JPH0246219B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cuttable ampoule adapter device.

In various applications such as pharmaceuticals, sanitary products, perfumes, etc., liquid substances are often dispensed in the form of a spray and applied onto the skin or into the throat or ears. The substance to be atomized is generally contained in a container fitted with an atomizing device, which can be actuated by gas pressure, and this operation will not occur if the gas is dissolved in the liquid substance. However, it is performed by a hand (finger) pump.

The material to be atomized may remain in contact with parts of the preparative device, such as plastic parts, rubber gaskets, etc., for a considerable period of time, and over time these parts may develop into the material. You will blend in. Air may enter the container and the atomizing product may leak, potentially contaminating the product or having other harmful effects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Certain pharmaceutical or other sanitary products and perfumed agents, ie, substances, are commercially available as glass ampoules containing substances that can be opened (cut) for use. Therefore, the material will be maintained and preserved in a highly intact state. However, transferring the substance from the ampoule to the spray device requires careful handling. The object of the present invention is a device which combines the material conditioning advantages obtained when the same material is sold in cuttable ampoules and which allows the material to be placed directly into the atomizer. The object is to obtain a device which can combine the advantages of material conditioning obtained when selling the same material in packaged form.

French patent for Bouvaist
No. 2,168,265 is known, which discloses a device for fixing a spray pump to the neck of a container. The device includes a connecting portion having a grip that spans both the pump body and the container. Such devices are not without drawbacks. First of all, it cannot be used with ampules. Moreover, if the pump, container and their connecting parts are to be kept together, the combined assembly must be housed in a single box.

The object of the present invention is to have a single part, which allows a glass ampoule to be inserted immediately without requiring any manipulation other than opening the mouth of the ampoule, which is to be cut off at one end, and which has a compact appearance. The object of the present invention is to provide a simple device that can be easily and safely operated, considering the fact that it can be sold at drug stores.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive device that is disposable and intended to be discarded after use.

According to the invention, an adapter device for applying the contents of a cuttable ampoule in the form of a spray comprises a manual spray pump comprising a generally tubular element, one end of said element having a dip tube (suction tube). , the dip tube extends generally along its entire length within the tubular element, the other end of the tubular element being open to form a tubular housing for the purpose of accommodating the severable ampoule; The tubular element includes a device for sealingly coupling the opening of the ampoule and a device for maintaining the ampoule in its housing.

That is, the present invention is an adapter device for atomizing the contents of a cuttable ampoule, comprising a generally tubular element 5, to one end of which a manual atomizing pump is hermetically secured, the pump being connected to said element. a hollow actuating valve stem projecting outwardly from the tubular element and a suction tube extending inside said element over substantially its entire length, the other end of said tubular element defining a tubular chamber intended for accommodating said cuttable ampoule. said tubular element further comprising: (a) a device for sealingly coupling with the opening of the ampoule, said device comprising a circular lip-shaped bead disposed on the inner wall of said tubular element; b) a device for retaining an ampoule in its housing, comprising a bead formed on the inner wall of the tubular element adjacent to the open end of the element;
A device characterized in that the periphery of the open end comprises a device that is elastically stretchable or that consists of a lower part that is removably fixed to the tubular element 5, such as by a screw or snap fit. It is.

Other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and understanding the invention.

The device includes a hand-operated spray pump 1, the interior of which is not shown as it is a conventional pump. The valve stem 2 is the actuating member of the pump. A push button fitted with a spray nozzle is usually inserted through this valve stem. The pump is valve stem 2
includes an internal return spring that biases the spring outwardly. On the suction side of the pump, a suction pipe or dip pipe 3 is provided. In this embodiment, the device includes a tubular element 5. The pump 1 is secured at the first end 4 of said tubular element 5. To do this, the tubular element 5 connects the pump 1 with a sealing gasket 1
It is provided with an outwardly projecting bead 8 which can be secured at said end 4 by a single cap 9. The other end 7 of the tubular element 5 is open to form a tubular housing for receiving a cuttable ampoule having one end cut off. The shape of the tubular element 5 allows the ampoule to be fixed simply, easily and effectively. When the suction tube 3 is inserted into the ampoule 6, the tube 3 extends approximately above the bottom surface of the ampoule, but this is because the tube 3 is connected to the tubular element 5.
This is due to the fact that it usually extends to a position close to the open end of the.

