LIQUID DISPENSER WITH VENTILATED BOTTLE AND DISCHARGE HEAD FOR THIS PURPOSE

Abstract

A discharge head for a liquid dispenser having a coupling device fastening to an outlet connector of a liquid store, a liquid inlet, and a discharge opening. The discharge head has a pump device conveying liquid from the liquid inlet to the discharge opening, and a ventilation channel. The discharge head has an end surface by which the liquid store is substantially closed off at the distal end of the outlet connector and which is extended through by the liquid inlet. The end surface and the coupling device are formed as part of a common main component. The end surface has a ventilation aperture which is part of the ventilation channel and through which air flows into the liquid store in an inflow direction. The ventilation aperture has a minimum clear cross section of at most 3.Math.10.sup.2 mm.sup.2.

Claims

1. A discharge head for a liquid dispenser for dispensing cosmetic or pharmaceutical liquids, having the following features: a. the discharge head has a coupling device for fastening to an outlet connector of a liquid store, b. the discharge head has a liquid inlet directed in the direction of the liquid store and has a discharge opening, c. the discharge head has a pump device for conveying liquid from the liquid inlet to the discharge opening, d. the discharge head has a ventilation channel which connects external surroundings of the discharge head to an interior of the liquid store, e. the discharge head has an end surface by means of which a coupled-on liquid store is substantially closed off at the distal end of the outlet connector on the side of the discharge head and which is extended through by the liquid inlet, f. the end surface and the coupling device are formed in unipartite fashion as part of a common main component, g. the end surface has at least one ventilation aperture which is part of the ventilation channel and through which air can flow into the liquid store in an inflow direction, and h. the at least one ventilation aperture has a minimum clear cross section of at most 3.Math.10.sup.2 mm.sup.2, preferably of at most 1.Math.10.sup.2 mm.sup.2, particularly preferably of at most 5.Math.10.sup.3 mm.sup.2.

2. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, having the following additional feature: a. the ventilation aperture is formed as an opening which narrows steadily in the inflow direction.

3. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, having the following additional feature: a. the ventilation aperture is formed as an opening which narrows counter to the inflow direction.

4. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, having the following additional feature: a. the ventilation aperture is, at the location of the minimum clear cross section, formed by a cylindrical channel portion, the length of which corresponds at least to the mean diameter at said location.

5. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, having the following additional feature: a. the ventilation aperture has a truncated-cone-shaped or truncated-pyramid-shaped channel portion, the narrowest point of which forms the minimum clear cross section of the ventilation aperture, in particular having at least one of the following additional features: b. the truncated-cone-shaped or truncated-pyramid-shaped channel portion narrows in the inflow direction of the air, and/or c. the truncated-cone-shaped or truncated-pyramid-shaped channel portion narrows counter to the inflow direction of the air, and/or d. the smallest clear cross section is arranged in the plane of the surface of the end surface on the end facing toward the liquid store or in the plane of the surface of the end surface on the end averted from the liquid store.

6. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, having the following additional feature: a. a multiplicity of ventilation apertures is provided, preferably 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8 ventilation apertures, preferably having the additional feature: b. two ventilation apertures which are spaced apart from one another to the greatest extent in the circumferential direction are spaced apart from one another at least by 60 and/or at least by 5 mm.

7. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, having one of the following additional features: a. the main component is manufactured from a plastic which, with the addition of an additive, is formed as an altogether hydrophilic or hydrophobic component, and/or b. the main component is, at the end surface, provided with a hydrophilic or hydrophobic coating on one or both sides.

8. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, having the following additional features: a. the discharge head has a sealing ring for the purposes of circumferentially sealing the discharge head with respect to the outlet connector of the liquid store, b. the sealing ring has an areal extent such that, in relation to the main extent direction of the outlet connector of the liquid store, said sealing ring covers the at least one ventilation aperture, c. the sealing ring is spaced apart from an exit side of the ventilation aperture so as to form a narrow slot, such that air can pass into the liquid store past the sealing ring.

