Abstract
A dispenser comprising a body with an outlet, and a closure for the outlet. The closure and the body are pivotally movable relative to each other between an open position in which the outlet is open and a closed position in which the closure closes the outlet. The closure and the body are adapted for locking engagement with each another in the closed position. The closure has a locking member for locking and unlocking the closure and the body in the closed position. A force applied on the locking member for unlocking urges the closure toward the open position. The dispenser preferably facilitates the application of a material to be dispensed to a desired location.
Claims
1. A dispenser comprising: a longitudinal axis; a body with an outlet; and a closure for the outlet; the closure being pivotally interconnected at the body by a first pivotal interconnection such that the closure is movable relative to the body between an open position in which the outlet is open and a closed position in which the closure closes the outlet; the closure and the body being further adapted for locking engagement with each other in the closed position; the closure having a locking member that is movable relative to the closure between a lock position allowing for locking the closure with the body in the closed position, and an unlock position providing for unlocking the closure for movement from the closed position toward the open position; the locking member having an actuator for moving the locking member between the lock position and the unlock position; the actuator being movable with respect to the closure in a direction oriented generally laterally to the longitudinal axis; the actuator and the body being arranged relative to the first pivotal interconnection such that a force applied on the actuator relative to the body for moving the locking member toward the unlock position also urges the closure toward the open position, wherein the actuator is formed of a free end of a lever, and the free end of the lever is external to the closure.
2. A dispenser comprising: a longitudinal axis; a body with an outlet; and a closure for the outlet; the closure being pivotally interconnected at the body by a first pivotal interconnection such that the closure is movable relative to the body between an open position in which the outlet is open and a closed position in which the closure closes the outlet; the closure and the body being further adapted for locking engagement with each other in the closed position; the closure having a locking member that is movable relative to the closure between a lock position allowing for locking the closure with the body in the closed position, and an unlock position providing for unlocking the closure for movement from the closed position toward the open position; the locking member having an actuator for moving the locking member between the lock position and the unlock position; the actuator being movable with respect to the closure in a direction oriented generally laterally to the longitudinal axis; the actuator and the body being arranged relative to the first pivotal interconnection such that a force applied on the actuator relative to the body for moving the locking member toward the unlock position also urges the closure toward the open position; the closure further comprising a flexible strap arranged between the locking member and the closure.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0025] FIG. 1 is a side view of a device in an open position according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0026] FIG. 2 is a side view of a device in a closed position according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a device according to an embodiment of the invention held by a user;
[0028] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a further device according to an embodiment of the invention held by a user;
[0029] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a dispenser according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0030] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a closure with a locking member according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0031] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another dispenser in a closed position according to an embodiment of the invention; and
[0032] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the dispenser shown in FIG. 6 in an open position according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0033] FIG. 1 shows a device 1 having a dispenser 6 with an outlet 3, and a closure 4 for closing the outlet 3. The device 1 is shown in an open position in which the outlet 3 is open. In the open position the device 1 may be used to dispense a material from the outlet 3 to a desired place.
[0034] The dispenser 6 has a closure 4 and a body 5 which are pivotally interconnected. Thus the closure 4 and the body 5 are movable or rotatable relative to each other. In the example the interconnection is formed by a hinge 8. Therefore the closure 4 can be moved relative to the body 5 toward a closed position in which the outlet 3 is closed as shown in FIG. 2. In the closed position the outlet is preferably sealed by the closure 4 so that material to be dispensed is prevented from passing the outlet.
[0035] The device 1 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a longitudinal dimension generally along longitudinal axis A. The longitudinal dimension may correspond to a dimension along which material is displaced toward the outlet for dispensing. The skilled person will recognize that the longitudinal dimension is not necessarily straight as illustrated, but may be curved or have curved sections. The closure 4 is rotatable relative to the body 5 laterally to the longitudinal axis A of the device 1. For example the closure 4 may be rotatable substantially about a first rotation axis that is arranged offset from the longitudinal axis A and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A. The configuration shown allows the closure 4 and the outlet 3 to be moved sufficiently away from one another to reduce the probability of the closure to get contaminated with material dispensed during use of the device 1. Further the closure 4 may be prevented from being lost because it remains attached to the body 5 while the closure 4 and the body 5 are moved relative to one another.
[0036] The closure 4 and the body 5 are further adapted for locking engagement with each other in at least the closed position. Thus the closure is preferably retained in the closed position which may be advantageous for storage and/or transport of the device 1. The closure 4 has a locking member 7. The locking member 7 preferably allows for unlocking of the closure so that it can be moved toward the open position, for example by a user. Accordingly the locking member 7 may per default be positioned in the lock position. Therefore the locking member 7 is movable between a lock position and a unlock position. FIG. 2 shows the device with the locking member 7 locking the closure 4 with the body 5 in the closed position. The locking member 7 from the position shown is movable toward the unlock position (indicated by dashed lines) providing for unlocking the closure and the body. In the unlock position a rotation of the closure and the body from the closed toward the open position is enabled. The locking member 7 may further be limited in movement between the lock and the unlock position. In particular the locking member 7 may be restrained such that it cannot be moved from the lock position further in a direction from the unlock toward the lock position (in the Figure toward the left). This may be achieved for example by a flexible strap arranged between the locking member and the closure. The strap may deflect when the locking member is moved from the lock toward the unlock position, but may be substantially unexpandable. Thereby a user may be prevented from operating the locking member in an undesired direction.
