DISPENSING DEVICE FOR DISPENSING LIQUIDS OR FLUIDS IN GENERAL

Abstract

The present invention concerns a dispensing device (100) for dispensing a liquid or fluid held in a container (C). The device (100) comprises: an engagement portion (101) for mutually engaging the device (100) and the container; drawing and dispensing means (102) suited to draw the fluid or liquid from the container (C) and then dispense it; a hollow operating cap (103) for operating the drawing and dispensing means (102); a dispensing nozzle or spout (104) provided with a dispensing duct (105) fixed to the operating cap (103). The dispensing nozzle or spout (104) can be switched through a rotary movement between a first dispensing position and a second non-dispensing position. The operating cap (103) and the dispensing nozzle or spout (104) are shaped in such a way as to respectively define a first stop surface (107) and a second stop surface (108); in the dispensing position the first and the second stop surfaces (107, 108) are arranged against each other.

Claims

1. Dispensing device (100) for dispensing a liquid or a fluid held in a container (C), said device (100) comprising an engagement portion (101) for the mutual engagement of said device (100) and said container, drawing and dispensing means (102) suited to draw said fluid or liquid from said container (C) and then dispense it, a hollow operating cap (103) suited to operate said drawing and dispensing means (102) by exerting a pressure thereon, and a dispensing nozzle or spout (104) provided with a dispensing duct (105) for dispensing said fluid or liquid and fixed to said operating cap (103), wherein said dispensing nozzle or spout (104) can be switched through a rotary movement between a first dispensing position, in which said dispensing duct (105) is in communication with the inside (106) of said operating cap (103), and a second non-dispensing position, characterized in that said operating cap (103) and said dispensing nozzle or spout (104) are shaped in such a way as to respectively define a first stop surface (107) and a second stop surface (108), and in that in said dispensing position said first stop surface and said second stop surface (107, 108) are arranged against each other.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said second stop surface (108) of said dispensing nozzle or spout (104) lies on a plane that is crossed by a line coinciding with the longitudinal extension direction of said dispensing duct.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said second stop surface (108) of said dispensing nozzle or spout (104) lies on a plane that is not crossed by a line coinciding with the longitudinal extension direction of said dispensing duct.

4. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said operating cap (103) and said dispensing nozzle or spout (104) are shaped in such a way as to furthermore define a third stop surface (109) and a fourth stop surface (110), respectively, and in that in said first dispensing position even said third and said fourth stop surfaces (109/110) are arranged against each other.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said third stop surface (109) is substantially perpendicular to said first stop surface (107), and in that said fourth stop surface (110) is substantially perpendicular to said second stop surface (108).

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said third stop surface (109) extends from said first stop surface (107) in such a way as to define a first stop projection (111) of said operating cap (103), in that said fourth stop surface (110) extends from said second stop surface (108) in such a way as to define a stop seat (112) of said dispensing nozzle or spout (103), and in that with said dispensing nozzle or spout (103) in said first dispensing position said stop projection (111) is housed in said stop seat (112).

7. Device according to any of the claims from 1 to 6, wherein said operating cap (103) comprises an upper operating surface (113) suited to be pressed when pressure is exerted on said cap (103) in order to operate said drawing and dispensing means (102), characterized in that with said dispensing nozzle or spout (104) in said first dispensing position said upper surface (113) and said dispensing nozzle or spout (104) define a substantially continuous surface.

8. Device according to any of the claims from 1 to 7, characterized in that said dispensing nozzle or spout (104) comprises a constraining portion (114) in a predetermined shape, housed in a constraining seat (115) in a matching shape provided in said operating cap (103), and in that the external surface (116) and the internal surface (117) respectively of said constraining portion (114) and of said constraining seat (115) are in mutual contact and can be translated with respect to each other.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said constraining portion (114) of said dispensing nozzle or spout (104) is substantially spherical in shape.

10. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said constraining portion (114) of said dispensing nozzle or spout (104) is substantially cylindrical in shape.

11. Device according to any of the claims from 8 to 10, characterized in that said constraining portion (114) comprises at least one first switching tab or tooth (118) extending from the external surface (116) of said constraining portion (114), in that said internal surface (117) of said constraining seat defines at least one first switching seat or lowered part (119), and in that with said dispensing nozzle or spout (104) in said dispensing position said first switching tab or tooth (118) and said first switching seat or lowered part (119) are mutually coupled in such a way as to prevent or at least hinder the spontaneous switching of said dispensing nozzle or spout (104) from said first dispensing position to said second non-dispensing position.

12. Device according to any of the claims from 8 to 10, characterized in that said constraining portion (114) comprises at least one second switching tab or tooth (120) extending from the external surface (116) of said constraining portion (114), in that said internal surface (117) of said constraining seat (114) defines at least one second switching seat or lowered part (121), and in that with said dispensing nozzle or spout (104) in said second non-dispensing position said second switching tab or tooth (120) and said second switching seat or lowered part (121) are mutually coupled in such a way as to prevent or at least hinder the spontaneous switching of said dispensing nozzle or spout (104) from said second non-dispensing position to said first dispensing position.

13. Device according to any of the claims from 8 to 10, characterized in that said device comprises at least one constraining pin whose longitudinal extension axis coincides with the rotation axis (122) of said dispensing nozzle or spout and whose opposite ends are inserted in corresponding constraining housings provided in either said constraining portion (114) or said constraining seat (115).

14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the opposite ends (123, 124) of said constraining pin extend from the external surface of said constraining portion (114) and are inserted in corresponding constraining housings (125, 126) defined by the internal surface of said constraining seat (115).

15. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the opposite ends (123, 124) of said constraining pin extend from the internal surface of said constraining seat (115) and are inserted in corresponding constraining housings (125, 126) defined by the external surface of said constraining portion (115).

16. Device according to any of the claims from 1 to 15, characterized in that in said second non-dispensing position said dispensing nozzle or spout (104) is housed in the space defined by the longitudinal projection of said engagement portion (101).

17. System for dispensing a fluid or a liquid, said system comprising a container (C) suited to hold said fluid or liquid, characterized in that said system comprises also a device (100) according to any of the claims from 1 to 16.

Description

[0041] The present invention will be clarified in greater detail below through the description of some of its embodiments which are illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein:

[0042] FIGS. 1 and 3 show side views of the dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention with the dispensing nozzle in the non-dispensing position;

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention with the dispensing nozzle in the dispensing position;

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a side sectional view of the dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention with the dispensing nozzle in the non-dispensing position;

[0045] FIG. 5 shows a top sectional view of the dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention with the dispensing nozzle in the dispensing position;

[0046] FIGS. 6 and 7 show side sectional views of the dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention with the dispensing nozzle in the non-dispensing position;

[0047] FIGS. 8 and 9 show side sectional views of the rotation device according to an embodiment of the present invention with the dispensing nozzle respectively in the dispensing and in the non-dispensing position;

[0048] FIGS. 10 and 11 show side sectional views of the dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention with the dispensing nozzle in the dispensing position;

[0049] FIG. 12 and from 13 to 15 respectively show a perspective view and side sectional views of the device or of its component parts according to a further embodiment of the present invention;

