EP0053329B1 - Container for the portionwise dispensing of a pasty product - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing a pasty good, e.g. B. toothpaste, with a well-absorbing cylinder, in which a piston is mounted on an axially displaceable, acted upon by a return spring piston rod, which is connected by a locking mechanism connected to it when the piston rod is actuated in the direction of the discharge opening on the piston rod the return movement of the piston rod, however, is fixed on the inner wall of the cylinder.

In a dispensing container of this type which has become known from FR-A 1 552 370 and is also intended for toothpaste, provision is made to use a double-acting clamping directional lock in the form of a double-acting tongue spring which is supported on the one hand on the inner wall of the container and on the other hand on a piston rod, and it is also known to mount the actuating part with respect to the housing enclosing the material by means of a compression spring. However, the actuating part is a push button which is enclosed in an annular collar of the container with respect to the discharge opening and to which the piston rod is connected in a uniform movement, so that the piston rod executes the reciprocating movements relative to the cylinder enclosing the material. This known container is not suitable for use in such a way that, when placed on a base, it can be operated from above by pressure with the finger. Handling by gripping and operating with the same hand is also difficult in that the filling material is ejected at the end of the container that is remote from the operating button. Since it is practically only possible to press the push button with one finger of the holding hand, usually with the thumb, the ejection will take place in the direction of the edge of the hand, which makes it practically impossible to apply the filling material in a targeted manner.

The object of the invention is, based on the described container, to remedy its disadvantages and to design a dispenser according to the preamble of claim 1 in accordance with FR-A 1 552 370 in an improved manner so that with simple, directionally constant actuation possibility on the side of the discharge opening and dispensing of filling material is possible independently of a counter pressure surface by means of ergonomically favorable one-hand operation.

The invention solves the problem in that the cylinder is mounted in a longitudinally displaceable manner in a housing-like container part, which also serves as a grip part and to which the piston guide rod is firmly connected, against the action of the back spring supported on it and the container part.

The return spring preferably consists of a compression spring, for. B. a helical compression spring which is supported on a at the rear end of the container part and on a support located on the underside of the cylinder.

The support on the container is expediently formed from the inside of the container base and the support on the cylinder from the lower ring end face.

The lower ring end face of the cylinder can be closed off by an underlying washer, on which one end of the return spring rests.

An advantageous further development of the dispensing container according to the invention consists in that the container part consists of a cylindrical body, the discharge-side end region of which has a stop for limiting the return stroke of the cylinder, and the bottom part of the container is inserted in the other end region. The bottom can be connected to the lower end region of the cylinder as soon as all the necessary parts including the goods and the cylinder have been introduced from there.

To limit the stroke of the cylinder, a collar serving as a stop for the disk can be formed on the inside of the container base.

The piston guide rod is fastened in the base of the container and its free end is expediently at a distance from the discharge end of the cylinder which is slightly greater than the stroke of the cylinder.

In addition, it is advantageous if the piston has a tapered upper section which - at least partially in a form-fitting manner - can be inserted into a tapered upper section of the cylinder up to just below its discharge end. This makes it possible to empty the cylinder almost completely.

A further embodiment of the invention consists in that at least one flexible lip seal cooperating with the piston guide rod is assigned to the piston head, that the piston guide rod has a constricted section starting at a distance A from its free end and extending towards this end, and the distance A is greater than the distance Z of the lip seal from the zone of engagement of the locking mechanism on the piston guide rod and that the length of the constricted section is at least slightly greater than the stroke of the cylinder.

These features guarantee that the piston is guided securely on the piston guide rod until the last possible portion is ejected and, due to the lip seal, is sealed off from the volume accommodating the contents in the area of the constricted section, because the flexible lip seal, without losing its function, also in Area of a lacing is effective. However, if the tongues of the locking device interacting with the piston guide rod reach the region of the constriction, they lose contact with the piston guide rod with the result that when the top of the cylinder is pressed, the piston is now also guided downwards again without that further contents can be dispensed. After the last possible portioning stroke, there is an arrangement in which only empty strokes are carried out. Compared to a version in which the further pressure actuation of the cylinder by hitting the piston crown would no longer be possible, the design that only allows empty strokes gives the user the right feeling of holding an empty container in his hand and not one with a malfunction.

A further advantageous embodiment of the dispensing container is that on the outside of the cylinder and on the inside of the container part, the corresponding rotation of these parts with respect to their common longitudinal axis preventing shape-corresponding parts, such as strips, cams, grooves or the like, for example in the form of an axial toothing, are arranged.

The anti-rotation device is particularly advantageous if, according to a further embodiment of the invention, the cylinder has a thread for a counter-thread of a screw cap at its discharge end and its section provided with this thread protrudes from the container part, the end face of the screw cap on the discharge side End face of the container part is supported.

