DISPENSING DEVICE FOR A FLUID

Abstract

A dispensing device for dispensing a fluid includes a head base piece having a dispensing opening, a liner arranged inside of the head base piece, a liner channel that is arranged between the head base piece and the liner, and a valve element that is movably arranged, at least in regions, inside of the liner and interacts with the dispensing opening. The valve element can be transferred from a first position into a second position via a stroke relative to the liner. In the second position of the valve element, a fluid path is formed between the liner channel and the dispensing opening, whereby a dispensing of fluid is rendered possible. A dispensing of fluid in the first position of the valve element is thereby prevented with a low number of components in that the liner channel is sealed against the dispensing opening by the liner.

Claims

1. A dispensing device for dispensing a fluid, comprising: a head base piece having a dispensing opening; a liner arranged inside of the head base piece; a liner channel which is arranged between the head base piece and the liner; and a valve element that is movably arranged, at least in regions, inside of the liner and interacts with the dispensing opening, wherein the valve element is movable from a first position into a second position via a stroke relative to the liner, such that, in the second position, a fluid path is formed between the liner channel and the dispensing opening, and in the first position, the liner channel is sealed against the dispensing opening by the liner.

2. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the liner comprises at least one of a second sealing lip or a sealing surface that bears against the valve element in the first position.

3. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the liner comprises a breach which forms a portion of the fluid path.

4. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the valve element comprises a first sealing lip that bears against the liner in the first position and in the second position.

5. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the liner comprises a shoulder in a region of the valve element.

6. The dispensing device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of a chamber arrangement or a nozzle chamber, wherein the at least one of the chamber arrangement or the nozzle chamber forms a portion of the fluid path.

7. The dispensing device according to claim 6, wherein, in the first position, the liner channel and the chamber arrangement are in fluid connection.

8. The dispensing device according to claim 6, wherein, in the first position, the liner channel and the nozzle chamber are not in fluid connection in the first position.

9. The dispensing device according to claim 6, wherein at least one of: the dispensing opening and the nozzle chamber; or the chamber arrangement and the liner channel is in fluid connection in the second position of the valve element.

10. The dispensing device according to claim 6, wherein the liner protrudes, at least in regions, into the nozzle chamber.

11. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the liner is immovably arranged relative to the head base piece.

12. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the valve element seals the dispensing opening with a force fit.

13. The dispensing device according to claim 1, further comprising a plug that is arranged on an end side of the liner opposite from the valve element and that, at least in regions, is inside of the liner.

14. The dispensing device according to claim 1, further comprising a head spring arranged in a spring space inside of the liner, wherein the head spring presses the valve element in a direction of the dispensing opening.

15. The dispensing device according to claim 1, further comprising a snap-on element, the head base piece being arranged on the snap-on element.

16. The dispensing device according to claim 15, further comprising an intermediate spring arranged between the snap-on element and the head base piece.

17. The dispensing device according to claim 15, further comprising an enclosure spring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:

[0042] FIG. 1A schematically shows a sectional illustration of an embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention in a first (closed) position;

[0043] FIG. 1B schematically shows a sectional illustration of an alternative embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention having an intermediate spring and second sealing lip in a first (closed) position;

[0044] FIG. 2A schematically shows a detailed view of a section X from FIG. 1A;

[0045] FIG. 2B schematically shows a detailed view of a section Y from FIG. 1B;

[0046] FIG. 3 schematically shows a sectional illustration of a dispensing device according to FIG. 1A in a second (open) position;

[0047] FIG. 4 schematically shows a detailed view of a section Z from FIG. 3; and

[0048] FIG. 5 schematically shows a detailed view in sectional illustration of a further embodiment of a dispensing device having a pin in a first (closed) position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention may be embodied in practice.

