Discharge head, and liquid dispenser comprising such a discharge head

Abstract

Discharge head for a liquid dispenser including a housing, a coupling device for attachment to a liquid store, a discharge opening through which liquid is dispensed and an outlet channel extending from an inlet region, pointing in the direction of the liquid store, up to the discharge opening and via which the discharge opening is supplied with liquid. A throttle device is arranged in the outlet channel and includes a throttle channel for reducing liquid pressure and/or liquid flow through the throttle device. The throttle device is designed in the form of a dynamic throttle device, in which a free cross section of the throttle channel is reduced in size with increasing pressure prevailing at the throttle device, or with greater liquid flow flowing through the throttle device.

Claims

1. A discharge head for a liquid dispenser, said discharge head comprising: a housing; a coupling device configured for attachment to a liquid store; a discharge opening through which liquid is dispensed into a surrounding atmosphere; an inlet region disposed to face the liquid store; an outlet channel extending from said inlet region to said discharge opening to supply said discharge opening with liquid from the liquid store; and a throttle device disposed in said outlet channel, said throttle device having a throttle channel, said throttle channel communicating with, and defining a portion of, said outlet channel such that liquid from the liquid store flowing through said outlet channel flows through said throttle channel, said throttle channel having a cross-section for accommodating liquid therein, said throttle device comprising a throttle channel wall defining a portion of said throttle channel, said throttle channel wall being displaceable or deformable to vary a position of said throttle channel wall within said throttle channel to reduce a size of said cross-section of said throttle channel to a reduced cross-sectional size with an increasing liquid pressure at said throttle device or with an increasing liquid flow through said throttle device, said reduced cross-sectional size of said throttle channel being dimensioned to always permit liquid to flow from the liquid store through said throttle channel and to exit said discharge opening such that said throttle channel never completely closes.

2. The discharge head according to claim 1, wherein said throttle channel wall is displaceable into a first position in which said size of said cross-section of said throttle channel is a minimum size and said throttle channel wall having a second position in which said size of said cross-section of said throttle channel is a maximum size, wherein said said throttle device in said first position of said throttle channel wall permits flow of liquid from the liquid store through said throttle channel and through said discharge opening.

3. The discharge head according to claim 1, wherein said reduced cross-sectional size of said throttle channel permits liquid to flow from the liquid store through said throttle channel and to exit said discharge opening when a maximum liquid pressure or a maximum liquid flow occurs at said throttle device due to an actuation pressure applied to the liquid store.

4. The discharge head according to claim 1, wherein said throttle device comprises a throttle component disposed in said throttle channel, said throttle component defining said throttle channel wall with said throttle channel wall being a first throttle channel wall, said throttle device comprising a second throttle channel wall which together with said first throttle channel wall defines said throttle channel, said throttle component being displaceable within said throttle channel and relative to said second throttle channel wall to reduce said size of said cross-section of said throttle channel.

5. The discharge head according to claim 4, wherein said throttle device comprises a guide element configured to permit linear displacement of said throttle component within said throttle channel and relative to said housing.

6. The discharge head according to claim 4, wherein said throttle component has a non-throttling or minimal throttling position in which said size of said cross-section of said throttle channel is a maximum size, said throttle component being displaceable into a throttling position in which said size of said cross-section of said throttle channel is a size less than said maximum size, said throttle device further comprising a spring disposed between said throttle component and said housing and biasing said throttle component in a direction towards said non-throttling or minimal throttling position.

7. The discharge head according to claim 4, wherein said throttle component comprises pressure application surfaces disposed in said throttle channel such that said pressure application surfaces are positioned to receive a force which displaces said throttle component and reduces said size of said cross-section of said throttle channel.

8. The discharge head according to claim 1, wherein said throttle channel wall has an inner side defining part of said throttle channel and an outer side facing away from said inner side, said outer side being disposed adjacent an inlet of said throttle channel disposed to communicate with said inlet region such that when liquid in the liquid store is subjected to pressure for discharge purposes an identical pressure increase is realized at said inlet of said throttle channel and at said outer side of said throttle channel wall.

9. The discharge head according to claim 1, wherein said throttle device comprises a wall plate and said throttle channel wall is a first channel wall and forms part of said wall plate, and a second channel wall disposed opposite said first channel wall, said second channel wall being non-movable relative to said housing, and said first and second channel walls define said throttle channel therebetween.

