EP3787983B1 - Cream spender - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF APPLICATION AND PRIOR ART

The invention relates to a cream dispenser for dispensing liquid onto a user's skin, i.e. for topical use. Such dispensers are used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical fields.

Generic cream dispensers are usually designed as tube dispensers and, in addition to the usually one-piece tube body, also include a plastic discharge head with a discharge opening attached thereto. In order to avoid drying out and/or to improve the ability to be set up, the discharge head has a hinged cover which covers a discharge opening when it is closed.

From the WO 99/64313 A1 a liquid dispenser with a hinged lid is known. A closing element is attached to the inside of this hinged lid, which is designed in the form of a rising ring and closes an outlet valve when the hinged lid is closed.

From the EP 0 253 495 A2 a liquid dispenser is known, which also has a hinged lid. On this hinged lid there is an annular web and an elevation within it, which together serve to seal the discharge opening tightly when the hinged lid is closed.

From the US 5,246,145A Another liquid dispenser with a hinged lid is known. A convex closing structure is provided on the hinged lid, which rises above a surrounding flat lid surface and, when the hinged lid is closed, protrudes into the discharge opening and seals it tightly.

A large number of such generic cream dispensers are known from the prior art. Nevertheless, there is still a need to ensure a high degree of comfort during operation and pleasant use with low production costs.

TASK AND SOLUTION

The object of the invention is to provide a cream dispenser that can be produced inexpensively and is characterized by its haptically pleasant operation and use.

According to the invention a cream dispenser according to claim 1 is defined.

As a result, the curved closure surface additionally closes the discharge opening and can additionally press in the end wall somewhat in order to effectively prevent an outlet valve of the discharge head from opening. The curvature is preferably achieved in that the cover wall is curved as a whole in the area of the closure surface, so that the outside opposite the closure surface also has this curvature. The covering wall then preferably has a uniform (+/−10%) wall thickness. Alternatively, however, configurations are also possible in which the closure surface itself is curved, but the opposite outside of the hinged lid is not. In this case, the wall thickness in a central area of the closure surface is preferably greater than in an edge area of the closure surface or than in an annular area surrounding the closure surface.

By definition, the closure surface is only formed by partial areas of the inside of the end wall that are convexly curved when viewed from the perspective of the discharge opening, ie by a surface opposite the discharge opening that curves in the direction of the discharge opening in the closed state. At least in the area of the ring-shaped contact surface, the radius of curvature is comparatively large, ie the curvature is small. According to the invention, the radius of curvature is between 4 cm and 25 cm, preferably between 6 cm, at least in the area of the ring-shaped contact surface and 15cm. The radius of curvature is preferably between 4 cm and 25 cm, preferably between 6 cm and 15 cm, with respect to the entire closure surface.

This information relates to the open state of the hinged lid, ie without any deformation caused by the closed state.

The curvature causes the contact surface between the closure surface and the end wall to be small, so that a comparatively high surface pressure is achieved. The annular contact surface preferably has a width of less than 0.8 mm, in particular less than 0.4 mm, in the radial direction relative to the discharge opening. The comparatively small contact area promotes tightness. Even if, in the event of strong unintentional pressure on the liquid reservoir, liquid can actually escape through the discharge opening when the hinged lid is closed, it only reaches this ring-shaped contact surface. Due to the preferably edge-free inside of the hinged lid, this liquid can later be removed very easily.

The size of the closure area is larger than the cross-sectional area of the discharge opening in order to be able to rest on the end wall surrounding the discharge opening.

According to the invention, the curved closure surface takes up at least 80% of the inside of the cover wall.

Such a complete formation of the curved closure surface by the inside of the cover wall means that the entire inside can be cleaned very easily, since it does not have any steps or cracks that are difficult to clean due to the mentioned range of the radius of curvature.

In particular, a design of the hinged lid in which the entire cover wall or almost the entire cover wall forms the curved closure surface on the inside and the wall thickness is uniform (+/- 10%) allows uniform tension to be brought about in the hinged lid when it is closed, so that the hinged lid, starting from the closed state when the hinged lid is released, for example via the release button already described, jumps into a position that completely releases the end wall.

Another aspect relates to the attachment of the hinged cover to the base of the discharge head. In this case, all of the measures mentioned above can also be provided separately from one another.

