MXPA00010376A - Dosage control for dispenser with child-resistant feature - Google Patents

Abstract

A manually actuatedpump dispenser has a control ring (29) mounted on the pump body (11) for rotation about its central axis and engaging the pump plunger skirt (19) for controlling the number of plunger strokes and thereby the dosage of the dispenser for each cycle of revolution of the control ring. The plunger is releasably locked by the control ring (29) against plunger reciprocation at the commencement and at the end of each cycle of revolution of the control ring to thereby render the same child-resistant. The plunger skirt (19) has a projection (35) which rests on a shelf defined by a flat rib (36) provided on the control ring (29) to prevent operation of the plunger in the rest configuration of the components. Manual rotation of the control ring (29) relative to the plunger skirt (19) is necessary to free the plunger for operation. Thereafter, repeated depression of the plunger causes rotation of the control ring by interaction of the projection (35) with a control track provided by ribs on the inside of the control ring until the components return to the rest configuration.

Description

DOSE CONTROLLER FOR CHILDREN'S PROOF DISTRIBUTOR This invention relates to a manually operated pump dispenser that provides a predetermined number of pump strokes to control the dose before automatically re-establishing after the final stroke. The piston of the distributor pump is closed against the drive in a condition prior to the first stroke and after the final stroke.

More particularly, the dispenser according to the invention has a control ring that can be freely rotated by engaging the piston to control the number of piston strokes and therefore controlling the dose during an open condition of the pump for each rotation of the ring. control. The control ring is coupled to the piston in such a way that it closes the piston in a removable manner against reciprocal movement. The control ring and the piston should rotate relatively to open the ring and place the distributor in a childproof position.

The patent of E.U.A. No. 5,335,823 discloses a random type discharge apparatus in which a discharge process is developed with one or more discharge actuation means. The dispenser is constructed in such a way that it can move back and forth in one or more cycles of movement manually between one or more start positions and one or more termination positions. In one or more such positions, the discharge drive means may be fixed by one or more capture systems at least within certain limits of movement against movements in the driving direction and / or the return direction in the The capture system can be released again by one or more manual actions.

The patent of E.U.A. No. 4, 565,302 discloses a doseable mechanism with a driving actuator for distributing a measured amount of a substance that can flow into a container. It is provided with a counter to automatically count the blows triggered, the counter is started by actuating the drive impeller. A closing device is provided for the actuation stroke that can be actuated as a function of the counter. The closing means are activated after a maximum daily dose of a certain number of blows and can subsequently be released again.

Said dose mechanisms of the prior art, however, generally lack the ability to provide a specific number of strokes for dose control before automatically reestablishing after the final stroke. For example, the user may require three strokes of a nasal medication for each nostril, so that after the third stroke the dispenser is placed in a childproof position until the operator resets the device. The known distributors of the prior art have a controller or dose meter that makes them incapable of achieving specific control of the blows necessary for their operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser having a dose control mechanism that provides a specific number of strokes that upon completion of its actuation is automatically reset and closes the pump actuator after the pump has finished Last Shot. The distributor with such control in accordance with the invention was developed having relatively few parts in motion, it is easy to operate and assemble and is very economical.

The control ring is mounted on the distributor body and engages the piston to rotate only in one direction from a closed position and through a plurality of predetermined cam cycles where the piston automatically resets in a closed position. The coupling between the control ring and the piston becomes a translation movement for the rotary movement so that the piston is capable of only a specific number of strokes at each turn of the control ring.

A cam on the piston engages a support shoulder on the control ring to close the piston against reciprocal movement before the start of the first stroke and after the end of the last stroke. The control ring and the piston rotate freely and do so relative to each other. Limiting obstructions are provided in the projection, one of which is over mounted in relation to the ring rotation and the piston to place it in a driving position. After the end of the last stroke the piston closes automatically and the cam returns to the projection.

The coupling between the control ring and the piston further includes a zigzag path in which the cam engages the rear faces of the route walls forming dividing ramps at acute and obtuse angles. The route walls have free ends that deviate and allow the cam to move from one angular ramp to the other, thus acting as a one-way gate for each individual lava cycle.