10. The discharge head according to claim 9, wherein said second channel wall is formed on said housing, and said wall plate includes a fastening region disposed in a positionally-fixed manner on said housing and a deformable section projecting over said throttle channel approximately parallel to said second channel wall.

11. The discharge head according to claim 10, wherein said second channel wall defines therein at least one aperture and said throttle channel opens into said at least one aperture.

12. The discharge head according to claim 10, wherein said wall plate includes a fastening opening in said fastening region and said housing includes a fastening pin, said fastening opening being snap-fitted to said fastening pin.

13. The discharge head according to claim 9, wherein said throttle channel includes first and second throttle channels, said first and second throttle channels being connected to one another in parallel in terms of flow, and said wall plate defines parts of both said first and second throttle channels.

14. The discharge head according to claim 9, wherein said first channel wall or said second channel wall comprises an elevation thereon, said first channel wall and said second channel wall bearing against one another at said elevation.

15. The discharge head according to claim 1, wherein said throttle device comprises a throttle component composed of an elastically deformable material, said throttle component defining therein an aperture and a deformation region disposed in surrounding relation with said aperture, said aperture forming at least part of said throttle channel, said throttle component comprising at least one pressure application surface downstream of the liquid store and to which liquid from the liquid store applies pressure during operation of said discharge head and deforms said deformation region to reduce said size of said cross-section of said throttle channel.

16. The discharge head according to claim 15, wherein said throttle component comprises an elevation, said elevation being configured to bulge in a direction towards the liquid store and defining a portion of said throttle channel, said aperture being disposed in said elevation.

17. The discharge head according to claim 15, wherein said throttle component comprises a circular edge region integral with said deformation region, said circular edge region being fastened to said housing at a rigid housing section of said housing.

18. The discharge head according to claim 17, wherein said circular edge region is disposed on said discharge head in a position so as to seal off the liquid store when the liquid store is coupled to said discharge head.

19. The discharge head according to claim 15, wherein said deformation region of said throttle component comprises at least one closure region having opposite edges which bear against one another as a result of pressurization of said at least one pressure application surface, and said aperture is configured so as not to close as a result of pressurization of said at least one pressure application surface.

20. The discharge head according to claim 1, further including an outlet valve disposed in said outlet channel between said discharge opening and said throttle device, said outlet valve being configured to open based on a positive pressure prevailing upstream of said outlet valve.

21. The discharge head according to claim 20, wherein said outlet valve is configured to close automatically in a pressure interval between a defined inlet-side negative pressure and a defined inlet-side positive pressure and is configured to open when said defined inlet-side negative pressure is exceeded and when said defined inlet-side positive pressure is exceeded, said outlet valve comprising an elastic material and comprising a bulge projecting towards the liquid store and having a valve opening closable by valve lips, said valve lips, with increasing inlet-side positive pressure, being increasingly pressed against one another by said increasing inlet-side positive pressure up to an attainment of an inlet-side limit pressure for positive pressure.

22. The discharge head according to claim 20, wherein said housing comprises a base component on which said coupling device is disposed and an applicator component fastened to said base component and defining said discharge opening, said outlet channel penetrating said applicator component, said outlet valve being fixed in position between said base component and said applicator component.

23. The discharge head according to claim 1, wherein said discharge head comprises a drop formation surface disposed in surrounding relation with said discharge opening, and said throttle device is configured for limiting a flow of liquid from the liquid store such that single drops are formed at said discharge opening.

24. A liquid dispenser for dispensing cosmetic or pharmaceutical liquids, said liquid dispenser comprising: a liquid store; and a discharge head having a housing formed integrally with or detachably coupled to said liquid store, said discharge head comprising: a discharge opening through which liquid is dispensed into a surrounding atmosphere; an inlet region disposed to face said liquid store; an outlet channel extending from said inlet region to said discharge opening to supply said discharge opening with liquid from the liquid store; and a throttle device disposed in said outlet channel, said throttle device having a throttle channel, said throttle channel communicating with, and defining a portion of, said outlet channel such that liquid from the liquid store flowing through said outlet channel flows through said throttle channel, said throttle channel having a cross-section for accommodating liquid therein, said throttle device comprising a throttle channel wall defining a portion of said throttle channel, said throttle channel wall being displaceable or deformable to vary a position of said throttle channel wall within said throttle channel to reduce a size of said cross-section of said throttle channel to a reduced cross-sectional size with an increasing liquid pressure at said throttle device or with an increasing liquid flow through said throttle device, said reduced cross-sectional size of said throttle channel being dimensioned to always permit liquid to flow from the liquid store through said throttle channel and to exit said discharge opening such that said throttle channel never completely closes.

