Discharge head for a liquid dispenser and liquid dispenser having such a discharge head

Abstract

A discharge head having a housing, a coupling device for attachment to a liquid store, a discharge opening and an outlet channel extending from an inlet region up to the discharge opening and by which the discharge opening is supplied with liquid. For throttling the liquid to be discharged, the discharge head has a throttle device with a throttle channel for reduction in the liquid pressure and/or the liquid flow through the throttle device. The throttle device is switchable between throttling and release states, and a minimum free cross section of the throttle channel is varied to subject liquid flowing in the direction of the discharge opening to a high throttling effect in the throttling state and liquid flowing in the direction of the inlet region is subjected to a low throttling effect in the release state.

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 adjacent the liquid store; an outlet channel extending from said inlet region to said discharge opening, said outlet channel being configured to supply said discharge opening with liquid from the liquid store; and a throttle device disposed in said outlet channel, said throttle device being configured to accommodate liquid flow therethrough in a first direction towards said discharge opening and in a second direction towards said inlet region, said throttle device having a throttle channel with a variable cross-section, said throttle device being configured for switching between a throttling state and a release state to vary said cross-section of said throttle channel and produce a throttling effect on liquid flowing through said throttle device and said throttle channel, said throttling effect comprising a reduction in a pressure and/or a flow of liquid flowing through said throttle device and said throttle channel, said throttle device in said throttling state causing said throttling effect on liquid flowing in said first direction through said throttle device and said throttle channel, said throttle device in said release state causing said throttling effect on liquid flowing in said second direction through said throttle device and said throttle channel, said throttling effect in said release state being less than said throttling effect in said throttling state.

2. The discharge head according to claim 1, wherein said throttle device comprises a throttle body disposed in said throttle channel, said throttle body being displaceable between a release position and a throttling position, said throttle body being disposed in said release position in said release state of said throttle device and being disposed in said throttling position in said throttling state of said throttle device.

3. The discharge head according to claim 2, wherein said discharge head has an upright position in which said discharge opening is oriented above said inlet region and an upside-down discharge position in which said discharge opening is oriented below said inlet region, said throttle body being disposed at different heights in said release position and in said throttling position with respect to said upright position of said discharge head, said throttle body being freely movable between said release position and said throttling position such that said throttle body is displaced into said release position under action of gravitational force in said upright position of said discharge head and is displaced into said throttling position under action of gravitational force in said upside-down discharge position of said discharge head.

4. The discharge head according to claim 3, wherein said throttle body is displaced in a direction towards said throttling position by liquid flowing in said first direction through said throttle device and is displaced in a direction towards said release position by liquid flowing in said second direction through said throttle device.

5. The discharge head according to claim 2, wherein said throttle channel includes an inflow opening at one end thereof and an outflow opening at an opposite end thereof, said throttle body being disposed between said inflow opening and said outflow opening in both said release position and said throttling position, said throttle channel further including at least one side opening disposed between said inflow opening and said outflow opening, said throttle body being disposed between said side opening and said outflow opening in said throttling position and said throttle body not being disposed between said side opening and said outflow opening in said release position.

6. The discharge head according to claim 5, wherein said throttle device comprises an outer wall including a plurality of deflectable outer wall webs extending in a longitudinal direction of said throttle channel, and said at least one side opening is disposed between two adjacent ones of said outer wall webs.

7. The discharge head according to claim 6, wherein said throttle body is spherical.

8. The discharge head according to claim 2, wherein said throttle device comprises an outer wall defining said throttle channel and said throttle body is disposed inside said outer wall, said throttle body and said outer wall each comprising a stop surface, said stop surfaces cooperating with one another to secure said throttle body in said throttle channel.

9. The discharge head according to claim 8, wherein said outer wall comprises a plurality of outer wall webs extending in a longitudinal direction of said throttle channel, said outer wall webs being configured for deflection, said stop surface of said outer wall being disposed adjacent ends of said outer wall webs.

10. The discharge head according to claim 2, wherein said throttle body is spherical.

11. The discharge head according to claim 2, wherein said throttle device comprises a spring disposed to bias said throttle body in a direction towards said release position or in a direction towards said throttling position.

12. The discharge head according to claim 11, wherein said spring comprises a helical plastic spring or said spring is integrally formed with said throttle body.

