EP1383405B1 - Dispenser for a cream-type material or material which can be deposited by applying it a surface - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a dispenser device for a creamy or by Coat a surface with erosive mass with a space Dispensing opening for receiving and storing the mass, one in the room longitudinally and rotatably arranged spindle, one in the space along the Spindle by turning the same movable piston and one in solid Rotary connection with stationary actuator for the spindle.

Such a dispensing device is known from DE 199 21 662 A1 of the applicant. In this case, the actuator for the spindle of an outside of the room in fixed rotational connection to the spindle arranged gear and at least a arranged on the dispenser device operation button with molded Tappet element formed, wherein the at least one actuating button with Plunger element so relative to the gear from a rest position to an end position and movably arranged back that upon actuation of the Actuating key from the rest to the end position, the plunger element engages with gets a tooth of the gear and this rotates. This dispenser device is held by the user in the hand and it will at least one operation button operated, causing the spindle by a predetermined angle of rotation is rotated, causing the piston to a certain extent in the longitudinal direction in Direction towards the discharge opening moves and product from the dispenser can be delivered. Such dispenser devices are used primarily for the delivery of creams or used as a deodorant stick.

The filling of the mass is usually carried out in the dispenser device itself, then the piston is in the lowest position. The bottling Usually happens from above, which can not be avoided that when filling in the upper area of a void (dead volume) is formed. This Dead volume is given by the height of the dispenser and possibly the Applicator shape, in particular the curvature of the applicator shape. This applicator, which is needed when using the device for creams is usually bounced or screwed on. In addition, the dead volume can also be product-related, i. the product volume can after the filling process decrease, e.g. through air bubbles that escape after filling.

Due to this dead volume between the discharge port and the mass is it is necessary to press the button several times before using it for the first time, to move the mass to the area of the discharge opening, as the spindle and the piston are designed so that when actuated once Actuator pushes the piston only slightly and thus only one small, precisely metered amount of product is delivered. The first time Actuation of the device is therefore very cumbersome for the user at known devices of this type for creamy products, for example necessary to press the operation button 50 to 60 times before first product exit.

To remedy this unsatisfactory state, could basically the Thread pitch of the spindle can be increased. However, this would have the disadvantageous Episode that even after overcoming the dead volume in the other Actuation of the device then upon actuation of the operation of the Piston by a correspondingly large amount in the direction of the discharge opening would be shifted so that each too much product mass leaked. The desired low product dosage with a single actuation of the actuating button could be then no longer realize.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a solution with which the initial product release is significantly simplified, and still after first-time product delivery a small, precisely metered product delivery per Actuation process is maintained.

This object is achieved in a dispenser device of the type described According to the invention solved in that the spindle over its length at least has two areas with different thread pitch.

With such a dispenser device, it is possible to the above Problem to remedy. Thus, the targeted adjacent to the actuator lower threaded portion of the spindle have a greater thread pitch than the remaining area of the spindle, with the result that when putting into use the device at the first actuations of the actuating element of the Piston is moved at a greater feed toward the dispensing opening, so that the dead volume is quickly overcome. After overcoming this Dead volume then reaches the piston in the area of the spindle with smaller Thread pitch, so that the desired low product dosage at each one-time operation of the actuator is guaranteed unchanged. It It is understood that the piston must be designed so that it each to cooperate with the respective threaded portion of the spindle is suitable, what can be realized in different ways.

In addition to the above-mentioned advantages, the inventive Dispenser furthermore the possibility of providing several Spindle areas with different thread pitch the piston on his Displacement along the spindle with each one-time operation of the Actuator to move to a different degree in the longitudinal direction, whereby different Dosiermengen be delivered. This can For example, be useful if the contained in the device Product composition is layered and / or made of different Product constituents consists, which are dosed in different ways should. Furthermore, it can also be provided that due to a higher increase the threaded spindle in the free end of the spindle of the displacement of the Piston in the end region is chosen to be larger at the end of the displacement to deliver more product. This can be advantageous, for example, if the Product characteristics deteriorate or lessen over time, so that then automatically with largely empty device a larger Product quantity is delivered.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the first closer to Actuator towards the area of the spindle arranged a larger Has thread pitch as the second, to the first adjacent area. On In this way, it is possible at the first start of the device that vorilderte problem of dead volume by a small number of Operations of the operation button to overcome easy to handle.

In principle, different thread shapes can be selected for the spindle trapezoidal thread, buttress thread, metric iso thread, Whitworth thread and the like. However, a particularly preferred Used round thread.

If the spindle has two areas with different thread pitches, To solve the problem of dead volume, it is envisaged that the Thread pitch of the first range between 9 and 12, preferably 9, and the of the second region is about 4.5.

To easily allow the piston with the various Spaces of the spindle cooperates in terms of function, is advantageously provided that the piston inside segment-shaped forms with differently inclined Has support surfaces for the thread pitch of the spindle. There are preferably three to five segments provided.

