DISPENSER FOR DISPENSING FLOWABLE, FOR EXAMPLE LIQUID TO PASTY, COMPOUNDS

Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing flowable, for example liquid or pasty, compounds, includes a storage tank for the compound and a pump chamber, and also includes a dispenser head, wherein the dispenser head has a dispensing mouth and the dispenser head can be pressed down against a stop in the direction of a vertical axis of the dispenser to perform a pumping operation, wherein the stop is adjustable in terms of its height. In order to give a dispenser of the kind in question an advantageous design, in particular with regard to handling, the stop is formed by an outwardly exposed sliding track that can be rotated around the vertical axis, against which a projection that protrudes radially outward on the dispenser head comes to a stop when pressing down.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15: A dispenser for dispensing a flowable compound, comprising: a storage tank for the compound, a pump chamber, and a dispenser head, wherein the dispenser head has a dispensing mouth and the dispenser head is configured to be pressed down against a stop in a direction of a vertical axis of the dispenser to perform a pumping operation, wherein the stop is adjustable in terms of its height, wherein the stop is formed by an outwardly exposed sliding track that is configured to be rotated around the vertical axis, against which a projection that protrudes radially outward on the dispenser head comes to a stop when pressing down, wherein the dispenser head is movable solely by turning the sliding track in the direction of the vertical axis for resetting purposes, and wherein the sliding track is designed as a helical surface.

16: The dispenser according to claim 15, wherein the projection has a dispensing opening.

17: The dispenser according to claim 15, wherein the helical surface extends free of steps over practically an entire length of the helical surface.

18: The dispenser according to claim 15, wherein the sliding track is formed by two or more helical surfaces lying one after the other in a peripheral direction relative to the vertical axis.

19: The dispenser according to claim 18, wherein the two or more helical surfaces are offset uniformly to each other in the peripheral direction.

20: The dispenser according to claim 18, wherein a vertical stage is formed between the helical surfaces in the peripheral direction.

21: The dispenser according to claim 15, wherein the helical surface forms part of an end face of the dispenser in a vertical projection, in which the vertical axis is represented by a point.

22: The dispenser according to claim 15, wherein two or more uniformly peripherally offset projections are formed on the dispenser head.

23: The dispenser according to claim 22, wherein the sliding track is designed to completely envelop the dispenser head in the vertical projection, with the exception of the additional projections of the dispenser head.

24: The dispenser according to claim 22, wherein one of the projections contains a dispensing opening, and wherein the sliding track is designed to completely envelop the dispenser head in the vertical projection, with the exception of the projection having the dispensing opening.

25: The dispenser according to claim 15, wherein a movement of the sliding track in a rotational direction is prescribed by a locking mechanism.

26: The dispenser according to claim 15, wherein a rotational stop is provided for the sliding track.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The invention is described in greater detail below based on the attached drawing, which only shows an exemplary embodiment. Shown on:

[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser of the kind in question, relating to a basic dispenser position;

[0029] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the area of the dispenser head of the dispenser, the view being magnified in relation to FIG. 1, relating to the basic position according to FIG. 1;

[0030] FIG. 3 is the view against the dispenser according to arrow III on FIG. 2;

[0031] FIG. 4 is the view according to arrow IV on FIG. 3;

[0032] FIG. 5 is the rear view against the dispenser according to arrow V on FIG. 4;

[0033] FIG. 6 is the top view of the dispenser according to arrow VI on FIG. 3;

[0034] FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the dispenser in the basic position, relating to a rear view according to FIG. 5;

[0035] FIG. 8 is a view essentially corresponding to FIG. 2, but relating to a compound dispensing position;

[0036] FIG. 9 is the section according to sectional plane IX on FIG. 8;

[0037] FIG. 10 is another view corresponding to FIG. 2, relating to an intermediate position during a relocation of the dispenser head back in the direction toward the basic dispenser position by rotating a sliding track;

