LIQUID DISPENSER

Abstract

A discharge head for a liquid dispenser having a base, an actuation handle, a liquid inlet and a discharge opening. The discharge head has a pump mechanism which conveys liquid from a liquid store to the discharge opening. To control liquid to be discharged and/or inflowing air, the discharge head has a valve with a valve flap which closes a valve channel and transfers to an open position by a positive pressure that exceeds a threshold positive pressure. The discharge head has an effector element bearing on the handle and the base, which deforms when the handle is pressed down. The valve flap is designed and attached to the effector element such that the deformation of same acts on the valve flap so that the threshold positive pressure, beyond which the valve flap leaves its closed position, is at least 10% lower in an actuated end position than in a non-actuated end position.

Claims

1. A discharge head for a liquid dispenser for discharging pharmaceutical or cosmetic liquids, with the following features: a. the discharge head has a base and an actuation handle which can be pressed down in an actuation direction relative to the base between a non-actuated end position and an actuated end position, and b. the discharge head has a liquid inlet for connection to a liquid store and a discharge opening for dispensing liquid to an environment, and c. the discharge head has a pump mechanism with a pump chamber, which is arranged between the actuation handle and the base and by means of which liquid can be conveyed from the liquid store to the discharge opening, and d. the discharge head has an outlet valve which opens depending on pressure and is arranged between the pump chamber and the discharge opening, which outlet valve opens, as the size of the pump chamber decreases, through the liquid pressure of the liquid in the pump chamber, and/or an inlet valve which opens depending on pressure and is arranged between the liquid inlet and the pump chamber, which inlet valve opens, as the size of the pump chamber increases, through the negative pressure in the pump chamber, and/or a ventilation valve which opens depending on pressure and is arranged in a ventilation channel connecting the environment to the liquid store, which ventilation valve opens when there is a negative pressure in the liquid store, and e. the outlet valve and/or the inlet valve and/or the ventilation valve has a valve flap which closes a valve channel in a closed position and which can be transferred to an open position by a positive pressure which exceeds a threshold positive pressure in the pump chamber relative to the environment or in the liquid store relative to the pump chamber or in the environment relative to the liquid store, and f. the discharge head has an effector element which bears on the actuation handle and on the base, such that it deforms when the actuation handle is pressed down, and g. the valve flap is designed and attached to the effector element in such a way that the deformation of the effector element acts on the valve flap such that the threshold positive pressure, beyond which the valve flap leaves its closed position, is at least 10% lower in the actuated end position than in the non-actuated end position.

2. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, with the following additional feature: a. the valve flap is designed and attached to the effector element in such a way that the deformation of the effector element acts on the valve flap such that the threshold positive pressure, beyond which the valve flap leaves its closed position, is at least 30% lower, preferably at least 40% lower, in the actuated end position than in the non-actuated end position.

3. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, with the following additional feature: a. the valve flap is designed and attached to the effector element in such a way that the deformation of the effector element acts on the valve flap such that the threshold positive pressure, beyond which the valve flap leaves its closed position, is, in a middle position between the non-actuated end position and the actuated end position, at least 5% lower, preferably at least 15% lower, particularly preferably at least 20% lower, than in the non-actuated end position.

4. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, with the following additional feature: a. the valve flap and its attachment to the effector element are configured in such a way that the threshold positive pressure, beyond which the valve flap leaves its closed position, even in the actuated end position, does not fall to a value of 0 bar or below this value.

5. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, with the following additional feature: a. the valve flap is integrally connected to the effector element on one piece.

6. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, with the following additional features: a. the pump mechanism has a pump chamber wall which surrounds the pump chamber and which is formed by a hose-like pump chamber component which is secured with an open inlet side to the base and is secured with an open outlet side to the actuation handle, and b. the effector element is integrally connected to the pump chamber component, wherein in particular the effector element is formed by the pump chamber wall or a part thereof.

7. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, with the following additional feature: a. the effector element has a shape that is curved or bent several times in opposite directions and that shortens in the manner of a concertina upon actuation of the actuation handle.

8. The discharge head as claimed in claim 7, with the following additional feature: a. the effector element is formed by the pump chamber wall or a part thereof, wherein the pump chamber wall is configured at least in part in the form of a bellows with a shape that is curved or bent several times in opposite directions.

9. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, with the following additional features: a. the effector element has a subportion which, in the non-actuated end position of the actuation handle, is already oriented at an angle to the actuation direction, and b. the subportion is arranged on the effector element in such a way that, upon actuation of the actuation handle, it is swiveled to a more strongly angled orientation by a pivoting movement, and c. the valve flap is arranged on the subportion, as a result of which a moment acting in the open position is applied to the valve flap.

10. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, with the following additional features: a. the effector element has a securing portion, in particular a circumferential securing portion, and b. the effector element has an easily deformable tilting web, in particular a circumferential tilting web, which extends approximately at a right angle (+/−20%) to the actuation direction, and c. a deformable part of the effector element extends in or counter to the actuation direction, and the valve flap extends in the opposite direction, from an end of the tilting web directed away from the securing portion, such that, upon actuation of the actuation handle, a moment thereby acting on the effector element is coupled into the valve flap in the direction of its open position.

11. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, with the following additional features: a. the effector element has a securing portion, in particular a circumferential securing portion, and b. the effector element has a deformable thrust web, in particular a circumferential thrust web, the pressing-down action causing a thrust force to be coupled in at the end of the thrust web opposite the securing portion. and offset to the valve flap, and c. the valve flap is integrally formed on that end of the thrust web directed toward the securing portion, such that, upon actuation of the actuation handle, the offset thrust force applies a tensile force to an outside of the valve flap, which causes a tilting moment in the valve flap.

12. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, with the following additional feature: a. a component forming the base and a component forming the actuation handle together delimit an interior of the discharge head, in which a integrally formed one-piece pump chamber component is arranged as the sole component.

13. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, with the following additional feature: a. the discharge head has at least two valve flaps which are designed and attached to the effector element in such a way that the deformation of at least one effector element acts on the valve flaps such that the respective threshold positive pressure, beyond which the valve flaps leave their closed position, is in each case at least 10% lower in the actuated end position than in the non-actuated end position.

14. A liquid dispenser for discharging pharmaceutical or cosmetic liquids, with the following features: a. the liquid dispenser has a liquid store, b. the liquid dispenser has a discharge head, and c. the discharge head is designed as claimed in claim 1.

15. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 14, with the following additional features: a. the liquid store is filled with a cosmetic liquid, in particular with lotions or gels, lotions with a solids fraction, or soap or shampoo.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Further advantages and aspects of the invention will become clear from the claims and from the following description of a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention, which is explained below with reference to the figures.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows an overall view of a liquid dispenser according to the invention.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the discharge head of the liquid dispenser from FIG. 1.

[0038] FIGS. 3A to 3C show the discharge head according to FIG. 2 in a non-actuated end position, in a middle position, and in an actuated end position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a liquid dispenser 100 according to the invention, in the present case a liquid dispenser for discharging cosmetic lotions. The liquid dispenser 100 has a liquid store 110 with a shape like a bottle, at the upper end of which an outlet stub is arranged. The liquid store 110 is screwed into a discharge head 10, which for its part has a base 20 on which an actuation handle 40 designed as a push button is mounted so as to be slidable in an actuation direction 2 for the purpose of discharging liquid through a discharge opening 44.

[0040] The discharge head 10 has a pump mechanism 60 (not shown in FIG. 1) with which liquid can be conveyed from the liquid store 110 to a discharge opening 44.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows the discharge head 10 in an enlarged and cross-sectional view. For the purpose of cost-effective design, the discharge head is constructed from only a small number of components, basically from just a component forming the base 20, a component forming the actuation handle 40, and a pump chamber component 66 which at the same time outwardly delimits a pump chamber 64 and forms the valve flaps 72, 82, 92 of three valves 70, 80, 90, namely an inlet valve 80 between the liquid store 110 and the pump chamber 64, an outlet valve 70 between the pump chamber 64 and an environment, and a ventilation valve 90 between the environment and the liquid store 110. In addition to such a discharge head composed of only three parts, the liquid dispenser 100 can also have a dip tube 102, a seal 104 in the form of a sealing ring between discharge head 10 and liquid store 110, and also a cap (not shown in the figures). The whole dispenser can therefore be constructed from only 4 to 7 parts, which greatly simplifies manufacture and assembly.

