Dispenser for fluids

Abstract

Fluid dispenser for the discharge of pharmaceutical or cosmetic fluids including a fluid reservoir in which fluid is stored prior to discharge, an outlet channel through which the fluid is dispensed to an environment, and a pump chamber which, starting from an initial state with maximum pump chamber volume, is volumetrically reduced by a manual pump activation. An inlet valve arrangement is provided between the fluid reservoir and the pump chamber, which opens in a pressure regulated manner when a negative pressure exists in the pump chamber with respect to the fluid reservoir, and an outlet valve arrangement is provided between the pump chamber and the discharge opening. The outlet valve arrangement includes a switching valve mechanically compelled to open in reaction to a displacement of an activation handle and independent of the fluid pressure in the pump chamber.

Claims

1. A liquids dispenser for discharging pharmaceutical or cosmetic liquids, or liquids of the foodstuff sector, the dispenser comprising: a liquids reservoir in which liquid is stored prior to discharging; an outlet duct through which the liquid may be dispensed to an environment; a pump chamber which, proceeding from an initial state having a maximum pump chamber capacity, is volumetrically reducible by manual actuation of an actuation handle; an inlet valve assembly between the liquids reservoir and the pump chamber, the inlet valve assembly is opened in a pressure-controlled manner when there is negative pressure in the pump chamber in relation to the liquids reservoir; and an outlet valve assembly between the pump chamber and a discharge opening; wherein the outlet valve assembly comprises a switch valve which, independently of liquid pressure in the pump chamber, is forcibly opened in a mechanical manner as a reaction to the actuation handle being displaced; wherein the outlet valve assembly has a pressure relief valve which is opened in a pressure-controlled manner when there is positive pressure in the pump chamber in relation to the outlet duct; wherein the switch valve cannot be opened solely by pressure from the pump chamber; wherein the pump chamber has a flexible wall which enables volumetric variability of the pump chamber; and wherein the flexible wall of the pump chamber is configured so as to be closed in an encircling manner and has at one first end a substantially cylindrical first portion of an external diameter which is smaller than an internal diameter of a substantially cylindrical second portion at an opposite second end; and the flexible wall of the pump chamber in an actuated state of the actuation handle is deformed in such a manner that the first portion is surrounded by the second portion.

2. The liquids dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outlet valve assembly is configured in such a manner that the outlet valve assembly prevents opening in relation to the outlet duct when the actuation handle is not being actuated at least up to positive pressure in the pump chamber of 700 mbar.

3. The liquids dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein the switch valve has a first sealing face which is forcibly coupled to the actuation handle or is provided thereon, and a second sealing face which is movable in relation to the first sealing face and in a closed state of the outlet valve assembly bears on the first sealing face, wherein by displacing the actuation handle the second sealing face is traversed onto an opening region which is contiguous to the first sealing face and which is configured such that said opening region prevents the second sealing face bearing thereon in a tight manner.

4. The liquids dispenser as claimed in claim 3, wherein the component on which the first sealing face is provided, and the component on which the second sealing face is provided, are interconnected by a spring element which is tensioned when the second sealing face is transferred into the opening region.

5. The liquids dispenser as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least the second sealing face of the switch valve and at least one sealing face of the pressure relief valve are integrally configured.

6. A liquids dispenser for discharging pharmaceutical or cosmetic liquids, or liquids of the foodstuff sector, the dispenser comprising: a liquids reservoir in which liquid is stored prior to discharging; an outlet duct through which the liquid may be dispensed to an environment; a pump chamber which, proceeding from an initial state having a maximum pump chamber capacity, is volumetrically reducible by manual actuation of an actuation handle; an inlet valve assembly between the liquids reservoir and the pump chamber, the inlet valve assembly is opened in a pressure-controlled manner when there is negative pressure in the pump chamber in relation to the liquids reservoir; and an outlet valve assembly between the pump chamber and a discharge opening; wherein the outlet valve assembly comprises a switch valve which, independently of liquid pressure in the pump chamber, is forcibly opened in a mechanical manner as a reaction to the actuation handle being displaced; wherein the outlet valve assembly has a pressure relief valve which is opened in a pressure-controlled manner when there is positive pressure in the pump chamber in relation to the outlet duct; wherein the switch valve cannot be opened solely by pressure from the pump chamber; and wherein an opening portion which is displaceable by the actuation handle and has two active faces is provided, wherein a first active face of the two active faces is provided for impinging a first counter face on a valve body or on a valve flap with a force; wherein a second active face of the two active faces is provided for impinging a second counter face with a force, wherein the pump chamber is reducible in size by impinging the second counter face with a force; and in an initial state of the liquids dispenser, in which the actuation handle is not actuated, the spacing between the first active face and the first counter face is smaller than the spacing between the second active face and the second counter face.