This has the effect that when the closure cap is screwed on even if no or no complete return of the cylinder should have been achieved by the return spring, the cylinder is now retracted into its starting position by the screwing movement. Since the piston is carried along and there is no change in volume in the space accommodating the filling material, there is also no undesired filling material exit. However, what is achieved is that filling material begins to emerge from the dispensing opening as soon as the next printing movement begins.

In connection with a further feature known per se, which consists in the fact that an inner surface of the screw cap in the screwed-on position blocks the mouth cross section of the dispensing opening, in connection with the preceding features there is the further advantage that when the cap is screwed on it has the edge the discharge opening can automatically move under its sealing surface. If the lid and / or the material of the part that surrounds the dispensing opening is formed somewhat flexibly, the result is an excellent sealing effect, which in any case can effectively prevent the contents from escaping and drying out effectively.

The locking mechanism of the dispensing container is preferably formed by a one-piece, double-acting tongue spring.

The tongues of this tongue spring preferably start from a ring connecting the facing ends of the tongues and are essentially radially inward (inner tongues) on the one hand and radially outward (outer tongues) on the other hand and each run at an acute angle between the plane of rotation of the ring and with their free ends inclined towards the bottom of the container.

• Unter Aufgabe der unmittelbaren Betätigung des Zylinders ist in dem ohnehin vorliegenden Teilungsspalt zwischen den beiden relativ zueinander bewegbaren Grundbauteilen des Spendebehälters, nämlich Behälterteil und Zylinder, ein Spreizelement zwischengeschaltet.

Another preferred embodiment of the dispensing container according to the invention is described below:

• With the task of direct actuation of the cylinder, an expansion element is interposed in the dividing gap, which is present anyway, between the two basic components of the dispensing container which can be moved relative to one another, namely the container part and the cylinder.

For this purpose, the container part is extended by a support stop for a spreading wedge forming a pushbutton which extends over the top of the end of the cylinder and whose spreading surface, which increases the distance between the support stop and the top, rests on the top of the end.

Such an expansion wedge can be optimally designed to save energy in terms of its actuation path, such that a larger actuation path is opposed to a shorter displacement path of the cylinder.

In order to be able to use the action of the return spring for the expansion wedge, which loads the cylinder and container part in the direction of their basic position, it is advantageous that the inclined connecting straight line between the expansion surface and the support point of the expansion wedge on the support stop does not reach beyond the dead center position when the wedge is actuated.

A structurally advantageous, captive assignment of the expansion wedge is further provided by the fact that the support point lies behind a nose which is arranged on the underside of the support stop and is directed towards the top of the closure.

The measure serves the same goal that the expansion wedge is encompassed at its actuating end by the edge of the container part. In order to protect the actuating mechanism from accidental contact, the cap usually present on such dispensers is integrated as a securing means and the relevant design is carried out so that the mouthpiece of the cylinder formed by a pipe socket-like output channel passes through the support stop and beyond the support stop with one on the Top of the support stopper screw cap is equipped. This leads to a blockage of the relative movement of the cylinder and the container part.

The actuating surface of the expanding wedge is approximately semicircular. With a correspondingly circular cross section of the dispenser container, there is an extremely large actuation area. Accordingly, the actuating finger is not so directional. The operator picks up the dispenser in the most convenient way.

In order to achieve a balanced actuation load, the further embodiment is such that the expanding wedge is fork-shaped and the two fork tines are arranged on both sides of the output channel.

Another advantageous solution with regard to the expanding wedge is to design it as a sliding wedge which can be displaced transversely to the longitudinal direction of the cylinder.

Another possibility is to design the expanding wedge as a rotating wedge.

Such spreading elements designed in the manner of an eccentric can be stored inexpensively, for. B. characterized in that the two relatively movable components in the assignment area of the rotary wedge bearing openings are formed, which receive the rotary wedge axis and correspondingly shift the operating stroke relative to each other. Such an axis advantageously consists of molded stub axles.

• Figur 1 Einen Teil-Längsschnitt durch einen gefüllten Spendebehälter,
• Figur 2 einen Teil-Längsschnitt durch den oberen Abschnitt des weitestmöglich entleerten Behälters,
• Figur 3 den Spendebehälter nach einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel in perspektivischer Darstellung,
• Figur 4 diesen Spendebehälter im Längsschnitt, und zwar im unteren Teil im Schnitt gemäß Linie IV-IV in Fig. 5 und im oberen Teil in einem versetzten Parallelschnitt gemäß Linie V-V in Fig. 5,
• Figur 5 die Draufsicht zu Fig. 3,
• Figur 6 den Schnitt gemäß Linie IV-IV in Fig. 5 mit gesicherter Verschlußstellung,
• Figur 7 den Schnitt gemäß Linie V-V in Fig. 5 bei Betätigungsstellung,
• Figur 8 den Spendebehälter gemäß einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel, und zwar in einer Darstellung wie Fig. 6,
• Figur 9 die Draufsicht zu Fig. 8,
• Figur 10 den Spendebehälter gemäß einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel, und zwar in Darstellung wie Fig. 6, und
• Figur 11 den Schnitt gemäß Linie IX-IX, und zwar aus Deutlichkeitsgründen in einem Schnittebenen-Wechsel, der aber nicht näher angedeutet ist.

