Abstract: A powder inhaler comprising a box (1) in which a suction channel (84) is formed enabling a user to inhale a powder, the inhaler being characterized in that it includes a pusher (2) associated with a return spring (83), actuation thereof enabling a dose of powder to be brought into a position enabling it to be sucked into the suction channel (84), and in that the box (1) includes a locking mechanism enabling the pusher (2) to be locked after it has been actuated, and enabling it to be unlocked when the user sucks up the dose of powder in the channel (84).

Abstract: Some paste or liquid products, used as cosmetics and medicines, for example, have to be protected from contact with air. Methods have been developed for vacuum packaging them. These methods are more concerned with eliminating air that may remain in the packaging filled with the product at the time the latter is closed (by welding, by sealed fixing of a dispensing valve, etc). No special precautions are taken during filling of the packaging which is carried out in air and inevitably causes unwanted air bubbles to be trapped. The present method avoids any inclusion of air in the product. The packaging, which consists of a variable volume reservoir, is filled while in its maximum content configuration in an hermetically sealed enclosure that is evacuated. The enclosure is formed by a bucket receiving the reservoir and to which a bell fits in a sealed way. The bell is connected to a system of vacuum pumps and to a store of the product.

Abstract: A precompression metering pump has already been mounted on a pressurized receptacle in the prior art. It serves not only to propel the contents of the receptacle for spraying purposes, but also to isolate said contents from ambient air in order to prevent it being degraded. However, in the past such a pump has been provided with a return spring capable of raising the pistons of the pump to a rest position regardless of the pressure inside the receptacle. Consequently, should a leak arise from the receptacle, there has been a danger of delivering a substance that has been degraded by contact with the atmosphere. The present invention avoids this problem by making spraying impossible should the pressure inside the receptacle fall below a predetermined pressure which is advantageously chosen to lie in the range 1 bar to 2 bars above atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: Dispenser heads for semi-liquid substances such as cosmetic or pharmaceutical creams generally comprise a dispenser valve capped by an actuating pusher. The substance is then dispensed through an orifice provided in the surface of the pusher and which is in communication with the valve via an outlet channel. Unless additional precautions are taken, the volume of substance filling the channel after first use of the pump may be degraded by coming into contact with ambient air, thereby degrading the quality of subsequent dispensing operations, or even making them impossible. The present invention avoids this difficulty by the use of a shutter constituted by a part made of resiliently deformable material having an end wall with an inside surface and an outside surface and a side wall extending from the inside surface of the end wall, the end wall having a slot passing through it which narrows in a slit at the outside surface.

Abstract: A device for administering a medicine in the form of a spray, the medicine being constituted by a mixture of at least two substances that must be stored separately prior to use, the device comprising a volume which is divided into two compartments by a membrane 2 suitable for puncturing or tearing. The volume is defined by a receptacle 1A, 1B which is generally tubular in shape, and which is open at both ends. A suction and spray pump 4 is crimped onto one end thereof while its opposite end has a free piston 6 slidably received in the tubular element 1B to reduce the inside volume thereof as the pump sucks the content out from the tubular element after the membrane has been punctured.

Abstract: A spray head for use with a receptacle containing a liquid which is maintained under pressure by a propellant gas, thereby enabling a product to be packaged so that it is protected from coming into contact with the air, the spray head being of the type comprising a manually-operated precompression pump which includes a pump chamber comprising first and second cylinders (11, 15) capable of engaging telescopically, the chamber being closed by relative displacement of the cylinders, said first cylinder being integral with the pump outlet valve and being provided at one of its end with a circular sealing lip (12) capable of engaging against and of sliding along the wall of the second cylinder, which second cylinder is in communication with the inside of the receptacle, the wall being provided at at least one of its ends with relief (18) such that when the sealing lip lies over the relief and the relief causes sealing to be broken, a passage is opened suitable for passing gas at a rate of flow which is sufficient

Abstract: A problem which arises with dispensers for semi-liquid substances lies in there being an outlet channel which is permanently in communication with ambient air. After first use of the dispenser, the corresponding dead volume is filled with semi-liquid substance which quickly becomes spoiled; thereby making subsequent utilization at least difficult and possibly toxic or even impossible. The present invention avoids this difficulty by means of a pushbutton in which the outlet channel is defined by co-operation between a flexible part and a rigid part. The outlet channel extends essentially radially and its volume is reduced when the user applies axial pressure on the pushbutton. A motion transforming system for transforming axial displacement into radial displacement serves simultaneously to retract a plunger received in the outlet channel, thereby disengaging the delivery orifice of the pushbutton.

Abstract: Tamperproof packaging for a spray device (1) of very small size constituted by a can (2) whose diameter and height are no more than a few centimeters and having a valve (3) actuatable by a hollow rod (4). The packaging has an open-topped case (13) having a bottom and a side wall, the bottom including an opening (15) which is wide enough to pass the finger of a user, but which is too narrow to pass the spray device (1). The packaging also has a pusher (5) constituted by a thrust cylinder (6) having an outside channel having one end which communicates with the outside and having its other end engaged by abutment over the rod (4) of the valve (3). The package has an outer envelope (8) which is fixed to the thrust cylinder (6) and which provides a surface suitable for receiving pressure from two other fingers of a user.

Abstract: A pushbutton for use with a spray device for mixing a primary substance with a predetermined quantity of a secondary substance stored in such a manner as to be sheltered from the air. The pushbutton is constituted by a first piece (2) which is moveable relative to a second piece (1) containing the emission channel (11) of the pushbutton. The first piece (2) includes containers (22) advantageously disposed like rounds in the cylinder of a revolver. Each container (22) contains the desired quantity of the secondary substance and is hermetically closed by a membrane (23). When the user actuates the pushbutton, a suitable resilient piece (3) and suitable connection pieces (15, 25) ensure that the user automatically displaces the first piece (2) in such a manner that the membrane (23) of one of the containers (22) is pierced and the corresponding dose of secondary substance is delivered into the emission channel (11) so as to be sprayed out together with the main substance.

Abstract: Some precompression pumps currently used for spraying a liquid include a non-return valve formed by a gasket (3) held captive between the base of the pump body (1) and a sleeve (2). This non-return valve determines the extent to which the pump chamber (19) is isolated from or put into communication with a supply of liquid, as a function of whether the gasket (3) bears against the base of the pump body (1) or against the sleeve (2), closing a central hole through the pump body or being held off a central hole through the sleeve.

Abstract: The device (102) is intended to inject a gas under pressure into an aerosol receptacle (100) through a pump or spray head crimped onto said receptacle. The purpose of the gas is to prevent air from penetrating into the aerosol receptacle as the liquid contained therein is sprayed out. The device is actuated by the pressure of the filling gas and it includes a damping system for ensuring uniform operation.