13. The discharge head according to claim 2, wherein said throttle body is displaceable within said throttle channel between a release position and a throttling position, said throttle body being disposed in said release position in said release state of said throttle device and being disposed in said throttling position in said throttling state of said throttle device, said throttle channel having a first opening at one end thereof disposed adjacent said inlet region and a second opening at an opposite end thereof disposed adjacent said discharge opening, and said throttle member being disposed closely adjacent said second opening in said throttling position.

14. The discharge head according to claim 1, further including an outlet valve disposed in said outlet channel downstream, with respect to liquid flow in said first direction, of said throttle device, 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; and/or said outlet valve comprises elastic material and comprises a bulge having a valve opening closable by valve lips, said valve lips, with an 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.

15. The discharge head according to claim 1, wherein said throttle device is configured for switching between said throttling state and said release state to vary said cross-section of said throttle channel and vary a path of liquid flowing through said throttle device to produce said throttling effect, said throttle device comprising a throttle body disposed in said throttle channel and displaceable within said throttle channel to vary said path of liquid flowing through said throttle device, said throttle body being displaceable within said throttle channel between a release position and a throttling position, said throttle body being disposed in said release position in said release state of said throttle device and being disposed in said throttling position in said throttling state of said throttle device, said path of liquid when said throttle body is disposed in said throttling position being different from said path of liquid when said throttle body is disposed in said release position.

16. 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 adjacent said liquid store; an outlet channel extending from said inlet region to said discharge opening, said outlet channel being configured to supply said discharge opening with liquid from said liquid store; and a throttle device disposed in said outlet channel, said throttle device being configured to accommodate liquid flow therethrough in a first direction towards said discharge opening and in a second direction towards said inlet region, said throttle device having a throttle channel with a variable cross-sectional configuration, said throttle device being configured for switching between a throttling state and a release state to vary said cross-sectional configuration of said throttle channel and produce a throttling effect on liquid flowing through said throttle device and said throttle channel, said throttling effect comprising a reduction in a pressure and/or a flow of liquid flowing through said throttle device and said throttle channel, said throttle device in said throttling state causing said throttling effect on liquid flowing in said first direction through said throttle device and said throttle channel, said throttle device in said release state causing said throttling effect on liquid flowing in said second direction through said throttle device and said throttle channel, said throttling effect in said release state being less than said throttling effect in said throttling state.

17. The liquid dispenser according to claim 16, wherein said liquid dispenser is configured as a drop dispenser, and/or said liquid dispenser 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 a pharmaceutical liquid.

18. A discharge head for a liquid dispenser, said discharge head comprising: a housing; a coupling device configured to attach said discharge head to a liquid store; a discharge opening through which liquid is dispensed into a surrounding atmosphere; an inlet region into which liquid from the liquid store enters said discharge head; an outlet channel configured to provide communication between said discharge opening and said inlet region; and a throttle device disposed in said outlet channel between said inlet region and said discharge opening such that liquid stored in the liquid store flows through said throttle device, said throttle device comprising a throttle channel which accommodates liquid therein, said throttle device being configured for switching between a throttling state and a release state to produce a throttling effect comprising a reduction in liquid pressure and/or liquid flow of the liquid flowing through said throttle device and said throttle channel, said throttle channel in said throttling state of said throttle device having a first fluid-accommodating cross-sectional configuration to produce said throttling effect on liquid flowing through said throttle device and said throttle channel in a direction towards said discharge opening, and said throttle channel in said release state of said throttle device having a second fluid-accommodating cross-sectional configuration, different from said first fluid-accommodating cross-sectional configuration, to produce said throttling effect on liquid flowing through said throttle device in a direction towards said inlet region, said throttling effect in said release state of said throttle device being less than said throttling effect in said throttling state of said throttle device.

19. The discharge head according to claim 18, wherein said throttle device comprises a throttle body disposed within said throttle channel, said throttle body being displaceable within said throttle channel between a release position and a throttling position, said throttle body being disposed in said release position in said release state of said throttle device and being disposed in said throttling position in said throttling state of said throttle device, said first and second fluid-accommodating cross-sectional configurations defining respective flow paths for liquid flowing through said throttle device, said flow paths being different from one another.

20. The discharge head according to claim 19, wherein said discharge head has an upright position in which said discharge opening is oriented above said inlet region and an upside-down discharge position in which said discharge opening is oriented below said inlet region, wherein one or both of gravitational force, or a force generated by the flow of liquid through said throttle channel in the direction towards said discharge opening, in said upside-down discharge position of said discharge head displaces said throttle body into said throttling position and wherein one or both of gravitational force, or a force generated by the flow of liquid through said throttle channel in the direction towards said inlet region, in said upright position of said discharge head displaces said throttle body into said release position.

