EP2828002A1

EP2828002A1 - Liquid dispensing device equipped with a removable cap

Info

Publication number: EP2828002A1
Application number: EP13715328.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gaëtan Painchaud; Thierry Decock; Guillaume Grevin; Xavier Julia; Benjamin QUAGLIA
Original assignee: Nemera la Verpilliere SAS
Current assignee: Nemera la Verpilliere SAS
Priority date: 2012-03-19
Filing date: 2013-03-15
Publication date: 2015-01-28
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-15
Also published as: FR2988016A1; EP2828002B1; MX2014011266A; FR2988015A1; JP2015519924A; FR2988015B1; US20150043958A1; KR102052228B1; CN104203426A; MX369655B; BR112014022359B1; JP6130486B2; IN2014DN08605A; KR20150002670A; BR112014022359A2; FR2988016B1; CN104203426B; US9592934B2; WO2013140069A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for dispensing liquid comprising an opening (22, 50) for dispensing liquid, a pad (48) for absorbing residual liquid and a removable cap (16) comprising a shape in the immediate vicinity and opposite the dispensing opening (22, 50), referred to as a shape (46) for expelling residual liquid, configured to discharge the residual liquid toward the pad (48) when the cap (16) is mounted on the device (10).

Description

Liquid dispensing device with removable cap

The present invention relates to the technical field of liquid distribution. In particular, but not exclusively, it relates to the field of liquid distribution in the form of drops or in the form of a spray, such as ophthalmic, nasal, oral or auricular fluid.

Document FR 2 937 018 discloses a liquid dispensing device comprising a bottle and a dispensing nozzle. This tip comprises a liquid dispensing opening.

However, during the delivery of liquid, a little liquid can stagnate in the vicinity of the liquid distribution opening.

When a certain time elapses between two uses of the device, the residual liquid located near the dispensing opening may evaporate. The concentration of active principle contained in the residual liquid is therefore greater and the active ingredient can finally be deposited near the opening, forming a precipitate. During the next use of the device, the quantity of active ingredient delivered is therefore increased by this precipitate which is carried off during the delivery of the next drop. The dose of active ingredient delivered is therefore greater than the prescribed dose. There is also a risk of administering solid particles that have not been dissolved in the next drop delivered.

In addition, the residual liquid located near the outlet can be contaminated by bacteria that can contaminate the next drop delivered. There is therefore also a risk of microbial contamination of the delivered liquid.

The present invention proposes in particular to provide a liquid dispensing device for delivering a more precise product dose.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a liquid dispensing device, comprising:

a liquid distribution opening,

a residual liquid absorption buffer disposed near the liquid distribution opening, and

- A removable cap comprising a shape in the immediate vicinity and facing the liquid dispensing opening, called expulsion form of the residual liquid, configured to discharge the residual liquid to the buffer when the cap is mounted on the device.

Thanks to the presence of the residual liquid expulsion form made on the removable cap, when the cap is mounted on the device, the shape expulsion located in the immediate vicinity and facing the liquid dispensing opening expels most of the residual liquid downstream of the dispensing opening, especially to the residual liquid absorption buffer disposed in proximity, c that is, the residual liquid is discharged to the absorption buffer. It is therefore understood that the buffer is disposed downstream of the dispensing opening. Thus, most of the residual liquid is drained out of the dispensing opening.

It will be understood that since the volume of the residual liquid present downstream of the dispensing opening is generally small, it is advantageous for the expulsion form to be positioned sufficiently close to and facing the dispensing opening when the cap is mounted on the device and can thus expel this small amount of liquid out of the liquid distribution opening.

The expulsion or evacuation of residual liquid in the vicinity of the dispensing opening prevents the development of bacteria in this area, which is particularly interesting when the dispensed liquid does not contain preservatives.

Thanks to this evacuation, the dose of active ingredient delivered is thus more reproducible and more accurate, since the buffer avoids the accumulation of liquid near the dispensing opening of the device.

In addition, the risk of delivering subsequent doses that are more concentrated or solid particles is thus greatly reduced. Indeed, during the evaporation of the residual liquid downstream of the dispensing opening, deposits due to the precipitation of the active ingredient may be formed. These deposits may be partially dissolved during the delivery of the next product dose and thus increase the amount of active ingredient delivered and / or remain in the form of particles.

Finally, since the risk of forming solid or viscous deposits near the dispensing opening is reduced, the aesthetic effect of the device is also improved.

Advantageously, the expulsion form is integral with the cap, generally after molding.

The terms upstream and downstream are interpreted by taking the direction of distribution of the liquid as a reference direction.

The invention may further include one or more of the following features, taken alone or in combination.

- The form of expulsion is a form substantially complementary to the dispensing opening. It delimits preferably with the distribution opening of liquid a way of evacuation of the residual liquid.

- The expulsion form is made of a non-absorbent material. The residual liquid can not be absorbed by this form and the expulsion of the residual liquid from the dispensing opening to the buffer is more efficient.