The segmental characteristics of the piston can be designed differently be, for example, diamond-shaped or rectangular. Very particularly advantageous they are diamond-shaped.

Fig. 1 und 2

Seitenansichten einer erfindungsgemäßen Spendervorrichtung,

Fig. 3

einen Schnitt längs der Linie III-III in Figur 1,

Fig. 4

einen Schnitt längs der Linie IV-IV in Figur 2,

Fig. 5

eine Draufsicht auf den Kolben der Vorrichtung,

Fig. 6

eine Seitenansicht des Kolbens,

Fig. 7

ein vergrößertes Detail B gemäß Figur 5,

Fig. 8

einen Längsschnitt durch den Kolben,

Fig. 9

ein vergrößertes Detail D der Figur 8,

Fig. 10

die Spindel der Vorrichtung und

Fig. 11

in vergrößerter Darstellung den unteren Bereich der Spindel.

The invention is explained in more detail below by way of example with reference to the drawing. This shows in:

Fig. 1 and 2

Side views of a dispenser device according to the invention,

Fig. 3

a section along the line III-III in Figure 1,

Fig. 4

a section along the line IV-IV in Figure 2,

Fig. 5

a plan view of the piston of the device,

Fig. 6

a side view of the piston,

Fig. 7

an enlarged detail B according to FIG. 5,

Fig. 8

a longitudinal section through the piston,

Fig. 9

an enlarged detail D of Figure 8,

Fig. 10

the spindle of the device and

Fig. 11

in an enlarged view the lower portion of the spindle.

The dispenser device designated 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2 has an outer one Housing 2 with a top-side removable cover 3 on. Both the lid 3 and the housing 2 are in the embodiment of cross-section of oval Base area In the side surfaces of the housing 2 are diametrically formed opposite two openings, which from the inside of the Dispenser device 1 are penetrated by each one of an operating button 4 ago. Close the openings of the actuating buttons 4 penetrating the openings flush and their contours continuing with the adjoining outer surfaces of the Housing 2ab.

As best seen in Figures 3 and 4, within the housing 2 a room 5 is arranged. This space 5 is also in cross section Oval-shaped side walls 6 and a bottom wall 7 limited. At the bottom wall 7 facing away from the side surfaces 6 is a circumferential overhanging skirt 8 molded. This skirt 8 has at her the Operation keys 4 trimmed ends a greater distance from the Side walls 6 on than on their long sides. The skirt 8 engages over an edge region 9 of the outer housing 2, such that the space 5 thereby at the top Edge region of the housing 2 is attached. The space 5 is thus from above into the inserted a bottom housing 2. The skirt 8 surrounds a Dispensing opening 10 of the room 5.

In the center of the bottom wall 7, an opening is formed. This opening is from surrounded by a first cylinder wall 11. A second cylinder wall 12 surrounds this first cylinder wall 11 at a distance, wherein the first cylinder wall 11 and the second Cylinder wall 12 connected via an annular bottom surface 13 with each other are. The second cylinder wall 12 is connected to the bottom surface 7 of the space fifth connected, so that the second cylinder wall 12 and the bottom surface 13 together form a cup-shaped depression of the bottom surface 7. A room 5 facing edge region 14 of the first cylinder wall 11 is slightly inward inclined formed and divided into individual segments by incisions. These Segments are applied to an undercut 15 of a spindle 16, which the Opening and the space 5 penetrates and longitudinally in the space 5 and rotatable is arranged. On its side facing away from the space 5 is on the spindle 16 a Gear 17 arranged rotationally fixed, preferably, the gear 17 to the spindle 16 molded. The area of the undercut 15 and the space 5 facing surface of the gear 17 are spaced such that the spindle 16th through the edge region 14 and the annular bottom surface 13 of the space 5 is secured against longitudinal axial movement.

A piston 18 is disposed within the space 5 and has a central Opening 19 with thread described in more detail below, by means which he up by rotation of the spindle 16 in the room 5 and is movable.

The operation keys 4 are aligned in the direction of the discharge opening 10 Attachment webs 20, the attachment of the operating buttons 4 on the housing 2 in a rotational movement about a rotation axis 21 enabling way. The axes of rotation 21 form the pivot point of the designed as a lever Operation Buttons 4. The other side of the lever is driven by plunger elements 22 formed, which via a respective fastening web 23 with the respective actuating element 4 are connected. The plunger elements 22 have a web or rod-shaped body, which is integrally formed on the fastening webs 23. At The basic bodies is one with its tip the gear 16 for engagement between individual teeth 24 of the gear 16 facing nose 25 is formed. With more Distance to the respective fastening webs 23 than the respective nose 25 is end formed on the respective plunger element 22 a Abweissteg what is not shown in the drawing. For this purpose, the disclosure of DE 199 21 662 A1, which has a comparable design of the Tappet element 22 disclosed. These Abweisstege protrude with angled extension in the tip of the nose 25 opposite direction from the surface of Plunger elements 22 forth.

