Claims for Patent: 8,147,461

Summary for Patent: 8,147,461

Title:	Fluid dispensing device
Abstract:	A fluid dispensing device for dispensing a fluid product having a dispensing outlet from which the fluid product is dispensable, a supply of the fluid product, a dispensing member mounted for movement in a dispensing direction along an axis X-X from a first position to a second position which causes a dose of the fluid product in the supply to be dispensed from the dispensing outlet, and a finger-operable actuator member mounted for movement in an actuating direction which is generally transverse to the axis.
Inventor(s):	Bonney; Stanley George (Ware, GB), Connell; Hugh Alexander (Evesham, GB), Davies; Michael Birsha (Ware, GB), Godfrey; James William (Ware, GB), Hedley; Mark Graham (Ware, GB), Tansley; Robert William (Bidford on Avon, GB)
Assignee:	Glaxo Group Limited (Greenford, Middlesex, GB)
Application Number:	10/598,464
Patent Claims:	1. A fluid dispensing device for dispensing a fluid product having: a dispensing outlet from which the fluid product is dispensable, a supply of the fluid product, a dispensing member mounted for movement in an upward, dispensing direction along an axis from a first position to a second position which causes a dose of the fluid product in the supply to be dispensed from the dispensing outlet, and a finger-operable actuator member mounted for pivotal movement about a lower end of the actuator member in an actuating direction which is generally transverse to the axis, wherein the actuator member has at least one cam surface remote from the lower end and the dispensing member has at least one cam follower surface, wherein the actuator member is pivotally movable in the actuating direction to cause the at least one cam surface to bear against the at least one cam follower surface to force the at least one cam follower surface to ride over the cam surface to cam the dispensing member in the upward, dispensing direction from the first position to the second position, wherein the at least one cam surface has a commitment section, oriented at a first angle to the axis, and an adjacent drive section, which is oriented at a second angle to the axis which is greater than the first angle, wherein the device is configured and arranged such that, in use, the at least one cam follower surface successively rides upward over the commitment and drive sections of the at least one cam surface, on pivotal movement of the actuator member in the actuating direction, to cam the dispensing member from the first position to the second position, wherein the first angle is selected such that a minimum actuating force is required to be applied to the actuator member to cause the at least one cam follower surface to ride upward over the commitment section onto the drive section, and wherein the drive section of the at least one cam surface is a convex section. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first angle is in the range of about 20-35.degree.. 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the commitment section is planar. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the minimum actuating force is in the range of about 20-45N. 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the second angle is in the range of about 40-60.degree.. 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the drive section has a transition portion contiguous with the commitment section. 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the transition portion has a radius of curvature in the range of about 1-5 mm. 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the drive section has a first portion of a first radius of curvature contiguous with the commitment section and a second portion, contiguous with the first portion, of a second radius of curvature which is greater than the first radius of curvature. 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the drive section consists of the first and second portions. 10. The device of claim 8, wherein the second portion has a radius of curvature in the range of about 15-40 mm. 11. The device of claim 1, wherein the commitment section is of a first length and the drive section is of a second length greater than the first length. 12. The device of claim 1, wherein the minimum actuating force is in the range of about 25-40N. 13. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one cam follower surface is arcuate. 14. The device of claim 1, configured and arranged such that the first angle to the axis becomes steeper as the actuator member moves in the actuating direction. 15. The device of claim 1, configured and arranged such that the second angle to the axis remains constant, or substantially constant, as the actuator member moves in the actuating direction. 16. The device of claim 1, wherein the dispensing member is a dispensing container in which the supply of the fluid product is contained. 17. The device of claim 16, wherein the dispensing container has a pump which is caused to pump the dose of the fluid product from the dispensing outlet in response to the dispensing container being moved in the dispensing direction by the actuator member. 18. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one cam follower surface is disposed towards an upper end of the dispensing member. 19. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuator member is the sole actuator member. 20. The device of claim 1, wherein the dispensing outlet is in a nozzle sized and shaped for insertion into a body cavity. 21. The device of claim 20, wherein the nozzle is for insertion into a nostril of a human or animal body. 22. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid product is a medicament. 23. The device of claim 1, further comprising a housing within which the dispenser member is movably mounted and wherein the dispensing member and housing have co-operating guide members for guiding movement of the dispensing member along the axis. 24. The device of claim 23, wherein the co-operating guide members prevent rotation of the dispensing member about the axis. 25. The device of claim 23, wherein one of the guide members comprises a runner and the other guide member comprises a track for the runner. 26. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuator member has at an upper end thereof a pair of beaks which each present one of the cam surfaces, wherein the dispensing member has one of the cam follower surfaces on opposing sides thereof, and wherein the beaks straddle the dispensing member for co-operation with the cam follower surfaces.