[0042] The base 20 of the discharge head shown in FIG. 2 has a coupling mechanism 24 in the form of an inner thread, a front face 25 provided with ventilation apertures 26, and an outer sleeve 27 in which the actuation handle 40 is guided displaceably to a limited extent. The front face 25 is interrupted by a liquid inlet 22 with an inlet sleeve 23, which at its end has an opening 28 for the passage of liquid into the pump chamber 64 and on which the pump chamber component 66 is clamped. The inlet valve 80 and its circumferential valve flap 82 are provided between this opening 28 and the pump chamber 64, wherein an annular surface at the end of the inlet sleeve 23 forms a valve surface 84 of the inlet valve. Moreover, an annular structure is provided at the base, the inner face of which annular structure forms a valve surface 94 of the ventilation valve 90.

[0043] The actuation handle 40 of the discharge head shown in FIG. 2 is guided displaceably on the base 20 by means of a jacket 45. The discharge opening 44 is arranged at the upper end of the jacket 45. A front end of the actuation handle 40 forms the actuation surface 42. An annular retaining structure 46 for clamping the pump chamber component 66 is provided on the inner face of the actuation handle 40. A further annular web is provided inside the retaining structure 46, the outer face of which annular web forms a valve surface 74 of the outlet valve 70.

[0044] When the pressure is the same on both sides, the valve flaps 72, 82 bear with inward pretensioning on the respective valve surface 74, 84. When the pressure is the same on both sides, a third valve flap 92 of the ventilation valve 90 bears with outward pretensioning on the valve surface 94. All three valve flaps 72, 82, 92 are designed circumferentially and therefore have the shape of a portion of a cone or a cylindrical shape.

[0045] At the upper end of the pump chamber component 66, a circumferential securing portion 54 is provided, by means of which the pump chamber component 66 is clamped into the retaining structure 46, thereby creating a leaktight coupling of the pump chamber to the discharge opening 44. A thin tilting web 56 extends radially inward from the securing portion 54, wherein a notch 56A is provided in the present illustrative embodiment, such that the tilting web performs the decoupling action that is explained in detail below. To the inside of the tilting web 56, the latter is adjoined by the valve flap 72 counter to the actuation direction 2, while the bellows-like pump chamber wall 62 extends in the opposite direction toward the base 20.

[0046] The lower end of the pump chamber component 66 forms a circumferential securing portion 55, which is clamped onto the inlet sleeve 23. The valve flap 82 is formed integrally on this securing portion 55. Facing toward the outside, a tilting or thrust web 57, 58 adjoins the securing portion 55, which in turn is made comparatively thin by means of a circumferential notch 57A. The outer side of the tilting and thrust web 57, 58 is adjoined, in the direction of the actuation handle 40, by the lower end of the bellows-like pump chamber wall 62. In the opposite direction, it is adjoined by the valve flap 92 of the ventilation valve 90.

[0047] The design of the pump chamber component 66 with said elements and in particular with the valve flaps 72, 82, 92 serves the purpose of influencing the force with which the ends of the valve flaps 72, 82, 92 are pressed against the valve surfaces 74, 84, 94 on account of their being attached to other parts of the pump chamber component 66. The pump chamber component 66 and in particular the bellows-like pump chamber wall 62 thereof form an effector element 50 for controlling this respective force.

[0048] In the upper end position of the actuation handle 40, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3A, all of the valve flaps 72, 82, 92 are pressed with the respective maximum force against the valve surfaces 74, 84, 94.

[0049] If an actuation is now performed by pressing the actuation handle 40 down, the pump chamber component 66 is compressed, wherein the change of length is largely effected completely by the pump chamber wall 62, forming the effector element 50, and by the subportions of the pump chamber wall 62 being laid on one another in the manner of a bellows. Two subportions 52, 53 at the ends of the effector element 50 formed by the pump chamber wall 62 are thus swiveled further in the direction of the arrows 3, 4 from a position in which they were already at an angle relative to the actuation direction 2. On account of the decoupling in relation to the respective securing portions 54, 55 by means of the tilting webs 56, 57, this swiveling has the effect that an equidirectional moment is coupled in the direction of the arrows 5, 6 into the valve flaps 72, 92, which moment, although not sufficient to release the valve flaps 72, 92 from the valve surfaces 74, 94, nonetheless reduces the pressing force that is acting there.

