SQUEEZE BOTTLE DISPENSER WITH SAFETY CONTROL

Abstract

A squeeze bottle dispenser having a squeezable liquid reservoir, and a discharge head with a discharge opening. The squeeze bottle dispenser has a protective sleeve captively connected to the liquid reservoir and which, with respect to a main axis, is displaceable relative to the liquid reservoir between a protection position and a release position. In the protection position, the protective sleeve prevents or impedes manual application of force to the liquid reservoir and therefore the discharge of liquid. In the release position, the protective sleeve does not prevent or impede manual application of force to the liquid reservoir and thus permits the discharge of liquid.

Claims

1. A squeeze bottle dispenser comprising: a liquid reservoir configured as a squeeze bottle; a discharge head with a discharge opening; and a protective sleeve captively connected to the liquid reservoir, the protective sleeve, with respect to a main axis, being displaceable relative to the liquid reservoir between a protection position and a release position in a solely translational movement, a simultaneous translational and rotational movement or sequential translational and rotational movements, wherein in the protection position, the protective sleeve prevents or impedes manual application of force to the liquid reservoir and therefore discharge of liquid, and in the release position, the protective sleeve does not prevent or impede manual application of force to the liquid reservoir and thus permits the discharge of liquid.

2. The squeeze bottle dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the squeeze bottle dispenser has a discharge direction defining the main axis and the liquid reservoir has a wall, the wall being at least in some portions cylindrical, the wall having a central axis defining the main axis, and the translational movement of the protective sleeve takes place along the main axis, and/or the rotational movement of the protective sleeve takes place about the main axis.

3. The squeeze bottle dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the squeeze bottle dispenser has at least one guide surface, the protective sleeve being displaceable along the at least one guide surface in a guided manner.

4. The squeeze bottle dispenser as claimed in claim 3, further including a guide ring having an outer face, the at least one guide surface being disposed on the outer face of the guide ring, the guide ring being mounted on the liquid reservoir or in an intermediate region between the liquid reservoir and the discharge head or on the discharge head.

5. The squeeze bottle dispenser as claimed in claim 3, further including a guide sleeve mounted on the liquid reservoir or in an intermediate region between the liquid reservoir and the discharge head or on the discharge head, wherein the at least one guide surface is disposed on an inner face of the guide sleeve, the guide sleeve surrounding the liquid reservoir and the protective sleeve, and the guide sleeve has at least one recess, an application of force to the liquid reservoir being possible through the at least one recess when the protective sleeve is in the release position, the at least one recess being at least partially closed when the protective sleeve is in the protection position.

6. The squeeze bottle dispenser as claimed in claim 5, further comprising an intermediate ring, the guide sleeve being mounted by the intermediate ring on the liquid reservoir and/or on the discharge head.

7. The squeeze bottle dispenser as claimed in claim 5, further including interlocking guide structures disposed on the guide surface and on the protective sleeve, the protective sleeve being guided by the interlocking guide structures relative to the guide surface in a rotationally fixed manner, or the protective sleeve being guided by the interlocking guide structures relative to the guide surface in the simultaneous translational and rotational movement or in the sequential translational and rotational movements.

8. The squeeze bottle dispenser as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an anti-displacement device, the anti-displacement device securing the protective sleeve against displacement in the protection position.

9. The squeeze bottle dispenser as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a latching edge, the anti-displacement device comprising at least one resiliently deflectable latching element, the latching element in the protection position of the protective sleeve cooperating with the latching edge translationally and/or rotationally fixed to the liquid reservoir or to the protective sleeve, such that a translational and/or rotational movement of the protective sleeve is prevented.

10. The squeeze bottle dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the translational movement of the protective sleeve from the protection position into the release position takes place in a direction of the discharge opening.

11. The squeeze bottle dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the translational movement of the protective sleeve from the protection position into the release position takes place away from the discharge opening.

