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US-12623036-B2 - Device for dispensing a fluid product

US12623036B2US 12623036 B2US12623036 B2US 12623036B2US-12623036-B2

Abstract

A dispenser having a tank, a dispensing head having an axially moveable dispensing port, a dispensing member actuated when the tank is moved upwards, an inner body having a hollow cylinder receiving the dispenser and an axial extension extending downwards, a control module having an electronic board, a motor and a motor wheel, an outer body receiving the inner body and control module, a thrust member in contact with the tank and axially movable on the inner body between rest and actuation positions, a control member attached to the thrust member and axially moving therewith, and a locking ring mounted on the axial extension rotatable between locking and releasing positions. The locking ring is moved by the control module into the locking position with the thrust member to prevent axial movement of latter and into the releasing position with the thrust member to enable axial movement towards the actuation position.

Inventors

  • David Fabien

Assignees

  • APTAR FRANCE SAS

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20210608
Priority Date
20200610

Claims (18)

  1. 1 . A device for dispensing a fluid product comprising: said fluid product dispenser ( 1 ) having a tank ( 2 ) containing a fluid product, a dispensing head ( 3 ) having a dispensing port ( 4 ), said dispensing head ( 3 ) being axially movable with respect to said tank ( 2 ), and a dispensing member mounted on said tank ( 2 ), said dispensing member ( 6 ) being actuated when said tank ( 2 ) is moved axially upwards with respect to said dispensing head ( 3 ); an inner body ( 10 ) comprising a hollow cylinder ( 11 ) receiving said fluid product dispenser ( 1 ) and an axial extension ( 15 ) extending axially downwards from said hollow cylinder ( 11 ); a control module ( 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 90 ) attached to said inner body ( 10 ), said control module comprising an electronic board ( 90 ), a motor ( 81 ) and a motor wheel ( 82 ) caused to rotate by said motor ( 81 ); an outer body ( 20 ) receiving said inner body ( 10 ) and said control module; a thrust member ( 30 ) in contact with said tank ( 2 ) and mounted so as to be axially movable on said inner body ( 10 ) between a rest position and an actuation position; a control member ( 50 ) attached to said thrust member ( 30 ) and axially moving together therewith; a locking ring ( 40 ) mounted on said axial extension ( 15 ) of said inner body ( 10 ) so as to be capable of rotating between locking and releasing positions, said locking ring ( 40 ) being moved between said locking and releasing positions by said control module, said locking ring ( 40 ) co-operating in the locking position with said thrust member ( 30 ) so as to prevent axial movement of said thrust member and co-operating in the releasing position with said thrust member ( 30 ) so as to enable axial movement of said thrust member towards the actuation position thereof.
  2. 2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein said control module comprises a flexible element ( 83 ) attached on one side to said inner body ( 10 ) and on the other side to said locking ring ( 40 ), said motor wheel ( 82 ) co-operating with said flexible element ( 83 ) to deform said flexible element and thus move said locking ring ( 40 ) between the locking and releasing positions.
  3. 3 . The device according to claim 2 , wherein said flexible element ( 83 ) is a wire, or a flexible blade.
  4. 4 . The device according to claim 2 , wherein said control module is configured to deform said flexible element ( 83 ) from a start of the axial movement of the control member ( 50 ), so as to force said locking ring ( 40 ) to the locking position.
  5. 5 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein said axial extension ( 15 ) of said inner body ( 10 ) comprises a hollow axial cylinder ( 150 ) provided with at least one axial slot ( 151 ) extending over a portion of a height of said hollow axial cylinder, said hollow axial cylinder ( 150 ) comprising at least one radial wall ( 155 ) extending radially outwards entirely over the height of said hollow axial cylinder ( 150 ), said at least one radial wall ( 155 ) being angularly offset from each axial slot by 90°.
  6. 6 . The device according to claim 5 , wherein said hollow axial cylinder ( 150 ) comprises walls ( 155 ) two diametrically opposed axial slots of said at least one axial slot and two diametrically opposed radial walls of said at least one radial wall.
  7. 7 . The device according to claim 5 , wherein said thrust member ( 30 ) comprises an axial well ( 32 ) extending axially downwards from an upper plate ( 33 ) co-operating with said tank ( 2 ), said axial well ( 32 ) comprising at least one radial extension ( 34 ) extending radially outwards from the outer surface of said axial well ( 32 ), the upper axial surface ( 340 ) of each radial extension ( 34 ) being arranged away from said upper plate ( 33 ), each radial extension ( 34 ) being arranged in a respective axial slot ( 151 ) of said inner body ( 10 ).
  8. 8 . The device according to claim 7 , wherein said thrust member ( 30 ) comprises two radial extensions of said at least one radial extension ( 34 ) which are diametrically opposed.
  9. 9 . The device according to claim 7 , wherein said upper plate ( 33 ) of said thrust member ( 30 ) comprises, at an outer edge, a radial projection ( 31 ) for attaching a slider ( 70 ) co-operating during actuation with said control module.
  10. 10 . The device according to claim 7 , wherein said locking ring ( 40 ) comprises a hollow sleeve ( 41 ) provided with at least one first flat inner surface ( 44 ) extending radially inwards from an upper axial edge ( 411 ) of said hollow sleeve ( 41 ), each first flat inner surface ( 44 ) extending over a small part of an inner periphery of said hollow sleeve ( 41 ), said upper axial surface ( 340 ) of a respective radial extension of said at least one radial extension ( 34 ) of said thrust member ( 30 ) being in axial abutment against a respective first flat inner surface ( 44 ) when the locking ring ( 40 ) is in the locking position.
  11. 11 . The device according to claim 10 , wherein, in the releasing position of said locking ring ( 40 ), said at least one first flat inner surface ( 44 ) is angularly offset from said respective radial extension ( 34 ), thus allowing axial movement of said thrust member ( 30 ) relative to said inner body ( 10 ).
  12. 12 . The device according to claim 7 , wherein said at least one radial wall ( 155 ) is configured to co-operate with said locking ring ( 40 ) to define the locking and releasing positions.
  13. 13 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein said locking ring ( 40 ) is configured to be blocked in the releasing position throughout an actuation cycle, and to return automatically to the locking position at an end of said actuation cycle.
  14. 14 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein said control module comprises time-out means to prevent, after each actuation of the dispenser ( 1 ), movement of said locking ring ( 40 ) from the locking position to the releasing position for a predetermined period of time.
  15. 15 . The device according to claim 14 , wherein said time-out means are configured to block a control button of the device and/or said motor ( 81 ).
  16. 16 . The device according to claim 1 , in which said fluid product is a pharmaceutical product.
  17. 17 . The device according to claim 16 , wherein said pharmaceutical product is a drug.
  18. 18 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein said dispensing member is a pump or a valve.