[0050] FIGS. 16 and 17 show each a side sectional view of the dispensing device shown in FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0051] Although the present invention is described below with reference to its embodiments illustrated in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and described in detail below. On the contrary, all those variants of the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and described in detail below that are obvious for the expert in the art fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0052] In Figures from 1 to 4 the dispensing device according to the embodiment represented therein is identified by the reference number 100 and essentially comprises an engagement portion 101, for example a threaded ring gear (FIG. 4), by means of which the device 100 can be fixed to a container, for example screwed to the neck of a container holding the fluid or liquid to be dispensed, drawing and dispensing means 102, as well as an operating cap 103 and finally a dispensing nozzle 104 suited to dispense the fluid or liquid towards the outside. In practice, imagining the device 100 applied to the neck of a container (not illustrated), it can be understood how exerting pressure, for example with the palm of the hand, on the operating cap as shown by the arrow in FIG. 2 causes the fluid or liquid to flow upwards along the suction pipe 100a (at least partially immersed in the fluid or liquid) of the drawing and dispensing means 102, and thus along the means 102 themselves, and also causes the fluid or liquid to be dispensed by the cap 103 towards the outside, in particular through the dispensing duct 105 of the nozzle 104. The operating modes of the drawing and dispensing means 102, in particular the manner in which the fluid or liquid flows upwards through the means 102 and successively flows out through the duct 105 of the nozzle 104 are not necessarily included in the objects of the present invention, and therefore the detailed description of the same is omitted for the sake of brevity.

[0053] With reference now in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be understood that the nozzle 104 is of the type that can be switched, in particular rotated, between a non-dispensing position illustrated in FIG. 1 and a dispensing position illustrated in FIG. 2. In the dispensing position, the dispensing duct 105 is in communication with the inside of the operating cap 103 (see also FIGS. 5 and 11), while on the contrary in the non-dispensing position (FIG. 1), the dispensing duct 105 is not in communication with the inside of the cap 103, on the contrary, the nozzle 104 closes the cap 103, thus preventing any communication between the inner space of the cap 103 (and thus of the device 100) and the outside.

[0054] According to the use or operating principles of the device 100, therefore, first the nozzle 104 is substantially switched from the non-dispensing position (FIG. 1) to the dispensing position (FIG. 2), then the cap 103 is pressed (once or several times, in the known manners) causing the fluid or liquid to be dispensed, and finally the nozzle 104 is possibly switched again from the dispensing position to the non-dispensing position.

[0055] It is also important to notice that, according to the embodiment of the device 100 illustrated in Figures from 1 to 4, the dispensing nozzle 104 is positioned within the projection of the engagement means 101 (see the broken line in FIG. 1), with obvious advantages in terms of reduction of the overall dimensions of the device itself.

[0056] With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, which respectively illustrate the nozzle 104 in the dispensing position and in the non-dispensing position, and in which component parts or characteristics of the device according to the present invention already described above with reference to other figures are identified by the same reference numbers, it is possible to observe that the nozzle 104 comprises a constraining portion 114 accommodated in a housing or constraining seat 115 in a matching shape, defined by the operating cap 103.

[0057] The shape of the constraining portion 114 and of the corresponding seat 115 can be selected according to the needs and/or circumstances; for example, it is possible to have a constraining portion 114 that is substantially cylindrical or even substantially spherical, wherein the shape of the seat 115 will match that of the constraining portion 114.

[0058] It is important to notice, however, that while the nozzle 104 is being switched the external surface 116 and the internal surface 117 respectively of the portion 114 and of the seat 115 slide with respect to each other (one on the other), thus allowing the nozzle 104 to be switched.

[0059] It is also equally important to notice that the mutual constraint between the portion 114 and the seat 115, and thus between the nozzle 104 and the cap 103, is guaranteed by the shape and size of the portion 114 and of the corresponding seat 115, respectively.

[0060] In fact, FIGS. 8 and 9 show, in particular, that the sizes of the portion 114 and of the seat 115 are such as to prevent the portion 114 from accidentally moving out of the seat 115, while on the contrary the portion 114 can be pressed into the seat 115, for example through the elastic deformation of the upper tab 115s and of the lower tab 115i that define the seat 115.

[0061] In particular, with reference to the rotation axis or centre 122 of the portion 114 (depending on whether the portion 114 is cylindrical or spherical), the constraint between the portion 114 and the seat 115 is guaranteed by the fact that the solid angle subtended by the portion of the internal surface 117 of the seat 115 in contact with the constraining portion 114 is larger than half the solid angle substended by the external surface 116 of the portion 114, and preferably equal to or larger than of the surface 116.

