DE102022130554A1 - Reusable and modular dispenser for fluids - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a reusable and modular dispenser for fluids, in particular for liquid soaps, shower gels, detergents, etc. The object of the invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide an alternative dispenser made of non-flexible material, which can be constructed modularly, refilled and reused, easily assembled and disassembled, designed for a long service life, consciously geared towards the goods and recycling cycle (cradle-to-cradle approach), produced in a sustainable design and is easy to recycle. This object is achieved by the features listed in the claims.

Description

The invention relates to a reusable and modular dispenser for fluids, in particular for liquid soaps, shower gels, detergents, etc.

1. a) oft auch mit einem Verschlussdeckel oder einem Schraubverschluss der Öffnung kombiniert ist oder
2. b) die Entnahmeöffnung befindet sich auf der dem Standfuß gegenüberliegenden Seite und wird auch mittels eines aufklappbaren Aufhängers verschlossen.

The term dispenser here stands for a packaging with liquid, viscous or pasty contents or similar liquids and pastes, such as baby oil, cream, shower gel, vinegar, paint, liquid cleaner and soap, hair shampoo, adhesives, cosmetics, cleaning fluid, soap lotion, sunscreen, cooking oil, washing-up liquid, toothpaste, etc. The packaging usually has a hollow cylindrical, elongated bottle or tube shape adapted to the spirit of the times with a base that

1. a) is often combined with a closure cap or a screw cap of the opening or
2. b) the removal opening is located on the side opposite the base and is also closed by means of a hinged hanger.

The contents of the packaging collect near the base according to the laws of gravity. Case a) assumes that the packaging is absolutely liquid-tight, while in case b) the removal time increases as the contents of the packaging decrease, to the point where the rest cannot be removed due to the removal time.

Sometimes such packaging materials have a holding device or a hanger - also on the side of the removal opening or the side opposite the opening. In terms of the removal time, the same applies to packaging with a holding device as to packaging with a stand solution.

• - bei flüssigem Verpackungsinhalt ist die nötige Druckkraft für die Entnahme geringer als bei pastösem Inhalt
• - die Druckdauer ist bei flüssigem Verpackungsinhalt kürzer - in Abhängigkeit der Druckkraft - als bei pastösem Inhalt
• - das Entnahmevolumen von flüssigem Verpackungsinhalt ist bei gleicher Druckkraft und -dauer größer als bei pastösem Inhalt.

The removal of the packaging contents and the volume control are carried out by external, usually manual pressure on the packaging, whereby the pressure force and the pressure duration are proportional to the viscosity of the packaging contents, the removal quantity and the packaging contents

• - for liquid packaging contents, the pressure required for removal is lower than for pasty contents
• - the printing time is shorter for liquid packaging contents - depending on the pressure force - than for pasty contents
• - the removal volume of liquid packaging contents is larger than that of pasty contents at the same pressure force and duration.

Another parameter in packaging handling is the filling quantity or fill level of the packaging.

When removing the product, manual pressure is applied to the outside wall of the packaging or to a portioner or dispenser, which continues into the interior, whereby the interior consists of the packaging contents and - depending on the fill level and quantity - air. Once the desired amount has been removed, the external manual pressure is removed from the packaging, the lid is closed and the packaging is put down. The packaging contents and air remain inside the packaging, compressed by the negative pressure, so that the side walls of the packaging, which are pressed in - depending on the fill level and quantity - or the operating elements of the portioner or dispenser cannot return to their original/starting position.

Another disadvantage of the dispensers known in the prior art is that they are disposable and not reusable. A dispenser known from the prior art is, for example, in the publication DE102010048565A1 described.

Description of the invention

It is therefore an object of the invention to eliminate the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide an alternative dispenser made of non-flexible material which can be constructed modularly, refilled and reused, easily assembled and disassembled, designed for a long service life, consciously geared towards the goods and recycling cycle (cradle-to-cradle approach), produced in a sustainable design and easy to recycle.

The object is achieved by means of a reusable dispenser according to claim 1.

