EP0953512A1

EP0953512A1 - Dosing device for bottles or tubes

Info

Publication number: EP0953512A1
Application number: EP98202977A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Franco Torti
Original assignee: Asso Plast Srl
Current assignee: Asso Plast Srl
Priority date: 1998-04-29
Filing date: 1998-09-05
Publication date: 1999-11-03
Also published as: IT1306329B1; ITPV980007A1

Abstract

Dosing device (11) for bottles or tubes which consists of a body (12) having an outside vertical wall (13) closed on the upper side by a surface (14), said surface (14) having a hole (15) which is coaxial with a hole (16) obtained on a plane (17) parallel to the surface, a tongue (24) which protrudes from a button (22) sliding between the plane and the surface, said tongue being provided with a hole (26) coaxial with the holes (15,16) when the button is in its active position. A lowering area (27) has been provided in proximity of the point of connection of the tongue to the button allowing the tongue to move in a linear manner between the surface and the plane.

Description

The present invention relates to a dosing device for bottles or tubes. Bottles or cream tubes are provided with caps which have to be unscrewed when the product has to be used. Sometimes the cap falls down and it is not so simple to find it again, and therefore, even when the cream tube is not used, it remains without its closing cap.
Another disadvantage of the closing devices for tubes known in the art is that the cream remains in contact with the air since the passage through the dosing cap is too long and this exposure to the air causes the cream to oxidize and dry up, thus obstructing the exit of the cream when the product is used again.
Another disadvantage consists in that when the cap is opened, the cream splashes out.
A further disadvantage is due to the excess of cream present in the cap when the tube is accidentally squashed and therefore, while opening the cap, it is possible to get dirty with the cream which was in contact with the cap.
The purpose of the present invention is to solve the problems mentioned above.
The technical problem to be solved is the production of a dosing device for bottles and tubes capable of being easily adapted to the various kinds of packages and of securing a perfect closing of the cap, avoiding the exposure of the product to the air and allowing the desired quantity of cream to be completely removed.
The solution of this technical problem is characterised in that the dosing device consists of a body having an outside vertical wall closed on the upper side by a surface having a hole which is substantially coaxial with a hole obtained on a plane parallel to said surface, a vertical wall parallel to the outside wall extending from said plane, a button being provided in a recess formed on said outside vertical wall and protruding with a tongue which passes between said surface and said parallel plane, a hole obtained on said tongue being positioned coaxially with some holes obtained on said surface and on said plane when said button passes from an inactive position to an active position, first means being provided to fasten said device to said bottle or tube and second means being provided to maintain said plane into an inactive position.
Further characteristics and advantages will be more apparent from the ensuing description and from the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a tube having the device object of the present invention, and
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the device of Figure 1.
With reference to Figure 1, numeral 10 generally indicates a tube containing some cream to which a dosing device 11 has been fixed, as explained hereinafter.
This dosing device 11 consists of a body 12 having an outside vertical wall 13 closed on the upper side by a surface 14, said surface 14 having a hole 15 which is substantially coaxial with a hole 16 obtained on a plane 17 parallel to the surface 14, a vertical wall 18 parallel to the outside wall 13 extending from said plane 17. The upper side of said vertical wall 18 is closed by the plane 17 and the tube 10 is fixed onto a collar 20 which is positioned inside said tube 10. Some laminae 19 are placed radially with respect to the wall 18 and fall on the end of the tube 10, preventing the dosing device 11 from rotating on the axis of the tube 10. This clutch takes place quickly and by pressure and therefore the dosing device 11 can be used on another tube when the first one is empty.
The collar 20, as stated hereinabove, is positioned inside the tube 10 in order to easily convey the cream through the hole 16 when the tube is squashed.
The outside vertical wall 13 has a window 21 which is closed by a button 22. Said button 22 can oscillate around a pin 23 positioned on the vertical wall 13, as is explained hereinafter.
One end of the button 22 protrudes with a tongue 24 which is guided along its linear movements by the plane 17 and by the surface 14. In its inactive position shown in Figure 2, the tongue 24 has a gibbosity 25 in proximity of the hole 15 so that said tongue 24 is prevented from moving in a linear way between the surface 14 and the plane 17 if the button 22 is not pressed with a certain strength.
The tongue 24 has a hole 26 which is displaced with respect to the axis of the holes 15 and 16 when the button 22 is in an inactive position.
By pressing the button 22 on the point indicated by the arrow A and breaking down the resistance of the gibbosity 25 against the hole 15, the tongue 24 runs between the surface 14 and the plane 17 so that the hole 26 and the holes 15 and 16 are on the same axis.
By aligning the three holes 15,16 and 26, the cream can come out of the tube 10.
By pressing again the button 22 on the point indicated by the arrow B and then releasing it, the tongue 24 returns to its inactive position, i.e. the hole 26 is no longer aligned with the holes 15 and 16 and the gibbosity 25 engages the hole 15 to prevent the tongue 24 from moving between the surface 14 and the plane 17.
In this way, a safety means is obtained which stops the cream from coming out when the tube 10 is incidentally compressed.
In order to move in a linear way the tongue 24 between the surface 14 and the plane 17 when the button 22 is pressed in the point A, a lowering area 27 has been provided in proximity of the point of connection of the tongue 24 to the button 22.
Another advantage of the dosing device according to the present invention is that the cream cannot get in contact with the air and then be oxidised. It also allows to draw the desired quantity of cream.
It is also possible to turn the tube upside down and to lay the surface 14 on a shelf in order to put it in the shop-windows. Furthermore, when the cream has been drawn, the tube returns to its original shape.

Claims

Dosing device for bottles or tubes characterised in that it consists of a body having an outside vertical wall closed on the upper side by a surface having a hole which is substantially coaxial with a hole obtained on a plane parallel to said surface, a vertical wall parallel to said outside wall extending from said plane, a button being provided in a recess formed on said outside vertical wall and protruding with a tongue which passes between said surface and said parallel plane, a hole obtained on said tongue being positioned coaxially with some holes obtained on said surface and on said plane when said button passes from an inactive position to an active position, first means being provided to fasten said device to said bottle or tube and second means being provided to maintain said plane in an inactive position.
Device according to claim 1 characterised in that said first means comprise a collar which is positioned inside said tube, some laminae placed radially with respect to said vertical wall falling on the end of the tube, preventing the dosing device from rotating on the axis of said tube, said clutch taking place quickly and by pressure.
Device according to claim 1 characterised in that said second means have a gibbosity obtained on said tongue which protrudes from said button and engages said hole of said surface when it is in its inactive position.
Device according to claim 3 characterised in that said tongue is provided with a lowering area in proximity of the point of connection of said tongue to said button, said lowering area allowing said tongue to move in a linear manner between said surface and said plane.