U.S. patent application number 12/210233 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-17 for automatically closing dispenser head.
This patent application is currently assigned to FENNEL COSMED GMBH & CO. KG. Invention is credited to Peter Menzel, Matthias Prox.
Application Number | 20090230156 12/210233 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40120114 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090230156 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Prox; Matthias ; et
al. |
September 17, 2009 |
Automatically Closing Dispenser Head
Abstract
A dispenser head for a pressurized container has a channel for
the medium to be dispensed that is connected to a dispensing
opening and communicates with the container interior. A closure
piston is arranged in the channel and closes off the dispensing
opening. By applying pressure onto an actuating element, the valve
of the pressurized container is actuated and the closure piston is
moved into an opening position to release the dispensing opening.
The closure piston has spaced-apart centering projections and flow
passages therebetween for the medium. An end face of the closure
piston remote from the dispensing opening has an elastic spring
area with a head section interacting with the actuating element.
The actuating element glides along the rounded head section when
the closure piston moves into the opening and closing positions.
The rounded head section is matched to the movement path of the
actuating element.
Inventors: |
Prox; Matthias; (Herford,
DE) ; Menzel; Peter; (Bad Salzuflen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GUDRUN E. HUCKETT DRAUDT
SCHUBERTSTR. 15A
WUPPERTAL
42289
DE
|
Assignee: |
FENNEL COSMED GMBH & CO.
KG
Lohne
DE
|
Family ID: |
40120114 |
Appl. No.: |
12/210233 |
Filed: |
September 15, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/402.13 ;
222/402.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/206 20130101;
B65D 83/345 20130101; B65D 83/205 20130101; B05B 11/3053
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/402.13 ;
222/402.12 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/00 20060101
B65D083/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 15, 2007 |
DE |
10 2007 044 180.2 |
Claims
1. An automatically closing dispenser head for a pressurized
container with a dispensing valve for dispensing a medium, the
dispenser head comprising: a dispensing opening; an opening
mechanism by means of which, in the mounted state on the
pressurized container, the dispensing valve of the pressurized
container can be opened; a channel for the medium to be dispensed,
wherein the channel is connected to the dispensing opening and
communicated with an interior of the pressurized container, wherein
the channel has at least a first channel section and a second
channel section; a closure piston arranged in the second channel
section; an actuating element, wherein, by applying pressure onto
the actuating element, the opening mechanism is actuated and the
closure piston and the second channel section are moved relative to
one another such that the closure piston is movable from a closing
position, in which the closure piston closes off the dispensing
opening, out of the dispensing opening into an opening position, in
which the closure piston is moved out of the dispensing opening and
releases the dispensing opening; wherein the closure piston has an
outer piston wall provided with centering projections; wherein the
centering projections are positioned at a distance from one another
and movable together with the closure piston; wherein between the
centering projections flow passages for the medium are provided;
wherein at an end face of the closure piston facing away from the
dispensing opening an elastic spring area is provided that is
delimited remote from the dispensing opening by a head section
interacting with the actuating element; wherein the head section
has a rounded cross-sectional configuration and the actuating
element glides along the head section during movement of the
closure piston into the opening and closing positions; wherein the
rounded cross-sectional configuration of the head section is
matched to the movement path of the actuating element.
2. The automatically closing dispenser head according to claim 1,
wherein the centering projections are uniformly distributed about a
circumference of the closure piston.
3. The automatically closing dispenser head according to claim 1,
wherein a longitudinal center axis of the closure piston is
oriented such that an angle of less than 15 degrees to the
horizontal is provided.
4. The automatically closing dispenser head according to claim 1,
wherein the closure piston has a piston head provided with an
injection-molded seal of a soft plastic material and wherein the
second channel section has a valve seat into which, for assuming
the closing position of the closure piston, the seal of the closure
piston is inserted completely or a partial spacing at least to a
front end of the dispensing opening.
