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, with the following features: a. the discharge head has a housing, and b. the discharge head has a coupling device for attachment to a liquid store, and c. the discharge head has a discharge opening through which liquid is able to be dispensed into a surrounding atmosphere, and d. the discharge head has an outlet channel which extends from an inlet region, pointing in the direction of the liquid store, up to the discharge opening and by means of which the discharge opening is able to be supplied with liquid, and e. the discharge head has, in the outlet channel, a throttle device with a throttle channel for the reduction in the liquid pressure and/or the liquid flow of the liquid flowing through the throttle device, and f. 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, and g. the throttle channel is delimited, at least in sections, by an inner side of a channel wall whose position is able to be varied by displacement or deformation.

2. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, with the following additional feature: a. an outer side of the channel wall, which faces away from the inner side, is connected in a communicating manner to an inlet of the throttle channel such that, when the liquid is subjected to pressure for the purpose of discharge, an identical pressure increase is realized at the inlet of the throttle channel and at the outer side of the channel wall.

3. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, with the following additional features: a. the positionally variable channel wall is part of a planar wall plate, and b. a positionally fixed channel wall is provided opposite the positionally variable channel wall, wherein the positionally variable channel wall and the positionally fixed channel wall define the throttle channel between them.

4. The discharge head as claimed in claim 3, with the following additional feature: a. the positionally fixed channel wall is formed by a housing wall of the housing, and b. the wall plate is, with a fastening region, arranged positionally fixed with respect to the housing wall and, with a deformable section, projects over the throttle channel in a manner approximately parallel to the positionally fixed channel wall.

5. The discharge head as claimed in claim 3, with the following additional features: a. the discharge head has at least two throttle channels, which are connected in parallel with respect to one another in terms of flow, and b. the wall plate is provided as a common wall plate, which delimits the at least two throttle channels in sections.

6. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, with the following feature: a. at least one aperture, into which the throttle channel opens, is provided in the housing wall forming the positionally fixed channel wall.

7. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, with the following feature: a. the wall plate has a fastening opening in the fastening region, which is snapped onto a housing-side fastening pin.

8. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, with the following feature: a. at least one elevation is provided on the housing wall or the wall plate, in the region of which the housing wall and the wall plate bear against one another.

9. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, with the following additional features: a. the discharge head has a throttle component composed of an elastically deformable material as part of the throttle device, and b. the throttle component has an aperture which is surrounded by a deformation region and which forms the throttle channel, and c. the throttle component has at least one pressure application surface, against which, during operation, the liquid bears upstream of the throttle channel and by way of whose pressure application the deformation region is deformed and a free cross section of the throttle channel is able to be reduced in size.

10. The discharge head as claimed in claim 9, with the following additional feature: a. the throttle component has an elevation which is bulged in the upstream direction and in which the throttle channel is provided.

11. The discharge head as claimed in claim 9, with the following additional feature: a. the throttle component has an encircling edge region on the outside, which is integrally connected to the deformation region and in the region of which the elastic throttle component is fastened to a rigid housing section of the housing by way of a snap-action connection or an integral formation.

12. The discharge head as claimed in claim 9, with the following additional feature: a. the throttle component has an encircling edge region on the outside, which is integrally connected to the deformation region and is arranged such that, when the liquid store is coupled, it seals off the liquid store with respect to the housing.

13. The discharge head as claimed in claim 9, with the following additional features: a. the throttle channel has at least one closure region, in the region of which opposite edges of the throttle channel come to bear against one another as a result of the pressure application surface being subjected to force, and b. the throttle channel has at least one free region, which is delimited by an edge arrangement which does not lead to closure of the free region even when the pressure application surface is subjected to force.

14. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, with the following additional feature: a. the throttle channel is delimited by two rigid channel walls, wherein one of the channel walls is provided as a positionally variable channel wall on a positionally variable throttle component.

15. The discharge head as claimed in claim 14, with the following additional feature: a. the positionally variable throttle component is mounted so as to be movable, in particular linearly movable, with respect to the housing by means of a guide, preferably a linear guide.

16. The discharge head as claimed in claim 14, with the following additional feature: a. a spring device by means of which the throttle component is permanently subjected to force in a direction of enlargement of the free cross section of the throttle channel is provided between the housing and the throttle component.

17. The discharge head as claimed in claim 14, with the following additional feature: a. the throttle component is designed such that, and/or is attached to the housing such that, pressure application surfaces on the throttle component which are active for displacement cause, with identical pressure on all pressure application surfaces, the throttle component to be subjected to force in a direction in which the free cross section of the throttle channel is reduced in size.

18. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, with the following additional feature: a. the discharge head has, in the outlet channel downstream of the throttle device, an outlet valve which opens in dependence on the positive pressure prevailing upstream.

