Dispenser and method for dispensing fluids from a fluid container

Abstract

The invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing fluids from a fluid container, comprising a dispenser head provided with a dispenser nozzle; a dispenser base, holding the dispenser head, provided with a coupling for connection to the fluid container; and a fluid feed leading from the dispenser nozzle into the dispenser base for connection to the fluid container; wherein the fluid feed is provided with at least one valve. The invention also relates to a fluid container provided with a dispenser as well as a method for dispensing fluids from a fluid container.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing a fluid from a fluid container comprising: a dispenser head provided with a fluid feed for connecting to the fluid container, a dispenser nozzle which is connected to the fluid feed, a dispenser base holding the dispenser head, provided with a coupling for connection to the fluid container, the dispenser head is mounted in a reciprocating manner relative to the dispenser base, wherein the fluid feed comprises an orifice at the side, the nozzle comprises a flexible tube having a first end connected to the orifice and a second end opposite the first end, such that in a downward position of the dispenser head the flexible tube is open, and in an upward position of the dispenser head the first end and the second end of the flexible tube are open and a portion of the flexible tube between the first end and the second end is closed, and wherein the dispenser base comprises an opening at the side for passing-through of the nozzle, such that in the downward position the orifice and the opening are substantially axially aligned, and in the upward position the orifice and the opening are axially misaligned.

2. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the flexible tube is a passive one direction fluid passage.

3. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the flexible tube is activated by the relative position of the dispenser head to the dispenser base.

4. A fluid container with attached dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the fluid container is under overpressure.

5. A fluid container with attached dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the pressure in the fluid container is comparable to atmospheric pressure.

6. A method for dispensing fluids from a fluid container, comprising the method steps: A) providing a dispenser; B) pressing a dispenser head relative to a dispenser base from a closed position to a dispensing position to allow fluid to escape from an orifice at the dispenser head; C) releasing the dispenser head to allow the dispenser head to return from the dispensing position to the closed position; wherein during the release of the dispenser head according to method step C) a flexible tube having an open first end connecting to the orifice and an open second end opposite the open first end is closed at a portion between the open first end and the open second end to block the fluid feed to an opening in the dispenser base, wherein during the pressing of the dispenser head according to method step B) the orifice and the opening become substantially axially aligned, and wherein during the release of the dispenser head according to method step C) the orifice and the opening become axially misaligned.

7. The dispensing method according to claim 6, wherein during the release of the dispenser head according to process step C) underpressure is exerted to the opening or nozzle to retract fluid from the nozzle.

8. The dispensing method according to claim 7, wherein during process step C) the underpressure is exerted to the opening or nozzle at least partially before the nozzle is blocked.

9. The dispensing method according to claim 6, wherein during process step B) by pressing the dispenser head relative to the dispenser base a pressure is built up in a liquid container that is attached to the dispensed head.

10. The dispensing method according to claim 6, wherein during process step B) by pressing the dispenser head relative to the dispenser base a pressure in a liquid container that is attached to the dispensed head is released.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is further elucidated on the basis of the non-limitative exemplary embodiment shown in the following figures. Herein show:

(2) FIGS. 1A and 1B a dispenser according to the present invention; and

(3) FIGS. 2A-2E a dispenser provided with a compressible bellow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(4) FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B show a dispenser (1) for dispensing fluids from a fluid container (2). The dispenser comprises a dispenser head (3) provided with a dispenser nozzle with opening (4) and further comprises a dispenser base (5), holding the dispenser head (3). The dispenser base (5) is provided with a coupling (6) for connection to the fluid container (2). The dispenser (1) further comprises a fluid feed (7) leading from the dispenser nozzle opening (4) into the dispenser base (3) for connection to the fluid container (2). The fluid feed (7) is provided with a flexible tube acting as a valve (8). The fluid feed (7) can be attached to the fluid container (2) in a fluid tight manner, such that no fluid is lost when fluid is dispensed from the fluid container (2).

