TW201225990A - A liquid dispenser device - Google Patents

Abstract

The liquid dispenser device (10) includes a valve (16) comprising: a valvemember-forming portion (54) for blocking and passing liquid out from the device; and a fastener edge (50) for permanently fastening the valve (16) relative to a container (13), the fastener edge comprising a tubular fastener wall (50) sandwiched between an inner tubular wall (60) and an outer tubular wall (30).

Description

201225990 VI. Description of the Invention: Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of dispensing liquids in the form of droplets, and more particularly in the field of dispensing, for example, eye drops or ear drops. [Prior Art] Document US 5 154 3 2 5 discloses a liquid dispensing device comprising an elastomeric diaphragm forming a valve member disposed between a support and a cover mounted on the container. The diaphragm includes a surrounding annular bead and is supported on the device by a bead that clamps the top surface of the support and the bottom surface of the cover" by clamping the diaphragm axially along the device to retain the diaphragm in the device . A disadvantage of this type of assembly is that when the user squeezes the container for discharge of liquid, the liquid applies pressure to the diaphragm in the axial direction to open it, and such pressure can increase the leakage of liquid around the diaphragm. This risk of leakage is made more likely when the part has dimensions or relative positions that can vary due to manufacturing tolerances. Unfortunately, the presence of leakage from the device is annoying, especially if the liquid does not contain any preservatives, as the liquid is subsequently found to be undesirably in the device and promotes bacterial growth, resulting in contamination of the liquid. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A particular object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing device that improves sterility. To this end, the invention provides, inter alia, a valve-containing liquid dispensing device comprising: - a valve member forming portion for blocking and allowing liquid to flow out of the device, and

S 201225990 - Fastener rim ' is used to permanently secure the valve relative to the container, the fastener rim comprising a tubular fastener wall sandwiched between the inner tubular wall and the outer tubular wall. It will be appreciated that the inner and outer tubular wall systems are configured such that they exert radial compression on the fastener wall of the valve, i.e., in such a manner that it presses radially against the sides of the fastener wall, the radial This radial compression acts to seal the valve in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the tubular walls. In addition, in the valve fastener region, the dispensing device has three concentric tubes of length or length, wherein the inner tube corresponds to the inner tubular wall, the middle tube corresponds to the fastener wall of the valve and the outer tube corresponds to the outer tube Tubular wall. These tubes all have the same axis corresponding to the axis of the dispensing device, which is typically the device, particularly the axis of rotation of the container corresponding to the direction in which the liquid flows out of the valve member. It will be appreciated that in order to provide a satisfactory seal, the diameter of the inner tubular wall is slightly larger than the diameter of the fastener wall, which is sequentially slightly larger in diameter than the outer tubular wall. The valve is tightened by radial clamping and clamped in a direction other than the liquid injection to obtain a seal. Therefore, when the liquid leaves the apparatus and the valve is pressed in order to occupy its liquid passage configuration, the axial pressure of the liquid is not applied in the direction of fastening the valve. In other words, upon exit, the liquid exerts an axial pressure on the valve, increasing the relatively low stress in the radial direction of the valve. Moreover, the risk of any movement of the valve's fastener elements, such as the inner and outer tubular walls, is rather low. In either case, the risk is lower than when tightening the valve in the axial direction to tighten the valve, wherein the axial direction generally corresponds to the direction in which the fastener elements are assembled together and it tends to secure the fastening The components move and thereby increase leakage.

