Device For Packaging And Dispensing A Product, With Vial And Dispensing Mouthpiece Equipped With A Filter

Abstract

The device (100) for packaging and dispensing a product, liquid or in gel form, optionally for an ophthalmic application, comprises a container (1) containing the product to be dispensed by a dispensing head (7), as well as a refilling and filtering assembly for the air entering the container (1) after a dispensing, the dispensing head delimiting one or more dosing chambers (5) and including at its end a flexible part (7) which can be actuated to allow the release of the dose of product in a compressed state of said chamber (5). The air refilling and filtering assembly has a sterilizing filter (11) which cooperates with a check valve (12), this assembly (11, 12) being typically located in a central or inner portion of the head (7). The supply of outside air is accomplished by means of a channel (16) leading to an outer orifice (10) able to be obturated by a cover (15).

Claims

1. A device for packaging and dispensing a product, generally a liquid or gel product, comprising: a container delimiting an internal volume and intended to contain the product, a dispensing head, provided with a dispensing end and an actuating part, to dispense a portion or dose of the product; a mounting interface belonging to the dispensing head and adapted to be fixed onto the container by a fixing portion; an assembly for refilling and filtering air, said assembly comprising an outer air intake orifice and a check valve allowing air entering through the outer orifice to penetrate the internal volume after a product dispensing; wherein the outer orifice is formed at a distance from a bottom of the container, the assembly for refilling and filtering air comprising a filter element which is: mounted in the dispensing head; placed in an air circulation duct which extends between the outer orifice and the check valve; and at a distance and offset inwardly from both of the container and said fixing portion, wherein the outer orifice forms a lateral outlet of the air circulation duct through an outer wall of the dispensing head, so that an entry section of the air circulation duct extends radially toward the filter element, and wherein the filter element is mounted in the dispensing head and arranged to be placed in the internal volume of the container, preferably beyond the fixing portion.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing end extends along a longitudinal direction, the filter element being mounted in the dispending head axially aligned with the dispensing end along said longitudinal direction.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the filter element is mounted on the side of an inner face of the dispensing head which extends opposite the dispensing end.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the filter element is mounted internally in a recess of the check valve.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the check valve comprises an elastically deformable piece which forms a flap extended by a female element, the female element being sealingly connected to a tubular male portion belonging to the dispensing head.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the tubular male portion is part of a partition element which separates said internal volume from a dosing chamber, the tubular male portion being integrally formed with a rigid inner rod of the dispensing head which extends to the dispensing end.

7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a removable cover adapted to cover both the dispensing head and the outer orifice.

8. The device according to claim 1, comprising a removable cover adapted to be fixed to the mounting interface so as to cover the dispensing head and close the outer orifice.

9. A device for packaging and dispensing a product, generally a liquid or gel product, comprising: a container delimiting an internal volume and intended to contain the product, a dispensing head, provided with a dispensing end and an actuating part, to dispense a portion or dose of the product; a mounting interface belonging to the dispensing head and adapted to be fixed onto the container by a fixing portion; an assembly for refilling and filtering air, said assembly comprising an outer air intake orifice and a check valve allowing air entering through the outer orifice to penetrate the internal volume after a product dispensing; wherein the outer orifice is formed at a distance from a bottom of the container, the assembly for refilling and filtering air comprising a filter element which is: mounted in the dispensing head; placed in an air circulation duct which extends between the outer orifice and the check valve; and at a distance and offset inwardly from both of the container and said fixing portion, wherein the outer orifice forms a lateral outlet of the air circulation duct through an outer wall of the dispensing head, so that an entry section of the air circulation duct extends radially toward the filter element, and wherein the filter element is mounted internally in a recess of the check valve.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the dispensing end extends along a longitudinal direction, the filter element being mounted in the dispending head axially aligned with the dispensing end along said longitudinal direction.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the air circulation duct is tubular and the filter element has a circular cross-section with dimensions to be mounted within a circular inner section of the tubular air circulation duct.

12. The device according to claim 9, wherein the dispensing head comprises a dosing chamber and a partition element separating the dosing chamber from the internal volume, the partition element being preferably in the form of a rigid part, a central cavity being formed by the partition element to allow housing and/or attaching the filter element, the central cavity constituting all or part of an end of said air circulation duct.

