EP2144705B1 - Metering device - Google Patents

Abstract

Metering devices, particularly for adhesives and sealants, that can be placed on a flexible container by means of an adapted ring, a lever being connected to the ring, and pressing against the container, are known. The invention relates to a metering device whereon the lever is connected to the ring via a deformable spring plate. A push button is formed onto the lever as an extension. Thus, the one-piece metering device is inexpensive and can be produced without needing to be assembled.

Description

The present invention relates to a metering device for attachment to a container, which has a bottom and a container neck formed above a container shoulder on which a closure with Aufgusstülle can be placed, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such dosing devices are also required in particular for adhesives, cyanoacrylates superglue or anaerobic adhesives and sealants. These are offered in bottle-shaped container, all of these adhesives and sealants are dispensed dosed only in very small quantities and, accordingly, the containers, namely plastic bottles, are relatively small. For metered delivery from a corresponding spout, the container must be easily squeezed. Especially adhesives and sealants are often viscous or low viscous and therefore do not flow out by themselves. At the same time, however, certain adhesives must be stored in such a way that practically no access of oxygen can take place. This requires that the plastic bottles must be made of HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) and this material is correspondingly hard. This complicates the dosage by pressure on the container.

In particular, it would be desirable to use relatively elongate, pin-shaped bottles, but the smaller the diameter of the container, the more difficult it is to deform it for dosing, thus posing an absolute dilemma. Accordingly, in order to still allow a reasonable dosable adhesive delivery, the container must be provided with a metering device.

Already from the US-A-4,771,769 a dosing device is known in which a relatively small bottle can be inserted into a device having a body in which the bottle is located and this body has a pressure lever articulated on the wall, which presses on the edge of the bottom of the bottle. This solution is practically conceivable only for soft containers, because in the case of plastic bottles made of a hard plastic, in particular a HDPE, deformation is virtually impossible in the region of the particularly large wall thickness in the transition from the bottom to the jacket wall. In addition, for receiving the bottle in the dosing device, the cap must be unscrewed, introduced the open container in the device and then the cap can be put back to ever hold the bottle in the device holding. This procedure would be for one Cyanoacrylate adhesive completely unsuitable and in case of spillage could cause considerable damage.

A much cheaper variant shows the WO-2004/013009-A , Here is a simple, inexpensive metering device is shown by means of which a dropwise delivery of a liquid can be achieved. The document shows a variety of embodiments, but here is only one embodiment of importance, in which a loop-shaped, parallel to the bottle longitudinal axis aligned plastic loop is proposed, in which the container neck is passed through this loop. The loop is separated in the bottom area of the bottle and is here at the bottom of the bottle, then runs the shell wall fitting up to the neck, runs on the container shoulder overlying the bottle and then runs on the diametrically opposite bottle wall area in a certain molded kink downward. The kink in the area of the bottle shoulder rests on the mantle wall and a lever runs from the shoulder to the floor angled downwards, from there again kinked again to get to the loop, which passes under the bottom of the bottle. Such a device in turn has the disadvantage that the pressure is exerted exactly where the bottle has a particularly high rigidity, namely in the region of the shoulder. Furthermore, this device is only suitable for temporary use and if you want to turn off the container, so in principle the device must be detached from the bottle.

Finally is from the U.S. 4,773,898 a metering device according to the preamble of claim 1 known. It is a veterinary device for administering medicines to an animal. On the ring placed on the bottle, a lever is articulated via a hinge, which has a directed towards the bottle curvature, which acts as a pusher.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a metering device which is suitable in particular for elongated cylindrical containers, in particular pen-shaped containers, and avoids the disadvantages of the solutions described and is one-piece hinge-free and thus inexpensive to produce.

This object is achieved by a metering device with the features of claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the subject invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Dosiervorrichtung befestigt auf einen länglichen, stiftförmigen Behälter in perspektivischer Ansicht mit Blick auf die Standfläche des Behältnisses beziehungsweise der Dosiervorrichtung.

Figur 2

zeigt dieselbe Dosiervorrichtung auf demselben Behälter mit Blick auf den tüllenförmigen Ausguss und

Figur 3

einen zentrischen Vertikalschnitt durch die Dosiervorrichtung und den Behälter an den sie sich hält.

