EP0969933B2 - Device for spraying a fluid product, such as a double dose dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for spraying a fluid product comprising a reservoir (11) containing several doses of product, a cylindrical base (14) housing the reservoir (11), a dispensing member such as a pump, a manually actuated element (20), splitting means (16) co-operating with said actuating element (20) for splitting the contents of the reservoir (11) into at least two doses, and means for accumulating energy (12) co-operating, when the device is actuated, with said manual actuating element (20) for accumulating energy in the user's hand to ensure at each actuation a proper spraying of the entire dose of product. The invention is characterised in that said base (14), said splitting means (16) and said energy accumulating means (12) are integrated in a single-piece unit (10).

Description

The present invention relates to a spraying device for fluid products and more particularly to such a spraying device for delivering at least two doses of product.

Devices of this kind give rise to several problems. Thus, a problem that arises is to obtain a perfect spraying of the entire dose during the actuation of the device. Another problem is to obtain in a simple and reliable way a fractionation of the contents of the tank to be able to transform the device into a bidose.

The document WO 93/02804 , from which claim 1 has been delineated, has addressed these problems in an attempt to resolve them. This document discloses a device such as a bidose, comprising a tank mounted on a base and a pusher for actuating the device. A portion of the pusher cooperates with a split ring disposed in a groove in the outer wall of the reservoir, so that to be able to dispense the first dose, it is necessary to store a certain force in the user's hand, until the split ring comes out of its groove. To split the contents of the tank into two doses, the document device WO 93/02804 provided to provide a second groove in the outer wall of the tank and to arrange a second split ring, so that after actuation of the device to expel the first dose, the entire pusher plus first split ring is stopped by the second ring disposed in this second groove. Then, to spray the second dose, it is necessary again to store a certain force to release the second split ring from its groove and thus distribute the second dose. This device works satisfactorily but may however have certain disadvantages. Thus, since only a small amount of product is contained in the tank, a main objective is to keep the cost of said sprayer as low as possible so as not to adversely affect the final selling price of the product. Now, the device disclosed in the document WO 93/02804 comprises a number of different component parts that are necessary to perform the functions of energy storage and dose splitting. The manufacture and assembly of these different component parts can therefore be relatively expensive. On the other hand, because of the presence of the two peripheral grooves on the outer surface of the tank, it is almost impossible to make the tank and the base in one piece, said grooves being located in the hollow annular space defined ink the tank and the base. In addition, the use of mobile means to perform the energy accumulation function may cause risks of malfunction in case of breakage or jamming of said split rings.

The document EP-0 546 607 discloses a unit dose comprising a peripheral groove in the inner wall of the body cooperating with a peripheral ridge in the outer wall of the reservoir to prevent accidental actuation of the device. The disadvantage of this type of device is the difficulty of achieving a simple and inexpensive molding. Indeed, the groove in the inner wall involves the use of an undercut and therefore a relatively complicated mold.

The document EP-0 311 863 discloses a bidose comprising dose splitting means which are arranged on a piece fitted on the body and cooperating with the reservoir. It does not include energy storage means and involves the use of an additional piece, the molding of which has the same disadvantages as those described above, namely a complicated and expensive mold.

The document US-5,427,280 discloses a nasal dispenser of the bidose type comprising fractionating means.

The present invention aims to provide such a device for spraying fluid products which does not have the aforementioned drawbacks.

Thus, the present invention aims to provide a device for spraying fluids, comprising a minimum of component parts.

The present invention also aims to provide such a device that provides a reliable operation while ensuring a manufacturing cost, including molding, and mounting as low as possible.

The present invention also aims to provide a device for spraying fluids such as a bidose, capable of ensuring a perfect spray of the entire of each dose, while being simple to manufacture, mount and use, with the lowest cost possible.

The subject of the present invention is therefore a device for spraying a fluid product according to claim 1.

Preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en coupe verticale du dispositif selon un mode de réalisation préféré de la présente invention, dans la position de repos ;
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique en coupe vercicale de l'élément d'actionnement, montrant ses pattes axiales ;
• les figures 3a et 3b sont des vues schématiques en coupe verticale montrant le dispositif selon un mode de réalisation préféré de la présente invention, respectivement dans une position de repos empêchant l'actionnemen et dans une position d'attente permettant la distribution de la première dose ;
• les figures 4, 5 et 6 sont des vues schématiques en perspective du dispositif de distribution selon un mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention;
• les figures 7a et 7b sont des vues schématiques en perspective de l'élément d'actionnement ; et
• les figures 8 et 9 sont des vues schématiques en perspective de la pièce monobloc.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will emerge during the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view of the device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the rest position;
• Figure 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the actuating element, showing its axial tabs;
• FIGS. 3a and 3b are diagrammatic views in vertical section showing the device according to a mode preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively in a rest position preventing actuation and in a waiting position allowing the distribution of the first dose;
• Figures 4, 5 and 6 are schematic perspective views of the dispensing device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
• Figures 7a and 7b are schematic perspective views of the actuating element; and
• Figures 8 and 9 are schematic perspective views of the single piece.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the dispensing device according to the invention comprises a reservoir 11 containing the product to be dispensed mounted on a base 14, a dispensing member such as a pump, a manual actuating element 20, such as a pusher, for actuating the dispensing member to dispense product, said actuating member 20 being provided with an outlet port 29 by which will be sprayed said product. The pump comprises a piston 1 sliding in the reservoir 11, the inside of which is connected to the outlet orifice 29 by an expulsion channel 3. Advantageously, a nozzle 2 is disposed in said expulsion channel to promote the spraying .

According to the invention, the device comprises means for fractionating the dose 16. The fractionating means are intended to split the contents of the reservoir in two or more doses, thus transforming the distribution into a multidose, advantageously a bidose, that is, to say a device distributing two doses of product. The example shown in the figures relates in particular to a nasal spray, which functions as a bidose, a dose being provided for each nostril. Of course, the invention is not limited to this particular application.

To guarantee a perfect spraying of an entire dose of product, the invention provides energy storage means 12 which cooperate with the actuating element 20 when the sprayer is actuated to accumulate energy. energy in the user's hand. Advantageously, said energy accumulation means cooperate with said actuating element 20 in that they deform elastically when a predetermined minimum force is exerted on it.

According to a characteristic of the present invention, said base 14, said energy storage means 12 and said dose splitting means 16 are made in the form of a single one-piece piece 10. This implementation makes it possible to reduce the number of component parts and thus the cost of manufacturing and mounting the dispensing device. In particular, compared to the device disclosed in the document WO 93/02804 The manufacture and assembly of the device are simplified since it is no longer necessary to provide mobile means (split rings) to accumulate energy. The reliability of the device is also improved, a split ring that can break or get stuck during the actuation of the device.

As shown in the figures, the reservoir 11 is preferably also made in one piece with the one-piece piece 10, which preferably comprises two concentric hollow cylinders, the inner cylinder defining the reservoir 11, and the outer cylinder forming the base 14 having on the outer surface said energy storage means 12. The two concentric cylinders are preferably connected by a substantially horizontal annular flange at their lower ends, thereby defining an annular hollow space between the inner surface of the base 14 and the outer surface of the tank 11.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, which combines all the advantages provided by the invention, the device comprises besides the energy storage means 12 and the dose splitting means 16, indexing means 15. The indexing means are intended to selectively prevent or allow the actuation of the device, in particular to ensure safety against unwanted actuation, for example during transport.

According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, said indexing means are made in one piece with the one-piece part 10, which is in particular visible in FIG. 9. In particular, these indexing means are made in the form one or more thickenings provided on the inner surface of the base 14, said thickening extending over a portion of the periphery of said inner surface. They cooperate with the actuating element 20 to selectively prevent or allow axial displacement of said actuating member 20 relative to said one-piece piece 10. More particularly, said thickenings 15 cooperate with one or more projecting lugs 25 inside. of the actuating element 20, preferably axially, and abutting said thickenings in the rest position where the actuation is prevented. In this first position of the actuating element, shown in particular in Figures 1 and 3a, any force exerted on the actuating element 20 will have no effect and no product will be distributed by the device.

