U.S. patent application number 13/824462 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-10 for pump dispenser with flexible valves.
This patent application is currently assigned to RPC BRAMLAGE GMBH. The applicant listed for this patent is Martin Presche. Invention is credited to Martin Presche.
Application Number | 20130266464 13/824462 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44862956 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130266464 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Presche; Martin |
October 10, 2013 |
PUMP DISPENSER WITH FLEXIBLE VALVES
Abstract
The invention relates to a pump chamber (12) for a dispenser
(1), for example for a dispenser for liquid or paste-like
substances, comprising a valve body (17, 18), the valve body (17,
18) consisting of a soft plastics material. In order to provide a
pump chamber for a dispenser with a valve body, which pump chamber
can be manufactured directly in an advantageous manner as regards
the valve body, while having a manner of operation similar to that
of conventional valve bodies, the invention proposes that the valve
body (17, 18), which is formed in the shape of a cup, is
accommodated in a receiving body (19, 20) that is formed from a
hard plastics material, with a cup wall (31) of the valve body
engaging in an elastically flexible manner against an inner surface
(15) of a receiving wall of the receiving body which is formed as a
receiving cup (19, 20), a fluid passage (21, 23) being furthermore
provided in the receiving wall.
Inventors: |
Presche; Martin; (Dinklage,
DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Presche; Martin |
Dinklage |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
RPC BRAMLAGE GMBH
Lohne
DE
|
Family ID: |
44862956 |
Appl. No.: |
13/824462 |
Filed: |
October 4, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
October 4, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP11/67275 |
371 Date: |
June 6, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/437 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05B 11/3069 20130101;
B05B 11/007 20130101; B05B 11/3001 20130101; F04B 43/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/437 |
International
Class: |
F04B 43/00 20060101
F04B043/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 4, 2010 |
DE |
20 2010 008 712.0 |
Claims
1. Pump chamber (12) for a dispenser (1), for example for a
dispenser for liquid or paste-like substances, comprising a valve
body (17, 18), the valve body (17, 18) consisting of a soft
plastics material, wherein the valve body (17, 18), which is formed
in the shape of a cup, is accommodated in a receiving body (19, 20)
that is formed from a hard plastics material, with a cup wall (31)
of the valve body engaging in an elastically flexible manner
against an inner surface (15) of a receiving wall of the receiving
body which is formed as a receiving cup (19, 20), a fluid passage
(21, 23) being furthermore provided in the receiving wall.
2. Pump chamber according to claim 1 or in particular according
thereto, wherein the valve body (17, 18) is plug-connected to the
receiving cup (19, 20).
3. Pump chamber according to claim 1 or in particular according
thereto, wherein the valve body (17, 18) is connected to the
receiving cup (19, 20) in the two-component injection-molding
process.
4. Pump chamber according to claim 1 or in particular according
thereto, wherein the valve body (17, 18) has a portion that passes
through the receiving cup (19, 20).
5. Pump chamber according to claim 1 or in particular according
thereto, wherein the through-passing portion has its base in the
cup base (24) of the valve cup.
6. Pump chamber according to claim 1 or in particular according
thereto, wherein the through-passing portion passes through the
base of the receiving cup.
7. Pump chamber according to claim 1 or in particular according
thereto, wherein the pump chamber has two valves with features of
claim 1.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a pump chamber for a dispenser, for
example for a dispenser for liquid or paste-like substances,
comprising a valve body, the valve body consisting of a soft
plastics material.
[0002] Pump chambers of this kind, and dispensers with such pump
chambers, have already become known in many respects. Reference in
this respect is made for example to WO 2007/068564 A1. As regards
the valve bodies, it is provided in the dispenser mentioned, for
example, that a flexible disc is placed on a spigot and the spigot
then secures the disc by being reshaped in the manner of a rivet.
The disc overlies, in its radially outer region, through-openings
in a pump chamber base.
[0003] Starting from this, the invention is concerned with the
problem of providing a pump chamber for a dispenser having a valve
body, which pump chamber can at the same time be manufactured in an
advantageous manner as regards the valve body, while having a
manner of operation such as that of prior art valve bodies.
[0004] One possible solution to the problem is provided according
to a first inventive concept by an item having the features that
the valve body, which is formed in the shape of a cup, is
accommodated in a receiving body that is formed from a hard
plastics material, the receiving cup being preferably at the same
time a part of a pump chamber base or of a pump chamber top, with a
cup wall of the valve body engaging in an elastically flexible
manner against an inner surface of a receiving wall of the
receiving body which is formed as a receiving cup, a fluid passage
being furthermore provided in the receiving wall.
[0005] The invention follows, according to this concept, the path
of nesting two cup-shaped elements in one another in order to form
a valve, one of the cup-shaped elements being formed in an elastic
manner, at any event elastic in a substantial partial region, the
other element by contrast forming a counter-abutment. Preferably
the other element is formed to this extent as a hard plastics part.