25. The liquid dispenser according to claim 24, wherein said liquid dispenser is configured as a drop dispenser, and/or said liquid store is configured as a squeeze bottle or a tube, and/or an inner volume of said liquid store is less than 300 ml, and/or said liquid store is filled with a cosmetic or pharmaceutical liquid.

26. A discharge head for a liquid dispenser, said discharge head comprising: a housing configured for cooperation with a liquid store; a discharge opening through which liquid is dispensed into a surrounding atmosphere; an inlet region disposed to receive liquid from the liquid store; an outlet channel configured to provide fluid communication between said discharge opening and said inlet region; an outlet valve disposed in communication with said outlet channel, said outlet valve having an open configuration and a closed configuration, said outlet valve in said open configuration permitting discharge of liquid in said outlet channel to exit said discharge opening and said outlet valve in said closed configuration preventing discharge of liquid in said outlet channel from exiting said discharge opening; and a throttle device disposed in said outlet channel and upstream, with respect to a fluid-flow direction of liquid from said inlet region towards said discharge opening, of said outlet valve, said throttle device having a throttle channel forming a portion of said outlet channel and having a cross-section configured for receiving liquid therein, said throttle device comprising a throttle channel wall defining a portion of said throttle channel, said throttle channel wall being configured for displacement or deformation within said throttle channel to reduce a size of said cross-section of said throttle channel and maintain an intended form of release of liquid from said discharge opening when said outlet valve is in the open configuration, said throttle channel wall being displaceable or deformable into a first position in which said size of said cross-section of said throttle channel is a minimum size, said throttle channel wall having a second position in which said size of said cross-section of said throttle channel is a maximum size, and said throttle device is configured such that when said throttle channel wall is in said first position, said throttle device permits flow of liquid from the liquid store through said throttle channel and through said discharge opening.

27. The discharge head according to claim 26, wherein a maximum displacement or a maximum deformation of said throttle channel wall permits flow of liquid from the liquid store through said throttle channel and through said discharge opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages and aspects of the invention will emerge from the claims and from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are discussed below on the basis of the figures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows, in an overall illustration from the outside, a liquid dispenser according to the invention with a discharge head according to the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 shows, in a sectioned illustration, a first exemplary embodiment of a liquid dispenser according to the invention.

(4) FIG. 3 shows, in an exploded illustration, the sub-components of the discharge head of the first exemplary embodiment.

(5) FIGS. 4A and 4B show the inner side of the discharge head as per FIG. 3 with separated and attached flexible wall plate.

(6) FIGS. 5A and 5B show an alternative design of the discharge head, which has a slightly different geometry in the region of the throttle channel.

(7) FIG. 6 shows, in a sectioned illustration, a second exemplary embodiment of a liquid dispenser according to the invention.

(8) FIG. 7 shows, in an exploded illustration, the sub-components of the discharge head of the second exemplary embodiment.

(9) FIG. 8 shows, in a separate illustration, the throttle component of the second exemplary embodiment.

(10) FIG. 9 shows, in a perspective from below, different variants of the throttle component for the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 6 to 8.

(11) FIG. 10 shows, in a sectioned illustration, a third exemplary embodiment of a liquid dispenser according to the invention.

(12) FIGS. 11A and 11B show the throttle device of the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 10 with different states of the throttle channel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

(13) FIG. 1 shows a liquid dispenser 100 according to the invention, which is designed in the manner of a drop dispenser.

(14) Said liquid dispenser 100 has a liquid store 90, which is designed in the form of a squeeze bottle, and a discharge head 10 mounted thereon, at which a discharge opening 38 is provided. To close the liquid dispenser, a cap 110 is provided.

