Fluid Product Dispensing Device

• US 20070240707A1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptar France S.A.S (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Valois SAS (Mestdagh Family)
• Inventors: Sauzade, Jean-Denis, Bruna, Pascal
• Granted Patent: US 8,869,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.140
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/009 using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/08 Inhaling devices inserted into the nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0294 Piezoelectric materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 13/008 taps comprising counting- and recording means counting devices, counting of objects in general G06M

Abstract

A fluid dispenser device including a fluid dispenser member (10) such as a pump or a valve, and a dispenser head (20) provided with a dispensing orifice, said fluid dispenser device being characterized in that said device is provided with dispensing detector means (30, 31) for detecting dispensing of a dose of fluid, said detector means (30, 31) being adapted to deliver a signal for informing the user that a dose of fluid has indeed been dispensed by said pump, said detector means comprising a detector (30) for detecting the fluid going from said dispenser member to said dispenser orifice.

Claims

1. A fluid dispenser device including a fluid dispenser member (10) such as a pump or a valve, and a dispenser head (20) provided with a dispensing orifice, said fluid dispenser device being provided with dispensing detector means (30, 31) for detecting dispensing of a dose of fluid, said detector means (30, 31) being adapted to deliver a signal for informing the user that a dose of fluid has indeed been dispensed by said pump, said detector means comprising a detector (30) for detecting the fluid going from said dispenser member to said dispenser orifice, said fluid dispenser device being characterized in that said detector (30) comprises a piezoelectric material.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which the dispenser member (10) is connected to the dispensing orifice (40) via an expulsion channel (50), said detector means (30, 31) being provided in said expulsion channel (50).

3. A device according to claim 1, in which said detector (30) is a dynamic pressure detector.

4. A device according to claim 1, in which said detector (30) comprises polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF).

5. A device according to claim 1, in which said detector (30) comprises a PVDF tube operating in breathing mode.

6. A device according to claim 2, in which said PVDF tube is disposed around a portion of said expulsion channel (50).

13. A device according to claim 1, in which said detector means (30, 31) are disposed in a sleeve (40) co-operating at one end with said dispenser member (10) and at the other end with said dispenser head (20).

14. A device according to claim 13, in which said sleeve (40) is made up of two portions (41, 42) engaged one on and/or around the other, said detector means (30, 31) being disposed between said two sleeve portions (41, 42).

15. A device according to claim 13, in which said sleeve (40) is engaged around the valve member of the valve, or around the actuating rod of the pump.

16. A device according to claim 1, in which said detector means (30, 31) are connected to electronic means (60) for processing the signals delivered by said detector means (30, 31).

17. A device according to claim 1, in which said detector means (30, 31) are adapted to increment or to decrement a dose counter.

18. A device according to claim 1, in which said dispenser member is a pump (10) adapted to dispensing the fluid such that it is so finely sprayed that the spray is undetectable by the user, said detector means (30) informing the user every time a dose of fluid is dispensed.

19. A device according to claim 1, in which said dispenser member is a metering valve (10) operating with a propellant gas.

7. A fluid dispenser device including a fluid dispenser member (10) such as a pump or a valve, and a dispenser head (20) provided with a dispensing orifice, said fluid dispenser device being provided with dispensing detector means (30, 31) for detecting dispensing of a dose of fluid, said detector means (30, 31) being adapted to deliver a signal for informing the user that a dose of fluid has indeed been dispensed by said pump, said detector means comprising a detector (30) for detecting the fluid going from said dispenser member to said dispenser orifice, said fluid dispenser device being characterized in that said detector (30) comprises an optical fiber (30).

8. A device according to claim 7, in which the dispenser member (10) is connected to the dispensing orifice (40) via an expulsion channel (50), said detector means (30, 31) being provided in said expulsion channel (50).

9. A device according to claim 7, in which said optical fiber (30) is associated with a deformable membrane (31) which deforms when fluid passes through it, such deformation generating stress in the optical fiber (30).

10. A device according to claim 9, in which said deformable membrane (31) is disposed around a portion of said expulsion channel (50).

11. A device according to claim 9, in which said optical fiber (30) co-operates with said deformable membrane (31) in a casing (45) secured to the dispenser head (20).

12. A device according to claim 7, in which said optical fiber (30) is made of plastic or of glass.