• In den Figuren sind jeweils drei verschiedene Elemente ersichtlich. Mit 1 ist die eigentliche Dosiervorrichtung gezeichnet, während der Behälter mit 2 und der Verschluss mit 3 bezeichnet ist. Der Behälter 2 ist in einem axialen Längsschnitt in der Figur 3 am deutlichsten erkennbar. Der Behälter 2 besitzt einen Boden 20 an dem die zylindrische Mantelwand 21 anschliesst, die über eine Schulter 22 in den Behälterhals 23 übergeht. Die Schulter 22 und der Behälterhals 23 sind hier besonders dickwandig realisiert,
• während die Mantelwand 21 und der Boden 20 dünner als die zuvor beschriebenen Bereiche gestaltet sind. Im hier dargestellten Beispiel ist der Behälter 2 eine längliche, dünne Flasche praktisch in Gestalt eines Stiftes. Das hier gezeigte Beispiel ist in etwa im Massstab 2 : 1 gezeichnet.
• In Realität entspricht somit der Behälter 2 in der Grösse etwa einem Füllfederhalter. Obwohl hier dieses bevorzugte Ausführungsbeispiel gezeigt ist, ist jedoch an sich die Gestalt des Behälters 2 nicht ausschlaggebend. Sicherlich ist für die Handhabung ein länglicher, zylindrischer Behälter vorteilhaft, doch kann dieser auch ohne weiteres eine zum Beispiel von der zylindrischen Form abweichende Gestalt haben, der Behälter kann auch kürzer oder bauchig oder im Querschnitt oval geformt sein. Gegebenenfalls muss jedoch der Hebel, der noch zu beschreibenden Dosiervorrichtung, der Behälterform angepasst sein, was jedoch dem Fachmann durchaus geläufig ist.

In the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment is shown and described in detail below. It shows:

FIG. 1

a perspective view of the metering device mounted on an elongated, pin-shaped container in a perspective view overlooking the base of the container or the metering device.

FIG. 2

shows the same metering device on the same container with a view of the spout-shaped spout and

FIG. 3

a central vertical section through the metering device and the container to which it holds.

• In the figures, three different elements are visible. With 1 the actual metering device is drawn, while the container is designated 2 and the closure with 3. The container 2 is in an axial longitudinal section in the FIG. 3 most clearly recognizable. The container 2 has a bottom 20 on which the cylindrical jacket wall 21 connects, which merges via a shoulder 22 in the container neck 23. The shoulder 22 and the container neck 23 are realized here particularly thick-walled,
• while the shell wall 21 and the bottom 20 are made thinner than the previously described areas. In the example shown here, the container 2 is an elongated, thin bottle practically in the form of a pen. This one example shown is drawn approximately on a 2: 1 scale.
• In reality, the container 2 thus corresponds in size to a fountain pen. However, although this preferred embodiment is shown herein, the shape of the container 2 is not critical. Of course, an elongated, cylindrical container is advantageous for handling, but it may easily have a different form, for example, from the cylindrical shape, the container may also be shorter or bulbous or oval in cross-section. If necessary, however, the lever, the dosing device still to be described, must be adapted to the container shape, which however is familiar to the person skilled in the art.

Of course, the closure 3 is adapted to the purpose in order to be able to dose the smallest possible quantity delivery correctly. Accordingly, the closure 3 is designed opening in a dispensing spout. Again, since the configuration of the closure for the invention is not essential, but can be optimized only for the use of adhesive delivery, therefore, is not discussed here on the exact configuration of the closure 3.

The metering device 1 consists essentially of two parts, namely on the one hand a container adapted to the ring 10 and a ring 10 connected to the lever 11, the extends from the ring 10 in the direction of the container neck 23 and, as in the Figures 1-3 shown, may be integrally connected to the ring 10.

The ring 10 may in principle be relatively thick-walled and also have a different shape from the round shape, if the bottom of the container 2 has a different shape from the round shape. However, the ring 10 must be designed so that it can be plugged onto the container 2, in particular in the region of its bottom 20, onto the container. Thus, the container 2 has an oval bottom, so of course, the ring 10 must have a correspondingly oval shape. In the example shown here, however, the container 2 is circular cylindrical and, accordingly, the ring is circular cylindrical.

Since in the selected embodiment, the container 2 has practically the shape of a pin and thus the bottom 20 would form only a relatively small footprint, the ring 10 is designed double-walled here, the inner ring wall 12 directly form and locks in the region of the bottom of the container 2 surrounds. An outer ring wall 13, which extends at least in the bottom area distanced around the inner ring wall 12, is conical, so that in the upper region, the inner ring wall 12 and the outer ring wall 13 coincide. The outer ring wall 13 can Of course also curly designed to run outward.

In the example shown here, the lever 11 is integrally formed on the outer annular wall 13. The outer ring wall 13 has in the region from above to relatively close to the lower edge of the side of the lever 11 on both sides lateral recesses 14. This allows the lever 11 to pivot over a certain deformation of the outer ring wall 13. This pivoting is increased by directly on the ring 13, a spring plate 15 is formed, which merges directly into the lever 11. The spring plate 15 extends from the connection point 16 approximately parallel to a tangential plane of the jacket wall up to a first kink 17. In the region of the kink, 3 elevated stiffening ribs 18 are provided. The two outer stiffening ribs 18 extend in alignment with the circumferential side wall 19 of the lever 11. The side wall 19 extends over the entire length of the lever 11 on its sides and front end sides along. The lever 11 is thus provided with a directed towards the container 2 circumferential wall, which serves to stiffen the lever. The stiffening of the lever is thus, with the exception of the spring plate, everywhere present so that the lever 11 is rigid in itself, with the exception of the area which belongs to the spring plate 15.

The lever 11 is also provided with a handle extension 110 which rests on the jacket wall 21 of the container 2.