• einen Behälter zur Aufnahme eines Fluids,
• eine Fülleinheit zur Aufnahme eines Teils des Fluids,
• einen Trichter aus flexiblen Material aufweisend einen Trichterhals und eine Trichteröffnung
• und eine Drückeinheit zur Abgabe des Teils des Fluids.
• Die Fülleinheit weist einen Außenring und eine Bodenplatte auf, wobei in der Bodenplatte zumindest eine Durchgangsöffnung mit einem ersten Ventil angeordnet ist. Ferner weist die Fülleinheit eine Aufnahmevorrichtung auf, welche zur Aufnahme der Trichteröffnung ausgebildet ist. Die Drückeinheit weist ebenfalls einen Boden auf, wobei in dem Boden eine Durchgangsöffnung mit einem zweiten Ventil angeordnet ist. Ferner weist die Drückeinheit eine Aufnahmevorrichtung zur Aufnahme des Trichterhalses auf. Der Behälter und/oder die Fülleinheit weist/weisen ein erstes Verbindungselement zur Kopplung des Behälters mit der Fülleinheit auf. Ferner weist/weisen die Fülleinheit und/oder die Drückeinheit ein zweites Verbindungselement zur Kopplung der Drückeinheit mit der Fülleinheit auf, wobei die Drückeinheit derart mit der Fülleinheit gekoppelt ist, dass die Drückeinheit vertikal entlang einer Längsachse L des Spenders in der Fülleinheit beweglich gelagert ist.

The task is solved by means of a reusable dispenser which has the following components:

• a container for holding a fluid,
• a filling unit for receiving part of the fluid,
• a funnel made of flexible material having a funnel neck and a funnel opening
• and a pressure unit for discharging the portion of the fluid.
• The filling unit has an outer ring and a base plate, wherein at least one through-opening with a first valve is arranged in the base plate. Furthermore, the filling unit has a receiving device, which che is designed to receive the funnel opening. The pressing unit also has a base, wherein a through opening with a second valve is arranged in the base. Furthermore, the pressing unit has a receiving device for receiving the funnel neck. The container and/or the filling unit has/have a first connecting element for coupling the container to the filling unit. Furthermore, the filling unit and/or the pressing unit has/have a second connecting element for coupling the pressing unit to the filling unit, wherein the pressing unit is coupled to the filling unit in such a way that the pressing unit is mounted vertically along a longitudinal axis L of the dispenser in the filling unit.

The first valve and the second valve each have an inlet side and an outlet side. According to various embodiments, in the assembled state of the dispenser, the first valve, the second valve and the funnel are arranged one above the other along the longitudinal axis L of the dispenser and the funnel opening encloses the outlet side of the first valve and the funnel neck encloses the inlet side of the second valve.

According to various embodiments, the pressing unit has a dosing device. The dosing device can be designed such that at least one recess is arranged in a side wall of the pressing unit.

The pressing unit preferably has a third connecting element for coupling to an attachment. According to various embodiments, the attachment can be a lid or a dosing device.

Furthermore, according to various embodiments, the container has a fourth connecting element on its base plate for receiving the lid.

In order to increase the modularity of the dispenser, the container can be formed from several segments, wherein the segments are connected to one another with a fifth connecting element. According to various embodiments, the fifth connecting element has sealing elements, e.g. in the form of a sealing ring/several sealing rings, which is/are attached to the connecting element and/or to the segments to be connected.

According to various embodiments, the second connecting element and/or the third connecting element and/or the fourth connecting element and/or the fifth connecting element are screw connections and/or plug connections.

Furthermore, the first connecting element is preferably a plug connection, wherein the plug connection has a guide rail and a bolt so that the pressing unit can be moved up and down in the filling unit. In order to hold the pressing unit in a desired position, for example to prevent arbitrary movement of the pressing unit, the first connecting element can have a locking function.

According to various embodiments, the first valve is an umbrella valve, also called a (rain) umbrella valve seal or (rain) umbrella check valve or mushroom valve. An umbrella valve enables forward flow as soon as the head of the valve is reached. The pressure on the head generates enough force to lift the head, consisting of a convex membrane, from the seat. The lifting thus enables flow with a predetermined pressure in one direction and immediately prevents backflow in the opposite direction. For this purpose, according to various design variants, passage openings are arranged which are opened by the lifting and allow the fluid to flow. The fluid flows from the container unit into the filling unit in the desired amount through specially arranged, specially sized and shaped holes in the base plate of the filling unit. The size and shape of the holes determine, among other things, the flow, speed and amount of fluid from container unit to filling unit. The edge of the holes and the rest of the base plate is the seat of the umbrella valve. Due to the shape, size and texture of the umbrella valve in combination with the holes in the bottom of the filling unit, the umbrella valve is held in place and performs its function in its position - allowing the fluid to pass in one direction and sealing the filling unit in the opposite direction.

