Title of Invention

MANUAL SYRINGE FOR ASPIRATING OR DISPENSING FLUID OR PASTY PRODUCTS

Abstract Manual syringe for aspirating or dispensing fluid or pasty products, characterized in that said main body (25) is provided with longitudinal (26) and radial (27) apertures respectively on its side wall and its end wall (28) opposite to said first end thereof, to allow selective insertion in and extraction from said main body of said dispensing element (29a, 29b, 29d, 30, 60, 66, 71, 83), the latter being provided with at least one peripheral recess (31, 33, 34), substantially transversal to said longitudinal axis and operatively co-operating with a protrusion of complementary shape placed in correspondence with said radial aperture (27), to establish a reversible mechanical bond between said main body (25) and said dispensing element (29a, 29b, 29d, 30, 60, 66, 71, 83) during syringe operation. FIG 1
Full Text

DEVICE OF THE MANUAL SYRINGE TYPE FOR PROPORTIONING AND DISPENSING FLUID OR PASTY PRODUCTS
Description
The present invention relates to a device of the manual syringe type for proportioning and dispensing fluid or pasty products.
The invention has the object to provide a device of the aforesaid type, involving a simple and economical production, and a simple and quick use. The invention also has the object to provide a device consisting of a reduced number of components, made from a small quantity of material, so that the total cost of the device may be reduced.
Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the so-called "throwaway" type, in which the amount of material to be disposed is very little, resulting in a reduced environmental impact. A non-minor obj ect of the present invention is to provide a device as described hereinbefore, also comprising some reusable elements.
A further object of the invention is to provide a device wherein the fluid or pasty product may be filled or refilled in a simple manner, and which is immediately ready-to-use with no need for transferring fluid from one container to the other or from one container to the device.
In order to achieve the above objects, the invention relates to a device as described hereinbefore, having the characteristics as defined in claim 1 below.
Further characteristics and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of a few embodiments of the invention, referring to the accompanying figures, provided only by way of a non-restricting example, in which:
figure 1 is a perspective exploded view of a first embodiment of the invention, - figure 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of

the invention, showing two possible variations,
- figure 3 is a top view of a further variant of the embodiment of figure 2,
- figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a third embodiment of the invention,
- figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the invention,

- figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a variant of a construction detail of the invention,
- figure 7 is a side schematic view of a fifth embodiment,
- figure 8 is a schematic view of a pair of fluid containers which may be possibly used in connection with the present invention,
- figures 9 to 11 are side schematic views of variants of the embodiment as shown in figure 7,

- figure 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of another variant of the embodiment as shown in figure 2,
- figure 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of a sixth embodiment of the invention,

- figure 14 is a side view of a variant of the embodiment as shown in figure 7,
- figure 15 is a schematic view of a seventh embodiment,
- figure 16 is a schematic view of an optional characteristic which may be adopted in the present invention, to allow a used needle to disappear inside the syringe body,
- figure 17 is a schematic view of a further embodiment of the invention,
- figure 18 shows an application example of the present
invention, in the form of a toothpaste dispensing device
integrated in a toothbrush, and
- figure 19 shows a variant of a body for supporting a needle
and a cartridge according to the present invention.
With reference now to figure 1, a proportioning and dispensing device of the manual syringe type, generally