12. The squeeze bottle dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the squeeze bottle dispenser further includes printed text on an outer face of the liquid reservoir, the protective sleeve comprises a transparent plastics material, the printed text remaining visible through the protective sleeve even when the protective sleeve is arranged in the protection position; or the squeeze bottle dispenser further includes printed text applied to the protective sleeve and no printed text is applied to an outer face of the squeeze bottle; or the squeeze bottle dispenser further includes printed text both on the protective sleeve and on an outer face of the liquid reservoir.

13. The squeeze bottle dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the squeeze bottle dispenser has a removable and replaceable protective cap, the protective cap cooperating with the protective sleeve such that when the protective cap is in position, or when the protective cap has not yet been opened for the first time, displacement of the protective sleeve is prevented.

14. The squeeze bottle dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the squeeze bottle dispenser is configured as a drop dispenser, and a drop-forming arrangement is provided in a region of the discharge opening, the drop-forming arrangement including a drop-forming surface surrounding the discharge opening; and/or the liquid reservoir comprises a flexible plastics material; and/or the protective sleeve comprises a rigid plastics material; and/or the liquid dispenser is filled with a pharmaceutical liquid; and/or the discharge head and the liquid reservoir are formed as separate components and are connected together by a latching connection; and/or the discharge head and the liquid reservoir are formed integrally as one component; and/or the discharge head comprises a discharge valve; and/or the liquid reservoir has a tapered neck region, an intermediate ring or a guide ring being provided in a region of the tapered neck region.

15. A liquid dispenser comprising: a liquid reservoir in the form of a bottle body; a discharge head with a discharge opening; an outer sleeve, the outer sleeve at least temporarily surrounding the bottle body; and a ring element for fastening or guiding the outer sleeve on the bottle body, the outer sleeve being fixedly or displaceably fastened to an outer face of the ring element.

16. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 15, wherein the ring element captively attaches the outer sleeve to the discharge head, the ring element and the outer sleeve each have a stop, and the stop of the ring element and the stop of the outer sleeve together define an end position beyond which the outer sleeve cannot be displaced relative to the ring element.

17. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 15, wherein the discharge head has a housing, and the ring element is configured as a component separate from the housing.

18. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 15, wherein the ring element comprises an interrupted ring element having an interruption in one segment, the interruption spanning a maximum of 120.

19. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 15, wherein the liquid reservoir has a tapered neck region, and the intermediate ring or the guide ring are provided in a region of the tapered neck region.

20. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 15, wherein the ring element is secured by the outer sleeve against expansion such that the ring element cannot be pulled over the bottle body or over the discharge head.

21. The squeeze bottle dispenser as claimed in claim 4, wherein: the guide ring is configured as a slotted or interrupted guide ring having an interruption in one segment which spans a maximum of 120; and/or the guide ring is configured as a multipart guide ring including two guide ring segments connected together for forming the guide ring on at least one end; and/or the guide ring is configured such that during mounting the protective sleeve can be pushed from a side facing away from the discharge opening onto the guide ring, wherein for facilitating the mounting a lead-in chamfer is provided on the guide ring and/or on the protective sleeve; and/or the guide ring has on the outer face at least one guide structure extending in a direction of movement of the protective sleeve and the protective sleeve has an inwardly facing guide structure corresponding to the at least one guide structure.

22. The squeeze bottle dispenser as claimed in claim 6, wherein: the intermediate ring is configured as an interrupted intermediate ring having an interruption in one segment spanning a maximum of 120; and/or the intermediate ring is configured as a multipart intermediate ring including two intermediate ring segments connected together to form the intermediate ring on at least one end via a latching connection; and/or the intermediate ring and the guide sleeve are positively latched to one another, wherein one of the intermediate ring or the guide sleeve includes an outwardly or inwardly open retaining groove, the other of the intermediate ring or the guide sleeve including a retaining projection protruding into the retaining groove.