Further advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention also result from the following descriptions with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. The drawings show (approximately on a scale of 2: 1):

• FIG. 1 shows a partial longitudinal section through a filled dispensing container,
• FIG. 2 shows a partial longitudinal section through the upper section of the container that has been emptied as far as possible,
• FIG. 3 shows the dispensing container according to a further exemplary embodiment in a perspective illustration,
• 4 shows this dispensing container in longitudinal section, specifically in the lower part in section along line IV-IV in FIG. 5 and in the upper part in an offset parallel section according to line VV in FIG. 5,
• FIG. 5 shows the top view of FIG. 3,
• FIG. 6 shows the section along line IV-IV in FIG. 5 with the locking position secured,
• FIG. 7 shows the section along line VV in FIG. 5 in the actuation position,
• 8 shows the dispensing container according to a further exemplary embodiment, specifically in a representation like FIG. 6,
• FIG. 9 shows the top view of FIG. 8,
• 10 shows the dispensing container according to a further embodiment, specifically as shown in FIG. 6, and
• Figure 11 shows the section along line IX-IX, for clarity in a change of section level, but which is not indicated.

The dispensing container 10 has a cylinder 12 which holds the filling material 11, for example toothpaste, the underside 13 of which is open and the upper end 14 of which has a straight section 16 which serves as a pushbutton 15 and which is followed by a tubular discharge channel 17 with a discharge opening 18 at the end. The filling material 11 is located within the cylinder 12 between the discharge opening 18 and a piston 19. Its upper part 20 has a diameter which is smaller than the inner diameter of the cylinder 12 and an outline which allows it to taper into the interior 21 of a enter upper section 22 of the cylinder 12, which is formed below the push button (see. In particular. Fig. 2). The piston 19 is guided on the inner jacket 23 of the cylinder 12 with circumferential sealing lips 24 and 25.

A disc 27 is loosely inserted on the lower ring end face 25 of the cylinder 12, on the underside of which a return spring 28, which is designed here as a helical compression spring 29, is supported. The second support for the compression spring 28 is formed from the inside 30 of a bottom 31 of a container part 32. The container bottom 31 is coupled to the container part 32 by a plug connection, for which purpose a locking connection 33 consisting of an annular bead and an annular groove is used.

The container part 32 is cylindrical and surrounds the cylinder 12 with the exception of its upper sections 22 and 34. At least in one area, the outside 36 of the cylinder 12 and the inside 37 of the container part 32 have corresponding, essentially axially aligned plug-in coupling means in the form of ribs and grooves or the like. Devices which prevent the cylinder 12 in the container part 32 from rotating about the longitudinal axis B. The length 35 to be provided in the direction of the axis B is expediently greater than a portioning stroke.

The size of the portioning stroke in the present exemplary embodiment results from the distance 38 between the underside of the disc 27 and the top of a collar 39 formed on the inside 30 of the base 31. The cylinder 12 can be moved by the length of the distance 38 by pressure in the direction of arrow 49 on the push button 15 relative to the container part 32 against the action of the return spring 28 after the screw cap 40 has been removed.

A piston guide rod 41 is fastened coaxially to the longitudinal center axis in the collar 39 of the base 31. Its free end 42 ends at a distance 43 from the underside of the pushbutton 15 of the upper end 14 of the cylinder 12, this distance 43 preferably being somewhat larger than the distance 38 corresponding to the stroke. This prevents the underside of the end 14 from opening the piston guide rod 41 hits before the maximum desired stroke has been carried out. However, the length of the piston guide rod 41 could also be used to limit the stroke. If distance 38 is greater than distance 43, the latter would determine the portion stroke.

In order to be able to gradually move the piston 19 towards the dispensing opening 18 for the purpose of dispensing filling material, it is loaded on its underside by a tongue spring 44 or the like, which in each case has inner tongues 45 and outer tongues 46 in an approximately radial arrangement, which passes through a common connecting ring 47 are held together. Both the inner tongues 45 and the outer tongues 46 are inclined slightly downwards towards the inside 30 of the container bottom 31. The inner tongues 45 can come into clamping engagement with the outer jacket 48 of the piston guide rod 41, while the outer tongues can come into active contact with the inner jacket 23 of the cylinder 12.

