METHOD FOR USING AN ASSEMBLY FOR DISPENSING A FLUID PRODUCT

• US 20160318051A1
• Filed: 01/09/2015
• Published: 11/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptar France S.A.S (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Aptar France S.A.S (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: MARTINS, Olivier, PETIT, Ludovic
• Granted Patent: US 11,559,821 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/007 Syringe-type or piston-type sprayers or atomisers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0003 with means for dispensing more than one drug
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0036 hollow piercing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/08 Inhaling devices inserted into the nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3156 using volume steps only adjustable in discrete intervals, i.e. individually distinct intervals
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/341 before discharging the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. in a swirl chamber upstream the spray outlet
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0008 Sealing or attachment arrangements between sprayer and container between pump and container B05B11/1043
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0035 Pen-like sprayers
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0097 Means for filling or refilling the sprayer through additional openings in the container B05B11/0056
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/02 Membranes or pistons acting on the contents inside the container, e.g. follower pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/025 with stepwise advancement of the piston, e.g. for spraying a predetermined quantity of content
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1038 Pressure accumulation pumps, i.e. pumps comprising a pressure accumulation chamber

Abstract

A method of using a fluid dispenser unit having a reservoir and a piston that slides in the reservoir. The unit includes an extractor head secured to the reservoir to suck fluid to be dispensed into the reservoir, and a spray head assembled on the extractor head to spray the fluid out from the reservoir. The method includes the steps of sucking a fluid to be dispensed into the reservoir through the extractor head; assembling the spray head on the extractor head; and spraying the fluid through the spray head. The step of sucking up a fluid to be dispensed includes a first step of extracting a fluid, such as a solvent, from an extraction reservoir, and a second step of mixing the fluid with a first substance, such as a powder or a lyophilisate, so as to form the fluid to be dispensed.

Claims

1. A method of using a fluid dispenser unit comprising a reservoir for containing a fluid, and a piston that slides in said reservoir, said unit further comprising an extractor head that is secured to said reservoir so as to suck a fluid to be dispensed into said reservoir, and a spray head that is assembled on said extractor head so as to spray said fluid to be dispensed out from said reservoir, said method comprising the following steps:

sucking a fluid to be dispensed into said reservoir through said extractor head;

assembling said spray head on said extractor head; and

spraying said fluid to be dispensed through said spray head;

the method being characterized in that said step of sucking up a fluid to be dispensed comprises a first step of extracting a fluid, such as a solvent, from an extraction reservoir, and a second step of mixing said fluid with a first substance, such as a powder or a lyophilisate, so as to form said fluid to be dispensed.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said second step of mixing comprises:

injecting said fluid, such as a solvent, into a mixing reservoir containing said first substance, so that said first substance and said fluid mix together in said mixing reservoir so as to form the fluid to be dispensed;

then sucking said fluid to be dispensed into said reservoir through said extractor head.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein, in order to make it possible to evacuate the increased pressure generated in said mixing reservoir by injecting said fluid, said reservoir and said piston co-operate in non-airtight manner in the fully depressed position of the piston, so as to connect the inside of the mixing reservoir to the atmosphere in this fully depressed position of the piston.

4. A fluid dispenser unit for implementing the method according to 1, characterized in that said extractor head is made as a single piece integrally with said reservoir, in particular by molding a plastics material.

5. A unit according to claim 4, wherein said extractor head includes an extractor needle.

6. A unit according to claim 4, wherein said spray head includes a central expulsion channel that, in the flow direction of the fluid during spraying, is terminated by a spray orifice, a spray profile being provided upstream of said spray orifice.

7. A unit according to claim 4, wherein said reservoir and/or said piston include(s) dose-fractioning means for dividing the fluid for dispensing that is contained in said reservoir into at least two doses for being sprayed during a plurality of successive actuations of said unit.

8. A unit according to claim 7, wherein said dose-fractioning means comprise a lug of said piston that slides in a groove of said reservoir, said groove including a shoulder for blocking said lug after the first dose of fluid has been sprayed.

9. A unit according to claim 4, wherein said reservoir and/or said piston include(s) energy accumulation means that require at least a predetermined force to be applied in order to make it possible to spray said fluid to be dispensed.

10. A unit according to claim 8, wherein said energy accumulation means comprise at least one projection that co-operates with said lug of said piston, said lug being able to pass beyond said energy accumulation means when at least said predetermined force is applied on said piston.