EP1363839A1

EP1363839A1 - Opening system comprising a re-aeration mechanism

Info

Publication number: EP1363839A1
Application number: EP02719892A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bernhard Felten; Holger Pries
Original assignee: Beiersdorf AG
Current assignee: Beiersdorf AG
Priority date: 2001-02-24
Filing date: 2002-02-21
Publication date: 2003-11-26
Also published as: WO2002068287A1; JP2004521036A; DE10109064A1; US20040112920A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a valve system for the metered dispensing of a substance from a container, a dispensing opening (14) being configured in at least one of the container walls for dispensing the substance and an aeration opening (10) being configured in at least one of the container walls for re-aeration. Said system comprises a first valve (7), which seals the dispensing opening (14) against the substance as long as the pressure differential between the container interior and the container exterior is less than a first predetermined limiting value, and which opens the dispensing opening to the substance, if the pressure differential between the container interior and the container exterior is greater than the first predetermined limiting value, in addition to a second valve (11), which opens the aeration opening for re-aeration, as long as the pressure differential between the container interior and the container exterior is less than a second predetermined limiting value, and which seals the aeration opening against re-aeration, if the pressure differential between the container interior and the container exterior is greater than the second predetermined limiting value. The system is characterised in that the second valve (11) is composed of a flexible material and is configured in the shape of a lip, capable of closing the aeration opening (10).

Description

Beiersdorf Aktiengesellschaft Hamburg

description

Opening system with rear ventilation mechanism

The invention relates to a valve system for the metered discharge of a flowable product from a container, in particular from a container for cosmetic or dermatological products.

Many liquid and cream-like cosmetic products, but also those from the fields of food, medicine, household, chemistry and technology, are offered in elastic bottles made of plastic (or in similar containers such as plastic tubes, canisters or the like). These are usually provided with a closure, preferably made of plastic. The container is inclined for removal, and especially in the case of somewhat viscous products, the container is compressed in order to discharge the product. An example is hair shampoo, which is pressed out of a relatively small opening by pressure on the container and the container is provided with a so-called hinged lid. When enough shampoo has been applied, the pressure is reduced and the container returns to its original shape. The missing volume is compensated by sucking in air. Remnants of the product that are located in the area of the removal opening are also drawn back into the bottle. In the example of hair shampoo, this product residue is usually contaminated with splash water, since it is used at the sink or in the shower. However, it is also possible that the shampoo residues around the pouring opening have been stripped off by hand and then sweat, skin residues or other substances are also sucked into the skin.

In the medical field, there are nasal sprays that are sold in elastic bottles. With this application it is possible that viral nasal secretions can get into the bottle. When using care lotions or sun milk or oil it is also possible that other substances besides air (sand, sea water, washing

BESTATIGUNGSKOPIE Substances) are sucked back into the container after the product has been applied to the skin.

A special application is the use of massage heads to apply a shower product and massage the skin. There is an increased possibility that substances are detached from the skin during massaging and sucked into the opening of the massage head. In the food sector, the problem of contamination of the container contents arises, for example, when applying mayonnaise to salads or sausage bread or mustard to sausage. The substances sucked back can often contain bacteria, viruses or fungal germs. This makes it possible for bacteria and fungal germs in particular to multiply in the contents and thereby make them unsavory, inedible or, in extreme cases, even toxic.

The most frequently implemented solution for previous products, because it is usually also the most cost-effective solution to the above problem, is the use of preserving and stabilizing substances (benzoic acid, formaldehyde formers, nitrates, nitrites, antioxidants, ascorbic acid ... etc.).

Further efforts are being made in the development of technical or design-related avoidance of the contamination of container contents.

The use of closures with relatively small openings and favorable geometry in combination with these substances usually ensures that the problem is kept within reasonable limits. Favorable geometry means that the closure is designed so that contact with the skin or other contaminated surfaces is made more difficult.

It is also possible to design the container so that no air is drawn in, these designs are referred to as airless systems. Airless systems usually have a pump and a container with a variable volume, for example a drag piston or inner bag (delivery by compressed air). These systems are also suitable for multi-chamber systems. The increased effort usually creates much higher costs than an elastic plastic bottle. In addition, the residual emptying of these systems is usually very bad.

BESTATIGUNGSKOPIE Systems with pumps use a standpipe to convey the substance out of the bottle. The volume is equalized by air that enters the bottle through a separate channel. Most of the time, the duct is attached so that it is only open when the pump is activated. This means that this channel is closed when the pump is at rest (usually by the pump piston itself) and that this provides further protection against contamination with foreign substances.

Pump systems are a little cheaper than airless systems, but still more expensive than simple bottles with closures. Filling is also higher.

