ADAPTER FOR CONNECTING A DISPENSER TO A CONTAINER

Abstract

An adapter (1) for connecting a dispenser to a container having a neck with an interior passage comprises a body portion (2) with a container end (27) and a dispenser end (23, 25) opposite to the container end (27). The body portion (2) has a longitudinal axis (21) centrally extending between the dispenser end (23, 25) and the container end (27), and an essentially cylindrical outer surface (22). The body portion (2) comprises sealing lamellas (24) outwardly extending from the outer surface (22). The sealing lamellas (24) of the body portion (2) are spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis (21). Each of the sealing lamellas (24) of the body portion (2) has a root end adjoining the outer surface (22) of the body portion (2). The root ends of at least two neighboring sealing lamellas (24) have different thicknesses.

Claims

1. An adapter for connecting a dispenser to a container having a neck with an interior passage, comprising a body portion with a container end and a dispenser end opposite to the container end, wherein the body portion has a longitudinal axis centrally extending between the dispenser end and the container end, and an essentially cylindrical outer surface, the body portion comprises sealing lamellas outwardly extending from the outer surface, the sealing lamellas of the body portion are spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis, each of the sealing lamellas of the body portion has a root end adjoining the outer surface of the body portion, and the root ends of at least two neighboring sealing lamellas have different thicknesses.

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the sealing lamella closest to the container end of the body portion has the thickest root end.

3. The adapter of claim 2, wherein the sealing lamella closest to the dispenser end of the body portion has the thinnest root end.

4. The adapter of claim 3, wherein the thicknesses of root ends of the sealing lamellas are reduced one after the other from the sealing lamella closest to the container end to the sealing lamella closest to the dispenser end.

5. The adapter of claim 1, wherein each of the sealing lamellas of the body portion has a tip end opposite to the root end.

6. The adapter of claim 5, wherein the tip end of each sealing lamella is thinner than its root end.

7. The adapter of claim 5, wherein each of the sealing lamellas tapers from the root end to the tip end.

8. The adapter of claim 5, wherein each of the sealing lamellas has a length extending between the root end and the tip end, and wherein of at least two neighboring sealing lamellas have different lengths, wherein the length of the sealing lamella closest to the container end preferably is smaller than the length of the next neighboring sealing lamella.

9. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the body portion comprises two to eight sealing lamellas or two to five sealing lamellas and, particularly, three sealing lamellas.

10. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the sealing lamellas extend from the outer surface in an essentially radial direction relative to the central axis.

11. The adapter of claim 1, wherein each of the sealing lamellas of the body portion has a proximal side perpendicular to the outer surface of the body portion.

12. The adapter of claim 1, wherein each of the sealing lamellas of the body portion has a distal side slanted to the outer surface of the body portion.

13. The adapter of claim 1, wherein distances between different neighboring sealing lamellas vary.

14. The adapter of claim 1, comprising a flange portion at the dispenser end, preferably being more rigid than the sealing lamellas.

15. The adapter of claim 14, comprising a gasket arranged at the flange portion, wherein the flange portion preferably has a distal side and the gasket preferably is mounted to the distal side of the flange portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] The adapter according to the invention is described in more detail herein below by way of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the attached drawings.

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of an adapter according to the invention.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a perspective bottom view of the adapter of FIG. 1.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a side sectional view of the adapter of FIG. 1.

[0055] FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view of the adapter along the plane A-A of FIG. 3.

[0056] FIG. 5 shows detail B of the adapter of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0057] In the following description certain terms are used for reasons of convenience and are not intended to limit the invention. The terms “right”, “left”, “up”, “down”, “top”, “bottom”, “under” and “above” refer to directions in the figures. The terminology comprises the explicitly mentioned terms as well as their derivations and terms with a similar meaning. Also, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper”, “proximal”, “distal”, and the like, may be used to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element or feature as illustrated in the figures. These spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different positions and orientations of the devices in use or operation in addition to the position and orientation shown in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be “above” or “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both positions and orientations of above and below. The devices may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Likewise, descriptions of movement along and around various axes include various special device positions and orientations.

[0058] To avoid repetition in the figures and the descriptions of the various aspects and illustrative embodiments, it should be understood that many features are common to many aspects and embodiments. Omission of an aspect from a description or figure does not imply that the aspect is missing from embodiments that incorporate that aspect. Instead, the aspect may have been omitted for clarity and to avoid prolix description. In this context, the following applies to the rest of this description: If, in order to clarify the drawings, a figure contains reference signs which are not explained in the directly associated part of the description, then it is referred to previous or following description sections. Further, for reason of lucidity, if in a drawing not all features of a part are provided with reference signs it is referred to other drawings showing the same part. Like numbers in two or more figures represent the same or similar elements.

