EP3323753B1 - Discharge head and liquid dispenser with such a discharge head - Google Patents

Description

AREA OF APPLICATION AND PRIOR ART

The invention relates to a discharge head for a liquid dispenser and a liquid dispenser with such a discharge head.

A generic discharge head has a housing and a coupling device for attachment to a liquid storage. It also has a discharge opening through which liquid can be discharged into a surrounding atmosphere, and via an outlet channel which extends from an inlet region pointing in the direction of the liquid storage to the discharge opening and by means of which the discharge opening can be supplied with liquid.

In a generic dispenser and a generic discharge head is provided that the liquid in the liquid storage or in a separate pressure chamber is pressurized to be promoted by this pressure through the outlet channel in the direction of the discharge. However, depending on the nature of the pressurization, it is possible for a user to directly influence the pressure and thus also to pressurize the fluid in the light of the intended use with too high a pressure, for example by the force with which a squeeze bottle serving as a fluid reservoir is compressed.

The effect of this user-dependent pressurization can then be, for example, that a liquid jet is discharged at the discharge opening, although only a small amount of liquid should be spent as intended to form droplets. Or a pressure can be generated which leads to a spray pattern with too fine droplets.

In order to limit the liquid pressure and / or the liquid flow, it is possible to provide a geometry acting as a throttle in the outlet channel, for example a channel section with a very small cross-section and / or a comparatively large length. Due to the friction that occurs here, the fluid pressure / fluid flow can be reduced. However, the effect of such a throttle is then that the operation must always be done with a fairly high force. This can be straightforward for some applications. Especially for applications in which a location-accurate delivery of the liquid is desired, for example when applying from eye drops or spot application of make-up, however, it is desirable that the desired dispensing operation can be effected even with a comparatively easy operation. A discharge head of the above type is in WO2009 / 079753 disclosed.

TASK AND SOLUTION

The object of the invention is to provide a discharge head and a liquid dispenser are available, which can give them through the discharge opening already at low pressurization of the liquid in the intended manner, but at the same time limit the fluid pressure and / or the liquid flow at excessive actuation so that a proper delivery form of the liquid remains possible.

For this purpose, it is provided that the discharge head in the outlet channel has a throttle device with a throttle channel for reducing the liquid pressure and / or the liquid flow of the liquid flowing through the throttle device.

According to the invention, this throttle device is designed as a dynamic throttle device, in which a free cross-section of the throttle channel is reduced with increasing applied to the throttle device pressure or at higher throttle device flowing through the liquid stream.

An inventive discharge head, like a generic discharge head, has an outlet channel at the end of which the outlet opening is provided. This outlet channel connects a liquid reservoir of the liquid dispenser with the discharge opening, so that upon pressurization of the liquid in the liquid storage as a whole or pressurizing a partial charge of the liquid it is conveyed in the direction of the discharge and discharged there. In order to avoid too high a pressure and / or too high a liquid flow at the outlet opening, said dynamic throttle device is provided. This dynamic throttle device has the special feature that it adapts the flow resistance as a function of operating parameters. This is done by reducing a free cross section of the throttle channel at higher pressure or higher liquid flow. Such a reduction may be, for example, that beyond a first throttle point in the outlet channel by shifting a throttle surface, a further throttle point is formed whose free cross-section less than which is the first throttle point. In particular, a wall of the throttle channel undergo a displacement, so that the throttle channel thereby reduces its free cross-section.

In the simplest case, the dynamic throttle device may be designed so that it usually occupies only one of two possible states, one or hardly throttling and one more throttling. However, preference is given to a design in which the throttling effect, as it were, occurs analogously, so that a continuously increasing throttling effect is achieved with increasing pressurization or increasing liquid flow. Although it is not excluded that the dynamic throttle device may be designed to close completely when the pressure is too high, it is considered advantageous if the dynamic throttle device is designed such that it never completely closes the throttle passage.

According to the invention, the dynamic throttle device adapts depending on operating parameters in each case, namely as a function of the applied pressure or the fluid flow, depending on the embodiment, the two variables mentioned are coupled together or each cause an adjustment of the dynamic throttle device. An embodiment of the throttle device, which leads directly by pressure to a reduction in the free cross section of the throttle channel, may be given, for example, if different sized pressurization surfaces on a displaceable wall of the throttle channel ensure that increasing pressure cause a deflection of this wall. The liquid flow can also cause the displacement of a channel wall of the throttle channel when an identical total pressure is present on both sides of this wall, since the increased fluid velocity in the throttle channel according to Bernoulli leads to a lower static pressure there, which in turn can be used to taper the throttle channel.

According to the invention, the throttle channel is delimited at least in sections by an inner side of a channel wall that is movable by displacement or deformation.

In a change of the throttle channel by displacement of a channel wall is preferably provided that this channel wall is rigid in itself and part of a throttle component, which is displaced as a whole. This will be explained below.