Another development for container dispensing systems relates to the installation of valve systems for the controlled dispensing of flowable or similar substances. In the diaphragm valve containers on the market, the opening of the vessel is closed by an elastic valve. Pressure on the bottle increases the pressure in the container and the valve opens. If the pressure drops, the valve closes again automatically. However, back-ventilation is also necessary here, which also takes place via this valve if there is a corresponding negative pressure in the bottle, product residues and possible soiling also being sucked back for such a valve construction. This system ensures that the container is closed when not in use and that neither product escapes nor foreign substances penetrate. In addition, these valves are usually designed in such a way that the flow of the applied substance is cut off when the corresponding application pressure is not reached, because the valve snaps back suddenly and closes the opening. This behavior ensures that the dispensing opening is only slightly contaminated and that there is therefore less suction.

WO 00/06460 describes a valve device for a container, which is attached in the region of the opening for the metered discharge of a medium. WO 00/07899 and WO 00/07900 show valve systems which work with diaphragms. WO 00/48921 shows a valve with a two-way function, in which the outlet of a liquid and the inlet of air are guaranteed by opening both ways simultaneously.

The object of the invention is to offer a valve system for a container, which ensures that the contents of the container are dispensed, enables back ventilation and

BESTATIGUNGSKOPIE prevents the once dispensed product from flowing into the container. The disadvantages of the prior art should be avoided.

The object is achieved by the inventive valve system as set out in the main claim. The subclaims relate to advantageous further developments of the inventive valve system.

The claim 1 relates to a valve system for the metered discharge of a substance from a container, wherein a discharge opening is provided through at least one of the walls of the container for the discharge of the substance from the container and a ventilation opening through at least one of the walls of the container for back ventilation , This valve system has a first valve (outlet valve) which seals the discharge opening for the substance as long as a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the container is less than a first predetermined limit value, and which opens the discharge opening for the substance when the pressure difference between the inside of the container and the outside of the container is greater than the first predetermined limit value, and a second valve (ventilation valve) which opens the ventilation opening for the back ventilation as long as a pressure difference between the inside of the container and the outside of the container is less than a second predetermined limit value, and which the ventilation opening for the Back ventilation seals when the pressure difference between the inside of the container and the outside of the container is greater than the second predetermined limit value. The second valve consists of a flexible material and is designed in the form of a lip, which is able to close the ventilation opening. This closing can preferably take place in such a way that the lip lies over the ventilation opening and seals it in the process. The variant in which the lip or parts thereof partially penetrate into the ventilation opening and thus achieve a seal is also favorable.

To avoid misunderstandings, the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the container is defined as the inside pressure of the container minus the outside pressure of the container in the correct mathematical, ie signed values. The specification in the mathematical, signed values also applies to the specification of the first and the second specified limit value. The first valve is therefore advantageously closed as long as an overpressure in the interior of the container relative to the exterior of the container is less than a first predetermined limit value, and opened when the overpressure is greater than the first predetermined limit value. Accordingly, the second valve is open in the case of a negative pressure in the interior of the container relative to the outer side of the container and, if appropriate, is closed when this negative pressure is not present.

In the state in which the internal pressure of the container approximately corresponds to the external pressure, the ventilation opening should advantageously be closed by the ventilation valve, since otherwise substance can leak through the ventilation channel when the bottle is not in use. The second limit value should preferably be selected accordingly, preferably approximately to zero. A negative value can also be selected for the second predetermined limit value, in particular if the container is secured against leakage in some other way, for example if it is designed as a standing container.

In a preferred embodiment of the inventive valve system, the first valve has a closure part which is essentially conical, and in particular three webs which connect the closure part to the surrounding container and which consist of a resilient material.

The valve system according to the invention can be used very cheaply for containers in which the region of the discharge opening is designed in the form of a neck, this neck preferably having a round or oval cross section, the ventilation opening being located in a side wall of this neck and the discharge opening being preferred at the end of the neck opposite the container.

It is also advantageous if there are several ventilation openings in the area of the neck, which are provided for the rear ventilation.

In a very preferred embodiment of the valve system according to the invention, the second valve is designed as a cuff-shaped lip which runs around the inner wall of the neck and is capable of closing all ventilation openings for sealing. “As running around the inner wall of the neck” is to be understood here in such a way that the cuff is able to completely or partially fit against the inner wall when the pressure is increased or completely or partially into it to penetrate and thus to seal the openings. In the event that the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the container is not greater than the second predetermined limit value, this cuff should be against the wall, compare the details in the embodiments shown in the figures.

The valve is thus sealed when the container is not in use ("idle state"); even with a low vacuum in the container, pressure equalization takes place due to the inflow of air.

The invention is to be illustrated in more detail below by means of illustrations, without wishing to be restricted unnecessarily by the choice of the illustrated embodiment.