Description

This Application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/FR2021/051027 filed Jun. 8, 2021, claiming priority based on French Patent Application No. 2006060 filed Jun. 10, 2020. The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a fluid product. BACKGROUND OF THE INVNETION 1. Field of the Invention Today, there are certain situations in which it may be necessary to administer certain fluid products, such as potent drugs which are potentially lethal to humans. This is particularly the case for the treatment of particular pathologies or for people who require palliative treatments in end-of-life contexts. Handling such substances requires extreme caution and extremely safe administration devices to avoid the risk of overdose, which may occur if several consecutive doses are administered together. Another risk relates to the use of these devices by any person other than the person for whom the treatment is intended, e.g., children. Document FR3072294 describes a prior-art device. Non-Limiting Objects of the Invention The present invention aims to provide a device for dispensing a fluid product that does not have the above mentioned disadvantages. In particular, the present invention aims to provide a device for dispensing a fluid product that is safe and secure for the user, especially to avoid the risk of overdose. The present invention also aims to provide a device for dispensing a fluid product that can be used only by authorised persons, in particular by the person in therapeutic need. The present invention also aims to provide a device for dispensing a fluid product that is blocked for a predetermined period of time between two successive actuations. The present invention also aims to provide a device for dispensing a fluid product that allows the device to be actuated only for a predetermined period of time, and that, in the absence of actuation, automatically re-locks at the end of said period of time. The present invention also aims to provide a device for dispensing a fluid product that is robust and reliable to use. The present invention also aims to provide a device for dispensing a fluid product that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and to assemble. The present invention thus provides a device for dispensing a fluid product that comprises a: a fluid product dispenser having a tank containing a fluid product, a dispensing head having a dispensing port, said dispensing head being axially movable with respect to said tank, and a dispensing member, such as a pump or a valve, mounted on said tank, said dispensing member being actuated when said tank is moved axially upwards with respect to said dispensing head;an inner body comprising a hollow cylinder receiving said dispenser and an axial extension extending axially downwards from said hollow cylinder;a control module attached to said inner body, said control module comprising an electronic board, a motor and a motor wheel caused to rotate by said motor;an outer body receiving said inner body and said control module;a thrust member in contact with said tank and mounted so as to be axially movable on said inner body between a rest position and an actuation position;a control member attached to said thrust member and axially moving together therewith;a locking ring mounted on said axial extension of said inner body so as to be capable of rotating between locking and releasing positions, said locking ring being moved between the latter locking and releasing positions by said control module, said locking ring co-operating in the locking position with said thrust member so as to prevent axial movement of the latter and co-operating in the releasing position with said thrust member so as to enable axial movement of the latter towards the actuation position thereof. Advantageously, said control module comprises a flexible element attached on one side to said inner body and on the other side to said locking ring, said motor wheel co-operating with said flexible element to deform it and thus move said locking ring between its locking and releasing positions. Advantageously, said flexible element is a wire, or a flexible blade. Advantageously, said axial extension of said inner body comprises a hollow axial cylinder provided with at least one axial slot extending over a portion of its height, said hollow axial cylinder comprising at least one radial wall extending radially outwards over the entire height of said hollow axial cylinder, said at least one radial wall being angularly offset from each axial slot by 90°. Advantageously, said hollow axial cylinder comprises two diametrically opposite slots and two diametrically opposed radial walls. Advantageously, said thrust member comprises an axial well extending axially downwards from an upper plate co-operating with said tank, said axial well comprising at least one radial extension extending radially outwards from the outer surface of said axial well, the upper axial surface of each