5. The automatically closing dispenser head according to claim 4,
wherein the closure piston has an inner central conduit and, in the
area of the seal, branching transverse conduits communicating with
the inner central conduit and opening into the outer wall of the
closure piston, wherein the central and transverse conduits are
used for injection-molding the seal.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to an automatically closing dispenser
head for a pressurized container with a dispensing valve for
dispensing a medium, in particular viscous, foaming and/or gel-like
products, wherein the dispenser head has a dispensing opening
closable by a closure element, an opening mechanism by means of
which, in the mounted state, the dispensing valve of the
pressurized container can be opened, and a channel that opens into
the dispensing opening for the medium. The channel comprises at
least a first channel section and a second channel section. By
pressure being applied onto the actuating element, the opening
mechanism is actuated and the closure element in the form of a
closure piston and the second channel section are moved relative to
one another such that the closure element is moved out of the
dispensing opening so as to release the dispensing opening.
[0002] Conventional pressurized containers with dispenser heads,
for example, for foaming shaving creams and gels, usually have a
dispensing opening that cannot be closed so that, after use, it
often happens that medium will continue to flow or to foam even
though the actuating element is no longer actuated; this leads to
unpleasant residues in the area of the dispensing opening that dry
up and contaminate newly dispensed fresh medium when using the
pressurized container again. Moreover, as a result of dried and
clotted medium the dispensing opening often becomes clogged.
[0003] In order to avoid these disadvantages, the patent
application EP 1 295 812 A1 discloses an automatically closing
dispenser head for a pressurized container of the aforementioned
kind in which the dispensing opening can be closed and opened by
means of a closure element. Upon exerting pressure onto an
actuating element, the opening mechanism is actuated and the
closure element and the second channel section are moved relative
to one another. In this way, on the one hand, the dispensing valve
is opened so that the pressurized medium can flow into the channel.
However, the medium can only exit through the dispensing opening
once the closure element has released the second channel section.
By spring means, for example, a partially elastically deformable
housing of the dispensing head, the respective elements can return
into their original position relative to one another and to the
pressurized container as the pressure being exerted onto the
actuating element decreases so that the dispensing valve as well as
the dispensing opening are closed again. In this way, leakage and
post-foaming are effectively counteracted.
[0004] However, it is a disadvantage that in the area of the
dispensing opening there are still residues of the dispensed
medium. Moreover, reliably dosing the dispensing opening is a
problem.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,443 discloses a dispensing head for the
medium in which the closure element is designed to be elastic. An
actuating element acts in a shaft-like area in front of the
dispensing head of the closure element on the closure element and,
upon actuation, can cause bending of this shaft causing the
dispensing head to be moved into the interior of the housing to
thereby release a dispensing opening. Upon subsequent release of
the actuating element, the closure element is returned into the
dispensing opening causing still adhering residues of the medium to
be forced into the dispensing opening so that the dispensing
opening becomes clogged and post-foaming is unavoidable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
configure an automatically closing dispenser head for a pressurized
container of the aforementioned kind in such a way that residues of
the medium to be dispensed are effectively avoided and the
dispensing opening can be closed reliably.
[0007] In accordance with the present invention, this is achieved
in that the automatically closing dispensing head is characterized
in that the closure element is a movable closure piston that is
provided with centering projections that are arranged on the outer
piston wall and spaced at a distance from one another and movable
with the closure piston, wherein between individual centering
projections flow passages for the medium are provided and wherein
on an end face of the closure piston facing away from the
dispensing opening an elastic spring area is provided that is
delimited at its end by a head section that interacts with the
actuating element, wherein the head section has a rounded
cross-sectional configuration and wherein the actuating element,
during opening and closing movement of the closure piston into the
opening position or closing position, glides along the rounded head
section. In this connection, the rounded portion of the head
section is matched to the movement path of the actuating
element.