[0062] For example, imagining a constraining portion 114 in a cylindrical shape and a seat 115 in a matching shape, the mutual constraint between the portion 114 and the seat 115 will be guaranteed by the fact that, with reference to the rotation axis 122 and according to a sectional view as that shown for example in FIG. 8, the angle subtended by the circular sector corresponding to the portion of the internal surface 117 of the seat 115 in contact with the portion 114 will be greater than 180 or, in other words, the diameter of the portion 114 will be greater than the clearance between the tabs 115s and 115i.

[0063] Again with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, it is possible to observe that the dispensing nozzle 104 and the operating cap 103 respectively define a stop surface 108 and a stop surface 107 which, with the dispensing nozzle 104 in the dispensing position shown in FIG. 8, are arranged against each other and thus define the end-of-stroke position of the dispensing nozzle 104 (in the dispensing position). It is also important to notice the orientation of the two stop or contact surfaces 108 and 107, in particular of the stop or contact surface 108, wherein said surface 108 is substantially flat and lies on a plane crossed by the direction of extension of the nozzle 104, and thus of the dispensing duct 105, the directions of extension of the nozzle 104 and of the dispensing duct 105, respectively, being substantially parallel. The orientation of the surface 108 previously described above makes it possible to precisely define the end-of-stroke position of the dispensing nozzle 104, and thus its dispensing position, as well as the position of the dispensing duct 105, eliminating or at least reducing the risk of the same being partially clogged and therefore not perfectly communicating with the inside of the operating cap 103 when the nozzle 104 is in the dispensing position, in particular even in the case of excessive thrusting actions or loads applied to the dispensing nozzle 104 during switching from the non-dispensing position to the dispensing position. According to a preferred or advantageous embodiment, the surface 108 can in particular be oriented perpendicularly to the direction of extension of either the dispensing nozzle 104 or its dispensing duct 105, or both of them. Furthermore, it is also important to note that, with the dispensing nozzle 104 in the dispensing position, the upper surface 113 of the operating cap 103 (the surface intended to be pressed in order to operate the cap 103) and the external surface 104e of the nozzle 104 (extending from the surface 108) are positioned in such a way as to define a continuous surface, with considerable advantages in terms of aesthetic appearance of the device 100. Furthermore, the fact that the surfaces 104e and 113 define a continuous surface makes the operation of the cap 103 particularly comfortable.

[0064] A further characteristic of the dispensing device 100 according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is related to the fact that the constraining portion 114 comprises a plurality of projections 118, while the constraining seat 115 comprises a plurality of corresponding seats (lowered parts or grooves) 119. In particular, as shown in FIG. 8, with the dispensing nozzle 104 in the dispensing position, at least one projection 118 of the constraining portion 114 is inserted in a corresponding lowered part created in the constraining seat 115, thus avoiding or at least minimizing the risk of the dispensing nozzle 104 being spontaneously and undesirably switched from the dispensing position to the non-dispensing position. In the same way, with the dispensing nozzle 104 in the non-dispensing position (FIG. 9), at least one projection 118 is inserted in a corresponding lowered part 119, thus fixing the dispensing nozzle 104 in the non-dispensing position in a reliable manner, since, in fact, in order to switch the nozzle 104 from the non-dispensing position to the dispensing position, a minimum force is required which must be sufficient to overcome the mutual constraint between the projection 118 and the corresponding seat 119. For example, the mutual constraint between the projections 118 and the seats or lowered parts 119 can be of the type with elastic opposition, which in order to achieve the mutual constraint requires an elastic deformation of the projections 118 and/or of the corresponding seats 119. The type of constraint can obviously be selected, according to the needs and/or circumstances, based on the materials used to make the nozzle 104 and the cap 103 or at least its housing seat 115.