- The device comprises a residual liquid evaporation path between the buffer and the outside of the device when the cap is mounted on the device. This promotes the evaporation of the residual liquid absorbed by the buffer. This evaporation path may for example comprise air passage orifices in the cap, these orifices being preferably carried by an upper face of the cap.

- The device can take, when the cap is mounted on the device, a sealed configuration of the device, before its first use, wherein the evaporation path of the residual liquid is closed between the buffer and the outside of the device, and a ventilation configuration of the device, wherein the evaporation path is open between the buffer and the outside. Thus, it is possible to limit the evaporation of the liquid contained in the device during the storage of the device before its first use. Indeed, devices filled with liquid to be dispensed can be stored several months or even years before their first use. During this storage, it may occur a diffusion of the liquid, especially through the walls of some of the elements of the device, such as a valve for example. If the evaporation path is open, there is continuously evacuation of this liquid outside the device. On the contrary, when the evaporation path is closed, one arrives at an equilibrium, the diffusion of the liquid through the cap being less than the diffusion of the liquid through the valve, for example. According to a particular embodiment, the path is closed by a removable cover, preferably disposable, attached to the cap. This embodiment is simple and effective. It should be noted that, according to an alternative, a cap is reported upstream of the evaporation path of the residual liquid, for example by relating it directly to the dispensing opening or to a valve disposed near this opening. In another embodiment, the device can move from the sealed configuration to the ventilation configuration by moving at least a portion of the cap relative to a reservoir on which the device is mounted.

- The device comprises locking means of the device in ventilation configuration. These means are preferably non-removable, that is to say permanent. It is therefore possible to go from the hermetic closure configuration, which corresponds to a storage configuration of the device, to the ventilation configuration, which corresponds to a configuration of use of the device, but it is not possible to pass from the ventilation configuration to the hermetic closure configuration. This ensures that after the first use of the device, the evaporation path of the residual liquid remains open between the buffer and the outside of the device.

- The cap comprises an outer casing and an inner casing, mounted movable relative to each other between a first configuration, corresponding to the hermetic sealing configuration of the device and a second configuration corresponding to the ventilation configuration of the device. For example, the outer casing and the inner casing are rotatable relative to each other, this rotational movement preferably generating a translational longitudinal displacement of one relative to the other. Longitudinal direction means the axial direction of the device, generally corresponding to the axis of the reservoir. Note that preferably, the two envelopes are co-axial, their respective axes coinciding with the axis of the device.

- The outer casing and the inner casing of the cap each comprise air passages and the cap comprises closure means, when the device is in hermetic sealing configuration, the evaporation path between the orifices of the outer envelope and those of the inner envelope. The sealing means comprise for example a ring carried by the outer casing and cooperating by clamping with a frustoconical surface of the inner casing of the cap, or vice versa. In another example, the closure means comprise pins carried by the outer casing and cooperating by clamping with the orifices of the inner casing of the cap, or vice versa.

The inner casing comprises a ramp cooperating with a complementary abutment carried by the outer casing, or vice versa, so that the rotation of the outer casing with respect to the inner casing generates a longitudinal displacement of the relative to the other. During this rotation and this longitudinal movement, the device passes from the sealed configuration to the ventilation configuration: the evaporation path is open between the buffer and the outside of the device. Thus, the passage from one configuration to another is done transparently for the user who, when unscrewing the cap to use the device for the first time, first passes the device of the closure configuration hermetic to the ventilation configuration before completely unscrewing the cap. - The outer casing and the inner casing comprise longitudinal retaining stops of the outer casing on the inner casing. The stops allow limited longitudinal movement of the outer casing relative to the inner casing so that, thanks to the retaining stops, the two casings can not be detached from one another. It is therefore understood that the two envelopes can move relative to each other longitudinally by a predetermined distance but can not be separated from one another.

- The absorption buffer comprises one or more hydrophilic materials, allowing the drainage of liquid, that is to say capable of absorbing liquid, or even allowing it to evaporate if an evaporation path is open. The pad material may comprise woven or nonwoven materials. It may for example comprise hydrophilic cotton, hydrophilically treated polyethylene (PE), hydrophilically treated polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl acetate (PVA) foam or a mixture of several materials. hydrophilic.

- The absorption buffer comprises a hydrophilic material with open porosity. Open porosity material means a material comprising an array of continuous channels defined by pores communicating with each other, which allow the liquid absorbed in the buffer to be drained from the dispensing opening to the outside of the container. device. Thus, the liquid can migrate from one side to the other of the buffer and evaporate to the outside of the device.

- The absorption pad comprises at least two different absorbent materials, the at least two materials being arranged one above the other and the downstream material being more hydrophilic than the material upstream. Thus, the liquid is sucked by the most hydrophilic material and the residual liquid does not stagnate in the least hydrophilic material disposed near the dispensing opening.

- The material upstream comprises a hydrophobic material. It therefore prevents the liquid absorbed by the most hydrophilic material from returning to the dispensing opening.

- The pad is attached to the cap, more precisely inside the cap, around the form of expulsion.