To maintain the actuating element 20 attached to said one-piece piece 10, it is advantageous to provide attachment means 19 on said one-piece piece 10, advantageously on the upper peripheral edge of the base 14. These attachment means 19 can cooperate with one or more shoulders 22 provided on the lower peripheral edge of the actuating element 20. As can be seen in particular in FIG. 9, these attachment means 19 may comprise, for example in the first position of the element actuator 20, that is to say the rest position where the actuation of the device is prevented, a particular form 19a facilitating the attachment of the element actuator 20 on the base 14 during assembly. This particular form may for example be carried out as a ramp 19a which makes it possible to progressively deform the actuating element 20 at the level of the shoulders 22, said shoulders 22 then snap under said attachment means 19. Preferably , this particular form 19a hooking means 19 defines the position in which the actuating element 20 is mounted on the one-piece piece 10, which advantageously corresponds to said first position of the actuating element.

According to the invention, the actuating element 20 is preferably rotatably mounted on the one-piece part 10. Thus, when the user wishes to dispense the product, he rotates the actuating element 20 with respect to the one-piece part 10 around its main axis, towards a second position of the actuating element 20, or waiting position, in which the indexing means 15 no longer cooperate with said actuating element 20. In other words, in this second position of the actuating element 20, represented in particular in FIG. 3b, the lugs 25 provided inside the actuating element 20 do not rest on the thickenings 15 of the one-piece part 10, so that an operation is no longer prevented. Advantageously, the one-piece part 10 comprises on its outer surface first rotational stop means 18a for defining the direction of rotation between its first and second positions, and second rotational stop means 18b for defining the second position of the element. In particular, these rotational abutment means may be made by projections projecting from the outer surface of the one-piece piece 10 and cooperating with said shoulders 22 of the actuating element 20 when the rotation of it.

The energy storage means are advantageously made in the form of one or more lugs 12, in particular in the form of two diametrically opposite lugs, arranged on the outer surface of the one-piece piece 10. As can be seen in FIG. 3b , said lugs 12 cooperate with the shoulders 22 of the actuating element 20 and generate a certain resistance against an axial displacement of the actuating element 20 relative to the one-piece part 10. Thus, when the user wants to spray a dose, it exerts a force on the device which urges the actuating element 20 in axial displacement on the one-piece piece 10, this displacement being prevented by the lugs 12. However, the actuating element 20 preferably being made in an appropriate plastic material, it may deform elastically and thus, said shoulders 22 can pass over said lugs 12 when a minimum force of determined is exerted on the device. This threshold corresponding to this minimum force thus makes it possible to accumulate energy in the user's hand and, when the shoulders 22 of the actuating element 20 pass over the lugs 12 of the one-piece part, all of this energy accumulated in the hand of the user is transmitted in one fell swoop to the device so that the entire dose is sprayed. There is no risk of doing a partial run, which would result in a partial distribution of the dose.

The preferred embodiment shown in the drawings corresponds to a bidose. In this case, the device comprises fractionating means 16 for splitting the contents of the reservoir 11 in two doses, preferably equal. According to the present invention, said fractionating means 16 are made in one piece with the one-piece part 10. Advantageously, said fractionation means are formed by one or more thickenings 16 which form, with the thickening (s) 15 acting as a means indexing, at least one step in the axial direction. These second thickenings 16 extend according to the invention to a second part of the inner surface of the base 14 in extension of the first thickenings 15, and thus cooperate at the end of the expulsion of the first dose with said tabs 25 of the actuating element 20 for stopping the axial displacement of the actuating element 20 with respect to the one-piece part 10. In this case, said dividing means 16 also act as the second indexing means, since they prevent, in the position reached after the distribution of the first dose, the distribution of the second dose. A particularly advantageous embodiment is achieved by two diametrically opposed thickenings which, on a part 15, extend to the upper peripheral edge of the base 14 to form the first indexing means, and on a second part 16 , extend only up to about half the height of the hollow annular space between the base 14 and the reservoir 11 to form the fractionating means also acting as second indexing means. At least a portion of said inner surface should be free of thickening to allow movement of the actuating member 20 to dispense the second dose. In a manner similar to that described above, in order to be able to dispense the second dose, the actuating element 20 is turned on the one-piece part 10 to a third position, where the tabs 25 no longer cooperate with the second thickenings 16, thus allowing the distribution of the second dose.