When the throttle duct is delimited by a deformable duct wall, it is provided that a deformable and preferably elastic component, which can thus subsequently return to its starting position, is used to effect a variable cross-section of the throttle duct.

An outside of the channel wall facing away from the inside can be communicatively connected to an inlet of the throttle channel, so that when the fluid is pressurized for the purpose of discharge, an identical pressure increase takes place at the inlet of the throttle channel and on the outside of the channel wall.

A design in which sets an identical total pressure on both sides of the channel wall, is therefore advantageous because not the pressurization of the liquid as such causes a change in the cross section of the throttle channel, but only the increase of the dynamic pressure and the drop in the static pressure in throttle channel. The dynamic pressure is due to the velocity of the liquid flow in the throttle channel. Since it is usually in an inventive embodiment of a discharge head the goal is to limit the liquid flow, such a solution is advantageous in which also the liquid flow and its velocity is that size which leads to a taper of the throttle channel and thus to an increase in Friction against the walls and within in liquid and thereby to a reduction of the liquid flow. In a sense, the liquid flow is therefore limited itself.

The portable channel wall may be part of a flat and preferably deformable wall plate. This at least partially opposite to the housing ortsveränderlichen channel wall can be provided a stationary channel wall, wherein the portable channel wall and the fixed channel wall define the throttle channel between them.

This construction has proven to be very simple and reliable. The throttle channel is in this case formed by a gap between the undeformed plan wall plate and the housing stationary channel wall. The flat and preferably deformable Wandungsplatte is preferably fixed in a mounting area fixed to the stationary channel wall and projects to form the gap on this stationary channel wall. In particular, it is advantageous if the stationary channel wall also has at least one opening which, as it were, represents the end of the throttle channel and into which the liquid flows, which has passed through the throttle channel. A particularly simple way of attaching the flat and preferably deformable wall plate is that it is provided with an opening which is pushed onto a housing-side fixing pin and fastened there, for example, snapped.

The discharge head may have a plurality of mutually parallel throttle channels. The wall plate can be provided as a common wall plate, which limits the at least two throttle channels in sections.

Although naturally a throttle channel sufficient to achieve the desired purpose, it may be advantageous and structurally very easy to provide a plurality of parallel-connected throttle channels. The parallel connection is understood to mean that the fluid only has to pass through one of these throttle channels connected in parallel. The arrangement in which a common wall plate limits both throttle channels in sections, leads to a reduction of components and is also very easy to achieve by a point or line-symmetrical design. Thus, the Wandungsplatte be secured in the region of a web between the throttle channels and intended deform on both sides of this web to effect a taper of the two throttle channels provided there. Depending on the specific application, adapting the throttle behavior may also be expedient for providing more than two throttle channels, in particular four throttle channels. At least one elevation may be provided on the housing wall or the wall plate, in the region of which the housing wall and the wall plate abut one another.

Through the housing wall and the Wandungsplatte a gap is defined in the aforementioned manner, which represents the throttle channel. Due to the aforementioned elevations or their edges, this gap is additionally limited. In the region of the elevations, the housing wall and the wall plate abut each other, wherein it is particularly advantageous if the elevation is provided on the side of the housing wall, since the deformable wall plate can then be designed as elevation-free plane and thus low producible wall plate.

The elevations and in particular the edges of this elevation, which at the same time form the edges of the throttle channel, can be used in a simple manner in order to be able to influence the inclination of the wall plate for throttling deformation. If, for example, a rectilinear web-like elevation is provided, deformation of the wall plate fastened in the area of this elevation requires only a buckling of the wall plate of the web-like elevation. However, if projections are provided whose edges pointing in the direction of the throttle channel include an angle of less than 180 °, for example an angle of approximately 90 °, the wall plate must buckle along two non-parallel lines for the purpose of deformation, which requires a higher degree of force. The shape of the surveys can therefore in particular also be used to adapt otherwise identical discharge heads to different liquids and their specific properties or to influence the maximum discharge / discharge liquid flow in the light of the field of application.

As an alternative to the described configuration, in which the throttle duct is delimited by a stationary and preferably rigid wall and a movable wall, it can also be provided that the discharge head has a throttle component of an elastically deformable material as part of the throttle device. This throttle component has an opening surrounded by a deformation region, which forms the throttle channel.

In addition, the throttle component preferably has at least one pressurization surface against which the liquid rests upstream of the throttle channel during operation and by the pressurization of which the deformation region is deformed and a free cross section of the throttle channel can be reduced.

In this alternative embodiment, it is provided that the throttle channel is provided on a deformable as a whole throttle member in the form of a circumferentially surrounded aperture, which form this opening, ie the throttle channel surrounding areas forming the deformation region and can be deformed by pressurization or a liquid flow, that the free cross section of the throttle channel changes.