In principle, the other element could however also be a soft
plastics part. Preferably, the inner cup-shaped element, at least
in a fluid passage region, is at any event formed to be
elastic.
[0006] A valve body construction of this kind and interaction of
the valve body with a receiving part may be provided in the same
manner for an inlet valve of the pump chamber as also for an outlet
valve of the pump chamber.
[0007] The parts of the pump chamber are preferably all plastics
parts, in particular plastics parts produced in the plastics
injection-molding process. As materials, PP and PE may for example
be in question for a hard plastics, and TPF for a soft
plastics.
[0008] Further features of the invention are described and
illustrated below, both in the description of the figures and in
the drawings, frequently in their preferred association with the
claim concept already explained; they may however also be of
significance in an association with only one or more individual
features which are here described or illustrated in the drawings,
or independently, or in another overall concept.
[0009] Thus it is preferred that the valve body is plug-connected
to the receiving cup. For example, for this, a latch spigot may be
provided on the valve body and/or on the receiving cup, the spigot
engaging into a corresponding latching opening in the other
part.
[0010] Furthermore, a construction may however also be provided in
which the valve body is connected to the receiving cup in the
two-component injection-molding process. This enables the
corresponding part of the pump chamber to be manufactured as a
finished product at the same time in an advantageous manner as a
combined injection-molded part. The required non-connectedness of
the cup wall of the valve body that engages in an elastically
deflectable manner against an inner surface of the receiving cup
may be achieved for example by the parts being produced in a
so-called multi-component injection-molding process. In this, in a
first process step, initially one of the two parts, and, in a
second subsequent process step, preferably in the same injection
mold, merely by making available a further cavity or a further mold
space, the second component, are in each case produced by
injection-molding. The component produced in the first process step
defines thereby the mold space used for the injection-molding of
the second component, at least in part, especially in the region in
which the parts are in contact with one another. For this, the
materials injected are selected or adjusted in such a way that they
do not weld together in the course of the molding. The required
holding together of the parts may be achieved by one or more rear
grips, for example corresponding to the latch spigot formation
mentioned.
[0011] It is further preferred that the valve cup has a portion
that passes through the receiving cup. This portion may be for
example a latch spigot as already mentioned. Preferred furthermore
is that the passing-through portion is rooted in the cup base of
the valve cup. It may for example project out of the cup base of
the valve cup only on the underside.
[0012] Further preferred is that the passing-through portion passes
through the base of the receiving cup.
[0013] It may in particular also be provided that the pump chamber
has two valves with one or more of the features described
above.
[0014] The invention is further explained below with reference to
the accompanying drawings, which, however, only show an exemplary
embodiment. The figures show the following:
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a dispenser with a pump chamber in
cross-section and
[0016] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged illustration of the pump chamber of
the dispenser according to FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 2a shows a variant relating to the connection of the
valve to the receiving cup; and
[0018] FIG. 2b shows a further variant for the connection of the
valve to the receiving cup.
[0019] Shown and described, in first instance with reference to
FIG. 1, is a dispenser 1 that has a pump head 3, over which there
engages a cap 2. The pump head 3 is supported on the base 5 of a
receiving part 6 by means of a spring 3. The pump head 3 also has a
discharge line 7, which interacts by means of a piston molding 8 in
a cylinder body 9 that is likewise rooted in the base 5. Underneath
the piston molding 8, the pump head 3 forms a pump chamber 10 in
cooperation with the base 5 of the receiving part 6.
[0020] An inlet valve 11 for the pump chamber 10 is provided in the
base 5, in the case of the exemplary embodiment in a region that is
lower relative to the surrounding base surface in the direction of
a reservoir 12. The outlet valve 13 is provided at the beginning of
the line 7 in the pump head 3.
[0021] The reservoir 12 is closed on the underside by a follower
piston 14, On account of the two valves of the pump chamber 10, the
pump chamber is self-priming. The follower piston 14 does not
require for this for example any ratchet means for support on an
inner wall of the dispenser container 16 defining the
reservoir.
[0022] As a variant from this, pump chambers with only one valve
are also known, the follower piston then being supported on the
inner wall 15 by means of a ratchet and thus can only move in the
outlet direction.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that both the inlet
valve 11 and the outlet valve 13 have a cup-shaped valve body,
respectively 17 and 18, which is seated in a respective receiving
cup 19 or 20, that is formed from a hard plastics material and
represents the receiving body. The respective valve bodies 18 and
17 are configured to be substantially rotationally symmetrical with
respect to a central axis A. The valve body 18 of the outlet valve
has however a deviation from the rotational symmetry in its base
region, which region is associated with the fluid passage 21 that
is formed in the receiving cup 19 as a fluid passage region. The
fluid passage 21 is configured throughout in the manner of a window
all the way to the lowermost region (see below: counter-retainer
26); in particular, preferably also with a widening of the window
upwardly and a narrowing downwardly. As a result of the continuous
configuration, the lowermost region of the valve body 18 is cut off
as it were in the overlap region towards the window opening and the
wall that has this opening. The inlet valve 11 may also be formed
similarly in this regard.