A pump 4 is used to enable the ampoule 6 to be inserted into the tubular element 5 and kept in place.
At least one slit 12 and one inwardly projecting bead 13 are formed in the open end 7 of said tubular element 5, opposite the end 4 on which it is fitted. Said bead is provided to hold the ampoule 6 in position within the tubular element 5. Split 12 is provided to allow the tubular element to expand when the ampoule passes through the neck formed by bead 13.

A sealing bead, for example in the form of an annular lip 15, is provided on the inner wall of the tubular element 5. This sealing bead has a dual purpose. That is, first of all, this bead tightens the ampoule 6 and cooperates with the bead 13 to hold the ampoule in place.
This bead then makes it possible to accommodate ampoules of various lengths to some extent.

Preferably, the ampoule and the device of the invention are sold in one box. The user cuts the cuttable ampoule and inserts the cut ampoule into the tubular element. These two parts are assembled and the assembly is used like a hand nebulizer and the substance enclosed in the ampoule is put to beneficial use. The device can be placed in an inverted position without any disadvantage (in which case the liquid can only be drained when the free end of the dip tube 3 is plunged into the liquid).

The tubular element 5 with attached lip 15 and bead 13 is preferably formed as a one-piece piece of plastic, but it goes without saying that it can also be designed in other ways.

In another embodiment of the invention, instead of the press-fit engagement effected by the bead 13 and the slit 12, the empty ampoule can be removed in order to insert a new ampoule when it is empty. The bottom of the tubular element 5, without a split, is formed as a cap 16, which is releasably secured to the remainder of the tubular element, such as by a threaded or press-fit engagement at 17. In this case, the end 7 may be closed.

When the ampoule is empty, loosen the screw, remove the cap 16, take out the empty ampoule, and replace it with a new ampoule. The device of the invention can thus be used several times and is packaged together with several ampoules in a box.

Although one embodiment has been particularly illustrated and described herein, without departing from the spirit and contemplated scope of the invention, in light of the above teachings and within the scope of the appended claims. It will be obvious that the invention may be practiced with various modifications and variations.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawing is a schematic axial sectional view of one embodiment of the invention. 1... Spray pump, 2... Valve stem, 3... Suction pipe, 4... One end (of the tubular element), 5... Tubular element, 6... Ampoule, 7... Other end (of the tubular element 5) , open end, 12...split, 13...bead, 15...rip-shaped bead, 16...lower portion, 17...screw engagement.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. Adapter device for atomizing the contents of cuttable ampoules, comprising a generally tubular element 5, to one end of which a manual atomizing pump is hermetically secured, said pump a hollow actuating valve stem projecting outwardly of the element and a suction tube extending inside said element over substantially its entire length, the other end of said tubular element having a tubular chamber intended for accommodating said cuttable ampoule. the tubular element further comprising: (a) a device for sealingly coupling with the opening of the ampoule, the device comprising a circular lip-shaped bead disposed on the inner wall of the tubular element; (b) A device for maintaining an ampoule in its housing, the device comprising a bead formed on the inner wall of the tubular element adjacent to the open end of the element, the periphery of the open end being elastically stretchable. device, or a device consisting of a lower part which is removably fastened to the tubular element 5, such as by a threaded or snap fit. 2. The device is formed as a single piece, and the device for maintaining the ampoule in its housing includes a bead formed in the inner wall of the tubular element, adjacent to the open end of the element; 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the periphery is elastically extensible. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the open end of the tubular element is provided with at least one cleft. 4. A tubular element comprising said device for sealingly coupling and a device for maintaining the ampoule in its housing,
4. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is formed from a one-piece piece of plastic.