13. The device according to claim 9, wherein the container has an opening opposite the bottom, and a side wall extending about a longitudinal axis, the mounting interface being fixed onto the container on the side of its opening and extending annularly about the longitudinal axis, said fixing portion being annular to define a preferably radial, sealed annular contact against the container.

14. The device according to claim 9, wherein the filter element is mounted on the side of an inner face of the dispensing head which extends opposite the dispensing end.

15. The device according to claim 9, wherein the check valve comprises an elastically deformable piece which forms a flap extended by a female element, the female element being sealingly connected to a tubular male portion belonging to the dispensing head.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the tubular male portion is part of a partition element which separates said internal volume from a dosing chamber, the tubular male portion being integrally formed with a rigid inner rod of the dispensing head which extends to the dispensing end.

17. The device according to claim 9, further comprising a removable cover adapted to cover both the dispensing head and the outer orifice.

18. The device according to claim 9, comprising a removable cover adapted to be fixed to the mounting interface so as to cover the dispensing head and close the outer orifice.

19. A device for packaging and dispensing a product, generally a liquid or gel product, comprising: a container delimiting an internal volume and intended to contain the product, a dispensing head, provided with a dispensing end and an actuating part, to dispense a portion or dose of the product; a mounting interface belonging to the dispensing head and adapted to be fixed onto the container by a fixing portion; an assembly for refilling and filtering air, said assembly comprising an outer air intake orifice and a check valve allowing air entering through the outer orifice to penetrate the internal volume after a product dispensing; wherein the outer orifice is formed at a distance from a bottom of the container, the assembly for refilling and filtering air comprising a filter element which is: mounted in the dispensing head; placed in an air circulation duct which extends between the outer orifice and the check valve; and at a distance and offset inwardly from both of the container and said fixing portion, wherein the outer orifice forms a lateral outlet of the air circulation duct through an outer wall of the dispensing head, so that an entry section of the air circulation duct extends radially toward the filter element, wherein the check valve comprises an elastically deformable piece which forms a flap extended by a female element, the female element being sealingly connected to a tubular male portion belonging to the dispensing head, and wherein the tubular male portion is part of a partition element which separates said internal volume from a dosing chamber, the tubular male portion being integrally formed with a rigid inner rod of the dispensing head which extends to the dispensing end.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein the dispensing end extends along a longitudinal direction, the filter element being mounted in the dispending head axially aligned with the dispensing end along said longitudinal direction.

Description

[0088] Other features and advantages of the invention will be revealed by the description below, with reference to the appended drawings, which show, by way of non-limiting examples, embodiments and implementations of the object of the invention. In these drawings:

[0089] FIG. 1 is a schematic view in axial section of an exemplary device conforming to the invention when it is not under load, showing a container containing the product to be dispensed, an accessory (the dispensing head) composed of two portions, one rigid and the other flexible, the flexible portion comprising buttons to impart pressure on dosing chambers delimited by said two portions, a product dispensing assembly composed of the end of the flexible portion in cooperation with the end of the rigid part, said dispensing assembly allowing the product to be expelled toward the outside when the chambers are compressed, but not allowing air to enter the inside of the container when said chambers are no longer under load, an air refilling and filtering assembly comprising a filter and a check valve positioned in the rigid part of said accessory;

[0090] FIG. 2 is a schematic view in axial section of a device according to FIG. 1 when it is under load, showing the accessory when the chambers are compressed and a dose of the product is expelled by means of the dispensing assembly;

[0091] FIG. 3 is a schematic view in axial section of a device according to FIG. 1 during the phase of filling the chambers with the product contained in the container when the chambers are no longer under load.

[0092] FIG. 4 is a schematic view in axial section of a device according to FIG. 1, showing the refilling air inflow circuit through a lateral channel, the filter and the valve.

[0093] FIG. 5 is a schematic view in transverse section of a device according to FIG. 1, showing the chambers delimited by the rigid and flexible portions.

[0094] FIG. 6 is a schematic view in axial section of a device according to a variant embodiment, showing the refilling air inflow circuit through a central channel, the filter and the valve.