The operation buttons 4 with all their additional elements are preferably made Plastic made in one piece. The arrangement and storage of the operation buttons 4 at the axis of rotation 21 connected to the outer housing 2 is aligned in such a way that that in the rest position shown in the drawings of the Operating buttons 4, the plunger elements 22 tangentially bear against the gear 17, wherein the lugs 25 in each of the two teeth 24 of the gear 17th intervene formed gap.

In the application or use case, the user actuates the operation keys 4 in the direction of the arrows 26. As a result, the plunger elements 22 are also in Direction of the arrows 26 moves beat with their noses 25 of teeth 24 of the Gear 17 and turn this by a predetermined angle of rotation until the Abweisstege in front of the plunger deflectors and push the plunger elements 22 due their internal elasticity are deflected to the ram deflectors such that the Noses 25 out of engagement with the teeth 24 of the gear 16 pass. By the from the movement from the rest position to the end position of the operation buttons 4 completed rotation of the gear 17 is at the same time with it rotatably connected Spindle 15 is rotated and the piston 18 by a certain amount in the direction of the discharge opening moved.

The discharge opening 10 is sealing with a web-shaped edge region on the side walls 6 adjacent and a curved lid area having cover element 27 closed. It is in the embodiment provided for the delivery of cream or gel mass that the Cover member 27 is provided with an opening 28 through which upon actuation the dispenser device 1 product can escape. When the dispenser device 1 is designed as a deodorant, no opening 28 is provided and the cover element 27 is together with the lid 3 of the discharge opening 10 and the Housing 2 removed, it is then preferably fixed to the lid. 3 connected.

As best seen in Figures 10 and 11, the spindle 16 over their length at least two areas with different thread pitch on. In the embodiment, closer to the gear 17 towards a first area with a larger pitch provided, which is designated 16a, to which a second area with a smaller thread pitch adjoins, this area is with 16b. In this case, preferably the respective thread as a round thread formed, the thread pitch of the first region 16a is preferably about 9 and that of the second region 16b about 4.5.

As best seen in Figures 7 to 9, are in the opening 19 of the Piston 18 three segmental characteristics 31 are provided, the diamond-shaped are formed. These segmental shapes 31 each have different inclined bearing surfaces 29, 30 for the spindle portions 16a, 16b with different thread pitch on.

This embodiment of the spindle gear has the following advantage: The in the room 5 aufzunehmende mass is through the removal opening 28 in the standing Dispenser 1 bottled. It can be due to various Causes do not avoid that in the upper area below the lid element 27 a dead space is created. This leads to the fact that at the first actuation of the Dispenser 1 initially no product, but this only in the direction of Opening 28 is moved, is discharged. In that first of the Spindle portion 16c is larger thread pitch in use, is the feed of the piston 18 initially relatively large, such that the operating buttons 4 only a few Male must be pressed until the first time product is dispensed. It will by the respective key actuation in each case a defined piston stroke or a defined spindle rotation generated. The piston 18 then moves to the second Spindle area 16b with lower thread pitch, for subsequent operations the actuating buttons 4 then moves the piston 18 only slightly Propulsion, because by the lower pitch, the rotation of the spindle per actuation process the keys 4 is smaller. As a result, only the desired low Product delivered per actuation.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment limited, further embodiments are possible without the basic idea leave. Thus, the spindle 16 over its length even more areas have different slopes, for example, if targeted different propulsion speeds are to be achieved, for example, when are stratified products in different Dosing be dispensed and the like. More. Furthermore, it can also be provided be that the actuator for the spindle 16 is not from the Actuating buttons 4 is formed with associated gear, but on others Way, e.g. as a wheel or the like

Claims (7)

1. Dispenser for a creamy material or a material which is removed by wiping a surface, comprising a chamber with a delivery opening for reception and storage of the material, a spindle arranged axially longitudinally and rotatably in the chamber, a piston movable in the chamber along the spindle by rotation thereof and an actuating element, which is disposed in fixed rotational connection with a spindle, for the spindle, characterised in that the spindle (16) has over the length thereof at least two regions (16a, 16b) with different thread pitch.
2. Dispenser according to claim 1, characterised in that the first region (16a), which is arranged closer to the actuating element, of the spindle (16) has a greater thread pitch than the second region (16b) adjoining the first.
3. Dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the two spindle regions (16a, 16b) each have a round thread.
4. Dispenser according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterised in that the thread pitch of the first region (16a) is approximately 9 and that of the second region (16b) is approximately 4.5.
5. Dispenser according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterised in that the piston (18) has, at the inner side, segment-shaped stamped-out portions (31) with contact surfaces (29, 30) of different inclination for the thread pitches (16a, 16b) of the spindle (16).
6. Dispenser according to claim 5, characterised in that the piston (18) has three to five segment-shaped stamped-out portions (31).
7. Dispenser according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the segment-shaped stamped-out portions (31) of the piston (18) are formed to be lozenge-shaped.

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