According to various embodiments, the second valve is a duckbill valve. Duckbill valves are precision-molded, one-piece, expandable valves that reliably prevent backflow in the low pressure differential. This type of valve allows free flow at a positive pressure differential. Backflow is prevented at a negative pressure differential. The pressure drop across the valve is a unique feature of duckbill valves. They are designed to respond at specific opening and closing pressure ranges depending on your specifications.

According to various embodiments, different pushers or push units can be used for different purposes. The second valve can also be selected to suit the intended use. It is also possible for the entire dispenser to be used with only the first valve and a pusher unit that has a device that fulfills the function of the second/further valve, but does not contain a complete valve due to its design. The container, filling unit and/or push unit components are preferably made of bioplastic and/or bio-based materials and/or renewable materials.

Preferably, the dosing device has at least one air inlet to prevent the fluid from being drawn back into the container when the pressing unit is pressed repeatedly.

According to various embodiments, the dispenser can be used as a refill bottle for providing liquid soap, shower gel, shampoo and/or disinfectant.

The advantage of the dispenser according to the invention is that the entire product is made up of several parts and is modular, easy to repair and designed so that it can be assembled and disassembled by a layperson. For example, in order to quickly and easily replace or exchange individual parts so that the dispenser can be used for a different purpose or with a different fluid and/or pressure and filling unit.

The entire dispenser consists of the container or a bottle body and a filling unit which has an outer ring with a flexible bendable funnel and several valves and a movable pusher unit or a pusher, of which there are various versions that can make the entire dispenser/container into a different product because its intended use has been changed, and a lid that can be attached or connected to the dispenser either at the top or bottom or at the top and bottom, so that when the dispenser is not in use, the lid additionally protects the dispenser from accidental leakage of fluid at the outlet of the second valve, since the presence of the lid at the top means that the pusher unit can no longer be reached without deliberately and manually removing the lid, which could cause fluid to leak out.

According to various embodiments, the dispenser can have a protective cover. This can, for example, function as a lid in that the protective cover can be placed over the dispenser from above and/or below.

According to various embodiments, the first connecting element, the second connecting element, the third connecting element, the fourth connecting element and/or the fifth connecting element have sealing elements, e.g. in the form of a sealing ring or several sealing rings, which is/are arranged on the respective connecting element and/or on the elements to be connected. The sealing elements are preferably attached to the first connecting element and the fifth connecting element and/or the respective elements to be connected, i.e. the container and the filling unit, and/or the individual segments of the container.

The dispenser without valves and the funnel are preferably made of a very high-quality bio-plastic or of bio-based and renewable materials, e.g. wood fibers, which are a renewable raw material.

The dispenser preferably has a lid so that it can be taken on trips or to a refill shop to be refilled without losing its contents. The lid can be mounted, plugged in or stored at the bottom of the bottle when not in use so that it cannot be misplaced.

The dispenser can be dismantled into its individual parts. The individual parts/components are not glued together or connected in any other way that cannot be separated, so that the individual parts can be taken apart and put back together and/or screwed together by the private end customer - this process takes no longer than 1-2 minutes

Thanks to its modular and pure design, the dispenser is optimally prepared for possible recycling. A waste sorting process, which would cause additional costs, effort, time, CO2, etc. for commercially available shower gel containers and other containers from the cosmetics and household products sector, is no longer necessary.

The dispenser improves the problem of massive plastic consumption in the liquid soap industry, as it is not a disposable plastic product, but a reusable item, a so-called re-fill bottle, which can be repeatedly filled or refilled with new shower gel or soap or other contents, e.g. in a packaging-free store. The dispenser replaces, among other things, a standard disposable shower bottle or a disposable soap dispenser.

The contents of the dispenser are variable and can be decided by each person and also changed regularly.

The product can be a shower gel bottle with a first attachment, a soap dispenser with another attachment and, with further attachments, a spray bottle or a detergent container. Further attachments for other purposes are conceivable.

Furthermore, all individual parts are interchangeable, so that any broken or worn components of the dispenser can be easily replaced. The old replaced part can be collected and recycled. This means that the new production of unnecessary plastic or other or additional valuable raw materials can be greatly reduced or even completely prevented.

The entire dispenser is based on simplicity, few parts and quick and easy repairs.

