HAND-OPERATED FOAM DISPENSER

Abstract

A foam dispenser comprises a plastic bottle made of a flexible plastic having a bottle opening, a closure cap which seals the bottle opening and has a dispensing opening for a foam. The foam dispenser further has a foam-generating device for foaming a solution, the device including a chamber having at least one wall and at least one porous body which is arranged in the chamber, wherein the foam-generating device is arranged in the closure cap and is at least partially formed by the closure cap. The foam dispenser can be manufactured cost-effectively, since it is composed of only a few components. The arrangement of the liquid inlet and the air inlet enables good emptying of residues. The foam-generating device also makes it possible to generate foam from alcoholic solutions.

Claims

1. A foam dispenser, comprising a plastic bottle made of flexible plastic having a bottle opening, a closure cap which has a base which seals the bottle opening and has a dispensing opening for a foam, a foam-generating device for foaming a solution, comprising a chamber having at least one wall and at least one porous body which is arranged in the chamber, at least one inlet for air and at least one inlet for liquid, wherein the foam-generating device is arranged in the closure cap and is at least partially formed by the closure cap, a riser pipe which is arranged inside the plastic bottle, the foam-generating device has two cylinders, including an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder, which are at least partially movably fitted into each other, wherein the inner cylinder forms the chamber and wherein the outer cylinder is held on the inner cylinder by a latching connection.

2. The foam dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the inner cylinder has an open end and a base, the outer cylinder has an open end and a base, wherein the base of the closure cap comprises the base of the inner cylinder and wherein the outer cylinder is fitted onto the inner cylinder such that the open end of the inner cylinder faces the base of the outer cylinder and wherein the open end of the outer cylinder faces the base of the closure cap.

3. The foam dispenser according to claim 2, wherein a first gap is formed between the open end of the outer cylinder and the base of the closure cap, a second gap is formed between the open end of the inner cylinder and the base of the outer cylinder, wherein the second gap is optionally arranged at the inlet for air, and in that the first gap and the second gap are fluidly connected to each other by a third gap, wherein the third gap is formed between the outer wall of the inner cylinder and the inner wall of the outer cylinder.

4. The foam dispenser according to claim 1, wherein at least one first latching element is formed on an outside of the inner cylinder and at least one second latching element is formed on an inside of the outer cylinder.

5. The foam dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the third gap extends through the latching connection.

6. The foam dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the latching connection has at least one latching bulge, wherein at least one channel is formed in the latching bulge, which channel connects the first gap and the third gap to each other.

7. The foam dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the third gap extends along an entire circumference between an outer jacket surface of the inner cylinder and an inner jacket surface of the outer cylinder.

8. The foam dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the inlet for air is formed in a base of the outer cylinder.

9. The foam dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the porous body consists of an open-cell foam material.

10. The foam dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the porous body consists of a foam material which has a density of more than 0.03 g/cm.sup.3, at least 0.035 g/cm.sup.3, or at least 0.045 g/cm.sup.3.

11. The foam dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the porous body consists of a foam material which has a density of at most 0.08 g/cm.sup.3 or at most 0.06 g/cm.sup.3.

12. The foam dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the porous body consists of a foam material which, in an uncompressed state, has a number of pores of 50 to 130 pores/inch, 60 to 100 pores/inch, or about 70 pores/inch.

13. The foam dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the porous body consists of a foam material which, in an uncompressed state, has a pore size of 0.3 mm to 0.9 mm, measured according to ASTM D 3576-2004, or 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm.

14. The foam dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the porous body is compressed in the chamber by 10% to 50%, by 15% to 50%, by 35% to 50%, or by 35% to 40%.

15. A method for foaming an alcoholic solution, comprising the steps of i. providing a foam dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the foam dispenser contains the alcoholic solution, ii. manually squeezing the plastic bottle of the foam dispenser so that an alcoholic foam can be obtained.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the alcoholic solution includes an alcoholic disinfectant.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0077] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a foam dispenser in a perspective view,

[0078] FIGS. 2a and b show a sectional view of a foam dispenser,

[0079] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged section of the sectional view shown in FIG. 2a,

[0080] FIG. 4 shows a top view of an outer cylinder of a foam dispenser,

[0081] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the outer cylinder shown in FIG. 4 with a riser pipe, and

[0082] FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of a closure cap with an inner cylinder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0083] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a foam dispenser. The foam dispenser 1 comprises a bottle 2 with a closure cap 3 screwed onto the bottle. The closure cap is formed here as a hinged cap with a hinged lid 20. A dispensing opening 4 is arranged on the top side of the closure cap 3. A foam-generating device is located inside the closure cap.