• Übt man in Richtung des Pfeiles 49 einen Druck auf die Drucktaste 15 aus, sei es, daß der Spendebehälter 10 mit seinem Boden 31 auf einer Unterlage steht, oder sei es, daß man den zugleich als Griffstück dienenden Behälterteil 32 in die Bedienungshand nimmt, so wird der Zylinder 12 relativ zum Behälterteil 32 nach unten geschoben. Da auf den Kolbenboden in gleicher Richtung ein Druck ausgeübt wird, verkrallen sich die Zungen 45 an der Kolbenführungsstange 41, so daß der Kolben 19 nicht in Richtung auf den Behälterboden 31 bewegt werden kann. Wegen der entsprechenden Neigung der Außenzungen 46 der Zungenfeder 44 ist es jedoch dem Zylinder 12 ohne weiteres möglich, relativ zu dem festgehaltenen Kolben 19 heruntergeführt zu werden. Hierdurch verringert sich das Volumen 50 des Zylinders 12, in dem sich das Füllgut 11 befindet, mit der Folge, daß eine Portion des Füllgutes aus der Ausgabeöffnung 18 austritt, deren Volumen dem verdrängten Volumenteil entspricht. Nach Applikation des Füllgutes wird die Drucktaste 15 entlastet und der Zylinder 12 durch die Druckfeder 29 nach oben geführt. Hierbei verkrallen sich die Außenzungen 46 der Zungenfeder 44 an der Zylinderinnenwand 23, während sich die Klemmkeilwirkung zwischen den Innenzungen 45 und der Kolbenführungsstange 41 aufhebt. Deshalb wird der Kolben 19 mit dem Rückhub des Zylinders 12 zurückgeführt, wobei das gegenwärtige Volumen 50 konstant bleibt. Diese nun erhaltene Stellung unterscheidet sich von der Ausgangsstellung nach Fig. 1 dadurch, daß der Kolben 19 jetzt um eine Hublänge (Maß 38) über dem ursprünglichen Niveau steht. Der Rückhub des Zylinders 12 wird durch einen oberseitigen Anschlag 51 am Ende des Behälterteils 32 begrenzt, welcher Anschlag 51 als nach innen weisender Ringkragen ausgebildet ist, dem eine Anschlagschulter 52 des Zylinders 12 angepaßt ist.

This results in the following functionality:

• If one presses the pushbutton 15 in the direction of arrow 49, be it that the dispensing container 10 stands with its base 31 on a base, or be it that the container part 32, which also serves as a handle, is taken into the operating hand the cylinder 12 is pushed down relative to the container part 32. Since pressure is exerted on the piston head in the same direction, the tongues 45 cling to the piston guide rod 41 so that the piston 19 cannot be moved in the direction of the container bottom 31. Because of the corresponding inclination of the outer tongues 46 of the tongue spring 44, however, it is readily possible for the cylinder 12 to be brought down relative to the piston 19 held in place. This reduces the volume 50 of the cylinder 12 in which the filling material 11 is located, with the result that a portion of the filling material emerges from the dispensing opening 18, the volume of which corresponds to the displaced volume part. After application of the filling material, the push button 15 is relieved and the cylinder 12 is guided upwards by the compression spring 29. Here, the outer tongues 46 of the tongue spring 44 cling to the cylinder inner wall 23, while the clamping wedge action between the inner tongues 45 and the piston guide rod 41 is canceled. Therefore, the piston 19 is returned with the return stroke of the cylinder 12, the current volume 50 remaining constant. This position now obtained differs from the starting position according to FIG. 1 in that the piston 19 is now one stroke length (dimension 38) above the original level. The return stroke of the cylinder 12 is limited by an abutment 51 on the end of the container part 32, which abutment 51 is designed as an inwardly facing annular collar to which a stop shoulder 52 of the cylinder 12 is adapted.

The dispenser 10 according to the invention is designed so that its interior can be largely emptied. This also applies in particular to the upper end section 22. This is shown in FIG. 2. The illustration is to be understood in such a way that the last possible metering portion has been expelled with the cylinder 12 which has just been pressed down. In this position, the top of the upper piston section 20 is only a minimal distance from the underside of the upper end 14 of the cylinder 12. Essentially, there is now only good inside the delivery channel 17. This is essentially possible in that the piston rod 41 is guided as far up as possible and the piston can enter the upper section 22.

