FR2913960A1 - DEVICE FOR DISPENSING AND DOSING A FLUID COMPRISING FLUID MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE TIME OF DISTRIBUTION OF SAID FLUID - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (1) for dispensing and dosing a fluid, of the type comprising a body (2) provided with an ejection nozzle (3), said body (2) comprising a reserve (4) fluid in the form of an aerosol, means for releasing the fluid from the reserve to the ejection nozzle (3) comprising a fluid control wheel (5) able to be rotated around its axis by drive means, so as to move from a waiting position to a final dosing position of the fluid, said device (1) being characterized in that it comprises control means (6) for the speed of rotation of said wheel (5) to allow the release of the fluid for a predetermined period, said control means (6) comprising a fluid retarder coupled with the wheel (5) control.

Description

DEVICE FOR DISPENSING AND ASSAYING A FLUID COMPRISING MEANS

  The present invention relates to the field of a metered distribution of a fluid contained in an aerosol for a given time on a given surface.

  The present invention relates more particularly to a dispensing device and dosages of a fluid whose distribution time is controlled over time for each dose.

  The device according to the invention is intended more particularly, but not exclusively, for dermatitis such as warts, corns, growths and brown spots.

  International patent application WO2006 / 114533 discloses a device for controlling the delivery of a fluid, particularly in terms of duration and quantity for several doses. Said device comprises a fluid reserve in the form of an aerosol. It also comprises means for triggering the release of the fluid from the reserve through an ejection nozzle, said means being coupled to a timer system controlling the duration of release of said fluid for a given number of doses or variable depending on the stored fluid and the amount of fluid diffused with each use. The timer system is of the mechanical type: it is formed by a gears gear.

  However, a device comprising such a timer system has a number of disadvantages.

  Firstly, the delivery of the fluid with such a device is accompanied by a noise generated by the clockwork mechanism constituting the timer system.

  However, it was found that such noise caused the user, a voltage generating thereby a certain apprehension about the use of such a device.

  Then, the timer system is formed by an assembly of at least six separate pieces. The assembly of the timer system therefore requires some precision when assembling the parts together. It also imposes a non-negligible assembly and assembly time.

  The risk of a malfunction of the delivery device, linked for example to uncontrolled friction between the parts of the timer system or to a gear lock, can not be completely ruled out. Moreover, such a mechanism causing many parts may weaken the operation.

  Finally, a device for delivering a fluid proves to be particularly expensive given the number of parts necessary for the realization of the timer system and their specific character.

  The invention aims in particular to overcome the disadvantages of the patent application WO2006 / 114533 described above by providing a reassuring device, secure and quiet, allowing the distribution of fluid doses for a fixed period.

  Another object of the invention is to propose a fluid dispensing device whose assembly of parts is simplified and facilitated. Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing device offering a better impact resistance.

  Finally, the object of the invention is also to propose a dispensing device having manufacturing costs lower than those of a device comprising a clockwork mechanism.

  For this purpose, and according to a first aspect, the invention relates to a device for dispensing and dosing a fluid, of the type comprising a body provided with an ejection nozzle, said body comprising a reserve of fluid under aerosol form, fluid release means from the reserve to the ejection nozzle comprising a fluid control wheel rotatable about its axis by drive means, so that to move from a waiting position to a final dosing position of the fluid. The device is remarkable in that it comprises means for controlling the speed of rotation of said wheel to allow the release of the fluid 25 for a determined period of time, said control means comprising a fluidic retarder coupled with the control wheel.

  Thus, the fluid distribution time is controlled by means of a fluid acting on the rotational speed of the fluid release control wheel. Surprisingly, the action of the fluid makes it possible to obtain a constant and reproducible rotational speed over time. The fluid therefore acts on the control wheel by reliably delaying the movement of said wheel which is advantageously driven, as will be seen, by a tension spring. The fluidic retarder therefore has the advantage of being used as a timer. According to a particular configuration of the invention, the fluidic retarder comprises a pinion mounted on an axis in frictional contact with a viscous fluid, said pinion meshing with the control wheel. According to a particular configuration of the invention, the control wheel is driven by a spring-like elastic element, said elastic element being fixed on said wheel so as to be in a deformed state when said wheel is in a position of rotation. waiting for fluid dosing.