[0008] In this way, an automatically closing dispenser head for a
pressurized container is provided by means of which a medium can be
dispensed in a very clean way. This is in particular the result of
positional deviations of the closure piston relative to the housing
parts being reliably avoided by the presence of the centering
projections that in the second channel section are supported on the
inner wall of the second channel section during the entire movement
of the closure piston when moving into the opening position as well
as when moving into the closing position; this has the result that,
in comparison to the aforementioned configuration of the prior
part, no positional imprecisions during the closing step occur in
the area of the dispensing opening so that the closure piston can
be moved reproducibly and precisely into the opening and closing
positions. This causes residues remaining in the dispensing opening
to be reliably returned into the first channel section upon
transfer of the closure piston from its opening position into the
closing position. Therefore, in the outer area of the dispensing
opening of the dispenser head only minimal amounts of be dispensed
medium will remain, if at all, that can be removed by the user with
simple means, for example, simply by wiping with his finger or by
rinsing off. The risk of clogging of the dispensing opening is
therefore reliably counteracted.
[0009] Dispensing of the medium is not impaired because flow
passages are provided between the individual centering projections.
The same holds true also for return of the medium once the pressure
onto the actuation element decreases and the closure piston moves
into its closing position. In order to provide a centering action
that is uniform about the circumference, the centering projections
are preferably arranged in uniform distribution about a
circumferential section of the closure piston. It has been found in
this connection that, for example, four centering projections that
are uniformly distributed about the circumference provide a precise
movement and centering action of the closure piston. In this
connection it must be ensured that during the entire closure
movement no tilting moments are possible across the length of the
closure piston so that the centering elements are located near the
leading end of the closure piston. For this purpose, the leading
end can also have a cross-sectional widened section that extends
about the circumference of the closure piston so that it is
provided with an enlarged circumferential section on which the
centering elements are arranged. This also has the result that at
this location an increase of the flow rate of the medium to be
dispensed is realized.
[0010] It is especially preferred that at the leading end, i.e.,
the end of the closure piston that is facing the dispensing
opening, a sealing element is injection molded, preferably by means
of an inner central supply conduit within the closure piston and
supply conduits that extend perpendicularly thereto and open into
the outer surface of the closure piston. Such a sealing material is
comprised, for example, of a soft plastic material, for example,
TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) or silicone. The closure piston can
be made, for example, from ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene),
PP (polypropylene), or POM (polyoxymethylene) material, i.e., hard
plastic materials.
[0011] In order to assist in the return of the material to be
dispensed, the second channel section has a valve seat in which the
closure piston with the sealing element is to be completely seated
in its closing position. For a slight slanted orientation of the
closure piston relative to the horizontal, a position is to be
assumed by the closure piston wherein an upper area of the end of
the closure piston at the dispensing side is arranged at a distance
from the dispensing opening but otherwise does not project past the
housing of the dispenser head in the area of the dispensing
opening. Preferably, the closure piston is positioned within the
valve seat such that its leading end is flush with the outer
surface of the housing so that product residues can be easily
removed. In this way, material still adhering at this location can
be returned by the seal and the valve seat into the lateral channel
section.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0012] FIG. 1 is an embodiment of a dispenser head (schematically
shown with a view of its interior) in the closed state of the
closure piston.
[0013] FIG. 2 is an illustration analog to FIG. 1 with the closure
piston in the open position.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a detail view of a cross-sectional illustration of
the dispenser head of the embodiment according to FIG. 1 in the
area of the dispensing end and of the closure piston.
[0015] FIG. 4 is an illustration analog to FIG. 3 with the closure
piston in the opening position.
[0016] FIG. 5 is an illustration according to FIG. 3 illustrating
the angled orientation of the closure piston relative to the
horizontal.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional illustration in accordance with
the section line VI-VI of FIG. 5.
[0018] FIG. 7 shows a detail view of the end of the closure piston
that is facing away from the dispensing opening and is provided
with spring element and actuating element.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a detail view of the closure piston (in section)
with inner central conduit for injection molding the front end seal
and the spring element.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] The drawings identify parts that basically operate in the
same way with identical reference numerals. The dispenser head is
generally identified by 1 and is preferably a unitary part of the
pressurized container, not illustrated. The container has a housing
2 as well as a dispensing valve, not illustrated in detail and only
schematically shown as valve V in FIGS. 1 and 2, for dispensing a
medium, for example, viscous, foaming and/or gel-like products.