(5) FIG. 1A shows the dispenser (1) in rest, when no pressure is applied to the dispenser head (3). In this position the flexible tube (8) blocks the fluid feed (7) to the dispenser nozzle opening (4) such residual fluid is not able to pass from the fluid feed (7) to the dispenser nozzle opening (4).

(6) FIG. 1B shows the dispenser (1) in action, when pressure is applied to the dispenser head (3). In this position there is no valve blocking the fluid feed (7) to the dispenser nozzle opening (4) such that fluid inside the fluid container (2), such as an aerosol can, may freely flow from the fluid container (2) to the dispenser nozzle opening (4). The fluid container (2) is equipped with additional valve means that are controlled by a raised tube (9) acting as a valve stem, which only allow fluid to exit the fluid container (2) when a certain pressure is applied to this raised tube valve stem (9).

(7) FIG. 2A-FIG. 2E show a dispenser (10) for dispensing fluids from a fluid container (11). The dispenser (10) comprises a dispenser head (12) provided with a dispenser nozzle (13) and further comprises a dispenser base (14), holding the dispenser head (13), provided with a coupling (15) for connection to the fluid container (11). The dispenser (10) further comprises a fluid feed (16) leading from the dispenser nozzle (13) into the dispenser base (12) for connection to the fluid container (11). The fluid feed (16) is provided with a flexible tube (17) acting as a valve. The fluid feed (6) is further provided with a compressible bellow (18). Such a bellow (18) may be compressed when pressure is applied to the dispenser head (12). The bellow (18) is thus compressed when fluid is fed from the fluid container (11) to the dispenser nozzle (13), and can return to an expanded shape when no pressure is applied to the dispenser head (12). During the expansion of the bellow (18), any residual fluid in the dispenser nozzle (13) is sucked back into the fluid feed (16), resulting in a cleaner dispenser nozzle (13). The fluid feed (16) and/or bellow (18) can be attached to the fluid container (11) in a fluid tight manner, such that no fluid is lost when fluid is dispensed from the fluid container (11).

(8) FIG. 2A shows the dispenser (10) in rest, when no pressure is applied to the dispenser head (12) and the flexible tube (17) closes of the fluid feed (16) to the dispenser nozzle (13).

(9) FIG. 2B shows the dispenser (10) when sufficient pressure is applied to the dispenser head (12) to compress the bellow (18) and to open the flexible tube (17) to allow fluid to pass from the fluid feed (16) to the dispenser nozzle (13). However, the applied pressure to a raised tube (19), which acts as a valve stem is not sufficient to open additional valve means of the fluid container (11) controlled by the raised tube valve stem (19) to allow fluid to exit.

(10) FIG. 2C shows the dispenser (10) when sufficient pressure is applied to the dispenser head (12) and the raised tube valve stem (19) such that fluid can flow from the fluid container (11) to the dispenser nozzle (13). The bellow (18) is in its compressed state and the valve (17) allows fluid to pass.

(11) FIG. 2D shows the dispenser (10) when pressure on the dispenser head (12) is reduced such that fluid is able to pass from the fluid feed (16) to the dispenser nozzle (13), but the raised tube valve stem (19) is in it's closed off position again so fluids will not exit the fluid container (11).

(12) FIG. 2E shows the dispenser (10) returning to its rest position. The pressure is removed from the dispenser head (12). This results in an expanding bellow (18) that is sucking residual fluid from the nozzle (13) back into the fluid feed (16). Finally, flexible tube (17) returns to its closed state, such that no fluid is able to pass from the fluid feed (16) to the dispenser nozzle (13).

(13) The technical features of the invention as illustrated here in the various embodiments of the method and device according the invention are not only disclosed in connection with the other technical features as shown in these examples but are also disclosed individually. Thus combinations of all the individual technical features disclosed with any other individual technical feature disclosed in this application is also to be understood as being disclosed here.