[0038] FIG. 11 is another follow-up view to FIG. 10, relating to an intermediate position shortly before reaching the basic dispenser position;

[0039] FIG. 12 is a sectional view according to FIG. 9, but relating to the basic dispenser position reached by rotating the sliding track;

[0040] FIG. 13 is the section according to line XIII-XIII on

[0041] FIG. 3;

[0042] FIG. 14 is a perspective, exploded view of the individual parts of the dispenser;

[0043] FIG. 15 is a perspective, individual view of a rotating part that has the sliding track.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0044] Depicted and described, initially with reference to FIG. 1 and the vertical sectional view on FIG. 9, is a dispenser 1 for dispensing flowable, for example liquid to pasty, compounds 2.

[0045] The dispenser 1 can have a storage tank 3 for the compound 2, and a pump chamber 4, and further a dispenser head 5. It can be possible to press the dispenser head 5 down against a stop 6 in the direction of a vertical axis x of the dispenser 1 to perform a pumping operation, wherein the stop 6 can essentially be formed by a sliding track 7 that can be rotated around the vertical axis x, against which a projection 8 that protrudes radially outward on the dispenser head 5 can come to a stop.

[0046] The dispenser head 5 is preferably coupled to a storage tank 3, for example screwed or latched thereto.

[0047] The molded parts of the dispenser 1 can consist predominantly of a plastic material, for example polyethylene, and are preferably manufactured in an injection molding process. In any case, significant exceptions in the depicted exemplary embodiment are those valves comprised of a rubbery material, which can be a TPE (and in this regard can also find application in the injection molding process), but in the exemplary embodiment is preferably vulcanized.

[0048] A castor piston 9 can be positioned in the storage tank 3, and used to transport the compound 2 to be dispensed in the direction toward the dispenser head 5.

[0049] The dispenser 1 can further essentially consist of a pot-shaped lower part 10, which forms a partition wall for the storage tank 3, the pump chamber 4 with an inlet valve 11 and an outlet valve 12 and the dispenser head 5.

[0050] The dispenser components can be arranged essentially rotationally symmetrical to the vertical axis x, wherein the vertical axis x can simultaneously comprise the body axis of the storage tank 3.

[0051] The pot floor 13 of the lower part 10 can have a central opening 14. The latter is preferably covered by a flexible shuttering plate 15 that forms the inlet valve 11.

[0052] A cylinder wall 16 can grow out of the pot floor 13 radially outside of the inlet valve 11 to envelop the pump chamber 4. A pump piston 17 is preferably held in this pump chamber 4 so as to be movable in the axial direction. Through openings 18 can be centrally provided in the pump piston 17, which together with an additional, flexible shuttering plate 19 that covers the latter on the side facing away from the inlet valve comprise the outlet valve 12.

[0053] The outlet valve 12 can be enclosed by a hollow cylindrical pump piston part 20 that forms a neck, and can form the attachment to the dispenser head 5.

[0054] The dispenser head 5 can engage into the pump piston part 20 with a central, cylindrical hollow body 21. The dispenser head 5 and pump piston 17 can be latched with each other in this overlap area.

[0055] The hollow body 21 can form a dispensing channel 23. The latter can initially proceed from the end of the hollow body 21 facing the outlet valve 12 and run in an axial extension, and finally transition into a laterally tapering area, which has a dispensing area 24 formed at its end. This area of the dispensing channel 23 can be arranged directly underneath an activating surface 25 of the dispenser head 5 that essentially runs roughly perpendicular to the vertical axis x.

[0056] Given a pot opening that faces vertically upward, the lower part 10 with a pot-shaped design can have a pot wall 26 with a radially outward periphery, which serves to secure the dispenser 1 to the storage tank 3 in the area of the tank opening. This can be a latching attachment, as also depicted.

[0057] The pot wall 26 can preferably freely extend vertically upwardly over the opening plane E of the storage tank 3 so as to provide an attachment collar for the rotating part 27.