  Advantageously, the fluid has a friction torque of between 0.05 and 0.08 Newton.Meter, and preferably 0.068 Newton.Meter, the elastic element having a stiffness of between 3 and 8 Newtons, and preferably 5, 3 Newtons.

  It can also be advantageously provided that the elastic element is fixed on the control wheel so as to be in a rest state when the control wheel is in the final dosing position of the fluid.

  Advantageously, the device comprises means for keeping the control wheel in its waiting position for dosing the fluid. According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the holding means comprise a lever arm capable of being in abutment with a lug formed on one of the faces of the wheel. It can also be provided that the device comprises means for stopping the movement of the wheel in its final fluid dosing position. Advantageously, said stop means comprise a stop tab, formed on the face of the wheel, adapted to abut with the lever arm.

  Advantageously, the control wheel comprises a substantially circular rib provided with the lug and the stop tab of the lever arm which are arranged relative to one another at an angular spacing of between 180 and 300 degrees.

  Advantageously, the control wheel comprises a complementary rib, said complementary rib being arranged with the rib to form a guide rail of the lever arm.

  Advantageously, the control wheel is moved from its final position to its waiting position for dosing the fluid by means of a reset lever secured to said wheel.

  The invention will be better understood by means of the description, given below purely for explanatory purposes, of one embodiment of the invention, with reference to the appended figures. - Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a device for dispensing and dosing a fluid according to the invention; FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the device of FIG. 1; FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate a view of the inside of the two half-shells constituting the device of FIG. 1; and FIG. 4 illustrates a view of the fluid release control wheel of the device of FIG. 1.

  With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3a and 3b, there is described a device 1 for dispensing and dosing a fluid. More specifically, a device 1 is described which makes it possible to apply a determined quantity of a fluid, according to a determined duration of application, in order to treat a specific area of skin presenting a dermal infection, such as warts or brown spots. .

  As will be seen below, the fluid used for the treatment of this type of infection will have specific properties. Similarly, for each of these infections, the appropriate periods of application of the fluid will be specified below.

  The device 1 for dispensing and dosing a fluid comprises a body 2 provided with an ejection nozzle 3.

  The body 2 is formed of two half-shells 20, 21 snapped onto each other, each of the half-shells constituting a side face of the device 1. A container constituting the reserve 4 fluid is housed between these two half 20, 21. The reserve 4 comprises an inner pocket and a crimped pump which, once depressed, releases the gas (not shown). The selected gas, in this case R152A, is injected into the pocket and between the walls of the pocket and the container, so as to create, with the air around the pocket, a higher pressure between the walls. at the equilibrium pressure (or saturation vapor pressure) of the R152A in the pocket in order to be able to use the device in all positions (360). The ratio of these pressures will be determined according to the rate of ejection of the desired gas. Care should be taken to avoid, however, that the gap between them is too great to avoid a gas diffusion too fast. Thus, and preferably, there will be provided a volume of 2 g to 5.5 g (corresponding to a pressure of between 6.0 bar and 8.0 bar at 20 ° C.) between the walls of the bag and the container and of 11 g at 15 g (corresponding to a pressure of between 6.0 and 8.0 bars at 20 ° C.) inside the bag, to allow 15 to 20 ejections of gas, and thus from 15 to 20 treatment doses.

  The reserve 4 is maintained between the half-shells 20, 21 in a receiving envelope 12 provided for this purpose. Said envelope 12 is pivotally mounted on the edge of the bottom of the shell 21 around a transverse axis AA1.

