FR2776770A1 - METERING DEVICE FOR FLUID PRODUCTS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a container (1) provided with an elongated cannula (2) capable of being sealed with a plug (3). The container peripheral wall can be deformed by pressure to force product fluids outwards through the cannula (2). Intermediate necks (12, 16) define internal passages (13) with reduced cross-section between the successive convex compartments (14, 15, 17) capable of being separately deformed by compression to define injection doses, thereby providing an inexpensive device facilitating the dosing of fluid products.

Description

I

  METERING DEVICE FOR FLUID PRODUCTS

  The present invention relates to a metering device for successively delivering several fractions

  determined by an amount of a fluid product it contains.

  The invention relates more particularly to metering devices comprising a container adapted to contain said quantity of the fluid product and to deliver it from a

outlet.

  Single dose metering devices are already known, consisting of a container, the wall of which is deformable by crushing to cause the exit of the fluid product which it contains. The crushing of the wall causes the total quantity of fluid contained in the device to exit. A partial overwrite does not control the quantity of product delivered. For a subsequent injection, you must have

another dosing device.

  The successive injection of several determined fractions of fluid product requires the use of a metering device with multiple doses. Multiple dose metering devices are already used in the most varied applications, in particular in

  agriculture to deliver nutritious or treating materials.

  They are generally fitted with an intermittent pump. These devices are more complex and expensive, and do not

  are not suitable for applications with low added value.

  The output of a determined quantity of a fluid product from a container of the bottle or flask type can also be carried out by a visual control of the level of fluid remaining in the container whose wall retains its shape and is transparent. However, this requires a sufficient vision of the container being removed from the fluid, which limits the possible applications. For example, to deliver a fluid product inside an aquarium, in the roots of an aquatic plant, a container with a transparent wall is not sufficiently visible to allow permanent control of the quantity of product leaving the container. . In addition, permanent visual control of the remaining fluid level is not possible in this case, because the container wall must necessarily be deformed in order for the product

  comes out and spills out into the bottom of the aquarium.

  The problem proposed by the present invention is to design a new metering device structure, making it possible to deliver several successive determined fractions of a quantity of fluid product which it contains without requiring a

visual inspection of the device.

  Another object of the invention is to design such a metering device structure which is particularly simple and

inexpensive.

  Another object of the invention is to effectively control the output flow of the fluid product out of the

dosing device.

  To achieve these and other objects, a metering device according to the invention for successively delivering several determined fractions of a quantity of a fluid product which it contains comprises a sealed container in one piece, suitable for containing said quantity of the fluid product and provided with an outlet orifice, the container having at least a first convex compartment communicating with at least a second convex compartment by an interior passage of reduced section in an intermediate narrowing, the first convex compartment having a wall deformable by crushing to cause the exit of fluid product, and having an interior volume corresponding to said determined fraction of quantity of product

fluid to deliver.

  In an advantageous embodiment, the wall of the first convex compartment is elastically deformable, so as to resume its initial shape after expulsion of said determined fraction of quantity of fluid product. This improves the aesthetic qualities of the metering device, while allowing subsequent operation to deliver a new fraction

determined of fluid product.

  Advantageously, the first and second convex compartments can be identical and both deformable at will. The first and second convex compartments can have identical volumes. Alternatively, if you want doses

  uneven, they can have different volumes.

  In an advantageous embodiment, the container comprises two intermediate narrowing separating three successive convex compartments substantially aligned along an axis

  longitudinal passing through the outlet.

  Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the

  present invention will emerge from the following description of modes

  of particular embodiments, made in relation to the appended figures, among which: - Figure 1 is a front view of a metering device according to an embodiment of the present invention; - Figure 2 is a top view of the device of Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a front view in longitudinal section of the device of Figure 1; and - Figure 4 illustrates an attached foot, in front view in longitudinal section. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the metering device according to the invention comprises a container 1 consisting of a body in one piece whose internal volume is adapted to contain an appropriate amount of fluid, for example liquid, pasty or powdery nutrients. The container 1 is provided with an elongate cannula 2, relatively rigid, closable by a plug 3, and of length L

  adapted to bring the product to an appropriate area.

  The cannula 2 comprises a base 8, adaptable to an outlet orifice 20 of the container, and a tubular part having its end initially closed and breakable, which the user can

  cut for example at level 4 using a knife or scissors.

  Level 4 can be chosen to correspond to the useful length of cannula 2, for example to the depth of a layer of substrate to

  cross to feed a plant.

  For certain applications, the cannula 2 may comprise, on its external peripheral face 5, a sliding agent facilitating its introduction and withdrawal into an orifice or a slot in a container. The plug 3 is advantageously secured to the base 8 of

  the cannula 2, to which it is connected by a flexible tongue 6.

  For example, the cannula 2 and the plug 3 can be made of injected plastic, the flexible tongue 6 initially forming a peripheral circle, one end of which 7 is integral with the base 8 of the cannula 2 and the other end of which 9 is integral of the plug 3, with breakable connection points 10 and 11. After cutting the cannula 2 according to level 4, the user can pull the plug 3, causing the breakable connection points 10 and 11 to be cut and the flexion of the flexible tongue 6 which allows the positioning of the plug at the end of the cannula 2, the plug remaining connected to the base 8 of

  the cannula 2 by the flexible tongue 6.