(15) The liquid dispenser serves for releasing, in drop form, drops, for example of cosmetic liquids such as oils, make-up, filler or the like. In this case, for actuation as intended, the entire dispenser is positioned more or less upside down, with the discharge opening 38 pointing downward, and, in this position, the liquid store 90 is, on opposite sides in the region of actuation surfaces 92, subjected to force and compressed such that the liquid contained in the liquid store is subjected to pressure and is conveyed to the discharge opening 38. Here, the liquid is gathered at a drop formation surface 26A, which surrounds the discharge opening 38, and, as intended, is detached in the form of individual drops.

(16) The technical design, discussed below, of the discharge head 10 serves the purpose of ensuring both that pressing the squeeze bottle only lightly is enough for drop release drop, and that, also, actuating, or compressing, the liquid store 90 intensely does not lead to liquid being released in the form of a liquid jet.

(17) For this purpose the following exemplary embodiments are described by way of example:

(18) Referring to the configuration illustrated as a sectional illustration in FIG. 2, in connection with a first exemplary embodiment, it can be seen that an outlet channel 30 extends from an inlet region 32, which is adjacent to the interior of the liquid store 90, through two throttle channels 50 of a throttle device 34 and through apertures 25A of the housing 20, up to the region of an outlet valve 36, and further up to the discharge opening 38.

(19) Here, the outlet valve 36 is designed such that it is able to open both in the outlet direction and in the inlet direction with positive pressure and negative pressure, respectively, in the liquid store, so that, following discharge, the outlet channel 30 can also serve as an aeration channel in the reverse direction and allows the liquid to be sucked back from the outlet channel 30. The outlet valve 36 closes if neither positive pressure nor negative pressure in the liquid store 90 with respect to the surroundings prevails, or the positive pressure or the negative pressure does not exceed a limit value. In this way, it is ensured that the risk of inadvertent egress when handling the liquid dispenser 100 is low.

(20) The discharge head 10 has a very simple construction. Beyond the design, discussed in more detail below, of the throttle device 34, the discharge head 10 is constructed from merely three constituent parts, namely from a two-part housing 20, having a base component 22 and an applicator component 26, and from a fastening ring, fixed between said two components, of the outlet valve 36, which valve is designed in the form of a one-piece elastic component. In the exemplary embodiment, there is additionally provided a sealing ring 80 for sealing off the discharge head 10 with respect to the liquid store 90.

(21) The actual special feature of the dispenser lies in the throttle device 34. Said throttle device is, as already stated, intended to prevent a liquid jet from exiting through the discharge opening 38 if the liquid store 90, designed in the form of a squeeze bottle, is actuated too intensely. For this purpose, the throttle device 34 provided in this first exemplary embodiment comprises a separating wall 25, which belongs to the base component 22 and at the same time constitutes a first positionally fixed channel wall 56 of the throttle channel 50. The second, opposite channel wall is formed by the inner side 52A of an elastically deformable wall plate 54, the latter being clipped onto the base component 22 in the region of a fastening pin 25C.

(22) This will be discussed more precisely referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, which show the base component 22 without, and with, the fastened wall plate 54.

(23) On the basis of FIG. 4A, it can be seen that the housing wall 25 is penetrated by two apertures 25A. It can further be seen in FIG. 4A that, in the region of the fastening pin 25C, a bar-like elongate elevation 25B is provided on the separating wall 25 on both sides of the fastening pin 25C. Said elevation separates two throttle channels 50 which are formed by fastening the wall plate 54 to the fastening pin 25C in the manner shown in FIG. 4B.

(24) Again referring to FIG. 2, the functioning is as follows:

(25) Starting from the position in FIG. 2, in which the discharge opening 38 points upward, the liquid dispenser 100 is positioned upside-down. There is as yet no risk of liquid discharge as a result of this alone, since the outlet valve 36 is designed not to open as a result of the weight force of the liquid in the liquid store alone. Only when the liquid store 90, which is designed in the form of a squeeze bottle, is compressed does liquid flow from the inlet region 32 into the in each case approximately semi-circular throttle channels 50 in the direction of the apertures 25A, through which the liquid then passes into the region of the outlet valve 36 and further to the discharge opening 38.

