Sterile system for dispensing a product contained in a container in particular a soft tube

IS 2 289 181 T3

DESCRIPTION

Sterile distribution system for a product contained in a container, in particular a flexible tube.

The present invention refers to a distribution and closure system intended to be arranged at the end of a container, in particular, a flexible tube containing a liquid or pasty product whose evacuation is caused by pressure on said tube.

In some areas such as cosmetology or dermatology, it is essential to preserve the sterility of the product contained in the tube or bottle.

For this reason, it is known to introduce into the product, either liquid or pasty, such as creams, ice creams, emulsions, for example, an antibacterial preservative.

This makes it possible to avoid degradation of the product by bacteria that would run the risk of affecting the appearance, quality, and odor of said product, hence the integration of a preservative in the chemical composition of the product.

However, these preservatives sometimes cause skin allergies.

The solution of this second problem is known by eliminating these preservatives and protecting the product by using distribution systems without air recovery, called "airless".

It is in fact a pump mounted on a container of variable volume by means of a piston or a pocket actuated by the pressure difference as the matter is removed by the pump.

These devices are, however, very complex since they require the application of a large number of parts, that is, around a dozen, which must be created and assembled.

They are also known, in particular, from the British patent GB 724,798, of the systems by membranes, elastically deformable when closing an end piece, but which have the disadvantage of a tightness adjustment playing on the elasticity of the matter and dimensions of the aperture.

Furthermore, there is the problem of the residual product constituting a dead volume in the dispensing head, which is no longer protected against bacteria.

To remedy this, end closures are known as valves fitted on the ends of pump manifolds for pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications.

It is also known, to reinforce antibacterial protection, to mix the plastic material that constitutes the packaging and more especially the distribution head, with silver ions that have the particularity of not migrating and of causing a destruction of the bacteria by contact with the said surface. of plastic material responsible for silver ions.

In this case, the antibacterial action takes place only in close contact with the surface of the container and not with the core.

Indeed, the present invention aims to remedy all these drawbacks, that is, at the level of the pump (airless), at the level of the head protection mechanism.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a distribution and closure system intended to be arranged at the end of an elastically deformable container, in particular, a flexible tube comprising a liquid or pasty product, the evacuation of which is caused by pressure on said tube, this system being constituted by a valve comprising two concentric elements, one of which forms a movable cylindrical hatch that comprises in its upper central part an opening that defines a peripheral seat and the other of which another forms a cylindrical body that emerges from a connection plate with the tube and whose upper end is closed from said cylindrical body is capable of cooperating with the closure with the seat of said mobile hatch, defining the two elements between them an annular space through which the product passes, by a manual pressure exerted on the tube, thus causing a direct action of the product on the hatch that acts on it when opening, when encountering an element of elastic recoil, in such a way that it lets the product escape from the tube when pressure is exerted on it and automatically re-closes the opening when it is loosened, no possible return to the interior of the product already out.

The present invention also refers to the characteristics that will emerge during the description that follows, and that should be considered in isolation or according to all their possible technical combinations.

This description, given as a non-restrictive example, will make it easier to understand how the invention can be carried out with reference to the attached drawings on which:

IS 2 289 181 T3

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a distribution system according to the invention that fits on a flexible tube.

Figure 2 is an exploded plan view according to Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view of the system according to Figures 1 and 2 after assembly in the closed position.

Figure 4 is a view of the system according to Figures 1 and 2 after mounting in the open position.

Figure 5 is a view of detail A with an enlarged scale.

The distribution system 1, globally designated on the figures, is arranged at the end of a container 2, in this case a tube or a flexible bottle containing a pasty product whose evacuation is caused by pressure on said tube 2.

According to the invention, the system 1 is constituted by a valve 3 that includes two concentric elements 4, 5, included in which 4 forms a movable cylindrical hatch that implies in its upper central part an opening 6 that defines a peripheral seat and included another 5 forms a cylindrical body resulting from a plate 7 connecting with the tube 2 and whose closed upper end 8 of said cylindrical body 5 is capable of cooperating in closing with the seat 6 of said mobile hatch 4, the two elements 4, .5 that define between them an annular space 9 through which the product 10 passes, in a manual pressure F1, F2 exerted on the tube 2 consequently causing a direct action of the product 10 on the hatch 4 acting on it when opening, in the encounter of an elastic recoil member 11, characterized in that it implies a double tightness obtained in the area opening closure of valve 3 by the combination of a first peripheral lip 29 and a second lip 31, also peripheral, made at a distance from the first 29, this being made on the seat 6 of the movable plate 4 in order to exert an axial action on a corresponding area of ​​the end 8 of the cylindrical body 5 of the connection plate 7 while the second lip 31, also peripheral, is also made starting from the seat 6 of the hatch 4, of the connection plate 7, in such a way that said lips 29 and 31 constitute a double closure each one of which moves in time, so that in the closure the material residue located between the two lips is expelled to the outside, with no possible return to the inside of the product already exited.

It must be borne in mind that the opening 6 that forms the seat of the mobile hatch 4 is, according to the present embodiment, frustoconical but of course it could be formed by a part of a sphere or any other conical or cylindrical shapes.

As the figures show well, the movable cylindrical hatch 4 is mounted sliding in an axial direction between the body 5 of the connection plate 7, which is integral with the end 12 of the tube 2, and a cylindrical bushing 13 encapsulating said system, also attached to the tube 2. The said bushing 13 involves in its upper part a first cylindrical internal bore 14 open at its two ends in which it is guided and is capable of sliding a first cylindrical part 15 of the hatch 4 when it operates in opening or closing.