indicated with numeral 10, comprises a needle 11, which is mounted on a bearing structure 12, preferably, but not limited to, made of plastic. The bearing structure comprises a front crossbar 17 from which two stringers 18 extend to support a tubular lead-in guide 19, externally provided with two wings 20. A major portion of the needle 11 extends out of the bearing structure 12 and ends at one end with a point 13a, normally protected by a needle-cover, which may be snap-, clutch- or pressure-fitted on the bearing structure 12. Preferably, near the mouth of the needle-cover 14 a rather wide protection 15 is formed to protect the fingers of a user, during the needle covering operations.
The other end 13b of the needle, also ending with a point, projects out of a cylindrical sleeve 16 fastened on the bearing structure 12, at the middle of the crossbar 17. The cylindrical sleeve 16 extends parallel to the stringers 18 and ends with a pressure disc 21, substantially concentric with the tubular lead-in guide 19. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a mushroom head stake 22, whose function will appear more clearly hereafter, projects out of the pressure disc 21.
A cartridge, or carpule 23, containing the fluid to be injected or dispensed, has a substantially cylindrical shape, plugged at the rear end 23a. The outside diameter of the cartridge 23 substantially corresponds to the inside diameter of the lead-in guide 19. A cylindrical piston 24, preferably made of rubber, is slidably mounted at the front portion of the cartridge 23, so as to exert a sealing action thereon.
In using the device 10, the cartridge 23 is inserted in the lead-in guide 19 and pushed against the pressure disc 21, while holding the device 10 as is conventionally done with prior art syringes, i.e. by grasping by the index and middle fingers the wings 20 of the bearing structure 12, and by pushing the bottom 23a of the cartridge 23 by the thumb. The

pressure of the cartridge 23 on the pressure disc 21 causes the needle point 13b to penetrate the piston 24, thereby perforating it. In subsequent operations, the fluid contained in the cartridge 23 is free to be discharged therefrom through the point 13a of the needle 11, wherefrom the needle-covering 14 has been previously removed.
As is easily remarkable, the structure of the device 10 is much lighter than that of a traditional syringe and uses a smaller number of components. Further, the structure 10 does not include the plastic barrel of traditional syringes, thereby involving apparent material savings, since the cartridge itself holds the fluid and acts, at the same time, as a plunger. Therefore, the device 10 is clearly shown to have a lower cost, when compared with traditional syringes, and to imply a considerable reduction in the material to be disposed, also when it is used once.
The mushroom head stake 22, if there is any, is designed to be engaged in a corresponding cavity formed on the piston 24, elastically enveloping it, so that the device 10 may be also used to suck in fluid through the needle 11, by pulling the cartridge 23 back. Here, in the rear part of the cartridge 23, a thicker collar may be formed, to assist the removal of the cartridge 23 from the bearing structure 12, and the consequent suction of fluid through the needle 11.
Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention, intended to be used with a cartridge 23 similar in all respects to that described with reference to figure 1. Particularly, a device 10a comprises a body 25, consisting in a tubular shell 25a, provided with a longitudinal aperture 26. At the rear end of the body 25, two wings 20a are formed, whereas the front end is closed by a transverse wall 2 8, wherein a housing notch 27 is formed. The longitudinal aperture 26 has two transverse widened parts 26a, 26b, near the wings 20a and the wall 28 respectively.

Different types of dispensing members may be provided in the body 25, two of which are shown by way of example in figure 2, indicated with numerals 29a, 29b respectively. A first type of dispensing member 2 9a, the simpler one, comprises a tubular element 30, wherein a needle 11 is fitted, and which is provided, at its rear end, with a pressure disc 21 and, possibly, with a mushroom head stake 22, identical in all respects to those described with reference to figure 1. Near the front end of the tubular element 30, two spaced abutments 31 are formed, the distance therebetween substantially corresponding to the thickness of zhe wail 28 of the body 25. Thanks to this configuration, the dispensing member 2 9a may be inserted in the body 25 to obtain a dispensing device which is functionally similar to that shown in figure 1 and previously described.
Another type of dispensing member, indicated with numeral 2 9b in figure 2, comprises an elongated element 32, wherein a portion of the needle 11 is housed, and whereon there is provided a sequence of lateral notches 33, separated by baffles 34, and designed to be selectively inserted in the housing notch 27 formed in the front wall 28 of the body 25. Naturally, the shape of the elongated element 32 is given purely by way of example and may obviously be modified, for example taking a configuration similar to that of the tubular body 30 of the dispensing member 29a, whereon a plurality of abutments 31, having the same functions as the baffles 34, may be formed.
The dispensing member 29b provides the device 10a with an additional characteristic, not mentioned herebefore, that is the possibility to predetermine the quantity of fluid to be dispensed by simply selecting the insertion position of the dispensing member 29b on the body 25, and particularly in the housing notch 27. Based on the position of the dispensing member 29b on the body 25, the rubber piston 24 of a