Implementation of the invention

• 1 Übersicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Spenders
• 2 Querschnitt des erfindungsgemäßen Spenders
• 3 Perspektivdarstellung der Drückeinheit
• 4 Perspektivdarstellung der Fülleinheit
• 5 Benutzung des erfindungsgemäßen Spenders

The invention is explained in more detail using one or more embodiments.

• 1 Overview of a dispenser according to the invention
• 2 Cross section of the dispenser according to the invention
• 3 Perspective view of the pressing unit
• 4 Perspective view of the filling unit
• 5 Use of the dispenser according to the invention

In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which there is shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the arrangement according to the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology such as "above", "below", etc. will be used with reference to the orientation of the drawings described. The directional terminology is for purposes of illustration and is not limiting in any way.

It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is to be understood that the features of the various exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined with one another unless specifically stated otherwise. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

In the figures, identical or similar elements are provided with identical reference symbols wherever appropriate.

In 1 a reusable dispenser 1 according to the invention is shown as an overview. It has the following components: a container 2 for holding a fluid, a filling unit 3 for holding a portion of the fluid, a funnel 4 (not shown here) made of flexible material, and a pressing unit (5) for dispensing the portion of the fluid. The container 2 is coupled to the filling unit 3 and the filling unit 3 is coupled to the pressing unit 5 such that the container 2, the filling unit 3 and the pressing unit 5 are arranged one below the other along a longitudinal axis L of the dispenser 1, wherein the pressing unit 5 is coupled to the filling unit 3 such that the pressing unit 5 is mounted so as to be movable vertically along the longitudinal axis L of the dispenser 1 in the filling unit 3. The filling unit 3 has at least one first through-opening 33 with a first valve 34 (not shown here) and the pressing unit 5 has at least one second through-opening 51 with a second valve 52 (not shown here). The funnel 4 is arranged in the filling unit 3 such that the funnel opening 42 encloses the first valve 34 of the filling unit 3 and the funnel neck 41 encloses the second valve 52 of the pressing unit 5.

2A shows the reusable and modular dispenser 1 in a detailed cross-sectional view. It has the following components: a container 2 for holding a fluid, a filling unit 3 for holding a portion of the fluid, a funnel 4 made of flexible material, the funnel having a funnel neck 41 and a funnel opening 42, and a pressing unit 5 for dispensing a portion of the fluid. The filling unit 3 has an outer ring 31 and a base plate 32, at least one through opening 33 with a first valve 34 being arranged in the base plate 32 and the filling unit 3 having a receiving device 35 for receiving the funnel opening 42. The pressing unit 5 has a base 54, a through opening 51 with a second valve 52 being arranged in the base 54, and the pressing unit 5 further having a receiving device 53 for receiving the funnel neck 41. The container 2 and/or the filling unit 3 has/have a first connecting element 6 for Coupling of the container 2 with the filling unit 3. The filling unit 3 and/or the pressing unit 5 has/have a second connecting element 7 for coupling the pressing unit 5 with the filling unit 3, wherein the pressing unit 5 is coupled to the filling unit 3 in such a way that the pressing unit 5 is mounted vertically along a longitudinal axis L of the dispenser 1 in the filling unit 3.

According to various embodiments, in the assembled state of the dispenser 1, the first valve 34, the second valve 52 and the funnel 4 are arranged one above the other along the longitudinal axis L of the dispenser 1 and the funnel opening 42 encloses the outlet side of the first valve 34 and the funnel neck encloses the inlet side of the second valve 52.

According to various embodiments, the pressing unit 5 has a dosing device 55.

Furthermore, according to various embodiments, the dosing device 55 is at least one recess in a side wall of the pressing unit 5.

According to various embodiments, the pressing unit 5 has a third connecting element 56, for example in 2 B shown, for coupling with an attachment 8. The attachment 8 can be a lid or a dosing device 55.

According to various embodiments, the container 2 has a fourth connecting element 21 below its base plate for receiving the lid, as shown by way of example in 2 B shown. Using this embodiment, a lid that is not currently needed to close the dispenser and thus prevent fluid from leaking out of the dispenser can be stowed away, namely underneath the bottom of the container. It can be screwed in there, for example, if a corresponding thread matching the lid is provided. A plug connection is also conceivable.

According to various embodiments, the container 2 can be formed from several segments 22, wherein the segments 22 are connected to one another by a fifth connecting element 23. This embodiment variant is shown by way of example in 2 B shown.

According to various embodiments, the second connecting element 7 and/or the third connecting element 56 and/or the fourth connecting element 21 and/or the fifth connecting element 23 are screw connections as shown. However, other connections, such as plug connections, are conceivable.