- The form of expulsion comprises an absorbent material. Most of the residual liquid present downstream of the dispensing opening is expelled to the absorption buffer disposed in the vicinity, that is, the residual liquid can be discharged to the absorption buffer. drainage of the residual liquid at through the form of expulsion. Thus, most of the residual liquid is drained out of the dispensing opening.

- The device comprises a hydrophobic web with open porosity, the web being attached to the pad and the expulsion form. The liquid absorbed by the most hydrophilic material can not return to the dispensing opening.

The tampon comprises a hydrophilic material, this material being more hydrophilic than the absorbent material of the expulsion form. Thus, the liquid drained by the expulsion form is sucked by the tampon material which is more hydrophilic and therefore more absorbent than the material of the expulsion form. The residual liquid does not stagnate in the form of expulsion.

- The material of the expulsion form comprises a hydrophobic material. It therefore prevents the liquid absorbed by the buffer from returning to the dispensing opening.

- The form of expulsion came from material with the buffer. The tampon and the expulsion form may for example be made of a material comprising an absorption gradient, the part forming the expulsion form being less absorbent than the part forming the buffer.

- The pad comprises a surface for contact with the ambient air, the surface having at least one relief to increase the contact surface with the ambient air. For example, a recess of the pad may be provided so that for a given space the surface in contact with the ambient air of the pad is increased, which facilitates the evaporation of the liquid contained in the pad.

- The buffer is attached to a dispensing nozzle. The dispensing nozzle is preferably an assembly attached to the reservoir, comprising in particular an upper casing disposed around the liquid dispensing orifice, the buffer is fixed on this upper envelope, around the dispensing orifice.

- The buffer is substantially axisymmetric shape. It fits easily on the cap, near the expulsion form of the residual liquid, or around the tip.

The device is a device for the distribution of liquid in the form of drops, comprising means for forming drops, the expulsion form being substantially complementary to these drop forming means. The drop forming means preferably has a substantially conical shape diverging outwardly of the device. This embodiment is particularly advantageous because the expulsion form makes it possible to reduce the dead volume formed by the drop-forming means while delimiting with the drop-forming means, at least partially, an escape route. residual liquid. Thus, the dose of the drops distributed has a volume and a concentration more reproducible.

- The device comprises a valve that can take a liquid release position and a liquid blocking position, the expulsion form constituting a form of immobilization of the valve in the liquid blocking position when the cap is mounted on the device . Thus, it is not possible that liquid having passed through the valve can return to the device. In addition, when the cap is mounted on the device, it is not possible to inadvertently distribute liquid, the valve being locked in the liquid blocking position. It is particularly advantageous to use the buffer in combination with a form of immobilization of the valve, because the stagnant liquid downstream of the valve can be evacuated, and thus avoid contamination of subsequent doses.

- The buffer is not in contact with the valve. There is therefore little liquid in contact with the valve in the case where the buffer contains liquid.

The buffer and / or the complementary form comprises an antimicrobial agent. The antimicrobial agent makes it possible to destroy a portion of the microorganisms that could develop downstream of the dispensing opening and contaminate the next dose of product that would be delivered. The antimicrobial agent may for example be silver-based or contain a disinfectant or a biocidal agent.

The most hydrophilic material comprises an antimicrobial agent and the least hydrophilic material is free of antimicrobial agent. Thus, the liquid is sucked towards the most hydrophilic material where antimicrobial agents prevent the development of bacteria. The risk that antimicrobial agents may be contained with the next drop of liquid delivered by the device is reduced because the antibacterial agent is not included in the least hydrophilic material that is closest to the drop forming means.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and with reference to the drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a sectional view of a device in hermetic sealing configuration according to a first embodiment of the device;

- Figure 2 is a sectional view of the device of Figure 1 in ventilation configuration;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inside of an outer casing of a cap of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an inner envelope of the cap the device of Figure 1;

FIG. 5A is a perspective and partially transparent view of the cap of the device of FIG. 1 in hermetic sealing configuration;

- Figure 5B is a cross sectional view of the device of Figure 1, according to a plane V visible in Figures 1 and 5A;

FIG. 6A is a perspective and partially transparent view of the cap of the device of FIG. 1 in ventilation configuration;

- Figure 6B is a cross sectional view of the device of Figure 1, according to a plane VI visible in Figures 2 and 6A;

- Figure 7 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the device;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the device;

FIG. 9 is a sectional and perspective view of the device of FIG. 8; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the device in hermetic sealing configuration;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 10 in ventilation configuration;

- Figure 12 is a sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the device;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a sixth embodiment of the device;

- Figure 14 is a sectional view of a buffer and a liquid expulsion form according to a seventh embodiment of the device;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of an eighth embodiment of the device;

- Figure 16 is a sectional view of a ninth embodiment of the device.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a liquid dispensing device 10, in hermetic sealing configuration and in ventilation configuration respectively. In this non-limiting example, the device 10 is a device for dispensing liquid in the form of drops.