[0095] FIG. 7 is a schematic view in axial section of a device according to FIG. 1, on which is positioned a cover obturating the refilling air intake orifice.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 1, the packaging and dispensing device 100 comprises a container 1 containing the product to be dispensed 2, and a dispensing accessory or dispensing head 7 composed of a rigid part 3 cooperating with a flexible portion 4, the assembly of these portions 3, 4 delimiting the dosing chambers 5. In the non-limiting example illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dosing chamber(s) 6 can be located completely outside the internal volume V delimited by the container 1. A partition element including or forming the rigid part 3 can form a separation between the internal volume V and the dosing chambers 5. The lateral wall of the container 1 extends around a longitudinal axis X (forming typically a central axis of the device 100) which can pass through the axial end 7a where the dose or drop 14 is expelled.

[0097] The end 7a of the flexible portion 4 cooperates with the end 6 of the rigid part 3 so as to allow the product contained in the chambers 5 to be expelled from the inside of said chambers 5 when they are compressed, but not allowing outside air to penetrate into said chambers 5 when they are no longer compressed. The actuation of the dispensing is allowed by at least one actuating part 7b, formed for example laterally on the dispensing head 7. The actuating part 7b is movable by depression, in the manner of a push-button.

[0098] In the non-limiting example of FIG. 5, each chamber 5 extends between the rigid part 3 (internal side) and an internal face of the flexible part 4 radially spaced from the rigid part. While the dispensing head 7 does not have an air intake opening in the lateral area covering the dosing chamber(s) 5, the dispensing head 7 is however equipped with an external orifice 10, 10′ allowing pressure re-balancing after the dispensing of a dose, as clearly visible in FIGS. 4 and 6. Such an orifice 10, 10′ is located on the side of an end of the dispensing head 7, or in the mounting interface 27, or surrounded by the end 7a opposite the mounting interface 27, in the axial extension of the dosing chambers 5.

[0099] The device 100 also comprises a check valve 8 allowing the product 2 to be sent from the inside of the container 1 toward the chamber(s) 5, but not allowing said product to return from the chambers 5 toward the inside of the container 1, an air refilling and filtering assembly comprising a sterilizing filter or similar filter element 11 associated with a valve 12 of the check-valve type (i.e. a non-return valve) which allows outside air to penetrate into the inside of the container 1 while preventing any departure of air or product 2 from the interior toward the outside of the container 1.

[0100] The content of the internal volume V thus remains sterile when the filter element 11 is of the sterilizing grade or has a sufficient barrier/screen effect. This type of filter element 11 is for example composed of polymers having pores of sub-micron size, for example on the order of 0.20 or 0.22 μm. To avoid any risk of clogging, the filter element 11 or a supply area upstream of this filter element can include a pre-filter.

[0101] It is understood that the outer orifice 10, 10′ can be formed at a distance from the bottom 1a of the container 1, just like the air refilling and filtering assembly (11, 12) which includes the filter element 11. In a preferred embodiment, the filter element 11 is mounted in the dispensing head 7 by being placed in an air circulation duct 16 or 16′ which extends between the outer orifice 10 or 10′ and the check valve 12. The filter element 11 is for example inserted into a central cavity formed by the partition element which covers the internal volume V. The cavity forms here a widening area of the duct 16. The valve 12 can close this central cavity. Possibly, the valve 12 surrounds all or part of the filter element 11, for example so that the filter element 11 is placed interiorly in a recess of the check valve 12.

[0102] The filter element 11 extends at a distance and can be offset inwardly from at least one of the container 1 and the fixing portion 20 allowing snap-in sealing installation of the container 1 or a similar sealed fixing portion between the dispensing head 7 and the container 1.

[0103] Preferably, the filter element 11 extends at a distance and is offset inwardly from both the container 1 and the fixing portion 20. For instance, it can be arranged substantially centrally relative to the opening of the container, preferably axially aligned with the longitudinal shape of the dispensing end of the dispensing head.

[0104] The valve 8 can be fixed to the mounting interface 27, so that it is completely distant from the container 1, and preferably located outside the internal volume V. It can be seen in the drawings that this valve 8 (distant from the longitudinal axis X) can be closer to the annular fixation portion engaged with the container 1 than is the filter element 11, the latter being closer to the longitudinal axis X.

