TENSIONING ARRANGEMENT FOR AEROSOL DISPENSER AND AEROSOL DISPENSER

Abstract

A tensioning arrangement for an aerosol dispenser is presented where the tensioning arrangement has a conveying tube; an elastic member arranged to store mechanical energy from a substantially axial tensioning movement of the conveying tube; a rotatable member; a transmission mechanism configured to transmit a tensioning rotation of the rotatable member to the tensioning movement of the conveying tube, wherein the transmission mechanism has a cam profile and a cam follower arranged to follow the cam profile, wherein the cam profile has at least one priming structure; and wherein the tensioning arrangement is configured such that the conveying tube makes a temporary priming movement towards an initial position when the cam follower passes each priming structure during the tensioning movement of the conveying tube by means of the tensioning rotation of the rotatable member. An aerosol dispenser is also provided.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A tensioning arrangement for an aerosol dispenser, the tensioning arrangement comprising: a conveying tube for conveying liquid from a container to a dose chamber; an elastic member arranged to store mechanical energy from a substantially axial tensioning movement of the conveying tube from an initial position to a tensioning position; a rotatable member; a transmission mechanism configured to transmit a tensioning rotation of the rotatable member to the tensioning movement of the conveying tube; wherein the transmission mechanism comprises a cam profile and a cam follower arranged to follow the cam profile; wherein the cam profile comprises at least one priming structure; and wherein the tensioning arrangement is configured such that the conveying tube makes a temporary priming movement towards the initial position when the cam follower passes each priming structure during the tensioning movement of the conveying tube by means of the tensioning rotation of the rotatable member.

17. The tensioning arrangement according to claim 16, wherein one of the at least one priming structure is positioned less than 20%, such as less than 10%, such as less than 5%, of a cam profile length along the cam profile from a position corresponding to the initial position.

18. The tensioning arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the at least one priming structure is constituted by a plurality of priming structures substantially evenly distributed over a cam profile length along the cam profile from a position corresponding to the initial position to a position corresponding to the tensioning position.

19. The tensioning arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the at least one priming structure is arranged to prevent the rotatable member from rotating in a direction opposite to the tensioning rotation.

20. The tensioning arrangement according to claim 16, further comprising a movable holding member holding the conveying tube, and wherein the cam follower is fixed in relation to the holding member.

21. The tensioning arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the cam follower is integral with the holding member.

22. The tensioning arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the cam profile is a helical surface.

23. The tensioning arrangement according to claim 16, wherein each of the at least one priming structure is constituted by a protrusion.

24. The tensioning arrangement according to claim 23, wherein each of the at least one priming structure is wedge-shaped.

25. The tensioning arrangement according to claim 24, wherein the at least one priming structure comprises a priming structure surface at an angle of 5° to 30°, such as 5° to 15°, to an adjacent surface of the cam profile.

26. The tensioning arrangement according to claim 16, wherein each of the at least one priming structure is constituted by a recess.

27. The tensioning arrangement according to claim 16, further comprising a stationary part, and wherein the cam profile is provided on the stationary part.

28. The tensioning arrangement according to claim 27, wherein the cam profile is integral with the stationary part.

29. The tensioning arrangement according to claim 16, wherein a sum of a distance of each priming movement of the conveying tube is 10-50%, such as 15-35%, such as 15-25%, such as approximately 20%, of a tensioning distance of the conveying tube from the initial position to the tensioning position.

30. An aerosol dispenser comprising a tensioning arrangement according to claim 16.

31. A tensioning arrangement for an aerosol dispenser, the tensioning arrangement comprising: a conveying tube for conveying liquid from a container to a dose chamber; an elastic member arranged to store mechanical energy from a substantially axial tensioning movement of the conveying tube from an initial position to a tensioning position; a movable holding member that holds the conveying tube a rotatable member; a transmission mechanism configured to transmit a tensioning rotation of the rotatable member to the tensioning movement of the conveying tube; wherein the transmission mechanism comprises a cam profile and a cam follower arranged to follow the cam profile; wherein the cam profile comprises a plurality of priming structures; and wherein the tensioning arrangement is configured such that the conveying tube makes a temporary priming movement towards the initial position when the cam follower passes each priming structure during the tensioning movement of the conveying tube by means of the tensioning rotation of the rotatable member.

32. The tensioning arrangement of claim 31, wherein the plurality of priming structures are substantially evenly distributed over a cam profile length along the cam profile from a position corresponding to the initial position to a position corresponding to the tensioning position.