Show it:

Figure 1 area of the outlet opening in a container with an inventive valve system

Figure 2 valve element of the inventive valve system

Figure 3 area of the outlet opening in a container with an inventive valve system with the outlet valve open

Figure 4 area of the outlet opening in a container with an inventive valve system; Path of the incoming air during the back ventilation through the opened lip valve

Figure 5 area of the outlet opening in a second embodiment of a container with the inventive valve system

FIG. 1 shows a container, here in particular for cosmetic preparations, in the area of the outlet opening. In this area, the container is designed in the form of a neck 1. On this neck 1, which is provided on the outside with a screw thread 2, a top part 3 with a corresponding internal thread can be screwed on, which contains the inventive valve system. In the embodiment shown here, the attachment part 3 is provided with a fixable component 16 which can be inserted, clipped, welded or the like into the attachment part 3, reversible fastening also being possible. This insert is attached to the top part in a sealing manner. The essay consisting of parts 3 and 16 can also be made in one piece. The container can be closed with a hinged lid 9, which is connected to the container by the hinge 8. The attachment part 3 has a prechamber 4, which is designed in such a way that when the attachment part 3 is screwed on, the container is sealed in the area of the positions 5, so that a substance in the container can never escape here. In the wall of the pre-chamber 4 there is an outlet channel 6, at the upper end of which the outlet valve 7 is located. The antechamber 4 is attached to the insert 16 in a circumferentially tight manner.

The outlet valve 7 is designed in the form of a preferably conical closure 13 for the discharge opening 14; preferably the discharge opening 14 also has a conical shape. FIG. 2 shows a top view of the valve element 7 (outlet valve). The closure part 13 is connected to the container, here to the component 16, by means of several flexible or resilient webs 15. In the embodiment shown here, the connection is realized by three S-shaped webs made of a flexible material. If pressure is now exerted from the inside of the container, the closure part 13 is raised and opens the dispensing opening 14 so that the substance can escape. The closure part 13 is held in the raised position (see Figure 3). The increase in the distance between the closure 13 and the surrounding component 16 is achieved in that the webs 15 give up the s-shape and are stretched during this process (in an alternative embodiment, for example, spiral springs can serve as webs, which are stretched during the process), or also generally an elastic or stretchable material). If the pressure inside the container is reduced again, the closure part 13 lowers due to the restoring force of the webs 15 and closes the dispensing opening 14 again, so that no residual substance can flow back into the container. The hinged lid 9 can advantageously be designed such that it presses the closure part 13 onto the discharge opening 14 in the closed state and thus improves the seal.

The geometry of the closure part 16 can also deviate from the conical shape (ball, elipsoid, cylinder etc.) when the function is fulfilled.

The back ventilation to achieve a pressure equalization between the inside and outside of the container takes place via ventilation openings 10, which are located in the wall between the antechamber 4 and the outside of the container. In the figure shown here, these ventilation openings 10 are located in the attachment part 3. The airway (cf. Figure 4, strong broken arrow) by the screw thread 2 is guaranteed.

The ventilation openings 10 can be closed by a ventilation valve 11. This ventilation valve 11 has the shape of a lip, here in particular a sleeve with a lip-shaped cross-section encircling the antechamber 4 and consists of a flexible material. In the upper area, this sleeve (ventilation valve 11) is mounted in the component 16, the lower part protrudes into the antechamber 4 and is preferably shaped in such a way that it tilts in front of the ventilation openings 10. If the pressure in the container is increased, the conditions shown in FIG. 3 result: the substance in the container penetrates through inlet openings 12 in the bottom of the prechamber 4. The ventilation valve 11 is pressed onto the ventilation openings 10 by the pressure increasing in the antechamber 4 (air pressure or pressure due to the substance that has entered). The ventilation valve 11 is preferably thin-walled in the lower region, so that the contact pressure is greatest here. In the area of position numbers 17, the valve for the substance in the container closes tightly, the ventilation openings 10 are closed. An escape of substance is not possible in this way.

If the pressure difference between the internal pressure of the container and the external pressure is less than a predetermined limit value, the ventilation valve 11 opens and allows air to penetrate through the ventilation openings 10 and downwards out of the ventilation valve 11 into the prechamber 4 until the negative pressure in the Container is almost balanced. FIG. 4 shows the path of the penetrating air with the ventilation valve 11 open for the embodiment of the invention shown here by an interrupted arrow (in the area of the screw thread 2, the air can penetrate along this screw thread 2).

The circumferential, cuff-shaped design of the ventilation valve 11 ensures that when the internal pressure of the container is increased, the pressure on this ventilation valve 11 is exerted uniformly and thus the ventilation openings 10 are closed evenly. This enables the best possible seal to be achieved. Figure 5 shows an example of a container with an inventive valve system, in which the outlet valve 7 is designed alternatively with an otherwise similar construction of the container.