23. The squeeze bottle dispenser as claimed in claim 7, wherein: the guide surface is formed by a guide groove and a guide projection or a guide cam of the protective sleeve engages in the guide groove; or the guide surface has a guide projection or a guide cam engaging in a guide groove of the protective sleeve; or the guide groove has at least in some portions a helical shape so that a movement of the protective sleeve relative to the guide surface takes place during the simultaneous translational and rotational movement; or the guide groove has on at least one end a partial portion extending circumferentially to the main axis, wherein the partial portion does not extend in the axial direction to the main axis.

24. The squeeze bottle dispenser as claimed in claim 9, wherein: the resiliently deflectable latching element is attached to the protective sleeve or a guide sleeve, the latching element is an integral part of a component substantially forming the protective sleeve or the guide sleeve; and/or the latching edge is provided on a guide sleeve; and/or the latching edge is provided on the guide ring; and/or in the protection position the latching element attached to the protective sleeve is arranged in a region of a recess, and the latching edge is formed by an edge of the recess; and/or the resiliently deflectable latching element is configured as a rocker element with two opposing arms on both sides of a tilt axis.

25. The squeeze bottle dispenser as claimed in claim 10, wherein: the protective sleeve has an upper edge forming at least in some portions a bearing surface for placement against an area of the skin; and/or in the release position the bearing surface is arranged such that the bearing surface is positioned relative to a main axis at a distance of a maximum of 15 mm from the discharge opening; and/or the squeeze bottle dispenser includes a retaining arrangement including stops on the protective sleeve and a guide ring, and a removal of the protective sleeve is prevented by the retaining arrangement in a direction of the discharge opening.

26. The squeeze bottle dispenser as claimed in claim 11, wherein: the squeeze bottle dispenser further includes a retaining arrangement including stops on the protective sleeve and on the guide sleeve, and a removal of the protective sleeve is prevented by the retaining arrangement counter to a direction of the discharge opening; and/or the protective sleeve has a distal end portion protruding beyond the guide sleeve at a lower end in the protection position of the protective sleeve, the distal end portion defining a receiving space, the squeeze bottle dispenser further including electronic components disposed in the receiving space.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] Further advantages and aspects of the invention are found in the claims and the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are explained hereinafter with reference to the figures.

[0056] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a drop dispenser of the type in question, on the basis of which the design of a squeeze bottle dispenser of the type in question is explained.

[0057] FIGS. 3 to 6B show a first exemplary embodiment of a liquid dispenser according to the invention.

[0058] FIGS. 7A and 7B show a variant of the first exemplary embodiment.

[0059] FIGS. 8 and 9 show a second exemplary embodiment of a liquid dispenser according to the invention.

[0060] FIGS. 10 to 13B show a third exemplary embodiment of a liquid dispenser according to the invention.

[0061] FIG. 14 shows an alternative design of a guide ring for the liquid dispenser according to the third exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0062] FIGS. 1 and 2 initially show a squeeze bottle dispenser 10 without safety control, which is developed further by additions to form a liquid dispenser with safety control according to the invention.

[0063] The squeeze bottle dispenser 10 has a discharge head 12 with an outer housing 14 which is perforated at the distal end by a discharge opening 16.

[0064] The squeeze bottle dispenser 10 also has a liquid reservoir 20 which is configured as a squeeze bottle, and the walls thereof can be depressed, therefore, in order to reduce the internal volume of the liquid reservoir 20 and correspondingly to increase the pressure. The discharge head is fastened to the open end of the liquid reservoir 20.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 2, when the discharge opening is oriented downwardly, due to the pressure during the course of the compression of the liquid reservoir 20, the liquid contained therein is forced in the direction of the discharge head and passes to the discharge opening 16 after the opening of a discharge valve 18 caused by the pressure.

[0066] The squeeze bottle dispenser 10 can be, for example, a drop dispenser, in particular for ophthalmic use, the discharge opening thereof being configured for the discharge of drops, in particular by a drop-forming surface surrounding the discharge opening 16 on the outer face, in particular with a surrounding sharp-edged tear-off edge.