The device 10 comprises a deformable reservoir 12 and a dispensing nozzle 14 capped with a removable cap 16. The tip 14, provided with the cap 16, is intended to be mounted by screwing on the neck of a reservoir 12. This reservoir 12 is a liquid storage tank, for example pharmaceutical liquid such as ophthalmic fluid. The reservoir 12 is deformable, so as to distribute liquid by pressing the reservoir. More specifically, the liquid distribution is done by pressure, from a user, on the body of the reservoir 12, the latter may have a certain elasticity to resume its original shape after the pressure exerted by the user, which generates a depression inside the tank 12.

The tip 14 and the cap 16 advantageously form an assembly which can be attached in one step to the neck of the reservoir 12.

In this embodiment, the dispensing nozzle 14 comprises a support 18, a dispensing valve 20 and means 24 for returning the valve 20 against the support 18 in the liquid-locking position, here composed of an elastic washer 24, made of plastic. The valve 20 includes a dispensing opening having a dispensing opening or opening 22 and drop forming means 50. The valve 20 may also assume a liquid release position. Thus in this example, the liquid distribution orifice 22 is carried by the valve 20.

The tip 14 also comprises an upper envelope 26, comprising an orifice 28 through which the valve 20 passes, a channel 30 for passing the liquid from the reservoir 12 to the dispensing orifice 22, and a channel 32 for the passage of air through the reservoir 12, channel 32 closed by an assembly 34 comprising an air diffusion member 36 disposed in an insulation casing 38 of the diffusion member 36. It will be noted that the air passage channel 32 is entirely molded into the support 18.

The casing 38 comprises several elements making it possible to guarantee the insulation with respect to the liquid contained in the reservoir 12 of the air-permeable member 36. This envelope 38 comprises in particular a hydrophobic filter 40 whose function is to prevent the liquid contained in the reservoir 12 to come into contact with the member 36. This prevents any sorption of molecules of the active ingredient on the air diffusion member 36.

It is understood that this member 36 makes it possible to compensate for the depression generated by the delivery of a drop of liquid by the user by allowing the air molecules to pass, by diffusion, through the dense material of this diffusion member. air 36, the bacteria or dust can not pass through the air diffuser member 36. There is therefore a member for the passage of uncontaminated air from the outside to the inside of the tank 12 and not presenting a problem of clogging.

In addition, the outer annular wall of this insulation envelope 38 may comprise grooves delimiting with the support 18 at least one channel of liquid passage which also plays a flow limitation function.

We will now describe the cap 16, mounted by screwing on the dispensing tip 14.

This cap 16 comprises an outer casing 42 and an inner casing 44. These casings 42, 44 are coaxial, integral with each other by being mounted movable relative to each other in rotation and translation. longitudinal, between the hermetic sealing configuration of the device, visible in Figure 1, and the ventilation configuration of the device 10, visible in Figure 2. The inner casing 44 further comprises a form 46 of expulsion of the residual liquid. This form of expulsion 46 is located in the immediate vicinity and facing the dispensing opening.

The expulsion form 46 is also, in this example, a form of immobilization of the valve 20 in the liquid blocking position when the cap 16 is mounted on the device 10. For example, the expulsion form 46 is a pin whose general shape is complementary to the drop forming means 50 made in the valve 20, for example the shape 46 is frustoconical. Thus, the shape 46 ensures immobilization of the valve 20 by pinching the latter against the support 18.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5, the cap 16 comprises a residual liquid absorption buffer 48, fixed on the cap 16 and more particularly on the inner casing 44. The buffer 48 is substantially annular in shape and is disposed around the expulsion form 46 of the residual liquid.

The section of the ring of the stamp 48 is of substantially rectangular shape. One of the corners of the inner face of the buffer 48 is bevelled and complementary to the shape of the valve 20. Advantageously, the two corners of the inner face are beveled, the buffer 48 can be fixed on the inner casing 44 of the cap indifferently in one direction or the other. The inner casing 44 also has stops 54 for fixing the buffer 48 to the inner casing 44.

Advantageously, the buffer 48 may not be in contact with the valve and this to avoid contact between the residual liquid present in the buffer and the valve 20 when the cap 16 is mounted on the device 10.

The absorption buffer 48 advantageously comprises a hydrophilic material with open porosity.

In addition, when the cap 16 is mounted on the device 10, the expulsion shape 46 defines at least partially, in this case with the means 50 of droplet formation of the valve 20, a path 52 of discharge, to the buffer 48, residual liquid disposed downstream of the valve 20. In this example, the escape route 52 is formed by a groove 92, or recess, made in the form 46. More specifically, the shape 46 comprises several channels, for example four , regularly distributed over the end of the pin 46, delimited on the one hand by the grooves 92, on the other hand by the means 50 for forming drops, these channels being formed when the cap 16 is mounted on the device, the shape 46 being then in abutment against the valve 20.

In Figure 4, there is shown the inner casing 44, comprising a bottom 56, in the form of expulsion 46 in the center of its inner surface, and a skirt 58, of substantially cylindrical shape. The bottom 56 is delimited by a frustoconical surface 60 and comprises, on its horizontal wall, orifices 62 for the passage of air, of which there are four in this example.