[0050] The tilting and thrust web 58 moreover has the effect that the subportion 53 and the valve flap 92 are shifted slightly in the direction of the arrow 7 in relation to the securing portion 54. This gives rise to a tensile force in that side of the valve flaps 82 of the inlet valve 80 facing toward the pump chamber 64, as a result of which a moment is also coupled in there, which moment acts in the direction of the arrow 8 and also reduces the pressing force on the valve surface 84 at this valve flap 82.

[0051] The state obtained in FIG. 3B constitutes an intermediate setting of the actuation handle 40. The pressing force of the valve flaps 72, 82, 94 on the valve surfaces 74, 84, 94 is in each case reduced in this state and has the effect that, at each of the valves, the threshold positive pressure needed to open the valve is reduced. In the present embodiment, the threshold positive pressure at the outlet valve 70 is already reduced by approximately 30%. At the inlet valve 80, the threshold positive pressure is reduced by approximately 20%. At the ventilation valve 90, the threshold positive pressure is reduced by approximately 50%.

[0052] Upon continued movement in the direction of the actuated end position, which is shown in FIG. 3C, the deformations are in each case intensified, such that the pressing force of the valve flaps 72, 82, 92 on the valve surfaces 74, 84, 94 drops further. When the actuated end position according to FIG. 3C is reached, the threshold positive pressure at the outlet valve 70 and at the inlet valve 80 is reduced to approximately 50% and approximately 30%, respectively, of the original threshold positive pressure in the non-actuated end position. At the ventilation valve 90, the threshold positive pressure has dropped to 0 bar, such that the valve flap 92 has withdrawn from the valve surface 94 and the ventilation valve 90 is thus open.

[0053] When the actuation handle 40 is let go, the pump chamber wall 62 brings about a restoring force, by which the actuation handle 40 is pressed via the state in FIG. 3B back to the state in FIG. 3A.

[0054] The description of the sequence involved in pressing down the actuation handle 40 on the basis of FIGS. 3A to 3C has thus far been explained without reference to the liquid to be discharged or to the compensating air flowing into the liquid store 110.

[0055] In normal operation, with a filled liquid store attached, the procedure is as follows: Starting from the state in FIG. 3A, the actuation handle is actuated counter to a resistance that is at a maximum at the start, since the valve flap 72 of the outlet valve 70 is in this state pressed with maximum force onto the valve surface 74. When the initial resistance thus provided has been overcome, the valve flap 72 is opened, as movement starts, by the positive pressure in the pump chamber 64, and, as the pump chamber wall 62 and therefore the effector element 50 begin to deform, the pressure needed to keep the outlet valve 70 open is reduced. Even if the actuation slows down, the outlet valve 70 thus remains open. It is only at a standstill that it closes, notwithstanding the partial stroke that has occurred to that point. Meanwhile, on account of the configuration of the pump chamber component 66, the inlet valve 80 and the ventilation valve 90 are already closed, wherein the inlet valve is additionally pressed into the closed position by the pressure in the pump chamber 64.

[0056] When the actuated end position of FIG. 3C is reached, the outlet valve closes despite the reduced threshold positive pressure, since the positive pressure in the pump chamber 64 relative to the environment drops to 0 bar. The ventilation valve 90 has already opened, while the valve flap 82 of the inlet valve 80 still bears on the valve surface 84 and is pressed against the latter, such that the inlet valve is still closed.

[0057] When the return stroke of the actuation handle 40 begins, the inlet valve opens immediately, since the restoring force is at a maximum at this time, and since the threshold positive pressure for opening the inlet valve is at a minimum. The pump chamber 64 thus directly begins to refill. The already open ventilation valve 90 permits unimpeded inward flow of compensating air through the ventilation apertures 26 into the liquid store, and it remains reliably open during most of the return stroke. The result of this is a very rapid restoration of the actuation handle 40, with complete refilling of the pump chamber 64. After the non-actuated end position of FIG. 3A has been reached again, the next actuating stroke can begin immediately.