In order to give the user the certainty that the container is actually emptied after the last possible dosing portion has been ejected, it is designed in such a way that the cylinder executes an idle stroke each time the pushbutton 15 is pressed, without the piston being moved and without the piston striking the piston guide rod 41 against the underside of the floor, with simultaneous clamping action. The means that cause this initially include a slightly constricted section 53 in the end region of the piston guide rod 41. The diameter of the constricted section 53 is dimensioned such that the inner tongues 45 of the tongue spring 44, as soon as they enter this region, make a clamping contact with the piston guide rod 41 can no longer enter. The length L of the constricted section 53 is slightly larger than a stroke (distance 38), and advantageously the constricted section begins at a distance A from the free end of the piston guide rod 41. This distance A is slightly larger than the distance Z between the clamping edges of the inner tongues 45 and a lip seal 54 arranged in the area of the piston crown and in operative contact with the piston rod 41, also with the constricted section 53. The piston 19 now comes to an upper position in which the inner cords 45 enter the area of the constricted section 3 and thus lose contact with the piston guide rod 41, the sealing lips 54 are still in contact with the upper end portion of the piston guide rod 41, so that no filling material can pass down through the bore of the piston head. If - starting from the state according to FIG. 2 - the cylinder 12 is retracted upward, the piston is taken upwards via the clamped connection outer tongues 46 / inner cylinder jacket 23. Pressing the pushbutton 15 again causes the piston, since it can no longer be supported on the piston rod 41, to be pressed down again without any effort. Of course, no more content is conveyed out through the discharge opening 18. The user now knows that the container is empty.

In the example shown, there is still a section of normal size above the constricted section 53 in order to ensure the best possible sealing effect between the lip seal 54 and this section. There However, if the sealing lip 54 is required to also seal in the region of the constricted section 53, the latter could also extend upwards over the entire length A.

After the return stroke (FIG. 1), the cylinder 12 emerges with its upper section 22 out of the container part 32 upwards. On the outside, this section 22 is provided with a thread 55 which interacts with a counter thread 56 on the corresponding inside of the screw cap 40. The parts are dimensioned such that the lower end face 57 of the screw cap 40 can be supported on the upper end face 58 of the container part 32. Since even in the depressed position of the cylinder 12, at least one detectable threaded projection looks out of the container part 32, it is therefore possible to pull the cylinder 12 out of the container part 32 with the screwing motion when the cap is screwed on. This can be particularly advantageous in the event that, for some unpredictable reason, the return spring 28 alone should not be able to carry out the complete return stroke. Otherwise, the screw cap 40 has a conical inner surface 59, which is adapted to the inclination of the plane of the discharge opening 18, and has such a dimension that a first loose contact of the conical surface 49, which acts as a sealing surface, on the ring end face surrounding the mouth 61 of the discharge opening 18 60 has already taken place before the stop surfaces 52 and 51 of cylinder 12 and container part 32 already abut one another. Particularly when the screw cap 40 and / or the dispensing channel 17 are made of elastic material, the dispensing opening 18 is sealed in a particularly secure manner by screwing the cap 40 on to tighten this connection.

A further container according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 2 to 7: The dispensing container, designated in its entirety by 10, has a pasty filling material 11, such as in particular toothpaste, which holds the cylinder 12. Its underside 13 is open. The cylinder 12 has a closure 14 at the top. The top of this part is designated 14 '.

A discharge channel 17 extends from the closure 14, arranged eccentrically and aligned parallel to the longitudinal central axis x-x of the dispenser container. The channel section upstream of its outlet opening 18 is reduced in cross-section compared to the bottom channel section. Its transition area in the lower third carries a thread 55 on the outside. This interacts with a counter thread 56 on the corresponding inside of a screw cap 40. The latter, with its lower, annular end face 57, meets the upper end face 58 of a container part 32 which is also cylindrical.

The container part 32 continues in a support stop S which extends over the top 14 'of the end 14 of the cylinder 12. The latter is formed by a bottom section 32 'of the container part 32 which extends parallel to the end 14 of the cylinder 12 and leaves an opening 51' free for the dispensing channel 17 which forms a pipe socket-like mouthpiece of the dispensing container. The opening is of such a diameter that the mouthpiece remains freely displaceable after the screw cap 40 has been removed.

There is an expansion wedge K between the support stop S and the upper side 14 'of the end 14. Its spreading surface A, which increases the distance y between the support stop S and the upper side 14' of the end 14, rests on the upper side 14 '. The basic position of the expanding wedge K is shown in FIG. 4.

The expanding wedge K continues in a freely accessible pushbutton 15. The actuating area is designated D. Seen in cross-section, it has somewhat more than a semicircular shape. Reference is made to FIG. 5.

For the passage of the push button actuation end, the bottom section 32 'forming the support stop S has a shape-appropriate opening, to the extent that the necessary freedom of movement remains for the gag-like expanding wedge K relative to the rim 32 "of the container part 32 surrounding the actuation end of the push button.

The front end of the edge 32 ″, while maintaining the jacket shape of the cylinder 12, is level with the bottom section 32 ′ forming the support stop S.