33. The tensioning arrangement of claim 31, wherein the cam follower is fixed in relation to the holding member.

34. The tensioning arrangement of claim 31, wherein the cam profile is a helical surface.

35. The tensioning arrangement of claim 31, wherein each of the plurality of priming structures is wedge-shaped.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Further details, advantages and aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

[0039] FIG. 1: represents a side view of an aerosol dispenser comprising a tensioning arrangement;

[0040] FIG. 2: represents a top view of the aerosol dispenser;

[0041] FIG. 3: represents a perspective partially cut-out view of the aerosol dispenser;

[0042] FIG. 4: represents a cross-sectional view of the aerosol dispenser along line A-A in FIG. 2;

[0043] FIG. 5: represents a partial perspective view of a housing of the aerosol dispenser;

[0044] FIG. 6: represents an enlarged view of section B in FIG. 5; and

[0045] FIG. 7: shows a diagram of an example movement of a conveying tube of the aerosol dispenser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] In the following, a tensioning arrangement for an aerosol dispenser and an aerosol dispenser comprising the tensioning arrangement, will be described. The same reference numerals will be used to denote the same or similar structural features.

[0047] FIG. 1 represents a side view of one example of an aerosol dispenser 10 comprising a tensioning arrangement 12. The aerosol dispenser 10 comprises a housing 14 and a rotatable member 16 rotatable relative to the housing 14 to make a tensioning rotation 18. In FIG. 1, the rotatable member 16 is constituted by an outer base of the aerosol dispenser 10. However, the rotatable member 16 may alternatively be constituted by, for example, an intermediate exterior portion of the aerosol dispenser 10.

[0048] The aerosol dispenser 10 in FIG. 1 further comprises an openable lid 20, connected to the housing 14 via a hinge 22, and a button 24 for triggering a dose shot. The aerosol dispenser 10 of this example further comprises a dose indicator 26 that indicates the number of doses left in the aerosol dispenser 10 and a state indicator 28 that indicates a loading state of the aerosol dispenser 10 (e.g. unloaded or loaded with a container).

[0049] In FIG. 1, a needle or conveying tube (not shown) within the aerosol dispenser 10 is in an initial position 30. FIG. 1 further denotes an axial tensioning movement 32 and an axial priming movement 34 for the conveying tube. The tensioning movement 32 is made in a tensioning direction 36 along a longitudinal axis 38 of the aerosol dispenser 10. The tensioning direction 36 may be said to be in a distal direction, i.e. towards the rotatable member 16. FIG. 1 further shows a Cartesian coordinate system for referencing purposes. The aerosol dispenser 10 may however be oriented arbitrarily in space.

[0050] FIG. 2 represents a top view of the aerosol dispenser 10. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the aerosol dispenser 10 of this example has a generally cylindrical shape.

[0051] FIG. 3 represents a perspective partially cut-out view of the aerosol dispenser 10. In the cut-out section of FIG. 3, it can be seen that the tensioning arrangement 12 comprises a transmission mechanism 40. The transmission mechanism 40 is configured to transmit the tensioning rotation 18 of the rotatable member 16 to the tensioning movement 32 of the conveying tube (not shown) along the longitudinal axis 38 of the aerosol dispenser 10.

[0052] The tensioning arrangement 12 of this example comprises two cam profiles 42 (only one is visible in FIG. 3) and two cam followers 44 (only one is visible in FIG. 3), each arranged to follow a respective cam profile 42. Each cam profile 42 of this example is a helical surface concentric with the longitudinal axis 38 of the aerosol dispenser 10. The tensioning arrangement 12 may alternatively comprise only one pair of a cam profile 42 and a cam follower 44, or more than two pairs. As a further alternative, the tensioning arrangement 12 may comprise only one cam profile 42 and two or more cam followers 44. As a further alternative, the tensioning arrangement 12 may comprise two or more cam profiles 42 and only one cam follower 44.

[0053] A plurality of priming structures 46 are provided on each cam profile 42. Each priming structure 46 is arranged to prevent the rotatable member 16 from rotating in a direction opposite to the tensioning rotation 18. This is useful if for example the patient loses the grip of the rotatable member 16 when making the tensioning rotation 18. In the example of FIG. 3, each priming structure 46 is constituted by a protrusion.

[0054] In the cut-out section of FIG. 3, a piston or holding member 48 of the tensioning arrangement 12 can also be seen. The holding member 48 holds the conveying tube (not shown). In the example in FIG. 3, the two cam followers 44 are fixed relative to the holding member 48. More specifically, each cam follower 44 is integrally formed with the holding member 48 and projects in parallel with the longitudinal axis 38 towards the cam profile 42, i.e. in a proximal direction.

[0055] Furthermore, in the cut-out section of FIG. 3, an actuator member 50 of the aerosol dispenser 10, here implemented as an actuator ring, can be seen. The actuator member 50 is movable between a blocking position, in which the actuator member 50 blocks the holding member 48 and the conveying tube 52 from being released, and an unblocking position. In FIG. 3, the actuator member 50 is in the unblocking position. The actuator member 50 can be moved from the unblocking position to the Mocking position by means of the tensioning rotation 18 of the rotatable member 16. The button 24 is operatively coupled to the actuator member 50. By pushing the button 24, the actuator member 50 can be moved from the Mocking position to the unblocking position, i.e. the actuator member 50 can be released to expel an aerosol.