[0059] FIG. 1 shows an adapter 1 for connecting a dispenser to a bottle as container. The adapter 1 is configured to be pushed in an interior passage of a neck of the bottle. The adapter 1 can be referred to as push-in bottle adapter (PIBA).

[0060] The adapter 1 has a body portion 2 with a centrally extending longitudinal axis 21, a cylindrical outer surface 22, a flange portion 23 and sealing lamellas 24. The flange portion 23 has a flat open upper surface and forms part of a dispenser end or proximal end of the body portion 2.

[0061] The sealing lamellas 24 outwardly extend from the outer surface 22 in a radial direction relative to the axis 21. They are embodied as rings extending about the complete circumference of the outer surface 22 and are spaced from each other along the axis 21. The sealing lamellas 24 consist of a distal sealing lamella 241, a middle sealing lamella 242 and a proximal sealing lamella 243. The proximal sealing lamella 243 is the one of the sealing lamellas 24 closest to the flange portion 243, i.e. closest to the dispenser end.

[0062] The dispenser end of the body portion 2 comprises a nozzle 25 with an orifice and a dispenser recess 26. The nozzle 25 and the dispenser recess 26 are designed as fitting in accordance with the ISO standard 80369-3 (ENFit). Like this, the adapter can reversibly be connected to a dispenser having a corresponding fitting.

[0063] In FIG. 2 the adapter is shown from below. Thereby, it can be seen that the body portion 2 comprises a cavity or hollow interior 29. A bottom end of the body portion 2 constitutes a distal end or container end 27 opposite to the dispenser end. The axis 21 extends between the dispenser end and the container end 27.

[0064] At a side wall of the interior 29 of the body portion, a gate structure 28 is arranged. The gate structure 28 is embodied in context of efficient injection moulding when manufacturing the body portion 2.

[0065] FIG. 3 shows the adapter 1 from a side. As can be seen, the nozzle 25 distally projects over the flange portion 23 in an axial direction. Aside the gate structure 28, the adapter 1 is rotational symmetric relative to the axis 21 and, in particular, the body portion 2 is essentially rotational symmetric.

[0066] Optionally, the adapter can comprise a gasket 3. Such gasket can be essentially O-ring shaped and mounted to the flange portion 23. In particular, the gasket 3 can be adhered to the distal side of the flange portion 23.

[0067] In FIG. 4 the adapter 1 is depicted in a cross-sectional view. The gate structure 28 axially extends. The sealing lamellas 24 are located at varying distances relative to each other. In particular, a first distance 2417 between the distal sealing lamella 241 and the middle sealing lamella 242 is smaller than a second distance 2427 between the middle sealing lamella 242 and the proximal sealing lamella 243, which is smaller than a third distance 2437 between the proximal sealing lamella 243 and the flange portion 23.

[0068] In FIG. 5, the sealing lamellas 24 are shown in more detail. The distal sealing lamella 241 has a first root end 2411, a first tip end 2412, a first proximal side 2413 and a first distal side 2414. The first root end 2411 adjoins the outer surface 22 and has a first thickness 2415. The first proximal side 2413 is equipped with a flat surface perpendicularly extending to the outer surface 22. The first distal side 2414 is slanted relative to the outer surface 22 and to the axis 21.

[0069] The distal sealing lamella 241 radially extends wherein it tapers from the first root end 2411 to the first tip end 2412 such that the first tip end 2412 is thinner than the first root end 2411. Thereby, the distal sealing lamella 241 has a first length 2416 along which it outwardly extends from the first root end 2411 to the first tip end 2412. The first tip end 2412 is rounded.

[0070] The middle sealing lamella 242 is similarly embodied as the distal sealing lamella 241. In particular, it has a second root end 2421, a second tip end 2422, a second proximal side 2423 and a second distal side 2424. The second root end 2421 adjoins the outer surface 22 and has a second thickness 2425. The second proximal side 2423 is equipped with a flat surface perpendicularly extending to the outer surface 22. The second distal side 2424 is slanted relative to the outer surface 22 and to the axis 21. The middle sealing lamella 242 radially extends wherein it tapers from the second root end 2421 to the second tip end 2422 such that the second tip end 2422 is thinner than the second root end 2421. The middle sealing lamella 242 has a second length 2426 along which it outwardly extends from the second root end 2421 to the second tip end 2422. The second tip end 2422 is rounded.