[0105] The device 100 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 operates in the following manner.

[0106] According to FIG. 2, a pressure exerted on the flexible part 4 (typically by targeting the actuating part(s) 7b) according to arrows A and A′, compresses the product contained in the chambers 5 and expels said product toward the outside of the device 100 by means of the end 7a of the flexible part 4 which spreads away from the end 6 of the rigid part 3, then returns to its initial position under the influence of its own elasticity after having released a drop 14 of product.

[0107] Optionally, the dispensing head 7 has two dosing chambers 5 as in the example of FIGS. 1 and 5. These two chambers 5 are preferably distributed symmetrically on either side of a median plane XY (separating two halves of the container), this median plane XY comprising the central axis X of the container 1 and an axis Y perpendicular to the axis X and perpendicular to an axis Z defining the direction of thrust on the actuating part 7b associated with each dosing chamber 5.

[0108] According to FIG. 3, the flexible part 4 returns to its initial position according to arrows B and B′ when the outside pressure ceases, creating a depression in the inside of the chambers 5 which causes the opening of the valve 8 and the passage of liquid 2 from the inside of the container 1 toward the inside of the chambers 5 through the orifice 9 according to arrow C (with a flow substantially parallel to the axis X, running along the central rod belonging to a rigid part 3 of the dispensing head 7).

[0109] The passage of a portion of the product 2 toward the inside of the chambers 5 has the effect of creating a depression in the free portion 13.

[0110] FIG. 4 shows the travel of the refilling of air so as to compensate this depression. The outside air penetrates into the container 1 through the orifice 10 of the lateral channel defining the duct 16 according to arrow D, then through the filter element 11 according to arrow D′ and the elastic check valve 12 which opens under the effect of relative over-pressure of the refilling air. When the depression existing in the free portion is compensated by the intake of the refilling air, this air intake ceases and the elastic valve 12 resumes its initial closed position, preventing any departure of said product 2 from the inside toward the outside of the device 100.

[0111] FIG. 6 shows the travel of the refilling air represented by arrows E and E′ according to the same principle and that previously described, but through the orifice 10′ of an axial channel forming the air circulation duct 16′.

[0112] FIG. 7 shows the device 100 at rest after the installation of a protection cover 15. Said cover 15 obturate the end (orifice 10) of the channel or duct 16 by cooperating sealingly with the accessory 7, by preventing any communication between the inside of the device 100 and the outside.

[0113] With reference to FIG. 7, it can be seen that the cover 15 defines an annular sealed contact C2 against the mounting interface 27, complementary to an annular sealed contact C1 of the fixing portion 20 against the container 1, in a hermetic storage configuration (with the cover 15 mounted and fixed to the mounting interface 27). At least one of these contacts, preferably both contacts C1, C2, are accomplished in a continuous area of radial contact.

[0114] The cover 15 can accomplish a sealed contact C3 against an external shoulder of similar external surface of the dispensing head 7, so as to prevent the air 25 imprisoned under the cover 15 15 from communicating with the air intake orifice 10, in a peripheral area around the mounting interface 27 where the duct 16 has its outlet (via the orifice 10).

[0115] The illustrated device 100 includes an air refilling and filtering assembly comprising a filter element 11 located at a location inaccessible from the outside, thus guaranteeing its complete integrity.

[0116] The shape and the dimensions of the dispensing head 7 or similar accessory completing the container 1 does not depend on those of the open end (typically the neck) of the container 1. The coupling of the air refilling and filtering assembly (11, 12) with the dispensing head 7 is compatible with a reduction of the size of this head 7 (smaller bulk) and allows hiding/protecting the filter element 11, which makes the device 100 more reliable (by minimizing the risk of degradation).

[0117] Other embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, it is possible to produce such a device 100 including only a single dosing chamber 5, or one or more dosing chambers with a different form from those shown in FIG. 5, such as for example a dosing chamber as described in patent EP 1773676.

[0118] Likewise, a dosing chamber delimited in the accessory forming the dispensing head 7 can extend at least in part to the inside of the internal volume V of the container 1, in variant embodiments.