cartridge 23 inserted in the body 25 will be accordingly compressed in different pullout positions of the cartridge 23, thereby causing the quantity of fluid discharged through the needle 11 to change, before the front edge 23b of the cartridge abuts against the wall 28 of the body 25. Naturally, reference marks may be provided on the elongated element 32 and/or on the cartridge 23, for example silk screen printed indications, intending to offer the user an indication about the quantity of liquid available for dispensing, according to the position taken by the elongated element 32 on the body 25. The illustrated device, with reference to both dispensing members 29a and 29b exemplified in figure 2, allows to dispose the dispensing member only, whereas the body 25 may be reused an unlimited number of times, Hence, the material needing to be disposed is very little, with apparent advantages in terms both of inexpensiveness and of environmental protection. It is also important to remark that the dispensing member 29a, 29b may be removed without touching it, since, once the used up cartridge 23 is removed, the dispensing member can be simply extracted from the body 25, by gripping the latter and beating the dispensing member or pushing it against a hard surface, for example against the edge of a rubbish bin, to
disengage it from the housing notch 27. This reduces the
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risks for the user, particularly the risk that he may get pricked by the no longer sterile needle 11.
A variant of the dispensing member is illustrated in figure 12, wherein the same reference numerals indicate the same elements as shown in figure 2. Here, the body 25 may house a dispensing member 29c, composed of a tubular element 30a, for example provided with abutments 31 or ridges like in figure 2, wherein a stem 30b, which bears the needle 11 and which is provided, at its rear end, with the pressure disc 21, may be moved axially. In the pre-utilization position, the

dispensing member 29c keeps the needle 11 protected,
enclosing it in the tubular element 30a. When the cartridge
23 is inserted, a first length of its axial displacement
causes, thanks to the thrust of the piston 24, the stem 3 0b
to be axially displaced and the needle 11 to come out. This
axial displacement stops when'"'the rear portion of the tubular
element 3 0a abuts against the pressure disc 21, on the side
opposite to the piston 24, which is then perforated by the
rear point of the needle 11, to allow the product contained
in the cartridge 23 to be dispensed. The sequential abutments
31 allow to preset the quantity of dispensable fluid, in the
same manner as described above with reference to the
dispensing member 29b. At the end of the operation, the
tubular element 30a acting as a cap, may be irreversibly
locked.
All the apparatus illustrated hereinbefore, using a
dispensing member which can be separated from the body 25,
may be provided with a system to assist the removal of the
member for separating it from the body after the dispensing
operation. In its simplest form, said system comprises a
flexible tongue formed on the body 25, on the side opposite
to the longitudinal notch 26, whose compression helps the
dispensing member, and thus the needle 11, to come out.
Figure 3 shows a variant 10b of the dispensing device
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described above. A tubular body 25b, provided with wings 20b at its rear, has an upper aperture 35 wherein a dispensing member 29d with an externally threaded cylindrical body 36, through which the needle 11 is fitted, may be inserted. The front wall 28a of the dispensing device 10b has a housing notch 27a with a semicircular thread at its bottom 27b. A stop open ring 37, which may be rotated to close the upper part of the housing notch 27a when the dispensing member 29d is inserted in the notch 27a, thereby locking it, is rotatably mounted around the body 25b, at the wall 28a.