Likewise, the mobile hatch 4 involves a second cylindrical direction part 16, concentric in the first 15, made on the periphery of a bottom collar 17, which extends from a lower area of ​​the first cylindrical part 15 of said hatch 4 and coming into contact with a second internal bore 18 of the bushing 13, open only at its lower part.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the second cylindrical part of the direction 16 of the mobile hatch 4 involves an upper lip 19 and a lower lip 20 that rubs on the second boring 18 of the bushing 13, in order to guarantee airtightness. in the operation of said hatch 4 from the open position to the closed position and vice versa.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the wall of the bushing 13 that defines the second internal bore 18 thereof, is extended in its lower part to form a peripheral end edge 21 that cooperates fixedly with an observed edge 22 of the connection plate 7. The latter is formed by a collar that extends from an upper area of ​​a cylindrical sleeve 23 resulting from said plate 7 in its lower part, whose sleeve 23 fixedly cooperates with the upper end 12 of the tube 2 that encapsulates it.

Indeed, the system 1 coupled to the tube 2 must constitute a non-removable assembly to preserve the sterility and tightness sought.

On the other hand, the connection plate 7 involves a second raised edge 24 made concentrically between the first peripheral raised edge 22 and the fixed cylindrical body 5 of said connection plate 7, so that it constitutes a lower stop to the movable hatch 4 that acts in closing. A part of the lower end 25 of the first boring 14 of the bushing 13 constitutes an upper impulse of said hatch 4, which acts on the opening.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the elastic recoil member 11 of the mobile hatch 4 is interposed between an internal part of the latter and an internal part of the fixed bush 13.

IS 2 289 181 T3

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the elastic recoil member 11 is constituted by a disk 26 from which a plurality of radial arms 27 angularly spaced in an identical manner are the result. The said disk 26 is fixedly arranged on an internal projection 28 of the bushing 13, while the arms 27 carry on the bottom collar 17 of the movable hatch 4, so that the latter automatically retracts when closing after opening.

Of course, although not represented, the elastic recoil member 11 may be constituted by a plurality of radial arms 27 angularly spaced at identical angles and obtained by molding with an internal part of the bushing 13, the arms 27 bearing on the collar of bottom 17 of the movable hatch 4, so that it automatically retracts when closing after an opening.

Even if it is, the elastic recoil member can be made of different shapes and materials, but it must respond to the resolution of the spring function.

According to another characteristic of the invention which is particularly well visible on figure 5, a double seal is obtained in the opening and closing area of ​​the valve 3 by the combination of a first peripheral lip 29, made on the seat 6 of the mobile hatch 4, in order to exert an axial action on a corresponding area of ​​the end 8 of the cylindrical body 5 of the connection plate 7 and of a second also peripheral lip 31, also made from the seat 6 of the mobile hatch 4, at a distance from the first one 29, in order to exert a radial action on an axial part of said cylindrical body 5 of the connection plate 7.

Indeed, the lips 29 and 31 constitute a double seal since each one is displaced in time, so that in the closure the residue of matter located between the two lips is expelled to the outside.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the system involves an air recovery device constituted by an end piece 32 made in the lower part of the connection plate 7 and within which a porous antibacterial filter (not shown) is arranged.

This recovery of air allows the tube to return to its initial shape and improve the type of drainage without introducing bacteria.

The porous filter allows, on the one hand, the admission of the external air to the cap towards the intermediate zone located between the connection plate 7 and the hatch 4, which contains the material 10, from there to the interior of the tube, and on the other hand the prohibition of penetration of bacteria from the outside into the inside and the escape of the product 10 from the inside to the outside

Although not represented, the system may involve a closing cap in which an internal bearing area comes into compressive contact with the upper end of the valve 3, to close the opening.

This cover, which can be hinged or screwed in the closed position, also makes it possible, thanks to its support zone, to prevent an unexpected translational movement of the hatch 4, which could cause product 10 to leak out.

Preferably, the movable hatch 4, the connection plate 7, the bushing 13, the elastic member 11, the tube 2, the cover (not shown) are obtained by molding a plastic material.

As regards the elastic member 11, it will preferably be obtained by molding a polypropylene with glass fibers or a polyacetal, or any other material that has the appropriate mechanical characteristics to guarantee the spring function.

As regards the tube 2, it is made in a traditional way in a plastic material that gives it flexibility properties by permanent or elastic deformation.

For reasons mentioned above, all parts of the distribution system, namely the mobile hatch 4, the connection plate 7, the bushing 13, the elastic member 11, the cover (not shown) are made of plastic material containing silver ions. .

This makes it possible to guarantee an absence of bacterial proliferation on the residual film of the material.

The system just described can be sterilized by Gamma and Beta radiation.

It must also be taken into account that it is a non-deformable mechanical system, driven by the only pressure applied by the user on the tube, which is deformable, elastically or not.

This system, made up of only four parts, or even three, guarantees an antibacterial end opening and closing, which works like a non-return hatch, opening by the push of the product on the piston, when meeting the elastic member. 11 and which has the effect of achieving the opening by creating a peripheral passage followed by a vertical translation of the hatch 4.

IS 2 289 181 T3

Furthermore, dead volumes are not possible since valve 3 automatically closes again as soon as the pressure F1, F2 on pipe 2 is released.

At that time, as mentioned above, the time lag of the two closures constituted by lips 29 and 31 makes it possible to expel the residue of material located between said lips, to the outside.

In summary, the total sterility of the product is obtained since:

- there is no return of material,

- there is no air recovery or if air recovery is planned, the use of a porous antibacterial filter prevents bacteria from re-entering,

- a double mechanical seal is provided,

- A bacteriostatic protection is provided in some places by silver ions integrated in the plastic material.

References cited in description

This list of references cited by the applicant is only intended to assist the reader and is not part of the European patent document. Although the utmost care has been taken in their preparation, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and OEB declines all responsibility in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description • GB 724798 A [0009].