Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
  • B05B11/01—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use characterised by the means producing the flow
  • B05B11/04—Deformable containers producing the flow, e.g. squeeze bottles
  • B05B11/047—Deformable containers producing the flow, e.g. squeeze bottles characterised by the outlet or venting means
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F9/00—Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting in contact-lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind; Protective devices for the eyes, carried on the body or in the hand
  • A61F9/0008—Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
  • B05B11/0005—Components or details
  • B05B11/0037—Containers
  • B05B11/0039—Containers associated with means for compensating the pressure difference between the ambient pressure and the pressure inside the container, e.g. pressure relief means
  • B05B11/0044—Containers associated with means for compensating the pressure difference between the ambient pressure and the pressure inside the container, e.g. pressure relief means compensating underpressure by ingress of atmospheric air into the container, i.e. with venting means
  • B05B11/00444—Containers associated with means for compensating the pressure difference between the ambient pressure and the pressure inside the container, e.g. pressure relief means compensating underpressure by ingress of atmospheric air into the container, i.e. with venting means with provision for filtering or cleaning the air flow drawn into the container
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
  • B05B11/0005—Components or details
  • B05B11/0062—Outlet valves actuated by the pressure of the fluid to be sprayed
  • B05B11/0064—Lift valves
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
  • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
  • B65D47/06—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
  • B65D47/18—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages for discharging drops; Droppers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
  • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
  • B65D47/20—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge
  • B65D47/2018—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure
  • B65D47/2056—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure lift valve type
  • B65D47/2081—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure lift valve type in which the deformation raises or lowers the valve port
  • B65D47/2087—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure lift valve type in which the deformation raises or lowers the valve port the port being formed by a slidable rigid cap-like element which is moved linearly by the pressure of the contents