It is understood from S -4- 201225990 that the proposed configuration produces less stress on the fastener elements and thus provides a better seal, so that the device is more sterile and works well. The proposed device is less accurate for the dimensions of the fastener elements. Due to manufacturing or positioning errors during axial assembly, even if the relative position of the components changes a little in the axial direction, a good seal is ensured by clamping of the tube. Moreover, since the dispensing device is often assembled in the axial direction, the outer or inner tubular wall can advantageously form a wall that centers the valve and thus facilitates assembly. Finally, it should be noted that the use of tubular walls is advantageous in terms of ingenuity. The shaft position of the fastener zone may be further in the downstream direction of the dispensing device, e.g., on either side of the valve member forming portion, thereby making it possible to reduce the diameter of the end section of the dispenser. Moreover, the fact that the seal is applied by the tubular wall acts to increase the area of compression applied by the fastener elements, thus providing a better seal. It should be noted that the proposed device is highly useful in dispensing liquids that do not contain any preservatives. For liquids of this type, it is necessary to ensure that the seal is particularly reliable. The device may also comprise one or more of the following features: - The outer tubular wall is carried by a support mounted on the container. - The support comprises a substantially dish-shaped valve seat which is bounded by an outer tubular wall. Further, the tubular wall preferably projects from the distal end of the disc (from the side closer to the end of the liquid dispenser). Thus, the support assumes a generally annular tray shape with the tubular portion forming a height edge sufficient to enclose the inner and outer tubular walls. s 201225990 - The valve seat further comprises a cylindrical central portion, the distal end of which forms a receiving surface and serves as a valve member forming portion of the valve in the blocking liquid configuration. Preferably, the center portion projects from the distal end of the dish. - The valve contains a screen for the perimeter of the fastener wall. - The valve also includes a central cylindrical portion that projects from the screen and whose end constitutes the valve member forming portion of the valve. Therefore, the valve body complements the shape of the support portion. - the inner tubular wall is carried by a cover mounted on the container, the cover at least partially covering the valve. Preferably, the cover includes a distal end of the valve through the central aperture. - The cover comprises a groove defined by the inner tubular wall, the bottom wall and the outer casing, the groove sandwiching the fastener wall of the valve and the outer tubular wall. - The device comprises a snap fastener means for pressing the cover against the support. The press fastening is preferably performed in the axial direction, i.e., the members are moved axially toward each other to press them together. - The snap fastener means for pressing and fastening is configured such that the press fastening is equivalent to the manner of clamping to permanently tighten the valve between the inner tubular wall and the outer tubular wall. - The valve member forming portion of the valve and the fastener rim of the valve are made of an elastomer material. - The valve comprises a rigid portion, preferably as a bearing surface for the spring. The present invention also provides a method of assembling the apparatus, the method comprising the following successive steps: s 201225990 - mounting the valve to the support by inserting the fastener wall of the valve into the outer tubular wall; The tubular wall is inserted into the interior of the fastener wall of the valve, the cover is mounted over the valve, and the cover is press-fastened to the support. The step of mounting the valve on the support and the step of mounting the cover over the valve provide for inserting a spring around the central cylindrical portion of the valve. [Embodiment] The invention will be more fully understood after reading the following description by way of example and reference drawings. Figure 1 shows a device 10 for dispensing liquid in the form of droplets. In this example, the liquid to be dispensed is a liquid medicine such as a point liquid or a point ear liquid. The device 10 includes a dispenser tip section 12 that is fastened to the neck of the container 13 by screws. The device 10 is configured to squeeze the container 13 by a user to dispense liquid. In this example, the container is elastically deformable to return to its previous shape after being squeezed by the user. The device 1 〇, or at least the container 13 has a rotation axis X generally corresponding to the direction in which the liquid is ejected. The end section 12 includes a support 14, a valve 16, a spring 17, a cover 18, and a hydrophobic filter 20. In this example, the support 14 includes a fastener portion 22 disposed at a proximal end of the end segment for securing the support to the container 13. This portion 22 includes a tap to secure the skirt 24' on the neck of the container 13 and a tubular interior that provides a seal between the container 13 and the end section 12 of the dispenser.