The inner casing 44 further comprises means 64, 66, 68 for locking the device 10 in ventilation configuration. These locking means comprise, in this embodiment, notches 64, elastic tabs 66, and ramps 68, in this case two notches 64, two tabs 66 and two ramps 68. The cylindrical skirt 58 comprises stops 70 , in this case two, extending in a longitudinal plane so as to form a stop in the transverse direction for the outer casing 42, and thus allow the cap 16 to be screwed onto the dispensing nozzle 14. The cylindrical skirt 58 further comprises stops 72, said longitudinal retaining stops, so as to form a stop in the longitudinal direction, for the retention of the outer casing 42 on the inner casing 44 in the longitudinal direction. In FIG. 4, the longitudinal retention stops 72 extend mainly in a transverse oblique plane and also comprise a horizontal part. In addition, the cylindrical skirt 58 carries on its free end a frangible ring 74 of the device 10, first opening indicator, to ensure that the device has not been used before its first use.

In Figure 3, there is shown the outer casing 42 which comprises a bottom 76 and a skirt 78, of substantially cylindrical shape. The bottom 76 is circular in shape and substantially planar. It comprises a ring 80, protruding from the inner surface, and air passage holes 82 located outside the ring 80. It also comprises means 84, 86 for locking the device 10 in ventilation configuration, which in this embodiment comprises two notches 84 and two screw abutments 86. The outer casing 42 further comprises stops 88, said longitudinal retaining stops, extending in a transverse plane, so as to form a stop in The direction longitudinal for the retention of the outer casing 42 on the inner casing 44 in the longitudinal direction.

FIG. 2 shows the device 10 in the ventilation configuration, in which an evaporation path of the residual liquid, represented by the arrow 90, is open between the buffer 48 and the outside of the device 10.

We will now describe the mounting of the device 10 and its operation.

We begin by adjusting together the different elements constituting the dispensing nozzle 14. We can, for example, begin by assembling the filtration subassembly of the air formed by the envelope 38 and the diffusion member of Air 36. This subassembly is then mounted on the support 18 by mechanical clamping. The valve 20, the washer 24 and the upper casing 26 are then positioned.

Separately, the pad 48 is fixed inside the inner casing 44, around the expulsion form 46 of the valve, by blocking it with the fixing stops 54.

The outer casing 42 is then mounted on the inner casing 44 by positioning the screw stops 70 of the inner casing 44 along the screw abutments 86 of the outer casing 42, so that the stops 86 are positioned. opposite the bottom of the ramps 68, and that the longitudinal retaining stops 72 of the inner casing 44 cooperate with the longitudinal retaining stops 88 of the outer casing 42, as can be seen in Figures 5A and 5B. The outer casing 42 can no longer be detached from the inner casing 44. In this embodiment, the cap 16 is ready to be mounted by screwing on the dispensing nozzle 14.

Once the reservoir 12 filled with the liquid to be dispensed, it comes to screw the assembly formed by the nozzle 14 and the cap 16 on the neck of the reservoir. The device 10 is ready to be used.

This first configuration, called storage configuration or hermetic closure of the device 10 is shown in Figures 1, 5A and 5B. FIG. 5A shows the outer casing 42 in wire mode so as to present the interaction between the elements of the inner casing 44 with the elements of the outer casing 42.

In these figures, the ring 80 of the outer casing 42 cooperates with the frustoconical surface 60 of the inner casing 44, so that there is no possible communication between the pad 48 and the outside of the device 10 , as can be seen in Figure 1. In this case, there is no communication between the air passages 62 of the inner casing 44 and the openings of air passage 82 of the outer casing 42; the ring 80 thus forms, with the surface 60, a closure means of the evaporation path 90. The ring 80 is slightly deformed and a mechanical sealing of the ring 80 on the conical surface 60 is achieved. The evaporation path 90 of the residual liquid is thus closed. Thus, when the device 10 is stored before first use, although low evaporation of the liquid contained in the reservoir 12 may occur, this evaporation is limited.

In addition, this evaporation is also limited by the mechanical clamping between the inner envelope 44 and the support 18 which define a closed volume in which there is no renewal of air as the device is in storage configuration.

In addition, this evaporation is also limited because the air diffusion member 36 does not substantially pass liquid molecule, even in the form of steam, to this closed volume.

Note that the expulsion form 46 of the inner casing 44 cooperates with the valve 20, more particularly with the drop forming means 50, and thus blocks the valve 20 in the liquid blocking position.

During the first use, the user unscrews the removable cap 16. He tightens the outer envelope 42 in one hand and the reservoir 12 in the other hand. It rotates the outer casing 42 relative to the inner casing 44. The stops 86 are then guided by the ramps 68 and the rotational movement applied by the user to the device 10 generates a longitudinal translational movement of the casing outer 42 relative to the inner casing 44. Arrived at the end of the ramps 68, the stops 86 cooperate with the notches 64 to form first locking means of the device 10 in ventilation configuration. In addition, during this rotation, the notches 84 of the outer casing 42 move relative to the elastic tabs 66, which they force, at the end of rotation, by deformation of the tabs 66, so that the notches 84 are are found in abutment against the end of the tabs 66. The notches 84 and the tabs 66 thus form second locking means of the device 10 in ventilation configuration.