This configuration of the dispensing device 10b allows a fine adjustment of the quantity of dispensable fluid, by simply screwing the threaded body 36 in the housing notch 27a. Also, the operations to dispose the dispensing member 29d are as simple, quick and safe as those described with reference to the dispensing members 2 9a and 29b of figure 2 and 29c of figure 12: the stop open ring 37 need only be rotated to disengage the member 36 from the notch 27a. Also in this case, reference marks may be provided on the dispensing member 29d, on the body 25b and/or on the cartridge 23, to indicate the dispensable quantities of fluid, corresponding to a certain rotation of the threaded body 36. The above examples of dispensing members 29a, 29b and 29d may be naturally provided with a needle-cover similar to that shown and described with reference to figure 1, or anyway of any other well-known type. On the other hand, figure 4 shows an automatic-release needle-covering system. A needle 11 is partially housed inside a tubular element 38 and fastened thereto near its rear end 13b. The tubular element 38, provided with the above-mentioned pressure disc 21, is fastened at its front part to the front transverse wall 39 which closes a tubular lead-in body 25c. A small slidable tube 4 0 is slidably fitted on the needle and covers, in the pulled out position, the portion of the needle 11 projecting out of the body 25c, including the front point 13a, whereas, in a retracted position, it is housed inside the tubular element 38. The front end of the tube 40 is fastened to a bracket 41, provided with a retaining ring 42, which externally encircles the body 25c, and is allowed to axially slide thereon. An annular ridge 43, formed on the outer shell of the body 25c prevents the bracket 41, and thus the tube 40, from being slipped off. A manually controllable appendix 44 projects on the upper part of the bracket. A longitudinal notch 45 is formed on the upper part of the

body 2 5c, to allow the bracket 41 to slide, by controlling the appendix 44. In the needle-covering position, as shown in figure 4, the bracket 41 is locked in position by a locking tooth 46, placed at the front end of a flexible blade 47, which is coupled to the tubular element 38 near the pressure disc 21 and provided, in this position, with a slanted tooth 48.
When a cartridge 23 is inserted in the body 2 5c, its front edge 23b interacts with the slanted tooth 48, thereby causing the flexible blade 47 to be bent down and, consequently, the locking tooth 48 to be disengaged from the bracket 41. Then, the bracket 41 can be pulled back, by controlling the appendix 44, and the front end 13a of the needle 11 can be uncovered only when the cartridge 23 is inserted and the dispensing device is ready for use. After use, when the cartridge 23 has been pulled off, the bracket 41 can be brought back to the lock position as shown in figure 4, by controlling the appendix 44, to cover the needle 11. Naturally, the dispensing device 10c as shown in figure 4 may be modified in such a way that the assembly of elements composed of the needle 11, of the tubular element 38, of the bracket 41 and of the tube 40, may be pulled off and removed from the body 25c, according to the principles described and illustrated above with reference to figure 2.
Figure 5 shows a further variant of the invention, relating to a dispensing device lOd, provided with an automatic mechanism for covering the needle 11, at the end of the dispensing operation. Particularly, the device lOd comprises a tubular body 25d for leading in a cartridge (not shown) , identical in all respects to the body 25 of figure 2. Under said body 25d, in a diametrically opposite position with respect to the notch 26, a sleeve 49 is fastened, inside which a piston 50 is slidably mounted, under the pressure of an elastic member 51, particularly a helical spring,

compressed against a bottom 52 of the sleeve 49. An upper portion of the piston 50 is conformed like a flexible blade 53, with an end slanted tooth 54 projecting inside the body 25d near the bottom wal 1 56, through a cavity 55 adj acent thereto. A fork-like support 57, whereon the front end of a needle-covering tube 58, provided with a pair of abutments 59a, 59b, is inserted, extends from the piston 50. The needle-covering tube 58 is slidably fitted inside a tubular element 60, which is inserted, in the same manner as described above, in a housing notch 61, formed in the front wall 56 of the body 25d. On the tubular element 60, a longitudinal notch is made, which has, in its front part, a stop baffle or another element designed to retain and lock a safety tooth 64, placed at the end of a flexible blade 65 formed on the tube 58.
In using the dispensing device lOd, when a cartridge -inserted in the body 25d - reaches its front wall 56, it causes the slanted tooth 54 to come out of the aperture 55 and consequently determines the release of the piston 50 which, under the action of the spring 51, drags the tube 58 forwards, until the latter totally covers the needle 11. The safety tooth 64, by interfering with the baffle 63, prevents any subsequent attempt to uncover the needle 11, which may be removed safely, together with the tubular element 60, from the body 25d, through the housing notch 61.
In the examples described and illustrated hereinabove, the rear point 13b of the needle 11 pro j ects out of the central support tubular element. An alternative thereto, which allows to protect the rear point 13b of the needle 11, reducing the risks that a user may get pricked therewith, is shown in figure 6. A general tubular central support 66 houses a needle 11, whose rear point 13b, designed to perforate a general rubber piston 67, is protected by a cap 68, provided with internal hook-like teeth 69, designed to retain a

