Closure system for a reservoir of a freeze-dried product dispensing device

Abstract

A closure system adapted to closing off in leaktight manner a reservoir ( 50 ) of a dispenser device for dispensing a freeze-dried substance, said closure system being characterized in that it comprises a closure element ( 1 ) having a fixing portion ( 10 ) co-operating in leaktight manner with the reservoir ( 50 ), and a closure portion ( 11 ) comprising a radial diaphragm ( 11 ) provided with a slit ( 12 ), interference between said closure portion ( 11 ) and said reservoir ( 50 ) being zero or almost zero, so that the slit ( 12 ) can open to either side whenever pressure is exerted on the other side of said closure portion ( 11 ), said slit ( 12 ) being closed in leaktight manner in the absence of such pressure.

1 / A closure system adapted to closing off in leaktight manner a reservoir ( 50 ) of a dispenser device for dispensing a freeze-dried substance, said closure system being characterized in that it comprises a closure element ( 1 ) having a fixing portion ( 10 ) co-operating in leaktight manner with the reservoir ( 50 ), and a closure portion ( 11 ) comprising a radial diaphragm ( 11 ) provided with a slit ( 12 ), interference between said closure portion ( 11 ) and said reservoir ( 50 ) being zero or almost zero, so that the slit ( 12 ) can open to either side whenever pressure is exerted on the other side of said closure portion ( 11 ), said slit ( 12 ) being closed in leaktight manner in the absence of such pressure.  
     
     
         2 / A system according to  claim 1 , in which said pressure sufficient to open said slit ( 12 ) on one side is substantially identical to said pressure sufficient to open said slit ( 12 ) on the other side.  
     
     
         3 / A system according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , in which said fixing portion ( 10 ) comprises a hollow cylindrical body ( 10 ) fitted in leaktight manner axially into said reservoir ( 50 ), a radial gap ( 30 ) being provided between at least a portion of the outside radial periphery of said diaphragm ( 11 ) and the inside side wall of the reservoir ( 50 ).  
     
     
         4 / A system according to  claim 3 , in which said radial gap ( 30 ) is provided over the entire outside radial periphery of the diaphragm ( 11 ), so that interference between said closure portion ( 11 ) and said reservoir ( 50 ) is zero.  
     
     
         5 / A system according to  claim 4 , in which said closure portion ( 11 ) has an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of said reservoir ( 50 ).  
     
     
         6 / A system according to  claim 3 , in which said outside radial periphery of said diaphragm ( 11 ) is provided with one or more grooves ( 19 ) forming the radial gap ( 30 ) relative to the inside wall of the reservoir ( 50 ), so that interference between said closure portion ( 11 ) and said reservoir ( 50 ) is very small.  
     
     
         7 / A system according to  claim 6 , in which said closure element ( 1 ) further comprises a pre-positioning portion ( 15 ) extending radially beyond said closure portion ( 11 ), said grooves ( 19 ) in the outside radial periphery of the diaphragm ( 11 ) being extended in said pre-positioning portion ( 15 ) so that the closure element ( 1 ) can be pre-positioned in the opening of the reservoir ( 50 ), the pre-positioning portion ( 15 ) being inserted into said reservoir ( 50 ) and said grooves ( 19 ) forming a passageway between the inside of the reservoir ( 50 ) and the outside of the system, in particular during freeze drying of the substance contained in the reservoir ( 50 ).  
     
     
         8 / A system according to any preceding claim, in which said closure element ( 1 ) is made of an elastomer material.  
     
     
         9 / A reservoir ( 50 ) of a dispenser device for dispensing a freeze-dried substance, said reservoir being characterized in that it includes a closure system according to any one of  claims 1  to  8 .  
     
     
         10 / A dispenser device for dispensing a freeze-dried substance, said dispenser device being characterized in that it includes a reservoir ( 50 ) according to  claim 9.