EP1476253B1 - Atomisation device with lateral actuation - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an atomisation device for a liquid product, with a reservoir (10) containing liquid product, a pump or a valve mounted on the reservoir (10) by means of a fixing ring (30), for selective distribution of the liquid, a distribution head (40) comprising a distribution orifice (45) and an actuator (50) which may be displaced between a rest position and a position of distribution. Displacement of the actuator (50) is achieved in a direction different to the direction of atomisation of the product through the distribution orifice (45), said actuator (50) being formed on the distribution head (40) and co-operating with the fixing ring (30) to operate the pump or the valve.

Description

The present invention relates to a product spraying device fluid, and more particularly a device for spraying fluid in which the actuating force exerted by the user is directed into a different direction of the spray direction of the product through the orifice spray device. From US 3,272,391 is known a device having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Most fluid dispensing devices, whether they be distributors of perfumes, medicines or cosmetics are made from in such a way that the user, when he wishes to dispense a dose of product, exerts a force on either the dispensing head or the product reservoir, this force being directed axially in the direction of movement of the piston or the valve of the device. This type of actuation is very convenient for all devices in which the direction of spraying is not axial, that is to say, is not parallel to the direction of movement of the piston or the valve of the pump or valve of the device. On the other hand, for a device nasal spray, in which the dispensing direction of the product is performed axially to send the dose of product inside the nostril, this type of sprayer has a number of drawbacks.

Thus, in particular, the fact that the force to actuate the device must be exercised in an axial direction implies that it is difficult to maintain the nosepiece fixedly in the nostril at the time of distribution. Of Moreover, this type of operation may imply a certain force necessary for overcome the precompression of the pump or valve, which may present difficulties for some people such as the elderly or the elderly children, and who in extreme cases can also cause injuries to children. inside the nostril. Similarly, this type of device is relatively difficult to operate by a third person who does not feel the contact of the nasal tip inside his nostril.

The present invention aims to provide a spraying device fluid product that does not reproduce the aforementioned disadvantages.

In particular, the present invention aims to provide a device for fluid spray, which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, and which fits any type of pump or valve existing currently, without involving any design change of the pump or valve, nor the fixing ring that secures the pump or valve on the tank.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a device for fluid spray which is simple to operate, especially in a nasal application.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a device for spraying fluid that keeps the dispensing orifice of the fixed device inside the nostril at the moment of actuation of the device.

The subject of the present invention is therefore a device for spraying fluid product comprising a reservoir containing fluid, a pump or a valve, mounted on the reservoir by means of a fixing ring, for selectively distribute the fluid product, a dispensing head comprising a dispensing orifice, the device comprising an actuating device movable between a rest position and a dispensing position, the movement of the actuating device being carried out in one direction different from the product spray direction through the orifice of distribution, said actuating device being secured to the head of distribution and cooperating with the fixing ring to actuate the pump or the valve, said actuating device comprising at least one element actuator pivotally mounted relative to said dispensing head, each actuating element having an actuating part co-operating with said fixing ring and a support element on which the user exerts a actuating force, said support member being pivotally mounted on said head of distribution and extends firstly radially away from said head of distribution and secondly axially towards the tank beyond said fixing ring, said actuating part being pivotally mounted on said bearing element and extends radially and axially towards the ring of attachment to cooperate with it from below, in the right position of the device.

Advantageously, said dispensing head comprises a lateral skirt, said actuator being formed in said side skirt.

Advantageously, said actuating device is made in one piece with said dispensing head.

Advantageously, said actuation device comprises two actuating elements diametrically opposed with respect to said head of distribution.

Advantageously, the actuation device comprises an element of precompression, so that the pump or valve is only actuated when the pre-compression threshold is overcome by the user.

Advantageously, the dispensing head is a dispensing head nasal which, when actuating the pump or the valve, remains fixed in position in the nostril of the user.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en section transversale d'un dispositif selon un mode de réalisation avantageux de la présente invention, avant actionnement ; et
• la figure 2 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 1, en cours d'actionnement.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly in the following detailed description of an 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 cross-sectional view of a device according to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, prior to actuation; and
• Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, during actuation.

With reference to the figures, the spraying device of the invention comprises a reservoir 10 which contains the fluid product to be dispensed, and a pump or a valve (not shown) mounted on the reservoir 10 by means of a fixing ring 30, which may be a screwed ring, crimped or snapped on the neck of the tank. Preferably, this fixing ring is standard, it is at say that it is not modified with respect to a ring used in devices existing ones without a lateral actuation system. This pump or valve is used to selectively dispense the product through a dispensing orifice 45 provided in a dispensing head 40. In this example, the head of distribution 40 is a nasal delivery head, in which port 45 is arranged axially to dispense the product within the nostril.

Of course, the present invention is not necessarily limited to a nasal application but applies to all type of device dispensing fluid product. Its use in a nasal delivery device however, has some advantages that have been mentioned previously.

