Classifications

• • 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
  • B65D47/2031—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 the element being formed by a slit, narrow opening or constrictable spout, the size of the outlet passage being able to be varied by increasing or decreasing the pressure
• • 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
  • 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
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
  • Y10T29/49826—Assembling or joining

Definitions

• the invention relates to the field of dispensing liquid in the form of drops, in particular in the pharmaceutical field, for example ophthalmic or ear liquid.
• a liquid dispensing device comprising an elastomeric diaphragm forming a valve, disposed between a support and a cover mounted on the reservoir.
• the diaphragm comprises an annular peripheral bead and is held on the device by pinching this bead between the upper surface of the support and the lower surface of the cover. The diaphragm is therefore held in the device by pinching in the axial direction of the device.
• a disadvantage of this type of assembly is that when a user presses the reservoir to release liquid, the liquid exerts pressure on the diaphragm in the axial direction to open it, and such pressure can cause liquid to leak around the periphery of the diaphragm. This risk of leakage is all the more likely if the parts have dimensions or relative positions that may vary, due to manufacturing tolerances.
• the presence of a leak in the device is troublesome, especially if the liquid does not contain a preservative, because liquid ends up in undesirable places in the device, which encourages the growth of bacteria and can subsequently contaminate the liquid.
• the present invention aims in particular to provide a dispensing device in which sterility is improved.
• the inner and outer tubular walls are arranged in such a way that they effect radial compression of the fixing wall of the valve, that is to say that they press on either side of the fixing wall, in the radial direction, corresponding to the direction perpendicular to the axis of the tubular walls, this radial compression ensuring sealing of the valve.
• the distribution device comprises, in the valve attachment zone, three concentric tubes, possibly of short length, the inner tube corresponding to the inner tubular wall, the intermediate tube corresponding to the valve attachment wall and the outer tube corresponding to the outer tubular wall.
• These tubes all have the same axis, corresponding to the axis of the distribution device, this axis generally being an axis of revolution of the device, in particular of the reservoir, corresponding to the direction in which the liquid leaves the valve. It is understood that, to ensure satisfactory sealing, the diameter of the inner tubular wall is slightly greater than the diameter of the attachment wall, itself slightly greater than the diameter of the outer tubular wall.
• valve attachment is ensured by clamping in the axial direction, which generally corresponds to the assembly direction of the attachment elements, and which tends to displace these attachment elements and therefore generate leaks. It is understood that the proposed configuration generates less stress on the fixing elements, therefore a better seal, therefore a more sterile device ensuring good operation.
• the proposed device requires less precision in the dimensions of the fasteners.
• the clamping by means of the tubes guarantees a good seal, even if the components have relative positions that may vary slightly in the axial direction due to manufacturing tolerances or positioning tolerances during assembly in the axial direction.
• the outer or inner tubular wall can advantageously constitute a centering wall of the valve, which facilitates its assembly.
• tubular walls is interesting in terms of compactness. Indeed, the axial position of the fixing zone can be moved further downstream of the distribution device, for example on either side of the valve-forming part, which can allow the diameter of the dispensing nozzle to be reduced. Furthermore, because the seal is provided by tubular walls, the compression surface area exerted by the fixing elements is increased, which provides a better seal.
• the proposed device is very useful in cases where one wishes to distribute a liquid that does not contain a preservative. Indeed, with this type of liquid, compliance with the seal must be particularly reliable.
• provision may be made for the insertion of a spring between the step of installing the valve on the support and the step of installing the cover above the valve, the spring being inserted around a central cylindrical portion of the valve.
• the dispensed liquid is, in this example, a pharmaceutical liquid, such as ophthalmic or ear liquid.
• the device 10 comprises a dispensing tip 12, mounted by screwing onto the neck of a reservoir 13.
• the device 10 is configured so as to dispense liquid following pressure exerted by the user on the reservoir 13.
• the reservoir is elastically deformable, so as to resume its shape after pressure exerted by the user.
• the device 10, at least the reservoir 13, has an axis X of revolution, also corresponding to the direction of liquid ejection.
• the nozzle 12 comprises a support 14, a valve 16, a spring 17, a cover 18 and a hydrophobic filter 20.
• the support 14 comprises, in this example, a part 22, arranged at the proximal end of the tip, for fixing the support to the reservoir 13.
• This part 22 comprises an external skirt 24, threaded so as to be screwed onto the neck of the reservoir 13, and an internal skirt 26, of tubular shape, making it possible to ensure sealing between the reservoir 12 and the dispensing tip 10.
• the support 14 also comprises an intermediate part 28, forming a seat for the valve 16.
• This intermediate part 28 has substantially the shape of a disc, extending in a radial plane R perpendicular to the axis X.
• the disc 28 is delimited, on its distal face, by an external tubular wall 30. This wall forms a peripheral skirt of the disc 28, it extends perpendicular to the disc 28, in the form of a tube of axis X, sufficiently high to receive the valve 16, as described below.
• the disc 28 comprises, in the lower vicinity of the tubular wall 30, an annular rib 32, making it possible to delimit a centering and receiving groove for the edge of the valve 16.
• the disc 28 also comprises a cylindrical central part 34 for closing the valve, projecting from its center, on the distal side of the disc 28 and carrying, at its distal end, a surface 36 for supporting the valve 16.
• This part 34 forms a closing pin allowing the opening or closing of the valve 16.
• the disc 28 is also crossed by a channel 38 for the passage of liquid coming from the reservoir.
• This channel 38 opens onto a cavity 40, delimited in particular by a recess made on the distal surface of the disc 28.
• This cavity 40 also opens onto a second channel 42 for the passage of liquid, delimited by the pin 34 and the valve 16.
• the channels 38 and 42 have an axis substantially parallel to the axis X.
• the disc 28, the outer tubular wall 30 and the closing pin 34 define a tubular cavity for receiving the valve 16.
• the support 14 comprises a channel 44 for the passage of air into the reservoir, this channel 44 opening onto a housing 46 for receiving the hydrophobic filter 20, this housing 46 being cylindrical, open at its proximal end for the insertion of the filter 20.
• the valve 16 comprises a central cylindrical part 48, an annular peripheral skirt 50, the central part 48 and the skirt 50 being connected to each other by a web of material 52.
• the web 52 carries, on its distal surface, a seat 53 for supporting the spring 17.
• the distal part 54 of the central part 48 is a valve-forming part, ensuring the blocking and passage of liquid, by cooperation with the bearing surface 36.
• the surface 36 forms a support for the valve-forming part 54 when the latter is in the liquid blocking configuration.
• the upper surface of the part 48 comprises a channel 56 for ejecting the liquid, opening onto a drop metering form 58.
• the skirt 50 forms a fixing edge of the valve 16 on the support, for the permanent fixing of the valve relative to the reservoir 13. It consists of a fixing wall 50, tubular with axis X, with a diameter slightly greater than the internal diameter of the external tubular wall 30.
• the valve 16 is entirely made of an elastomer material.
• the valve comprises certain parts made of an elastomer material and other parts made of a more rigid material, in particular the part 53 forming a support for the spring 17.
• the part forming a valve 54, the web 52 and the fixing wall 50 are made of an elastomer material.
• the cover 18 is snap-fastened onto the support 16 by means of snap-fastening means 59.
• the snap-fastening means 59 make it possible to snap-fasten the cover 18 relative to the support 14 following assembly in the axial direction X.
• It carries an inner tubular wall 60, with an axis X and a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the fixing wall 50 of the valve.
• the cover 18 also comprises an outer casing 62 forming an outer skirt, extending towards the proximal direction relative to the rest of the cover 18, as well as a base 64, such that the wall 60, the base 64 and the casing 62 delimit a groove intended to sandwich the fixing wall 50 and the outer tubular wall 30.
• the cover 18 largely covers the valve 16, while however being crossed in its center by the central part 48 of the valve.
• the cover 18 delimits a cylindrical cavity by means of a tubular inner skirt 66, having a function of centering the valve 16.
• the skirt 66 also delimits a groove 68 forming a support seat for the spring 17.
• the pressure of the fluid in the channel 42 deforms the valve-forming part 54, so as to make it pass from its liquid-blocking configuration to a liquid-passing configuration, by detachment of the part 54 from the bearing surface 36. This deformation is facilitated by the compression of the spring 17 under the pressure of the liquid. The liquid is then distributed in the form of drops.
• the assembly comprises a step of assembling the end piece 12, followed by a step of screwing this end piece 12 onto the reservoir 13.
• the assembly of the tip 12 begins with a step of installing the valve 16 on the support 14, by inserting the fixing wall 50 of the valve inside the tubular wall 30 of the support 14. This step is illustrated in the Figure 2a , it is followed by a step of inserting the spring 17 around the central part 48 of the valve, illustrated in the Figure 2b . Once the spring is in place, we move on to a step of installing the cover 18 above the valve 16, illustrated in the Figure 2c , by insertion of the tubular wall interior 60 inside the fixing wall 50. This installation of the cover 18 is completed by snapping the cover onto the support 14, illustrated in the figure 2d , this snap-fastening being simultaneous with the permanent fixing of the valve 16 on the end piece 12, sandwiched between the inner 60 and outer 30 tubular walls. It will be noted that when the valve 16 is fixed on the device, the web 2 is put under elastic stress so as to press the end 54 against the surface 36. This pressing is further facilitated by the return force of the spring.
• the static sealing produced around the fixing wall 50, by pinching the walls 60 and 30, is particularly effective. Indeed, when the liquid escapes from the reservoir 13, it exerts pressure on the valve 16 in the direction X, and this pressure in the direction X is not reflected on the fixing part 50, the fixing of the valve being ensured by compression in the radial direction R.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
• Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)
• Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
• Feeding And Controlling Fuel (AREA)
• Springs (AREA)
• Check Valves (AREA)
• Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