In this ventilation configuration, shown in Figures 2, 6A and 6B, due to the longitudinal displacement of the outer casing 42 relative to the inner casing 42, the ring 80 of the outer casing 42 no longer cooperates with the surface. conic 60 of the inner casing 44, so that a space is created between the ring 80 and the surface 60, and therefore an evaporation path of the residual liquid 90 is open between the buffer 48 and the outside of the device 10. The user then continues the rotational movement of the cap 16 relative to the reservoir 12 to completely unscrew the cap 16 of the tip 14. It then breaks the frangible portions of the ring 74. It is therefore clear that this ring 74 allows to check in a simple way that the device has not been used beforehand.

It is found that the transition from the hermetic sealing configuration of the device 10 to the ventilation configuration is transparent to the user who simply unscrews the cap 16 of the nozzle 14.

He then presses the reservoir 12 and deforms it in order to deliver a drop of liquid. Under the pressure exerted by the user, the valve 20 moves from the liquid lock position to the liquid release position, a drop is formed in the drop forming means 50. When the drop reaches a predetermined volume, is released from the valve 20, for example to go into the eye of the user.

As soon as the user releases the pressure exerted on the reservoir 12, the valve 20 resumes its liquid blocking position. When the user wishes to deliver an additional drop, it deforms the reservoir 12 again until delivery of the drop.

However, a small amount of liquid may remain downstream of the valve 20, often in the droplet forming means 50.

Between two uses, the user puts the cap 16 on the end piece 14. The locking means 64, 66, 84, 86 then prevent the displacement of the outer casing 42 with respect to the inner casing 44. It is therefore understood that that it is possible to go from the hermetic sealing configuration of the device 10 to the ventilation configuration but that the opposite is not possible. Thus, it is ensured that once the device 10 has been used at least once, the evaporation path 90 of the residual liquid is always open. The locking means 64, 66, 84, 86 are therefore permanent and non-removable.

When the cap 16 is screwed on the nozzle 14, the expulsion form 46 of the valve cooperates with the valve 20. In addition, this expulsion form 46 has grooves 92 which define with the valve 20 a channel of the valve. evacuation 52 of the residual liquid contained in the drop-forming means 50. This channel 52 makes it possible to evacuate the residual liquid to the buffer 48, in which it is absorbed.

Then, the liquid absorbed by the buffer 48 evaporates out of the device 10 by the evaporation path 90 open between the buffer 48 and the outside of the device 10.

There is therefore no residual liquid that stagnates in the means of formation of drop 50 and avoids the formation of solid residue of the active ingredient that can lead to the delivery of an overdose during the delivery of a drop or the delivery of solid particles suspended in the drop during the next use of the device 10.

We will describe other embodiments of the device in which the elements common to the various embodiments are identified by the same reference numerals and for which the differences are developed in the following.

FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment in which the outer casing 42 comprises pins 94 forming the means for closing off the evaporation path 90 of the residual liquid absorbed by the buffer 48.

In hermetic sealing configuration, the pins 94 cooperate with the air passage holes 62 of the inner envelope 44, so that there is no possible communication between the buffer 48 and the outside of the device 10 .

Similar to what has been described in the previous embodiment, when the user unscrews the cap 16 during a first use of the device 10, it rotates the outer casing 42 relative to the inner casing 44. The stops 86 traverse the ramps 68 and the rotational movement applied by the user to the device 10 generates a longitudinal translation movement of the outer casing 42 with respect to the inner casing 44. During this longitudinal movement of the two casings 42, 44 relative to each other, the pins 94 no longer cooperate with the orifices 62 and the evaporation path 90 of the residual liquid is open.

As in the first embodiment, once the device 10 in ventilation configuration, the locking means do not allow the device to take the hermetic closure configuration.

The third embodiment, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, is similar to the first embodiment, apart from the location of the stamp 48. In this embodiment, the stamp 48 is not mounted on the inner envelope. 44 of the cap 16 but is fixed on the upper casing 26 of the dispensing nozzle 14. The operating mode of this device is similar to the previously described operating mode.

The fourth embodiment, shown in Figures 10 and 11, comprises a dispensing nozzle 14 similar to the previously described tips. It differs from the previous embodiments in that the cap 16 has only one envelope having air passages 62. The rest of the device 10 is in accordance with what has been described above. Before first use, that is to say in hermetic sealing configuration, the device 10 comprises a cap 96 which closes the air passage holes 62 of the cap 16; it therefore closes the evaporation path 90 of the residual liquid between the buffer 48 and the outside of the device 10. Advantageously, this seal 96 also comprises a tab 98 adhering to the cap 16 and the support 18 of the nozzle 14 so that it is not possible to unscrew the cap 16 of the device 10 without removing the cap 96 and thus open the evaporation path 90 between the buffer 48 and the outside of the device 10.