According to the invention, the spraying device comprises a system actuator 50 which is formed on the dispensing head 40, the direction of movement of the actuating device 50 being different from the direction of spraying the product through the dispensing orifice 45. More specifically, the direction of movement of the actuating device 50 is advantageously about perpendicular to the spray direction of the produced through the dispensing orifice 45, it being understood that depending on the embodiment chosen for the actuating device, in particular since it is a pivoting element, this direction is not at all times exactly perpendicular.

In the example shown in the figures, the actuating system 50 comprises at least one actuating element 51, pivotally mounted on the head of distribution 40. Preferably, the dispensing head 40 has a skirt lateral 41 provided with two actuating elements 51 diametrically opposed, advantageously made in one piece with the head 40. According to the invention, the actuating elements 51 act on the fixing ring 30, for operate the pump or valve. Advantageously, the actuating elements 51 cooperate with the corner formed by the lower end of the fixing ring 30 and the neck of the tank 10, as shown in the figures. The user therefore places the dispensing head 40 in his nostril, and actuates the elements 51 to distribute a dose of product, this actuation being carried out in a lateral manner so that the device remains immobile inside the nostril at the time of the distribution, no axial force being exerted on the device.

According to the invention, these actuating elements 51 are pivotally mounted on the dispensing head 40. Each actuating element 51 comprises a actuating part 52 which cooperates with the fixing ring 30 and an element support 54 on which the user presses to actuate the device.

The support element 54 is pivotally mounted at A on the head 40 and extends radially away from said head. The support element also extends axially towards the reservoir 10 (downwards in the figures), beyond the fixing ring 30, as shown in FIG. 1. The actuating portion 52 is pivotally mounted at B on said support element 54, preferably at its end. It extends towards the fixing ring 30, at the same time radially and axially, which means that it is directed radially towards the device and axially towards the dispensing orifice 45. Thus, the part the actuating ring cooperates with the fixing ring 30 from below, in the right position shown in the drawings. Thus, the ring 30 does not need to be modified to incorporate specific parts cooperating with the system lateral actuator 50, and a standard ring can be used. The system actuator 50, and more particularly the actuating part 52, cooperates with with the part of the ring 30 which engages under the neck of the tank 10. In avoiding having to modify the fixing ring, the present invention provides a cost saving in the manufacture and assembly of the device. On the other hand, the dimensions of the device, in particular the radial dimensions of the reservoir and fixing ring are kept minimal despite the presence of the lateral actuation system 50.

The lateral actuating element 50 acts as a lever system in which the transmission of the lateral actuation force exerted by the user on the support elements 54 in axial actuation force of the pump is maximum at the end of actuation, when the resistance of the pump or valve is the strongest. The system of the invention is therefore particularly effective.

Advantageously, it is possible to provide a precompression element (no shown) which actuates the pump or the valve only if the threshold of precompression is overcome by the user. This ensures the distribution of the entire dose and avoids partial actuations of the device.

Another advantage of a lateral actuation system formed on the head and not cooperating directly with the tank is that it can adapt to all type, shape and size of tank. It is not necessary to design a specific actuation system for each tank.

Of course, the invention is therefore not limited to the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, and those skilled in the art can perform all the necessary without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (7)

1. A fluid spray device comprising a reservoir (10) containing fluid; a pump or a valve mounted on the reservoir (10) by means of a fixing ring (30) for selectively dispensing the fluid; and a dispenser head (40) including a dispenser orifice (45), the device further comprising an actuator device (50) that is displaceable between a rest position and a dispensing position, the actuator device (50) being displaced in a direction that is different from the direction in which the fluid is sprayed through the dispenser orifice (45), said actuator device (50) being fixed to the dispenser head (40), and co-operating with the fixing ring (30) in order to actuate the pump or the valve, said actuator device (50) including at least one actuator element (51) pivotally mounted with respect to said dispenser head (40), the fluid spray device being characterized in that each actuator element (51) includes an actuator portion (52) co-operating with said fixing ring (30), and a presser element (54) on which the user exerts an actuation force, said presser element (54) being pivotally mounted with respect to said dispenser head (40) and extending firstly radially away from said dispenser head (40), and secondly axially towards the reservoir (10) beyond said fixing ring (30), said actuator portion (52) being pivotally mounted on said presser element (54) and extending radially and axially towards the fixing ring (30) so as to co-operate with said ring from below, when the device is in the upright position.
2. A device according to claim 1, in which said dispenser head (40) includes a lateral skirt (41), said actuator device (50) being formed in said lateral skirt (41).
3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which said actuator device (50) is made integrally as a single piece with said dispenser head (40).
4. A device according to any preceding claim, in which said actuator device (50) includes two actuator elements (51) that are diametrally opposite about said dispenser head (40).
5. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the fixing ring (30) is a standard ring that is screwed, snap-fastened, or clamped onto the neck of the reservoir (10).
6. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the actuator device (50) includes a precompression element, so that the pump or the valve is actuated only when the precompression threshold is overcome by the user.
7. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the dispenser head (40) is a nasal dispenser head, which, during actuation of the pump or the valve, remains steady in position in the user's nostril.

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