[0058] The rotating part 27 can encompass the pot wall 26, and is rotatable around the vertical axis relative to the pot wall 26, but mounted to the pot wall 26 so that it cannot be relocated in the axial direction.

[0059] As also depicted, the external shell surface of the rotating part 27 can be provided as an elongation of the shell surface of the storage tank 3.

[0060] The outer peripheral wall 28 of the rotating part 27 can transition into a radially inwardly protruding cover, which essentially extends in a plane perpendicular to the vertical axis x, and can essentially be formed by the sliding track 7.

[0061] The cover of the rotating part 27 formed in this way is preferably centrally penetrated to form an opening 29, through which a vertically downwardly protruding collar formed on the dispenser head 5 can plunge into the dispenser interior. The outer diameter of the collar 30 can be adjusted to the inner diameter of the opening 29, so that the rotating part 27 can possibly be rotationally guided in this way as well.

[0062] The sliding track 7 can essentially be composed of two helical surfaces 31 that successively follow each other in the peripheral direction. Each helical surface 31 preferably extends in the peripheral direction by 180°, wherein a respective vertical stage 32 can be formed in the peripheral direction between the helical surface 31.

[0063] As also depicted, each helical surface 31 can proceed from a low plane T aligned perpendicular to the vertical axis x toward a high plane H that is spaced apart in the axial direction and likewise runs perpendicular to the vertical axis x, and preferably rise continuously at a constant gradient (see also FIGS. 2 to 7).

[0064] The gradient angle can measure about 10° to 20°, further for example about 15°, wherein there can further be a rise in the respective helical surface 31 in the counterclockwise direction in the exemplary embodiment shown with reference to the graphic depictions (for example with reference to FIG. 4).

[0065] The distance dimension a viewed in the axial direction between the low plane T and the high plane H can correspond to the maximum pump relocation path of the dispenser head 5 in an axial direction for dispensing compound 2.

[0066] By twisting the rotating part 27 around the vertical axis x, and thus by concurrently relocating the helical surfaces 31 that form the stop 6 for the projection 8 relative to the projection 8 that is fixed by comparison, a change can be made in the distance dimension a, so that an adjustment of the maximum low pressure dimension of the dispenser head 5 can correspondingly also be achieved out of the basic dispenser position according to FIG. 1 by turning the rotating part 27.

[0067] The downward pressing motion of the dispenser head 5 for dispensing compound preferably takes place without overcoming a resetting force of a spring or the like. Instead, the downward pressing motion of the dispenser head 5 along the vertical axis x takes place solely against the resistance of the compound 2 in the pump chamber 4, which is dispensed during the downward pressing motion via the outlet valve 12 and the dispensing channel 23.

[0068] This downward pressing motion enables a rotational position of the rotating part 27 in which the projection 8, which initially and essentially is formed by the wall of the dispensing channel 23 with the dispensing opening 24, is spaced apart from the allocated helical surface 31 in the downward pressing direction, i.e., vertically downward with reference to the drawings.

[0069] An alignment of the projection 8 as viewed in the peripheral direction is here preferably approximately directly adjacent to a vertical stage 32. This results in a possible maximum vertical relocation of the dispenser head 5, since the maximum distance dimension a arises in this area adjacent to the vertical stage 32 (see also FIG. 8).

[0070] The downward pressure position that dispenses the compound 2 as depicted on FIGS. 8 and 9 makes it possible to vertically move the dispenser head 5 back into its basic dispenser position according to FIG. 1, preferably solely by rotating the rotating part 27, wherein the projection 8 resting on the helical surface 31 glides along the helical surface 31 during this rotation (see FIGS. 10 and 11), as a result of which the rising helical surface 31 converts the rotational motion of the rotating part 27 into a vertical motion of the dispenser head 5 that is impeded from rotating in the peripheral direction, until the latter again reaches the basic dispenser position according to FIG. 12.