[0065] According to the embodiment represented in FIG. 11, in addition to the stop surfaces 108 and 107 described above with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the dispensing nozzle 104 and the operating cap 103 respectively define the stop surfaces 110 and 109, which when the dispensing nozzle 104 is in the dispensing position of FIG. 11 are arranged against each other and thus contribute to defining the end-of-stroke position of the dispensing nozzle 104 (in the dispensing position).

[0066] It is also important to observe the orientation of the two stop or contact surfaces 110 and 109, in particular of the stop or contact surface 110, wherein in this case said surface 110 (again substantially flat) lies on a plane that is not crossed by the direction of extension of the nozzle 104, and thus is not crossed by the direction of extension of the dispensing duct 105, either.

[0067] Also in this case, the orientation of the surface 110 as described above makes it possible to precisely define the end-of-stroke position of the dispensing nozzle 104, and thus its dispensing position, as well as the position of the dispensing duct 105, also in this case eliminating or at least reducing the risk of the same being partially obstructed or in any case not perfectly in communication with the inside of the operating cap 103 when the nozzle 104 is in the dispensing position.

[0068] According to a preferred or advantageous embodiment, the surface 110 can in particular be oriented so that it is parallel to the direction of extension of either the dispensing nozzle 104 or its dispensing duct 105, or both of them, and thus substantially perpendicular to the surface 108.

[0069] As illustrated in FIG. 11, the stop or contact surface 110 extends from the surface 108 according to a predefined orientation, in such a way as to define a stop or contact seat; in the same way, the surface 109 extends from the surface 107 according to a predefined orientation, in such a way as to define a stop or contact projection. As shown in particular in FIG. 11, with the dispensing nozzle in the dispensing position the stop or contact projection of the cap 103 is housed in the stop or contact seat of the dispensing nozzle 104.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 11, said stop projection and said stop seat can in particular be shaped in such a way that, also in this case, the surface 113 of the operating cap 103 and the external surface 104e of the dispensing nozzle define a continuous surface.

[0071] It should however be noted that, even if the stop or contact surfaces 109 and 110 have been described in combination with the surfaces 107 and 108, according to the present invention it is possible to develop an embodiment in which the dispensing nozzle 104 and the operating cap 103 respectively comprise only the surface 110 and the surface 109.

[0072] Further details of the dispensing device according to the present invention are described below with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 10, in which component parts or characteristics of the device according to the present invention already described above with reference to other figures are identified by the same reference numbers.

[0073] It is possible to observe, in particular in FIG. 5, that the constraining portion 114 (in this case substantially cylindrical) of the nozzle 104 comprises a constraining pin defined by two projections 123 and 124 that extend on opposite sides of the portion 114, substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the portion 114.

[0074] The two projections 123 and 124 are respectively inserted in two corresponding seats 125 and 126 defined by the housing seat 115 of the operating cap 103.

[0075] This solution makes it possible to increase the stability of the device as a whole, in particular the reliability of the mutual constraint between the portion 114 of the nozzle 104 and the seat 115 of the cap 103.

[0076] In fact, imagining that with the dispensing nozzle in the dispensing position (FIG. 8) a rotary thrusting movement is exerted on the nozzle 104 (in the rotation direction selected to switch from the non-dispensing position to the dispensing position, and thus clockwise with reference to FIG. 8), the constraining pins 123 and 124, in combination with the respective seats 125 and 126, avoid the risk of the constraining portion 114 moving out of the corresponding seat 115, even in case of deformation of the seat 115 itself and/or of the portion 114.

[0077] Obviously, according to the present invention, the constraining pins 123 and 124 can be defined by the seat 115, wherein in this case the corresponding seats 125 and 126 will be defined by the constraining seat 115 of the nozzle 104.