9. The discharge head as claimed in claim 8, having the following additional features: a. that side of the end surface which faces toward the liquid store has a planar abutment surface against which the sealing ring bears, and b. that side of the end surface which faces toward the liquid store has a region which is recessed in relation to the abutment surface and into which the a least one ventilation aperture opens.

10. The discharge head as claimed in claim 8, having the following additional features: a. the sealing ring has a planar abutment surface by which it bears against the end surface, and b. the sealing ring has, on that side of the sealing ring which faces toward the end surface, a region which is recessed in relation to the abutment surface and which is preferably formed as a depression surrounding the liquid inlet, wherein the recessed region is arranged such that the at least one ventilation aperture opens into said recessed region of the sealing ring.

11. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, having at least one of the following additional components: a. the discharge head has an actuating push button which is mounted slidingly on the main component, and/or b. the discharge head has an actuating push button which, together with the main component, defines an interior space in which a pump chamber of the pump device is arranged.

12. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, having the following additional feature: a. the pump device has a pump chamber which is formed by an elastic compressible hollow body which is of open form at an entrance side and at an exit side, preferably having at least one of the additional features: b. the pump chamber has, at the entrance side, an inlet valve which is formed at least partially by an inlet valve portion which is formed in one piece with the hollow body, and/or c. the pump chamber has, at the exit side, an outlet valve which is formed at least partially by an outlet valve portion which is formed in one piece with the hollow body.

13. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, having at least one of the following features: a. the main component has a pump chamber connector which projects beyond the end surface oppositely with respect to the liquid store and which serves for the spaced-apart attachment of the hollow body that forms the pump chamber, wherein a stop surface is particularly preferably provided on the pump chamber connector, against which stop surface the entrance side of the hollow body bears, and/or b. the coupling device is formed in the manner of an internal thread, and/or c. the coupling device is designed as a detent device, wherein, for this purpose, on the main component, there is provided at least one elastically deflectable detent edge for detent engagement on the connector of the liquid store, and/or d. the wall surrounding the ventilation aperture has, in the course of the ventilation aperture, at least one surface-forming edge at which portions of the wall converge on one another at an angle of at least 135 and which is of sharp-edged form with a radius of curvature of <0.1 mm, and/or e. a central axis of the at least one ventilation aperture extends parallel to the main extent direction of the outlet connector of the liquid store.

14. A liquid dispenser for dispensing cosmetic products, having the following features: a. the liquid dispenser has a liquid store with an outlet connector, b. the liquid dispenser has a discharge head which is fastened by means of a coupling device to the outlet connector, and c. the discharge head is designed as claimed in claim 1.

15. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 14, having the following additional features: a. the liquid store is filled with a cosmetic liquid, and b. the smallest clear diameter of the at least one ventilation aperture is configured such that the hydrostatic pressure that is generated at a maximum by the liquid in the liquid store cannot pass through the ventilation aperture owing to the surface tension of the liquid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] 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.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a dispenser according to the invention in an overall illustration.

[0039] FIGS. 2 and 2A show a first exemplary embodiment in a sectional illustration of the discharge head with an enlarged detail.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows, in a view from the liquid store, the arrangement of ventilation apertures in the end wall of the discharge head.

[0041] FIG. 4 illustrates the action of the ventilation apertures in the case of an orientation of the dispenser in an upside-down position.

[0042] FIGS. 5 and 5A show a second exemplary embodiment in a sectional illustration of the discharge head with an enlarged detail.

[0043] FIGS. 6A to 6H show different variants regarding the shaping of the ventilation apertures.

[0044] FIG. 7 illustrates the arrangement and effect of a partially hydrophobic embodiment of the discharge head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0045] 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 10 in the form of a bottle, at the upper end of which there is arranged an outlet connector 12 with an external thread that is not illustrated in FIG. 1. The liquid store 10 is screwed into a discharge head 20, which itself has a main component 30 which forms the base of the discharge head 20 and on which an actuating pushbutton 40 is mounted so as to be slidingly displaceable in an actuating direction.