S 201225990 Skirt 26. The support 14 also includes an intermediate portion 28 that forms a valve seat for the valve 16. This intermediate portion 28 is substantially dish-shaped and extends in a radial plane R perpendicular to the X-axis. On its distal face, the disc 28 is bounded by a tubular outer wall 30. As explained below, the wall forms a skirt on the side of the disc 28 and is sufficiently high on the X-axis to receive the tubular shape of the valve 16 extending perpendicular to the disc 28. Adjacent to the bottom end of the tubular wall 30, the dish 28 includes an annular ridge 32 that defines the groove to center it and receive the edge of the valve 16. The disc 28 also has a cylindrical central portion 34 for closing the valve, the portion projecting from the center of the disc 28 from its center and carrying the bearing surface 36 of the valve 16 at its distal end. This portion 34 forms a shutter peg that enables the valve 16 to open or close. Disc 28 is also pierced for passage 38 for passage of liquid from the container. The passage 38 opens outwardly against the cavity 40 which is defined, in particular, by the recess formed in the distal surface of the disc 28. This cavity 40 also opens outwardly toward the second passage 42 to allow passage of liquid defined between the plug 34 and the valve 16. Channels 38 and 42 are substantially parallel to the axis of the X-axis. As can be seen in Figure 1, the disc 28, the outer tubular wall 30 and the stop bolt 34 define a tubular cavity for receiving the valve 16. Moreover, the support 14 has a passage 44 for allowing air to pass into the container, the passage 44 opening outwardly into the cover 46 for receiving the hydrophobic filter 20, the cover 46 being cylindrical and opening at its proximal end to allow the filter 20 to be inserted. The valve 16 has a central cylindrical portion 48, an annular skirt portion 50, and the central portion 48 and the skirt portion 5 are materially joined by a screen 52. On its distal surface, the screen hoof 52 carries a spring 17 for receiving surface 53. Center 48

The distal end portion 54 of S 201225990 is the portion that forms the valve member and cooperates with the receiving surface 36 to block or allow liquid to pass. Thus, the surface 36 forms the bearing surface of the valve member forming portion 54 when the portion is in its blocking liquid configuration. The top surface of the portion 48 includes a liquid exit channel 56 that opens outwardly into the drop metering shape 58. The skirt 50 forms a fastener rim for securing the valve 16 to the support for permanently securing the valve relative to the container 13. This is formed by the X-axis tubular fastener wall 50 and has a diameter that is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the outer tubular wall 30. In this example, the valve 16 is made entirely of elastomeric material. Nevertheless, the valve may comprise a portion made of an elastomeric material and other portions made of a more rigid material, particularly a portion 53 for forming a surface for the spring 17. The valve member forming portion 54, the screen 52 and the fastener wall 50 are preferably made of an elastic material. The cover 18 is mounted on the support 16 by a snap fastener means 59. When the snap fastener means 59 are assembled together in the axial direction X, the cover 18 can be press-fastened relative to the support 14. It carries the inner tubular wall 60 about the X-axis and is slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the valve fastener wall 50. The cover 18 also includes a housing 62 that extends in an approximate direction relative to the remainder of the cover 18, forming an outer skirt portion, and a bottom wall 64 that is configured to define a groove in the wall 60, the bottom wall 64, and the outer casing 62. This manner of clamping the fastener wall 50 to the outer tubular wall 30. The cover 18 covers the main section of the valve 16, but it is still pierced at the center of the valve 48 at the center. To this end, the cover 18 defines a cylindrical cavity by having a tubular inner skirt 66 that centers the valve 16. The skirt portion 66 is also defined to form

S 201225990 The groove 68 for the socket of the spring 17. The following describes the operation of the device 1. When the user squeezes the container 13, the fluid is stressed and because it cannot pass through the hydrophobic filter 20, it flows into the passage 38 and then into the cavity 40 and the passage 42. The fluid pressure in the passage 42 deforms the valve member forming portion 54 such that it is moved from the liquid blocking configuration to the liquid passage configuration by the portion 54 of the lifting receiving surface 36. This deformation is easier by the spring 17 which is compressed under the pressure of the liquid. The liquid is thus dispensed in the form of droplets. The assembly of the device will be described below with reference to Figures 2a through 2d. The assembly includes the assembly step of the end section 12 followed by the step of screwing the end section 12 to the container 13. The assembly of the end section 12 begins with the step of mounting the valve 16 on the support 14 by inserting the fastener wall 50 of the valve into the interior of the tubular wall 30 of the support 14. This step is shown in Figure 2a and followed by a step in which the spring 17 is inserted around the central portion 48 of the valve, as shown in Figure 2b. Once the spring is in place, the step of mounting the cover 18 on the valve 16 is followed by inserting the inner tubular wall 60 into the interior of the fastener wall 50 as shown in Figure 2c. As shown in Fig. 2d, the cover 18 is press-fastened to the support 14, the installation of the cover 18 is ended, and the press fastening clip is present while the valve 16 is permanently fastened to the end section 12. Between the inner and outer tubular walls 60 and 30. It should be noted that when the valve 16 is secured to the device, the screen 2 is subjected to elastic stress to press the end 54 against the surface 36. This is easier by the restoring force from the spring

