WO2005113384A1

WO2005113384A1 - Fluid product dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2005113384A1
Application number: PCT/EP2005/051909
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giuseppe Stradella
Original assignee: Tebro S.A.
Priority date: 2004-04-30
Filing date: 2005-04-27
Publication date: 2005-12-01
Also published as: FR2869596A1; FR2869596B1

Abstract

The inventive fluid product dispenser comprises a body (2) provided with a dispensing orifice (9), a fluid product reservoir (1) and a dispensing member (6) which is embodied in the form of a metering valve and mounted on the reservoir (1), movable with respect to the body (2) for actuating the dispensing member (6), wherein said device comprises separation means (3) interacting with the reservoir (1) or an element connected thereto in such a way that the actuation of said separation means initiates the displacement of the reservoir (1) with respect to the body (2), thereby separating the reservoir (1) therefrom.

Description

Fluid product dispensing device

The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a fluid product, and more particularly to such a device produced in the form of an aerosol type inhaler comprising a metering valve mounted on a multidose reservoir, said reservoir containing the fluid product and a propellant gas. This type of device is commonly called MDI (Metered Dose

Inhalers). The use of MDI in the pharmaceutical field imposes several requirements concerning in particular the precision of the dosage and the reliability of operation of the device when it is actuated. To achieve this, it is generally necessary to be able to carry out efficient and frequent cleaning of the part of the device through which the product is expelled. In particular, cleaning of the dispensing orifice, generally a mouthpiece and of the part of the device which is connected to the outlet of the metering valve is necessary. To carry out such cleaning, the reservoir, which is mounted to be movable relative to the body incorporating the dispensing orifice, is generally removed from this body, which then allows the user to clean the device in an appropriate manner. The connection between the reservoir and the body is usually made at the level of the metering valve valve which is inserted into a suitable opening made in a valve support or receiving element, generally provided in the bottom of the device body. This connection is generally very tight to avoid any product leakage during dispensing and also to prevent accidental separation of the reservoir from said body. This tight connection and the absence of a gripping surface on the opposite end of the tank generally makes it difficult, if not impossible, for many users to make this separation of said tank from said body, and therefore prevents them from cleaning the appropriate and required cleaning the device. This can have serious consequences, particularly in terms of hygiene, and can lead to a potential blockage of the product outlet nozzle and therefore a risk of distribution of incomplete doses. Particularly in the case of asthma treatment, such problems can be very serious since the drug to be dispensed must be delivered to the patient with absolute dose accuracy. In some cases, MDI devices also include counters, which are often attached to the upper or bottom end of the tank, which corresponds to the opposite end with respect to the valve. In such a case, the operation of separating the reservoir from the body may present a risk of damaging the counter, in particular when the user uses this counter as a gripping surface to pull on the reservoir. Even partial damage to this counter can result in it no longer functioning properly, which can also present a risk for the user, in particular in the event of under-counting, with the result of incorrect information on the remaining contents of the tank and therefore a risk to the health of the user. The object of the present invention is to provide a device for dispensing a fluid product which does not have the abovementioned drawbacks. More particularly, the present invention aims to provide a fluid dispensing device which allows anyone to easily separate the reservoir from the body, in particular to clean it regularly. The present invention also aims to provide a fluid dispensing device which avoids any risk of malfunction of any part of the device, while allowing separation of the reservoir from said body. The present invention also aims to provide a fluid dispensing device which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble and which is reliable to use. The present invention therefore relates to a fluid dispenser device comprising a body provided with a dispensing orifice, a reservoir containing the fluid product and a dispensing member, such as a metering valve, mounted on said reservoir, said tank being movable relative to said body for actuating said dispensing member, said device comprising separation means adapted to cooperate with said reservoir or an element integral with said reservoir, the actuation of said separation means causing a displacement of said reservoir relative to said body to separate said reservoir from said body. Advantageously, the body comprises a receiving unit in which the dispensing member is mounted in a tight connection in the tank assembly position in the body, the separation means being able to separate said receiving unit and said dispensing member . Advantageously, said separation means are movable relative to said body between a rest position, in which they do not cooperate with said reservoir, and a separation position, in which they cooperate with said reservoir to move it relative to said body. Advantageously, said separation means comprise a cam surface cooperating with said reservoir in the separation position. According to a first embodiment, said separation means are produced in a single piece with said body. According to a second embodiment, said separation means are • fixed to said body. Advantageously, said separation means comprise at least one separation element. Advantageously, each separation element is pivotally mounted around a joint on said body. Advantageously, said articulation is formed by a wall portion of reduced thickness of said body. Advantageously, each separation element comprises abutment means cooperating with the body to define the rest position and / or the separation position of said separation element. Advantageously, each separation element comprises sealing means preventing any entry of air into the body at the level of each separation element. Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly during the following detailed description of two particular embodiments thereof made with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of nonlimiting examples, and in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the fluid dispenser device according to a particular embodiment of the present invention, in the rest position, Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, but partially cut away , - Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, in the separation position, and Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, but taken from a slightly different angle of view and showing another mode of the present invention. Referring to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a first embodiment of the invention in which a reservoir 1 is assembled in a body 2 which incorporates a dispensing orifice 9, in this example produced in the form of a nozzle oral. A dispensing member 6, in particular a valve, preferably a metering valve, is mounted on the reservoir 1, for example by means of a crimped capsule 10. The reservoir 1 is mounted to slide inside the body 2, a displacement said reservoir relative to the body 2 actuating the valve 6 by moving its valve to dispense a dose of product. The fluid product contained in the reservoir is preferably an aerosol product, that is to say that it is dispensed by means of a propellant gas also contained in the reservoir 1. The body 2 advantageously comprises a support unit or receiving valve which connects to the valve 6 of the valve, this unit can be formed by a support 7 incorporating an orifice 8 receiving the valve 6, said support 7 being further connected by a channel (not shown) to the dispensing orifice 9. To prevent the reservoir from detaching from the body in an undesired manner, the reservoir is generally assembled in the body 2 so tightly tightened in particular at the connection between the valve 6 and the receiving unit 7 of this valve. In this assembly position, the reservoir 1 is thus firmly attached to the body 2 by fitting the valve 6 tightly into the receiving unit 7. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 3, it can be difficult for the user, for example when it is an elderly person or a child, to be able to remove the reservoir 1 from the body 2, in particular to be able to clean both the mouthpiece 9 but also this unit for receiving valve 7, 8 and thus guarantee perfect hygiene and absolute dosing precision on each actuation. In the example of Figure 4, a counter is further assembled on the upper end of the tank 1, that is to say on the end opposite to the valve valve 6, and in this case, the user who wishes to remove the reservoir 1 from the body 2 would risk pulling on said counter 12, with the consequence of the risk of a subsequent malfunction thereof and therefore of a risk of under-counting which can prove to be very dangerous. Of course, the general structure of the device described above may be different and the shapes of the various elements described are given here only as examples. * According to the invention, in order to allow easy separation of the tank 1 by relative to the body 2, the device comprises separation means 3 which are adapted to cooperate with the reservoir 1 to cause a displacement of the latter relative to the body in order to easily separate it from said body. Of course, one could also consider that the separation means 3 cooperate with an element integral with said tank 1, for example an element which could be assembled thereon, and in particular the crimping ring 10 which fixes the valve 6 on the reservoir 1. These separation means 3 may comprise one or more separation element (s) 3, which can be actuated manually by the user, and which are movable relative to the body 2 between a rest position, in which they do not cooperate with the reservoir 1, and which is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, and a separation position, in which they cooperate with said reservoir 1 to move it and separate it from said body 2, as is shown in Figure 3. In the example shown in the figures, there is only one separating element 3, but other configurations are possible. Advantageously, the separation means 3 comprise a cam surface 5 which cooperates with the tank in the separation position. This cam surface 5 can be formed by an inclined plane or by any other surface of suitable shape making it possible to obtain the desired result, namely a displacement of the reservoir 1 in the body 2 away from the valve receiving unit 7 , in order to allow easy separation of the reservoir 1 from the body 2. More precisely, this displacement, which is created during the actuation of the separation element 3, makes it possible to separate the valve valve 6 with respect to the reception port 8 provided in the valve reception unit 7, after which the tank 1 can very easily be separated from the body 2 since it is no longer held tightly inside thereof this. According to a first alternative embodiment, the separation means 3, that is to say in this example, the separation element 3, are produced in a single piece with the body 2. More particularly with reference to the figures, l separation element 3 is pivotally mounted around a joint 4. This joint 4 is preferably formed by a wall portion of reduced thickness of said body 2. The separation element 3 can pivot around this joint 4 in a window 11 made in a side wall of the body 2. In operation, the separation element 3, when it is in the rest position shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, does not cooperate with the reservoir 1, and n therefore does not interfere with the movement of the latter during actuation of the valve. When the user wishes to remove the reservoir 1 from the body 2, he exerts a thrust on the separation element 3, which will pivot relative to the body 2 around the articulation 4, the cam surface 5 coming to push the reservoir 1 away from the body 2. When the user removes the tank 1, he can then easily clean the elements of the body 2 which must be cleaned as specified above, then when he puts the tank back in place, the separating element 3 is again automatically requested to its rest position. As a variant, it is possible to envisage elastic means which automatically return the separating element 3 to its rest position from the moment the user releases the pressure on this separating element. These elastic means can be formed by articulation 4. Advantageously, it is also possible to provide stop means (not shown) which are adapted to define either the rest position or the separation position, or even the two positions of the element. 3. More specifically, these abutment means could be formed by teeth or other projections provided on the sides of the separation element 3 and which can cooperate with the internal walls of the window 11 defined in the body 2 and in which the separating element 3 pivots, so as to prevent said separating element 3 from completely accidentally coming out of said body. In this case, these stop means define the rest position of the separation element. Similarly, it is advantageously possible to provide sealing means, for example in the form of an elastic lip or the like, which could be provided around the perimeter of the separation element 3 and which cooperated with the internal wall of this window. 11 to avoid any entry of air into the body 2 at this separation element 3. This can be advantageous when it is "undesirable to modify the air flow inside the device during inhalation of the user. In this case, the presence of the separation means according to the invention absolutely does not modify the operation of the device as a whole. Other modifications are also possible for a person skilled in the art. For example, the separating element could be fixed to the body in any suitable manner, and therefore not be made in one piece with the latter. Likewise, these separation elements could also be produced in the form of a pull bar which can be moved axially between its rest and separation positions. More generally any other implementation of the separation means is possible, provided that in the rest position they do not interfere with the operation of the valve and that in use, they act on the reservoir or an element integral with that to separate it from said body. With particular reference to the example shown in the drawings, one could also consider making the articulation of the separating element on the opposite side of it relative to what is currently shown in the drawings, that is to say that the articulation would be carried out on the upper side of said separating element in the position shown in the figures. In this case, the cam surface would obviously be of a suitable shape to cooperate in a desired manner with the tank in the separation position. Concerning this cam surface, it could obviously be produced in any desirable manner, and could for example not form a continuous surface but be produced by means of one or more ribs or lugs adapted to cooperate with the reservoir. Other modifications are likely to be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

