Pressible receptacle for a fluid sample

• US 6,752,298 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2003
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valois (Mestdagh Family)
• Original Assignee: Valois (Mestdagh Family)
• Inventors: Abergel, Aline, Garcia, Firmin
• Primary Examiner(s): Bomberg, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US10/370,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20030121939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 222/633, 222/632, 222/209, 222/212, 222/215, 239/327, 239/328
• US Class Current: 222/633
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/057 Spray nozzles; Generating atomised liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 37/00 Sachet pads specially adapted for liquid toiletry or cosmetic substances
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/0087 for samples
• 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 2221/00 Small packaging specially adapted for product samples, single-use packages or échantillons
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5811 and defining, after tearing, a small dispensing spout, a small orifice or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5872 Non-integral spouts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0055 Containers or packages provided with a flexible bag or a deformable membrane or diaphragm for expelling the contents

Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing a fluid, said dispenser comprising: a reservoir (3) containing said fluid and provided with at least one actuating wall (10) on which pressure is exerted to reduce the volume of the reservoir, said reservoir being provided with resilient means (4) suitable for increasing the volume of the reservoir; a dispensing orifice (50) via which the fluid is dispensed as a mixture with a gas, so as to generate a two-phase spray; and a removable closure element (12) for closing the dispensing orifice (50), thereby isolating the reservoir from the outside; said dispenser being characterized in that the resilient means are stressed so that the reservoir defines a minimum volume so long as the closure element (12) closes off the dispensing orifice.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing a fluid, said dispenser comprising:

a reservoir (3) containing said fluid and provided with at least one actuating wall (10) on which pressure is exerted to reduce the volume of the reservoir, said reservoir being provided with resilient means (4) suitable for increasing the volume of the reservoir;

a dispensing orifice (50) via which the fluid is dispensed as a mixture with a gas, so as to generate a two-phase spray; and

a removable closure element (12) for closing the dispensing orifice (50), thereby isolating the reservoir from the outside;

said dispenser being characterized in that the reservoir defines a minimum volume so long as the closure element (12) closes off the dispensing orifice.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which the resilient means are defined by the actuating wall which has shape memory enabling it to return to a rest state in which the reservoir defines a maximum volume.

3. A device according to claim 1, in which the resilient means comprise a resilient element disposed inside the reservoir.

4. A device according to claim 1, in which the resilient means includes a resilient element that acts on the actuating wall.

5. A device according to claim 1, in which the resilient means includes a resilient element that relaxes so as to increase the volume of the reservoir as soon as the closure element is removed, by gas entering via the dispensing orifice into the reservoir.

6. A device according to claim 1, in which the resilient means includes a resilient element that is in the form of a conical spiral spring (4) suitable for being flattened to the thickness of one turn.

7. A device according to claim 1, in which the resilient means includes a resilient element that is in the form of a molded plastics part (4) including resilient cross-braces (41) between which a hinged assembly (43, 44) extends that is suitable for being stressed into the same plane as the cross-braces.

8. A device according to claim 7, in which the assembly comprises two legs (43) each connected via one of its ends to a respective one of the resilient cross-braces (41), and via its other end to a small table-top, so that the table-top can be brought into the same plane as the cross-braces (41) and the legs (43).

9. A device according claim 1, in which the reservoir substantially contains only fluid so long as the closure element closes off the dispensing orifice.

15. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the closure element is a frangible tab that is broken to open the dispensing orifice and release the actuating wall.

10. A dispenser for dispensing a fluid, said dispenser comprising:

a reservoir containing a fluid and having an actuating wall that flexes between a first position and a second position, wherein a volume of the dispenser in the first position is smaller than a volume of the dispenser in the second position;

a spring that biases the actuating wall towards the second position;

a dispensing orifice via which the fluid is dispensed as a mixture with a gas, so as to generate a two-phase spray; and

a closure element that closes the dispensing orifice, thereby isolating the reservoir from the outside;

wherein, with the dispensing orifice closed by the closing element, the actuating wall is in the first position.

11. The dispenser according to claim 10, wherein the closure element is a frangible tab that is broken to open the dispensing orifice and release the spring.

12. The dispenser according to claim 10, wherein the spring is a spiral spring.

13. The dispenser according to claim 10, wherein the spring includes a resilient element of molded plastic, including resilient cross-braces between which a hinged assembly extends and that is configured to be stressed into the same plane as the cross-braces.

14. A dispenser for dispensing a fluid, said dispenser comprising:

a reservoir containing a fluid and having an actuating wall that flexes between a first position and a second position, wherein a volume of the dispenser in the first position is smaller than a volume of the dispenser in the second position, and wherein the actuating wall has a shape memory that biases the actuating wall towards the second position;

a dispensing orifice via which the fluid is dispensed as a mixture with a gas, so as to generate a two-phase spray; and

a closure element that closes the dispensing orifice, thereby isolating the reservoir from the outside;

wherein, with the dispensing orifice closed by the closing element, the actuating wall is biased into the first position.