Definitions

• the invention relates to the field of liquid distribution, particularly in the form of drops in the pharmaceutical field, for example ophthalmic or atrial fluid.
• the dispensing nozzle comprises a support within which a closure member is movable between a locking configuration and a liquid passage configuration.
• This closure element further comprises at its distal end, in the immediate vicinity of the liquid-releasing orifice, a form of reducing the flow of liquid.
• This form of reduction comprises a helical channel, of small section and to divert the liquid to generate a loss of loads when a user presses the tank. With this form of flow reduction, it is avoided to dispense the liquid in the form of jets.
• a difficulty lies in the fact that the form of reduction of the liquid flow is carried out in the same part as the form ensuring the blocking or the passage of the liquid.
• a configuration requires that the valve and the support have very precise dimensions, because it is necessary to allow both a displacement of the valve relative to the support, to ensure the passage of liquid, and a cooperation between the form of deflection and support narrow enough to provide a non-leaking deflection channel, in which case the flow reduction effect would not occur.
• the present invention is intended to provide a dispensing device ensuring a reduction of liquid flow while ensuring satisfactory operation of liquid distribution.
• the subject of the invention is in particular a liquid dispensing device, comprising:
• a reservoir for storing the liquid to be dispensed
• a dispensing nozzle mounted on the reservoir, provided with a support and a liquid distribution valve, this valve being able to assume a blocking configuration and a liquid passage configuration, by cooperation with the support, a so-called flow reduction member, comprising a liquid deflection shape delimiting a flow reduction channel, this flow reduction member being a separate part of the support and distinct from the valve.
• a particular advantage lies in the fact that it is easily possible to adapt the device depending on the type of liquid that is dispensed. Indeed, depending on the viscosity of the liquid, the flow reduction channel must have a particular configuration. For example, there will be provided a liquid reduction channel having a larger diameter for highly viscous liquids.
• the flow reduction member is a separate piece, to adapt the dispensing nozzle according to the type of liquid to be dispensed, it is sufficient to modify only the shape of the flow reduction member, without having to modify as far as the shape of the valve or the support, which can therefore have a standard shape.
• the flow reduction is ensured by a separate part, it is possible to provide both devices having the function of reducing the flow rate and devices that do not have it, the only difference between these devices being the presence or absence of of the flow reduction device. It will be noted that the adaptation of the device as a function of the viscosity of the product is particularly advantageous, since products such as ophthalmic products tend to become more and more viscous, in particular for products which do not comprise a preservative agent. .
• flow reduction means decreasing the flow velocity of the liquid for the same pressure applied by the user to the reservoir. This flow reduction is preferably generated by a channel having a smaller section than other flow channels provided on the device and / or extending over a long length and / or having a transverse axis.
• the dispensing device may further include one or more of the following features.
• the support comprises a receiving housing of the flow reduction member delimiting, with the latter, the flow reduction channel.
• This housing may for example be arranged opposite to the portion of the support which seals the device, so as to further limit the interactions between the flow limitation and sealing.
• this receiving housing has a substantially cylindrical shape, delimiting a volume cavity substantially complementary to the volume of the flow reduction member.
• the flow reduction member has a substantially cylindrical shape, the deflection form being formed on the outer periphery of the flow reduction member and comprising a helical groove.
• This helical shape of the channel provides a direction of transverse flow, not parallel to the direction of ejection of the liquid, while providing a relatively large channel length, which allows to obtain a loss of loads while taking a minimum in the device.
• the flow reduction member has a substantially cylindrical shape, the deflection form being formed on the outer periphery of the flow reduction member and comprising a groove defining angular portions. These angular portions make it possible to define a path with sharp changes of direction, which disturbs the flow of fluid and causes a greater loss of loads.
• the flow reduction member has a substantially cylindrical shape, the deflection form being formed on the outer periphery of the flow reduction member and comprising a straight groove, preferably substantially parallel to the axis of the cylinder of the flow reduction device. Due to the geometrical characteristics of the throat, in particular the dimensions of its section, the flow of fluid is disturbed and causes a loss of charge which may be sufficient to reduce the flow.
• the flow reduction member has a substantially cylindrical shape, the deflection form being formed on the outer periphery of the flow reduction member and comprising an array of several grooves comprising at least one node of confluence of the grooves.
• the fluid flows of the different grooves meet at the level of the confluence node. This creates an area of turbulence that causes a high pressure drop.
• the support comprises a sealing portion, bearing a bearing surface of the valve for blocking the passage of liquid in blocking configuration, the sealing portion having a substantially cylindrical shape and the bearing surface being arranged at the distal end of this cylindrical shape.
• This sealing portion has substantially the shape of a closure pin of an orifice formed in a corresponding sealing portion of the valve.
• the valve comprises a substantially cylindrical portion, covering a complementary cylindrical shape of the support, and defining with the support a liquid passage channel, arranged downstream of the flow reduction channel.
• the valve comprises a permanent fixing portion of the valve on the support, and a substantially disk-shaped portion, from which protrudes the cylindrical portion.
• the valve comprises an elastomeric material, as well as possibly a rigid part, for example serving as a support for a spring reminding the valve in the liquid blocking position.
• the support further comprises an air passage channel in the tank, provided with a hydrophobic filter.
• the support can participate in a number of functions in the nozzle, namely the sealing function, the liquid reduction function, the valve attachment function and / or the passage function. air to ventilate the tank.
• the invention furthermore relates to a batch of two devices as presented above, each of the two devices having a valve and a support of the same shape and a flow reduction member of different shape.
• the flow reduction channel may have a different section, a different length or a different shape.
• FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a dispensing device according to one embodiment
• FIG. 2 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a dispensing device according to a second embodiment.
• FIGS. 3a to 3f are side views of a flow reduction member according to different variants.
• FIG. 1 shows a liquid dispensing tip 10 in the form of drops, intended to be mounted by screwing onto the neck of a reservoir 12 shown in dotted lines.
• This reservoir 12 is a pharmaceutical liquid storage tank, such as ophthalmic or auricular fluid.
• the liquid distribution is done by pressure, from a user, on the body of the reservoir 12, the latter may have some elasticity to resume its original shape after the pressure exerted by the user.
