LIQUID DISPENSER FOR NASAL APPLICATION AND PUMP DEVICE

Abstract

What is proposed is a nasal dispenser (10) for the nasal application of liquids in atomized form, in particular for children.

The nasal dispenser (10) has a nasal applicator (40) which is for dispensing the liquid and is formed by an outer component and an inner component, which together define a vortex chamber and at least one inlet channel into the vortex chamber.

In the case of components that are stationary in relation to one another, especially tapered inlet channels (96) for generating a high liquid velocity in the vortex chamber (98) are proposed. The cross-sectional area of the inlet channel (96), that is aligned transversely to the flow direction (4) in the inlet channel, at its narrowest point or the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the inlet channels, that are aligned transversely to the flow direction (4) in the inlet channels (96), at their respective narrowest points is at most 0.05 mm.sup.2.

In the case of a design in which the inner component (60) is arranged movably in the outer component (50), in particular for the purpose of obtaining a valve function, it is conversely proposed to design the outlet opening (54) with a narrowest cross section of at most 0.05 mm.sup.2.

Claims

1. Nasal dispenser (10) for the nasal application of liquids in atomized form, in particular for the nasal application of liquids for children, having the following features: a. the nasal dispenser (10) has a liquid reservoir (12) for receiving liquid before it is discharged, and b. the nasal dispenser (10) has a nasal applicator (40) for discharging the liquid, and c. an outer component (50) of the nasal applicator (40) has a slender applicator tip (42) with a distal end wall (52), through which passes an outlet opening (54) designed to discharge a spray jet in a discharge direction (2), and d. an inner component (60) of the nasal applicator (40) is inserted in the outer component (50), and e. the outer component (50) and the inner component (60) together delimit a vortex chamber (98) upstream of the outlet opening (54), wherein at least one swirl-imparting inlet channel (96) leading into the vortex chamber (98) is provided, characterized by one of the following further features: f. the inner component (60) and the outer component (50) are arranged in positionally fixed fashion in relation to one another and together circumferentially delimit the at least one inlet channel (96), wherein the cross-sectional area of the inlet channel (96), that is aligned transversely to the flow direction (4) in the inlet channel, at its narrowest point or the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the inlet channels, that are aligned transversely to the flow direction (4) in the inlet channels (96), at their respective narrowest points is at most 0.05 mm.sup.2, preferably at most 0.04 mm.sup.2, or g. the inner component (60) is arranged movably in the outer component (50) and the inner component (60) and the outer component (50) together delimit the at least one inlet channel (96), with the result that the cross section of the at least one inlet channel (96) can be varied by virtue of the movability of the inner component (60) with respect to the outer component (50), and the outlet opening (54) at its narrowest point has a cross-sectional area of at most 0.05 mm.sup.2, preferably at most 0.04 mm.sup.2.

2. Nasal dispenser (10) according to claim 1, having the following further features: a. the inner component (60) and the outer component (50) are arranged in positionally fixed fashion in relation to one another, and b. the outlet opening (54) at its narrowest point has a cross-sectional area which is greater than the cross-sectional area of the inlet channel (96) or than the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the inlet channels (96).

3. Nasal dispenser (10) according to claim 2, having the following further features: a. the outlet opening (54) at its narrowest point has a cross-sectional area of at least 0.06 mm.sup.2, preferably having the following additional feature: b. the outlet opening (54) at its narrowest point has a cross-sectional area of at least 0.08 mm.sup.2.

4. Nasal dispenser (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, having the following further features: a. the inner component (60) and the outer component (50) are arranged in positionally fixed fashion in relation to one another, and b. the at least one inlet channel (96) at its narrowest point is designed in such a way that two opposite channel walls (96A, 96B) of the inlet channel (96), one of which is formed by the inner component (60) and one of which is formed by the outer component (50), define a channel height of less than 0.15 mm, preferably less than 0.12 mm, preferably having the following additional feature: c. transversely in relation to the channel height, the at least one inlet channel (96) at the narrowest cross section has a channel width which is greater than the channel height and preferably is at least twice as wide as the channel height, wherein the channel width is preferably at least 0.15 mm, in particular preferably 0.18 mm or more.

5. Nasal dispenser (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, having the following further features: a. the inner component (60) and the outer component (50) are arranged in positionally fixed fashion in relation to one another, and b. the vortex chamber (98) is formed by a depression in the inner component (60), wherein the at least one inlet channel (96) is formed by a further depression in the inner component (60) with a smaller depth.