The spreading area A lies in the area of the longitudinal central axis xx of the dispensing container 10. The connecting line G, which is inclined at approximately 50 ° to the displacement axis of the cylinder 12, between the spreading area A and the support point S 'of the spreading wedge K on the support stop S does not exceed the dead center position, so that the return spring 28 loading the cylinder 12 and the container part 32 in the basic position also maintains the actuation-ready position of the pushbutton 15.

The connecting line G between the spreading area A and the support point S 'is shorter than the pushbutton actuating area of the expanding wedge K. The ratio is approximately 1: 2.

The support point S 'lies behind a nose N of the support stop S facing the housing. The nose sits on the underside of this support stop S and extends perpendicularly to the upper side 14' of the closure 14. It engages in a depression M of the section of the expanding wedge K which forms the gag and sets it unmovable. The latter is fork-shaped. The two fork tines 15 'encompass the dispensing channel 17 in the region of the distance y of the dispensing container 10. The fork shape results from FIG. 5.

The movement of the expansion wedge pushes the piston 19 in the direction of the dispensing opening 18. The piston has a pot shape and is with molded circumferential sealing lips 24, 25 guided on the inner jacket 23 of the cylinder 12.

A loosely inserted disk 27 is located on the lower end face 26 of the cylinder 12. The return spring 28 is supported on the underside thereof. It is a helical compression spring.

The second support for the return spring 28 is closed from the inside 30 of a cover-like bottom 31 which closes the housing container 32 from below and can be clipped on. The bottom is also the carrier of the piston guide rod 41. This extends in the longitudinal center plane x-x of the dispensing container 10 and ends at a distance in front of the inside of the closure 14 of the cylinder 12, which corresponds to at least the maximum actuation stroke by the expanding wedge K.

In order to be able to move the piston 19 for the purpose of attaching filler portions to a gradual movement in the direction of the dispensing opening 18, a tongue spring 44 is connected to the bottom of the piston by means of detent means, the inner tongues 45 and Outer tongues 46 carries, the latter are held together by a common connecting ring 47. As can be seen, both the inner tongues 45 and the outer tongues 46 are inclined slightly downward toward the inner side 30 of the container 1. The inner tongues 45 can come into clamping engagement with the jacket 48 of the piston guide rod 41, while the outer tongues 46 come into active contact with the inner jacket 23 of the cylinder 12. The disc 27 is perforated centrally for free passage of the piston guide rod 41.

• Übt man in Richtung des Pfeiles 49 Druck auf die Drucktaste 15 aus, so verschiebt die Abspreizfläche A des sich am Stützanschlag S abstützenden Spreizkeils K den Zylinder 12 in Richtung des Behälterbodens 31. Diese Relativverschiebung von Zylinder 12 und Gehäusebehälter 32 drückt eine dem Hub entsprechende Menge Füllgut 11 aus. Dabei wird immer die gleiche Menge ausgegeben, da sich die der Drucktasten-Betätigungsfläche D gegenüberliegende Unterseite der Drucktaste 15 anschlagbegrenzend auf die Oberseite 14' des Abschlusses 14 legt. Dabei ist die mit G bezeichnete Verbindungsgerade in eine steilere Lage getreten (vgl. Fig. 7), und zwar unter leichter Verschiebung der Abspreizfläche A auf der Oberseite 14' des Abschlusses 14 in Richtung der dortigen Gehäusewandung. Bei dieser Operation bleibt der Kolben 19 infolge seiner sperrend wirkenden Innenzungen 45 an der Kolbenführungsstange 41 unverschiebbar festgelegt. Hingegen erlauben die Außenzungen 46 ein Abwärtsgleiten des Zylinders entgegen der Federkraft. Läßt man die Drucktaste 15 los, so verkrallen sich nun die Außenzungen 46 am Zylinder und die Innenzungen 45 gleiten an der Kolbenführungsstange, bewirkt durch die Kraft der Rückstellfeder 28, nach oben. Da, wie oben erläutert, die Verbindungsgerade G zwischen Abspreizflache A und Abstützstelle S' nicht in bzw. über die Totpunktlage (kürzeste Verbindung zwischen Abstützanschlag S und Oberseite 14' des Abschlusses 14) hinausgelangt, bewirkt die Rückstellfeder 28 zugleich auch die Herbeiführung der Grundstellung für die Drucktaste 15. Bringt man anschließend die Schraubverschlußkappe 40 wieder auf, so daß deren Stirnfläche 57 gegen die korrespondierende obere Stirnfläche 58 des Behälterteils 32 tritt, so ist die Betätigung der Drucktaste 15 blockiert.