[0024] The cup region of the valve body 17 or 18, see cup wall 31,
engages with its outer surface against an inner surface of the
respective receiving cup 19, 20.
[0025] When the dispenser head 3 is pressed down by a user after
the cap 2 is removed, the inlet valve 11 closes because of the
excess pressure (or it is already closed). Because of the same
excess pressure, the paste-like substance present in the pump
chamber 12, for example, presses however the cup wall 31 of the
valve body 18 inward, at any event in the region of the fluid
passage 21, see the chain-dashed illustration, so that substance
can enter into the discharge line 7 and can exit for use through an
opening 22.
[0026] After the pressure on the dispenser head 3 has been
released, the spring 4 returns the dispenser head into the starting
position according to FIG. 1. As a result of this, there exists in
the pump chamber 12 a reduced pressure, which on the one hand
ensures a reliable closing of the outlet valve 13, and on the other
hand, acting however in principle in the same manner as described
above, causes the cup wall 31 of the inlet valve 11 to move
flexibly inwardly, at any event in the region of the fluid passage
23 that forms in the same manner a fluid passage region, see for
this also the chain-dashed illustration in FIG. 2 of the cup wall
31 of the valve body 17, and thus substance flows into the pump
chamber 12.
[0027] In the exemplary embodiment, the valve body 17 or 18 is
produced with the respective receiving cup 19, 20 in the
two-component injection-molding process. It is further to be seen
that a cup base 24 in formed on the underside with a projection 25,
which, in the exemplary embodiment, passes through the base of the
receiving cup centrally with respect to the receiving cup, and on
the underside of the receiving cup, merges into a counter-retainer
26 that engages on the outer side against the surface of the
receiving cup. This counter-retainer is formed by way of a part,
preferably defining the entire vertically projected outer surface
of the receiving cup.
[0028] The cup wall 31 of the valve body extends in the exemplary
embodiment at right angles to in each case the cup base 24. The cup
wall 31 may also extend in an opening manner, for example in the
shape of a Vee, with reference to a cross-sectional
illustration--thus by enclosing an acute angle with a vertical.
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 2a and 2b, variants are shown, in which a
latching connection is provided between the receiving cup 19 or 20
and the respective valve body 17, 18. For this, in particular in
the embodiment of FIG. 2a, the valve body 17 or 18 has a latch
spigot 27 that extends on the underside from the cup base 24 and
passes through a latching opening 28 in the associated base of the
receiving cup 20. The valve body 17 or 18 can in this way be
latchingly connected to this [spigot] by simply inserting it from
above into the receiving cup 20. The arrangement may however also
at the same time be provided directly for example by the
multi-component injection molding mentioned, using the
injection-molding process.
[0030] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2b, a latch spigot 29 is
provided which is integrally formed with the receiving cup 20, from
the same material. The latch spigot 29 in this case passes through
a latching opening 30 in the base of the valve body 17 or 18.
[0031] Preferably the latch pins 27 and 29 and the corresponding
latching openings are provided in each case centrally relative to a
free diameter of the base of the valve body 17 or 18.
[0032] All features disclosed are (in themselves) pertinent to the
invention. The disclosure content of the associated/accompanying
priority documents (copy of the prior application) is also hereby
included in full in the disclosure of the application, including
for the purpose of incorporating features of these documents in
claims of the present application. The subsidiary claims in their
optional subordinated formulation characterize independent
inventive development of the prior art, in particular to undertake
divisional applications based on these claims.
REFERENCE SIGN LIST
[0033] 1 dispenser [0034] 2 cap [0035] 3 pump head [0036] 4 spring
[0037] 5 base [0038] 6 receiving part [0039] 7 discharge line
[0040] 8 piston molding [0041] 9 cylinder body [0042] 10 pump
chamber [0043] 11 inlet valve [0044] 12 reservoir [0045] 13 outlet
valve [0046] 14 follower piston [0047] 15 inner wall [0048] 16
dispenser container [0049] 17 valve body [0050] 18 valve body
[0051] 19 receiving cup [0052] 20 receiving cup [0053] 21 fluid
passage [0054] 22 opening [0055] 23 fluid passage [0056] 24 cup
base [0057] 25 projection [0058] 26 counter-retainer [0059] 27
latch spigot [0060] 28 latching opening [0061] 29 latch spigot
[0062] 30 latching opening [0063] 31 cup wall [0064] A central
axis
* * * * *