[0050] FIG. 1A shows an embodiment of a dispensing device 1 for dispensing a fluid. The dispensing device 1 comprises a head base piece 2 that is arranged on a snap-on element 3. The head base piece 2 is provided with a removable closing cap 4 which, during the use of the dispensing device 1, can be removed therefrom (see also FIGS. 3 and 4). A cone 5 extends from the head base piece 2 into an enclosure 6 through the snap-on element 3 in an axial direction. The cone 5 interacts with an enclosure spring 7 in the enclosure 6. The cone 5 comprises a fluid channel 8. The fluid channel 8 extends towards the head base piece 2 in the axial direction.

[0051] As an alternative to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A with an enclosure spring 7, an intermediate spring 27 can also be arranged between the snap-on element 3 and the head base piece 2, as is illustrated in FIG. 1B. The intermediate spring 27 then presses the snap-on element 3 and the head base piece 2 apart from one another in the first position.

[0052] The fluid channel 8 continues into a liner channel 9 in the head base piece 2. Said liner channel 9 is arranged between the head base piece 2 and a liner 10. The liner 10 is embodied in one piece. Furthermore, the liner 10 comprises a breach 11, whereby the liner channel 9 opens into a chamber arrangement 12.

[0053] In addition, the dispensing device 1 comprises a valve element 13 which sits such that it is movably arranged in the liner 10. In the first position of the valve element 13 shown here, the valve element 13 is pressed against a dispensing opening 15, which is embodied in the form of a calotte 16, by a head spring 14. The dispensing opening 15 is thus closed off by the valve element 13.

[0054] The valve element 13 comprises a first sealing lip 17 which bears against an inner wall 18 of the liner 10. At an end of the valve element 13 opposite from the first sealing lip 17, the valve element 13 comprises a closing surface 19 with rounded edges. The closing surface 19 presses against the dispensing opening 15 and seals said opening in the first position of the valve element 13.

[0055] The first sealing lip 17 spatially partitions a region of the chamber arrangement 12, and in particular a valve chamber, from a further region. Said further region, in which the head spring 14 is arranged, is referred to as the spring space 20. On the end side opposite from the valve element 13, the liner 10 comprises a plug 21 that is slid into the liner 10 up to a stop. The plug 21 forms a contact surface of the head spring 14 and, at the same time, the transition between the fluid channel 8 and liner channel 9.

[0056] The liner 10 also comprises a shoulder 22, whereby the inner diameter D.sub.1 of the liner 10 in a region closer to the dispensing opening 15 is decreased compared to a rearward region. For the sake of clarity, the inner diameter D.sub.1 is only denoted in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 5.

[0057] In the embodiment illustrated here, the liner 10 tapers conically, independently of the shoulder 22, so that, for example, the inner diameter D.sub.1 of the liner 10 in the region of the first sealing lip 17 is smaller than in the region of the plug 21. The same applies to the forward region of the head base piece 2, wherein the outer counter 23 of the head base piece 2 likewise tapers conically.

[0058] In the forward region with the decreased inner diameter D.sub.1, the liner 10 of the embodiment according to FIG. 1A additionally comprises a sealing surface 28 which bears against the valve element and seals the chamber arrangement 12 against a nozzle chamber 25. The sealing surface 28 thereby denotes a surface section of the liner 10 which, at least in regions, bears flat against the valve element 13 in the first position of the valve element 13.

[0059] As an alternative to the sealing surface 28, the liner 10 according to FIG. 1B comprises a second sealing lip 24, which bears against the valve element 13 and seals the chamber arrangement 12 against the nozzle chamber 25. The sealing surface 28 is thereby located in the forward region of the liner 10 with the decreased inner diameter D.sub.1. The embodiments from FIGS. 1A and 1B thus differ merely with respect to the features of the enclosure spring 7 and the intermediate spring 27, and of the second sealing lip 24 and the sealing surface 28.

[0060] The nozzle chamber 25 comprises the dispensing opening 15. In addition, the second sealing lip 24, or the sealing surface 28, forms a valve seat in the first valve element position. As a result, the nozzle chamber 25 is sealed against the chamber arrangement 12, and therefore against the liner channel 9, in the first position of the valve element 13.

