Liquid dispenser

Abstract

A liquid dispenser for discharging liquids, in particular in rod shape. The liquid dispenser has a liquid store for receiving liquid prior to discharge, and a discharge opening for discharging the liquid. The liquid dispenser has a pumping device having an actuating surface for manual actuation, by which liquid is conveyed from the liquid store to the discharge opening. The liquid store is provided within an exchangeable container unit, couplable to a main unit including the pumping device (62) and the discharge opening, and is uncouplable therefrom. For the exchangeable coupling of the container unit to the main unit is provided a coupling device, by which the container unit, by pressing against the main unit, is alternately couplable thereto and releasable therefrom. The coupling device possesses two coupling members, wherein one coupling member is provided on the container unit and one coupling member on the main unit.

Claims

1. A liquid dispenser for discharging pharmaceutical or cosmetic liquids, comprising: a liquid store for receiving liquid prior to a discharge thereof; a discharge opening for discharging the liquid; and a pumping device having an actuating surface for manual actuation of the pumping device, by which liquid is conveyed from the liquid store to the discharge opening; wherein the liquid store is provided within an exchangeable container unit couplable to, and uncouplable from, a main unit comprising the pumping device and the discharge opening; wherein for the exchangeable coupling of the container unit to the main unit a coupling device is provided, the container unit, by pressing against the main unit, is alternately couplable to the main unit and releasable from the main unit via the coupling device; and wherein the coupling device possesses two coupling members, wherein one coupling member is provided on the container unit, and one coupling member is provided on the main unit.

2. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main unit includes a receiving shaft for receiving the container unit, wherein the container unit, in a state connected to the main unit, is set back from a rim which circumferentially surrounds an opening of the receiving shaft or protrudes from the rim by a maximum of 5 mm.

3. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the two coupling members are matched to one another in such a way that, in a state inserted one into the other, the coupling members are rotatable relative to one another about a rotational axis, and on one coupling member at least one retaining cam is provided, and on the other coupling member a corresponding retaining structure is provided and has stop faces interrupted in a peripheral direction by gaps so that the coupling members, in one relative rotation setting, are releasable from one another in the direction of the rotational axis when the retaining cam is aligned with a gap, and in another relative rotation setting, in which the retaining cam is aligned with a stop face, are positively secured against release in the direction of the rotational axis.

4. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 3, wherein: the container unit includes an outlet opening, the outlet opening in a delivery state of the liquid dispenser being closed off by a membrane, the coupling member of the main unit is provided with an opening sleeve, the opening sleeve, upon the coupling of the container unit to the main unit, puncturing the membrane and thereby opening the container unit, and the retaining cam is provided on an outer side of the opening sleeve.

5. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 3, wherein the coupling members include a common clamping device, by which the coupling members, in a relative setting in which the coupling members are spaced further apart compared to a positively secured relative setting, are fixable relative to one another.

6. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 3, wherein: on at least one of the coupling members a ramp structure is provided, and on the other coupling member a mating surface corresponding to the ramp structure is provided, by which the two coupling members are rotated relative to one another about the rotational axis into a defined desired relative rotation setting when the coupling members are pushed axially toward one another, and a number of single ramps of the ramp structure which act in one of the rotational directions tallies with a sum of the stop faces and the gaps provided between the stop faces.

7. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 6, wherein: on the retaining structure, inclined sliding surfaces extending in the peripheral direction are respectively provided between the gaps and the stop faces, and in the desired relative rotation settings, the retaining cam is oriented in such a way relative to the retaining structure such that the retaining cam is aligned with one of the sliding surfaces.

8. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein a spring device is arranged between the coupling members and in a coupled state of the coupling device applies to the coupling members a mutually opposing force in a separation direction.

9. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 8, wherein the spring device comprises a helical spring.

10. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 8, wherein the spring device is fixed on one of the coupling members and extends in the direction of the other coupling member.

11. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 10, wherein the other coupling member is provided with a guide structure for the spring device, the guide structure being configured to guide the spring device during convergence of the coupling members.

12. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 8, wherein the spring device is configured in one piece with one of the coupling members.

13. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the container unit includes an outlet opening, the outlet opening in a delivery state of the liquid dispenser being closed off by a membrane, and the coupling member of the main unit is provided with an opening sleeve, the opening sleeve, upon the coupling of the container unit to the main unit, puncturing the membrane and thereby opening the container unit.

14. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 13, wherein the membrane is configured in one piece with the coupling member of the container unit.

15. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 13, wherein the coupling member of the main unit includes an element having both the opening sleeve and a fixing region for a spring device.

16. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein a housing of the liquid dispenser has a rod shape with a length of at least 100 mm and a maximum diameter of 18 mm.

17. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid store is filled with one of the following: a pharmaceutical or cosmetic liquid for topical application; a cosmetic or pharmaceutical skin care product; a make-up liquid; lip gloss; nail varnish; mascara; eyeshadow liquid; make-up remover; or nail varnish remover.

18. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the discharge opening is provided on an applicator surface angled in relation to a direction of principal extent of the liquid dispenser.

19. A liquid dispenser set, wherein: the liquid dispenser set comprises a liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, comprising the main unit and the container unit, and the liquid dispenser set comprises at least one further container unit configured for coupling to the main unit.

20. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuating surface of the liquid dispenser is configured for actuation orthogonally to a direction of principal extent of the liquid dispenser.

21. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid dispenser at least in a region of the actuating surface has a maximum diameter of 22 mm.

22. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the discharge opening is provided on an applicator including a sponge or a textile application surface.

23. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the discharge opening is provided on an applicator with a rotatable application roller or application ball for rolling along a user's skin.

24. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the discharge opening is provided on an applicator with a brush.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages and aspects of the invention emerge from the claims and from the following description of a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention, which is described below with reference to the figures.

(2) FIGS. 1 and 2 show the dispenser according to the invention in a sectioned and a non-sectioned representation.

(3) FIG. 3 shows the dispenser of FIG. 1 prior to the insertion of the container unit into the receiving shaft of the main unit.

(4) FIGS. 4A to 4C and 5A to 5C show the two coupling members of the coupling device for fastening the container unit to the main unit.

(5) FIGS. 6A to 6C, 7A to 7C and 8A to 8C show the coupling process for coupling the container unit to the main unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

(6) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a liquid dispenser 10 according to the invention in an overall representation.

(7) The liquid dispenser 10 has basically a rod shape and is from the outside, with the exception of the applicator 70 and the actuating handle 64, outwardly basically rotationally symmetric in form. With reference to FIG. 2, in which the liquid dispenser 10 is shown in a sectional representation and with a mounted cap 12, the individual components are described. The liquid dispenser 10 possesses a main unit 60 having a grip 61, on which the actuating handle 64 is provided. This actuating handle 64 is disposed in an aperture 63 in the grip 61 and bounds a pumping chamber 65 of a pumping device 62. By elastic pressing-in of the actuating handle 64, the volume of the pumping chamber 65 can be reduced, so that liquid present therein is forced through a pressure relief valve 65A in the direction of a discharge opening 72 on the applicator 70. If the actuating handle 64 is released again, then a pressure relief valve 65B, which is provided between the pumping chamber 65 and a liquid store 24, opens, so that, under the impact of the expansion of the pumping chamber 65, this is filled up with liquid from the liquid store 24.

(8) The liquid store 24 is part of a container unit 20, which on the end facing away from the discharge opening 72 is inserted in a receiving shaft 66 of the main unit 60. In the connected state of FIG. 2, the container unit 20 is set back from a rim 68 which circumferentially surrounds an opening of the receiving shaft 66. Alternatively, the container unit 20 protrudes from the rim 68 by 5 mm or less, preferably by 2 mm or less, in particular preferably by 1 mm or less. The container unit 20 possesses a coupling member 32, which is described in greater detail further below and which, in the state of FIG. 2, is connected to a coupling member 34 belonging to the main unit.

(9) FIG. 3 shows the main unit 60 and the container unit 20 in separated representation. It can be seen that the container unit 20 consists of two elements, namely an end-closed sleeve element 21, which defines the volume of the liquid store 24, and a thereon mounted element 23, which provides the coupling member 32.

(10) In the state of FIG. 3, in which the container unit 20 has not yet been inserted, an outlet opening 22 of the container unit 20 is still closed off, wherein for this is provided a membrane 26, which forms an integral part with the coupling member 32 on the container unit. Because of the use of just two elements, the container unit 20 can thus be produced very economically.

(11) The essential components of the main unit 60 have already previously been described. Reference is therefore made only to the coupling member 34 belonging to the main unit, which possesses an opening sleeve 56 provided with a cutting tip, which in the designated manner, upon the insertion of the container unit 20, pierces the membrane 26.

