U.S. patent application number 12/675229 was filed with the patent office on 2010-08-19 for dispensing device.
This patent application is currently assigned to SEAQUIST PERFECT DISPENSING GMBH. Invention is credited to Jasper Bernhard.
Application Number | 20100206911 12/675229 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40299221 |
Filed Date | 2010-08-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100206911 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bernhard; Jasper |
August 19, 2010 |
DISPENSING DEVICE
Abstract
Proposed is a dispensing device for a cosmetic product. A
flexible inner container is ultrasonically welded with a valve
housing. The valve housing is provided with a welding bead which is
covered by the inner container during welding. The valve housing
has a plate-like connecting section which is welded with an outer
side of the inner container.
Inventors: |
Bernhard; Jasper; (Waltrop,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jason H. Vick;Sheridan Ross, PC
Suite # 1200, 1560 Broadway
Denver
CO
80202
US
|
Assignee: |
SEAQUIST PERFECT DISPENSING
GMBH
Dortmund
DE
|
Family ID: |
40299221 |
Appl. No.: |
12/675229 |
Filed: |
August 25, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
August 25, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP08/06957 |
371 Date: |
April 27, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/386.5 ;
222/387 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/62 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/386.5 ;
222/387 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/62 20060101
B65D083/62 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 29, 2007 |
DE |
10 2007 049 868.5 |
Oct 31, 2007 |
DE |
10 2007 051 982.8 |
Claims
1. Dispensing device for dispensing a cosmetic product, with a
valve which has a valve housing, and with a flexible inner
container which is welded or connected with the valve housing,
wherein the valve housing has an at least substantially level
and/or thin and/or flange-like and/or plate-like connecting section
with which the inner container is exclusively welded or connected,
and wherein the valve housing is welded or connected only with one
outer side of the inner container.
2. Dispensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
connecting section extends substantially transversely to the
longitudinal extension of the valve housing or of an outer
container of the dispensing device or of a main delivery direction
of the valve.
3. Dispensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the valve
housing has a tubular section to which the connecting section is
adjacent.
4. Dispensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
connecting section encloses an inlet or a riser tube of the
dispensing device in the manner of a washer and/or protrudes
radially downward from the valve housing over the full
periphery.
5. Dispensing device for dispensing a cosmetic product, with a
valve which has a valve housing, and with a flexible inner
container which is welded with the valve housing, wherein the inner
container is ultrasonically welded with the valve housing.
6. Dispensing device for dispensing a cosmetic product, with a
valve which has a valve housing, and with a flexible inner
container which is welded with the valve housing, wherein at least
one welding bead is arranged or formed on the valve housing prior
to welding with the inner container which is covered by the inner
container during welding.
7. Dispensing device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the welding
bead extends at least substantially around a periphery of the valve
housing or is molded on the valve housing.
8. Dispensing device as set forth in claim 6, wherein two welding
beads (10) are provided which are spaced apart and/or run parallel
to each other.
9. Dispensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one
of the valve housing or an inner layer of the inner container is
composed of polyethylene.
10. Dispensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the valve
housing or an inner layer of the inner container is composed of
polyamide.
11. Dispensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner
container is embodied as a bag.
12. Dispensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner
container collapses upon removal of the product.
13. Dispensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
dispensing device has an outer container with which the valve
housing is connected in a gas-tight manner or is integrated into
the valve.
14. Dispensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inner
container is arranged in the outer container and is under external
pressure or gas pressure.
15. (canceled)
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a dispensing device for a
preferably cosmetic product according to the preamble of one of the
independent claims.
[0002] The dispensing device is preferably used for the
non-spraying delivery or dispensing of a preferably cosmetic
product. However, spraying delivery can also be provided.
[0003] The term "cosmetic product" is to be understood, in a
narrower sense, as cosmetics, hair spray, hair lacquer, a
deodorant, a foam, particularly shaving foam, a gel, a color spray,
a sun protection or skin care agent or the like or other cosmetic
liquids, fluids, pastes, lotions, emulsions or the like.
Preferably, however, in a broader sense, other body care products,
cleaning products or the like, and even suspensions and fluids,
particularly those with gas phases, are included as well. Moreover,
other liquids, for example air improvers and particularly technical
liquids and fluids as well such as antiseizes and the like, can
also be used. Nonetheless, for the sake of simplicity and due to
the emphasized use, there is often only mention of cosmetic product
in the following. Especially preferably, the proposed dispensing
device is used for the storage and delivery of a gel, particularly
shaving gel, or a paste, particularly toothpaste, or the like.