  The cannula 2 can advantageously be attached, adapted to the outlet orifice 20 of the container 1 to extend it outwards. Thus, the container 1 can be manufactured separately, by a process which may be different from that used to make the cannula 2, and from a different material. The container 1 can advantageously be produced by rotational molding of ethylene vinyl acetate, having the satisfactory qualities of elastic deformability. Cannula 2 may be of another material

injection molded plastic.

  Cannula 2 can be screwed, snapped on or engaged in

  force on an appropriately shaped neck 19 of the container 1.

  According to the invention, the device can be produced inexpensively from a plastic material, by providing that the container 1 is in one piece and has a peripheral wall which can be deformed by pressure to force the

  fluids to the outside through the cannula 2.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, according to the invention, a peripheral wall is provided having at least one intermediate narrowing 12 defining an interior passage 13 of reduced section between two successive convex compartments 14 and 15. At least one of the convex compartments 14 and 15 is deformable by lateral crushing. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, each successive convex compartment 14 or 15 can be deformed separately by crushing, as illustrated in dotted lines for the convex compartment 15 in FIG. 3, and each convex compartment 14 or 15 corresponds to a dose

  appropriate fluid to inject.

  In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, the peripheral wall 18 comprises two intermediate narrowing 12 and 16, separating three successive convex compartments 14, 15

  and 17 substantially aligned with the outlet orifice 20.

  The three successive convex compartments 14, 15 and 17 can have the same volumes, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Alternatively, the three successive convex compartments 14, 15 and 17 can have different volumes. For example, the lower compartment 17 may have a volume greater than that of the intermediate compartment 15 which itself has a volume greater than that of the upper compartment 14. The user can thus choose to overwrite that of the three successive convex compartments

  14, 15 and 17 which corresponds to the volume of fluid to be injected.

  Preferably, the wall of the successive convex compartment or compartments which are used by crushing for the metering is elastically deformable, so as to return to its initial shape after expulsion of said determined fraction of quantity of

fluid product it contains.

  The wall of the container 1 can be transparent. However, to ensure protection of the products stored inside the container, an opaque wall can advantageously be provided, preventing the products from being altered by light. The opaque nature of the peripheral wall is compatible with the metering possibilities provided by the determined volume of the successive convex compartments 14, 15 and 17 which are deformable. The lower compartment 17 of the metering device may advantageously include a more rigid base 21 and a generally planar lower surface 22, opposite the outlet orifice 20,

  to rest stably on a support surface.

  In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the metering device further comprises an attached base 23, which can be fixed to the container 1 of the metering device opposite the outlet orifice 20, and adapted to contain reloading products 24 The underside 25 of the attached base 23 is flat, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device, to rest stably on a support plane. The attached base 23 may be constituted by a peripheral wall having a large upper opening 26 surmounted by a neck 27 engaged in force on a lower axial extension 28 of the lower compartment 17. The neck 27 and the lower axial extension 28 are shaped to snap into each other, for example as illustrated in FIG. 4. By pulling on the attached base 23 away from the lower compartment 17, the added base 23 is released, giving access to the interior of the base 23 added by the upper opening 26 for withdrawing a sachet of reloading product 24. The product can then be introduced into the container 1. For example, the reloading product 24 can be a sachet of powder, which the 'is mixed with water after its introduction into the container 1. The amount of powder contained in the sachet is chosen sufficient to fill the interior volume of the container 1 according to a conce appropriate input. The attached base can advantageously be made of plastic

  molded, and constitute a rigid basic structure.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been explicitly described, but it includes the various variants and generalizations thereof contained in the field.

of the claims below.

Claims (7)

  1 - Dosing device for successively delivering several determined fractions of an amount of a fluid product it contains, comprising a container (1) sealed in one piece, adapted to contain said amount of the fluid product and provided with an orifice outlet (20), characterized in that the container (1) comprises at least a first convex compartment (14) communicating with at least a second convex compartment (15) by an internal passage (13) with reduced section in an intermediate narrowing (12), the first convex compartment (14) having a wall which can be deformed by crushing to cause the exit of fluid product, and having an interior volume corresponding to said determined fraction of quantity of product fluid to deliver.   2 - metering device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wall of the first convex compartment (14) is elastically deformable, so as to return to its initial shape after expulsion of said determined fraction of quantity of fluid product.   3 - Metering device according to one of claims 1 or   2, characterized in that the first and second convex compartments (14, 15) are identical and both deformable at will.   4 - Metering device according to one of claims 1 or   2, characterized in that the first and second compartments   convex (14, 15) have different volumes.   - Metering device according to one of claims 1 or   2, characterized in that the container (1) comprises two intermediate narrowing (12, 16), separating three successive convex compartments (14, 15, 17) substantially aligned   along a longitudinal axis passing through the outlet orifice (20).   6 - Dosing device according to any one of   Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a cannula   (2) attached, fitted to the outlet orifice (20) of the container   (1) to extend it outwards.   7 - Metering device according to claim 6, characterized in that the cannula (2) has its end initially closed and breakable.   8 - Metering device according to one of claims 6 or   7, characterized in that the cannula (2) is screwed, latched or forcibly engaged on a neck (19) of suitable shape of the container (1). 9 Metering device according to any one of   Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a base   attached (23), integral with the container (1) opposite the outlet orifice (20), and adapted to contain products recharging (24).   - Dosing device according to any one of   Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the lower surface   (22) of the metering device opposite the outlet orifice (20) is generally flat to rest stably on a support plane.