7. The liquids dispenser as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pump chamber has in a region of the elastically deformable wall a shape which is formed by the deformable wall and which tapers off in a direction of the switch valve.

8. The liquids dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquids dispenser is configured as a collapsible liquids dispenser.

9. The liquids dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sealing face of the pressure relief valve is integrally connected to the wall.

10. The liquids dispenser as claimed in claim 7, wherein the shape is a bell shape.

11. The liquids dispenser as claimed in claim 8, wherein the collapsible liquids dispenser comprises a tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further aspects and advantages of the invention are derived from the claims and from the exemplary embodiments which will be explained hereunder by means of figures in which:

(2) FIGS. 1a to 1c show a first exemplary embodiment of a dispenser according to the invention, in the non-actuated, the partially actuated, and the actuated state;

(3) FIGS. 2a and 2b show a second exemplary embodiment of a dispenser according to the invention, in the actuated and the non-actuated state; and

(4) FIGS. 3a to 3c show a third exemplary embodiment of a dispenser according to the invention, in the non-actuated, the partially actuated, and the actuated state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

(5) The three exemplary embodiments which will be described hereunder represent liquids dispensers which may have various kinds of liquids reservoirs. Since the design according to the invention is particularly advantageous in the case of liquids reservoirs which are configured as tubes, such tube-type liquids reservoirs are mentioned hereunder. However, this is to be understood as being exemplary.

(6) All three dispensers which are described hereunder dispose of a discharge head which is fastened on top of this tube or on top of another liquids reservoir, and which disposes of a volumetrically variable pump chamber which by displacing an actuation handle may be reduced in size in relation to an assigned base, in order to discharge liquid. The description of the functional mode hereunder assumes a pump chamber which is not filled with liquid, since it is provided according to the invention that opening of the outlet valve of the pump chamber takes place regardless of any liquid pressure which arises upon actuation. Of course, the pump chamber during normal operation of such a dispenser is filled with liquid such that the latter may be discharged when the volume of the pump chamber is reduced.

(7) FIGS. 1a to 1c show a first embodiment of a dispenser according to the invention. The liquids reservoir 12 of this dispenser, which in an exemplary manner is of the tube type, is only partially illustrated. The discharge head 20 of the dispenser is composed of only three components, specifically of a base 30, an actuation handle 40 having a discharge opening 42, and an interdisposed pump chamber component 50. A riser which extends into the liquids reservoir 12 and which is preferably provided in the case of dispensers according to the invention is not illustrated.

(8) The actuation handle 40 comprises a pressure area 43 and a jacket face 44 which protrudes downward from the former. This jacket face 44, together with an internal encircling guide web 31 and an external encircling guide web 32, forms a guide on the sides of the base 30, along which guide the actuation handle 40 is displaceable in the direction of the arrow 2.

(9) While the base 30 and the actuation handle 40 are composed of a comparatively rigid and, according to the intended use, non-deformable plastics material such as PP or PE, the pump chamber component 50 disposed therebetween is manufactured from an elastically deformable material such as, for example, an elastomeric material. The pump chamber component 50 has a shaping which is substantially rotationally symmetrical, and at the lower end 50b thereof and at the upper end 50a thereof is designed to be open. Retaining portions 51a, 51b by means of which the component 50 is fastened to the base 30, on the one hand, and to the actuation handle 40, on the other hand, are provided at both ends 50a and 50b. Therefore, the pump chamber component 50 is compressed when the actuation handle 40 is depressed in the direction of the arrow 2. The component 50 has a chalice-type shape which disposes of two approximately cylindrical regions 52a, 52b, and a connection region 52c therebetween. The wall thickness of the component in the connection region 52c is reduced in relation to the mean wall thickness into the cylindrical regions 52a, 52b. The connection region 52c, in particular, during operation acts as a spring, as will yet be explained hereunder.