[0046] The discharge head 20 has a pump device 50 which is not illustrated in FIG. 1 and by means of which liquid can be conveyed out of the liquid store 10 to a discharge opening 44.

[0047] Since the quantity of liquid remaining in the liquid store 10 is hereby reduced, air from a surrounding atmosphere must pass into the liquid store 10 for the purposes of pressure equalization. The problem here lies in the fact that a ventilation channel that leads into the liquid store 10 from external surroundings simultaneously also allows liquid to escape through the ventilation channel in an upside-down position of the liquid dispenser 100, for example if the dispenser is transported in a bag.

[0048] The ventilation device described below serves for the purpose of permitting the ventilation without the risk of a relevant quantity of liquid escaping in the upside-down position.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a dispenser according to the invention, and of the discharge head thereof, in a sectional view. It can be seen that the pump device 50 is formed by virtue of a bellows-like hollow body 54, which is of open form at its entrance side and its exit side, being fastened to the main component 30 and to the actuating pushbutton 40, wherein said hollow body is, at the main component 30, clamped onto a pump chamber connector 38 which, by means of a stop surface 38A, limits the pushing-on length of the hollow body 54.

[0050] At the actuating pushbutton 40, the hollow body 54 is clamped into a sleeve portion 47. That wall of the hollow body 54 which surrounds the pump chamber 52 is of bellows-like form in order to realize a reproducible compression when the actuating pushbutton 40 is pushed down by manual exertion of force on the pressure surface 42. At the entrance side and at the exit side of the pump chamber 52, there are provided an inlet valve 56 and an outlet valve 58, wherein both valves each have an elastic valve portion 56A, 58A which is in each case formed integrally on the hollow body 54, such that, in addition to the main component 30 and the actuating pushbutton 40, only one further component is required in order to provide a reliable pump device.

[0051] The main component 30 is that component which provides the coupling device 36, in the present case in the form of an internal thread. Said main component is at the same time that component which forms an end surface 32, which in the present case is of substantially planar form, though need not be of such form, and which closes off the liquid store 10 in the region of its outlet connector 12. For the purposes of sealing, a sealing ring 26 is provided, which is of functional importance in the context of the invention in the second embodiment described in more detail below. The end surface 32 of the main component 30 is extended through by an opening for two purposes. Firstly, the liquid inlet 34 is provided here, which opens into the pump chamber connector 38 and on which a riser pipe 28 is provided which projects into the liquid store 10.

[0052] Furthermore, the end surface 32 is interrupted by a total of eight ventilation apertures 70 which are part of a ventilation channel 60 by means of which, after the discharge of liquid, air can flow into the liquid store 10 for the purposes of the pressure equalization. The ventilation channel 60 or ventilation path is illustrated in its entirety by a dashed line. The ventilation path runs through a gap between the main component 30 and the actuating pushbutton 40 into an interior space formed by said two components, and from there to the ventilation apertures 70.

[0053] Here, as will be discussed in more detail below, the ventilation apertures 70 are of such slim form that, although air can flow in, no liquid flows out under normal conditions.

[0054] As illustrated on the basis of FIG. 3, a total of eight ventilation apertures 70 is provided, because, owing to the very slim form of the ventilation apertures 70, one on its own would not be sufficient to compensate the loss of liquid in the liquid store 10 as a result of multiple successive actuations. Here, the eight ventilation apertures 70 are arranged uniformly with spacings of 45 with respect to one another so as to surround the pump chamber connector 38 and the central axis thereof, resulting in a large spacing between the ventilation apertures 70. The spacing between mutually opposite ventilation apertures 70 amounts to approximately 25 mm, and the spacing between adjacent ventilation apertures 70 amounts to approximately 8 mm. This serves the purpose that, in the event of an undesired passage of liquid through one of the ventilation apertures 70, the liquid should as far as possible not run, on that side of the end surface 32 which is averted from the liquid store 10, into the region of another ventilation aperture, so as not to disrupt the function thereof.