6. Nasal dispenser (10) according to claim 1, having the following further features: a. the inner component (60) is arranged movably in the outer component (50), and b. the inner component (60) and the outer component (50) can be displaced into an end position in which an inflow into the vortex chamber (98) is prevented, preferably having the following additional feature: c. the inner component (60) and the outer component (50) together form a discharge valve that can be switched by means of liquid pressure.

7. Nasal dispenser (10) according to claim 1 or 6, having the following further features: a. the inner component (60) is arranged movably in the outer component (50), and b. the outer component (50) has, on the inner side of the end wall (52), a web (56) which surrounds the outlet opening (54) and through which at least one inlet channel (96) passes, and c. the inner component (60) has a closing piston (62), which in the end position covers the at least one inlet channel (96) on the inside and as a result prevents liquid from flowing from the inlet channel (96) into the vortex chamber (98) and/or in the end position bears against the inner side of the end wall (52) of the outer component (50) by way of an end face (64).

8. Nasal dispenser (10) according to claim 1, 6 or 7, having the following further features: a. the inner component (60) is arranged movably in the outer component (50), and b. the outlet opening (54) has a cross section which varies in the discharge direction (2) from an inner side of the end wall (52) to an outer side of the end wall (52), wherein a depression with a cross-sectional area which is greater than the narrowest point of the outlet opening (54), in particular a cylindrical and/or a conical depression (58), is formed on the inner side and/or the outer side.

9. Nasal dispenser (10) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following further feature: a. the applicator tip (42) has a rotationally symmetrical form and tapers towards the distal end, wherein its length from a root region to the distal end is at least twice the outside diameter in the root region, preferably having the following additional feature: b. the length of the applicator tip (42) from the root region (42A) to the distal end (42B) is at least 15 mm.

10. Nasal dispenser (10) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following further features: a. the nasal dispenser (10) has a pump device (70), which is connected to the liquid reservoir (12) by way of an inlet side and is connected to the outlet opening (54) via an outlet channel, and b. an actuator (44) which can be displaced between an unactuated end position and an actuated end position is provided for actuating the pump device (70), c. the pump device (70) is designed such that, when the actuator (44) is displaced from the unactuated end position to the actuated end position, an amount of liquid of less than 70 ?l is conveyed to the at least one outlet opening (54), preferably having at least one of the following features: d. the pump device (70) is designed such that, when the actuator (44) is displaced from the unactuated end position to the actuated end position, an amount of liquid of less than 50 ?l is conveyed to the at least one outlet opening (54), in particular less than 30 ?l, and/or e. the unactuated end position and the actuated end position are spaced apart from one another by at least 4 mm, preferably at least 6 mm, and/or f. the pump device (70) is in the form of a plunger pump with a pump cylinder and a pump plunger, which can be displaced therein to reduce a pump chamber volume, and/or g. the pump device (70) is designed according to either of claims 14 and 15.

11. Nasal dispenser (10) according to claim 10, having the following further feature: a. the pump device (70) and the outlet channel to the outlet opening (54) are designed such that, in the event of an actuating force of 25 newtons, the actuation from the unactuated end position to the actuated end position leads to an average flow of liquid of less than 0.7 ml/second.

12. Nasal dispenser (10) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following further feature: a. the nasal applicator (40) is part of a discharge unit (18) which can be displaced with respect to the liquid reservoir (12) linearly in an actuation direction (6) parallel to the discharge direction (2).

13. Nasal dispenser (10) according to one of the preceding claims, having at least one of the following further features: a. a plurality of inlet channels (96), preferably two opposite inlet channels (96), are provided, and/or b. the vortex chamber (98) has a rotationally symmetrical inner contour, and/or c. the vortex chamber (98) is formed by a depression in the inner component (60), wherein the at least one inlet channel (96) is preferably formed by a further depression in the inner component (60) with a smaller depth, and/or d. the at least one inlet channel (96) has a cross section which tapers in the flow direction (4), with the result that the narrowest point is provided at an opening into the vortex chamber (98).

14. Pump device (70) for a liquid dispenser, in particular a liquid dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, having the following features: a. the pump device (70) has a pump chamber (72) formed by two pump components (74A, 74B) which are movable relative to one another, and b. the pump device (70) has an inlet valve (76) and an outlet valve (90), which connect the pump device (70) to a liquid reservoir (12) and an outlet opening (54), and c. the outlet valve (90) is in the form of a pressure-dependently opening outlet valve (90), and d. the inlet valve (76) has a valve piston (77) on the first pump component (74A) and a metering channel (78) on the second pump component (74B), which the valve piston (77) enters to close the inlet valve (76) when the pump is being actuated, characterized by the following further features: e. the pump device (70) has a cylindrical pump chamber wall (80) on the first pump component (74A), and f. the pump device (70) has a piston surface (82) which bears against the inner side of the cylindrical pump chamber wall (80), and g. a sleeve (84), which projects into an inner region of the cylindrical pump chamber wall (80) and the inner side of which forms the metering channel (78) and the piston surface (82) is provided on its outer side and/or on its distal end, is provided on the second pump component (74B).