• the dispensing nozzle 10 comprises, in this example, a support 14, a dispensing valve 16, a spring 17, a cover 18, a flow reduction member 20 and a hydrophobic filter 22.
• valve 16 the support 14 and the flow reduction member 20 constitute separate pieces, that is to say, reported relative to each other, that is to say, separate before mounting.
• the support 14 comprises, in this example, a portion 24 of attachment to the reservoir, disposed at the proximal end of the support 14.
• This portion 24 comprises an outer skirt 26, threaded so as to be screwed onto the neck of the reservoir 12.
• the fixing portion 24 further comprises an inner skirt 28 of tubular shape, making it possible to seal between the reservoir 12 and the dispensing nozzle 10.
• the support 14 also comprises a housing 30 for receiving the flow reduction member 20, delimiting a substantially cylindrical cavity, this cavity opening at its proximal end on the reservoir 112 and at its distal end on a first passage channel 32.
• liquid formed in the support 14 and extending in the longitudinal direction of the device, corresponding here to the direction of ejection of the liquid illustrated by the arrow 34.
• This first channel 32 opens on an intermediate cavity 34, opening itself on a second channel 36 for liquid passage.
• the support 14 also comprises a central sealing portion 38, of substantially cylindrical shape and extending in the distal direction, opposite to the inner skirt 28.
• the portion 38 carries, on its distal end, a bearing surface 40 of the valve 16 to block the passage of liquid in blocking configuration.
• the bearing surface 40 takes the form of an annular bead.
• the support 14 also comprises, in this example, a channel 42 of air passage in the tank 12, opening on a housing 44 in which the hydrophobic filter 22 is received.
• the housing 44 is juxtaposed with the housing 30 for receiving the 20 flow reduction member, being separated by a central wall 46, extending in a direction opposite to the sealing portion 38.
• the support 14 comprises a portion 48 for fixing the valve 16 on the support 14.
• This portion 48 also acts as a fastening part of the cover 18 on the support 14. It comprises an annular groove 50 delimited at the periphery by a wall
• the annular groove 50 is furthermore delimited, on its inner periphery, by an annular rib formed on a wall substantially forming a disk, traversed by the channel 32 and delimiting the cavity 34.
• the valve 16 can take a blocking configuration and a configuration of passage of the liquid, by cooperation with the support 14. It is made in this example in an elastomeric material. According to another example, only part of the valve 16 is made of an elastomeric material, the other part being made of a more rigid material, which can serve as a support for the spring 17.
• the valve 16 comprises a portion 54 for fixing to the support 14, forming a substantially tubular skirt. This fixing portion 54 is connected to a web 56 having substantially the shape of a disk and from which a substantially cylindrical central portion 58 projects.
• the web 56 also comprises a seat 57 of support of the spring 17.
• the portion 58 defines an inner cavity of substantially cylindrical shape, complementary to the pin 38.
• the pin 38 and the cylindrical portion 58 are coaxial and together define the passage channel 36
• This passage channel 36 opens onto an outlet channel 60 formed in the distal end of the valve 16, which in turn opens onto a form 62 for forming drops.
• the cover 18 comprises a fixing portion 64 on the support 14, annular, and another annular portion 66, coaxial with the portion 64, so as to define a groove 68 in which the annular wall 52 is recessed.
• the cover 18 also comprises a seat 70 for supporting the spring 17, extended on its inner periphery by an annular wall 72, through which the portion 58 and having a centering function of the portion 58 of the valve 16.
• the flow reduction member 20 comprises a liquid deflection form 74 defining, with the housing 30, a flow reduction channel 76.
• the flow reduction member 20 may take for example one of the forms illustrated in Figures 3a to 3f. It has a substantially cylindrical shape, the deflection form 74 being formed on its outer periphery, forming a recess of the periphery.
• the shape 74 is defined by a helical groove 74a, 74b which circles the cylinder 20, preferably several turns if the liquid is not very viscous.
• the groove 74a has a larger section than the groove 74b, and is suitable for liquids of higher viscosity than the throat 74b.
• the members 20 of FIGS. 3c and 3d illustrate other types of grooves 74c, 74d, which do not make all around the cylindrical portion of the member 20 and which define angular portions, here right angles, having the effect to reduce the pressure of the liquid that flows.
• the member 20 may comprise, on other parts of its peripheral wall, grooves similar to the grooves 74c, 74d, which has the effect of increasing the flow rate of the liquid.
• the member 20 of Fig. 3e illustrates a straight groove 74e substantially parallel to the axis of the cylindrical portion.
• the member 20 comprises a plurality of grooves 74e distributed over the entire peripheral wall of the member 20.
• the groove or grooves 74e are inclined relative to the axis of the cylinder.
• the member 20 of FIG. 3f illustrates a network of grooves 74f-h comprising a knot
• the network comprises grooves 74f-g, said upstream, located upstream of the node 74i and at least one groove 74h, called downstream, located downstream of the node 74i.
• the network will comprise more than two upstream grooves 74f-g, more than one downstream groove 74h and more than one node 74i.
• valve 16 At rest, that is to say when no user is pressing on the reservoir 12, the valve 16 is in the liquid blocking configuration, that is to say that it bears on the surface 40, due to its permanent fixing on the support 14, exerting an elastic stress on the valve, and under the effect of the pressure carried by the spring 17.
• the reservoir 12 When a user presses the reservoir 12, it exerts pressure on the fluid flowing in the only channel allowing its flow (the hydrophobic filter 22 does not allow the liquid to escape), namely the channel 76 of flow reduction. During its passage in this channel 76, the fluid sees its flow rate decrease by the effect of pressure drop. The fluid then flows into the channel 32, then into the cavity 34 and into the channel 36. Under the effect of the pressure, the fluid lifts the membrane 16 which then passes in the liquid passage configuration and can thus flow between the membrane 16 and the bearing surface 40, in order to pass in the channel 60 and in the cavity 61, and thus be in the form of a drop.
• the flow rate reduction member 20 being a part apart, may have a shape that varies depending on the liquid contained in the reservoir.
• the housing 30 is adapted to receive different forms of member 20, such as those illustrated on the Figures 3a to 3f. It is therefore possible to manufacture batches comprising tips having the same valve 16, the same support 14, the same cover 18, but having different members 20.
• the tip 10 may assume different configurations from that illustrated in FIG. 1, such as that illustrated in FIG.
• the tip of Figure 2 has similar features to that of Figure 1, except that it has no channel 42 for air passage.
• the reservoir 12 is preferably a non-elastically deformable reservoir, so that it is not necessary to pass air to fill the depression generated by the user during its support on the tank.
• the housing 30 is disposed in the center of the support 14, and the flow reduction member 20 may have a larger diameter.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Vascular Medicine (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Ophthalmology & Optometry (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
• Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)
• Nozzles (AREA)
• Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
• Feeding, Discharge, Calcimining, Fusing, And Gas-Generation Devices (AREA)