21. The discharge head according to claim 20, wherein said throttle body is freely movable within said throttle channel between said throttling position and said release position.

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 a liquid dispenser according to the invention in an overall illustration.

(3) FIGS. 2 and 3A to 3C show a first exemplary embodiment of the liquid dispenser in a sectioned illustration, and the throttle device thereof when the liquid dispenser is in use.

(4) FIGS. 4 and 5A to 5C show a second exemplary embodiment of the liquid dispenser in a sectioned illustration, and the throttle device thereof when the liquid dispenser is in use.

(5) FIGS. 6 and 7 and 8A to 8C show a second exemplary embodiment of the liquid dispenser in a sectioned illustration, and the throttle device thereof in a perspective illustration and when the liquid dispenser is in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

(6) FIG. 1 shows a liquid dispenser 100 according to the invention. This has, as a main component, a liquid store 90 in the form of a squeeze bottle, which is subjected to force as intended in the region of actuation surfaces 92 for the purpose of discharge. A discharge head 10, whose housing 20 consists of two components 22 and 26, is mounted on the liquid store 90. The component 26 is an applicator tip, on whose distal end there is provided a discharge opening 38 which is surrounded by a drop formation surface 26A in the form of a spherical cap. In order to protect the liquid dispenser from drying out, a cap 110 is provided.

(7) FIG. 2 shows a first exemplary embodiment of the liquid dispenser 100 in a sectioned illustration. Just like the exemplary embodiments described below, the dispenser has the stated liquid store 90, to which is fastened the housing 20 with the base component 22 and the applicator component 26. For the purpose of latching, the base component 22 has a coupling device 24. As an alternative, an integral configuration would also be conceivable. An integral valve component of an outlet valve 36 is, with its edge region, is clamped in between the base component 22 and the applicator component 26.

(8) Said valve component is provided in an outlet channel 30 which extends from an inlet region 32 on the liquid store side, through a throttle device 34 and the stated outlet valve 36, and up to the discharge opening 38.

(9) If the liquid store 90 is subjected to force in the upside-down position of the liquid dispenser 100, with the discharge opening 38 pointing downward, the liquid passes from the inlet region 32, through the throttle device 34 and the outlet valve 36, and up to the discharge opening 38, and there, is released in drop form. As soon as the discharge has been completed and the user stops subjecting the liquid store 90 to force, the result is a negative pressure in the liquid store and the intention is for the liquid from the outlet channel to be sucked back into the liquid store.

(10) The stated throttle device 34 is designed so that, when liquid is discharged, it throttles said liquid sufficiently such that the release of a continuous jet is prevented and instead the desired drop release takes place. However, during the sucking-back, it is intended that no or little throttling is realized, in order that the liquid can pass as completely as possible back into the liquid store 90.

(11) The construction described here is fundamentally identical for all three exemplary embodiments described below.

(12) The throttle device 34 of the first exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 2 to 3C consists of merely two constituent parts, namely an outer wall 51, which is of approximately cylindrical design and surrounds a throttle channel 50, and a throttle body 52, which is arranged in the throttle channel 50 and, in the case of this configuration, is designed in the form of a spherical body.

(13) The functioning of the throttle device 34 will be discussed on the basis of FIGS. 3A to 3C.

(14) FIG. 3A shows an initial state. When the liquid dispenser 100 is not being used and stands upright according to FIG. 2, the throttle body 52 bears, at the distal end of the throttle channel 50, on stop surfaces 51B which are formed on the inside of the outer wall 51 at the distal end. Provided opposite said stop surfaces 51B are insertion bevels 51C which, during the assembly, allow the throttle body 52 to be introduced into the throttle channel 50, with deflection of three outer wall webs 51A of the outer wall 51.

(15) If, proceeding from the state in FIG. 3A, the use then begins, then the user positions the dispenser upside-down, with the result that the throttle device 34 assumes the position in FIG. 3B. In this way, the throttle body 52 falls under the action of gravitational force onto the opposite, proximal end of the throttle channel 50, at which end the outflow opening 50B is provided. If, owing to the difference in density between the throttle body 52 and the surrounding liquid being too small, the gravitational force is not sufficient to bring the throttle body 52 into the position in FIG. 3B, then this will however be achieved at the latest by the applied pressure in the liquid and the flow thereof.