According to this further aspect, a cream dispenser for dispensing liquid on a user's skin is proposed, which has a liquid reservoir with an outlet nozzle and a discharge head with an outlet channel and a discharge opening at the end of the outlet channel. In particular, this cream dispenser is designed in the manner described above. The discharge head has a base that is essentially immobile except for minimal movements to open a valve or to press the release button, which has a connecting piece extending in a main extension direction for connection to the liquid reservoir and which also has an end wall through which the outlet channel passes and in which the discharge port is provided. The outside of the end wall can be used, in the manner already mentioned above, for liquid to be discharged there first and then for the liquid to be applied from there to the user's skin.

The formation of the discharge head with inner component and outer component is not primarily important in this aspect. Nevertheless, said base is preferably also made up of these two parts.

The discharge head according to this further aspect also has a hinged cover which, in a closed state, covers the discharge opening and the end wall and which is pivotably linked to the base by means of a joint. On the base and on the hinged lid, there are provided latching edges that act opposite the joint and by means of which the hinged lid can be latched to the base in the closed state. At the base, the latching edge and the joint are offset relative to one another in relation to the main direction of extent, so that the latching device on the hinged lid is further away from the discharge opening in relation to the main direction of extent when it is fully pivoted open than when the hinged lid is in the closed state.

The hinged cover can preferably be pivoted by about 180° (+/−20°) between the closed position and the maximum pivoted position. Its peculiarity lies in particular in that the joint and in particular the pivot axis defined by the joint on the one hand and the latching edge for latching on the base on the other hand are offset relative to one another in relation to the main direction of extension.

This offset results in the latching edge of the hinged cover being set back particularly far in relation to an end wall of the base when the hinged cover is opened. This is advantageous for comfortable use, since cream that was initially applied to the end wall of the base can be applied from here to the skin of a user, thereby reducing the risk of the comparatively sharp-edged latching edge of the lid accidentally getting into skin contact.

The latching device on the base and the joint are preferably arranged offset from one another by at least 3 mm, preferably by at least 5 mm, in relation to the main extension direction.

In order to enhance the desired effect of spacing the latching edge on the lid as far as possible from the plane of the end wall of the base in the unfolded state, the joint and the pivot axis defined thereby are arranged as close as possible to the liquid reservoir in relation to the main direction of extent. The distance to an end of a lateral surface of the discharge head pointing in this direction is preferably 5 mm or less. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the latching edge of the base is as far away as possible from the liquid reservoir in relation to the main extension direction. It is considered advantageous if the latching edge is set back only slightly, in particular by less than 3 mm, in relation to the outer surface of the end wall. However, the distance should not be less than 1 mm, so that the locking edge of the base does not come into skin contact when applying cream to the skin.

A support edge is preferably provided on both sides of the outer side of the outer component, on which a peripheral lateral surface of the hinged lid rests in the closed state. The support edges are designed as edges rising steadily from the joint to the latching device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• Fig. 1 zeigt einen erfindungsgemäßen Cremespender in der Gesamtdarstellung.
• Fig. 2 zeigt eine Explosionsdarstellung des Cremespenders gemäß Fig. 1.
• Fig. 3 und 3A zeigen den Cremespender in geschnittener Darstellung bei geöffnetem Deckel.
• Fig. 4 zeigt den Cremespender in geschnittener Darstellung bei geschlossenem Deckel.
• Fig. 5A und 5B zeigen das Zusammenwirken eines Klappdeckels des Cremespenders mit einer die Austragöffnung umgebenden Stirnfläche zum Zwecke des Verschließens der Austragöffnung.

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

• 1 shows a cream dispenser according to the invention in the overall representation.
• 2 shows an exploded view of the cream dispenser according to 1 .
• Figures 3 and 3A show the cream dispenser in a sectional view with the lid open.
• 4 shows the cream dispenser in a sectional view with the lid closed.
• Figures 5A and 5B show the interaction of a hinged lid of the cream dispenser with an end face surrounding the discharge opening for the purpose of closing the discharge opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The figures illustrate the structure of a cream dispenser according to the invention.

1 shows the cream dispenser 10 as delivered. The cream dispenser 10 includes a liquid reservoir 12, which in the present case is designed as a tube and is therefore provided for actuation by manual pressure application to the outer surfaces. In principle, however, other concepts are also conceivable, for example with a displaceable piston which is pushed into the liquid reservoir at the end in order to pump liquid out of it.