Since the throttle channel is defined in such a design solely by a component, a very small dispersion of the behavior of identical discharge heads can be achieved. Unlike a design in which the throttle channel is formed by a plurality of components, it comes in this design hardly a special mounting accuracy.

In addition, the assembly is very easy due to the design of the throttle channel of only one component.

The throttle component may have a curved in the upstream direction elevation, in which the throttle channel is provided. This ensures that the desired intended taper of the throttle channel adjusts reliably when the fluid pressure from different sides presses on the survey. The throttle channel breaks through the survey preferably at its most sublime point.

The throttle component may have an outer circumferential edge region connected in one piece with the deformation region.

In the region of this edge, the elastic throttle component can be fastened by a snap connection or in particular a one-piece molding on a rigid housing portion of the housing.

The attachment of the throttle member to a housing portion of the housing of the discharge head is advantageous because a pre-assembly is created by this, which does not run the risk even when handling bulk material to damage the elastic throttle component. This is preferably set back against walls of the housing that handled as bulk material is not injured by other discharge heads of the bulk material. This has proven to be advantageous in practice, since otherwise there is the danger that the throttle component after damage as bulk material no longer reacts throttling in the desired manner.

Of particular advantage is the one-piece molding, in which preferably by two-component injection molding of said rigid housing portion and the elastic throttle member are integrally made of different materials. The number of components to be joined in the course of assembly can thereby be reduced. In addition, a very accurate and permanent positioning of the throttle member relative to the housing is thereby ensured.

The edge region can be arranged such that it seals the liquid reservoir against the housing when the liquid reservoir is coupled. By this use of the edge region of the throttle component as a seal between the discharge and the liquid storage a separate component can be omitted. The discharge head can therefore be manufactured with very few components and correspondingly low installation costs.

In a particular embodiment, the throttling channel may have at least one closing region and at least one free region, which together form the cross section of the throttle channel together and into one another. In the closing area, an application of opposing edges of the throttle channel takes place by application of force to the pressurizing surface. The free area is limited by an edge arrangement which does not lead to a closing of the free area even when the pressurization area is acted on by force.

The said design therefore provides that the throttle channel has a cross-sectional area which has a pressure or liquid flow-dependent portion, the closing area, which closes at high pressure or high liquid flow. In addition, however, a free area is provided, which remains open even at the highest to be assumed in real operation pressures and liquid flows.

It is thus ensured that a complete closing of the throttle channel does not take place even at high pressures. This corresponds to the desire not to prevent a discharge in case of excessive force, but to dampen so far that the desired Austragbild sets.

By the joint realization of the closing area and the free area as part of the cross section of the same throttle channel is also achieved that after rejuvenation of the throttle channel by closing the closing area an increased inclination of the closing area is given to reopen after elimination of the closing pressure. Especially in view of the fact that even sticky masses should be able to be discharged by means of the discharge head according to the invention, this is advantageous.

The sectional design of the throttle channel as a closing area or as a free area can be determined by the choice of geometry. Thus, a slot-shaped portion of the cross section of the throttle channel is suitable to close completely and thus represent a closing area. However, a circular or polygonal section of the throttle channel will not close completely even at high pressures and thus represents a free area.

Although it is considered advantageous to design a common throttle channel with such a closing area and an open area, a design is also conceivable in which two channels connected in parallel form a throttle channel arrangement, one of these channels having a free area, while the other channel is pressurized. or liquid flow dependent completely closes. In particular, in liquids that do not favor the permanent adhesion of opposite edges or walls of the throttle channel, such a design may be appropriate.

As an alternative to the described design, in which the throttle channel is preferably bounded in sections by at least one dimensionally variable wall, is provided in a further variant that the throttle channel is limited by two rigid channel walls, one of the channel walls is provided as a portable channel wall on a movable throttle member ,

In this design, the throttle channel is limited by rigid walls, which are movable as a whole relative to each other. At least one of these walls is, preferably against the force of a return spring, deflected, which is reduced by this deflection of the free cross section of the throttle channel.

This movable throttle component is preferably guided by means of a guide relative to the housing, wherein this guide can be formed in particular by two telescopically telescoped sleeves. Said spring force is preferably generated by a spring device, which is arranged in a particularly advantageous design in the space formed by the sleeves.

It is particularly advantageous, when the throttle component is such and / or mounted on the housing, that for the displacement of effective pressurizing surfaces on the throttle member at identical pressure on all pressurization surfaces cause a force to the throttle member in the direction of a reduction of the free cross section of the throttle channel. This means that only the static pressure, which is applied for the purpose of discharge, is able to shift the throttle component in the sense of a taper of the throttle channel.

Preferably, the discharge head in the outlet channel downstream of the throttle device to an outlet valve, which opens depending on the upstream applied pressure.