claims

1.- Fluid product dispensing device comprising a body (2) provided with a dispensing orifice (9), a reservoir (1) containing the fluid product and a dispensing member (6), such as a metering valve , mounted on said reservoir (1), said reservoir (1) being movable relative to said body (2) for actuating said dispensing member (6), characterized in that said device comprises separation means (3) adapted to cooperate with said reservoir (1) or an element integral with said reservoir (1), the actuation of said separation means causing a displacement of said reservoir (1) relative to said body (2) to separate said reservoir (1) from said body (2) . 2 - Device according to claim 1, wherein the body (2) comprises a receiving unit (7) in which is mounted in a tight manner the dispensing member (6) in the tank assembly position (1) in the body (2), the separation means (3) being able to separate said receiving unit and said dispensing member. 3.- Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said separation means (3) are movable relative to said body (2) between a rest position, in which they do not cooperate with said tank (1), and a separation position, in which they cooperate with said reservoir (1) to move it relative to said body (2). 4.- Device according to claim 3, wherein said separation means (3) comprise a cam surface (5) cooperating with said reservoir (1) in the separation position. 5.- Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said separation means (3) are made in one piece with said body (2). 6.- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said separation means (3) are fixed to said body. 7- Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said separation means comprise at least one separation element (3). 8- Device according to claim 7 wherein each separating element (3) is pivotally mounted around a joint (4) on said body (2). 9- Device according to claim 8, wherein said articulation (4) is formed by a wall portion of reduced thickness of said body (2). 10.- Device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein each separation element (3) comprises stop means cooperating with the body (2) to define the rest position and / or the separation position of said separating element (3). 11.- Device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, in which each separation element (3) comprises sealing means preventing any entry of air into the body (2) at each separation element ( 3).