Dispensing – With casing or support – Enclosing cover for actuating parts of discharging means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-27
2001-02-20
Kaufman, Joseph A. (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
With casing or support
Enclosing cover for actuating parts of discharging means
C222S321600, C222S340000, C222S464100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189739
ABSTRACT:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a device for dispensing liquids, especially medicinal liquids, from a mouthpiece aperture, the latter being connected to a supply of liquid, by manual actuation of a piston-cylinder device which allows the manual actuation only after an overload threshold has been exceeded.
A device of this kind is known from GB-2 262 138 A. It serves for the nasal application of a pharmaceutical liquid substance. The manual actuation system provides for the displacement of a liquid-containing cylinder of a piston-cylinder device in the direction of the mouthpiece aperture. During this process, the piston strikes against a counter abutment and is pierced by a cannula projecting freely from the counter abutment in the opposite direction to the actuating stroke. The cannula functions as a conduit leading to the mouthpiece aperture, which is designed as a single-hole nozzle. The cylinder is in the form of a cartridge containing a single portion. It can be inserted into the piston-cylinder device. A sleeve closed at the end is the support for the cartridge. This sleeve is united to the housing of the device and is held engaged in a defined stand-by position. Only after an overload threshold formed in this way has been exceeded is manual actuation allowed. The overload threshold is obtained by means of knobs on the outer wall which engage in a corresponding latching groove on spring fingers of the housing. A safeguard against unintentional actuation is thereby achieved, and this effect is completed by spacing feet of this device on the housing which extend like a protective palisade around the actuation end of the sleeve, which is configured as a slider. The catch overcome in both directions: on the one hand to bring about the dispensing piston stroke; on the other hand for the charging of the device, i.e. insertion of the disposable cartridge.
A manually actuated pump-type atomizer is revealed, for example, by GB-2 014 233 A.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to design a device of the generic type in a way which is advantageous for handling and use while providing a powerful jet of liquid.
Such a configuration provides a device of the introductory-mentioned type of increased utility. The jet is more stable and is dispensed with greater power, thus reaching the target location, e.g. the nasal cavity, even in the more remote areas. This is achieved by a smaller restoring spring force, assigned to the overload threshold, of the piston-cylinder device designed as a pump. The corresponding release interlock can be overcome only in an abrupt manner. The liquid is not simply expelled. Rather, an effect which goes beyond the action of the safeguard against unintentional actuation is achieved. Only when a certain actuating pressure has been built up by the user does the catch effect break down. The significantly lower restoring-spring spring force has virtually no impeding effect. It does not part the device but brings about the return of the pump into its initial position, at the same time drawing in and preparing the next portion. This automatic reloading creates the basis for the repeated dispensing of individual portions from the supply of liquid.
An advantageous feature of the invention is obtained if the pump piston, which is connected by means of a riser to a liquid reservoir and is configured as an intake passage, is configured as a component which is fixed relative to the liquid reservoir, the pump cylinder, which is spring-loaded in the restoring direction, has at its free end the mouthpiece aperture, on the rear side of which an insert which deflects the jet of liquid several times by means of transverse channels on the top side is arranged. It is thus possible to manage with a small number of components, the insert being allocated the function of the distributor, via the transverse channels of which, which are situated on the top side, the flow leaves the hole-type nozzle of the mouthpiece aperture in concentrated form. The likewise abrupt emergence which occurs there leads to atomization of the liquid into a very fine droplet structure and accordingly to the achievement of the spray cone desired. Such an insert occupies the volume behind the mouthpiece. This prevents or considerably reduces by simple means the collection of partial quantities of the liquid separated from the supply. The insert also fulfils a further advantageous function in that, together with a foot plate, it forms a valve element, here that of an outlet valve. It suffices if the foot plate can be bent up elastically in the edge region out of its flat extension. It is expedient if this region ends in a lip, allowing the main body or core of the insert to be used as a supporting part which is still sufficiently solid in itself. It furthermore proves to be advantageous that the transverse channels are arranged open on the top side of the cylindrical insert, around which liquid can flow, and are aligned slightly eccentrically, forming a central swirl chamber underneath the mouthpiece aperture. These measures too have a favorable effect in terms of production and also have a positive effect on the formation of the jet. The part having the mouthpiece aperture can serve as a channel cover. Furthermore, it is proposed that the insert is held by a cantilever from the wall of the pump cylinder, said wall being extended in the direction of the mouthpiece aperture. This measure ensures an additional reduction in the number of device components. In addition, an advantageous configuration is achieved by means of a pressure balance path between the supply and the pump. The falling proportion of liquid in the supply chamber is thus balanced with respect to the atmosphere. It is favorable here for the pressure balance path to be controlled by a lip which rises under negative pressure. Said lip only rises if the negative pressure is sufficiently pronounced. In contrast, when the handle of the device is located in the initial position, the pressure balance path remains closed. This avoids leakages. Another, likewise advantageous possibility is then provided in that the pressure balance path is controlled via a relative movement of the piston-cylinder device. This is achieved, by structurally straightforward means, in that the pump piston is assigned a second piston which, via a cylinder-side annular space, connects the pressure balance path, by way of a shaft and a radial passage, to the annular space, which can be manually displaced into the region of an air-passage opening. It has also proved advantageous here for the second piston to have a hole which connects an annular space and radial passage.
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Astrazeneca AB
Faber Martin A.
Kaufman Joseph A.
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