Such a valve will reduce the risk of the dispenser leaking. However, since in particular a drop dispenser based on a discharge head according to the invention should be realized, it is particularly advantageous if the valve opens at a low pressure of, for example, 0.3 bar.

The outlet valve preferably closes automatically in a pressure interval between a defined input-side negative pressure and an input-side overpressure and opens when the defined negative pressure is exceeded and when the defined overpressure is exceeded. Such a valve thus opens both at negative pressure and at overpressure. This is the prerequisite for simultaneously using the outlet channel as a ventilation channel for the liquid reservoir. This is in the sense of a simple structure of advantage. In addition, a particular advantage in the joint use of the outlet channel as a ventilation channel is that can be widened again by the incoming air after completion of a discharge of the throttle channel.

This is also facilitated by the fact that such a bidirectional behavior also makes it possible for the negative pressure prevailing in the liquid reservoir after the discharge to suck the liquid out of the outlet channel, so that drying in the area of the outlet channel beyond the valve is prevented.

The outlet valve is preferably formed of an elastic material and has an upstream curvature, in which a valve opening closable valve openings is provided, so that with increasing input side pressure until reaching an input side limit overpressure, the valve pressure increasingly pressed against each other.

The discharge head is preferably designed to form droplets, wherein the throttling device is designed to limit the liquid flow, which leads to the discharge opening for the formation of individual droplets and not for the formation of a liquid jet.

Especially with such drop dispensers, it is important to prevent too large a liquid flow and / or a high discharge pressure, since this counteracts the formation of drops and can lead to an unintentional jet at the discharge opening. The throttling device is preferably adapted to the configuration of a droplet formation surface arranged beyond the outlet opening such that the liquid flow at the discharge opening is insufficient to permit continuous tearing off of the liquid stream, that is to say a jet.

Preferably, the housing of the discharge head comprises a first one-piece base member comprising the coupling means for attachment to the liquid storage, and a second one-piece applicator member having the discharge opening penetrated by the liquid passage and fixed to the base member.

The said construction with only two components on the housing is very cost-effective because of its simplicity. In addition, the two housing components, the base component and the applicator component, allow the said outlet valve to be easily position-fixed. If, in the manner outlined above, the throttle component is designed as an elastic component which is integrally formed with a housing section, in particular of the base component, then a complete discharge head can be composed of only three components to be assembled.

Also provided for solving the invention is a liquid dispenser for dispensing liquid, in particular for dispensing cosmetic or pharmaceutical liquids, via a dispensing head having an outlet opening for dispensing liquid into a surrounding atmosphere and a liquid storage by a releasable coupling device or a one-piece design Housing of the discharge head is connected has.

In this case, the discharge head is designed according to one of the preceding claims.

The liquid dispenser is preferably designed as a drop dispenser. It is therefore beyond the discharge channel a drop formation surface, preferably in the form of a spherical cap provided, on which the liquid collects before it dissolves in the form of drops. This drop formation surface, the throttle device and the liquid in the dispenser are preferably matched to one another in such a way that no liquid jet is produced at the discharge opening, even with a high actuation force on the squeeze bottle of 100 Newtons.

The liquid reservoir is preferably designed as a squeeze bottle or tube. In particular, in such a design of the liquid storage as a squeeze bottle or tube, there is a risk that the user will be over-powered, so that the dynamic throttle device described herein will be particularly helpful in preventing them from being overstressed Operation negatively affects the discharge pattern.

The internal volume of the fluid reservoir is preferably less than 300 ml, less than 100 ml, or even less than 50 ml. These are typical sizes of fluid reservoirs for holding pharmaceutical or cosmetic fluids.

The liquid reservoir is preferably filled with a cosmetic or pharmaceutical liquid. In particular, preservative-containing liquids are suitable as pharmaceutical liquids, since it is considered advantageous if the ventilation takes place in a discharge head according to the invention through the outlet channel, so that an air filtration is structurally difficult to implement here. In the field of cosmetic liquids, there are in particular makeup products and creams, such as anti-wrinkle cream, and oils that are to be discharged. In particular, so-called filler or concealer liquids which serve to fill in or cover smaller wrinkles can be well dispensed with a dispensing head according to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• Fig. 1 zeigt einen erfindungsgemäßen Flüssigkeitsspender mit einem erfindungsgemäßen Austragkopf in einer Gesamtdarstellung von außen.
• Fig. 2 zeigt ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Flüssigkeitsspenders in einer geschnittenen Darstellung.
• Fig. 3 zeigt die Teilkomponenten des Austragkopfes des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels in einer Explosionsdarstellung.
• Fig. 4A und 4B zeigen die Innenseite des Austragkopfes gemäß Fig. 3 mit getrennter und angebrachter flexibler Wandungsplatte.
• Fig. 5A und 5B zeigen eine alternative Gestaltung des Austragkopfes, der im Bereich des Drosselkanals eine etwas andere Geometrie aufweist.
• Fig. 6 zeigt ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Flüssigkeitsspenders in einer geschnittenen Darstellung.
• Fig. 7 zeigt die Teilkomponenten des Austragkopfes des zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels in einer Explosionsdarstellung.
• Fig. 8 zeigt das Drosselbauteils des zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels in einer separaten Darstellung.
• Fig. 9 zeigt verschiedene Varianten des Drosselbauteils für das Ausführungsbeispiel der Fig. 6 bis 8 in einer Perspektive von unten.
• Fig. 10 zeigt ein drittes Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Flüssigkeitsspenders in einer geschnittenen Darstellung.
• Fig. 11A und 11B zeigen die Drosseleinrichtung des Ausführungsbeispiels der Fig. 10 mit unterschiedlichen Zuständen des Drosselkanals.