[0061] The valve element 13 additionally comprises a space 26 that is arranged inside of the nozzle chamber 25 in the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B and FIGS. 2A and 2B.

[0062] In FIGS. 2A and 2B, detailed views of the forward region of the dispensing device 1 from FIGS. 1A and 1B, respectively, are shown, that is, of the section X and of the section Y, respectively. In FIGS. 2A and 2B, the inner diameter D.sub.1 of the liner 10 is additionally indicated.

[0063] In FIG. 3, the embodiment according to FIGS. 1B and 2B is essentially illustrated in a second, open position of the valve element 13, wherein the embodiment in FIG. 3 comprises no intermediate spring 27, but has an enclosure spring 7. FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the section Z from FIG. 3. Furthermore, in FIGS. 3 and 4, an altered position of the valve element 13, that is, the second position, in which the fluid path is open, is illustrated.

[0064] In the valve position illustrated in FIG. 3, the valve element 13 has been pressed back into the liner 10, so that the space 26 clears the fluid path from the liner channel 9, through the breach 11, via the chamber arrangement 12, the space 26, the nozzle chamber 25, and the dispensing opening 15. In this position, the valve element 13 is then only guided in the liner 10 via the first sealing lip 17. The head spring 14 has been compressed accordingly, and the spring space 20 has been reduced compared to the chamber arrangement 12. The second sealing lip 24 and the space 26 overlap.

[0065] FIG. 4 depicts a corresponding detailed view of the forward region of the dispensing device 1 from FIG. 3, that is, of the section Z. The fluid path is denoted by arrows in this case.

[0066] In all figures and embodiments, the identical features have been provided with the identical reference symbols. FIGS. 1A and 1B thereby depict a state of the dispensing device 1 in which the valve element 13 is arranged in a closed state, that is, in a first position. In contrast, FIG. 3 shows the same dispensing device 1 in which the valve element 13 is arranged in an open state, that is, in a second position. FIG. 5 also shows an alternative embodiment of the valve element 13, wherein a pin 29 is additionally arranged on the closing surface 19.

[0067] The pin 29 has a cylindrical shape in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5. The pin 29 does not bear against the dispensing opening 15, and thus also does not perform a sealing function. The dispensing opening 15 therefore continues to be sealed by the closing surface 19 in the first position of the valve element 13.

[0068] The pin 29, which is seated in the dispensing opening 15 of the dispensing device 1, has no sealing function at all, which is indicated by a small gap. However, the pin 29 does reduce the dead volume in the outer region of the dispensing device. Accordingly, deposits of debris can be partially minimized thereby. In addition, in a second (open) position of the valve element 13, the pin 29 can improve the drip behavior of the fluid, for example in that less fluid collects at the calotte 16. This facilitates the subsequent drying of residual fluid after a drip process has occurred.

[0069] To dispense the fluid, a user moves the head base piece 2 towards the snap-on element 3 in the axial direction after the closing cap 4 has been removed from the dispensing device 1. As a result, the cone 5 is moved against the spring force of the enclosure spring 7 or of the intermediate spring 27 in the interior of the enclosure 6. The volume in a pump chamber of the enclosure 6 thereby decreases. The pump chamber is formed by a space surrounding the enclosure spring 7. If no enclosure spring 7 is present, the pump chamber is still formed by the same space as with the enclosure spring 7. The conveyed amount of fluid is determined by a stroke of the cone 5 inside of the pump chamber. The dosage of a predetermined amount of fluid is hereby rendered possible. By way of the resulting overpressure, the fluid is displaced into the fluid channel 8 from the pump chamber. The fluid is transported along the fluid channel 8 in an axial direction. The transport of the fluid continues along the liner 10 through the liner channel 9. At an axial end of the liner channel 9, the fluid ultimately passes through a breach 11 and enters a chamber arrangement 12.