According to various embodiments, the first connecting element 6 is a plug connection, wherein the plug connection has a guide rail 61 and a bolt 62.

According to various embodiments, the first connecting element 6 and/or the fifth connecting element 23 can further have a locking function.

According to various embodiments, the first and second valves are check valves which allow passage of a fluid in only one direction. Preferably and as shown, the first valve 34 is an umbrella valve and the second valve 52 is a duckbill valve.

According to various embodiments, the container 2, the filling unit 3 and/or the pressing unit 5 are made of bioplastic and/or bio-based materials and/or renewable materials.

According to various embodiments, the dispenser 1 claimed here can be used as a refill bottle for the provision of liquid soap, shower gel, shampoo and/or disinfectant.

Preferably, the dosing device 55 has at least one supply air inlet 57.

One embodiment could look like this:

The outer ring 31 contains four symmetrically arranged through holes 33, which are located in the base plate. The middle of these through holes serves as a holder for the appropriate umbrella valve, the outer ones serve as flow holes so that the liquid can flow through the first valve 34.

The matching umbrella valve (first valve) only allows fluid to escape in one direction and helps to create the necessary negative pressure in the pusher mechanism, as it only allows fluid to pass in one direction (towards the opening of the pusher opening).

Inside the outer ring 31 there is also a receiving device, for example a corrugation, which not only holds the flexible funnel 4 in position, but also prevents liquid from leaking out of the dispenser at unwanted locations.

The funnel 4 is inserted into the outer ring 31 and enclosed at the top of the opening / funnel neck 41 by the pressing unit 5, thus preventing liquid from escaping.

In the pressing unit 5 there is a through opening 51 on the longitudinal axis L, into which the second valve 52 (a duckbill valve) is inserted, which also only lets the liquid through in one direction (in the direction of the opening of the pusher opening), but is also closed in the initial mode, i.e. in the idle mode, and only opens under pressure or when the pressure pushes the contents (liquid) through the second valve 52. The pressing unit 5 and the outer ring 31 of the filling unit 3 are therefore sealed and the liquid contained therein can only escape to the outside through the designated through opening 51 by pressing the connected pusher 5 of the dispenser 1. In addition, when the funnel 4 is actively used there is always under pressure, so the dispenser 1 seals itself even further.

The filling unit is connected to the pressing unit 5 via the second connecting element 7 and to the container 2 via the first connecting element 6. The filling unit 3 has the following components: an outer ring 31, a base plate 32 with a through opening 33 with a first valve 34, which is preferably an umbrella valve (as shown). The filling unit 3 also has a receiving device 35, by means of which the funnel opening 42 of the flexible funnel 4 is received. The filling unit 3 is hermetically closed and sealed via the pressing unit 5, which has a receiving device 53 for the funnel neck 41. The funnel neck 41 encloses the second valve 52 of the pressing unit 5, which is preferably a duckbill valve.

• Einkerbungen am oberen Rand an der Drückeinheit 5, die die Drückeinheit 5 hier aussehen lassen wie einen Aschenbecher, dienen dem Durchfluss von Luft auf der Handoberfläche. Denn es kann sein, dass wenn man den Drücker gegen die Handfläche drückt, der Hohlraum im Drücker sich durch die Handfläche abdichtet. Somit kann beim aktiven Drücken, kein Druck aus der Flasche entweichen und die Flasche stoppt und funktioniert nicht. Die Luftlöcher sind genau dafür da, dass egal wie man den Drücker hält, dass mindestens eins von den Luftlöchern unbedeckt bleibt oder mehrere Luftlöcher nur teilweise verdeckt sind und die Flasche sich beim Drücken entleeren kann. (siehe 5. Linke Hand bedeckt alle Luftlöcher).