(10) The pump chamber component 50 surrounds a pump chamber 60 of the dispenser, which according to the intended use is volumetrically reduced in order for liquid to be discharged. In order for the discharging procedure to be enabled, an inlet valve assembly 70 and an outlet valve assembly 80 which are disposed on the entry side or the exit side, respectively, of the pump chamber 60 are provided.

(11) The inlet valve assembly 70 disposes of an inlet valve which is formed by a valve lip 72 and a counter face 74 which is provided on a centric pin. This inlet valve is opened depending on the pressure differential between the pump chamber 60 and the liquids reservoir 12. If there is negative pressure in the pump chamber 60 in the course of the return stroke, the inlet valve is opened, permitting the inflow of liquid into the pump chamber 60. For the purpose of simplified construction, the valve lip 72 is designed to be integral with the pump chamber component 50.

(12) The outlet valve assembly 80 is of more complex construction and, therefore, is illustrated once more in an enlarged manner in FIG. 1a. Said outlet valve assembly 80 comprises an outlet valve 82 which is likewise opened in a pressure-dependent manner, having a sealing lip 82a and a counter face 82b which is provided on a collar-type web 46 which is provided so as to be integral on the actuation handle 40. A switch valve 84 is additionally part of the outlet valve assembly. This switch valve 84 disposes of a valve lip 84a which, like the valve lip 82a, is provided so as to be integral on the pump chamber component 50. Said switch valve 84 furthermore disposes of a cylindrical counter face 84b which is disposed so as to be external to the valve lip 84a and is an integral part of the actuation handle 40.

(13) This switch valve 84 in the non-actuated state of the dispenser is closed. The sealing lip 84b in an encircling manner bears from the inside on the counter face 84a. The switch valve 84 cannot be opened even by increasing the pressure in the pump chamber 60, since any such increased pressure, achieved for example by squeezing the tube 12, may indeed open the inlet valve assembly 70 and the pressure relief valve 82, but the pressure further increases the sealing effect on the switch valve 84 rather than likewise opening the latter. The higher the pressure in the pump chamber 60 and beyond the pressure relief valve 82, the more the valve lip 84b is urged against the counter face 84a.

(14) Functioning of the dispenser according to FIG. 1a is elucidated by means of FIGS. 1b and 1c. If the actuation handle 40, proceeding from the state of FIG. 1a, is pushed downward in the direction of the arrow 2a, this is necessarily accompanied by a deformation of the pump chamber component 50. However, the pump chamber component 50 is initially deformed only to a minor extent, since the upper end of the component 50, beyond the upper retaining portion 51a, while an encircling sprung region 53 on the inside of the upper retaining portion 51a is being elastically deformed upward in relation to the actuation handle 40, may plunge deeper into the latter.

(15) Here, a corresponding relative movement between the valve lip 84b and the counter face 84a to the state of FIG. 1b also takes place. The sealing lip 84b is pushed onto an opening region 84c on the sides of the actuation handle 40, which adjoins the counter face 84b. An incline 84d, which is set in relation to the direction of the arrow 2a and which is interrupted multiple times and is not provided to be fully encircling but has an interruption 84e on the left side (in terms of the illustrations), is provided in this opening region 84c.

(16) The incline 84d and the interruption 84e ensure that it is no longer possible for the valve lip 84a to bear in an encircling tight manner. The valve lip 84a lies at least in the region of the interruption 84e separated from the actuation handle 40. The switch valve 84a is now opened such that pressurized medium may now exit from the pump chamber 60 along the path 8.

(17) If the movement of the actuation handle 40 is continued, significant deformation of the pump chamber component 50 subsequently arises. Here, the upper cylindrical region 52a, while being subjected to increased elastic flexural and tensile deformation in particular in the connection region 52c, is pushed over the lower cylindrical region 52b. The internal capacity of the pump chamber is reduced here such that pressurized medium therein is discharged along the path 8.