The need to relatively rotate the control ring so that the piston is placed in the childproof position given the relative rotation between the two parts, is generally incapable of being carried out by a small child.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS. Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a manually operated pump distributor embodying the invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the control ring of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a part of the control ring, in an enlarged section, showing the sequential route of the piston cam with which the ring engages; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the dispenser of Fig. 1, partially open to illustrate the cam of the piston head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings in which the corresponding parts show several views, the dispenser incorporating the invention is generally designated in Fig. 1 of construction known as described in the US patent. 4,051, 983. Said Document is mentioned in the present invention as a reference. The dispenser has a pump body 11 coupled to an internally threaded closure cap 12 for mounting the dispenser to the threaded neck externally of a container C of a product to be dispensed. The pump body includes a pump housing 13 having a pump cylinder part 14 for receiving a reciprocable pump piston that defines a pump chamber 16 of variable volume. The pump piston has a hollow rod 17 which is fixedly mounted to a pump head 18 having a cylindrical edge 19. The hollow rod defines a discharge passage 21 communicating with a discharge opening 22 at the end of a discharge conduit 23 or the like, through which the liquid product is discharged in the normal manner known in the art.

A three piece spring valve, generally designated 24, has a spring valve part 25 seated against a valve seat formed in the pump piston, the part 25 being coupled to a small diameter piston 26 which moves. reciprocally within a small diameter cylinder 27 as an integral part of the bamba housing 13. A balloon retention entry valve 28 is captured between the parts 25 and 26 for product entry into the pump chamber during each Suction stroke of the piston in the manner known in the art and specifically described in the '983 patent. A return spring 20 of the piston is located in the cylinder 27 and abuts against the three-part spring valve for return of the piston to its position of FIG. 1.

According to the invention, a control ring 29 is coupled to the closing layer 12 in a telescopic relation to the edge of the piston 19. The control ring has an external annular bed 31 (Fig. 2) engageable with an annular groove 32 (Fig. 1) in vertical flange 33 of the closure cap allowing the control ring to rotate freely in relation to the piston and the closure cap. A retaining collar 34 mounted on the upper end of the control ring. It can be provided to densely contain the edge of the piston. Otherwise, the control ring may have an integral annular collar or flange for that purpose.

According to the invention, the control ring 29 is coupled to the cylindrical edge 19 of the pump piston so that the translational movement of the piston is converted to rotational movement of the control ring during each individual cycle of cam 30 (FIG. 3). For this purpose, the piston edge 19 has a radially extending projection 35 in the form of a cam which may be circular in cross section. The inner surface of the control ring has a horizontal projection defined by a flat projection 36 or the like, on which the cam 35 rests in a given rotational orientation of the control ring. When the cam 35 abuts against the projection 36, the piston of the pump is deactivated and can not be lowered. In the described embodiment, the piston is closed in its raised position at the end of the suction stroke of the piston when the cam 35 is in its "a" position of FIG. 4.

In this position the manual rotation of the piston or the manual rotation of the control ring with respect to the central axis of the distributor will cause both parts 18 and 19 to rotate together as they rotate freely with respect to said axis. The opposite ends provided with the edge 36 form the obstructing elements 37 and 38 which normally confine the cam 35 to the edge 36 during the rotation of the piston head or the control ring with respect to the central axis. The obstructing element 37 is deformable, so that in the relative rotation of the piston head and the control ring (as it manually rotates the piston head and the control ring in relatively opposite directions), the cam passes over of the obstructing element 37 to its position "b" of Fig. 4, thus allowing the reciprocal movement of the piston. Therefore, the distributor is approved by children and is not capable of carrying out a two-movement operation by manipulating the control ring piston head so that they rotate with respect to each other and open the piston. It should be noted that the relative rotation causes the cam 35 to deviate in an opposite direction towards the obstructing element 38 and does not open the piston as prevented by the end 48 of the projection 44.

The inner ring wall of control also has a zigzag path along the circumference starting at the obstructing element 37 extending with respect to the total circumference along the inner surface of the control ring and ending at the element obstructor 38. The route may be comprised of a plurality of dividing ramps defined by the projections 39, 41, 42, 43, etc., and ending at the projection 44, alternately at obtuse and acute angles.

The control ring rotates with respect to its axis only in the direction of the curved arrows of FIG. 4. In relation to this direction it can be seen that the projection 39 is poured downwards and subsequently, terminated at a deflection end 45 slightly. separated from the confronting end of the boss 41 at a distance slightly less than the diameter of the cam 35. The end 45 is extended as shown in Fig. 3 to allow the cam 35 to be diverted to the piston as needed through the its total manual movement in descent.

