LIQUID DISPENSER, ESPECIALLY DROPLET DISPENSER

Abstract

A liquid dispenser having a liquid reservoir and a discharge head secured thereto, an outlet valve with a pressure chamber and an opposite valve chamber. The liquid reservoir and the valve chamber are each connected at least in phases to a surrounding atmosphere by a ventilation channel. The two channels provided for this purpose, the reservoir ventilation channel and the valve ventilation channel, are separate channels with separate inlets on an outer face of the discharge head.

Claims

1. A liquid dispenser, especially in the form of a droplet dispenser, having the following features: a. the liquid dispenser has a liquid reservoir, and b. the liquid dispenser has a discharge head which is secured to the liquid reservoir and has a discharge opening connected to the liquid reservoir via a discharge channel, and c. the discharge head has, in the discharge channel, an outlet valve which has a valve body adjoining a pressure chamber and which is at least partially displaceable by liquid pressure in the pressure chamber for the purpose of opening the discharge opening, and d. the outlet valve has a valve chamber which, based on the valve body, is disposed opposite the pressure chamber, and e. a reservoir ventilation channel is provided for the purpose of pressure equalization in the liquid reservoir, f. a valve ventilation channel is provided for the purpose of pressure equalization between the valve chamber and an external environment, and g. the reservoir ventilation channel and the valve ventilation channel have separate inlets on an outer face of the discharge head.

2. The liquid dispenser according to claim 1, having the following further features: a. the discharge head has an inner component and an outer component, wherein the outer component has been pushed onto the inner component in an assembly direction, and b. the reservoir ventilation channel and the valve ventilation channel each extend through the inner component and the outer component.

3. The liquid dispenser according to claim 2, having the following further feature: a. the reservoir ventilation channel and/or the valve ventilation channel has a channel subsection in the form of a ring section-shaped channel subsection between the outer component and the inner component.

4. The liquid dispenser according to claim 2, having the following further feature: a. the inlets are provided on a lateral outer face of the discharge head, especially on the outer component, wherein the inlets are offset relative to one another based on the assembly direction, and wherein a circumferential step is provided on an outer face of the discharge head between the inlets.

5. The liquid dispenser according to claim 1, having the following further feature: a. the reservoir ventilation channel and the valve ventilation channel each have linear channel subsections which penetrate an inner component of the liquid dispenser and which, based on a plane having a normal vector corresponding to a direction of discharge, are arranged at an angle with respect to one another or are parallel and spaced apart from one another.

6. The liquid dispenser according to claim 1, having the following further features: a. the discharge head has a removable protective cap that protects the discharge opening when in place, and b. the protective cap, when in place, isolates at least one of the inlets from a surrounding atmosphere.

7. The liquid dispenser according to claim 6, having the following further feature: a. the protective cap, when in place, isolates the two inlets from one another and each from a surrounding atmosphere.

8. The liquid dispenser according to claim 1, having the following further feature: a. the liquid dispenser is designed as a droplet dispenser and has means for droplet formation in the region of the discharge opening.

9. The liquid dispenser according to claim 8, having the following further feature: a. the means for droplet formation comprise a droplet formation surface that surrounds the outside of the discharge opening.

10. The liquid dispenser according to claim 8, having the following further feature: a. the valve body has a closure pin and a pressurization collar surrounding the closure pin.

11. The liquid dispenser according to claim 1, having the following further feature: a. the reservoir ventilation channel has at least one filter and/or one inlet valve between an inlet on the outside and an outlet on the reservoir side.

12. The liquid dispenser according to claim 1, having the following further feature: a. the liquid dispenser is designed as squeeze bottle dispenser and has a bottle body which is manually elastically deformable for the purpose of pressurization and surrounds the liquid reservoir.

13. The liquid dispenser according to claim 1, having the following further feature: a. a return spring for the valve body is disposed in the valve chamber.

14. The liquid dispenser according to claim 10, wherein the pressurization collar is internally deformable and is secured on its outside to the droplet dispenser.