In 3 a pusher unit 5 is shown according to one embodiment. The pusher unit 5 has a through opening 51 in which the second valve 52 is arranged. The third connecting element for receiving an attachment on the pusher 5 is arranged in the outer ring; it is designed here as a screw element. A dosing device 55 with an air inlet 57 is also shown here as an example: in the outer ring 31 there are four half-open vertical and horizontal connected recesses through which the bolts on the pusher 5 move along in the recesses when the pusher is operated "up" or "down", and this up and down movement is carried out by the negative pressure and the arrangement of the valves, for example by means of a flat hand, and thus pressure is exerted on the fluid in the filling unit and is pushed in a direction, the fluid can then escape. The air inlet 57 is achieved in this special embodiment as follows:

• Notches on the upper edge of the pusher unit 5, which make the pusher unit 5 look like an ashtray, are used to allow air to flow across the surface of the hand. This is because it is possible that when you press the pusher against the palm of your hand, the cavity in the pusher is sealed by the palm of your hand. This means that no pressure can escape from the bottle when you press it actively and the bottle stops and does not work. The air holes are there precisely so that no matter how you hold the pusher, at least one of the air holes remains uncovered or several air holes are only partially covered and the bottle can empty when you press it. (see 5 . Left hand covers all air holes).

In 4 the filling unit 3 is shown in a perspective view from above according to an embodiment. The funnel 4 is arranged in this. The duckbill valve (second valve 52) can also be seen, but this is arranged in the pressing unit. The filling unit 3 also shows three bolts which belong to the second connecting element 7, whereby these bolts enable guidance along a guide rail (which must then be arranged congruently on the pressing unit 5).

5 shows the use of the dispenser 1: The mechanism works by turning the dispenser 1 180 degrees on its "head" and pressing the pressing unit 5 onto an outstretched palm and then releasing it again. This creates pressure in the interior of the container 2 and the cavity between the funnel 4 and the base plate 32 of the filling unit 3 fills with the contents of the dispenser (e.g. the soap). In addition, by "turning the bottle upside down" the fluid flows downwards according to the laws of physics if the bottle or container is not full of fluid, so that it can flow through at least one opening 33 in the base plate 32 of the filling unit 3 and the filling unit 3 is refilled. When the palm of the hand is pressed again, the interior or cavity of the funnel 4 gradually empties completely. When pressure is applied, the duckbill valve 52 is always opened by the fluid flowing through, causing the fluid to reach the palm of the hand. By pressing the pusher/pressing unit 5 and holding the entire dispenser upside down, the funnel cavity is repeatedly filled with the liquid (fluid). The first valve 34, in this case the umbrella valve, is crucial for this because it seals the funnel cavity from above and covers at least one through-opening 33 in the base plate of the filling unit 3. By pressing the pressing unit 5 and Holding the entire dispenser 1 upside down also allows liquid to flow from the container into the funnel cavity through the function of the first valve (the umbrella valve). The funnel cavity is thus filled with liquid again and again by the person pressing the pressing unit 5 and holding the dispenser 1 upside down. The combination of both valves (first valve and second valve) ensures that with one action by the user and holding the bottle upside down, two actions take place simultaneously: 1. Letting the liquid out of the funnel 4 onto the palm of the hand and 2. Refilling the liquid from the container into the filling unit 3 / the funnel cavity.

1. 1. Drückeinheit 5 wird gedrückt.
2. 2. Flexibler Trichter 4 staucht sich durch den gepressten Drücker und presst die Luft aus dem Innenraum des Behälters 2 heraus.
3. 3. Unterdruck entsteht im Innenraum des Trichters 4 (Trichterhohlraum), wegen des entstandenen Platzmangels in einem abgeschlossenen Raum.
4. 4. Unterdruck aktiviert das erste Ventil, hier das Umbrella-Ventil, und lässt somit die Flüssigkeit (Fluid), beispielsweise die Seife in den Innenraum der Fülleinheit 3 (Trichterhohlraum) laufen.
5. 5. Drückeinheit 5 wird losgelassen, Trichter 4 springt in seine Ausgangsposition zurück und drückt den Trichter 4 wieder nach unten/ oben (je nachdem wie man die Flasche gerade hält). Während dessen füllt sich der wieder freie Innenraum mit Flüssigkeit / Seife. (Die Seife kann aber nicht auslaufen, da das zweite Ventil (das Duckbill-Ventil) dies verhindert und die Seifen im Innenraum hält.)
6. 6. Drückeinheit 5 wird wieder gedrückt und durch den starken Druck der dabei entsteht öffnet sich das zweite Ventil / Duckbill-Ventil und die Seife kann auf die Handfläche entweichen (hier wiederholt sich Schritt 3-6 bei jedem Drücken der Flasche).