  The triggering of the control of the release of the fluid from the reserve 4 to the ejection nozzle 3 is effected by means of a trigger button 14 formed in the body 2, and more particularly in the half-shell 21.

  The trigger button 12 is connected, via intermediate pieces which will be described later, a wheel controlling the release but also the stop of the release of the fluid. This fluid control wheel is subsequently called a cam wheel 5.

  Said cam wheel 5 is able to pass from a pre-release position of a fluid dose (fluid dosing waiting position) to an end position of release of the fluid dose (final dosing position of the fluid). fluid), and vice versa.This passage from one position to another is performed by rotation of the cam wheel 5 about its axis.

  More particularly, the transition from the end position to the fluid dosing standby position is carried out manually, by means of a reset lever 11 provided on one of the faces of the cam wheel 5 (see FIG. . On the other hand, the transition from the waiting position to the final dosing position of the fluid is carried out by drive means. The drive means consist of a spring 9 chosen to provide the energy required for the delivery of a determined fluid dose.

  Said spring is connected by one of its ends to the cam wheel 5, and the other end to the half-shell 20 (see Figure 3b). According to a particular configuration of the invention, the spring 9 is fixed, wound between the cam wheel 5 and the resetting lever 11, so as to be in a deformed state when the cam wheel 5 is in the dosing waiting position. fluid, and in a state of near-idle when the cam wheel 5 is in the final dosing position of the fluid.

  In order to control the duration of application of the fluid, the device 1 comprises means 6 for monitoring the speed of rotation of the cam wheel 5. More particularly, the control means 6 are configured to reduce the speed of rotation of the wheel cam 5, and therefore increase the duration of application of the fluid with respect to the duration to which the fluid would have been delivered if the device 1 did not comprise control means.

  The control means 6 comprise a fluidic retarder which cooperates with the cam wheel 5. The fluidic retarder consists of a viscous liquid contained in a receptacle traversed by an axis 8 having a degree of freedom in rotation. The axis 8 is secured to the cam wheel 5 by means of a pinion 7. Thus, and as illustrated in FIG. 3b, the fluidic retarder is arranged with the cam wheel 5 so that the teeth of the pinion 7, fixedly mounted on the axis 6, meshing with the teeth of the cam wheel 5.

  Thus, when the control of the release of the fluid is triggered, the cam wheel 5 is rotated about its axis by the spring 9. The cam wheel 5, in its movement, drives the pinion 7. Under this action, the pinion 7, fixedly connected to the axis 8, drives the latter in its movement. The rotational movement of the axis 8 is braked under the action of the friction forces of the fluid acting on it.

  The friction force of the fluid exerted on the axis 8 in motion depends in particular on its rotational speed, but also on the intrinsic properties of the fluid (viscosity of the fluid, density of the fluid). The speed of rotation of the axis 8 is a function of the stiffness of the spring 9. In other words, the slowing of the cam wheel is a function of two main data: the friction torque of the fluid and the stiffness of the spring.

  According to a particular configuration, it is advantageously chosen to associate a fluidic retarder conferring a friction torque of 0.068 Newton.Meter to a stiffness spring of 5.3 Newtons.

  The trigger button 14 is connected to the cam wheel 5 via the casing 12 provided with a rocking lever 10. The rocking lever 10 comprises an arm 100 adapted to come into contact with the cam wheel 5. FIG. a view of one face of the cam wheel 5, the other face carrying the reset lever 11.

  Said cam wheel 5 comprises a guide rib 71 10 intended to guide, at its outer periphery 72, the arm 100 of the rocking lever 10.