The pusher extension 110 may, in principle, be mounted anywhere on the lever 11, but this is preferably arranged approximately in the middle between the attachment point 16 and the lever end 111. The closer the pusher extension 110 is moved to the lever end 111, the higher the force to be applied, and the closer the pusher extension to the ring 10 comes to rest, the lower the force required to press the pusher extension 110 onto the jacket wall 21 In order to thereby deform the shell wall, but also the depth of depression is smaller the closer the handle extension 110 comes to rest at the ring 10. Accordingly, you will attach the handle extension approximately in the middle of the lower edge of the ring 10 to the lever end 111.

The presser extension 110 is formed in the example shown here on a central reinforcing rib 112, which is integrally formed between the peripheral jacket walls 19 on the lever bottom side. While the elevated stiffening ribs 18 point away from the shell wall of the container, at least the one middle stiffening rib 112 extends on the underside of the lever and is directed towards the container 2.

In the FIG. 3 one recognizes, moreover, that the container 2 is provided in the area near the floor with a recess 24, which here has the shape of a circumferential constriction. In this indentation 24 spring tongues 113 engage, which makes it impossible to remove the metering device 1 from the container 2.

All stiffening ribs 18 and 112 extend in planes that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container. The stiffening ribs can be arbitrarily long in principle, but they should advantageously not extend beyond the center of the spring plate 15 away, so that the spring plate 15 is not completely stiffened, but has a range which is able to serve the intended deformation. This deformable area actually forms a hinge-free joint.

The metering device 1 according to the invention can be realized extremely inexpensively and can thus be designed as a disposable element which is delivered directly from the factory to the container. It is of course quite desirable that this disposable dosing device is not abused for other purposes. In addition to the irreversible connection via the interlocking means 113, furthermore, the jacket wall 21 of the container 2 can be provided with an annular bead 25 which makes it impossible to remove the metering device in the direction of the container neck.

Since the containers 2 are usually blown from plastic and these blown containers have certain tolerances with respect to the diameter, it may be useful to the ring 10 and in particular if the ring 10 is designed double-walled, the inner annular wall 12 with arranged at regular intervals bulges 124 provided that allow a certain elastic deformation of the ring and at the same time makes room for the deformed shell wall 21 in the ground-near region 20. If such bulges 124 are provided, it is also preferable to arrange the interlocking means 113, which are usually designed as spring tongues, in these bulges 124.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

metering

2

container

3

Closure with spout

10

ring

11

lever

11 '

lever

12

inner ring wall

13

outer ring wall

14

lateral recess

15

spring plate

16

connecting point

17

kink

18

excessive stiffening ribs

19

Side wall

20

ground level area, ground

21

shell wall

22

shoulder

23

container neck

24

indentation

25

torus

110

Pusher extension

111

lever end

112

middle stiffening rib

113

Spring tongues, positive locking means

120

bearing block

121

bearing axle

122

leaf spring

123

pivot

124

bulges

Claims (11)

1. A metering device (1) for fastening to a container (2), which encompasses a container base (20) and a container neck (23), which is integrally molded above a container shoulder (22) and to which a closure (3) comprising a nozzle spout can be attached, wherein the metering device (1) comprises a ring (10), which is adapted to the container (2) and to which a one-armed lever (11, 11') is articulated, which extends from the ring (10) to the container neck (23) and which encompasses at least one latch (110), which is directed towards the container (2) and which, in the central area between the container base (20) and the container neck (23), can be pushed onto the jacket wall (21) thereof by deforming the container (2), characterized in that the lever (11) is connected in one piece to the ring (10) via a deformable spring plate (15) and in that the latch is integrally molded on the lever as a latch appendage.
2. The metering device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lever (11) extends continuously to be aligned with the spring plate (15) at least for some distance.
3. The metering device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lever (11) encompasses reinforcing ribs (18) in planes, which run parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container (2).
4. The metering device according to claim 2, characterized in that the reinforcing ribs (18) extend maximally to the center in axial direction up to the spring plate (15).
5. The metering device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lever (11, 11') is provided with a revolving side wall (19) for reinforcement, which is directed towards the container.
6. The metering device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one latch appendage (110) is integrally molded on at least one reinforcing rib (112), preferably a central reinforcing rib.
7. The metering device according to claim 1, characterized in that the ring (10) is designed in a double-walled manner and the inner ring wall (12) of the ring (10) encompasses the container (2) in the area (20) close to the base in a reversible or irreversible positive manner, while the outer ring wall (13) extends towards the base (20) so as to widen conically.
8. The metering device according to claim 1 or claim 7, characterized in that the ring (10) is designed in a double-walled manner and in that the lever (11, 11') is connected to the outer ring wall (13) in one piece across the spring plate (15)
9. The metering device according to claim 7, characterized in that the inner ring wall (12) of the ring (10) is provided with irreversible positive-fit elements (113) and in that the container (2) encompasses at least one molding (24), with which the positive-fit elements engage.
10. The metering device according to claim 9, characterized in that the irreversible positive-fit elements (113) are flexible tongues.
11. The metering device according to claim 9, characterized in that the container (2) encompasses an annular groove as a molding (24), which is arranged in the area close to the base.

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