[0055] FIG. 4 shows a detail of the discharge head 20 of FIG. 1 in an upside-down position of the dispenser 100. It can be seen that the liquid, indicated by means of bubbles, flows as far as the ventilation aperture 70 and, at the channel portion 74 thereof with minimum clear cross section and with a sharp-angled surface-forming edge 78 of approximately 60, a domed surface 90 illustrated by dashed lines forms which, owing to the surface tension of the liquid, prevents the ingress of further liquid into the ventilation aperture 70. Even if liquid passes into the ventilation aperture 70, it is in turn the case, at the opposite side of the ventilation aperture 70, that a situation arises in which a domed surface forms which is stable under the action of the surface tension of the liquid and which prevents the passage of further liquid in an effective manner.

[0056] FIGS. 5A and 5B show a somewhat different design. Here, the sealing ring 26 is provided with a smaller inner diameter, but additionally with a depression 27 on its top side, such that, here, the top side of the sealing ring 26 is recessed somewhat in relation to the abutment surface of the sealing ring 26 against the end surface 32. Together with the end surface 32, a very narrow slot 68 is hereby formed, which however does not impede the entry of air into the liquid store 10.

[0057] By means of this design, it is ensured that the ventilation apertures 70 are not, as a result of jerky movements of the liquid dispenser 100 or even a shaking action, acted on by liquid impinging directly on the ventilation aperture 70, which would be capable of passing through the ventilation aperture 70.

[0058] FIGS. 6A to 6H show different possible embodiments of the ventilation apertures 70.

[0059] In the case of FIGS. 6A and 6B, the ventilation apertures 70 are in each case of truncated-cone-shaped or truncated-pyramid-shaped form, wherein, in the case of the embodiment of FIG. 6A, said ventilation apertures narrow toward the liquid store 10 and, in the case of the embodiment of FIG. 6B, said ventilation apertures narrow in the opposite direction. Such ventilation apertures 70 are particularly easy to produce because mold portions of an injection mold for forming such ventilation apertures 70 are required only on one of the two mold parts for producing the main component 30. On the opposite side, the tool can be of planar form in the same region. It has been found that the liquid pressure required to pass through a ventilation aperture shaped in this way is scarcely lower than in the case of a purely cylindrical aperture as in FIG. 6D.

[0060] In the design as per FIG. 6C, the ventilation apertures 70 narrow proceeding from both sides. This yields three surface-forming edges 78 of approximately 135, approximately 90 and approximately 135 one behind the other, which are each suitable for preventing the escape of liquid.

[0061] In the design of FIG. 6E, an encircling trench-like depression 77 is provided on the end surface 32, into which depression the ventilation apertures 70 open. The ventilation apertures 70 can thus be shorter, which makes the production process easier. In the case of the embodiment of FIG. 6F, such depressions 77 are provided to both sides of the end surface 32.

[0062] The design of FIG. 6G differs from the similar design of FIG. 6A in that the sealing ring 26 does not have a depression. Instead, a depression 32D is provided on the underside of the end surface 32, which depression likewise makes it possible to use a sealing ring 26 with an inner diameter which covers the ventilation apertures 70 and which therefore does not allow a direct impingement of the liquid on the ventilation aperture 70 in the event of the dispenser 100 being shaken.

[0063] The design of FIG. 6H is one with relatively complex shaping of the ventilation aperture. The ventilation aperture 70 illustrated here has, at both sides, a conical shaping, wherein a short cylindrical sub-portion defines the point that is narrowed to the greatest degree.

[0064] In the design as per FIG. 7, the main component 30 and the end surface 32 are of hydrophobic design, but provided with a hydrophilic coating 79 on the bottom side thereof. This combination has the effect that, firstly, in the upside-down position, a liquid surface 94 which prevents the further passage of liquid forms in a particularly reliable manner at the boundary between the hydrophilic and the hydrophobic region. Additionally, liquid that has entered the ventilation apertures 70 during a brief period in the upside-down position is drawn from the hydrophobic ventilation aperture 70 back into the liquid store 10 by the hydrophilic coating 79 after a return into the initial position.