EP1237796B1 - Safety cap - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fluid dispensing device incorporating a safety cap. More particularly, the present invention relates to a safety cap for a nasal spray device.

In the field of distributors of fluid products, in particular pharmaceutical products, it may be necessary to avoid unwanted actuation of the device by some people, such as children. Indeed, the product contained in the dispensing device may present a significant danger to a child, if the child actuates the distributor accidentally.

US-3,768,703, US-3,866,802 and FR-2,750,406 disclose various types of caps for fluid dispensing device. In particular US-3,768,703 discloses a security cap provided with a security system. bayonet type fixing.

The present invention aims to provide a device for distributing fluid product comprising a safety cap preventing actuation of the device by a child, which is the simplest and least expensive to manufacture. Indeed, the object of the present invention is in particular to provide a safety cap which can be used on nasal spray devices, of the monospray type, that is to say which contain a single dose of product to be dispensed. In this case, the cost of distribution device is a very important factor, so a simple system and inexpensive is desirable.

The present invention therefore relates to a product dispensing device fluid comprising a product reservoir, a dispensing member such as a pump, a dispensing head provided with a dispensing orifice and a fixing part, and a security cap having fastening means for securing said cap on said dispensing device, said fastening means being removable to remove said cap before using said dispensing device, the removal of said fixing means being effected by the combination of a pressure axial on said cap along an axis of said device and a rotation of said cap around said axis, characterized in that said cap comprises tabs of fastening with a U-shaped end, and said fixing portion comprises a respective axial passage for said U-shaped end of each fastening tab, said axial passage being delimited by a respective flange adapted to be positioned between the branches of said U-shaped end, after rotation of said cap.

Advantageously, said cap comprises elastically means deformable which cooperates with the dispensing device to prevent rotation said cap in the absence of said axial pressure.

Advantageously, said cap can perform said rotation only when said elastically deformable means are compressed.

Advantageously, said elastically deformable means comprise a elastic element of deformable flexible material, such as santoprene, disposed inside said cap.

Advantageously, said elastically deformable means comprises a elastic element of deformable flexible material, such as santoprene, disposed on the end wall of the cap and extending on the inner face and on the face exterior of said end wall of the cap.

Advantageously, said elastically deformable means are compressed to allow said U-shaped end of each bracket to pass axially in a respective passage beyond said flange, so that after rotation said cap, said elastically deformed means axially solicit said cap away from the dispensing head so that said flange is forced elastically between said legs of the U to fix the cap on the head.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un capuchon de sécurité, selon un mode de réalisation de la présente invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 1 selon un autre angle de vue,
• la figure 3 est une vue de dessus du capuchon de sécurité des figures 1 et 2,
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective schématique montrant le capuchon des figures 1 à 3, et le dispositif de distribution de produit fluide sur lequel ledit capuchon s'applique,
• la figure 5 est une vue en section transversale du capuchon de sécurité selon l'invention, et
• la figure 6 est une vue en section transversale le long de la ligne A-A sur la figure 5.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly in the following detailed description of an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a security cap, according to an embodiment of the present invention,
• FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 according to another angle of view;
• FIG. 3 is a view from above of the safety cap of FIGS. 1 and 2,
• FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the cap of FIGS. 1 to 3, and the fluid dispensing device on which said cap is applied,
• FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the safety cap according to the invention, and
• Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Fig. 5.

With reference to the figures, there is shown an embodiment of the invention, wherein the fluid dispenser device is a dispensing device nasal spray, therefore comprising a nasal dispensing head. It is understood that the present invention is not limited to this type of device, but on the contrary applies to all fluid dispensing devices.

According to the invention, the safety cap 20 is intended to be applied on a fluid dispensing device 10, preferably comprising a head of distribution 15 provided with a dispensing orifice 16. The cap 20 is provided with fastening means 30 which comprise one or more lateral lugs 31 in particular two, ending in a U-shaped end 32. The safety cap 20 also preferably comprises elastically deformable means 25, advantageously made in the form of a deformable elastic element 25 disposed preferably in the bottom, that is to say the end end wall of said cap 20, as shown in FIG. 6. This elastic element 25, made of elastic material deformable, such as for example santoprene, is adapted to compress when the cap is put in place on the dispensing head 15. This compression is performed by axial pressure of the cap 20 on said dispensing head 15 along the X axis shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Advantageously, as shown in FIG. 6, the elastic element 25 extends to both on the inside of the cap, to perform the compression function, and on the outside of the cap, to facilitate handling and / or indicate the area support. Indeed, such a flexible material allows a good grip of the cap, for example by providing a relief, and can be easily colorized to distinguish a particular area of the hood.

