Device for dispensing a liquid in the form of drops

• US 10,220,988 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2010
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nemera La Verpilliere
• Original Assignee: Nemera La Verpilliere
• Inventors: Painchaud, Gaetan, Lanzi, Sylvain, Julia, Xavier, Grevin, Guillaume
• Primary Examiner(s): Buechner, Patrick M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Melaragno, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US12/891,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20110155770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,081 Days
• Field of Search: 222420, 222209, 222212, 222213, 222498, 222499, 222422, 222511, 222513, 222514, 222518, 222494, 222495, 222496
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0008 Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1425 Snap-fit type
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1468 Containers characterised by specific material properties
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/18 for discharging drops; Droppers droppers in general B01L3/00; pipettes connected to container closures B01L3/0282
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/205 the valve being formed by a tubular flexible sleeve surrounding a rod-like element provided with at least one radial passageway which is normally closed by the sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2081 in which the deformation raises or lowers the valve port

Abstract

The device makes it possible to dispense predetermined metered quantities of liquid. It includes a sealing member that can take up a liquid release position, allowing liquid to flow out of the device, and a non-return position preventing liquid from flowing back into the device. The sealing member is provided with metering means for metering out the liquid to be dispensed.

Claims

1. A device for dispensing predetermined metered quantities of liquid, the device including an end-piece comprising a hat-shaped sealing member that can take up a liquid release position, allowing liquid to flow out of the device, and a non-return position preventing liquid from flowing back into the device, wherein:

the end-piece further comprises an inner core and an outer top casing, the outer top casing having a top surface with an orifice for releasing liquid from the device;

the sealing member, having a top portion with an outer sidewall, is fastened between the inner core and the outer top casing in a leak-tight manner to prevent any liquid from escaping into the outer casing, the outer top casing circumscribing and substantially covering the outer sidewall of the sealing member;

the top portion of the sealing member comprises a liquid-passing channel and a flared shape opening that flares from and surrounds said channel, said flared shape opening defining a metering element for metering out the liquid to be dispensed, the metering element for forming drops of liquid; and

the metering element is disposed in the immediate vicinity of the orifice in the top surface of the outer top casing for releasing the liquid from the device.

2. A device according to claim 1, including a bearing element for bearing against the sealing member, in register with a recessed zone, serving to deform the sealing member by bending deformation so that it takes up its non-return position.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member is flexible at least in part, and the device includes a bearing element for bearing against the sealing member, serving to deform the flexible portion of the sealing member by compression deformation so that it takes up its non-return position.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the flared shape opens out into a substantially cylindrical shape.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member is an elastomer element that is made entirely of elastomer.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member comprises an elastomer portion and a rigid portion, said portions being constrained to move with each other.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the metering element is formed in the rigid portion.

8. A device for dispensing predetermined metered quantities of liquid, comprising:

an end-piece comprising a hat-shaped sealing member that can take up a liquid release position, allowing liquid to flow out of the device, and a non-return position preventing liquid from flowing back into the device;

said end-piece comprising an inner core and an outer top casing, the outer top casing including a top surface with an opening through which liquid is released from the sealing member and an internal protuberance with a central annular groove opening out into the opening;

the sealing member, including a top portion with an outer sidewall, being fastened between the inner core and the outer top casing in a leak-tight manner to prevent any liquid from escaping into the outer casing, wherein the internal protuberance circumscribes and substantially covers the outer sidewall of the sealing member; and

the top portion of the sealing member comprising a liquid-passing channel and a cone shaped portion that flares from and surrounds said channel, said flared shape opening defining a metering element for metering out the liquid to be dispensed, wherein the metering element forms drops of liquid and the metering element is disposed in the immediate vicinity of the opening in the top surface of the outer top casing.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the cone shaped portion opens out into a substantially cylindrical shaped portion of the metering element.

10. A device according to claim 8, wherein the sealing member consists of an elastomer material.

11. A device according to claim 8, wherein the sealing member comprises an elastomer portion and a rigid portion constrained to move with each other.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein the metering element is formed in the rigid portion.