[0056] FIG. 4 represents a cross-sectional view of the aerosol dispenser 10 along line A-A in FIG. 2. In FIG. 4, the conveying tube 52 of the tensioning arrangement 12 can be seen. The aerosol dispenser 10 is loaded with a container 54 containing liquid, such as a drug, to be dispensed as an aerosol.

[0057] The conveying tube 52 has pierced a closure 56 of the container 54 and is thereby brought into communication with the liquid in the container 54. The conveying tube 52 comprises an optional conveying tube check valve 58 at a proximal end of the conveying tube 52, i.e. at an opposite end with respect to the container 54. In this example, the neck of the container 54 is held by a locking structure 60 on the holding member 48. The locking structure 60 is here exemplified as a plurality of resilient arms projecting from the holding member 48 towards the rotatable member 16. The container 54 comprises a stopper 62 that closes the bottom of the container 54.

[0058] The aerosol dispenser 10 of this example comprises a stationary pump cylinder 64, i.e. stationary with respect to the housing 14. A dose chamber 66 is provided in the pump cylinder 64. The conveying tube 52 is movable back and forth to expand and compress the volume of the dose chamber 66. A sealing 68, here exemplified as an X-ring, is provided to seal between the conveying tube 52 and the pump cylinder 64. The sealing 68 may alternatively be constituted by an O-ring, or other types of sealings known in the art.

[0059] The aerosol dispenser 10 further comprises a spray nozzle unit 70 having a spray nozzle 71 at a proximal side of the dose chamber 66. The spray nozzle unit 70 may for example comprise a spray nozzle check valve 72 and a membrane or filter 74. The aerosol dispenser 10 further comprises a mouthpiece 76 which is exposed to a user by opening the lid 20.

[0060] As can be seen in FIG. 4, the transmission mechanism 40 of this example also comprises an inner sleeve 78. The inner sleeve 78 is fixedly connected to the rotatable member 16. The inner sleeve 78 and the holding member 48 are rotationally coupled. However, the holding member 48 is allowed to move axially relative to the inner sleeve 78 and the rotatable member 16. This type of coupling between the inner sleeve 78 and the holding member 48 may for example be realized by means of a pin or rib engaged in a slot parallel with the longitudinal axis 38. The rotatable member 16 of this example comprises a proximally protruding collar 80 for contacting the stopper 62 of the container 54.

[0061] In the example in FIG. 4, the cam profiles 42 are provided on a stationary part 82, here constituted by a central part of the housing 14. The cam profiles 42 are integrally formed with the stationary part 82 and faces in the distal direction, i.e. towards the rotatable member 16.

[0062] The arrangement of the cam profiles 42 and the cam followers 44 may alternatively be reversed. That is, the cam profiles 42 may be provided on the holding member 48 and the cam followers 44 may be provided on the stationary part 82.

[0063] The tensioning arrangement 12 further comprises an elastic member 84, here constituted by a compression coil spring enclosing the container 54. The elastic member 84 is arranged to store mechanical energy from the tensioning movement 32 of the holding member 48 and the conveying tube 52 from the initial position 30 in FIG. 3 to a tensioning position 86 according to FIG. 4.

[0064] FIG. 4 further shows a housing stop 88 projecting distally from the housing 14 and a holding member stop 90 projecting proximally from the holding member 48. Expansion of the elastic member 84 is limited when the holding member stop 90 contacts the housing stop 88.

[0065] When the rotatable member 16 is manually rotated, the optional inner sleeve 78 rotates together with the rotatable member 16. The tensioning rotation 18 of the rotatable member 16 and the inner sleeve 78 is transmitted to a rotation of the holding member 48. The rotation of the holding member 48 causes the cam followers 44 to travel along the associated cam profiles 42. Due to the cooperation between the cam followers 44 and the cam profiles 42, the tensioning rotation 18 of the rotatable member 16 is transmitted to the tensioning movement 32 of the conveying tube 52 and the holding member 48 in the distal tensioning direction 36 against the force of the elastic member 84 until the conveying tube 52 has moved from the initial position 30 to the tensioning position 86 according to FIG. 4.

[0066] In FIG. 4, the actuator member 50 is in the Mocking position and holds the holding member 48 and the conveying tube 52 in the tensioning position 86.

[0067] In this state, the tensioning arrangement 12 is tensioned. In the Mocking position of the actuator member 50, the force from the elastic member 84 pushes the holding member 48 and the actuator member 50 against the housing 14. The actuator member 50 is thereby clamped between the holding member 48 and the housing 14.