The fluid dispensing device 10 comprises a fixing part cooperating with the fixing means of the cap. According to the invention, the means of fasteners comprise an axial passage 12 delimited by at least one vertical flange 13. As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4, this passage 12 is intended to leave pass said fastening tabs of the cap, and in particular the end shaped U 32. The flange 13 is made such that a rotation of the cap 20 on the head 20 is possible only after axial compression of said elastic member 25 located in the bottom of said cap, as shown in FIG. axial pressure is exerted on the cap and that the elastic element 25 deforms, the U-shaped end 32 of the tabs 31 passes completely through the passage 12, under the flange 13, so that the cap can be rotated about the X axis. this rotation, the deformed elastic element 25 solicits the cap 20 away of the dispensing head 15, so that the flange 13 is urged between the branches of the U 32, thus ensuring attachment of the cap on the dispensing head.

To remove the safety cap, it is necessary according to the invention to first exerting an axial pressure on said cap 20, to compress the elastic element 25, and thus make the flange 13 out of the U 32 of the fastening lugs 31 of the cap. After this axial compression along the X axis, the cap 20 can be rotated around the axis X, to bring the U-shaped end 32 of the lugs 31 facing the axial passage 12. The cap can then be easily removed by axial traction on it.

The present invention thus provides a very simple system to produce and manufacture and therefore very inexpensive, which ensures safety against accidental use by children, implying the need for double manipulation to remove the cap, namely an axial pressure followed by a rotation about said axis.

This security cap of the invention is very easily applicable to the devices existing distribution, since it is sufficient to arrange said axial passage in the head of distribution of existing devices to allow the establishment of said cap.

The present invention has been described with reference to an embodiment particular, but it is clear that various modifications are possible without depart from the scope of the present invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims (6)

1. A fluid dispenser device (10) comprising a fluid reservoir, a dispensing member such as a pump, a dispensing head (15) provided with a dispensing orifice (16) and with a fixing portion (12, 13), and a safety cap (20) provided with fixing means (30) for fixing said cap (20) to said dispenser device (10), said fixing means (30) being removable in order to take off said cap (20) before said dispenser device (10) is used, said fixing means (30) being removed by a combination of axial pressure on said cap (30) along an axis (X) of said device, and of turning said cap (20) about said axis (X), said fluid dispenser device being characterized in that said cap (20) is provided with fixing tabs (31), each of which has a U-shaped end (32), and said fixing portion (12, 13) is provided with a respective axial slot (12) for said U-shaped end (32) of each fixing tab (31), said axial slot (12) being defined by a respective side wall (13) adapted to come into position between the branches of said U-shaped end (32), after said cap (20) has been turned.
2. A device according to claim 1, in which said cap (20) is provided with elastically-deformable means (25) which co-operate with the dispenser device (10) to prevent any turning of said cap (20) in the absence of said axial pressure.
3. A device according to claim 2, in which said cap (20) may be turned only when said elastically-deformable means (25) are compressed.
4. A device according to claim 2 or 3, in which said elastically-deformable means (25) comprise a resilient element (25) made of a deformable flexible material, such as Santoprene, and disposed inside said cap (20).
5. A device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, in which said elastically-deformable means comprise a resilient element (25) made of a deformable flexible material, such as Santoprene, disposed on the end wall of the cap, and extending over the inside face and over the outside face of said end wall of the cap.
6. A device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, in which said elastically-deformable means (25) are compressed to enable said U-shaped end (32) of each fixing tab (31) to pass axially through a respective slot (12) beyond said side wall (13), so that, after said cap (20) has been turned, said elastically-deformed means (25) urge said cap (20) axially away from the dispensing head (15) so that said side wall (13) is forced elastically between said branches of the U-shaped end (32) to fix the cap (20) onto the head (15).

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