19. The discharge head as claimed in claim 18, with the following additional feature: a. the outlet valve closes automatically in a pressure interval between a defined inlet-side negative pressure and an inlet-side positive pressure and opens when the defined negative pressure is exceeded and when the defined positive pressure is exceeded.

20. The discharge head as claimed in claim 18, with the following additional feature: a. the outlet valve is formed from an elastic material and has a bulge which is directed upstream and in which a valve opening, which is able to be closed by valve lips, is provided such that, with increasing inlet-side positive pressure, the valve lips are increasingly pressed against one another by the positive pressure up to the attainment of an inlet-side limit pressure for positive pressure.

21. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, with the following additional feature: a. the discharge head is designed for the formation of drops, wherein the throttle device is designed for a limitation of the liquid flow, which leads to the formation of single drops, and not to the formation of a liquid jet, at the discharge opening.

22. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, with the following additional feature: a. the discharge opening is surrounded by a drop formation surface, preferably in the form of a spherical cap.

23. The discharge head as claimed in claim 1, with the following additional feature: a. the housing of the discharge head comprises a first, integral base component, which comprises the coupling device for attachment to the liquid store, and a second, integral applicator component, which has the discharge opening and is penetrated by the outlet channel and is fastened to the base component, wherein the outlet valve is preferably positionally fixed between the base component and the applicator component.

24. A liquid dispenser for dispensing liquid, in particular for dispensing cosmetic or pharmaceutical liquids, with the following features: a. the liquid dispenser has a discharge head with a discharge opening for dispensing of liquid into a surrounding atmosphere, and b. the liquid dispenser has a liquid store, which is connected to a housing of the discharge head by way of a detachable coupling device or an integral formation, and c. the discharge head is designed as claimed in claim 1.

25. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 24, with the following additional feature: a. the liquid dispenser is designed in the form of a drop dispenser.

26. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 24, with the following additional feature: a. the liquid store is designed in the form of a squeeze bottle or tube.

27. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 24, with the following additional feature: a. an inner volume of the liquid store is less than 300 ml, preferably less than 100 ml, in particular preferably less than 50 ml.

28. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 24, with the following additional feature: a. the liquid store is filled with a cosmetic or pharmaceutical liquid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0060] 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.

[0061] 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.

[0062] FIG. 2 shows, in a sectioned illustration, a first exemplary embodiment of a liquid dispenser according to the invention.

[0063] FIG. 3 shows, in an exploded illustration, the sub-components of the discharge head of the first exemplary embodiment.

[0064] FIGS. 4A and 4B show the inner side of the discharge head as per FIG. 3 with separated and attached flexible wall plate.

[0065] 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.

[0066] FIG. 6 shows, in a sectioned illustration, a second exemplary embodiment of a liquid dispenser according to the invention.

[0067] FIG. 7 shows, in an exploded illustration, the sub-components of the discharge head of the second exemplary embodiment.

[0068] FIG. 8 shows, in a separate illustration, the throttle component of the second exemplary embodiment.

[0069] FIG. 9 shows, in a perspective from below, different variants of the throttle component for the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 6 to 8.

[0070] FIG. 10 shows, in a sectioned illustration, a third exemplary embodiment of a liquid dispenser according to the invention.

[0071] 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

[0072] FIG. 1 shows a liquid dispenser 100 according to the invention, which is designed in the manner of a drop dispenser.

[0073] 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.

[0074] 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.

[0075] 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.

[0076] For this purpose the following exemplary embodiments are described by way of example:

[0077] Referring to the configuration illustrated as a sectional illustration in FIG. 2, in connection with a first exemplary embodiment, it can be seen that the 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.

[0078] 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.

[0079] 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.

[0080] 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.

[0081] This will be discussed more precisely referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, which show the base component 22 without and with fastened wall plate 54.

[0082] 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 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.

[0083] Again referring to FIG. 2, the functioning is as follows:

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.

[0084] 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.

[0085] 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.

[0086] In the configuration as per FIGS. 6 to 8, the throttle device 34 is designed differently.

[0087] 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.

[0088] As can likewise be seen in FIG. 8, the throttle channel 60 has a circular free region 60B and slot-like closure regions 60A.

[0089] This design is selected so that, when pressure is applied, the throttle channel 60 is not completely closed.

[0090] 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 64A 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.

[0091] FIGS. 9B to 9D show alternative designs in this respect.

[0092] 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.

[0093] 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.

[0094] In the case of the configuration in FIG. 9D, circular free regions form the ends of the slot.

[0095] 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.

[0096] 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.

[0097] FIG. 10 and FIGS. 11A and 11B show a third configuration.

[0098] 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.

[0099] In this way, the throttle channel 70 is reduced in size with regard to its cross section and 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.