Dispenser with manually operable discharge device

• US 6,446,839 B1
• Filed: 08/17/2000
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aptar Radolfzell GmbH (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ing. Erich Pfeiffer GmbH
• Inventors: Ritsche, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US09/641,049
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 222/160, 222/162, 222/163, 222/81-83, 222/88, 222/153.06, 222/153.13
• US Class Current: 222/82
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0065 Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/31508 provided on the piston-rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/073 Syringe, piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2429 by telescoping of ampoules or carpules with the syringe body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31575 using scaling up or down transmissions, e.g. gearbox
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3158 performed by axially moving actuator operated by user, e.g. an injection button
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31595 Pre-defined multi-dose administration by repeated overcoming of means blocking the free advancing movement of piston rod, e.g. by tearing or de-blocking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/484 Regulating injection pressure
• 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

Abstract

The invention relates to a dispenser for the discharge and the atomizing of media, in which a liquid medium is discharged in one charge or a small number of partial charges in one operating stroke of an operating presser or trigger. The dispenser is secured against accidental operation and has a minimum packing or storage volume. Prior to each stroke, the operating presser is returned from an operating end portion to the operating starting position to commence the discharge stroke.

Claims

1. Dispenser comprising a discharge device for the discharge of an optionally atomized medium in a plurality of discharge strokes, said dispenser further comprising an operating presser for operating the discharge device, wherein prior to each of said plurality of discharge strokes, the operating presser is positioned at an operating end position for a respective discharge stroke, said operating presser being responsive to a return force to be moved into an operating starting position prior to commencing a next discharge stroke, said starting position being common to each respective discharge stroke.

2. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser has a casing with a gripping surface shaped thereon for supporting at least one finger of a user and with a discharge opening, the operating presser being guided in relatively movable manner to the gripping surface on the casing.

3. Dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the relative movement is a linear movement.

4. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the operating end position is fixed by a first stop for limiting the stroke movement of the operating presser.

5. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the operating starting position is fixed by a second stop for limiting the movement in a direction opposite a direction of the discharge stroke.

6. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the discharge device comprises a thrust piston pump, whose pump cylinder is the reservoir for a medium to be discharged.

7. Dispenser according to claim 6, wherein the pump cylinder comprises a cylindrical glass ampoule inserted in a sleeve.

8. Dispenser according to claim 6, wherein cooperating locking means are formed on the pump cylinder and the casing to prevent a movement of the pump cylinder in opposition to the discharge stroke movement.

9. Dispenser according to claim 8, wherein the locking means interengage when the operating presser reaches the operating end position.

10. Dispenser according to claim 8, in which locking means act between the pump cylinder and casing and are constructed for preventing a pump cylinder movement counter to the discharge stroke movement and in which drag means acting between the operating presser and pump cylinder are constructed for carrying along the pump cylinder during the stroke movement of the operating cylinder, wherein the pump cylinder-side parts of the drag means are constructed to operate as pump cylinder-side locking means during a subsequent operation of the dispenser.

11. Dispenser according to claim 6, wherein cooperating drag means are formed on the pump cylinder and operating presser, so that the pump cylinder is carried along during a stroke of the operating presser (5).

12. Dispenser according to claim 11, wherein the drag means come into operative connection when said operating presser is in the operating starting position.

13. Dispenser according to claim 11, wherein the drag means are constructed in such a way that the drag connection is released during a movement in opposition to the discharge stroke movement.

14. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the operating presser from the operating end position into the operating starting position results from a manually provided return force.

15. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the operating presser from the operating end position into the operating starting position results from pressure provided from a force reservoir.

16. Dispenser according to claim 15, wherein the force reservoir is kept pretensioned in the operating end position by holding means, which are releasable by the operation of a release member, so that a movement of the operating presser from the operating end position to the operating starting position takes place.

17. Dispenser according to claim 16, wherein during, or prior to, the first operation of the release member, a tamper-proof seal is irreversibly destroyed.

18. Dispenser according to claim 16, wherein the holding means only keep the force reservoir pretensioned prior to the first operation of the release member.

19. Dispenser according to claim 18, wherein the release member and the holding means are constructed as a tear-off web connected on either side by means of predetermined breaking points to the casing and operating presser.

20. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the operating presser has a rectangular cross-section.

21. Dispenser according to claim 20, wherein the casing has a rectangular cross-section in the area of the operating presser.

22. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein pressure point means are provided containing predetermined breaking material bridges acting between the casing and the pump cylinder.

23. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the discharge device constructed as a thrust piston pump has a piston, which is formed by a perforatable plug forming a closure for the pump cylinder of the thrust piston pump and which is preferably irreversibly pressable into the pump cylinder by a shaft mounted in the discharge section and is perforatable by a needle held in the shaft.