To explain what happened in detail:

1. 1. Press unit 5 is pressed.
2. 2. Flexible funnel 4 compresses itself through the pressed pusher and presses the air out of the interior of the container 2.
3. 3. Negative pressure is created in the interior of the funnel 4 (funnel cavity) due to the lack of space in a closed room.
4. 4. Negative pressure activates the first valve, here the umbrella valve, and allows the liquid (fluid), for example the soap, to flow into the interior of the filling unit 3 (funnel cavity).
5. 5. Press unit 5 is released, funnel 4 jumps back to its original position and pushes funnel 4 down/up again (depending on how you are holding the bottle). During this time, the empty interior fills with liquid/soap. (The soap cannot leak out, however, because the second valve (the duckbill valve) prevents this and keeps the soap inside.)
6. 6. Press unit 5 is pressed again and the strong pressure that is created opens the second valve / duckbill valve and the soap can escape onto the palm of the hand (steps 3-6 are repeated each time the bottle is pressed).

The pressing unit 5 and the outer ring 31 can also be plugged together and the pressing unit 5 is held in position by a guide groove. There is a part in the guide groove in the pressing unit 5 that allows a vertical movement of the pressing unit 5.

By means of small elevations in the interior of the outer ring 31, which fit into the guide grooves of the pressing unit 5, the pressing unit 5 is connected to the outer ring 31 and the movement directions of the pressing unit 5 are defined.

Due to the special shape of the guide groove, the pusher 5 can be connected to the outer ring 31 at any time and can also be separated again.

According to various embodiments, the pressing unit 5 has a groove and receiving points in its outer surface, which make it possible to attach an attachment 8 to the pressing unit 5. In addition or alternatively, the pressing unit 5 can have receiving points in the outer ring 31 for a tube 81 that can be inserted into the container 2, wherein this tube 81 reaches to or almost to the bottom of the container 2, thus various attachments 8, such as a soap dispenser attachment/presser with a special soap dispenser opening, can be attached and connected, so that with this attachment 8 a rotating press bottle (only works when the bottle is turned "upside down") becomes a standing soap dispenser bottle (also works without the bottle being rotated).

The size, shape, type, texture, angle of the shell surface in the cross section of the funnel 4 and the size, shape and functionality of the duckbill valve 52 determine the amount of liquid inside the funnel 4.

All components can be designed, manufactured and sold in a congruent manner, enlarged or reduced in size, and the entire bottle / dispenser 1 and its function remain the same; only the filling quantity and the liquid flow rate (with possible other characteristics) change.

The outer ring 31 has additional attachment points for the container 2 at the bottom, whereby the private end user can separate and reconnect the outer ring 31 including the pusher 5 from the container 2 at any time, e.g. for the purpose of (re-)filling the container 2 with new “liquid”/soap/shower gel etc.

In one embodiment, the underside of the container 2 has attachment points for a lid, so that the lid can be attached underneath the container (on its outside), but can be removed at any time and attached to the top of the pressing unit 5. According to various embodiments, there are attachment points for the lid on the inside of the pressing unit 5, so that it can be connected to the pressing unit 5, whereby the dispenser 1 together with the container/bottle body 2 is completely closed when required. Alternatively or additionally, a protective cover (sleeve) can be used.

The length and shape of the container 2 are not defined and are variable in production, so that the entire dispenser 1 can be made variably large or small. Depending on the customer's wishes and needs, dispensers of different sizes and shapes can be developed, manufactured and sold. The variable size of the entire dispenser 1, which is created by the variable size of the container 2, does not limit or change the functionality of the dispenser. The functionality remains the same.

Different structures or attachments 8 can be arranged on the push unit 5 so that the dispenser can be used for different purposes, such as as a soap dispenser, shower dispenser (i.e. reusable shower gel bottle), or spray bottle or similar. In addition, different push units 5 can be developed, manufactured and sold for the different applications so that attachment 8 and push unit 5 form a unit. In this case, no further attachments are required. In order to increase the number of purposes and the dispenser 1 can be used for different things, either further attachments 8 or further push units including different, innovative and additional pusher shapes and designs can be developed, manufactured and sold.

6A shows an alternative design of the attachment 8, so that a commercially available soap dispenser can be made from the soap dispenser according to the invention. For this purpose, the attachment 8 is attached to the pressing unit 5 by means of the third connecting element 56. A (flexible) pipe 81, preferably made of bioplastic and/or bio-based materials and/or renewable materials, leads through the through-opening 51 and extends into the funnel neck 41. A further (flexible) pipe 82, preferably made of bioplastic and/or bio-based materials and/or renewable materials, is attached to the first through-opening 33 and extends from the dispenser 1 to the bottom of the container 2, as in 6B shown.