(18) If the actuation handle 40, after the discharging procedure has been completed, is retuned back to the initial position of FIG. 1a, the pressure relief valve 82 is immediately closed such that negative pressure which is suitable for suctioning fresh medium from the liquids reservoir 12 is created in the pump chamber 60. The spring force by way of the sprung region 53 ensures that the sealing lip 84b of the switch valve 84 is also displaced back such that said sealing lip 84b at the end of the return stroke again bears in a sealing manner on the counter face 84a thereof.

(19) FIGS. 2a and 2b show a second design embodiment of a dispenser according to the invention. This dispenser, like the dispenser of FIGS. 1a to 1c, has a base 30 and an actuation handle 40 which, in relation to said base 30, is displaceable in the direction of an arrow 2. A deformable pump chamber component 50 which surrounds a pump chamber 60 is again provided therebetween. An inlet valve 70 which in terms of the design embodiment thereof has no role relevant to the invention and is thus illustrated in a very schematic manner is also provided at the entry side of this pump chamber. This inlet valve 70 is also opened when the pressure in the liquids reservoir 12 is greater than the pressure in the pump chamber 60. If there is thus negative pressure in the pump chamber 60, liquid is suctioned from the liquids reservoir 12.

(20) The pump chamber wall 50 in the case of the design embodiment of FIGS. 2a and 2b is designed in a bell-type manner, this being understood to mean that also that wall of the pump chamber that points upward is formed by the pump chamber component 50 and the wall shape is mainly convex. At the upper end of the rather thick-walled pump chamber component 50, the latter is provided with a slot 86a which mutually separates two valve lips 86b, 86c on either side of the slot 86a. This slot 86a forms a switch valve 86 which acts as an outlet valve.

(21) In order to cause a discharging procedure, the actuation handle 40 is moved downward in the direction of the arrow 2a. By way of an opening portion 48 which is an integral part of the actuation handle 40, pressure is exerted from above onto the pump chamber wall body 50 which is configured in a comparatively thick-walled manner.

(22) As can be seen by means of FIG. 2b, depressing in this manner not only causes deformation of the pump chamber wall body 50 but at the same time forces the switch valve 86 to open. Even when no pressure increase at all in the pump chamber 60 is caused, the switch valve 86 is nevertheless opened since deformation of the pump chamber wall body 50 in the case of a closed switch valve 86 would require a higher contribution in terms of deformation energy, such that opening of the switch valve is a quasi-energetic result.

(23) The design embodiment of FIGS. 3a to 3c is similar to that of FIGS. 2a and 2b. However, deviating from the latter it is provided that the opening portion 48 has two dissimilar active faces 48a, 48b which in relation to the actuation direction 2 are mutually offset. The pump chamber wall body 50, which in the case of this design embodiment is also designed in a bell-type manner, in the region of an outlet valve 88 has a depression. The outlet valve 88 per se disposes of two valve flaps 88a, 88b, this to be understood as being exemplary. A similar effect could also be achieved using only one valve flap 88 of a larger type.

(24) As can be derived from FIG. 3a, the active face 48a of the opening portion 48 in the rest state bears on counter faces which are provided on the upper side of the valve flaps 88a, 88b. However, at this point in time the active face 48b does not yet bear on the dedicated counter face 56 thereof of the pump chamber wall body 50.

(25) If the actuation handle 40 is now displaced downward in the direction of the arrow 2a, there is initially no contact between the active face 48b and the counter face 56. Instead, only the active face 48a initially acts on the valve flaps 88a, 88b, on account of which the outlet valve 88 is forcibly opened. This state is shown in FIG. 3b.

(26) It is only once this has taken place that the active face 48b comes to bear on the pump chamber component 50. Continued displacement of the actuation handle 40 thus now leads to deformation of the pump chamber wall body 50, in the case of the outlet valve 88 being opened, said pump chamber wall body 50 here being elastically deformed such that the latter can later make available a restoring force. The internal capacity of the pump chamber 60 is reduced in the course of this deformation and any liquid being already contained in the former is discharged.