[0037] Moving the locking member toward the unlock position can be caused by an actuation force F applied on the locking member as indicated in FIG. 2. The actuation force F is preferably applied relative to the body 5. For example the body may be retained while the force is applied to the locking member 7. A suitable direction of the actuation force for moving the locking member from the lock position toward the unlock position is predetermined by the arrangement (for example orientation and shape) of the locking member, which is described in more detail below. The direction of the actuation force is preferably predetermined such that it is oriented laterally to the longitudinal axis A. Further the direction of the actuation force may be predetermined along a line which is generally transverse to the first rotation axis, for example provided by the hinge, but not intersecting with the first rotation axis. Therefore an actuation of the locking member preferably also causes a torque between the body 5 and the closure 4 around the first rotation axis. Thus when the device is retained at the body 5 the actuation force F applied on the locking member causes a torque T which urges the closure toward the open position. Therefore if the actuation force F is maintained until the unlock position is reached the closure may unlock and then rotate toward the open position. In this way releasing the closure and the body from one another as well as moving the closure and the body toward the open position may be performed in a single operational step. This may facilitate the operation of the device, and in particular may enable a single hand operation for opening the device as further illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0038] The device 1 further has a container 2. In the example shown the container 2 is in the form of a bottle. The bottle may be flexible so that it can be squeezed by a user for dispensing material. The container 2 preferably has an opening which is covered by the dispenser 6.
[0039] The opening may be sufficiently large to allow for a convenient filling of a material into the container during manufacturing. On the other hand the dispenser 6 may allow for controlled dispensation of the material when the device is used. The container 2 may further be used for holding the device 1. Therefore the container 2 may allow a user to conveniently hold the device 1 at the container 2 for actuating the locking member and for opening the closure 4.
[0040] FIG. 3 shows the device 1 held in a user's hand. The user holds the device 1 at the container (not visible) with the locking member 7 oriented toward the user's thumb. The shape and the position of the locking member relative to the remainder of the device are such that an actuation of the locking member is enabled in a direction generally laterally to the longitudinal dimension A of the device. Thus the device by its configuration predetermines the orientation of the actuation force F to provide for the torque that urges the closure 4 toward the open position.
[0041] As illustrated in FIG. 4 the locking member 7 of the device 1 may have a different shape which likewise provides for a torque suitable for urging the closure 4 toward the open position. The skilled person will be able to provide further shapes and/or positions of a locking member which provide a similar or equivalent effect, and which are included in the scope of the present invention.
[0042] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the dispenser 6. As illustrated the dispenser 6 has a body 5 and a closure 4 that form one piece. In the example the body 5 and the closure 4 are interconnected via a living hinge 18. The dispenser 6 further has a dropper nozzle 9 which comprises the outlet 3. The dropper nozzle 9 protrudes from the body 5. The body 5 further has an inlet 10 (not visible) which is preferably adapted for connecting with an outlet of a container (not shown). In the example the body 5 of the dispenser 6 forms a cap for receiving an end of the container. The cap of the body may for example comprise an internal thread for engaging a corresponding external thread of the container. The skilled person will recognize other configurations allowing for coupling of the dispenser 6 with the container, like for example a snap coupling, a glued coupling or a coupling in which the internal thread is arranged at the container and the external thread is arranged at the dispenser 6. Other couplings providing for appropriate retention of the dispenser to the container may be possible.
[0043] The dropper nozzle may further be formed by a component that is separate from the body. In this case the dropper nozzle may have a plug which can be received in the opening of the container, and may protrude through a hole in the body of the dispenser when the device is assembled. Thus different dropper nozzles may be used with similarly designed bodies. This may for example save costs during manufacturing because similar dispensers may be produced at higher volumes relative to dispensers requiring differently configured dropper nozzles.
[0044] The dispenser 6 in FIG. 5 is shown in the open position in which the closure 4 opens the outlet 3. The living hinge 18 however allows the closure 4 and the body 5 to be rotated relative to one another toward the closed position. The living hinge 18 of the dispenser 6 may as illustrated be bistable so that the closure 4 and the body 5 are forced toward either the closed or the open position from intermediate positions. The hinge 18 in this and other embodiments may provide for the first rotational axis that is oriented substantially transverse, for example generally perpendicular, relative to the longitudinal axis A of the dispenser 6. It is noted that a living hinge as shown may not have a fixed rotational axis, but may provide for a rotational axis that moves laterally to the rotational axis as the hinge is moved. The first rotational axis is preferably offset from the longitudinal axis A of the dispenser (first rotational axis and longitudinal axis do not intersect). The closure 4 may be rotatable by about 180. Therefore the closure 4 may in the open position be sufficiently moved away from the nozzle so that the closure preferably does not affect precise positioning of the nozzle for dispensing.