[0070] In the embodiment illustrated here, a certain collection of fluid results in the chamber arrangement 12. The more fluid collects in the chamber arrangement 12, the greater the pressure of the fluid on the valve element 13. The chamber arrangement 12 is thereby sealed by the first sealing lip 17 against the spring space 20 in which the head spring 14 is arranged. Furthermore, the chamber arrangement 12 is, in the first position of the valve element 13, sealed against the nozzle chamber 25 by the second sealing lip 24 (FIGS. 1B and 2B) or by the sealing surface 28 (FIGS. 1A and 2A). The fluid collecting in the chamber arrangement 12 thus displaces the valve element 13 against the spring force of the head spring 14.

[0071] Once the fluid pressure lessens, however, and the spring force becomes greater than the fluid pressure, the valve element 13 moves back into the first position thereof and closes off the dispensing opening 15 with the closing surface 19. This force fit is then produced by the head spring 14, wherein a slight movement of the valve element 13 away from the dispensing opening 15 is already sufficient to open the dispensing opening 15. The opening of the dispensing opening 15 does not mean, however, that the fluid path is also already cleared. As long as the second sealing lip 24 still bears against the valve element 13, the fluid path is interrupted. Not until the space 26, which can be embodied as a groove, brings the chamber arrangement 12 and the nozzle chamber 25 into fluid connection with one another can the fluid also flow out of the dispensing opening 15 from the liner channel 9. The stroke of the valve element 13 thus continues until the second sealing lip 24 reaches and clears the space 26. Therefore, an overlap of the second sealing lip 24 and the space 26 must occur in order for the fluid path to be cleared. Up to this point, the second sealing lip 24 seals against the valve element 13. Accordingly, the fluid pressure must be greater than the spring force of the head spring 14 in order to displace the valve element 13 and clear the fluid path.

[0072] Once the space 26 and the second sealing lip 24 interact such that the fluid path is cleared, the fluid located in the chamber arrangement 12 can enter the space 26, from where it can flow into the nozzle chamber 25. The volume of the chamber arrangement 12 is thereby greater than the volume of the space 26, whereby the fluid is accelerated upon entering the space 26. This acceleration is undesired if a controlled dispensing of the fluid in the form of drops is intended. For this reason, the nozzle chamber 25 preferably has a larger volume or a larger cross section than the space 26. The nozzle chamber 25 is also arranged after the space 26 in the transport direction of the fluid. The fluid accelerated in the space 26 can thus expand in the nozzle chamber 25. As a result, the fluid is decelerated. The nozzle chamber 25 then comprises the dispensing opening 15. The fluid can exit from the dispensing opening 15 along the calotte 16 in the form of drops.

[0073] The embodiment according to the invention thus provides an improved dispensing device 1 with a reduced number of components. At the same time, the chosen design according to the invention enables an earlier opening of the fluid path and a thereby improved opening characteristic of the dispensing device 1. If the dispensing device 1 comprises a head spring 14, the spring path of the head spring 14, which path is needed for the clearing of the fluid path, can also be shortened compared to the prior art, so that the closing characteristic of the dispensing device 1 is additionally improved.

[0074] It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0075] 1 Dispensing device [0076] 2 Head base piece [0077] 3 Snap-on element [0078] 4 Closing cap [0079] 5 Cone [0080] 6 Enclosure [0081] 7 Enclosure spring [0082] 8 Fluid channel [0083] 9 Liner channel [0084] 10 Liner [0085] 11 Breach [0086] 12 Chamber arrangement [0087] 13 Valve element [0088] 14 Head spring [0089] 15 Dispensing opening [0090] 16 Calotte [0091] 17 First sealing lip [0092] 18 Inner wall (of the liner) [0093] 19 Closing surface [0094] 20 Spring space (of the head spring) [0095] 21 Plug [0096] 22 Shoulder [0097] 23 Outer contour (of the head base piece) [0098] 24 Second sealing lip [0099] 25 Nozzle chamber [0100] 26 Space [0101] 27 Intermediate spring [0102] 28 Sealing surface [0103] 29 Pin [0104] D.sub.1 Inner diameter