EP0662352B1 - Device for storing and distributing a liquid product - Google Patents

Abstract

Container/dispenser consists of a glass ampoule (1) contg. the prod. (P), opened by breaking it off at the neck, and a miniature dosing pump (2) comprising a tubular body with an intake tube (22) containing a piston, the hollow rod (30) of which forms the outlet. It has a sealed coupling (5) to fit the pump onto the ampoule, and a dispensing head (4). The sealed coupling (5) is in the form of an elastically-deformable cap which is fixed onto the pump by an upper collar (50) and shaped to fit over and seal the top of the ampoule by means of a lower skirt (51), the pump and cap forming an inner shoulder to engage with the upper edge (12) of the ampoule. The cap has a radial stretch capacity of between 10-25 %, and a friction coefficient with the ampoule of ≥ 0.20.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for packaging and distribution of a liquid product.

To avoid any degradation or contamination, some products and especially alterable pharmaceuticals are packed in sterile packaging such as ampoules glass likely to be opened at their neck by rupture of a breakable tip.

Although they can only be stored or used for long periods relatively short durations after opening, these products can be intended to be delivered directly from these ampoules in doses successive.

However, the open bulb is fragile and, above the shoulder, its collar has a lip with a sharp edge of irregular contour.

EP-A-0065 432 (Ets VALOIS) describes a device for the use of a breakable ampoule of spray product comprising a pump fixed on the upper end of a tubular element while that its lower end is open to allow the housing of the bulb.

The tubular element further comprises means such as a lip ensuring sealing and positioning of the bulb by pressing on its neck and means for retaining the bulb in the element tubular such as a boss or lower heel.

However, this document does not envisage a shoulder coming in support on the lip of the neck of the bulb. In this document, the lip does not only enclose the neck of the bulb.

US-A-3 120 906 describes a dispenser comprising a pump and an assembly element on the neck of a container. The element assembly consists of an elastically deformable skirt whose internal wall is provided with lips intended to come into bearing contact against the neck of the container.

In known devices, the glass bulb after having been open, is inserted from below into a carrying case in its part upper part of a pump fitted with a spray nozzle. The case, fairly rigid and integral with the pump, has a ring which takes under the bottom of the bulb to hold it inside while maintaining its shoulder in abutment against an annular internal stop disposed at the part top of the case.

However, it remains difficult to ensure good mechanical strength and a satisfactory seal, which compromises sterility and qualities of the packaged product.

The object of the present invention is to solve these problems techniques satisfactorily.

This goal is achieved by means of a conditioning device and distribution of a liquid product comprising, on the one hand, a glass bulb in which said product is enclosed, susceptible to be open at the level of its neck by breaking a breakable point, and on the other hand, a conventional miniature metering pump provided with a body tubular carrying a grip tube containing a piston whose rod hollow serves as an ejection conduit protruding opposite this tube and having a vent that the piston closes at rest, means tight assembly of the pump on the bulb; and finally, a head vending machine serving as a pusher. According to the invention, the means waterproof assembly consist of a resilient socket deformable including an upper belt for waterproof fixing on the upper part of the pump body and a suitable lower skirt intended to cover the neck of the bulb with tight radial tightening and, on the other hand, at least a shoulder carried by said socket and / or said pump and against which the lip of the bulb is capable of coming to bear by pressure on the bottom of the bulb against the head.

Advantageously, before mounting, the internal diameter of the belt forming the upper part the socket is lower than that of the upper part of the pump body and is mounted on this body in abutment, by fitting.

Preferably, in its lower part, the diameter of the body is lower than the mouth of the neck of the bulb so that be able to be introduced.

According to a variant, said bulb comprises a bulb forming said neck below the break line of the breakable tip.

According to the invention, the skirt supports mounting a radial extension rate of between 10 and 25% and that the coefficient of friction of the socket on the glass is at least 0.20.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the internal face of said skirt has, at least in its lower part in contact with the bulb, peripheral ribs forming clamping surfaces radial.