Further advantages and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the claims and from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, which are explained below with reference to the figures.

• Fig. 1 shows a liquid dispenser according to the invention with a discharge head according to the invention in an overall view from the outside.
• Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of a liquid dispenser according to the invention in a sectional view.
• Fig. 3 shows the sub-components of the discharge head of the first embodiment in an exploded view.
• FIGS. 4A and 4B show the inside of the discharge according to Fig. 3 with separate and attached flexible wall plate.
• Figs. 5A and 5B show an alternative design of the discharge head, which has a slightly different geometry in the region of the throttle channel.
• Fig. 6 shows a second embodiment of a liquid dispenser according to the invention in a sectional view.
• Fig. 7 shows the sub-components of the discharge head of the second embodiment in an exploded view.
• Fig. 8 shows the throttle component of the second embodiment in a separate representation.
• Fig. 9 shows various variants of the throttle member for the embodiment of Fig. 6 to 8 in a perspective from below.
• Fig. 10 shows a third embodiment of a liquid dispenser according to the invention in a sectional view.
• Figs. 11A and 11B show the throttle device of the embodiment of the Fig. 10 with different states of the throttle channel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 shows a liquid dispenser 100 according to the invention, which is designed in the manner of a drop dispenser.

This liquid dispenser 100 has a liquid reservoir 90 designed as a squeeze bottle and a discharge head 10 placed thereon, on which a discharge opening 38 is provided. For closing the liquid dispenser, a cap 110 is provided.

The liquid dispenser serves to deliver drops, for example of cosmetic liquids such as oils, make-up, fillers or the like in drop form. The intended operation provides that the entire dispenser is brought into an approximately overhead position with downwardly directed discharge opening 38 and that in this position, the liquid storage 90 on opposite sides in the region of actuation surfaces 92 kraftbeaufschlagt and compressed so that the liquid storage contained liquid is pressurized and is conveyed to the discharge opening 38. Here, the liquid collects on a drop formation surface 26A surrounding the discharge opening 38 and dissolves as intended in the form of individual drops.

The technical design of the discharge head 10 explained below serves the purpose of jointly achieving that, on the one hand, a drop delivery takes place even with only slight pressure on the squeeze bottle and, on the other hand, ensuring that even a strong actuation or compression of the liquid store 90 does not lead to the delivery of liquid in the form of a liquid jet leads.

For this purpose, the following exemplary embodiments are described by way of example:
Referring to the sectional view in FIG Fig. 2 embodiment shown can be seen in connection with a first embodiment, that the outlet channel 30 from an adjacent to the interior of the liquid reservoir 90 inlet portion 32 through two throttle channels 50 of a throttle device 34 and through openings 25A of the housing 20 into the region of an outlet valve 36 and continues to the discharge opening 38 extends.

The outlet valve 36 is designed such that it can open both in the outlet direction and in the inlet direction at overpressure or underpressure in the liquid storage, so that the discharge duct 30 can also serve in the reverse direction as a ventilation duct after discharge and a sucking back of the liquid from the Outlet passage 30 allowed. The outlet valve 36 closes when neither overpressure nor underpressure prevails in the liquid storage 90 relative to the environment or the overpressure or underpressure does not exceed a limit value. This ensures that the risk of unintentional leakage when handling the liquid dispenser 100 is low.

The discharge head 10 has a very simple structure. Beyond the design of the throttle device 34, which will be explained below, the discharge head 10 is made up of only three components, namely a two-part housing 20 with a base component 22 and an applicator component 26 and a fixed between these two components fastening ring designed as a one-piece elastic member outlet valve 36. In addition, a sealing ring 80 is provided for sealing the discharge head 10 relative to the liquid storage 90 in the embodiment yet.