deformable annular crown 70 formed on the rubber piston 67.
Figure 19 shows a variant of the body which bears the needles
and guides the cartridge 23, as described above.
Particularly, the body 125 is divided into two portions 125a,
125b, mutually articulated about a transverse axis 126 placed
near the area in which the cartridge 23 is introduced. Two
gripping rings 127, 12 8 are fastened to the two portions
125a, 125b, which extend behind the transverse axis 126 in
two respective tails 129a, 129b. A safety appendix 130,
controlled by a slider 131, is preferably mounted on the body
125, aiming at selectively uncover one of the needles
described and illustrated above, for example that shown in
figure 5, which may be inserted in the notch 27. Naturally,
the safety appendix 13 0 is wholly optional and, if there is
one, it may be of the manual or automatic type, as previously
described.
In using the body 125, a needle may be easily grasped by
acting on the gripping rings 127, 128 to open the portions
125a, 125b apart in the area of the notch 27. When the
portions 125a, 125 are closed again, once the needle has been
placed in the notch 27, the tails 129a, 129b are brought back
to the configuration as shown in figure 19, thereby defining
a substantially circular aperture, allowing the cartridge 23
to be inserted therein. Once the cartridge 23 has been
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inserted, the portions 125a, 125b are prevented from opening apart by the interference of the tails 129a, 129b with the outer wall of the cartridge 23.
A further variant lOe of the invention is shown in figure 7 and comprises an elongated central body 71, which may have a circular or, more preferably, cross-shaped section, wherein a needle 11a is housed and whereto a deformable piston 72, preferably made of rubber is attached, at the rear part thereof. Here, it is not necessary to provide the needle 11a with a rear point. A finger-bearing structure 73 completes

the device lOe. A cartridge 74, of the simple, cylindrical glass-type is inserted on the device lOe, and has the function of a plunger. The cartridge 74 may consist, as shown in figure 8, of a vial 75a, 75b, for example having a stress raising nick, outlined by the dashed line 76a, 76b, annularly encircling the cylindrical portion under the neck 77a, 77b. Figure 9 shows a variant of the device of figure 7, wherein, besides the piston 72, a further disc 78, for centering the cartridge 74 is placed on the central elongated body 71. Figure 10 shows a variant of the dispensing device, wherein instead of a needle, a dispenser 79 is provided, possibly, but not necessarily articulated in 80, for example for dispensing foodstuff, creams, toothpaste and similar. Advantageously, the articulation 80 may be made in the form of a stop valve, preventing the product to come out when it is partially used and when a further use thereof is foreseen. Such a stop valve may be made in any other manner, which will be apparent, to those skilled in the art, from the present description and from the drawings annexed thereto. As an alternative, or as a spare accessory, the dispensing device may be provided with a dispensing spatula 81, as shown in figure 11. A specific application example in the form of a brush 109 is also illustrated in figure 18, which shows a dispensing device whose elongated central body 7la, provided at one end with the piston 72, extends on the opposite; side by an appendix 71b, to whose end bristles 110 are fixed. The central body 71a is wholly or partly enveloped by a covering structure 111, having the function of a handgrip for the brush. The cartridge 74 containing the product to be dispensed is slidably fitted on the piston 72 and communicates with an axial duct 112 formed in the central body 71a and in the appendix 71b, which opens out at the base of the bristles 110. By pressing the bottom 113 of the cartridge 74, the product contained therein may be forced to