15. The liquid dispenser according to claim 14, wherein the pressurization collar is secured to an inner component of the droplet dispenser.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Further advantages and aspects of the invention are apparent from the claims and from the description that follows of a preferred working example of the invention, which is elucidated hereinafter with reference to the figures.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows an overall view of a liquid dispenser of the invention without the cap in place.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows the discharge head of the liquid dispenser in a perspective cross section view.

[0028] FIG. 3 shows the discharge head in a perspective non-sectional view.

[0029] FIGS. 5 and 6 show two cross-sectional planes of the discharge head, the respective plane of intersection of which is illustrated by FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE WORKING EXAMPLES

[0030] FIG. 1 shows an illustrative overall view of a liquid dispenser 100 of the invention, but without a protective cap 120.

[0031] The liquid dispenser 100 has a bottle body 98 made of plastic which is elastically deformable with a low level of force, called a squeeze bottle. A discharge head 10 is secured to the neck of the bottle body 98, in the present case by means of a snap connection.

[0032] The discharge head 10 has a discharge opening 12. Since the illustrative liquid dispenser takes the form of a droplet dispenser, a means of droplet formation is provided in the region of the discharge opening, in the present case in the form of a droplet formation surface 14 which surrounds the discharge opening 12 and is bounded by a circumferential break-off edge.

[0033] The dispenser is intended for use in an upturned position in which the discharge opening 12 points downward. In this position, the bottle body 98 is squeezed manually. The effect of this is that an outlet valve 20 in the discharge head 10 opens under the influence of the elevated liquid pressure in the liquid reservoir and allows liquid to arrive at the droplet formation surface 14 in a dosed manner. The liquid collects there until the desired droplet volume has been attained and the droplet becomes detached from the droplet formation surface.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows the discharge head 10 in a perspective cross section view with the protective cap 120 in place. The main components of the discharge head 10 are an inner component 40 and the outer component 50 pushed onto the inner component in an assembly direction 2.

[0035] A valve body 24 manufactured from elastic plastic is provided between the two components 40, 50. This valve body has a central closure pin 24A which, in the closed state of the outlet valve, adjoins an inner wall of the outer component 50 surrounding the outlet opening 12. The closure pin 24A merges into a pressurization collar 24B that surrounds the valve pin in a disc-shaped manner. At the outer edge thereof, a securing land 24C is provided, inserted circumferentially into a securing groove of the inner component 40.

[0036] In the region of the pressurization collar 24B, a pressure chamber 22 is formed between the valve body 24 and the outer component 50. This is fed with liquid via a discharge channel 16 that extends from an inlet (not shown) at the side of the liquid reservoir 90 via an annular space between the inner component 40 and the outer component 50 into the pressure chamber 22. On the side of the valve body 24 remote from the pressure chamber 22, a valve chamber 26 is provided, in which a return spring 30 that subjects the valve body 24 to a force in the direction of its closure position is provided.

[0037] If there is an increase in the liquid pressure in the liquid reservoir 90, there will also be an increase in the pressure in the pressure chamber 22, and the valve body 24 will be displaced downward under deformation in the region of the pressurization collar 24B. This reduces the volume of the valve chamber 26.

[0038] Both the liquid reservoir 90 and the valve chamber 26 are connected to a surrounding atmosphere at least in phases in order to achieve pressure equalization. In the case of the liquid reservoir 98, the reservoir ventilation channel 92 provided for the purpose primarily serves the purpose of permitting the inflow of further air if liquid has been discharged beforehand. In the case of the valve chamber 26, the valve ventilation channel 28 serves the purpose of preventing a pressure at variance from ambient pressure from existing over a prolonged period of time in the valve chamber 26 since this could alter the opening characteristics of the outlet valve 20.

[0039] According to the invention, the two ventilation channels 28, 92 are separate from one another. Beyond the discharge channel 16, there is accordingly no further functional coupling, as a result of the design of the discharge head, between the respective pressures in the ventilation channels 28, 92. If, for example, there is a reduced pressure in the liquid reservoir 90 since liquid has been discharged beforehand, this does not result in a reduced pressure in the valve chamber 26.