  The guide rib 71 is provided on its outer periphery 72 with a lug 73 for locking the cam wheel 5 driven by the spring 9, the cam wheel 5 being retained by bearing the face 74 of the lug 73. against the arm 100 of the rocker lever 10. This blocking position corresponds to the waiting position of dosing release of the fluid. The cam wheel 5 further comprises a stop tab 75 for stopping the movement of said wheel under the drive of the spring 9. The movement of the wheel is on the one hand stopped by the support of the paw d stopping 75 against the arm 100 of the rocking lever 10 and secondly by a stop located on the other side of the cam wheel. Stop that comes to bear on an abutment lodged on the lower hull. This stop position corresponds to the final dosing position of the fluid. Advantageously, said stop tab 75 is preceded by a boss 77. The movement imposed on the arm 100 of the rocking lever 10 by the boss 77 causes the actual stopping of the delivery of the fluid. The final stop of the cam wheel 55 by contact of the stop tab against the arm 100 of the rocker lever 10 causes, for its part, the locking of the casing 12, prohibiting any new distribution of fluid without previous reset.

  Advantageously, the stop tab is formed on the guide rib 71, so as to present, with the lug 73, an angular spacing of the order of 200 degrees. Advantageously, the stop tab 75 has a U shape.

  In an advantageous configuration, the cam wheel 5 comprises a second rib 76 for holding and guiding the arm 100 of the rocking lever 10 between the two ribs 71 and 76. This second rib 76 has the advantage of not requiring the spring effect necessary for a rocking lever 10 when the cam wheel 5 comprises only one rib 71.

  Moreover, it is of course obvious that the reset lever 11 and the trigger button 14 are arranged to extend outside the half-shells 20, 21.

  The operation of the device 1 for dispensing and dosing a fluid according to the invention is as follows.

  In order to initiate the distribution of the fluid, the reset lever 11 is turned, which drives the cam wheel 5 in its movement. The lever 11 is rotated until the arm 100 of the rocking lever 10 comes to lock against the latch 73 for holding the lever latch 10. At the same time, the spring 9, held between the reset lever 11 and the cam wheel 5, is driven by the movement of the cam wheel 5, winding on it. even. Preferably, priming is carried out by turning the reset lever 11 about a half turn.

  The device 1 is then waiting to dispense a dose of fluid.

  The dispensing operation of a fluid dose is started by manually pushing the trigger button 14 from front to back or vice versa, depending on the starting position. In its movement, said trigger button 14 drives the casing 12 in a pivoting movement toward the half-shell 21, causing it to lift the rocking lever 10 above the lug 73. The lug 73 n being more restrained by the rocking lever 10, the cam wheel 15 is rotated, driven by the action of the spring 9.

  The cam wheel 5 rotates the pinion 7 coupled to the axis 8, under the action of the tensile force of the spring. The movement of the axis 8, in contact with the viscous fluid, is braked under the action of the friction forces of the viscous fluid on said axis 8.

  At the same time, the casing 12, by pivoting, presses against the bottom of the container constituting the reserve 4, giving the opening stroke of the pump crimped into the container constituting the reserve, which releases the gas. The gas is then delivered until the arm 100 of the rocking lever 10 comes into contact with the boss 77 of the cam wheel 5. The cam wheel 5 continues its rotational movement until the stop tab 75 meets the rocker lever 10. At this time, the pivoting movement of the casing 12 is locked, and the device 1 in the final position of delivering a dose of the fluid.

  In order to proceed to a new delivery of fluid, it will be carried out again a rebooting of the device 1, by actuation of the reset lever 11. The device 1 is then again in its waiting position for delivery of the fluid.

  Regarding the ejection nozzle 3, it comprises a nozzle whose dimensions and shape are chosen according to the gas used and its properties, as well as the pressure maintained in the container pocket 4. The nozzle further comprises a transparent tip 13 provided, at its free end, with a protective cap 130. The tip 13 will have a length corresponding to the optimum distance required between the outlet of the nozzle and the skin, so as to avoid fluid projections on the walls of the protective tip or excessive evaporation of the fluid. The nozzle further includes apertures 131 for releasing gas pressure.

