.

[0073] The fixing ring 5 can be made of plastic. It can be screwed, crimped, snapped into place or otherwise fixed to the tank.

[0074] The user must first prime the pump 20 by running it to expel the air until the pump chamber 21 is filled with liquid.

[0075] When the pump returns to the rest position, liquid is drawn into the pump chamber 21 through the dip tube 29, in a well-known manner.

[0076] The pump is then ready to be used to dispense a dose of liquid with each actuation.

[0077] To achieve such an actuation, the user presses axially on the distribution head 10 to push in the rod 14. Since the liquid is incompressible, the sleeve 40 moves around the rod 14, deforming its elastically deformable part 41. When the pressure is sufficient to overcome the resistance to deformation of the elastically deformable part 41, the sleeve 40 uncovers the radial orifice 14', allowing the liquid to be expelled from the pump chamber 21.

[0078] The liquid is rapidly expelled through the radial orifice 14' and the internal channel 14a towards the distribution head 10 assembled on the pump 20.

[0079] After which, the user ceases to exert pressure on the rod 14. The elastically deformable part 41 immediately causes the sleeve 40 to return to its rest position, which ensures the closure of the radial orifice 14', and closes the pump chamber 21 with respect to the distribution head 10. Simultaneously, the bellows 50 returns the distribution head 10 to its rest position, which drives the rod 14 upwards. This creates a vacuum in the pump chamber 21, so that liquid is drawn through the dip tube 29, lifting the valve 30, while air replaces this liquid in the reservoir, passing through the central opening of the ring seal 7 around the rod 14, and possibly through the vent.

[0080] When the upper edge 45 of the sleeve 40 comes into contact with the ring seal 7, no more air can enter, and the sleeve 40 is blocked, the pump has returned to its rest position and is ready for a new actuation.

[0081] One advantage of the pump 20 shown on the diagram is that it contains no metal parts, which on the one hand makes the manufacture and assembly of the pump less complex and therefore less expensive, and on the other hand is advantageous for recycling.

[0082] Another advantage is that the pump has a reduced number of component parts, including a single one-piece unit that performs the functions of piston, outlet valve and pre-compression element.

[0083] The present invention has been described with reference to several advantageous embodiments and variants, but it is understood that a person skilled in the art may make any modifications to them, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

A fluid product dispensing device comprising a reservoir containing at least one dose of fluid product, a dispensing head (10) having a dispensing orifice (12) and dispensing means (2, 3; 20) for dispensing a dose of fluid product at each actuation, said device comprising an axial rod (14) fixed to said dispensing head (10), said axial rod (14) being provided with an internal axial channel (14a) closed axially on the lower side and communicating with the outside by a radial orifice (14'), a sleeve (40) being disposed around said axial rod (14), said sleeve (40) being movable and / or deformable between a closed position and an open position, said sleeve (40) comprising on the one hand an elastically deformable portion (41) to generate pre-compression during actuation, and on the other hand a first internal lip (42) forming an outlet valve,said first internal lip (42) closing said radial orifice (14') in the closed position and opening said radial orifice (14') in the open position, characterized in that said elastically deformable part (41) of said sleeve (40) comprises a hollow cylindrical tube with perforations and deformation ribs. Device according to claim 1, wherein said distribution means (2, 3) comprise a syringe piston (2) and an actuating rod (3), said syringe piston (2) sliding axially in a syringe-shaped reservoir (1). Device according to claim 2, wherein said distribution head (10) is integral with a connecting member (15), which defines a central axial channel (16) and which includes fastening means (17), in particular of the Luer type, for attaching to said syringe-shaped reservoir (1). Device according to claim 3, wherein said axial rod (14) is interposed between said connecting member (15) and said distribution head (10). Device according to claim 1, wherein said distribution means (20) comprise a pump having a pump body (22) containing a pump chamber (21), said sleeve (40) having an external lip (44) forming a piston sliding in said pump body (22) between a rest position and an actuation position, an elastic return member (50) being provided to return said pump to its rest position after each actuation. Device according to claim 5, wherein said pump body (22) has an upper opening closed by said sleeve (40) and a lower opening sealed by an inlet valve (30), held in place by a valve holder (31) fixed in said pump body (22), said sleeve (40) sliding in a sealed manner in said pump body (22) around said hollow axial rod (14) connected to said distribution head (10), said sleeve (40) having on a radially external edge said external lip (44) forming a piston, and on a radially internal edge said first internal lip (42) forming an outlet valve, to seal in a sealed manner at rest said radial orifice (14'). Device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said sleeve (40) includes fastening means (46) for fixing said sleeve (40) to said axial rod (14). Device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein said elastic return member (50) is non-metallic. Device according to claim 8, wherein said elastic return member (50) is a bellows disposed between said distribution head (10) and a part fixed on said pump body (22), such as a fixing ring (5). Device according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein a fixing ring (5) is provided for fixing said pump body (22) onto a reservoir with interposition of a neck seal (6), a ring seal (7) being provided to ensure the sealing of said fixing ring (5) with said pump body (22). Device according to claim 10, wherein, in the rest position, an upper axial edge (45) of said sleeve (40) cooperates in a sealed manner with said ring seal (7). Device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said elastically deformable part (41) of said sleeve (40) comprises a hollow cylindrical tube with perforations and deformation ribs. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said sleeve (40) comprises a second internal lip (43) cooperating in a sealed manner with said axial rod (14) in all positions.

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