S -10- .201225990 Created. Among the advantages of the device, it is understood that a fixed seal disposed around the fastener wall 50 by clamping the walls 60 and 30 is particularly effective. When the liquid self-container I3 is disengaged, it presses the valve 16 in the X direction, and since the compression of the valve is provided by the compression of the radial direction R, the pressure in the X direction is not transferred to the fastener portion 50. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a dispensing device in an embodiment; and Figs. 2a to 2d are perspective views showing the assembly of the device of Fig. 1. [Main component symbol description] 10 Device 12 Dispenser end section 13 Container 14 Support 16 Valve 17 Spring 18 Cover 20 Filter 22 Fastener part 24 Outer skirt 26 Inner skirt 28 Middle part

C -11 - 201225990 28 Dish 3 0 Outer tubular wall 3 2 Ridge 34 Cylindrical center 36 Bearing surface 3 8 Channel 40 Ditch 42 Channel 34 Bolt 44 Channel 46 Cover 48 Center cylindrical part

S -12-

Claims (1)

201225990 VII. Patent Application Range: 1. A liquid dispensing device (10) comprising a valve (16) comprising: - a valve member forming portion (54) for blocking and allowing liquid to flow from the device (10) And a fastener rim (50) for permanently fastening the valve relative to the container (13), the fastener rim comprising a sandwich between the inner tubular wall (60) and the outer tubular wall (30) A tubular fastener wall (50) carried by a cover (18) mounted on the container (13) and the cover (18) at least partially covering the valve (16). 2. Apparatus according to the preceding claims, wherein the outer tubular wall (30) is carried by a support (14) mounted on the container (13), the support preferably comprising a substantially dish-shaped valve seat ( 28), the dish is a boundary of the outer tubular wall (30). 3. The device of the aforementioned patent scope, wherein the valve seat (28) further comprises a cylindrical central portion (34), and the distal end thereof forms a bearing surface. (3 6 ), as a valve member forming portion (54) of the valve in the blocking liquid arrangement. 4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve comprises a screen (52) "with a perimeter of the fastener wall (50) and comprising a central cylindrical portion (48), The screen is raised and has a valve member forming portion (54) whose end constitutes the valve. 5. The device of any of the preceding claims, wherein the cover (18) comprises a groove defined by the inner tubular wall (30), the bottom wall (64) and the outer casing (62), the groove The valve fastener wall (50) and the outer tubular wall (30) are sandwiched together. S-13-.201225990 6. The device of any of the preceding claims, comprising a snap fastener device (59) for pressing a cover (18) that secures the inner tubular wall (60) And a support (14) carrying the outer tubular wall (30), the compression fastening system occurring in the axial direction. 7. The device of any of the preceding claims, wherein the snap fastener means (59) is configured to be press-fastened as well as by clamping to permanently secure the inner tubular wall (60) and outer This way of the valve (16) between the tubular walls (30). 8. The device of any of the preceding claims, wherein the valve member forming portion (54) of the valve and the fastener rim (50) of the valve are made of an elastomeric material, the valve (16) The ground selectively includes a rigid portion (53). 9. A method of assembling a device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of: - by inserting a fastener wall (50) of the valve into the interior of the outer tubular wall (30), Mounting the valve (16) on the support (14); - mounting the cover (18) over the valve (16) by inserting the inner tubular wall (60) into the interior of the fastener wall (50) of the valve And - the cover (18) is pressed and fastened to the support (14). S -14-