The fixable component 16 here contains one or more discharge openings 20 which can be closed or opened by the outlet valve 7. This valve consists of a valve disk 18 made of a flexible material, preferably rubber, for example, and has a passage opening 19 which is positioned such that in the closed state the discharge openings 20 of the component 16 and the passage opening 19 of the valve disk 18 do not lie one above the other. The valve disk 18 is fastened to the component 16 on its outer edge.

If the pressure in the interior of the container is increased, the valve disc 18 is raised and releases the passage for the substance to be dispensed from the interior of the container by first flowing through the discharge openings 20, then between the valve discs 18 and the component 16 to the passage opening 19 and through it can pass through to the outside.

The valve disk 18 can be fastened to the component 16 in different ways, only a few examples being mentioned below. For example, the edge of the valve disk 18 can be glued to the component 16, it can be embedded in a corresponding recess in the component 16, an additional bonding being advantageous here as well, alternatively or additionally, the valve disk 18 can be attached to the component 16 by means of corresponding retaining rings be fixed. Furthermore, the valve disk 18 can be produced in one piece with the component 16 in multi-component injection molding. A further variant is to design the lips of the ventilation valve 11 and the valve disk 18 in one piece by injection molding this one-piece component, whereby it is partially cast into corresponding recesses in the component 16.

The back ventilation takes place in this embodiment in an analogous manner to the variant shown above (Figure 4).

A dispenser with the inventive valve system allows, for example

Integration of the valve system in special applicators. The inventive valve system or one of its embodiments are constructed in such a way that a product once it has been dispensed cannot flow back from the applicator surface into the container. she are therefore suitable for containers for flowable substances of all kinds, but also offer great advantages for containers which are intended to dispose of perishable substances or which have to meet high hygienic requirements. Some examples of such areas of application, without claiming to be complete, are:

Toothbrushes with integrated dispensing opening Cleaning brushes with integrated storage container Grinding and polishing applicators in the corresponding auxiliary container Shower gel applicators, in particular also with massage head, • mascara brushes,

Applicators of shoe polish or other cleaning and care / preserving substances, in particular those with a brush or a sponge on the container for cleaning clothes,

• deodorant roller, • applicator of nail polish or correction fluid,

• applicators of adhesives,

• Application of paints, protective lacquers, rust remover, lye, etc.

The valve system is also ideally suited for conventional container closures and applicators. These include, for example, containers for washing and care substances (shampoo, shower gel, sun milk, care lotion, etc.). Due to the almost excluded contamination of the contents, the proportion of preserving and stabilizing substances can be greatly reduced. In addition, the contents are not clouded, which is perceived as a quality deficiency in many areas. Another application for the inventive valve system is in the food sector, for example for jam, honey, ketchup and mayonnaise, mustard, sauces and such foods.

Such a design of the closure reduces the loss of volatile substances such as perfume, alcohol, essential oils, etc., even if the lid is not closed carefully or if the container is designed without a hinged lid.

Claims

claims

1. Valve system for the metered discharge of a substance from a container, with a discharge opening (14) through at least one of the walls of the container for the discharge of the substance from the container and a ventilation opening (10) through at least one of the walls of the container for back ventilation Container is provided; with a first valve (7) which seals the discharge opening (14) for the substance as long as a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the container is less than a first predetermined limit value and which opens the discharge opening for the substance when the pressure difference between the inside of the container and the outside of the container is greater than the first predetermined limit value, and with a second valve (11) which opens the ventilation opening for the back ventilation as long as a pressure difference between the inside of the container and the outside of the container is less than a second predetermined limit value, and which the ventilation opening for the back ventilation seals when the pressure difference between the

Inside the container and the outside of the container is greater than the second predetermined limit value, characterized in that the second valve (11) consists of a flexible material and is designed in the form of a lip which is able to close the ventilation opening (10).

2. Valve system according to claim 1, characterized in that the first valve (7) is a closure part (13), which is substantially conical, and in particular three webs (15), which the closure part (13) with the surrounding container (16th ) connect and which consist of a resilient material.

3. Valve system according to claim 1, characterized in that the first valve (7) is designed in the form of a flexible cover (18) for the discharge opening (20).

4. Valve system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container is designed in the region of the discharge opening in the form of a neck (1), this neck (1) preferably having a round or oval cross section, the ventilation opening ( 10) is located in a side wall of this neck (1)

BESTATIGUNGSKOPIE and wherein the dispensing opening (14) is preferably at the end of the neck (1) opposite the container.

5. Valve system according to claim 3, characterized in that in the region of the neck (1) there are a plurality of ventilation openings (10) which are provided for the rear ventilation.

6. Valve system according to at least one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the second valve (11) as a circumferential on the inner wall of the neck (1) is formed cuff-shaped flap, which is able to seal all ventilation openings ( 10) to close.