15. Pump device (70) according to claim 14, having the following further feature: a. the cross-sectional area of the cylindrical pump chamber wall (80) is between 10 mm.sup.2 and 20 mm.sup.2, preferably between 10 mm.sup.2 and 17 mm.sup.2, preferably having the following additional feature: b. the cross-sectional area of the metering channel (78) is between 2 mm.sup.2 and 5 mm.sup.2, preferably between 3 mm.sup.2 and 4 mm.sup.2.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] Further advantages and aspects of the invention will emerge from the claims and from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are explained below on the basis of the figures.

[0049] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first exemplary embodiment of a nasal dispenser according to the invention in an unsectioned and a sectioned illustration.

[0050] FIGS. 3 to 5 show the outlet opening and the vortex chamber, upstream of the outlet opening, of the nasal dispenser of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0051] FIGS. 6 and 7 show a second exemplary embodiment of a nasal dispenser according to the invention in an unsectioned and a sectioned illustration.

[0052] FIGS. 8 to 10 show the outlet opening and the vortex chamber, upstream of the outlet opening, of the nasal dispenser of FIGS. 6 and 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0053] FIGS. 1 to 5 depict a first exemplary embodiment of a nasal dispenser 10 according to the invention. FIGS. 6 to 10 depict a second exemplary embodiment of a nasal dispenser 10 according to the invention.

[0054] It holds true for both nasal dispensers 10 that they have a liquid reservoir 12, on which a discharge head 14 is mounted. This discharge head 14 has a base 16, which is connected to the liquid reservoir for example by means of a threaded or a snap-fit connection.

[0055] The discharge head 14 also has a discharge unit 18, which is mounted movably on the base 16 and can be pressed down towards the base 16 in an actuation direction 6. The discharge unit 18 has a slender nasal applicator 40 in the form of an applicator tip 42, which tapers towards a distal end and is intended to be pushed into a nostril of a user. The discharge unit also has an actuator 44 in the form of a finger support running around the circumference.

[0056] An outlet opening 54, which is upstream of a vortex chamber 98, is provided at the distal end of the applicator tip 42. The outlet opening 54 is in the form of an aperture in the end of an outer component 50. The vortex chamber 98 is delimited by the inner side of an end wall 52 of this outer component and by an inner component 60.

[0057] The nasal dispensers each have a pump device 70, which can be actuated by pressing down on the discharge unit 18 with respect to the liquid reservoir 12 and the base 16. The pump device conveys liquid out of the liquid reservoir 12 to the outlet opening 54, and the liquid flows into the vortex chamber 98 through inlet channels 96. As a result of the alignment of the inlet channels 96, which is angled with respect to a radial direction, the liquid is made to swirl when it enters the vortex chamber 98. The liquid that has entered the vortex chamber 98 therefore rotates clockwise or anticlockwise at high velocity.

[0058] The rotating liquid arrives at the end wall 52 and the outlet opening 54 provided therein. The swirl in the liquid has the effect that the liquid exiting through the outlet opening 54 is broken down into a conical spray jet of fine individual droplets when its velocity is high enough.

[0059] The nasal dispensers 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 and 6 to 10 constitute two configurations of nasal dispensers 10 which differ in terms of essential details and are intended in particular for use with children. The nasal dispensers 10 have the shared feature that they are specifically designed to generate a discharged flow of liquid of only approximately 0.7 ml/second. This small flow of liquid, together with fine atomization, ensures that the discharge does not feel very uncomfortable to children. Depending on the extent to which the flow of liquid is reduced, it is even possible to have the effect that the discharge is barely perceived by children at all.

[0060] In the case of the configuration in FIGS. 1 to 5, it is provided that the discharge unit 18 and the nasal applicator 40 provided thereon is formed by essentially two components, specifically the outer component 50 and the inner component 60. The liquid is conveyed to the outlet opening 54 by a pump device 70. The pump device 70 has an inlet valve 76 and an outlet valve 86. On the far side of the outlet valve 86, the liquid flows towards the outlet opening 54 through a channel 87, a partial portion of which is surrounded by the inner component 60. At the end of this channel 87, the liquid enters the channel portion 88, which is at the end and is delimited by the inner component 60 and the outer component 50 together, through radial openings. The liquid arrives at two inlet channels 96 through this channel portion 88.