In FIG. 12, there is shown a sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the device 10, in which the buffer 48 comprises two distinct absorbent materials 48A and 48B, the absorbent material 48A being more hydrophilic, therefore more absorbent, than the absorbent material 48B. In the embodiment of Figure 12, the two separate absorbent materials each have an axisymmetric shape, in this case a ring shape. The two rings 48A, 48B are arranged one above the other, in contact with each other, the ring of the most hydrophilic material 48A being positioned downstream and the ring made of the least hydrophilic 48B being positioned upstream with respect to the direction of distribution of the liquid. Thus, the liquid that is expelled by the expulsion form 46 to the buffer 48 is preferentially absorbed by the more absorbent hydrophilic material 48A. Due to the contact between the two hydrophilic materials 48A, 48B, the liquid absorbed by the least hydrophilic material 48B is sucked by the most hydrophilic material 48A. The residual liquid thus stagnates little or nothing in the least hydrophilic material 48B which is closest to the drop-forming means 50. The risk of a possible accumulation of liquid in the vicinity of the drop-forming means 50 is thus reduced. .

In a particular embodiment, the less absorbent and therefore the least hydrophilic material 48B may advantageously comprise a hydrophobic material. Thus, the material 48B is hydrophobic and absorbent and it passes the liquid located upstream of the dispensing opening 22 to the most hydrophilic material 48A and this, thanks to the suction created by the material 48A, the most hydrophilic and downstream of the least hydrophilic material with respect to the drop forming means 50. However, since the material 48B is hydrophobic, the liquid absorbed in the material 48B can not return to the dispensing opening 22. The dispensing opening 22 is therefore relatively dry. It is understood that the porosity of the hydrophobic material 48B is such that it allows the liquid sucked by the more hydrophilic material 48A to pass through the hydrophobic material 48B. Advantageously, the most hydrophilic material 48A may comprise an agent An antimicrobial agent, such as silver ions (Ag ⁺ ) and the least hydrophilic or even hydrophobic material, 48B may not include an antimicrobial agent. Thus, the liquid is sucked toward the more hydrophilic material 48A where antimicrobial agents prevent the growth of bacteria. The risk that antimicrobial agents may be contained with the next drop of liquid delivered by the device 10 is reduced because the antibacterial agent is not included in the least hydrophilic material 48B which is the closest to the droplet forming means. 50.

Figure 13 shows a sixth embodiment of the device 10, wherein the expulsion form 46 is made of absorbent material. The operating principle of the device 10 is similar to the principle described in the fifth embodiment. Indeed, the expulsion form 46 comprises an absorbent material that is less hydrophilic than the hydrophilic material of the pad 48. Thus, the residual liquid in the droplet forming means 50 after dispensing a drop of liquid is absorbed. by the absorbent material of the expulsion form 46 and is then sucked by the hydrophilic material of the pad 48. The liquid is thus drained to the pad 48 through the absorbent material of the expulsion form 46.

As in the fifth embodiment, the most hydrophilic material, i.e. the material of the tampon 48, may comprise an antimicrobial agent, such as silver ions (Ag +) and the least hydrophilic material, that is, the material of the expulsion form 46 located downstream from the material of the pad 48 may not include an antimicrobial agent. In addition, the material of the expulsion form may comprise a hydrophobic material. The hydrophobic material may for example be obtained by a surface treatment applied locally to the expulsion form.

It will also be noted that in the fifth and sixth embodiments, the device 10 does not comprise an envelope 38 for isolating the air diffusion member 36 with respect to the liquid contained in the reservoir 12. However, the device 10 could include such an envelope 38.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 15, the device may comprise a tampon 48 and an expulsion form 46 both made of absorbent material, a hydrophobic web 110 with open porosity being attached to the pad 48 and the shape of the pad. expulsion 46. With this hydrophobic web 110 with open porosity, the liquid present in the drop forming means 50 is sucked through the web by the expulsion form 46 and, the web being hydrophobic, the liquid absorbed by the shape of expulsion 46 and therefore the buffer 48 does not return to the dispensing orifice 22. The web 110 may for example be reported by partial bonding or partial welding of the web on the pad 48 and / or the expulsion form 46.

Figure 14 shows a buffer 48 and an expulsion form 46 according to a seventh embodiment of the device 10. In a similar manner to the sixth embodiment, the expulsion form 46 is made of absorbent material. However, in the seventh embodiment, the pad 48 comprises a contact surface 106 with the ambient air, the surface having at least one relief 108 in the form of a vertical and central recess of the pad 48, to increase the surface area of the pad. contact with the ambient air without modifying the bulk volume of the buffer. This relief 108 may also be present on the expulsion form 46, as can be seen in FIG.

In Figure 16, there is shown a sectional view of a ninth embodiment of the device. The device comprises a nozzle 100 for distributing liquid in the form of a spray, intended to be mounted on a pump. This tip 100 comprises a casing 102 opening at its downstream end on an opening 104 of liquid distribution. In this example, the tip 100 may comprise a dispensing valve, for example taking the form of a needle mounted slidably in the casing 102 and closing the opening 104 under the action of a spring.