allow the desired quantity thereof to come out at the bristles 110. As a variant, if the internal cavity Ilia of the covering structure 111 has a substantially cylindrical shape, a thread may be formed thereon, to be engaged on a corresponding thread formed on the outer shell of the cartridge 74. So, the product may be supplied to the bristles 110 by screwing the cartridge 74 in the cavity Ilia, for a desired number of turns; the latter variant is particularly advantageous to ■ prevent the product to come out unintentionally in case of accidental shocks. Naturally, the specific embodiment illustrated above may be particularly but not exclusively used in the field of toothbrushes, particularly travel toothbrushes, as well as in the field of brushes for shoes or clothes, for cars, for personal hygiene, only to mention a few application examples.
The cartridges 74, besides being obtained by breaking the vials 75a, 75b, may be also provided as cylindrical containers, covered by a plug, or by a film, possibly - but not exclusively - provided with a tear-off opening. Particular advantages may be obtained by providing that the cartridges 74, having simple and smooth shapes, may be easily made from materials other than glass, such as paper, or similar, especially, in cases of use with foodstuff. Figure 13 shows a dispensing device in which the only discarded part, at the end of the dispensing operation, is the needle 11. This device comprises a lead-in body 82, for receiving a cartridge as shown in figure 1, whereto a perforated central stem 83 terminating by a pressure disc 21 and being able to receive a needle 11, is integrally fastened. The central stem 83 has, in a front area, a longitudinal hollow 84, which may be penetrated by a portion of a cam 85, articulated to the body 82. In the position shown in the figure, the cam 85 locks the needle 11 in order to allow a product contained in a cartridge (not shown) to be

dispensed. A the end of the dispensing operations, a rotation
of the cam 85 in the direction of arrow A allows the needle
11 to be pulled off (possibly by gravity) and consequently
removed. Naturally, instead of the cam 85 any other retaining
device may be provided, for example button-, spring-, and
piston- or otherwise operated';
Figure 14 shows a variant of the solution illustrated in more
general terms in figure 7 above. Here, the bearing structure
73 for the fingers of the operator comprises a pair of
opposed foils 86, which are plastically hinged in the areas
88, and terminate in two wings 20, provided with hook-like
teeth 87a, 87b respectively. When all the product contained
in the cartridge or vial 74 has been dispensed, the foils 86
are rotated 180° towards the needle 11a, in the direction of
arrows B, until the two hook-like teeth 87a, 87b mutually
engage, in such a way that the foils and the wings 20 form c
protection for the needle 11a, preventing accidental pricks.
Since the diameter of the mouth 74a of the cartridge 74 is
greater than the distance between the two foils 86 in the
area of the plastic hinge 88, when the cartridge 74 reaches
the end-of-stroke at the end of the dispensing operation, the
rotation of the two foils 86 in the direction of arrows B is
facilitated.
Figure 15 schematically shows a further embodiment of the
«
present invention, particularly - but not exclusively intended for packaging sterile syringes in blisters or similar, wherein, for the sake of illustration simplicity, the needle-cover has been omitted. In this solution, a needle 11a, or more generally a discharge duct, is fastened to an internally perforated pusher body 90, provided with a finger-bearing structure 89. The needle 11a and the internal hole 91 are at a radial distance from the axis of symmetry of the pusher body 90, which is supplied, at its rear part 90b, with a sealing member 92, particularly, but not exclusively, a

ring, for example an O-ring. The rear part 90b and the sealing member 92 are inserted, during the manufacturing process, in a flexible piston 93 movable in a cartridge 94 containing a product to be dispensed or injected. In detail, the piston 93 has a cavity 95, corresponding as a negative to the rear part 90b of the body 90. A hole 96 allowing communication with the inside of the cartridge 94, is formed on the bottom of the cavity 95 in a diametrically opposite position with respect to the through hole 91.
Before use, the dispensing device, or syringe of figure 15 is assembled is such a way that the product contained in the cartridge 94 is not allowed to come out of the needle 11a, because the hole 94, formed in the piston 93, is plugged at the bottom 90b of the body 90. In order to use che product and dispense or inject it through the needle 11a, the body 90 need only be rotated about a longitudinal axis, for example over 180°, until the holes 96 and 91 are coaxial. Figure 17 schematically shows an alternative example of a needle or discharge duct lib, fitted during the manufacturing process on a piston 97, which may slide within a cartridge 98. Particularly, the needle lib is inserted in a rotating member 99, which is housed inside the piston 97, having a hole 10 0 which, when the needle lib is in the position as shown in a continuous line in figure 17, is plugged by the rotating member 99. On the contrary, when the needle lib is brought to the operating position, as shown is a dashed line in the figure, aligned with the sliding direction of the piston 97 in the cartridge 98, the product contained therein is free to flow down through the hole 10 0, the rotating member 99 and the needle lib after pressure is exerted at the bottom 98b of the cartridge.
Figure 16 shows a possible assembled configuration of a needle 11a in a tubular body 101 comprising an internal axial cavity 102, which tapers in the end portion closest to the