[0061] The inlet channels 96, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 3, are delimited by mutually opposite channel walls 96A, 96B, wherein the upper channel wall 96A shown in FIG. 3 is formed by the inner side of the end wall 52 of the outer component 50 and wherein the lower channel wall 96B shown in FIG. 3 is formed by the end face 64 of the inner component 60.

[0062] The end face 64 of the inner component 60 can be seen in particular in FIG. 5. The end face is formed with a central depression having a depth of for example 0.2 mm, which together with the end wall 52 forms the vortex chamber 98. The inlet channels 96 are decisively formed by two further depressions having a smaller depth of for example 0.1 mm, with the result that liquid flowing in through them flows into the vortex chamber 98 over a step and as a result a relatively clean flow separation is caused.

[0063] The inlet channels have a tapering shape with respect to a flow direction 4. At their narrowest cross section, they face into the vortex chamber 98 directly upstream of the opening. There, a width of the inlet channels transversely to the flow direction 4 is 0.2 mm. The overall cross section of each of the two inlet channels is therefore 0.02 mm.sup.2, in total 0.04 mm.sup.2, as can be seen from the enlarged region illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0064] The outlet opening 54 is larger than the sum of the cross sections of the inlet channels, and therefore the inlet channels constitute the overall narrowest point between the pump device 70 and the outlet of the liquid. Preferably, the outlet opening is shaped in rotationally symmetrical fashion and at its narrowest point has a diameter of at least 0.25 mm and preferably at least 0.3 mm, that is to say a smallest clear cross section of at least approximately 0.05 mm.sup.2 and preferably at least approximately 0.1 mm.sup.2.

[0065] The very narrow inlet channels 96, in combination with the step at the transition between the inlet channels 96 and the vortex chamber 98, cause a largely disruption-free flow of the liquid at high velocity. At the same time, the narrow inlet channels 96 reduce the flow of liquid that is achieved with a routine actuation velocity, preferably to approximately 0.3 ml/second. In spite of this reduced flow of liquid, the high velocity of the liquid as it flows into the vortex chamber 98 brings about very good atomization. The diameter of the outlet opening 54 therefore scarcely matters. In the case of the embodiment illustrated here, the diameter of the outlet opening 54 is approximately 0.3 mm. However, larger diameters would also be possible, since the advantageous atomization is primarily ensured by the inlet channels 96 in this configuration.

[0066] In the case of the configuration of FIGS. 6 to 10, it is provided that the outer component 50 and the inner component 60 are movable relative to one another and together form an outlet valve 90. As can be seen with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10 and in particular with reference to FIG. 9, a web 56, which runs around the circumference and is interrupted by slits that together with the inner component 60 form the inlet channels 96, is provided on the inner side of the end wall 52. By way of its distal end, the inner component 60 forms a closing piston 62, which is movable with respect to the web 56. If there is no liquid pressure, the outlet valve 90 is closed. The closing piston in this state is engaged with the web 56 to a great enough extent that the slits there are completely covered and thus no liquid can flow into the vortex chamber 98 delimited by the web and the closing piston. If pressure is applied to the liquid by means of the pump device 70 of the nasal dispenser 10, the liquid pressure presses the inner component 60 away from the outlet opening 54 counter to the force of a valve spring 92, with the result that the vortex chamber 98 is enlarged and access for the liquid through the inlet channels 96 is opened up.

[0067] Since the inlet channels are not readily suitable as narrowing for achieving a reproducible throttle action owing to the pressure dependency of the opening of these inlet channels, in the configuration of FIGS. 6 to 10 the outlet opening 54 conversely has a very small configuration. It has been shown that it is also possible to achieve a small flow of liquid and the desired atomization as a result of this.

[0068] The outlet opening 54 at its narrowest point therefore has a cross-sectional area of 0.04 mm.sup.2 or less. In particular preferably, the outlet opening has a rotationally symmetrical form and has a smallest diameter of 0.2 mm and correspondingly a cross-sectional area of less than 0.035 mm.sup.2.

[0069] To make it easier to produce such a fine outlet opening at the narrowest point, it is provided that this end wall 52 has depressions 58 on the inner side and/or the outer side in the region of the outlet opening. The maximum thickness of the end wall of approximately 0.5 mm to 0.8 mm is thus reduced in the region of the outlet opening by virtue of the depressions 58, preferably to a thickness between 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm. This thickness of preferably between 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm is also preferably passed through by a cylindrical portion of the outlet opening 54, which continuously has the small cross-sectional area mentioned of less than 0.04 mm.sup.2, preferably less than 0.035 mm.sup.2.