[0040] The two ventilation channels 28, 92 each have inlets 28A, 92A on the outside of the outer component 50. This is illustrated by FIG. 3. In this configuration, the two inlets 28A, 92A are provided on the same side of the discharge head 10 but offset from one another in assembly direction 2. This arrangement on the same side permits the utilization of a comparatively simple mould since the inlets 28A, 92A may be produced by means of a common gate in the mould. However, other configurations are also possible and may be viable in particular cases, especially an arrangement of the inlets 28A, 92A on opposite sides.

[0041] A step 52 at which the external diameter of the outer component 50 is reduced is provided between the inlets 28A, 92A. This step is advantageous in its interaction with the protective cap 120. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the inside of the protective cap 120, when in place, adjoins the step 52 around the circumference, such that it isolates the two inlets 28A, 92A from one another.

[0042] The effect of this isolation by the protective cap 120 is that, even with the protective cap 120 in place, the liquid reservoir 90 and the valve chamber 26 are isolated from one another. Thus, if the cap is placed on immediately after use and with consequent reduced pressure in the liquid reservoir 90 before the pressure in the liquid reservoir 90 is balanced out, the reduced pressure that exists in the liquid reservoir 90 and in the ventilation channel 92 cannot have any effect on the behaviour of the outlet valve. This prevents unwanted emptying of the dispenser, for example in luggage.

[0043] The course of the ventilation channels 28, 92 is/illustrated by FIGS. 4 to 6. FIG. 4 shows the discharge head 10 of the dispenser 100 of the invention from the top. Reference numerals 5 and 6 identify two section planes, the cross-sectional diagrams of which are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0044] Section plane 5 runs through a centre axis of the dispenser and its central discharge opening. The radial channel subsection 92B of the reservoir ventilation channel 92 runs in this plane. Section plane 6 is shifted outward, parallel thereto. A radial channel subsection 28b of the valve ventilation channel 28 runs in this plane.

[0045] With reference to FIG. 6, the course of the valve ventilation channel 28 is elucidated in detail first of all. Proceeding from the valve chamber 26, the valve ventilation channel 28 has a short subsection that runs parallel to the assembly direction 2. This is followed by the linear channel subsection 28B mentioned, which penetrates an outer face of the inner component 40. On account of its eccentric arrangement which is not exactly radial, this channel subsection 28B does not open perpendicularly onto the outer face. A channel subsection 28C that adjoins channel subsection 28B is formed by a channel subsection 28C in the form of a ring section that extends around the circumference between the inner component 40 and the outer component 50, preferably running at an angle of around 30°, up to the inlet 28A provided in the outer component 50.

[0046] The reservoir ventilation channel 92, which is readily apparent in FIG. 5, extends from the inlet 92A that penetrates the outer component 50 into a radial channel section 92B which is flush with the inlet 92A in the position of relative rotation of outer component 50 and inner component 40 that is shown here. However, it would also be possible for the outer component 50 and the inner component 40 to be connected in a different position of relative rotation, so as to result, between the inlet 92A and the channel subsection 92B in the inner component 40, as already described for the valve ventilation channel, in a channel subsection in the form of a ring section between the inner component 40 and the outer component 50.

[0047] On the inside, the radial channel subsection 92B is followed by an axial channel subsection formed partly by a valve body 96 that forms the outlet 92D of the reservoir ventilation channel 92. In addition, a filter unit 94 may be provided here in order to free the incoming air from impurities.

[0048] As apparent from the parallel section planes 5, 6 and the ventilation channels 92, 28 arranged therein, the ventilation channels are arranged parallel to one another, but offset from one another with respect to the plane shown in FIG. 4. This means that it is necessary for the inner component 40 to have just one gate for formation of the channel subsections 92B, 28B and that the latter nevertheless can be spaced apart from one another, such that the respective channels have sufficient build space in the inner component.