[0071] As also depicted, it is further preferred with reference to a top view according to FIG. 6 that another projection 33 be provided diametrically opposite the projection 8 created by the dispensing channel wall, which rests on the helical surface 31 not utilized by the projection 8, and in particular supports the vertical motion of the dispensing head 5 while rotating the rotating part 27.

[0072] The subsurface of the projection 8 and/or 33 that faces the helical surface 31 can be adjusted at a slant to the gradient of the helical surface 31 so as to abut at least approximately the entire surface.

[0073] As evident in particular from the illustration on FIG. 6, the sliding track 7 formed by the helical surfaces 31 arranged one after the other in the peripheral direction can be arranged and designed so as to essentially completely envelop the dispensing head 5, except for the projection 8 that has the dispensing opening 24 and/or the additional projection 33 of the dispensing head 5, so that the sliding track 7 or the helical surfaces 31 can essentially form the end face of the dispenser 1 together with the dispenser head 5.

[0074] The dispenser 1 can further have a locking mechanism 34 to prescribe a rotational direction d. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the latter is configured in such a way as to only allow a clockwise rotational direction d in reference to a top view according to FIG. 6.

[0075] The locking mechanism 34 can be designed like a kind of latching mechanism, for which purpose one possible embodiment can provide latching grooves 34 uniformly distributed in the peripheral direction on the inside of the top wall 26 of the lower part 10, which can be traversed by a latching projection 36 that engages into a respective latching groove 35 in only one rotational direction, specifically in rotational direction d (see in particular FIG. 13).

[0076] The exemplary embodiment shown provides two latching projections 36, which with reference to a cross sectional view according to FIG. 13 can be arranged diametrically opposite each other.

[0077] Both latching projections 36 can preferably be arranged so as to spring out radially inwardly (see enlarged magnifier view on FIG. 13).

[0078] The latching projections can be molded onto a radially inner retaining wall 37 formed coaxially to the wall 28 of the rotating part 27, or cut out of this retaining wall 37 (see also FIG. 15).

[0079] The latching grooves 35 can be distributed over the periphery in such a way that an acute angle of about 5° to 10° can be included between two latching grooves 35 adjacent in the peripheral direction.

[0080] A rotating stop limit can furthermore also be provided, which during a corresponding activation prevents the rotating part 27 from being further relocated, for example beyond a 180° position.

[0081] Locking shoulders 38 that are aligned essentially axially parallel diametrically opposite each other with reference to a cross section perpendicular to the vertical axis x can be formed on the inside of the wall, i.e., radially inside of the retaining wall 37 of the rotating part 27.

[0082] The collar 30 of the dispenser head 5 can carry radially outwardly protruding locking projections 39 on diametrically opposing sections, which can come to abut the allocated locking shoulders 38 in the basic dispenser position according to FIG. 1.

[0083] The locking projections 39 can be relocated into an axial position only with the dispenser head in the pressed down position, for example according to FIG. 9, in which they do not block the rotating path of the locking shoulder 38. As the rotating part 27 rotates, the locking projections 39 first run under the locking shoulders 38. The retaining wall 37 is correspondingly provided with a groove-like recess 40 to allow an axial relocation of the dispenser head 5, and thus also of the locking projections 39, axially toward the top.

[0084] During the rotational motion of the rotating part 27, the locking projection 39 can emerge through this recess 40 in an axial direction until reaching a position in which the locking shoulder 38 of the rotating part 27 hits the locking projection 39 in a locking manner. In particular the projection 8 that has the dispensing opening 24, and further also the possibly provided projection 33, is exposed in this position for activating the pump.