The actual peculiarity of the dispenser lies in the throttle device 34. This throttle device should, as already mentioned, prevent a liquid jet from exiting through the discharge opening 38 if the liquid reservoir 90 designed as a squeeze bottle is operated too strongly. For this purpose, the throttle device 34 provided in this first exemplary embodiment comprises a partition wall 25 belonging to the base component 22, which at the same time constitutes a first stationary duct wall 56 of the throttle duct 50. The second opposite channel wall is formed by the inside 52A of an elastically deformable wall plate 54, which is clipped to the base member 22 in the region of a fastening pin 25C.

Referring to the FIGS. 4A and 4B showing the base member 22 without and with the wall plate 54 fixed, this will be explained in more detail.

Based on Fig. 4A it can be seen that the housing wall 25 is penetrated by two openings 25A. Next is in Fig. 4A to recognize that in the region of the fastening pin 25C on the partition wall 25 on both sides of the fastening pin 25C a striven, elongated elevation is provided. This separates two throttle channels 50, which by fastening the wall plate 54 in the in Fig. 4B clarified manner arise on the fixing pin 25C.

Again referring to Fig. 2 the operation is the following:
Based on the position of Fig. 2 in which the discharge opening 38 faces upward, the liquid dispenser 100 is brought into an overhead position. A liquid discharge alone by this is not to be feared, since the outlet valve 36 is designed not to open alone by the weight of the liquid in the liquid storage. Only when the liquid storage device 90 designed as a squeeze bottle is pressed together does liquid flow from the inlet region 32 into the respectively approximately semicircular throttle channels 50 in the direction of the apertures 25A, through which the liquid then passes into the region of the outlet valve 36 and on to the discharge opening 38.

If the user now very strongly presses on the liquid storage 90, the pressure which acts on the wall plate 54 also increases. However, this pressure increases on both sides of the wall plate, so that the pressure rise as such does not lead to a relevant deformation of the throttle channels 50. But flows under the influence of this pressure, the liquid now faster through the throttle channels 50, so according to the principle of Bernoulli here generates a dynamic pressure. As a result, a force acts on the wall plate 54, taking up the wall plate Fig. 4B can easily buckle in the region of the web, in this figure, the corresponding bend lines are indicated by dashed lines. This buckling takes place with reference to the perspective of Fig. 2 up, so that the throttle channels 50 narrow. This in turn causes increased friction and loss of energy in the liquid, which in turn leads to a reduction in the liquid flow. Instead of the increased pressure thus resulting in a jet-like discharge, it inhibits itself as it were, so that in spite of the increased operating force as before a discharge in the form of drops is possible.

The design of the Figs. 5A and 5B is largely similar to that of FIGS. 4A and 4B , The only difference is that the surveys 25B in the case of the design of the Figs. 5A and 5B have a different shape and not, as in Fig. 4A clarified, are designed only elongated striven. Instead, the elevations have approximately the shape of a quarter circle, so that the in Fig. 5B shown lines along which the wall plate 54 deforms as intended, not aligned. The effect of this is that the tapering of the throttle channel under other boundary conditions than in the embodiment of FIGS. 4A and 4B takes place. In this way, the liquid dispenser 100 can be adapted with a comparatively small adaptation for different liquids.

In the embodiment according to the Fig. 6 to 8 the throttle device 34 is designed differently.

The throttle device 34 of this embodiment has an elastic as a whole throttle member 62, which is penetrated by the throttle channel 60. Referring to Fig. 8 , which reproduces the throttle component separately, it can be seen that the throttle member 62 has a planar edge region 68, on which a centrally rising in the direction of the liquid reservoir elevation 63 rises. The throttle channel 60 penetrates this elevation 63 and is surrounded by a deformation region 64 which deforms as intended. At the survey two pressurizing surfaces 65 are provided which are pressurized upon discharge of the liquid from this and thereby cause a deformation of the throttle channel 60.

As reflected by the Fig. 8 can also be seen, the throttle channel 60 has a circular open area 60B and slit-like closing areas 60A.

This design is chosen so that when pressurizing no complete closing of the throttle channel 60 takes place.

Referring to Fig. 9A It can be seen that even with a pressure applied to the pressure application surfaces 65 only the closing areas 64A are completely closed, while due to the shape of the edges of the central circular open area 60B and open ends provided at the slots remain open. Thus, excessive pressure upon actuation of the liquid dispenser 100 is prevented from causing a complete stop of the discharge.

The Figs. 9B to 9D show alternative designs.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 9B the slot-shaped portions of the throttle channel 60 are shaped so that they allow a complete closing.

In the case of the embodiment of Fig. 9C a cross-shaped slit is provided, whereby these slots are completely closed when pressurized.

In the case of the embodiment of Fig. 9D Circular free areas form the ends of the slot.

In all of these embodiments, it is provided in each case that free areas 60B and closing areas 60A are part of the same throttle channel 60. This is particularly useful for liquids that have an adhesion-enhancing tendency, since the always open remaining open area increases the tendency that the closing areas after the end of the discharge again separate from each other.

