LIQUID DISPENSER, IN PARTICULAR AN INHALER

Abstract

A liquid dispenser for discharging cosmetic or pharmaceutical liquids, in particular in the form of an inhaler. This liquid dispenser includes a switchable valve mechanism, a base, and a discharge head which, for actuation of the valve mechanism, is movable with respect to the base in a superposed axial and rotational movement or in a rotational movement between an opening position, in which the valve mechanism is opened, and a closure position, in which the valve mechanism is closed. It is proposed that, in a delivery state of the liquid dispenser, a rotational movement of the discharge head with respect to the base is blocked by a tamper-evident portion that is separable from the dispenser.

Claims

1. A liquid dispenser for discharging cosmetic or pharmaceutical liquids, in particular in the form of an inhaler, having the following features: a. the liquid dispenser comprises a switchable valve mechanism, which is opened in order to allow a discharge of liquid and which is closed in order to terminate the discharge of liquid, and b. the liquid dispenser comprises a base, and c. the liquid dispenser comprises a discharge head which, for actuation of the valve mechanism, is movable with respect to the base in a superposed axial and rotational movement or in a rotational movement between an opening position, in which the valve mechanism is opened, and a closure position, in which the valve mechanism is closed, wherein: d. in a delivery state of the liquid dispenser, a rotational movement of the discharge head with respect to the base is blocked by a tamper-evident portion that is separable from the liquid dispenser.

2. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, having the following features: a. the tamper-evident portion is designed as a tamper-evident portion which is accessible from the outside in the delivery state of the liquid dispenser and which can be subjected directly to force for the purpose of separation from the rest of the liquid dispenser.

3. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, having the following features: a. the discharge head is movable in a superposed axial and rotational movement, and, b. in the delivery state of the liquid dispenser, the tamper-evident portion separable from the liquid dispenser blocks the axial movement of the discharge head with respect to the base and thereby indirectly blocks the rotational movement.

4. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, having the following features: a. the discharge head has a housing part, and b. the separable tamper-evident portion is a portion connected integrally to a portion of the housing part.

5. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, having the following feature: a. the separable tamper-evident portion is designed as a separate component having a predetermine breaking point, which has to be destroyed for the purpose of separating the tamper-evident portion.

6. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, having the following feature: a. the separable tamper-evident portion is an annular portion which surrounds the liquid dispenser by at least 180, preferably by at least 300, in particular preferably completely.

7. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, having the following features: a. the discharge head is axially movable between the closure position and the opening position, and, b. in the delivery state, the tamper-evident portion blocks the discharge head in the closure position, in which the discharge head is arranged in an end position at a maximum distance from the base.

8. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, having the following feature: a. the tamper-evident portion has a cover portion which, before the separation, covers a viewing window of the liquid dispenser, wherein a marking is applied behind the viewing window.

9. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 8, having the following features: a. the viewing window is provided in a first housing part which is movable relative to a second housing part, wherein a surface portion of the second housing part is visible through the viewing window, and b. the marking is applied to the second housing part.

10. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 9, having the following feature: a. at least two markings are applied to the second housing part and, depending on the position of the first housing part relative to the second housing part, are visible through the viewing window or are concealed by the first housing part.

11. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 8, having the following feature: a. the cover portion forms a grip portion of the tamper-evident portion and for this purpose has a greater material thickness than the mean material thickness of the tamper-evident portion and/or has a radially outward, exposed arrangement relative to the other partial portions of the tamper-evident portion.

12. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, having at least one of the following features: a. the base and the discharge head are movable relative to each other in a superposed axial and rotational movement by means of a slotted guide track in which a slotted guide slider is arranged, and/or b. the liquid dispenser comprises a liquid reservoir for storing liquid prior to discharge, which liquid reservoir is preferably configured as a pressure accumulator, and/or c. the liquid reservoir is configured to receive a maximum of 500 ml, preferably a maximum of 250 ml, and/or d. the liquid reservoir is filled with: a saline aqueous solution or an aqueous solution in the form of a Ringer's solution or a buffered solution or an aqueous solution with at least one of the additives carbohydrates, essential oils, menthol and plant extracts or an aqueous solution containing vitamins, trace elements, manganese or zinc, or an aqueous solution with at least one of the additives from the group comprising cinnamon oil, tea tree oil, sage oil, thyme oil, lemon balm, and/or e. the liquid dispenser is configured as an inhaler and has a respiration piece, which is configured as a mouthpiece or as a breathing mask, and/or f. the respiration piece has a channel portion which is oriented in a direction deviating from an actuation direction of the discharge head and which preferably encloses with the latter an angle of between 45 and 135, in particular preferably an angle of between 70 and 110.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] 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 explained below with reference to the figures.