needle 11a. The needle 11a, in turn, has at its base conical thicker part 103, which is forced in the taper of the
axial cavity 102 and keeps its position during the use of the
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needle thanks to the friction forces mutually exerted by the walls. Once the needle 11a has been used, a force greater than the friction between the cones is simply exerted on the needle point to have the needle 11a retracted in the cavity 102, protecting the operator from accidental pricks. Particularly, the retraction of the needle 11a may be obtained by beating, for example, the needle point on a hard surface, such as a table, a shelf, etc. The solution described herein may be used advantageously in most of the dispensing apparatus illustrated and described hereinbefore, as embodiments of the present invention.
Then, the dispensing device in accordance with the present invention may be used both in the medical field, for injecting pharmaceutical substances and in all fields where the dispensing of creams, pastes, oils or other fluid or pasty products is necessary or useful.
Naturally, notwithstanding the principle of the invention, the embodiments and the implementation details may be greatly varied with respect to the above description and illustrations, without departure from the scope of the present invention.


CLAIMS
1. Manual syringe (10a) for aspirating or dispensing fluid or pasty products,
comprising a main body (25) defining a longitudinal axis and provided with guide
means (26), a cartridge body (23, 74) containing said products, adapted to be
inserted in said main body at a first end portion thereof and to be guided in said
guide means (26) along an axial direction, with an at least partially elastic piston
(24, 72) slidably mounted in said cartridge body (23, 74) and adapted to exert a
sealing action on the inner walls thereof, a longitudinal dispensing element (29a,
29b, 29d, 30, 60, 66, 71, 83) provided internally with a through duct, with a nozzle
at a first extremity and with a plunger member (22) at the second extremity
thereof, said nozzle and said plunger member (22) reciprocally communicating
through said duct, said plunger member (22) being adapted to move with respect
to said piston (24, 72) in an axial direction from a piston closing position, in which
the passage of said products from the cartridge body (23, 74) to the nozzle is
prevented, to a piston opening position, in which the passage of said products is
allowed, said plunger' member and said piston element being adapted to
selectively slide inside the cartridge body (23, 74) when a relative axial
displacement between said main body (25) and said cartridge body (23, 74)
occurs, characterised in that
said main body (25) is provided with longitudinal (26) and radial (27) apertures respectively on its side wall and its end wall (28) opposite to said first end thereof, to allow selective insertion in and extraction from said main body of said dispensing element (29a, 29b, 29d, 30, 60, 66, 71, 83), the latter being provided with at least one peripheral recess (31, 33, 34), substantially transversal to said longitudinal axis and operatively co-operating with a protrusion of complementary shape placed in correspondence with said radial aperture (27), to establish a reversible mechanical bond between said main body (25) and said dispensing element (29a, 29b, 29d, 30, 60, 66, 71, 83) during syringe operation.
2. Manual syringe, according to claim 1, characterised in that said protrusion is
formed by the same end wall (28) of the main body (25) and said at least one
peripheral recess is a groove (31, 33, 34), whose width is substantially equal to the
thickness of said end wall (28).