[0070] The vortex chamber 98 preferably has a maximum diameter which is approximately four times to eight times the diameter of the outlet opening 54 and therefore in particular preferably is between 0.8 mm and 2.0 mm, in particular between 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm. The vortex chamber 98 preferably transitions into the cylindrical portion mentioned of the outlet opening 54 via a conically narrowed region, in particular formed by the depression mentioned on the inner side.

[0071] When the nasal dispenser 10 is actuated by pressing down on the discharge unit 18, the inlet channels 96 open in the manner depicted in FIG. 10 as a result of pressure, since the closing piston 62 is spaced apart from the outlet opening. The liquid flows into the vortex chamber 98 and is discharged through the very narrow discharge opening 54. Although the inlet channels, depending on the position of the closing piston, are significantly larger than in the configuration of FIGS. 1 to 5, a considerable actuation resistance and the desired atomization together with a small flow of liquid of less than 0.3 ml/second is achieved owing to the narrow outlet opening 54.

[0072] Apart from the configuration of the nasal dispenser 10 of FIGS. 6 to 10 in terms of the vortex chamber 8 and the outlet opening 54, the pump device 70 is configured in a particular way. The pump device has an inlet valve 76 and an outlet valve 90. The outlet valve 90 is identical to the already mentioned outlet valve 90. However, configurations with two independent valves downstream of the pump chamber 72 of the pump device 70 are also possible.

[0073] As a departure from the configuration of FIGS. 1 to 5, the inlet valve 76 does not have a pressure-dependently opening inlet valve but a directionally dependently opening one.

[0074] It comprises a first pump component 74A, which is part of the displaceable discharge unit 18 and, including the inner component 60, is fixedly connected to the outer component 50. This first pump component 74A has a central valve piston 77 and a web which surrounds this valve piston 77 around the circumference and the inner side of which forms a pump chamber wall 80.

[0075] A second pump component 74B is part of the base 16. This second pump component 74B has a central sleeve 84, which performs the following functions: An inlet channel 85 passes through the sleeve 84, wherein a portion of the inlet channel 85 of small cross section forms a metering channel 78. This metering channel is designed such that the valve piston 77 of the first pump chamber component closes the inlet channel 85 when arranged in the metering channel and interrupts the communicating connection between the pump chamber 72 and the liquid reservoir 12.

[0076] The sleeve 84 is furthermore a support for a piston surface 82, which is provided at a distal end of the sleeve and defines the maximum sleeve diameter. The piston surface 82 bears against the pump chamber wall 80.

[0077] If the discharge unit 18 is now pressed down, first of all the liquid is pressed back out of the pump chamber 72 to the liquid reservoir 20, through the still-open inlet channel 85, until the valve piston 77 enters the metering channel 78. The backflow is then interrupted, and continuing to press down on the discharge unit 18 causes the pressure to rise in the pump chamber 72 and correspondingly the outlet and discharge valve 90 to open. This discharge takes place over an actuation travel of 5 mm, this being a consequence of the length of the metering channel 78. As soon as the valve piston 77 exits the metering channel 78 at the lower end, the communicating connection between the pump chamber 72 and the liquid reservoir 12 is restored. The excess pressure in the pump chamber is discharged in the liquid reservoir 12 and the discharge and outlet valve 90 closes.

[0078] During the discharge, that is to say during the period of time between the closing of the inlet valve 76 and the opening of the inlet valve 76, the liquid is conveyed out of the pump chamber 72 towards the outlet opening 54.

[0079] Since the sleeve 84 performs a dual function and itself supports the piston surface 82, a pump chamber with a very small diameter can be obtained. In the present case, the diameter of the cylindrical pump chamber wall is 4 mm and the cross-sectional surface area is thus approximately 12.5 mm.sup.2. The effective piston surface area, taking into account the valve piston 77, is somewhat smaller still and is approximately 7 mm.sup.2 to 10 mm.sup.2, in the present case is 8 mm.sup.2. Accordingly, 40 ?l of liquid is conveyed and discharged over the metering travel of 5 mm.

[0080] The geometry of the liquid path from the pump chamber 72 to the outlet opening 54 has the effect that the discharge is effected at a reference actuation force of 25 newtons over a period of time of approximately 0.15 seconds, that is to say with an average flow of liquid of 0.27 ml/second. This leads to a gentle spray jet which is virtually imperceptible in the nose and does not feel very uncomfortable to children.