Dispenser and dosing subassembly for dosing of a medium

• US 20070113841A1
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptar Radolfzell GmbH (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ing. Erich Pfeiffer GmbH
• Inventors: Fuchs, Karl-Heinz
• Granted Patent: US 7,950,391 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.140
• 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: B05B 11/0067 having a valve seat located downstream the valve element (take precedence)
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/047 characterised by the outlet or venting means B05B11/041 and B05B11/042 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/048 characterised by the container, e.g. this latter being surrounded by an enclosure, or the means for deforming it B05B11/041, B05B11/046 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2068 in which the stem is lowered by the pressure of the contents and thereby opening the valve
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0094 Containers having an external wall formed as, or with, a diaphragm or the like which is deformed to expel the contents B65D1/32 takes precedence

Abstract

A dispenser for a liquid or pulverulent, in particular a pharmaceutical medium with a medium reservoir, is provided for single-handed operation. The dispenser includes a dosing opening and is bounded in some sections by wall sections of flexible design, and by a dimensionally stable holding plate, which is provided as a handle for the application of actuating forces to the medium reservoir.

Claims

1. Dispenser (1;

1b) for at least one liquid or pulverulent, in particular pharmaceutical medium with a medium reservoir (2;

2b), which is provided for single-handed operation, has at least one dosing opening (4;

4b) and is bounded at least in some sections by wall sections (5;

5b) of flexible design and by at least one dimensionally stable holding plate (6, 10;

6b, 10b), which is provided as a handle for the application of actuating forces to the medium reservoir (2;

2b).

2. Dispenser (1;

1b) according to claim 1, characterized in that the dosing opening (4;

4b) is formed on a dosing nozzle (7;

7b), the center longitudinal axis (9) of which is arranged at an angle of 15 degrees to 55 degrees, preferably 25 degrees to 45 degrees, particularly preferably 35 degrees, to an outer surface of the holding plate (6, 10;

6b, 10b) in order to ensure ergonomic handling of the dispenser (1;

1b).

3. Dispenser (1;

1b) according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible medium reservoir (2;

2b) is bounded by two dimensionally stable holding plates (6, 10;

6b, 10b) arranged opposite each other, with the dosing nozzle (7;

7b) being assigned to one of the holding plates (6, 10;

6b, 10b).

4. Dispenser (1;

1b) according to claim 2, characterized in that the dosing opening (4;

4b) is provided in a separate dosing subassembly (11;

11b), which can be fitted on the dosing nozzle (7;

7b), which is assigned to the holding plate (6, 10;

6b, 10b) and is designed as a receiving shaft.

5. Dispenser (1;

1b) according to claim 4, characterized in that at least one, in particular centrally arranged, latching device (12, 13, 14, 15, 36;

12b, 13b) for locking the dosing subassembly (11) with a form fit is provided in the dosing nozzle (7;

7b) designed as a receiving shaft.

6. Dispenser (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the latching device (12, 13, 14, 15, 36) has at least one latching geometry on an inner surface (30) and/or an outer surface of the dosing nozzle (7) and a latching pin (14) arranged coaxially with respect to the center longitudinal axis (9) of the dosing nozzle (7), the latching geometry and latching pin being provided for centering and fixing the dosing subassembly (11).

7. Dispenser (1;

1b) according to claim 4, characterized in that the dosing subassembly (11;

11b) has a spring-loaded outlet valve (17, 18;

17b, 18b), which is provided for temporarily closing the dosing opening (4;

4b).

8. Dispenser (1;

1b) according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible medium reservoir (2;

2b) is formed integrally with at least one dimensionally stable holding plate (10, 10b).

9. Dispenser (1;

1b) according to claim 1, characterized in that a dimensionally stable collar (20) for coupling of the holding plate (6, 10;

6b, 10b) is provided on a peripheral edge region of a wall section (5;

5b), which is of flexible design, of the medium reservoir (2;

2b), which edge region faces the dimensionally stable holding plate (6, 10;

6b, 10b).

10. Dispenser (1;

1b) according to claim 9, characterized in that a peripheral holding ring (22) is provided for coupling of the holding plate (6, 10;

6b, 10b) to the dimensionally stable collar (20) with a form fit, the holding ring engaging around the holding plate (6, 10;

6b, 10b) and the collar (20) in each case in an end region and coupling them to each other in a sealing manner.

11. Dispenser (1;

1b) according to claim 10, characterized in that the holding plate (6, 10;

6b, 10b) and the dimensionally stable collar (20) are provided with a reduced wall thickness in the end region in order, when molding on the holding ring (22) in the plastics injection molding process, to bring about an intimate connection, in particular connection with a cohesive material joint, between holding ring (22) and the end regions.

12. Dispenser (1;

1b) according to claim 1, characterized in that wall sections (5;

5b), which are of flexible design, of the medium reservoir (2;

2b) are produced at least in some sections as a bellows (25, 26) with a wall thickness of 0.1 mm to 0.6 mm, preferably 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm, from a plastics material, in particular from polyethylene.

13. Dispenser (1;

1b) according to claim 12, characterized in that the medium reservoir (2;

2b) is provided at least in some sections, in particular in the region of the bellows (25, 26), on an inner and/or outer surface, with a water vapor barrier layer, in particular with a silicon oxide coating or a poly-para-xylylene coating.

14. Dispenser (1;

1b) according to claim 4, characterized in that a drip edge (46) for conducting away drops of medium without any residue is provided on the dosing nozzle (7;

7b) or the dosing subassembly (11;

11b) in the region of the dosing opening (4;

4b).

15. Dispenser (1b) according to claim 1, characterized in that pressure equalizing means (52b) which permit ambient air to flow into the media reservoir (2b) are provided, the pressure equalizing means (52b) preferably being arranged in a wall region of the media reservoir (2b) in such a manner that they are surrounded on the media reservoir side by medium when the dispenser (1b) is actuated.

16. Dispenser (1b) according to claim 15, characterized in that the pressure equalizing means (52b) have a filtering membrane preferably filtering microbiological impurities.

17. Dosing subassembly (11;

11b), in particular for a dispenser according to claim 1, with a valve housing (24;

24b) which is penetrated in a wall region (33;

33b) by a dosing opening (4;

4b), which can be closed by a valve pin (18;

18b) accommodated in the valve housing (24;

24b), the valve pin (18;

18b) being assigned a plunger sleeve (19;

19b) and a spring device (17;

17b), characterized in that an active surface (44) of the plunger sleeve (19;

19b) is at least 50 times, preferably 100 times, particularly preferably 200 times, larger than a cross-sectional area (45) of the dosing opening (4;

4b).

18. Dosing subassembly (11;

11b) according to claim 17, characterized in that the valve pin (18;

18b) is designed in such a manner that it at least virtually completely fills the dosing opening (4;

4b) in the closed state and, in particular, closes said dosing opening (4;

4b) at least virtually flush with an outer surface (33;

33b) of the valve housing (24;

24b).

19. Dosing subassembly (11b) according to claim 17, characterized in that a throttle (37;

50b, 51b) which reduces a volumetric flow from a media reservoir (2;

2b) to the dosing opening (4;

4b) is mounted upstream of the dosing opening (4;

4b).

20. Dosing subassembly (11b) according to claim 19, characterized in that the throttle is designed as a capillary tube (50b).