[0004] EP 0 320 510 B1 discloses a dispensing device with a valve
which has a valve housing. The valve housing is provided with a
tubular section with side wings extending radially on opposing
sides. A baglike, flexible inner container is welded to the side
wings and the tubular section by means of thermal welding. The
valve is held by a plate which is joined with the outer container
in a gas-tight manner. Pressure is exerted on the inner container
by gas in the outer container in order to enable the delivery of a
cosmetic product contained in the inner container. To facilitate
good thermal welding, the valve housing and the inner wall of the
inner container are preferably manufactured from polypropylene. The
diffusion behavior poses a problem. In particular, polypropylene is
not diffusion-tight, particularly with respect to oxygen.
Accordingly, long-term storage can be problematic, since oxygen can
diffuse into a valve space through the valve housing and lead to
undesirable reactions, particularly in the case of a cosmetic
product in the inner container. To counteract this undesirable
effect, it is necessary to design the valve housing with very thick
walls. This is disadvantageous, however, with regard to material
costs and construction size.
[0005] It is the object of the present invention to provide an
improved dispensing device which enables simplified and/or more
cost-effective manufacture with respect to the prior art and/or
which can be used universally, particularly with other materials as
well.
[0006] The above object is achieved through a dispensing device
according to one of the independent claims. Advantageous
modifications are the subject of the subclaims.
[0007] A first aspect of the present invention is characterized in
that the valve housing has an at least substantially level and/or
thin and/or flange-like and/or plate-like connecting section, with
which the inner container is preferably exclusively welded or
connected. Alternatively or in addition, the inner container is
connected with the valve housing only on the outside. This permits
an optimized, particularly simplified and more cost-effective
manufacture of the dispensing device, since the inner container can
be connected, especially preferably by means of ultrasonic welding,
with the valve housing or its connecting section in a substantially
simpler or better and more defined manner in comparison to the
prior art.
[0008] Particularly, the preferably at least substantially level
connecting section is connected only with one flat side with an
outer side of the inner container. This simplifies manufacture,
since the inner container need only be connected with the valve
housing with one wall and not with two walls as in the prior
art.
[0009] According to a second aspect of the present invention which
can also be implemented independently, at least one welding bead is
arranged or formed on the valve housing prior to welding, which is
covered during welding by the inner container. This, again, is
conducive to simple and cost-effective manufacture, particularly to
the welding of the inner container with the valve housing by means
of ultrasound.
[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, the
inner container is ultrasonically welded with the valve housing.
Moreover, polyethylene or polyamide is preferably used for the
valve housing and the inner layer of the inner container. In this
way, simplified and cost-effective manufacture is made possible;
particularly, the valve housing can be designed such that it is
thinner with equally good or even better diffusion tightness.
[0011] Further advantages, features, characteristics and aspects of
the present invention follow from the claims and the following
description of a preferred embodiment on the basis of the
drawing.
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a schematic section of a proposed dispensing
device; and
[0013] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a valve of the
dispensing device.
[0014] In the not wholly true-to-scale, only schematic figures, the
same reference symbols are used for same or similar parts, with
corresponding or comparable characteristics and advantages being
achieved even if a repeated description is omitted.
[0015] In a schematic view, FIG. 1 shows a proposed dispensing
device 1 for dispensing a preferably cosmetic product 2 in the
sense named at the outset. The product 2 is particularly a shaving
gel, toothpaste, or the like.
[0016] The dispensing device 1 has a valve 3 through which the
product 2 can be delivered. As needed, the valve 3 can be embodied
as a dosing valve or the like. It can be opened, for example, by
depressing a delivery head (not shown) connected thereto or in
another appropriate manner. In particular, the product 2 can be
delivered via the valve 3 or a delivery head or the like in liquid
or pasty form, as foam, as gel or the like.
[0017] The dispensing device 1 has a flexible inner container 4 as
indicated schematically in FIG. 1. The inner container 4 is
particularly embodied as a bag. Preferably, it is a folded
container or bag that is welded closed. However, other constructive
solutions are also possible.
[0018] Especially preferably, the wall of the inner container 4 is
film-like and/or formed by a composite film. The wall is preferably
embodied such that it is diffusion-tight, at least to a large
extent. For example, the wall or film can have an aluminum layer,
aluminum deposition or the like as well as other layers,
particularly consisting of a polyolefin.
[0019] The dispensing device 1 also preferably has an outer
container 5 which is indicated merely with a broken line in FIG. 1.
The inner container 4 is preferably accommodated together with the
valve 3 in the outer container 5. In the depicted example, the
valve 3 is provided with a plate 6 or held by same which, in turn,
is connected with the outer container 5 particularly in a gas-tight
manner. Especially preferably, the plate 6 forms a tight-sealing
lid or closure of the outer container 5.
[0020] The plate 6 is preferably made of metal. In principle,
however, it can also be composed of plastic or any other suitable
material, particularly a composite material.