A discharge head 20 is attached to the liquid reservoir 12, for example by means of a threaded connection or a snap connection. The discharge head has a base that remains essentially immovable relative to the liquid reservoir during operation, as well as a hinged cover 60 that, when closed, covers a discharge opening 44 and can be unlocked and opened by means of a release button 48 .

2 shows the individual components of the cream dispenser 10. The liquid storage 12 is in the state of 2 is still in the unfilled state and is therefore not yet closed at its lower end opposite an outlet connection piece 14 .

How 2 makes clear, the discharge head 20 has two components 30, 40, namely an inner component 30 and an outer component 40. The inner component is designed with thicker walls and/or made of more rigid material and forms the less deformable of the two components 30, 40.

In the assembled state, the inner component 30 is firmly connected to the outer component 40 . It also has a connection piece 32 which is designed for coupling to the outlet connection piece 14 of the liquid reservoir 12 by means of the aforementioned threaded connection or a snap connection. The outlet connector 14 is shown in simplified form in the illustrations without a thread or snap-on edge.

The detailed structure of the discharge head and the two components 30, 40 can be seen from the following figures.

Figures 3 and 3A show the discharge head 20 in the ready-to-use, open state. It can be seen that the outer component 40 has a casing wall 46 which is adjoined by an end wall 49 at the front. This end wall 49 is penetrated by the outlet channel 42 which opens into the discharge opening 44 . Said end wall 49 is almost flat on the outside and only slightly concave. The outside is free of elevations or depressions on the outside, so that cream previously applied to the end wall can be applied to the skin from here.

The casing wall 46 is provided with a slot 47 in the area of the release button 48, which separates the release button 48 laterally and upwards from the surrounding wall and thus allows the release button 48 to move freely.

The inner component 30 is connected to the outer component 40 to jointly form a valve pressure chamber 52 . For this purpose, an outer edge in the area of the outer circumference 36A of a ring section 36 of the inner component 30 is snapped into a groove on the inside of the casing wall 46 of the outer component 40 . This contact area forms the attachment area 46A within the meaning of the invention. The connection of the outer component 40 and the inner component 30 in the attachment area 46A is intended insoluble and tight. Liquid that reaches the valve pressure chamber 52 from the liquid reservoir through liquid openings 33 in the inner component 30 can therefore only exit through the discharge opening 44 .

The outlet channel 42, which penetrates the end wall 49, and a valve surface 34 on a cone-section-shaped elevation provided centrally on the inner component 30, together form an outlet valve 50, which is closed by the slightly prestressed shape of the end wall 49 in the rest state. If liquid in the liquid reservoir 12 is pressurized, in particular by squeezing the tube, the liquid reaches the valve pressure chamber 52 under pressure and causes the end wall 49 to be deformed outwards. This opens the outlet valve 50 and the liquid can reach the outside of the end wall 49 . If a sufficient amount of liquid has been discharged onto the end wall 49, it can be applied to the skin directly from there.

As already mentioned, the discharge head 20 has a hinged cover 60. In the design described here, this is designed as a one-piece part of the outer component and is connected to it by means of a one-piece joint 62 in the manner of a film hinge. Alternatively, however, a multi-part configuration is also possible.

The hinged lid 60 has a slightly concave cover wall 64, the inside of which is larger than the end wall 49 of the discharge head. The inside of the cover wall 64 is surrounded by a casing wall 61 and has no elevations on the inside thereof that go beyond the curved basic shape of the cover wall 64 . This means that cream residues can be easily removed here.

To open the hinged cover 60, the release button 48 already described is provided. When closed, the in 4 1, a latching edge 48A at the distal, upper end of the release button latches with a corresponding latching edge 66 on the hinged cover 60. Since the cover is under pretension in the area of its covering wall 64, the latching in the closed state is quite firm and there is no risk of the release button 48 being pressed inadvertently and the hinged cover opening. Nevertheless, with manual and voluntary actuation, this is possible in a simple and haptically pleasant manner. The release button 48 is cut free on three sides through the slots 47 and can thus be easily pressed in. Pressing the release button in too far 48 is avoided by the fact that these are in Figure 3A abuts on the outside of the attachment area 46A in a manner indicated by dashed lines.

As soon as the latching edges 48A, 66 are disengaged from one another by being pressed in, the hinged cover 60 springs open. By prestressing in the area of the cover wall 64 and by a suitable prestressed design of the joint, it can be achieved in the ideal case that simply by pressing the release button 48 the open state of the 3 is achieved in which the hinged cover 60 is pivoted by about 180 °.