The envelope 102 is capped with a cap 16 having a form of expulsion 46 of the residual liquid that may be downstream of the dispensing opening 104. It can be seen that this form of expulsion 46 is located in the immediate vicinity and look at the opening 104.

The cap also includes air passages 62 and a pad 48 attached to the cap 16, more precisely within the cap 16, around the expulsion form 46.

In this embodiment, the hermetic sealing configuration of the device 100 can be obtained by adding a removable, preferably disposable lid, attached to the cap 16.

The invention is not limited to the examples described above.

It is understood in particular that the pad 48 can be fixed by ultrasonic welding, by mechanical clamping or by any other suitable means, that the cap 16 can take other configurations to associate a buffer with a cap ensuring a residual liquid expulsion or still making it possible to ensure a permanent configuration of evaporation, as well as a hermetic sealing configuration for storing the device before its first use, or else that the return means of the valve 20 can comprise a helical spring.

In addition, the number of ramps, stops, notches or orifices and their arrangement are given for illustrative purposes only and are not limiting.

Moreover, the first seven embodiments described in the figures relate to liquid delivery devices in the form of drops and provided with a valve, in which the expulsion form constitutes a form of immobilization of the valve in a position of blocking. It will be understood that it is possible to envisage liquid dispensing devices in another form, for example in the form of a spray, such as the device according to the eighth embodiment, or in the form of a jet, with or without a valve, or still without immobilization of the valve, while maintaining the possibility of draining the residual liquid out of the dispensing opening, thanks to the presence of the absorption buffer and the expulsion form located in the vicinity and with respect to the liquid dispensing opening.

Claims

1. Device (10) for dispensing liquid, characterized in that it comprises:

an opening (22) for distributing liquid,

- an absorption buffer (48) of residual liquid disposed near the liquid distribution opening (22),

- a removable cap (16) comprising a shape in the immediate vicinity and facing the dispensing opening (22), called the expulsion form (46) of the residual liquid, configured to discharge the residual liquid to the buffer (48) when the cap (16) is mounted on the device (10), and

- an evaporation path (90) of the residual liquid between the buffer (48) and the outside of the device (10) when the cap (16) is mounted on the device (10).

2. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the expulsion form (46) comprises an absorbent material.

3. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, comprising a web (110) hydrophobic open porosity, the web (110) being attached to the pad (48) and the expulsion form (46).

4. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the buffer (48) comprises a hydrophilic material, this material being more hydrophilic than the absorbent material of the expulsion form (46).

The device (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the expulsion form (46) comprises a hydrophobic material.

6. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the expulsion form (46) is integral with the buffer (48).

The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pad (48) comprises a contact surface (106) with the ambient air, the surface having at least one relief (108) to increase the area contact with the ambient air.

8. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the buffer (48) comprises at least two different absorbent materials, the at least two materials being arranged one above the other and the material downstream being more hydrophilic than the material upstream.

9. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the material in upstream comprises a hydrophobic material.

10. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, for the dispensing of liquid in the form of drops, comprising means (50) for forming drops, the expulsion form (46) being of substantially complementary form to these means of forming drops.

11. A device (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a valve (20) which can assume a liquid release position and a liquid blocking position, the expulsion form (46) constituting a form of immobilization of the liquid the valve (20) in the liquid blocking position when the cap (16) is mounted on the device (10).

The device (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tampon (48) and / or the expulsion form (46) comprises an antimicrobial agent.

The device (10) according to any one of claims 4 to 13, wherein the most hydrophilic material comprises an antimicrobial agent and the least hydrophilic material is free of antimicrobial agent.

14. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, which can take, when the cap (16) is mounted on the device, a sealed configuration of the device, before its first use, wherein the evaporation path (90) residual liquid is sealed between the pad (48) and the exterior of the device (10), and a device vent configuration, wherein the evaporation path (90) is open between the pad (48) and the outside.

15. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, comprising locking means (64, 66, 84, 86) of the device (10) in ventilation configuration.

Device (10) according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the cap (16) comprises an outer casing (42) and an inner casing (44) mounted movably relative to each other between a first configuration , corresponding to the hermetic sealing configuration of the device and a second configuration corresponding to the device ventilation configuration.

17. Device (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the outer casing (42) and the inner casing (44) of the cap (16) each comprise air passages (62, 82) and the cap (16) comprises closure means (60, 80, 94, 96), when the device (10) is in hermetic sealing configuration, of the evaporation path (90) between the orifices of the outer casing (82); ) and those of the inner envelope (62).

18. Device (10) according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the inner casing (44) comprises a ramp (68) cooperating with a complementary abutment (86) carried by the outer casing (42), or vice versa, so that the rotation of the outer casing (42) relative to the inner casing (44) generates a longitudinal displacement of one with respect to the other.

The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a valve (20) which can assume a liquid release position and a liquid lock position, the expulsion form (46) constituting a form of immobilizing the valve (20) in the liquid blocking position when the cap (16) is mounted on the device (10).