Advantageously, second energy storage means 13 are also provided, preferably also in the form of projecting lugs on the outer surface of the one-piece piece 10, two lugs 13 being advantageously also diametrically opposite one another. to the other. Likewise, provision is also advantageously made for third rotational stop means 18c which make it possible to define said third position of the actuating element 20, and which are advantageously made similarly to the first and second rotational stop means 18a and 18b. Thus, in the third position of the actuating element 20, the shoulders 22 of the actuating element 20 cooperate with the lugs 13 which function in the same manner as the lugs described above to accumulate energy in the the user's hand when dispensing the second dose. As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, said first energy accumulation means 12 and said second energy accumulation means 13, respectively formed by a pair of diametrically opposed lugs, are made of such so that the two pairs of lugs are offset axially and angularly relative to each other on the outer surface of the base. In this way, the user, to actuate the device, first turns the actuating element 20 from its first position, where the actuation is blocked, to its second position, then it distributes the first dose, then it again turns the actuating element from its second position to its third position, and then actuates the device again to dispense the second dose.

Another particular advantage of the energy storage means disposed on the outer surface of the one-piece piece 10 is that said pins can also act as a dose control. Indeed, when the two lugs 12 and 13 are visible, this means that no dose has been dispensed. When one of the two lugs is visible, this means that only the first dose has been dispensed, and when no lug is no longer visible, this means that both doses have been distributed.

Thus, in the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the one-piece part 10 incorporates the base, the reservoir, the energy storage means, the indexing means, the dose splitting means. , the rotational stop means defining the angular positions of the actuating element, and the attachment means for holding the actuating element on the one-piece part. The present invention thus makes it possible to save several component parts of the device. Since the energy storage means are not provided in the hollow annular space defined between the base and the reservoir, but on the contrary on the outer surface of the base, said one-piece piece can be made simple and economical, for example by molding. In particular, whether in the preferred configuration described above or in any other configuration covered by the present invention, the component parts of the device can all be mounted using simple and inexpensive molds because they have no counterparts. -dépouilles. The mounting of the device is also greatly facilitated due to the small number of parts. The manufacturing and assembly costs of the device of the invention are therefore particularly low without affecting the reliability of its operation.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment incorporating a bidose, the present invention obviously also applies to multidoses comprising more than two doses, in which case the means of fractionation and energy accumulation. can be provided several times. Similarly, the tank 11 may not be an integral part of the one-piece piece, but be fixed thereto, for example by snapping. The interior of the tank 11 may also be provided with a glass cylinder or other suitable material, to improve the seal.

Claims (12)