(16) As can be seen referring to the dotted lines in FIG. 3B, the passage path through the throttle channel 50 for the liquid toward an outlet opening 50B is then significantly narrowed. The throttle body 52 fills most of the cross section of the throttle channel 50 immediately in front of the outflow opening 50B and thus brings about intense throttling of the liquid. Even if the user 90 applies force intensely to the liquid store 90, a drop formation is therefore, as desired, the result.

(17) After the discharge process has ended, the dispenser is brought into its upright position in FIG. 2 again. As can be seen in FIG. 3C, the throttle body 52 then falls again onto the distal end of the throttle channel 50 in the region of the inflow opening 50A, with the result that, owing to the negative pressure in the liquid store 90, liquid from the outlet channel is sucked back into said liquid store without any problems. The liquid flowing back assists this displacement of the throttle body 52.

(18) Although the spherical throttle body 52 still takes up the same amount of space in the unchanging cross section of the throttle channel 50, the liquid flowing back is then able to pass back into the liquid store 90 through side openings 50C, which are provided between the deflectable outer wall webs 51A, with only little throttling.

(19) In the configuration as per FIGS. 4 to 5C, the throttle device is designed slightly differently.

(20) As can be seen referring to FIGS. 5A to 5C, the outer wall 61 of the throttle device 34 is designed here in a manner very similar to that in the preceding variant. It again has mutually spaced apart outer wall webs 61A extending in the longitudinal direction and having end-side stop surfaces 61B and insertion bevels 61C. In this way, a throttle body 62 is secured in the throttle channel 60.

(21) In contrast to the preceding exemplary embodiment, the throttle body 62 is designed here in the form of a disk-shaped throttle body and, moreover, is integrally connected to a spring device 64 in the form of a plastic helical spring, on whose side which is opposite the throttle body 62 a counter bearing disk 65 is provided.

(22) The sequence corresponding to the sequence described with respect to FIGS. 3A to 3C leads here to the following behavior.

(23) In the upside-down position for discharge, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, the throttle body 62 is pushed against the proximal end of the throttle channel 60 and, in this way, closes off most of the outflow opening 60B. The liquid is consequently able to pass to the discharge opening 38 only in an intensely throttled form and is thus reliably released here in drop form.

(24) After the discharge process has ended, however, the throttle body 62 is, during the sucking-back of liquid from the outlet channel 30, deflected by the liquid in the manner shown in FIG. 5C, with the result that the throttling effect is significantly reduced. In this way, much of the liquid can be reliably sucked from the outlet channel 30 back into the liquid store 90 through the throttle device 34. In this case, it exits the throttle device through the side openings 60C since, in this variant, an end-side inflow opening is permanently closed off by the counter bearing disk 65. It would however also be possible for said counter bearing disk to be designed with an aperture, in order to facilitate the exchange of liquid between the throttle channel 60 and the liquid store 90.

(25) In the exemplary embodiment as per FIGS. 6 to 8C, the throttle device 34 likewise has a throttle channel 70 which extends from an inflow opening 70A up to an outflow opening 70B. In said throttle channel 70, provision is again made of a throttle body 72, which, as can be seen in FIGS. 8A to 8C, is able to be displaced in relation to the housing 20 and the outer wall 71 by means of sliding sleeves. As can be seen from the illustration in FIG. 7, a conical surface 71D which is interrupted in the region of three cutouts 71E is provided on the inner side of the outer wall 71.

(26) The correspondingly likewise partially conically shaped throttle body 72 is, as in the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 4 and 5, subjected to force by a spring device 74, in this case preferably designed in the form of a metallic helical spring, in the direction of its release position, illustrated in FIG. 8A.

(27) As illustrated in FIG. 8B, during a discharge, the throttle body 72 is subjected to force in the region of the end side 72A thereof and is consequently pushed into the position in FIG. 8B, in which the conical portion-shaped sub-surfaces of the outer wall 71 and of the throttle body 72 bear against one another. During discharge, a liquid flow can therefore still be realized only through the apertures 71E illustrated in FIG. 7. In FIG. 8B, this is shown by the dotted line. The liquid stream is thus intensely throttled and is consequently suitable for drop release.

(28) After the discharge process has ended, the throttle body 72 is, even before the dispenser is brought into its upright position again, —pushed back into its position in FIGS. 8A and 8C by the spring device 74 such that, as illustrated by the dotted lines, the liquid from the outlet channel can be sucked back into the liquid store with only low flow resistance.