The projection 41 is poured up and towards the rear and ends at a deflection end 46 which is spaced a small distance from the confronting end of the projection 42 at a distance slightly smaller than the diameter of the cam 35. The projection 42 it turns down and towards the back, parallel to the projection 39, ends at a deflection end 47 spaced apart from the confronting end of the projection 43 at a distance slightly smaller than the diameter of the cam 35. The projection 43 is turned upwards and towards the rear, parallel to the projection 41 and has its upper end (not shown) terminated at a deflection end (not shown) similar to said end 46. The projections 41 and 42 with their deflection ends as described above continue through the total circumference along of the total inner surface of the control ring and ending in the projection 44 having a deflection end 48 which is spaced apart from the confronting end 38 at a distance slightly less than the diameter of the bearing 35.

In operation, the dispenser is shipped and stored and during the time it is not used it is kept with its piston in its raised closing position as shown in Fig. 4, immobilized against the actuator and its cam rests against the edge 36 located on your route. Any attempt by a child to rotate in this position the piston head or control ring with respect to the central axis of the distributor will affect the rotation of said parts together, as the cam 35 deviates to its position against the sealing element 37 or against the sealing element 38. To position the distributor in its pumping operation position by one user, the piston and the control ring must be relatively turned in opposite directions (holding one part and rotating the other) causing that the cam 35 passes over the end element 37 by deflecting it, wherein the cam deviates from its "a" position to its "b" position as illustrated in Fig. 4. In the manual application of the force of the fingers on the upper surface of the piston head, the cam 35 is guided along the rear surface of the projection 39 (relative to the direction of the curved arrows of Fig. 4) until the the position "c" shown in Fig. 4 is reached in this position the cam is forced through the space between the deflection end 45 and the confronting end of the boss 41, such that the cam is guided along from the back surface through the length of the end 45 to the position "C" Fig. 3) during the extension of the downward stroke of the piston. During the return movement of the piston, the cam is guided from its "C" position to its "c" position in which it is now disposed below the boss 41. As is known in the art, the return of the piston is affected by the elastic expansion of the return spring 20 to return the piston 15 to its initial position of Fig. 1, by suspending the pressure applied by the fingers to the piston. In this process, the cam 35 is guided along the rear surface of the boss 41 and out through the gap between the end 46 and the confronting end of the boss 42. The cam deflects to the end 46 and moves to through this space to its position shown in "d" in Fig. 4. The repeated application of force by the fingers against the upper part and the head again descends to the head and to the piston of the pump so that the cam 35 is now guided along the postepor surface of the ledge 42 and when it reaches the lower end of the projection deflects the end 47 away from the confronting end of the ledge 43 and is guided along the length of the end 47 along of the length of the downward stroke of the piston and places it in a position during the return stroke in the operation to be guided along the rear surface of the shoulder 43 in the same manner as described with respect to the projection 41. During each return stroke and pressure, the reciprocating piston is guided along the projections forming the dividing ramps that act as one-way gates for each full stroke of pressure and return. As the piston head deflects through a cycle of reciprocal movement, the control ring rotates with respect to the head through a single cam cycle 30 (Fig. 3) via the fixed cam 35 on the edge of the head. During the reciprocal movement of the piston, the control ring rotates progressively through cycles similar to those of the cam, as the cam traverses the gate ramps of a single route until it finally ends up being guided along the bottom of the projection 44 during the final return stroke of the piston of the series. The cam moves through the space between the end 48 and the sealing element 38 by diverting the element 48 to finally end at the top of the closing edge 36 from which it starts.

Therefore each attached pair of ramps 39 and 41 rotates to the control ring in a single cam cycle 30 during a single stroke of pressure and return of the piston. The circumferential distance 30 depends on the number of attached pairs of projections and the position thereof. The number of pairs of projections 39 and 41 and 42.43 around the inner circumference of the control ring determines the number of pressure strokes of the designed manifold before the piston automatically resets itself after the final blow to the piston. as it returns to the "a" position. The dose through a predetermined number of cam cycles of the control ring is therefore limited with the piston automatically resetting to its closing position and child resistant after the final stroke. Thus, for example, if there are four pressure strokes for a throat spray, the control ring 29 will be designed with four pairs of ramps such as 39, 41. The number of pressure strokes intended to control the dose of according to the invention, of course, depends on the number of ramp pairs, in order to increase the ramp pairs from one end 37 of the edge 36 through the circumference of the control ring and the end at the opposite end 38, requires that the inclination of the ramp pairs be adjusted congruently.