Priority Applications (9)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Related Child Applications (1)

Publications (1)

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ID=42105141

Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (3)

Families Citing this family (20)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (25)

• 2009
  • 2009-09-11 FR FR0956279A patent/FR2950037B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2010
  • 2010-09-09 WO PCT/FR2010/051878 patent/WO2011030063A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2010-09-09 KR KR1020127009295A patent/KR20120091071A/ko not_active Withdrawn
  • 2010-09-09 RU RU2012114152/05A patent/RU2529526C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2010-09-09 MX MX2012003040A patent/MX341902B/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2010-09-09 EP EP10768999.4A patent/EP2475463B1/fr active Active
  • 2010-09-09 BR BR112012005391-4A patent/BR112012005391B1/pt active IP Right Grant
  • 2010-09-09 JP JP2012528427A patent/JP2013504355A/ja active Pending
  • 2010-09-09 CA CA2773988A patent/CA2773988A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-09-09 CN CN201080046490.9A patent/CN102725073B/zh active Active
  • 2010-09-09 IN IN2151DEN2012 patent/IN2012DN02151A/en unknown
• 2012
  • 2012-03-12 US US13/418,146 patent/US8827124B2/en active Active
  • 2012-03-15 CO CO12045401A patent/CO6511246A2/es active IP Right Grant
• 2015
  • 2015-04-21 JP JP2015086458A patent/JP2015177982A/ja active Pending
• 2017
  • 2017-09-07 JP JP2017171757A patent/JP6549198B2/ja active Active

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