[0071] The proximal sealing lamella 243 is also similarly embodied as the distal sealing lamella 241 and as the middle sealing lamella 242. In particular, it has a third root end 2431, a third tip end 2432, a third proximal side 2433 and a third distal side 2434. The third root end 2431 adjoins the outer surface 22 and has a third thickness 2435. The third proximal side 2433 is equipped with a flat surface perpendicularly extending to the outer surface 22. The third distal side 2434 is slanted relative to the outer surface 22 and to the axis 21. The proximal sealing lamella 243 radially extends wherein it tapers from the third root end 2431 to the third tip end 2432 such that the third tip end 2432 is thinner than the third root end 2431. Thereby, the proximal sealing lamella 243 has a third length 2436 along which it outwardly extends from the third root end 2431 to the third tip end 2432. The third tip end 2432 is rounded.

[0072] The sealing lamellas 24 are designed and dimensioned to be proximally bent when pushing the body portion 2 into the passage of the neck of the bottle. For allowing an easier introduction into the passage, the sealing lamellas 24 are equipped with the slanted distal sides 2414, 2424, 2434. The flange portion 23 is embodied more rigid than the sealing lamellas 24 in order to prevent proximal bending. Like this, the flange portion 23 stops advancing the body portion 2 into the passage and stays outside the bottle abutting an edge of the neck.

[0073] Of the three sealing lamellas 24, the distal sealing lamella 241, i.e. the sealing lamella 241 closest to the container end 27, has the thickest root end 2415 and the proximal sealing lamella 243, i.e. the sealing lamella 243 closest to the dispenser end 23, has the thinnest root end 2435. More specifically, the first thickness 2415 is larger than the second thickness 2425 which is larger than the third thickness 2435. Thus, the thicknesses of root ends 2415, 2425, 2435 of the sealing lamellas 24 are reduced one after the other from the distal sealing lamella 241 to the proximal sealing lamella 243. For example, the second thickness 2425 can be in a range of about 85% to 95% or about 90% of the first thickness 2415. The third thickness 2435 can be in a range of about 75% to 85% or about 80% of the first thickness 2415.

[0074] By providing the distal sealing lamella 241 with the thickest root end 2411 it is achieved that the insertion force is comparably high at a level of the distal sealing lamella 241 when advancing the adapter 1 into the passage of the neck of the bottle. In particular, the comparably thick distal sealing lamella 241 provides a comparably high resistance for proximally bending the distal sealing lamella 241, which is required to allow insertion of the adapter 1 into the passage. Thus, it is prevented that the insertion increases after the distal sealing lamella 241. Thereby, it is possible that by applying a constant force, e.g. a pushing force, a complete insertion of the adapter 1 into the passage of the bottle is achieved.

[0075] As to the lengths of the sealing lamellas 24, the first length 2416 of the distal sealing lamella 241 is smaller than the second length 2426 of the middle sealing lamella 242. The third length 2436 of the proximal sealing lamella 243 is slightly smaller than the second length 2426 of the middle sealing lamella 242. By having varying lengths, the sealing lamellas 24 are adjusted to specifically suit to the passage of the neck of the bottle. For example, the first length 2416 can be in a range of about 75% to 85% of the second length 2426. The third length 2436 can be in a range of about 85% to 95% of the second length 2426.

[0076] This description and the accompanying drawings that illustrate aspects and embodiments of the present invention should not be taken as limiting-the claims defining the protected invention. In other words, while the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. Various mechanical, compositional, structural, electrical, and operational changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this description and the claims. In some instances, well-known circuits, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention. Thus, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope and spirit of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different embodiments described above and below.

[0077] The disclosure also covers all further features shown in the Figs. individually although they may not have been described in the afore or following description. Also, single alternatives of the embodiments described in the figures and the description and single alternatives of features thereof can be disclaimed from the subject matter of the invention or from disclosed subject matter. The disclosure comprises subject matter consisting of the features defined in the claims or the exemplary embodiments as well as subject matter comprising said features.

[0078] Furthermore, in the claims the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single unit or step may fulfil the functions of several features recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. The terms “essentially”, “about”, “approximately” and the like in connection with an attribute or a value particularly also define exactly the attribute or exactly the value, respectively. The term “about” in the context of a given numerate value or range refers to a value or range that is, e.g., within 20%, within 10%, within 5%, or within 2% of the given value or range. Components described as coupled or connected may be electrically or mechanically directly coupled, or they may be indirectly coupled via one or more intermediate components. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.