3 clarifies the relative arrangement of the latching edges 48A, 66 on the one hand and the joint 62 on the other hand. Relative to the main extension direction 2 and the closed state, the joint 62 is significantly closer to the liquid reservoir 12 in the perspective of FIG 3 i.e. further down, arranged than the latching edges 48A, 66. The offset, which is about 6 mm in relation to the main direction of extension, means that in the open state the latching edge 66 is more than twice as far, in this case about 13 mm, from the plane the outside of the end wall 49 is spaced.

This allows the cream previously applied to the outside to be applied to the skin without the risk of the very sharp-edged latching edge 66 touching the skin.

The hinged lid 60, which is under tension in the closed state, closes the discharge opening 44 by means of an inner side forming a closing surface 65. This is illustrated in FIG Figures 5A and 5B explained again in more detail. The inside of the cover wall 64 forms a curved sealing surface 65 with a largely uniform radius of curvature of approximately 12 cm in its entirety up to the lateral jacket wall 61 . The cover wall has a uniform wall thickness and is also approximately equally curved over the entire outer surface 67 opposite the closure surface 65 .

In the closed state Figure 5A the closure surface 65 rests in a comparatively small annular contact surface 43 on the end wall 49 penetrated by the discharge opening 44 and thus prevents the escape of liquid in addition to the outlet valve 50 . In particular, unintentional compression of the tube 12 and an increase in pressure in the valve pressure chamber 52 cannot result in liquid escaping through the discharge opening 44 as the outlet valve 50 is urged to its closed position by the closure surface 65 of the tensioned cover wall 64.

The design of the cover wall 64 with a uniform wall thickness and with a domed sealing surface 65 which forms the entire inside of the cover wall 64 is considered advantageous in order to achieve the desired closing tension and to enable easy cleaning of the inside.

However, alternative configurations are also conceivable in which the curved closure surface 65 forms only a central middle area of the inside of the cover wall 64 and is surrounded on the outside by an annular area that is flat or curved in the opposite direction, for example.

Claims (5)

1. Cream dispenser (10) for topically dispensing liquid on the skin of a user, having the following features:

   a. the cream dispenser (10) possesses a liquid reservoir (12) having an outlet port (14); and

   b. the cream dispenser (10) possesses an applicator head (20) having an outlet duct (42) and an applicator opening (44) at the end of the outlet duct (42); and

   c. the applicator head (20) has an end wall (49) which is penetrated by the outlet duct (42) and in which the applicator opening (44) is provided; and

   d. the applicator head (20) possesses a hinged cover (60) which in a closed state closes the applicator opening (44); and

   e. the hinged cover (60) on an internal side has a bulged closure face (65) of which the size is larger than the cross-sectional area of the applicator opening (44), wherein the bulged closure face (65) in the closed state of the hinged cover (60) in the region of an annular contact face (43) surrounding the applicator opening bears on the end wall (49),

   characterized by the following additional features:

   f. the closure face (65) is formed by a face which lies opposite the applicator opening (44) and which in the closed state bulges in the direction of the applicator opening (44); and

   g. the closure face (65) has a curvature radius which at least in the region of the annular contact face (43) is between 4 cm and 25 cm; and

   h. the hinged cover has a periphery (61) and a covering wall (64) which is bordered by this periphery, wherein the bulged closure face (65) occupies at least 80% of an internal side of the covering wall (64).
2. Cream dispenser (10) according to Claim 1, having the following additional feature:

   a. the closure face (65) has a curvature radius which at least in the region of the annular contact face (43) is between 6 cm and 15 cm.
3. Cream dispenser (10) according to Claim 1 or 2, having the following additional feature:

   a. the annular contact face (43) in the radial direction in terms of the applicator opening has a width of less than 0.8 mm, in particular of less than 0.4 mm.
4. Cream dispenser (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, having the following additional feature:

   a. the closure face (65) is at least 20% larger than the cross-sectional area of the applicator opening (44), preferably at least 40% larger.
5. Cream dispenser (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, having the following additional features:

   a. in the closed state, the hinged cover (60) is pre-loaded so as to bear on the end wall (49); and

   b. the hinged cover (60) is shaped in such a manner and provided with an articulation (62) of such type that said hinged cover (60), proceeding from the closed state, upon being released jumps to a position in which the end wall (49) is completely exposed.

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