[0021] The valve 3 has a valve housing 3a which is connected with
the plate 6 or held by same. In the depicted example, the plate 6
has a side 6a--here an underside, inner side, flat side or an
annular area--facing the inner container 4 or interior of the outer
container 5 which is provided with a preferably centered, outwardly
protruding recess 6b.
[0022] The valve 3 or valve housing 3a is accommodated or held with
one end in the recess 6b, particularly in a clamping, nonpositive
or positive manner, for example by injection or spraying, caulking,
welding, gluing or the like. The valve 3 or valve housing 3a
preferably ends on the outlet side in the recess 6b.
[0023] Preferably, a particularly ring-shaped seal 7 is arranged
between the floor of the recess 6b and the front side of the valve
housing 3a in order to seal off the outside of the valve housing 5
with respect to the plate 6 and thus seal the outer container 5 in
a gas-tight manner. However, other constructive solutions are also
possible.
[0024] The inner container 4 is connected in a gas-tight manner
with the valve housing 3--particularly on the end region or inlet
end facing away from the plate 6. This end region or this inlet end
protrudes particularly into the inside of the outer container 5 and
particularly into the interior of the internal container 4.
[0025] The inner container 4 contains the preferably cosmetic
product 2 to be delivered. To facilitate the removal of the product
2 from the inner container 4, an optional riser tube 8,
particularly a hose or the like, can be connected on the inlet side
to the valve 3. The riser tube 8 is particularly inserted into a
connector on the inlet side formed by the valve housing 3a, or is
or can be connected on the inlet side in another suitable manner
with the valve housing 3a.
[0026] The outer container 5 is filled with a pressurized gas 9
which is indicated with dots in FIG. 1. The gas 9 is particularly
air or another suitable pressurized gas, optionally even liquefied
gas or the like.
[0027] The gas pressure in the outer container 5 acts on the
outside of the flexible inner container 4 so that, when the valve 3
is open, the product 2 is output via the valve 3 and an optionally
adjacent delivery head or the like. When the product 2 is removed
or dispensed, the inner container 4 collapses.
[0028] As already mentioned, the inner container 4 is preferably
connected in a gas-tight manner, particularly welded, with the
valve housing 3a. Especially preferably, the inner container 4 is
ultrasonically welded with the valve housing 3a. This enables a
substantially more energy-saving, quicker and/or more
cost-effective manufacture of the dispensing device 1 compared to
the thermal welding provided in the prior art. It is also possible
in principle, however, to connect the inner container 4 with the
valve housing 3 in another suitable manner, for example through
another type of welding, clamping, spraying, gluing or the
like.
[0029] In the depicted example, the valve housing 3a has a
preferably at least substantially tubular section 3b which
particularly forms the inlet-side end and/or a connector for the
riser tube 10.
[0030] The valve housing 3a has, particularly on its tubular
section 3b, a connecting section 3b which is connected,
particularly welded, especially preferably by means of ultrasonic
welding, with the inner container 4 in a gas-tight manner.
[0031] In contrast to the prior art, the connecting section 3c is
preferably attached or welded onto the outside of the inner
container 4.
[0032] The connecting section 3c is preferably at least
substantially level. This is to be understood in the narrower sense
particularly such that the connecting section 10 forms an at least
substantially level contact surface with which the inner container
4 is connected. It should be noted, however, that the connecting
section 3c can also merely form a particularly front-side or
ring-like contact surface or connection surface for connection with
the inner container 4 which extends radially, for example.
[0033] The connecting section 3c is preferably thin and/or
flange-like and/or washer-like or ring-like. In particular, it
protrudes downward radially from the valve housing 3a or tubular
section 3b toward the outside.
[0034] The connecting section 3c is preferably arranged on the
inlet-side end of the valve housing 3a or tubular section 3b.
[0035] The connecting section 3c encloses the inlet of the valve 3
or valve housing 3a and/or the riser tube 8, preferably in the
manner of a washer.
[0036] In the illustration according to FIG. 1, the inner container
4 is preferably brought in contact with the connecting section 3c
from below and connected therewith. The connection surface
therefore preferably lies on the side of the connecting section 10
facing away from the valve 3 or plate 6. In this case, the inner
container 4 is connected only on the outside with the valve housing
3a or connecting section 3b.
[0037] Alternatively, however, it is also possible to connect the
inner container 4 with the other ring-shaped surface--the upper
surface in the illustration according to FIG. 1.--of the connecting
section 3c. In this case, the inner container 4 is connected with
an inner side with the connecting section 3c or its connection
surface.
[0038] In both cases, the connecting section 3c is connected only
with one wall of the inner container 4. In particular, it is not
necessary to weld the valve housing 3a into a weld seam between two
wall sections of the inner container 4 as is required in the prior
art. Accordingly, simple manufacture is made possible and the
likelihood of leakage is minimized.