According to another variant and in particular when the diameter of the pump is everywhere lower than that of the neck of the bulb, the socket wears, at the birth of its belt, a first delimiting shoulder a tight central retaining housing for the pump, while at the birth of the skirt exists a second shoulder which will come to cap the bulb lip open.

Advantageously, the socket then comprises a sleeve internal which protrudes from the shoulders inwards of the bulb and which at least partially encloses the pump body of waterproof way.

According to another variant, said socket is shaped as a finger of glove having a bottom through which the nozzle of the pump.

According to yet another characteristic, the dispensing head, the upper part of which is intended to cover the nozzle of the pump for operating it is extended downwards by a wall cylindrical descending lower than the bottom of the bulb so as to provide stable support. Advantageously, this wall constitutes a sheath capable of guiding the bulb.

The device of the invention allows simple coupling and effective of a sterile glass ampoule with a dosing pump miniature.

The invention thus makes it possible to deliver over a period relatively brief but repetitive use of products alterable liquids from a glass bulb while respecting rest a strict seal.

• la figure 1 représente une vue en élévation d'une ampoule en tant qu'élément constitutif du dispositif de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 représente deux demi-coupes correspondant à deux variantes d'un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention sous forme éclatée ;
• la figure 2bis est une vue de détail en coupe de la pompe et représentée sur la figure 2;
• la figure 3 représente deux demi-coupes des variantes de réalisation de la figure 2 sous forme assemblée ;
• la figure 4 représente une coupe d'un second mode de réalisation de l'invention sous forme éclatée ;
• la figure 5 représente une coupe du mode de réalisation de la figure 4 sous forme assemblée ; et,
• les figures 6, 7, 8 et 9 représentent des coupes d'un troisième mode de réalisation de l'invention respectivement avant assemblage (figure 6), en position intermédiaire du montage (figure 7), au repos en position assemblée (figure 8), et en action (figure 9).

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, accompanied by the drawings in which:

• Figure 1 shows an elevational view of a bulb as a component of the device of the invention;
• FIG. 2 represents two half-sections corresponding to two variants of a first embodiment of the invention in exploded form;
• Figure 2bis is a detail view in section of the pump and shown in Figure 2;
• FIG. 3 represents two half-sections of the variant embodiments of FIG. 2 in assembled form;
• FIG. 4 represents a section of a second embodiment of the invention in exploded form;
• Figure 5 shows a section of the embodiment of Figure 4 in assembled form; and,
• Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 show sections of a third embodiment of the invention respectively before assembly (Figure 6), in the intermediate mounting position (Figure 7), at rest in the assembled position (Figure 8) , and in action (Figure 9).

In all the figures, the pump used remains the same as that which is illustrated in section in FIGS. 2 and 2a.

The bulb 1 shown in Figure 1 has a part lower cylindrical or barrel 10 with (substantially) flat bottom.

Liquid product P is normally enclosed in the ampoule sterile, contained in the lower cylindrical part 10.

The bulb has a point 11, here in the shape of a tapered bulb which surmounts a second bulb 12, and has an annular line of rupture 13 separating the tip 11 from the bulb 12. The latter will constitute the neck of the open bulb, after separation of the breakable tip 11 and said line 13 will generate the edge of the lip of said neck.

The device of the invention, represented in FIGS. 2 and 3, includes a glass bulb 1 of the type shown in the Figure 1, but opened by removal of the breakable tip 11, along of the breaking line 13.

A miniature dosing pump will then be installed on the bulb schematically represented. She understands as shown in section in Figure 2, first a set 2 of two parts enclosing its piston 3, namely a cylindrical casing 20 receiving this piston and a closing flange or cup 21 flocking on him. For simplicity, this set will be referred to below body 2 (although this designation is usually applied preferably to its main room 20).

