EP3471891B1 - Fluid product dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser device.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a fluid product dispensing device of the single-dose or two-dose type, adapted to distribute respectively a single dose of fluid product in a single actuation or two doses of fluid product in two successive actuations.

To avoid accidental actuation of such a device, but also to generate an accumulation of energy in the user's hand in order to guarantee complete actuation, there are generally provided locking means in the rest position that the user must overcome during actuation. Typically, these locking means are made between the body which supports the reservoir and the dispensing head relative to which said body moves during actuation. The document EP0546607 describes such a device.

This type of blocking means has certain drawbacks. Thus, the reliability of the blocking is not always guaranteed, in particular during transport or when the device is dropped. In addition, when the locking means comprise breakable bridges, this makes it necessary to co-mold the body and the head, which can prove to be complex and expensive. Breakable bridges between the body and the head also generate a not insignificant radial bulk, which is detrimental to the compactness of the device. This implementation also prevents the provision of anti-tearing means, separate from said breakable bridges, between these same two parts, in order to protect the integrity of the reservoir and prevent access to the fluid that it contains.

The documents DE19905993 , US6626379 , DE10218782 and EP1479450 describe devices of the prior art.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device for dispensing a fluid product which does not reproduce the aforementioned drawbacks.

More particularly, the object of the present invention is to provide a device for dispensing a fluid product which ensures reliable locking before actuation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a device which combines locking means by breakable bridges and anti-tearing means distinct from said breakable bridges.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a device which is compact and takes up little space, in particular in the radial dimension.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a device which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

The present invention therefore relates to a fluid dispenser device, comprising a reservoir containing fluid, a dispensing head provided with a dispensing orifice, dispensing means for dispensing at least part of said fluid through said dispensing orifice, and passage means for connecting said reservoir to said distribution orifice during actuation of said distribution means, said passage means comprising a hollow needle penetrating into said reservoir during actuation of said distribution means, said needle being fixed in a needle holder itself fixed in said dispensing head, said needle holder comprising locking means which, in the rest position, cooperate with said reservoir to prevent its axial displacement with respect to said head.

Advantageously, said locking means are deactivated when the user exerts an axial actuating force greater than a predetermined threshold between said reservoir and said dispensing head.

Advantageously, said locking means comprise a locking element connected to said needle support by at least one breakable bridge.

Advantageously, said locking element is a radial ring connected to said needle support by a plurality of breakable bridges.

Advantageously, said dispensing means comprise a plunger stopper which, in the rest position, seals off said reservoir, and which during actuation is first pierced by said needle. then moved axially in said reservoir to expel the fluid product through said needle in the direction of said dispensing orifice.

Advantageously, said device comprises actuating means for actuating said dispensing means, said actuating means comprising a body fixedly receiving said reservoir, said body being able to slide axially relative to said dispensing head.

Advantageously, the device comprises anti-tearing means arranged between said body of said actuating means and said dispensing head.

Advantageously, said anti-pullout means comprise an outwardly radial shoulder formed on said body and an inward radial shoulder formed on said dispensing head, the internal diameter of said inward radial shoulder being less than the external diameter of said radial shoulder outwards.

• La figure 1 est une vue schématique de côté en section transversale d'un dispositif de distribution de produit fluide selon un mode de réalisation avantageux de la présente invention, en position de repos avant actionnement,
• La figure 2 est une vue similaire à la figure 1, vue de derrière,
• La figure 3 est une vue similaire à la figure 1, montrant le dispositif après actionnement,
• La figure 4 est une vue similaire à la figure 2, montrant le dispositif après actionnement,
• La figure 5 est une vue en perspective découpée d'un dispositif de distribution de produit fluide selon une variante de réalisation de la présente invention, en position de repos avant actionnement,
• La figure 6 est une vue en perspective du support d'aiguille des figures 1 à 4, et
• La figure 7 est une vue de dessous du support d'aiguille.

