LIQUID DISPENSER WITH A DISCHARGE HEAD

Abstract

A discharge head (30) of a liquid dispenser (10), comprising a pump device or pressure accumulator, is known for selectively discharging liquid, on the one hand, in the form of an atomized spray jet and, on the other hand, in the form of a non-atomized liquid stream or in the form of individual droplets. The discharge head (30) is provided for fastening to a base unit (20) of the liquid dispenser (10), said base unit comprising a liquid reservoir (22). The discharge head has a housing (32) which is configured for the stationary or linearly movable or linearly and rotatably movable fastening to the base unit (20) of the liquid dispenser (10). The discharge head (30) has a liquid outlet (34) through which liquid may be discharged from the liquid reservoir (22) into a surrounding atmosphere, and a liquid inlet (38) through which liquid may be conducted out of the liquid reservoir (22) to the liquid outlet (34).

It is proposed that the liquid outlet (34) has an outlet channel (36) penetrating the housing. An internal part (50) is arranged inside the outlet channel (36), a spray opening (56) at the end of a spray duct (54) being provided on the front face (52) of said internal part facing in the direction of the surrounding atmosphere. The internal part (50) and the outlet channel (36) are displaceable relative to one another so that in a first relative position a bypass duct (64) is produced between an internal wall of the outlet channel (36) and an outer face of the internal part (50), the flow resistance thereof being lower than that of the spray duct (54), and in a second relative position this bypass duct (64) is at least partially closed so that the flow resistance of the bypass duct (64) is greater than that of the spray duct (54).

Claims

1. A liquid dispenser, in particular for discharging pharmaceutical or cosmetic liquids, having the following features: a. the liquid dispenser comprises a base unit with a liquid reservoir for receiving liquid before the discharge, and b. the liquid dispenser has a discharge head for fastening to the base unit of the liquid dispenser, c. the liquid dispenser has a pump device which may be actuated by a relative translatory movement of the discharge head relative to the base unit and conveys liquid out of the liquid reservoir into the discharge head or the liquid reservoir is configured as a pressure accumulator and the liquid dispenser has a valve device which may be actuated by a relative translatory movement of the discharge head relative to the base unit and conveys liquid out of the liquid reservoir into the discharge head, d. the discharge head has a housing which is configured for the stationary or linearly movable or linearly and rotatably movable fastening to the base unit of the liquid dispenser, and e. the discharge head has a liquid outlet through which liquid may be discharged from the liquid reservoir into a surrounding atmosphere, and f. the discharge head has a liquid inlet through which liquid may be conducted out of the liquid reservoir to the liquid outlet, and g. the discharge head is configured for selectively discharging liquid, on the one hand, in the form of an atomized spray jet and, on the other hand, in the form of an non-atomized liquid stream or in the form of individual droplets, h. the liquid outlet has an outlet channel penetrating the housing, i. an internal part is arranged inside the outlet channel, a spray opening at the end of a spray duct being provided on the front face of said internal part facing in the direction of the surrounding atmosphere, j. the internal part and the outlet channel are displaceable relative to one another so that in a first relative position a bypass duct is produced between an internal wall of the outlet channel and an outer face of the internal part, the flow resistance thereof being lower than that of the spray duct, and in a second relative position this bypass duct is at least partially closed so that the flow resistance of the bypass duct is greater than that of the spray duct.

2. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, having at least one of the following features: a. in the first relative position, the bypass duct is closed so that liquid may only enter the surrounding atmosphere through the spray duct and/or b. in the second relative position, an inlet into the spray duct is closed so that liquid may only enter the surrounding atmosphere through the bypass duct.

3. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, having one of the following features: a. the inner wall of the outlet channel is directly formed by surfaces of the housing and the internal part is displaceable relative to the housing, or b. the inner wall of the outlet channel is formed by an outlet sleeve which is displaceable relative to the housing and is thus also displaceable relative to the internal part which is part of the housing.

4. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, having at least one of the following features: a. the spray channel comprises a swirl chamber, liquid flowing therein in a direction deviating from a radial direction, b. the internal part has an outer wall portion and a spray component introduced therein, and/or c. the spray component comprises the spray opening and forms at least part of an inner wall of the swirl chamber.

5. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, having the following feature: a. the internal part and the outlet channel are movable in a translatory manner relative to one another, preferably linearly movable, in particular preferably aligned with a main direction of extent of the outlet channel, preferably having the following feature: b. the internal part or the outlet channel are movable in a translatory manner via a threaded drive so that the relative displacement takes place by a rotational adjusting movement.

6. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, having the following features: a. a switching surface is provided for manual actuation, the relative position of the outlet channel being able to be changed thereby relative to the internal part, and b. the switching surface is provided directly on an outlet sleeve which is movable relative to the housing or on the internal part which is movable relative to the housing.

7. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, having the following features: a. a switching surface is provided for manual actuation, the relative position of the outlet channel being able to be changed thereby relative to the internal part, and b. the switching surface is coupled by means of a gear mechanism to the outlet channel which is movable relative to the housing or to the internal part which is movable relative to the housing.

8. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 7, having the following feature: a. a restoring spring which acts between the internal part and the outlet channel is provided, so that the internal part and the outlet channel are always acted upon by force in the direction of the first or the second relative position and are displaced counter to the force of the restoring spring by the action of force on the switching surface.

9. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, having at least one of the following features: a. the discharge head has a variable internal volume for liquid, which is increased by pushing in the outlet sleeve and/or b. the outlet channel has a shape tapering in the direction of the surrounding atmosphere and/or c. the bypass duct surrounds the internal part in an annular manner.

10. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, having the following feature: a. the switching surface for the relative displacement of the internal part and the outlet channel to one another is provided on a side of the discharge head remote from the base unit, preferably having the additional feature: b. the switching surface is movable relative to the housing of the discharge head in a direction which corresponds (+/20) to the relative translatory direction of movement of the discharge head relative to the base unit.

11. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, having the following features: a. the discharge head is configured to be rotatable about a rotational axis relative to the base unit, and b. a gear mechanism is provided, the rotational movement of the discharge head effecting thereby a relative displacement of the outlet channel relative to the internal part.

12. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 11, having the following features: a. the gear mechanism comprises a guide element with an angular-dependent spacing from the rotational axis and which is provided on the internal part or the outlet sleeve of the discharge head or on the base unit and b. the gear mechanism comprises a guide slider which is in engagement with the guide element and which is provided on the base unit or on the internal part or the outlet sleeve of the discharge head.

13. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, having the following feature: a. the discharge head is provided rotatably on the base unit, and b. the discharge head has a gear mechanism by which the relative position of the internal part is adjustable relative to the outlet channel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Further advantages and features of the invention are disclosed in the claims and in the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention which are described hereinafter with reference to the figures.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a liquid dispenser with a discharge head in a sectional view.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows the discharge head of the liquid dispenser in a perspective view, in which the upper face of the discharge head is visible.

[0038] FIGS. 3 and 4 show the discharge head in sectional view in two different configurations.

[0039] FIG. 5 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a liquid dispenser with a discharge head in a partially sectional view.

[0040] FIGS. 6 and 7 show the discharge head in sectional view in two different configurations.

[0041] FIGS. 8 and 9 show a second exemplary embodiment of a liquid dispenser with a discharge head in a partially sectional view in two different configurations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0042] FIG. 1 shows in an overall view a first exemplary embodiment of a liquid dispenser 10 according to the invention. This liquid dispenser 10 has a base unit 20 comprising a liquid reservoir 22 and a housing part 23 positioned thereon, which together secure a pump device 80, an outlet tube 81 being provided on the upper end thereof. A discharge head 30, which is covered by a protective cap 12 in the state of FIG. 1, is positioned thereon. This discharge head 30 may be depressed in the direction of the arrow 2 for the purpose of discharging liquid.

[0043] The discharge head 30 is provided to dispense liquid optionally in the form of a spray jet or in the form of a continuous liquid stream and/or droplets.

[0044] In order for the user to be able to influence this procedure, the discharge head is provided in the manner shown in FIG. 2 with a switching surface 70 in the region of an actuating surface 14. The relative arrangement of this switching surface 70 to the housing 32 of the discharge head 30 and the actuating surface 14 determines in which form the liquid is discharged.

[0045] The different configurations of the discharge head 30 are described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0046] The discharge head 30 has a liquid inlet 38 which is fastened to the outlet tube 81 of the pump device 80 in the manner already described. From the liquid inlet 38 the liquid is conducted to a single liquid outlet 34 which the liquid to be discharged traverses when discharged. To this end, in the spray configuration of FIG. 3 the liquid flows along a liquid path 4 which leads through a radial inlet 53 into an internal part 50 of the discharge head 30, which is arranged fixedly relative to the housing 32 of the discharge head. The internal part is penetrated by a spray duct 54 along which the liquid path 4 extends as far as a swirl chamber 58. In this swirl chamber the liquid to be discharged is provided with a swirl so that it emerges through a spray opening 56 on the front face 52 of the internal part 50 in the form of a spray jet, without coming into contact again with other housing parts after being discharged. The path of the liquid in the spray configuration is illustrated by the liquid path 4 in FIG. 3.

[0047] The internal part 50 is arranged inside an outlet channel 36 which is displaceable in the horizontal direction relative to the housing 32 of the discharge head 30 in a translatory linear manner.

[0048] FIG. 4 shows the droplet configuration of the discharge head 30. In this droplet configuration, an outlet sleeve 60, the inner face thereof forming the outlet channel 36, is displaced such that a bypass duct 64 is opened. The flow path of the liquid is now the liquid path 6 which leads past the internal part 50 inside the outlet channel 36 as far as the liquid outlet 34.