3. Manual syringe according to claim 2, characterised in that said groove (31, 33, 34) is.-placed at said first extremity of said longitudinal dispensing element (29a, 29b, 29d, 30, 60, 66, 71, 83), on an enlarged portion thereof.
4. Manual syringe according to claim 3, characterised in that said longitudinal dispensing element (29a, 29b, 29d, 30, 60, 66, 71, 83) has a needle solidarily fixed internally in the axial direction thereof.
5. Manual syringe according to claim 4, characterised in that said needle extends outwardly from said second extremity of said longitudinal dispensing element (29a, 29b, 29d, 60, 66, 71, 83) to be adapted to penetrate said piston (24,72).
6. Manual syringe according to claim 4, characterised in that there is provided a plurality of peripheral recesses (31, 33, 34) axially spaced for selective adjustment of the position of said longitudinal dispensing element (29b, 30a) with respect to the main body, to allow discrete adjustment of the quantity of said products to be drawn from or aspirated in said cartridge body (23, 74) with a complete piston stroke.
7. Manual syringe according to claim 4, characterised in that said at least one peripheral recess is formed as a thread (36) extending along a predefinite portion (29d) of said longitudinal dispensing element, adapted to operatively co-operate with a correspondent threaded portion (27a) on said end wall (28a) to allow continuous adjustment of the quantity of said products to be drawn from said cartridge body (23) with a complete piston stroke.
8. Manual syringe according to claim 4, characterised in that said longitudinal dispensing element comprises a first portion (30a) and a second portion (30b) to which needle (11) is solidarily fixed, the second section being adapted to slide inside the first portion in the axial direction, between a first position in which the needle (11) is housed inside the first portion (30a) and a second position in which said needle (11) is partially extracted.
9. Manual syringe according to claim 8, characterised in that means (85) are provided for selectively remove said needle (11) from said longitudinal dispensing element (83).
10. Manual syringe according to claim 9, characterised in that there is provided a
needle covering element (40, 65) slidably fixed on said main body (25) with

selectively releasable locking means to selectively cover or expose said needle
(11).,
11. Manual syringe according to claim 4, characterised in that said main body (25)
is provided with seizing means (20, 20a, 20b) for manual operation which are provided with articulation means (88) adapted to refold said seizing means (20) to a position towards the tip of the needle for covering it.
12. Manual syringe according to claim 4, characterised in that said piston (24, 72, 93) being provided with locking means (70) adapted to operatively lock said plunger member (22) for reversibly operate said piston in two opposite axial directions inside said cartridge.
13. Manual syringe according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said plunger member (22) comprises a pressure plate (21) designed to push said piston (24, 72, 93) to cause it to slide inside the cartridge body (23, 74, 94).

14. Manual syringe substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.


Documents:

abs-in-pct-2000-289-che.jpg

in-pct-che-2000-289-abstract.pdf

in-pct-che-2000-289-claims duplicate.pdf

in-pct-che-2000-289-claims original.pdf

in-pct-che-2000-289-correspondance others.pdf

in-pct-che-2000-289-correspondance po.pdf

in-pct-che-2000-289-description complete duplicate.pdf

in-pct-che-2000-289-description complete original.pdf

in-pct-che-2000-289-drawings.pdf

in-pct-che-2000-289-form 1.pdf

in-pct-che-2000-289-form 19.pdf

in-pct-che-2000-289-form 26.pdf

in-pct-che-2000-289-form 3.pdf

in-pct-che-2000-289-form 5.pdf

in-pct-che-2000-289-pct.pdf


Patent Number 202285
Indian Patent Application Number IN/PCT/2000/289/CHE
PG Journal Number 26/2007
Publication Date 29-Jun-2007
Grant Date 15-Feb-2007
Date of Filing 17-Aug-2000
Name of Patentee TECNOLOGIA S A S DI VALENTINO BRAZZALE & C.
Applicant Address Via Trenti, 37 I-36010 Cogollo del Cengio
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 Giambattista APOLLONI, Via Trenti, 35 I-36010 Cogollo del Cengio
2 Giancarlo BRUN, Via Nazario Sauro, 19 I-36016 Thiene
PCT International Classification Number A46B11/00
PCT International Application Number PCT/EP1999/000357
PCT International Filing date 1999-01-20
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 BO98A000012 1998-01-20 Italy