FR3130623A1 - Fluid product dispensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

Fluid product dispensing device comprising a reservoir (10) containing fluid product, a dispensing head (20) provided with a dispensing orifice (21), a plunger stopper (50) movable in said reservoir (10) between a rest position and an actuating position for dispensing fluid product through said dispensing orifice (21) during actuation, said device comprising a hollow insert (60) inserted and fixed in said dispensing head (20) , said insert (60) comprising a piercing tip (40) for piercing said plunger stopper (50) and thus connecting said reservoir (10) to said dispensing orifice (21) upon actuation, said device comprising an outer sleeve (65) arranged around said piercing tip (40) before actuation of the device, and moved axially with respect to said insert (60) during actuation. "figure for abstract: figure 1"

Description

Fluid product dispensing device

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a single-dose nasal fluid delivery device for delivering a pharmaceutical fluid product into the nose of a user via a single nasal spray.

A disadvantage of existing single-dose nasal fluid dispensing devices comprising a needle relates to the risk of damaging the tip of the syringe during assembly, transport or storage, with the consequent risk of malfunction during use of the device.

Another disadvantage of existing single-dose nasal fluid dispensing devices comprising a needle relates to the risk of malfunction in the event of actuation which is not perfectly axial, resulting in poor piercing of the needle.

Yet another drawback of existing single-dose nasal fluid dispensing devices comprising a needle relates to the use of a metal needle, which increases the risk of injury to the user, which increases manufacturing and assembly costs and which complicates recycling.

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

More particularly, the object of the present invention is to provide a fluid dispenser device which avoids the risk of malfunction during actuation.

The present invention also aims to provide such a device in which the tip of the needle is protected until actuation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a device comprising no metallic part.

The present invention also aims to provide such a device which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

The subject of the present invention is therefore a device for dispensing fluid product comprising a reservoir containing fluid product, a dispensing head provided with a dispensing orifice, a piston stopper which can be moved in said reservoir between a rest position and a position for dispensing fluid product through said dispensing orifice during actuation, said device comprising a hollow insert inserted and fixed in said dispensing head, said insert comprising a piercing tip for piercing said plunger stopper and thus connecting said reservoir to said dispensing orifice during actuation, said device comprising an outer sleeve disposed around said piercing tip before actuation of the device, and moved axially with respect to said insert during actuation.

Advantageously, said reservoir is formed by a hollow, blind body, comprising a bottom and a single opening which, in the rest position, is sealed off by said piston stopper.

Advantageously, said piercing tip is molded in one piece with said insert.

As a variant, said piercing tip is produced separately and then assembled in said insert, in particular by force fitting or by overmoulding.

Advantageously, said outer sleeve penetrates into said reservoir.

Advantageously, said insert comprises an elongated cylindrical body which contains said expulsion channel, said piercing tip extending axially beyond said elongated cylindrical body, said outer sleeve cooperating with said elongated cylindrical body to surround said piercing tip in position rest and to expose said piercing tip upon actuation.

According to a first advantageous embodiment, said outer sleeve is fixed to said elongated cylindrical body by at least one breakable bridge.

Advantageously, said breakable bridges are made between a lower axial edge of said elongated cylindrical body and an upper axial edge of said outer sleeve.

Advantageously, said outer sleeve and said breakable bridges are molded in one piece with said insert.

According to a second advantageous embodiment, said outer sleeve is made separately from said insert, being assembled with friction around said elongated cylindrical body.

Advantageously, said reservoir contains a single dose of fluid product dispensed in a single actuation.

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

Figures 1 to 4 are schematic views in cross section of a fluid dispenser device according to an advantageous embodiment, respectively in the rest position before actuation, at the start of actuation, during actuation and at the end actuation.

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There is a schematic detail view in cross section of an insert according to an advantageous embodiment, before actuation, and

Figures 6 and 7 are schematic perspective views of the insert of the , respectively before and after actuation.

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The terms "proximal" and "distal" refer to the delivery orifice. The terms "axial" and "radial" refer to the central longitudinal axis of the device. The term "upstream" refers to the direction of fluid flow upon actuation. The terms "up" and "down" refer to the upright position of the device shown in Figures 1 through 4.

Referring to the figures, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is a single dose, that is to say that the reservoir contains a single dose of fluid product dispensed in a single actuation.

In this embodiment, a reservoir 10 containing fluid to be dispensed, typically a liquid, is disposed inside a body forming a dispensing head 20. This dispensing head 20 comprises a dispensing orifice 21 oriented axially . This dispensing orifice 21 serves to dispense a dose of fluid product out of said dispensing head 20 when the device is actuated by a user.

The dispensing head 20 comprises an elongated nose piece 22 comprising at its proximal axial end said dispensing orifice 21, as well as a lateral body 24, connected to said nose piece 22 at the level of a radial flange 23.

A hollow insert 60 is arranged in the dispensing head 20, upstream of said dispensing orifice 21, said hollow insert 60 defining an expulsion channel 61 and, in cooperation with the bottom wall of the dispensing head 20, a profile spray 62 directly upstream of said dispensing orifice 21. At least one radial opening 63, disposed near the proximal end of the insert 60, allows the fluid to pass from the expulsion channel 61 to the spray profile 62. The insert comprises an elongated cylindrical body 64 which contains said expulsion channel 61.

The channel 61 ends at its lower end with a piercing tip 40. This piercing tip 40 can be molded in one piece with the insert 60. As a variant, it could be made separately, for example in metal or another synthetic material than that of the insert, then assembled in said insert, for example by press fitting or by overmoulding. The piercing tip 40 extends axially downward beyond the elongated cylindrical body 64.