Like the design of the Fig. 9E However, this is not alternative. In this last configuration of an elastic throttle member, the clearance portion 60B and the shutter portion 60A are provided separately from each other in the throttle member 62.

The Fig. 10 and FIGS. 11A and 11B show a third embodiment.

Referring to the Figs. 11A and 11B It can be seen that the throttle channel 70 is here adjacent to a displaceable closing body 72 which, via a spring 74 in a sleeve structure 76, 72A in Direction of the final position of the Fig. 11A is charged with force. If an overpressure is built up in the liquid accumulator 90, this overpressure acts on the throttle body 72 on all sides. Due to the larger effective pressurization area for upward pressurization, the pressure prevailing on all sides acts in such a way that a force acts on the throttle body 72, which affects it the perspective of Figs. 11A and 11B shifted upwards.

As a result, the throttle channel 70 is reduced in size with respect to its cross section and finally completely closed. However, the liquid can still partially flow past the throttle body 72, so that droplet formation still remains possible.

Claims (16)

1. Discharge head (10) for a liquid dispenser (100), with the following features:

   a. the discharge head (10) has a housing (20), and

   b. the discharge head (10) has a coupling device (24) for attachment to a liquid store (90), and

   c. the discharge head (10) has a discharge opening (38) through which liquid is able to be dispensed into a surrounding atmosphere, and

   d. the discharge head (10) has an outlet channel (30) which extends from an inlet region (32), pointing in the direction of the liquid store (90), up to the discharge opening (38) and by means of which the discharge opening (38) is able to be supplied with liquid, and

   e. the discharge head (10) has, in the outlet channel (30), a throttle device (34) with a throttle channel (50; 60; 70) for the reduction in the liquid pressure and/or the liquid flow of the liquid flowing through the throttle device (34),

   characterized by the following features:

   f. the throttle device (34) is designed in the form of a dynamic throttle device (34), in which a free cross section of the throttle channel (50; 60; 70) is reduced in size with increasing pressure prevailing at the throttle device (34), or with greater liquid flow flowing through the throttle device (34), and

   g. the throttle channel (50; 60; 70) is delimited, at least in sections, by an inner side (52A) of a channel wall (52) whose position is able to be varied by displacement or deformation.
2. Discharge head (10) according to Claim 1, with the following additional feature:

   a. an outer side (52B) of the channel wall (52), which faces away from the inner side (52A), is connected in a communicating manner to an inlet of the throttle channel (50; 60) such that, when the liquid is subjected to pressure for the purpose of discharge, an identical pressure increase is realized at the inlet of the throttle channel (50; 60) and at the outer side (52B) of the channel wall (52) .
3. Discharge head (10) according to Claim 1 or 2, with the following additional features:

   a. the positionally variable channel wall (52) is part of a planar wall plate (54), and

   b. a positionally fixed channel wall (56) is provided opposite the positionally variable channel wall (52), wherein the positionally variable channel wall (52) and the positionally fixed channel wall (56) define the throttle channel (50) between them.
4. Discharge head (10) according to Claim 3, with the following additional feature:

   a. the positionally fixed channel wall (56) is formed by a housing wall (25) of the housing, and

   b. the wall plate (54) is, with a fastening region (54A), arranged positionally fixed with respect to the housing wall (25) and, with a deformable section (54C), projects over the throttle channel (50) in a manner approximately parallel to the positionally fixed channel wall (56).
5. Discharge head (10) according to Claim 3 or 4, with the following additional features:

   a. the discharge head (10) has at least two throttle channels (50), which are connected in parallel with respect to one another in terms of flow, and

   b. the wall plate (54) is provided as a common wall plate (54), which delimits the at least two throttle channels (50) in sections.
6. Discharge head (10) according to one of the preceding claims, with at least one the following features:

   a. at least one aperture (25A), into which the throttle channel (50) opens, is provided in the housing wall (25) forming the positionally fixed channel wall (56), and/or.

   b. the wall plate (54) has a fastening opening (54B) in the fastening region (54A), which is snapped onto a housing-side fastening pin (25C), and/or

   c. at least one elevation (25B) is provided on the housing wall (25) or the wall plate (54), in the region of which the housing wall (25) and the wall plate (54) bear against one another.
7. Discharge head (10) according to either of Claims 1 and 2, with the following additional features:

   a. the discharge head (10) has a throttle component (62) composed of an elastically deformable material as part of the throttle device (34), and

   b. the throttle component (62) has an aperture which is surrounded by a deformation region (64) and which forms the throttle channel (60), and

   c. the throttle component (62) has at least one pressure application surface (65), against which, during operation, the liquid bears upstream of the throttle channel (60) and by way of whose pressure application the deformation region (64) is deformed and a free cross section of the throttle channel (60) is able to be reduced in size.
8. Discharge head (10) according to Claim 7, with the following additional feature:

   a. the throttle component (62) has an elevation (63) which is bulged in the upstream direction and in which the throttle channel (60) is provided.
9. Discharge head (10) according to Claim 7 or 8, with at least one of the following additional features:

   a. the throttle component (62) has an encircling edge region (68) on the outside, which is integrally connected to the deformation region (64) and in the region of which the elastic throttle component (62) is fastened to a rigid housing section of the housing (20) by way of a snap-action connection or an integral formation and/or

   b. the throttle component (62) has an encircling edge region (68) on the outside, which is integrally connected to the deformation region (64) and is arranged such that, when the liquid store (90) is coupled, it seals off the liquid store (90) with respect to the housing (20).
10. Discharge head (10) according to one of Claims 7 to 9, with the following additional features:

    a. the throttle channel (60) has at least one closure region (60A), in the region of which opposite edges of the throttle channel (60) come to bear against one another as a result of the pressure application surface (65) being subjected to force, and

    b. the throttle channel (60) has at least one free region (60B), which is delimited by an edge arrangement which does not lead to closure of the free region (60B) even when the pressure application surface (65) is subjected to force.
11. Discharge head (10) according to Claim 1, with the following additional feature:

    a. the throttle channel (70) is delimited by two rigid channel walls, wherein one of the channel walls (71) is provided as a positionally variable channel wall on a positionally variable throttle component (72) .
12. Discharge head (10) according to claim 11, with at least one of the following additional features:

    a. the positionally variable throttle component (72) is mounted so as to be movable, in particular linearly movable, with respect to the housing (20) by means of a guide (72A, 76), preferably a linear guide, and/or

    b. a spring device (74) by means of which the throttle component (72) is permanently subjected to force in a direction of enlargement of the free cross section of the throttle channel (70) is provided between the housing (20) and the throttle component (72), and/or

    c. the throttle component (72) is designed such that, and/or is attached to the housing (20) such that, pressure application surfaces on the throttle component (72) which are active for displacement cause, with identical pressure on all pressure application surfaces, the throttle component (72) to be subjected to force in a direction in which the free cross section of the throttle channel (70) is reduced in size.
13. Discharge head (10) according to one of the preceding claims, with the following additional feature:

    a. the discharge head (10) has, in the outlet channel (30) downstream of the throttle device (34), an outlet valve (36) which opens in dependence on the positive pressure prevailing upstream,

    wherein the outlet valve (36) preferably has at least one of the following features:

    b. the outlet valve (36) closes automatically in a pressure interval between a defined inlet-side negative pressure and an inlet-side positive pressure and opens when the defined negative pressure is exceeded and when the defined positive pressure is exceeded, and/or

    c. the outlet valve (36) is formed from an elastic material and has a bulge (36A) which is directed upstream and in which a valve opening, which is able to be closed by valve lips (36B), is provided such that, with increasing inlet-side positive pressure, the valve lips (36B) are increasingly pressed against one another by the positive pressure up to the attainment of an inlet-side limit pressure for positive pressure.
14. Discharge head (10) according to one of the preceding claims, with at least one of the following additional features:

    a. the discharge head (10) is designed for the formation of drops, wherein the throttle device (34) is designed for a limitation of the liquid flow, which leads to the formation of single drops, and not to the formation of a liquid jet, at the discharge opening, and/or

    b. the discharge opening (38) is surrounded by a drop formation surface (26A), preferably in the form of a spherical cap, and/or

    c. the housing (20) of the discharge head (10) comprises a first, integral base component (22), which comprises the coupling device (24) for attachment to the liquid store (90), and a second, integral applicator component (26), which has the discharge opening (38) and is penetrated by the outlet channel (30) and is fastened to the base component (22), wherein the outlet valve (36) is preferably positionally fixed between the base component (22) and the applicator component (26).
15. Liquid dispenser (100) for dispensing liquid, in particular for dispensing cosmetic or pharmaceutical liquids, with the following features:

    a. the liquid dispenser (100) has a discharge head (10) with a discharge opening (38) for dispensing of liquid into a surrounding atmosphere, and

    b. the liquid dispenser (100) has a liquid store (90), which is connected to a housing (20) of the discharge head (10) by way of a detachable coupling device (24) or an integral formation,

    characterized by the feature:
    c. the discharge head (10) is designed according to one of the preceding claims.
16. Liquid dispenser (100) according to Claim 24, with at least one of the following additional features:

    a. the liquid dispenser (100) is designed in the form of a drop dispenser, and/or

    b. the liquid store (90) is designed in the form of a squeeze bottle or tube, and/or

    c. an inner volume of the liquid store (90) is less than 300 ml, preferably less than 100 ml, in particular preferably less than 50 ml, and/or

    d. the liquid store (90) is filled with a cosmetic or pharmaceutical liquid.

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