[0067] The dispenser 10 can comprise a protective cap 22 in order to protect this discharge opening 16. The protective cap is provided with ventilation openings in order to permit a rapid drying of the drop-forming surface after use.

[0068] FIGS. 3 to 6B show a first exemplary embodiment of a dispenser according to the invention. This is based on the drop dispenser of FIG. 1 which is supplemented by the components 70, 50, 30 which can be clearly identified in FIG. 5. FIGS. 3 and 4 show the liquid dispenser 10 in the assembled state before and after the removal of the protective cap 22.

[0069] The additional components 30, 50, 70 represent components of a safety device which are intended to prevent an inadvertent discharge of liquid. In particular, the components together form a child safety device which is difficult for small children to overcome.

[0070] The child safety device comprises a protective sleeve 30 which is inserted into a guide sleeve 50. The guide sleeve 50 is provided in the region of its lateral surface on opposing sides with a recess 54 through which the application of force to the liquid reservoir 20 takes place as intended. However, this application of force is prevented when the protective sleeve 30 is fully inserted into the guide sleeve 50 and thus blocks the recesses 54 in the manner shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0071] The guide sleeve 50 is provided on its inner face with opposing guide surfaces 52 in the form of two guide grooves 53 extending in the direction of the main axis 2. Correspondingly, guide projections 33 are provided on the outer face of the protective sleeve 30. In the inserted state in the guide sleeve 50, therefore, the protective sleeve 30 can be moved exclusively in a translational manner. On both sides on the upper edge, the protective sleeve 30 has outwardly protruding stop projections 37 which prevent the protective sleeve 30 from being fully pulled out of the guide sleeve 30 out of the guide sleeve 50. As soon as the stop 37 strikes against the lower edge of the recess openings 54 forming a further stop, it is not possible to pull out the protective sleeve 30 further.

[0072] The guide sleeve 50 has a latching through-opening 59, the lower terminal edge thereof forming a latching edge 64. A latching element 62, which can be deflected inwardly in a resilient manner and which is an integral part of the protective sleeve 30 in the manner of a tongue cut out in a U-shape, is correspondingly provided.

[0073] The combination consisting of the guide sleeve 50 and the protective sleeve 30 inserted therein is fastened by means of an intermediate ring 70 to the liquid reservoir 20 of the liquid dispenser 10. In the manner visible in FIG. 5, the intermediate ring 70 is designed not to be closed on the circumference but provided with an interruption 74. This interruption 74 makes it possible to push the intermediate ring from above or below, but in particular from one side onto a tapered region 20B of the liquid reservoir 20. Then it can be compressed to a sufficient extent that the combination consisting of the guide sleeve 50 and protective sleeve 30 can be pushed on from below.

[0074] FIG. 6A shows the child safety device thus mounted in a sectional view. It can be identified that a groove 78 on the outer face of the intermediate ring 70 is used in order to fasten an inwardly facing retaining projection 58 of the guide sleeve 50.

[0075] FIG. 6A shows the protection position of the protective sleeve 30. As already explained above, in this position the protective sleeve 30 blocks the recesses 54 thereof so that it is not possible for the user to compress the liquid reservoir 20.

[0076] In order to prepare the dispenser for operation, the user initially has to depress the latching element 62 in a resilient manner. Once this has occurred, by the application of force on the protective sleeve 30, the user can pull down the protective sleeve relative to the guide sleeve 50 or the discharge head 12 so that the state of FIG. 6B is present. The downward displacement is limited by the stops 37, 57. In the position of FIG. 6B, the dispenser is now significantly extended as a whole, such that the dispenser can be handled more conveniently and positioned securely, for example, above an eye to be treated. If force is now applied to the liquid reservoir on both sides through the recesses 54, the pressure in the liquid reservoir is increased so that the discharge valve 18 opens and liquid is discharged through the discharge opening 16.