[0068] As the conveying tube 52 moves in the tensioning direction 36, the volume of the dose chamber 66 expands and an underpressure is established in the dose chamber 66. Consequently, liquid in the container 54 is sucked by the conveying tube 52 into the dose chamber 66. The holding member 48 and the conveying tube 52 is then held in the tensioning position 86 by means of the actuator member 50. When the conveying tube 52 is in the tensioning position 86, the volume of the dose chamber 66 corresponds to one dose.

[0069] When the user pushes the button 24, the actuator member 50 is moved to its unblocking position such that the actuator member 50 no longer blocks the holding member 48. As a consequence, the entire force from the elastic member 84 acts on the liquid in the dose chamber 66 via the holding member 48, the conveying tube 52 and the conveying tube check valve 58. The force in the elastic member 84 may for example be 5-50 N. The high pressure in the dose chamber 66 presses the liquid through the spray nozzle check valve 72 and the filter 74 of the spray nozzle unit 70. The liquid is thereby expelled as an aerosol. The pressure in the dose chamber 66 may be approximately 15-75 bar. In view of prior art, this enables the use of a relatively weak spring as elastic member 84.

[0070] FIG. 5 represents a partial perspective view of a housing 14 of the aerosol dispenser 10. In FIG. 5, it can be seen that the cam profile 42 comprises a cam profile length 92. The cam profile length 92 of this example extends over an angular distance of approximately 150° around the longitudinal axis 38.

[0071] The leftmost proximal position on the front cam profile 42 corresponds to the initial position 30 of the conveying tube 52. The rightmost distal position on the front cam profile 42 corresponds to the tensioning position 86 of the conveying tube 52.

[0072] The priming structures 46 are evenly distributed over the cam profile length 92 from the position corresponding to the initial position 30 (in this example the leftmost proximal position) to the position corresponding to the tensioning position 86 (in this example the rightmost distal position). In FIG. 5, the cam profile 42 comprises six priming structures 46. The first priming structure 46, i.e. the leftmost priming structure 46 of the front cam profile 42 in FIG. 5, is positioned less than 20% (approximately 14%) of the cam profile length 92 from the position corresponding to the initial position 30 of the conveying tube 52 (in this example the leftmost proximal position). The above also applies for the rear cam profile 42 which is not fully visible in FIG. 5.

[0073] FIG. 6 represents an enlarged view of section B in FIG. 5. In FIG. 6, it can be seen that each priming structure 46 is wedge-shaped. More specifically, each priming structure 46 comprises a priming structure surface 94 at an angle of approximately 10° to its adjacent surface 96 of the cam profile 42.

[0074] When the rotatable member 16 is manually rotated to make the tensioning rotation 18 and the cam followers 44 travel along the associated cam profiles 42, the conveying tube 52 generally makes the tensioning movement 32 in the tensioning direction 36 from the initial position 30 to the tensioning position 86. However, when the cam followers 44 travel over a priming structure 46 on an associated cam profile 42, the conveying tube 52 makes a temporary priming movement 34 towards the initial position 30, i.e. in the proximal direction of the aerosol dispenser 10. Each priming movement 34 is shorter than the tensioning movement 32. When the conveying tube 52 makes a priming movement 34, the dose chamber 66 is compressed and a small volume of liquid (corresponding to the length of the priming movement 34) is expelled that fills out dry cavities in the aerosol dispenser 10 (e.g. in the spray nozzle unit 70) and pushes out foreign particles, such as bacteria and/or residue, from the spray nozzle unit 70. The small volumes of liquid may be referred to as priming doses.

[0075] FIG. 7 shows a diagram of an example movement of the conveying tube 52 of the aerosol dispenser 10. More specifically, FIG. 7 shows the tensioning movement 32 and the priming movements 34 of the conveying tube 52 as a function of the tensioning rotation 18 of the rotatable member 16.

[0076] FIG. 7 further shows a tensioning distance 98, which is the axial length of the tensioning movement 32 of the conveying tube 52. In FIG. 7, the tensioning distance 98 is approximately 9.2 mm.

[0077] FIG. 7 further shows a priming distance 100 for one of the priming movements 34. The priming distance 100 may be the same for all priming movements 34, or different. In FIG. 7, all priming distances 100 have the same length of approximately 0.4 mm. A sum of a distance of all priming movements 34 of the conveying tube 52 is approximately 24% of the tensioning distance 98.

[0078] The horizontal line C in FIG. 7 indicates the most tensioned position of the conveying tube 52. During the last tensioning rotation 18 of the rotatable member 16, e.g. from approximately 150° to 180°, the actuator member 50 is pushed laterally from the unblocking position to the Mocking position to thereby block the holding member 48.

[0079] While the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to what has been described above. For example, it will be appreciated that the dimensions of the parts may be varied as needed.