At its lower part, the casing 20 carries an intake tube 22. The flange 21 is fitted internally on the casing 20 of which it only is flush with the rim 23 to create a collar 24. The hollow rod vertical piston 3 or nozzle 30 projects upwards through the central opening of the flange also serving as an ejection duct, it activates the pump to cause the emission of a dose of product P from the dispensing head 4. A vent 25 then opens towards the inside of the bulb via a groove 26 for make an air vent that the piston 3, at rest, comes to close under the effect of its return spring 31.

The device of the invention also comprises a socket 5 sealing assembly of pump 2 on bulb 1. It is formed a high belt 50 extended by a skirt 51 capable of styling the collar or bulb 12 of this bulb. Elastically deformable, socket 5 is assembled in manufacturing by its high belt 50 which is fitted with waterproof on the upper part of the body 2. For the use of the skirt low 51 will style the neck 12 of the bulb by marrying its wall to provide tight radial tightening; pump 2 coming to rest by its shoulder 27 on the lip 13 of the bulb 1 without actually doing so sealing.

The height of the socket 5 is a little less than the height between the upper face of the pump body 2 and the limit lower neck or bulb 12.

In the variant on the left of Figures 2 and 3, the belt 50 mainly encloses the collar 24; it is quite thick to form at least at its upper part a stiffening ring 52 intended to reinforce the assembly.

Advantageously, as shown on the right side of the Figures 2 and 3, the sleeve 5 can be shaped like a thermowell at through which the nozzle 30 of the pump 2 passes. In this case, the sleeve performs the assembly by completely wrapping the collar 24 y including the lateral face and the upper face of the flange 21.

The internal face of the skirt 51 also comprises, at least in its lower part in contact with the neck 12 of the bulb, ribs peripherals 53 forming radially clamped bearing surfaces.

The socket 5 is preferably made with a material elastomer supporting a rate of radial extension likely to go up to 50% so as to allow elastic deformation of the sleeve at the neck or bulb 12 while producing a radial tightening which guarantees the tightness of the assembly.

To avoid any sliding of the socket 5, it is expected that its inner face has a coefficient of friction on the glass of at least 0.20.

We will combine the differences in diameters and thicknesses of the belt 50 and skirt 51 so as to obtain an appropriate rigidity in any point in the assembly.

Figures 4 and 5 show another embodiment of the device of the invention in which the bulb offers a wider neck.

It is the shoulder 28 of the collar 24 which will serve as indirect support at the pump.

The belt 50 has for this purpose a shoulder 54 defining a central housing 55 for the collar 24 allowing its waterproof retainer.

Likewise, the skirt 51 has a shoulder 56 which comes cover the edge of the lip 13 of the bulb 1. An internal sleeve 57 makes protruding axially from the shoulders 54 and 56 towards the inside of bulb 1; it is intended to at least partially enclose the body of pump 2 by internally protecting the neck 12 of the bulb but without masking the vent 25.

Thus, the shoulder 28 bears only indirectly on the lip 13; this increases the diameter adaptation range and distributes better pressure efforts.

The device shown also includes a head distribution and operation 4 including the upper part 40, intended for cap the nozzle 30 of pump 2, form a nozzle spray. The upper part 40 is extended downwards by a cylindrical wall 41 whose lower edge arrives lower than the bottom of the bulb 1, so as to constitute a sheath offering a support stable.

The lower edge of the wall 41 optionally includes cutouts 42 for easier pressing on the bottom of the bulb.

Figures 6 to 9 show yet another mode of embodiment of the invention, in which the diameter of the belt 50 is less than or equal to that of the skirt 51 which, by attaching to it, creates the inclined shoulder 58. The latter does not bear directly on the edge of the lip 13 but on the conical rim of the neck 12 adjacent to this edge.

The belt 50 is tightly fitted onto the ferrule upper of the casing 20, under the collar 24 and in abutment against the shoulder 28.

The skirt 51 of the sleeve 5 which covers the neck 12 of the bulb ends in a flared edge 59, so as to facilitate the mounting.