The following function results:

• If pressure is exerted on the pushbutton 15 in the direction of arrow 49, the spreading surface A of the expanding wedge K supported on the support stop S displaces the cylinder 12 in the direction of the container bottom 31. This relative displacement of the cylinder 12 and the housing container 32 presses a quantity corresponding to the stroke Fill 11 out. In this case, the same amount is always dispensed, since the underside of the push button 15 opposite the push button actuating surface D lies on the upper side 14 ′ of the closure 14 in a limit-limiting manner. The connecting straight line labeled G has entered a steeper position (cf. FIG. 7), namely with a slight displacement of the spreading area A on the upper side 14 'of the closure 14 in the direction of the housing wall there. In this operation, the piston 19 remains immovably fixed on the piston guide rod 41 due to its locking inner tongues 45. On the other hand, the outer tongues 46 allow the cylinder to slide downward against the spring force. If you let go of the push button 15, the outer tongues 46 now grip the cylinder and the inner tongues 45 slide on the piston guide rod, brought about by the force of the return spring 28, upwards. Since, as explained above, the straight line G between the spreading area A and the support point S 'does not get into or beyond the dead center position (shortest connection between the support stop S and the upper side 14' of the closure 14), the return spring 28 also brings about the establishment of the basic position for the push button 15. If the screw cap 40 is then brought back on, so that its end face 57 comes into contact with the corresponding upper end face 58 of the container part 32, the actuation of the push button 15 is blocked.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 8 and 9, a sliding wedge K 'which can be displaced transversely to the longitudinal direction of the cylinder takes the place of a toggle-like expanding wedge. The latter rests on the upper side 14 'of the closure 14 in a cross-displaceable manner. Its upper side forms a wedge surface 65. The counter-wedge surface is formed by the support stop S which extends over the upper side 14' of the closure 14. A fork shape is also used here. Compressed springs F, which are supported on abutments of the cylinder 12 formed by standing tabs 14 ", emerge from the end faces of the fork tines 15 'in the blind bores of the sliding wedge K'. Since there is otherwise functional correspondence to the example explained above, a further illustration and others will be given The captive assignment of the sliding wedge K 'can be achieved by means of the clip connection, as can be seen from the plan view (FIG. 9). Instead of two compression springs F, a single annular spring F' can also be located between the rear wall 15 "of the sliding wedge K 'and a middle standing flap 14' "of the cylinder 12 are provided, which standing flap 14 '" with its wedge-side surface also forms the limit stop for the sliding wedge K'. The rear wall 15 ″ ends with the wall of the cylinder. The wall of the housing container is cut away there for the accessibility to operation.

The exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 10 and 11 uses a rotating wedge K ". This expanding wedge, which acts as an eccentric, loads the upper side 14 'of the end 14 of the cylinder with its fork tines 15' to be designed as curved runners. The fork tines 15 'are horizontally aligned support pins 66 In this embodiment, too, the housing container 32 continues in a support stop S which covers the top 14 'of the closure 14 for the rotary wedge K' forming the pushbutton actuating surface D, the distance y between the support stop S and the top 14 'of the closure 14 enlarging spreading area A formed by the runners rests on the top 14 'of the closure 14. The support pins 66 lie in a bearing opening 67 formed by the container part 32 and the cylinder 12. The correspondingly oppositely oriented bearing tabs 68 and 69 are adjacent to one another and overlap (cf. FIG. 11). One storage trough continues upwards into an open slot, which when the Cylinder 12 takes over the leadership of the support pin 66.

Claims (24)

1. A dispensing container (10) for dispensing portions of paste-like materials such as toothpaste, with a cylinder (12) to accept the material, containing a piston (19) mounted on a axially movable piston rod (41) loaded by a return spring (28), whereby the piston is, by means of a clamping lock connected to it, moved on the piston rod (41) towards the outlet opening (18) when the piston rod is actuated but is held fast at the inner wall of the cylinder when the piston rod moves back, characterised in that the cylinder (12) is borne in and can be longitudinally slid within a container housing (32) suitable for being held in the hand, this housing (32) being rigidly connected to the piston guide rod (41), whereby the sliding motion is performed against the action of the return spring (28) which acts between the cylinder and the container housing (32).

2. Dispensing container according to claim 1, characterised in that the return spring (28) consists of a compression spring, for instance a helical compression spring (29), supported on a rest surface located at the rear end of the container housing and a rest surface located on the bottom face of the cylinder.

3. Dispensing container according to claim 2, characterised in that the rest surface on the container housing (32) is formed by the inside surface (30) of the base (31) of the container housing and that the rest surface on the cylinder (12) is formed by its lower ring face surface (26).

4. Dispensing container according to claim 2, characterised in that the lower ring face surface (26) of the cylinder (12) is closed off by a disc or washer (27) placed beneath it, on which one end of the return spring (28) rests.