Reservoir 10 is formed by a hollow, blind body, comprising a single opening closed by a plunger stopper 50. In the example shown, which is a single-dose, reservoir 10 contains a single dose of fluid product to be dispensed with a single actuation. of the device. The plug-piston 50 is movable in the reservoir 10 between a rest position and an end of actuation position to dispense said fluid product through the dispensing orifice 21 during actuation.

According to the invention, an outer sleeve 65 is arranged around the piercing tip 40 before actuation of the device. This outer sleeve 65 therefore protects said piercing tip 40, in particular during assembly, transport and storage. During actuation, said outer sleeve 65 is moved axially relative to said insert 60, in particular by axial sliding, to expose the piercing tip 40.

According to a first advantageous variant, the outer sleeve 65 is fixed to the elongated cylindrical body 64 by at least one breakable bridge 66. Preferably, these breakable bridges 66 are provided between the lower axial edge 640 of the elongated cylindrical body 64 and the upper axial edge 650 of the outer sleeve 65. Advantageously, the outer sleeve 65 and the breakable bridges are molded in one piece with the insert 60.

According to a second advantageous variant, the outer sleeve 65 is assembled with friction around the lower axial edge 640 of the elongated cylindrical body 64. In this variant, the insert 60 and the outer sleeve 65 form two separate parts, but assembled one in the other.

As seen on the , when the device is assembled, the outer sleeve 65 enters the reservoir 10, providing axial guidance and protection of the piercing tip 40.

During actuation, the reservoir 10 is moved axially upwards relative to the dispensing head 20. The plunger stopper 50 first cooperates with the outer sleeve 65, to move it out of its protective position, in breaking the breakable bridges 66 or by overcoming the friction between the outer sleeve 65 and the elongated cylindrical body 64. By continuing the actuation force, the plunger stopper 50 is then pushed against the piercing tip 40 to be pierced, this which allows the expulsion of all or part of the fluid product contained in the reservoir 10.

During actuation, the presence of the outer sleeve 65 in the reservoir 10 advantageously makes it possible to limit the risks of tilting, that is to say of non-axial displacement of the piercing tip 40 with respect to the plug-piston 50. Thus, the piercing tip 40 is perfectly centered with respect to the plunger stopper 50.

Actuating means 30 are advantageously provided to allow actuation of the device.

In the embodiment of the , these actuating means 30 comprise an actuating body 31 movable relative to the dispensing head 20, said actuating body 31 cooperating with said reservoir 10 to move it axially relative to the dispensing head 20, in the direction of the dispensing orifice 21.

The operation of the single-dose device shown in the figures will be detailed below.

Conventionally, the user places two fingers on the radial flange 23 formed on the dispensing head 20, and presses with the thumb on the distal axial bottom 32 of said actuator body 31. In the absence of an actuator body , the user could directly press the bottom of the tank 10.

During such actuation, the reservoir 10 is therefore pushed axially in the direction of the dispensing orifice 21, so that the outer sleeve 65 is moved axially upwards, allowing the piercing tip 40 to pierce the cap- piston 50. The contents of reservoir 10 are then connected to dispensing orifice 21 and pressing the user on actuating body 31 moves plunger stopper 50 in reservoir 10 to dispense fluid. .

The present invention therefore provides a device for which the piercing tip 40 is protected until actuation. This makes the device more robust and reliable, and guarantees reproducible performance. The invention also makes it possible to better guide the moving parts of the device during assembly and during actuation, allowing more reliable actuation.

Of course, other variant embodiments are also possible, without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (11)

Fluid product dispensing device comprising a reservoir (10) containing fluid product, a dispensing head (20) provided with a dispensing orifice (21), a plunger stopper (50) movable in said reservoir (10) between a rest position and an actuating position for dispensing fluid product through said dispensing orifice (21) during actuation, said device comprising a hollow insert (60) inserted and fixed in said dispensing head (20) , said insert (60) comprising a piercing tip (40) for piercing said plunger stopper (50) and thus connecting said reservoir (10) to said dispensing orifice (21) during actuation, characterized in that said device comprises an outer sleeve (65) disposed around said piercing tip (40) before actuation of the device, and moved axially with respect to said insert (60) during actuation. Device according to Claim 1, in which the said reservoir (10) is formed by a hollow, blind body, comprising a bottom and a single opening which, in the rest position, is sealed off by the said plunger stopper (50). Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said piercing tip (40) is integrally molded with said insert (60). Device according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the said piercing tip (40) is produced separately then assembled in the said insert (60), in particular by force-fitting or by overmolding. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said outer sleeve (65) extends into said reservoir (10). A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said insert (60) comprises an elongated cylindrical body (64) which contains an expulsion channel (61), said piercing tip (40) extending axially beyond of said elongated cylindrical body (64), said outer sleeve (65) cooperating with said elongated cylindrical body (64) to surround said piercing tip (40) in the rest position and to expose said piercing tip (40) during actuation. Device according to claim 6, wherein said outer sleeve (65) is fixed to said elongated cylindrical body (64) by at least one breakable bridge (66). Device according to claim 7, wherein said breakable bridges (66) are made between a lower axial edge (640) of said elongated cylindrical body (64) and an upper axial edge (650) of said outer sleeve (65). Device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said outer sleeve (65) and said breakable bridges (66) are molded in one piece with said insert (60). Device according to Claim 6, in which the said outer sleeve (65) is made separately from the said insert (60), being assembled with friction around the said elongated cylindrical body (64). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the said reservoir (10) contains a single dose of fluid product dispensed in a single actuation.
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