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Citations (1)

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• 2009
  • 2009-09-11 FR FR0956278A patent/FR2950036B1/fr active Active
• 2010
  • 2010-09-09 EP EP25184660.6A patent/EP4596110A3/de active Pending
  • 2010-09-09 PL PL16175337.1T patent/PL3090957T3/pl unknown
  • 2010-09-09 EP EP16175332.2A patent/EP3090956A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2010-09-09 BR BR112012005428-7A patent/BR112012005428B1/pt active IP Right Grant
  • 2010-09-09 WO PCT/FR2010/051877 patent/WO2011030062A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2010-09-09 CN CN201080048219.9A patent/CN102712395B/zh active Active
  • 2010-09-09 EP EP16175337.1A patent/EP3090957B1/de active Active
  • 2010-09-09 PL PL22201129.8T patent/PL4147990T3/pl unknown
  • 2010-09-09 ES ES16175337T patent/ES2961272T3/es active Active
  • 2010-09-09 JP JP2012528426A patent/JP5739890B2/ja active Active
  • 2010-09-09 IN IN2150DEN2012 patent/IN2012DN02150A/en unknown
  • 2010-09-09 EP EP22201129.8A patent/EP4147990B1/de active Active
  • 2010-09-09 EP EP10768998.6A patent/EP2475585B1/de active Active
  • 2010-09-09 ES ES22201129T patent/ES3041783T3/es active Active
• 2012
  • 2012-03-12 US US13/418,159 patent/US8863998B2/en active Active

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