[0084] FIG. 2a shows a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a foam dispenser 1. The foam dispenser 1 is preferably designed to generate foam in an upside-down position. The foam dispenser comprises a bottle 2, which is closed with a closure cap 3. The closure cap 3 is designed as a screw cap with an internal thread 21 which is screwed to the external thread 22 on the neck of the bottle. A chamber 5 is arranged in the closure cap 3, in which chamber three porous bodies 9 are placed one above the other. The porous bodies 9 lie against the wall 6 of the chamber 5 so that the liquid must flow through the porous bodies 9 to the dispensing opening 4. There is an inlet 7 on the underside of the chamber 5, which inlet is connected to a riser pipe 10. The riser pipe 10 extends from the inlet 7 at the base 18 to the base of the bottle 11. The chamber is designed as a single-walled hollow cylinder, which on its top side is connected to the closure cap 3. The top side of the chamber 5 is directed towards the dispensing opening 4, with which it is fluidly connected. FIG. 2b shows a simplified sectional view of the upper half of the foam dispenser 1 shown in FIG. 2a.

[0085] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged section of the sectional view of the area of the closure cap 3 shown in FIG. 2. The porous bodies in the chamber are not shown in FIG. 3. The inner cylinder 12, which is part of the closure cap 3, has an open end 15 and a base 16. The outer cylinder 13 has an open end 17 and a base 18. The inlet 7 for air is arranged in the base 18. The outer cylinder 13 is connected at its underside to a holder 23 for the riser pipe 10. The base 19 of the closure cap 3 also comprises the base 16 of the inner cylinder, which forms the base of the chamber 5. The outer cylinder 13 is fitted onto the inner cylinder 12 so that the open end 15 of the inner cylinder 12 faces the base 18 of the outer cylinder 13 and the open end 17 of the outer cylinder 13 faces the base 19 of the closure cap. To fasten the outer cylinder to the closure cap 3, the foam dispenser has a latching connection 14 (highlighted with the dotted circle in FIG. 2b). The latching connection 14 consists of two latching bulges. A first latching element 33 in the form of a latching bulge is formed on the outside 37 of the inner cylinder 12. A second latching element 34, also in the form of a latching bulge, is formed on the inside 38 of the outer cylinder 13.

[0086] A first gap 30 is located between the base 19 of the closure cap and the open end 17 of the outer cylinder. A third gap 32 is visible between the inner wall 38 of the outer cylinder 13, which is fitted onto the inner cylinder and latched, and the outer wall 37 of the inner cylinder 12. When the plastic bottle is turned upside down, the liquid runs out of the bottle into the first gap. Pressure exerted by the user on the bottle creates an overpressure in the bottle and the liquid is conveyed from the first gap 30 into the third gap 32. A second gap 31 is located between the open end 15 of the inner cylinder and the base 18 of the outer cylinder 13. The second gap 31 is arranged here at the inlet 7 for air. The first gap 30 and the second gap 31 are fluidly connected to each other by the third gap 32. The liquid flows out of the third gap 32 into the second gap 31, where it absorbs air and is transported into the chamber 5 and the porous bodies located there. In the porous body, foam is formed from the air/liquid mixture, which foam is discharged through the dispensing opening 4. The arrow in FIG. 3 indicates the path by which air enters into the foam-generating device.

[0087] FIG. 4 shows a top view of an outer cylinder 13 of a foam dispenser. The outer cylinder has an open end 17 and a base. A holder 23 for the riser pipe is arranged on the underside of the outer cylinder 13.

[0088] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the outer cylinder 13 shown in FIG. 4 with a riser pipe 10. In the region of the open end, a latching element 34 can be seen, which is formed as a circumferential latching bulge. The outer cylinder 13 has a base 18. An opening which represents an inlet can be seen in the center of the base 18. Preferably, in an upside-down application, the opening is an inlet 7 for air. However, in the case of upright application of the foam dispenser, the opening can also be used as an inlet 8 for liquid.

[0089] FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of a closure cap 3 with an inner cylinder (without lid). The inner cylinder 12 is an integral part of the closure cap 3 and is formed in one piece therewith. The interior of the inner cylinder forms the chamber 5 in which the porous bodies are pressed. The base 19 of the closure cap comprises the base 16 of the inner cylinder. The dispensing opening 4 is arranged in the center of the base 16 of the inner cylinder. A first latching element 33 in the form of a latching bulge is arranged on the outside 37 of the inner cylinder 12.

TABLE-US-00001 Reference numeral list Foam dispenser 1 Plastic bottle 2 Closure cap 3 Dispensing opening 4 Chamber 5 Wall of the chamber 6 Inlet for air 7 Inlet for liquid 8 Porous body 9 Riser pipe 10 Bottle base 11 Inner cylinder 12 Outer cylinder 13 Latching connection 14 Open end of inner cylinder 15 Base of inner cylinder 16 Open end of outer cylinder 17 Base of outer cylinder 18 Base of closure cap 19 Lid 20 Internal thread 21 External thread 22 Riser pipe holder 23 First gap 30 Second gap 31 Third gap 32 First latching element 33 Second latching element 34 Outer wall of inner cylinder 37 Inner wall of outer cylinder 38