[0085] The above statements serve to explain the inventions covered by the application as a whole, which each also independently advance the prior art at least by the following feature combinations, wherein two, several or all of these feature combinations can also be combined, specifically:

[0086] A dispenser 1 for dispensing flowable, for example liquid or pasty, compounds 2, with a storage tank 3 for the compound 2 and a pump chamber 4, further with a dispenser head 5, wherein the dispenser head 5 has a dispensing mouth 24 and the dispenser head 5 can be pressed down against a stop 6 in the direction of a vertical axis x of the dispenser 1 to perform a pumping operation, wherein the stop 6 is adjustable in terms of its height, characterized in that the stop 6 is formed by an outwardly exposed sliding track 7 that can be rotated around the vertical axis x, against which a projection 8 that protrudes radially outward on the dispenser head 5 comes to a stop when pressing down.

[0087] A dispenser 1, characterized in that the projection 8 has the dispensing opening 24.

[0088] A dispenser 1, characterized in that the dispenser head 5 can only be moved by a downward pressing motion of the user and/or rotating the sliding track 7 in the direction of the vertical axis x.

[0089] A dispenser 1, characterized in that the sliding track 7 is designed like a helical surface 31.

[0090] A dispenser 1, characterized in that the helical surface 31 extends free of steps over practically an entire periphery of the helical surface 31.

[0091] A dispenser 1, characterized in that two or more helical surfaces 31 lying one after the other are formed in the peripheral direction.

[0092] A dispenser 1, characterized in that the two or more helical surfaces 31 are offset uniformly to each other in the peripheral direction.

[0093] A dispenser 1, characterized in that a vertical stage 32 is formed between the helical surfaces 31 in the peripheral direction.

[0094] A dispenser 1, characterized in that the helical surface 31 forms part of the end face of the dispenser 1 in a vertical projection, in which the vertical axis x is represented by a point.

[0095] A dispenser 1, characterized in that two or more uniformly peripherally offset projections 8, 33 are formed on the dispenser head 5.

[0096] A dispenser 1, characterized in that the sliding track 7 is designed to completely envelop the dispenser head 5 in the vertical projection, with the exception of the projection 8 having the dispensing opening 24 and/or the additional projections 33 of the dispenser head 5.

[0097] A dispenser 1, characterized in that a rotational direction d of the sliding track 7 is prescribed by a locking mechanism 34.

[0098] A dispenser 1, characterized in that a rotational stop 41 is provided for the sliding track 7.

[0099] All disclosed features (whether taken separately or in combination with each other) are essential to the invention. The disclosure of the application hereby also incorporates the disclosure content of the accompanying/attached priority documents (copy of the prior application) in its entirety, also for the purpose of including features of these documents in claims of the present application. Even without the features of a referenced claim, the subclaims characterize standalone inventive further developments of prior art with their features, in particular so as to submit partial applications based upon these claims. The invention indicated in each claim can additionally have one or several of the features indicated in the above description, in particular those provided with reference numbers and/or indicated on the reference list. The invention also relates to design forms in which individual features specified in the above description are not realized, in particular if they are recognizably superfluous with regard to the respective intended use, or can be replaced by other technically equivalent means.

TABLE-US-00001 REFERENCE LIST 1 Dispenser 2 Compound 3 Storage tank 4 Pump chamber 5 Dispenser head 6 Stop 7 Sliding track 8 Projection 9 Follow-up piston 10 Lower part 11 Inlet valve 12 Outlet valve 13 Pot floor 14 Opening 15 Shuttering plate 16 Cylinder wall 17 Pump piston 18 Through opening 19 Valve plate 20 Pump piston part 21 Hollow body 22 — 23 Dispensing channel 24 Dispensing opening 25 Activating surface 26 Pot wall 27 Rotating part 28 Wall 29 Opening 30 Collar 31 Helical surface 32 Vertical stage 33 Projection 34 Locking mechanism 35 Latching groove 36 Latching projection 37 Retaining wall 38 Locking shoulder 39 Locking projection 40 Recess 41 Rotational stop a Distance dimension d Rotational direction x Vertical axis E Opening plane H High plane T Low plane α Angle