(12) The two coupling members 32, 34 are described once again below with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4C and 5A to 5C.

(13) FIG. 4A to 4C show the coupling member 34 belonging to the main unit. This has a comparatively simple structure. An outer sleeve 51 possesses on the end face a gearing-like ramp structure 53 having a total of 12 teeth 52, which are arranged in the manner of a spur gearing and respectively possess two individual ramps 54. In the center of the coupling member 34 is provided said opening sleeve 56, which, in the designated manner, is provided to open said membrane and is configured as a hollow tube, in order to be able to convey liquid from the liquid store 24. In the radial direction, two retaining cams 50 point, on opposite sides, away from the opening sleeve 56. The coupling member 34 additionally possess a fixing region 58 on an element 57 for the fitting of a metallic helical spring 55.

(14) The coupling member 32, represented in FIG. 5A to 5C, on sides of the container unit 20 likewise possesses along its outer periphery a gearing-like ramp structure 43 including ramps 44. Surrounded by this ramp structure 43 is an inner sleeve 47, wherein between the ramp structure 43 and the inner sleeve 47 is provided a guide structure 46 for receiving said helical spring 55.

(15) On the inner side of the inner sleeve 47, pointing in the direction of the coupling member 34 belonging to the main unit, is provided a lead-in structure 48, and on the opposite side a retaining structure 40. The retaining structure 40 comprises respectively six gaps 41 and six stop faces 42, wherein sliding surfaces 45 are respectively provided between the gaps 41 and the stop faces 42.

(16) The joining of the coupling devices 30 consisting of the two coupling members 32, 34 is illustrated with reference to FIG. 6A to 8C.

(17) FIG. 6A to 6C show a first phase, in the course of which the container unit 20 is inserted into the receiving shaft 66 in the direction of the arrow 6. As the container unit 20 approaches the coupling member 34 of the main unit 60, the opening sleeve 56 is slid into the outlet opening 22 of the container unit 20 and pierces the membrane 26. At the same time, the helical spring 55 enters the guide structure 46 provided for this purpose, until, in the state of FIG. 6A to 6C, it reaches the bottom thereof, so that a continued movement of the container unit 20 is made in the direction of the coupling member 34 against the force of this helical spring. Shortly after the membrane has been pierced by the opening sleeve 56, the retaining cams 50 enter the sleeve 47 and are brought by the lead-in structure 48 into one of six possible defined rotation settings, wherein, for this purpose, the container unit 20 and the main unit 60 as a whole change to a small extent their relative rotation setting. Upon the continued insertion of the container unit 20, the ramp structures 43, 53, from the setting of FIG. 7A to 7C, enter into engagement with one another. As a result, a further rotation of the main unit 60 and the container unit 20 relative to one another ensues, until the state of FIG. 8A to 8C, in which a desired rotational relative setting between the main unit 60 and the container unit 20 is obtained, is reached. In this desired relative setting, the retaining cams 50 are oriented in alignment with sliding surfaces 45 of the coupling member 32, which sliding surfaces 45 are of the kind which are oriented sloping in the direction of the stop faces 42. The result is that, when the spring device 55 relaxes with the cessation of the force application to the container unit 20, the retaining cams first come into contact with said sliding surfaces, slide down on these and are then pressed against the stop faces 42. A positive locking of the coupling members 32, 34 one to another is now obtained.

(18) The separation which occurs after emptying of the container unit 20 is realized analogously.

(19) Starting from the described state, in which retaining cams 50 bear against the stop faces 42, force is applied to the container unit 20 in the same direction 6 as with the coupling, thus in the direction of the main unit 60. The retaining cams 50 are hereby forced out of the depressions in the stop faces 42 and the ramp structures 43, 53 re-engage. They again give rise to a rotation, so that the retaining cams are again arranged in alignment with the sliding surfaces 45, though now with sliding surfaces 45 which are oriented sloping in the direction of gaps 41. The cessation of the force application at the rear end of the container unit 20 now results in the retaining cams being placed onto those described sliding surfaces 45, sliding down on these, and thus intruding into the channels which form the gaps 41. Since these are continuous in shape, as is shown, for instance, in FIG. 5B, the container unit can now be withdrawn from the receiving shaft 66 of the main unit 60.