[0033] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a liquid dispenser according to the invention in an overall view, wherein the liquid reservoir is shown in section in FIG. 2.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a housing part of the base and also a housing part of the discharge head, together with a tamper-evident portion applied to the discharge head.

[0035] FIG. 4 shows the housing parts from FIG. 3 in their relative position in the delivery state.

[0036] FIGS. 5 and 6 show the two relative end positions of the housing parts from FIGS. 3 and 4 after removal of the tamper-evident portion.

[0037] FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of an alternative configuration corresponding to FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0038] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a dispenser according to the invention in an overall view and in a sectional view. The dispenser 10 according to the invention has a liquid reservoir 12, configured as a pressure accumulator, and also a discharge head 60. The discharge head 60 comprises a base 40, which is connected to the liquid reservoir 12 by means of a snap-fit connection 42 and is non-rotatable with respect to the liquid reservoir 12.

[0039] The dispenser moreover comprises a discharge head 60 which, in a manner explained in more detail below, is movable relative to the base 40 in order thereby to control the discharge of liquid.

[0040] The discharge head 60 has an outer housing 62 in which two inner components 70, 72 are secured, wherein the inner part 72 comprises a feed pipe 74 which extends into a valve mechanism 20 provided on the liquid reservoir 12 and bears there on an axially movable valve body 22.

[0041] In a movement of the discharge head 60 relative to the base 40, in the course of which movement the feed pipe 74 is moved in the direction of the liquid reservoir, liquid flows from the liquid reservoir through the feed pipe 74 and through a filter unit 76 as far as a nozzle unit 78 which, in a manner not shown, comprises a large number of individual nozzle openings. Here, the liquid is atomized and passes into an outlet channel 65 of a respiration piece 64, which is part of the outer housing 62.

[0042] The base 40 and the outer housing 62 of the discharge head 60 together define the mobility of the discharge head 60 relative to the base 40 and thus relative to the liquid reservoir 12. As will be seen from FIG. 3, a slotted guide track 84 is provided in the base component 40. Corresponding to this, a threaded cam 82 is mounted on the inner face of a sleeve portion 66 of the outer housing 62, which threaded cam 82 protrudes into the slotted guide track 84. Since the slotted guide track has the shape of a portion of a helix as shown in FIG. 3, the discharge head 60 is movable relative to the base in a correspondingly superposed relative axial and rotational movement. A rotation movement of the discharge head 60 relative to the base 40 thus brings about indirectly an axial movement, which is suitable for opening and closing the valve mechanism 20.

[0043] It will also be seen from FIG. 3 that a tamper-evident portion 90 is provided circumferentially at the lower open end of the outer housing 62. The tamper-evident portion 90 is a tamper-evident band, at the end of which is arranged a grip portion which serves as cover portion 92. The tamper-evident portion 90 along with the grip portion 92 is materially connected to the outer housing 62 by material bridges.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that an axial movement of the outer housing 62 relative to the base 40 is not possible when the tamper-evident portion 90 is still attached. During such a movement, the tamper-evident portion would collide with a step 46 of the base 40. Since an axial movement is not possible, a superposed rotational and axial movement is also not possible with the tamper-evident portion attached. The tamper-evident portion first has to be removed for the state according to FIG. 5 to arise.

[0045] When this has been done, the superposed axial and rotational movement provided for the activation of the dispenser can then take place, and a discharge of liquid can thus be effected.

[0046] As FIGS. 5 and 6 show, a viewing window 62A is opened by removal of the tamper-evident portion 90, and in particular of the cover portion 92, which viewing window 62A makes an underlying marking visible. As will be seen from FIG. 3, two such markings are provided on the outer face of the base 40, such that, depending on the relative position of the outer housing 62, it can immediately be seen from the window whether the dispenser is activated or deactivated.

[0047] FIG. 7 shows an alternative configuration. Here, the tamper-evident portion 90 is designed as a separate ring. In contrast to the configuration in FIG. 3, the material bridges 94 are thus absent. Instead, the ring in the configuration according to FIG. 7 is closed, and the ring tapers in the region of a predetermined breaking point 95 such that, after a grip tab 96 has been taken hold of and pulled, the ring is opened in the region of the predetermined breaking point and is then able to be removed. Only then can a discharge be effected by rotation of the housing part 62.

[0048] The ring shown has an internal diameter greater than the adjacent external diameter of the housing part 62, such that the housing part 62 cannot be moved into the ring.