5. Dispensing container according to claims 3 or 4, characterised in that the container housing (32) consists of a cylindrical body whose dispensing end has an end-stop (51) to limit the return stroke of the cylinder (12), into the other end region of which the base (31) of the container housing is inserted.

6. Dispensing container according to claim 4, characterised in that a collar (39) serving as end-stop for the disc or washer (37) is formed onto the inside surface (30) of the base (31) of the container housing, for the purpose of limiting the stroke of the cylinder (12).

7. Dispensing container according to one of the above claims, characterised in that the piston guide rod (41) is fixed in the base (31) of the container housing and that the free end (42) of the piston guide rod (41) is separated from the dispensing end (14) of the cylinder (12) by a distance slightly greater than the stroke length of the cylinder (12).

8. Dispensing container according to claim 7, characterised in that the piston (19) has a narrowed upper section, at least partially matched in shape to and capable of being inserted into a narrowed upper section (22) of the cylinder (12) sufficiently far that it is then directly underneath the dispensing end (14) of the cylinder.

9. Dispensing container according to claims 7 or 8, characterised in that one or more flexible lip seals (54) acting in conjunction with the piston guide rod (41) is (are) allotted to the piston upper part (20), in that the piston guide rod (41) has a constricted section (53) starting at a distance (A) from its free end and continuing in the direction of said free end and that the distance (A) is greater than the distance (Z) between the lip seal (54) and the gripping zone of the clamping lock (44) on the piston guide rod (41), and in that the length (L) of the constricted section (53) is slightly greater or much greater than the stroke length of the cylinder (12).

10. Dispensing container according to claim 1, characterised in that parts such as strips, cogs, grooves or the like, matchingly shaped in respect of their common longitudinal axis (B) to form a resembling axial toothing, are located on the outside surface of the cylinder (12) and the inside surface of the container part (32). for the purpose of preventing these two parts (12 and 32) from rotating relative to one another.

11. Dispensing container according to claim 1, characterised in that the cylinder (12) has at its dispensing end a thread (55) for the mating thread (56) of a screw cap (40) and that the threaded section (22) projects out of the container housing (32).

12. Dispensing container according to claim 11, characterised in that the upper surface (57) of the screw cap (40) can be supported on the dispenser-side upper surface (55) of the container housing (32).

13. Dispensing container according to claims 11 or 12, characterised in that an inside surface (59) of the screw cap (40) closes off the mouth crosssection (61) of the material-output hole (18) when the cap (40) is screwed on.

14. Dispensing container according to claim 1, characterised in that the clamping lock is formed by a single-piece double-acting tongue spring (44).

15. Dispensing container according to claim 14, characterised in that the tongues of the tongue spring (44) start at a ring (47) which connects those ends of the tonges which point towards one another, in that the tongues are respectively mainly pointing radially inwards (inner tongues 45) and radially outwards (outer tongues 46), and in that the tongues run inclined at an acute angle to the plane of rotation of the ring (47) and that their free ends meet at an inclined angle the bottom (31) of the container housing.

16. Dispensing container according to claim 1, characterised in that the container housing (32) is made longer by a support end-stop (S) extending over the top surface (14') of the end (14) of the cylinder (12) for a spreading wedge (K and/or K' and/or K") which forms a pushbutton, whereby the spreading surface (A) of the support end-stop increases the distance (Y) between the support end-stop and the top surface (14') and rests on the top surface (14').

17. Dispensing container according to claim 16, characterised in that the inclined straight line (G) joining the spreading surface (A) and the support place (S') of the spreading wedge (K) at the support end-stop (S) does not move beyond the dead-centre point when the wedge is actuated.

18. Dispensing container according to claim 17, characterised in that the support place (S') lies behind a nose (N) located on the bottom surface of the support end-stop (S) and which points towards the top surface (14') of the end (14).

19. Dispensing container according to claim 16, characterised in that the acting end of the spreading wedge (K) is surrounded by and gripped by the edge (32") of the container housing (32).

20. Dispensing container according to claim 16, characterised in that the mouthpiece of the cylinder (12), which is formed by a material-output channel (17) similar to a pipe junction connection, goes through the support end-stop (S) and is fitted with a screw cap (40) on the other side of the support end-stop (S), whereby the screw cap (40) seats onto the top surface of the support end-stop (S).

21. Dispensing container according to claim 19 characterised in that the acting surface (D) of the spreading wedge (K) is about semicircular in shape.

22. Dispensing container according to claim 16, characterised in that the spreading wedge (K) is fork-shaped and the two legs of the fork are located on either side of the material-output channel (17).

23. Dispensing container according to claim 16, characterised in that the spreading wedge is formed as a sliding wedge (K') which can be slid transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder.

24. Dispensing container according to claim 16, characterised in that the spreading wedge is formed as a rotating wedge (K").

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