This dispensing valve is assigned to the interior of container in
which the medium is contained and can be operated by an opening
mechanism.
[0021] The dispenser head has a dispensing opening that is
comprised of a first channel section 4 and a second channel section
5 in communication with the interior. The second channel section 5
has correlated therewith the closure element formed as a closure
piston 6 that controls the dispensing opening 3. The closure piston
6 is movable relative to the channel section 5 so that it can be
moved from its closing position (FIG. 1) into its opening position
(FIG. 2).
[0022] In order to be able to carry out this movement, an actuating
element 7 is provided that is forced from its rest position (FIG.
1) into the actuating position and is thus pivoted. This actuating
element 7 actuates at the same time the opening mechanism
(indicated schematically by the arrow M connecting valve V and the
actuating element 7) with which the dispensing valve is opened.
[0023] As is disclosed in more detail in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8,
at the leading end of the closure piston 6 a section 6.1 is
provided that has centering projections 6.2 that are supported on
the inner wall of the second channel section 5 in the housing. In
the illustrated embodiment, a total of four centering projections
6.2 are uniformly distributed about the circumference and between
them flow passage 6.3 for the product to be dispensed are provided.
In the leading area of the second channel section 5, i.e., at its
end that opens into the dispensing opening 3, the housing is
provided with a valve seat 3.1.
[0024] This valve seat is correlated with the leading end of the
closure piston 6. This leading end of the closure piston 6 is
provided with an injection-molded seal 8 made of soft plastic
material. The leading piston head 6.4 of the closure piston 6 has a
configuration that is congruent to the conical design of the valve
seat so that it can be inserted completely into the valve seat, as
illustrated in more detail in FIG. 3. The upper part shown in FIG.
3 is positioned at a distance relative to the dispensing opening 3
(its front end). Nonetheless, in the closed state the leading
piston head 6.4 as a whole is arranged in a recessed position so
that residues of the dispensed medium can be easily wiped off with
a finger and, subsequently, the externally accessible parts of the
valve seat can be rinsed off. In this way it is reliably prevented
that residues that can dry up or clot remain in the area of the
dispensing opening 3.
[0025] The return movement of the closure piston from its opening
position illustrated in FIG. 4 into the closing position of FIG. 3
causes residues that are still remaining to be returned into the
inner channel section 5.
[0026] The end of the closure piston facing away from the
dispensing opening 3 has a spring element 9 of soft plastic
material. The spring element 9 is provided in the direction facing
the actuating element 7 with a head section 10 that has a rounded
gliding surface 10.1. The spring element 9 is at the same time also
a sealing element so that product cannot exit from the container at
this location. The actuating element 7 has a correspondingly
congruently shaped contact surface 7.1 that during the course of
actuation, i.e., when suppressing the actuating element 7, glides
along the gliding surface 10.1. As a result of the rounded
configuration only relatively minimal friction forces are present;
this also has the effect that no tilting moment can be transmitted
onto the closure piston (such disadvantageous tilting moments occur
in prior art devices).
[0027] Moreover, the desired almost horizontal position of the
closure piston can be realized even though the actuating element is
acted on in the vertical direction. Preferably, a longitudinal
center axis of the closure piston is oriented such that an angle a
of less than 15 degrees to the horizontal is provided; see FIG.
5.
[0028] As a result of the minimal friction forces, the reduced
tilting moment, and the provided centering projections 6.2, the
closure piston can be transferred very precisely into the
respective opening or closing position. The inventive configuration
provides optimized sealing behavior and positioning in the closing
position with simultaneous return of the medium.
[0029] In FIG. 8, the inner central conduit 6.5 is illustrated that
communicates with transverse conduits 6.6 for injection-molding the
seal 8 and the spring element 9.
[0030] The specification incorporates by reference the entire
disclosure of German priority document 10 2007 044 180.2 having a
filing date of Sep. 15, 2007.
[0031] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown
and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it
will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise
without departing from such principles.
* * * * *