  For the treatment of infections such as warts or brown spots, the fluid to be applied to the area of skin to be treated will have a boiling point of -20 ° C or lower and a lower latent heat of vaporization. equal to 200 kJ / kg. The particular combination of these two characteristics of the fluid makes it possible to obtain optimum efficiency for the cryoprocessings or cryoapplications considered. Indeed, the boiling temperature makes it possible to obtain the necessary cold, and, the relative weakness of the latent heat of vaporization, a rapid evaporation which induces a good transmission of the cold without risking a flow of fluid outside the zone. 'application. Therefore, the use of the fluid according to the invention provides a dry and intense cold, while limiting the aggressiveness of the treatment on the application area. In an exemplary embodiment, the fluid is a type 152A HFC which has a boiling point of -24 C and a latent heat of vaporization equal to 160 kJ / kg.

  The duration of application of such a fluid is determined according to the use for which said device is intended. Thus, when it comes to a warts treatment, the fluid will advantageously ejected for 3 seconds and when it is a question of treating brown spots, for 1 to 2 seconds.

  The invention is described in the foregoing by way of example. It is understood that the skilled person is able to realize different variants of the invention without departing from the scope of the patent.

Claims (12)

  1. Device (1) for dispensing and dosing a fluid, of the type comprising a body (2) provided with an ejection nozzle (3), said body (2) comprising a reserve (4) of fluid in the form of an aerosol, means for releasing the fluid from the reserve to the ejection nozzle (3) comprising a fluid control wheel (5) able to be rotated about its axis by means drive, so as to move from a waiting position to a final dosing position of the fluid, said device (1) being characterized in that it comprises means (6) for controlling the rotation speed of the said wheel (5) for allowing the release of the fluid for a determined period of time, said control means (6) comprising a fluidic retarder coupled with the control wheel (5).   2. Device (1) for dispensing and dosing a fluid according to claim 1, characterized in that the fluidic retarder comprises a pinion (7) mounted on an axis (8) in frictional contact with a viscous fluid, said pinion meshing with the control wheel (5).   Device (1) for distributing and dosing a fluid according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that the control wheel (5) is driven by a spring-like elastic element (9). said elastic element (9) being fixed on said wheel (5) so as to be in a deformed state when said wheel (5) is in the fluid dosing standby position.   4. Device (1) for dispensing and dosing a fluid according to claim 3, characterized in that the fluid has a friction torque between 0.05 and 0.08 Newton.Mètre, the elastic element ( 9) having a stiffness of between 3 and 8 Newtons   5. Device (1) for dispensing and dosing a fluid according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterized in that the fluid has a friction torque of 0.068 Newton.Meter, the elastic member (9) having a stiffness of 5.3 Newtons.   6. Device (1) for distributing and dosing a fluid according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the elastic element (9) is fixed on the control wheel (5) in such a way that to be in an idle state when the control wheel (5) is in the final dosing position of the fluid.   7. Device (1) for dispensing and dosing a fluid according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for maintaining the wheel (5) control in its waiting position of dosing the fluid, said holding means comprising a lever arm (10) adapted to abut with a lug (73) formed on one of the faces of the wheel (5).   8. Device (1) for dispensing and dosing a fluid according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises means for stopping the movement of the wheel in its final dosing position. fluid.   9. Device (1) for distributing and dosing a fluid according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said stop means comprise a stop tab (75) formed on the face of the wheel (5). , able to be in abutment with the lever arm (10).   10. Device (1) for dispensing and dosing a fluid according to claim 9, characterized in that the wheel (5) comprises a substantially circular rib (72) provided with the lug (73) and the stop tab (75) of the lever arm (10) which are arranged relative to one another at an angular spacing between 180 and 300 degrees.   11. Device (1) for dispensing and dosing a fluid according to claim 10, characterized in that the control wheel (5) comprises a complementary rib (76), said complementary rib being arranged with the rib (72). ) to form a guide rail of the lever arm (10).   12. Device (1) for distributing and dosing a fluid according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control wheel (5) is moved from its final position to its dosing standby position. fluid by means of a reset lever (11) integral with said wheel.