[0078] Obviously, according to the present invention, the constraining pins 123 and 124, as well as the corresponding seats 125 and 126, can be provided in case of a seat 115 and a portion 114 in any shape.

[0079] According to the further embodiment represented in Figures from 12 to 15, the operating cap 103 is shaped in such a way as to define, on each one of the opposite sides of the seat 115, a cam-shaped surface 130 which in turn, in a side view (Figures from 13 to 15), is substantially defined by a protruding part or projection.

[0080] In its turn, the dispensing nozzle 104 is shaped in such a way as to define two seats 131, each placed at the level of a projection with cam-shaped surface 130 of the operating cap 103. The cam-shaped surfaces 130 and the respective seats 131 have the function to provide further stability to the system made up of the cap 103 and the nozzle 104, both in the non-dispensing position (FIG. 13) and in the dispensing position (FIG. 15).

[0081] In fact, observing the figures it is possible to understand that, while the nozzle 104 is being switched from the non-dispensing position to the dispensing position, the nozzle 103, in particular each of the two portions of the nozzle 103 defining a seat 131 (and each defining a stop or contact surface 107), needs to move beyond the corresponding surface 131 due to elastic deformation (with more or less difficulty depending on the shape of the surfaces 131). In particular, FIG. 14 should be observed, which shows the nozzle 104 midway between the dispensing and the non-dispensing position.

[0082] In the dispensing position (FIG. 15), each one of the projections with cam-shaped surface 130 is housed in the corresponding seat 131, wherein in the non-dispensing position (FIG. 13) the projections and the respective cam-shaped surfaces 130 are positioned outside of the corresponding seats 131.

[0083] As an alternative or in addition to the solution just described above, always in the context of the present invention, in relation to tightness the solution represented in FIG. 12 can be provided.

[0084] In FIG. 12, in fact, each of the reference numbers 150 and 151 identifies a sealing edge protruding from the operating cap 103 towards the inside of the constraining seat 115.

[0085] In particular, of the two sealing edges 150 and 151, the (internal) edge 150 ensures tightness with the dispensing nozzle both in the dispensing and in the non-dispensing position (FIGS. 17 and 16), while the (external) edge 151 ensures tightness with the nozzle 104 in an intermediate position, as shown, for example, in FIG. 14.

[0086] More particularly, the mutual action of the sealing edges 150, 151 against the body 114 of the nozzle 104 serves to avoid the risk of fluid or liquid leakages.

[0087] In particular, with the nozzle 104 in the non-dispensing position (and thus with the inner space of the cap closed towards the outside by the constraining portion 114), the sealing edges 151, 150 prevent any fluid or liquid leakages through the interstice located between the constraining portion 114 and the seat 115.

[0088] In the same way, with the nozzle 104 in the dispensing position, and thus with the duct 105 in communication with the inside of the cap 103, the sealing edge 150 allows the fluid or liquid to flow out only through the duct 105, but not through the interstice located between the portion 114 and the seat 115.

[0089] It has thus been shown, by means of the previous detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the drawings, that the present invention makes it possible to achieve the set objects and to overcome the drawbacks that are typical of the dispensing devices carried out according to the known art.

[0090] The present invention, in fact, makes it possible to avoid or at least minimize the risk of the nozzle accidentally coming off, guarantees the reliable and stable positioning of the switching nozzle both in the dispensing and in the non-dispensing position, guarantees the tightness of the device avoiding fluid or liquid leakages, in particular at the level of the mutual coupling point between the dispensing nozzle and the operating cap.

[0091] The present invention furthermore makes it possible to limit the overall dimensions of the device itself and to give the dispensing device a pleasant appearance and shape, as well as to provide a device in which the dispensing nozzle can be switched in a simple and immediate manner, and in which the component parts can be made and assembled according to equally simple and immediate methods, and therefore at limited costs.

[0092] Even though the present invention has been illustrated above through a detailed description of its embodiments represented in the drawings, the general scope of the present invention is defined by the claims.