Another child-proof feature that can be provided to the dispenser comprises an overcap 49 surrounding the closure cap 12. The overcap freely rotates with respect to the axis of the closure cap the cooperation between the closure beds 51 and 52 in the overcap and on the closing lid allows a mounting arrangement for closing the overcap. Internal ratchet teeth 53 of a route at the upper end of the overcap can be provided in any manner known in the art for engaging the ratchet teeth 54 on the closure cap allowing engagement between the two sets of tetter teeth in the Free direction of the closing lid. Therefore, the dispenser can be removed from its container by applying a slightly downward force on the overcap causing the sets of ratchet teeth 53, 54 to be interengaged, by rotating the overcap in a free direction. It is evident that a child is incapable of carrying out such a two-step operation, making it childproof.

As shown in Fig. 5, the discharge conduit 23 is generally aligned with the cam 35 and an arrow 55 is provided on the top of the control ring 29 indicating that the piston head is in a closed position with the cam 35 in its "a" position of Fig. 4.

While the guide route of the previously described cam extending with respect to the inner circumference of the control ring, it should be noted that two complete guide paths can be provided, each extending along a part of the inner circumference of the ring control and each one being identical. Each route would work in an identical manner to that previously described and each has a closing edge 36 and projections 39, 41, etc. The other closed piston position can therefore be indicated by an arrow 56 (Fig.2) applied to the outer surface of the control ring.

Obviously, many variations and modifications of the present invention can be made in light of the above embodiments. For example, the path of the inner circumference of the control ring may be formed by slits in the surface of the control ring and not by the provision of the projections 39, 41 without departing from the scope of the present invention. The cam 35 may also be freely rotated or may be in any other manner so as to operate to convert the translation movement of the piston to rotational movement of the control ring when guided with respect to the route or routes in the manner described above for the dose control of the distributor. In addition, the pump sprinkler described above is not required to carry out the invention. Any other known pump sprinkler can be adapted without exceeding the scope of the invention. The scope and spirit of the same will be widely understood through the appended claims.

Claims (11)

1. A dispenser having a manually operable piston through a central opening in a closure cap of a container of the product to be dispensed, a control ring rotatably mounted on said closure cap in a single direction, cam means in said piston engageable with support means in said control ring for selectively closing said piston in an initial operating position and means in said control ring engageable with said cam means during the reciprocal movement of the piston in an open piston position to convert the translational movement of said piston in a rotational movement of said control ring in one direction, said conversion means comprising one-way gate means establishing individual cam cycles for each reciprocal movement of the plunger causing said control ring to rotate sequentially from said open position through of a rotating movement cycle and automatically resetting to said closed position.
2. The pump sprinkler according to claim 1, wherein a lock in said support means defines a shutter for said cam means, in position relative to the manual rotation between said piston and said ring being operated to pass over said limit stopper in said piston in open position.
3. The pump sprinkler according to claim 1, wherein said conversion means comprises zigzag connections for guiding said cam means only along the rear faces of said connections.
4. The pump sprinkler according to claim 3, wherein the pairs of said connections are angularly related and separated to facilitate the guidance of said cam means only along said rear faces through said individual cam cycles.
5. The pump sprinkler according to claim 1, wherein said cam means comprises a lateral projection on said piston.
6. 6. The pump sprinkler according to claim 5, wherein said support means comprises a support wall in alignment with said lateral projection in said closing position.
7. 7. A pump distributor comprising a pump body having means for mounting the body to a container of the liquid product to be dispensed, in a dispenser being manually operable between the pressure and return strokes, a control ring mounted on said body for the rotation with respect to a central axis of said piston, said ring being coupled to said piston by means of a plurality of dividing ramps to control the number of pressure strokes and therefore the dose of the distributor for a rotation cycle of the control ring and means acting between said ring and said piston for closing said piston against reciprocal movement at the beginning and at the end of each said rotation cycle of the control ring.
8. . The pump dispenser according to claim 7, wherein said closing means comprises a cam on said piston and a supporting wall on said ring.
9. 9. The pump distributor in accordance with the claim 8, wherein said dividing ramps comprise a plurality of pairs of relatively angular contiguous projections having deflection ends allowing said cam to pass between them, said pairs of projections acting as one-way gates for each full pressure and return stroke.
10. 10. The pump distributor in accordance with the claim 9, wherein said supporting wall has a block at one end to confine said cam to said wall, said ring can be manually rotated in a forward direction relative to said piston to pass over said blocking.
11. 11. The pump distributor in accordance with the claim 8, wherein said control ring has signals on an outer surface thereof in alignment with said cam to indicate a closed position of said piston.