[0077] After use, the user slides the protective sleeve 30 back up again. A chamfer on the latching element 62 causes it to be indirectly deflected inwardly in a resilient manner until it springs back into the through-opening 59 and the protected state is produced again.

[0078] The design of FIGS. 7A and 7B differs from FIGS. 3 to 6B in that the protective sleeve is lengthened at its lower end, so that even in the protection position of FIG. 7A it protrudes downwardly beyond the guide sleeve 50. This can facilitate the transition to the release position of FIG. 7B.

[0079] The design of FIGS. 8 and 9 is very similar to the previous FIGS. 3 to 7B. An essential difference is that here a purely translational movement of the protective sleeve 30 is not provided but rather a superimposed translational and rotational movement. A guide groove 35, which is substantially helical and which transitions only at its ends into horizontal partial portions, is provided to this end on an outer face of the protective sleeve 30. A guide cam 55 which is provided on the inner face of the guide sleeve 50 is arranged inside the groove.

[0080] It is achieved by the helical guide groove 35 that the latching element 62 initially has to be depressed in the manner already described for transferring from the protection position of FIG. 8 into the release position of FIG. 9, but then the protective sleeve 30 is not immediately pulled out but as it were unscrewed by a rotational movement and a translational movement indirectly caused thereby.

[0081] The design of FIGS. 10 to 13B has fundamental differences from the previous exemplary embodiments. As can be seen in FIG. 12, only two additional components are provided here for achieving a safety control device, namely a guide ring 40 which is pushed on from above or below, similar to the intermediate ring 70, but in particular from the side onto a tapered region 20B of the liquid reservoir 20, and a protective sleeve 30 which is pushed onto the liquid reservoir 20 surrounding the guide ring 40. Lead-in chamfers 38 are provided on the upper edge of the guide sleeve 30, said lead-in chamfers ensuring that the guide ring 40 is temporarily compressed during the mounting of the protective sleeve 30 in order to be able to expand again below the guide chamfers 38.

[0082] It can be seen by way of FIGS. 13A and 13B that the guide ring 40 fulfills a plurality of functions. From the protection position of FIG. 13A it is not possible to pull down the protective sleeve 30 since the chamfers previously used during mounting only act in the opposing direction. Moreover, it is initially not possible to displace the protective sleeve 30 upwardly since a latching element 62 designed as a rocker element bears with an upper edge against the latching edge 64 of the guide ring 40. Only when the lower half of the latching element 62 is pushed, is the upper half tilted away outwardly so that the protective sleeve can then be displaced upwardly. The end position is reached in the position which can be seen in FIG. 13B and in which a stop 64 of the guide ring 40 comes to bear against an inwardly facing stop 31 of the protective sleeve 30.

[0083] FIG. 13B shows the release position in which force can now be applied to the liquid reservoir 20. Contrary to FIG. 13B, this force is applied when the dispenser is in an angled position with the discharge opening 16 facing downwardly. The upper terminal edge of the protective sleeve 30 can be used in this release position by the bearing surface 34 at that point being placed against an area of the skin of the user in order to permit a drop discharge which is as accurate as possible. In particular, the bearing surface 34 can be placed against the eyebrow of the user, for example.

[0084] FIG. 14 shows an alternative design of a guide ring 40. This guide ring is not provided with an interruption 44 which permits expansion, but rather is formed from two ring segments 40A, 40B which can be connected together via cooperating coupling means 41. This makes it possible to attach the guide ring of FIG. 14 after the liquid reservoir 20 and the discharge head 12 have been already connected together, by the two ring segments being supplied from opposing sides in the tapered region 20B and being latched so as to surround the bottle neck.

[0085] The guide ring 40 of FIG. 14 also has a guide structure 48 on the outer face. This guide structure comprises short vertical grooves. These grooves can cooperate with corresponding projections on the inner face of the protective sleeve 30 so that the protective sleeve 30 cannot be rotated relative to the guide ring about the main axis 2. This makes it possible to achieve secure guidance and a reduced tendency to tilting.