[0039] According to another, likewise independent aspect of the
present invention, at least one welding bead 10 is arranged or
formed, particularly molded, on the valve housing 3a prior to
welding with the inner container 4. The welding bead 10 is covered
by the inner container 4 during welding. The welding bead 10 is
particularly bar- or rib-like and/or continuous or uninterrupted.
In cross section, the welding bead 10 is, for example,
substantially triangular, square, rectangular, trapezoidal or
convex or arched.
[0040] Especially preferably, the inner container 4 is welded with
the valve housing 3a along the welding bead 10, so that a defined,
at least substantially linear connection is made possible between
the valve housing 3a on the one hand and the inner container 4 on
the other hand. In this way, a defined and tight connection between
the valve housing 3a and the inner container 4 can be achieved with
relatively little ultrasonic energy. However, the welding bead 10
can be used not only during ultrasonic welding but during other
types of welding as well.
[0041] The welding bead 10 preferably has a height and/or width of
at least 0.2 mm and/or at most 0.8 mm, especially preferably of
less than 0.5 mm. Very especially preferably, the height and/or
width is effectively 0.3 mm.
[0042] Especially preferably, the welding bead 10 ends in an edge
or tip which is at least substantially rectangular. In cross
section, the welding bead 10 is particularly substantially
triangular or trapezoidal or provided toward the free end with an
at least substantially triangular or trapezoidal tip.
[0043] Especially preferably, the welding bead 10 extends at least
substantially around a periphery of the valve housing 3a or a
surface of the valve housing 3a to be connected with the inner
container 4.
[0044] Especially preferably, the welding bead 10 forms a closed
loop. However, it can also be merely a finite bar, rib or the like
which does not form a closed loop.
[0045] Instead of the continuous welding bead 10, several sections
which overlap each other, for example, and/or are spaced very close
together can also be provided.
[0046] Especially preferably, at least two welding beads 10 are
provided which are spaced apart or run parallel to each other. In
this way, a kind of "double seal" or two-fold linear connection can
be achieved between the valve housing 3a on the one hand and the
inner container 4 on the other hand.
[0047] During the welding of the inner container 4 with the valve
housing 3a, a fusing of the welding bead 10 or welding beads 10
occurs and, accordingly, a flattening and connection occurs with
the inner container 4.
[0048] The welding beads 10 are shown in FIG. 1 only for the sake
of clarity. The welding beads 10 are in fact at least substantially
no longer present or visible when the inner container 4 is welded
on.
[0049] Especially preferably, the valve housing 3a and at least the
inner and/or outer layer of the inner container 4--particularly the
layer of the inner container to be welded with the valve housing
3a--are made of the same material. This facilitates the connection,
particularly welding. However, this is not absolutely necessary. It
is also possible for different materials to be used which can be
connected to one another, particularly through welding or in
another suitable manner, as already described.
[0050] If the inner container 4 is made of a single-layer material,
this material also forms the inner layer. The term "inner layer" is
therefore to be understood such that it includes a single-layer
construction.
[0051] In the depicted example, the valve housing 3a and/or the
inner layer of the inner container 4 is preferably composed of
polyethylene. This material has a substantially higher level of
diffusion-tightness compared to the polypropylene used in the prior
art. Moreover, this material can also be welded by ultrasound.
[0052] Alternatively, polyamide in particular can also be used for
the valve housing 3a and/or the inner layer of the inner container
4. This results particularly in advantages commensurate with those
obtained during the use of polyethylene.
[0053] It should be noted that the valve housing 3a need not be
composed in its entirety of the named material. Rather, according
to a modified embodiment not shown, regions of the valve housing 3a
can also be made of another material. For example, according to a
modified embodiment not shown, it is possible to manufacture the
valve housing 3a, in the region in which it is not connected with
the inner container 4 or covered by same, from another material
and/or to provide it with a covering made of another material, with
the other material particularly having a higher level of
diffusion-tightness or other advantageous characteristics. For
example, it is possible to spray a diffusion-tight covering into
these other regions, especially preferably by means of so-called
"bi-injection," which is to say injection of the other material in
the same injection mold against a first material.
[0054] Individual features and constructive solutions of the
described embodiments can also be combined with each other as
desired and/or used in other dispensing devices.
LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
[0055] 1 dispensing device [0056] 2 product [0057] 3 valve [0058]
3a valve housing [0059] 3b tubular section [0060] 3c connecting
section [0061] 4 inner container [0062] 5 outer container [0063] 6
plate [0064] 6a side (underside plate) [0065] 6b recess [0066] 7
seal [0067] 8 riser tube [0068] 9 gas [0069] 10 welding bead
* * * * *