These characteristics and advantages and others of the present invention will emerge more clearly during the following detailed description, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, and in which:

• The figure 1 is a schematic side view in cross section of a fluid dispenser device according to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, in the rest position before actuation,
• The figure 2 is a view similar to figure 1 , rear view,
• The figure 3 is a view similar to figure 1 , showing the device after actuation,
• The figure 4 is a view similar to figure 2 , showing the device after actuation,
• The figure 5 is a cutaway perspective view of a fluid dispenser device according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, in the rest position before actuation,
• The figure 6 is a perspective view of the needle holder of the figures 1 to 4 , and
• The figure 7 is a bottom view of the needle holder.

In the description, the terms "axial" and "radial" refer to the longitudinal axis A of the device shown in the figures 1 to 4 . The terms "up" and "down" refer to the position of the device in the figures 1 to 4 .

With reference to the figures, the device comprises a reservoir 10 containing the fluid to be dispensed, typically a liquid. This reservoir 10 is arranged inside a body forming a dispensing head 20. This dispensing head 20 comprises a dispensing orifice 21, which in the example of figures 1 to 4 , is oriented radially. This dispensing orifice 21 serves to distribute a dose of fluid product out of said dispensing head 20. As a variant, this dispensing orifice could be oriented axially, in particular in a nasal dispensing head.

The reservoir 10 is in this example formed by a hollow and blind body 11, comprising a single opening closed by a piston stopper 30. Other implementations are possible, for example a reservoir open on both sides, with a respective stopper. to close each opening. The documents WO03041872 and FR2970955 describe reservoirs of this type.

The dispensing head 20 comprises passage means 40 which connect, during actuation, the reservoir 10 to the dispensing orifice 21. These passage means 40 comprise a needle 41 adapted to pierce the piston stopper 30 at the time. of the actuation. This needle 41 is hollow, and can be formed in a conventional manner. This needle 41 is fixed relative to the dispensing head 20 and in particular relative to the dispensing orifice 21.

The needle 41 is fixed in a needle support 60 which is itself fixed, in particular force-fitted, in the dispensing head 20. The needle support 60 advantageously comprises an approximately cylindrical hollow body 61 into which said needle 41 comes. set yourself. Advantageously, internal axial ribs 63 are provided inside said hollow body 61 for centering and fixing said needle 41. External axial ribs 62 can also be provided on said hollow body 61, as visible on the figure 6 , the function of which will be described below.

Actuating means 50 are provided to allow actuation of the device. In this case, these actuating means 50 comprise a body 51 movable relative to the dispensing head 20, said body 51 cooperating with said reservoir 10 to move it relative to the dispensing head 20 and therefore relative to the needle 41.

Conventionally, in the device shown in figures 1 to 4 , the user places two fingers on the radial supports 22 formed on the dispensing head 20, and presses with the thumb on said actuating body 51. During such actuation, the reservoir 10 is therefore biased axially upwards. , so that the needle 41 will pierce the plunger stopper 30. The contents of the reservoir 10 are then connected to the dispensing orifice 21 and the user's support on the actuating means 50 moves the stopper. piston 30 in the reservoir 10 to ensure the distribution of the fluid product. This piston stopper 30 then acts as a piston by forcing the fluid out of said reservoir 10, through needle 41.

In the case of a single dose, all of the fluid product is dispensed in a single actuation, while for a bidose, two successive actuations are necessary.

According to the invention, the needle support 60 comprises locking means 65, 66 which in the rest position cooperate with the reservoir 10 to prevent its axial displacement relative to the head 20. When the user wishes to actuate the device, he must first overcome these means of blocking.

The blocking means, more clearly visible on the figures 6 and 7 , comprise a locking element 66 connected to the hollow body 61 of the needle support 60 by at least one breakable bridge 65.

In the example shown, the blocking element is advantageously made in the form of a radial ring 66, and there are four breakable bridges 65. Any number of breakable bridges can however be envisaged.

Alternatively, the blocking element could be made differently. There could in particular be several separate locking elements 66, each connected to said hollow body by a respective breakable bridge 65.

The locking means of the present invention are particularly advantageous in that they are simple and therefore inexpensive to manufacture, in particular to mold, and to assemble.