Reference symbols

1

Donors

2

container

21

fourth connecting element

22

Segments

23

fifth connecting element

3

Filling unit

31

Outer ring

32

Base plate

33

first passage opening

34

first valve

35

Mounting device for funnel opening 42

4

funnel

41

funnel neck

42

Funnel opening

5

Press unit

51

second passage opening

52

second valve

53

Recording device

54

Floor

55

Dosing device

56

third connecting element

57

Supply air inlet

6

First connecting element

61

Guide rail

62

bolt

7

Second connecting element

8th

Essay

81

Pipe of attachment 8

82

Pipe of container 2

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102010048565 A1 [0008]

Claims (20)

Reusable and modular dispenser (1) for fluids, comprising a container (2) for receiving a fluid, a filling unit (3) for receiving a portion of the fluid, a funnel (4) made of flexible material, and a pressing unit (5) for dispensing the portion of the fluid, wherein the container (2) is coupled to the filling unit (3) and the filling unit (3) is coupled to the pressing unit (5) in such a way that they are arranged along a longitudinal axis L of the dispenser (1), wherein the pressing unit (5) is coupled to the filling unit (3) in such a way that the pressing unit (5) is mounted vertically along the longitudinal axis L of the dispenser (1) in the filling unit (3), wherein the filling unit (3) has at least one first through-opening (33) with a first valve (34), wherein the pressing unit (5) has at least one second through-opening (51) with a second valve (52), and wherein the funnel (4) is arranged in the filling unit (3) such that the funnel opening (42) encloses the first valve (34) of the filling unit (3) and the funnel neck (41) encloses the second valve (52) of the pressing unit (5). Reusable dispenser (1) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the filling unit (3) has a receiving device (35) for receiving the funnel opening (42), and/or the pressing unit (5) has a receiving device (53) for receiving the funnel neck (41). Reusable dispenser (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressing unit (5) has a base (54), wherein the through opening (51) is arranged in the base (54) and/or the filling unit (3) has an outer ring (31) and a base plate (32), wherein the through opening (33) is arranged in the base plate (32). Reusable dispenser (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (2) and/or the filling unit (3) has/have a first connecting element (6) for coupling the container (2) to the filling unit (3), and wherein the filling unit (3) and/or the pressing unit (5) has/have a second connecting element (7) for coupling the pressing unit (5) to the filling unit (3). Reusable dispenser (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the assembled state of the dispenser (1), the first valve (6), the second valve (7) and the funnel (4) are arranged one above the other along a longitudinal axis L of the dispenser (1) and the funnel opening (42) encloses an outlet side of the first valve (6) and the funnel neck (41) encloses an inlet side of the second valve (7). Reusable dispenser (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressing unit (5) has a dosing device (55). Reusable dispenser (1) according to Claim 6 , characterized in that the dosing device (55) is at least one recess in a side wall of the pressing unit. Reusable dispenser (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressing unit (5) has a third connecting element (56) for coupling to an attachment (8). Reusable dispenser (1) according to Claim 8 , characterized in that the attachment (8) is a lid or a dosing device (5). Reusable dispenser (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (2) has a fourth connecting element (21) below its base plate for receiving the lid. Reusable dispenser (1) according to Claim 1 , further comprising a protective cover. Reusable dispenser (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (2) is formed from several segments (22), wherein the segments (22) are connected to one another with a fifth connecting element (23). Reusable dispenser (1) according to Claim 4 or Claim 8 or Claim 10 or Claim 12 , characterized in that the second connecting element (7) and/or the third connecting element (56) and/or the fourth connecting element (21) and/or the fifth connecting element (23) are screw connections and/or plug connections. Reusable dispenser (1) according to Claim 4 , characterized in that the first connecting element (6) is a plug connection, wherein the plug connection has a guide rail (61) and a bolt (62). Reusable dispenser (1) according to Claim 14 , characterized in that the first connecting element (6) has a locking function. Reusable dispenser (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first valve (34) is an umbrella valve. Reusable dispenser (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second valve (52) is a duckbill valve. Reusable dispenser (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (2), the filling unit (3) and/or the pressing unit (5) are made of bioplastic and/or bio-based materials and/or renewable materials. Reusable dispenser (1) according to Claim 6 , characterized in that the dosing device (55) has at least one supply air inlet (57). Use of the dispenser (1) according to Claim 1 as a re-fill bottle for the provision of liquid soap, shower gel, shampoo and/or disinfectant.

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