[0045] The dispenser 6 at the body 5 further has a first retention element 11 and the closure 4 has a second retention element 12. The first and second retention elements 11, 12 are adapted for locking engagement with one another to retain the closure and the dispenser 6 in the closed position. Thus the closure 4 and the body 5 may be locked with each other in the closed position.
[0046] FIG. 6 shows the locking member 7 and the first retention element 11 in more detail. The locking member 7 has an actuator 13. In the example shown the actuator 13 is formed by a free end of a lever that forms at least a part of the locking member 7. The locking member 7 further is connected to the closure 4, in the example at a connector portion 14 opposite of the actuator. In the configuration shown the locking member is positioned in the lock position. The actuator 13 of the locking member 7 is movable in a direction generally laterally to the longitudinal axis A toward the unlock position. Further the locking member is preferably resiliently maintained in the lock position, in the example by natural material elasticity provided by the connector portion 14. The connector portion 14 in the example forms one part with the closure 4 and the locking member 7. A support 15 may be arranged between the actuator 13 and the connector portion 14. The support 15 is arranged at the locking member 7 and adapted to abut the closure 4 when the locking member 7 is moved toward the unlock position. The skilled person will recognize that the support may likewise be arranged at the closure, or that two cooperating supports may be arranged at the locking member and the closure respectively. Therefore it is further only referred to a support that is arranged at the locking member, although other configurations as mentioned or recognizable for the skilled person shall be included. When the locking member is moved toward the unlock position (in the Figure from the left toward the right) the locking member first pivots about the connector portion 14 until the support 15 touches the closure 4. Therefore the connector portion 14 forms a first pivot for the locking member during an initial stroke of the locking member in which the support is spaced from the closure. When the locking member is moved further toward the unlock position the locking member 7 pivots about the support 15. Therefore the support 15 forms a second pivot for the locking member 7 during a subsequent stroke in which the support 15 abuts the closure 4.
[0047] Therefore the locking member is preferably adapted to sequentially pivot about the first and the second pivots during an actuation of the locking member 7 for unlocking the closure (not shown in this Figure). This preferably allows for the locking member 7 to move the second retention element 12 at different paths during the initial stroke and the subsequent stroke. For example in the subsequent stroke the retention element 12 may move on a relatively large circle C2 around the support 15. This preferably provides for sufficient lateral displacement between the first and second retention elements for unlocking the closure and the body. Further in the initial stroke the retention element 12 may move on a relatively small circle C1 around the connector portion 14. This may provide for displacement of the first retention element away from the second retention element in mainly the longitudinal direction of the device. Thus during the initial stroke a pretension between the closure and the body may be relieved before the retention elements are mainly displaced laterally to the longitudinal axis in the subsequent stroke. This may reduce the actuation force needed for unlocking the closure and the container, and thus may make actuation of the locking member relatively convenient.
[0048] FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show cross-sectional views of a dispenser 26 with a closure 24 at the closed position and the open position, respectively. The dispenser 26 and the closure 24 may generally correspond to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, however the dispenser 26 and the closure 24 of the example are two pieces that are interconnected by an assembled hinge 28. The dispenser has a thread for mating with a corresponding thread of the container (not shown). Other structures allowing for retaining the dispenser to a container may be possible though.
[0049] FIGS. 7 and 8 further show the dropper nozzle 29, as it may be likewise used in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 6, in more detail. The dropper nozzle 29 has a passageway 30 in which an aperture 31 is provided. The aperture preferably forms a constriction in the passageway which restricts the flow of a material to be dispensed, for example a liquid, urged from the container through the nozzle. Thereby a precise and controlled dispensing may be achieved. The passageway 30 may further have a mouth 32. The mouth 32 is preferably adapted to receive a protrusion 33 of the closure for sealing the passageway 30. In the example the protrusion forms a bulge which covers the mouth 32 in the closed position of the closure 4 and the container. The skilled person will recognize that other structures may be used for sealing the nozzle, like for example a pin, a plug, or a flat surface inside the closure on a protrusion or instead of a protrusion. Further a soft sealing member (for example made of rubber, silicone or thermoplastic elastomer) may be arranged inside the closure which in the closed position is pressed between the nozzle and the closure to seal the outlet or mouth 32.
[0050] The dispenser and the closure may be molded of a plastic material selected from among Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene (PE), Polyoxymethylen (POM), Polybutylene-terephtalate (PBT), Acrylonitrile butadien styrene (ABS), Polyamide (PA). PP may be particularly advantageous because it may be available at properties providing for a high durability of the hinge but also for a sufficient mechanical stability of the dispenser and the closure.
[0051] A container may have a filling volume of up to 10 ml, preferably a filling volume of between about 2 ml and 8 ml.