Figure 6 shows the introduction of the bulb from below in the cylindrical wall 41 with immersion of the intake tube 22 in the liquid P;

Alternatively, the socket 5 could be delivered skirt 51 rolled up.

Figure 7 shows the device with the neck 12 of the bulb at the inlet of the socket 5. The head 4 receives a cover 6. The final positioning is then done by vertical push on the bottom of the bulb 1 which is precisely guided by the ribs 43 that carries the wall 41 until the neck 12 abuts inside the socket 5; at the assembly between the socket 5, the flange 21 and pump 2.

Figure 8 shows the device once assembled and at rest, waterproof.

FIG. 9 represents the device in operation by pressure between the bottom of the bulb 1 and the head 4 beyond the position rest. The vertical thrust causes the actuation of the pump 2 and the ejection of a dose of product by the nozzle of the head 4. The vent 25 allows to rebalance the pressure in the bulb but the airing free very temporary, does not compromise the condition of the remaining product.

Claims (11)

1. A system for packaging and dispensing a liquid product (P), the system comprising firstly a glass vial (1) in which the said product (P) is enclosed, the vial being suitable for being opened at its neck (12) by breaking a snap-off tip (11) by defining a lip (13), and secondly an ordinary miniature metering pump (2) provided with a tubular body carrying a dip tube (22) and containing a piston (3) having a hollow rod that serves as an ejection duct (30) and that projects in the opposite direction to the dip tube, the pump also possessing a vent (25) which is closed by the piston when in its rest position; the system further comprising assembly means (5) for sealed assembly of the pump (2) on the vial (1), and a dispensing head (4) that serves as a push-button,
      the system being characterized in that said sealed assembly means are constituted, on the one hand, by an elastically deformable sleeve (5) comprising a top waist-band (50) so as to be fixed in sealed manner on the top portion of the pump body (2) and a lower skirt (51) that is suitable and intended for being fitted over the neck (12) of the vial (1) via a sealed radial manner and, on the other hand, by at least one shoulder borne by said sleeve and/or said pump and against which the lip (13) of the vial may bear by applying pressure on the bottom of the vial against the head (4).
2. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom portion of the body has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the mouth of the neck (12) of the vial so as to enable it to be inserted therein.
3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, prior to assembly, the inside diameter of the waist-band (50) forming the top portion of the sleeve (5) is smaller than the diameter of the top portion of the pump body (2), and is designed to be mounted in abutment thereon as an interference fit.
4. A system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said vial includes a bulb forming said neck (12), beneath the line of weakness (13) of the snap-off tip (11).
5. A system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, on assembly, the skirt (51) can accommodate radial extension lying in the range 10% to 25%, and the coefficient of friction of the sleeve (5) on glass is at least 0.20.
6. A system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inside face of said skirt (51), at least in its bottom portion in contact with the vial (1), includes peripheral ribs (53) that form radial clamping bearing surfaces.
7. A system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all of the pump is of a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the neck (12) of the vial, and in that the sleeve forms a first shoulder (54) at the beginning of its waist-band (50), thereby defining a central well (55) for holding the pump in sealed manner, there being a second shoulder (56) at the beginning of the skirt (51), which second shoulder is placed over the lip (13) of the open vial.
8. A system according to claim 7, characterized in that the sleeve (5) includes an inside ring (57) which projects from said shoulders (54, 56) towards the inside of the vial (1), and which clamps in sealed manner against at least a part of the pump body (2).
9. A system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sleeve (5) is in the shape of a glove finger having an end through which the nozzle (30) of the pump (2) passes.
10. A system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dispenser head (4) has a top portion (40) designed to be placed over the ejection duct (30) of the pump to drive it, and is extended downwards by a cylindrical wall (41) that extends beneath the bottom of the vial so as to form a sheath that provides stable support for the vial.
11. A system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outside diameter of the waist-band (50) of the sleeve (5) is smaller than or equal to the outside diameter of the skirt (51) that joins thereto via a sloping shoulder (58) for bearing against the neck of the vial (1).

Images