(26) If the user then presses on the liquid store 90 in a highly intense manner, then the pressure which acts on the wall plate 54 is also increased. However, said pressure is increased on both sides of the wall plate, and so the pressure increase as such does not yet lead to a relevant deformation of the throttle channels 50. However, if the liquid, under the influence of said pressure, then flows more quickly through the throttle channels 50, then a dynamic pressure is generated here in accordance with Bernouilli's principle. This leads to a force acting on the wall plate 54 which, referring to FIG. 4B, allows the wall plate to bend in slightly in the region of the web, the corresponding bend lines being indicated by dashed lines in said figure. In relation to the perspective in FIG. 2, this bending-in is realized upwardly, with the result that the throttle channels 50 are narrowed. This in turn brings about an increased friction and an energy loss in the liquid, which in turn leads to a reduction in the liquid flow. Instead of the increased pressure thereby resulting in a jet-like discharge, it impedes itself, as it were, so that, despite the increased actuation force, a discharge in drop form is made possible as before.

(27) The configuration in FIGS. 5A and 5B is largely similar to that in FIGS. 4A and 4B. The only difference is that, in the case of the design in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the elevations 25B have a different shape and are not, as shown in FIG. 4A, only of elongate, bar-like form. Instead, the elevations have approximately the shape of a quadrant, with the result that the lines illustrated in FIG. 5B, along which the wall plate 54 is deformed as intended, are not in alignment with one another. The effect of this is that the narrowing of the throttle channel takes place under different boundary conditions than in the configuration in FIGS. 4A and 4B. In this manner, it is possible for the liquid dispenser 100 to be adapted for different liquids with a relatively small adaptation.

(28) In the configuration as per FIGS. 6 to 8, the throttle device 34 is designed differently.

(29) The throttle device 34 of this embodiment has a throttle component 62 which is elastic as a whole and which is penetrated by the throttle channel 60. Referring to FIG. 8, which displays the throttle component separately, it can be seen that the throttle component 62 has a planar edge region 68, above which an elevation 63 pointing in the direction of the liquid store is raised centrally. The throttle channel 60 penetrates said elevation 63 and is surrounded by a deformation region 64, which deforms as intended. Provided on the elevation are two pressure application surfaces 65 which, when the liquid is discharged, are subjected to pressure by the latter and, in this way, bring about a deformation of the throttle channel 60.

(30) As can likewise be seen in FIG. 8, the throttle channel 60 has a circular free region 60B and slot-like closure regions 60A.

(31) This design is selected so that, when pressure is applied, the throttle channel 60 is not completely closed.

(32) Referring to FIG. 9A, it can be seen that, even with a positive pressure prevailing at the pressure application surfaces 65, only the closure regions 60A are completely closed, while, owing to the shape of the edges, the central circular free region 60B and free regions provided at the ends of the slots remain open. This prevents an excessively intense pressure from causing the discharge to stop completely when actuating the liquid dispenser 100.

(33) FIGS. 9B to 9D show alternative designs in this respect.

(34) In the configuration as per FIG. 9B, the slot-shaped sub-regions of the throttle channel 60 are shaped such that they permit a complete closure.

(35) In the case of the configuration in FIG. 9C, a cross-shaped slot formation is provided, wherein these slots also completely close when pressure is applied.

(36) In the case of the configuration in FIG. 9D, circular free regions form the ends of the slot.

(37) In all of these configurations, it is in each case provided that free regions 60B and closure regions 60A are part of the same throttle channel 60. This is expedient in particular for liquids which have a tendency to promote adhesion, since the free region remaining permanently open promotes the tendency for the closure regions also to be released from one another again after the discharge process has ended.

(38) However, as the configuration in FIG. 9E shows, this is not the only option. With this last design of an elastic throttle component, the free region 60B and the closure region 60A are provided in the throttle component 62 in a manner separate from one another.

(39) FIG. 10 and FIGS. 11A and 11B show a third configuration.

(40) Referring to FIGS. 11A and 11B, it can be seen that, here, the throttle channel 70 is adjacent to a displaceable closure body 72, which is subjected to force in the direction of the end position in FIG. 11A via a spring 74 in a sleeve structure 76, 72A. If then a positive pressure is built up in the liquid store 90, then said positive pressure acts on the throttle body 72 on all sides. Owing to the larger effective pressure application surface for application of pressure in the upward direction, the pressure prevailing on all sides acts such that a force acts on the throttle body 72 that, in relation to the perspective in FIGS. 11A and 11B, displaces said body upward.

(41) In this way, the throttle channel 70 is reduced in size with regard to its cross section and a part of the throttle channel 70 is ultimately completely closed. However, the liquid can nevertheless still partially flow past the throttle body 72, with the result that drop formation is still possible.