[0049] Since the clear cross section of the bypass duct 64 is significantly larger than that of the spray opening 56, the liquid flows at a slower speed to the liquid outlet 34 and thus may be discharged in a relatively depressurized manner.

[0050] In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, the bypass duct 64 is closed in the spray configuration of FIG. 3. In the droplet configuration of FIG. 4, however, the spray duct 54 is open as before. Due to the increased flow resistance of the spray duct 54 and the spray opening 56, however, the entire liquid or almost the entire liquid flows through the bypass duct 64 in the droplet configuration of FIG. 4.

[0051] In alternative designs, however, it may also be provided that the spray duct 54 is fully closed in the droplet configuration. This is structurally easy to achieve by a corresponding lengthening of the outlet sleeve 60 and the introduction of a radial through-passage, so that by means of this lengthening the lengthened outlet sleeve in the configuration of FIG. 4 closes the access to the inlet 53 of the internal part 50.

[0052] FIG. 5 shows an alternative design. In the liquid dispenser 10 shown here, a base unit 20 and a discharge head 30 which is displaceable in the direction of the arrow 2 are provided once again. In this design, however, the base unit 20 is provided with a liquid reservoir 22 which is provided as a pressure accumulator. Instead of the pump device 80, therefore, a valve device 82, not shown in more detail, is used, said valve device being able to be opened by displacing an outlet pipe 83 in the direction of the arrow 2.

[0053] In principle, however, even in this design a base unit with a pump device corresponding to the exemplary embodiment set forth above may be used. Also in the exemplary embodiment set forth above a pressure accumulator with valve device may be used instead of the liquid reservoir with pump device.

[0054] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the two configurations of the discharge head 30 are described.

[0055] In the configuration of FIG. 6, the discharge head is configured for producing a spray jet. The liquid flowing through the liquid inlet 38 enters the inlet 53 of the spray duct 54 since no other path leads to the liquid outlet 34. The liquid is dispensed through the relatively narrow spray opening 56 at the end of the spray duct 54. A swirl chamber could also be used here corresponding to the first exemplary embodiment, although a geometric design specifically adapted thereto is not shown in the figures. Also possible is a design with one or more fine nozzle openings for producing a spray jet.

[0056] In the configuration of FIG. 7, the internal part 50 is displaced to the right relative to the housing 32, with reference to the drawings. As a result, the bypass duct 64 is opened so that now the liquid may flow in turn in a relatively depressurized manner to the liquid outlet 34. Thus with regard to the internal part 50 and the outlet channel 36, the design relative to the first exemplary embodiment is reversed. In this design of FIGS. 5 to 7, the internal part 50 is displaceable in a linear manner relative to the housing 32, whilst the outlet channel 36 remains fixed in position relative to the housing 32.

[0057] The particularity of this exemplary embodiment, however, is in particular in the manner of the actuation. A switching surface 72 which may also be depressed in the direction of the arrow 2 is provided on the upper face of the discharge head 30. This switching surface is coupled to a rear end of the internal part 50 via an oblique plane 72a. Additionally, the internal part 50 is acted upon by force by means of a restoring spring 76 in the direction of the spray configuration of FIG. 6.

[0058] If in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7 the switching surface 72 is now depressed relative to the housing 32, with a simultaneous compression of the restoring spring 76 which is configured as a compression spring, the internal part 50 is displaced to the right and thus the bypass duct 64 is opened.

[0059] Thus, depending on the actual location of the action of force on the discharge head, it is possible to select one of two configurations. If the discharge head is depressed in the region of the switching surface 72, this leads to the discharge of a substantially depressurized liquid stream. If the actuation takes place remotely from the switching surface 72, the spray configuration of FIG. 6 is produced, so that the liquid is discharged in the form of a spray jet.

[0060] FIGS. 8 and 9 show a third exemplary embodiment in which the internal part 50 is displaceable relative to the housing 32, coinciding with the design of FIGS. 5 to 7, and in which a swirl chamber is provided for producing a spray jet, coinciding with the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0061] However, it is a design in which a switching surface is not provided. Instead, located on the base unit 20 is a housing part 23 which is connected fixedly in terms of rotation thereto, with a projection protruding into the discharge head, said projection acting as a guide element 25 and being at a variable spacing from the outlet pipe 83 in the manner of a spiral-shaped portion. Corresponding to this guide element 25, a projection is provided on the internal part 50 which is linearly movable relative to the housing 32, said projection having a deep groove which serves as guide slider 51 and into which the guide element 25 engages on the base part side. The action thereof is such that by a rotational movement of the discharge head 30 about a rotational axis 3 the position of the internal part 50 may be influenced, and thus the two described configurations, the spray configuration, on the one hand, and the droplet configuration, on the other hand, may be produced. Due to the depth of the groove in the guide slider 51, it is nevertheless ensured that the projections do not hinder the depression of the discharge head.