Unit for dispensing a fluid product and device for distributing a fluid product comprising such a unit

Abstract

A fluid dispenser member having a body and manually-actuated dispenser mechanism movable in the body between rest and dispensing positions. The dispenser mechanism urged by a resilient member towards the rest position by a plurality of spring cells arranged in parallel around a longitudinal axis of the resilient member, forming a spring stage. The resilient member includes a plurality of spring stages that are superposed along the longitudinal axis. A spring stage has a top undulating ring having multiple undulations, and a bottom undulating ring having multiple undulations, the top and bottom undulations arranged relative to each other so that the top and bottom undulating rings are in contact at a plurality of contact points distributed around the longitudinal axis. A spring cell is defined between two adjacent contact points of the spring stage, the resilient member is made of a synthetic material.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A fluid dispenser member comprising a body and manually-actuated dispenser means that are movable in said body between a rest position and a dispensing position, said dispenser means being urged resiliently towards their rest position by a resilient member, said resilient member comprising a plurality of spring cells that are arranged in parallel around a longitudinal axis of said resilient member, forming a spring stage, and said resilient member includes a plurality of spring stages that are superposed along said longitudinal axis, said dispenser member being characterized in that a spring stage comprises a top undulating ring having multiple undulations, and a bottom undulating ring having multiple undulations, said top and bottom undulations being arranged relative to each other in such a manner that said top and bottom undulating rings are in contact at a plurality of contact points distributed around said longitudinal axis, a spring cell being defined between two adjacent contact points of said spring stage, said resilient member being made by injection molding a synthetic material, such as POM, the top and bottom axial ends of said resilient member being formed by flat rings. 
     
     
         10 . A member according to  claim 9 , wherein the top undulating ring of a spring stage forms the bottom undulating ring of the spring stage arranged directly above, and the bottom undulating ring of said spring stage forms the top undulating ring of the spring stage arranged directly below. 
     
     
         11 . A member according to  claim 10 , wherein the contact points of a spring stage are offset relative to the contact points of the spring stages that are directly above and directly below, a contact point of the spring stage being arranged half way between two contact points of the spring stage that is directly above, and half way between two contact points of the spring stage that is directly below, so that the resilient deformation forces of each cell are distributed in approximately uniform manner over all of said cell. 
     
     
         12 . A member according to  claim 9 , wherein said synthetic material is filled with materials that increase resilience and/or prevent creep, such as glass fibers and/or carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         13 . A member according to  claim 9 , wherein said fluid is a liquid or powder medication. 
     
     
         14 . A member according to  claim 9 , wherein said dispenser member is a pump or a valve, said dispenser means being the pump piston or the valve member, and said resilient member forming the return spring of said pump or valve. 
     
     
         15 . A member according to  claim 9 , wherein said dispenser member is a compressed-air expeller, said dispenser means being the piston of the air expeller, and said resilient member forming the return spring of said air expeller. 
     
     
         16 . A fluid dispenser device comprising a reservoir containing said fluid, said device being characterized in that it further comprises a dispenser member according to  claim 9 .