1. A device for spraying fluid, the device comprising a tank (11) containing a plurality of doses of fluid, a cylindrical base (14) receiving said tank (11), said tank being fixed with respect to said base, a dispenser member such as a pump, a manual actuator element (20), fractioning means (16) co-operating with said actuator element (20) to fraction the content of the tank (11) into at least two doses, and energy-accumulator means (12) co-operating, during actuation, with said manual actuator element (20) to accumulate energy in the hand of the user so as to guarantee proper atomization of the entire dose of fluid on each actuation, the device being characterized in that said base (14), said fractioning means (16), and said energy-accumulator means (12) form integral portions of a common one-piece block (10), said fractioning means (16) being formed on an inner surface of the one-piece block (10).
2. A device according to claim 1, in which said tank (11) is integrally formed with said one-piece block (10).
3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising indexing means (15) co-operating with said manual actuator element (20) selectively to allow or prevent actuation of the device, in which said indexing means (15) are integrally formed with said one-piece block (10).
4. A device according to claim 3, in which said indexing means are formed by one or more thickenings (15) provided on a portion of an inner surface of said one-piece block (10) and co-operating, in a first position of the actuator element (20), with one or more tabs (25) projecting into the inside of the actuator element (20) to prevent actuation of the device, said actuator element (20) being movable in rotation relative to said one-piece block (10) into a second position in which said tabs (25) no longer co-operate with said thickenings (15), thereby enabling the device to be actuated.
5. A device according to any preceding claim, in which said energy-accumulator means (12) co-operate with said actuator element (20) by deforming it elastically when a predetermined minimum force is exerted thereon.
6. A device according to claim 5, in which said energy-accumulator means are studs (12) formed on the outer surface of said one-piece block (10), which studs co-operate with corresponding shoulders (22) provided on the inner surface of the actuator element (20).
7. A device according to claim 3, in which said fractioning means are formed by thickenings (16) forming at least one axially-directed step with the thickenings (15) acting as indexing means.
8. A device according to claim 1, in which the dispenser device is a two-dose dispenser adapted to dispense two doses of fluid, said actuator element (20) being rotatably mounted on said one-piece block (10) which comprises:

   · first indexing means formed by one or more thickenings (15) extending over a first portion of the inner peripheral surface of the base (14) and co-operating, in a first position of the actuator element (20), with one or more axial tabs (25) projecting into the actuator element (20) to prevent the first dose being dispensed;

   · first energy-accumulator means (12) formed by one or more studs (12) projecting from the outer surface of said base (14) and co-operating, after a first rotation of the actuator element (20) into a second position in which said first indexing means (15) no longer co-operate with the actuator element (20), with one or more shoulders (22) provided on the inner surface of the actuator element (20), thereby accumulating energy in the hand of the user during actuation of the device, said shoulders (22) passing over said studs (12) only after a predetermined minimum force has been applied, thereby enabling the actuator element (20) to move relative to the one-piece block (10), and thus to cause the first dose to be dispensed;

   · fractioning means formed by one or more thickenings (16) extending over a second portion of the inner peripheral surface of the base (14) and co-operating with said axial tab(s) (25) of the actuator element (20) after the first dose has been dispensed to prevent additional axial displacement of the actuator element (20) over the one-piece block (10), thereby fractioning the content of the tank (11) into two doses, such that said fractioning means (16) act simultaneously as second indexing means; and

   · second energy-accumulator means (13) formed by one or more studs (13) projecting from the outer surface of the base (14) and co-operating, after a second rotation of the actuator element (20) into a third position in which said second indexing means (16) no longer co-operate with the actuator element (20), with said shoulder(s) (22) of the actuator element (20) to accumulate energy in the hand of the user, allowing the second dose to be dispensed only after a predetermined minimum force has been applied.
9. A device according to claim 6 or 8, in which each of said first and second energy-accumulator means comprises a pair of diametrically-opposite projecting studs (12, 13), the two pairs of studs (12, 13) being axially and circumferentially offset relative to each other on the outer surface of said one-piece block (10).
10. A device according to claim 8 or 9, in which, in said first position of the actuator element (20), said shoulder(s) (22) of the actuator element (20) co-operate, e.g. by snap-fastening, with fastening means (19) provided on the top peripheral edge of said one-piece piece (10) to hold said actuator element (20) on said one-piece block (10).
11. A device according to claim 8, in which said one-piece block (10) includes, on an outer surface: first rotary abutment means (18a) co-operating with said actuator element (20) to define said first position of the actuator element; and second rotary abutment means (18b) co-operating with the actuator element (20) to define said second position of the actuator element; and third rotary abutment means (18c) co-operating with the actuator element (20) to define said third position of the actuator element.
12. A device according to any preceding claim, in which said fractioning means (16) are formed by one or more thickenings extending on an inner surface of the one-piece block (10).

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