When the user wishes to actuate the device, he exerts an axial force between the body 51 of the actuating means 50 and the radial supports 22 of the dispensing head 20. The body 51, and therefore the reservoir 10, cannot be moved. move axially relative to the head 2 due to the locking means which cooperate with the top edge of the tank, as visible on the figures 1, 2 and 5 .

When this axial force reaches a predetermined threshold, the breakable bridges 65 break, which allows the axial sliding of said locking element 66 around the hollow body 61 of the needle support 60. Simultaneously, the body 51 and the reservoir 10 also move. axially relative to the dispensing head 20, causing the piston stopper 30 to be pierced by the needle 41, then the displacement of said piston stopper 30 in the reservoir to expel the fluid. The figures 3 and 4 show the device after actuation, with the blocking element 66 at the top of said hollow body 61. The ribs 62 can serve to block said blocking element 66 after actuation, for example by clamping or snapping.

Said predetermined threshold of the axial actuating force at which the breakable bridges break provides precompression in the user's hand which ensures that the full actuation stroke will be performed when said breakable bridges break. This threshold can be chosen in order to guarantee good anti-actuation safety during transport and storage, while allowing not too difficult actuation.

The device advantageously comprises anti-tearing means 70 arranged between the body 51 of the actuating means 50 and the dispensing head 20, in order to prevent the user from having easy access to the fluid product contained in the reservoir 10.

In the example shown, these anti-pullout means comprise an outwardly radial shoulder 71 formed on the body 51 and an inwardly radial shoulder 72 formed on the dispensing head, the internal diameter of said radial shoulder facing outward. interior 72 being less than the external diameter of said radial shoulder towards the exterior 71. Thus, in the rest position, visible on the figures 1, 2 and 5 , the radial inward shoulder 72 formed on the head 20 prevents the body 51 and therefore the reservoir 10 from being removed from the device.

As can be seen in the figures, the fact of deporting the locking means at the level of the needle support 60 makes it possible to produce a device provided both with locking means, with effective anti-tearing means and to have radial dimensions reduced to minimum.

Of course, other embodiments can also be envisaged, without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (8)

1. A fluid dispenser device comprising: a reservoir (10) containing fluid; a dispenser head (20) that is provided with a dispenser orifice (21), dispenser means (30) for dispensing at least a fraction of said fluid through said dispenser orifice (21), and passage means (40) for connecting said reservoir (10) to said dispenser orifice (21) on actuation of said dispenser means (30), said passage means (40) including a hollow needle (41) that penetrates into said reservoir (10) on actuation of said dispenser means (30), said needle (41) being fastened in a needle support (60) that is itself fastened in said dispenser head (20), said needle support (60) including blocking means (65, 66), characterized in that said blocking means (65, 66), in the rest position, co-operate with said reservoir (10) so as to prevent it from moving axially relative to said head (20).
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said blocking means (65, 66) are deactivated when the user exerts an axial actuation force that is greater than a predetermined threshold between said reservoir (10) and said dispenser head (20).
3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said blocking means (65, 66) comprise a blocking element (66) that is connected to said needle support (60) via at least one breakable bridge (65).
4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said blocking element (66) is a radial ring that is connected to said needle support (60) via a plurality of breakable bridges (65).
5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said dispenser means (30) comprise a stopper/piston (30) that, in the rest position, closes said reservoir (10) in leaktight manner, and that during actuation is initially pierced by said needle (41), then moved axially in said reservoir (10) so as to expel the fluid through said needle (41) towards said dispenser orifice (21).
6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said device includes actuator means (50) for actuating said dispenser means (30), said actuator means (50) comprising a body (51) that receives said reservoir (10) in stationary manner, said body (51) being able to slide axially relative to said dispenser head (20).
7. A device according to claim 6, including tear-off protection means (70) that are arranged between said body (51) of said actuator means (50) and said dispenser head (20).
8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said tear-off protection means (70) comprise an outwardly-directed radial shoulder (71) that is formed on said body (51) and an inwardly-directed radial shoulder (72) that is formed on said dispenser head (20), the inside diameter of said inwardly-directed radial shoulder (72) being smaller than the outside diameter of said outwardly-directed radial shoulder (71).

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